Scripture for May 20th: Psalm 27:1-6

Sermon Title: Overcome Fear

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Why do people problems in relationships? The answer in many cases may be very simple: they are afraid. Because of past experiences, people fear becoming vulnerable and intimate in their relationships with others. The fear of experiencing yet another disappointment and hurt keeps them isolated from meaningful relationships.

Dr. Gary Smalley, in this book, “The DNA of Relationships,” speaks to this when he writes: “Fear is as old as the Garden of Eden. In the beginning, Adam and Eve enjoyed a perfect and satisfying relationship with God and with one another. But the moment they disregarded God’s instructions and chose instead to follow the serpent’s advice, fear took over. It spoiled their relationship to God and to each other. And we have been feeling its destructive effects ever since.”

In the text above, the psalmist writes about overcoming fear through the Lord – it is He that provides “light”, “salvation” and truly deliverance from our oppressing fears. On Sunday we will discuss this further, as we look at overcoming our fears in relationships by not blaming others, seeking confidence from God and desiring the deliverance that God can give us as we conclude the sermon series, “The DNA of Relationships.” Hope to see you then!

Scripture for May 13th: John 4:4-13; 19-26

Sermon Title: Create a Safe Environment

Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

“I can’t accept that person.” This is something that our attitude towards someone may say without words. Too often it is this same attitude Christians have toward others as they act as if they are better than others. Non-Christians get the message and are deterred from knowing God because of it. The text shows that Christ did not have this attitude towards a woman whom His culture had said was not worthy of speaking to. Instead, Christ demonstrated the ability to see this woman as valuable, someone who He had come to “seek and save” (Luke 19:10).

Dr. Gary Smalley, in his book, “The DNA of Relationships,” speaks to this when he writes the following: “Honor is a way of accurately seeing the immense value of someone made in God’s image. God created each one of us as a one-of-kind person, with unique gifts and personality. He sees us as precious and valuable. When we see others as God sees them, when we recognize and affirm their value, we help create a safe environment that encourages relationships to grow.”

Christ created a safe environment to minister to the woman in the text by first honoring her through speaking to her and demonstrating His compassion for her. This coming Sunday we will talk more about creating a safe environment in our relationships as we continue our sermon series, “The DNA of Relationships.” We will also celebrate Mother’s Day by honoring our mothers in our congregation. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for May 6th: Luke 11:1-13; Mark 11:17

Sermon Title: My House Shall Be A House of Prayer

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”

“I don’t have time to pray.” We often express this thought because we wrongly believe that what we do is more important than prayer. Nothing could be further than the truth. Prayer is not only more important than what we do, but it is so much more powerful. Why is prayer so powerful? Because in a sense, it was what you and I were created for – to be in relationship with the living God.

Rev. Rick Astle, in his book, The Priority of Kingdom-Focused Prayer, speaks to this when he writes: “The fact that God created us in order to have fellowship with us, coupled with the fact that He sent His only Son Jesus to earth to restore that fellowship after it was broken, tells you something of the priority God places on relationship! There’s no doubt about it, your Heavenly Father wants you to know Him on a level deeper than just a ‘casual acquaintance.’ His priority goal is to reveal Himself to you. So if you want to love the Lord more deeply and obey Him more readily, you will need to begin with knowing Him more intimately. The believer’s ‘Divine Domino Theory’ is really very simple and works as follows: Priority time given to Bible study and prayer moves you to know God; knowing God moves you to love God; loving God moves you to worship and obey God.”

This coming Sunday, our guest preacher, Rev. Don Evans, will speak about the importance of prayer not only in the life of individual Christians, but also in the church. I hope that you will have an opportunity to come and hear his message, and you will be encouraged to make prayer a priority in your life.

Scripture for April 29th: I Thessalonians 5:12-23

Sermon Title: Care For Self, Not Just For Others

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I heard a preacher say recently, “I would rather burn out than to rust out.” He was speaking about working hard and “burning out” versus hardly working at all. Although I believe the Bible teaches us to work hard, God does not expect us to work so hard that we are not able to maintain our relationship with Him or others. This is one of the greatest hindrances to good relationships in our lives – the way we live our lives and the stress it brings to us and those around us. We need to learn how to “de-stress” our lives so that we can build better relationships.

The passage above tells us that life is not about working harder or “accomplishing” more. Rather, life is about experiencing such a relationship with God that we actually live “blameless” and in peace. It is not a life where we desire more and more, but a life of contentment, that gives “thanks in all circumstances.” Do you live a life like that? Or is your life filled with the stress of working harder, doing more, worrying all the time and never feeling content? If it is, then your relationships will be hurt.

Dr. Gary Smalley speaks to this in his book, “The DNA of Relationships” when he writes the following: “When you love God with every part of your being, he fills you up to overflowing with his amazing love. Out of that overflow, you give to others. This is the balanced life, the only kind of life worth living. But notice something crucial: If you don’t take care of yourself, you have no overflow. Without an overflow, you find it very hard to take care of others—and almost impossible to obey Jesus’ command to love God with all your heart.”

This coming Sunday we will discuss how to take care of ourselves by decreasing stress in our lives using Biblical principles as we continue to sermon series, “DNA of Relationships.” Hope to see you then!

Scripture for Apr. 22nd: Galatians 6:4-10

Sermon Title: Accept Responsibility, Not Blame

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

“The devil made me do it.” That is a popular expression some use to attempt to relieve themselves of responsibility for their actions. Of course, no one “makes” us do anything – we are all responsible for our actions and cannot blame anyone else for what we do or don’t do. The Apostle Paul speaks to this when he writes, “a man reaps what he sows.” Our actions always bring consequences (good or bad) and no excuse can change this fact. But if we assume responsibility for our actions and live as God has called us to live no matter what others may do, we will then reap a “harvest” of blessing.

Dr. Gary Smalley writes in his book, The DNA of Relationships, about how taking responsibility for one’s actions also improves our relationships with others: Take control of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Whenever you focus your attention on what the other person is doing, you take away your own power. You make yourself weak. In focusing on the other, you try to control things you can’t control. For that reason it’s an exercise in total futility, inefficiency, and ineffectiveness. How much better to have some say in the matter! How much more effective to take control of something you can actually control! When you focus on yourself rather than on the other person, you vastly increase your odds of being able to enjoy some impact and influence over the relationship problem that bothers you.

This coming Sunday we will discuss how we can take better responsibility for our actions by controlling our feelings, looking to God for ultimate contentment and utilizing forgiveness in our relationships as we continue the sermon series, “The DNA of Relationships.” Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 15th: Luke 10:25-37

Sermon Title: Bless, Not Hurt

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

“I have no friends.” A man once told me this, claiming he had no real relationships outside of his pet dog. But in truth he had a relationship with his barber, store sales clerk and mail person, though as limited as these relationships were. And he had relationships with those in his church and me, his pastor. You see, he had relationships with others because everyone has relationships.

Dr. Gary Smalley makes this same point in this book, “The DNA of Relationships,” when he writes the following: “Relationships are not an option. From the moment you’re born, you’re in relationship with parents. Soon you’re in relationship with other children. Later you have relationships in the workplace, and you develop relationships with close friends. And eventually most people develop a relationship with someone they deeply love. When a relationship becomes difficult or painful, we tend to dismiss the relationship and may for a while try to abandon all relationships. But eventually we come back and seek connection once again. While we can choose how we will participate in relationships, we have no choice about whether we will participate in them. This is a critical point. Your only real choice is whether you will work to make your relationships healthy, whether you will do things that hinder or enhance them.”

No matter who you are, you are in relationship with others. Are those relationships healthy? Christ showed us the basis for healthy relationships in the parable above: first, and foremost, our relationships must be based on our personal relationship with God. Secondly, we must understand that we were created with the capacity to choose to be in right relationship with others. And thirdly, we must be willing to take responsibility for our own actions. We will talk more about each of these points as we begin the sermon series, “The DNA of Relationships” this coming Sunday. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 8th, Easter Sunday: Matthew 28:1-10; 16-17

Sermon Title: Victory Over Death

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

As we celebrate Easter this coming Sunday, we first to pause to remember the death of Christ on Good Friday. May this poem and prayer provided by Mike Mauk help you to do this:

The sun rose higher and higher. Time oozed out like the blood that dripped from the cross. Jesus opened his eyes and saw his mother standing there and John beside her. He called out the name of John, who came closer. And Jesus said, “You will take care of her, John.” And John, choked with tears, put his arm around the shoulders of Mary. Jesus said to his mother, “He will be your son.” His lips were parched, and he spoke with difficulty. He moved his head against the hard wood of the cross as a sick man moves his head on a hot pillow. A thunderstorm was blowing up from the mountains, and the clouds hid the sun. It was strangely dark. The people looked up at the sky and became frightened. Women took little children by the hand and hurried back to the city before the storm would break. It was an uncanny darkness. It had never been as dark before. Something terrible must be about to happen. Women stood praying for Jesus and for the thieves. The centurion was silent, although every now and then he would look up at Jesus with a strange look in his eye. The soldiers were silent, too. Their gambling was over. They had won and lost. Suddenly Jesus opened his eyes and gave a loud cry. The gladness in his voice startled all who heard it, for it sounded like a shout of victory. “It is finished. Father. Into thy hands I commend my spirit.” And with that cry he died.

Catalog of Witnesses

Now we were all there that day on the top of the hill: the friends of Jesus and his enemies. The church people, they were there, as well as the people who never went to church. The priests were there. And the scribes, the greedy Sadducees, the hypocrites, the proud Pharisees, with their robes, their broad bordered phylacteries on which golden bells were sewn with golden thread— they were there, drawing their robes more tightly around them and standing with arms folded approvingly. They were there. The people who were always talking about the church and always talking about the Lord, the pious people on whose lips there were always glib quotations from the Scriptures—they were there. The unbelievers were standing beside them. The harlots were there, and their customers were there. They were all there. Simon of Cyrene was there, and the soldiers, too. Peter was there, and John and Andrew and James and Thomas and Philip and Matthew and Bartholomew. They were all there.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

When we consider who were there, and when we are honest with ourselves, we know that we were there and that we helped to put Christ there. Because every attitude present on that hilltop that day is present in our midst now. Every emotion that tugs the human heart then, tugs the human heart still. Every face that was there is here too. Every voice that shouted then is shouting still. Every human being was represented on Calvary. Every sin was in a nail or the point of a spear or the thorns. And pardon for them all was in the blood that was shed. Nineteen hundred years have passed away. But the range of the centuries with our callused tears have not yet washed away the blood from the rotting wood of a deserted cross. Nor have the winds covered his footprints in the sands of Judea. Calvary still stands, and you and I erect the cross again and again and again every time we sin. The hammer blows are still echoing somewhere in the caverns in your heart and mine. Every time we deny him, every time we sin against him or fail to do what he commanded, he is being crucified again and again and again.

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? I was. Were you?

O God of our souls, how many times have we promised to love you and again we have turned our backs on you. O by that love with which you died for us on the cross, grant us sorrow for our sins, the grace to love you, and to ever turn to you in times of temptation, trial, and tribulation. Amen

May you remember and give thanks for the death of Christ and the forgiveness that we receive through His death this week. And come help us celebrate His resurrection this coming Sunday as we conclude our sermon series, “The Victorious King.” Hope to see you and your loved ones then!

Scripture for Apr 1st (Palm Sunday): Matthew 21:1-11

Sermon Title: Victory Before Death

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

They praised Christ as He entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before His death. Some of the very people who were praising Him also called for His death later that same week. What happened to cause them to change their mind? It was unmet expectations. These people thought Jesus was coming as a conquering hero. When they were presented with Christ by Herod, beaten and bloodied, they felt betrayed and deceived. But the truth is that they needed a Savior more than a conqueror and Christ had come not to reign, but to die.

Theologian A.W. Augsburger writes the following concerning how Christ entered Jerusalem: “Jesus entered Jerusalem not on a white charger, but on a lowly beast of burden, not on a horse as a symbol of power, but on a colt as a symbol of humility. He is the peaceful King of the people of God, not a revolutionary with political interest (Is. 11:1–2).”

Many in the crowd that day misidentified Christ and did not realize that Christ as Savior (not as conquering King) had power over the future, ignorance and the present age. We will explore each of these elements as we continue our sermon series, “The Victorious King” this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday. Hope to see you then!