Baptism of the Lord: Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 4: 1-16

The Lord warned Cain today that sin was crouching at his door, and it desired to have him, but he must master it.  Cain did not; he gave into sin and killed his brother Able. The sin was crouching, waiting, for just the right moment to pounce.  I think there are 2 things to note; first that sin was crouching, waiting.  The temptation is strongest at certain moments.  We must always be on the look out for temptation.  We must not let out guard down, and we must not think that we are stronger than we really are. The moment we think we are immune to temptation is the moment when we are most at risk.  Look for the crouching sin in your life.

And in looking for it constantly, we move to the second thing, the Lord said Cain must master it.  When we realize that temptation is always around us and are always aware of what's happening, then we can master it.  Does that mean that we will not give into to temptation?  No we still may fall. Does that mean that we are immune to sin?  No, it's the pride that goeth before the fall. But when we are aware of temptation all around crouching, it is easier to see it coming and defeat it.  I believe we can fight against sin and temptation and defeat it. The Lord has given us through the Holy Spirit the power to fight against sin and live a holy life. Sin is always crouching, but we must master it

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 2: 11-18

This passage shows us how we fight against sin; Jesus Christ. Since he was like us and defeated sin and death, we, through Him, have the power to fight these things.  The Word says that says that in His death he destroyed the power of sin and the devil and freed those captive.  We are free. If the Lord has saved you, then you are walking by His power and His strength.  It does not have to be as it has always been.  The Lord can and will set you free, if you will allow.  Through the cross and the grave, sin and devil were defeated.  We serve one that has won the victory and through faith will give us the victory.  You do not have to remain in your chains today; you can be set free.  But in your freedom, do not return to your chains.  If you have been set free through Christ, don't give into the crouching sin; instead live in the power that Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, has given you.

Gospel Lesson

John 1: 29-42

John the Baptist completes the conversation on sin upon when seeing Jesus calls him the Lamb of God that comes to take away the sin of the world.  Jesus Christ didn't endure what He did so that you and I can play games with sin.  This is serious businesses. If He won the victory of sin, and has given us that victory, we must claim it and we must seek to live in it.  Thus, sin is not a toy to be played with.  Jesus came to set us free.

How are we set free?  By doing what Andrew did in the text.  Follow Jesus. If you follow sin, sin will have you.  If you follow Jesus each day, you will receive His strength and power.  Who are you following today?  Andrew saw the Lamb of God and he followed. What do you and I do?  Do we follow the Lamb of God each day?  Or do we follow only when we need Him.  We will not know His power unless we are faithful to Him.  Only in being committed to Him can we fully know His strength and His grace.

And then once Andrew followed, he brought other folks with him.  When was the last time you told someone about your Jesus?  When was the last time you told a friend (or even and enemy) about what He has done for you. Part of following Him is doing that.  Are we in our lives helping others to meet Jesus?

He is the Lamb of God that came to take away the sin of the world, may He be glorified today in our words and in our lives. 

Baptism of the Lord: Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 3: 1-24

This is a text that we know well, and an event that as affected us more than any other (save the cross) in history. The fall of Adam and Eve. As I read this text several things popped out to me today, but one thing in particular stuck with me.  Notice that to Eve (and Adam) the fruit looked pleasing to the eye. So much sin looks pleasing to the eye.  Sin always looks good.  Sin always looks like it might be fun. That is why it is called temptation.  No one is tempted to do something good. We are tempted to do things that are not good for us, but we think may be "worth" it.  We are tempted to eat chocolate and cheeseburgers.  We are not tempted to eat our vegetables.

In spite of how good it may look, temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death.  Yet, to Eve it looked good. That is why as Christian we are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight.  Because to our sight, sin may look good, but, if we are walking by God's spirit, then we will be able to see correctly. Sin may look good, but in the end it will destroy us. Be careful today that you walk by faith and be aware of those things like that look pleasing to your eyes, but will lead to your destruction.

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 2: 1-10

There's an old saying, "Ignorance is bliss."  If you don't know, it doesn't matter as much to you.  Today, in Hebrews it talks about that there was judgment in the past for those that ignored the word from angels, and then how much more judgment we will face if we ignore this great salvation from God.  Those of us that know better should do better. Those of us that know the truth of God should live the truth of God. For we know what to do, we know how to live, we know the right decisions to make, we know the path that leads to heaven. And we should walk it. There is no excuse and judgment will come for those that hear the Word of the Lord and then ignore it.  For God, through Jesus, has given us this great gift of salvation, and we should not take it for granted.  We should not, must not ignore the commands of God.  I don't know if ignorance is bliss, but I do know that ignoring God is not. Listen to God today, through the Word, through prayer, and through brothers and sisters in Christ. Listen for His command, His grace, and then, may that grace empower us to be obedient to the word he has given.

Gospel Lesson

John 1: 19-28

In John the Baptist, we see and image of one that is sent on a mission, and he is focused on that mission alone.  They come and ask him who he is, and speaks about his mission; his focus on Jesus and preparing the way.  Noting could keep him from doing what God had placed him on the earth to do.  Nothing could keep him from his mission.

God has given each of us a mission and a purpose.  We are not here by accident.  You are not reading this by accident. I am not typing this by accident. We all have a purpose in our lives; we all have a mission. Are faithful to it?  See the devil and the forces of evil will do everything in their power to keep is from what God has put us here to do. They will use everything in their power to keep us from our purpose.  Do not let them. For it's in God you find meaning, it's in Jesus Christ you find you mission in life.  Are you seeking it today?  In the Hebrews passage it reminds us that if we know the Word of the Lord, should not ignore it; we must act upon it.  Do you know your mission?  Do you know your purpose? Has the Lord laid something upon your heart today?  Then do it.  Do not delay.  Let nothing keep you from what the Lord had placed you here to do.  John was faithful to who God had called him to be.  Are we faithful to who God has called each of us to be?  It is in that faithfulness we find our purpose, our mission, our life.    

Epiphany: Monday, January 9

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 2:4-25

In this section we see a retelling of creation, but from a different perspective. In chapter one, God breathes everything into life merely by speaking. It goes into great detail each day, what was created, and give a picture of an almighty, powerful God.

Chapter 2 tells about creation from a different perspective. In Chapter 2 God is focused not on all the universe, but instead on humans. Chapter 1 shows the almighty side of God, Chapter 2 shows the person. He is both. He is the God that spoke everything that is into being. He is the God that sits upon the throne today. But, He is also the God that created Adam and said, it's not good for man to be alone. Chapters 1 and 2 show us who God is. He is a God that is at the same time Almighty and all powerful, yet at the same personal and all knowing. He is a God that created each of us, and He is a God that wants to know each of us, on a person an individual level. The God of creation desires to know me and you. That's pretty awesome.

New Testament Lesson

Hebrews 1:1-15

Much of the book of Hebrews is about proving the superiority of Jesus Christ; showing that He is greater than angels or prophets or anything else in all creation. These folk were placing their faith in things other than Jesus. For instance, in this text, many of the readers were thinking that angels were superior to Jesus. So, the text speaks to that and proves that Jesus is above angels. He is above all things. He is the one be worshiped. No thing or no one else to be placed about Jesus Christ in our lives. Not our job, our hobbies, our money, anything. Jesus must be first in our lives, for He is first in creation. They had placed other things ahead of Jesus. We should no make the same mistake.

Gospel Lesson

John 1:1-18

Verses 12-13 say, "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." In Jesus day, your birth determined everything. If you were born to a carpenter, you were a carpenter, if you were born to a priest, you were a priest. Birth was everything. Even with religion. Today, John says that Jesus was sent not to save those born to the right family, but to save all those that believe. Who we were born to doesn't matter. Our faith in Him does. Just because we were born to saintly family does not assure out entrance into heaven, and likewise, if we were born to a family that never darkened the doors a church, we cannot lay blame upon them. All that believe in his name can become Children of God. Belief. That's what maters this morning. We are saved by grace through faith, so that no one can boast. We cannot boast in our own goodness, only cling to the grace of Jesus Christ. If you boast today, boast not of your own goodness, but instead boast of the grace of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Daniel and Church Growth

Some of you may have heard about The Book of Daniel, a new show about a priest who has variety of wacky family problems such as a gay Republican son, another son that is sex crazy, plus his own addiction issues. Oh the hilarity! One of the interesting comments I've read is some in the Episcopal Church feel like this will be a great advertisement for their church, showing a tolerant church that is open. That is an interesting point, but for many of us in the "mainline" we've been trying slogans and advertisement for many years, with only declining numbers to show for it.

Now, this is not a knock against advertisement or appealing to culture. We must be out the and present in our culture. But, for far too long we have stood for nothing at all, and folks want substance. They may turn to spirituality or snazzy slogans at times, but all of us want at the end of the day a purpose. That is one reason why The Purpose Driven Life has been so popular; it promises purpose a purpose for your life, plus it will help you find is.

Now, what does this rant have to do with church growth? We in the church sometimes "borrow" things from culture very effectivly. After all Charles Wesley used popular English song for the tunes for many of his hymns. But, sometimes we borrow the wrong stuff.

Growth will not come through TV shows or commercials or webpages, not that these are bad. The church I pastor has a webpage, and you are reading this on my blog! But, you don't become committed to church because of a website, you become committed to church because of Jesus Christ. As great as The Passion was and Narnia is, have they resulted in an increase in church attendance? Probably not much, if all.

But, what about a church where Christ is proclaimed and conversion takes place? That's a church that grows, whether they are on TV or not. Now that is easier said than done, believe me. But, it is not you or I that does this work, it is the Holy Spirit. We just need to get out of the way and allow the Spirit to work.

In short, will the Book of Daniel bring thousands of folks to Episcopal churches this Sunday? I doubt it. But, Jesus Christ will. I have a good friend that is a priest at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Collierville, TN. They are church that has grown and been in effective ministry. How? By proclaiming Jesus, and enabling folks through the Spirit to know conversion, salvation, and holiness. That's the purpose of the church. That's it, that's the list.

I wonder if they would have a Holy Roller Coaster Ride

Some of us in seminary used to jokingly call Megachurches either Fort God or 6 Flags over Jesus. Who knew that 6 Flags over Jesus might become a reality? I guess if you go to church for entertainment only,this my be the way to go. I wonder if it will be contempary or traditional worship?

Epiphany: January 6

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 49:1-7

There is a danger in thinking that we are the only Christians in the world, and that everyone must be like us. Every Christian must a Methodist from Mississippi or Baptist from Tennessee or whatever we are wherever we are. Today, the Lord says that His servant will be a light to Gentiles and will bring His salvation across the earth. One of the things about God is sometimes, quite often in fact, He will put us in places we aren’t comfortable. He may place us among people we don’t like or that we disagree with. We may go through things we don’t enjoy; sickness, loss, hurt, these type things that make us uncomfortable. Why? One reason is that these times cause us to grow. We don’t always grow when everything is fine and dandy, but in times of trial, we learn to depend on Him. So, today, our command is not to stay where we are comfortable, but instead to go, to all the ends of the world, bringing this salvation. That may mean people we don’t like or want to like; but we are commanded to go. We are not commanded to stay in our comfort zone; we are commanded to go.

New Testament Lesson

Revelation 21:22-27

Once again we see that the “nations” will walk in the light in the eternal kingdom. Most every Sunday, in the Methodist church, we do the Apostle’s Creed, and there’s a line in it that give pause to a lot of people, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy catholic church. . .” Not the Holy Spirit part, but the catholic church part. That creed is not talking about a denomination, but rather, it is talking about THE CHURCH. It is talking about the one that is made up not of Methodista or Baptists or Roman Catholics or Pentecostals or any other denomination. It is talking about the Body of Christ that is made up of all that believe. We are part or a bigger whole. We are part of a church that is more than just our local congregation, more than just our denomination, more than just those that are here in America. We are part of a body that’s membership is open to all that believe. One day in heaven, there will be no Temple, for the Lord will walk among us, and

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it

So God’s Word Promises.

Gospel Lesson

Matthew 2:1-12

Finally, the day we’ve all been waiting for is here. Today is Epiphany, the day we remember the coming of the wise men. My poor people at Coy and before them my poor people at Boyle, Linn, and Litton Methodist churches had to listen to me every year say, “you know the wise men didn’t get there till later, so you really don’t need to have your wise men out.” Every year, my poor wife has to put up with my threats to hide her wise men if they get too close to the manger scene before today. Today is the 12th day of Christmas, Epiphany, the day the wise men get here. They come bearing gifts, but they come with something greater than just gifts. They come to worship the Lord. They travel far distance, they went through much to get there, and would go through a lot to get home. What sacrifice they made merely to worship the king. Imagine if we had to go through all they went through to worship Jesus. How many of us would do that? And, they came as Gentiles. That is what is most significant about them. They represent you and me. They represent the world. As the other texts today point out, our faith is open to all that believe. We are not a genetic faith. Just because your parents believe doesn’t mean that you believe. There’s an old saying, God doesn’t have grandchildren, just children. We must all believe. The wise men believe, and they came to worship. That is what Jesus asks of us today; believe in Him, and the desire to follow Him. They were lead by a star; we are lead by the Holy Spirit. But the command is the same. Follow the one that was born to save the world.

Christmas: January 6

Old Testament Lesson

Jonah 2:2-9

Jonah prayed this prayer while in the belly of the fish. He prayed that he knew the Lord would deliver him and that salvation would spring forth. His prayer is a retelling of his story until now, he had forgotten the Lord, but in the midst of the pit, he suddenly remembered. And then, he prayed, and he knew the Lord would save him. How often do we wait until we are in the pit and then say, oh, yeah, what about God? So often, prayer I is the last thing on our list instead of the first. So often we wait until we feel like we have out run the outstretched arm of God and then we hit our knees. Jonah wound up in the belly of a fish because he wanted it his way and did not see the Lord’s face, but instead ran. Do we have the wind up in the belly of the fish before we will remember to pray?

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 6:10-20

This is on of my favorite passages: The Armor of God. I’ve preached sermon after sermon about it. I’ll just make this one point. There is a spiritual war going one around us. There are forces of evil that are work against the Church and against God’s people. I know that may sound old fashion, but is true. Do we take that seriously? Do we put on the thing that God has given us to fight this fight? So often in sports, if one team really doesn’t want to play the game, but the other one does, it’s the team that plays the hardest and works the hardest that wins. If we approach life and spiritual matters like they are no big deal; we will be defeated. Do we take seriously the role of the evil and demonic forces working against us? CS Lewis said (this is a bad paraphrase) there were two opposite and equal problems with the devil. One is to see the devil everywhere and become obsessed, the other is to see the devil nowhere the foolishly believe that he does not exist. Do you take seriously the power of evil, not just in the world, but in your won life? The Word says do not give the devil a foothold. One way to keep him out is to put on the armor of God.

Gospel Lesson

John 11:17-27; 38-44

The grave could not hold back the work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is stronger than death. I read a quote yesterday where someone asked, “Is there life after death?” There teacher responded, the correct question is, “Is there life before death.” Will you wait until you death bed to realize all the life you could have lived now? So often we wait and wait and wait to begin living. Jesus Christ has conquered death. Has He conquered you life?