As I was writing this sermon I received a long note from a young woman that has gotten herself into a very difficult situation and she wants help getting on a good path. She said in her detailed note some advice from her grandfather she is going to try and start following, “Don’t allow yourself to grow up depending on other people.” I get the point. It makes sense in her extreme situation. But what makes more sense: “Don’t allow yourself to grow up depending on people who are untrustworthy…” Trust is not easy because the world is full of broken promises. Do you know what it’s like to make plans with a friend and then you are dumped when something better comes along? Some sad sayings:
The greatest gift you can give another is trust! The greatest gift you give yourself is trust. The promises we make and keep (or don’t keep) define our character. Trust is not easy because of the many broken promises, people who let you down, even the perception that God let’s us down! Trusting others is hard, trusting God is hard.
As I was writing this sermon I received a long note from a young woman that has gotten herself into a very difficult situation and she wants help getting on a good path. She said in her detailed note some advice from her grandfather she is going to try and start following, “Don’t allow yourself to grow up depending on other people.” I get the point. It makes sense in her extreme situation. But what makes more sense: “Don’t allow yourself to grow up depending on people who are untrustworthy…” Trust is not easy because the world is full of broken promises. Do you know what it’s like to make plans with a friend and then you are dumped when something better comes along? Some sad sayings:
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The Bible is a library of books [show the bookshelf from Sunday School rooms and go over some of the divisions, every book has it’s own story. Yet the Bible is also one book with a common thread, an internal consistency, inspired by the Holy Spirit, without mistakes “infallible”] the Scripture today is a classic caption on the impact of the Bible, Living, Active, Sharp…. Mike Purych was a watchmaker by trade, a gentle kind man with a broad smile, as a child growing up in this church several things stood out: he was bald…. He had a wonderful wife Doris, a “mail order bride” and the third… he could not read well. What most impressed me about Mike: because he could not read well, my father found a children’s bible, entirely cartoons, never again do I recall Mike NOT proudly carrying that Bible with him… I am told her read it, cherished it, his world was opened up. The Lord only expects for you to go forward with him from wherever you are, the level of your experiences and abilities… through-out most of Christian history, the Bible was kept out of the common person’s hands, only for the clergy, that was what the Reformation was about…. The wonderful discovery is that you have direct access to God through his word, prayer, the inspiration of the Holy Spirit….This book is a miracle… We are blessed at this time in history to have so many translations, study bibles, audio…. (but it can also be confusing to have so many!) I have decided that for 2015 I am going to listen to the Bible in the NIV translation through BibleGateway website (www.biblegateway.com). Perhaps a few can relate to this poem, “Twas the Day After Christmas” : Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared; The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please." As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt And prepared once again to do battle with dirt--- I said to myself, as only I can " You can't spend a winter disguised as a man! " So--away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chips Every last bit of food that I like must be banished Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie--not even a lick. I'll chew only on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore--- But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet! " A kernel of truth in this silly poem. The day after Christmas, the festivities are over, reality sets in, families go home. “I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore--- But isn't that what January is for?” The routine is just around the corner. No crisis is ever convenient. A crisis is a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger. Sometimes it comes with the feeling of being overwhelmed, dread. Sometimes specific events, sudden change, or maybe a general confusion. The truth is many people will secretly be glad when Christmas is over…the work, the emotions, the loneliness on a holiday that is supposed to be like a Norman Rockwell painting. Ready or not, it is time for Christmas. The Crisis of Christ. Jesus was born in a time of crisis. His birth is a crisis. Even in the best of situations, birth is hard! The unknown. The changes. When Esther was born the doctors let Sally and me hold her. After a few moments she started turning blue ~ I was pretty sure that was not normal…they whisked her away and five hours later we saw held her once again. The meaning of names:
Carl: a peasant or man of low birth Linda: Beautiful John: The Grace of the Lord Herb: Illustrious Warrior Janet: God has been gracious Connie: Strong willed or Wise Barbara: stranger, traveler from a foreign land Steve: Crown, Victorious Patricia: Noble Paul: Humble Ian: Gift from God Michelle: “who is like God?” Diane: Beauty and Swiftness ~ a huntress Elizabeth: God is satisfied Luke 2:21 highlights a couple of truths about Jesus: When and Why named Jesus. #1 WHEN. the custom in the days of Jesus of naming children is different than for us. In those days, children were NOT traditionally named until 8 days after the baby was born. We don’t do it that way ~ parents often select a name well before the child is born. There were customs having to do with the father and the birth order, names being handed down, but the reason to wait for the 8th day was to give the parents an opportunity to know their child, the character, significant attributes ~ parents could see the character of the child and select a name that has to do with personality, or perhaps something unusual about the birth…. The name “Jesus” is given by the angels before Jesus was even conceived. This is unusual! God revealed the character of Jesus before he was even born. This is prophecy. This is an announcement of the character, the role of Jesus. He will be called Jesus! #2 WHY: something highly significant about the name of Jesus. Most names (maybe not all) but most names have something to do with the character of the person that has the name, beautiful, royalty, strong, leader, humble, lovely, or maybe a physical characteristic like red complexion, or born at a significant time. The name Jesus, announced by the angels before he was even conceived, is not at all about the character of the baby, some significant personality or physical attribute. The name Jesus means GOD SAVES. Even the name Jesus is a message to the people that he came for YOU. He CAME to save you, to rescue you from sin. Of all people who have walked this earth, this man deserved a kingly name, a highly exhalted name, a royal name, a GREAT Name, but no, the name chose to give the savior is a name of what he came to do, his role in the world, his purpose. God SAVES. There is no other name like Jesus. The name gives hope and expectation. The name cause wonder and joy. Jesus, the name above all names. The name Jesus means "Savior." It is given to our Lord because "He saves His people from their sins." He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves us from the oppression of sin by putting in our hearts the life giving Spirit. Jesus is a very encouraging name to weighted-down sinners. He, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, deserved to be given a more high-sounding title. The rulers of this world have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent. The Son of God is content to call Himself Savior. Jesus wants to most be identified by what he does for us. Those seeking salvation may draw near to the Father with boldness, and have access with confidence through Christ. "For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him" (John 3:17). Jesus, the name above all names ~ he came to save you! (NOTE: shorter than normal to make room for the Christmas Play during the service) A simple question: Can you hear the angels singing? You do or you don’t. The shepherds heard them. some people see the angels, others don’t. Some people hear them, others don’t. Some people believe in the supernatural, others don’t. In the fourth century was a bishop named Hillary who said, “Everything that seems empty is full of the angels of God.” A few days ago I received a note asking if I could go and see Brian Ackerman, home from the hospital, given 2-4 weeks to live. One of the great honors of my life! If you are uncertain about the existence of a supernatural world ~ visit the home of a dying person that knows Christ and the home of a dying person that does not. We are firmly rooted in this world bound by it’s rules, the flesh and blood, the destruction and chaos ~ yet those moments/ occasions to see a glimpse of the supernatural world is refreshing, life orienting… the shepherd needed to hear the angels sing, the world needed to be suddenly overwhelmed by the angels ~ yet many do not hear the angels sing. Can you hear them sing? A perspective on wealth and poverty: One day, the father of a wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country to show his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days on the farm of what would be considered a poor family. Afterwards, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?”
“It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah” The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.” God’s perspective on wealth and poverty is different from ours. This is the final message of this series on giving. Today, I simply want to say THANK YOU for all you do. Thank you for your generosity, your love, your prayers, your desire to serve God. Thank you for the joy that you bring to others. Thank you for your acceptance of people among us. I thought it good to stand before you to say I am proud of you. I am encouraged by your example in giving. For years, I cannot tell you how many times the board, or the elders have gotten together, the latest budget has been passed out, and as we’ve looked at the giving there is a silent “amazing” because of your generosity. You truly practice generous living. Drawn from this scripture, I see three ways Generous Living is put into practice ~ Patterned Giving, Proportional Giving, giving in Perspective. Here’s a wonderful cane from Sally’s family that we came across several months ago…I think it belonged to her great-great grandfather. [describe the cane, the detail…] Here’s the question, undoubtedly the handle is ivory, but what about the eagle? Maybe there’s a way to answer the question…. I like this leftovers quote: The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found. ~ Calvin Trillin Leftovers are good if you are talking about Thanksgiving Dinner. Leftovers are not always so good if you are talking about giving to God whatever you have left after you have had your fill. If a husband has a demanding job which saps energy, and all his wife ever sees is a tired, cranky, want-to-be-left-alone-in-front-of-the-tv-all-evening-every-evening kind of guy, the marriage will be less than what it could be. The wife needs more than just the leftovers. Children need more than the leftovers from parents who pay attention a minimal amount. God needs you, your heart, your energy, your focus, your mind… if the leftovers become a way of life the relationship will be less than what it could be. Maybe some of you can relate…. Creative reasons for not paying rent given to Landlords:
People have different ways of thinking about the same thing ~ The teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a brief, fruitless search, he gave up. His mother took up the cause and within minutes found the lens. "How did you do that?" he asked. "We weren’t looking for the same thing," she explained. "You were looking for a small piece of plastic. I was looking for $150."
Our attitude towards money is a reflection of our faith in God. Today begin a series on stewardship ~ how we handle the money entrusted to us. Money is consuming! (pun intended!) Tell me honestly how you handle your money/your attitude towards money/and I can tell you the depth of your faith./// If you are a new or a young Christian consider carefully your patterns of giving. I don’t know who these messages are for, but I know some of you need to consider carefully your attitude towards your wallet! When I write my million dollar check to the church once a month //// or at least it feels like a million dollars ~ it is an act of trust. Yet it is also a wonderful way to enter God’s Kingdom work. Because more than the money it is a commitment of my heart! A man met a sage on the road. The man asked the sage - 'Which way should I go to achieve success?' The sage said nothing, as he pointed to a place in the distance. The man, thrilled by the prospect of quick and easy success, rushed in the direction the sage pointed. Suddenly, there came a loud 'Splat.' Soon, the man limped back, tattered and stunned, assuming he must have misinterpreted the message. He repeated his question to the sage. 'Which way should I go to achieve success?' The sage again pointed silently in the same direction. The man obediently walked off once more. This time the 'splat' was deafening. When the man crawled back, he was bloody, broken, tattered, and irate. 'I asked you which way I should go to achieve success,' he screamed at the sage. 'I followed the direction you gave me, and all I got was splatted! No more of this pointing! Talk!' Only then did the sage speak: 'Success is that way. Just a little past splat.' The women who dared to touch the cloak of Jesus made it just a little past splat! She slipped through a crowd believing if she only touches the hem of Jesus’ cloak something amazing would happen. I am reminded of Isaiah’s description of seeing a vision of the Lord in the temple in Isaiah 6 hundreds of years before the earthly life of Christ and Isaiah is overwhelmed, all he sees is the hem of the robes of God almighty and he falls down declaring himself to be dead ~ “woe is me. I am ruined” Isaiah cries out (Is. 6:5). This woman, too, recognizes the power of God almighty embodied in Jesus Christ ~ rather than declaring herself dead, if only she can touch him, she will be changed, transformed. Just a litte past the splat of her life! Did you hear the news? Last year the Seahawks won the Superbowl! I love the informal rallying cry of the year of the quarterback Russell Wilson: “Why not us?”…. Today, we meet a man with the same message: “Why not me?” His name is Jairus ~ he goes to Jesus in boldness and expectation that Jesus can and will heal his only daughter. He “fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with [Jesus] to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.” Why not me? Why not my daughter? I believe in miracles. I believe Jesus Christ has the power to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to arrange the details of our day so our needs our met, our problems overcome, our world changed. Jesus has unlimited power to bring his healing touch to all. “Why not me?” too many people feel as though they are not worthy of the touch of Jesus, they believe in miracles for other people, they don’t want to change. But the Lord has enough power, enough compassion for all…there is room at the foot of the cross for you. Years ago when our son Forest was young, the Peterson’s came to visit. In those days, Forest did not like being alone in his room at night, so it wasn’t to hard to imagine how nice for Justin Peterson, a few years older than Forest, to spend the night in Forest’s room. We explained to the Peterson’s how nice this would be for Forest to have a friend. Justin listened to Forest’s fears, and he turned to Forest and said, “You are never really alone at night…” and as he paused, us adults thought how sweet for this child to comfort Forest with thoughts of the presence of God, but then scientific minded literal Justin continued his thought, “…there are always hundreds of bed bugs not visible to the eye.”
Loneliness.// One of my minor goals today is to not depress you… The bottom line of this message is that there is always hope. /never give up. At the end of this scripture, Luke 8:37-38, there are two responses toward Jesus. You have a choice…. Do you respond like the crowd… or the demon possessed man? Several months ago my mother and I were visiting Bud and Trudy Forbes ~ I noticed a plaque on their wall: “Don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is.” At the beginning of the scripture the disciples are worried about the storm ~ they wake up Jesus to tell him about it. At the end of the scripture the question is the size of Jesus (READ Luke 8:25b). “Don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is.” This story is much loved because it is simple and it applies to each of us is so directly. Jesus got into a boat with his disciples, a storm came up, the disciples woke him, and Jesus calmed the storm. There are universal truths going beyond the literal story ~ the Lake is the sea of life, the storm are problems of any kind, the boat is our helplessness, and Jesus is still the Lord who is more amazing than we ever seem to fully grasp. The word I want to focus on today from this scripture ~ you may not even have noticed it… CROWD. This scripture is like a magic show in which the magician is getting everyone to pay attention to one hand, when in reality the card is quietly being changed in the other. We get caught up in trying to figure out what Jesus means by family, what he is saying to or about his brothers and sisters, when in fact, this message in Luke 8:21 is to the CROWD. It is a challenging message to the CROWD. It is an invitation to each person within the CROWD. It is an urgent message to let people know they can rise above the CROWD. Become more than just one of the crowd. Jesus is challenging each person in the crowd to go deeper, inviting each one to become like family. Jesus is pronouncing a relationship with him is Personal. Like family! The love them hate them people….the quirky odd family. We’ll talk more about those crazy families… first the Crowd….. the challenge is to go from the CROWD to a MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. [Most won’t.]
The Qualities of Faith: Shine Bright. Be Open. Go Forward. 3rd point I especially appreciate. Jesus is going from village to town introducing himself to the average person. He is inviting them to follow him, trust him, learn from him. Think of it, the powerless, average people who are struggling to make a living, people who are overwhelmed by two governments in their land posturing for power, political factions fighting, people who are not sure how they can make a difference. A word a lot of people can related to in todays world: STUCK! Waiting, waiting, waiting, no changes, caught between problems that you cannot seem to do a thing about. Do you ever feel STUCK? [Adam] A truck driver, was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that reads "low bridge ahead." Before he knows it the bridge is right ahead of him and he gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally, a police car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to the truck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?" [Adam] The truck driver, says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas." Selective hearing. Hearing what you want to hear and ignoring what you don’t want to hear. Men are said to have selective hearing: the wife instructs her husband, “GO to the store; LAY DOWN the mulch, wash AND wax the car, GET the kids at school; rent SOME videos, and finish the REST of the dishes.” The husband hears, “Go lay down and get some rest.”
Jesus goes to villages and towns ~ crowds gather. What would it be like for the villagers to have the Lord visit them? You never know what a day will bring forth... He tells a simple story, “A farmer went out to sow…” The sower tosses his seed; it lands on four kinds of soil. The story is funny ~ no farmer would spread seed with no thought. If I plant a new lawn, I am far too cheap to push the seed spreader across the gravel driveway. There is one good choice ~ good soil. I want to see the Word of God take deep root in you! Selective hearing is hearing what you want to hear. We do it with people, even the people we love ~ Do you have selective hearing with God? Today’s scripture ~ Jesus tells the parable of the Farmer sowing seed (a story with a deeper truth). After the parable Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear let him hear….” It’s about getting rid of selective hearing…learning to listen to the Word of God in its fullness. (NOTE ~ introductory sermon on what's coming in series from Luke 8, "You Never Know What a Day Will Bring Forth: A Extraordinary God Invading an Ordinary World.")
Jesus Christ went to average people. He traveled about from one town and village to another (READ Luke 8:1). He was on the move… went to the common people. Went with common people. How Average Are You? Here’s a silly little quiz to help determine what you have in common with most Americans. Do you believe in God?—More than 80 percent of American adults believe in God, and about 10 percent believe in a “universal spirit.” How close do you live to the nearest McDonald’s and Wal-Mart? —Most Americans live within three miles of a McDonald’s restaurant and within a 20-minute drive of a Wal-Mart. Do you prefer smooth or chunky peanut butter?—Most Americans—83 percent—prefer smooth. Are you a high school graduate?--About 85 percent of Americans earn a high school diploma. How old is your car?--The average American’s vehicle is eight years old. Do you own a pet?--Most American households—63 percent—have at least one pet, mainly dogs and cats. What time are you regularly in bed?--Most Americans—74 percent—are in bed before midnight. Are you happy?--Most Americans—80 percent—say they generally wake up happy. Would you rather be in prison for one week or president of the United States?--Most Americans—52 percent—would prefer a week in prison. Dwight L. Moody, comparing temporary happiness to deep joy, says it well, “Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him.” Joy is found in the Lord. Delight in him all day long. It is a gift. Receive it. |
Carl Crouse, Pastor
At SACC we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Every Sunday the worship service includes a message from the Bible. My words are an attempt to understand and apply the Bible to our daily living. I post weekly sermons and other biblical messages on this page. May you find meaning and hope as you read through each message and seek to hear God's voice. Leave a comment to ask questions or inspire others with your insights. Categories
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