NmPC

heelo guys!
Looat at new site about furniture!
The such inside of the access and some alternating of powder float from feeding the size, patients, and binders.

Hey folks,

I want to start using this blog again! One of the things I’d like to do is start posting my sermon manuscripts and get your thoughts on it! One of the things that they taught me in Seminary at Fuller was the concept of “sermon as community”. I’d love to hear your thoughts! Here it is:

Good morning! For the sermon this morning, I figured I’d start with “show and tell”. This is an anchor rope that I use when I go rock climbing. You secure to of these to your anchor points, like a rock or a solid tree. You bring these two ropes to a point, put two carabiners at the point where you are going to put your actual climbing rope. This knot is extremely important as it “bounds” the rope together and provides protection for you as you climb. It has to be secure. I don’t have to go rock climbing, but I enjoy it. Therefore, If I’m going to do it, I want to make sure that I’m safe….this rope is important.

[show picture of me climbing and Debbie belaying]

This picture shows that I not only have a lot of trust in my rope and the knots I’ve tied, but also my wife!!

Ropes and knots are often symbols of protection or safety. They secure things or people. I can remember as a kid having a rope and when my friends and I would play something, we may pretend to tie each other…oftentimes, probably not a good thing!

This morning’s sermon is about being bound to someone or something else. Let’s read this passage from Matthew 27:1-5 (TNIV):

[show scripture on PP]

1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. 2 They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

The writer of Matthew wants to demonstrate that religious leaders viewed Jesus as a threat to their hold on power. Jesus had come into this world with some bold claims about being the Son of God, or God in the flesh, the very same essence or being of God. Plus, he came preaching a message of good news to those who were on the outskirts of “proper society”, those who felt like outcasts, that they, as well as everyone else, were loved by God and that he had come to bring life, full life to all. Jesus threatened the status quo of the religious world that dominated that society. He challenged the authorities of that day as they diminished people and used them for personal gain. The religious leaders were blinded by their understanding of their traditions and their status so much that when they were confronted with the human embodiment of their faith tradition, they could not recognize it.

They thought that the Son of God would come as a conquering hero. Instead, God came to them in Christ as a servant. God the creator, coming to serve his creation. God, practicing ultimate humility.

I googled humility while researching this sermon, here are some words that may help us understand the action of God in and through Jesus Christ: modest, meek, not proud, self-abasing, “egoless” (love that!). It comes from the Latin word “humilis” which means low and from the earth.

God lowered himself. He became one of us. This was not the religious leaders idea of God and this example of how God moves and transforms us threatened them…and it threatens us.

This threat to their power had to be killed. The phrase for “come to the decision” implies in the Greek that they knew what they wanted to do. They were simply trying to figure out how to do it. It was against the law for them to execute anyone, so they sent him to the Roman governor, the only authority that could execute anyone on trumped up charges. They bound him with rope, probably to show the secular authorities and the people of that time that Jesus was somehow a threat.

They didn’t have to bind Jesus, he wasn’t going anywhere. Jesus, who could’ve called out legions of angels, showed his humility by subjecting himself to human authority in order to act on our behalf even to the point of death in order that we may have life with God. We, all of us sinners in this room deserved that death, yet Jesus died for us.

We can see in this morning’s passage that Judas realized what he had done, he was truly repentant I believe. That Greek word in vs. 3 means literally a changing of one’s mind. He realized that he had betrayed Jesus, the man whom he had followed for 3 years. Yet he, like the priests, thought that Jesus would be a conquering hero, delivering Israel from Roman oppression. Judas may have wanted to force Jesus’ hand so to speak by betraying him. Judas loved Jesus, the word “betray” is an intimate word. You don’t betray enemies, you betray friends. We only betray those whom we love. But, Judas didn’t understand. He called Jesus Rabbi, or teacher, at the last supper, not Lord.

The story before this text in Matthew is the story of Peter’s betrayal. Yet, it has a different outcome for Peter. Peter recognizes Jesus and goes towards him. Judas goes to the temple priests for help. They both confess, they both own their sin, but Peter knows that he needs someone to save him. The priests tell Judas that it is not their responsibility, but his.

So, Judas, in remorse is bound as well, only to a hangman’s noose of his own doing. At the end of his life, he didn’t go to God, he went to the religious leaders who should have pointed him towards God, but instead pointed him towards himself. They let him down and he was left with nothing but guilt.

What Judas didn’t realize, but Peter did, was that we all share responsibility for our sin, we are all guilty, yet Jesus willingly took on that responsibility, took on our guilt, and nailed it to a tree. Judas, like Peter, is covered by Jesus’ actions, the amazing Grace of God.

The question for Judas, as for us this morning, are we going to live into the reality of what God has done for us? God has bound us to him. We are not worthy, yet God, in his goodness has secured us to him by showing us humility and by his actions through Jesus. God’s love is demonstrated through Christ and God’s humility is revealed. As unworthy as we are, God says we are worthy of his love, even to the cross and beyond as Jesus conquers death three days later!

God is calling us to follow his example of humility, to serve others, to honor others. If we live in this reality that Christ offers us through his actions, then we will want to love as he loved. Sometimes that takes us places we may not want to go. It often means that we have to serve others. By living into this, we begin to experience life and trust and faith, and a God who loves us relentlessly. By living into this reality of God’s love, we’ll begin to see a changed world.

Do we trust God? He is pursuing us and holding on to us, will we believe?

SEPTEMBER 1 OUR CHOICE

HABAKKUK 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Ever have a really bad day where all the blessings of God are shrouded with a dark cloud of misplaced items, a missed appointment, burned toast, clogged drains, a lost file, or a dented fender? Maybe you are among those who deal daily with poor health, being a single parent or unemployment. Habakkuk was having a bad time of great magnitude. He chose to rejoice. How many of us do the same? After a bad day or week, I am more likely to complain to God about the unfairness of life. I set aside His goodness to me in the past and grumble about the cares of today. Whether our circumstances are trivial or major burdens, the key is how we react. Another Old Testament prophet, Nehemiah, said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” In the New Testament, Paul echoes the words of these prophets admonishing us to “Rejoice always and again, I say rejoice” and “give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you.” Rejoicing sounds so much better than fretting or venting our anger at God. The choice is ours.

Father, I never like myself when I grumble or complain. Strengthen me in the habit of rejoicing in you at all times. In Jesus Name

AUGUST 25 A RANSOM PAID

Mark 10:45 “For even I, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

When I think of the word ransom, I picture parents paying a sum of money to get their child back from kidnappers. In many ways it is a picture of what God does on the Cross. His people have been kidnapped by the prince of this world, Satan…bound by their sins, unable to free themselves But God loves His children and pays a ransom to bring them back into the family of God. How do we react to that that freedom? At times, we may be saddened as we recall the sins that bound us. But underneath is a joyful exuberance that we are saved and free to become all God planned for us. Praise God, we have the power to follow Jesus and become obedient servants/slaves in the work of God!

Praise you, God, for sending your Son to be the ransom for my sins. Help me to claim the power to follow His example and become a servant of others. In Jess’ Name.

AUGUST 19 EXCUSES

I Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifices and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”

God had given Saul a job to do. He was to destroy all the Amalekites and everything they owned. Instead, Saul brought back the king and the best of the calves and lambs. When Samuel confronted Saul about his failure to do as the Lord commanded, Saul had his excuses ready. He spared only the king and the animals were to be a sacrifice to the Lord. That sounds good. However, Samuel tells Saul God does not delight in sacrifices but in obedience. Saul’s acting in his own wisdom and judgment leads to his being dethroned as king of Israel. God does not ask us to evaluate or adjust His commands….to do what we think is best. He expects us to obey, not edit. He takes obedience very seriously as seen by His deposing Saul. Our excuses are not acceptable. Do you want to delight God? Then, obey his instructions.

Father, the excuses come so easily. Let me labor, instead, to do what you ask of me so that I may delight you. In Jesus Name

AUGUST 11 QUESTIONING GOD

Isaiah 40:10 “Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor?”

The answer to the above question is…no one. It is a good verse to remember when we find ourselves trying to tell God how to do things or how to answer our prayers. What is your area of expertise? Are you a computer whiz, a scientist, a parent, or Olympic medal winner? Maybe you are an auto mechanic or a bank teller. Interestingly enough, everything you need to know for practicing your specialty was know by the One who created the world in which you live. In light of that, I wonder if God smiles when we try to advise Him? Trust is a big word. It means giving up the right to have it my way and living my life with the confidence that God knows what he is doing. Trust can overcome our doubts and impatience, assuring us of God’s wisdom and perseverance on our behalf. Don’t try to advise God, trust Him.

Father, praise you for being wise and creative beyond my understanding. Teach me to trust you in all circumstances. In Jesus Name.

JULY 21 HIGHER WAYS & THOUGHTS

Isaiah 55:9 “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Praise God that His ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I can trust him when I would not dare trust myself. I pray to follow His ways and to begin to think His thoughts. He has given me His Word and the Spirit so I can learn what He requires of me and think thoughts that are in accord with His. He has opened the throne room where Jesus, my High Priest, intercedes for me. God answers according to His wisdom and love. Listen as God teaches and practice what He reveals. Your life will be lived on a higher plane.

Father, thank you for being far more than we can imagine. Teach and led us to that higher plane of life. In Jesus’ Name

JULY 16 WHAT TIME IS IT?

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven…”

This passage includes many aspects of our lives, often in contrast…a time to be born or a time to die, a time to tear down or a time to rebuild. Are you willing to wait for God’s timing? I find myself being impatient. When I pray, I expect instant answers. Note the stress is on what I want and when I want it. In my heart, I want what God knows is right and best for me but my mind says hurry, God, hurry. There is a verse in Hebrews that says, “You have need of patience…continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Here, the emphasis is on what God wants…His timing in my life. Not all aspects of life are equal. Some are enjoyable. Some require strength. Some are lonely and sad. Some are full of new insight and growth. Can we agree that God’s time for each of these is the right time? If you can say “yes” then you are in the best possible time of your life…today.

Grant me a willingness to wait on your timing in my everyday life. Open my eyes to the rightness of today and let me love you in return. In Jesus’ Name

JULY 8 PRAYERFUL THOUGHTS

Psalm 42:6 “Through everyday the Lord pours his unfailing love on me and through each night I sing his songs praying to God who gives me life.”

The first part of this verse is a reality in my life. I know God’s faithfulness in pouring out His love on me. However, I do stumble over the second part. Often my thoughts are full of criticism, unfounded judgments, envy, grudges, or just plain negative thoughts. God has given me abundant life in Jesus. I settle for a mediocre walk with Him. My thought life can build barriers between me and God and others. I shove aside a bad thought as not counting…just a fleeting idea. What would happen to my heart if a negative thought became a praise for another person, circumstance, or responsibility? The very idea of singing is positive. It lifts my heart when the words are given to God in recognition of the life He has given me. Accepting God’s unfailing love needs to build a response of praise and adoration. It is not hard but requires discipline and perseverance. Remember the old line of the song…eliminate the negative accentuate the positive? Let all of this verse become alive in your life. Joy will flood your soul.

I praise you, God, for your faithfulness. Teach me to respond with songs of prayer to you. In Jesus’

JUNE 29 A DARK CLOUD

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Have you ever been driving along rejoicing over the beautiful white clouds and bright blue sky and then made a right turn only to be faced with a huge, dark forbidding sky? Life is like that. It is a good time to remember God is with you and that He is a mighty God. We forget that the God who created our world knows about the storms of life. It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring God by our limitations when facing difficulty. How reassuring to know He delights in us and that His love can quiet our fears. When you turn to face a darkening horizon, listen for God’s song. It is a song of rejoicing because He knows the way through the dark moments of our walk. Let His singing be the light on the path before you.

Father, open my ears to your song when the way is dark and fear creeps in to my thoughts. In Jesus’ Name