Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
Preaching
THE WESLEYAN PREACHING ANNUAL 2001--2002
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Based on Psalm 85)
Leader: God, Your smile is our desire.
People: Lift the cloud of guilt from us.
Leader: Put our sins far away.
People: Cool Your righteous anger against us.
Leader: Show us how much You love us, God!
All: Provide the redemption we need!
OFFERING THOUGHT
God calls us to love without limits, just as He unconditionally gives His love to us. Let us give love, likewise.
BENEDICTION
Unto Him that loved us with an unquenchable love and makes us priests and kings unto Jesus and the Father; to Him be glory and dominion for all days. Amen! (Revelation 1:5--6 adapted)
SERMON BRIEFS
If God Is For Us ...
Romans 8:26--39
I doubt the Apostle Paul could have guessed what kind of significance this writing would have through the history of the church. It is a very powerful text that has been the occasion for both great assurance for those souls in anguish, and it has been a text for sometimes--bitter disagreement.
From 8:29 to the end of the chapter, there is a long history of speculative disagreement. "How is divine foreknowledge and election related to human freedom" is a question that often focuses on passages like this. Some use this text to persuade us that God alone predestines us to heaven. Others respond that such absolute election of individuals cannot be true, or it would also determine those others who God would disallow such eternal reward.
For the moment, let's set this conundrum aside. Let's focus on the larger picture of the text.
After reading the passage, there is a statement that sticks in my mind: "If God is for us...." If? What does Paul mean, "If"? Of course God is for us. Why would he question this? How else could Paul understand all he has come to know about this gracious God?
Perhaps Paul is being rhetorical with the posed question. It is not so much that he questions it, but it is because he knows there are plenty of experiences in life where we might question it.
When would we doubt if God were for us? Paul has given some ideas of those troubling times when you and I might be caused to doubt God.
I. In those times when we are unable to pray, we might doubt God.
Beginning in verse 26, Paul identifies there might be times when words become impossible for us. Those seasons of heaviness, worry, dread, or darkness in the soul may actually drive us to our knees but then rob us of the words to say once we're there. Some issues in our lives are too personal to mention out loud. Sometimes these issues are too profound, too deep for us to verbalize. We bow before God deep in feeling but we might not be able to understand how to pray or for what to pray. These can be dark times and frustrating, too. We can often think that God does not hear us. All is nonsense.
In these times, Paul says, the Spirit is interceding. When we cannot find the words to voice or make sense of our deepest desires, needs, or troubles, the Holy Spirit is interceding. The Spirit is taking those unutterable groanings that rise from the depths of our souls and interpreting them to the Father. The Spirit is interpreting the non--sense of our groaning souls to the Father who can work creatively, redemptively, and dynamically in our lives to make sense out of the non--sense!
II. In those times when we are unable to see the possibility of God's deliverance, we might doubt God.
In verse 28, Paul identifies the God who works in all things. Not just the good things, but also all things are Paul's admissions. That means that there are experiences in our lives that we would not describe as being "good." Just ask Paul, being a Christian does not mean we receive a "get out of jail free" card whenever we want one! He was imprisoned, chased out of town, beaten, persecuted, and shipwrecked. Sometimes the life that follows after God can lead to places where there seems to be no way out ... no hope ... no possibility of salvation.
Paul acknowledges that not all things that happen in our lives are good things. But he insists for our understanding that God works all things together for our good. God is working in places where we would not expect to find God. God is working in ways we would not expect God would be able to work. To our surprise, God is omnicompetent! Where there seems to be no way, God will make a way! Where there seems to be only pain and evil, God is working a plan for good that is not subsumed!
III. In those times when we are persecuted for our faith in Jesus Christ, we might doubt God.
There are times when following Jesus may seem to be counter--productive. Instead of bringing a sense of shalom, we experience the hatred of the world toward those who do not share in their perspectives and attitudes. Persecution hasn't disappeared. It is still very much alive and well even in "Christian" countries. When persecutions do come and we might expect God's vindication at that moment, it doesn't always come. We are left to face consequences of our witness and may come to doubt whether God has withdrawn from the conflict abandoning us who would champion His cause.
Paul knows well about the feelings that come during persecution. He knows how easy it would be to doubt God's presence, benevolence or timing during these experiences. Yet the apostle is emphatic. Even the sword cannot separate us from God's love for us! That love made a sacrifice of God's only Son. It hasn't changed towards us. He will not withhold anything from us when we are needy.
Is God for us? Yes! If God is for us, who can be against us? No one can separate us from the love God has for us.
Ron Dalton
Surprised By God's Kingdom
Matthew 13:31--33, 44--52
Introduction
Where do you see God? That question is asked or implied in almost any conversation between non--believers and believers. Our culture places high value upon empirical and scientific evidence. We may often feel at a loss in attempting to support our faith claims. Jesus' parables offer insights into the discovery of God's presence.
Jesus spoke very often about the kingdom of God. That term was very familiar to his contemporaries. The idea of God's authority being like that of a great king was affirmed in Israel's faith. Jesus lived and preached in a time when God seemed far off. Jesus' message was that God's kingly rule had in fact drawn very near. Those who heard his claims would have asked, "Where, Jesus?" He communicated the truth of God's nearness with terms from very ordinary kinds of situations. He said, "Look closely at your circumstances, and you will be surprised by God's kingdom." Can we dare to think, to believe, that Jesus' answer still addresses us?
I. The Kingdom's mysterious power (vv. 31--33)
Herb gardens and bread making were everyday essentials. The two brief sayings in these verses emphasize the unseen mysteries involved in both of these activities. The very large mustard plant grew from the small black specks that looked like little more than small dirt particles. The mystery was in the power of the tiny seed to produce such a large plant.
The kingdom of God involved just such a mystery. Jesus came announcing the nearness of God's sovereign rule. The crowds who heard him had their own expectations about the coming of the kingdom. Looking at Jesus and his inner circle, they would have been inclined to ask, "Just where is this kingdom, Jesus?" They were not impressed with the people who gathered around Jesus. And their expectations about how God would reveal His divine authority were far different than what they saw and heard Jesus doing. But Jesus asserted that a seemingly insignificant beginning did not rule out an amazing conclusion - just like the large mustard plant comes from a tiny seed.
Once yeast is mixed into the flour to make bread dough, it is not visible to unaided human vision. But in time the lump of dough begins to grow. The presence of the yeast is evident by the results it produces. The kingdom of God simulates the yeast.
God's presence and power may not be very evident in our current situations. We may see only what appears to be little more than a speck of dust. But Jesus' words challenge us to trust God for a result out of all proportion to the apparent insignificance of the present. God's power most often works unobserved. But His presence becomes evident in the results that arise from His unseen actions.
II. The Kingdom's infinite value (vv. 44--46)
Galilee was a land of small farmers and landless peasants. It was a time when the safest way to keep valuables was to bury them. Jesus pictured a farmer out working in the field, likely as a tenant. He accidentally uncovered buried valuables. The extreme value of his find meant only one possible course of action. He simply had to buy the field, in order to gain this unimaginable treasure. It was worth selling all else that he owned, to have the money to buy the field.
Trade caravans came through Galilee regularly. Merchants who traded in all sorts of exotic merchandise traveled in such caravans. Pearls were a rare and highly prized commodity. Jesus described a pearl merchant who had looked for years for the most exquisite pearl of all. When he found it, he sold his entire collection in order to buy that one pearl.
These stories exhibit the behavior prompted by the prospect of possessing an infinite treasure. Its value makes all other possessions appear valueless. All are surrendered in order to possess the thing of supreme worth. That is just the way with the kingdom of God. It is like finding a treasure utterly by accident. It is like locating that for which one has searched for almost a lifetime.
III. The Kingdom's "whosoever" offer (vv. 47--52)
Catching fish was a familiar activity in Galilee. It was usually done with nets, thrown into the lake and dragged to the shore. The sweep of the nets did not discriminate as to the kinds of fish caught. The desirable elements of the catch were sorted from the undesirable only when the net reached the lakeshore.
Jesus offered the reality of God's kingdom in just such a free and open way. The opportunity to experience God's nearness was made without discrimination. Any and all were included in its sweep. The good news was for "whosoever."
Conclusion
God comes to you in just these three ways. He comes almost unnoticed. He breaks into your awareness with surprising joy. He offers his gracious presence to anyone who recognizes him. Are you living in the kingdom?
Hal A. Cauthron
CALL TO WORSHIP (Based on Psalm 85)
Leader: God, Your smile is our desire.
People: Lift the cloud of guilt from us.
Leader: Put our sins far away.
People: Cool Your righteous anger against us.
Leader: Show us how much You love us, God!
All: Provide the redemption we need!
OFFERING THOUGHT
God calls us to love without limits, just as He unconditionally gives His love to us. Let us give love, likewise.
BENEDICTION
Unto Him that loved us with an unquenchable love and makes us priests and kings unto Jesus and the Father; to Him be glory and dominion for all days. Amen! (Revelation 1:5--6 adapted)
SERMON BRIEFS
If God Is For Us ...
Romans 8:26--39
I doubt the Apostle Paul could have guessed what kind of significance this writing would have through the history of the church. It is a very powerful text that has been the occasion for both great assurance for those souls in anguish, and it has been a text for sometimes--bitter disagreement.
From 8:29 to the end of the chapter, there is a long history of speculative disagreement. "How is divine foreknowledge and election related to human freedom" is a question that often focuses on passages like this. Some use this text to persuade us that God alone predestines us to heaven. Others respond that such absolute election of individuals cannot be true, or it would also determine those others who God would disallow such eternal reward.
For the moment, let's set this conundrum aside. Let's focus on the larger picture of the text.
After reading the passage, there is a statement that sticks in my mind: "If God is for us...." If? What does Paul mean, "If"? Of course God is for us. Why would he question this? How else could Paul understand all he has come to know about this gracious God?
Perhaps Paul is being rhetorical with the posed question. It is not so much that he questions it, but it is because he knows there are plenty of experiences in life where we might question it.
When would we doubt if God were for us? Paul has given some ideas of those troubling times when you and I might be caused to doubt God.
I. In those times when we are unable to pray, we might doubt God.
Beginning in verse 26, Paul identifies there might be times when words become impossible for us. Those seasons of heaviness, worry, dread, or darkness in the soul may actually drive us to our knees but then rob us of the words to say once we're there. Some issues in our lives are too personal to mention out loud. Sometimes these issues are too profound, too deep for us to verbalize. We bow before God deep in feeling but we might not be able to understand how to pray or for what to pray. These can be dark times and frustrating, too. We can often think that God does not hear us. All is nonsense.
In these times, Paul says, the Spirit is interceding. When we cannot find the words to voice or make sense of our deepest desires, needs, or troubles, the Holy Spirit is interceding. The Spirit is taking those unutterable groanings that rise from the depths of our souls and interpreting them to the Father. The Spirit is interpreting the non--sense of our groaning souls to the Father who can work creatively, redemptively, and dynamically in our lives to make sense out of the non--sense!
II. In those times when we are unable to see the possibility of God's deliverance, we might doubt God.
In verse 28, Paul identifies the God who works in all things. Not just the good things, but also all things are Paul's admissions. That means that there are experiences in our lives that we would not describe as being "good." Just ask Paul, being a Christian does not mean we receive a "get out of jail free" card whenever we want one! He was imprisoned, chased out of town, beaten, persecuted, and shipwrecked. Sometimes the life that follows after God can lead to places where there seems to be no way out ... no hope ... no possibility of salvation.
Paul acknowledges that not all things that happen in our lives are good things. But he insists for our understanding that God works all things together for our good. God is working in places where we would not expect to find God. God is working in ways we would not expect God would be able to work. To our surprise, God is omnicompetent! Where there seems to be no way, God will make a way! Where there seems to be only pain and evil, God is working a plan for good that is not subsumed!
III. In those times when we are persecuted for our faith in Jesus Christ, we might doubt God.
There are times when following Jesus may seem to be counter--productive. Instead of bringing a sense of shalom, we experience the hatred of the world toward those who do not share in their perspectives and attitudes. Persecution hasn't disappeared. It is still very much alive and well even in "Christian" countries. When persecutions do come and we might expect God's vindication at that moment, it doesn't always come. We are left to face consequences of our witness and may come to doubt whether God has withdrawn from the conflict abandoning us who would champion His cause.
Paul knows well about the feelings that come during persecution. He knows how easy it would be to doubt God's presence, benevolence or timing during these experiences. Yet the apostle is emphatic. Even the sword cannot separate us from God's love for us! That love made a sacrifice of God's only Son. It hasn't changed towards us. He will not withhold anything from us when we are needy.
Is God for us? Yes! If God is for us, who can be against us? No one can separate us from the love God has for us.
Ron Dalton
Surprised By God's Kingdom
Matthew 13:31--33, 44--52
Introduction
Where do you see God? That question is asked or implied in almost any conversation between non--believers and believers. Our culture places high value upon empirical and scientific evidence. We may often feel at a loss in attempting to support our faith claims. Jesus' parables offer insights into the discovery of God's presence.
Jesus spoke very often about the kingdom of God. That term was very familiar to his contemporaries. The idea of God's authority being like that of a great king was affirmed in Israel's faith. Jesus lived and preached in a time when God seemed far off. Jesus' message was that God's kingly rule had in fact drawn very near. Those who heard his claims would have asked, "Where, Jesus?" He communicated the truth of God's nearness with terms from very ordinary kinds of situations. He said, "Look closely at your circumstances, and you will be surprised by God's kingdom." Can we dare to think, to believe, that Jesus' answer still addresses us?
I. The Kingdom's mysterious power (vv. 31--33)
Herb gardens and bread making were everyday essentials. The two brief sayings in these verses emphasize the unseen mysteries involved in both of these activities. The very large mustard plant grew from the small black specks that looked like little more than small dirt particles. The mystery was in the power of the tiny seed to produce such a large plant.
The kingdom of God involved just such a mystery. Jesus came announcing the nearness of God's sovereign rule. The crowds who heard him had their own expectations about the coming of the kingdom. Looking at Jesus and his inner circle, they would have been inclined to ask, "Just where is this kingdom, Jesus?" They were not impressed with the people who gathered around Jesus. And their expectations about how God would reveal His divine authority were far different than what they saw and heard Jesus doing. But Jesus asserted that a seemingly insignificant beginning did not rule out an amazing conclusion - just like the large mustard plant comes from a tiny seed.
Once yeast is mixed into the flour to make bread dough, it is not visible to unaided human vision. But in time the lump of dough begins to grow. The presence of the yeast is evident by the results it produces. The kingdom of God simulates the yeast.
God's presence and power may not be very evident in our current situations. We may see only what appears to be little more than a speck of dust. But Jesus' words challenge us to trust God for a result out of all proportion to the apparent insignificance of the present. God's power most often works unobserved. But His presence becomes evident in the results that arise from His unseen actions.
II. The Kingdom's infinite value (vv. 44--46)
Galilee was a land of small farmers and landless peasants. It was a time when the safest way to keep valuables was to bury them. Jesus pictured a farmer out working in the field, likely as a tenant. He accidentally uncovered buried valuables. The extreme value of his find meant only one possible course of action. He simply had to buy the field, in order to gain this unimaginable treasure. It was worth selling all else that he owned, to have the money to buy the field.
Trade caravans came through Galilee regularly. Merchants who traded in all sorts of exotic merchandise traveled in such caravans. Pearls were a rare and highly prized commodity. Jesus described a pearl merchant who had looked for years for the most exquisite pearl of all. When he found it, he sold his entire collection in order to buy that one pearl.
These stories exhibit the behavior prompted by the prospect of possessing an infinite treasure. Its value makes all other possessions appear valueless. All are surrendered in order to possess the thing of supreme worth. That is just the way with the kingdom of God. It is like finding a treasure utterly by accident. It is like locating that for which one has searched for almost a lifetime.
III. The Kingdom's "whosoever" offer (vv. 47--52)
Catching fish was a familiar activity in Galilee. It was usually done with nets, thrown into the lake and dragged to the shore. The sweep of the nets did not discriminate as to the kinds of fish caught. The desirable elements of the catch were sorted from the undesirable only when the net reached the lakeshore.
Jesus offered the reality of God's kingdom in just such a free and open way. The opportunity to experience God's nearness was made without discrimination. Any and all were included in its sweep. The good news was for "whosoever."
Conclusion
God comes to you in just these three ways. He comes almost unnoticed. He breaks into your awareness with surprising joy. He offers his gracious presence to anyone who recognizes him. Are you living in the kingdom?
Hal A. Cauthron
