Category: Sermons Page 1 of 4

The Book: Q and A

On September 10, 2018

As promised, here are the Questions and answers from our series on the Bible. Thank you for submitting the questions, they were challenging and allowed me to learn even more about the various topics.

How does Methodism reconcile the Bible’s creation story with evolution?

The current evolution/creation controversy is based on two fundamental errors.

It pits science against dogmatic faith, they are not necessarily opposed to each other.

1. Both Christianity and materialism are interpretations of facts and both are faith commitments.
Two entirely different definition of science are used interchangeably

1. One is the what science actually is observation of the world. It is a methodology: observation, experimentation, testing.

The second definition of science involves the philosophy of naturalistic materialism: matter and energy governed by natural law. Any view that doesn’t conform to this definition is not scientific.

However, philosophy always trumps the methodology. That is, any scientific methodology (first definition) that supports any type of creation is summarily disqualified by scientific philosophy (second definition) as “religion disguised as science.”

Defining the terms

Evolution is defined differently depending on who you are talking to. Here are some common definitions:

Change over time – the simplest definition and one that we see alaround us.
The process whereby minor changes take place in an organization to produce new characteristics (Darwin Special evolution) we would call it microevolution. Adaptation to a changing environment. (Darwin’s famous finches).
The process where major changes take place in an organism to produce new kinds of organisms. (Darwin’s General Theory). Darwin theorized that if small observable changes could be observed over time, large change could too. He theorized a process of random mutation and survival of the fittest. This is what most scientists mean by evolution.

Skeptical and atheistic scientists have serious reservation about Darwinian evolution.

In the 1980 Berkeley held a highly anticipated Origin of Life Conference. It completely failed to produce a plausible scenario for how life itself chemically evolved, Dr. Robert Shapiro wrote a book entitled Origins: A Skeptic’s Guide to the Creation of Life on Earth. (“Creation” here refers to biochemical evolution.) Shapiro is an educated skeptic of creation, an eminent chemist from New York University and an expert in his field. In his book he decimates the reigning ideas of how life could have evolved from non-life.

Michael Denton wrote Evolution: A Theory in Crisis to show that the original scientific objections to evolution that faced Darwin–and were argued powerfully by his contemporaries–still apply after more than 100 years of scientific research and progress.

Both of these books were written by non-religious people raising scientific objections to evolution. Shapiro remains an evolutionist, hoping that the future will turn up more evidence for biochemical evolution than the past has been able to produce. Denton ends his analysis with this statement: “The Darwinian theory is the great cosmogenic myth of the twentieth century,” and then adds, “like the Genesis-based cosmology which it replaced.”

These men are not religious and work inside of the established scientific community, not outside of it. Yet each offers scientifically rigorous and compelling arguments against the idea that known natural processes are adequate to explain the biological complexity of our world.^[1]

Michael Behe is a cellular biologist with impeccable credentials. In his book Darwin’s Black Box, he shows that the irreducible complexity of life can’t be explained by Darwinian gradualism. He updated the book in 2016 with the title, Evolution: A Theory Still in Crisis.

James Shapiro of the University of Chicago, a molecular biologist and a deeply committed evolutionist, made this candid remark in response to Behe’s work:

“There are no detailed Darwinian accounts for the evolution of any fundamental biochemical or cellular system, only a variety of wishful speculations. It is remarkable that Darwinism is accepted as a satisfactory explanation for such a vast subject–evolution–with so little rigorous examination of how well its basic theses work in illuminating specific instances of biological adaptation or diversity.”^[2]

One of the world’s leading paleontologists, Niles Eldredge, says the fossil record has produced no evidence of transitional forms. He goes on to say that it is no surprise “paleontologists shied away from evolution for so long. It never seems to happen.”^[3]

The greatest weakness of the theory of evolution is that science has not discovered a process that can create all the necessary information, which can be likened to the software that directs a computer. Without such a demonstrated creative process, evolution is merely a story, because it’s supposed mechanism can neither be duplicated in a laboratory nor observed in nature.^[4]

God may have created organic life directly or he may have evolved it from inorganic life by natural processes; nothing we know for sure in either theology or science, God or nature, makes us absolutely certain of either answer.^[5]

Options for Christians when it comes to the origins debate.

Young Earth Creationism
Old Earth Creationism
Theistic Evolution
Intelligent Design Theory

In the book In the Beginning… We Misunderstood, Johnny Miller and John Soden suggest we have completely missed the meaning of Genesis 1 and 2. They suggest, and I agree, that we need to ask, How would the original hearers have understood the story? In other words, they were asking, “Who is responsible for creation.”

This becomes very apparent when you compare Genesis 1 and 2 with other creation stories from the Ancient Near East, such as the Enuma Elish

We need to be careful not to pit Scripture against science, or nature against [interpretation]. In creation debates, we are talking about our interpretation of Scripture and our interpretation of nature. God’s two revelations, nature and Scripture always agree.

It’s our interpretation of Scripture and our interpretation of nature that may conflict. And when they do, it follows that one (or both) of our conflicting interpretations is wrong. Consequently, we should give priority to the interpretation that is more certain.

Christian theologian and philosopher, Norm Geisler reminds us, “God has revealed Himself in His Word and in His world…. The problem is what we do when they seem to conflict. It is too simplistic to conclude that the Bible is always right and science is wrong. Of course, the Bible is always right, but our interpretation of it is not.”^[6]

Are there “missing” or “lost” books of the Bible? The Catholic Bible has the Book of Judith and the Maccabees and extra parts in Esther, why?

Apocrypha – Means “things that are hidden.” Includes a collection of 15 books written between about 200 B.C. and A.D. 100.

Although never part of the Hebrew Scriptures, all 15 apocryphal books except 2 Esdras appear in the Greek translation of the OT, the Septuagint. They were made a part of the official Latin Bible, the Vulgate. All except 1 and 2 Esdras and the Prayer of Manasseh are considered canonical (in the Bible) and authoritative by the Roman Catholic Church. From the time of the Reformation, the apocryphal books have been omitted from the canon of the Protestant churches.^[7]

Some 30 books called “lost books”, but they are not lost.

“Early church leaders rejected certain books as unrepresentative of their beliefs that they actually believed reflected their beliefs.’

The Didache
Epistle of Barnabas
Shepherd of Hermas
Gospel of Judas

Gospel of Thomas

These are the secret sayings that the living Jesus spoke and Didymos Judas Thomas recorded.

1) And he said, “Whoever discovers the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death.”

2) Jesus said, “Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]”

87) Jesus said, “How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two.”

114) Simon Peter suggested to them: Mary Magdalene should leave us. Women are unworthy of the life.

Jesus said: I shall lead her so as to make her a man, that she may become a Living Spirit, as you other men for every woman made manly, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven.^[8]

Why did Jesus have to kill the fig tree?

He did not have to. It was an object lesson for the disciples. The tree had leaves, but no figs, which if should have. It was advertising that it had fruit which it did not, the same with the Judaism of the day.

Just as the fig tree’s fruitfulness was a sign of its health, so fruitfulness was a sign of Israel’s faithfulness to the covenantal standards. Now that Israel, especially represented by its religious leadership, has perverted the temple practices and has not repented at the appearance of Jesus Messiah proclaiming the arrival of the kingdom of heaven, Israel is being judged by God.^[9]

Please explain the 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel.

This has to do with the symbolism of numbers in the Bible.

The selection and order of the 12 tribes suggest that the 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel have symbolic significance, representing the faithful people of God. These are not Jacob’s sons, for Dan is omitted and Manasseh included. They are not the tribes that inherited land in Canaan, for Dan is omitted, Levi (the priestly tribe) is included, and Joseph is listed instead of his son Ephraim. Judah, the tribe of the Messiah (5:5), appears first rather than Reuben, the firstborn. The number 12,000 reappears in the dimensions of the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:16). Indeed, the number 144,000 (12 × 12 × 1,000) suggests symbolism here, but that does not necessarily decide the question of whether “Israel” is also a symbol for the church, or is intended to refer to literal, ethnic Israel.^[10]

The 144,000 represent the faithful people of God.

How will judgement be rendered at the end of time? Does belief in Jesus as Savior and Lord meant that judgement will be different than for those who have not believed and have not lived a Christian life?

2 Cor 5:10 – does this refer to believers as well as non-believers?

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NRSV) — ¹⁰ For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

From all of that I have been reading and studying, I have modified my view on this. For most of my life I believed that when someone accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, that was all that was necessary. This thinking says that since we are not saved by our works but by grace, works (good deeds) were not necessary for salvation, but counter to it. Some have the idea that God weighs all my works and if I have more good works than bad, I get to go to heaven. That is not a Christian idea, but a pagan idea.

Recently, I have changed my position, not least because of the way Scripture talks about judgment.

Whenever Jesus talked about judgment he talked about deeds, not beliefs. A classic example is the Parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew 25:31-46

Also, these passages,

Luke 6:46–47 (NRSV) — ⁴⁶ “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? ⁴⁷ I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.

Paul also says much about our works:

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 (NRSV) — ⁹ Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, ¹⁰ thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:18–23 (NRSV) — ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Romans 2:4–8 (NRSV) — ⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: ⁷ to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸ while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.

Revelation 20:11–13 (NRSV) — ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also, another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. ¹³ And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.

I think it is a misrepresentation of the biblical data to say we will not be judged by our works. Our works are the concrete expression of our commitment to Jesus. Paul is primarily denying the value of the “works of the Law” those things that demonstrate the difference between Jews and Gentiles. If our primary focus is on those things there is no help for us.

In other words, if our faith is real it will result in good deeds. If our lives demonstrate no appreciable difference from our non-Christian friends and neighbors, we need to raise serious questions about the genuineness of our faith.

For more on this see Salvation by Allegiance Alone by Matthew W. Bates

Does the failure to talk about the “inspired” aspect of the Bible lead to people leaving the church?

No. People do not abandon Christianity because we use “inspired” less. They leave for a variety of reasons.

Concerning the oral and written evidence of both testaments, is it possible that one or the other is more credible because of this evidence?

No, it is a matter of transmission and coherence with the text.

Since the beginning of the church, and even Jesus himself the credibility of the OT has been taught.

If the teachings in both testaments were written for people in a specific time period, how do we know the parts which specifically apply to us and all people?

We have to study them to determine their application.

Are they descriptive or prescriptive? Seeking advice from mediums vs. adultery
Is it tied to a specific culture? Redemption of the first-born male vs. prohibition on stealing
Is it tied to a specific situation? Jeremiah’s letter (Jer 29:11 vs. John 3:16)
Is it taught in the rest of Scripture? The food laws of the OT are abolished by Jesus (Mark 7:18-23)

Many teachings in the OT seem to be contradicted by Jesus’ teaching (i.e. wars which killed millions with God in control in OT, and Love and respect for human life in NT), how can we sort out, justify, dismiss, etc. these teachings?

It is not a matter of contradiction or dismissal, but of fulfilling and deepening.

Most scholars recognize an unfolding or progression of revelation. God took the current cultural context seriously when working with the Israelites.

War – Accounts of battles are subdued with compared to other ANE stories – NT Love your enemies.
Slavery – OT Law put restrains on the practice, even more were laid down in the NT
Circumcision – necessary in OT, discounted in NT
Sabbath – the only Commandment not carried over into the NT
Adultery – from the act to thinking about the act

There are stories in the Bible, particularly in the OT that don’t make any logical sense. I understand miracles that break physics, although I question that too, but a man being swallowed by a whale and living makes seems impossible. Are we to take these things literally or are they just stories with moral points. If they are just stories why are they laid as truths?

Instead of logical sense you may mean it doesn’t make sense from a materialistic world view.

When doing research with Commentaries, the best ones list all of the main options available for understanding the book as a whole and then describes the problems with each view. So, you can see the objections and the arguments for yourself and decide.

With the book of Jonah specifically —

Not a whale, a great fish

Three ways of interpreting

Historical
Allegorical
Parabolic

The main objections to historical

The great fish
Size of the city – verified by archeology
King – could mean ruler or governor
Evidence of repentance – what would the evidence be?
The Gourd –

Allegorical

None of the markers of allegory
Subjective interpretation

Parable

Jonah is much longer and more complex than other OT parables
In OT parables are usually followed by an explanation, Jonah is not
It is unclear why Jonah was chosen when he had no real connection to the events

In summary, there is no reason to not assume a historical basis for the book that is not reasonably defendable, unless you have a presupposition that miraculous events cannot possibly occur. If so, what do you do with other events, Red Sea, Plagues, Elijah and Elisha narratives, Resurrection. The only two viable options are historical or parabolic.

“As much as I believe the events described in the book, we should resist the use of the “whale” question as a litmus test for orthodoxy. Such a question obfuscates the Word of God in Jonah and preempts a reader’s discovering God’s message for today. That message must not be eclipsed by our modern preoccupations with physical phenomena. The powerful messages of reconciliation with God, his creating power, and his persistent call for his people to speak to unbelievers concerning the Lord of all creation are essential themes of Jonah. How does the miracle of the big fish serve the message of the book? This unanticipated deliverance was a surprise to Jonah, who expected to die in the water. His own miraculous physical deliverance, when all hope was lost, caused him to rethink his views on God’s way with evil men.”^[11]

Whether it was a fish or a whale in which Jonah was kept alive is less important than the fact that God provided a miraculous means to redirect the wayward prophet to his original task, preaching repentance to Nineveh.^[12]

What book of the Bible best defines what it means to be a Christian?

John and Philippians

^[1]Gregory Koukl, “Question Evolution | Stand to Reason,” Stand to Reason, February 11, 2012, https://www.str.org/blog/question-evolution.↩
^[2]James Shapiro, “In the Details…What?,” National Review, September 19, 1996, pp. 62-65↩
^[3]https://www.str.org/quickthoughts/the-fossil-record-proves-evolution.-right↩
^[4]Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith, ed. Ted Cabal et al. (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 7–8.↩
^[5]Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics: Hundreds of Answers to Crucial Questions (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 107↩
^[6]https://www.str.org/articles/two-things-to-remember-when-discussion-creation-with-other-christians↩
^[7]Clayton Harrop, “Apocrypha, Old Testament,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 81↩
^[8]http://gnosis.org/naghamm/gosthom.html↩
^[9]Michael J. Wilkins, Matthew, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 693–694.↩
^[10]Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2473.↩
^[11]James Bruckner, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2004), 21–22.↩
^[12]Ted Cabal et al., The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), 1341.↩

Promises, Promises

By admin

On October 3, 2015

In Church Life, Navarre UMC, Newsletter Articles, Sermons

We are all know about promises. Promises we made or that were made to us. Promises that were broken or that we broke. If our kids or grandkids want to make sure we will do something they will often ask, “Do you promise?” But what is a promise?

Webster’s Dictionary says a promise is, “a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified’” or a “reason to expect something”. When someone promises us to do something or to refrain for doing something we have an expectation that it will happen just as promised.
Often a promise is all that is needed to settle a conflict.

To make a vow is similar to a promise, except it is a much more formal and public way of doing so. We
are all familiar with wedding vows. Those vows are public promises to act in certain ways toward the person we marry. Such promises should not be taken lightly; vows are like that. In our marriage vows we promise to love, honor and cherish our mate as part of our obedience to God.

God and Promises

We really love God’s promises us. He has promised to care for us as he does the birds of the air. He has
promised to welcome us into heaven. He has promised to never leave us.

But what about our promises to God? When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior we made many
implied promises. We promised singular allegiance to God. We promised to be faithful and obedient. We promised to give Jesus full reign and veto power in our lives. Wait, what?

In the scriptures, vows made to God are taken very serious indeed:

When a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. — Numbers 30:2

If you make a vow to the Lord your God, do not postpone fulfilling it; for the Lord your
God will surely require it of you, and you would incur guilt. But if you refrain from vowing, you will not incur guilt. Whatever your lips utter you must diligently perform, just as you have freely vowed to the Lord your God with your own mouth. — Deuteronomy 23:21–23

When you make a vow toGod, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill whatyou vow. It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and notfulfill it. — Ecclesiastes 5:4–5

God takes vows seriously. But as humans, we often do not. We make promises, give our word, and then back out of those vows if they become difficult or inconvenient. We often break promises and
commitments without a regret in the world. In Psalm 15, one of the marks of a righteous person is that they, “who stand by their oath even to their hurt” (Psalm 15:4c). righteous people keep their promises even when doing so causes them difficulty.

In Disciple Bible Study, Bishop Wilkie gives us the definition of a covenant, a formal vow; it is choosing to be bound in a time of strength, so that in a time of weakness we can not be unbound. That is the way it is with marriage. In front of our friends and relatives, on the happiest day of our lives, we make
promises which many people give witness to. Truth be told, anyone who has attended our wedding has the right to call us on the carpet if we violate our vows, because they witnessed the covenant.

When we baptize our children or become members of the church we make vows to God and the rest of
the congregation reaffirms the vows they made. This is not a light thing; we are making promises to God. In these promises, God has every right to expect us to fulfill our vows, and so do our brothers and sister.

So it is with our vows of membership in the church. First, we declare that we have renounced evil
and sin in our lives. We confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and promise to serve him all our days. We also promise to faithful the the universal church, the body of Christ in every place and represent Jesus everywhere we go. We promise that our loyalty to Christ will be lived out in the context of the United
Methodist Church, as specifically the congregation we are formally joining.

Finally, comes the five vows we take to live out our membership covenant in specific ways; by our
prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. In other words, we are not free to define what church member is, our vows have done that for us. We have promised God and the other members of the church that we will uphold this local expression of the Body of Christ through our heartfelt prayers, our faithful and frequent attendance, our financial gifts, our service, and by bearing witness to the world about the good of God.

So how do we find the strength to fulfill the vows we made? We find that strength in the vows themselves and in our brothers and sisters around us. Every time we think about our church and our vows; every time we hear others take those vows we are reminded of our promises and that gives us strength. Our sisters and brothers in Christ are there to help to, because they also made vows. They can be our source of strength when our is waning.

We also draw strength from God’s grace. In fact it is only by God’s grace that we can keep any of these vows and, as the membership vows state it is all, “according to grace given” us.

In the month of October, we will take a look at these vows in particular and discover the strength and grace they offer to us as we live out our connection to Christ.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

God Questions: Do all roads lead to Heaven?

By admin

On May 10, 2015

In Church Life, Missions, Navarre UMC, Sermons

Here are some additional resources for understanding the material presented this morning.

Getting to Know Islam

Understanding Ramadan

A general website on world religions adherents.com

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

Is the Bible True?

By admin

On May 2, 2015

In Bible, Bible Translation, Church Life, Interpretation, Navarre UMC, Sermons

This Weeks sermon in the God questions series relates to the reliability of the Bible. Below I have listed some links to videos which provide some more background on the subject. These videos come from Seedbed.com, an electronic publishing ministry of Asbury Theological Seminary. They are part of seedbed’s series entitled, The Seven Minute Seminary. Check out other videos on this site.

Dr. Bill Mounce discusses the reliability of modern translations.

Dr. Bill Mounce answers the question, “Can we Trust the Bible?”

Dr. Bill Mounce discusses the “lost” gospels.

Dr. Ben Witherington discusses the authors of the Gospels.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Alan

Evidence for the Fine-tuning of the Universe

By admin

On April 26, 2015

In Creation, Navarre UMC, Sermons

Below I have placed some links to supplemental materials used in the sermon today (4-26-15) with particular reference to the fine-tuning of the universe.

William Lane Craig – Reasonable Faith
Fine tuning of the Universe
Kalam Cosmological Argument
Moral Argument
Hugh Ross – Reasons to Believe
Fine-tuning of the Universe

The Long Silence

By admin

On April 4, 2011

In Sermons, Woodbine Methodist Church

This is the story I shared in the sermon” The Cross: Suffering” on 4-3-11

At the end of time, billions of people were seated on a great plain before God’s throne. Most shrank back from the brilliant light before them. But some groups near the front talked heatedly, not cringing with cringing shame – but with belligerence.

“Can God judge us? How can He know about suffering?,” snapped a pert young brunette. She ripped open a sleeve to reveal a tattooed number from a Nazi concentration camp. “We endured terror … beatings … torture … death!”

In another group a Negro boy lowered his collar. “What about this?” he demanded, showing an ugly rope burn. “Lynched, for no crime but being black!”

In another crowd there was a pregnant schoolgirl with sullen eyes: “Why should I suffer?” she murmured. “It wasn’t my fault.” Far out across the plain were hundreds of such groups. Each had a complaint against God for the evil and suffering He had permitted in His world.

How lucky God was to live in Heaven, where all was sweetness and light. Where there was no weeping or fear, no hunger or hatred. What did God know of all that man had been forced to endure in this world? For God leads a pretty sheltered life, they said.

So, each of these groups sent forth their leader, chosen because he had suffered the most: a Jew, a Negro, a person from Hiroshima, a horribly deformed arthritic, a thalidomide child. In the center of the vast plain, they consulted with each other. At last they were ready to present their case. It was rather clever.

Before God could be qualified to be their judge, He must endure what they had endured. Their decision was that God should be sentenced to live on earth as a man.

Let him be born a Jew. Let the legitimacy of his birth be doubted. Give him a work so difficult that even his family will think him out of his mind.

Let him be betrayed by his closest friends. Let him face false charges, be tried by a prejudiced jury and convicted by a cowardly judge. Let him be tortured.

At the last, let him see what it means to be terribly alone. Then let him die so there can be no doubt he died. Let there be a great host of witnesses to verify it.

As each leader announced his portion of the sentence, loud murmurs of approval went up from the throng of people assembled. When the last had finished pronouncing sentence, there was a long silence. No one uttered a word. No one moved.

For suddenly, all knew that God had already served His sentence.

Taken from John Stott’s The Cross of Christ no reference cited.

The Brady Bunch

By admin

On March 7, 2011

In Relationships, Sermons

The Brady Bunch made Blended families look easy, but we know better.

The following is a few pointer from my final sermon in the series, All in the Family.

At the end of the post is the link to a website which is very helpful and also some pointers from my wife Penny.

Marriage and Remarriage Statistics

• Statistically, 40% of first marriages, 60% of second, and 73% of third marriages end in divorce.

• 38 of every 100 marriages today is a remarriage for one or both partners. Of the remarriages, 23 are a remarriage for both persons

• At least two-thirds of stepfamily couples divorce (Hetherington, For Better for Worse: Divorce Reconsidered, 2002).

• About 75% of those who divorce will eventually remarry. (U.S. Census, 2006)

• Most couples in stepfamilies don’t seek premarital preparation.

Cohabitation Stats

Many couples resort to living together to avoid the problems of marriage, it doesn’t work. When the break-up occurs you still have all of the emotional pain of divorce. Studies have shown that cohabitation:

Increases the risk of breaking up after marriage. Why?
- The same characteristics that make certain people most likely to enter cohabitation also make them most likely to divorce.
- They generally have individualistic attitudes that make them less committed to marital union in the first place and more likely to seek divorce
- They are conditioned to accept divorce more readily.
Increases the risk of domestic violence for women, and the risk of physical and sexual abuse for children.
Unmarried couples have lower levels of happiness and well-being than married couples.
One study found only about 12% of cohabitations are expected to last ten years. 90% of first marriages are expected to last this long
The majority of cohabitation relationships terminate within three years.

Children of Divorce and Remarriage

65% of remarriages involve children from the prior marriage and, thus, form stepfamilies.
More than 1 million children are affected by divorce each year (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006).
40% of children will witness their parents divorce before reaching adulthood (Amato, 2000).
Divorce increases the risk of interpersonal problems in children. There is evidence, both from small qualitative studies and from large-scale, long-term empirical studies, that many of these problems are long lasting. In fact, they may even become worse in adulthood. (Discovery Health Website)

Many people think that if they are having problems in their marriage, divorce is the answer, again and again. In most of those cases, they end up divorcing again because they never dealt with their own issues in the divorce. People naturally assume that the divorce was the other person’s fault and never face their own contribution to the break up.

Given that 75% of people who divorce will re-marry what can we do to build better blended families?

Wisdom from Penny

PRAY Pray Pray & listen
When moving into a house hold
- Make changes slowly
- Try to keep the same traditions-holidays and birthdays while creating some new ones
- Get others input when moving things
When someone is moving into your household
- Let them have some space that is theirs . No one wants to feel like a visitor at their home
Concerning Discipline
- BEFORE marriage Discuss discipline styles with spouse to be. Come to agreement on how you together will handle discipline,
- Extremely important- If you cannot agree before marriage, it is unlikely you will afterward. You may need to consider postponing marriage. Never go into a marriage expecting to change someone.
- BEFORE the Marriage Learn about the children, spend time with them at their current house
- I recommend having the Parent (not step parent) handle any consequences of bad behavior. This of course may vary depending on age of the kids.
- If you disagree about the consequences never say that in front of the children
Respect
- Respect the pain the kids have –they did not cause nor deserve the disruption of their family
- Never disrespect the ex-spouse
- Encourage/support the kids relationship with the Ex and their side of family
- Don’t be jealous
- Don’t manipulate
- Apologize- there will be time when you mess up, make mistakes
Security is a big issue when children have experienced divorce or death in the family.
- Understand that the children need the security of a loving home

Successful Step-Families website

In-Laws and Out-Laws

By admin

On March 1, 2011

In Family, Relationships, Sermons

Here are the suggestions I spoke about in the sermon All in the Family: In-Laws and Out-Laws along with a link to the articles I used. The Scriptural Context is Romans 12:14-21

Guidelines for Relationships with In-Laws

For both

Exhibit Christian character and civility (These are the basics owed to everyone)
Respect each other

Respect is due regard for the feelings or rights of another
Ask yourself, "Is what I am about to say going to encourage and build up the other person, or tear him or her down?"

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” yes even with in-laws.
Be considerate. Have the courage to admit it when you are wrong. Avoid ridicule and don’t humiliate or demean the other person.
Accept kindness from others and let others be nice to you.
1 Cor 13 is not just for weddings

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (ESV) — ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Be proactive. Do what you can to build the relationship.
Refocus your perspective by looking for the positive.
- When you keep civility a high priority in your extended family relationships, it becomes easier to focus on another effective way of dealing with anger and frustration — remaining calm.
Accept reality.

For the couple

Support one another, your loyalties are to each other not to your parents. Don’t side with your parents against your spouse.
There will be conflict! How you handle it is key.
Honor the parents

Show patience, kindness, gentleness. You may not even like them, but you need to choose to act in a loving manner toward them.

Respect and Honor does not mean

You submerge all your own feelings, desires, preferences, and needs in the service of
"Doing things their way."
You must permit them to disrespect, control, or manipulate you for their own selfish ends.
Obeying all their "parental" requests or requirements— which, in some instances with some in-laws, may get pretty crazy.

Sometimes the most honoring response is to diplomatically but firmly say, "No." Letting in-laws split, manipulate, or control you by silently acceding to their nutty, neurotic, inappropriate demands isn’t necessarily showing Christian love.
Don’t disrespect and criticize your parents or in-laws in front of your children

For parents

Don’t give advice unless the young couple specifically asks for it. Even if they ask your opinion, be careful how the counsel is given. The decision is theirs.
Don’t offer financial aid unless the young couple explicitly requests it. It is important for the couple to establish their independence – emotionally and financially. As difficult as it may be to watch your child and his or her spouse face financial struggles, realize that those trials are valuable for them as they develop their life together.
Don’t make the holidays a nightmare. You have traditions and so do the other in-laws. To conform to your wishes means disappointing the others. “Do unto others….”
Don’t expect the new couple to live according to your standards and values. They are individuals starting their own home.
Let go of your offspring, giving the couple room to live their own lives. Don’t expect them to spend excessive amounts of time with you.
Take a genuine interest in your new in-law as a person. Try to find out about his or her interests. Attempt to relate to your in-law in a meaningful way and on his or her terms.
· Don’t treat your in-law as a rival who has stolen your child’s love. Welcome the new addition into your family – you’ll multiply the love, rather than divide it.

Conclusion

In Romans 12 Paul gives us some very good advice, not Just in how to conduct ourselves in the church but in every relationship.

Don’t think more of yourself than you should
We all have a contribution to make
Use the gifts you were given to encourage others
Let love be genuine
Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Outdo one another in showing honor.
Be passionate about your service to the Lord
Be hopeful and patient
Always pray
Help others
Don’t take revenge on others or be underhanded in your criticism.
Empathize with others

However the most important advice he gave was this:

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

If possible…

With some it may not be possible
Some people are small minded and self-centered

So far as it depends on you…

Be open minded – you could be wrong
Guard you own reactions and anger, they may be in appropriate
Control the things that you can control
Live your convictions, but don’t expect others to, or even agree with them
Show love and Christian character even when people don’t deserve it. (you don’t either)(that is grace)
In other words, be led by the Spirit

Live peaceably with all…

The goal in every relationship: harmony

Articles Click here for articles from Focus on the Family

Jesus: Lord

By admin

On June 12, 2009

In Sermons, Uncategorized

Revelation 19:11-16

We all love the end of a story, especially when it says, “…and they lived happily ever after.”

We love it when the villain gets punished, when the lost dog finds his way home, the teacher finally turns her class around, when the underdog team wins the championship or when the dedicated musician finally gets a big break.

Let’s face it we like resolution, solved mysteries, happily ever after. Maybe we like that because that is seldom the way we find this world. We can’t stand it when resolution does not come, primarily because we have lost sight of the fact that Jesus is Lord!

A Dangerous World

In the book of Revelation, The Apostle John is writing to seven churches under the power of Roman. The Romans were very suspicious of new religions. The Jews had won a little freedom in their worship and were tolerated in the Roman world, which was not the case with the Christians. Christians found themselves on the outs with the Romans on a number of points. They refused to be part of the trade guilds because they refused to honor the gods associated with those guilds. They were branded as traitors by the Romans because they refused to burn an offering of incense to the Emperor and make the declaration, “Caesar is Lord.”

When new Christians were baptized they made the confession, “Jesus is Lord,” it put them in conflict with the whole culture of that day.

To remain faithful to Christ they had to be in conflict with every other aspect of life. So, they were persecuted, oppressed, denied rights branded as criminals, traitors and enemies of the state. They became the scapegoats of the whole empire and were killed by the thousands just for the entertainment of the crowds in the Roman Coliseum.

As the Book of Revelation opens John encourages and corrects the churches of the empire toward to ideas faithfulness and hope.

To make the confession, Jesus as Lord in that context was seen as stupid, irrational and dangerous. But, Christians knew something – Jesus was indeed Lord, so how could they say any different. They also had the hope that one day Jesus would come back to set everything straight. Their confession put them at odds with everything in their world, but that world was not the last word.

Revelation

The book of revelation reminds us of a truth we cannot see because we are blinded by our current circumstances. It tells us that in spite of how everything appears Jesus Christ is the true king. “[These verses] describe not what Christ is going to do but what he is: conquering King, righteous Judge, Captain of the armies of heaven.^{^[1]}

Look at the way Jesus is described in those verses:

Faithful and True,
A Judge and Warrior, leader of the armies of heaven
His eyes are like a flame of fire – he is able to see into the hearts of all
On his head are many diadems – he is the absolute ruler of all
He has a name written that no one knows but himself – he is under the control of no one
He is called is The Word of God and by his word he conquerors
The agent of the wrath of God the Almighty
King of kings and Lord of lords.

Jesus is the One to whom all people owe allegiance, the one before whom every knee will bow, the One who has the final word.

Our World

For us in the western world the danger is almost nonexistence. Instead of lions we have the ACLU, instead of burning incense we are asked to go with the flow – and many do!

The fact that Jesus is Lord calls forth two very important traits in those of us who claim to be his followers.

Faithfulness

If Jesus really is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, what other response could possibly be appropriate?

For faithfulness to be real it must be unconditional. When we chose to follow Christ we didn’t know what that choice would involve. We made the choice because in light of what we knew about Jesus there was no alternative. No one else can forgive sin; no one else can give new life; no one else can save. What life circumstances could possibly change that truth?

The truth that Jesus is Lord is the same in good times and bad, in prosperity and poverty, in sickness and health, in peace and in peril, when prayer is answered the way I want or not. And our only response is faithfulness – what else is there? Here was Paul’s experience:

[2 Co 4:8-11 ESV ] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

And yet he remained faithful!

The circumstances we face in this world, whether personally or with our families and friends, don’t change the fact that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We remain faithful because there is no other option.

Does God do miracles, healings? Yes, they are wonderful gifts of his grace. But if God never did another thing for us, if all he did was forgive us and grant us new life here and in heaven…it would be enough for us to be faithful for all eternity!

What does faithfulness mean?

It means we maintain the relationship through prayer, we continue to obey, to worship, to learn and grow and gather with God’s people.

Since the fact of who Jesus is doesn’t change with the circumstances, neither does my faithfulness. Do the circumstances hurt, make me sad, cause me to doubt? Yes. But our doubt is expressed in relationship not out of it.

Many people only come to Jesus because of the personal benefits they will receive from him. If Jesus does not fulfill all of their expectations, they get upset and stop honoring God. If that is the case, who is really Lord?

Hope

If Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords that means my circumstance doesn’t have the last word – Jesus does!! And because of that I have hope!

Paul kept preaching and traveling because of this hope. In spite of all that happened to him. Listen to what he says:

[Ro 8:35-39 ESV ] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can continue to pray, obey, worship, toil, grow, witness and even die because no matter what, Jesus has the last word! Do you believe that? That is what hope is all about!

An Invasion

When we understand that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that truth has a profound effect on our everyday lives. In reality it is not something that will happen in the future, it is something that is a fact now and because of that it affects our lives now.

That fact invades the present and affects the way I treat others, my decisions, my entertainment choices, the way I do my job, the way I dress, my dating life, if I am single, my married life, the way I view the government, the way I spend my money, the way I see the world and even the way I see my current circumstances.

The declaration, “Jesus is Lord,” is not about emotion, but the alignment of my life with the truth of who Jesus is. It is not about adopting a new philosophy of life, or merely reframing the world or my circumstances in the world. It is about a commitment to the One who not only will rule the nations with a rod of iron, but who allowed iron nails to pierce his hands and feet to show you how much he loves you. Isn’t it time you acknowledged Jesus is Lord? If not now when?

^{^[1]}Michael Wilcock, The Message of Revelation : I Saw Heaven Opened, Reprint. Originally published: I saw heaven opened. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press, 1975., The Bible speaks today, 183 (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., U.S.A.: Inter-Varsity Press, 1986], c1975).

Jesus: Savior

By admin

On June 12, 2009

In Sermons

Text: Luke 19:1-10

The story of Zacchaeus is a very familiar one. We mostly think of it as a story and a song for children, but it is so much more!

A story of Salvation, one scholar classified it as a miracle story because Zacchaeus was a very wealthy man and according to Jesus the wealthy, are difficult to save.

The Story

The Romans contracted out the collection of certain tolls and tariffs. Those who won the contract had to pay the contract in advance. They would often employ others to collect the tax and inflate the tax for their commission. Zacchaeus was one of these contractors.

Because they were Jews collects taxes for a foreign power, they were despised throughout all the land. In the eyes of devout Jews they were the epitome of a person outside of God’s blessing — tax collectors and sinners.

Meeting Jesus

Something about Jesus’ message and ministry intrigued Zacchaeus. When he heard Jesus was coming his way, he wanted to see him. Since he was a short man he could not see Jesus, so he decided to run on ahead and climb a tree. This probably made the people burst out with laughter. An adult man would never run, and never ever climb a tree. I can imagine the people shaking their heads and rolling their eyes at this blanket blank tax collector.

Jesus surprised them all by calling out to Zacchaeus by name and telling him “I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus was overjoyed but all the other people grumbled because Jesus was going to the home of a tax collector. At one point during the dinner Zacchaeus made some bold statements.

I give half my goods to the poor – you were considered righteous if you gave 20%
If I have defrauded anyone I will restore it fourfold – the maximum penalty only required to pay double.

Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house.” How did he know? Jesus knew because of Zacchaeus’ reactions:

He began to value others – the poor
He confessed, repented and made restitution – as the law said he should

Why do we need a Savior?

Because, as the Bible puts it, we are lost. To be lost is to be spiritually separated from God. We are out of relationship with God. When that primary relationship is wrong it affects every other relationship in our life: spouse, kids, work, self, strangers, creation.

The Bible puts it like this:

[Is 53:6 ESV ] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

[Mt 9:36 ESV ] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve rejected the relationship God offered them, because they didn’t trust God. God had given them everything thing they could ever want and yet they wanted to be their own boss. They got their wish along with all the consequences of their rebellion: estrangement from God, shame, guilt, blaming others, suffering and hardship.

We have continued that pattern. We want a nice life, happiness and fulfillment, but we reject the source of that fulfillment- God himself.

When we are lost, out of relationship with God, we cannot please God. We cannot keep the two most important commandments.

[Mk 12:30-31 ESV ] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

We can’t love God because we are rebellious, disobedient, self-centered, prideful, ignorant of what God actually wants, materialistic, we have no eternal perspective.

We can’t love our neighbor because we devalue people or label them so they become less than people and we can treat them any way we want. We judge people, exploit and oppress – we use them as things to meet our needs -, ignore them and their situations, push them to the fringes of society and only value people for their abilities or what can do for us.

We are messed up! We are lost! We need a savior! And we cannot fix ourselves!

How does Jesus save us?

Through the cross of Jesus Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our rebellion and disobedience. God created us, gave us life, sustains us and provides for us in every way. When we reject God’s direction for our lives we stand accountable. God is just and righteous so, wrongs must be punished or atoned for.

Jesus paid the penalty for our rebellion. He removed the barrier between us and God and opened the way for us to be reconciled to God.

Jesus rescues us from the consequences of our rebellion. We are rescued from guilt, shame and hell itself.

Jesus saves us by helping us see others as he does (Yes salvation includes this). He helps us see their value, appreciate and care for tem and even love them.

Jesus saves us by giving us a new way to walk and a new power to living for God. through God’s grace and power we can walk as a follower of Jesus Christ, love God with all of our heart mind soul and strength, love our neighbor as ourselves and make the right choices.

Zacchaeus and us

Zacchaeus was an outcast; someone who others believed was outside the grace of God.

On that fateful day, Jesus went to his house and his life and destiny was completely changed. Jesus showed him that although others considered him an outcast, Jesus would make a way for him to be reconciled to his God. His heart was so changed that he repented and made restitution, in that very moment.

But, what about you? For all of those who have not committed their lives to Jesus Christ, you are an outcast. Not because of someone’s opinion of you, but because of your own rebellion and disobedience. Because you refuse to honor God and love your neighbor, you are lost, separated from God – even though you may sit in church week after week.

But there is good news. Jesus wants to go home with you today. Through his cross Jesus paid the penalty for all of your rebellion and opened the way for you to reconciled back to God. That reconciliation changes everything. It changes: the way you see God, the way you see others, the way you see yourself.

Jesus is Savior and he wants to save you today.