Twenty--first Sunday After Pentecost
Preaching
THE WESLEYAN PREACHING ANNUAL 2001--2002
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The revelation of God puts the puzzle of life together.
People: The signposts of God give the right direction.
Leader: The map of God directs holy living.
People: The directions of God are easily understood.
Leader: The decisions of God are accurately given to all.
All: God's Word is of better quality than a diamond or purest gold.
OFFERING THOUGHT
Faith is not to be kept but shared. Let faith impact our relationships and intersect with others' lives to motivate the world to Jesus.
BENEDICTION
To those who love God, give help in troubled times, rescue the perishing, honor the living and protect the innocent! This is our task this week.
SERMON BRIEFS
Paul's Kind Of Christian
Philippians 4:1--9
Sears department stores market many of their items under the "good, better, and best" philosophy. You can, for example, buy a good tire, a better tire, or a best tire. Christians also seem to come in similar categories: good, better, and best. These verses from Paul show us how to be the best kind of Christian. Naturally the best kind of Christian is Paul's kind of Christian.
I. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must rejoice always. (v. 4)
A good or better Christian already knows how to rejoice. But their rejoicing is based on circumstances. When things are going well they are the first to praise God. Sadly, when the reverse is true they have the longest faces in town!
Here is what separates the best from the rest: they have learned the secret of rejoicing always. Many would scoff at the impossibility of the idea. They think it impossible to rejoice when they have a child in jail or when the doctor delivers bad news. The key to the ability to rejoice always is found in the phrase of verse four, "in the Lord." The best Christians have learned that their rejoicing does not depend upon circumstances. Rather, rejoicing always depends upon a God who never fails or disappoints. How could you fail to rejoice in a God like that? If you would be Paul's kind of Christian, learn to rejoice always.
II. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must pray thankfully. (v. 6)
Of course every Christian prays. But the good and better Christians focus on prayers where their needs are the center of attention. Such Christians often have a "genie" mentality of God. They believe if they say just the right words then the genie (God) will appear and grant them three or more wishes! What a wrong view of prayer. What a sad view of God.
The best Christians have learned to pray as verse 6 suggests: thankfully. We ought to approach our prayer time with God focusing on thanks for what we already possess. If all God ever did for us was save us from sin we would have enough "thanks" prayer material to last a long time. Make a conscious effort this week to become the best kind of Christian by praying thankfully.
III. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must think correctly. (v. 8)
What do you spend your time thinking about? Good and better Christians spend too much time thinking about how they are mistreated. They think about the time they ran for the church board but did not get elected. Too often thoughts fill their minds that could lead to heartache and pain. If you are a negative thinking Christian you will be a negative living Christian!
Paul's kind of Christian has traded negative thinking for positive thinking. If you have trouble making this transition in your own thinking, then look at the help given to you in verse eight. There you will find a catalog of positive thinking topics to mull over. It is not, however, an exclusive list. We are encouraged to think of anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. This week decide you will become a positive thinking Christian. Tape encouraging verses to your refrigerator or the remote control of your television set. Watch yourself become Paul's kind of Christian as you begin to think on positive things.
IV. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must act practically. (v. 9)
Churches are full of people who know what to do, but don't do it. They demand that the preacher feed them. People have migrated from church to church under the guise of not getting fed. The problem is not getting information on living the Christian life. The real challenge is to put that information into action!
Paul admonishes us that whatever we have learned, received, heard, or seen we ought to just do it. He too probably heard cries of "feed me." His concern is not that they learn more but that they put into action what they already know. This is what separates the good and better Christians from the best of Christians. The best Christians put into practice what they already know. They do not wait until they hear a truth they like and causes them no pain to employ. Instead, they act practically upon the truth they have received.
Be the best you can possible be for God. Accept nothing less. Exercise your will and decide today to be Paul's kind of Christian.
Randall Hartman
The Price Of Being Invited
Matthew 22:1--14
Every now and again, one senses the exasperation of the Scribes and Pharisees in regards to Jesus. He tells these provocative stories about weddings and the like - about invited guests being asked to leave - and then He ends it all with a statement like, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." What's this about? Why does Jesus say things like that? No wonder the religious leaders of the day were mystified by Him more often than not. But just how do you illustrate a kingdom that is unlike anything else on earth? The method of choice for Jesus is to tell stories, parables, we call them. They are intended to illustrate for us what the kingdom of God is like and how it operates. So what is this about?
"No Shirt--No Shoes--No Service!" It's a sign that is commonly seen on the doors of restaurants. Restaurants obviously want customers, that's what they are in business for, but they don't want customers at any price. Restaurants, by their very nature have certain rules regarding hygiene and the safety of customers. Those rules cannot be ignored simply to gain a few more people. In fact, to admit such people would be to undermine the very nature of a restaurant.
Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a wedding feast. Who ever heard of a wedding reception without guests? And if the invited guests will not come, then others will be admitted. But, even though the doors to the feast will be thrown open, there are still basic norms that apply to the nature of a wedding celebration that must be observed. To expect otherwise is to subvert the very nature and purpose of a wedding celebration. This parable portrays the opposite of the old clich , "All dressed up with nowhere to go." Here is a man who has come to the party woefully underdressed. He has presumed that merely being invited is sufficient to allow him to ignore the character and norms that go along with being a guest at a wedding. And, the interesting fact is, that he knows it! The text says, "The man was speechless," implying that he knew that he had committed an unforgivable breach of custom. What he had done went against the very nature of wedding celebrations. Ignoring the norms of the wedding disqualified him as an invited guest.
God wants guests at the wedding, but not at any price. The gracious invitation does not, indeed cannot, subvert the essential nature of the kingdom. Remember, this parable portrays the kingdom of heaven being like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. And that is precisely what this is about. God is not willing to subvert the occasion of His Son's glory to accommodate the carelessness and disobedience of those who have been invited. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote powerfully about the dangers of "cheap grace." Here we see the ultimate danger of such presumption, it disqualifies one from the kingdom. The invitation to the kingdom of God is an invitation of grace, and grace is free but it is not cheap. The price of being invited is the price of submitting to the rule of the reign of God.
Many are invited. Some refuse to come. Others come but fail to adhere to the character and customs of the kingdom. Those persons are cast out of the kingdom. "Many are invited, but few are chosen." Let anyone with ears to hear, hear.
J. Michael Walters
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The revelation of God puts the puzzle of life together.
People: The signposts of God give the right direction.
Leader: The map of God directs holy living.
People: The directions of God are easily understood.
Leader: The decisions of God are accurately given to all.
All: God's Word is of better quality than a diamond or purest gold.
OFFERING THOUGHT
Faith is not to be kept but shared. Let faith impact our relationships and intersect with others' lives to motivate the world to Jesus.
BENEDICTION
To those who love God, give help in troubled times, rescue the perishing, honor the living and protect the innocent! This is our task this week.
SERMON BRIEFS
Paul's Kind Of Christian
Philippians 4:1--9
Sears department stores market many of their items under the "good, better, and best" philosophy. You can, for example, buy a good tire, a better tire, or a best tire. Christians also seem to come in similar categories: good, better, and best. These verses from Paul show us how to be the best kind of Christian. Naturally the best kind of Christian is Paul's kind of Christian.
I. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must rejoice always. (v. 4)
A good or better Christian already knows how to rejoice. But their rejoicing is based on circumstances. When things are going well they are the first to praise God. Sadly, when the reverse is true they have the longest faces in town!
Here is what separates the best from the rest: they have learned the secret of rejoicing always. Many would scoff at the impossibility of the idea. They think it impossible to rejoice when they have a child in jail or when the doctor delivers bad news. The key to the ability to rejoice always is found in the phrase of verse four, "in the Lord." The best Christians have learned that their rejoicing does not depend upon circumstances. Rather, rejoicing always depends upon a God who never fails or disappoints. How could you fail to rejoice in a God like that? If you would be Paul's kind of Christian, learn to rejoice always.
II. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must pray thankfully. (v. 6)
Of course every Christian prays. But the good and better Christians focus on prayers where their needs are the center of attention. Such Christians often have a "genie" mentality of God. They believe if they say just the right words then the genie (God) will appear and grant them three or more wishes! What a wrong view of prayer. What a sad view of God.
The best Christians have learned to pray as verse 6 suggests: thankfully. We ought to approach our prayer time with God focusing on thanks for what we already possess. If all God ever did for us was save us from sin we would have enough "thanks" prayer material to last a long time. Make a conscious effort this week to become the best kind of Christian by praying thankfully.
III. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must think correctly. (v. 8)
What do you spend your time thinking about? Good and better Christians spend too much time thinking about how they are mistreated. They think about the time they ran for the church board but did not get elected. Too often thoughts fill their minds that could lead to heartache and pain. If you are a negative thinking Christian you will be a negative living Christian!
Paul's kind of Christian has traded negative thinking for positive thinking. If you have trouble making this transition in your own thinking, then look at the help given to you in verse eight. There you will find a catalog of positive thinking topics to mull over. It is not, however, an exclusive list. We are encouraged to think of anything that is excellent or praiseworthy. This week decide you will become a positive thinking Christian. Tape encouraging verses to your refrigerator or the remote control of your television set. Watch yourself become Paul's kind of Christian as you begin to think on positive things.
IV. To live like Paul's kind of Christian, you must act practically. (v. 9)
Churches are full of people who know what to do, but don't do it. They demand that the preacher feed them. People have migrated from church to church under the guise of not getting fed. The problem is not getting information on living the Christian life. The real challenge is to put that information into action!
Paul admonishes us that whatever we have learned, received, heard, or seen we ought to just do it. He too probably heard cries of "feed me." His concern is not that they learn more but that they put into action what they already know. This is what separates the good and better Christians from the best of Christians. The best Christians put into practice what they already know. They do not wait until they hear a truth they like and causes them no pain to employ. Instead, they act practically upon the truth they have received.
Be the best you can possible be for God. Accept nothing less. Exercise your will and decide today to be Paul's kind of Christian.
Randall Hartman
The Price Of Being Invited
Matthew 22:1--14
Every now and again, one senses the exasperation of the Scribes and Pharisees in regards to Jesus. He tells these provocative stories about weddings and the like - about invited guests being asked to leave - and then He ends it all with a statement like, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." What's this about? Why does Jesus say things like that? No wonder the religious leaders of the day were mystified by Him more often than not. But just how do you illustrate a kingdom that is unlike anything else on earth? The method of choice for Jesus is to tell stories, parables, we call them. They are intended to illustrate for us what the kingdom of God is like and how it operates. So what is this about?
"No Shirt--No Shoes--No Service!" It's a sign that is commonly seen on the doors of restaurants. Restaurants obviously want customers, that's what they are in business for, but they don't want customers at any price. Restaurants, by their very nature have certain rules regarding hygiene and the safety of customers. Those rules cannot be ignored simply to gain a few more people. In fact, to admit such people would be to undermine the very nature of a restaurant.
Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a wedding feast. Who ever heard of a wedding reception without guests? And if the invited guests will not come, then others will be admitted. But, even though the doors to the feast will be thrown open, there are still basic norms that apply to the nature of a wedding celebration that must be observed. To expect otherwise is to subvert the very nature and purpose of a wedding celebration. This parable portrays the opposite of the old clich , "All dressed up with nowhere to go." Here is a man who has come to the party woefully underdressed. He has presumed that merely being invited is sufficient to allow him to ignore the character and norms that go along with being a guest at a wedding. And, the interesting fact is, that he knows it! The text says, "The man was speechless," implying that he knew that he had committed an unforgivable breach of custom. What he had done went against the very nature of wedding celebrations. Ignoring the norms of the wedding disqualified him as an invited guest.
God wants guests at the wedding, but not at any price. The gracious invitation does not, indeed cannot, subvert the essential nature of the kingdom. Remember, this parable portrays the kingdom of heaven being like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. And that is precisely what this is about. God is not willing to subvert the occasion of His Son's glory to accommodate the carelessness and disobedience of those who have been invited. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote powerfully about the dangers of "cheap grace." Here we see the ultimate danger of such presumption, it disqualifies one from the kingdom. The invitation to the kingdom of God is an invitation of grace, and grace is free but it is not cheap. The price of being invited is the price of submitting to the rule of the reign of God.
Many are invited. Some refuse to come. Others come but fail to adhere to the character and customs of the kingdom. Those persons are cast out of the kingdom. "Many are invited, but few are chosen." Let anyone with ears to hear, hear.
J. Michael Walters
