Twenty--second Sunday After Pentecost
Preaching
THE WESLEYAN PREACHING ANNUAL 2001--2002
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Make God's name a household name of praise.
People: Speak His name often.
Leader: May all people proclaim His name of holiness,
People: And may we speak His name in reverence.
Leader: Echo the name of God around the world,
People: So that every knee should bow and every language confess the brilliance of our God.
OFFERING THOUGHT
I am thanking You, God, from a full bank account of love. I'm spending Your treasury on everyone. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Avoid wrong and sinful activities. Do the things that are right. Keep God's name holy and your life pure.
SERMON BRIEFS
The Distinguishing Presence
Exodus 33:12--23
The scripture focus records a direct discourse between Moses and God. It is an account unique in sacred writ. Moses stands in the presence of God and asks that God reveal Himself. We can only speculate what it meant for Moses.
In the course of their discussion, Moses reminds God that "this nation is your people." God did not need reminding. Moses was not telling God something that He did not already know. Rather Moses was making a point for emphasis. God's presence in the midst of His people distinguished them from all others.
Let us consider how Moses perceived and participated in the distinguishing presence of God, and apply those concepts to our own lives.
Moses perceived the presence of God in nature. From the burning bush to the wriggling serpent; from the first to the last of the plagues; from the parting of the sea to the manna in the wilderness, Moses witnessed God. We may not see such miracles. Our awareness of God in Nature may be like the psalmist's declaration that "the heavens declare the glory of God." It may be like Abraham who was told to look up to the stars and behold the number of his descendants.
Moses perceived the presence of God in his own weakness. When he was apprehensive about confronting Pharaoh, God told Moses to say to Pharaoh that the I Am had sent him. When Moses complained of an inability to speak, Moses sent Aaron as his spokesman. Finally, after running out of excuses, Moses marched off to Egypt to confront the greatest political ruler of that day.
Do you need a miracle to know that God is present? Can you see the presence of God in transformed lives as Paul had seen in his missionary tours? Can you look at the stars and say that the heavens declare the glory of God? Can you perceive God in your own weakness? Do you even look for God? We should recognize at the beginning of each new day that God is with us. If we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then we are his people, a "holy nation."
Moses not only perceived God; he also participated in the presence of God. Moses demonstrated in his very actions that he was aware of God's presence. No man in his right mind would enter into the presence of the king of Egypt and demand that approximately 500,000 slaves should be set free. He would scarcely even dare to think such a thing possible with the help of God. Moses talked with God before and after every major event recorded in the book of Exodus. He reminded the people on many occasions that God was with them, even to the point of suggesting that God might be displeased with some of their actions. When God suggested to Moses that the people should be destroyed and another nation raised up from Moses' own seed, Moses interceded on their behalf. Moses was constantly aware of God's presence.
What can you do to participate in the presence of God? When you do the laundry, you can pray for the girl who wears that blouse or the boy who wears that jersey. When you drive to work, you can pray for your client, boss or co--worker. When you pay your utility bills, you can thank God that you are warm and sheltered and fed. When you pay your taxes, you can thank God that you have freedom of religion, and pray for those who rule over you.
What is it that differentiates you from others? If you are a believer, it is the distinguishing presence of God through the guidance and empowerment of His Holy Spirit.
J. Duane Beals
First Thoughts Each Day
Psalm 99; Matthew 22:15--22
In his book, A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie wrote:
Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel in prayer. Amen.
Too often our first thoughts each day are unfocused, totally subjective, and unrelated to anything divine. We need time to think about thinking about our first thoughts for the day. We may even be a bit suspicious of those who begin their day with the psalmist's invocation, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). Maybe after the day's first sip of coffee, or a glass of orange juice, but not the moment our feet touch the floor by our bed.
In the passage from Matthew, the question directed to Jesus by the Herodians was not unexpected - it was a question intended to entrap him. "Teacher ... What is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They hoped to get him to incriminate himself by making an unguarded answer.
If Jesus had answered, "Yes," the Pharisees could have exposed Him to the people as a disloyal Jew. If he said, "No," the Herodians could have reported Him to the government officials as one guilty of sedition. Realizing they were out to entrap Him, Jesus asked to be shown a coin. "Whose portrait is on this coin, and whose inscription?" They answered, "Caesar's." He then responded, "Give (or literally, 'give back') to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." He took a negative and turned it into a positive. Amazed by His wisdom, the religious leaders looked for an immediate place to exit.
Was the response of Jesus simply an example of "one--upmanship," or did He have something to teach us about what should be our "first thoughts" to begin each day? Obviously the lesson was for us, not for the questioners.
First, Jesus implied the purpose of paying taxes is a legitimate one. Paul reiterated this principle in Romans 13: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (vv. 6, 7).
We are obligated to be good citizens. In all cases and at all times Christians are expected to do the right thing. Avoiding one's obligations is not a principle endorsed anywhere in scripture. Doing the right thing is expected of all of us. But this is only the first lesson Jesus wanted his audience to hear.
The second lesson is even more important. Just as we are expected to "pay back" (or "render" in the original language) through taxes a measure of what we have earned in legal tender, so we are to "pay back" to God a measure of what we have received from Him. Erasmus made this insightful comment in one of his writings, "Give back to God that which has the image and superscription of God - the soul."
Everything we receive through God's grace (soul gifts) is "taxable." It is not a stretch to suggest that among our first thoughts each day should be a prayer like this one: "Lord, everything I am and own belongs to You. You are Lord of my life. Show me today how I may give some of these gifts back to You."
But there is a deeper truth here than simply acknowledging God's ownership of us. This a call to return to God, in kind, what He has given to us. Jesus commanded His listeners, "Give to God ... what is God's."
What can we give back to God that originated with God? For starters we can begin with the "fruit of the Spirit" - byproducts of the Spirit of God dwelling in us: "Love ... Joy ... Peace ... Patience ... Kindness ... Goodness ... Faithfulness ... Gentleness ... Self--control" (Galatians 5:22, 23).
And how do we give them back to God? By demonstrating those godly characteristics in the context of our daily lives.
To underscore the universal acceptance of these characteristics, Paul added, "Against such things there is no law." In other words, Paul said, "You can express all of these characteristics in your life and no will sue you for doing so."
Maybe we can all learn to begin each day differently than we have done in the past. How?
By letting our first thoughts be of God, by letting our first impulse be to worship Him, by letting our first words be His name, and by letting our first activity be to kneel in prayer.
That's what holiness really is.
Thomas E. Barnard
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Make God's name a household name of praise.
People: Speak His name often.
Leader: May all people proclaim His name of holiness,
People: And may we speak His name in reverence.
Leader: Echo the name of God around the world,
People: So that every knee should bow and every language confess the brilliance of our God.
OFFERING THOUGHT
I am thanking You, God, from a full bank account of love. I'm spending Your treasury on everyone. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Avoid wrong and sinful activities. Do the things that are right. Keep God's name holy and your life pure.
SERMON BRIEFS
The Distinguishing Presence
Exodus 33:12--23
The scripture focus records a direct discourse between Moses and God. It is an account unique in sacred writ. Moses stands in the presence of God and asks that God reveal Himself. We can only speculate what it meant for Moses.
In the course of their discussion, Moses reminds God that "this nation is your people." God did not need reminding. Moses was not telling God something that He did not already know. Rather Moses was making a point for emphasis. God's presence in the midst of His people distinguished them from all others.
Let us consider how Moses perceived and participated in the distinguishing presence of God, and apply those concepts to our own lives.
Moses perceived the presence of God in nature. From the burning bush to the wriggling serpent; from the first to the last of the plagues; from the parting of the sea to the manna in the wilderness, Moses witnessed God. We may not see such miracles. Our awareness of God in Nature may be like the psalmist's declaration that "the heavens declare the glory of God." It may be like Abraham who was told to look up to the stars and behold the number of his descendants.
Moses perceived the presence of God in his own weakness. When he was apprehensive about confronting Pharaoh, God told Moses to say to Pharaoh that the I Am had sent him. When Moses complained of an inability to speak, Moses sent Aaron as his spokesman. Finally, after running out of excuses, Moses marched off to Egypt to confront the greatest political ruler of that day.
Do you need a miracle to know that God is present? Can you see the presence of God in transformed lives as Paul had seen in his missionary tours? Can you look at the stars and say that the heavens declare the glory of God? Can you perceive God in your own weakness? Do you even look for God? We should recognize at the beginning of each new day that God is with us. If we know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then we are his people, a "holy nation."
Moses not only perceived God; he also participated in the presence of God. Moses demonstrated in his very actions that he was aware of God's presence. No man in his right mind would enter into the presence of the king of Egypt and demand that approximately 500,000 slaves should be set free. He would scarcely even dare to think such a thing possible with the help of God. Moses talked with God before and after every major event recorded in the book of Exodus. He reminded the people on many occasions that God was with them, even to the point of suggesting that God might be displeased with some of their actions. When God suggested to Moses that the people should be destroyed and another nation raised up from Moses' own seed, Moses interceded on their behalf. Moses was constantly aware of God's presence.
What can you do to participate in the presence of God? When you do the laundry, you can pray for the girl who wears that blouse or the boy who wears that jersey. When you drive to work, you can pray for your client, boss or co--worker. When you pay your utility bills, you can thank God that you are warm and sheltered and fed. When you pay your taxes, you can thank God that you have freedom of religion, and pray for those who rule over you.
What is it that differentiates you from others? If you are a believer, it is the distinguishing presence of God through the guidance and empowerment of His Holy Spirit.
J. Duane Beals
First Thoughts Each Day
Psalm 99; Matthew 22:15--22
In his book, A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie wrote:
Eternal Father of my soul, let my first thought today be of You, let my first impulse be to worship You, let my first speech be Your name, let my first action be to kneel in prayer. Amen.
Too often our first thoughts each day are unfocused, totally subjective, and unrelated to anything divine. We need time to think about thinking about our first thoughts for the day. We may even be a bit suspicious of those who begin their day with the psalmist's invocation, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). Maybe after the day's first sip of coffee, or a glass of orange juice, but not the moment our feet touch the floor by our bed.
In the passage from Matthew, the question directed to Jesus by the Herodians was not unexpected - it was a question intended to entrap him. "Teacher ... What is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They hoped to get him to incriminate himself by making an unguarded answer.
If Jesus had answered, "Yes," the Pharisees could have exposed Him to the people as a disloyal Jew. If he said, "No," the Herodians could have reported Him to the government officials as one guilty of sedition. Realizing they were out to entrap Him, Jesus asked to be shown a coin. "Whose portrait is on this coin, and whose inscription?" They answered, "Caesar's." He then responded, "Give (or literally, 'give back') to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." He took a negative and turned it into a positive. Amazed by His wisdom, the religious leaders looked for an immediate place to exit.
Was the response of Jesus simply an example of "one--upmanship," or did He have something to teach us about what should be our "first thoughts" to begin each day? Obviously the lesson was for us, not for the questioners.
First, Jesus implied the purpose of paying taxes is a legitimate one. Paul reiterated this principle in Romans 13: "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor" (vv. 6, 7).
We are obligated to be good citizens. In all cases and at all times Christians are expected to do the right thing. Avoiding one's obligations is not a principle endorsed anywhere in scripture. Doing the right thing is expected of all of us. But this is only the first lesson Jesus wanted his audience to hear.
The second lesson is even more important. Just as we are expected to "pay back" (or "render" in the original language) through taxes a measure of what we have earned in legal tender, so we are to "pay back" to God a measure of what we have received from Him. Erasmus made this insightful comment in one of his writings, "Give back to God that which has the image and superscription of God - the soul."
Everything we receive through God's grace (soul gifts) is "taxable." It is not a stretch to suggest that among our first thoughts each day should be a prayer like this one: "Lord, everything I am and own belongs to You. You are Lord of my life. Show me today how I may give some of these gifts back to You."
But there is a deeper truth here than simply acknowledging God's ownership of us. This a call to return to God, in kind, what He has given to us. Jesus commanded His listeners, "Give to God ... what is God's."
What can we give back to God that originated with God? For starters we can begin with the "fruit of the Spirit" - byproducts of the Spirit of God dwelling in us: "Love ... Joy ... Peace ... Patience ... Kindness ... Goodness ... Faithfulness ... Gentleness ... Self--control" (Galatians 5:22, 23).
And how do we give them back to God? By demonstrating those godly characteristics in the context of our daily lives.
To underscore the universal acceptance of these characteristics, Paul added, "Against such things there is no law." In other words, Paul said, "You can express all of these characteristics in your life and no will sue you for doing so."
Maybe we can all learn to begin each day differently than we have done in the past. How?
By letting our first thoughts be of God, by letting our first impulse be to worship Him, by letting our first words be His name, and by letting our first activity be to kneel in prayer.
That's what holiness really is.
Thomas E. Barnard
