The Shepherd and the Sheep

April 25, 2021 John 10:11-18 The Shepherd and the Sheep 4th Sunday of Easter Year B Good Shepherd Sunday The health team decided that people are allowed to sing and to recite into their masks. Opening Song Welcome The Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want. God leads us into green pastures and beside still waters; God restores our soul and leads us in right paths. Even though we walk through the difficult valley, we fear no evil; for you are with us; your rod and your staff — they comfort us. You prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies; you anoint our head with oil; our cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Opening Prayer Loving Shepherd, you know our names; you care for us. When we face darkness and death, walk beside us. When we hunger for your love, fill us with your presence. When we are fearful, feed us at your table. May we dwell in the house of goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. Amen. Stewardship Moment So often we come to worship, eager to be nurtured, encouraged, and reassured. But we also recognize times when we hear the words of scripture, and recognize the HARD questions which challenge us! Like this text from I John 3:16-17: We know love by this, that (Jesus) laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? (“Refuses help” can also be translated “closes the heart”. In this Easter-tide, remember how our hearts nearly burst open with the glad news, “Christ is RISEN!”? With that open heart, we know it’s possible for us to respond with compassion when we see needs in those around us. (name here either one outreach effort in your local area which could use a financial boost, use the latest info from Week of Compassion or One Great Hour of Sharing, or lift up your particular middle judicatory or the General Church.) As we receive our morning offering, may you dig deep in response to the need which is before us, and provide your life-giving gift! Offering Prayer (Psalm 23, 1 John 3) God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways. Out of gratitude for your care, we bring our gifts before you. Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion. Amen. Special Music Scripture John 10:11-18 John 10:11-18 Common English Bible I am the good shepherd 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd. 17 “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.” Sermon The shepherd and the sheep 3 words for us this morning – omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – those are three very big words. You would be correct if you said that those are God sized words. Those words are aspects of God – All knowing, all powerful, and eternal. Those are also 3 big obsessions of people – knowledge, power and survival. Those are also the source of our biggest sins – these are the 3 things that get us into trouble – pursuit of things we don’t understand, control of our lives and the lives of others, and avoidance of death. Knowledge, power and survival – ordinary words. There is nothing wrong with them, it is the way that we go about achieving those things that can get us into trouble. Omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – words to describe God, not man. The good news is that as God’s children, - we have unlimited access to these 3 things. Jesus Christ came to our lives so that we could have those things. This is the 4th Sunday of Easter season. This is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The Shepherd is one of the most enduring images of the bible. All of the faith fathers raised sheep. The relationship of shepherd and sheep describe our faith. In many of these stories the subject is the different between the good shepherd and the bad shepherd. The whole point of John 10 – Jesus is the good shepherd. The book of John is a series of 7 statements about who the messiah is. Jesus says I am the vine, I am the door, I am the light of the world and today he says I am the good shepherd. Jews would be concerned because God is the good shepherd. Jesus is the son of God, he is also the son of man. This story is about shepherds, sheep and thieves. In some ways I think that in some point in our lives we are all of those things. I think that mostly we are all sheep led by a shepherd. Sometimes a good shepherd, sometimes a bad shepherd. That is what John 10 says. John himself was known as the beloved disciple – Jesus’ best friend. John stayed loyal to Jesus all of his life. On the cross, Jesus asked John to talk care of his mother and he did. John lived to be an old man who started a church o the island of Patmos. Mary lived with John until she died. John was like a good shepherd to Jesus because he stayed loyal. In contrast to Peter, who was a bad shepherd because he was not loyal. Jesus himself told Peter he would deny him. After the resurrection Peter became a good shepherd, starting a church and sacrificing his life for Jesus. We too are sometimes guilty of putting our needs and survival before others. But we too learn to trust in the Lord and do what we need to do. John 10 says that the good shepherd knows the sheep, doesn’t control them but takes care of them, and is willing to sacrifice his immortality so that they can live. The good shepherd gives us what we need to live so that we are not fending for ourselves. John the beloved disciple lived and carried the message much more passionate than the others gospel writers. The point of his gospel was to prove that Jesus was the messiah, the savior. A legend about John, known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, has the elderly man teaching some of his young disciples the principles of the kingdom. After he got their attention, John raised his hand for emphasis and uttered a word of wisdom: Little children love one another. One of the eager recruits retorted, that’s fine John, but how do we heal as Jesus did? The old gentleman replied, Little Children, love one another. Another neophyte chimed in, we get your point, John, but how can we be truly great and dynamic leaders? A third time the beloved disciple repeated” Little children, love one another. Love remains the essence of Jesus shepherding style of leadership. There are benefits to having the Lord as our shepherd. Being Christians is being one that Christ is willing to die for. Knowledge, power and survival are the benefits of saying the Lord is my Shepherd. We all know the 23rd psalm – the first line is the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. How many of us live that line? Our Master Makes the Difference As I have moved among men and women from all strata of society as both a lay pastor and as a scientist I have become increasingly aware of one thing. It is the boss, the manager, the Master in people's lives who makes the difference in their destiny. I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent intimately, also some of the leading scientists and professional people. Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of the wrong master. By way of contrast, I have numerous friends among relatively poor people-people who have known hardship, disaster and the struggle to stay afloat financially. But because they belong to Christ and have recognized Him as Lord and Master of their lives, their owner and manager, they are permeated by a deep, quiet, settled peace that is beautiful to behold. It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes where men and women are rich in spirit, generous in heart and large of soul. They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies of their time. They are under God's care and they know it. They have entrusted themselves to Christ's control and found contentment. Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Harper, 1970, p. 17 Many churches will tell people what their beginning date is. There is a tradition in New England instead of saying that a church is founded, it says that a church is gathered. Gathered Like Sheep I want to suggest that the connection in this text on Good Shepherd Sunday, particularly for the clergy, is not that we are the shepherds, good, bad, or indifferent, but that we are among the sheep. That puts a slightly different perspective on this text for us, because when we preach to our people as fellow sheep instead of as shepherd and sheep, they may actually be inclined to hear the text somewhat differently than we are accustomed to giving it to them and they are accustomed to receiving it. If we think of ourselves as among the sheep, as opposed to belonging to the Shepherds' Union, we may actually gain a new insight into the relationship that we have with one another. In New England, the ancient parishes of the seventeenth century in the Congregational order are not described as "founded"--if you ever look at an old seventeenth-century New England church, the sign will not say, "Founded in 1620," "Founded in 1636," "Founded in 1690"-- but use a very strange nomenclature used nowhere else in the church, either in Europe or in this country: it says "Gathered in 1620," "Gathered in 1640," "Gathered in 1690," and there is something very different between being founded and being gathered. The notion is that of sheep being gathered into the sheepfold. In church we are gathered together as the sheep of the good shepherd. When we work as a church it is not our will, but God’s will. We can lt God handle the three pursuits of life in order to have a happy and abudndant life or ministry. True Abundant Life One day a man stopped in a convenience store to get a newspaper. He noticed that the owner of the store had tears in his eyes and kept looking out the window. He asked what was going on. The store owner said, “Do you see that bus bench over there? There’s a woman who comes there every day around this time. She sits there for about an hour, knitting and waiting. Buses come and go, but she never gets on one and no one ever gets off for her to meet. The other day, I carried her a cup of coffee and sat with her for a while. “Her only son lives a long way away. She last saw him two years ago, when he boarded one of the buses right there. He is married now, and she has never met her daughter in law or seen their new child. She told me, ‘It helps to come here and wait. I pray for them as I knit little things for the baby, and I imagine them in their tiny apartment, saving money to come home. I can’t wait to see them.’” The reason the owner was looking out the window at that particular moment was that the three of them -- the son, his wife and their small child -- were just getting off the bus. The look on the woman’s face when this small family fell into her arms was one of pure joy. And this joy only increased when she looked into the face of her grandchild for the first time. The store owner commented, “I’ll never forget that look as long as I live.” The next day the same man returned to the convenience store. The owner was again behind the counter. Before the store owner could say or do anything, the customer said, “You sent her son the money for the bus tickets, didn’t you?” The store owner looked back with eyes full of love and a smile and replied, “Yes, I sent the money.” Then he repeated his statement from the day before, “I’ll never forget that look as long as I live.” This man had discovered a measure of the abundant life. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com Finally, I want us to think about the final line of the 23rd psalm – I shall dwell in the house of the lord forever. That my friends is eternal life – life with God. Omniscient, omnipotent, immortal – we have it all when we know that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Amen. Prayer Our souls are weary, O God. We hear to easily the loud clamor of the world. We witness the terror and trauma all around us. We long for the "good old days" when life seemed so much safer and simpler; when we felt cherished and protected. In this spirit, we have come to this time of worship, seeking your peace and hope. The Psalmist wrote of green pastures and refreshing springs of water, places of rest. Offerings of quietness and comfort flood our thirsting souls. What we would give for such places in the heart! In the midst of all that is difficult, there is one who leads us to these places where, when we have gathered strength and healing, we are prepared to go forth in confidence to serve again. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows our name and our needs. He listens for our cries and responds in love. We can have great assurance in that. We have offered today the names and situations of illness, mourning, stress, and concern which touch our lives and our souls. We have breathed our heart’s desire for their healing and restoration. God’s abundant love shall flood over them until they are more than filled. God will be with all these dear ones in their situations and needs. And God will be with us, strengthening us, restoring us, healing us, challenging us, to witness to the Good News of Salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. Open our hearts this day, O Lord, and enter into our lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN. Lord’s Prayer Passing the Peace of Christ (1 John 3) God calls us to love one another as God loves us. In this we know the truth of Christ’s peace. Share signs of Christ’s peace with one another. Song for Reflection O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing UMH 57 Announcements On May 22nd we will have a special visioning session from 9-11am. During this time committees are asked to gather and to plan activities for the next six months. We will them gather and create a church calendar of events. We are asking that all committees be represented at this event. Benediction The Good Shepherd leads us forward, from this place, into the world to serve God’s people, to witness to God’s love in all that we do. Go in peace and God’s peace will go with you. AMEN. Children’s Sermon The Shepherd Cares For His Sheep Lk 15:6 · Jn 10:11 · Isa 40:11; 53:6 · Heb 13:20 · Ps 100:3 Object: Lamb or sheep stickers Good morning, boys and girls. Who can tell me where New Zealand (Montana, Australia, Israel -- any sheep-producing area) is? (Response. Help them with the location if it is remote or strange to them.) I visited (place) for a period of time and saw lots and lots of sheep. Did you know that in New Zealand there are about 70 million sheep? That's about 20 or 25 sheep per person of the population. Why do people raise sheep? (Responses -- Wool, meat, skins.) Sheep have to be looked after and taken care of. In some places they have to be moved great distances to find enough pasture for them to graze. Do you know what a person who tends the sheep is called? (Response.) Yes, a shepherd. Many shepherds spend long days with their sheep, and can even tell them apart, although they all look alike to us sometimes. The Bible tells us that we are like sheep, and that we need a shepherd to take care of us, to feed us, to find us when we get lost, and to keep us from going astray. Who is our shepherd? (Responses -- God, Jesus, even the pastor may be suggested.) We have lots of word pictures in the Bible that tell us of the special love that God has for us as part of his flock. He knows each one of us by name and is always searching for us to bring us into the safety of his fold. Jesus said that his sheep heard his voice and came to him. As good sheep we need to be listening to hear the voice of our master. (Prayer to help us to know the safety that comes from being in the care of the Great Shepherd.) (Give each child a sheep sticker.) CSS Publishing Company, Let The Children Come, by Robert B. Lantz Additional Illustrations 1. First, we have a shepherd that is a genuine shepherd. 2. Second, I think that the Good Shepherd knows his sheep. 3. Third, the Good Shepherd also includes other sheep. 4. Fourth, the shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. St. Augustine, in using this paradigm, describes the function of the shepherd as that being who puts his body in the narrow opening of the sheepfold, the opening designed to protect the sheep gathered within and to prevent the wolves on the outside from leaping in. There is something to be said for being gathered rather than founded; and to be gathered together by the Good Shepherd, who knows us by name, and who protects us as the shepherd and guardian of our souls, is a cause for thanksgiving. It connects and unites us with the people of God, it doesn't separate us from them; and, when they are used to hearing about good shepherds (us) and dumb sheep (them) it removes some of those textual barriers and makes the image one of being gathered in together. Peter J. Gomes, Good Shepherd, Good Sheep Other Voices The call of our Lord is "hidden" in a whole chorus of worldly voices which beckon us. Other would-be shepherds seek to tempt us away from the Good Shepherd, the joy of his forgiveness and the security of his love. And when we are weak and confused we may fall victim to the enticements of other gods. I am reminded of an American tourist who was traveling in the Mid East. He came upon several shepherds whose flocks had intermingled while drinking water from a brook. After an exchange of greetings, one of the shepherds turned toward the sheep and called out, "Manah. Manah. Manah." (Manah means "follow me" in Arabic.) Immediately his sheep separated themselves from the rest and followed him. Then one of the two remaining shepherds called out, "Manah. Manah." and his sheep left the common flock to follow him. The traveler then said to the third shepherd, "I would like to try that. Let me put on your cloak and turban and see if I can get the rest of the sheep to follow me." The shepherd smiled knowingly as the traveler wrapped himself in the cloak, put the turban on his head and called out, "Manah. Manah." The sheep did not respond to the stranger's voice. Not one of them moved toward him. "Will the sheep ever follow someone other than you?" The traveler asked. "Oh yes," the shepherd replied, "sometimes a sheep gets sick, and then it will follow anyone." We have seen it, haven't we? People, young and old, who are "sick." Battered by the storms of life and distracted by voices urging them to go this way and that, they have lost their bearings and they don't know where they are or where they are going. That can be more than a little frightening; it leads to despair, to hopelessness. And when someone is "sick" they will follow anyone who will promise a moment of happiness, a brief feeling of peace or forgetfulness, a sense that they are someone. But the call of Jesus the Good Shepherd is, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." There is no better way, no greater truth, no happier life. Our Lord reaches out to us in love that we might follow him. John M. Braaten, The Greatest Wonder of All, CSS Publishing A Thief and Robber Eight or so years ago there was a story carried in various newspapers about a woman from Missouri who was startled out of a dead sleep one night by some desperate cries of "Help! Help!" You know how it is when you awake to some sound: you are not at all certain whether you really heard something or if it was just a dream. At first she thought perhaps her husband had cried out, but he was sleeping soundly next to her. Then suddenly she heard the cries again: "Help! Help!" Finally she threw back the covers and headed downstairs toward their living room. "Help!" went the plaintive voice yet again. "Where are you?" the woman replied. "In the fireplace," came the rather shocking answer. And sure enough, dangling in the fireplace with his head sticking through the flue was a burglar, upside down and quite snugly stuck! The police and fire department got him out eventually, though not before having to disassemble the mantle and some of the masonry. Perhaps the best part of the story was what this woman did in the meantime. She flipped on all the lights and videotaped the whole thing. I don't know what the two talked about while waiting for the police and company to arrive, but had I been she, I think I would have hauled out a Bible and given the crook a pointed reading of John 10: "Verily I tell you, anyone who does not enter by the door but climbs in another way is a thief and a robber!" Scott Hoezee, Through the Gate The Voice of a Stranger I once knew someone who was a leader in the congregation. At one time or another he had filled most (if not all) of the important leadership positions in that church. More than that, however, oftentimes he was the one who would volunteer for those tough, dirty jobs that no one else wanted: washing dishes after a potluck supper, helping to teach the confirmation class, stacking shelves at the food bank. This is the kind of person you would like to clone and with whom you'd like to fill the congregation, right? Wrong! This person was a delight to have around until things didn't go his way, and then he was a nightmare: disruptive, divisive, even destructive. He didn't understand the meaning of community and was not a team player. And when (not for the first time) he and his wife climbed into their huff-mobile and drove away after some disagreement, the congregation finally had the good sense not to beg them to come back. Finally that congregation had learned to distinguish between the voice of a shepherd and the voice of a stranger. Verne Arens, (Good) Help Wanted Sound Theology In a Peanuts' cartoon, Lucy and Linus are staring out the window. The rain is pouring down, and Lucy says, "Boy, look at it rain! What if it floods the whole world?" Linus answers, "It will never do that. In the ninth chapter of Genesis, God promised Noah that would never happen again, and the sign of the promise is the rainbow." Lucy is looking directly at him as he is speaking. She turns back toward the window, smiles big and says, "You have taken a great load off my mind." To which Linus responds, "Sound theology has a way of doing that." James Merritt, Collected Sermons, quoting Charles Schultz Thou Shepherd of Israel Charles Wesley’s most mystical hymn is arguably “Thou Shepherd of Israel.” The hymn is no longer sung, but it might be a great way to end your sermon, or would make a wonderful benediction. 1 Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine, The joy and desire of my heart, For closer communion I pine, I long to reside where thou art: The pasture I languish to find Where all, who their Shepherd obey, Are fed, on thy bosom reclined, And screened from the heat of the day. 2 Ah! show me that happiest place, The place of thy people's abode, Where saints in an ecstasy gaze, And hang on a crucified God; Thy love for a sinner declare, Thy passion and death on the tree: My spirit to Calvary bear, To suffer and triumph with thee. 3 'Tis there, with the lambs of thy flock, There only, I covet to rest, To lie at the foot of the rock, Or rise to be hid in thy breast; 'Tis there I would always abide, And never a moment depart, Concealed in the cleft of thy side, Eternally held in thy heart. Charles Wesley Let me ask you a question: what would you be willing to do to live forever? I’m not talking about eternal life after you die. I’m talking about avoiding death altogether. Human beings have always searched for a way to cheat death. In Hollywood, Florida, there is a church called the Church of Perpetual Life, and its focus is on extending the healthy human lifespan on this earth for as long as possible. The church’s motto is “Aging and death can be optional.” What a great marketing slogan for a society that is rapidly becoming godless! The Church of Perpetual Life’s symbol is not a cross, but a phoenix, the bird in Greek mythology that rose from the dead and lives on perpetually. The church’s leader, William Faloon, teaches his congregation about health and age reversal technologies. To support their ministry, the church sells dietary supplements and a magazine on preventing aging. And the church supports a cryonics conference. Cryonics is the practice—completely unproven, by the way—of freezing a person’s body and brain for decades, then unthawing them and bringing them back to life when medical science has found a cure for death. William Faloon hopes to build a cryonics chamber in Texas that can hold 10,000 bodies, so its members can be brought back to life sometime in the future. (1) Eternal life is God’s greatest gift. This life may offer us many pleasures and joys, but it still leaves us hungry for some greater meaning or purpose. That’s our hunger to know God. That’s part of our DNA. We were created in the image of God. All the qualities that make up God—holiness, completeness, life in its fullest sense—all these qualities are a part of our makeup. We were created to know God and to live at peace with God. We were created for purposeful work and creativity and relationships. All the blessings we see in the first chapters of Genesis—that’s the life we were made for. So when you get that empty ache inside that tells you this life is meaningless, please don’t give up. Please don’t try to numb the pain. Acknowledge that this life isn’t your true purpose. And let that ache drive you to search for the God in whose image you were created. A focus on eternal life also frees us for generosity. We’re not just talking about money here. We’re talking about a generosity of spirit that is motivated by love. If God loved us enough to give us His Son that we might have eternal life, then won’t that same God give us all that we need in this life? Knowing that our life belongs to a loving and generous God frees us to live with a generosity of spirit. Pastor Adam Hamilton’s daughter Danielle and her husband JT once worked at a hospice center for AIDS patients in South Africa. One day, the hospice staff decided to take the hospice residents out for ice cream. None of them made much money, and the residents were very poor, so the staff saved up their money for this very special treat. The closest restaurant that served ice cream was a Kentucky Fried Chicken. A customer at the restaurant noticed the hospice group and asked about their purpose there. When Danielle told them about their ice cream trip, the man immediately offered to buy all of the hospice residents some fried chicken too. Even though the man didn’t appear to have much money himself, he went up to the counter and ordered enough chicken for every resident. As Hamilton writes, “For most of the residents, this would be the last time they would eat fried chicken and ice cream, but in that moment there was great joy.” (9) Generosity is rooted in faith and it overflows in joy. Who doesn’t want more joy in this life? This is the kind of life God created you to live. But joy doesn’t come from winning the biggest chunk of cheese in the rat race. Joy comes from focusing on the things that are important to God. A focus on eternal life frees us from anxiety and frees us for generosity. When we look at the life of Jesus, we don’t have to question God’s existence and His purposes anymore. God’s purpose is for you to live eternally in God’s presence, where there is peace and joy and rest from all forms of anxiety and want. That’s what Jesus lived for and died for. Don’t you want to know there is something worth living for and dying for that is greater than this ordinary life? That “something” can only be found in giving your life over to Jesus and living in his promise of eternal life. read a story the other day id never heard before about Abraham Lincoln. He was surprised one day when a rough looking man drew a revolver and put it right in his face. Trying to remain as calm as he could Lincoln simply asked the man, “What seems to be the matter?” The stranger replied, “Well some years ago I swore an oath that if I ever came across an uglier man than I am I’d shoot him right on the spot.” Lincoln smiled and said, “Well then please shoot me for if I’m an uglier man than you are I don't want to live.” If you are normal and in a normal frame of mind you don't want to just live life you want to live a life worth living. The reason why people commit suicide is because they have convinced themselves that for whatever the reason their life is no longer worth living. Well I make no apologies when I say to you I want my life to be worth living and when it’s over I want it to be well lived. A legend about John, known as the disciple whom Jesus loved, has the elderly man teaching some of his young disciples the principles of the kingdom. After he got their attention, John raised his hand for emphasis and uttered a word of wisdom: Little children love one another. One of the eager recruits retorted, that’s fine John, but how do we heal as Jesus did? The old gentleman replied, Little Children, love one another. Another neophyte chimed in, we get your point, John, but how can we be truly great and dynamic leaders? A third time the beloved disciple repeated” Little children, love one another. Love remains the essence of Jesus shepherding style of leadership.

Never Give Up

June 7, 2015 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Year B A cowboy out west was in a heap of trouble. A wild bull was after him. Head down and nostrils snorting, the bull charged toward him. The cowboy dove into a convenient recess in the ground. As soon as the bull passed over the hole, the cowboy leaped out. The bull came back, madder than ever. Right before the bull reached him, the cowboy ducked back into the hole. Then, when the bull passed, he popped back out again. He did this several times. A passing stranger watching this scenario shouted, "Hey, cowboy, why don't you just stay in the hole?" Leaping out again, the cowboy yelled, "There's a bear in that hole!" That's how it is some days. We get caught between a bull and a bear. Have you ever had one of those days, when you are caught between a bull and a bear? When you are already having a bad day and then things get worse? One fellow tells about being on an airliner making its way from New York to San Francisco. One of the engines caught fire. The captain came on the speaker system, calmly reassuring his passengers that the fire would soon be out. Besides, the plane could fly as well with three engines as with four. Unfortunately, a second engine burst into flames. Once again the captain assured the passengers that two engines were sufficient. Then a third engine was suddenly ablaze. The captain said no more. There was only silence from the front of the plane. Soon the captain appeared in the cabin with a parachute on his back. As he opened the exit door, he said calmly to the passengers, "Don't anyone panic, I'm going for help." And out he jumped. That didn't really happen, of course. Still, when the pilot leaves to go get help, you're in trouble! That will absolutely ruin your day. St. Paul knew what it was to have a bad day. He had many of them--shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonment. But he knew his Pilot would never bail out. That is why he could write: "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be also manifested...." (RSV) My next question is when you have those days, how do you handle it? Does it ruin you mood and you are not able to function or do you take it all in stride, and are you able to move on? When you come face to face with some huge obstacle, some daunting problem, something frightening in which the odds are stacked against you, what is your first step? Do you go around it? We learned that as a kid walking home, didn't we? If there were a big, mean dog on the route, we would walk blocks around it to get home safely. How about now? Do you still walk around those big, mean dogs? Some people go over them. That is, you know the problem is there but you just scratch the surface, gloss over the problem, brush up against it but don't really address it. It's just always there and you minimize the danger. "It's no big deal. I'm fine." Some people decide to go under it. They bury their heads into the ground and don't even acknowledge it, don't even name it. "If I don't talk about it, maybe it will just go away." But pretty soon the problem suffocates you with its weight. People with eyes of faith go through it. They can see what others cannot see. They name the problem, identify the problem, stare that problem right in the eye, and decide that the only way to conquer this problem and to get to the other side is to go through it. That is the lesson for today on 2 Corinthians – Paul tells us that as Christians we have to the power to go through anything. Christ gives us the power to handle it. There is a difference between those who give up and those who who keep going, and that difference is faith. Not just any faith, but faith in Christ. Faith that Christ was raised from the dead. Not Everybody likes Paul, many says that he is too patriarchal to women, But I really like Paul, because after studying him, I think that his advice on faith is very solid. He teaches life on Christ. That we should live inside of the promises of Christ. The cool thing about Paul’s lessons, is that his actions teach us Just as much as his words. When Paul gave his life to Christ, he did not have a happy, easy life. He was shipwrecked, he was put in prison, he was often run out of town, and he was put on trial and eventually killed, all for his faith in Christ. And yet he never stopped preaching and teaching. I would imagine one of his biggest pains, was pouring his life in establishing Christian communities, and trying to tell them the right way to life, and instead of them saying thank you, they turned against him. Today we just have 1 and 2nd Corinthians. But there is a belief that there was also a 3 and 4th Corinthians. When Paul visited, the Corinthians at first they listened. But eventually they turned against him. They felt that there was other evangelist who were more charismatic then he was. They started to follow these other people and to reject Paul. So Paul wrote other letters to the people of Corinthians. But it is believed that those letters never survived, because Pauls words were a little too harsh. What we know as 2 Corinthians is the the final letter, as Paul tried to repair his relationship with this congregation. Paul’s lesson to them and to us is to have faith. Have complete faith in Christ and to give our complete life to Christ. The power that raised Christ, will be present for us.If we do, we can stand in any situation. He says that there may be times in life when we are falling apart on the outside, but we are coming together in the inside. Jesus talked about his death many times, but whenever he talked about death, he talked about resurrection. They say that triumph is just a try, with a little umph behind it. As Christians we are triumphant over the challenges of life. When we are using our faith. Just like we have to exercise our bodies in order for our muscles to get stronger, we have to exercise our soul in order for our soul to get stronger. We exercise our spirit by having a relationship with Christ, by not just reading the bible, but also living according to it., by being in service and putting our faith in action. We have to learn to forgive and move on, and there are just some times when we have to give whatever it is to God and trust that God will take care of it. In order to do that we have to learn to believe in things that we cannot see with out eyes. When we are at our wits end in life, we are not at hopes end. If our hope is in Christ. Archibald Rutledge tells of seeing a bird build its nest. Patiently and hard it worked all day. That night a storm came and the next morning the little bird's home lay on the ground in pathetic ruin. The bird was there, too, however. It was not mourning over the destruction. It was busily rebuilding. The first words of M. Scott Peck's helpful book, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED are, "Life is hard." And it is. The people who have made the most significant contributions have been people who have confronted that truth head on. They not only coped, but they conquered. Are you familiar with Wedgewood pottery? It is some of the world's finest. Did you know that Josiah Wedgewood was forced to leave school when he was only nine years of age? At thirteen he was stricken with smallpox, which crippled him for the remainder of his life. Nothing came easy for Josiah. Nothing could defeat him either. Today his pottery is known world-wide for its consistent beauty. Do you love the music of Beethoven? When Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy" was first performed it was instantly acclaimed. Beethoven could hear it only in his imagination, though. When he was first diagnosed as facing deafness, Beethoven reacted with angry outbursts. He wrote to a friend, "Your Beethoven is most unhappy and at strife with nature and the Creator." At first he withdrew from others and refused to tell them of his problem. He knew, though, he could never be happy if he did not compose music. And compose he did, even if he could not enjoy the sound of his own work. That is the story of the cross. A symbol of shame transformed into a means of salvation. It can be the story of your life and mine as well. We will face opposition in life. By God's grace, however, opposition can be turned to opportunity. If nothing else, we will be drawn closer to Him who is our Life. Paul says that our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond comparison. There is salvation in our suffering. That does not mean that we should suffer intentionally. But anybody who keeps on living, will soon realize that life is hard. No matter what we do – life is hard. But with Christ – bad news is never the final answer Paul’s advice to us is to look toward eternity in all situations. Things will turn out okay for those who love God. The final victory belongs to Christ, in the meantime we are to keep up the fight. My final story is about Winston Churchhill. If it wasn’t for his will to fight, we would all be speaking german and not English. Later in his life,he was asked to speak at a graduation ceremony. The students waited in anticipation at what he would have to say. They were on the edge of their seats. He walks up to the podium. There is complete silence. He says nothing. Then he speaks and says never give up. And then there is more silence. He speaks again, never give up. And he walks off the stage, the crowd bursts out in applause. Paul says I have been hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, I have been perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed, Have faith in christ, and never Give up. Let us pray…. Children’s sermon… Let light shine out of darkness. (v. 6a) Object: a regular light bulb Good morning, boys and girls. I want to talk about the light bulb this morning. What can you tell me about this bulb? (Listen and repeat answers. Your conversation may have some of the following items.) It is used in a lamp or an overhead light. It shines. It sometimes burns out and needs to have a new one put in. It hurts your eyes if you stare at it. It gets hot. Is this the only kind of light bulb you have ever seen? (Let them respond.) No, there are lots of sizes. Can you name some for me? (Let them respond.) Some of them might be: lighthouse, strobe light at airport, flashlight, sewing machine light, light in refrigerator, light on vacuum cleaner, night light, desk lamp, Christmas tree lights or gas light in yard. What do you think makes these lights shine? (Let them respond.) That's right, they either have to be turned on or hooked to a battery or plugged into the electrical box in the wall. They have to have what we call a power source. Their power to shine comes from electricity or a battery. Our lesson today from Corinthians talks about a light shining in the darkness. Paul said that people are like lights. Do I look like I'm shining like a light? (Let them respond.) No, but if you could see inside me you would see a special kind of light. My heart shines! Not like this light bulb does when we connect it to electricity. But it shines with the love of God. I know God loves me, so I can share that love with others just like we share a flashlight in the dark. God is my power source just like a light needs electricity. Can I use this lightbulb in a flashlight? (Let them respond.) No, a flashlight uses a tiny light. Can I use a strobe light from the airport in my refrigerator? (Let them respond.) No, each bulb fits in a special spot. Each light has a special job to do. That's just how people are! We each have our own kind of job to do and we shine in a certain way. We come to church each week so God can give us the power to shine. Then we can be a light too to show God's love to others. Other illustrations….. Don’t Give Up Now! – 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 Have you noticed that some people can’t seem to win, no matter what they do? It’s like one lady I heard about. True story. In 1957 Richie Ashburn, center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, swung and hit a foul ball that went into the stands and hit a spectator named Alice Roth. As she was being taken away on a stretcher, Ashburn slammed another foul ball . . . and hit her again. (1) Poor Alice. I guess it just wasn’t her day. I’ve had days like that, haven’t you? I would guess we all have. Pastor Alan Carr tells about an advertisement that once appeared in the newspapers in New York City. The ad was sponsored by the Hayden planetarium. It was an invitation for anyone who would like to make the first journey to another planet to submit an application. Within a matter of days, over 18,000 people applied. These applications were then given to a panel of psychologists, who upon reviewing them concluded that the vast majority of those who had applied wanted to start a new life on another planet because they were so discouraged by life on this one. (2) I wonder if anyone here today can relate to that? Are you so discouraged with life that you would like to go somewhere--even another planet--and make a new start? The loveable loser Charlie Brown in the Peanuts cartoons often felt that way. Once he told Linus, “Sometimes I feel like I want to run away from everything.” Overhearing the conversation, Snoopy reflects, “I remember having that feeling once when I was at the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm. I climbed over the fence . . . but I was still in the world!” That’s the problem with running away from your problems, isn’t it? You are still in the world. And your problems seem to always follow you. And, of course, the real problem is that you are still you. St. Paul had as many problems as anyone--and more than most people. He never had the comforts of family life. He spent years traveling under the most primitive conditions. He was persecuted, shipwrecked, beaten, thrown in prison and probably martyred. He made enormous sacrifices for the cause of Christ and yet he was constantly criticized by people both inside as well as outside of the early church. And yet he never seemed to get discouraged.. Training to Hear the Voice of God There is a positive message to be learned from these words of Jesus. The lesson is that we must keep ourselves alert to the way God is working in the world. Remember that those who were seeking to discredit Jesus were religious people. Their problem was that they just didn't expect God to be acting as Jesus said he was acting, so they missed the movement of God in their midst, and in fact, they called it evil. Today God may be speaking to us in causes that are unpopular, or in political events that cause us to feel threatened and insecure. The cries for justice and fairness in the world may come from quarters that we are not accustomed to listen to. We need to exercise diligence so that we don't miss the voice of God today just because it happens to be spoken by unfamiliar lips. I once sat in on a class my wife was taking in music appreciation. The instructor was asking the class members to listen for the recurring theme as it was passed from one instrument to another and was modified. I quickly lost it, but others in the class, who had benefited from their training, were able to keep track of the theme and even state which instrument was playing it. It is a law of life that we hear what we have trained ourselves to hear. What we must do is to train ourselves to listen for the voice of God in areas where we have not expected to hear it. We hear that voice only by attentive listening: by asking ourselves whether there is a valid message in those things which make us uncomfortable. Jesus spoke of an unforgivable sin, not because any act is unforgivable, but to warn us that our own hardness of heart can close the channels through which God's forgiveness flows and, as a consequence, leave us feeling alienated. Let us, therefore, affirm the good that is in others, so that our own hearts become generous and accepting of others, even as God is generous and accepting of us. David G. Rogne, Sermons for Sundays after Pentecost, CSS Publishing Company “A Winning Streak of One!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 Key verse(s) 16“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” It’s important to make sure that every day of our lives we practice gladness and condition ourselves to finding even the smallest bit of “glad” amongst the bad. That calls for a conditioning, a practice and a routine that assume a regimen of daily, consistent focus on keeping a happy heart. We spend so much time these days keeping our bodies fit; yet we often spend little or no time making sure that our hearts, although physically in tip-top shape, are kept in good spiritual shape. The Bible tells us to “not lose heart” when everything around us seems to “wasting away.” That’s not easy to do when you’re down to you last dollar or last medical hope. Keeping a stiff upper lip and persevering even when there just doesn’t seem to be any good reason to be happy is a great prescription to buy into but often a bitter pill to swallow. We rely so much on everything going right in order to keep us in a cheerful mood that it is a tall order to expect anyone to be happy, not lose heart, when most everything is going wrong. Keeping a winning attitude even when you are losing is a tall order, to be sure. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what God expects of each one of us. In the personal things of this life, God wants to remind us daily that we should always be prepared to Keeping a winning attitude even when you are losing is a tall order, to be sure. Nonetheless, that’s exactly what God expects of each one of us. In the personal things of this life, God wants to remind us daily that we should always be prepared to come face to face with defeat, loss and disappointment. We need to condition our hearts to persevere, to endure when our happiness is invaded from time to time by sorrows; to treat defeat as nothing more than a stepping stone to an eventual victory. Life’s happiness “winning streaks” are real highs but we need to remember that no one, not even the most devout Christian, always turns out to be the winner. There comes a time in every Christian’s life when there just is no getting around it; a time of defeat is at hand and we just have to be able to deal with it as best we can. That dealing happens best when we consider first our ability to endure in Christ, learn from the moment, and then be willing to step up the effort to get our lives back on track again. I remember reading about a girl’s volleyball team in a small, obscure midwest town that had assembled an unbelievable winning streak of 65 games. What was so incredible about the feat was this––the school had only 18 girls total and 16 of them were on the volleyball squad and a 17th was the scorekeeper. Although it was one of the smallest Class B high schools in the state, it won the Class B volleyball championship for three years running. Then, after 65 victories, they were eventually defeated. The local paper reported the defeat with a large headline one night. Then, two days later, another headline appeared in the small paper “Team Rebounds With a Winning Streak of One.” The key to not “losing heart” is making sure that we understand and believe that even in defeat we are renewed in Christ. Defeats come and go in this life and that will never change. Yet, for the Christian, defeat is one of those things that we strive to manage in the sweet expectation that even in defeat we are victorious in Christ. Christians are always on the rebound. When one foot is mired in defeat, the other is already moving on; looking for that “winning streak of one!” Archibald Rutledge tells of seeing a bird build its nest. Patiently and hard it worked all day. That night a storm came and the next morning the little bird's home lay on the ground in pathetic ruin. The bird was there, too, however. It was not mourning over the destruction. It was busily rebuilding. The first words of M. Scott Peck's helpful book, THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED are, "Life is hard." And it is. The people who have made the most significant contributions have been people who have confronted that truth head on. They not only coped, but they conquered. Are you familiar with Wedgewood pottery? It is some of the world's finest. Did you know that Josiah Wedgewood was forced to leave school when he was only nine years of age? At thirteen he was stricken with smallpox, which crippled him for the remainder of his life. Nothing came easy for Josiah. Nothing could defeat him either. Today his pottery is known world-wide for its consistent beauty. Do you love the music of Beethoven? When Beethoven's famous "Ode to Joy" was first performed it was instantly acclaimed. Beethoven could hear it only in his imagination, though. When he was first diagnosed as facing deafness, Beethoven reacted with angry outbursts. He wrote to a friend, "Your Beethoven is most unhappy and at strife with nature and the Creator." At first he withdrew from others and refused to tell them of his problem. He knew, though, he could never be happy if he did not compose music. And compose he did, even if he could not enjoy the sound of his own work. We are told that the greatest door-to-door Bible salesman of all time stuttered. He made up his mind that he was going to turn his disadvantage into advantage. After making the presentation with a lot of stuttering, he would close with these words: "Do you want to b-b-b-buy the Bible now or do you w-w-want me to r-r-read it to you?" (3) That young man turned what could have been a stumbling block into a stepping stone. . Final story – Winston Churchill. Never give up. Amen.

Are you Ready for the Resurrection?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38 Get Ready for the Resurrection 25th Sunday After Pentecost Year C The Questions we ask A Theological Curveball A certain minister has made it a policy for many years to refer "six-year-old theology questions" to his wife. Since she has taught very young children for many years, he says, she has a much better grasp than he does of how to address the questions which little kids ask. The other day, a first-grader brought a drawing of a skeleton into class where she teaches English as a second language. The titled across the top of the drawing read "Inside of Me." It was designed to teach children that everyone has a skeleton inside of them. He unfolded it proudly and showed it to the class. One little girl from India was astounded at the thought that she and others had this scary-looking skeleton inside them, and so she pressed the issue a bit farther. "Even you got one of these inside you, Mrs. K?" The teacher replied, "Yes, I have one, too." The next question was the theological one. "Even God got one inside him?" Now in a class made up of children from many different countries, cultures, and religious backgrounds (most of them not Christians), you can imagine that this question had the potential for major theological debate. I doubt if I'd have had the presence of mind to give the answer the teacher did; but, as usual, her expertise in six-year-old theology saved the day. "If God needs a skeleton, I'm sure he has one," she replied. "God has everything he needs." This apparently satisfied the theological curiosity of the class, and they got on with the lesson. Asking questions is an essential part of learning. If we don't know something, we look for someone who does and we ask. The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. We learn by asking questions about what we don't know. Larry R. Kalajainen, Extraordinary Faith for Ordinary Time, CSS Publishing Company Sadducees – not stupid question, but stupid people We have all heard that saying that there are no stupid questions. The only dumb question is one that you don’t ask. I think that Jesus would agree with me – that there is no stupid questions, but sometimes there are stupid people who ask questions. I know that is a pretty strong statement, but it is an explanation of the story in Luke 20. This story is included in both Matthew and Mark. But for Luke he puts this story on the Tuesday before Jesus is crucified. The priest have been looking for any excuse at all to attack Jesus. Each time they ask a stupid question – a question that will prove that Jesus is a fraud – Jesus understands the trap well enough to avoid it. And this question is no different. The Sadducees where rich priest, who were in charge of the temples. They were very conservative – anything that was not expressely written in the first five books of the bible – did not exist as far as they were concerned. The words of Job - I know that my redeemer[a] lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.[b] 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet[c] in[d] my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Means nothing to them. The did not believe in the resurrection – even though the words are in the old testament. The sadduccees were sad u see – because they did not believe in anything that they could not see. In their world there was nothing to hope for, nothing more than words on paper to believe in. There was no eternal life. That is why in this case there were stupid people asking a stupid question. If there was a resurrection – which they didn’t believe in anyway, and a woman married seven different men, who would be her husband in heaven. Jesus had to explain that not only do you not understand resurrection, not only do you not understand heaven, before you try and talk about life after death, you should have an understanding of life. I love it when Jesus tells us that god is not a god of the dead, but the living. Nothing in life disappears Dr. Wernher von Braun, well-known for his part in the U. S. space program, says he has “essentially scientific” reasons for believing in life after death. He explained: “Science has found that nothing can disappear without a trace. Nature does not know extinction. All it knows is transformation. If God applies the fundamental principle to the most minute and insignificant parts of the universe, doesn’t it make sense to assume that He applies it to the masterpiece of His creation—the human soul? I think it does.” What is life? what is death? Jesus says that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But he says that they are indeed alive. But if we cannot see them, if we know that they have passed on, if we know where their graves are – then how are they among the living? What is the relationship between life and death? Thessalonians was written in a different time, it answers different questions, but at the heart of the scripture is the meaning of eternal life. Paul comes to Thessalonica in order to address the Thessalonian error. We all as Christians are susceptible to that error. Because we all live in the anticipation of Jesus coming soon – and we get confused about what that means. When Paul told the Thessalonians that Christ was coming soon – they forgot that God is the God of the living. They thought they could stop living for themselves, because Christ was coming soon, so nothing mattered anymore. My Thessalonian error There was a time in my life when life was so crazy for me, that I thought for sure that Christ was coming soon. I was so desparate for God to come and fix my life, that I made myself sick and ended up in the hospital. One day the nurse bought my clothes to my room, telling me that he washed them so that I could wear them again. I looked at the nurse and said I didn’t need them anymore. I looked out the window – waiting for Jesus to come out of the sky. The nurse left them on the counter – saying trust me, I think you will need these again. I thought he was just an unbeliever, who did not see the signs. Paul tried to help us understand that waiting for Christ to come, does not mean that it is time to give up living. It does not mean that our life is over. Life goes on, the work continues. We cant give up In the challenges of life – the Jews had stopped believing in the power of God. There was no God, There were no miracles, there was nothing to hope for beyond what they could see and understand. And the Christians believed that if there was a God, then there was no need for them to keep living. They could stop working and just let God handle it. They could just give up on everything and wait for the miracle. Paul tried to help us understand that one is just as bad as the other. God is the God of those who live. And those who live, are constantly growing and moving forward. As a matter of fact Thessalonians spells it out in verses 13-16. God called you to be the first fruits of salvation. Along with being called and chosen comes a task – a job, work for you to do. If you are called, and have work to do – then God will send others to help you in your task, If we are here, then we are set apart and saved for something better. If we consider ourselves to be Christians, then we are alive, anything that is alive, grows and moves forward. We don’t get to give up. A Girl learns to skate A father bought a little girl a pair of ice skates. In learning how to skate, she fell down time after time. Wanting to spare her the pain of failure – he asked her if she was ready to give up. She got up, and said I didn’t ask for these skates in order to fail- but to be a skater, and she got up and kept trying. What about you? What are you here for? Why do you call yourself a Christian? Are you a sad u see? Only believing in what you can see? Or are you waiting for something more? Are you one of the dead? or the living? Tradition Must Leave Room for Revelation The apostle Paul, in his letter of encouragement to the struggling young church at Thessalonica, wrote, "Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions we taught you, either by word of mouth or by our letters" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Tradition is important. But tradition has to leave room for revelation, because the Spirit blows where it wills, right? That has always been a problem in the church, from day one to this day. We don’t seem to want to leave any room for revelation when we’re talking about tradition. A well-known theologian has commented, "Any church that is alive lives on the edge of heresy," meaning that its members won’t refuse new ideas or new programs or new challenges simply because there are those in the church who say, "WE NEVER DID IT THAT WAY BEFORE!" and want these to be the final words on the subject matter. These have been called "the seven last words of the church," and in many cases they have been. Johnny Dean Heaven and Earth There are a lot question the Bible doesn't answer about the Hereafter. But I think one reason is illustrated by the story of a boy sitting down to a bowl of spinach when there's a chocolate cake at the end of the table. He's going to have a rough time eating that spinach when his eyes are on that cake. And if the lord had explained everything to us about what's ours to come, I think we'd have a rough time with our spinach down here. Michael Green, Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, Baker, 1993, p.184. What would life be like if we ate chocolate cake, and avoided the spinache? Somewhere along the way – we would have lost sight of the true meaning of life. and we wouldn’t have the nutrients we need to grow, to move and to live. I leave you with the benediction in the last part of chapter 2 of Thessalonians – Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who loves us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. Amen. Big Changes by Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter Passage: Luke 20:27-40 • Lectionary: Proper 27 Item 1 of 3 | Back to Results Exegetical Aim: As we grow in life and as we grow with God, we will always have to deal with changes. Sometimes it means letting go of the old and accepting the new. Heaven will bring about the biggest of these changes. Props: A diaper, wipes, a baby bottle (or a jar of baby food and a baby spoon), and a pacifier. Lesson: I have something this morning I think you need. Hold up the diaper. Okay, who needs his diaper changed? (response) All right, don't be shy. Who needs his diaper changed? Anyone have wet britches? (response) I even brought the wipes. What? (response) What do you mean you don't wear diapers? (response) Ignore their statements about being grown-up. Well, then, here's something you need ... a bottle. Okay, who is hungry? Who needs his bottle? (response)What? (response) But you use a bottle all the time. (response) All right, no bottle. Here's something you can use. (response) You mean you don't even use pacifiers anymore? (response)Why not ... you used to use them all the time? (response) You're grown up? (response) How old are you now? (response) Tell me what growing up has to do with no longer wearing diapers and no longer eating baby food. How come you no longer need these things? (response) Keep the pacifier in your hands as you speak with the children. Application: My, how you've grown! It's sad sometimes to let go of diapers, bottles, and pacifiers, but it means we are doing some new things. Tell me some things you can do now that you are big boys and big girls? (response) What else can you do now that you are big? (response)Let me ask you a question: Do you miss the diapers? (response) Why don't you miss them?(response) I understand. Pause. Are you sure none of you would like to wear the diaper? (no!) If there is a wise guy who takes you up on it, motion him to come over. He'll back down. Jesus said as we get older, things happen to us: we grow up, and we change. We have to make decisions to let go of some things like diapers, bottles, and pacifiers. Hold up the pacifier. He even said when we go through the biggest change of all ... when we go to heaven ... some very big changes are going to occur. We will never have to brush our teeth again. And, we will never have to take a nap, and we will never have to eat all our broccoli again. Did Jesus say that? (no)You're right, he didn't say it exactly in those words, but he did say when we get to heaven some very big changes are going to take place. (Optional: He said we won't have to get married ... I know some of you are very happy about that ... and no one will ever die again.) You will no longer have just one or two brothers and sisters; you'll have millions of brothers and sisters. We will all be one big family. We will all have one Father and we shall all be God's children. That will be the biggest change of all! Let's Pray: Father, we look forward to growing up and the changes to come, but more than all that we look forward to the biggest change to come: being in heaven with you. Amen. Children's Sermons A to Z, Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter, CSS Publishing Company, 2000, 0-7880-1780-2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------THE THESSALONIAN ERROR The Thessalonian error was misunderstanding the purpose of end-time prophecy. The purpose is not to identify the anti-Christ or to inform us of events. Others have misunderstood the purpose of second-coming prophecy. Many people have been identified as the anti-Christ. Early Christians suspected some of the Roman emperors who persecuted them. Victims of the inquisition suspected some leaders of the Catholic Church. Some of you may have heard sermons comparing Hitler, Mussolini, or Hirohito to the anti-Christ. In my lifetime, I have heard or read speculation about Henry Kissinger, Prince Charles, and, more recently, Barack Obama. Do any of you remember a booklet, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Be in 1988"? Matthew 24:36 says no one knows the day or hour. The writer ignored that by pointing to a 3 day period, the feast of trumpets, in October, 1988. He said we can’t know the day, but we can know the 3 day period. He was wrong. The most famous group for setting second coming dates may be the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Charles Russell believed Jesus would return in 1874. In 1877, he taught Jesus returned invisibly, contrary to scripture that says “every eye shall see him.” Jehovah’s Witnesses later predicted that in 1914 Armageddon would end. It had not even begun. They said 1925 was a date firmly established in scripture, that they had more reason to believe the kingdom would be established in 1925 than Noah had to believe there would be a flood. Jesus did not return in 1925. Jehovah’s Witnesses again expected Jesus to return in 1929. Before his return, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be resurrected to announce his coming. A house called Beth-Sarim was built for them to live in when they came. Judge Rutherford, then President of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, graciously offered to live in the mansion and supervise its maintenance until they arrived. They did not rise and Jesus did not return in 1929. I have heard testimonies of ex-JWs who believed the prophecies of Jesus returning in 1975. They talked about going door to door in affluent areas, picking the houses they wanted to live in when Jesus came again. Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught only 144,000 will make it to heaven. Other faithful Witnesses will be resurrected to live forever in paradise on earth. Many thought nice houses left behind by people who were not Witnesses would be free for the taking. Sometimes, men of great learning be great fools, and sometimes they suffer for it. Listen to this. "In view of the short time left, a decision to pursue a career in this system of things is not only unwise but extremely dangerous... Many young brothers and sisters were offered scholarships or employment that promised fine pay. However, they turned them down & put spiritual interests first," (Kingdom Ministry, July 1969, p 3). Some Jehovah’s Witnesses, graduating high school, turned down scholarships. Some graduating college turned down promising jobs. Why? Because their leaders told them Jesus was coming in 1975. When their leaders were proven wrong, again, those scholarships and jobs had been given to others. "Reports are heard of brothers selling their homes and property and planning to finish out the rest of their days in this old system in the pioneer service. Certainly this is a fine way to spend the short time remaining before the wicked world’s end.” (Kingdom Ministry, May 1974, p 3). Some Witnesses sold their homes and quit their jobs. They lived off the money from selling their homes while going door to door teaching a false gospel. In 1976, when their leaders were proven wrong, again, they had nothing left. Many people and groups have committed the Thessalonian error. They misunderstood the purpose of end-time prophecies. Sometimes, they suffered for it. (From a sermon by Mark Stepherson, The Purpose of Second Coming Prophecy, 5/29/2012) Unfriendly Fire It’s a fact: Sometimes the commercials are better than the programs. A few years ago, the all-sports network ESPN had a series of commercials set in a mythical University of Football. In one of them, an earnest-looking student admits to Tom Jackson, an ESPN analyst who was himself once a professional football player, that he’s probably asking a stupid question. Maybe at this point you expect Jackson to repeat the common saying “The only stupid question is the one that never gets asked.” But what Jackson actually says is “There’s no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people asking questions.” Jesus answered a good many questions during his ministry, but this one about the bride who marries seven brothers comes pretty close to being a stupid question. It is not being asked by a stupid person, however. There’s a high-stakes game being played here — nothing less than life or death — but the only life on the line belongs to Jesus. Keep in mind that the scriptures do not condemn asking God serious questions, even angry questions. Consider Job’s vocal complaints, the laments of the psalms, Habakkuk’s extended complaining and Martha taking Jesus to task after the death of her brother Lazarus. God actually seems to welcome serious questions. A living faith is a questioning faith. How else will we get answers? God’s word invites us into an honest dialog. These questions show that we take God seriously, as someone who, though greater than we can imagine, invites us into a real, not a sanitized, relationship. But a little common sense wouldn’t hurt, either. Over the triple doorways of the Catheral of Milan there are three insciptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath is the legend. “All that which pleases is but for a moment.” Over the other is sculptured a cross, and the words, “All that which troubles us is but for a moment.” But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, “That only is important which is eternal.” —Current Anecdotes