tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27576232884751648922024-03-12T23:33:42.941-05:00Rick's Methodist MusingsAgain during 2020 my intention is to continue to post my thoughts pertaining to lay servant issues and my sermons each week from Prairie Chapel UMC, an open country church in the Kingdom of Callaway, Missouri. I hope you find the posts meaningful. Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.comBlogger300125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-6690051547130759642020-05-15T10:59:00.002-05:002020-05-15T10:59:14.414-05:00THE PROBLEM OF DISCERNING AND WALKING IN GOD'S WILL
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (5/10/20) “The Problem of Discerning and Walking in God’s Will </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Gen 12:1-3; John 1:35-39) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I attended South Dakota School of Mines, a Land Grant College, so ROTC was mandatory the first two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To take Advanced ROTC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>leading to a commission, you had to sign up in the spring of your sophomore year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I returned home, I told my Dad that I was skipping ROTC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before I returned in August, Dad invited a few friends over to the house to talk to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a set up. They were all of the greatest generation who served, who were all patriots and all felt it was my duty to serve and that ROTC was the best way of doing that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I signed up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Was it God’s will that I be a soldier?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">My Mom told me when I got orders to Vietnam that she had raised me to be a doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandma would have said she raised me to be a preacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it God’s will that I take 55 years to get there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably, God had lot’s of work to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">My life has had lot’s of forks in the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every one of them changed my life completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first being that talk with my Dad’s friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What is God’s will for your lives? How long did it take for you to find out? Was God responsible for all the turns in your lives?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week on Facebook, a woman said that her grandfather had died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One good intentioned person told her that God was completely in control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was God responsible for her Grandfather’s death?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does he take us all according to a predetermined plan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was he responsible for Jeff’s accident and Rosemary’s cancer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is God responsible for all the evil in the world as well as the good?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">That doesn’t make sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if God is not in complete control, then what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another option is that God has a perfect plan for me, but he’s not telling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe my path is a squiggly line that crosses back and forth over God’s perfect plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That my squiggly path is God’s permissible plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That God is willing to revise the plan each time I make a permissible decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it seems to me that God would have to revise all the world’s plans with each of my permissible decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I meet and marry the person you were supposed to meet and marry, everyone’s plan changes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So what then?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible’s stories give us an idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Abraham listened to God’s perfect plan and went from his country to the land that God had shown him (Gen 12), but when I got there, he went off track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ended up in Egypt and told Pharaoh that Sarah was his sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even permissible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob’s sons decided to kill Joseph (Gen 37). Not permissible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor were the situations that Joseph found himself in Egypt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet because Joseph listened to God, he turned the non-permissible actions of the Egyptians into God’s perfect plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">How is it we discern the will of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I reject the notion that the book has all been written and that we only play the part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the notion that God revises our books with every line we walk doesn’t make sense either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lean heavily on Adam Hamilton for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that God is the co-author of our stories. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We begin with God the co-author with a blank page.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if we are going to write together, we need to pay attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, when I look at my book, I realize that I wrote many chapters alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re not the chapters I like to recite in family company or any company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that God let’s us start again and change our future chapters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve been told a good writer can write eight pages a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you read a good book, you know how much life a good author can put into eight pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much life do we put into our days? Why would we want our lives to be anything but a good story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, as we write our stories, we will have old characters that disappoint us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New characters that appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breakdowns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s the deal: with God as our co-author, our stories can lead us where we want to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just need to pay attention, listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here are some things I’ve learned along the way that you may be able to include in your stories: First, life is better when you worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rosemary and I learned that and the last 30 years of our lives were the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship changes us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Two, I’ve come to believe in the “Platinum Rule,” “Be kind to others as you want them to be kind to you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kindness is circular, the kinder we are the more kindness we receive, the more we come to like the people in our stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CS Lewis says that affection is nine-tenths of happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want a little happiness in your stories, try a little kindness, add a little affection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Three, it’s people that count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fill our stories with things: cars, boats, planes, dogs, cats, horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean who doesn’t like a good dog story?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s people who count.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Lastly, the story is always better when you listen, when you read your bible asking what does this tell me about God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does this tell me about me? What does this tell me about the story we are going to write today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good authors read other’s stories, “Upper Room,” “Guideposts,” classic writings that can be incorporated into our stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We listen, the Holy Spirit is always present to help us put pen to paper; and we use our brain, the creative gift that God has given to make our stories better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s Mother’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mothers in my life have all made my stories better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Grandmother, Emma, put faith in my story. My Mother, Gertie, gave me love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and Dad had a great love story, chapters too short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it goes on now with every chapter being better that the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Rosemary, the mother of my Children, my partner for 60 years, who taught me the wisdom of humility and put chapters of kindness and affection and happiness into our story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Now, go write your stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s how you discern and live within the will of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-61864184060411780752020-05-09T06:27:00.003-05:002020-05-09T06:27:52.373-05:00THE PROBLEM OF UNANSWERED PRAYER
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (5/03/20) “The Problem of Unanswered Prayer” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Mt 6:9-13; Mk 14:36) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The first time I gave a sermon on prayer was 15 years ago in July.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was shopping for this fountain pen in a stationery store downtown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way, I<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>worried about a parking spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m giving a sermon on prayer, should I pray for a parking spot?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the heck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there right in front of the store, it couldn’t have been closer, was as parking spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ordered the pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next week, returning to pick it up, the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I prayed for a parking spot and there it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It couldn’t have been closer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I haven’t prayed for a parking spot since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Does God answer prayers for parking spots?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How much can I manipulate God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we be able to pray that bad things never happen to good people or that bad things always happen to bad people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that my test scores will always be right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that Johnny or Jamie’s knee will never be scrapped or they will never experience a broken heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What do you think prayer is for? Jesus said if we pray with faith that you can say to this mountain “move and be cast into the sea” that it will be so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus spoke in hyperbole, exaggeration to the point of impossibility to make a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith and prayer are important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So what about miracles? Adam Hamilton has told the story more than once of broadsiding a car going at 40 mph when he was 16 and with no seatbelt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything stuffed under that dash yet he felt the arms of God around him pressings him back into the seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God must have something left for him to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wears his seatbelt today because what God intended may be behind him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Does God suspend the natural laws or the free will of others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if God created the world so that some things required our prayer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants cooperation with us his creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He depends on us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miracles of the heart happen too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we pray, “Thy kingdom come,” we provide footing for the Holy Spirit to make others more loving, more generous, more gentle, to exercise self-control and miracles happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet some of our most fervent prayers are not answered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus in the Garden: “Abba, Father, let this cup pass from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet not my will but thine be done.” (Mk 14:36)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul asked that a debilitating thorn be removed from his side (some think approaching blindness), and God told him, “my grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Cor 12:7-8) And Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you imagine the prayers of Mary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think the cross was a satisfactory answer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I would suggest if we want to understand prayer that we go directly to the prayer that Jesus taught us, the one we so often pray in rote without thought or meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our understanding is there:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Our Father.” While the OT God of the disciples was one of fear and judgment, at the most trying time of Jesus’ life, he addressed God as “Abba,” a term of endearment like Daddy, Poppa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like crawling into the lap of your Daddy to tell him your most intimate troubles and to listen to what he is to tell us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Who Art in Heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To the ends of the universe or as close as the air we breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where God is and where he embraces those we love the most and the place where he will take us to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Hallowed by thy name.” A God worthy of adoration, “Worship the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with singing.” We need a phrase or verse of the Psalms on our lips.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Thy Kingdom Come.” The heart of the prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants Eden restored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants our prayerful participation and our hands, heart, and feet in making it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Thy will be done.” The subject of next week’s sermon except to say that if we are to know God’s will, we need to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Part of our prayers, our devotions, are daily walk requires that we listen to God and soak in his guidance for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Give us this day our daily bread.” Our personal petition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One person said God gives us our needs not our wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our needs today so that we don’t get wrapped up is the greed and grasping, the inordinate desire of tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Forgive us our trespasses.” Essential to our relationship with one another and with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let nothing attack our faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here’s what I notice about the prayer that Jesus taught us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere does it ask for miracles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere does it ask for the suspension of the natural laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere does it ask to violate the free will of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere does it ask for God to align his will to ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it seems to me that it does ask us to align our will with God’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Ten years ago in his book </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Why?, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Adam Hamilton closed the chapter on unanswered prayer with this quote from Admiral Chester Nimitz: “I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Prayer changes us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does not ask God to align his will to ours, but asks instead that we align our will to his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May it be so with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-73058495130275049492020-05-09T06:20:00.002-05:002020-05-09T06:20:46.766-05:00THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (4/26/20) “The Problem of Evil” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Ge 2:15-16; 3:6-7; 4:2b-7; Ro 12:9-21) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I love the stories of WWII and the people who sacrificed to save the world. Through them we see the very best in people, but of course through the war, we also see the worst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil exists from the Rape of Nanking to the Holocaust, 75 million people lost their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil was at the heart of the slaughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, evil still exists, with St. Louis murders at an equivalent rate to Venezuela, 60 murders per 100k population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is cheap, even in America where we have so much to live for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We take lives with guns and destroy souls with drugs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We diminish others with hate and retribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The dictionary defines evil as “behavior profoundly immoral or wicked.” We are talking about behavior, the actions of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, we can think of cancer or viruses, but it’s the behavior of people that is evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is part of the human species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alexandr Solzhenitsyn made it plain: “If only it were so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil, that “behavior of human beings that is profoundly immoral or wicked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">John Steinbeck says we only have one story and it is a net the net of good and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And all of our stories from Cain and Abel to Sleeping Beauty bear that out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have all been impacted either in person or heritage by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott Peck (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Road Less Traveled </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">and </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The People of the Lie)</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> describes evil as not just the murder of the body but also the murder of the spirit, “that which deprives us of life or livelihood.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil kills not only life, but the vitality of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Scott Peck says we cannot talk about evil without talking about good, the opposite of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus came that our lives have vitality, “that you may have life and it abundantly.” (John 10:10)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I therefore commend to your study Romans 12, Paul’s chapter on overcoming evil with good: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>9 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Not only that, be passionate about doing good: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>10 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>11 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>12 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>13 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(You need to read and embrace it all.) But he caps it off with: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>21 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In our relationships with one another we have a choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can embrace life, we can lift the spirit of others. We can let love be genuine. We can cling to good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can hate what is evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, or we can be overcome by evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul is telling us to embrace life, lift the spirit of others; and that the only way to overcome evil in this world is to lift the spirit, give life to others and be passionate about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As United Methodists, our baptismal vows call us<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“will you resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the answer is “I do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to be proactive, intentional in confronting evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martin Luther King Jr said, “For evil to succeed., all is required is for good men to do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Maybe the greatest story of story of good and evil in our time is </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Lord of the Rings</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> in which an ordinary hobbit, Frodo, and his fellowship of travelers passionately take on evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author, JRR Tolkien tells us in “Return of the King, “It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We can’t do it all (master the tides), but we can clean the fields where we are in the time we have so that those who come after will have clean soil to till.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe we do that when we “Let love be genuine, hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not be overcome by evil. But overcome evil with good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We are called to clean the soil where we are—with good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s how we address the problem of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-23566004346269750092020-04-20T10:40:00.002-05:002020-04-20T10:40:54.290-05:00WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (4/19/20) “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Job (selected); Ro 8:28; Mt 7:24-27) )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s not a good time to be a pastor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a good time to be a lot of things. A mother for one; a spouse for another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know of those whose children or spouses and in hospice and they cannot be there to hold their hands or to tell them over and over again that they love them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a pastor, I have people whose hands I want to hold and assurance I was to give.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And everyday life goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to be in living rooms or hospital rooms instead of preaching to a blank wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What do think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do bad things happen to good people?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Millions will be hurt by the coronavirus, if not by the disease, then economically, people we know and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And life goes on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cancer that steals life and joy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accidents that take life and limb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stroke, heart attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And here’s what I bet: you know people who believe that if you are faithful, you will be immune from such pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can just pray and the problems will go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know people who have chucked their faith because bad things happen to good people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God is not going to take care of all my concerns, what is religion for?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s in it for me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Let’s make some things clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is not our wind up toy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not our genie in a bottle to give us untold wishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is not our servant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, the opposite is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to serve God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to do God’s will, not the other way around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We’re beginning a new series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adam Hamilton believes every church needs to hear every year a sermon of series dealing with the problem of pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issues of pain, of evil, of unanswered prayer, of discerning the will of God and following him are issues we continually deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, “The problem of Pain: Why do bad things happen to good people?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Where do we start with pain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book of Job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time the writers of Deuteronomy were telling us that God rewards good choices and punishes bad, the writers of Job were just as adamant that injustice exists in the world, that bad things do happen to good people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The story of Job is a simple one even though it runs for 42 chapters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job is a good man and God has rewarded him with children, wealth, herds, houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He loves his family, cares for widows and orphans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even has made a covenant with his eyes that he will not look at women as objects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Job is a good man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But then Satan takes it all away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His children are killed, his cattle stolen, his houses destroyed, his health ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in the midst of this injustice, he remains faithful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">His friends come by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Job, you have sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admit it, repent, and God will restore your health.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Job, you may not know it, but you have sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repent.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Job, your children must have sinned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray, repent for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will restore you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Job is adamant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been unjustly accused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If only he could find God and present his case, he would be acquitted. (23:1-7)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, God answers Job out of the whirlwind, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tell me if you have understanding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With great verbosity, God belittles Job but never answers the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Job, you just don’t understand the responsibilities of the Creator of the universe.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(38:1ff)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Herman Wouk, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">War and Remembrance,</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> in words spoken by Aaron Jastrow says God is at fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That the only hero of the Hebrew Bible is the poor Jew on the ash heap, Job, who remained faithful in suffering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there is a missing piece to the story of justice in the universe and that missing piece is with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God is at fault.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As Christians, we know the missing piece, and it did not show up for another 1500 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Justice would be restored through the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salvation for those who remain faithful in suffering is the missing piece.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We live in a world that is good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost perfect. But floods and earthquakes happen and people are hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our bodies are wonderfully good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But disease happens, and when we confront animals and machines we are harmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do bad things happen?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In part, that is the world we live in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When we lost our son Jeff at the age of 18, Rosemary was angry with God for the next 10 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that means that she believed in a God to be angry with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good people suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus promises to walk through the suffering with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“In all things, God works for the good of those who love him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Romans 8:28 NIV)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does not cause evil, and Is anguished in the face of evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God promises to walk through it with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">God did not want or cause Jeff to be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he walked through the pain with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are here today because of that walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that walk we experienced mercy and blessing and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He changed our lives completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">God’s response is to walk with us and to use us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus healed, Jesus fed, Jesus faced down evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today God’s response is us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When floods and earthquakes occur, he sends us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people are hungry, he sends us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people are victims of cancer or disease, he sends doctors and scientists and asks us to support them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are God’s response to injustice in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God sends us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with the story of the houses built on the rock and on the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the stories of our spiritual houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can best walk with us through the storms of life if we have built our spiritual houses on a rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may it be with all of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-81094483477233386852020-04-13T10:10:00.002-05:002020-04-13T10:10:52.967-05:00WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT EASTER MATTERS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (4/12/20) “What We Believe About Easter Matters” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Is 25:6-10; 1 Th 4:13-17; John 20:1-18)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve picked out the best day ever, a day of heaven on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe Rosemary would have said, or would say, it was the best day of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe she was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I believe in the communion of saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was last year, it was a great feast, as Isaiah would have put it or Jesus when he spoke of the heavenly banquet, it was the day of Toni and Jackson’s wedding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been her idea of heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure she was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the communion of saints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It may be that Holy Communion is the best picture of the communion of saints with Christ as the host and all of his followers at the heavenly banquet and all, past, present and future, connected through the body of Christ at the heavenly banquet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the communion of saints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s Easter and we are in the final sermon of our series on the Apostle’s Creed: I believe in the communion of saints, in the resurrection of the body, and in the life everlasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are the promises of Easter, and what you believe about Easter matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What you believe about Easter will shape who you are, how you will behave, how you treat others, who and how you love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All that is important to you is formed by what you believe about Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I matters because your everlasting life matters, your resurrection matters, your communion with those you will love for all of everlasting life matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And the resurrection of your body matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The very first letter that Paul wrote, the earliest text we have in the bible, even before the gospels, Paul wrote to a group that believed they had missed the resurrection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul wrote to assure them “so that you may not grieve as others do that have no hope.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then he ends with “encourage one another with these words.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See 1 Thess 4:13-17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What made people believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two things: the empty tomb and the appearances of the Risen Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each were necessary but not sufficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together with the personal appearances made the first witnesses so resolute in their beliefs that they were willing to give their lives to tell the world of Jesus and his love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, he called her by name, “Mary.” She replied, “Rabbouni!” a term of endearment for a teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For her, the encounter with the Risen Lord was personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There could be no mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Later in this chapter, doubting Thomas will encounter the Jesus that he insisted he would not believe had risen until he could put his fingers in the nail marks and his hand in his side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus spoke directly to him, inviting him to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There could be no mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Peter, who had denied Jesus, encounters him on the shore of the Seal of Galilee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls him by name: “Simon do you love me more than these?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even a third time Jesus asks and Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know that I love you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was personal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There could be no mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we believe in the resurrection of the body? Which body? In First Corinthians, Paul tells us “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body…?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is sown is perishable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is raised in imperishable….It is sown with a physical body; it is raised with a spiritual body.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus resurrection body could be seen, could walk through walls, could disappear in a blink of an eye, most importantly could be recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will know one another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And we believe in the life everlasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Jn 3:16 KJV) One of Rosemary’s favorite childhood hymns was “Whosoever surely meaneth me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Easter is about the promises of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the communion of saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the resurrection of the body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe in the life everlasting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the promises of God, and they all come true at Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you believe about Easter matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-15803847739932385582020-04-10T08:14:00.002-05:002020-04-10T08:14:17.956-05:00WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT FORGIVENESS MATTERS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (4/5/20) “What We Believe About Forgiveness Matters” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Lk 23:32-34; Ro 5:7-8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What you believe about forgiveness matters. When I started thinking about this topic, I couldn’t get a Gaither’s tune out of my head: “Shackled by a heavy burden,’neath a load of guilt and pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then the hand of Jesus touched me, and I am no longer the same.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I listened to the radio program, “Unshackled,” for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stories of sin, forgiveness, redemption, and new beginnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they always start with forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What do you believe about forgiveness? Does it matter to you? Do you understand that it is free, yet is beyond price? Another hymn: “O Love divine, what hast thou done! The immortal God hath died for me.” For me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paul tells us in Romans, “</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>7 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>8 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” (Ro 5:7-8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We miss the mark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But “I believe in the forgiveness of sins.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in a series on the Apostle’s Creed; this week, The forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And today is Palm Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week is the week of forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holy Week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus enters Jerusalem on the way to the cross for the forgiveness of sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Thursday night he gathers with his disciples for the traditional Passover meal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But his year it is different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He takes the bread, breaks it, blesses it and says, “This is my body, broken for you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After supper he takes the cup, “This is my blood of the New Covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forgiveness of sins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">On Friday, he goes to the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From Luke: When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:33-34)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The very basis of our forgiveness is the forgiveness of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me ask you, what did those who crucified Jesus do to merit forgiveness? Those who convicted him? Those scourged him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who drove the nails? Those you mocked him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did they do to merit forgiveness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer is absolutely nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, for us to judge others, to withhold forgiveness from others, know that Jesus has already forgiven them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The source of our forgiveness is the mighty acts of God in Jesus Christ. In turn, God calls us to forgive others: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so important to our relationships with one another that we forgive one another, that God makes it conditional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the verses following the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Mt 6:14-15)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Forgiveness and forgiving others are essential to our wellbeing, to our relationships with one another and with God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And do you know what? God did not wait for our perfection to forgive us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did not even wait for us to be good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though for a good person someone might actually dare to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But God proved his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Ro 5:7-8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Tim Keller tells us that there are three things we must learn to be in relationship with others: To forgive, to ask for forgiveness, and to receive forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Colossians 3:13 Paul says, “Bear with one another and if any has a complaint against another, forgive each other, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must forgive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Then we must learn to ask, we must learn to receive forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hardest person to forgive may be ourselves, and if we don’t do that, we will never learn to receive forgiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must learn to forgive, to ask for forgiveness, to receive forgiveness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What we believe about forgiveness matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s Palm Sunday, and Jesus in on the way to the cross to forgive us our sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-51711775841093273692020-04-05T08:54:00.001-05:002020-04-05T08:54:59.386-05:00WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THE CHURCH MATTERS<br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Sermon Summary (3/29/20) “What We Believe About the holy catholic Church Matters” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12.0pt;">(Mt<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11:4-5; 16:18; Lk 4:18-21; 1 Ptr 2:9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">In this season of the corona virus, we have become a virtual church. As a pastor, what am I to do with that? We ask the critical question: Whose church is the virtual church? The answer, of course, its Jesus’ church. But of instead of being the hands, heart and feet of Jesus, in a virtual world, we’ve become the Holy Ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do we do now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">What we believe about the church matters. Unfortunately, some believe the church is outmoded, an anachronism, a club without purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A reminder, when Jesus said, “And upon this rock I will build my church,” he wasn’t talking about a building, not our building, not St. Peter’s Basilica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was talking about the holy catholic Church, the universal Church of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Church with a capital “C.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">When you were baptized, you were initiated into the universal church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are part of the royal priesthood of all believers (1 Ptr 2:9)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">We are in a series on the Apostle’s Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, “I believe in the holy catholic church.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we believe about the church matters. Holy catholic church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at each of these words in turn:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">Holy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not perfect, not without flaw.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The OT term means set apart for God’s purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church is God’s and for a purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As part of God’s holy church you have purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">Catholic, with a small “c.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Universal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not Roman Catholic, but the universal, the universal church of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are part of all believers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a building, but the Greek word is ekklesia which means assembly, gathering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are part of the universal gathering of all believers set aside for God’s purposes in Jesus Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">And the Church gives your life purpose, to be the continuing presence of Christ on earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another reason you cannot be a solitary Christian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need the gathering of believers to have purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">As we examine Scripture to seek out the purpose of Jesus’ ministry, we find over and over again, Jesus’ affinity for the poor, the lost, the vulnerable. (Lk 4:18f; Mt 25:31f; Lk 15:3f) and in Mt 11: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 6.9929pt; line-height: 94%;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>5 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blind, the lame, the lepers (certainly physical and religious outcasts of the day), the deaf, and the dead are raised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">“Once you (plural) were no people, now you (plural) are God’s people.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are the universal church, set aside for Jesus’ purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could say, “once you had no purpose, now you have purpose.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You (plural) are the continuation of Jesus’ ministry on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">What are we to do in this time of virtual church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find where God is working and join in both near and far; UMCOR, Catholic Relief, Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world needs our help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And near, the Food Bank (most efficient purchaser of food), food pantries if we are to donate food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Services that help the poorest of the poor in a time when the poor get poorer and the vulnerable become more vulnerable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are not sure, write and check and mail to Jean with missions and half will go to UMCOR and half to the Food Bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But be the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t do it all, but we can do our part knowing that other hands and feet and purses from the universal church will be doing theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">Then there is the ministry we are avoiding, “and the dead are raised.” How do we join in the ministry of Jesus of raising the dead? How? Here’s the answer: We do those things that give life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this time of social separation, cards and calls give life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cards and calls to the isolated in our church and beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A card and a call every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 94%;">When the holy catholic church, the set aside, universal assembly acts like Jesus, Christ will be raised up and people will be drawn to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you believe about the Church matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-66067589387136238172020-03-23T19:57:00.001-05:002020-03-23T19:57:03.704-05:00WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT MATTERS<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"></span>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (3/22/20) “What We Believe About the Holy Spirit Matters” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(John 14:15-17; 26-27; Galatians 5:16-25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Does God talk to us? I mean if we had been there when God told Abraham, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to a land that I will show you” (Gen 12:1) would we have been able to tape record it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What language do you suppose it had been in?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or does God speak to us in other ways?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the heart?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">God has spoken to me in a series of ways that have changed my life completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can recall the first time I visited a church in Monroe, Ct. When I observed the liturgist reading scripture, helping with communion, something inside me said, “You can do that.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few months later, we invited a pastor to the house to talk to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way home that night, I can tell you the turn in the road, the house on the hill, the tree on the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An incredible peace came over me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was putting myself in God’s hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going to do whatever he told me to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That night the pastor talked to me about Lay Speaker school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was God speaking through that pastor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I didn’t know it at the time but these conversations, these nudges would change my life completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were they God speaking to me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We are in a series of sermons on the Apostles’ Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we believe matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, What we believe about the Holy Spirit matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third person of the Trinity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What difference does it make?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">John 14 is one of those amazing passages where Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit, here he calls it by the Greek word, paraclete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Para, meaning along side, and clete, to call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paraclete, to call along side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Newer translations say Advocate; the KJV, the Comforter, recent, the Companion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In John 14, Jesus says he is going away and he is comforting his disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>17 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” (v.16-17) Forever, and then “abides in you, and he will be in you.” Can you imagine anything more intimate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And then in v.26 and 27, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>26 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>27 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teach you everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the turn in the road.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I am not the person I was 35 years ago at the turn in the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believe that God’s redemptive love in human experience is realized through the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call that grace, God’s unmerited love for us that nudges us, saves us, molds us into the person God wants us to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our part is to say, “Yes,” to cooperate with grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We become new creations, on to becoming little Christs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>CS Lewis says that is the whole reason for becoming a Christian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And through that God has changed the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because Christ lived, over the centuries everything has changed, our art, our literature, our philosophies, our governments, how we treat one another in human affairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has all changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the presence of the Holy Spirit, God has changed and continues to change the world we live in and us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In Galatians 5:16-22, we find God changes us from being under the power of the flesh (the power that opposes God’s will for us to love one another) to peoples embodying the “Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he says, “There is no law against such things.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is simply no limit to how much you can love, or how good or kind you can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wouldn’t the world be better off with a little more self-control?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Holy Spirit wants to change us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not us, not what we do, but the Holy Spirit within us when we cooperate, when we say “Yes.” Paul tells in Philippians, “I am confident in this, that the one who began a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So may it be for us all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-53418370185124582442020-03-23T17:31:00.003-05:002020-03-23T17:31:34.807-05:00WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT JESUS MATTERS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (3/15/20) “What We Believe About Jesus Matters” </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 92%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(Matthew 16:13-16; Galatians 1:1-5; The Apostle’s Creed.)</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 87%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I just shake my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recall a conversation with my pastor when I said, “I believe in God, but I’m just not sure about this Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either he was biting his tongue or in his wisdom he knew that I’d figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But I wasn’t the only one. Jesus asked, “Who do people say that I am...who do you say that I am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find out later that Peter didn’t fully understand when he said, “You are the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But who do you say that I am?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in series of sermons on the Apostle’s Creed, the dogma of Christianity, what nearly all believe about our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I believe…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s one thing to believe, quite another to change our hearts, change our behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What you believe about Jesus matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Many today say it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The largest growing religious group in America are the “None of the Aboves” the “Nones.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet it is a consensus from non-biblical sources that Jesus lived, walked, taught, was crucified at the hands of Pontius Pilate, that his disciples reported that he rose from the dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Nones” would say that is myth, legend, made up four centuries later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to show you that what we say in the Apostle’s Creed was believed weeks, months, or a few short years after his death if not at the time of his death by hundreds of people and surely by his disciples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The miracles of Jesus were to show that he was divine, power over the spirit world, “Who is this that even the unclean spirits obey him?” Power over disease by healing Peter’s mother-in-law; no one can forgive sins but God; Power over chaos (creation), “Who is this that even the winds and the waves obey him?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those who followed Jesus, he was the divine Son of Godl <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The earliest creed of the more than likely dating from 35 to 35 ad was “Jesus is Lord.” (1 Cor 12:3) The sign of the fish, IXTHUS, “Jesus Christ, God’s Son, Savior,” was from the late first century.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 2d or 3d century came the Old Roman Symbol, nearly identical to the Apostle’s Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lastly, Paul’s introduction to the Galatians states “Jesus is Lord,” “Jesus is Son,” “Jesus is Christ,” “Jesus gave himself up for our sins,” “Jesus died for us,” “Jesus rose again,” all as Creed which had to be part of the church by 40 ad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians and Colossians have hymns of he early church declaring the divinity of Christ that have to range from the 40s ad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So what do you believe about Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he is Savior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he died for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he rose again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what the Apostles believed and they would go to their deaths before they would recant of their beliefs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Who is this that even the unclean spirits obey him, that forgives sins, that even the winds and waves obey him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That gave himself up for me, for me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is the source of everlasting life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we believe about him matters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-58243403450275108872020-03-23T16:17:00.002-05:002020-03-23T16:17:19.653-05:00WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT GOD MATTERS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (3/8/20) “What We Believe About God Matters” (Psalm 8; Genesis 1:1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Let me believe.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only prayer for three years following the death of our son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came to believe in phases.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, as a Deist, one who believed that God exists but has left life to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of our Founding Fathers were Deists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What they believed mattered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God was not involved, the good world was up to them and they had high expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">My son challenged me, “If Jesus came and stood before you, you’d believe in a personal God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In essence he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God exists, it made sense that God exists, it takes far more faith not to believe than to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made sense too that if God us Creator, that he would want to reconcile creation to himself and do so by becoming like us, and do so with the greatest act of love that one can do for another and this is to give his life for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if He would do that, He is a very personal God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The problem is that so many are rejecting or ignoring God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They don’t give him the time of day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there are those who are practical Atheists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They believe in God but it has no impact on the way they live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 97%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Where are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where are you on the spectrum of belief?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We say in the Creed: “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This sermon is the beginning of a six part sermon series on the Apostle’s Creed, “I Believe,” in Latin, “Credo.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we believe matters as does how casual our believe is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can say, “I believe the Cardinals are going to win the World Series.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fan Faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has little to do with my behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can get a little political, “I believe in the Second Amendment.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or like the Founding Fathers: “We hold these truths to be self-evident….to which we pledge our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish our Christian faith was so.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 87%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When we read the Psalms, we are reading the words of passionate believers, “When I look at the stars, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can feel the passion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what’s gone wrong? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In the 18th century, science emerged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Science became our god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 19th century, the “Origin of the Species.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evolution became our god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 20th Century, the Big Bang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some saw no need for god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 21st </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 97%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">century, ardent Atheist authors who see religion as the source of all evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 97%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet the dozens of clues that God has left in the universe overwhelmingly convince me that there is a God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s just five: The Big Bang, proposed by a Catholic Priest tells us rather than being eternal, that the universe came from nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would declare that that nothing is God (I’m not alone).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, “Creation” itself declares the glory of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A baby wrapping its tiny fingers around my pinkie is a huge clue to the existence of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thirdly, CS Lewis examines the “moral law “and finds a higher standard in almost every group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, there is no philosophical reason for the “order of the universe,” that water boils at the same temperature each day, or that an apple falls at the same acceleration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the finetuning of the universe for life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The personal God of the Bible exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 87%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">believe matters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-25664796072526251982020-02-25T05:06:00.002-06:002020-02-25T05:06:35.157-06:00A NEW WAY OF SEEING
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (2/23/20) “A New Way of Seeing” (Matthew 5:38:48)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When I was in Connecticut, I traveled a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would drive to LaGuardia, catch the 6:00 am shuttle, then the Metro and I’d be in Washington for a 7:00 am meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spend the day in meetings and return at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day when the traffic was heavy, I found myself in the middle lane and needed to get over in plenty of time to take the airport exit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I slid into the right lane I watched the driving in the car behind me carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t paying attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he looked up and saw me he went berserk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thought I had cut him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got along side me, then tried to get in ahead of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought he was going to run me off the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feared for my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Now I don’t know whether there was ever donkey rage on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, but I think Jesus would have said, “Check out my stories in Matthew 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need a new way of seeing.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here’s my question of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you feel comfortable for any reason whatsoever running somebody off the road?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would your default position be retaliation, or would you be kind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the answer is you would turn the other fender, then 2000 years of teaching has made progress in transforming you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have become the kind of person that wouldn’t do such a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus said, “Turn the other check,” he not only wanted to transform you, but through you, to transform the other guy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When Jesus said, “Be perfect,” he was saying that over the course of time with the work of the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace that you would become the kind of person that would turn the other cheek, give the shirt of your back, go the extra mile and through you begin the transformation of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants you to be transformed, and he wants you in the transformation business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">God is in the transforming business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to be in the business of transforming others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we place ourselves in grace, when we say “Yes” to grace, God moves towards his perfection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This coming week, begins Lent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a good time to decide how we might let God shape our lives in the coming 40 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Wesley suggested the following means of grace: </span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gathering in worship: Commit to gather in community.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Ministry of the Word, read or expounded.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Supper of the Lord.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Family and prayer<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Study of Scripture: meditating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you asked each of the 40 days, What would it mean for me today to go the extra mile?<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fasting or abstinence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Making way for God.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In 1942 a book was released about the Roman soldier that supervised the crucifixion of Jesus then won his Robe in a dice game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It first drove him mad, then in search of healing he followed the footsteps of Jesus he was healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stories of Jesus transformed him and in turn many he met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book was </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may the stories of Jesus change us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-45086171436693134652020-02-24T15:19:00.002-06:002020-02-24T15:19:08.595-06:00WAS JESUS A PACIFIST?
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (2/16/20) “Was Jesus a Pacifist?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:21-24; James 2:8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">For most of my professional life, I was a soldier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never used my personal weapon in anger although when I flew, I had five artillery batteries, 30 howitzers, at my command and I frequently directed their fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My actions in combat were responsible for taking the lives of others, maybe even innocents since howitzer shells do not discriminate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As I’ve gotten deeper and deeper into my faith, I ask myself was I wrong to have such a career?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We believed we were honorable men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was I right? Was Jesus a pacifist?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is war ever just?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People of faith have been asking similar questions over the centuries and have come down on both sides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">There are always unintended consequences in war.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only need to look at our recent past and current situation around the world where we see literally millions of people killed, wounded, maimed or displaced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet, I would not consider myself a pacifist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there ever was a just war, WWII was it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest generation are my heroes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been impossible to ignore the genocide of 10s of millions of people in Europe and China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The greatest generation accomplished more good than we know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet when I read a novel or watch a movie and hear someone say, “That person deserved to die,” it sets my teeth on edge (a biblical phrase, see Jeremiah).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve often said, “You will never look into the eyes of someone that God does not love.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope I’m never comfortable with the death of another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Where do you stand on the intentionally taking of a life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly the Old Testament makes room for retaliation including the institution of capital punishment for certain offenses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But Jesus, God incarnate, is telling us God’s will behind the law: “You have heard it said, “Thou shalt not murder, but I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother or sister….”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anger, insult, contempt diminish us as well as the taking of a life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other person is important to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To paraphrase John Donne, God is in the business of mankind and he wants us to be in the business of mankind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are diminished by another’s death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are diminished when we treat another with contempt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The royal law is “love your neighbor as yourself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is quoted by Jesus even more often than the commandment to love God with all our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he sums up the Sermon on the Mount with the Golden Rule, “Therefore, do to others as you would have them to do you, for this is the law and the prophets.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In choosing, we need to use all of Scripture,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Golden Rule as well as “An eye for an eye.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to look at the traditions of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to listen to the Holy Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to reason, using the mind that God gave us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is about choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost all of our decisions effect others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus tells us that the overriding principle we should apply is love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the loving thing to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love our neighbor as ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-76957452087927598462020-02-22T07:38:00.003-06:002020-02-22T07:38:53.586-06:00EXCEEDING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (2/09/20) “Exceeding the Righteousness of the Pharisees”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:13-20; 7:21,24)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">For the past two weeks or so, we’ve said that everyone has a god, whether God Almighty or a small g god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever is primary in our lives, whatever drives our behavior is our god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s another shocker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is someone’s disciple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all mimic someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We pattern our lives after someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We adopt their values.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it starts young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is it that we can make our children think, “When I grow up, I want to be like Jesus.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d suggest you search youtube for Patrick Mahomes and faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But who do you want to be like when you grow up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whose disciple do you want to be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, who wants you as a role model?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do others see in you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they see you “let your light so shine” that they want to give glory to God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To do so Jesus challenges to have a righteousness that exceeds the scribes and the Pharisees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then tells how he is going to help us do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here’s the answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all about changing our hearts, taking on the heart of Jesus, changing from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later, Jesus challenges Pharisees to “clean the inside of the cup so that the outside will be clean as well.” (Mt 23:25-26)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The target of the Sermon on the Mount is to create in us a new heart such that we will “enter by the narrow gate.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That we will “bear good fruit.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will never get apples from a tree unless it has apple sap flowing through its veins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motivation of the whole Sermon on the Mount is to change who we are from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Let me be clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not doing this to save ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only grace can do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, we cannot change ourselves from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, only grace can do that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we place ourselves in the hands of grace, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, will change who we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we want to be his disciple, when he becomes our role model, when we follow him, we will be changed from the inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, he is with us always, even to the end of the age. (Mt 28:20)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus has another plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He intends for us to be light and salt in a world of darkness and a world without zest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He intends for the changed us to transform the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His intention is for us to have “Sparkle” when we enter a room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what the Holy Spirit wants to do in you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Remember the gift of the Spirit? (Gal 5:22-23) “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>23 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I love that last line.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There can never be too much love or too much kindness or how would you like a world filled with self-control?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see what sparkle is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How? We place ourselves in grace; we drink in the words and life of Jesus, we “ingest it, inscribe it on our hearts and minds, we fuse it to the very depths of our being.” (Karen Armstrong, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Recovering the Sacred Text.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We clean the inside of the cup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We follow Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-56364375606979160062020-02-15T12:34:00.003-06:002020-02-15T12:34:12.256-06:00WHO ARE TRULY BLESSED?
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (2/02/20) “Who Are the Truly Blessed?”<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 5:1-12; Ephesians 2:8-9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Blesses are the meek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a manly country, rugged individualists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the Marlboro man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The one, the proud, the Marine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But blessed are the meek<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always had interpreting the Beatitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are the blessed?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, I think Matthew had problems, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke recalls Jesus’ saying as “Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew must have had some rich friends, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs in the kingdom of Heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think Matthew had difficulty interpreting who was blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Maybe here’s the bigger question?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who has access to the kingdom of God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it take to get into heaven?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here’s another question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve always wondered, did Paul get it right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are we saved by grace through faith? (Eph 2:8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you know word, “grace,” does not show up in Matthew, Mark and Luke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where does Jesus say we are saved by grace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does Jesus require of us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poverty?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meekness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we need to be persecuted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Must we be in a continual state of mourning?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s what Jesus says in Luke, “Woe to you that are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would joy keep us from the kingdom of God?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Where is the message of grace in the Gospels?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, right here in the Beatitudes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to picture the setting of the Sermon on the Mount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus on the mountain surrounded by his disciples,; then the whole mountainside filled with the “sat upon, spat upon, ratted upon,” to use the phase of Simon and Garfunkel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was show and tell time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see Jesus walking through the crowd, placing his hands on the ragged, “Blessed are the poor”; on the downtrodden, “Blessed are the meek”; on the crying, “Blessed are those that mourn.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">These people do not gain entry because of their status, but because of the grace of Jesus Christ and the great faith they are displaying by being on the mountain with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a story of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no payment they can make to get into heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no joy they can display.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even their righteousness would do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were devoid of religion, unable to read the scrolls if they even knew what the scrolls were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were “saved by grace through faith, it was not of your own doing so that no one could boast.” (Eph 2:8-9) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus has just turned the worldly standard upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Beatitudes are the Gospel’s statement of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is saying, “Hear the good news, there is nothing you can do save yourselves, it has already been done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We then need to do everything we can to protect our faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to remember our baptismal vows: “Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to say “Yes” continually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to “Repent” continually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place our lives before the Holy Spirit to examine our motives, “Did I trust Christ today, or did I depend on myself as my only guide?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are followers of Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let our lives so demonstrate that faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do everything you can to protect your faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-76967060029734271472020-02-08T09:59:00.003-06:002020-02-08T09:59:33.604-06:00IT BEGINS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (1/26/20/) “It Begins” (Matthew 4:12-23)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s the last Sunday in January, last chance for resolutions. My hunch is that any you made on Jan 1 have already been discarded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never too late, today is a day for new beginnings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day is a day for new beginnings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In fact, I’m going to do something I’ve never done before, lead you in the hymn of response before the introduction to the sermon is over: “This is a Day of New Beginnings” (UMH 383 or http://tiny.cc/AllThingsNew). Verse 4: “Christ is alive and goes before us to show and share what love can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a day of new beginnings; our God is making all things new.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look it up, drink it in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">By the way, the sermon title, “It Begins,” refers to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, but as you will see, there are many other beginnings we will refer to today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Here’s your question: What do you need to start over?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is holding you back?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our Scripture today, Jesus announces his ministry by saying, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is near.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is what is stopping you your inability to repent, examine your life, change, turnaround?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben Franklin allotted time each evening to examine his day with on of 13 virtues. (One being humility, but he said that once he had conquered humility, he became proud of his humility, thus losing on the virtue of pride.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your prayer life, that included repentance or confession may be stopping your new beginning. Begin again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Or might it be your discipleship?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three years ago we had a sermon series on discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may be time to repeat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it an element of discipleship that is holding you back?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worship, Hospitality, Opening to Jesus, Obeying Jesus, the Service of Jesus, Generosity?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is one of these stopping you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, everything single one of them is an opportunity to begin again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Our Scripture for today, “It begins,” is a call for repentance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So also in Mark, and then Luke begins the ministry of the church in Acts with Peter saying, “Repent, everyone of you and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus so that your sins may be forgiven”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make new start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John begins Jesus ministry with Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night and Jesus telling him, “You must be born anew.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus begins his ministry by calling for new beginnings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyday is a day for new beginnings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">How are we to begin? I would suggest by beginning everything with prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A model we’ve used is ACTS: Adoration (“I will praise the Lord with my whole heart” (Ps 9:1-2)), Confession (“Search me and know my heart,” Ps 139:23-34)), Thanks giving (Ps 9:1 again)), and Supplication (“But in everything with prayer and supplication” (Phil 4:6))<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we memorize these verses, take them to heart, we can flash them to God in everything we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can make everything we do a new beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Or I would recommend that you journal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We know of the spiritual life of the heroes of our faith because they made new starts and journaled about it. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 95%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">David, after his terrible acts with Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Sam 11&12), journaled his confession in Ps 51, God gave him a new beginning. So with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 94%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-36604136298252923522020-01-31T20:56:00.002-06:002020-01-31T20:56:54.547-06:00THE POWER OF ONE
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (1/19/20/) “The Power of One” (John 1:29-42)</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Mission of the United Methodist Church (and this church) is “To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Question: What is the most transformational thing you’ve ever done?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, probably Habitat for Humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A warm dry place for a family to lay their heads is transformational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And did you know that Habitat for Humanity began with one man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, one couple when Linda Fuller challenged her self-possessed millionaire husband to take his faith seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they gave all their wealth away and began one of the most transformative ministries ever.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The priorities of the Missouri Conference are to 1) Identify and nurture missional leaders, 2) Start new places for new people, and 3) Create pathways out of poverty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter two require the missional leaders identified in priority one.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So what is the impact of a single invitation, a single person?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our story today, Andrew and John are disciples of John the Baptist first, and when John sees Jesus and says, “The lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world,” they approach Jesus and say “Teacher, where are you staying (same word as ‘abide’).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls them by saying “Come and See.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they remained (same word as abided) with him all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day, Andrew finds his brother, Simon Peter, and says “We have found the Messiah (the Christ).”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter accepted the invitation and that changed the shape of the first century Christian community and Christianity forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The power of a single invitation to a family member.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Who might be the missional leaders in your surroundings that could be transformational?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might be the obvious candidates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or they might be the humble version of Christ that lead through humble service. “The last shall be first and servant of all.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They might be those that are just compelled to do that drag those around them along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finding them may only take a single invitation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Power of One.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And sometimes God provides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a case in point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when we were talking of New Places or New People, such a leader came along.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And we might find that person among us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, I was invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You need to go to Sarah Smith’s class.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The district director of lay speaking ministries that eventually became my mentor.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mid-State district has a Basic Course on Mar 21st and an Advanced Class, “Christian Transformational Leaders,” on Apr 4th.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage as many of you as possible to attend one or both of them.</span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Leadership may be quite different that you imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus spelled it out for James and John in Mark 10 when they were looking for the perks of leadership, only to be told that “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wills to be first among you must be their slave.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love of Jesus so demonstrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-68002937043750050612020-01-25T17:08:00.002-06:002020-01-25T17:08:27.519-06:00EPIPHANY: CHRIST'S PRESENTATION TO THE WORLD
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (1/5/20/) “Epiphany: Christ’s Presentation to the World.” (Mt 2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“The Twelfth Day of Christmas….Twelve Drummers Drumming.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Twelfth Day, the last day of Christmas is a noisy day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow, also Jan 6th is Epiphany, in some places in the world bigger than Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first story Matthew gives us after the birth, the presentation of the Christ child to the world, to the “Magi,” the outsiders more than likely from Persia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what is the last story in Matthew? Jesus’ Great Commission: make disciples of all nations. The bookends of the Good News, the presentation to the nations and the call to go to all the nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s my take: Matthew’s Gospel excludes no one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So, I have to ask myself, “who am I excluding?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Jesus is Savior of the World, and we are called to make disciples of all the world, who am I excluding?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, even our enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told “God so loved the world.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who do I exclude intentionally or because I don’t give them second though or because they don’t share my values or they don’t belong to my tribe or maybe because they hate me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Maybe here’s a New Year’s Question for me: Who should I include?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the year 2020, who should I include that I exclude?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Stephen Covey (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Seven Habits) </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">says that we all have a circle of concern and that we should work to make our circle of influence approach our circle of concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What do you suppose God’s circle of concern looks like?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should the circle of influence of his Church look like?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">On Christmas Eve we did not take an offering, but I recommended that all write two checks, one to a worthy charity close to home, and other at a distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we expand our circle of influence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See where God is working in the world and join in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As a South Dakotan living far from home, I too often exclude the Native Americans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t consider them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, the most caring Christmas message I received this year was from my Native American friend who grew up on the Pine Ridge Reservation and now lives in Alaska.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet I </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 97%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">exclude the Native Americans from my consideration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I look to see where God is working, I can find the Red Cloud Jesuit School on the Reservation that is transforming. I can join in. I can include them with a little effort on my part.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 87%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">If the Church of Jesus Christ, the Body of Christ, looked, we can fill God’s Circle of Concern with our Influence, whether refugee camps, girls schools in Asia, impoverished people in Latin America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can find a way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Individually, we can’t do it all, but because we are a connected church, we can do our part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Epiphany is a manifestation, an appearance, it is Christ’s revelation to the whole world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no longer Greek, nor Jew, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who should we include in 2020?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can we embrace them even if they are beyond our embrace?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See where God is working in the world and join in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-64885584420401440522020-01-18T17:28:00.003-06:002020-01-18T17:28:20.126-06:00CARING FOR A CHILD NOT YOUR OWN
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (12/29/19) “Caring for a Child Not Your Own” (Mt 1 and 2 selected)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I grew up in town of less than a thousand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I did something wrong, my parents knew it before I got home from school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family, the church, the school, even main street were involved in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister–in-law said even the post master, she couldn’t buy a stamp as a kid without saying please and thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I realize that Dad’s implement business employed a lot of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took his employees seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember Dad taking me to a house early one Thanksgiving morning (and shortly after a delivery of a baby).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were Christmas bonuses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His legacy to me was always to find ways to care without fanfare and with dignity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kids in our town were valued.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Charles Dickens’ England was a time and place that valued children little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">A Christmas Carol</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> changed that and a crippled child, Tiny Tim, “God bless us everyone,” changed our thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What do you suppose it was like growing up in a town of 200, 2000 years ago, Nazareth of Galilee?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To carry an illegitimate child?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did the community say? Was it a mysterious child of the Holy Spirit as the angel said?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would it be adopted by the community?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A glimpse of Jesus at 12 where his parents believed he was playing with the children of the caravan would indicate he was a child of the community. (Luke 2)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">But whose child was it in the eyes of Joseph?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly Joseph responded to the angel, married Marry, protected the child, raised it as his own when even the genealogy of the community did not recognize him as the child’s father: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>16 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. (Mt 1:16)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the father of Jesus but the husband of Mary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Christmas is a reminder that it takes a community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coyote Hills in Harrisburg may be an example of Larry McDaniel and his wife providing for over 40 foster children at a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend of mine fostered a family of five and later adopted them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may not be able to take in foster children ourselves, but Christmas is a reminder that those that do need our support.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And we were blessed with the opportunity this Christmas to support a family with a disabled child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you for making that possible, Samantha.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">This Christmas is also a season of Mister Rogers with his movie in theaters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his 32 years he impacted generations of elementary school children emphasizing developing of the child psyche and moral and ethic values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">(At this point we viewed “The Time Shop” (http://tiny.cc/Timeshop).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It is reminder that maybe our greatest gift is a gift of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The community, foster parents, even Mister Rogers looking into the living rooms of our homes saying, “I’m going to give you my time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may it be for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-946712227763739792020-01-04T15:39:00.000-06:002020-01-04T15:39:00.286-06:00WHY WE NEED CHRISTMAS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (12/24/) “Why We Need Christmas” (Lk 2:1-15)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I’m going to begin by answering the title question, “Why we need Christmas?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally, you would have to wait at least half way through the message to get the answer, but the answer is so important, I’m going to give it to you now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here it is: “We need Christmas because Jesus is the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart.” (repeat)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Why do we miss that? Why do we not see that? We cannot see the need for Jesus until we see ourselves, until we see our human condition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">People in New York City cannot imagine how a 13 year old stabbed and killed a beautiful young college freshmen, Tessa Majors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can one of their own, a 13 year old take a life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you suppose he had gone to church? Had been in Sunday School since a young age? That his friends had learned right and wrong from the stories of Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As I was writing this, I received a call from a friend asking how I was doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 95%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">He knows that Christmas is a difficult time for those in grief and that Jesus is the only answer to my deepest longings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank my God for the caller.</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-char-tracking: 87%; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">You see, the Christmas story really begins in Genesis, in the garden, with the giving of free will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gave us the ability to choose and instructions and a conscience to know right from wrong, but it is the human condition that even when we know things that cause harm to ourselves or others, we choose to do the harmful thing anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus, in the story of the Good Shepherd, tells us that there are false shepherds, imposters that care only for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Jesus is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus concludes by saying, “I come that you have life and it to the full.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other translations say, “life and it abundantly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that what we want for our children, our grandchildren, “live abundantly”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">John Wesley was asked, “How do we avoid the wrath to come?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always thought of “the wrath to come” as the judgment, but there is “wrath” in this life, too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Wesley gathered those followers of Jesus into small groups to look over one another in love who would ask “how is it with your soul” and “what temptations have you faced and how have you dealt with them?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he gave them three rules to follow: “First do no harm (it is almost impossible to undo the consequences of harm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be forgiven, yes, but the consequences remain).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, to good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And third, stay in love with God (pray, read the bible, worship God.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We read in the papers every day of shattering actions that crush our Christmases because of bad choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t the gift of good choices the very best gift we can give ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I come that you have life and it abundantly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart in this world and the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 96%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We need to hear the angels proclaim the “Good news of Great Joy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to believe the shepherds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to say, “Yes,” and to unwrap the gift of Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is the answer to our deepest longings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-1014590224502625232019-12-13T09:40:00.002-06:002019-12-13T09:40:50.961-06:00CHRIST THE KING
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (11/24//19) “Christ the King” (John 12:9-19; <br />
Lk 23:33-43)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Christ the King Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does it look like for us to make Christ King?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A life striving to be filled with the love of God and neighbor, obeying Jesus, and walking as he walked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we do that, we are submitting to his authority, making him first in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Why are we so reluctant to do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Primarily, we have other things we want to put first: Ourselves, those we love, as teenagers, those to whom we are attracted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Adam Hamilton admitted one Sunday that as a teenager, there were things he placed first and it had to do with marriage, a reason he got married at 18.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is easy to place God behind spouse, family, life, and if we are really honest with ourselves, even materialism, but especially self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are surrounded by idols, or what we make as idols.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Christ the King Sunday is a reminder of how we are to “Order our loves.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Jesus’ day, kings were big deals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they said “come,” you came; if they said “go,” you went; they literally held life in their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caesar was king of kings, literally known as “king of kings and lord of lords.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Christians game Jesus that tile, “King of kings and Lord of Lords,” making Christ King, they were placing their very lives in jeopardy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet that is what they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day was Christ the King day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every day, they ordered their loves to make Christ first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We have been looking at unique passages from Luke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we also look at Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday where he is declared king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also see a relationship between his entrance and the last of John’s signs, the raising of Lazarus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Pharisees saw the people’s declaration of Jesus as King directly related to his “sign” of raising Lazarus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said, “You see, you can do nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look the world has gone after him.” (John 12:19)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">John wrote his book using “signs” so that we may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ and so believing, have life in his name.” (John 20:31)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These signs were performed 2000 years ago and the people took them to heart (moved their intellectual understanding to a believe in the heart that changed their behavior).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s our task today, to read, reflect, ponder, meditate on the stories of Jesus that we move our intellectual understanding through intense mental activity that affects the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what John means by “believe.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and in so believing have life in his name.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than an intellectual understanding, but behavior changing heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We have choices to make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our reading from Luke is the story of the two thieves, one of whom mocked Jesus, the other who said, “Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus replies to him, and to us who so order our loves, “today you shall be with me in paradise.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 98%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">So may we make Christ the King of our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-88499560458498618132019-11-27T06:36:00.000-06:002019-11-27T06:36:51.279-06:00SHREWD
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (11/17/19) “Shrewd” (Lk 16:1-9)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">A dozen years ago, I met a young pastor, Mike Rayson, and we connected on many levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we met, he was in the midst of grieving the loss of his son, Sam, in a horse accident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next, he was an Aussie, Australian, an ordained pastor in the Uniting Church that I often attended on my many trips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years later, Rosemary and I attended a worship service planned and led by Mike, the most wonderful and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>meaningful worship service we ever attended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then found that Mike had been appointed to a Methodist Church in Granite City, IL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Rosemary was still with me, we would travel the three hours just to attend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Then in March, I found that Mike had been relieved of his credentials by his bishop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you were a pastor one day and did not have a church the next?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike started a church, and within two months it was every bit the church that he was forced from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would suggest, shrewdly, using all the wiles of the world around him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What if you arrived and the church was locked, or maybe just a green space?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knock on doors, yes, but use all the technology available to create a worshiping community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shrewdly, with all the wiles of the world around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Today, we are looking at a parable unique to Luke, “The Dishonest Manager,” maybe the most difficult of Jesus’ teachings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be careful to not treat it as an allegory, attributing roles, eg. God, us, others to the all the characters with multiple teaching points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Prodigal Son is an allegory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dishonest Manager is a parable with a single teaching point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we treat it as an allegory, we will be confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>8 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the heart of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll leave the reading of the rest to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are to be shrewd in our ministry and our evangelism, using the wiles of the culture around us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s another passage that may convince you: “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What should we be doing to bring others to Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are churches that don’t yet allow instruments to accompany them because Paul’s church in Philippi didn’t have one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about us?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do we use the culture around us to draw the community to Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">On November 3rd. 17.000 people gathered for worship at the Forum in Los Angeles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was the leader?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Would you be shocked to learn it was Kanye West?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One 17 year old, interviewed following the service, said, “I’ve never been in church before in my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve just never considered it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess I’ll have to be open to God now.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We aren’t going to gather tens of thousands, but we can be children of the light even while using the wiles of the children of the age to bring the message of hope and eternal life to a people who desperately need Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may it be with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-34158211050393279232019-11-23T12:45:00.003-06:002019-11-23T12:45:37.990-06:00ALL IN
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (11/10/19) “All In” (Lk 14:25-33)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Rosemary and I used to drive by an unfinished house everytime we went back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mark, the son of a high school classmate, never finished the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never understood either the cost of finishing the house or the price of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">My primary source for this sermon is </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Cost of Discipleship</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"> by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without Christ, living and incarnate.” I would like to say that I’m a student of the book but it is too challenging for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the classic line from the book is “When Christ calls a person, he bids him come and die.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Bonhoeffer entered adulthood with the rise of Hitler. In 1930, he spent a year at Union Seminary in NYC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fellow negro student introduced him to Harlem, Abyssinian Baptist Church, the Rev. Clayton Powell, and the plight of black people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Harlem, he learned of oppression from the bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He returned to the land of Beethoven and Bach with records of Negro spirituals, I’m sure something never before heard there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When Hitler consolidated power in 1934, he instituted fraudulent elections in the church placing supporters throughout the state church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bonhoeffer became part of the “Confessing Church,” a resistance movement to reclaim the theology of the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as a pacifist, he became part of the conspiracy to remove Hitler saying, “When seeing a madman starting to drive a car into a crowd, one does not wait for it to be over to then minister to the dead in dying, one tried to wrest the steering wheel from the hands of the madman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was imprisoned in 1943, then alleged to be part of the July 20, 1944, attempt on Hitler’s life, and was hung on April 9, 1945, two weeks before his prison was liberated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Bonhoeffer walked the walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t all be martyrs; we can’t all go to the cross; we can’t all die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we can all be “All in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Bonhoeffer, grace which God offers through the cross was infinitely costly and should not be accepted cheaply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cheap grace was first and foremost grace without discipleship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Our Scripture passage ends with “So therefore, none of you can be my disciples if you do not give up all your possessions.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This had nothing to do with possessions, it is about ordering our loves:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus first, then family, then life itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be “all in.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Recall Jesus’ parables and the treasure found in the field, and the pearl of great worth where in their joy the finders sold all their had and bought the whole field bought the pearl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">When Jesus says we must hate father and mother, and even life itself, he is using Mid-eastern hyperbole, extreme exaggeration to make a point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what he does mean is that we have to choose, we have to order our loves, there is no other way but to go “all in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We start or restart from where we are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We choose to be disciples and we immerse ourselves in grace that will lead us to where God wants us to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may it be with all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-89528834148960082072019-11-23T12:45:00.000-06:002019-11-23T12:45:12.150-06:00LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAY
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (11/3/19) “Lord, Teach Me to Pray” (Lk 11:1-8)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Did I tell you about my granddaughter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After living with her wedding sermon for three weeks, I couldn’t get it out of my head to get going this week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Wednesday I finally decided the direction I was going, but found a book on Prayer and spent all day Wed and Thu reading it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get to my sermon until Fri, the slides Sat, the bulletin Sat morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even while walking the dog, I had the wedding sermon in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">It did include a passage about prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Prayer includes God in you lives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a means of grace by which God changes us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a means by which God nurtures a relationship with us, affects our hearts, leads from where we are to where God is leading us to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bishop asked a ministry candidate, “Are you going on to Christian Perfection?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said, “No.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bishop quickly replied, “Then where are you going?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are followers of Jesus Christ, what is our destination?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is one of those tools God uses to lead us there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus said, “</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;">When you pray, say ‘Father</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">..’” With this first word, Jesus had already turned the disciples world upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From an Old Testament God that was feared, “Moses, you go up on the mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in fear of meeting God face to face.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus gave us a personal God, one who was Abba, Daddy, Poppa, a God with whom we can have a personal relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture your prayers that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">‘</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;">Father, hallowed be thy name</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus is calling with this first phrase to Order our Loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do that with Praise and Adoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We begin our worship, both corporate and private with words of adoration, a Call to Worship or a Psalm in private, “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, I will tell of his wonderful deeds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be glad and exult in him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will sing praises to his name O most High.’” (Ps 9:1-2)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adoration and Praise encourages us to make God first in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Order our loves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If God is not first in our lives, he cannot change us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">‘</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;">Thy kingdom come</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">.’ We are called to bring our will into alignment with God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do that when we read Scripture and come to know the life and teachings of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are called as part of our devotional to meditate, to ponder passages that have leaped off the page at us during our reading,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meditation is defined as “affecting the heart through intensive use of the mind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When verses touch us, God changes our minds, we take on the mind of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our will comes into line with God’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kingdom come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Adoration and praise, scripture reading, meditation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none; text-decoration: underline; text-underline: single;">Give us this day, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; line-height: 95%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">our daily bread.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are now ready to pray, to petition God for the needs of the world, the church, our own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are learning to pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a life long process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is teaching us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we are learning he tells us in the story to be persistent in prayer (really, to be shameless in our prayer!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to God, feel his will for our prayers, but be shameless in our requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prayer is cooperating with grace, cooperating with the Holy Spirit, cooperating with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God has created a world in which prayer is a vital part of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-82466583851754162612019-11-02T16:06:00.001-05:002019-11-02T16:06:47.766-05:00MOSES: REMEMBER, PASS IT ON
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (10/20/19) “Moses: Remember, Pass It On”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Isaac Asimov (world renowned science-fiction writer) says that Deuteronomy may be the most important book not only in the Bible, but in the world!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without it being found 30 years before the exile, the Jewish faith may have been lost and Western civilization completely reshaped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book is the final speeches of Moses, it is worth reading in a single sitting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">In Chapter 5, he retells the Ten Commandments and in Chapter 6 delivers the Shema “(Hear) O Israel the Lord your God is One, and you shall love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The prayer that will be said twice a day by the Jewish people through the ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember who your God is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he says to pass it on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“These words that I command you this day shall be upon your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You shall talk of them as you sit in your house and as you walk by the way, as you rise up and as you lie down.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">As importantly, we are to visualize the commands of God as we go through life: “You shall bind them as a sign upon your hands, put them as a frontlet between your eyes, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gate.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With every act of your hands, everything you see with your eyes, as you go out into God’s world and return, remember!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The Israelites took this literally and made </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: italic; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Tephellin, </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">small boxes to place near their heats, bind to their hands, and place on their foreheads during prayer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, a remembrance of God’s law; a demonstration to pass it on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Moses was fearful that in times of prosperity, that the people of Israel would forget God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In chapter 8 he says, “Take care lest you forget...and say in your heart “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are consequences to forgetting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John Wesley, 3000 years later, was fearful that we would forget and become a church with the form of religion without the power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As attendance at Christian churches in America diminishes year after year, we can see that happening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We need to remember and pass it on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">On of my gurus, Dallas Willard, prayed the Lord’s Prayer and the 23rd Psalm each day in he bed before rising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then by the time his feet hit the floor, God was a part of his day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With morning and evening prayer and table grace three times a day, we are remembering that God is part of the little things in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Rosemary’s favorite show was “Blue Bloods,” primarily because of the Sunday dinner scene each week where grace was said and problems of life discussed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her youngest niece and her husband ask their children each evening at the table their highs and lows of the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They celebrate the highs with gratitude and pray for the lows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are remembering that God is part of the little things in life and passing it on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So may it be with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2757623288475164892.post-13704292440597970642019-10-21T20:19:00.001-05:002019-10-21T20:19:06.755-05:00MOSES: TEN COMMANDMENTS
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12.0pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Sermon Summary (10/13/19) “Moses: Ten Commandments: (Ex 20:1-17)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">I’ve often wondered which of the commandments made sense to kids growing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not, “not kill,” because we played cops and robbers all day Saturday, went to the cowboys and Indian’s shoot ‘em up movies on Saturday night before being told “Thou shall not kill” on Sunday morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned “Thou shall not cuss” from my mother washing my mouth out with soap at age five, and thou shall not do anything humiliating when I took some chestnuts from the girls across the street and Mom made me not only return them but apologize!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">What makes the Ten Commandments special?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are the foundation for Western Civilization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God gave them to Moses and then to us 1200 years before Christ, 600 years before democracy in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They became the foundation for Judaism before every other major religion except maybe Hinduism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We need rules to live together, by which to base our culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn rules at an early age from Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe we begin with toilet training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By age two, we need rules to limit our expansive egos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world does not belong to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By age five we are learning in kindergarten: “Share everything, play fair, don’t’ take things that aren’t yours, warm cookies and milk are good for you, when you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.” (Robert Fulghum)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">We need to teach our youngsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Moses (Deut 6:7) is emphatic about it, “Teach them diligently to your children.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">Jesus came along and said (paraphrasing), “you know all those laws, if you have them on your heart, you only need two: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and your strength,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he said, “on these two hang all the law and the prophets., the big Ten and the other 603.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“With all your heart.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus went up on the mountain (to be the new law giver as he gave us the Sermon on the Mount), he told us it was not just “do not kill,” it was a matter of the heart, “whoever is angry with his brother or sister.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it was not just “do not commit adultery,” it was a matter of the heart, “whoever lusts after another.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">The scribes and Pharisees were the ultimate rule keepers, but Jesus told them they needed to have a changed heart: </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 6.9929pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><sup><span dir="ltr"></span>25 </sup></span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Mt 23:25)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.5pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Calibri; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;">If we are going to live together, we need to change our hearts, “our hearts need to be full of the love of God and one another, having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(John Wesley)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00023930494900590001noreply@blogger.com0