Strong Words for Moving Forward

February 12, 2023 Deuteronomy 30:15-29 Sixth Sunday of Epiphany Strong words for Moving Forward Prelude Welcome Call to Worship (Psalm 27:1) Steady our steps, O God, as we travel the journey set before us. Let us walk in the way of light and pursue the path of peace. Keep us on your course of life as we seek to be faithful And as we gather to praise you, our faithful Lord and God. (Presbyterian Outlook, Robin Michalove) Opening Prayer (Deuteronomy 30, Matthew 5) Holy Spirit, guide us as we walk in faith, and guard us against the powers that would draw us away from your love. Help us live according to your commandments, that we might live long in the land you have prepared for us. Prompt us to seek you with our whole heart and guide us to walk in your ways, that we may carry out the vows of the covenant we share. May our words and deeds bring life and faith to others, as we hold fast to the gift of faith. Be near us each and every day, and bless us with your light, that our days may be filled with grace. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, J. Wayne Pratt) Song In Christ There is no East or West UMH 548 Children’s Sermon Hello, children of God! Do you like watching sports? There are a lot of interesting things that happen out there in the world of athletics. This weekend (insert applicable sporting event; this message uses the Superbowl), there’s this big football game we have called the Superbowl. It’s kind of a big deal if you live in the United States, although I happen to think it’s best for snacks, parties, and commercials…but anyway, there are two teams who play in this game, trying to determine who is the best. Which team do you think is going to win? Who would you choose? Why? Discuss teams and picks. Now, is that team going to win because you think they’re the best? Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite work like that…the team that will win is, of course, whichever group of players scores more points! Rooting for them doesn’t exactly change the outcome. There are a lot of choices we have to make in life on a daily basis. We choose what to wear, what to eat, what to do…Some of these things aren’t really a big deal, but there are other choices we make that have quite an impact on our lives. And some decisions are pretty obvious… What if you had the choice of chocolate or brussels sprouts? Or what if you had the choice of life or death? God told His people in the Old Testament to choose between good and evil, between life and death. He promised blessing and long life for following Him. That seems like a “no-brainer”, right? It seems too easy, but we can still make poor decisions sometimes. God wants us to choose to accept His grace and follow Him. It seems easy enough. We know that God gives us freedom from sin and new life, and you would think everyone would want to take that. But we make poor choices. We have choices to honor and serve God, and obey Him, but we mess that up sometimes. We make a lot of mistakes. Even if we know the right choice, we don’t always follow through on it. But that’s where the great news comes in…even though we do things we shouldn’t, God loves us and covers all of our sins and mistakes! He sent Jesus to live a perfect life for us and die in our place. Even when we do things that are wrong, we know we are covered by His blood. We might not always choose to follow the Lord like we ought to. But God chooses us! He chose us first. He chose to give His Son for us, and when we mess up, we can always come back to God and receive His grace. No matter what we do, no matter what kinds of decisions we make, He is always there ready to welcome us back into His loving arms. Just like our picks for the football game aren’t really what determines it, we don’t pick the death and Resurrection of Jesus. That already happened! God already planned to rescue us, and it’s not our work that saves us, it’s His! All we do is open our hands and hearts to accept that beautiful and abundant free gift of grace. We can choose to obey the Lord and follow His Word, but we don’t always do it perfectly. God loves us perfectly, though, so we can run to Him every time and know that He chooses us to be His children. Why don’t we thank God for that love right now? Prayer: (Have kids repeat each line) Dear God, Thank you for giving us your Son And granting eternal life through Him. Help us to always make wise decisions And most importantly, to choose to follow you Thank you for your promises and blessings Thank you for your love We love you, God! In Jesus name, Amen! (Ministry to Children – Kristin Schmidt) Affirmation of faith (from A Brief Statement of Faith) We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the church. In a broken and fearful world, the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Presbyterian Outlook, Robin Michalove) Passing of the Peace Scripture Deuteronomy 30:15-29 Sermon Strong words for moving forward How many of you remember life when you were 40? Assuming that you are over 40. Now let me ask you this – did life get better for you after 40? There is a saying that life begins at 40. 40 was a while ago for me – 16 years ago. But I do remember that it was a time in life where I finally felt that I had arrived. I was officially grown and on my own – every thing was finally coming together (that was right before it all fell apart). 40 years is a significant time in the bible. The biblical kings Saul, David and Solomon were all said to have ruled 40 years. 40 years is just considered to be a long time. 40 years is a generation. A lot of the people that were in my life at the beginning of 40 years were not there at the end of 40 years. 40 years is just enough time for memories and traditions to get lost. 40 years represents transition and transformation. 40 is about halfway through the average life span. At 40 you start to think more seriously about life, where you are headed, what is your purpose. 40 is a special number. With all of that significance – that is probably why the bible says that the Hebrews spent 40 years wandering in the desert before entering the promisedland. Moses was the leader at the beginning of the 40 years. He whole life was dedicated to leading his people to the promiseland. He ate, drink, talked and lived the promisedland during this time. And yet, God told him that he would never set foot there with his people. It was Moses who felt the need to prepare his people for that wonderful day. Imagine you have spent your entire life at home with your parents – and at 40 you finally decide that you are going to leave home and go to college. For the first time in your life there will be no one to tell you what to do, to define life for you, and you will be with all different types of people, with all different types of values. Your parents would probably sit you down the night before you leave and have some type of talk with you. Remember how you were raised, don’t forget what it who you are. And where you came from. Stay focused, don’t change. Deuteronomy is a pretty long book – one of the longest in the bible. It is full of Moses’ lecture on staying Hebrew when you enter the promiseland. Deutoronomy means second law. Moses sat down and laid down the rules for living before they left Egypt – that is the book of exodus. And now as they are about the end the trip – he talks with them again. The ten commandments are found in the book of exodus – but they are also found in the book of Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is a 34 chapter lecture on remembering who you are. Today’s lesson – make good choices. Moses tells us that the choices that we make are a matter of life and death. We should chose God in everything that we do. That is the pathway to life. Jane was in hospice care, suffering from the effects of a massive stroke that would soon end her life. During her last few days, Jane was unable to move or to speak; yet the gleam in her eyes and a "yahoo" when a visitor entered the room let folks know that she was fully aware of her surroundings. Finally, it appeared to all that Jane had slipped into a coma. The pastor was called. Family and friends were gathered at her bedside. Together they shared "Jane stories." The room was filled with laughter and tears. It was time to share the meal Jesus served to his disciples in that upper room long ago. Clustered around Jane's bed, the small group of family and friends heard the familiar and life giving words: "This is my body, given for you. This is my blood, shed for you." And suddenly, from Jane's bed, they heard, "Yahoo!" At the very moment, God's choice of Jane and of each of those gathered around her became visible. In that one exclamation, "Yahoo," Jane removed her grazing bib and put on her serving apron ... for the pastor and for all God's gathered people. At that very moment, God demonstrated what our text looks like in this life and the next: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). Jesus Christ, host at the buffet table, serves God's chosen children. Because God had chosen her to serve, even in her most fragile hour, Jane was able to serve others with a foretaste of the buffet that would come very soon. Thanks be to God for Jane. Thanks be to God for giving us bibs for receiving and aprons for serving. Yahoo! Amen. CSS Publishing, Inc., Sermons For Sundays In Advent, Christmas, And Epiphany:Did You See That Gorilla?, by Tony Everett Every decision that we make has consequences. When we choose God, then everything goes better according to Moses. But we all know people who make very poor decisions and yet they turn out okay. There are some people who make a point to do things wrong and against the bible and they still appear to be okay. (key word is appear to be okay). Moses word for us – is that life is full of choices, when making a decision always choose righteousness over selfishness, choose love over resentment and bitterness, choose community over isolation. Choose the ways of God over what we see other people doing. If we do, we will live a healthier happier life. Even the best of us make bad decisions sometimes. We all have times where we would rather forget what God taught us and do what makes sense in the moment. God is going to still love us. When we make poor choices, there is forgiveness and understanding. Sometimes we can’t tell right off if we have made a good decision or a bad decision. Yet eventually, we suffer the consequences of our decisions. When we live life as God intended, things naturally flow better in our spirits. Moses tells us that as we go through life and make decisions – we should love God, walk in God’s ways and of course coming from Moses – we should keep God’s commands. In this wonderful book, Rachel Remen tells the story of a man named Max. Max was a reckless man who often did dangerous, reckless life-threatening things. Max lived on the edge, smoking, drinking, carousing, fighting, driving his car wildly… constantly flirting with danger. At 63 years of age, Max had been married four times, had made two fortunes and lost them, and now bouncing back had become a highly successful rancher and cattle breeder. He had grown up on a ranch in the Mid-West. His father was a tough, hard-nosed cowboy… who had resented Max’s presence in the family from the day Max was born. Max was a pre-mature baby and in the first few years of his life he was small and sickly and his mother had to give him a great deal of her time and energy. His father didn’t like that at all and one day in a fit of anger, Max’s dad shouted: “If that little runt was one of the animals, I’d have put it out to starve.” Even when Max grew up and became a big and strong, rough and tough teenager, Max felt that his dad resented him. He said there were times when his dad would go for weeks and never speak to him or acknowledge his presence in any way. It was rough on Max, so when he reached the age of 15, Max left home to fend for himself in the world. All of his life, Max had had these “self-destructive tendencies” which often caused accidents and injuries. Ultimately, he ended up in Rachel Remen’s counseling office. “I don’t know why I do these reckless, crazy things,” he said. “I have ‘pushed death’ for as long as I can remember.” Dr. Remen said to him: “Max, maybe you do these things because you are still trying to decide.” “Decide what?” Max asked. And Dr. Rachel Remen said: “Maybe you are still trying to decide if you want to live to please your mother… or die to please your dad!” Max was stunned by her comment at first. He just stared at the floor for a long time… and then quietly, very quietly… almost a whisper, he said: “I want to live.” “What did you say, Max? Can you look me in the eye and say that out loud?” Rachel Remen said. Long pause… and at first Rachel Remen worried that she had gone too far, but then… slowly, agonizingly, Max looked up and he said: “I want to live!” Rachel Remen smiled at Max and said: “I want you to live, too.” Max smiled back at her then he said: “Well, doc, with your vote we’ve outnumbered the old buzzard once and for all!” That simple expression of love from his doctor changed Max’s life. Gradually he became able to forgive his father and to value and care for himself. His reckless living stopped. His injuries and accidents stopped… because he realized that he was valued and treasured… and that someone else (in this case, his doctor) genuinely felt that his life was important… and that was an epiphany for him… and that knowledge enabled Max to choose life. Max’s story is the kind of story that needs to be told – - Around kitchen tables, - In our Sunday School classes, - And from our pulpits, Because it dramatically reminds us of the crucial decision, the vital choice every one of us faces every single day of our lives, namely this: - Do we choose light or darkness, life or death? - Do we choose to just cope with life or to really embrace life? - Do we choose to throw in the towel and quit on life? Or, do we choose to celebrate life? The Christian faith is helpful to us here because the Christian faith teaches us that God, the Great Physician, loves us, cares for us, values us and treasures us. Did you know that we make over 30,000 decisions a day. Some are pretty small – like should we lift are feet to get out of bed, what do we wear, what is our attitude toward life going to be. Some are major – like signing a contract, completing a project, or meeting a new friend. How many of our decisions intentionally include God? When facing life do we pray, read the bible, think about what the book of Deuteronomy is trying to tell us, discern how God is working in our life, in our decisions? One man said that he says the Lord’s Prayer every day- and after that prayer he asks himself if he chooses God every day. The good news for us – is that whether we choose God in our lives, God has already chosen us. God sticks with us in every decision – we just have to be aware that God is with us. When we go out to face the big vast world – God walks by our side no matter what. I saw this saying on Facebook that I thought was really helpful. Every day when I wake up – instead of saying that I have God in my heart – I should say – I live in the heart of God. God chose each of us to be a part of this day. Do we accept that chose and make the most of it – or do we walk away from it? Life begins when we choose to walk with God. Let us all live our best life. Amen. Song The Churches One Foundation UMH 546 Prayer Discerning God, help me consider this day how I live my life and how I choose the direction I take. Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time? (2 Cor. 1:17)Discriminating God, help me understand how crucial are the words I speak to others as I seek relationships in my life. “Let your ‘Yes’ be your yes and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12)Disturbing God, help me find clarity in my relationship with you, with others, and maybe especially with myself. Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No' :anything more than this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5: 37)Written by Kenn Stright, Minister, Presbyterian Church of Saint David in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Part of the unique gift of belonging within a church community is the recognition we are expected to BOTH relate to our Creator, our Redeemer, our Sustainer, AND relate to the people of the congregation. In most other social clubs or organizations, members come together primarily to relate to one another, while in some faith settings, there is a singular desire for God, not dependent on anyone else other than the penitent person and the Holy One. But here, we receive Jesus’ teaching: “when you are offering your gift…if you remember your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift…and go…be reconciled … and then come and offer your gift.” Both the gift-giving in gratitude to God and the relationships between individuals in this congregation are important! Jesus urges us to build up relationships with our brothers and sisters in faith, AND offer our financial gifts to God. In the quiet of these moments, ask yourself: Where do I need to strengthen my connections? How can I best offer my financial support? With whom am I out-of-relationship in this congregation? Today, I invite you to make this a time of faith growth as we share these moments: digging in to offer financial support, AND deciding this day is the time to reach out to mend a relationship. Let us share our morning offering, along with our determination to make a contact and renew a relationship. Prayer of Thanksgiving Giver of every good and perfect gift, thank you for this time to measure ourselves, even as we offer a portion of our financial resources to build up your Realm on earth, as it is in heaven. We ask you to draw us forward into renewed relationships AND to regular sharing of our financial resources. Accept our intentions, and urge us on, AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer and Charge for Facebook We see what is set before us: life and death, God’s ways and our ways, blessings and curses. In our response to God’s mercy, choose life, embrace life, offer life, rejoice in life, trusting in the One who longs to bless us with life through the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Robin Michalove) Community Time Benediction When Jesus said, “But I say to you,” he was raising the bar; he was calling for more than the law requires. He was calling us to righteousness. Let us go from here determined to follow his call by the Spirit’s grace and live as disciples every moment of our lives. Go with God. Amen. Derek Weber, United Methodist Discipleship Ministries, July 2022 Additional Illustrations A doctoral student who was living in another state forwarded a dissertation proposal for her major professor to critique. She enclosed a self-addressed, stamped envelope for his convenience. After making suggestions on the proposal, the professor placed it back inside the envelope. Across the flap he noticed a tape on which the following clear directions were painted in large capital letters "Press it. Seal it." So he pressed it, but it would not seal. Again and again, the professor followed the directions explicitly. He pressed and he pressed, but still the envelope did not seal. He then began to pound and then to stomp on the flap with the same failed results. Finally, the faculty secretary heard the uproar in the mail room and rushed in to see what was happening. With a twinkle in her eyes and a smile that she could not fully disguise, she took the envelope from the helpless and befuddled professor and said, "Watch and learn." She then grasped one corner of the tape and peeled it away from the envelope flap. She then pressed it, sealed it, dropped it into the mail slot, and returned to her duties. "Oh," said the professor. No matter how clear the directions, God's people, you and I, cannot follow them alone. No matter what seems to be a clear-cut choice, God's people always seem to gaze and graze at the wrong buffet table, and we need enormous bibs to catch the overflow from our sinful choices. The good news here is that God has already made the first choice. Through his covenant with Abraham, God chose these people to become his own. Through Moses, God chose to deliver his people from bondage and to form them in faithful living as they journeyed through the wilderness to arrive at the edge of the land God had chosen for them. God kept his covenantal promise to them often in spite of them. Remember the flight attendant who asked a man “Would you like dinner?” The man answered “What are my choices?” The flight attendant said: “Yes or No!” That’s what Moses is saying here. You have a choice to make. Do you say: “Yes or No to God!” And then he pleads with them, “Please say yes! Choose life with God. Because God loves you, choose life with God.”