2008 SERMON DIRECTORY
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01.06.08 E-Day Genesis 12:1-5 & Acts 16:6-10
September 4, 2007 was the 50th anniversary of E-Day. Don’t know what E-Day is? Well, it marks one of the biggest blunders of the American automobile industry. E-Day was the day that the Ford Motor Company introduced the Edsel. While it was intended to revolutionize the automobile industry, it turned out to be its biggest failure. This day is significant for the life of the church because the lessons we can learn from Ford’s failure can help keep the church from going belly up.
01.20.08 What Are You Looking For? Isaiah 49:1-7 & John 1:29-42
“What are you looking for?” is a question that Jesus asked two of his very first disciples. It’s a question that’s important for us today as well, because we are all looking for something, whether we know it or not. In a culture that is overwhelmed by schedules and demands on our time, and by more information than we can possible process, we have reached the place where it feels like something is missing, that life lacks meaning and purpose and direction. “What are you looking for?” is the question Jesus asks each of us, and Jesus alone is able to help us discover the answer.
01.27.08 Living in Harmony Exodus 18:13-27 Corinthians 1:1-17
A lot of people are looking for the “perfect church.” Truth is, there’s no such thing. People tend to be quite surprised, and even upset, when conflict develops in the life of the church, and some people even leave the church as a result of conflict. We have to remember, however, that the church isn’t called to be perfect; it’s called to be holy—it’s called to be set apart to do God’s work in the world. The church is comprised of people, and people are sinners—even Christians. So we should not be surprised that there is conflict in the church. The church is blessed with the gift of diversity, so we must learn to do two things: 1) we must commit to do our part in the church, using the gifts we have to serve our one Savior and Lord Jesus Christ; 2) we must learn to agree without being disagreeable so that we do not hinder the mission of Christ in the world.
02.03.08 God in the Fog Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew 17:1-9
Fog. We’ve all experienced it. And sometimes it’s so thick that we can barely see our hand in front of our face. We’ve also experienced a psychological or emotional fog where our mind is clouded by worry, fear, depression, etc. And sometimes this kind of fog is as difficult to see through as the weather-related kind. It’s uncomfortable, and even frightening, not to know where we’re going. Today’s Scriptures speak of two groups of people who faced significant hardships. To both of them, God calls them to step into the fog, and what they discover is that God is present there with them. Sometimes we need to live in the fog because that’s where God is. God meets us there because God has something important to reveal to us.
Frivolous lawsuits abound these days. Remember the lady who sued McDonald’s because she spilled hot coffee on her lap? While we chuckle at this, the truth is that we’re all looking for something or someone to blame for the stupid things we do. We repeatedly fail to consider the consequences of our actions, and we are unwilling to accept responsibility. Freewill, original sin, and consequences are the themes that run through the Scripture texts for this sermon. But there’s another theme as well—the power of God’s grace. The good news is that God’s grace has the power to overcome all of the stupid things we do.
02.17.08 Blue Marble Perspective Psalm 121; John 3:1-17
How do you view the world around you? That depends, of course, on your perspective, on how you understand what you see, hear and experience. How does God view the world? Now, that’s another question altogether. The way we view the world and the way God views the world are radically different. We are often narrow-sighted and judgmental, while God can not only get the big picture, God can also see the intimate details of each person’s life. The Bible tells us that God views the world through the lens of love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…” How difficult it is for us to view the world through the lens of love, yet it is critical that we learn to do so. The world will never be saved unless those of us who believe see each other throught the lens of love.
02.24.08 What Are You Thirsty For? Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:5-29
Water is available to us in a plentiful supply. All we have to do is turn on a faucet. But what if that weren’t the case? How would we satisfy our thirst? Water is essential for life. Without it, we will surely die. Throughout the Bible, God’s blessings are often associated with water. God provided water from a rock for the Israelites in the wilderness, and Jesus offered himself as the living water to the woman at the well. These people were thirsty for more than just water. Deep in their souls was a thirst for God. The same is true for us. Behind every desire and physical need there is a deeper thirst, a deeper longing, that water alone cannot satisfy. What are you thirsty for?
03.02.08 Diamonds In The Rough 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Ephesians 5:8-14
Diamonds aren’t always what they appear to be. The form of diamonds we’re used to seeing isn’t how they exist in their natural state. It is only after they are cut and polished and refined that they gain their brilliance and their value. In their natural state, they are just another stone. As people, we too are “diamonds in the rough.” Hidden within each of us is a beautiful gem designed to reflect the light of the love of God. The rough edges often need to be chiseled away in order for the beautiful gem within to be revealed. God, the Master Diamond Cutter, chisels and polishes and refines us so that we can reflect God’s image in the world.
03.09.08 Think Outside the Grave Ezekiel 37:1-14; John 11:1-45
Throughout the course of life, we face death in many ways. Death is not only the end of physical life for a loved one, friend, or pet. Death can also come in the form of broken relationships, the loss of a job, moving to a new location, or the loss of freedom and mobility due to aging. Any crisis can feel like death. Death comes to all at some point in life in all its various forms. And sometimes it can stop us in our tracks. The challenge of the gospel is for us to think outside the grave—to look for the possibilities and potential for new life that comes on the other side of death. Israel faced death through their exile in Babylon, and Mary and Martha faced death in the passing of their brother Lazarus. Yet God works to transform death into new life, and the ultimate transformation occurs in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Through faith in him, we can truly think outside the grave
03.16.08 The Christ-Bearer Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Matthew 21:1-11
There is a large cast of characters involved in Jesus’ Palm Sunday Processional into Jerusalem, but most of them provide an exceptionally poor example for us to follow. Those in the crowd were mere curiosity seekers, the religious leaders were on an ego trip, and even the disciples were not fully committed, even at this late date in Jesus’ ministry. If we’re looking for a role model upon which to base our Palm Sunday experience, we would do well to avoid patterning ourselves after any of these. Yet there is one character that is often overlooked, and it is that character that provides the best example for us. Although unnamed in Scripture, my guess is that his name must have been Christopher.
03.23.08 What Happened to Jesus? Matthew 28:1-15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
More than 2,000 years later, there is still controversy surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. There are still many who claim that Jesus’ body was stolen from the tomb by his disciples who then perpetrated a lie claiming that Jesus rose from the dead. In a world of science, we want empirical proof before we believe anything. But the resurrection of Jesus isn’t a matter of science; it’s a matter of faith. The resurrection is indeed possible if we believe that God created the world and put the laws of nature in place. If God put those laws in place, then God is greater than those laws. And if God is greater than those laws, then God can supersede those laws to raise Jesus from the dead. What happened to Jesus? Is he dead or alive?
04.06.08 Road Trip Psalm 96; Luke 24:13-35
Evangelism is a word that many Christians are uncomfortable with. It conjures up too many negative images. Yet, sharing the Good News with others is one of the primary responsibilities Jesus entrusted to us. Psalm 96 is a “missionary psalm” because it compels us to proclaim God’s Good News to the entire earth. Luke tells of an event that happened on the evening of the first Easter when two disciples encountered Jesus along the road. Immediately after they recognized Jesus, they returned to Jerusalem to tell the others. This story illustrates what evangelism is all about. It’s about telling our stories of how we met Jesus on the road trip of life.
04.13.08 Asking the Right Question Psalm 116; Luke 10:25-37
Why do you come to worship, and what do you want to get out of worship? Those are important questions we all must answer. How we answer them helps define our commitment to God. Too often, we answer these questions in a selfish manner. Our answers often reflect that attitude that God is here to serve us. We are willing to follow God as long as God does for us the things we want God to do, but we give no thought to what we are to offer to God. True worship is what we offer to God, not what God gives to us. The right question we need to ask and answer is “What am I willing to give to God in worship?” What we must give is our lives fully committed to God. Worship isn’t just what we do in worship—it’s the way we live every moment of our lives. The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates what true worship is all about. Only the Samaritan was willing to invest himself to help the one who was needy. That’s what worship is all about.
05.04.08 Dynamic Living Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; Acts 1:6-14
On this Sunday when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension into heaven, we are reminded in the text from Acts how the disciples stood gazing up into the sky. It was only the appearance of the two men dressed in white that got them moving to begin carrying our Christ’s commission. Even today, we Christians tend to focus more on when Jesus will return than on living the life he wants us to live and fulfilling his commission to us by doing the work that needs to be done. The key word in Jesus’ last saying on earth is “power.” The Greek root of this word give us our English words “dynamite” and “dynamic.” The issue for us is not to concern ourselves with when Jesus will come again to rescue us from this world. Instead it is who we ought to be living until the time when Jesus comes again. Jesus has given to us the power to change the world through dynamic living. If the world isn’t changing, perhaps we need to look at the way we are living.
05.11.08 Catching the Wind Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21
We’ve all experienced the power of the wind. Out of control, it can cause serious devastation, but it is possible to harness the power of the wind and turn it into usable energy. In order to catch the wind, you have to put yourself where the wind is blowing. That’s the logic behind the massive wind farms that have been cropping up around the nation. Those huge towers and giant rotors are built to catch the wind, which blows with much greater force in the atmosphere than it does at ground level. The same principle is true for the church. In order to catch the wind of the Holy Spirit, we have to place ourselves where the wind is blowing. To do that most effectively, the church must be a Community that Communicates with Courage and Clarity.
05.18.08 Speaking for God Jeremiah 1:1-10; Matthew 28:16-20
Why are we here? What is the purpose of our being? These are questions that the church needs to ask themselves repeatedly in order to remain relevant. Too often, churches don’t have a clear sense of identity and purpose, yet without a clear sense of mission, their ministry is ineffective. Each congregation will approach mission and ministry differently because each congregation is different. However, the primary purpose of every Christian congregation is to make disciples. Jesus made that point clear in the Great Commission. Yet, we are often better at making spectators for Jesus than making disciples for Jesus.
05.25.08 Murphy’s Law and the Gospel Psalm 91; Matthew 6:25-34
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs his followers about worry. His words are so familiar to us, yet so hard to follow. How is it possible for us not to worry about anything when we shave so much to worry about in the world in which we currently live? What Jesus addresses here is the chronic worry that we allow to cripple us. A certain amount of anxiety is normal and necessary because it spurs us to take action to correct those things we can control, but so much of our worry is about things we can’t control. We live more by Murphy’s Law than by Jesus’ Law. Murphy says, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong at the worst possible moment,” creating an extremely negative view of life. Jesus, on the other hand, calls us to “seek first God’s kingdom,” and let God worry about the rest.
06.08.08 The Work of the Church Part 1: Worship Psalm 96; 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Why do we worship? What is its purpose? Too often, folks don’t come to worship because they say “I just don’t get
anything out of it.” Getting something out of worship is only a very small part of what worship is all about. Primarily, worship is about giving, not getting. We worship because we want to give thanks, praise, honor and glory to God for all that God has done for us. We are not spectators when we worship, we are active participants. God is the audience of our worship. So offering the best of ourselves to God is the primary motivation for worship. But worship must also prepare us for ministry or service. As we share with others all that God has done, hear God’s word to us, and experience God’s love and grace, we ought to be moved to go out in joy to share that love with others in tangible ways. That means that worship must be intelligible, and understandable and meaningful to all who gather. Inspiring worship will attract people to services all by itself.
06.15.08 The Work of the Church Part 2: Ministry 1Kings 17:7-16; John 13:1-17
When Jesus summarized the commandments into “Love God…Love your neighbor,” he tied together the concepts of
worship and ministry. We express our love for God in worship, and worship prepares us for service. Worship is not complete unless we take what we experience and use it in practical ways to minister to others’ needs. The true expression of our love for God is to love others with the same kind of love we have experienced from God. For this reason, worship must translate into ministry. In our Scripture readings, we see that one of the things that blocks meaningful ministry is selfishness and pride. This is contrasted with the humility of Jesus as he washed the disciples’ feet. Too often, we refuse to stoop to serve others. Yet Jesus’ example compels us to do as he did. When the love of God is truly present in our lives, no task is menial. To truly express our love for God we must demonstrate that love in our love and service to others.
06.22.08 The Work of the Church Part 3: Evangelism Isaiah 52:7-10; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Growing churches in America define their growth in their ability to meet the real needs of people. While the church often tries to meet needs, too often it does so without offering any theological basis or spiritual guidance. While we are willing to do ministry, we are very unwilling to do evangelism. Yet, evangelism is a critical part of Christ’s plan for his church. It is the first imperative in the Great Commission. While many mainline Christians are afraid of evangelism, it simply boils down to learning how to be an “angel” to others. The key to effective evangelism is dedicated flexibility. That is what made Paul so successful in his missionary journeys. In order to be effective evangelists in the 21st century, the church needs to re-learn the lessons Paul used in his ministry.
06.29.08 The Work of the Church Part 4: Fellowship Psalm 133; Hebrews10:19-25
There is no doubt that church attendance has been declining, especially in mainline Protestant churches. We live in a
postmodern and a post-Christian era. Christianity is by no means dead, but it no longer enjoys its protected status. It has
become one of may choices people can make. Add this to the individualism of our culture, and we have a major hurdle for the church to overcome. This hurdle provides an excellent opportunity for ministry. A key core value of the church is
fellowship, as Jesus indicated in the Great Commission by speaking about baptism. As Christians, we are not called simply to believe, but also to belong. Our faith makes us part of the body of Christ on earth (the church). Therefore, we cannot live in isolation. People are desperately searching for meaningful relationships, and the church is best equipped to meet that need. Through Jesus Christ we have fellowship with God, and through the church we ought to have meaningful fellowship with one another. The challenge for the church is to offer people the opportunity to develop deep, personal relationships in some other context than what potluck suppers can provide.
07.06.08 The Work of the Church Part 5: Discipleship Joshua 24:14-24; Luke 14:25-35
A popular TV reality show reminds us of an important work of the church. On “The Apprentice,” contestants compete for the opportunity of working with and learning from one of the biggest names in the business world, Donald Trump. To be selected as “The Apprentice” provides the winner the opportunity to work side-by-side with an expert in his field and to learn all the tricks of the trade that enable a person to be successful in business. An apprenticeship is hands-on, applied learning. This is what discipleship is all about. We, as Christians, have the opportunity to learn from the Master everything it takes to live a Christian life. Learning about Jesus is not enough. We must learn about Jesus so that we can be like Jesus, living and doing just as he did. One of the primary responsibilities of the church is to provide believers with
training in discipleship. After all, Jesus passed on his work to us, and we must pass it on to future generations. However, the church, in recent years, has done very poorly in this area of ministry. Our expectations of new members are far too low. We would do well to evaluate our expectations and communicate them well if we intend to attract and retain new people in the faith.
07.13.08 How Much Is Good Enough? Psalm 1; Romans 7:15-25a
The classic horror story, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde provides an example of the struggle between good and evil, right and wrong that occurs within each of us. It is truly a tale of horror, for within each of us is this constant temptation to give into evil desires even though we know we might hurt ourselves or someone else in the process. Even the apostle Paul struggled with the power of temptation and he describes his struggle in Romans 7. He admits that he, even as a Christian, found it difficult to always do the right thing, and that often he ended up doing the evil he hated instead of the good he really desired to do. This is the story of our lives. Although Christ has set us free from bondage to sin, that doesn’t mean we will never sin again. Yet we still have hope because we know that God loves us, Jesus died for us, and the Holy Spirit is present with us to pick us up when we fall, and give us the strength to go on.
07.20.08 If-Then Prayer Genesis 28:10-22; Luke 11:9-13
Different people expect different things to happen as the result of prayer. Some believe that prayer is a waste of time, either because there is no God to pray to or because they believe God doesn’t care. Others believe that prayer is the instant solution to all their problems. By waving it as a magic wand or rubbing it like Aladdin’s lamp, all their problems will instantly go away and they’ll get everything they ask for. Still others try to bargain with God. “God if you do this for me, then I’ll do…” The problem is that they rarely ever follow through on their part of the bargain. Prayer, for them, is just a tool to try to manipulate God to do what they want. Jesus has much to teach us about prayer, and his teaching in Luke 11 sounds as if we can get whatever we want from God. God is happy to provide us with what we need, but is cautious about giving us everything we want. What God most wants to give us is the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is active in our life, we will want what God wants more than we will want what we want.
07.27.08 In All Things God Psalm 90; Romans 8:26-39
There is definitely a difference between the way children relate to God and the way adults do. Somewhere, in the passage of time, we lose that instinctive gift of faith and trust that was naturally part of us when we were children. In the midst of crisis, disappointment or loss, we tend to focus much more on the circumstances around us rather than on the bigger picture, and we miss the presence of God with us even in the midst of trouble. Sometimes, we even lose the ability to pray because we are so consumed with the circumstances we’re facing. Yet Paul, in his letter to the Romans, makes a profound declaration of faith: “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Rather than waiting for circumstances to work themselves out, or investing our energy to turn circumstances around in our favor, we need to understand that because God loves us God is already present and working to bring good into our lives despite the mess we may find ourselves in. “In all things God.” How different life would be for us if we took the time to see God at work in all things.
08.03.08 Bread for the Table Exodus 16:11-18; Matthew 14:13-21
With the 2008 Summer Olympics just a few days away, the government of China is working furiously to make certain they can feed the more than seven million people expected at the event. But they weren’t the firs to ever have to worry about feeding people with Olympic-sized appetites. Moses and Jesus both faced similar challenges. While the world seems to come together as one for the Olympics, one thing that works even better at bringing people together is table fellowship. The lessons from our Scripture passages are many. The obvious one is that we must be willing to give to God whatever we have and allow God to use it. God can multiply whatever we bring. Secondly, we must never expect God to fix all of our problems. Jesus and the disciples worked together cooperatively to feed the crowd of 5,000, so we must be willing to use the resources God provides. Finally, these Scriptures raise the issue of who we are willing to welcome at the table. Do we continue to exclude some while welcome others