|
Last Sunday I shared with you that I am concerned about what is going on in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. That I sense we have got so caught up in religion that we have forgotten our faith. That we have got so caught up in religion that the primary focus is money and numbers. We have gotten so caught up in religion that salvation, which the Methodist founders John and Charles Wesley were concerned about, is not the churches primary focus.
The Miami Valley District of the United Methodist Church has asked that the TUMC, along with other UM churches, pick out one workshop to attend together in May.
Saturday May 3rd 9-Noon: Workshop: Cluster Model, at the Concord UMC Englewood
Sunday May 4th, 2-5. Workshop: Rebirth, at the Russell Road Christian Church in Sidney, OH
Saturday May 10th, 9-Noon: Workshop: Merger at the Germantown UMC in Germantown, OH
Saturday May 17th, 9-Noon: Workshop: Partnership at the Medway UMC, Medway, OH.
We are being strongly encouraged to attend and as I reflected on these workshops it came to me that the TUMC is located with many of the same faith, in the same city but living in different worlds.
And what world are we as a church family living in? I need to ask you, what does this church mean to you? What does this very building that we meet in and was founded in 1888 mean to you?
If they were to close this church would it be a death, a visitation and a funeral for you? Have you invested your time, your money, and your efforts into this building so that it has become your false god? Do you worship the mortar and brick of this building or God the Father? If this church were to close would the community notice? Would the community be missing something or would the brick and mortar still be standing silently as it always has?
II OF VI
To you, is this church a museum, a relic, a fortress, or IS IT ‘MINE’? I believe we get into trouble when the church becomes ‘MINE’ instead of a place of worship. I believe when the church become a museum and a relic of the community, ‘MINE’, is when we become critical of the pastor’s message. Critical of everything and we cannot offer any wisdom or insight for how we feel or how to change things for the better.
They say in the end what matters are the memories you leave with those who are left behind. If this church were closed today at the end of this service what memories would be left for this community?
Or would there be any notice other than the obituary?
The Tremont City United Methodist Church born in 1888, died in 2008, due to being worn out. Its saints who have gone up to heaven preceded the church in death. Sixty people in membership and the church bat survive the church.
Open your Bible to this morning’s scripture lesson, John 10:1-10.
“Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who come before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to kill and destroy; I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
In researching for this sermon I have learned a lot I was not familiar with. In verse 1 a “sheepfold” was a rock enclosure designed to protect and shelter the sheep. The shepherd would actually lie across the across the entrance of the sheepfold and become the “gate” so as to prevent the sheep from leaving or anyone who did not belong there to enter without the shepherd’s knowledge.
Domestic sheep may not be the smartest animal on earth but they do not have a real leader. They’ll follow one sheep then the next and they will follow a shepherd they’ve learn to trust, or a goat. Because they (goats); are strong.
The shepherd does not have to sneak into the pen, for the sheep are familiar with their shepherd. And we are a lot like sheep as we learn whom we can follow based on how we trust them.
I have explained to you what a “sheepfold” is. I need to ask you, what is your sheepfold? This building called the church… or Jesus Christ?
ASHES TO ASHES DUST TO DUST, the brick and mortar of this building shall return one day to the earth, which it came from.
ASHES TO ASHES DUST TO DUST, this shell I call my body shall return one day to the earth, which it came from.
My spirit shall live on forever in heaven, as Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.
Lets look at John 10:9
“I am the door, if anyone enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
For a true shepherd makes sure you are welcomed and comfortable sending you out to be nourished.
I wonder how have we in the Tremont City UMC been called out to this community? The vision in my heart is that this church has been called to offer VBS and Kids R Cool With Wednesday School as our local mission.
We have been called to have a children’s service as a part of our Kids R Cool With Wednesday School so the children may learn more about who Jesus Christ is and can be in their lives.
We have been called so these children do not grow up memorizing Psalm 23 of this world.
The world is my shepherd, I shall not want; it makes me lie down in materialism and money. It leads me beside ATM’s in my nice car that restores my soul. It leads me in paths of great materialism for my name’s sake. Even though I walk through my expensive home I fear no evil for my alarm system is turned on. Thou chef preparest a steak before me; my cup overflows with fine wine. Surely goodness and mercy shall be within me all the materialistic days of my life; and I shall dwell within me forever.
I believe the problem lies in our getting so caught up in our ‘affluenza’, caught up in who we are, and our affluence that others see in our lives. We become so caught up that we forget that those materialistic and monetary things of this world are the thieves who enter into our lives not through our heart but through our wallet and ego.
The thief (that of this world), comes only to steal, slaughter and destroy. But listen to the difference between a thief, a “hireling” and our shepherd, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For the hireling does not care about us for we are not theirs. Our shepherd, Jesus, cares. We are His flock.
John 10:11-18
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will answer to my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay my life down, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father.
Only God knows what lies ahead for us as a church. It is up to us what we do with the church that God has given us. I am not speaking necessarily of this building made of hands but of the temple of God within each and everyone of us.
I AM THE CHURCH! YOU ARE THE CHURCH! WE ARE THE CHURCH TOGETHER!
Let us hold onto each other, God’s right hand and know that we are safe in the Shepherd’s care for the Shepherd is right here beside us on our journey.
Let us remember, religion can and will fail but God’s love for us individually and collectively has not, cannot not, will not fail.
My main point this morning is this; I believe that often we use the wrong measure to determine whether or not we are successful for what God calls us to do. Sure it would be nice to have every pew filled. Sure it would be nice to have an adult and children’s choir. Sure it would be nice to have a hand bell choir. The true worth of God’s ministry cannot always be measured. Cannot be measured by that which we can see, touch and feel.
VI OF VI
The truth worth of God’s ministry lies below the surface where only God knows what is within our heart. Knows what is in the heart of the children we have been trusted to teach in Vacation Bible School and Kids R Cool With Wednesday School. May we never look at it any other way than through God’s eyes. And may we ever prove faithful to His trust in us to carry out His, not the worlds, His wishes.
Let us pray,
Father God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Change is difficult Father God, but may we trust in You and your wisdom in our lives. Amen
|
|
