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Sunday March 7 sermon- step over the side

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:11:00 +0000

Step over the side (WoW #3)

Reinbeck UMC

March 7, 2010

This is our third week of the Walk on Water series and there are still some of you who don’t think you can walk on water? Would you walk on water if you were this guy?

I know I would.

Some people will never get water walking. You see you have to believe in something bigger than yourself. Something beyond our pathetic little lives. Something that is far greater and far more valuable than anything else in all creation.

To do that requires faith.

We read from the 11^th chapter of Hebrews this morning. That passage begins faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Assurance of things hoped for What do we hope for? Most fundamentally, we say it every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer. “Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” “Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, in Reinbeck as it is in heaven.” “Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, in our church as it is in heaven.” “Thy Kingdom Come, thy will be done, in our lives as it is in heaven.” WOW!!! That it makes it real doesn’t it?

There was a farmer who had been trying to decide what God wanted him to do with his life. He went to church and prayed and studied and listened and watched for a sign. Finally He was out plowing one day and the clouds began to move around kind of funny. They started to look like letters and there appeared in the sky over his field the letters “G---P---C” “GPC” he thought. “GPC” “Go Preach Christ.” So off he went to college and seminary and he became a student pastor. When he preached his first sermon he fell flat on his face. If the congregation weren’t so polite they might have booed it was so bad.

The same thing happened with his second and third. And he really began to doubt.

So he went back to his field and prayed “You know God, I prayed and you sent me that message telling me to Go preach Christ and I did and here I am a miserable failure. I have uprooted my family, gone to school, given up the farm and now I am a failure. Why did you tell me to go preach Christ if you weren’t going to make me successful. To his surprise the clouds began to stir again and they formed into letters. Except there were more than three letters this time. He saw G---P---C. And then the rest of the letters came into focus. And said “ Go Plant Corn. “

Sometimes we are called to things that seem real spiritual and churchy- sometimes we are called to things that are very earthy like planting corn.

The important thing is I want you to know with absolute certainty that you are all called by God. You have a call from God . You might answer that call planting corn, or preaching Christ. You have a calling from God. You might answer that call as a machinist or a missionary. You have a calling from God. Whether you serve as a Sunday school teacher or a store clerk. You have a call from God . In whatever way you live the prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come thy will be done in my life as it is in heaven.” You have a call from God.

We are all called by God to faithfully use our God given gifts and talents for the benefit of the kingdom, the church and others.

Our church is called as well. We pray that same prayer every week don’t we “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, in our church as it is in heaven.”

Through the years many have risen to that call Mr. Avery when he started the church; your parents by providing low cost suppers for 15-30 cents during the depression; many of you saw many migrant workers during the 40’s and you answered the call and fed them. When the church burned you saw a vision you answered the call to the future, raised the money, made the sacrifices and built this building.

Through the years you have answered the call a hundred ways in your giving, outreach and faithfulness to the gospel.

I am asking you to answer the call again. There are probably 100 ways we could answer the call of God as a church. Part of my job is to help us sort those out so we take the right steps. With the help of a lot of other people, and the board and a lot of prayer I believe I have identified the place we are being asked to step out of our boat this spring.

Our current family ministry-- to children youth, and parents is hobbling. The children’s choir has died, the Christmas program had half as many people this year as it has in the past, the Children’s Sunday School attendance is down, the youth group has been on hiatus since October, the High School Sunday School class has had 3 students this year, and they have taken turns being here. More often than not, there have been no students.

I’ll be the first to point out that this is partially demographic. We are in an aging community. BUT it is not all demographic.

· There are 23 High School students on our list - the class has had an average attendance of _____ this year. It is not all demographic.

· And I have been asking for a youth leader for a year and have yet to find anyone who will say yes. How can we hope to have a youth ministry without a leader. That is not demographic.

· There are 34 elementary students on our list the average Sunday School attendance is 9. That is not all demographic.

· And worship attendance for those families is even worse. That is not all demographic.

It is not all demographic. Part of the problem is we have been following the same children, youth and family ministry model for 50 years or more and we all know that families are not the same as they were 50 years ago. Someone moved the cheese and we haven’t wanted to admit it. Someone has changed the rules and forgot to tell us.

Things are changing though. And each of us needs to get out of our comfortable boat and get behind the change. You remember hearing about the leadership retreat- you remember hearing about the youth and family taskforce--- Here is the bottom line.

We have 5 firmly committed families and a core group of 10 others who have risen - in this process-- and said we need to do something.

Now we have something to do. It will be called something like Wednesday night LIGHT or LIGHT night. It will start the Wednesday after Easter and last for 8 weeks. Then everything can be re-evaluated. Light Night is a family program- raise your hand if you are part of a family-- that’s right everyone is in the family.

You saw the details in the newsletter. It is a family program starting with dinner at 5:30, Education time, Worship and by 7:30 the lights are off and everyone is on their way home. It would replace Children’s and youth Sunday School for these 8 weeks. There is still a lot of work to be done. And that is where you come in .

I need you to get out of your boat and get 100% behind this program (Will it succeed? I don’t know. But looking at similar successful programs like Grundy Center UMC and Wellsburg Reformed it has a good chance! And if it doesn’t that’s OK we try something else. Is it the answer to all of our problems? No. That’s what the youth and parent meeting this morning was all about.)

What we are trying to do is faithfully respond to God’s call. And in order to do that we are going to have to get out of our boats.

I need you to not do one thing.

1. I need you to not say “That won’t work” or “I told you so” if it doesn’t For some that is a pretty big step out of the boat.

Then I need you to do a few things.

1. I need you to step out of your boat and answer the call to support these families, and others who will come by supporting this ministry. We are all in this church together. I need 100% of you to support, encourage, volunteer and donate for this new ministry.

2. I need 50 people to get out of their boat-- or their couch as the case may be-- to commit to be present at this ministry for the first 4 weeks. All kinds of people of all ages. Just to be present and get a free supper!

3. Finally I need someone to step out of their boat and answer the call to love our youth by leading our youth ministry.

Will we step out of your boat? Will we answer the call by you putting ourselves 100% behind this program? More importantly, Will we put ourselves 100% behind those families who are saying “I want more for my children and youth?” Will someone get 100% behind our youth and lead them in ministry?

Will we step over the edge- step out of the boat and answer God’s call to reach out in ministry? I hope so. I pray so.

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Finding your gifts 1 Corinthians 12

We all like to get gifts. Christmas gifts, Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, valentine gifts, gifts for no special reason.

Every one has their own style. Some rip in to the paper as though they were starving and it contained the first dinner they had seen in a month.

Others carefully unseal every piece of tape as though it might contain a bomb.

Still others shake the living daylights out of it to try to guess before they begin with the paper.

I have always been surprised, though that when it comes to spiritual gifts so many people have the same style. They look at it say thank you and set it aside. It is not that we don’t know that God gives us gifts. It is not that we aren’t thankful. It is not that we don’t care. I have come to the conclusion, however, that there are many people who are afraid to open their spiritual gift box. I suspect that it has something to do with thinking that if they don’t open the gift-wrap no one will notice that they aren’t using their gifts. If they don’t open it they can’t be held accountable for not using their gifts. Perhaps is has more to do with not being convinced that God really does gift each and every one of us. At any rate, I find it curious. That is why I have set this time aside tonight for us to do some gift opening.

First a couple of things you need to know. I read 1 Corinthians 12 because in that one chapter we can learn most of what we need to know.

1. Every Christian has at least one Spiritual Gift- every part of the body has a job and none of us is useless, unimportant, or giftless.

2. No Christian has all the gifts. The ear cannot say to the eye I do not need you , nor can it say you do not need me.

3. We cannot choose our gifts; God does that job --“ All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.”

4. There is no gift that every Christian possesses -the body is not whole unless all the members participate.

5. Gifts used without love do not accomplish God's intended purposes - Paul lays that out clearly in 1 Corinthians 13.

6. Spiritual Gifts are for the common good to build up the Body -- only as you accept your part in the body does your gift mean anything.

I could go on teaching you about Spiritual gifts or we can go about discovering them. Let’s enter into prayerful discovery.

As I see it, there are four categories of gifts. Equally important but different. I base this division on the intended recipient of the gift.

1. There are gifts that are oriented toward the church as a body. Things like administration, generosity and worship leadership. They are for the body of believers.

2. There gifts oriented toward our brothers and sisters in the faith. Intended to build up the body by building individuals. Encouragement and discernment would be a couple examples of those gifts.

3. Third there are gifts that are aimed at persons outside the body with the goal of bringing them into the body. Evangelism leaps to mind, but I think intercession and teaching should be included there as well as many others.

4. Finally there are gifts that are mostly for the individual believer. For instance the gift of faith, wisdom, music and poverty might be best understood as building up ourselves as part of the body.

Most gifts fit into more than one category and I have been very liberal in putting them in more than one station.

Now I want to give you the opportunity to spend some time in prayer over each type of gift. And I would like you to select one or more gifts at each station that you either believe you have or to which you feel drawn. Remember this is not something that happens in your head, it happens in your heart by the spirit of God. It is not scientific, and there is no right or wrong. There is simply you and God. Think about your abilities, your interests, your strengths, the things that break your heart, the things that make you excited and the things that worry you. Those will be good hints as you select a gift.

I encourage you to select one in each category, write it on your worksheet.

I’ll give you about 5 minutes at each station so you will have plenty of time to be in prayer, study and meditation. . I will tell you when you have one minute left at your gift station. There are gift sheets , bibles, and worksheets on each station. I will be here if you have questions or you are stuck, let me be the 5^th station that you can come to if you need to visit about a particular gift or your specific gifts. Please just divide yourselves about evenly among the stations and you will have time to go to all of them. Let us be in a spirit of prayer

((Start quiet instrumental music on CD))

Gathering around the boat- meditation wrap up

I hope you have selected 4 spiritual gifts. Each of your gifts will be different because each of you is a unique a beautiful gift from God. Now I ask you to pick up a gift card on each table. On that card, write the one gift you think is the dominant gift of all those you have been given. Or one you really want to offer to God. Then gather around the boat.

As we sing let us each decide we are going to get out of the boat and offer our gifts to God. As you do that, place your card with your dominant gift written on it in the boat. Please keep the full page and use that to guide your prayers for this week.

Walk on Water-Quentin

Benediction

___________________’s Spiritual gifts

(name)

My God given gift for the church (the body)…

My God given gift for others in the body (brothers and sisters in the faith)…

My God given gift for people outside the body …

My God given gift for my own growth toward God…

My God given spiritual gift(s). . .	My God given spiritual gift(s). . .
My God given spiritual gift(s). . .	My God given spiritual gift(s). . .

Spiritual gifts list

You need to be aware that there is not universal agreement among Christians regarding the number of spiritual gifts. I have tried to be comprehensive without “stretching” too far. These gifts seem to be pretty well accepted though some will certainly debate whether certain gifts should be included.

I believe that the diversity of God’s spiritual gifts is no more limited than the diversity of God’s people. If you believe that God has given you a spiritual gift that is not listed here, ask 3 questions.

1. Does this gift come from God?

2. Is it intended to build either the church, each other, others or myself up?

3. How can I use this gift for God today?

Blessings on your growth through gifts.

Some people look at the key Bible passages on Spiritual Gifts and limit the Gifts to the ones listed there:

Romans 12 - Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Leadership, and Mercy

1 Corinthians 12 - Message of Wisdom, Message of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miraculous Powers, Prophecy, Distinguishing between spirits, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpreting Tongues

Ephesians 4 - Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher

Some add the possibility of other gifts:

1 Corinthians 7:1-9 - Celibacy

1 Peter 4:9-10 - Hospitality

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - Martyrdom (not included in this test!)

Ephesians 3:6-8 - Missionary

1 Corinthians. 13:1-3 - Voluntary Poverty

Ephesians 6:18 - Intercession / Prayer

Luke 1:1-3 - Writing

Administration

Administration (Serving Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others.

The divine enablement to understand what makes an organization function and the special ability to plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry.

People with this gift:

- develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals

- assist ministries to become more effective and efficient

- create order out of organizational chaos

- manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task

- organize people, tasks, or events.

(See also Leadership )

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Luke 14:28-30

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Apostle

Apostle (Leadership Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to exercise general leadership or oversight over a number of churches with an authority in spiritual matters, which is readily recognized. In the strict sense this gift was confined to the twelve apostles. The New Testament does, however, give this title to a number of others, e.g. Romans 16:7 and Acts 14:14 . It is the gift whereby the Spirit appoints certain Christians to lead, inspire, and develop the churches of God by the proclamation and the teaching of true doctrine.

The divine ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures.

People with this gift:

- pioneer and establish new ministries or churches

- adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware

- desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries

- have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches

- demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Ephesians 4:11-16

2 Corinthians 12:12

Matthew 10:1-8

Acts 2:42-44

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Celibacy

Celibacy - The special ability God gives to some to voluntarily remain single without regret and with the ability to maintain control over sexual impulses so as to serve the Lord without distraction.

Celibacy is a state totally opposed to all of the biological, social, and emotional needs built into man or woman by God. Only God is able to overrule instincts and by grace control them so that a person can remain unmarried.

Being unmarried is not necessarily the same as having this gift. Those who have this gift remain single because they feel they can serve the Lord better that way.

People with this gift:

- remain single so as to be able to devote themselves completely to ministry

- have other gifts that they are able to use more effectively because they are celibate.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

Matthew 19:10-12

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Craftsmanship / Artist

Craftsmanship / Artist - The gift that gives the believer the skill to create artistic expressions that produce a spiritual response of strength and inspiration. Skilled Craft - the gift that enables a believer to create, build, maintain, or repair items used within the church.

The divine enablement to creatively design and/or construct items to be used for ministry or the divine enablement to communicate God's truth through a variety of art forms.

People with this gift:

- work with wood, cloth, paint, metal, glass, and other raw materials

- make things which increase the effectiveness of other's ministries

- design and build tangible items and resources for ministry use

- work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands

- use the arts to communicate God's truth

- develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc.

- use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ's message

- challenge people's perspective of God through various forms of the arts

- demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord's ministry and message.

Exodus 28:3-4

Exodus 31:1-11

Exodus 35:30-35

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Discernment / Distinguishing Spirits

Discernment / Distinguishing of Spirits - The special ability God gives to some to know with assurance whether certain behavior or teaching is from God, Satan, human error, or human power.

The divine enablement to distinguish between truth and error, to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong.

People with this gift:

- distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure

- identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness

- determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic

- recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation

- are able to sense the presence of evil.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

1 John 4:1-6

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

2 Chronicles 2:12

Psalms 119:125

Proverbs 3:21

1 Kings 3:9

Hebrews 5:14

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Encouragement

Encouragement (Speaking Gift) - The special ability God gives some to offer comfort, words of encouragement, hope, and reassurance to discouraged, weak, or troubled Christians in such a way that they are consoled.

People with this gift:

- come to the side of those who are discouraged to reassure them and give them hope

- emphasize God's promises and confidence in his will.

(See also Exhortation )

Romans 12:6-8

Titus 1:9

Acts 11:23-24

Acts 14:21-22

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11

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Evangelism / Evangelist

Evangelism / Evangelist - The special ability God gives to some to proclaim the Gospel of salvation effectively so that people respond to the promises of Christ through conversion to Christianity.

The divine enablement to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship.

People with this gift:

- communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction

- seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters

- challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ

- adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual's needs

- seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers.

Ephesians 4:11-16

Matthew 28:16-20

Acts 2:36-40

Acts 8:5-6

Acts 14:21

Acts 8:26-40

2 Timothy 4:5

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Exhortation

Exhortation (Speaking Gift) - The special ability God gives some to help strengthen weak, faltering, and fainthearted Christians in such a way that they are motivated to be all God wants them to be.

The ability to help others reach their full potential by means of encouraging, challenging, comforting, and guiding.

The divine enablement to present truth so as to strengthen or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith.

People with this gift:

- come to the side of those who are weak in spirit to strengthen them

- challenge or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God

- urge others to action by applying Biblical truth

- offers advise, an outline for a solution, or a program for progress

- motivates others to grow.

(see also Encouragement )

1 Timothy 5:1-2

Hebrews 3:13 (King James Version)

Hebrews 13:22

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (King James version)

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Faith

Faith - The special conviction God gives to some to be firmly persuaded of God's power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction.

The divine enablement to act on God's promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God's ability to fulfill his purposes.

People with this gift:

- believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same

- act in complete confidence of God's ability to overcome obstacles

- demonstrate an attitude of trust in God's will and his promises

- advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not

- ask God for what is needed and trust him for his provision.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Mark 5:25-34

Acts 27:21-25

Hebrews 11

Romans 4:18-21

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Giving

Giving (Serving Gift) - The gift that enables a believer to recognize God's blessings and to respond to those blessings by generously, sacrificially, and cheerfully giving of one's resources (time, talent, and treasure) without thought of return.

The divine enablement to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. People with this gift do not ask, "How much money do I need to give to God?" but "How much money do I need to live on?"

People with this gift:

- manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much of their resources as possible

- support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom

- meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur

- provide resources, generously and cheerfully, trusting God for His provision

- may have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God's work.

Romans 12:6-8

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

2 Corinthians 8:2-5

Mark 12:41-44

Matthew 6:3-4

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Healing

Healing (Sign Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to serve as a human instrument through whom it pleases Him to cure illness and restore health (physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually) apart from the use of natural means.

The divine enablement to be God's means for restoring people to wholeness.

People with this gift:

- demonstrate the power of God

- bring restoration to the sick and diseased

- authenticate a message from God through healing

- use it as an opportunity to communicate a Biblical truth and to see God glorified

- pray, touch, or speak words that miraculously bring healing to one's body.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Acts 3:1-10

Acts 14:8-10

James 5:14-16

Luke 9:1-2

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Helps / Serving

Helps / Serving (Serving Gift) - The gift that enables a believer to work gladly behind the scenes in order that God's work is fulfilled. The special ability God gives to some to serve the church in a supporting roll or to invest their talents in the life and ministry of other members of the body enabling them to increase their effectiveness.

The divine enablement to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others.

People with this gift:

- serve behind the scenes whenever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others (without having to be asked)

- see the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them

- sense God's purpose and pleasure in meeting every day responsibilities

- attach spiritual value to practical service

- enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do.

- would rather do a job than find someone else to do it.

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Romans 16:1-2

Acts 9:36

Mark 15:40-41

Galatians 6:2

Romans 12:6-8

1 Peter 4:11

Philippians 2:19-23

Luke 22:24-27

John 13:14

-------------------------------------------------------------------Hospitality

Hospitality (Serving Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to provide an open home and warm welcome to those in need of food, lodging, and fellowship. It involves a readiness to invite strangers to your home (or church) for the sake of the Gospel.

The divine enablement to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter.

People with this gift:

- provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for

- meet new people and help them to feel welcomed

- create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop

- seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships

- set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings.

1 Peter 4:9-10

Romans 12:9-13

Acts 16:14-15

Luke 10:38

Hebrews 13:1-2

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Intercession / Prayer

Intercession / Prayer (Serving Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian.

The divine enablement to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results.

People with this gift:

- feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause

- have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray

- are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer

- pray in response to the leading of the spirit, whether they understand it or not

- exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve.

Ephesians 6:18

1 Timothy 2:1-2

1 Kings 13:6

Luke 11:1-10

Matthew 6:6-15

Mark 11:22-25

James 5:14-16

Colossians 4:12-13

1 Thessalonians 3:10

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Knowledge

Knowledge (Speaking Gift) - The special gift whereby the Spirit enables certain Christians to understand in an exceptional way the great truths of God's Word and to make them relevant to specific situations in the church. Also, the desire to seek out and learn as much about the Bible as possible through gathering much information and the analysis of that data.

The divine enablement to bring truth to the body through a revelation or Biblical insight.

People with this gift:

- receive truth which enables them to better serve the body

- search the scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth

- gain knowledge which at times was not attained by natural means

- have an unusual insight or understanding that serves the church

- organize information for teaching and practical use.

(See also Wisdom )

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

2 Chronicles 1:7-12

Colossians 2:2-3

2 Corinthians 11:6

Daniel 2:20-21

Proverbs 2:6

Proverbs 9:10

Psalms 119:66

Jeremiah 3:15

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Leadership

Leadership (Serving Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to set goals in accordance with God's purpose and to communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish these goals for the glory of God.

The divine enablement to cast vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God.

People with this gift:

- provide direction for God's people or ministry

- motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities

- present the "big picture" for others to see

- model the values of the ministry

- take responsibility and establish goals.

(See also Administration )

Romans 12:6-8

Hebrews 13:7

Hebrews 13:17

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Mercy / Compassion

Mercy / Compassion (Serving Gift) - The special gift whereby the Spirit enables certain Christians to feel exceptional empathy and compassion for those who are suffering (physically, mentally, or emotionally) so as to feel genuine sympathy for their misery, speaking words of compassion, but more so caring for them with acts of love that help alleviate their distress.

The divine enablement to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need by putting compassion into action.

People with this gift:

- focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people

- address the needs of the lonely and forgotten

- express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis

- serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully

- concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people.

Romans 12:6-8

Luke 7:12-15

Luke 10:30-37

Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 25:34-40

Mark 9:41

Matthew 5:7

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Miracles

Miracles (Sign Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to serve as a human intermediary through whom He pleases to perform acts of supernatural power that are recognized by others to have altered the ordinary course of nature and authenticated the divine commission.

People with this gift:

- speak God's truth and may have it authenticated by an accompanying miracle

- express confidence in God's faithfulness and ability to manifest Christ's presence

- bring the ministry and message of Jesus Christ with power

- claim God to be the source of miracles and glorify the Lord

- represent Christ and through this gift, point people to a relationship with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Mark 16:17-18

Acts 9:36-42

Acts 20:9-12

Hebrews 2:4

Romans 15:17-19

Acts 8:13

Acts 19:11-12

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Missionary

Missionary (Leadership Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in another culture.

Those with this gift find it easy or exciting to adjust to a different culture or community. Missionaries find great joy working with minorities, people of other countries, or those with other distinct cultural differences. Those with this gift have a stronger-than-average desire to be a part of the fulfillment of the Great Commission around the world.

People with this gift:

- have an intense spirit of unease at the thought of all the unsaved people in the world

- adapt themselves and core Biblical principles to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware

- have the ability to reach out people groups of a different ethnicity, language, or cultural background

- can establish meaningful relationships with people of other nationalities or cultures

- desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries.

Ephesians 3:6-8

Mark 16:15

Acts 1:8

Acts 13:2-5

Acts 22:21

Romans 10:14-15

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

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Music

Music - The gift that gives a believer the capability to present personal witness and inspiration to others through instrumental music, singing, or dancing.

The special gift whereby the Spirit enables certain Christians to praise God through music in such a way as to enhance the worship experience of other believers. It gives the believer the desire and capability to express personal faith and provide inspiration and comfort through the playing of a musical instrument, singing, or dancing. The spiritual aspect of the gift is revealed as the gift bearer gives witness to love and praise for the Lord, and thus glorifies God. Those listening or watching become inspired to feel the presence and majesty of God when music, song, or dance uplifts their soul in a manner that brings them closer to their Lord.

People with this gift:

- sing or play a musical instrument quite well, and enjoy it

- have special joy singing praises to God, either alone or with other people

- feel secure in the fact that their musical ability will be of benefit to other people with whom they come in contact

- can use their musical ability to help and inspire others to worship God

- see that their singing or instrument playing is a spiritual encouragement for others.

1 Samuel 16:14-23

1 Corinthians 14:26

Psalm 33:1-3

Psalm 96:1-2

Psalm 100:1-2

Psalm 149:3

Psalm 150:1-6

Colossians 3:16

2 Chronicles 5:12-13

2 Samuel 6:14-15

Pastor / Shepherd

Pastor / Shepherd - The special ability God gives to some to assume a long-term personal responsibility for leadership and the spiritual care, protection, guidance, and feeding (teaching) of a group of believers.

The divine enablement to nurture, care for, and guide people toward on-going spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ.

People with this gift:

- take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God

- provide guidance and oversight to a group of God's people

- model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus

- establish trust and confidence through long-term relationships

- lead and protect those within their span of care.

John 10:1-16

Acts 20:28

Ephesians 4:11-15

1 Timothy 3:1-7

2 Timothy 4:1-2

1 Timothy 4:11-16

1 Peter 5:1-4

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Poverty (voluntary)

Poverty (voluntary) - The special ability God gives to some to purposely live an impoverished lifestyle to serve and aid others with their material resources.

The special ability that God gives to some members of the body of Christ to renounce material comfort and luxury and adopt a personal lifestyle equivalent to those living at the poverty level in a given society in order to serve God more effectively.

People with this gift:

- will often choose to live among people who are considered poverty-stricken

- live at a poverty level although they have the means to live at a higher standard

- choose this lifestyle in order to minister more effectively to people through identification.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

2 Corinthians 8:9

Acts 2:44-45

Acts 4:32-35

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Prophet / Prophecy

Prophet / Prophecy (Special Gift) - The special ability God gives to some to proclaim the Word of God with clarity and to apply it fearlessly with a view to the strengthening, encouragement, and comfort of believers and the convincing of unbelievers. The special gift whereby the Spirit empowers certain Christians to interpret and apply God's revelation in a given situation.

The divine enablement to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification. There may be immediate or future implications.

People with this gift:

- expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation

- speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification

- see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond

- warn of God's immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance

- understand God's heart and mind through experiences He takes them through.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

Romans 12:6-8

Ephesians 4:11-13

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Deuteronomy 18:18-22

1 Corinthians 14:1-5

1 Corinthians 14:24-25

1 Corinthians 14:30-33

1 Corinthians 14:37-40

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Teaching / Teacher

Teaching / Teacher - The special ability God gives to some to explain the truths of the Word of God clearly and to apply them effectively so that those taught understand and learn. To instruct others in the Bible in a logical and systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth.

The divine enablement to understand, clearly explain, and apply the word of God causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners.

People with this gift:

- communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word

- challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture

- focus on changing lives by helping others understand the Bible better

- give attention to detail and accuracy

- prepare through extended times of study and reflection.

Ephesians 4:11-16

Romans 12:6-8

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

Hebrews 5:12-14

Acts 18:24-28

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Tongues (interpreting)

Tongues (interpreting) - The special ability God gives to some translate the message of one who speaks in tongues.

If a tongue is spoken without an interpretation, the speaker is edified. If the tongue is interpreted, it is for the edification of the body.

People with this gift:

- express with an interpretation a word by the Spirit which edifies the Body

- enable the gift of tongues to build up the church by interpreting God's message for the people.

(see also Tongues (speaking) )

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1 Corinthians 14:1-40

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Tongues (speaking)

Tongues (speaking) - The special ability God gives to some to speak prayer or praise in a language they have never learned or to communicate a message from God to His people. The special ability God gives to some to speak in a language not previously learned so unbelievers can hear God's message in their own language.

If a tongue is spoken without an interpretation, the speaker is edified. If the tongue is interpreted, it is for the edification of the body.

People with this gift:

- may receive a spontaneous message from God which is made known to His body through the gift of interpretation

- communicate a message given by God for the church (if there is someone to interpret)

- speak in a language they have never learned and do not understand

- worship the Lord with unknown words too deep for the mind to comprehend

- experience an intimacy with God which inspires them to serve and edify others

- speak in tongues as a private prayer language

- when used in a group setting, an interpretation must take place, or else the one speaking the tongue should remain silent.

(see also Tongues (interpreting) )

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

1 Corinthians 12:28-31

1 Corinthians 14:1-40

Acts 2:1-12

Acts 10:44-46

Acts 19:1-7

Mark 16:17

Romans 8:26-27

1 Corinthians 13:1

Wisdom

Wisdom (Speaking Gift) - The gift that allows the believer to sort through opinions, facts, and thoughts in order to determine what solution would be best for the individual believer or the community of believers. The ability to apply knowledge to life in such a way as to make spiritual truths quite relevant and practical in proper decision making and daily life situations.

The special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to know the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how knowledge may best be applied to specific needs arising in the body of Christ.

People with this gift:

- focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take

- receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body

- provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion

- hear the Spirit provide direction for God's best in a given situation

- apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways.

(See also Knowledge )

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

James 3:13-18

2 Chronicles 1:7-11

Acts 6:3-10

1 Corinthians 2:6-13

James 1:5-8

1 Kings 3:16-28

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Writing

Writing - the gift that gives a believer the ability to express truth in a written form; a form that can edify, instruct and strengthen the community of believers.

The special God-given ability to formulate thoughts and ideas into meaningful written forms so that the reader will find courage, guidance, knowledge, or edification through the words shared with them.

The Bible was written by people with this gift.

People with this gift:

- may write stories, sermons, devotions, histories, prayers, songs, or poetry to be used to build up the body of Christ

- may be inspired by the Holy Spirit in what they write

- may teach God's word to others through what they write

- may use writing to express other gifts

- may be better at expressing their thoughts in written form than in verbal form.

Luke 1:1-3

1 John 2:1

1 John 2:12-14

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Jude 1:3

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Leading Worship

The gift of leading worship is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to draw others into an intimate experience with God during the worship time and to allow the Holy Spirit to change directions and emphases as the service progresses

People with this gift:

-may plan worship

-preach

-Lead music in worship

-lead prayers in worship

I Samuel 16:23

I Chronicles 9:33

II Chronicles 5: 12-14

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:31:00 +0000

"Water Walker or Boat Potato?” WOW#2

February 28, 2010

<<>><<>>

Ah, this is the life.

What are you all looking at? Isn’t this what you pay me for? By the way- anybody from the SPRC out there? This reminds me I was going to ask for a more comfortable backrest here. When I take my nap, I kind of slide down and it hurts right across there. Oh well, I guess it’s better than working for a living.

What’s wrong with you people? Haven’t you ever seen your pastor ready to take on the world for Jesus Christ? I’ve always told you if you have a crisis, just leave a note under my pillow and I’ll get to it.

<<< >>>

You mean that’s not what you expect of your pastor? You expect something more? Like what? <<< >>> But I’d have to get out of my boat to do that!! You can’t be serious! You want me to get out my boat?

Let’s think this through together.

The Disciples are all on the sea and the storm comes up. The boat is rocked back and forth, up and down. Waves bigger than they have ever seen. Even with the most experienced sailors on board, the boat will surely sink . . . but then. .. HOPE appears. JESUS HIMSELF is suddenly available walking toward them on the water!

At this point, the story turns to focuses on Simon Peter who gets up to walk on the water. Let’s think about the other 11 disciples though. John Ortberg says, “You think Simon Peter was a failure because he started to sink? I think there were 11 bigger failures sitting in the boat.”

Why didn’t all the disciples get up and walk on the water. As someone asked in the study last Wednesday, why didn’t the others get up and say, “I want some of that waterwalking too!”

1. One reason might be Skepticism -Let’s not get too excited here. That can’t really be Jesus. We all know the water is at least 30 feet deep there is no way that’s him.

2. Fear Perhaps. Let’s not all jump out at once. You know he just might drown out there. We really should let Peter take a test walk here. If he survives then you can try it. I’ll wait here in my nice safe boat until 3 or 4 of you have escaped this way, then I’ll think about following.

3. Perhaps they were good Delegators. “Peter you walk on out there and Get Jesus. There’s no use all of us ruining our shoes or maybe even dying. You go get Jesus and bring him to the rest of us.”

4. Perhaps they were like the Israelites who said, “It would have been better to be slaves in Egypt than to die of thirst in the desert.” Maybe the 11 were saying, “it is better to be shipwrecked here than to drown out there!"

5. Maybe there was someone who said, I was the one that got my feet wet pushing us away from shore. It’s someone else’s turn now.

6. Maybe there was even someone who said, “You know what? It’s 4am and this is my only day to sleep in. I’m not getting up to walk on the water.

7. Maybe there was a disciple who said I can be just as good a sailor staying in the boat as he can walking around on the water.

8. Maybe there was a disciple who said, don’t we hire someone or have a committee to do that so we don’t have to?

Oh, Oh, I think I just crossed the line from preaching to meddling didn’t I, and I’ve barely started this morning.

There were 11 boat potatoes sitting in the boat watching Peter walk on the water. There were probably 20 different and excuses they didn’t get out themselves. And that’s all they were, excuses.

xxxxx

Today’s message is really pretty simple. Our statistics are about the same as most other churches.

First a couple of provisos:

1) Worship attendance is not the only measure of a person’s faith or even their level of activity in the church. I know that. But it is generally a pretty good indicator.

2) Not everyone who is here signs in on the fellowship pads. I know that too, but most do.

3) Finally I do not see veging out or being a couch potato as a bad thing. It is merely descriptive. If you end up feeling as if I am calling you some kind of potato, please don’t be offended. Accept it as a loving challenge to move one step closer to Jesus.

Ok ARE YOU READY?

Of 360 members in the congregation, 150 or roughly half signed in to worship at least once last year. The rest sat at home and we might lovingly refer to them as Sunday morning couch potatoes.slide 1

Of the 150 that signed in to worship, 75 came at least once a month. The other half well we can’t call them couch potatoes because they came . . . we might call pew potatoes. slide 2

Of the 75--- 40 or again about half, came twice a month or more, the other half made a good effort and maybe we call them boat potatoes slide 3

No matter how you look at it, in any organization-- and the church is no different 90% of the work, 90% of the ideas, 90 % of the risk, 90% of the funding, 90% of the success can be attributed to 10% of the people. In other words 90% of the water walking is done by 10% of the Christians. Hmm.. 11 in the boat one on the water. Roughly speaking that was even true back in Jesus day wasn’t it. And you know what? There was no condemnation no judgment. Notice- when Jesus got into the boat he didn’t scold the 11 for not getting out of the boat. He calmed the storm and let them worship him.

I think the 11 in the boat did the best they could at that time. Given another opportunity the next day, I am pretty sure there would be more takers. And I am sure that today’s couch potatoes and pew potatoes and boat potatoes have done the best they can so far. So far. But today is a new day and I want to challenge them to take one step closer to Jesus. One step closer to water walking.

You can break down statistics any way you want. You might use giving, or participation in service and outreach, or any other number you want to use. We can spend all day talking about why we are, where we are. But the numbers and excuses are really not important. The important thing is not the statistics, not the excuses, not the mistakes you have made, not the problems you have had, but where you are today personally in the continuum between couch potato to water walker. slide 4

Don’t just look at your attendance. Don’t just look at whether you are on a committee or not. Don’t measure it by whether you pray do your morning devotions. Those are all external things. Look into your heart. Look at your relationship with Jesus. Look at your trust in Jesus. Look at your faith. Where are you between couch potato and water walker? Where are you between sofa sailor and water walker? Don’t think about anyone else. Where are you in your faith walk with Jesus?

Where are you today and do you want to move one step closer to Jesus?

Where are you on the continuum and are you willing to move one step closer to Jesus?

slide 5Last week I had you get up and move one pew closer to the front. I’m not going to do that this week. In part because I value my job. But mostly because it isn’t what happens on the outside that matters. Today, instead of moving your body closer to the front of the church, I am going to ask you to move your heart one step closer to Jesus.

Decide on something simple right now. Something simple you can do this week that might bring you closer to Jesus. It might be regular prayer; it might be devotions or scripture reading. It might be showing God’s love to someone who is sick or grieving, it might be forgiving someone or asking forgiveness. . It might be participating in the study when you hadn’t planned to. It might be inviting someone to church. It might be fasting, or practicing silence, or reading an inspirational book. It might be anything you think is going to bring you a little closer to Jesus. Don’t worry about making it hard yet. We’ll get there. Just decide on something that will help you to take one step closer to Jesus this week. And then do it. You’ll never walk on water if you don’t start with the small steps.

Amen

Walk non water -#A What is the name of your boat? 2/24/10

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Walk on Water #A

Reinbeck UMC

2/24/2010

Last Sunday we started talking about water walking and getting out of our boats. It occurs to me that it might be a little easier to get out of our boats if we understand the boats we in which we are sailing.

When my family lived in Michigan, I remember walking along the big marinas looking at the huge cabin cruisers. Perhaps you have seen big marinas in your travels. I always enjoyed reading the names of the boats. Some people get very creative. For instance, the boat named

A-Loan-Again

What College Fund?

How about the Never Sink II

One more- how about this one Anchor Management

Unfortunately, I don’t think any of our boats are going to have cute names like that. I cannot tell you for sure, but I suspect we may have names more like “too much pride,” “I serve my Job,” or “Money, money, money”

I can’t tell you what they name of your boat is. I suppose I am grateful for that. I have enough problems dealing with my own boat if you know what I mean.

I can’t tell you the name of your boat, but I want to try to think through the process and see if you can put a name on our boats together.

First, let’s take out attention off of Peter for a moment.

· Thinking about the story I read tonight, what was the rich young ruler’s boat? What did he want most of all to keep. (I think his possessions) Maybe his boat is called “Too much stuff”

· Or think of Paul on the road to Damascus. He was on the way to persecute Christians because he was a Pharisee of Pharisees when Jesus knocked him out of his boat we might say. . . What was his boat? Maybe the outward trappings of his religion and heritage?

Ø Let’s think about the other 11 people in that boat that night so long ago. The 11 other than Peter. I can’t speak for all of them, but the gospels give us a pretty clear picture of some. Perhaps you will see yourself. . .

· Perhaps James and John- the fisher-brothers were in a boat called Pride—After all weren’t they the ones who wanted to sit at Jesus Right and left side? Look Around you to see if you share a boat with James and John. If yours has to be the biggest, best boat- and you like everyone to know it- maybe you are in a boat named “Look at me.”

· Perhaps your boat mate is Matthew, also called Levi. He was a tax collector. You might think money was his boat, but if that were the case, why would he ever follow Jesus? I think it is more likely that power is his boat. Power to take what he wants- power to make people do as he wishes. Power. Do you hang on to power? Like to wield power? Relish the attention and energy you get from being in charge? Maybe your in the boat called “More power”

· Perhaps your boat mate is Thomas. Not because you doubt, but because you depend on rational evidence, thinking, and your own intelligence. Though I don’t think this is my primary boat, I have to admit I have a foot in this one. When confronted with a problem, one of my first responses is to try to figure it out logically and somehow I believe that if I can figure it out in my head, the solution will also come from my head. I am usually disappointed in that expectation. How about you- does that sound familiar? The boat called “I can figure it out.”

· Perhaps your boat mate is the infamous Judas. I have done a lot of thinking about poor Judas, and I think we make him out to be too evil. I doubt that his intention was to see Jesus killed. I doubt that he wanted to be the one to be known as the betrayer. I suspect that he had a plan in mind. He had a vision of how this Kingdom Jesus kept talking about was going to happen. It had nothing to do with crosses and empty tombs. It certainly didn’t have anything to do with dusty donkeys. I think He had a plan and he thought if he backed Jesus into a corner, Jesus would have to emerge on his big white stallion and save the day, instituting the kingdom along the way. Dr Phil would ask him, “how’s that working for you Judas?” as he watched Jesus hang on the cross. How about you? Might your boat be called “the my way”

· With the exception of Peter the other 6 disciples are something of a mystery to us. But that’s OK because you can pick any one you want as your boat mate.

o Might your boat be called “bigger toys or more toys?” because you place a great value on your things?

o Might it be called “My Job” or “my time” or “My house” Maybe it is just called the mine!

o Do you place your faith in a human relationship, find your meaning in being successful- whatever that means to you?

o Or perhaps like me- Yes- I’ll tell you my main boat is security. I have been to the brink of thinking I was going to loose my house, my health, my mind, and my self esteem by declaring bankruptcy. Many years ago I was to the brink of thinking I was going to loose my family. We have had our house burglarized loosing the pictures of Amber’s first Christmas. .I have lost jobs and status, and hope, and retirement plans and a business, and self esteem and my greatest fear is not that I won’t have enough, I don’t need a lot, but I fear that someone will take away what I do have. My boat is named “stability” “safety.” or “security”,

If someone laid out in front of you- all your stuff, all your relationships, all your roles, all your dreams, all your strength, all of your gifts—all of anything you have both tangible and intangible. And you had to start giving things away. What would be the last thing you would give away--- the thing you would hang on to the longest? That just might be your boat.

Think about it--- pray about it--- I would like you to separate from whom ever you might be sitting with. Take some very private time in prayer- in your pew, at in the chancel, wherever you want to be. Then write the name of your boat on the paper- Nice and big like it is going to go on a boat. When you are ready, but not before, bring it up and put it in the boat face down so no one sees it. When you are ready to have communion come to me one at a time please to receive communion and a prayer. When you have had communion and a prayer, you may kneel again in prayer, return to your seat, or quietly leave. The service will continue and I will be here as long as anyone else is in the sanctuary.

Walk on Water #1: Life in the boat 2/21/2010

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:15:00 +0000

Walk on water#1

Life in the boat

After the resurrection Jesus and Moses wanted to take in some fishing. So he gets his friend Moses and they head up to Minnesota to fish. They are about to rent a canoe when Moses says:"Jesus, can't you still walk on water? Why not just walk out there?"
So Jesus takes his reel and tackle and steps onto the lake....and falls knee deep in water.

Moses says, "Well....maybe you need a head start or something, why not go to the end of the dock and try."

So Jesus takes his reel and tackle and steps off the end of the dock and falls up to his waist.

Moses says, " Well why not rent the boat, go out to the center of the lake and try there."

So they rent the boat and go to the middle of the lake, Jesus is about to step off and try again when...

Moses says, "Wait. Just to be safe, why not get yourself into the state of mind you were in the first time you did it."

So Jesus sets down, meditates for a few minutes, and finally he's all psyched up, and steps out of the canoe.... ..and proceeds to drown. So Moses does the water parting thing, and pulls Jesus up into the boat. Jesus is just beating himself up over this. He just doesn't see what's going wrong here. Moses just stares down at the bottom of the boat. Suddenly, Moses says, "I got it! I know what's wrong! Did you have those holes in your feet last time?!?!"

I have been waiting for a month to tell that story. I started with it because I want to say that I really want this “Walk on Water” series to be fun! Sure we are talking about serious issues of faith and faithfulness, but we have a great story, a great God and a great opportunity to grow closer to God this lent. So let’s have fun.

Let’s start by turning the church upside down. If you have to stand on your head to imagine this, go ahead. But imagine we take the roof of the church and turn it upside down. What do we have?--- Besides a great skylight in the sanctuary-- what do we have?

OK, I’ll give you a hint. Take the roof off, turn it upside-down and put it in a lake. Now what do you have? A boat! Right? Well kind of. The technical word for the part of the church in which you are sitting is the NAVE. That is the part from the entry doors to the chancel which starts with the steps here. The word NAVE comes from the Latin word NAVIS of NAVY meaning ship. It was given that name because it looked like an upside-down ship. One of the perhaps not so historical stories about this type of church architecture, is that it was intended to resemble a boat, or ark.

I can think of several boats in scripture.

The first was Noah’s ark. The ark was a place of safety; a place of salvation if you will. A place that saved all the animals and Noah’s family from the great flood. Like the church there were probably days when it smelled pretty bad in there. With all those animals there had to be days when Noah was up to his eyeballs in really bad stuff, but it was better than the alternative. As imperfect as the church is, it is for many of us better than the alternative. It is a place of safety and security. We talk about family and support, and this is an important part of what the church is. In some respects the church is an ARK of salvation.

There are also times when the church is more like the boat on which Jonah sailed. Remember God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and tell the people to repent. Jonah thought it would be better to let God destroy the Ninevites so he found a boat going the other direction. Did he get away with it? No. Because the sailors held him accountable. When the storm came up they decided someone must be responsible. Since Jonah was fleeing from God they tried to help straighten him out by throwing him overboard. That’s when he became whale food.

Sometimes the church is a place to be held accountable. The church accepts us the way we are, but then we try to help each other to be better than we ever thought we could be. One of the things I always say when I am faced with people who say “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” I tell them you may be right, but I know I am a better Christian, a more faithful person, a more obedient person in the church than I could ever be by myself outside the church. That’s because have the support, the encouragement, the teaching, and --hopefully you don’t throw me overboard to the whales--but I know that I have someone to kick me in the rear end when I need it. So the church is like Jonah’s boat of ACCOUNTABILITY.

Third I think of Paul’s boats on which he sailed to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentile world. Sure, he got shipwrecked a couple of times, but it was because of the boats that he was able to get the word to those who needed to hear it. A third way in which the church is like a boat is that it makes it possible for us to get places we otherwise could not go. If it was up to me alone I don’t know what I could do for those poor people in Haiti right now. But I know that together as a church we have been able to collect a significant amount of money to be sent off to help them. And even more, being part of the greater UM church we have people on the ground cleaning up, caring for the injured and grieving, and beginning to help them put their lives back together. Do any of you think you could do that by yourself? I know I couldn’t. Thank God for the powerfully loving arms of the church reaching out to the world for us. The church is a ship of outreach.

You know, life in the boat of the church is a safe place, a place of accountability and a place of reaching out,--- but our story of water walking puts one more twist on how the church is like a boat. The church should be a risk taking place.

Yes, the church is a safe place in a storm, but that safety and security is for the purpose of enabling us to step out of the boat.

Yes, the church is a place of accountability and training, but that accountability includes not letting us just flip and flop around in the bottom of the boat like a big old fish. It includes challenging us to step over the edge and dip our toes in the water of extreme faith.

Yes, the church is a place where together we can reach places we could never reach alone, but that reaching is not only to poor countries in faraway places. It also helps us to reach into the poverty of our own hearts in order to reach those dark internal places we would never go by ourselves.

In other words like the boat in Matthew’s story on which we are focusing, the church should be a place where we are challenged to see Jesus and risk reaching for his outstretched hand and his command to “come.’

Far from being the stubborn preserver of all that is ancient and outdated (which is how the church has acted for centuries) Far from being the defender of all that is obsolete and old fashioned. Far from being the institution of “we have never done it that way before.” Far from standing in the back of the boat gazing wishfully at the wake we leave behind-- the church should be the navigator with binoculars scanning the horizon for ways we can be ready to speak to people when they catch up with us.

The First time I met bishop Trimble he said that “if we wake up tomorrow morning and it is miraculously the year 1950 the church is ready.” That’s not the church I want to lead, though. I want to be part of a church that wakes our neighbors up to tell them that there is more to this life than selfishness, materialism, and security. I want to lead a church that gathers all our neighbors in the boat and then points to Jesus, with his hand outstretched calling come. I want to be the first one to abandon security, and material ism and selfishness---and get out of the boat. I want to be the first one to get my shoes wet answering Jesus’ call. I want to be the first one to not only walk with Jesus on the water, but skip and run with him as well.

And I want you all to be fighting me for the privilege of being second.

Yes I want life in the boat of the church to be safe. Yes, I want it to be a place to learn and be held accountable. Yes I want it to be a place that extends our ministry. But more than anything else I want life in this NAVE- life in this boat to be focused seeing Jesus and responding to his invitation to come. I want this church to be a church where people are lined up for the opportunity to walk on the water. I want this church to be filled with disciples of extreme faith.

· For some of you that might be the first invitation that we call salvation. Come and receive forgiveness of sins. If that’s you that’s great, get out of the boat and on to the water.

· For some of you that might be a response to publicly profess your salvation and your love for Jesus in Baptism and church membership. If that’s you that’s great, get out of the boat and on to the water.

· For some of you who might be sitting comfortably in the same spiritual pew you sat in 20 years ago, it might be a call to get uncomfortable and try something new- risk going to a walk on water study session, a Bible study, a mission trip, inviting a friend to join you in your pew next Sunday, volunteering to serve in some way on a committee, or as liturgist. If that’s you that’s great, get out of the boat and on to the water.

· For some of you who have seen sporadic growth and have maybe fallen away from the closeness to Jesus you once knew. It may be a call to re-devote yourself to spiritual growth, prayer and scripture. If that’s you that’s great, get out of the boat and on to the water.

· To some of you who have been growing and stretching your spiritual legs- but have hesitated to take that leap to doing something different. This may be the opportunity to step out of the boat and go for it. If that’s you that’s great, get out of the boat and on to the water.

Wherever you are. Walking on water means taking one step closer to Jesus. Making one decision to trust Jesus more. Making one decision to act in faith.

I want everyone to stand up, please. Now everyone move up one pew. Just one. I know I may be risking my life here.<><><><><><> It is probably safer for the preacher to try to walk on the water than to ask people to move one pew closer. <><><><> but we all survived. Now sit down. Look around. How’s that. Not so bad? That’s what we are talking about in this series.

One pew-- One step--- one decision--- one act of faith at a time. Jesus says come.

February 7 sermon - Come Into God's Presence.

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:33:00 +0000

Come to God

RUMC

2/7/10

What did you first notice when you came in this morning? Did you see your best friend? Someone to whom you owe money? Did you notice a cob web or a light bulb that is out and wonder why no one took care of it? Did you look at one of the stained glass windows or the big cross up front or the canoe?

(start video)

How would you like to walk into church and see the hem of God’s robe? That’s what happened to Isaiah. The temple grounds were almost a square block. The sanctuary itself was actually about the same size as our building if it was squared off. Interestingly enough it was also about the same height as our steeple. It was no small building .He walked into the temple and it was filled with the hem of God’s robe. Not the robe, not the bottom half of the robe. But the hem of God’s robe filled the whole temple. That would be a shock wouldn’t it?

(slide)Once he caught his breath he looked again and saw the seraphim. Strange looking creatures. Seraphim are the highest rank of the angels. "Seraphim" means flaming ones. They had 6 wings. With 2 they covered their face in order to not insult God by looking upon the divine face. With two they covered their feet which sounds strange, but the Hebrew actually means lower parts--- which is a polite way of saying they covered their private parts. And with two they flew. As they flew they echoed back and for holy--- holy--- holy--- holy. Their one and only job is to attend to the throne of God and lead the heavenly worship.

The pivots (hinges of the massive gates of the temple) shook with the volume and the intensity and depth of the worship. And the house of the Lord was filled with smoke. Smoke is often associated with the temple incense that carries the prayers of the people to God.

The Seraphim in the revelation to John are described this way.(slide) In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

(SLIDE)So what would you do if you walked up to the church and were confronted with the hem and the seraphim and the shaking and the smoke?

Maybe you’d call Ghostbusters. “Who you goanna call,--- ghost busters.”

Maybe you’d set up a gate and sell tickets on Ticketmaster.

As for Isaiah, he cried "Wo to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

In other words, here I am sin in skin. Transgression in the flesh- I am so unworthy that I am sure to die. No unworthy creature like me can possibly stand in the presence of the holy and living God, and live.

Do you ever feel that way?

I do, sometimes!

I think that is the nature of worship. Whether it is public or private worship, when we come into the presence of the perfect, almighty, wonderful eternal holy God; it is only right that we feel unworthy. None of us is perfect and nothing but perfection can stand up the light of God’s holiness.

Communion seems to intensify the feeling. Being invited to the heavenly banquet table; being seated at the table with the Holy God himself, partaking of the very body and blood of Christ points out the depth of our sinfulness.

Do you ever feel unworthy to take communion? Do you ever feel just too dirty to come to the table?

I know some of you do. I’ve heard some of you talk about it.

And it is a good question. How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to be at God’s table? Take a step into my shoes and ask, "How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to lead others to God’s table? "How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to raise the bread and raise the cup and say “this is the body? This is the blood?” I’ll never forget the first time I did that. It was an overwhelming, humbling, and kind of frightening experience. If I ever feel differently about it, “Woe is me.”

But let’s go back to the passage from Isaiah.

Isaiah felt unworthy like us.

But then something happened. He didn’t ask for it. He didn’t deserve it. He didn’t study for it. He didn’t expect it. But the angel- the seraph took a coal- actually the Hebrew word means a hot rock--- from the altar and touched it to his lips. Saying what--- do you remember? Saying (slide) "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

"Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

The Angel of course is talking about the stone touching Isaiah’s lips. But can’t the same be said for us.

We don’t ask for it. We don’t deserve it. We don’t study for it. We don’t expect it. But it happens through Jesus Christ.

· Do you feel angry or hateful?"Now that God has touched your heart, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

· Do you find yourself doing things you know are not Godly? "Now that God has touched your hands, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

· Do you find your imagination going places you know are wrong? "Now that God has touched your mind, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

· Do you find yourself saying things that hurt others, or lying? "Now that God has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

· "Now that God has touched your life, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

Oh I understand that you feel unworthy of God’s love. That’s OK because you are. So am I. Frankly it doesn’t matter how we feel today.

Part of the message of this Isaiah passage is that (to adopt a line from Shakespeare) “There are more things in heaven and earth, (My friends), Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” In other words there is more to faith than our feelings.

First, you really are unworthy.

Second God really does forgive.

And finally God really does expect you to respond.

(slide) When God asked in Isaiah, Whom shall we send? Isaiah said “send me. I’ll go.“

Today God still forgives and God still sends. Today, God still seeks people who will say “Here I am--- send me.” What do you say today?

When you receive communion today you will hear the words from the call of Isaiah.

(BREAD) "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

I ask you to respond in the spirit of Isaiah- if you will --saying

“Here I am, Lord, Send me.”

Mountain Climbing 1/31/2010 sermon Reinbeck UMC- Rev. Terry Plocher

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 02:59:00 +0000

“Mountain climbing”

RUMC

1/31/2010

Does anyone remember the first time you saw a mountain? I don’t I was too small. When I was a preschool, my family moved to the foothills between Denver and the Rocky Mountains. We spent many a wonderful weekends just following our noses through the winding twisting creek side roads of the mountains. I remember climbing on boulders, freezing my toes in the icy mountain streams, and picnicking in meadows beside mirror-like mountain lakes. Those are good memories.

I am not sure, however, that as a child I really took in the magnitude of the mountains. As an adult I marvel at their size. A smallish 10,000-foot high mountain might weigh an as much as 1.6 sextillion pound that is a one with 21 zeros after it. I cannot even imagine that, so I figured it out . . . that would be 200 billion pounds for each and every man woman and child in the world. And that’s just a smallish sized mountain.

Are you ready to carry your 2 billion pound share home today?

Think about it. A mountain is basically just a humongous rock that sticks up through the earth’s crust. It has withstood millions and millions of years of wind and rain and earthquakes, and storms and floods and yet it stands. I read that if you took an average mountain and set off the biggest nuclear warhead we have ever made underneath it, the mass of the mountain is so great that it would barely quiver. In addition, almost no heat or radiation would escape.

Most of us marvel at the Rocky Mountains. We cannot even imagine bigger mountains, yet none of the mountains in the Rockies even appears on the list of the world’s 100 tallest mountains. Most of them are in the Himalayan range of Asia.

In light of all of that, we read the 71st Psalm, which says

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go;

give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

What does it mean to say “God; you are my rock and my fortress?”

It really is not that complicated. In the olden days, when people were looking for safe places to build their villages or castles or forts, they tried to build on top of a big rock, a hill or a mountain. It was the safest spot - hard for enemies to sneak up on, safe from floods. Secure place.

To say God, you are my rock and my fortress, then, means that God is as big as a mountain.

God is as strong as a mountain.

God is as solid as a mountain.

God is as permanent as a mountain.

God is as reliable as a mountain

God is as dependable as a mountain.

In God, we find the foundation upon which our lives rest.

In God, we find safety in the times of trouble.

In God, we find security in times of fear.

In God, we find all that we need to stand against any foe, any fear, and any force that might assail us.

Life is scary sometimes . . . let’s be honest it is scary a lot of the time. (Just some times more than others.) The Haitian earthquake, the floods, the tornado in Parkersburg remind us of our vulnerability to natural disasters.

· Let me tell you- although the ground may shake, the Haitians have a solid rock on which they can rely- God.

· Although the water rushed by, sweeping away lives and property and hope. Flood victims have a high mountain to which they can retreat: God.

· Although the winds may blow and structures fail in a tornado- many in Parkersburg found themselves sheltered in the palm of God’s rock solid love.

It is not just natural disasters.

I see it all around us.

· When a couple experiences a miscarriage or the death of a child- as devastating as that is-- God is your solid rock.

· When marriages fail and the gentle flame of love is transformed into a fiery blast of anger and spite: God is your solid rock.

· When that parental protection suddenly turns to poison, hurting you emotionally or physically or sexually-- and it seems like your safety net is gone; God is your solid Rock.

· When friends upon whom you have been able to depend, abandon you, betray you, or lead you to the slippery slope of risky behavior-- God is your rock.

· When you struggle with that voice inside that says you can’t live without your alcohol, your nerve pill, your pot, or your cigarette-- you have a solid rock refuge in God.

· When you made bad decisions and get yourself tangled up with the law-- when you think everyone knows and everyone but the courts have already judged you guilty-- God is the solid rock of forgiveness.

· When the money is running out and you begin to wonder what tomorrow will bring. When the bills have not been paid and the phone starts to ring. When medical bills, or nursing home bills threaten to take away the land, which your family has worked for three generations-- God is your solid rock and refuge.

· When your young teen daughter comes to announce that she is pregnant. When one of your children is obviously making not only wrong, but dangerous decisions about sex, or drugs, or alcohol or friends, or school , or any of a hundred other ways teenagers have of playing at the edge of the quick sand-- God is your rock solid refuge and you pray they will find that same assurance.

· When the doctor tells you that you have cancer, or macular degeneration, or Alzheimer’s or 100 other terrible diseases, and you think your life is just about over; or when the doctor doesn’t have any answers at all-- look for that solid rock foundation that will keep you from sinking into despair.

· When you can see your beloved spouse failing day by day, week by week; and you know that you may not have too many more anniversaries. When the rock to which you have become married for so long seems to be wasting away and you wonder how you can possibly go on without them. . . when the decisions get harder and the time gets shorter-- God is your rock and your salvation- an ever solid help in time of need.

· When a fire takes away your treasured possessions and you don’t know where to turn. . .

· When an accident leaves you in pain and wondering if you’ll ever walk comfortably again. . .

· When someone you love turns out to be different than you expected . .

· When the world becomes gray and depression fills your heart. . .

· When your friend says that they are not sure they believe in God any more…

Have I missed anybody? Add your own if you have to. . .

· When you feel lonely,

· or alone,

· or afraid,

· or vulnerable,

· or weak,

· or lost, o

· r despairing,

· or abandoned,

· or hopeless.

When you are sinking and you need something to hold on to-- Reach out and you’ll find that God is a solid foundation-- sure footing-- a secure shelter-- a loving and eternal source of hope.

That’s what all the fancy words in the psalm mean.; let me never be put to shame . . . rescue me; . . . save me. . . . Rescue me from the hand of the wicked, . . . from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. . .. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent. . . . Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace. O GOD YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY REFUGE.

In Isaiah 44 God says "Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other....ROCK."There is no other mountain. There is no other sure foundation.

What is the biggest problem you have ever faced? What is the deepest hurt you have experienced? What is the greatest struggle you have? What is your greatest fear today? What is your biggest worry?

Maybe you are even making a mountain out of that struggle. Maybe it looks insurmountable. Maybe you can’t even imagine how you are going to get to the other side. There doesn’t seem any way over it, you can’t go around it, and you certainly can’t go through it. Remember-- There is No, there is no other....ROCK besides God.There is no mountain bigger than God. There is no promise more sure than God. There is no foundation more secure than your faith in God.

Third Day sings a song about the mountain of God. I’d like to conclude the sermon by playing that song for you.

Run to God

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:44:00 +0000

Sorry I forgot to post this last week.

“Run to God.”

RUMC

January 24, 2010

Jay Leno tells a story about his mother in his book Leading with my chin.

He says she was born in Scotland, but lived in constant fear of deportation from the United States. It was not that she was here illegally, in fact she received her citizenship many years ago. She lived in constant fear, though because you can miss four questions on the citizenship test. She missed five. The 5^th one she missed was “What is the Constitution?” Her answer was “a boat.” Well, she was not entirely wrong. They lived in Boston where the USS Constitution is permanently docked.

The judge read the answer and immediately denied her citizenship. Her husband stormed up and said, “She is not wrong- the Constitution is a boat-“

The Judge patiently replied, “the constitution is the basic governing document---“

“But it’s also a boat in Boston-come on!”

The judge finally couldn’t take any more. He said, “Fine. She’s a citizen. Now get out of here!”

So Mr. Leno said to his wife, “you passed!”

“No, I didn’t pass,” she whimpered. “I said boat. They’re going to come after me!”

That memory plagued her for the rest of her life.

From then on, any time she was even in the proximity of a policeman, she quaked with fear. When Jay took her to Scotland 50 years later, she asked, “Will I be able to get back in?”

Guilt can be like a big red tattoo right between our eyes. There is no way to cover it up, no way to look in the mirror without seeing it. Every time we brush our teeth or comb our hair, lay in the dark trying to fall asleep, or sit alone on a quiet afternoon- it is there. Guilt can be a constant companion; gnawing at our hearts, eroding our happiness, poisoning our relationships and corroding everything that can bring us joy.

Let’s look at the 36th Psalm. There is a man that should feel guilty.

Listen to the Message version-You know I love the Message translation for the Psalms.

He has no regard for God,
      he stands insolent before him.
   He has smooth-talked himself  into believing
   That his evil will never be noticed.

   Words gutter from his mouth,
      dishwater dirty.
   Can't remember when he
      did anything decent.

   Every time he goes to bed,
      he fathers another evil plot.
   When he's loose on the streets,
      nobody's safe.
   He plays with fire
      and doesn't care who gets burned.

That is a man who should shake in his boots every time he is near a police officer.

Now I know you all well enough to know that this guy in the Psalm is not you. You are basically good people. He doesn’t even bear the slightest resemblance to you- - - most of the time.

Most of the time.

Don’t we all have our moments though?

I do.

Don’t we all have our moments when evil thoughts come flooding in to our hearts?

Don’t we all have our moments when revenge looks sweet like the cake in the bakery window?

Am I the only one whose mouth is dishwater dirty- maybe not with cuss words but at least with unloving words?

I’m not alone am I?

And then we feel guilty. That red tattoo appears between our eyes and we just know that somehow everyone can see how filthy we are. Somehow everyone knows the awful things we have thought and felt. Somehow everyone knows the terrible plots we have hatched in the quiet darkness of our private thoughts. The funny thing is, most of the time other people can’t see it. We forget that we are almost the only one who can see the ugly stain of guilt. I said almost.

I said almost. Because God sees it too.

God sees it too and it makes him sad.

But the Psalmist goes on

God's love is meteoric,
      his loyalty astronomic,
   His purpose titanic,
      his verdicts oceanic.
   Yet in his largeness
      nothing gets lost;
   Not a man, not a mouse,
      slips through the cracks.

Did you catch that?

In God’s love--- nothing gets lost. Nothing and no one slips through the cracks. Not a mouse- not a man- not a woman. No one escapes god’s love. God loves you, and there is nothing you can do about it. God loves you, and there is nothing you can do to change that.

Sure God sees our sin and it enflames his righteous anger. Sure, God knows your evil thoughts and impure motives, and vengeful plans and the lies of your lips and God feels violated.

But nothing makes God sadder than to see you sit in guilt. Nothing breaks God’s heart quicker than to see us wallowing in the muck of guilt- feeling sorry for ourselves- sorry we were ever born. Nothing, nothing, nothing grieves God so much as to see his children floundering in a sea of sorrow, a river of remorse, an ocean of guilt.

Because it isn’t necessary. There is no reason for us to live in fear of deportation from God’s kingdom. There is no reason for us to live in dread of God’s wrath. There is no reason for us to live in our guilt.

The Palmist writes

7-9 How exquisite your love, O God!
      How eager we are to run under your wings,
   To eat our fill at the banquet you spread
      as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.
   You're a fountain of cascading light,
      and you open our eyes to light.
10-12 Keep on loving your friends;
      do your work in welcoming hearts.

There is no reason for us to live in guilt, but we have to be willing to give up some things. We have to be willing to exchange the pain of guilt for the joy of God’s love. We have to be willing to trade the emptiness of shame for the wonderful banquet of love that God spreads before us. We have to be willing to swap the comfort of the darkness for the ecstasy of the light of God’s love.

It does not seem like that would be a very hard decision.

Let see . . . pain or love. . . emptiness or satisfaction. . . darkness or light.

It doesn’t seem like it would be a very hard decision . . . so what is holding you back?

My friends- God loves you more than you can imagine. God wants you more than you can understand. God forgives you quicker than we forgive ourselves. So run. Run. Run as fast as you can. Run to the shelter of God’s wings. Run to the joy of God’s banquet. Run to the fountain of everlasting light cascading across your life removing guilt and shame and freeing you from sin itself.

Run, brothers and sisters, run. Run in prayer into God’s presence- and be forgiven, be free, be alive in Christ.

noreply@blogger.com (terry) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:26:00 +0000

“It’s finally over. . . or is it just beginning”

RUMC December 27^th 2009

Everybody take a deep breath. Christmas is finally over. Maybe there are a few pending celebrations, like my family. However, for the most part it is over. Santa is hibernating or whatever it is that he does. The gift-wrap has been ripped off the gifts. The toys are assembled, charged, or broken. The turkey has been gobbled up. The tree will soon be taken down and the lights will once again be a tangled mess. About all that’s left is the cookies, good memories and a desire to hibernate until spring. Right?

And that’s exactly what some Christians will do. They will crawl into a spiritual cave until Easter and emerge to celebrate the risen and glorified Christ. Not us though. We want to read more than the dust jacket on the book of Jesus life.

NOT ORDINARY- EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED

Christmas may seem like an ordinary holiday, like Memorial Day or thanksgiving. But when thanksgiving is over it is over. I promise you when Christmas day is over- Christmas is just beginning.

Notice the end of the Christmas narrative we read today- what did the shepherds do? Did they just go back to work and forget about what happened? NO_ they went back glorifying God and praising God for all they had seen. Do you think they were the same after that? I doubt it.

What about the Magi- do you suppose they were the same after their long journey that ended in worshipping the King of the Jews? No- and the Bible alludes to that when it says they returned by a different route.

Do you suppose the innkeeper was the same after he saw this miracle? Do you suppose he just put the animals back in the stall and went back to work? Maybe, but I’ll bet his heart was changed.

No one walked away from that first Christmas unchanged.

And neither should we today!

John writes in the beginning was the word. The word was with God and the word was God. That word became flesh and dwelt among us. Eugene Peterson writes this chapter in a tremendously earthy way.

“¹⁴The Word became flesh and blood,
      and moved into the neighborhood.
   We saw the glory with our own eyes,
      the one-of-a-kind glory,
      like Father, like Son,
   Generous inside and out,
      true from start to finish.

“The word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” God himself became flesh and blood and made himself at home in our hearts. God in our own hearts. How could we NOT be changed?

You see God does not just move into the neighborhood, he moves into our hearts. Indeed God doesn’t just move into our hearts- he changes our hearts and lives. God sets up camp right smack dab in the middle of our lives.

Christmas is not just about the new life of a baby in the manger. Christmas is about life itself: lives touched by God; lives changed by angel songs; lives transformed by God in the flesh..

No one can really celebrate the Christ in Christmas without being changed forever.

CROSSROADS

SO- Here we stand at the crossroads;

Ø God himself has created this intersection of the “eternal” and the “now” that we call Christmas?

Ø God Himself has created this meeting of the human and the divine?

Ø God Himself has caused this collision sinfulness of my heart runs smack dab into the perfection of God in the flesh of Jesus Christ? How can anyone walk away unchanged?

Instead of saying “Whew- I’m glad that is over let’s move on to the next thing. I want us to stop for just a few minutes and let the spirit of Christmas really soak in. Let’s marinade in it for a few minutes and think about how we have changed. Or how we want to be changed because God has moved into our lives and changed everything.

LIFT OUR EYES UP, REFLECTING GOD’S LOVE.

First I want to suggest that this year we LIFT OUR EYES UP, REFLECTING GOD’S LOVE. That is called worship. Raising our eyes that our faces glow with the light of God’s love. It includes raising our

Ø voices in song,

Ø our heats in praise, and our

Ø Offerings in thanksgiving.

Worship is the number one most important purpose of human existence. The Westminster catechism tells us that the chief end of man is to “glorify God, and know and enjoy him forever.” In other words to worship. Worship is

Ø not getting charged up; though we hope that will happen.

Ø It is not learning something; though we hope that will happen.

Ø Worship is not first and foremost to help us grow in our faith; though of course we hope that happens.

The number one purpose of worship and in deed our lives is to adore God. To humbly reflect back the same love to God that God has revealed to us in Jesus Christ. In other words to Know God and glow with God’s love.

LIFT YOUR HEARTS DAILY SEEKING TO LIVE IN GOD’S LOVE.

Second, I call you to this year to LIFT YOUR HEARTS DAILY SEEKING TO LIVE IN GOD’S LOVE. That is called discipleship. When God’s love intersects with our lives, it doesn’t leave us the same. We can’t help that. But it is quite a different thing to intentionally and habitually raise our heart to God asking God to change it and make it more like his. Did you notice the Epistle reading from Philippians? Paul writes “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,” I would say, not just the same mind, but “Let the same heart beat in you that was in Christ Jesus.” A heart that beats with humility rather than pride. Obedience rather than self-satisfaction. Sacrifice is more important than victory.

Ø Discipleship is praying “Not my will but thine,” AND MEANING IT.

Ø Singing “Have thine own way lord.” AND MEANING IT

and that is the second way Christmas should change us.

LIFT OUR HANDS TO GOD INTENTIONALLY SHARING GOD’S LOVE IN EVERY WAY WE CAN

Finally, a gift never given away is not really a gift is it? So we LIFT OUR HANDS TO GOD INTENTIONALLY SHARING GOD’S LOVE IN EVERY WAY WE CAN. As we emerge from Christmas we have an obligation to share the gift we have received. We found a lot of ways to practice sharing the gift through

Ø OFFERINGS AND GIFTS this advent haven’t we? Society of Saint Andrew, Philippines, Operation Threshold, apportionments, and today, student day offering. At Christmas his love flows through our

Ø WORDS as we offer words of blessing and peace and joy to those to whom we might not normally speak. We are called to let Christmas

Ø LOVE flow through us as we love those whom we don’t understand or even like. We let Christmas

Ø PEACE flow thorough us as we make amends with those we have hurt or who have hurt us. We let Christmas

Ø HOPE flow thorough us as we walk and sit and live next to people who feel beaten down and powerless. We let Christmas

Ø JOY flow through us as others see us respond to the disappointments and frustrations that abound in life.

Find ways then- Find ways to lift your hands to God- intentionally sharing God's love with everyone you can.

Now, I might get booed for this, but I am going to say it anyway. Do you remember the series the dangerous church? What I am talking about today is being a MANGEROUS CHURCH!

Sorry about that.

I am talking about being a MANGEROUS CHURCH one that changed once and for all. By God's miraculous and wonderful coming to us in Jesus Christ.

Consider midnight new year’s eve as an opportunity to not only stop smoking, start loosing weight. I call upon you to do something spiritual with it this year.

John Wesley encouraged his followers to renew their covenant with God as often as they could. He created what he called a watch night service that was to be celebrated on New Year ’s Eve or day. Maybe we will do that sometime, but this year- I call upon you to come to the church sometime on New Years Eve day or next weekend and spend some time in prayer. Spend time praying about where you have been, how you have been changed and where you are going. Make some simple plans to lift your eyes to God in adoration, your heart to God regularly and your hands to your neighbors even when it seems hard. And then pray this covenant prayer we will pray in a few minutes. Just you and God. And really listen to the words. If you listen to the words too closely, you will realize that next to “thy will be done” this is probably one of the most dangerous prayers of all time. I’ll have copies laying here on the altar for you. Come, use them, and then next Sunday we will gather again, pray the prayer together again and seal the covenant renewal with communion.

How will you respond to God's great gift in Christmas? Hibernate until Easter? Or start the New Year with a MANGEROUS faith? It’s up to you.

I AM NO LONGER MY OWN, BUT THINE.

PUT ME TO WHAT THOU WILT, RANK ME WITH WHOM THOU WILT.

PUT ME TO DOING, PUT ME TO SUFFERING.

LET ME BE EMPLOYED FOR THEE OR LAID ASIDE FOR THEE,

EXALTED FOR THEE OR BROUGHT LOW FOR THEE.

LET ME BE FULL, LET ME BE EMPTY.

LET ME HAVE ALL THINGS, LET ME HAVE NOTHING.

I FREELY AND HEARTILY YIELD ALL THINGS TO THY PLEASURE AND DISPOSAL.

AND NOW, O GLORIOUS AND BLESSED GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT,

THOU ART MINE, AND I AM THINE.

SO BE IT.

AND THE COVENANT WHICH I HAVE MADE ON EARTH,

LET IT BE RATIFIED IN HEAVEN.

I AM NO LONGER MY OWN, BUT THINE.

PUT ME TO WHAT THOU WILT, RANK ME WITH WHOM THOU WILT.

PUT ME TO DOING, PUT ME TO SUFFERING.

LET ME BE EMPLOYED FOR THEE OR LAID ASIDE FOR THEE,

EXALTED FOR THEE OR BROUGHT LOW FOR THEE.

LET ME BE FULL, LET ME BE EMPTY.

LET ME HAVE ALL THINGS, LET ME HAVE NOTHING.

I FREELY AND HEARTILY YIELD ALL THINGS TO THY PLEASURE AND DISPOSAL.

AND NOW, O GLORIOUS AND BLESSED GOD, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT,

THOU ART MINE, AND I AM THINE.

SO BE IT.

AND THE COVENANT WHICH I HAVE MADE ON EARTH,

LET IT BE RATIFIED IN HEAVEN. AMEN AND AMEN

Outside My Window

This blog has moved

Sunday March 7 sermon- step over the side

Finding your gifts 1 Corinthians 12

We all like to get gifts. Christmas gifts, Birthday gifts, anniversary gifts, valentine gifts, gifts for no special reason.

Every one has their own style. Some rip in to the paper as though they were starving and it contained the first dinner they had seen in a month.

Others carefully unseal every piece of tape as though it might contain a bomb.

Still others shake the living daylights out of it to try to guess before they begin with the paper.

First a couple of things you need to know. I read 1 Corinthians 12 because in that one chapter we can learn most of what we need to know.

I could go on teaching you about Spiritual gifts or we can go about discovering them. Let’s enter into prayerful discovery.

As I see it, there are four categories of gifts. Equally important but different. I base this division on the intended recipient of the gift.

1. There are gifts that are oriented toward the church as a body. Things like administration, generosity and worship leadership. They are for the body of believers.

2. There gifts oriented toward our brothers and sisters in the faith. Intended to build up the body by building individuals. Encouragement and discernment would be a couple examples of those gifts.

3. Third there are gifts that are aimed at persons outside the body with the goal of bringing them into the body. Evangelism leaps to mind, but I think intercession and teaching should be included there as well as many others.

4. Finally there are gifts that are mostly for the individual believer. For instance the gift of faith, wisdom, music and poverty might be best understood as building up ourselves as part of the body.

Most gifts fit into more than one category and I have been very liberal in putting them in more than one station.

I encourage you to select one in each category, write it on your worksheet.

((Start quiet instrumental music on CD))

Gathering around the boat- meditation wrap up

As we sing let us each decide we are going to get out of the boat and offer our gifts to God. As you do that, place your card with your dominant gift written on it in the boat. Please keep the full page and use that to guide your prayers for this week.

Walk on Water-Quentin

Benediction

___________________’s Spiritual gifts

(name)

My God given gift for the church (the body)…

My God given gift for others in the body (brothers and sisters in the faith)…

My God given gift for people outside the body …

My God given gift for my own growth toward God…

My God given spiritual gift(s). . .

My God given spiritual gift(s). . .

My God given spiritual gift(s). . .

My God given spiritual gift(s). . .

Walk non water -#A What is the name of your boat? 2/24/10

Walk on Water #1: Life in the boat 2/21/2010

February 7 sermon - Come Into God's Presence.

Mountain Climbing 1/31/2010 sermon Reinbeck UMC- Rev. Terry Plocher

Run to God