His Eyes were on the cross
Mark 15.21 – 39
The last week of the life of Jesus Christ was a busy, dramatic week. It started with what we call Palm Sunday where Jesus came to Jerusalem riding on a donkey and was received with shouts of Hosanna and Praise God. The common people of Jerusalem received him like a king. As the week went on he cleansed the temple again, driving out the money changers. He celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples in the upper room – what we call the Last Supper. Then he went to the garden of Gethsemane where he prayed all night – struggling with what he would have to go through on the cross. At the end of the struggle, Jesus knew what he needed to do, and his eyes were on the cross. The conclusion of the night was Jesus declaring absolutely – not my will be your will, O God. I will do whatever it takes for your glory. Then Jesus went through the mockery of the Jewish trials and even the Roman trials where he was declared not guilty. He was denied by his close friend, Peter, three times.
After the trials, Jesus was taken and beaten terribly by the Romans. Finally he was lead away to Golgotha to be crucified. On the way he struggled carrying the cross and Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry his cross. Read Mark 15. 21-32. Lets look for a few minutes at what happened on the cross. (At the cross)
The condemned man probably carried the cross piece.
Laid on this cross piece – hands nailed and tied to the wood. Think about the pain of the nails.
The cross piece was attached to the upright piece, his feet nailed to the bottom of the cross and then the whole thing was raised up and put into a hole with a thud.
All of the weight of Jesus was on the nails through his hands and the nails in his feet. In order to breathe he had to push down on his feet which would lift up his body. There was a constant struggle for him to just breathe. (back from the cross)
While he was on the cross the people and the leaders mocked him – you saved others, save yourself. Come down form the cross and we will believe in you.
Even though Jesus was in terrible pain and torture, he spoke seven times according to the various gospels. In Gospel of John he told the Apostle John to take care of Mary his mother. John also recorded that he said, “I am thirsty.” In Luke it is recorded that Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Can you imagine forgiving others while they were in the process of killing him?) In that Gospel he told on of the other men being crucified that this day you will be with me in paradise. The Gospel of Matthew records the difficult saying, “Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”( I will never understand completely what that means.) Finally he said, “It is finished. Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
With this Jesus died on the cross. He gave up his life. He was dead. At that point a number of things happened. Read Mark 15.38-39. In the beautiful temple the heavy clothe which divided the holy of holies from the holy place was torn in two showing that the way to God was open to all.
Jesus died on the cross – that is the message of the morning. There are two questions we need to look at now. The first is what does his death on the cross mean? Why do we remember it all these centuries later? Millions of other men and women had died before Jesus. Hundreds and maybe thousands of Jews had been crucified by the Romans. Even on the day that Jesus was crucified, two others Jesus were crucified and died. What make the death of Jesus so important?
Jesus was and is the sinless Son Of God in human flesh. He came to the earth to teach us how to live for God completely. He also came to earth to die for us, so we can have forgiveness of sins. In Colossians 1.19-23 we read this. The fullness of God was in Jesus Christ the Lord. He was fully God. Jesus died on the cross and through the shedding of the blood of Jesus; God reconciled all things to himself. God is holy and demands payment for sin. On the cross, Jesus became the sacrificial lamb of God. When he died, the payment for all the sins ever done in the world, was made. I do not understand what happened. I do not understand why the payment had to be made and why it had to be made in this way, but the price was paid in full and forever.
According to this passage, God reconciled the world to himself by the death of Christ to present all people holy and acceptable to himself, without blemish and free from accusation. Preaching this is the good news, the Gospel, which is to be preached to all people. All of this was made possible because our Lord was obedient to God, was willing to endure the pain and suffering of the cross, and he died for us. Why did Jesus die on the cross? He died for the salvation of all people.
I said there were two questions we needed to ask. The first was what does the death of Christ mean? The second is what does the death of Jesus Christ mean to you and to me? There is no question that Jesus died for all, but every person needs to believe and accept the death of Christ for himself or herself. There is nothing automatic about it. You need to make a decision about Jesus Christ for yourself. I am asking all of you, do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you? Answer me by saying I believe. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is not just some ancient history. It is the event in the whole world that changed everything in the world forever for all people, at least potentially. By believing in the death of Christ, by accepting him as your Lord and savior, by being baptized into his death and raising to walk in the newness of life, you can have the hope of eternal life. I can have the hope of eternal life.
Isaac Watts – 1707 “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died,My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God!All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down!Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe, Spreads o’er His body on the tree;Then I am dead to all the globe, And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small;Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
To Christ, who won for sinners grace By bitter grief and anguish sore,Be praise from all the ransomed race Forever and forevermore.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sermon February 8
God loves Children – Jamaica Report 2009
Mark 10.13-16 (page )
We got back from Jamaica on Monday night – I want to thank Lindon and Betty for taking us up to the airport and thank Dave for picking us up. When we left it was about -8 degrees and still cold when we got back. It is always 80 to 90 degrees in Montego Bay.
This was my 11th time going on a mission trip to Jamaica. Many of you have gone with us and hopefully in the future, more of you will go. It is a trip that is in some ways the same every year, but also unique every year. We had a total of 18 people on our trip. A large part of the trip is taking things down with us to give to the orphanages and schools we visit and I want to thank you for what you gave us to take down. We took the school supplies you brought in last summer. You gave us close to $500 to spend. I spent about $350 for medicines at Medicap Pharmacy – Thank John Engelhardt – this included children’s Tylenol, cold medicines, anti-biotic creams, and a new kind of Pedialite for the kids. While we were there we spent the rest of the money on other supplies the orphanages needed, including a new printer for the office at Blossom Gardens Children’s home. I thank you all for what you contributed this year – all of you.
Why do we go to Jamaica each year? There are a lot of answers to that question; including it is warm down there and very cold up here in February. It is fun for me to swim in the ocean every day. But there are other answers to the question.
1. We are showing love to children that God loves. In Mark 10.13-16 Jesus told us very clearly his attitude toward children. Read. Jesus had been in a serious discussion with the Jewish people and his disciples. These were important matters that needed to be settled. But right in the middle of all of that, some of the parents came with there noisy little kids to have Jesus bless them. The disciples of Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint John and all the rest, tried to keep the kids from Jesus. When he saw what they were doing, he got very upset at them – indignant is the word. What are you doing? It would have been normal for kids to be excluded from a teacher or rabbi. They were just a bother – they did not pay attention to what was being said and they may even talk out loud when they should be quiet. But Jesus loved them – all children – very much, so he told his disciples to let them come to him. Listen again to what he said to the disciples – read 14-15. The kingdom of God belongs to them – they are God’s children, and he loves them very much. If we as adults do not receive the kingdom of God like these kids, we will not enter the kingdom of God. Do you see the love Jesus had for these kids? He not only blessed them, but took them in his arms and held them. There is something almost divine about holding a special little child – Jesus experienced that, and so do we.
Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. This is what we do in Jamaica, for the Lord. We show God’s love to them in very special ways. These kids are taken care of from a physical sense – enough food, clothes, etc. They are taken care of very well we believe. What they need is someone to talk to them, hold them, play with them, and pray for them. That is what we do. Blossom Gardens has a lot of little babies who have been abandoned or taken away from parents. Some were just a few weeks old. They also have toddlers – a total of 50 some kids. (This number is down from 60 to 70 kids in years past.) The workers there take care of them, but there are just not enough laps and arms to hold all of them. We get to hold them and play with them, and they just absorb all of the love we give to them. (Like little sponges)
One of the things we encourage all of the team members to do is pray for them – we composed this HUSH prayer a couple of years back to pray for them as we hold them. Read. We pray this prayer and we just pray for them, telling them I love you and God love you. We have seen God bless them in special ways. It is hard to describe, but it was seen this year that the kids are a lot better off than in the past. They are more able to share, less aggressive, and even more relaxed it seems. Things are better at Blossom than they have been.
We also spent a couple of days at Westhaven Children’s home. This is out in the country a few miles from MoBay. It is for older kids – mentally and physically handicapped – from 8 or 10 years old to in their 20s or more. Some of them were little babies at Blossom when we first started going there. In some ways they are harder to deal with – they will never get better and most will spend their whole lives there.
One difficult thing was the death of Marlin last year. He was a teenager who developed some tumors a couple of years ago. He was supposed to be brought to the US to have them taken care of, but that never happened, and he died last May. He was a joy to talk to there and greatly missed. We are really praying for his twin sister, Marlene, who needs to get out of there. She is developing the same kinds of tumors. She is not mentally handicapped – very normal – probably put in there just as an orphan. Do any of you want to 17 year old to raise?
One of the things I do each year is take a book with me to read. It is hard to decide which book I am going to read down there, but usually they have been pretty good. This year I read the book Desire by James Huston. The main thrust of the book is that we need to develop a deep desire for God and the things of God. The desire for God is unique in that God fulfills that desire as God gives us himself and his peace to us. He fulfills our desire. But also there is a lasting hunger for more of God – more of his love, more of his joy. So we keep on seeking God.
One of the sections of the book referred to a passage of scripture in Romans 8 where the apostle Paul uses the word – ABBA. This is the word in Aramaic for what we would us as Daddy or as my son Peder calls me – Pops. Jesus used this word when he talked to his Father – God. This word was never used to refer to God, but Jesus used it. Then it is used in Romans 8.13-17. Read. Abba, Father. The morning after I read this section of the book I was holding one of the little kids and thought – this is an Abba child – the Father’s child, God’s child. I am getting to hold this little one for a few days to show the love of God. God know the name of this child and loves him or her very much. He is an Abba child. All of the kids around the world are his, no matter what color or language, rich or poor. They are Abba kids.
In the same way, all of us here are Abba children, kids of the Father, children of God, and he loves us very much. I had a Dad and Mom who loved me, but even more than that I have a Daddy, God himself, who loves me with a love that is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than I can even imagine.
God loves you, and offers to all salvation in Jesus Christ.
Mark 10.13-16 (page )
We got back from Jamaica on Monday night – I want to thank Lindon and Betty for taking us up to the airport and thank Dave for picking us up. When we left it was about -8 degrees and still cold when we got back. It is always 80 to 90 degrees in Montego Bay.
This was my 11th time going on a mission trip to Jamaica. Many of you have gone with us and hopefully in the future, more of you will go. It is a trip that is in some ways the same every year, but also unique every year. We had a total of 18 people on our trip. A large part of the trip is taking things down with us to give to the orphanages and schools we visit and I want to thank you for what you gave us to take down. We took the school supplies you brought in last summer. You gave us close to $500 to spend. I spent about $350 for medicines at Medicap Pharmacy – Thank John Engelhardt – this included children’s Tylenol, cold medicines, anti-biotic creams, and a new kind of Pedialite for the kids. While we were there we spent the rest of the money on other supplies the orphanages needed, including a new printer for the office at Blossom Gardens Children’s home. I thank you all for what you contributed this year – all of you.
Why do we go to Jamaica each year? There are a lot of answers to that question; including it is warm down there and very cold up here in February. It is fun for me to swim in the ocean every day. But there are other answers to the question.
1. We are showing love to children that God loves. In Mark 10.13-16 Jesus told us very clearly his attitude toward children. Read. Jesus had been in a serious discussion with the Jewish people and his disciples. These were important matters that needed to be settled. But right in the middle of all of that, some of the parents came with there noisy little kids to have Jesus bless them. The disciples of Jesus, Saint Peter, Saint John and all the rest, tried to keep the kids from Jesus. When he saw what they were doing, he got very upset at them – indignant is the word. What are you doing? It would have been normal for kids to be excluded from a teacher or rabbi. They were just a bother – they did not pay attention to what was being said and they may even talk out loud when they should be quiet. But Jesus loved them – all children – very much, so he told his disciples to let them come to him. Listen again to what he said to the disciples – read 14-15. The kingdom of God belongs to them – they are God’s children, and he loves them very much. If we as adults do not receive the kingdom of God like these kids, we will not enter the kingdom of God. Do you see the love Jesus had for these kids? He not only blessed them, but took them in his arms and held them. There is something almost divine about holding a special little child – Jesus experienced that, and so do we.
Then Jesus took the children in his arms and blessed them. This is what we do in Jamaica, for the Lord. We show God’s love to them in very special ways. These kids are taken care of from a physical sense – enough food, clothes, etc. They are taken care of very well we believe. What they need is someone to talk to them, hold them, play with them, and pray for them. That is what we do. Blossom Gardens has a lot of little babies who have been abandoned or taken away from parents. Some were just a few weeks old. They also have toddlers – a total of 50 some kids. (This number is down from 60 to 70 kids in years past.) The workers there take care of them, but there are just not enough laps and arms to hold all of them. We get to hold them and play with them, and they just absorb all of the love we give to them. (Like little sponges)
One of the things we encourage all of the team members to do is pray for them – we composed this HUSH prayer a couple of years back to pray for them as we hold them. Read. We pray this prayer and we just pray for them, telling them I love you and God love you. We have seen God bless them in special ways. It is hard to describe, but it was seen this year that the kids are a lot better off than in the past. They are more able to share, less aggressive, and even more relaxed it seems. Things are better at Blossom than they have been.
We also spent a couple of days at Westhaven Children’s home. This is out in the country a few miles from MoBay. It is for older kids – mentally and physically handicapped – from 8 or 10 years old to in their 20s or more. Some of them were little babies at Blossom when we first started going there. In some ways they are harder to deal with – they will never get better and most will spend their whole lives there.
One difficult thing was the death of Marlin last year. He was a teenager who developed some tumors a couple of years ago. He was supposed to be brought to the US to have them taken care of, but that never happened, and he died last May. He was a joy to talk to there and greatly missed. We are really praying for his twin sister, Marlene, who needs to get out of there. She is developing the same kinds of tumors. She is not mentally handicapped – very normal – probably put in there just as an orphan. Do any of you want to 17 year old to raise?
One of the things I do each year is take a book with me to read. It is hard to decide which book I am going to read down there, but usually they have been pretty good. This year I read the book Desire by James Huston. The main thrust of the book is that we need to develop a deep desire for God and the things of God. The desire for God is unique in that God fulfills that desire as God gives us himself and his peace to us. He fulfills our desire. But also there is a lasting hunger for more of God – more of his love, more of his joy. So we keep on seeking God.
One of the sections of the book referred to a passage of scripture in Romans 8 where the apostle Paul uses the word – ABBA. This is the word in Aramaic for what we would us as Daddy or as my son Peder calls me – Pops. Jesus used this word when he talked to his Father – God. This word was never used to refer to God, but Jesus used it. Then it is used in Romans 8.13-17. Read. Abba, Father. The morning after I read this section of the book I was holding one of the little kids and thought – this is an Abba child – the Father’s child, God’s child. I am getting to hold this little one for a few days to show the love of God. God know the name of this child and loves him or her very much. He is an Abba child. All of the kids around the world are his, no matter what color or language, rich or poor. They are Abba kids.
In the same way, all of us here are Abba children, kids of the Father, children of God, and he loves us very much. I had a Dad and Mom who loved me, but even more than that I have a Daddy, God himself, who loves me with a love that is wider, longer, higher, and deeper than I can even imagine.
God loves you, and offers to all salvation in Jesus Christ.
Sermon Feb 15th
Faith in Jesus – What does that mean?
Mark 6.1-6
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is easy for some people but very difficult for others. After we believe, we almost take it for granted that all people should believe what Jesus taught and said. But some have a hard time believing in Jesus Christ. Why? That is what we are going to look at today in this message. The passage in Mark 6 tells about Jesus teaching in a Jewish synagogue about himself and then the reaction of the hearers to what he said.
Listen as I read Mark 6.1-6. What made it hard for the listeners to believe what Jesus said? Read. The Jewish synagogue was the equivalent to our churches. The Jews traveled to the temple in Jerusalem once a year or so to worship there. But on a regular basis – every Sabbath or Saturday the Jews gathered in their synagogue to read the OT, hear a message about the scripture, and pray. This was the home synagogue of Jesus where he learned Hebrew and the other teachings of the Jewish religion. It was a custom to invite a teacher to read the OT in Hebrew. The congregation read a portion of their Bible – the OT – on a regular system – on a 3 year rotation or something like that, like some churches do with a lectionary today.
It just so happened that the scripture Jesus read on that day was from Isaiah 61.1-2. Luke 4 is the parallel passage of the gospels and it says Jesus read this. Read Luke 4.18-21. For centuries the Jews in their synagogues read this passage on a certain day. After it was read the speaker of the day would say, someday this scripture will be fulfilled and the Messiah of Israel will come to us. The people in the congregation would shake their heads in agreement with a hope that someday soon the Messiah would come. But this day after it was read, Jesus rolled up the scroll and said to the people, “Today the scripture is fulfilled in me.” In Jesus.
The barrier to belief here is that they knew him too well – he was from their home town.
That is why the people in the congregation were so surprised at what Jesus said. They knew he was claiming to be the very Messiah prophesied in so many passages in the OT. The congregation was being asked to believe that this man, a man who had grown up in this very town and synagogue was the Messiah. It would be like me claiming to the Messiah here today. I am not, but I did grow up here in Austin and this very congregation. Some of you knew me when I was a teenager when my whole family came to this church – not many, but at least some. Would it be hard for you to believe me, if I claimed to be the long awaited Messiah? Of course.
Jesus had given them some evidence already that he was the Messiah. His teachings were extremely unusual. He did preach to the poor. He did give sight to the blind. He did heal many diseases. Jesus gave them evidence of his right to be called the Messiah.
Some times it is hard to believe in Jesus in our world today. There are a lot of honest people who do not believe that Jesus was or is God. There are a number of reasons for lack of belief, or barriers to belief. 1)It is hard to believe in the miraculous things Jesus did when the view of the world is that everything is based on scientific evidence. Science seems to say that only natural things can happen, not supernatural things. If Jesus claims to raise people from the dead or feed thousands of people with just a few fish and a couple of biscuits, it just could not happen to them.
2) What is taught in college and even high schools is a barrier to belief. I think too that many college teachers think their main job in teaching is to get their students to give up any childish faith in God. They want the students to doubt everything they have been taught in church or Sunday school. They want to create atheists it seems or young people without morals, without purpose and direction, for whatever reason. I have looked at the evidence for faith, and I am sure there are good reasons to believe in Jesus Christ. (Intelligent design/millions of pure accidents.)
This week I received an email with a story about and atheist. He was in the Rockies enjoying the beautiful scenery – what beautiful mountains, trees, little animals. Then a bear started chasing him. Tripped and fell. Bear right on top of him. Prayed – God, save me. Behind the bear there was light and a voice which said, “Is that really fair? You have denied me all of your life.” The atheists said, you are right, but one thing. Will you make the bear a Chr? Immediately the face of the bear changed to a serene look. The bear sat up, folded his paws, closed his eyes and prayed, “Dear God, for this meal I am about to eat, make me truly thankful.”
3) Another barrier to belief is the sins of others. I have talked to people who tell me that their dad or grandpa or a priest or minister was a religious person, but did this or that to them. That is too bad and I am sorry. Too many religious or even Chr people sin against children, but the greatest tragedy is that these sins might keep the child from God.
4) Sometimes sin of the person, himself or herself, is a barrier to belief. When we sin we do not want to face God or go to church so we avoid God. I know the devil works hard on this as he tells us we are can not ask forgiveness – we are not worthy to even approach God. But that is the very message of Jesus Christ – he says I love you just as you are. Come to Jesus and ask forgiveness. Let me say too that Jesus loves us so much he will not leave us the way we are – with his power he will change us so we can live a fulfilling life for him.
These are barriers to belief. Are there benefits of belief? 1) Hebrew 11.6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We must believe in Jesus Christ to have a relationship with God. God rewards us when we diligently seek our loving God.
2) Another benefit of belief is the knowledge of forgiveness of sins – you and I are completely cleansed from sin – all past sins. We do not need to carry the burden of the past around. We can come into the presence of God as clean and pure because of the blood of Christ.
3) We have purpose in life – to live and serve the living God for his glory. We are not just floating through life aimlessly – we know where we are going and what we are doing.
4) Finally, we have the benefit of belief that gives us the hope of eternal life – heaven forever with our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever and ever. Eternal bliss and eternal joy.
Jesus invites you to believe in him today. He is the Messiah – the Savior – the Lord.
Mark 6.1-6
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God is easy for some people but very difficult for others. After we believe, we almost take it for granted that all people should believe what Jesus taught and said. But some have a hard time believing in Jesus Christ. Why? That is what we are going to look at today in this message. The passage in Mark 6 tells about Jesus teaching in a Jewish synagogue about himself and then the reaction of the hearers to what he said.
Listen as I read Mark 6.1-6. What made it hard for the listeners to believe what Jesus said? Read. The Jewish synagogue was the equivalent to our churches. The Jews traveled to the temple in Jerusalem once a year or so to worship there. But on a regular basis – every Sabbath or Saturday the Jews gathered in their synagogue to read the OT, hear a message about the scripture, and pray. This was the home synagogue of Jesus where he learned Hebrew and the other teachings of the Jewish religion. It was a custom to invite a teacher to read the OT in Hebrew. The congregation read a portion of their Bible – the OT – on a regular system – on a 3 year rotation or something like that, like some churches do with a lectionary today.
It just so happened that the scripture Jesus read on that day was from Isaiah 61.1-2. Luke 4 is the parallel passage of the gospels and it says Jesus read this. Read Luke 4.18-21. For centuries the Jews in their synagogues read this passage on a certain day. After it was read the speaker of the day would say, someday this scripture will be fulfilled and the Messiah of Israel will come to us. The people in the congregation would shake their heads in agreement with a hope that someday soon the Messiah would come. But this day after it was read, Jesus rolled up the scroll and said to the people, “Today the scripture is fulfilled in me.” In Jesus.
The barrier to belief here is that they knew him too well – he was from their home town.
That is why the people in the congregation were so surprised at what Jesus said. They knew he was claiming to be the very Messiah prophesied in so many passages in the OT. The congregation was being asked to believe that this man, a man who had grown up in this very town and synagogue was the Messiah. It would be like me claiming to the Messiah here today. I am not, but I did grow up here in Austin and this very congregation. Some of you knew me when I was a teenager when my whole family came to this church – not many, but at least some. Would it be hard for you to believe me, if I claimed to be the long awaited Messiah? Of course.
Jesus had given them some evidence already that he was the Messiah. His teachings were extremely unusual. He did preach to the poor. He did give sight to the blind. He did heal many diseases. Jesus gave them evidence of his right to be called the Messiah.
Some times it is hard to believe in Jesus in our world today. There are a lot of honest people who do not believe that Jesus was or is God. There are a number of reasons for lack of belief, or barriers to belief. 1)It is hard to believe in the miraculous things Jesus did when the view of the world is that everything is based on scientific evidence. Science seems to say that only natural things can happen, not supernatural things. If Jesus claims to raise people from the dead or feed thousands of people with just a few fish and a couple of biscuits, it just could not happen to them.
2) What is taught in college and even high schools is a barrier to belief. I think too that many college teachers think their main job in teaching is to get their students to give up any childish faith in God. They want the students to doubt everything they have been taught in church or Sunday school. They want to create atheists it seems or young people without morals, without purpose and direction, for whatever reason. I have looked at the evidence for faith, and I am sure there are good reasons to believe in Jesus Christ. (Intelligent design/millions of pure accidents.)
This week I received an email with a story about and atheist. He was in the Rockies enjoying the beautiful scenery – what beautiful mountains, trees, little animals. Then a bear started chasing him. Tripped and fell. Bear right on top of him. Prayed – God, save me. Behind the bear there was light and a voice which said, “Is that really fair? You have denied me all of your life.” The atheists said, you are right, but one thing. Will you make the bear a Chr? Immediately the face of the bear changed to a serene look. The bear sat up, folded his paws, closed his eyes and prayed, “Dear God, for this meal I am about to eat, make me truly thankful.”
3) Another barrier to belief is the sins of others. I have talked to people who tell me that their dad or grandpa or a priest or minister was a religious person, but did this or that to them. That is too bad and I am sorry. Too many religious or even Chr people sin against children, but the greatest tragedy is that these sins might keep the child from God.
4) Sometimes sin of the person, himself or herself, is a barrier to belief. When we sin we do not want to face God or go to church so we avoid God. I know the devil works hard on this as he tells us we are can not ask forgiveness – we are not worthy to even approach God. But that is the very message of Jesus Christ – he says I love you just as you are. Come to Jesus and ask forgiveness. Let me say too that Jesus loves us so much he will not leave us the way we are – with his power he will change us so we can live a fulfilling life for him.
These are barriers to belief. Are there benefits of belief? 1) Hebrew 11.6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” We must believe in Jesus Christ to have a relationship with God. God rewards us when we diligently seek our loving God.
2) Another benefit of belief is the knowledge of forgiveness of sins – you and I are completely cleansed from sin – all past sins. We do not need to carry the burden of the past around. We can come into the presence of God as clean and pure because of the blood of Christ.
3) We have purpose in life – to live and serve the living God for his glory. We are not just floating through life aimlessly – we know where we are going and what we are doing.
4) Finally, we have the benefit of belief that gives us the hope of eternal life – heaven forever with our Lord Jesus Christ. Forever and ever. Eternal bliss and eternal joy.
Jesus invites you to believe in him today. He is the Messiah – the Savior – the Lord.
It is my Dad’s birthday today – Vernon Arnold DeFor – February 16, 1921 – he would have been 88 years old today. In late October he will have been dead for 50 years – that is a long time.
I am thankful for him. He was a kind and gentle man even though he was a big man. He was fun to be around.
I think of how fortunate I am for a number of things. I have seen my kids grow into adulthood – Dad did not get to see that. I am proud of all of my kids as adults. I have seen them get married and have kids. He would have had so much fun with his grandkids, and he would have been good with them. I know that I have the most handsome and pretty grandchild – they are smart and nice too.
I guess I have thought about him more since Mom is gone. When she married Ray I struggled with some one else replacing my Dad. Ray did not do that – he was very good for Mom, but never my Dad.
I am going to go out to the cemetery this afternoon and put a flower on his grave and talk to him – thanking him for being my Dad. I hope that does not sound too weird. I had him for too short a time.
I am thankful for him. He was a kind and gentle man even though he was a big man. He was fun to be around.
I think of how fortunate I am for a number of things. I have seen my kids grow into adulthood – Dad did not get to see that. I am proud of all of my kids as adults. I have seen them get married and have kids. He would have had so much fun with his grandkids, and he would have been good with them. I know that I have the most handsome and pretty grandchild – they are smart and nice too.
I guess I have thought about him more since Mom is gone. When she married Ray I struggled with some one else replacing my Dad. Ray did not do that – he was very good for Mom, but never my Dad.
I am going to go out to the cemetery this afternoon and put a flower on his grave and talk to him – thanking him for being my Dad. I hope that does not sound too weird. I had him for too short a time.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sermon 1
A Busy Restful Couple of Days
Mark 1.21 -37
What was the daily life of the Lord Jesus Christ like? What did he do? What didn’t he do? All of have our routines that we follow in our days. We usually get up at a certain time. It might change if we go to work or have a day off, but we generally do things in a specific pattern. Did Jesus have any kind of pattern he followed on a typical day? Let us look at a couple of days in the life of Jesus to see some of the things he did, maybe on a typical day.
Read Mark 1.21 – 22. The days we are going to look at start on a Friday afternoon. We know it is a Friday afternoon because that is when the Sabbath starts in the Jewish tradition. We think of going to church on Sunday morning, when the Jews went to the synagogue service it was on Friday evening – after sunset on Friday. Jesus taught in the synagogue on that day. He was traveling through the area and he was invited to teach the Jews on that day. The people were in for a real surprise – this Rabbi – teacher – taught with authority not like everyone else. And they listened. I can imagine the normal Sabbath service – when the speaker stood up, their minds turned off and maybe they went to sleep, like people here. But this preacher really challenged them with what he said.
The passage does not tell us what he talked about, but in his teaching he said, “Do to others as you would have them to do you.” Do you not want people to cheat you in a transaction? Then you better not cheat them. Do you want them not to gossip about you, then don’t gossip about them. Jesus said seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all of this will be other things will be given to you. The people who were listening were good church people but they were as materialistic as the rest of the culture. I will seek the money and job first, and then maybe give a little to God. Jesus said – I must be first in your life – absolutely first. The listeners were awake and listening because this was very different.
Move with me to the next four verses – Read 1.23-28. Then during the service on of the Jews in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit, stood up right there and shouted. It does not often happen that you talk back to me during the service when I am preaching, and I do not think any of you are demon possessed. This man knew who Jesus was even more than the disciple of Jesus knew. Jesus was indeed the “Holy One of God” as this man said. Then right during the service, Jesus did an exorcism – he ordered the evil spirit out of this man. The man was cleansed of this evil spirit.
That was not the end of the day for Jesus. Jesus went to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. Peter was married and his mother-in-law who lived with Peter and his wife was sick. Jesus healed her – just another miracle. That was the close of that day. Everyone had some supper and when to bed.
Between verse 31 and 32, was most of a day. This was the Sabbath day – the day of rest. We are not told what Jesus and his disciples did on that day, but it could not have been much. They could not do anything but just the minimal amount of work. They pretty much did nothing from the time they got up until sunset that afternoon. We should learn from them – we have to be busy all the time – running here and there – being busy. Not so with our Lord on the Sabbath day.
As soon as they could move around after the Sabbath, the people of the area brought all the sick to Jesus to be healed. Read 1.32-34. This was tremendously exciting for the people. We take our sick to the hospital, but they had extremely primitive medicine if they had any at all. All of a sudden here was Jesus who could heal any disease including demon possession. The people came so Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, those with broken arms or legs – some which had healed wrong. He healed heart conditions, cancers, goiter, and other diseases. He also drove out demons which had invaded men and women. These were people who could no longer control themselves, but were tortured by evil all the time. With the power of God, Jesus spoke and these demons were driven out. This must have been totally exhausting for him. Because of his love for these suffering men and women, he healed them. Maybe hundreds walked home that night relieved of their sicknesses and spiritual torture.
I can imagine the disciples went to sleep that night excited about the day. Their Rabbi was certainly something different – he was a teacher better than anyone could even imagine. Besides that he could heal sicknesses. It must have been hard for them to sleep thinking about the day. But they did go to sleep.
Read 1.35-37. When the disciples got probably at sunrise, Jesus was gone. They looked all around the house and he was not anywhere. Early in the morning or late at night Jesus got up and left house. He went to be by himself to pray. This for him was the most important thing that he did in the last couple of days. People have wondered why God the Son would pray to God the Father – God to God? What would he pray about? For me the answer is very clear. Pray is not just asking for things, but pray at its best is coming into the presence of God – just being there. For eternity, Jesus and the Father had been in constant intimate fellowship. When Jesus was on earth there was a separation that Jesus had never experienced. This time of prayer was a time of filling for him, and he needed that.
What do we learn from this passage? This is what I think – all of this was to build the faith of the disciples. As they watched all of what went on that day, their faith was built up. They must have asked each other – who is this? In the same way we as his modern day disciples have our faith built up as we see what Jesus did. Who is this? The greatest teacher ever. Who is this? The powerful healer from God. Who is this? Jesus Christ the very son of God
Mark 1.21 -37
What was the daily life of the Lord Jesus Christ like? What did he do? What didn’t he do? All of have our routines that we follow in our days. We usually get up at a certain time. It might change if we go to work or have a day off, but we generally do things in a specific pattern. Did Jesus have any kind of pattern he followed on a typical day? Let us look at a couple of days in the life of Jesus to see some of the things he did, maybe on a typical day.
Read Mark 1.21 – 22. The days we are going to look at start on a Friday afternoon. We know it is a Friday afternoon because that is when the Sabbath starts in the Jewish tradition. We think of going to church on Sunday morning, when the Jews went to the synagogue service it was on Friday evening – after sunset on Friday. Jesus taught in the synagogue on that day. He was traveling through the area and he was invited to teach the Jews on that day. The people were in for a real surprise – this Rabbi – teacher – taught with authority not like everyone else. And they listened. I can imagine the normal Sabbath service – when the speaker stood up, their minds turned off and maybe they went to sleep, like people here. But this preacher really challenged them with what he said.
The passage does not tell us what he talked about, but in his teaching he said, “Do to others as you would have them to do you.” Do you not want people to cheat you in a transaction? Then you better not cheat them. Do you want them not to gossip about you, then don’t gossip about them. Jesus said seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all of this will be other things will be given to you. The people who were listening were good church people but they were as materialistic as the rest of the culture. I will seek the money and job first, and then maybe give a little to God. Jesus said – I must be first in your life – absolutely first. The listeners were awake and listening because this was very different.
Move with me to the next four verses – Read 1.23-28. Then during the service on of the Jews in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit, stood up right there and shouted. It does not often happen that you talk back to me during the service when I am preaching, and I do not think any of you are demon possessed. This man knew who Jesus was even more than the disciple of Jesus knew. Jesus was indeed the “Holy One of God” as this man said. Then right during the service, Jesus did an exorcism – he ordered the evil spirit out of this man. The man was cleansed of this evil spirit.
That was not the end of the day for Jesus. Jesus went to the home of Simon Peter and Andrew. Peter was married and his mother-in-law who lived with Peter and his wife was sick. Jesus healed her – just another miracle. That was the close of that day. Everyone had some supper and when to bed.
Between verse 31 and 32, was most of a day. This was the Sabbath day – the day of rest. We are not told what Jesus and his disciples did on that day, but it could not have been much. They could not do anything but just the minimal amount of work. They pretty much did nothing from the time they got up until sunset that afternoon. We should learn from them – we have to be busy all the time – running here and there – being busy. Not so with our Lord on the Sabbath day.
As soon as they could move around after the Sabbath, the people of the area brought all the sick to Jesus to be healed. Read 1.32-34. This was tremendously exciting for the people. We take our sick to the hospital, but they had extremely primitive medicine if they had any at all. All of a sudden here was Jesus who could heal any disease including demon possession. The people came so Jesus healed the blind, the deaf, those with broken arms or legs – some which had healed wrong. He healed heart conditions, cancers, goiter, and other diseases. He also drove out demons which had invaded men and women. These were people who could no longer control themselves, but were tortured by evil all the time. With the power of God, Jesus spoke and these demons were driven out. This must have been totally exhausting for him. Because of his love for these suffering men and women, he healed them. Maybe hundreds walked home that night relieved of their sicknesses and spiritual torture.
I can imagine the disciples went to sleep that night excited about the day. Their Rabbi was certainly something different – he was a teacher better than anyone could even imagine. Besides that he could heal sicknesses. It must have been hard for them to sleep thinking about the day. But they did go to sleep.
Read 1.35-37. When the disciples got probably at sunrise, Jesus was gone. They looked all around the house and he was not anywhere. Early in the morning or late at night Jesus got up and left house. He went to be by himself to pray. This for him was the most important thing that he did in the last couple of days. People have wondered why God the Son would pray to God the Father – God to God? What would he pray about? For me the answer is very clear. Pray is not just asking for things, but pray at its best is coming into the presence of God – just being there. For eternity, Jesus and the Father had been in constant intimate fellowship. When Jesus was on earth there was a separation that Jesus had never experienced. This time of prayer was a time of filling for him, and he needed that.
What do we learn from this passage? This is what I think – all of this was to build the faith of the disciples. As they watched all of what went on that day, their faith was built up. They must have asked each other – who is this? In the same way we as his modern day disciples have our faith built up as we see what Jesus did. Who is this? The greatest teacher ever. Who is this? The powerful healer from God. Who is this? Jesus Christ the very son of God
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year
One of my New Years resolutions is to do a blog every week in 2009. I will try.
This has been a busy and great couple of months.
The last part of November I flew to Germany and spent time with Hans and his family. We had a great time driving very fast around Germany looking a Dachau and many other places. I got to spend some time with two on my wonderful grandkids there.
In December I flew to Seattle to see Marshall Dean for the first time. They had the worst snow storm in 40 years that weekend so I spent a lot of time holding Marshall. Heidi and I flew back - Marshall was perfect on the flight.
We had a good Christmas topped off with watching the Vikings get beat in the playoff game. I went to Peder and Sarah's and I picked up Heidi and Marshall on the way. How great was that being with two of my kids and two grandkids. I watch Relia interact with Heidi and Marshall - she is so demonstrative in her actions and facial expressions. Wow. The only thing that could have made it better would have been Hans and Rachel and their kids bing there - someday.
Mary and I went to the Strange Case of Benjamin Button - it was an unusual but very good long movie.
Hope you have a good 2009.
Love to all,
Steve/Dad
This has been a busy and great couple of months.
The last part of November I flew to Germany and spent time with Hans and his family. We had a great time driving very fast around Germany looking a Dachau and many other places. I got to spend some time with two on my wonderful grandkids there.
In December I flew to Seattle to see Marshall Dean for the first time. They had the worst snow storm in 40 years that weekend so I spent a lot of time holding Marshall. Heidi and I flew back - Marshall was perfect on the flight.
We had a good Christmas topped off with watching the Vikings get beat in the playoff game. I went to Peder and Sarah's and I picked up Heidi and Marshall on the way. How great was that being with two of my kids and two grandkids. I watch Relia interact with Heidi and Marshall - she is so demonstrative in her actions and facial expressions. Wow. The only thing that could have made it better would have been Hans and Rachel and their kids bing there - someday.
Mary and I went to the Strange Case of Benjamin Button - it was an unusual but very good long movie.
Hope you have a good 2009.
Love to all,
Steve/Dad
Monday, June 9, 2008
June 1 sermon
Dedicated to God
Romans 12.1 – 8
The book of Romans is divided by most scholars into the theological section – chapters 1 -11 – and the practical section – chapters 12 – 16. Paul does this in most of his books – he sets forth the theology first and then applies it to life. That is what he does here.
In Chapter 1 he wrote that the righteous will life by faith.
In chapter 2 he says those who sin apart from the law will be judged and those who sin while under the law will be judged.
In Chapter 3 Paul writes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In Chapter 5 Paul wrote that because of his love for us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In Chapter 6 we learn that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
In Chapter 8 Paul writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Because of all of that, Paul writes that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Read Romans 12.1 – 2. The logical thing to do after all the things God has done for us is to give our bodies, our whole selves, to God as a living sacrifice. God wants all of me and all of you in his service. We used to talk about winning souls for the Lord. God want not just souls, but all of us. As Chrs we do not divide ourselves into parts, but we are whole beings and God wants all of us.
He does not demand that we give ourselves to God, but he urges us to give ourselves as living sacrifices to God. In the OT God told the Jews he wanted them to sacrifice animals to him and thousands of goats and sheep were sacrificed to him. These animals were killed and their blood was given as the sacrifice. God instead of that wants living sacrifices – we are to give ourselves to him to live for him every day. This is a pleasing sacrifice to God.
Have you committed yourself to God? There is a difference between becoming a Chr and committing ourselves to God. There should not be, but there is in practice. God wants all of me to serve him, all of us to serve him. He wants our talents, our love, our time, our money and all of us. Make a commitment to God right now – give him all of you.
Paul then goes on to tell us what this means. He says we are to be changed morally, mentally, and even our motivation. He says, do not be any longer conformed to the pattern of this world. The Chr is too much like the rest of the world. One of my Professors used to say that is alright to have the ship in the ocean, but not to have the ocean in the ship. The church is indeed in the world, but we can not have the world in the church, especially in morally. We need to be careful not to be conformed to the attitudes and actions of the world. Our world says that there is no such thing as sin. We should never judge the actions of any one. What is good for you is fine, but do not tell me what to do. What is good for me is what I follow. I can do any thing I want as long as I do not get caught or break the law. There are no absolutes in our world just choices I make about what makes me happy. At least that is what the world thinks.
I was listening to a radio program by Charles Colson this week. He was talking about two young men who have written a book entitled, Do Hard Things: Rebellion Against Low Expectations. The world expects kids to accomplish very little morally and educationally, but this book calls on kids to do the hard things even if the culture does not expect you to. This is where Chr kids go on mission trips to build a church or school instead of going to the beach and getting involved in sex and drugs. Do not be conformed to the pattern of the world.
The next phrase is “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our thinking needs to be changed. Again we as Chrs too often have the same patterns of thinking as the world. We honor the rich and look down on the poor. We like the pretty people and avoid the not so pretty people. We watch the same movies and TV shows as the rest of the people around us. We have time and money for every thing that is a pleasure for us, but not the time or money for serving the Lord.
Our minds need to be renewed for the glory of God. I said yesterday in the wedding I had, there needs to be a transition when we get married from thinking about me to thinking about we, and from I to us. Before we are married a man or woman can think of what is best for me, but when he or she marries, the thinking needs to change to what is best for us. Some people never make that transition. When we become Chrs we need to stop thinking what do I want and start thinking about what God wants me to do and be. Chrs think differently from non-Chrs.
In one of the books I was reading this week, the writer told about his change from an unforgiving spirit and wanting revenge to being forgiving. He and his family had been hit in a car accident by a drunk driver. His wife, his daughter and his mother were all killed, and one other child was injured. He was naturally angry at the driver of the other car. But he said after time he recognized that this anger had changed to wanting revenge – real revenge. He saw that that was based on the unforgiveness he had in his heart. As Chrs we think like Jesus Christ so we can not want revenge. He talked about getting rid of the unforgiveness and revenge. That is having our minds renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord.
When we stop being conformed to the world and have our minds transformed to the mind of Christ, we will as the last part of this section says, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” For all of us as Chrs this is what we want more than anything in our lives – to know what the will of God is in our lives every minute. God knows what is best for us and that is to do his will. When we get outside his will we know it and the Spirit of God helps us to know it. When we are living according to the will of God we know that too. God never forces us into his will, but he leads us into that will, and then blesses us as we do his will. I felt very definitely that I was in the will of God on the mission trip to Zimbabwe, but you do not have to go to Africa to be in the will of God. Every day we can be in his good, pleasing, and perfect will. This is what the rest of the book of Romans is about – being in God’s will.
God had given us salvation and righteousness in Jesus Christ. Because of that, we dedicate our lives as a living sacrifice to God. Then we stop being conformed to the pattern of the world and have our minds transformed by the power of God. Then we will be in the perfect will of God again for his glory.
Romans 12.1 – 8
The book of Romans is divided by most scholars into the theological section – chapters 1 -11 – and the practical section – chapters 12 – 16. Paul does this in most of his books – he sets forth the theology first and then applies it to life. That is what he does here.
In Chapter 1 he wrote that the righteous will life by faith.
In chapter 2 he says those who sin apart from the law will be judged and those who sin while under the law will be judged.
In Chapter 3 Paul writes that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
In Chapter 5 Paul wrote that because of his love for us, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In Chapter 6 we learn that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
In Chapter 8 Paul writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Because of all of that, Paul writes that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. Read Romans 12.1 – 2. The logical thing to do after all the things God has done for us is to give our bodies, our whole selves, to God as a living sacrifice. God wants all of me and all of you in his service. We used to talk about winning souls for the Lord. God want not just souls, but all of us. As Chrs we do not divide ourselves into parts, but we are whole beings and God wants all of us.
He does not demand that we give ourselves to God, but he urges us to give ourselves as living sacrifices to God. In the OT God told the Jews he wanted them to sacrifice animals to him and thousands of goats and sheep were sacrificed to him. These animals were killed and their blood was given as the sacrifice. God instead of that wants living sacrifices – we are to give ourselves to him to live for him every day. This is a pleasing sacrifice to God.
Have you committed yourself to God? There is a difference between becoming a Chr and committing ourselves to God. There should not be, but there is in practice. God wants all of me to serve him, all of us to serve him. He wants our talents, our love, our time, our money and all of us. Make a commitment to God right now – give him all of you.
Paul then goes on to tell us what this means. He says we are to be changed morally, mentally, and even our motivation. He says, do not be any longer conformed to the pattern of this world. The Chr is too much like the rest of the world. One of my Professors used to say that is alright to have the ship in the ocean, but not to have the ocean in the ship. The church is indeed in the world, but we can not have the world in the church, especially in morally. We need to be careful not to be conformed to the attitudes and actions of the world. Our world says that there is no such thing as sin. We should never judge the actions of any one. What is good for you is fine, but do not tell me what to do. What is good for me is what I follow. I can do any thing I want as long as I do not get caught or break the law. There are no absolutes in our world just choices I make about what makes me happy. At least that is what the world thinks.
I was listening to a radio program by Charles Colson this week. He was talking about two young men who have written a book entitled, Do Hard Things: Rebellion Against Low Expectations. The world expects kids to accomplish very little morally and educationally, but this book calls on kids to do the hard things even if the culture does not expect you to. This is where Chr kids go on mission trips to build a church or school instead of going to the beach and getting involved in sex and drugs. Do not be conformed to the pattern of the world.
The next phrase is “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Our thinking needs to be changed. Again we as Chrs too often have the same patterns of thinking as the world. We honor the rich and look down on the poor. We like the pretty people and avoid the not so pretty people. We watch the same movies and TV shows as the rest of the people around us. We have time and money for every thing that is a pleasure for us, but not the time or money for serving the Lord.
Our minds need to be renewed for the glory of God. I said yesterday in the wedding I had, there needs to be a transition when we get married from thinking about me to thinking about we, and from I to us. Before we are married a man or woman can think of what is best for me, but when he or she marries, the thinking needs to change to what is best for us. Some people never make that transition. When we become Chrs we need to stop thinking what do I want and start thinking about what God wants me to do and be. Chrs think differently from non-Chrs.
In one of the books I was reading this week, the writer told about his change from an unforgiving spirit and wanting revenge to being forgiving. He and his family had been hit in a car accident by a drunk driver. His wife, his daughter and his mother were all killed, and one other child was injured. He was naturally angry at the driver of the other car. But he said after time he recognized that this anger had changed to wanting revenge – real revenge. He saw that that was based on the unforgiveness he had in his heart. As Chrs we think like Jesus Christ so we can not want revenge. He talked about getting rid of the unforgiveness and revenge. That is having our minds renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord.
When we stop being conformed to the world and have our minds transformed to the mind of Christ, we will as the last part of this section says, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” For all of us as Chrs this is what we want more than anything in our lives – to know what the will of God is in our lives every minute. God knows what is best for us and that is to do his will. When we get outside his will we know it and the Spirit of God helps us to know it. When we are living according to the will of God we know that too. God never forces us into his will, but he leads us into that will, and then blesses us as we do his will. I felt very definitely that I was in the will of God on the mission trip to Zimbabwe, but you do not have to go to Africa to be in the will of God. Every day we can be in his good, pleasing, and perfect will. This is what the rest of the book of Romans is about – being in God’s will.
God had given us salvation and righteousness in Jesus Christ. Because of that, we dedicate our lives as a living sacrifice to God. Then we stop being conformed to the pattern of the world and have our minds transformed by the power of God. Then we will be in the perfect will of God again for his glory.
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