Solomon's Wisdom

August 18, 2024 13th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 Solomon’s Wisdom Year B Prelude Greeting Call to Worship (Inspired by Psalm 111) One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many: God’s works delight us, inspire us, challenge us, and uphold us. One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many. Righteousness endures forever. The covenant is everlasting. One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many: Honoring God leads to wisdom. Let us praise the Holy One forever! (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Invocation Holy God, we come together in your presence to offer worship, thanksgiving, and praise. We remember your covenant and acknowledge your abiding presence. Envelop us in your glory, strengthen us to confront the weariness of the world, challenge us to spread the good news, and empower us to be the church you have created us to be. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Song Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah UMH 127 A Sermon for all Ages Lesson Opening: This lesson discusses the meaning and importance of wisdom, and the story of King Solomon. Consider some activities involving choice or moral dilemma to introduce the topic. To get started, select from one of the following openers, or select another of your own choosing! • Following instructions: wisdom comes from following God’s instructions. Play a simple game like “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader” to practice following directions. • Ask: Have you heard of wisdom? Who do you think of as wise? • Bible Lesson:1 Kings 3:3-14; Ephesians 5:15-21 • Use whatever translation best suits you and your audience. This passage is one that could be acted out dramatically or simply read and described in turns. Most of the verses here are from the Old Testament, with a follow-up portion from Ephesians. • Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. -1 Kings 3:3 • Set the stage by reminding students of who King David was, and explaining that his son Solomon had now taken over the throne. Solomon followed God for the most part, though he sometimes made mistakes…in this story, Solomon meets God. • Ask: If someone offered to give you something, anything in the whole world, what do you think you would ask for? • Describe how wisdom comes from God. We might think we are wise, but in our own eyes that just amounts to pride. True wisdom comes when we ask God for it, and He is happy to grant that request! God wants us to want wisdom. When we pray, listen to God, and study His word of truth (the Bible), we’ll know more about making positive choices and doing things that will be a blessing to ourselves and others. • Turn attention to another passage that reminds us of the importance of wisdom. Remind students that Ephesians is an “epistle” or letter, and that Paul is writing a letter here to remind people to be wise rather than foolish, and live for God and for others, celebrating what Christ has done… Pray: Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for HIS wisdom and might. Ask for help in making decisions and doing what’s best. (Kristin Hughley) Affirmation of faith (from the Confession of 1967) In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all. The risen Christ is the Savior of all humanity. Those joined to him by faith are set right with God and commissioned to serve as his reconciling community. Christ is head of this community, the church, which begins with the apostles and continues through all generations. God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinners. The power of God’s love to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love. (Presbyterian Outlook, Barbara Chaapel) Scripture 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 Sermon Solomon’s Wisdom Song Now Thank we all our God UMH 102 Prayers of the People (Presbyterian Outlook, Barbara Chaapel) (don’t print the whole prayer) All-loving God, creator, redeemer and sustainer of our lives, you are Truth, Grace and Love. For your presence with us, we are deeply grateful. Grateful for this earth, our home. For this church, our sanctuary and our community. For each other, our neighbors and for strangers that would become neighbors. And for our calling, our vocation to go into all the world in your name to serve those in need, to companion the lone and the lost. To befriend the friendless. To try to speak and do what is just, and what is loving. We are thankful for music, for the beauty of color, for silence, for the truth of diversity and variety in the fabric of your world. We are grateful for the changing seasons of the year, for growth and for fading, for sea and sky, for the cycling of days. For those with whom we share the world, and for those we love and those who love us. We pray that there may be more places of sanctuary in the world. Safety from the horrors of war. Safety from the violence of guns. Safety from the ravages of power that excludes the poor, the hungry, the old, the sick, the differently abled. Safety for those who feel unseen, unheard, unattended by love. We pray especially this day for the safety of children, whether they are in Israel, in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Darfur, or in our own towns and cities. And for the safety of the world’s seas and lands and wildlife, that they may have places of sanctuary from destruction and extinction. We honor the Indigenous peoples who lived here and loved this land long before we were here. May we hold their sorrow and face honestly the damage our ancestors perpetrated. May we honor the beauty of their tradition and learn its wisdom. As the natural world around us comes to its season of fullness and harvest, we are grateful for food, for daily bread, for the abundance of the land, for those who farm and harvest its good fruits. May all your people and creatures feed in abundance, and taste and smell the fragrance of earth’s produce. Show us ways to share the bounty that we have. We pray today for those who have recently lost those they love. For those who approach the end of life. For those who are sick and long for healing. Comfort them, calm their fears, heal their bodies and their spirits with your loving presence. May they see the sure sign of resurrection in the tiny seed planted in the earth, now grown to abundant harvest, and may they experience the hope of new life promised by your Son. For we know, dear God, that we are never alone; that peace touches our hearts; that love holds our hands; that you are near, our living heart. And so, on this Sabbath day, prepare our way into the ministry you call us to take up. We pray this and all our prayers, in the name of the One who taught us to pray, saying together, “Our Father …”. Lord’s Prayer Response to the Word (John 6) We have heard the word of God today. It is a taste of the bread from heaven. We have experienced the joy of worship. It is a taste of the cup of salvation. We have experienced God’s provision for our life. It is a taste of eternal life. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Jamie Greening) Stewardship Moment In the letter to the Ephesians, believers are instructed how to live: “not as unwise people but as wise.” Sometimes, it takes the wisdom of a child for us to grasp how to live as faithful stewards of all we’ve been given. The story is told of a little boy in church for the first time, who watched as the ushers passed around offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy said loudly, “Don’t pay for me, Daddy, I’m only five.” Gratefully, in this place, we don’t pay on the basis of being members of a club or observers at a concert or ball game. Instead, we share from the abundance God has already provided for us. When we listen to those who are truly wise, child or adult, we’re able to recognize so many of the true gifts we’ve been given — the air we breathe, the food we eat, the love which surrounds us. Our natural response becomes one of gratitude. So this morning, in true appreciation for the gifts we’ve been given, no matter what our age may be, let’s offer our tithes and gifts to God. Prayer of Thanksgiving Remembering how Jesus invited his followers to love one another, we offer these gifts as signs of our love for our sisters and brothers. Because we have received much from your bounty, God, we ask you now to accept these gifts, to multiply them and allow us to use them so your presence will be known more fully in this congregation, in our community, and in your whole cosmos. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for those on Facebook Beloved of God, go from this place blessed with: Peace! Yes! Joy! Yes! Wisdom! Yes! And grace to share with all! Yes! Thanks be to God. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2024. Community Time Joys and concerns Benediction Filled to the brim with the goodness of God; the nourishment of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and the power of the Holy Spirit, go now in peace to serve God in all that you think, do and say. God’s peace will always be with you. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) 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

The Spirit is Moving

Trinity Sunday June 12, 2022 John 16:12-15 The Spirit Moving Repreach 6/10 Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship L: How shall we describe the concept of Trinity? P: In the first "person" we find God the creator L: In the second "person" we discover Jesus the Redeemer P: In the third "person" we greet the Holy Spirit, the Guardian and Guide. L: There are so many ways to describe the work and witness of God. P: The Trinity helps us to understand the nature of God. AMEN. (Ministry Matters – Nancy Townley) Song Holy, Holy, Holy UMH 64 Prayer for Transformation and New Life Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, we confess that we do not always heed the wisdom you impact. We turn toward other marks and means of validation rather than toward you. We remain in awe of our own creation while devouring and decimating yours. Continue to call us, we pray, and to surprise and delight us at your magnificence and majesty. May we always be at awe at your glory and humbled by your nearness. Let our character be shaped toward hope and reflect your peace. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay) Scripture John 16:12-15 Sermon The Spirit Moving Today is Trinity Sunday. Last week we acknowledged the presence of the Holy Spirit and the wonderful things that happen in its presence. Today we think about how the holy spirit fits into the big picture. God, Jesus and the holy spirit are the same presence in our lives. But I also want us to think about how the holy Spirit works in our lives- how do we recognize God’s presence in our lives? Wesak Blessing Service Once I attended a Wesak Blessing- I didn’t realize that it was a Buddhist service, but felt that I needed all of the blessings that I could get. But I was fascinated to learn that in Nepal, there is this belief that on the full moon in May that Jesus , and God and the Holy spirit and Buddha all come down from heaven and give blessings to all of the people gathered in the valley of the mountains. So when the sun goes down, people gather to pray for the earth and to ask for special blessings. In this tradition it is thought that Jesus and Buddha are spiritual brothers both come to heaven to teach wisdom to the people. That can be pretty far fetched and hard to believe, certainly not a part of Christian tradition. Wisdom comes to us in all kinds of forms But then again, not a far cry from the Easter story of Jesus appearing to his disciples after the resurrection, not a far cry from Jesus ascending to heaven, and yet coming to us in mysterious ways to help us in life, and to teach us new lessons. God comes to us in many forms to talk to us, to guide us, to help us to grow in our faith. The point is, are we always alert enough to look for God in the details of our lives. Faith comes to us in times of pain There is the story of an atheist, who was spending a quiet afternoon fishing on the Loch Ness river. Suddenly the man’s boat is attacked by the loch ness monster. The monster comes at him in the water, and tosses the boat high in the water. And then it opens its mouth ready to swallow the man whole. He cries out to God – Oh God save me. All of a sudden the whole scene just freezes. Man in the air, waves in mid air too, every thing just stops, and a loud voice booms – wait a minute – I thought that you didn’t believe in me, why should I save you. The man replies – O come on god give me a break – two minutes ago I didn’t believe in the Loch ness Monster either. But isn’t that the reality for any of us. We have our faith with us always. We believe in God always, but we don’t use our faith, and we don’t think about what our faith really means until we approach adversity. Suffering is the hardest time for any of us to deal with. It is in the midst of our pain that we start to think about who God is, and how God works in our lives. We start to ask the tough questions of God, such as why is this happening to me? What does any of this mean? And how will I get through it? For those who don’t believe, there are no answers to those questions, but for those of us who do – the spirit of God comes to us in unexpected ways to bring us hope and clarity for what is ahead. The life of a Christian means that we will all be tested with some type of pain, we will all have questions, we will all have suffering and pain. But we have to remember that our suffering is never in vain, and that we are never alone. Jesus final words to us on earth were that we would have a partner. We would have a teacher, we would have the spirit of truth with us that will reveal the words of God in the midst of all circumstance for us. In the aftermath of Pentecost – we linger one more Sunday on the words of the gospel of John. Jesus knew that the disciples were going to enter into some challenging times. Jesus had not even gone to the cross yet. Jesus knew the pain they would suffer, and yet he knew that there were no words to help them understand the pain and persecution they were about the encounter. Even if he told them, his words would not have helped. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you in all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me. For those who don’t believe, suffering is just another part of life, it is another thing to get through, there is no hope for things to get better. But for the easter people, those who have seen the resurrection, seen the ascencion and hang on to the promises of christ’s return – suffering is our teachable moment – to listen, to learn to trust, to hope. We have the spirit of truth, which takes the wisdom of heaven and pours it out on us. The spirit doesn’t help us understand, it helps us look beyond our present moment. It doesn’t take away the pain, it helps us trust that the pain will go away. It doesn’t stop our suffering, it reminds us that our suffering is not in vain, and it is never ours alone to bear. We have God and we have one another. Finding God in our Faith We look for the God in the story in whatever form God appears, and not the loch ness monster. The question game I want to end on a light note – with a much lighter story. A young woman is taking a airplane to new York. It is a late night flight and she is anxious to get some sleep. But it turns out that a boisterous man sits next to her, full of energy and ready to talk. He wants to play a game with her. The game of questions. If I ask you a question and you don’t know the answer then you pay me. If I don’t know the answer you pay me. She is tired and declines. The man not ready to give up, makes it more interesting. If I ask you a question and you don’t know, you owe me $5, if I don’t know I have to give you $500. Now that gets her attention. He goes first – what is the distance from the earth to the moon. Now since they are on an airplane, and she is tired, she doenst even want to think – she just gives him the $5. And hopes to turn over and go to sleep. But know – the man reminds her that she has to ask him a question too. So she asks, what goes up the hill on three legs and comes down on four. The man thinks about it for a while – he has $500 laying on the line, so he asks for some time to get the answer. A man of means he can use the phone on the plane, he even has internet access. He spends an hour looking for the answer – and finally gives her $500. And she turns over to go to sleep. But wait a minute – tell me what the answer is – she reaches in her purse and gives him $5. And goes to sleep. True wisdom The moral of the story for us – we come into this world thinking that everything is suppose to make sense, we are suppose to understand everything about life, that as long as we have all of the answers, life will be okay. The concept of the trinity is hard to explain – how can God be three different persons at the same time? How can God be the father and the son and some other random person at the same time. The presence of god is a mystery that will always be hard to explain. And yet god comes to us in many ways in our lives. There are things in our lives that we will never understand, will not make sense if we have the answers, and even times when the pain just wont go away. But if our faith is in Christ – we learn to go on, to have hope anyway. True wisdom about life if never about what we know – it is about the God we trust. So, how is the holy spirit flowing in your life? What things are flowing and bringing you joy and fulfillment. But more importantly how do you let the holy spirit flow through you? What love, wisdom, truth are you passing on to others. Pentecost is about recognizing the Holy Spirit, Trinity Sunday is about recognizing the spirit at work in your life. Song How Great Thou Art UMH 77 Prayer of the Day Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America – Worship Resoures) Lord’s Prayer Children’s Sermon How many of you have heard the word, “Trinity?” Do any of you know what that word means? Trinity means three-in-one. We have called the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, a “Holy Trinity.” Have you heard that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are One? It’s hard for us to understand how three different beings are still the same God. I brought some things to help you understand this. Do any of you know what a Smore is? A smore is a wonderful treat made of three different things. This graham cracker is one part of a s’more. Just like the “Father” is one part of what we call the “Holy Trinity.” It says in 2 Corinthians 6:18, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” This verse is really clear that God is our Father. Another part of a smore is this chocolate. “The Son,” is another part of what we call “The Holy Trinity.” Who is the Son? That’s right…Jesus. Now, how can Jesus also be God at the same time? It says in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God.” Then in verse 14, it says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” So, if the Word was God, and the Word became flesh and lived on earth with us, we know that it was Jesus. It also says in Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God.” And again the Bible says in John 10:30, “I and the Father are One.” Jesus is God in a human form. The third part of a smore, is a toasted marshmallow. The last part of the “Holy Trinity” is the Holy Spirit God sent the Holy Spirit to us after Jesus went back to Heaven, so we could keep Jesus with us. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God within all believers. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and guide. He teaches us truth, and guides us when we stray away from God. It says in 1 John 5:7, “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One.” When we put these three things together, [show the s’more ingredients] we get a trinity of wonderful flavors to satisfy our taste buds. When we put all of these things together, [show the Trinity], we get the most satisfying treat of all. We get the “Holy Trinity,” and that will satisfy ALL your needs and desires. Dear Lord, thank you for being everything we could ever need or want. Thank you for being all things, even when we don’t understand everything. Amen. (Sermons4Kids) Stewardship Moment Paul’s writing to the church at Rome includes this line: “since we are justified by faith”. Theologians spend much time with this word “justify”. Today, I want to help us understand this word by referring to old newspaper typesetting and today’s Word formatting. Here is a justified paragraph, in form and in description: To justify is to make right and equal. When a line of type is “justified”, in goes from the beginning of the line to the end, by adjusting the sizes of letters and spaces. Looking at a paragraph of justified type, it’s straight on both sides. When we are justified, our lives are “squared up”. We’re made right. When we’re justified, by God’s grace, we’re given all we have AND are inspired to share what we have. What would it take for the gifts you’ve been given (of time, talent and treasure) be “justified” by the gifts you give? Today, in gratitude for all God continues to pour IN, let us celebrate our ability to pour out as we share our morning gifts, tithes and offerings. Prayer of Thanksgiving Generous and gracious God, Thank you for the ways you justify each of us, and all of us. Thank you for “squaring us up” and making us right. And thank you for receiving the gifts we’ve brought today. Please help us use each gift to its full measure, so the financial support, the talents shared, and the time contributed allow each of the ministries of this congregation to fulfill your desire for us and for your world. AMEN (Disciples of Christ – Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Go with the creativity of the One who made you. Go with the compassion of the One who claims you. Go with the courage of the One who stirs you to action. Go in peace. Amen. (Whitney Wilkerson Arreche – Presbyterian Outlook ) Community Time Benediction Go in peace, dear ones! Go with the knowledge that God, the Father [Parent], Jesus, God's Son, and the Holy Spirit are with you! Bring peace to all you meet. AMEN. (Nancy C. Townley – United Methodist Ministry Matters) Our Harbor Master When a large ship enters a harbor, it takes on board what is called a harbor master. This is a man who knows that harbor; he knows the length of it, he knows the depth of it. He knows where the hazards are. He knows where the tides and currents are; what direction they flow in and how strong they are. When that harbor master comes on board, he takes control of that ship, and he gives order to the captain who steers the ship. He is an outside expert who is brought in to make sure that ship docks safely. As we sail through the sea of life, we have been given a harbor master. He is the Holy Spirit. He knows the currents, the tides, the hazards, and the flow. If you will let Him guide the ship of your life, He will guide you safely through the hazards of earth, right into the harbor of heaven. Because He is the only guide you need. James Merritt, Collected Sermons, Sermons.com ___________________________________ Eternity and Trinity Clarence Macartney tells of a certain Canadian river which flows through a forbidding chasm. Looming on either side of the river are rugged, uninviting crags which bear the names "Eternity" and "Trinity." Macartney suggests that the opposing crags invite an analogy (you understand of course, that to a preacher, most everything invites analogy). "Inseparable from any true conception of God," he says, "are always the two doctrines of God's eternity and God's trinity ... The threefold experience of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit." The great preacher then goes on to conclude that both doctrines lie helplessly beyond human comprehension. Larry Powell, Blow the Silver Trumpets, CSS Publishing Company Oh, Now I Understand C. S. Lewis once said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven would be, "OH." As in, "Oh, now I understand." Or, "Oh, now I see what God's plan was." Or, "Oh, now I see the reason for the trial I went through." We do not have that luxury in this world. We walk by faith, not by knowledge. But one day it will be revealed to us. We will be in the presence of the Father and the Son and the Spirit. How can we be in the presence of all three at the same time? It beats me, but as St. Paul says in another place, "I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me." (II Timothy 1: 12) King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com Understanding the Trinity John Wesley once said, "Show me a worm that can comprehend a human being, and then I will show you a human being that can comprehend the Triune God." Luther's comment was even more to the point. "To try to comprehend the Trinity endangers your sanity." I tend to agree with Justo Gonzalez who once said, "Trinity is a mystery, not a puzzle. You try to solve the puzzle, you stand in awe before a mystery." Mickey Anders, The Trinity The Greatest Truth There is an old story about the theologian, Karl Barth [pronounced "Bart" with a soft "t"], who was on a speaking tour of the United States. On college campuses all across this country, he was drawing huge crowds to hear his very complex answers to the questions of life. When he was speaking at Princeton University, the great hall was packed with faculty, students, and visitors who came to hear Karl Barth speak. During the question and answer period, one student asked, “Dr. Barth, may I ask you a personal question?” Dr. Barth smiled and said, “Yes, you may ask anything.” The student then asked, “Dr. Barth, you are a very educated man. What is the greatest truth you have ever learned?” Dr. Barth bowed his head, thinking for a moment about how he would respond. Then, he raised his head and looked out at the student who asked the question and he said, “The greatest truth I ever learned was at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’ ” The secret of effective living is to discover the truth about Jesus Christ. When we focus on him, we have discovered that truth is a caring love, truth is the Word becoming flesh. Truth is experiencing his life-giving power. Truth is discovering his love with arms outstretched to embrace us. When we grasp this truth, we have discovered the secret to effective living. The Same Sermon There is a story about a newly appointed preacher who preached a very fine sermon on his first Sunday in the church. The text was Matthew 26.24. No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other. You cannot serve God and Money. Everyone loved it. The next Sunday she preached the very same sermon. The people were perplexed but since it was a fine sermon no one spoke to him of the duplication. The next week he preached the sermon again. After the service the Chairpersons of the Personnel and Worship ministry teams came to the pastor and asked him why he was preaching the same sermon over and over again. The pastor said, “When we start doing what Jesus has invited us to do, I'll move on to something new!” Jef Olson, Worship Is Celebration Trust His Heart In her song titled "Trust His Heart," singer-songwriter Babbie Mason puts it this way: "God is too wise to be mistaken; God is too good to be unkind. So when you don't understand, when you don't see His plan, when you can't trace His hand, trust His heart." And that's great advice. What do you know about God? If you know that Jesus loves you and died for you, that's all you really need to know. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com ______________________ The Trinity What we have in the Trinity, after all, is not a description of God's "IS"ness, so much as shorthand for the unfolding story of God's love. God knows that we cannot comprehend or even live to see the fullness of being that is God. Instead God acts within our history and within our experience. God's story goes beyond metaphor to a God who acts with us and for us in Jesus. It is a story of Jesus love and obedience to the one he called "Abba" using the Aramaic word for "Father" not to reinforce a male stereotype, but instead to use the intimate language of a loving child for his daddy. Jesus promises, as in our lesson for today, that he and his Abba will send forth the Spirit of truth, to guide us and teach us along the way. It is this story of Jesus, his Abba, and their Spirit that form the foundation of the Trinity that we worship today. Understood outside of the context of this loving God breaking into our existence we would have no Trinity at all. To paraphrase, God is as God does. Outside of this, talk of a Trinity is nonsense. But in the context of God's loving action in the world, the Trinity describes a God with characteristics that go far beyond our knowledge and sight: a God who gives his life for his creation; a God who uses love, not force, to change that creation from within; a God whose Spirit moved through that creation from before the dawn of time, and moves through that creation now; a God that is not observing us from a distance, but is present and active in all of life; a God that does not exist only in the powerful and the beautiful things of this world, but also in the weak, the outcast, the ugly and the failed things. The Trinity is the story of an unexpected God, in relationship with us in unexpected places and unexpected ways. Luke Bouman, Difficult Things Observable Love During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia in the days of Mussolini, Christian believers suffered considerable persecution. In his book, Fire on the Mountains, Raymond Davis tells of the love demonstrated by believers for each other during this period of affliction, which in turn made a major impression on unbelievers. For example, no provision was made to feed the prisoners in jail by the invading army. This was the responsibility of relatives and friends. Christians in the prisons had no problem, though. They were well cared for by friends and family. In fact, so much food was brought them by fellow believers and church groups that enough remained to feed the unbelieving prisoners also. This observable love, vibrant though nonverbal, brought many to seek the Lord. Such love was previously unheard of. As a result, the word spread far and wide. Non-believers sought out believers to learn more about the Christian faith. When prisoners who had come to know Christ while in jail were released, they went back home and attended the nearest church. Leslie B. Flynn, You Don’t Have to Go It Alone, Denver, Colorado: Accent Books.

Why Can't we All Just Get Along?

September 19, 2021 James 3:13-4:3,7-8 17th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 20 Year B Why can’t we all just get along? Opening Song Welcome Opening Prayer Are you longing for more wisdom in your life? Do you face conflicts that need answers, tough situations that require special insight? Do you need more peace in your life? Do you long to bear good fruit in your life? Draw near to God, the giver of wisdom, and God will draw near to you. Stewardship Moment Are you wise and understanding? That is the question of the day. If we consider ourselves to be wise, then we should show it in our lives. Our lives are not focused on what we want, but on what God wants. Invitation to the Offering (Proverbs 31:20, Mark 9, James 3) The writer of Proverbs teaches that God’s Wisdom is present and active in our lives in this way: “She opens her hand to the poor, / and reaches out her hands to the needy.” Jesus lived this wisdom in his life, and called his disciples to this same generosity. Let us give out of this same generous wisdom—a wisdom that seeks a presence and purpose in our lives on behalf of all. Offering Prayer (James 3) You are the generous one, full of mercy and goodness for your creation. Send your wisdom with these gifts, that they may reach those who need your love and welcome. Bring about a harvest of goodness through these gifts sown in peace. Amen. Scripture We have been thinking about wisdom for this entire season. It is rare that all of our lectionary readings fit the same theme. But today Proverbs, James, Mark and even psalm 1 all have the same theme – Wisdom and Christian living go hand and hand. Wisdom is not our decisions in life, it is what goes behind our decisions. Wisdom comes only from God, and learning God’s ways is the only way to get it. James 3:13-4:3 Common English Bible Wisdom from above 13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. 14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts. Conflict with people and God 4 What is the source of conflict among you? What is the source of your disputes? Don’t they come from your cravings that are at war in your own lives? 2 You long for something you don’t have, so you commit murder. You are jealous for something you can’t get, so you struggle and fight. You don’t have because you don’t ask. 3 You ask and don’t have because you ask with evil intentions, to waste it on your own cravings. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Sermon – Why can’t we all just get along? September would be my favorite month, even if it was not my birthday month. I think that there is something sacred about September. September is the end of summer, and the beginning of fall at the same time. As I was walking around yesterday, I could feel the change in the air. It is getting colder, windier, the humidity is not as stifling, and you can look at the trees and see subtle signs of change. I learned that one of my favorite music artist Michael Franks wrote a song “I wish I could convince September to stay.” I think a lot of us feel that way. I didn’t realize until yesterday that there are over 60 songs with September in the title. Everyone gets a little nostaligic and prepared for change in September. There is one rule that I have in my life about September – no mention of pumpkin spice until October 1st. There is another ritual of September, I think it usually starts in late August, but it is on full swing in September – that is football games. Like many I sat in the stands on Friday watching the game between Wilmington and Peotone. During the varsity game the score was 0 to 0 until the second half, until Wilmington pulled ahead and one 10 – 0. Part of the fun of the football game is watching the score – and we continue to root for our team until the very end. Usually when the team is not doing well – we start to hope for a miracle. We hope that one of the team members will perform a hail Mary move – that one move that will overcome all of the bad plays in the game and win at the last second. That is okay for football games, but the problem is that is how a lot of us play our faith life as well. We go to church, we assume that we are good people and that God is on our side. Whatever we do is justified. We don’t need to pray on a regular basis – then something goes wrong, and we have nothing else but to pray a hail mary prayer. God I am at the end of my rope. I need a miracle, come and save me. And when God does not answer that prayer – we are angry, bitter, and hopeless. We asks ourselves that if I go to church every Sunday, why is it that God does not hear my prayer? I have prayed my fair share of hail mary prayers. And I still ask why God does not answer my prayers. We all ask that question – why does God not answer my prayers. This scripture in James is for us – it answers that question. Unlike Paul who was writing to fall semester freshmen churches, James was writing to Christians who were no longer freshmen in the faith. His letter was a general or "catholic" epistle for us all. Eugene Peterson has written a book for us that James would enjoy. It is called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. The book speaks honestly about the Christian journey. Millions of people all over the world begin it. But as soon as discipleship gets arduous or prayers are not answered the way we wish for them to be, people start to drop out. The attrition rate is dreadful. Few of us have enthusiasm for what Peterson calls "the patient acquisition of Christian virtue."4 The Christian journey, which starts like a sprint, winds up as a lonely, silent marathon. What starts out so beautifully is never finished. So it is with wisdom. We can start beautifully but often it's the middle of the race that breaks us. We transfer from heavenly wisdom to earthly wisdom. We often die with our greatest wisdom, that which comes from above, still within us, unused, unspent, unrecognized. Yet the world looks at us and calls us "wise in the ways of the world," "a great preacher," "a shrewd businesswoman," or "a beloved philanthropist." James wants us to avoid such endings. He wants us to be declared the winner in the Battle of the Wisdoms, by the only judge whose decision ultimately matters. James is written for us who have been at this church thing for quite awhile. We still have things to learn about God and more importantly about ourselves. We still might be doing it all wrong. t. It reminds me of a certain born-again believer who was suffering from constant headaches. He visited his doctor. "Doctor, I don''t know why I keep on getting these awful headaches," he said. "I don''t drink like so many others do. I don''t smoke like so many others do. I don''t run around at night like so many others do. I don''t overeat like so many others do. I don''t . . . " The doctor interrupted at this point. "Tell me," he said, "this pain in the head you complain of, is it a sharp, shooting kind of pain?" "Yes," the patient replied, "that describes it perfectly. A sharp, shooting kind of pain!" The doctor then made his diagnosis: "Simple," he said, "your problem is that you have your halo on too tight. All you need to do is loosen it a bit." There is a difference between knowing about God and being a Christian. There is a difference between going to church and having an encounter with God. There is a difference between praying for results and having a relationship with God. I heard recently of a very wealthy, knowledgeable businessman whose hobby was hunting for pheasant and quail. One day before leaving for the countryside, he remembered that this was his wife''s birthday. In a flash of uncharacteristic guilt, he breezed by an expensive pet shop and purchased a parrot which could speak eleven languages. The cost was enormous--$300 for each language. The shop delivered the sophisticated bird to his wife while he continued his hunting expedition. The wife, accustomed to her special day being forgotten, saw nothing unusual about this bird brought by the UPS. So she promptly wrung its neck, dressed it and shoved it into the oven. That night the husband arrived late, dirty and tired. The first thing he asked was, "Did the bird arrive by UPS?" She replied, "Yes, she''s in the oven and almost done." "In the oven," he shouted in a state of shock. "Good heavens, woman! That bird could speak eleven languages!" The wife indignantly replied, "Well, why didn''t it say something?" The man had knowledge--but little wisdom. If he had spoken the words, "I love you," and stayed at home where he belonged on her birthday--he would have been happier and $3300 richer. His knowledge did not help him act as a wise man. Knowledge and wisdom is what James is all about. Our scripture for today says that there are two kinds of wisdom. James is talking to Christians who have been in the church for quite a while. He is pointing out that at that point we know enough to be teachers for other people. James points out that there are 2 kinds of teachers – those who know it all, and those who are willing to tell others what they know, at the same time that they are still learning for themselves. James is a continuation of the wisdom conversation that we had last week in the book of proverbs. We know that the two wisdoms that James is talking about is the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. Wisdom is an important part of our faith. Two types of wisdom, two types of teachers – which one are you? One type of wisdom is We may find in this passage four characteristics of the wrong kind of teaching. (i) It is fanatical. The truth it holds is held with unbalanced violence rather than with reasoned conviction. (ii) It is bitter. It regards its opponents as enemies to be annihilated rather than as friends to be persuaded. (iii) It is selfishly ambitious. It is, in the end, more eager to display itself than to display the truth, and it is interested more in the victory of its own opinions than in the victory of the truth. (iv) It is arrogant. Its attitude is pride in its knowledge rather than humility in its ignorance. The real scholar will be far more aware of what he does not kno The other type – is pure, peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair and genuine. Which one is God’s wisdom. James points out another truth about who we are as Christians – in our lives we all use a little bit of both types of wisdom in our lives. James calls that being double minded. He encourages us to work on getting closer to God. Someone asked the great evangelist George Whitfield what he would do if he were sure that Christ would come again within three days. He reached into his pocket, took out his date book, his schedule book, and opened it up. He said, "I would do that which I have scheduled to do." He said that because he''d sought God''s will for every decision, every activity in the days that lay ahead, and he felt he had the backing of God there. We should rely less on hail mary prayers and more on our daily spiritual practices. The point James is making here is that when we are not right with God -- when our friendship with Him is blurred because of our friendship with the world--we either don't ask Him for what we need, or we ask Him for good things but with a wrong purpose and motive. We pray for good things with the intention of using them for our own gain and selfish pleasure. here is an old saying that the best things in life are free. Well, I have also learned that the sweetest things in life are simple. A good indication that we are using the wrong kind of wisdom – When we feel that prayers don’t make a difference, when we feel that God does not care, we are using the wrong wisdom. When we are skeptical that nothing will ever change – we are using the wrong wisdom. Just like the leaves of late summer, God changes every day – we just have to pay attention. When we are at odds with other people and think they are the problem – we may be using the wrong wisdom. The key to our suffering is our own thoughts. When we are convinced that God is not answering our prayers – and no is sometimes an answer. James says that we may be making a selfish request. We may be asking God to be on our team instead of realizing that we are on God’s team – along with everyone else. A popular prayer of Christians… I am like James and John, Lord. Lord, I size up other people in terms of what they can do for ME, how they can further MY program, feed MY ego, satisfy MY needs, give ME strategic advantage. I exploit people, ostensibly for your sake, but really for MY own sake. Lord, I turn to YOU to get the inside track and obtain special favors, YOUR direction for my schemes, YOUR power for my projects, YOUR sanction for my ambitions, YOUR blank check for whatever I want. I am like James and John. Change me, Lord. Make me a man who asks of you and of others, What can I do for you? (1) Our reading skips around in chapter 3 an 4 of James. It left our much of the harsh words of James. Next week is chapter 5 if you want to read it. We wont look at it in church. The whole message of James is that faith without works is dead, knowledge without wisdom is useless, prayer is not what you say, it is what you do and how you live. James is not preparing us to walk into the church, but to walk out of the church and into the world as Christians. I think that the ending of our scripture today is key. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will run away from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. God is always there, we just have to realize that. An older couple was driving down the road on Sunday afternoon. She was leaning against the door on her side -- some would say polishing the chrome -- and he was driving. They were eager to get where they were going, but were slowed down dramatically by a young couple, who were cuddling in the car before them -- the young woman was almost sitting in his lap, rubbing his face, and now and then kissing him on the cheek, and ever now and then -- though it was dangerous -- he would turn around and kiss her. They were in no hurry at all -- that is, in no hurry as far as moving the car along. Finding it impossible to pass, the older couple finally began to strike up a conversation. The woman looked across at her husband, then looked ahead to the young couple, and she asked her husband, "why don't we sit together like that anymore?" Quick as a flash he responded, "I haven't moved". Only when a man realizes his own ignorance will he ask God’s guidance. Only when a man realizes his own poverty in the things that matter will he pray for the riches of God’s grace. Only when a man realizes his weakness in necessary things will he come to draw upon God’s strength. Only when a man realizes his own sin will he realize his need of a Saviour and of God’s forgiveness. In life there is one sin which can be said to be the basis of all others; and that is forgetting that we are creatures and that God is creator. When a man realizes his essential creatureliness, he realizes his essential helplessness and goes to the source from which that helplessness can alone be supplied. Looking for God? Draw near to God and God will Draw near to you. Let us pray……… Prayer God, how amazed we are at the solutions Jesus offers to his disciples when they question their importance to him and his kingdom. They want to know if they will receive the great rewards, if they will be recognized and praised for their accomplishments or at least their efforts. We are still so much like those early disciples. We want you to know how hard we work. We want to be praised and recognized for our efforts and successes. And we want you to pass over our failures as though they were inconsequential. When Jesus was confronted with their fears and concerns, he responded that they should be ready for service rather than adulation, And then he placed a small child in their midst; a child with no guile, no pretense. “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me.” Help us to reach out to others, not with thought of importance or gain, but in love and compassion; truly caring for each one we meet. When we have done this, we will have truly give our hearts and our service to our Lord. AMEN. Song I surrender all - UMH 354 Announcements Debbie is the liturgist, she is also our lay representative to annual conference – give a brief report on what happened July. Closing Prayer for Facebook We are planted by the streams of God’s wisdom. We meditate on the desires of God, taking delight in the laws of God. Sink your roots deep into the soil, and draw on God’s wisdom. For God will nourish us every day with insight. Go forth, knowing that God watches over you. Community Time Benediction Go in confidence and peace, joyfully serving the Lord who walks with you. Bring hope to the hopeless, joy to those who sorrow, peace to the afflicted. Be true witnesses to the love of God through Jesus Christ. AMEN. Children’s Sermon Object: Bricks and raisins. Good morning, boys and girls. Isn't this beautiful weather we are having at this time of the year? How many of you like fall? (Let them answer.) What do you like most about this time of year? (Let them answer.) I think I like the warm days and the cool nights and the changing colors in the trees. Even though it is the same thing every year I never grow tired of the beautiful fall days. Lots of things don't change. I brought along with me some things that I found to help me tell you something that I learned from the Bible. The first thing I have with me is a brick. How many of you know what a brick is used for? (Let them answer.) That's right, it is used to build houses. When you build a house with bricks, do you have a wood house? (Let them answer.) Of course not. You build a house of bricks, and you have a brick house. Bricks don't change to wood shingles or boards. A house built with brick is a brick house. I also brought some raisins. I like raisin bread. If the baker uses raisins in his dough and bakes it, then what kind of bread will the baker have when it is finished? (Let them answer.) Right, raisin bread. He won't have rye bread or whole wheat bread or just plain white bread when he finishes; he will have raisin bread. That means that whatever he puts into the bread is thekind of bread that he will have when it is baked. The Bible tells us that the goodness of our lives and the world we live in is a little bit like the brick layer making a house and the baker making bread. Your life will be just as good as the good things you put in it, or just as bad as the bad things that you put in it. Our world will be as good or as bad as the people are that live in it. If you want peace in the world, then you must have peace in your heart. If you want happy and joyful people in the world, then you must be happy and joyful. If you want people who are filled with love and like to share, then you must have love and be ready to share the things that are yours. Our world is made up of people like you and me, and the kind of world we get is the same as what we put into it. You can't have raisin bread unless you put the raisins in the dough. You can't have a brick house unless you make it with bricks. You can have a good life if you are good. God made his world this way, and it is the best kind of world that I can think of. You make our world a better world by loving, sharing, forgiving and being joyful. You will also help other people in the world be good and joyful, too. Amen. C.S.S. Publishing Company, ON THE MOVE WITH JESUS, by Wesley T. Runk Additional Illustrations I recently read of an old Arabian ruler who had three rather ungrateful but brilliant sons. As the old man lay dying, he called the sons into his bedroom to discuss their inheritance. "You will inherit my herd of camels," he said. The oldest son was to receive half (-) of the herd, the middle son one third (1/3), and the youngest son, one ninth (1/9). When the old man died, the sons met and divided up the herd. But, alas, there were 17 camels. There was no way to divide up a herd of 17 camels one half, one third and one ninth. The sons began quarreling with one another. The quarreling got worse. Gradually it infected the entire household, then the town, and then the Sheik''s entire region. It was like a church that had lost its focus and perspective. They were ready to hire Johnny Cochran and Al Shapiro to settle the argument. Finally, one day an older and wiser woman walked into town holding a rope attached to a single camel. "Here," she said quietly, "if it will stop the quarreling, I will give you my camel. I will now divide your inheritance for you." You should have seen her in action. Well, of course, the problem was solved. The oldest son received nine camels; the middle son, six camels; the youngest 2 camels. Everyone seemed pleased and content. Then they thought: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17. With just the hint of a smile on her face, the wise old woman picked up the rope from her camel and headed for home. She had wisdom that stopped a war --and was winsome. This is the trademark of truth. When our actions and words agree the message is always loud and clear. James would agree. This is why we must tame the tongue. After a period of question and answer exchange between the Dean and the student, the parent finally asked a question. "What is the largest major in this university?" With perfect candor, the Dean replied, "In the fall we have the highest number of majors -- engineering. In the spring, business undecided has the highest number of majors." He explained that new, eager, and bright students enter the School of Engineering in the fall with commitment, excitement, and promise. Their initial academic work goes well. Then, in the spring term, they are required to take a certain physics course. It is a back-breaker. Only the strong survive. Attrition begins to occur as more and more start to transfer away from engineering. The rubber hits the road, so to speak, and by the end of that term, when freshmen are no longer freshmen, the engineering major is no longer the largest on campus. There was a little boy on an airplane and he was talking to his mommy, and he said, "Mommy, do you see that light blinking on the end of that wing?" She said, "Yes." He said, "Do you see the other light blinking on the other side of that wing?" She said, "Yes." He said, "Did you know that as long as that pilot stays between those two lights, he will always be headed in the right direction?"

Wisdom Speaks

September 12, 2021 Proverbs 1:20-33 Wisdom Speaks 16th Sunday After Pentecost Year B Opening Song Welcome This is a day of celebrations – literally this whole service will be a time of celebration. Communion Sunday – those on facebook are welcome to join us – may want to have something to eat and something to drink on hand at that time. New member Sunday a week early Biggest celebration – church 30 minutes later – back to regular time 9:30 pm. Since the delta variant of COVID is spreading there is a mask mandate – governor asked to wear masks inside. Health team are honoring that mandate – ask to wear mask, social distance, do as little congregational participation as possible. Safe space for all of us, especially those who are not vaccinated. Opening Prayer Loving and caring God, we come this morning seeking wisdom and guidance for our lives. Open us to your words of life and love and truth. May we proclaim with our tongues what we know in our hearts. In this time of worship, help us more fully understand what it means to truly be a disciple, a follower of the way of Jesus, a follower of the path of wisdom. May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to you, our rock and our redeemer. Amen. Stewardship Moment Today is September 12th – yesterday was the 20th anniversary of September 11th incident in new York. Yesterday many commemorations of what that still means for our world. We will always remember. It is important for to remember that on September 12th – we pulled together in unity as Americans – happened to all of us. We also were reminded of what it means to be people of faith. People who look to God for our strength and guidance. 20 years later, let us hold onto the faith. Let us be the people of God who seek God’s wisdom. Who are working to build God’s kingdom. A part of being a faithful person,is giving our offering to the ministry of the church. Offering is at the back . need an offering plate. Invitation to the Offering (Proverbs 1, Mark 8) We are called to listen to the words of wisdom and to re-spond with our whole lives. Let us give thanks to God with all that we are and all that we have — in word, thought, and action. Offering Prayer God, we hear and we respond to your words of wisdom, your words of call and life. May these gifts, not only of our money, but of our very selves— our words, our thoughts, our actions— be acceptable to you, and help spread your words of life and love. Amen. Welcoming of New Members (Baptismal Covenant I – page 33) Scripture Proverbs 1:20-33 Common English Bible Listen to “Woman Wisdom” 20 Wisdom shouts in the street; in the public square she raises her voice. 21 Above the noisy crowd, she calls out. At the entrances of the city gates, she has her say: 22 “How long will you clueless people love your naïveté, mockers hold their mocking dear, and fools hate knowledge? 23 You should respond when I correct you. Look, I’ll pour out my spirit on you. I’ll reveal my words to you. 24 I invited you, but you rejected me; I stretched out my hand to you, but you paid no attention. 25 You ignored all my advice, and you didn’t want me to correct you. 26 So I’ll laugh at your disaster; I’ll make fun of you when dread comes over you, 27 when terror hits you like a hurricane, and your disaster comes in like a tornado, when distress and oppression overcome you. 28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer; they will seek me, but won’t find me 29 because they hated knowledge and didn’t choose the fear of the LORD. 30 They didn’t want my advice; they rejected all my corrections. 31 They will eat from the fruit of their way, and they’ll be full of their own schemes. 32 The immature will die because they turn away; smugness will destroy fools. 33 Those who obey me will dwell securely, untroubled by the dread of harm. Sermon Wisdom Speaks Have you ever thought about what God looks like? If you were to see God walking down the street, would you be able to know who you were looking at? I was in Kankakee yesterday and I noticed this man with a distinctive long white beard – but it wasn’t God, not really. Really there is a little spark of God in each of us. God is in everyone of us, God is in every thing , God is in every moment, God is in every situation. God is a spirit, an inspiration. Jesus Christ is the spirit of God that came to earth to give us wisdom. The gospel of John says that Jesus is the logos – the word of God and has been with God since the beginning of creation. John’s creation story also says that wisdom was alongside of God in the creation of all things, even the word of God. The Greek word for wisdom is Sophia. The Hebrew word is chakem. When you think of wisdom, what does wisdom look like? For me, wisdom personified is my grandmother. My grandmother had a word of advice for everything, and she had no problem giving advice morning noon and night. I remember on day in the 8th grade – I don’t even remember what my grandmother was talking about. But I do remember bursting out – Grandma please just shut up. What ever it is, just let me make a mistake, if I am wrong let me figure it out for myself. Well today I am hear to testify that it was only because of my grandmothers infinite that I am alive and well to even tell you that story. She chose to bite her tongue rather than respond. Now If I had been bold enough to tell my mother to shut up, history would have been much different. A grandmother giving her wise advice is also the biblical image of the bible. The book of proverbs is one of the five books of wisdom in the old testament along with Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. The book of James is considered the new testament book of wisdom. The book of proverbs is a book of advice that a mother is giving her son – who will one day be king. The son is a young adult – just starting to experience life for himself. She wants him to know how important it is to make wise decisions – about friends, activities, even choosing a wife. She tells him that wisdom is the birthright of the people of God. There are 2 types of people in the world – the wise and the silly. There are 2 women out in the streets of life trying to get out attention. There is lady wisdom – Sophia and there is the woman of foolishness. How do we know which one we are listening to in life? Very good question. Sophia has been at the side of God since before creation. Not only does God place a high value on wisdom, God goes out of the way to speak to us – through Jesus Christ, the bible, church, through living right, through prayer. And most people are like me in the 8th grade – telling God to shut up and let us figure it our for ourselves. Yet God is determined to speak every day, all of the time if we are just willing to listen. Our scripture says that Sophia is so determined to speak that she goes out in the middle of the crossroad and shouts at the top of her lungs. Telling us to listen for the voice of God. when we stop to listen, we start to recognize the voice of God. Sophia says that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. A man says that he used to play a game with his kids, where he would be a monster. The game would start out as fun. But as he roared with his deep voice and started to make faces at the kids, they would become afraid. The daddy that the loved and adored would become something that might hurt them. They would always start crying before the game ended. One of the first hebrew words in the bible for fear or the lord is indeed paschad. Paschad means terror. When we are sinners and not honoring the willof God – we indeed should be terrified of his wrath. Isaiah 2:10 says go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty. Fear of the Lord is not a bad feeling – it is awe, wonder, reverence, obedience, and a right relationship with God, Jesus and those around us. when we learn to hear God – God will give us wisdom. We don’t have to search for wisdom, we just have to be careful not to run away. Wisdom comes to find us out in the crossroads of life and tells us the way. Many of us forget that every decision that we make has a consequence. That is why it is so important for us to seek wisdom as fervently as God seeks us. Let us pray…. Prayer We come together with persons all over the world to remember the day our world changed. We come together in faith, in hope, in God’s infinite love. Heavenly Father, we commend to your mercy and grace all who died in the September eleventh attacks and all who have died in the past twenty years while laboring to end terrorism. In New York City: 2,342 persons In Arlington, Virginia: 184 persons In Shanksville, Pennsylvania: 40 persons 411 New York City rescue workers that day plus so many more from the aftereffects Thousands of military personnel and civilians in the following years of war Over 70 countries lost loved ones that day: family members, friends, co-workers, neighbors, heroes. In the face of all this loss we claim your grace, your faithfulness, and your power to bring good out of evil. Compassionate One, it’s been twenty years, yet the pain is fresh and the need is great. Comfort all who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones. Come with assurance and peace for all who remain traumatized, anxious, or fearful for the future. Come with protection and freedom for all who continue to live in the midst of hostility and oppression. Bring wholeness and hope to every broken place- to broken bodies, broken hearts, and broken spirits. To broken relationships, broken systems, and broken faith. Draw together leaders of every nation. Give them ears to hear your wisdom and the courage to respond. Inspire them to work together for peace, justice, and freedom. Inspire us, too. Strengthen all who risk their lives to protect others. Guard and favor all who work to make your world a place of peace. Guard and guide us, too. God of the Nations, hear our prayer for our enemies and for ourselves. Help us love and pray for those who hate us. We claim your abiding, your humility, and your strength as we strive to fulfill this call. Save us from revenge, false teaching, and blind suspicion. Help us recognize our contributions to conflict. Help us understand the hurt that feeds the hate. Change the hearts of all who seek their way by evil and violent means, by coercion and corruption and privilege, including our own. Create in us clean hearts that beat with your unconditional compassion. Leave no one in the shadows of evil and death, O God. Fill us all with your light and make us all instruments of your peace. Our world remains a dangerous place, O God, but with you there is shalom and hope. With you there is persevering and purpose. You are our Rock, our Shield, our Defender forever. Amen. ______________ 9/11 Anniversary Prayer © 2011, Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia and Nicole Sallee Updated 2021 God of mercy and of hope, be with us this day. We have gathered here to learn of your will for us. Sometimes it is not easy for us to realize that if we are to follow Jesus we will have to make a total commitment to his ways. We will have to actually put into practice the good news of compassionate love, and healing mercies. Our hearts are filled with situations concerning family and friends, concerning neighborhood and world. We seek your healing mercies for these situations. Help us to remember that the same healing mercy is offered to each one of us.. Give us strength and courage to really follow Jesus. For it is in His Name, we pray. AMEN. Song for Reflection Lord of the Dance UMH 261 Communion (Page 13) Prayer of Dedication/Offering (no need to print) All around us, we are reminded that we are not on our own, but our lives intersect with the poor, the hungry, the hopeless, our sisters and brothers. As we seek to follow you, may we share from the abundance you have poured out upon us, so all might experience your grace and life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Announcements Health team meeting after church,all welcome to attend or to express thoughts on being church in the near future until things get better. We present this refrigerator to be consecrated to the glory of God and for service in this church. We accept this refrigerator as a sacred trust and will guard and use it reverently in the name of Jesus we consecrate this to the glory of God. This refrigerator has faithfully served in ministry for many years. We are grateful for the use that we got out of it, we now release you from service of any honorable use. Blessings upon your future use. Prayer list out in the narthex. At the bottom of the page is a prayer for the church. Invite everyone to pray at some time in the day – for the month of September and beyond. So that God hears our prayers. Debbie and I have prayer time in the sanctuary at noon – everyone invited to join us. or even to pray at the same time at home. Regular prayer changes our hearts. . Closing Prayer for Facebook Go forth with the words of wisdom crying in your ears. Go forth with songs of hope singing in your heart. Know that you are called to be faithful followers of the One who will always be near you, will always guide and encourage you to walk the path of life. Amen. Community Time Benediction Go in peace and know that God walks with you on this journey. Bring the good news of Christ’s healing love to all whom you meet. AMEN. Children’s time – I am sure that most of you have seen one of these ribbons. Many people are wearing these red, white and blue ribbons right now as a way to help them to remember what happened on September 11, 2001. These ribbons help us to remember the people who died in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania during terrorist attacks against our nation and it reminds us to pray for their friends and families. It also reminds us to pray for those who are still working to clean up the sites of these terrible tragedies and recover the bodies of those who died there. The ribbon also reminds us to pray for our nation and for our President as he leads us. This ribbon is a very special way to help us to remember what happened on September 11th. Jesus has also given us a very special way to help us remember him and what he has done for us by his death on the cross. On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he met together with his disciples for a final meal. As he sat at the table with his disciples, Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it. He said, "This is my body which is broken for you. Eat this in remembrance of me." Then he took a glass of wine and said, "This is my blood which is shed for you. Drink it in remembrance of me." We still use the bread and wine as a way to remember what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross. The Bible also tells us that when we do this, we are telling others about Jesus' death. Just as wearing a ribbon is a good way to tell others that we remember what happened on September 11th, the bread and wine are a good way to tell others about Jesus. Dear Jesus, we pause today to remember the tragic events of September 11th and to pray for the families of those who died. We also pause to remember your death on the cross which gives us life.

Foolish Things

March 7, 2021 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Psalm 19 Third Sunday of Lent Year B Opening Song Welcome (don’t print) Call to Worship (from Psalm 19) One: Welcome to this time of worship! Today, the Psalmist reminds us Many: “The heavens are telling the glory of God!” One: We look to the heavens and rejoice, for God’s decrees are sure, Many: making wise the simple. One: So let the words of our mouths Many: and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to our Rock and our Redeemer. Opening Prayer We’re grateful, God of all life, for these 40 days of Lent. As we walk on this journey with Jesus, even knowing we’re moving toward the devastation of his death on the cross, may we seek awareness of our own sin (transgressions) and assurance of your greater love, AMEN Stewardship Moment Stewardship is an important part of our faith. Every week, as we listen to the word, as we pray and as we sing the songs of faith, we should also be challenged to put our faith into action. Stewardship is giving a part of ourselves in order to build the kingdom of God here in our world but it is so much more than that. Stewardship is giving of our gifts, our time, our service, our support, and our witness in the world. Today we begin our intentional stewardship campaign, in order to allow all of us to create our church budget in order for the church to do ministry. Our theme for this year is selah – this word is found primarily in the psalms. It means take a break and stop what you are doing. Take some time to listen to God. In the coming weeks, we will be taking some time to listen to what God wants us to do as a church. You will receive the Easter letter in the mail during the week of the 15th. Along with it will be a pledge card for you to ponder what you will give to the church this year. You are welcome to send both your Easter offering and your pledge back in the mail. We will have activities to encourage us to think about what our church means to us in the coming weeks. You can bring your Easter offering to church on Easter, and your pledge card on celebration Sunday on April 11th. Our theme for today – pause and ponder. Pause and ponder the goodness of God in your life. How do you define goodness? If you were to explain it to someone what would you say? We don’t know what it means, but we do know when it has happened to us. The bible explains the goodness of God – people can only experience the goodness of God through our actions. How we treat them, how we understand their needs, how we are willing to give what we have to make a difference. Stewardship is our chance to pause and ponder – the goodness of God and to be willing to be a part of it. When we give – God uses our gifts to bless us and to bless others. Let us pray for God’s goodness to be manifest in our lives. (you can give in person, online or through the mail) Moment for Stewardship (John 2 connection) Every time I hear or read the story of Jesus going ballistic in the temple, evicting the money changers and stampeding the ritual animals out of the courtyard, I wonder: what would happen if Jesus were to walk into our time of offering? I wonder if he would question how people who have so much still find it difficult to give? I wonder if Jesus would find us too passive, too emotion-less? I wonder if he would rejoice over those among us who truly offer themselves and all that they have back to God, who gives us life? Imagine how we would respond if Jesus were standing beside each of us, whether we’re in the sanctuary or in our own living room. With this Christ as our companion, let us share our tithes, our offerings, our monetary gifts, all as symbols of offering God our whole selves. Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, with these gifts we declare we are yours! May this money be translated into bringing your Realm more fully on earth, through the many ministries of this congregation. Use our tithes and offerings as symbols of our lives, and use US to proclaim you as Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer of all the earth. AMEN Scripture 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Common English Bible Human wisdom versus the cross 18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved. 19 It is written in scripture: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will reject the intelligence of the intelligent.[a] 20 Where are the wise? Where are the legal experts? Where are today’s debaters? Hasn’t God made the wisdom of the world foolish? 21 In God’s wisdom, he determined that the world wouldn’t come to know him through its wisdom. Instead, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching. 22 Jews ask for signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, which is a scandal to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. 24 But to those who are called—both Jews and Greeks—Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom. 25 This is because the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Sermon There is a story of a man from a third world country who came to this country. He went with a friend to a restaurant. They ordered tea. The waitress brought them a pot of boiling water and set cups and some tea bags in front of them. The third world man poured a cup of hot water. Then he picked up the tea bags and tore them open and proceeded to dump the tea into the cup of hot water. The man with him gently explained to him that this was not how the tea bags were intended to be used. They were made so they could be put in the water and the water would seep through the tea bags and there would be no messy leaves in the cup. Well the newcomer thought that was a great idea and so he took two packets of sugar which also had been provided and drop them in his cup of hot water, unopened. That makes sense, doesn’t it? He wasn’t supposed to open the tea bag, so why open the packet of sugar? The man had good logic, but still he got it wrong. (1) We all have done foolish things at times. I’ve done foolish things; you’ve done foolish things. But we would never attribute foolishness to God. God is perfect. However, St. Paul says that some of God’s actions may look as foolish to those who do not understand as putting unopened packets of sugar into a tea cup. He writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ One of the foolish things that we can do is to carry this thing here around. Who in their right mind would carry a symbol of ancient torture around. Who would want to be reminded of a man speaking out against a corrupt government, and hanging for hours until his death? Most of us want to separate ourselves from gruesome events. But some people want to carry this around as a symbol of our most sacred faith. Who does that? Those who want to follow the pathway of God. One theme that is prevalent in all of Paul’s teachings is the two pathways of life. There is a pathway that seems to make sense on the surface, but in the end leads to death, sorrow and the perishing of the soul. And there is a way to seems strange to those who don’t understand, but it leads to life. Paul’s point is that the pathway to God never makes sense to those who don’t know God. Both the Jewish culture and the Greek culture have contributed to our present understanding of God. But Paul points out that the true way to God doesn’t even make sense to them. When those of the Jewish faith here about Jesus it does not make sense with what they have been taught all along, and they dismiss it. When Greeks hear it they cannot find God in a book, so he must not exist. Paul’s point is that true faith is always in the opposite direction of what we have been taught anywhere. God works in ways that go against our expectations. The way up is down The way in is out The way first is last The way of success is service The way of attainment is relinquishment. The way of strength is weakness The way of security is vulnerability The way of protection is forgiveness The way of life is the way of death. if you want to be first, you must be . . .last; if you want to find yourself, you must . .. . lose yourself; if you want to be exalted, you must . . . be humbled If you want to be happy you have to sacrifice. If you want to be free, you have to be willing to be disciplined. The importance of the counter-intelligence engendered by self-discipline and daily disciplines of life is reflected in this “inside” story of the great African-American theologian Howard Thurman. Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder and spiritual leader of the Jewish Renewal Movement, tells this personal account about his meeting with the African-American theologian and writer Howard Thurman: “Howard Thurman once came to visit me in Winnipeg. I asked whether he wanted to visit the Trappists, and he did. I asked, ‘Do you want to see the abbot?’ he said, ‘No, the abbot is just a manager. I’d like to talk with the master of novices.’ So we see the master of novices and Howard asks him, ‘What’s the novices’ biggest complaint?’ The master says, ‘they have to be up at 2:30 in the morning to attend matins and lauds. They aren’t too happy about it. They tell me that it’s so much better when they’re out in the fields and they feel ecstasy and love for God and hallelujah and so on. So I say to them, ‘I forbid you to come to any services now except for the obligatory masses.’ Well, after a while they came back and said, ‘We didn’t come here to be farmhands.’ ‘What happened to your ecstasies?’ the master asked. ‘They dried up,’ said the novices. So the master told them, ‘Of course, now you realize that what you are doing at 2:30 in the morning is what gives you the ecstasy in the fields.’” As cited in “Great Teachers on Teaching,” Spirituality & Health, March-April 2007, 57. Paul’s challenge to each of us is not to just hold this cross, not just depend on this cross, but to use it to guide our lives. In spite of all of the suffering that the cross represents, it also represents our salvation through Jesus Christ. There is the crucifix and the cross. Both are valued symbols with a valued message. The cross tells us that Jesus rose from the dead and is no longer there. He has risen. What was a symbol of death is not a symbol of salvation. Life always offers us a choice – the obvious or the spiritual. One leads to life one to death. In order to choose life, we have to be willing to look deeper than our cultural understanding and see God. The foolishness of God is still wiser than any human thought. Psalm 19 gives us a wonderful lesson on how to find the pathway of God. We should hold God in reverence and awe. When we think of the word Torah – we think of the law. And we are told to walk away from the law. But the word Torah is deeper than that. Torah means pathway to God. In psalm 19 All we have to do to find God is look up at the sky and marvel at the sun. The sun is like the glory of God – it shines everywhere on every one, without then doing anything to receive it. All we have to do to find it is to be willing to look up and see it. Even if you can’t see, you still know that sun is there. Just like God. God’s way is the source of all good things in life. Nothing in life can escape God’s touch. God’s word is beautiful, delicious, reviving, clear and priceless. God’s way is beyond anything that we can come up with in our culture or our minds. The cross is the pathway to leads us to the wonderful saving grace of God. In this interview Rogers told of an incident that helped him to see what this meant. He and his wife were vacationing with friends. They went to church one Sunday morning. Rogers said the sermon was terrible. As the minister was preaching, Rogers was listing all of the things the preacher was doing wrong. When the sermon was over, he turned to his friend to tell her what he thought of the sermon. He saw tears running down her face. She whispered to Rogers, "He said exactly what I needed to hear." God continues to work in mysterious ways. Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon Prayer of Confession Almighty God, we are a sinful people. We always want to control things – like the Jews in Jesus time who tried to control their lives by placing the temple at the center of their adoration. Jesus threatened their temple and all their customs because he called them to worship you only. You are the one who is really in control. How many times do we worship our building, our clique, or something besides you? Help us to focus only on you. Help us to bow down before you and submit our lives and fortunes to your gentle control. Only Christ can open the door to eternity for us. Assurance of Pardon Take heart brothers and sisters For Jesus cleansed the temple and Jesus has cleansed your soul. And as a sign of his truth and power, Jesus offers us the temple of his body. Rejoice and be glad because God has given Jesus control over our destinies. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Song for Reflection Take Time to Be Holy UMH 395 Communion (just print the first paragraph of the invitation) Invitation to Communion (I Corinthians 1 connection) In the season of Lent, Christians around the world recognize we are traveling ever closer to the cross. Paul calls that a “stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” When we come to the table of the Lord, we recognize God’s power and wisdom shows up in a new symbolic form: bread and juice. What is ordinary becomes extraordinary. What is simple becomes elaborate. What is tiny becomes huge! For Jesus, knowing he was gathered for the last time with his disciples, offered them new meaning for familiar objects. Bread from their meal = “this is my body”. The wine they’d shared = “this cup is the new covenant in my blood”. Let us feast, for when we eat this bread and drink from the cup, we proclaim Christ’s death until he comes. Announcements We will have a bible study on the psalms – and how they get us to pause and ponder. It will premier on facebook on Wednesday at 7:00 pm. We will study Psalm 23 – how the psalm gets us to pause and ponder – God’s caring, God’s comfort, God’s generosity and God’s love. I will send out the study guide on Tuesday. Next week is the end of Daylight Savings time for the year – so we will spring forward and lose an hour. Set your clock so that you can be ontime for church. Benediction Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up, is the sign that Jesus gave his critics. Now go and tell others that Jesus has kept his promise. That and all other signs point to Jesus. May you always remember Jesus words and believe the holy scriptures. Such faith will be rewarded. Go in peace! Children’s Time Key Verse: For God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. Props: A handful of sand, and a piece of coal (if you can gain access to them, a pearl and a diamond) Lesson: Today I want to show you something that I got once for my wife as a gift. Would you like to see it? It was her birthday and I wanted to get something real special for her. Here it is! Hold out a handful of sand. Do you think she liked it? (Of course the kids will say, 'No') Why not, what is it? (They all will say, 'sand') Oh, I see why you are confused. You think this is sand. Well, I didn't give her sand. I gave her something that used to be sand. Actually, did you know that there is a pearl in this sand? If you have a pearl, hold it out for them to see it also You see, there is an animal called an oyster, and it gathers sand inside of its shell. And because of a lot of things happening in that shell, God has made it to where a pearl comes out of the shell. Isn't that neat? I gave her another gift at our wedding. What do you think I gave her? (some of them will probably say, 'a ring') And do you know what kind of ring it was? Hold out the piece of coal Do you think she liked it? (No) Why not? (Because it's coal) Oh, you think it's coal. Well did you know that inside this coal is hold out the diamond if you have one is a diamond? You see, God takes ordinary coal like this. And over a long, long time the earth moves a little and it gets real hot, and after a while the coal becomes a diamond. Application: St. Paul once said that God takes very simple things and makes them great, so that everyone will know what a great God he is. And do you know who he makes into wonderful things for his kingdom? You and me, if we let him. You might think right now that you're little or not as strong as other people, or maybe you don't know as much stuff as other people, but God can make you into something beautiful and wonderful. Just trust him, love him, and pray to him, and he promises he will. Remember, just like coal becomes diamonds and sand becomes pearls in the hand of God, you are never too simple for God to love and make into something great! Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for making us, and thank you for letting us know that none of us are too small, too weak, or too simple for you to do great things with. In Jesus' name. Amen. Additional Illustrations Sermon Opener - The Outlandishness of Lent - 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 Lent is a solemn season in the Church calendar. Supposedly, it’s not meant to be fun, but rueful. It is a penitential time when devout Christians have typically “given up” some earthly pleasures — meats, sweets, parties, television, movies — to focus instead on spiritual growth — Lenten Bible studies, prayer groups, singular meditation-time. In the words of Lord Williams of Oystermouth, from a 2012 sermon in Rome at St. Paul’s Within the Walls, "Every Lent, we ought to be looking at the various ways in which we get involved in manufacturing the gods that suit us. Every Lent is a time to get that little bit further beyond the idolatry that constantly keeps us prisoner and draws us back to the old world. When Jesus has cleared out the temple, when he has thrown out those people involved in manufacturing religion, there he stands with his friends in a great silence and a great space." But this week’s epistle text from Corinthians finds us reading about a topsy-turvy world, a ditzy divine scenario, which suggests the Lenten season is the time when Christians should be preparing themselves not to go all centered and solemn, but to go flat out “crazy.” Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 is not about rising to be super spiritual, but about daring to be super strange. Lent is the season in the church when we actively “celebrate” Jesus’ doomed entry into Jerusalem and anticipate his criminal conviction and his cruel crucifixion upon the cross. Talk about weird holidays... Some of you will remember Aesop’s fable about an old crow who was out in the wilderness and was very thirsty. The old crow had not had anything to drink in a long time. He came to a jug that had a little water in the bottom of it. The old crow reached his beak into the jug to get some of that water, but his beak wouldn’t quite reach. So what did he do? He started picking up pebbles one at a time and dropping them into the jug. What happened as those pebbles accumulated in the bottom of the jug? Why, of course. The water rose until finally the old crow was able to get a drink. My friends, that is my understanding of the way God has chosen to work in this world. Each of us dropping in our own little pebble teaching that Sunday School class, making that visit, working on the finance committee and on the church board, making that special gift to missions, serving as an usher, etc. Each of us serving in his or her own special ministry doing that little task that may not seem so important at the time but pebbles are accumulating in the bottom of that jug, and the water is rising, and one of these days God is going to bring in His own Kingdom. That is God’s plan for creation. It is centered in this group of people. There’s an old, old story of a small country church that was given a big gift of money. They had a board meeting to decide how to spend this money. You know how church board meetings can be sometimes not here in our church, of course but in other churches. One little lady stood up and said, “I’d love to see us put a new chandelier in our sanctuary.” One old brother got up and protested. “We don’t need any new chan-de-leer in this sanctuary!” he said. “In the first place, I doubt that there’s anybody in this church who can even spell chan-de-leer. In the second place, even if we had one, I doubt there’s anybody here who could play it. And in the third place, what we really need is more light for this room!” Rapper Snoop Dog coined a phrase “Church on the move” which was the new word for last week. In Snoop Dog’s world the announcement of “Church on the move” meant it was time for him and his entourage to make an “en masse” exit from the club where they were “partying.” So in popular parlance, to say “church on the move” is to say, “it is time to leave” or “it’s time to head for the EXITS”. .