Don't get weary carrying the weight of others

November 17, 2019 2 Thessalonians 3 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 23rd Sunday After Pentecost Year C Object: A jar of dirt (and an earthworm, if available) Boys and girls: How many of you like to work? Do you do chores around the house? Do you help with the dishes? Work seems to be part of God's plan for life. Even the animals work. Beavers build their dam. Bees make honey and pollinate flowers. Squirrels hide away nuts for the winter. Birds feed their little ones. We are not the only ones in this world who work. Even a lowly earthworm works. Earthworms are kind of "yucky," aren't they? Some of you may have used worms for bait when you were fishing. Some of you may know that earthworms are necessary for more than for bait. They help make our soil richer. There may be as many as 50,000 earthworms in a acre of dirt like this. They are constantly aerating the soil. In fact if you have some fertile top soil that will grow beautiful flowers or vegetables, you can thank the lowly earthworm. Each of God's creatures seem to have a purpose. You and I have a purpose for being here. Part of the reason we come to Sunday School and worship is so that we can find out why God put us here so that we can live, as best as we are able, according to God's purpose for us. That means that someday we will work at a job. But we won't mind. Because we know that we are fulfilling God's plan. Just like the lowly earthworm. Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by King Duncan 2 Thessalonians 3 Common English Bible (CEB) Prayer request 3 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us so that the Lord’s message will spread quickly and be honored, just like it happened with you. 2 Pray too that we will be rescued from inappropriate and evil people since everyone that we meet won’t respond with faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and protect you from the evil one. 4 We are confident about you in the Lord—that you are doing and will keep doing what we tell you to do. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts to express God’s love and Christ’s endurance. Discipline for the undisciplined 6 Brothers and sisters, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to stay away from every brother or sister who lives an undisciplined life that is not in line with the traditions that you received from us. 7 You yourselves know how you need to imitate us because we were not undisciplined when we were with you. 8 We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked night and day with effort and hard work so that we would not impose on you. 9 We did this to give you an example to imitate, not because we didn’t have a right to insist on financial support. 10 Even when we were with you we were giving you this command: “If anyone doesn’t want to work, they shouldn’t eat.” 11 We hear that some of you are living an undisciplined life. They aren’t working, but they are meddling in other people’s business. 12 By the Lord Jesus Christ, we command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table. 13 Brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged in doing what is right. 14 Take note of anyone who doesn’t obey what we have said in this letter. Don’t associate with them so they will be ashamed of themselves. 15 Don’t treat them like enemies, but warn them like you would do for a brother or sister. Final greeting 16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This verifies that the letter is from me, as in every letter of mine. This is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Stewardship Moment I am so excited, because tonight channel 11 will be airing the sesame street 50th anniversary show. When I was little I loved watching sesame street. And then Mr Rogers would come on right after that. It was my routine to watch both shows, and right now Mr. Roger’s movie is out in the show. I heard yesterday that there are two types of people in the world. There are sesame street people, and there are mr rogers people. Sesame street was a bright show with lots of colors and controversial topics. There was always a lot of activity. Wheras Mr Rogers was calm, quiet peaceful. He was also finding the good in everything and teaching us to be calm and patient. Which type of person are you? Both are great positive messages, but God calls us to have a sesame street faith. An active, bright faith. A faith that prays – but also gives and works to make a difference in the world. Let us be sesame street givers – givers that give to support God in building the kingdom through the church. Sermon Every organization, club, group has some sort of organizational rules. Whenever we come together in community for a common cause, either consciously or unconsciously we decide what it is that holds us together. And we decide how we are going to relate to one another. We decide what it means to belong. We also decide who does not belong to the group. We decide who the insiders are and who the outsiders are. Who we want in the group and who will never be a part of our group. One we start to let people in, we also start to establish rules for how to get rid of people who don’t follow the rules. This happens in any community even the church. We have our rules for belonging. We have a ceremony for accepting members. We have our rules for shunning people who don’t follow the rules. When Paul speaks to the Thessalonians, he knows exactly what to say to the insiders. He establishes a clear rule for getting kicked out of the community. Whoever does not work does not eat. Wow! It is just that simple. Whoever does not work on behalf of the church should not benefit from the churches efforts. When we hear that with modern ears, it seems a little cliquish. Arent we suppose to welcome anyone? Arent we supposed to be accepting of all people. It seems strange to say that there is something that someone could do to be kicked out of the church. In reality – Paul was just expressing a feeling that has existed for thousands of years, and it present in countless other places in the bible. The old testament speaks very clearly of who belongs in community and who does not. And there are very clear rules for getting rid of people who are a danger to the community. Widows, the sick, the disabled, the foreigner, - none of those people belonged in community. And it seems that the new testament is Jesus story of how he went after each of those people to include them. And yet there is one rule of belonging to community that still sticks with us in modern times. Those who don’t contribute to the church. There are stories all throughout the old and new testament about how important it is to work hard. Hard work is expected in all areas of our community. It is important because the community is only as strong as the weakest link. Who we are as a community is determined by how much our members work to make a difference. The End Was So Near One of my friends this week reported on a TV preacher recently talking for an hour about his new book that supposedly explained everything we needed to know about the coming of Jesus and the end of time. "You must have this book," he said over and over again, a telephone number (not even toll-free) constantly flashing at the bottom of the screen. Seems that he was the only one who had prophetic insight into world events, and for a mere $14.95 we could have the benefit of his wisdom. We would not survive the coming terrors unless we had this book. A pastor called the number and suggested to the poor operator that if this preacher really thought this was so vital to the survival of the planet, and that the end was so near, he would be giving the book away! I mean, he won't need the money, right? It's all coming to an end anyway. Who needs a bank account? True, it costs money to print, but he will not have to pay for it if it goes as he says. The woman on the other end of the line was not amused. "Sorry, sir," she said, "but I don't know much about theology," to which the pastor responded, "Neither does the writer of the book you're selling." David E. Leininger, When Your Church Provokes You In Thessalonians, Paul was addressing a special issue. There were many people who has joined the church and we excited about Jesus message. But for them, they believed that the coming was right around the corner. The end of time was near. So they were all getting ready. They were ready to give up their lives, in order to leave this earth with Christ. If Christ was coming, then there was no need to work or prepare for anything. They stopped working, they stopped contributing, that stopped volunteering, because there was not need to even try. So Paul had to remind them that being a Christian was not about giving up and doing nothing, it was about doing everything. A bishop and professor of the church was asked what he was going to do if he knew Jesus was coming tomorrow. He said that he would do the same thing that he did yesterday. If he had to do work the day before, then he would just continue to work. Because when Jesus did came he wanted to be found faithful. The key is that remaining faithful through it all is the most important part of our faith. An "if" believer follows God if he receives blessings and rewards in return. He waits to see what God will do first, then decides whether or not to respond in obedience. Jacob is a good example of an "if" believer. A "because" believer follows God because God blesses and rewards him. He has seen the connection between his obedience and God's blessing, and he wants to keep it going. King David is a good example of a "because" believer. But there's a third kind of believer, said this pastor. This is the "regardless" believer. A "regardless" believer loves God no matter whether he/she ever receives any blessings or rewards in return. Job, the man whose very name is synonymous with suffering, was a "regardless" believer. A "regardless" believer loves God in spite of the circumstances, in spite of their hardships. On the day he heard that sermon, Mr. Hall devoted himself to being a "regardless" believer for the rest of his life. (2) Pastor Ron Hutchcraft suggests to us that Jesus wants us to “go M.A.D.” That’s an interesting way of putting it. Of course mad is spelled capital M period, capital A period, capital D period M.A.D. Don’t look for that in the original Greek, by the way. M.A.D. is an acrostic. When Hutchcraft says that Jesus wants us to “Go M.A.D.,” he’s saying that Jesus wants us to “go make a difference.” If you make a constructive difference in people’s lives, you won’t have time to be a busybody. In Thessalonians 3 – Paul seems to get mad in another way. By first saying that if we don’t work, we don’t get to go the church potluck. But he goes even further, his words are pretty harsh to us He goes on the say that we should ignore those people who are not carrying their fairshare of the load. He says that there are some people in the community who rather then being busy, have become busybodies. Not only are they not working, but they make a point to get into everyone else’s business and make it difficult for those who really are working. Every community is based on some type of rules and understanding. The word that Paul uses for busybody in greek is the word for the undisciplined. Those who don’t uphold the good of the order. Those who work against the church, instead of for it. An unknown author said he met the strangest man on his way to church. Here is how he described this man: “He said he believed in the Bible, but he never reads it. “He said he thought well of the church of which he is a member, but he never attends or invites others to share in its ministry. “He said a person should be honest with God in money matters, but he never tithes. “He said the younger generation needs the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction. “He said the church needs dedicated Christian members, but he isn’t one. “He offered some ‘constructive’ criticism of some of the workers but he never works. “He said the church should do more in ministering to people, but he doesn’t help. “He is critical of the way the church is ‘run,’ but he never participates. “He says he believes in the Second Coming, but he lives as though the Lord will never return. “He says prayer will change things, but he never prays. “He was,” says this author, “a strange man, indeed!” (3) Not so strange. Their number in the church is legion. St. Paul called such people busybodies. They are busy, but not with constructive behavior. What we tend to overlook is this: the mind is always active; it is never still. It is either thinking positive thoughts or negative thoughts. A person may have an idle body, but not an idle mind. An idle brain is the devil’s playground, as the old expression goes. This is the reason why so many idle persons regardless of their age get into trouble. The trouble can range all the way from becoming a busybody to murder. It is dangerous business to be idle. I give this sermon, not because it applies to anyone in this room, but because it reminds each of a lesson in our Christian journey. The Christian journey is always an active journey. There is always something for us to do. And Jesus calls us to be active in whatever we do. We can pray and hope and dream. But we also can work and use our hands to make a difference. A visitor in a coal mine stopped to talk to one of the miners. He told the miner how sorry he was for him, spending his time monotonously picking coal down there in those dark tunnels. The miner picked up a piece of coal and said, “I don’t think you understand. This is not just a lump of coal. This is light and heat and power. Perhaps it will light a city, or it may warm a home or run a train. I’m not just a miner for the company. I’m helping people I don’t even know have a better way of life.” Because of the drive for clean energy today, many miners are losing their jobs. The principle has not changed, however. If you feel like your work is making a difference in the world, it can bring you real satisfaction. If you can see a purpose higher than a pay check, it can improve your attitude toward your work. You are helping produce a product that will improve the quality of people’s lives. You are helping to keep a city running. You are educating young people for the future. I know that it can sometimes seem that we are just a cog in a great machine, but what if your job was not done? Would society be the worse off for it? Most of us can find a purpose for what we do if we try. If we cannot, we may be in the wrong place. Work allows us, first of all, to be partners with God in the provision of the world’s needs. The bottom line is that Jesus called us to stick together and to work together. Jesus changed the rules. Jesus opened to door so that the outsiders, could become insiders. And Jesus calls each of us to keep working until the door is open to everyone and everyone is a part of the church. I like Paul’s final word to us – never get tired of doing the right thing. Never get tired of making a difference, and doing the work of Christ. there is a saying that when the knight came to king Arthur’s court they were reminded that they did not come to retire but to serve. Each of us here is called to serve also. There is a Lutheran church in Philadelphia who got a donation from a former member. The daughter of the member gave them old anniversary bulletin for 75 years ago. As the pastor read the bulletin and saw all of the churches that had been attendance. On the list of 30 churches, 20 of them were now closed. This was a wake up call to the pastor, of how important it was for his church to be a survivor. Word on the street was that you went to the Lutheran church when you needed groceries, but if you wanted to experience the holy spirit you went to the Baptist church. The pastor realized how important it was for his church to realize their mission. No longer could the church run itself like a social club. No longer could they follow the rules of any other club in town, it was time for them to live into what it means to be the body of Christ. A body that no only works, but also prays, loves, and most importantly lives a disciplined life. a life of a committed follower of Christ, not a busybody. We too are called to be the body of Christ here in Wilmington – what work is there for us to do together as community. Let us pray…. Additional illustration… There's an old Chinese proverb often attributed to Confucius. It goes like this: If you would be happy for one hour, take a nap. If you would be happy for one day, go fishing. If you would be happy for one week, kill your pig and eat it. If you would be happy for one month, get married. If you would be happy for one year, inherit a fortune. If you would be happy for life, love your work.

Even God has work to do

November 17, 2013 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Isaiah 65:17-25 “Even God has work to Do” 26th Sunday After Pentecost Year C What does the word impossible mean to you? When someone says that things are impossible, what does that mean? The dictionary says something that is not possible, something that cannot be done, or unable to occur. Something where you can see a brick wall between what is possible, and what cannot be done. I was encouraged by one definition, which said that impossible is something that is difficult to occur. Something difficult, but can be done. This is one story, where a mom explains to her son that what is difficult takes time, what is impossible just takes a little longer. The Impossible Takes a Little Longer At the age of 20, Art Berg was a very happy man. Everything was going right. He was a gifted athlete and had started his own tennis court construction company. And he was engaged to a beautiful woman. Leaving California one Christmas eve, he was headed to Utah with a friend. He was going to meet his fiancée and complete their wedding plans. During the long drive, he fell asleep while at the wheel. His car hit an abutment and rolled down a hill. He was ejected from the car and found himself laying on the desert with a broken neck. He was paralyzed from the chest down. He completely lost the use of his legs and arms. The doctors told him he would never work again. They concluded that he could never play sports again and would be dependent on others the rest of his life. One even suggested he forget getting married. Art Berg was really afraid. It was the darkest moment in his life. The "end times" were upon him. In the midst of his peril his mother came and whispered a few words in his ear. "Art, while the difficult takes time, the impossible takes a little longer." In other words, "don’t panic!" Suddenly, Art’s darkness was filled with a light of hope. That was years ago. Today Art Berg is president of his own company, a professional speaker and author. He has gained back some of the use of his arms and legs and can now drive. He travels across the country sharing his message, "that the impossible just takes a little longer." Art married his fiancée and they have two children. He has even returned to the world of sports, swimming and scuba diving. In l993 Art was the first quadriplegic to race 32 miles in a marathon, all because he didn’t panic. Don’t panic, is the message of the day. Keith Wagner, Are You Having an Anxiety Attack? Muhammad Ali defines impossible this way…. “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali What is it that makes the impossible, possible? What is it that brings things that were not so into reality? Faith, hope, love. We have to remember that all things in life are possible through God. What does not make sense to us, makes perfect sense to God. What we cant do, God can do. How do we makes things that are impossible possible? We have to practice our faith in God. New Heavens and a New Earth 17 “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. 19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. 20 “Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach[a] a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. Explanation of Isaiah 65 These words were written by third Isaiah. The book of Isaiah is a series of impossible visions of the future, designed to give hope to a people who were convinced that change was impossible. That things would be in a state of devastation forever. Each vision in Isaiah builds upon making what was impossible possible, and as the doorway is opened, the vision becomes clearer and clearer. But each vision is designed to remind us all – that things that make sense – in the presence of God. The day is coming, when there will be nothing that separates us from God. And with God – we will live in total peace, and wellbeing. How many things in your life are behind the wall of impossibility right now? Are they impossible, or will God make a way someday for what you cant see, to come to reality? The message of Isaiah 65 – is to have hope, that if we have faith in God – it will all turn out, and we will all live together in harmony in life. the key is to have hope. There is a fundamental difference between hoping for something and wishing for it. It is essential to distinguish between hoping and wishing. They are not the same thing. Wishing is something that all of us do. It proects what we want or think we need into the future. Just because we wish for something good or holy, we think it qualifies as hope. It does not. Wishing extends our egos into the future; hope grows out of our faith. Hope is oriented toward what God is doing; wishing is oriented toward what we are doing. Wishing has to do with what I want in things, or people or God; hope as to do with what God wants in me and the world of things and people beyond me. Wishing is our will projected into the future, and hope is God’s will coming out of the future. Picture it in your mind: wishing is a line that comes out of me, with an arrow pointing into the future. Hoping is a line that comes out of God and points toward me. Hope means being surprised, because we don’t know what is best for us or how our lives are going to be completed. To cultivate hope is to suppress wishing – to refuse to fantasize about what we want, but live in anticipation of what God is going to do next. – Eugene Peterson Wishing is dependent on us – hoping is depending on God. Wishing is about what happens on earth, hoping is about what happens in heaven. More importantly – wishing does not require anything on our part. Hoping requires all of our life. Hoping for something means that we not only pray for it, we not only wait for it, but we live for it. We live as if we trust God to make it so. This morning, I also wanted us to think some more about the message of 2 Thessalonians. Last week we talked about the thessalonian error – the world was coming to an end- so people thought they did not have to do anything. Paul had to remind them that they still needed to work. Well Paul continue that conversation in chapter 3. He goes as far as to say that those who do not work – should not eat. I am not going to go that far this morning. But I did think that it was important for us to continue this conversation. To be reminded that God indeed had a vision for heaven, but he also has a vision for earth. God had a vision for the future, but he is here working in the present. God has a plan for all things in life. And God knows that in order for that plan to work – the we all need to work. Working is not what we do with our hands, but it is also what we do with our heart and our mind. As a matter of fact, what we do with our hearts and minds, determines what we do with our hands. The word idle Paul says – Now we command you, beloved in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness. There is a lot of debate about that word idleness. What does it mean to be idle, and what harm does it do to be idle. Paul uses the greek word – ataptkos – which means truant. It means that in he body of God, some people are just absent. You see them in body, but they are not contributing anything. We all know those people, they are the people who.. An unknown author said he met the strangest man on his way to church. Here is how he described this man: “He said he believed in the Bible, but he never reads it. “He said he thought well of the church of which he is a member, but he never attends or invites others to share in its ministry. “He said a person should be honest with God in money matters, but he never tithes. “He said the younger generation needs the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction. “He said the church needs dedicated Christian members, but he isn’t one. “He offered some ‘constructive’ criticism of some of the workers but he never works. “He said the church should do more n ministering to people, but he doesn’t help. “He is critical of the way the church is ‘run,’ but he never participates. “He says he believes in the Second Coming, but he lives as though the Lord will never return. “He says prayer will change things, but he never prays. “He was,” says this author, “a strange man, indeed!” (3) Not so strange. Their number in the church is legion. Paul is saying that the harm done by those people are to their fellow brothers and sisters. It is to the community that is working for Christ. Those who work, have to bear the burden of those who don’t. People judge us by the work that we do. When people do not work – that is a reflection on us all. The truth is – we all get tired, we all want to give up, we all want to take a break sometime. What is it that keeps us going, when we are tired? Our love for God and our faith that God will give us strength , and that our hope will get us through. God Renews Our Strength In times of need, Jesus promises his disciples, you will receive strength from beyond. Rabbi Harold Kushner reflects on this strength. "I have seen weak people become strong," he writes, "timid people become brave, selfish people become generous. I have seen people care for their elderly parents, for bra iin damaged children, for wives in wheelchairs, for years, even decades, and I have asked myself, where do people get the strength to keep doing that for so long? Where do they get the resources of love and loyalty to keep going? The only answer I come up with is when we are weary and out of strength, we turn to God and God renews our strength, so we can run and not grow weary, so that we can walk and not feel faint." Rabbi Harold Kuschner, quoted by King Duncan,www.Sermons.com Dr. Tom Long tells about a friend of his who was telling him about taking a church youth group on a mission trip to Jamaica. “On their trip they visited one of the local elementary schools, and they spent some time observing in a classroom seriously overcrowded with children, most of them very poor, all of them needy and wiggly and noisy and unruly. It was a difficult, sometimes even chaotic, learning environment; but the youth group marveled to see that the teacher carried herself with great calm and patience, treating all of the children with love and respect, despite the poverty and the chaos. They decided that the only way she could do this was that she must really love being a teacher. But they were surprised to hear her say, ‘Oh, I don’t come here every day mainly because I love teaching. I come here every day because I love Jesus, and I see Jesus in every one of these children.’” (5) In those times when we are tempted to stop working, let our faith in God’s vision sustain us. When you hear Paul’s words – he reminds us that everyone has to work. Paul uses himself as an example of someone who worked hard to do what it right. The back story to Paul’s words is that in the jewish tradition – hard and honest work was important. Even as a rabbi – you were not supposed to accept money for your work. You needed to have another way to support yourself. Paul wants to make sure that everyone knew that he had a job like anyone else. There is a wonderful legend concerning the quiet years of Jesus, the years prior to his visible ministry. The legend claims that Jesus the carpenter was one of the master yoke-makers in the Nazareth area. People came from miles around for a yoke, hand carved and crafted by Jesus son of Joseph. When customers arrived with their team of oxen Jesus would spend considerable time measuring the team, their height, the width, the space between them, and the size of their shoulders. Within a week, the team would be brought back and he would carefully place the newly made yoke over the shoulders, watching for rough places, smoothing out the edges and fitting them perfectly to this particular team of oxen. That's the yoke Jesus invites us to take. Do not be misled by the word "easy," for its root word in Greek speaks directly of the tailor-made yokes: they were "well-fitting." The yoke Jesus invites us to take, the yoke that brings rest to weary souls, is one that is made exactly to our lives and hearts. The yoke he invites us to wear fits us well, does not rub us nor cause us to develop sore spirits and is designed for two. His yokes were always designed for two. And our yoke-partner is none other than Christ himself. The work of Christ may not be easy – but it is well-fitting for us and makes us comfortable. Whatever God calls us to work to do, God always equips is to do it. But most importantly he gives us the strength to see it through. So let us always remember to serve God, love Christ, work towards God’s vision, in order to make what is impossible today, possible tomorrow with God. Amen! Do What Is Right by Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 • Lectionary: Proper 28 Item 10 of 12 | Back to Results Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that we should not be weary in doing what is right. Props: Three stuffed animals that you will use as puppets (two alike and one a dog, e.g., two toy birds and a toy dog), a wallet, and a piece of candy. Lesson: [Introduce the two puppets as John and Joe. All through the story have them talk and walk as needed.] I want to tell you a story about John and Joe. They were brothers who wanted to go for a walk. Their mother told them that if they were good, they could have a piece of candy when they returned home. So they went on their walk. After a short time, they came across a puppy dog. Have the toy dog lying on the floor or on a table where everyone can see it. The puppy dog was lost. John said, "I think we should help that puppy dog find its way home." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. Let's just go on." But John looked at its tag, and found that the address on the tag was just around the corner. So he took the dog home. Then they went a little further. They found a wallet lying in the road. Just as the stuffed animal was laid out previously, have the wallet out in the open before you begin. John said, "We need to find out who owns the wallet and get it back to them." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. I'm getting tired. Let them find it themselves." But John picked up the wallet and found that it belonged to a man who lived just up the street. So he took the wallet to the man. When they got home, their mother asked if they were good. What do you think? (response) Both boys said that they were good. So the mother asked what they did. John told the mother how they had found the dog and the wallet, and took them to their owners. Joe said, "I told him to come on, but he went ahead anyway." The mother said, "Why did you tell him to come on when he saw the dog and wanted to help it?" Joe said, "Because I just didn't feel like it." So the mother said, "Well then, only John gets a piece of candy, because only John was good." Have John pick up a piece of candy that is sitting out. Joe said, "But I didn't hurt anyone or anything. I wasn't bad!" The mother replied, "No, but when there is something you can do to help and you don't do it, then you have not been good and you should not be rewarded." Application: Why didn't Joe get any candy? (response) That's right. Joe didn't have a good excuse for not helping the dog or for not helping with the wallet, did he? Neither do we have good excuses when we choose not to help someone who is in need. The Apostle Paul said that we should never ever get tired of doing good things. And he said that people shouldn't get rewarded if they don't want to help do good things. You see, Jesus gave everything because he loves us. Jesus was so good to us, and he never got tired of being good. We should always try to do the right thing and be like Jesus! Let's Pray: Help us, dear Lord, never to get tired of doing good things. In Jesus' name. Amen. Children's Sermons A to Z, Brett Blair, Tim Carpenter, CSS Publishing Company, 2000, 0-7880-1780-2

Are you Ready for the Resurrection?

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