Sent out into the Wild World

June 14, 2026 3rd Sunday after Pentecost Matthew 9:35-10:23 Sent out into the wild world Year A Prelude Greeting Call to Worship God meets us in surprising yet ordinary places—under a tree, in the smile of a stranger, in a refreshing breeze that comes at just the right time. God, open our hearts to notice your presence all around us. God speaks to us in surprising yet ordinary ways—in a well-placed word from a friend, in a prayer that comes at just the right time, in a song that resonates through our entire being. God, open our minds to recognize your voice all around us. God fulfills God’s promises in surprising yet ordinary ways—in an unexpected act of kindness, in providing just what we need at just the right time, in sending someone to listen when we feel alone. God, open our hands to receive your blessings all around us. Beloved, in the surprising and ordinary ways that God shows up among us, may we meet God and our neighbors with open hearts, minds, and hands, ready to encounter God’s miraculous work. God, open our lives to receive your blessings, that we may share together in the joy, wonder, and laughter of God’s miraculous works all around us. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025. Opening Prayer God, as you met Abraham in an ordinary moment of hospitality, meet us today in the ordinary moments of our lives. Open our minds to recognize your presence among us; open our hearts to receive your promises; open our arms to embrace your miraculous works with joy, wonder, and laughter. As we gather to worship, help us find the courage to hope, the wisdom to trust, and the perseverance to cooperate with you as you fulfill our promises as you work for abundant life for all creation. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025. Song Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life UMH 427 A Sermon for all Ages Children's Sermon: Looking Through Jesus' Eyes Object: A pair of binoculars (or pretend to use your hands as binoculars) Good morning, boys and girls! I brought something with me today. Do you know what these are? (Hold up binoculars.) That's right! They're binoculars. What do binoculars help us do? They help us see things that are far away. If I were looking for birds in a tree or a boat on a lake, binoculars would help me see them better. Let's all pretend to look through binoculars. Can you do that? What do you see? In today's Bible story, Jesus was looking at people. He didn't use binoculars, but he saw something very important. The Bible says that when Jesus looked at the crowds, he had compassion for them. Compassion is a big word. It means caring so much about someone that you want to help them. Jesus saw people who were sad, lonely, sick, worried, and confused. He said they were like sheep without a shepherd. Have you ever seen a lost pet? A lost puppy or kitten doesn't know where to go. It needs someone to guide it and care for it. Jesus saw people who needed help, and because he loved them, he wanted to help them. Then Jesus did something surprising. He told his disciples to go and help people too! And guess what? Jesus tells us the same thing. We don't have to go far away. We can help people right where we are. Maybe there's a new kid at school who needs a friend. Maybe someone in your class feels left out. Maybe a neighbor needs help carrying groceries. Maybe your parents need help around the house. Maybe your grandparent would love a phone call or a picture you drew. Jesus asks us to look through eyes of compassion and notice the people around us. The good news is that we don't have to help everyone in the whole world today. We can start with one person. This week, I want you to ask yourself, "Who needs kindness from me?" Maybe Jesus will help you notice someone who needs a smile, a helping hand, or a kind word. When we do that, we become part of Jesus' mission. Let's pray. Dear Jesus, Thank you for loving us and caring for us. Help us see people the way you see them. Help us notice those who are lonely, sad, or need a friend. Give us kind hearts and willing hands. Help us share your love wherever we go. Amen. Call to Reconciliation If you are looking for proof of God's love, here it is: at the very moment we realize we cannot help ourselves, that is the time we discover God has saved us in Christ Jesus. Join me as we pray to our God, saying, Unison Prayer for Forgiveness How easily we pat ourselves on the back, Listening Love, for the lives we lead. We welcome the praise of others, but have little compassion for those who have failed us. We assume that a comfortable life is our birthright, yet believe poor choices produce suffering for those around us. We boast of the good we do, but forget to thank you for all that you have given to us. Forgive us, Companion of Compassion, for breaking your heart, and disappointing your hopes for us. As we seek to follow your Child, may we be found with those whose lives are barren, with those who know little laughter in their day, with those who have received no love from others - for in their presence, we will find Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. Assurance of Pardon Listen to the good news - the kingdom of God is very near. As close as a child's laughter, as embracing as a father's love, as enfolding as a mother's caress. We are God's people: called, that we may follow; gifted, that we may serve; forgiven, that we might bring hope. Thanks be to God. Amen. (Lectionary Liturgies, Thom Shuman) Passing of the Peace Scripture Matthew 9:35-10:23 Gracious and loving God, Open our eyes to see the world as Jesus sees it. Open our hearts to feel the compassion of Christ for those who are hurting, lonely, hungry, frightened, and lost. Open our ears to hear your call and our hands to do your work. Remind us that we are not spectators in your kingdom but participants in your mission. Give us courage to follow where Jesus leads, wisdom to recognize the needs around us, and faith to trust that you will provide all that we need for the journey. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Shepherd and Savior, we pray. Amen. Sermon Sent out into a Wild World Our scripture begins with a simple but powerful description of Jesus: "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness." Jesus was paying attention. He was looking. He was listening. He was noticing people. He saw what others overlooked. He saw the sick, the poor, the struggling, the grieving, the forgotten. He saw the crowds not as interruptions but as beloved children of God. Then Matthew tells us something very important: "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless. Different versions of the bible use different words – like distressed and dispirited, weary and scattered, worried and helpless. Whatever the word, Jesus goes on to say that they were like sheep without a shepherd." Everything begins with compassion. Jesus basically told the to have compassion for the people around them. Before Jesus sends disciples, before he commissions workers, before he gives instructions, before there is a mission, there is compassion. The mission of Christ does not begin with a strategy meeting. It begins with a heart that breaks for people. Jesus looks at the world and sees sheep without a shepherd. Does that image sound familiar today? We live in a world full of people searching for direction. People are anxious. People are lonely. People are divided. People are overwhelmed by problems they do not know how to solve. Many are looking for meaning, purpose, hope, and belonging. Many are still sheep without a shepherd. And Jesus sees them. The good news is that Jesus is not only talking to the twelve disciples in this passage. Jesus is speaking to us. Just as he commissioned them, he commissions us. Sometimes we think mission work means traveling to another country or going somewhere far away. Those ministries are important, but Jesus reminds us that there is plenty of work right where we are. There are people in need in our neighborhoods. There are people in need in our schools. There are people in need in our workplaces. There are people in need in our families. There are people in need sitting next to us in church. Jesus says, "Pay attention." Look around. Notice people. See them. Listen to them. Love them. The mission field is often closer than we think. Jesus tells the disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." That statement is just as true today as it was two thousand years ago. There are countless opportunities to share God's love. There are hungry people to feed. Lonely people to visit. Children to encourage. Seniors to care for. Neighbors to help. Friends to support. People searching for hope. The harvest is plentiful. The need is great. The laborers are still few. The question is not whether there is work to do. The question is whether we will answer the call. Notice that Jesus does not simply ask the disciples to admire the harvest. He sends them into it. Faith is not just something we believe. Faith is something we do. Each one of us has been called to something. God has given each person gifts, opportunities, relationships, and abilities that can be used for the kingdom. Some are called to teach. Some are called to serve. Some are called to encourage. Some are called to lead. Some are called to pray. Some are called to give. Some are called simply to show up and be present with people who are hurting. Not everyone has the same assignment, but everyone has a mission. Jesus sends all of us. One of the beautiful things about this passage is that Jesus sends a group. The disciples were not identical people. They had different personalities, different backgrounds, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Today we often find ourselves divided into groups, factions, coalitions, political parties, generations, and competing viewpoints. We spend a lot of energy focusing on what separates us. When we think of factions, we think of tiny groups of people who are united together for a very small purpose. But in reality the church started in factions, very small groups taking care of a small purpose. Jesus was able to call these small factions together to work for a common cause. Jesus reminds us that the mission is bigger than our divisions. The disciples did not always agree with one another, but they shared a common purpose. The church does not have to think alike about everything to work together for Christ. We can still feed the hungry together. We can still visit the sick together. We can still share the gospel together. We can still care for our community together. We can still work side by side in the name of Jesus. The mission unites us. Jesus also teaches the disciples something important about receiving help. He tells them to depend upon the hospitality and kindness of others. That can be difficult for many of us. We like being the helpers. We are less comfortable being helped. Yet Jesus reminds us that God's work is often accomplished through mutual care. Sometimes we are the ones giving. Sometimes we are the ones receiving. Both are acts of grace. When we accept kindness from others, we acknowledge that God is working through them too. No disciple serves alone. No Christian walks alone. God provides companions along the way. Finally, Jesus speaks about urgency. The mission cannot wait forever. There are people hurting today. There are people struggling today. There are people searching for hope today. Jesus does not tell the disciples to wait until conditions are perfect. He sends them now. The church has often waited for the perfect plan, the perfect budget, the perfect leadership team, or the perfect moment. But Jesus says the harvest is already ready. The time is now. Someone needs encouragement now. Someone needs a phone call now. Someone needs forgiveness now. Someone needs hope now. Someone needs to hear about God's love now. The mission of Christ begins with compassion and continues through ordinary people who are willing to answer God's call. We do not have to travel far. We do not have to have all the answers. We do not have to be perfect. We simply have to notice what Jesus notices and care about what Jesus cares about. The sheep are still looking for a shepherd. The harvest is still plentiful. The laborers are still few. And Jesus is still calling. May we hear his voice. May we see the world through his compassionate eyes. And may we go wherever he sends us, serving those around us in his name. Ministry to People in Need There's a wonderful legend about Saint Francis, the kindly thirteenth century monk, who one day informed his brethren that he planned to go into the nearby village on a preaching mission. He invited a novice to go along. On their way, they passed an injured man and Francis promptly stopped, saw to the poor fellow's needs and arranged medical care for him. They went on and soon passed a homeless man who was near starvation. Again, Francis stopped his journey and ministered to the hungry, homeless man. So it went, through the day: people in need, Francis lovingly caring for them as best he could until the sun was low in the sky. He told his novice friend it was time for them to return, now, to the monastery for evening prayers. But the young man said, "Father, you said we were coming to town to preach to the people." Francis smiled. Then he said, "My friend, that's what we've been doing all day." That's evangelism at its most faithful. Ministry to people in their need. Not worrying about numerical growth, or adding to one's own conversion record, or winning acclaim within the denomination. Evangelism is sharing the love of God in concrete form among God's people. E. Carver McGriff, Times of Refreshing, CSS Publishing Company. Amen. Song Fill My Cup Lord UMH 641 – sing twice Prayers of the People – Do not print Let us pray. God of Laughter and Joy, we give thanks for the everyday miracles around us. For the laughter shared between friends, for the love shared in community, for the beauty of the world that leaves us speechless with joy. But even as we give thanks, we are aware of those who struggle to see a bright future, a world full of blessings, a reason to laugh. We lift up the concerns of this world. We pray for the travelers in our midst, for immigrants finding their way in a new place far from home, for refugees fleeing instability and war, for those forced to leave homes because of violence and intolerance. Journey with them, Lord. Lead your children to places of safety and welcome. Make us as quick to offer hospitality, opening hearts and homes to those in need, until all live in safety and peace. We pray for the hungry, for those who have no idea where their next meal will come from, for those who struggle to scrape together a simple meal for their family, for those who go to bed with grumbling stomachs. Bring an end to hunger, Lord. Lead your children to tables of plenty. Make us as quick to share our abundance, setting tables and feeding each other, until all are fed by your great abundance We pray for the lonely, for those whose relationships with family are frayed, for those on standing in shadows, yearning to be seen, for the divisions between neighbors born of fear and greed. Mend the threads of community, Lord. Lead us into places of beloved community, where our diversity is seen as a gift, where our uniqueness is valued, where dignity is respected. Make us quick to be peacemakers, breaking down barriers and building bridges, until this world is the way you want it to be for us. We pray for those who hardly dare to hope, for those whose dreams seem woefully out of reach, for those whose lives have been turned upside down by illness and loss, for those who suffer from depression, addiction, or patterns of self-harm. Embrace them, Lord. Lead them to places of comfort. Make us quick to reach out, offering a loving presence when all seems lost, until all know your peace. Holy God, birth a sense of laughter and joy within this world. Help us to trust what you can do and call us into the dance of reconciliation and healing. Strengthen our hands and feet for service and our hearts and voices for proclamation. (Presbyterian Outlook, Rae Watson) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Psalm 116 asks, “What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?” The psalmist answers, “I will lift up the cup of salvation…I will call on the name of the Lord…I will pay my vows to the Lord…I will offer you a thanksgiving sacrifice.” Does this sound like what happens in worship? Here the Psalmist provides a cup, a promise made and honored, an offering! Today, we’re reminded to give back to God a portion of what God has given us. Together, let’s offer a portion of our praise, a portion of our thanksgiving, a portion of what we recognize as coming from the blessings of our lives. The psalmist offers these things to God “for the Lord inclined his ear to me.” We present our gifts to God, who not only notices us, but embraces and blesses us. With what we’ve received and what we’ll give, we find ourselves anointed as agents of God’s remarkable love. With our gifts of time, talent, and treasure, we’re equipped to act in love for siblings right here and across the world. There’s no telling what positive actions are possible when we step up as partners working to build up God’s Realm on earth. Please join God’s active community as we share our tithes and offerings! Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, You have called us into the mission fields right here and around the world. We’re willing to show our brothers and sisters what your love looks like, so may these gifts we offer today be fuel for the fire that burns because of your Spirit at work within us. Ignite our desire to work with one another, with other people yearning for love and peace, and with you! Help us use these gifts as one way to live out our promises as followers of Jesus the Christ. Amen. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for YouTube Friends, we cannot stay here. There is work to be done out there. Go, be the church in the world. Love boldly. Speak bravely. Laugh joyfully. And trust in what the Lord can do. May the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit uplift and uphold you now and forever. Amen (Presbyterian Outlook, Rae Watson Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Go now, in the blessing of God who meets us where we are and surprises us with new life where none seemed possible. May we be a people who embody God’s miracle called laughter as we work for the flourishing of all creation as the family of God. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, December 2025. Additional Illustrations

Wisdom and Compassion (repreach of 2/9/14)

February 5, 2023 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 Wisdom and Compassion 5th Sunday after Epiphany Year A Prelude Welcome Call to Worship One: Welcome to worship! Here we seek to let our light break forth like the dawn. Many: Here we come to call, trusting the Lord will answer. One: Here we’re welcome to cry for help, believing the Lord will respond “Here I am!” Many: We’re gathered, eager to gain courage to do as God directs: to share our bread with the hungry, One: to bring the homeless poor into our homes, to provide clothing for those who are uncovered. Many: As God’s own beloved children, let us worship God in this time, and in our actions toward “the least” of our sisters and brothers. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer God of Community, we rejoice in this time to worship you in this holy place, and through the wonder of technology which gathers us from many places. Help us reach out beyond the walls of this building, eager to see LIGHT emerging as we share bread and clothes, and welcome others to safe spaces. Inspire us always to open our hands, our hearts, our minds, that we might truly be followers of Jesus, the Christ, who shows us “the Way”. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song Gather Us In TFWS 2236 Children’s Sermon Lesson: But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. Object: A box full of play money (or real money) Lesson: Good morning, boys and girls. I'll bet you can't guess what I have in this box! (Let them try.) No, it's even better than all of that. Here, let me show you. (Take lid off of box and show them the money.) That is really a lot of money, isn't it, boys and girls? (Let them respond.) What could we do with this much money? (Let them answer.) Yes, we could take wonderful vacations, buy new clothes and toys and other good things. We could really have a good time, couldn't we? What would you think if I were to give all of this money away? (Let them respond.) Some people might think I was a little bit crazy or dumb if I gave all my money away. Well, one day a very rich young man came to see Jesus. He probably had even more money than this. Anyway, he asked Jesus what he had to do to get to heaven. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. But the young man said that he had already been keeping the commandments for a long time. So Jesus told him that he should give all of his money away to the poor and come, follow him. Would that have been a hard thing to do, boys and girls? (Let them answer.) I guess the young man thought it was too hard to do because he went away very sad. But there are many Christians who have given away all of their money and other good things just so they could follow Jesus. The Apostles and other disciples did that. Many people probably thought that they were pretty dumb for giving up their homes and other belongings, but sometimes that is what it means to be a Christian. Paul tells us today that Christians don't always seem too smart (wise) to other people because they do strange things like sharing their money with the poor, loving their enemies, and staying close to Jesus. But Paul says that real Christians are the smart people because they are following God's word. They are living the way God has asked them to live. So, boys and girls, if your friends ever think you are a little stupid for coming to church or for being nice to people who need your help, just remember what Paul tells us today. You are being a smart Christian. You are being wise -- just like God. God bless you all. Amen. British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge once had a discussion with a man who firmly believed that children should not be given formal religious instruction, but should be free to choose their own religious faith when they reached maturity. Coleridge did not disagree, but later invited the man into his somewhat neglected garden. "Do you call this a garden?" the visitor exclaimed. "There are nothing but weeds here!" "Well, you see," Coleridge replied, "I did not wish to infringe upon the liberty of the garden in any way. I was just giving the garden a chance to express itself." Daily Walk, March 28, 1992 Prayer for Transformation and New Life Righteous One, it is not easy to follow your path. Your way requires sacrifice and intention–resisting cultural norms and societal pressures and abandoning our need to control and to function from our own power. Sometimes, we add complexity in order to assure ourselves it is not possible to be faithful. Yet, your way is simple. Soften our hearts and encourage us to return to the journey with you. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Words of Grace God, who is faithful, can redeem our detours and misdirections on the journey for our good and the good of others. God’s invitation to covenantal life has no expiration date, and the Holy One receives us with joy and grace when we take even a step toward the kindom. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsay) Scripture 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 Sermon Wisdom and Compassion What is the meaning of truth? I have been dealing with the question for a few weeks. How do we come to know the truth? What is the ultimate truth? and where can I find the real truth. I bet you know where I am going with this. God is the one true truth. and the one way to find the truth is to read the bible. Truth: The Most Powerful Idea Marilyn vos Savant, the brilliant woman who reportedly has the highest I.Q. ever recorded, writes a syndicated column in which she answers tricky questions from people who want the benefit of her intelligence. Someone wrote to ask what she thought is the most powerful idea. Marilyn vos Savant replied that "truth" was the most powerful idea she knew of, because it is not affected by how we relate to it. Whether or not we know it, or whether or not we agree with it, doesn't matter, because truth is still true. Ms. vos Savant is right on target. Truth is powerful. You and I believe that truth is from God. What is the Gospel the Good News anyway? I believe it can be summed up in three verses: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1); "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16), and "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27). You and I may believe this thing and that about Scripture and about life in general, but these three statements are incontrovertible! They are true. They don't need to be defended; they only need to be lived. There are people in our society who spend too much of their energy and time defending God as if God needed it. Adapted from Max Anders, God The Good News Never Conflicts with Truth The esteemed space scientist Dr. Werner von Braun received many cards and letters over the years from people who believe that space exploration is against the Creator's wishes. "Scripture mail," NASA calls it. These correspondents warned the scientist to cease this dangerous godless folly. "One lady wrote that God doesn't want man to leave Earth and she was willing to bet me $10 that we wouldn't make it," said Episcopalian von Braun. "I answered that, as far as I knew, the Bible said nothing about space flight but it was clearly against gambling." Why are some people so threatened by scientific discoveries? Don't they know that truth is from God wherever it may be found? The notable church father Justin Martyr settled the matter once and for all when he wrote, "Whatever has been uttered aright by any [person] in any place belongs to us Christians." Christian faith does not need defenders, for it is never in conflict with truth. Adapted from Bob Ward, The Light Stuff Today I want to deal with the lesson of 1 Corinthians. Paul has come to Corinth in order to correct the teachings of other preachers. Paul’s message in both books of Corinthians and in everything that he teaches is our salvation is in the cross of Christ. And since Christ died for our sins, we don’t have to spend a lot of time trying to comprehend what that means. But we do have to believe it. Paul’s point is that who we are as Christians, should be based on what Christ has done for us. It is time for us to give up our own reasoning to get through life, but to trust the reasoning of Christ in everything that we do. But today, I wanted to talk about Corinthians, because Paul wants us to understand that you put on the mind of Christ, you have the thoughts of Christ – not through anything that you do but through the spirit of Christ. We have been reading Corinthans for a few weeks now, and if you have noticed Paul speaks a lot about the spirit. The spirit that gives us the mind of Christ. We have to be conscious of the spirit, the holy spirit and what it is teaches us. People who know too much Interestingly enough – the problem that Paul was trying to address in Corinth – was not the people who were ignorant and needed to be taught. He was talking about the people who were too smart for their own good. They couldn’t listen to what the spirit was trying to teach them – because they had their own wisdom. They had read all of the books, they knew all of the techniques, and yet they knew nothing about the spirit. And without the spirit, they knew nothing. Going against the spirit I went to do some evaluation of a teacher of kindergarten kids—at the teacher’s request. For the fifty minutes I was there this teacher tried to lecture. Finally, the bell rang, and she cranked out the memory verse. Afterwards she sighed, “Boy, I got over the lesson.” When she came to see me, I said to her, “Did it ever occur to you that you’re really competing against the Holy Spirit?” “I certainly don’t intend to do that.” “But did it ever occur to you that God made this child with an attention span of about four to five minutes? And all the time you kept saying to the child, “keep quiet,” “sit still” and God kept saying, “Wiggle.” And what did he do? He listened to God every time.” About 85% of the discipline problems in school, in church, in home come because we do not understand the pupil with whom we are working. —Howard Hendricks Two types of people – spiritual and worldy Greeks believed that there are two types of people in the world – there are people who only see things at face value, everything in life is what it is, and there are those who have to ability to see beyond outward appearances and who can see the spirit, and who have a sensitivity to the spiritual world. An Empty shell I remember when I saw a program showing how they used to film Gunsmoke, one of my favorite TV shows as a kid. I learned that Dodge City was really just a place in the middle of nowhere not even close to the real one. There was no Longbranch Saloon, no stores or jail, it was all front with nothing behind it — a facade, a wooden structure that only made it look like a city on television. If you looked through the door you would only see more of the prairie. Kittie, Doc Adams, Chester, Festus and Marshal Dillon were sitting on a set somewhere, not the Longbranch where you thought they were. The Gunsmoke set is like many people. They only have a front with nothing behind it. They are all facade. That is why they cannot afford to be transparent — people would see right through them. But an important part of the Christian life is the development of something behind the facade. It is the growth of character, and a spiritual life that supports who we are. Only when we really come to Christ and have a relationship with God do we begin to have substance. We are not just keeping up appearances, we are developing a quality of character. Being a Christian means being real. We never know enough There are two type of people in the world, those who are spiritual and those who only see things at face value. And if we have been in the church for a little while, we have heard all of the biblical stories, we have heard all of the sermons – it is easy for us to think that if there are two type of people – then we must the right kind of people right? The people that Paul wants us to be right? If we are here then we must be spiritual. And I think I want to challenge that belief. If we spend too much time in church, then we start to think that we know everything that there is to know about Christ. A group of Christians gathered in a church auditorium for an evening Bible Study. Some were talking while waiting for the study to begin. One man began to share with the leader about a church breakfast he’d attended. A well known Bible scholar had been invited to speak at the breakfast. During the course of his remarks the scholar stated that he had recently gained new insight into a verse of Scripture that had puzzled him for years. “When I heard this,” the man said to the Bible Study leader, “I thought to myself, ‘If this scholar who has written commentaries and books and who has studied the Bible for years is just now understanding a verse of Scripture, how can I, an ordinary church member, understand the truth?”’ “You know,” replied the leader, “rather than being discouraged by the scholar’s remarks, I’m encouraged. It just goes to show that understanding God’s truth doesn’t depend on our intellectual ability or number of theological degrees earned. Rather, God’s truth is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. My message for the day however, is that the more we learn – it is important to realize the less that we know when it comes to the spirit. We never stop learning about God. And no matter how much we have studied, we still need to know more. Because the spirit is alive and always moving us forward. If we hear something one thing about Christ, when we hear it again, it teaches us something new. If we have read the bible once, then we need to read it again. If we gave one sermon, then we need to give another. Whereever you may be in your knowledge of God – commit to go forward – to know more, to serve more, to be challenged more. I think that sometimes we are just like those building facades for a movie scene. We may have the foundation, but we never bother to fill in the rest. – Paul is challenging us not to be satisfied with the basics, but to go further, go deeper into the mind of Christ. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it is about there being either spiritual or worldly, but that we have to have both. There has to be combination. We have to study to show ourselves approved, and we have to trust the working of the spirit. The spirit is alive and well. And if we have the knowledge, the spirit will help us to use it. Paul says that there are two types of people, but there are two types of learning – there is kerygma and didache. Those are good seminary words, but to break it down, didache means bible study – we need to know what the bible actually says. Kerygma – is spiritual learning – what is God really trying to teach us in our lives with these stories? There is no substitute for studying the word of God. but we have to realize that if we have never studied – then there is no opening for the spirit to teach us the true meaning of the words for our lives, and for our spiritual journey. We will never truly understand resurrection and how God bought Jesus back to life. All of the study in the world will not explain that mystery. But if we know the basic facts, and leave the door open – we come to believe in the power of Christ and what he can continue to do for our lives. Paul says – those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s spirit, for they are foolishness to them and they are unable to understand them because they only come from the spirit. Changing the World It was during the early days of television. A workman was placing television transmitters at the very top of the Empire State building in New York City. Seeing him at work up there, so far off the ground, a reporter thought this would make a fascinating human interest story. So, when the workman had completed his task and had returned to the ground, the reporter approached him and asked, “Aren’t you frightened to work under conditions like that that? Isn’t it dangerous to work so high off the ground?” The workman replied, “Yes sir, it is dangerous.” Then he added, “But then, how many people can say that they have changed the skyline of a city like New York!” God offers us the privilege of changing the skyline not of a city, but of the world. We can help make this world healthier, more humane, more harmonious, and more blessed. God made a good world. Now He wants us to help Him make it good again. We can do that. By God’s grace, we really can do that. If we can, surely we must. James McCormick, Selected Sermons, www.Sermons.com We change to world, by changing ourselves. By understanding the spirit and not so much how it fits into the world – but how we fit into what it is already doing. The spirit is alive and well – the spirit is moving in the world as we speak. Let us move along with it. – Paul’s last word to us in this passage is But we have the mind of Christ – we have all that we need! God’s wisdom is not about what we know about God, it is about how we love God. Amen. ________________________ Song I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light UMH 206 Pastoral Prayer Lords Prayer Stewardship Moment Moment for Stewardship (inspired by Matthew 5:14-16) (consider singing “This Little Light of Mine” before or after this stewardship invitation) In a world in which we can so easily turn on a light, it may be challenging to remember Jesus was speaking to his disciples out on the mountain side, with no electric lights, no lighted pathways, no flashlights. When the sun went down, everyone knew it would be DARK! So describing the disciples “light of the world” would have had a deep significance. What about for you? If you can, imagine how YOU are “the light of the world”. How do you let your light shine? What good works can be seen when you’re around? What happens because of you that allows others to give glory to God? Each week, we provide an opportunity for each one of us to shine some light as we share our financial offerings. With our gifts, this congregation is better equipped to _________________________ (provide food for the food bank? Bring children and youth into community through youth groups? Help people claim their identity as followers of Jesus? Imagine how bright the light shines when we all provide resources! Let your light so shine so we are not hidden or under a bushel basket, but so others from all around can see and rejoice in the Light! Prayer of Thanksgiving Illuminating God, thank you for the ways you encourage us to let our light shine. Please accept these gifts, multiply them, and make possible the vision for us to use them wisely, that we might let our good works be seen and celebrated, day by day. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Communion Invitation to Communion (consider providing communion cups with a taste of salt in each one, passed along or made available with your regular communion elements) Jesus often used familiar items to help connect people to new understanding of life, faith, and God. Today, I invite you to taste the salt as you remember Jesus telling his disciples “you are the salt of the earth”. Remember, salt, among other things, preserves, heals, provides enhanced taste. As followers of Jesus, how are we, how are YOU, salt? At this Table, may we chase the salt with bread and this cup. These simple elements become weekly “vitamins” to build us up, providing the capacity for us to fully engage — to be SALTY Christians — in a world yearning for preservation, for healing, for enhanced life. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Beloveds, you are the salt of the earth. Go, today, with the Spirit and bring out the best of the world — the goodness that God has already created. Purify. Cleanse. Bind. And remember that this imperative from God is to the church. Let us spread God’s love in the world as a community because we cannot do it alone. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Rose Schrott Taylor) Community Time Benediction Break forth in the world secure in the love of God. Break forth into the kindom for love of God and neighbor. Trust. the good news. Proclaim the good news. Be the good news. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Lindsey) Additional Illustrations

Sent out to be a disciple

June 14, 2020 Matthew 9:35-10:8 Sent out to be a disciple 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Year A Children’s Sermon Object: A collection of old toy cars (one in good condition, the remainder with obvious problems). Other toys can be substituted if cars are not available. Have you ever lost something for a long time and then found it again, almost by accident? That still happens to me sometimes when I put something somewhere for safe keeping. Sometimes I just can't seem to remember where in the world I put it. Then I find it again when I'm looking for something else altogether! Not long ago, I came across this box in a closet and I knew immediately what was in it. This is an old collection of cars that we had at our house when our children were younger. We used to have a lot of fun with these. In fact, I can remember when they were shiny and new. I'll bet they look just as great today. Let's take a look. This is not exactly what I expected. The first one I've taken out of the box is kind of dirty and old looking. It has lost most of its shine. That is not a very exciting looking car to me. This next one is missing a wheel. And this one looks like it was probably in an accident of some type. In fact, only one of these looks good at all. The rest should probably just be thrown away. Who would ever want to play with them? Did you know that sometimes people look at other people just the way we looked at these cars? Someone may not be very pretty or handsome. They may not dress just as we would like them to. Perhaps they may speak differently than we do. That doesn't mean we can push them aside and act as though we are better than they are. The Bible reminds us that Jesus looked upon every person he ever met with compassion. Jesus loved them. He wanted to help them. He was concerned about the needs in their lives. When we look at other people, God wants us to see them just as Jesus would see them. He wants us to view them as people who need the love of God and as people we should love just as He does. CSS Publishing Company, FROM A MUSTARD SEED, by Mark A. Hultquist Prelude Opening Prayer L: We are being called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ! P: Lord, guide our feet as we enter this pathway of service for you. Choir: singing Verse 1, “Guide My Feet” – [don’t drag the tempo on this song, sing it with a little swing!] L: It’s not going to be easy; there are dangers out there! P: Lord, help us to face those dangers with powerful faith! Choir: singing verse 3 of “Guide My Feet” L: Some people are going to misunderstand P: Help us to be clear and faithful in bringing your message of redemption. Stewardship Moment The theme of those morning is the deep compassion of Jesus. Jesus looked at the things going on in the world and he had deep compassion for the hurting people in the world. He knew that had to do something to make a difference. Jesus realized very quickly that a community could do so much more working together, than he could do alone. So Jesus invites others to join him in supporting those in need. Jesus still invites us to join in his ministry – he reminds us that we have been given gifts from God so we can give to others just as freely. Giving our time, talents and gifts is a part of following Jesus. Prayer of Dedication Lord, we know that there is much work to be done; far more than we ever imagined. We ask that you bless these gifts that they be used for the work you have set before us, for we place our lives and trust in you. AMEN. Scripture Matthew 9:35-10:8 Common English Bible (CEB) Compassion 35 Jesus traveled among all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, announcing the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. 38 Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” Mission of the Twelve 10 He called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to throw them out and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is called Peter; and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee; and John his brother; 3 Philip; and Bartholomew; Thomas; and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus; and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean;[a] and Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Commissioning of the Twelve 5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Don’t go among the Gentiles or into a Samaritan city. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep, the people of Israel. 7 As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, and throw out demons. You received without having to pay. Therefore, give without demanding payment. Footnotes: Sermon As I watched the news last night, and saw another building being burned to the ground, a police chief resign over the behavior of an officer, and another African American brother being killed while in custody, I am convinced that the scripture for today is a gift from God. After weeks of festival readings in John, we are finally back to journeying through the book of Matthew. This particular scripture has not come up in the lectionary since 2008. Most years because of how Pentecost falls, we never get to this scripture. I say that this scripture is a gift because it speaks to our times perfectly. Jesus looks around at the situation in his times and he says that the people are running around like sheep without a shepherd. And he realizes that he has to do something to change things. He looks at the people, and calls them harassed and helpless. Jesus saw the horrible conditions that the people were living in and he had a deep compassion for them. The Greek word moved with compassion (splagchnistheis) It is formed from the word splagchna, which means the bowels In other words, Jesus was moved in his bowels. One colleague says Jesus was so emotional that he had a bowel movement. But anyway – this word means that he was moved to the very core of his being. He had deep compassion for the people and for their condition. Jesus was inspired to start a three pronged ministry. A ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. In other words – a ministry of shalom – peace, justice and wellbeing. He wanted to touch them mind, body and spirit. In order to address the situation that created such despair he had to proclaim the truth. William Barclay says There never was a time when this certainty was more needed than it is today. Geoffrey Heawood, headmaster of a great English public school, has written that the great tragedy and problem of this age is that we are standing at the cross-roads, and the signposts have fallen down. Beverley Nichols once wrote a book composed of interviews with famous people. One of the interviews was with Hilaire Belloc, one of the most famous of English Roman Catholics. After the interview Nichols wrote: “I was sorry for Mr. Belloc because I felt that he had nailed at lease some of his colors to the wrong mast; but I was still sorrier for myself and for my own generation, because I knew that we had no colors of any kind to nail to any mast.” We live in an age of uncertainty, an age when people have ceased to be sure of anything. Jesus was the herald of God, who came proclaiming the certainties by which men live; and we too must be able to say, “I know whom I have believed.” He also had to do some teaching, so that the people would take responsibility for their lives and make a difference. And he had to heal the bodies that were affected by the stress of the situation. This scripture is called the missionary discourse. This is the speech and teaching that Jesus gave as he commissioned his disciples to enter into their own ministries of healing. Matthew tells 5 story lessons of what it means to live as a child of God. Each of these story lessons tells us what characteristics we have to have in order to be a part of Jesus ministry of salvation. This particular story is how Jesus chose his 12 disciples. This story is told in all 4 gospels. But none have the same detail that this story in Matthew does. The gospel story is a story of how one man changed the world. We all know that the world cannot be changed by one person, it takes others to spread the lesson of one person. During the protest, George Floyd’s daughter proudly announced that daddy changed the world. He did, with the help of the millions of others who have stepped up all over the world to demand justice. Jesus chose 12 people to help with his ministry. It is interesting that scripture names all twelve, along with the personal qualities that Jesus saw in that person. From 12 to 1 Billion From the twelve, the group grew to 120 by Ascension Day. A little over a week later, on Pentecost, it increased to over 3,000. By the time the last of the twelve died, there were an estimated half-million followers of Jesus Christ. That was the end of the first century. By the end of the second century, this number had increased to almost ten million. By the end of the third century, all heathen temples were destroyed or converted into church sanctuaries. By the close of the ninth century, there were 100 million Christians. Today, the number has grown to over one billion believers around the world. None of this growth would have been possible had Christians not been excited and supportive of missions or prayed to "the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." Dennis Kastens, Laborers Needed for the Harvest It has been said that Evangelism is not on the agenda of the church; it is the agenda of the church. Brett Blair Today Christianity is the predominant religion of the world with 2.2 billion people worldwide. The second most predominant religion – Islam has 1.2 billion people. The country with the most Christians is the US with 243 million. It all started with one man’s deep compassion for the people of in his neighborhood. What's Your Purpose in Life? An executive hirer, a "head-hunter" who goes out and hires corporation executives for other firms, once told me, "When I get an executive that I'm trying to hire for someone else, I like to disarm him. I offer him a drink, take my coat off, then my vest, undo my tie, throw up my feet and talk about baseball, football, family, whatever, until he's all relaxed. Then, when I think I've got him relaxed, I lean over, look him square in the eye and say, "What's your purpose in life?" It's amazing how top executives fall apart at that question. "Well, I was interviewing this fellow the other day, had him all disarmed, with my feet up on his desk, talking about football. Then I leaned up and said, 'What's your purpose in life, Bob?' And he said, without blinking an eye, 'To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.' For the first time in my career I was speechless." Josh McDowell The time is right for each of us to join the mission and ministry of Jesus. The harvest is here, people are standing around looking for answers. The church is essential during this time, and it always has been. There is a place for each of us in the mission and ministry of having compassion for the harassed and helpless. Becoming a disciple of Jesus is an invitation to get involved. Jesus says that the first step to accepting that invitation is to pray – pray for workers, because the harvest is plentiful. Jesus lived in a farm community, so many of hos metaphors for live come from farming. Pentecost was a celebration of the first harvests of the season. So it is not an accident that we read this story two Sundays after Pentecost. One pastor tells the story of harvesttime when his father was a child. During the harvest, all types of people came to help with the harvest. The family was so grateful for the help, that they would prepare food for all of those who helped out. Hospitality and taking care of one another was a way of life during these times. As everyone was gathered, it was a perfect time to not only help others, but to also get them involved in the ministry of helping the harassed and helpless. In other words working together to change the world for themselves and everyone else. All Jesus did was to call the 12 to help with the harvest – and each of us is called too to spread the good news of a messiah with great compassion for the harassed and helpless. Right now that is all of us! Let us pray….. Prayer Listen: cries of sorrow, shouts of justice from bold voices rallying a cry of love and peace! Listen closely. Can you hear the feet and wheelchairs rolling out in the street to protest violence and promote a cry for peace to say, "Hello police, stop using your badges for shooting and killing innocence rather than protecting us!" Let us- pause to pray, plan to protest, and purpose to push out the devils and educate our children how to have courage and ability to survive and not die! Lovingly, let us seek justice and certainly not give up the struggle to strive for life, love, and liberty!!!! No, No More, NO NO NO MORE! Save our sons and share our need to speak up and stand strong Moment of reflection Announcements We received many surveys of what it means to reopen the church. It is not too late to turn in your survey. At church council it was decided that we would form a health committee to talk about what it means to open safely. They will report at a special church council meeting on June 25th at 7pm. We are shooting for reopening in some form when the state enters into stage 4 – potentially the first Sunday in July. But will let you know Office hours changed this week to allow Debbie to take a break. But if need something can call church or the parsonage. Benediction When you leave this place, go with confidence in God’s gracious love and mercy. Go, ready to proclaim the good news and serve our Lord by caring for others. AMEN. Additional illustrations Making a Difference Made a difference to that one! The story was told about two men walking down a Mexican beach, talking with one another. They could see a man in the distance throwing something into the ocean. As they got closer, they saw that he was bending over, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean. The closer they got they noticed that he was one of the natives. There were starfish on the beach which were left by the outgoing tide. The native was throwing them out where they could swim away. One of the two men asked, "What are you doing?" The man replied, "I am throwing the starfish back out to sea. If they don't get back into the deeper water, they will die." The other man replied, "I understand that part, but look at this beach. It is covered with starfish. There must be thousands stranded out here. How do you feel that this will make a difference?" The native bent over, picked up another starfish, hurled him out to sea, and with a smile on his face said, "Made a difference to that one!" There are thousands who need the Lord and need the care of Christians. Each one of us can "make a difference" to someone. Chicken Soup for the Soul Relationship Evangelism There is an old story told about a man by the name of Ali Facid. He had a small farm and a family. One day, the story goes, a Buddhist priest came by and said to Ali Facid: You know, there are valuable stones called diamonds, and if you get one of these you could be a wealthy man." Ali Facid went to bed that night, but the words of the old priest haunted him. He was so obsessed that he felt that he must find him one of these diamonds so that he could become a ruler. He sold his farm, put his family out to neighbors and went out to find his acres of diamonds. Months passed. He was broken in body and spirit. His funds were gone. And at the Bay of Barcelona, he threw himself into the water, never to walk this earth again. Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm bent over one day and picked up a little stone. He laid on the mantle that night not knowing what it was. A few days later the old Buddhist priest cam by and saw it and exclaimed: Ali Facid must be back from his search. No, came the response. Then where did that diamond come from? The farmer replied: I was out plowing in the garden and found it there. And friends, did you know that from that very garden, for this is not a legend but a true story, came the jewels and diamonds that today adorn the crown heads of Europe and Russia. In Ali Facid's own back yard there were acres of diamonds and he knew it not. My friends, I know that the [your church's neighborhood] is not like [name two neighborhoods in your area that are experiencing growth] in terms of extensive growth. But friends, I also know that there are acres of diamonds right here in our own back yard. There are people right here in our area that do not have church families, who are not committed to Christ, and who are waiting to be asked. We don't have to look to other areas of the city. All we have to do is pick up the diamonds that are right beneath us. Staff, www.Sermons.com Slaving for Nothing Guy de Maupassant's "The Necklace" tells the sad story of a young woman named Mathilde who dreamed, as many do, of making it in high society. However, she was the wife of an ordinary French citizen. One day Mathilde's husband obtained an invitation to attend an elegant ball. Thoroughly delighted, Mathilde borrowed from a wealthy friend a beautiful necklace to wear to this elegant occasion. The stunning necklace drew many compliments from the aristocratic guests. However, the worst possible thing happened. Mathilde lost the beautiful adornment. Panic stricken, she and her husband borrowed thirty-six thousand francs. They bought a necklace that looked exactly like the one Mathilde had worn. Mathilde returned this to her friend, telling her nothing of what had happened. For ten agonizing years, the couple slaved and toiled to pay back the vast amount of money they had borrowed. They sold their home, dismissed servants, worked at two jobs, and lived in a slum in order to raise the necessary funds. After it was finally paid, Mathilde saw her friend one day. She confessed what they had done. She revealed the hardship through which they had come in paying for the replacement. It was then that her friend explained that the necklace Mathilde had borrowed was only made of paste. It was worth five hundred francs or less. What a parable of contemporary life! People frantically slaving for values that turn out only to be paste. Harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. King Duncan, Where Are The Laborers? Evangelism Has Fallen on Hard Times "Evangelism" is a beautiful word that has lost its winsomeness [effectiveness]. Somehow on its journey from the Jerusalem of yesterday to the Jericho of today it has fallen among thieves that have wounded it and stripped it, departed, leaving it half dead. It takes a rather rash Samaritan, therefore, to dare turn aside to set this poor chap upon his beast and take him to an inn and take care of him. This is especially true because a veritable procession of Priests and Levites are passing by, not only refusing to lend a hand, but, we fear, inwardly chuckling at the plight of the poor fellow, and secretly hoping that they are soon to see the last of him. Clovis G. Chappell, Evangelistic Sermons of Clovis G. Chappell, p. 40. Travel Light James Michener, the famous author used to hitchhike when he was a young man. Michener didn’t live in a happy home. He was also unhappy at school. When he was fifteen he hiked westward from Detroit with only 35 cents in his pocket. He said, "The simple fact seems to have been that once I saw that mysterious road outside my house, the eastern part leading to a dead end, the western to worlds unknown, I was determined to explore the latter." (from Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul) Most all of us have had experiences when we just wanted to get away from it all, venturing into the unknown with out a care in the world. That’s easier to do when you are young and you don’t have lots of obligations and responsibilities. Youthfulness tends to make us more carefree. And there is a tendency to think that nothing will happen to us. When Jesus told his disciples to head out into the world he told them to travel light. "Take nothing with you, no bag, no money, no sandals, no extra clothing, not even a staff," he instructed them. Perhaps he wanted them to learn to trust in the providence of God. Perhaps he wanted them to experience strangers in strange lands, thereby making new relationships. Or, perhaps he wanted them to be free from the burdens of the world. I believe it was most likely a combination of all three. Keith Wagner, Low Budget Faith?

A Holy Place, A Holy People, A Holy God

July 22, 2012 Eighth Sunday after Pentecost 2 Samuel 7:1-14 Mark 6:30-34; 53-56 A Holy Place, a Holy People, a Holy God Year B There is something going on in the world I know that I have said this before, but with the events within the last days, I feel that I need to say it again. There is something going on in the world today. There is a very strange spirit at work in the world. It just seems that people are anxious and doing some strange things out of desperation. I have just never seen so many people doing so many things that don’t make no sense. Thing that seem to have no regard for a sense of humanity in others. It seems that they are in pain, so they just don’t care what they do to others, or how others are affected by their actions. We are definitely a world at war on a lot of different fronts. People only care about what they care about. And as long as they win, they don’t care who has to lose, or what they have to lose, even if it is their own life. You know there was a time a few years ago, when I would have thought that we were living in peace times, where everything was going fairly well, people were fairly happy, situations were fairly manageable, but that was a long time ago. And this is just not peace time. King David at rest This is nothing like King David must have been experiencing in the Hebrew bible lesson for today. Scripture says that this was a time of rest and stability for David. He was settled in his house, he was not being attacked by his enemies, and it seemed that this kingdom was well taken care of. Now David had been a warrior most of his adult life. He spent most of his life at war. As a matter of fact, back on those days, people worshipped God because they believed that God was what made them conquer all of their enemies. Yahweh was believed to be the God of victory in war. The Israelites believed that if we united together under one God, then no one could defeat us. David was a war hero, he knew battle very well. As a matter of fact, the word rest means someone who is able to take a break from all of their hard work. David was someone who had been at war, and now he was finally able in his life to take a break. You can only rest from hard work. Someone who takes a rest from rest is just plain lazy. David was settled down in his life, so he sent a message to God that it was time for God to do the same. To take a rest from the war. Scripture says that David told his plans to the prophet Nathan, who told talked with God. God has to remind David, that he was not the God of rest, but the God of work. He had always been on the move with his people, and that if his people were on the battlefield of life, then God needed to be present among them. Rest for God was not in a place. Isaiah 66:1 says – heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool. Where then is a house that you can build for me, where is a place that I can rest. God is always working As long as there are people in need, God’s work is never done. There is no rest of God. And yet we live in a notion that the church is the place that we come to meet God, and that we should be able to come here and find rest. God is not a God of rest. And there is no rest in the church. There is always work to be done. Mother goes to jail to rest There was a family, two parents and five children. The husband did not work, and the mother had to do everything to support her young family. The husband did not work, but he still drove the car. He managed to accumulate over $5000 in parking tickets. He didn’t car, the car was not in his name, but his wife’s. So the city came after her for the money to pay the tickets. She told them she did not create the tickets, and that she just didn’t have the money to pay. The city told her that they would have to put her in jail for three months to settle her debt. The city thought that would make her pay, but the wife was happy. She said that as long as she had a bed, three meals a day and she did not have to deal with her family, jail would be a nice vacation. A time for her to get some rest. My point is, jail might be a place of rest, the church, not so much. The world is not at peace, and the church cannot afford to be at peace either. When we get settled, and restful, then we die. And we are not living the presence of God, who is always moving and working. We don’t get to rest in church, we rest in Jesus The good news of a God of no rest, is that we worship a God who always keeps his promises. When David wanted to build a house for the Lord, he told David that it was the other way around. He would build a house for him. He promised that there would always be a son of David on the throne. God fulfilled his promise by keeping a son of David on the throne for 400 years. He surpassed his promise when he bought Jesus Christ into the world. Jesus is known as the son of David. And he reigns on the throne forever. The disciples and Jesus look for rest Interestingly enough, the gospel lesson is also about rest. It seems that once people realized that Jesus was the messiah, they flocked to him constantly. Need never stopped. Not only did the need wear out Jesus, but it wore out the disciples. Jesus realized that he needed to take them all to what scripture calls a deserted place, a lonely place, a place to rest and get away from the crowds. And yet the crowd still followed him. It didn’t take Jesus long to realize that rest is not a place on earth as long as there are people in need. Jesus had compassion on them, as sheep without a shepherd. Feeding of 5000 We don’t hear the story of the feeding of the 5000 in Mark, but we will hear it next week in John. That was the most important story of Christ mission in the bible. But I want to point out that in the Mark version of the story, Jesus tells the disciples to give what they have to feed the people. And the disciples respond that they don’t have enough to help others. Jesus tells them to use that they have and the Holy Spirit will do the rest. This is the one time in the gospel where the 12 followers are called apostles and not disciples. They went from following the son of David, to doing his will. They were being Christ for the world. Christ calls the church to do the same. We have a chance to be called apostles, those who witness to the true good news of Jesus Christ. We have to realize that rest is in Jesus Christ, not in a seat in the world. Jesus has compassion on the people, and we have to do the same. We are called to show compassion to those in need That is what the world so lacks today – is the ability to have compassion on others. To genuinely care how others are being affected by our actions. And for us to realize, that just because the world is cruel, if we love Jesus, we don’t have to be cruel with the world. Zachary restored Wednesday, at the food pantry, I met a veteran named Zachary. As we talked, he said that it was not really food that he needed, but that he was in emotional pain because of a lot of things. He had just moved to Englewood. I invited him to church and he said, he did not know. He found that people were really cruel and heartless in this neighborhood. They seemed to like to beat up older men. He didn’t like to come out. We talked and we prayed. And as he left, he held the door open for a group of women. If I had not shown kindness to him, he would not have shown kindness to them. At that moment, whether Zachary comes to church or not, I felt that he was on the road the healing, wholeness and salvation. That was all Jesus was trying to do – not so much to give us rest, but to give us restoration. Salvation, and wholeness. He wanted to most give the ability to be human, in a very inhumane world. We are the ones to show compassion, when no one else is willing to. If we are to be more than disciples, but apostles, we have to realize that there is not rest here in the walls of this church. Our rest is in Christ Jesus. This is not the box that contains the fullness of God. And no matter how hard you try- you cannot keep God contained. God is always bigger than anything that w can imagine. Lady with dream of becoming a missionary There was a lady who had a dream of one day becoming a missionary and moving far away from home. Just as she was ready to graduate from college and step out on her own, her sister and brother in law were involved in an accident. The left 4 small children, with no one to take care of them. She had compassion on the children and raised them. By the time the children were grown and out of the house, she was too told to be a missionary. It seemed that she never got to fulfill her dream. God must have denied her dream. It turned out that all 4 of her nieces and nephews became missionaries themselves. They had been raised in a Christian household, where they clearly understood what it meant to serve God. It turns out that the woman had been a missionary after all. So there were 5 missionaries produced in that household. You might have plans of what you want to do for God, but God has bigger plans of what he wants to do for you and your household. What healing, wholeness and salvation looks like in your life is up to God, not you. Find your rest, not in the anything in the world – but in the eternal son of David – Jesus Christ. Let us pray.

Jesus Cures it All

Year B 2 Samuel 1:1,17-27 Mark 5:21-43 “Jesus Cures it All” Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Our clothes are important Every morning all humans do the same thing. We get up, take a shower, brush our teeth, and then decide what we are going to wear. Generally in western culture it remains true that “Clothes make the man,” or in the name of a popular website, “Clothes make the girl.” Got a teenager? Then you know what I’m talking about. Then you know oh-so-purse-painfully how important it is to have the “right look.” To wear the “right duds” so you can be the “right dudes.” Even if you are not a “fashionista,” it is almost impossible not to be influenced by what the current culture says is “cool” (or “hot”). Who doesn’t want to “look good” and so “feel good” about themselves? Every week the tabloids are filled with planted or paparazzi celebrity photos — either looking their best or revealing their worst. But whatever shape they are in, what those celebrities are sporting influences the fashion choices of thousands. Designers count on it. In fact they literally “bank” on it. If someone fabulous and famous wears something, it will sell. The “knock ‘em dead” designs on red carpet runways are immediately copied into much cheaper “knock-offs” so that those with a bit of disposable income can outfit themselves like royalty. Even countries without “royal families” have their “royalty.” But while all of us — whether teenager or ladder climbing corporate bureaucrat — think that our clothes lend use power and prestige. People believed that clothes were an extension of who you are It was the same in Jesus day. It was believed that your clothes were an extension of who you were. It was believed that your clothes contained the essence of who you were. If you were a holy man or woman, then your clothes were holy also. If I can just touch the hem of his garment Perhaps that is why the woman felt that if I can just touch the hem of his garment, then everything will be okay for me. The holiness that he has inside will rub off on me. Jewish mean wore tassels of faith Not just Jesus, but all jewish men were expected to wear a tassel on each corner of their outer garment. That represented their faith in God. I had a woman make a robe for me, I cant wear the robe anymore, but she explained that the tassel represented spiritual power, and that the spirit had told her that I needed a tassel on my robe. The woman felt that if she could just touch the tassel, then everything would be okay. This woman had been suffering for a long time That woman is like a lot of us- she went through 12 year of suffering in silence. 12 years of dealing with life, even though no one really knew what was going on inside of her. Whenever she heard of a cure – she didn’t discuss it with others, but she tried it. The literature of the day gives 10 different cures for her problem, such as carrying the ashes of an ostrich egg in a rag. Nothing seemed to work. Scripture says that even back then, she went to the doctor, doctor after doctor. They took her money, but could do nothing to help her. I heard someone say the other day that God is the only doctor that will not send you a bill. She had heard that maybe this man Jesus could help her with her problem. She has tried everything else, she might as well try him. The messiah can take care of our deep need The lesson that Mark is teaching us in these miracle stories, is that Jesus is not ordinary man of faith. He has power that the others don’t have. He has access to God, he is the messiah. Last week as Jesus calmed the storm, the question was who is this that the wind and the waves obey. Today the question is who is this that can take care of my deepest need, my most taxing problem? This woman’s problem was so deep, that she couldn’t even talk about it in public. Yet Jesus was able to take care of it. Because Jesus has the power to reach to heaven and bring that peace to earth. The power of faith to overcome a 3% chance There was a man who woke up in the hospital after a horrible accident. The doctor told him that he had a 3% chance of ever walking again. I will take it said the man, God has worked against greater odds. He asked if he would be able to play the violin. The doctor told him the if he would walk out of the hospital, then he could play the violin. The man said he never played the violin, but if God could make him walk, then we would play. That man is walking well, and living happily ever after. All because he believed in the power of God. Jesus has the power to make the power of God real in our lives. Some say that you have to see it to believe it. When you have faith in God you have to believe it in order to see it. Our power comes from something bigger than anything in this world. Jesus gives her more than she expects This woman went through 12 years of pain, 12 years of being locked in a personal prison. Because of her problem, she was not allowed to be around people, she was to live in isolation. She was smiling on the outside, but on the inside she was suffering. She just wanted to get better. She didn’t want anything else from Jesus, she didn’t expect anything else. As a matter of fact, she was planning on walking away as soon as she touched him. She got what she wanted, now she needed to go on with her life. We are all just the same. We hang around Jesus, we pray, we have faith, we are waiting for a change. But if that change were to come tomorrow, would we still be faithful? 12 years this woman was waiting for a cure, If everything in life was given to us as we wanted it, would we even bother to pray? Jesus taught the woman that touching is a 2way street. We can touch, but we also have to be prepared to be touched. We can be transformed, but we are transformed in order to transform. Compassion is Jesus showed her compassion. Compassion literally means coming with passion. Compassion means to suffer along side of someone. When you show pity- you can remain at a distance. When you show sympathy it means that you are somehow better than the person. Charity is what the rich do for the poor. Compassion means to genuinely care for someone. Jesus genuinely cared for this woman. She got more than she bargained for – she was expecting to get her healing and to just walk away. If Jesus was an ordinary faithful man – he could have just observed what she was doing and let her walk away. But Jesus wants her to know who healed her, and how deep her healing really was. He wanted her to know that God had truly healed her. He stopped, looked her in the eye, introduced himself, and told her that she does not get to just walk away and go on with her life. She had been touched by the soul of God. Have you had the deep personal moment when God has touched your soul and said it is not okay to just walk away. I feel your pain, I have made you whole, walk with me. 12 connection to Jairus’ daughter 12 years this woman has been suffering. 12 years a little girl had been growing and living, and now she lay close to death. This is a story within a story. Because as Jesus is healing this woman, he has been asked to come and heal this little girl. 12 years old and near death. Once the woman is healed, they tell him that it is too late. She is dead. We give up so easily, when God never does. In order to be resurrected, we have to experience death. I am not hugging you to death, hugging youto life A business executive became depressed. Things were not going well at work, and he was bringing his problems home with him every night. Every evening he would eat his dinner in silence, shutting out his wife and five-year-old daughter. Then he would go into the den and read the paper using the newspaper to wall his family out of his life. After several nights of this, one evening his daughter took her little hand and pushed the newspaper down. She then jumped into her father’s lap, wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him strongly. The father said abruptly, “Honey, you are hugging me to death!” “No, Daddy,” the little girl said, “I’m hugging you to life!” about human nature that makes us put off the most important things until a crisis Then, one day it is too late, we have waited too long. We are like the Rabbi who did not run to Jesus until his daughter was “at the point of death .” Take a moment to examine your life today. What is at the “eschatos” — the point of death — in your life right now? What part of your spiritual or relational life is barely breathing? Find ways to make those areas (family, friendships and faith) a higher priority than career and income. Do something different this week. Before scheduling anything else, book time with God, schedule an appointment with those in your own family. Then, after prioritizing God and your family, then set up the rest of the week. Where are the dead spots in our life? The good news is that it is in those dead spots that God will show up. There are some things in our life that are dead for a reason, and some that are dead for a season. Some of those places are where God will show up in touch us in an unexpected way. Jesus was not ordinary man of faith, God’s love for us is no ordinary love. When you are touched by God, you can walk again. Compassion brings new life. Talitha cumi – it is time for us to arise When Jesus bought Jairus’ daughter back to life he said – Talitha Cumi – little lambkin, get up and arise. What is Jesus calling you out of , and telling you it is time to come to live and move one. The last words that Jesus said to the woman with a deep personal problem – go in peace and take good care of yourself, your faith has made you whole. Jesus is calling… do you believe in his words? Let us pray….

When God Comes to Visit

June 6, 2010
“When God comes to visit”
2nd Sunday after Pentecost
Year C
1 Kings 17: 8-24
Luke 7: 11-17

As a pastor I am reminded of an old saying – that in life all of us are either going through something, getting over something or about to go through something. Up until now I have never agreed with that statement – I would like to believe that there are some times in our lives, when things might not be great, but at least things are stable. But the truth is those times never last very long.
For much of our lives we are either going through something or coming out of something.
Grief is something that we are all familiar with. Grief is that mix of emotions that we get when we lose something that is important to us. It may be a spouse or family members, it may be our way of life, it may be a hope or a dream. Grief can come from something as simple as graduating from school and realizing that everything will be new next year, or it can be something as huge as having to say good bye to a trusted friend. At some point in our lives we are going to have to grieve. As a matter of fact, there are consequences in life when we don’t grieve the losses in our lives, then we start to express ourselves in not so healthy ways.
In your bulletins I have inserted an article on the stages of grief. Elisabeth Kubler Ross wrote a book on dying in the 70’s I think. Where she says that not only is grief a universal process that we all go through – but that there are certain predictable stages of grief that we have to go through.
I wont explain what is written in the bulletin – but I will say that the stages of grief are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and eventually acceptance.
In life we are all either going through something or coming out of something. My sermon today is not about what it means to go through grief, it is about the process of coming through grief.
Grief is what I see as the common thread between the Hebrew scripture and the New testament this morning. Both stories are about a women who have lost everything and are about to lose their most prized possessions – their son.
Elijah is wandering the countryside – God has told him to go to a certain city and to just be with the people. He stays with a widow about to prepare her last meal so that she can die. There is grief throughout the land because of famine – no one can find enough to eat. Elijah tells her that as long as there is famine, he will be present and she will be able to eat. He keeps his promise of presence. But no sooner than the famine ends, her son falls sick to the point of death. And she does not understand the God of Elijah, but she knows that Elijah is a prophet, and can save her son. After prayer to God, Elijah lays the healed boy into his mothers arms. Proving that God not only has power, but also compassion. God cares about the lives of god’s people. And can bring healing.
As a matter of fact in those days it was believed that God came to visit us in the events of our lives. God could come to reward us with joy, or to punish us with grief. If things were going bad in your life, it was something that you did to anger God. In the story, when her son gets sick she says that Elijah has come from God to remind her of her sin and to take her son. Elijah’s prayer for mercy on this women is what saves her son.
In the New Testament story Jesus is processing one way with his disciples, and a crowd is processing another way grieving the loss of a young man. Jesus interrupts the funeral to see what is going on. He not only sees a young man who has died, but a mother who has lost her only son. A woman who will live in poverty for the rest of her life because she has no one to take care of her. He sees her suffering and scripture says that he has compassion. He enters into her suffering and restores her life, by restoring her son. Just as in the story of Elijah he returns the son back to the mother healed. And the grieving crowd realize that this is a man of God – bringing the presence of God into the situation.
When we are suffering – Jesus enters into our lives also. Jesus is god’s visitation to our lives. No longer does he bring judgement – but he brings mercy and compassion into our pain.
This scripture assures us that in our times of grief Jesus comes to you when you need him the most, extends his word of sympathy and assures victory over death.
Bob Greene tells the story of the death of his wife. He was devastated and had no idea of how to raise the children alone. He had no idea of what needed to be done and how to do it. The day after the news he gets a phone call from his best friend. He didn’t even want to get up that morning, or to think or to go forward. He friend tells him that he is in town.
He goes on to say I know you probably don’t want to see anyone, or discuss this or even think about it. I am not here to talk, I wont be over, I am not trying to solve anything. I have checked into a hotel and will just sit here. I just want you to know that I am in town. If you need me you can call me and I will be over, but if not I will just sit here in my hotel room.
Perhaps the friend did get a chance to rest, or a chance to get some work done. But his real work was the work of presence. Bob never did talk about the loss of his wife, he never did open up about what was going on, he was barely able to say thank you for the support the friend gave in taking care of the kids, but he felt the presence of his friend and it eventually got him through his grief, to the point where he was ready to go on with his life.
We all grieve, we all have to work through the cycle of denial, anger, bargaining, depression until we get to acceptance and we are ready to move on in our lives. It may take a moment, it may take a month, it may take twenty years to get to that final stage of acceptance – where we are ready to move on as resurrected people into the promise of new life. However long it takes that is up to our soul.
The good news is that we can be assured that God has indeed come to visit us at that time. We may never be able to remember the words, or to point to the actions, but we can always feel the presence. God always has a way of reminding us that life is stronger than death, that beginnings always come after endings, and that light is more powerful than darkness.
The day Martin Luther king was assassinated – Robert Kennedy was speaking to a crown and he had to pass on the devastating news. He spoke publicly for the first time about the death of his brother John. He expressed his grief at that loss. In his speech he gave this quote from Aeschylus – a Greek poet. “Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.
In life all of us are either going through something, coming out of something, or about to go through something. We all experience the grief process at some point. God’s promise is that there will be a comforter, a presence, a sense of compassion, a means of mercy. May the spirit of Christ be with you. Let us pray……