A successful man known for his generosity was driving his new car through a poor part of town. A boy tried to flag him down. The man didn’t want to get involved, so he pretended he didn’t see the child. As he slowed for a red traffic light, he heard a loud crash. Someone had thrown a brick at his car, denting the trunk.

The man stopped, jumped out of his car and grabbed the boy that threw the brick. “You juvenile delinquent!” he yelled. “You’ll pay for this or go to jail!”

“I’m sorry, mister,” the boy cried. “My mom’s lying on the floor in our apartment. I think she’s dying. Our phone’s been cut off and I’ve been trying for ten minutes to get someone to stop. I didn’t know what else to do! Take me to jail, but please, call a doctor for my mom first.”

The man was filled with shame. “I’m a doctor,” he said and asked, “Where is she?” The boy took him to his mother and the doctor administered CPR and called an ambulance.

“Will she live?” the boy sobbed. “Yes, son, she will,” the doctor said. “Then it’s worth going to jail. I’m sorry I ruined your car. You can take me in now.”

“You’re not going anywhere,” the doctor said. “It was my fault you had to throw a brick to get my attention.”

The doctor made sure the boy was taken care of, and as he drove home he resolved not to fix the dent. He would keep it as a reminder that not everyone in need has a brick to throw.

What Jesus is telling us to do in the reading from Matthew’s Gospel is similar to the famous Golden Rule- “Do unto others”. A cup of cold water is a gift that everyone can give because it is the smallest of gifts. Even this, the smallest of gifts, is precious to the person receiving it, because sometimes it is the gift of life.

We are to do this for everyone we meet, because the recipient could be an angel, prophet or Jesus in disguise. It can mean providing material support such as food, clothing or shelter. It can also mean accepting the truth of our guest’s message. We must be prepared to pay the costs-financial, personal and danger. It is expensive to provide for living expenses. Our personal space and privacy are invaded. We could be caught in the opposition/persecution that the prophet would face. Jesus even said that hatred and persecution would get so bad that anyone who offered his sent ones a mere cup of cold water would receive a divine reward.

Those who do God’s work can be assured that those who help them will be rewarded. Doing God’s work includes healing and those who are in the health care profession.  They often leave personal comforts such as family time to care for the needs of others. When they care for the residents in nursing homes or patients in a hospital, they show the love Jesus showed us when he lived among us. When we serve others, we serve Jesus, just like Jesus and his disciples served others.

We are to show compassion for others by caring for the sick, comforting those who mourn, etc. This is contrary to our “me-first”, selfish culture. It will loosen our hold on our possessions, lives, and so on, but these small beginnings are the seed of a different kind of happiness-the happiness that only the Christian life provides.

Even small gifts can make a big difference. It is a reminder of the old adage that “big things come in small packages”. To offer hospitality, care and compassion, we simply have to bring who we are, what we have, where we are. It requires attention to the person receiving the hospitality. We have to receive the person first before they can receive the benefit of the gift we offer.

To Jesus, hospitality meant acceptance, even those who, in his society and in his day, were deemed to be unacceptable. This is why he put his arms around lepers, ate with tax collectors and sinners, forgave adulterers and broke Sabbath laws. Hospitality was not only important to Jesus, it was at the very heart of being God, and it didn’t make any difference to him where such hospitality took place, or to whom, or on what day.

When it comes to hospitality, we take turns being the host and being the guest. Sometimes we are the ones who simply need the hug or cup of water or kindness. Other times, we are the ones providing the hug or cup of water. The “little ones” Jesus refers to are frequently the scapegoats or victims in our society. They are the powerless, the weak, the hurting, the abused, the abandoned, the elderly or children, and they are often the easiest targets for our wrath. They need the help and compassion that Jesus offers through us. When we help them, we have the power to bring others into a relationship with God, the power to show others God’s love by showing them our love, the power to bring them face to face with God by bringing them face to face with us.

Bibliography

1. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASV
2. Exegesis for Matthew 10:40-42. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
3. Richard Inness, “Listen to the Whisper”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
4. Leslie Snyder, “Uncommon Courtesy”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com
5. Jeanne Schuller, “Through the Din Comes a Call”. Retrieved from http://onlineministeries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/062611b.html
6. The Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn, “The Art of Welcome’. Retrieved from www.day1.org
7. The Rev. Beth Quick, “The Friendly Church”. Retrieved from www.bethquick.com/sermon6-26-05.htm
8. The Rev. Dr. James B. Lemier, “Sermon for the 6^th Sunday after Pentecost”. Retrieved from www.day1.org
9. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
10. The Peoples’ New Testament. Part of Lessonmaker Bible software package.
11. The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “Encouragement”.Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
12. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “The Stranger at the Door”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
13. Pastor Steve Molin, “Sittin’ on God’s Porch”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.org
14. Daniel Clendenin, PhD, “A Rabble of Blasphemous Conspirators: Proclamation and Reception of the Early Believers”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net/index.shtml

How many of you have a welcome mat outside of the front door of your house?  A welcome mat usually has two purposes. It’s used to encourage people to wipe their shoes off so that they won’t track dirt or mud into your home or business. It’s placed outside your door as a sign to let people know that they are welcome to come in.

In Matthew 10:40-42, Jesus talks about welcoming people. Generally, Matthew emphasizes the disciples being good hosts, but in this passage, he turns that around. The disciples are the ones being cared for by others. Similarly, as modern-day messengers of God, we need to be gracious guests and accept help from others. Often the most caring people are the ones who are least likely to accept any help for themselves. As Christians, we need to be both care-givers and care-receivers. We need to allow others to use their gifts to help us. Each and every act of mercy contains Christ’s love for the world. It is a love we can share anytime and anywhere with any gesture, no matter the size.

The identification of the littles ones in need of a cup of cold water elevates the least powerful member of the community of disciples (of which all Christians are members today) into a position of equal importance to that of prophets and righteous ones. At the beginning of the commissioning of the disciples, Jesus sent them into the mission field without any means of support and defense-no money, no travel bag, no change of clothes, not even a staff or sandals. They were completely dependent, first on God and then on the hospitality of the communities that received them. Their vulnerability and dependence were the key to the success of the mission.

Similarly, when we are given the same commission, we are sent out without any means of support or defense, except that which is provided by God or the people who receive our message. We are dependent on others. Our vulnerability and dependence is the key to the success of our mission.

Jesus teaches that receiving His messengers or prophets is the same as receiving Him, and that receiving Him is the same as receiving His Father. The One who is sent represents the Sender. The same reward given to the prophet will also be given to the one who receives the prophet.

God is honoured when we do acts in His name. He is honoured when we receive prophets because He is a prophet. He is honoured when we receive a righteous person because He is righteous. He is honoured when we give a drink of water to a disciple because He is a disciple. When we receive a messenger, we receive Christ. God will reward us for everything we do in faith in His name. The simplest deed in discipleship in Christ will be recognized by God. God doesn’t only reward “big” jobs or “important” works. He loves to give and He loves to reward obedience, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to us.

Someone once wrote to Billy Graham and asked if missionaries do any good. The writer said, “Our church has been raising money to help build a health clinic where some of our missionaries work. To be honest, though, do projects like this actually do any good? That country is very poor, and one little clinic isn’t going to change anything.”

Billy Graham replied:

“Yes, a project like this may seem like a drop in a bucket compared with the overwhelming needs of that country. But it won’t be a drop in a bucket for that community! We take so much for granted in our society, but what if your nearest doctor or hospital was 50 miles away, and you had no way to get there? That’s the situation millions face in our world, and the problems can only be solved one step at a time.”

“The clinic your church is helping to support will not only bring physical health to this village, but it will also be a beacon of spiritual hope as it points people to Jesus Christ. God loves the people of this village just as much as He loves you and me, and He yearns for them to come to know Him and love Him just as much as He does you and me.”

We can say, “That’s not my problem!” and shut the needs of others from our minds; or we can say, “I can’t change everything, but I can do something about the pain at my elbow.” For example, two friends were walking on the beach covered by starfish washed ashore by a high tide. The starfish were destined to die soon in the burning sun on the sandy beach. One man began picking up starfish and gently tossing them in the ocean. The friend said, “What are you doing? What difference does it make? You can’t begin to save all of them.” “True,” the other man said, “but it makes a difference to the ones I save.”

It is the same with those we can help. We don’t have all the answers, but as we come to grips with the enormity of the problem, it’s amazing how we begin to see the needs and hear the Holy Spirit say, “Help, here!” or “Do something about this!”. When we do that, we can and do make a difference.

Christ lives in His people. They become His ambassadors. How they are treated is how He is treated. Welcoming His ambassadors is the same as welcoming Him. Jesus equated Himself with God. He also knew that God gave Him authority, and He claimed that authority. Hospitality is a witness to the unconditional love of Christ. That lifts us up and saves all who would be saved. It’s open to everyone.

When we look at the world today, we don’t see much hospitality. Too many of us hide in upper class or gated communities. Too many of us change the channel when we see poor people on television. Too many of us change stations or turn the radio off when we hear stories about poor people. This does not mean that hope is dead. On the contrary, hope survives. It is all around us. All of our outreach programs are unsung stories of faith at work, not just for the people they serve but for the vehicle of love they provide for us.

The “little ones”-both the poor and those who are new to the faith-are our guests of honour. They might be angels in disguise or even Christ Himself in disguise. We are urged to welcome them as we would welcome Christ. As Christ said when He gave us the two Great Commandments, we are to love God and love people.

How different would our ministry be if we took seriously the understanding that we are Christ’s presence in the world? How different would our ministry be if we remembered that we are treating other believers the way we are treating Christ?

Not all of the rewards we will receive will be positive ones. Can we have positive ones without negative ones and vice versa? Can we have all the blessings of believing without the persecution and suffering? Can we have the resurrection to new life without the suffering and dying to self? Can we have the crown without the cross?

What would happen if we stopped expecting people to come through our church doors on our own initiative and instead took seriously our calling to bring the gospel to them? What would happen if we truly believed that we bear the presence of Christ to every person we encounter, in every home, workplace, or neighbourhood we enter? What would happen if we saw every conversation as an opportunity to speak words of grace, every interaction as an opportunity to show Christ’s love for our neighbours?

Our task is to see Christ in everyone and attend to the Christ in everyone-the stranger, the enemy, the friend, the spouse, our sibling, a politician, even someone who believes differently than we do. Christ is in everyone. When we regard everyone as Christ, then maybe they will see the Christ who is in us.

The simple act of leaving our personal comforts to care for the needs of another demonstrates the love Jesus shared with us when He left the ultimate comfort and joy of heaven to live life here on earth. Serving another person is inconvenient. It takes time, energy, personal resources, and sometimes, personal discomfort. It is so much easier to look away and assume someone else will do it. Jesus invites us to serve Him by caring for the needs of others. Today and every day the invitation remains. How will we respond?

Hospitality is crucial to the gospel message because unless we change our point of view, unless we change the state of our hearts and minds about those that society oppresses, unless we can see others as children of God, then we can’t fulfill our orders to share the Good News of forgiveness and healing, of justice and mercy, of righteousness and hope.

How about in our churches? Do you think that people are always welcome at our church home? Do we speak to those people who are visiting our church that we do not know? If someone comes to our church and they are dressed different from the way we are dressed, do we make sure that they are made to feel welcome?

Jesus said, “He who receives you receives me.” If we turn that around, we will understand that if we do not welcome others into our homes and into our churches, it is the same as if we are refusing to welcome Jesus. We wouldn’t do that, would we?

Well, let’s put the welcome mat out — and let’s be sure that we mean it!

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1299)
2. The New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1: Matthew and Mark. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Ins.; 1982; p.18)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. “Did Jesus Claim to Be God?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
7. Billy Graham, “Do Missionaries Do Any Good?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
8. Dr. Harold Sala, “How Rich Are You?” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
9. Leslie Snyder, “Uncommon Courtesy.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com
10. Brian P. Stoffregen, “Exegetical Notes: Matthew 10:40-42.” Retrieved from www.crossmark.com
11. Elisabeth Johnson, “Commentary on Matthew 10:40-42.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
12. Stanley Saunders, “Commentary on Matthew 10:40-42.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
13. David Lose, “No Small Gestures.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
14. The Rev. Dr. Dan Leon, “A Crucial Cup of Cold Water.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
15. “Welcome.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com

How do we see our possessions and our fellow man? Are we selfish, or do we share? Do we love others as Christ loves us? These are important questions that Luke makes us think about in Acts 4:32-37.

The Jerusalem believers had a very mature view of material possessions; what they possessed was not their own-it all belonged to God. They showed unity and love in their prayers and their property. This started with Jesus’ resurrection, and it impressed many people. They are a good example for us to follow. If we want to bring others to Christ, the best way to do this is to show them kindness and minister to their needs. Kindness to them softens their hearts and makes them receptive to our message. 

Christ blesses each of us for each other in fellowship. These blessings are to be shared. There was an immediate manifestation of God’s presence through the early believers that would establish them as a powerful witnesses for Christ. God’s grace was evident.

The people of the Jerusalem church lived with open hands. From their open hands, others could take what they needed, and into their open hands, God could put more resources to share. A closed hand misses two blessings in life: it can neither enjoy the blessing of giving to others nor receive blessings from a loving God.

The new believers were willing to share what they didn’t need to meet the needs of the poor. Christianity made them feel like they were members of one family. The early believers were of one heart, soul, blessing and all rooted in one great conviction. They had their minds, emotions and wills open to each other, and they were one with each other and with the resurrected Christ. They belonged to the same Redeemer, and they cheerfully parted with their property. Their ministry was a work of self-denial. This is a good example for us. No one should enter into ministry if they are not prepared to devote everything they have to serving God.

Christians are to be mutually dependent on each other. We are called to be Christ’s people, called to be in communion with Him and with each other, and together as the church to be the divine agent of God’s ministry today. This kind of caring for the needs of one another was rooted in the life they had experienced along the road with Jesus, who proclaimed, taught, fed and healed. The church has continued to roll up its sleeves to feed, to heal, to bring hope and to restore everyone who is in need. The church shows that the risen Saviour cares about us and our physical and mental well-being.

The true nature of the life of the body of Christ is the fellowship of its members. We are called to share with each other, helping each other to learn from their difficulties and to rejoice fully in the delights of life. We are called to be liberators and maximizers for each other.

We are called to serve God with what He has given us. It doesn’t matter if He has blessed us with wealth, a great family or good health. God wants us to be obedient and faithful with what we have. These gifts must be combined with God’s grace. Without His grace, we will be taken out of our own thoughts and behaviours as human beings.

There is no “right” time when people need help the most. There are always competing priorities and conflicting claims on our time. To be a source of help and hope, we must be willing to do what is necessary.

This would not be possible without the assurance of loyalty. All of us need people who are loyal to us and to whom we are loyal because of Christ’s loyalty to us. He is for us. He will not leave us or forsake us when we succeed or fail. When He lives in out hearts and souls, HE enables His own loyalty within us-first to Him and then to other people. We will open up our inner hearts and share only when we have an assurance of loyalty which keeps confidences and supports us when people criticize us.

The Book of Acts shows a community bound together by care and concern for one another that goes beyond self-interest. People with big egos won’t be at home in this community. God’s justice has come to the world. God’s justice means that every person has what they need for their dignity and worth. What if the wealth of the church was mobilized in today’s society just as it was in the Book of Acts? Few would be hungry or could say they had not heard the Gospel or they did not have the basic needs of life. True godly love will meet needs.

We are called to be leaders who serve people by coming alongside them to help them according to their needs. Sometimes our encouragement is tangible and practical, other times it comes through words and presence. Everyone everywhere needs encouragement.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1493)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 105-111)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Vikki Burke, “The Spirit of Generosity.” Retrieved from dbm@dennisburkeministries.org
6. Dr. Jack Graham, “How to Survive Success.” Retrieved from jgraham@powerpoint.org
7. “A Great Power.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
8. Ladd Bjorneby, “Acts 4:32-35.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
9. Dr. Paul Chappell, “The Cost of Comfortable.” Retrieved from daily@dailyintheword.org

Have you ever met people who thought they were better than others? Well, we as Christians know that is a bad attitude to have. No one is better than anyone else. We are all the same before God. He judges Jews and Gentiles alike-impartially and righteously-on the basis of their levels of understanding of his law. That is what Paul is saying in Romans 2:12-24.

The Jews had the truth of God’s law. The problem was what they did or did not do with it. Just because we know God’s will does not mean we have made a decision or chosen a specific path. For example, the Jews had a treasure trove of truth because they were God’s chosen people, but they were blind to God’s promises, especially the ones that were being fulfilled before their eyes. Their blindness hindered their ability to be spiritual guide to the nations.

The Jews had a “holier than thou” attitude because they were God’s chosen people. It’s no wonder that they were hated by the Gentiles, and it’s no wonder that the Gentiles hated the God of the Jews. It’s also not surprising that the apostle Paul had a scathing denunciation of the Gentiles. The Jews failed to “practice what they preached.” They did not practice the law they proclaimed, so they faced God’s judgment. God exiled the Jews, which only added to the hatred the Gentiles had.

The Jews didn’t realize that they needed to become like children so they could learn what they needed to learn in order to teach people who were spiritually immature. The law was true, but it was only a symbolic image of knowledge. It had little or no substance, so it could not be obeyed perfectly.

The Jews’ profession of the law was not consistent with their practices. This caused some of the Gentiles to hate God and his word. The same view is held by many people today. They see Christians, especially ministers, who talk of living a good Christian life but who do not actually live good Christian lives. We have examples of preachers who talk of how Christians are to live humble lives of service but at the same time live lavish lifestyles that are often financed by donations to their ministries. It is no wonder that some non-believers have negative attitudes toward Christianity. We as Christians have to practice what we preach in order to win lost souls for Christ.

This is one of the clear expectations God has for us. All of these expectations can be summed up in two words-our conscience. It’s only as good as the knowledge that programs its voice. In the case of a Christian, that knowledge comes from God’s Word as written in the Bible. God has programmed his moral code into the heart of every man and woman. We are born with it. When our actions or thoughts violate that code, the conscience responds by sending a “no” message to the brain. On the other hand, when the act or thought goes along with the preprogrammed moral code, the conscience says, “go.”

In the same way that some people of privilege abuse it, there are also people who rise above their lack of privilege. Paul speaks of Gentiles who were never given the privilege of knowing God’s law but who were so sensitive to what they knew of God that their consciences were keen, alert and in touch with reality.

A righteous person is a person who is in right standing with God. A righteous person has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as his or her personal Saviour. A righteous person seeks to obey God and yield to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness means a person wants what is right according to the word of God. He or she wants to see God’s truth and God’s will established on the earth.

One of the greatest dangers facing Christians is the temptation to teach God’s word without applying it to their own lives. This happens for different reasons. Some Christians teach simply for the gaining of more and more knowledge. Teaching God’s word to others without personally seeking to please Him may allow us to appear as spiritual towards others, but in reality our hearts will become hardened in disobedience. In addition, this kind of teaching can only result in mere human understanding because God’s word remains powerless in our lives.

God’s word is alive in the Bible. If we allow it, it will speak personally to us and transform our hearts, minds and lives. As his words penetrate our souls, we will truly become available to God. We will be Kingdom builders…and all because we allowed God’s word to work in us.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)
2. Dr. Harold Sala, “Interpreting Genesis.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
3. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Effective Prayers.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
4. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
5. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2005)

What happens when you realize that you can do something the boss can’t, or when someone who works for you suddenly surpasses your ability or status? The result is often instant conflict or role reversal. We see a good example of this in the passage we heard from Genesis 21:8-21.

First, a little background. In ancient culture, status for women came through marriage, but higher status came through childbearing. While Hagar started out with a lower status than her mistress, the roles between both of them were reversed when Hagar got pregnant. In Genesis 16, Hagar started looking down on Sarah, and in turn Sarah became abusive to Hagar, so Hagar ran away. God found her and told her to go home and put up with the abuse. God promised Hagar that her offspring would be so numerous that no one can count them, and she should call her son Ishmael, which means, “God hears.”

Isaac’s birth led to a change in Ishmael’s status. Ishmael was the centre of attention until Isaac was born. Ishmael, who was a teenager when Isaac was born, had to know that this birth was nothing but a miracle of God’s grace. Nevertheless, when Isaac became the centre of attention, Ishmael began to scoff at him, and perhaps even his parents. With his loss of status came a change in attitude. He was bitter. Sarah couldn’t stand his new attitude so she told Abraham to dismiss Ishmael and Hagar.

If this is only an example of how polygamy generates rivalries between wives and also between their children, or if it is only about a teenage boy needing to learn to love and respect his little brother, then why didn’t God tell Abraham to sit down with Hagar and Sarah and soothe their building anger, and then have a fatherly chat with Ishmael to help him begin to learn how to cope with the jealousy? Why does God side with Sarah in this situation and agree that Hagar and Ishmael must be driven from the household?

To answer this question, we have to realize that God is primarily writing a story about how to have loving, unified families. He’s writing a redemptive story that is centered in grace alone and totally dependent on his miraculous gift. Ishmael’s birth was the human way to provide Abraham with the son who would carry on the line that would eventually produce Jesus. This was the opposite of what God had planned. He sided with Sarah because only Isaac could be the son who received the heart of God’s blessing on Abraham. Ishmael was the natural child, the child of works, and God will tolerate no compromise when it comes to depending on His grace alone.

Sarah made the mistake of telling Abraham to mate with Hagar, hoping that the promised heir would be the result. When Ishmael started laughing at Isaac, she had no one to blame but herself. The anger simmered inside of her and caused her to order Abraham to send Hagar and Ishmael into exile.

Sarah called Abraham “lord,” but the Bible also tells us that God told Abraham to listen to Sarah in this situation. The word “lord” as used with man does not mean that such a person knows everything, otherwise, he would not have to listen to anyone. In this case, the Bible shows that Sarah knew best and Abraham was to listen to her advice. Can we take advice from other people? Can we give advice without acting like dictators?

God supported Sarah’s demand. Isaac was to be the seed that would lead to the birth and growth of God’s chosen people. Sarah’s demand was both very displeasing to Abraham and distressing because he loved Ishmael. To banish a surrogate mother went against cultural norms as well. Ultimately, this was such a personal and painful decision for Abraham that the Lord had to tell him to listen to Sarah. Obeying God can be heart-wrenching, but it must be done. In the end, both sons were greatly blessed.

Isolation from our families can cause people to feel worthless. Isolation from humans does not mean isolation from God. He is always with us. He guides us to new communities to surround us with love and support.

This wasn’t the first time that Hagar was exiled to the desert. The first time is mentioned in Genesis 16, and I referred to it earlier in this message. In that case an angel came and told Hagar that God heard her plea for help. He also told Hagar that her son would have authority over his kinsmen. Hagar was moved by this encounter, but when she and Ishmael were exiled later, she forgot that God had provided for her before. She assumed the worst, and she and Ishmael cried out to God. God provided for them and watched over them. Is it our habit to look back and remember what God has done for us in our lives?

Sometimes God brings believers to a difficult place in the wilderness to discipline them so they can realize their need for Him. In the desert, people can see themselves as they really are. There they learn that He hears and will never leave or forsake His children.

God heard Hagar’s cries of despair in the wilderness, and He provided for her and Ishmael. Abraham mourning for his loss, Hagar mourning for her impending death, and Ishmael crying out in anguish combine to present a picture of our world. The world knows so much about the time to mourn, but it often lacks the resources to meet tragedy when it comes. The chief resource that we need is God. If we believe in Him, He will provide for our needs. That is the mission of Christians and the church today-to meet the needs of the people as God would.

Like Hagar, we will learn more from our valley experiences than our mountaintops. She found hope in God when she believed that all hope was lost. Similarly, we often find hope in God when we believe that all hope is lost. Many of us have to go through life’s tragedies before we can find hope in God.

God will fulfill His promises, no matter how difficult our problems are. Even when we don’t know how God will act, we must trust that He watches over us. When we make mistakes, or when we face life’s trials, God can help. His Word is a great source of comfort. He can calm our fears and worries.

Who are we in this story? Are we Sarah and Abraham, fearful of what it might mean to take God’s covenantal love seriously, wanting to push out those that threaten our places of comfort and security? Are we Hagar and Ishmael, the ones excluded, the ones pushed out into the wilderness with little to nothing to help us find our way? Could we be either one at different times or in different circumstances?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New Kings James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.31)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 1: Genesis (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp. 178-180)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Macarthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. “Déjà Vu.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
8. Dave Wyrtzen, “Ishmael and Isaac.” Retrieved from truthenote@gmail.com
9. T.M. Moore, “Triggered.” retrieved from noreply@ailbe.org
10. Nissa Peterson, “Genesis 21:8-21.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu.
11. “I See You.” Retrieved from www.theologicalstew,com/abraham-3-i-see-you.html
12. “Desert Scribbling, June 22, 2008.” Retrieved from https://gmcelroy.typepad.com/desertsribblings/2008/06/june-22-2008.html

How many of you have heard of a weapon called the AK-47 assault rifle?

It was invented by a Russian general named Mikhail Kalashnikov. The gun became popular with terrorist groups and many nations because it is simple and almost impossible to destroy. When the general was confronted about the number of lives his weapon had taken, the general replied, “I have no regrets and bear no responsibility for how politicians have used it.”

The general died in December of 2013, and shortly before his death he might have regretted his words. In a letter he wrote to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, he asked, “If my rifle took away people’s lives, then can it be that I am guilty for people’s deaths, even if they were enemies?”

All of us have sins hidden in the back of our minds and in the corners of our hearts. These private sins give us grief any time they come to the surface of our thoughts. Even though they might have been forgotten by others, and even though we have been forgiven by God, the sins still bother us. The apostle Paul offers us this assurance: “Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under the law, but under grace.”

There are other people who believe that by doing good deeds they will get to heaven when they die. Unfortunately, they are dead wrong. The only way we can gain the new life that salvation offers is to die a spiritual death. In other words, our sin-filled nature has to die, and the only way it can die is if we accept Christ in faith. That is the point of Romans 6:1-13.

Just like Christ died, was buried, descended to hell and rose again, we have to be “buried” with him by baptism into faith. Only then can our link to our old, sinful life be severed. When we die to sin, death has no more dominion over us. We are reborn into a new life in Christ, just like Christ was resurrected from the dead. Our new “body” is clean, and it must be kept free from sin.

Some people also believe that once our sins are forgiven, they will continue to be forgiven, so we can continue to do whatever we want to. The German pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer described this attitude as “cheap grace.” People who have this attitude are forgetting one thing. Grace may be cheap for us, but it was not cheap for Jesus. He paid a heavy price, because he paid for God’s grace with his life. Grace is not a ticket to a sin-filled life. Grace does not give us permission to sin. God’s loving grace is the free offering that leads us to salvation. Grace is not the same as salvation. Grace is the coming together of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice and his obedience to the gospel. We do not go to heaven because we want to go. We get to go to heaven because of God’s grace, but only if we accept it by faith.

Reconciliation to God requires repentance, and repentance requires remorse. Remorse requires responsibility because we have to accept responsibility for our actions. Repentance restores relationships. Reconciliation reaps rejoicing, as in the Parable of the Prodigal Son when the father rejoiced at the return of his wayward younger son.

The key to salvation is baptism. Water baptism is an outward expression of the inner transformation of Christ. As we step into the water, we are in Christ. As we are immersed in the water, we are buried with Jesus, and as we rise from the water we are raised with him to a new life. As we walk away from the water, we show that we are walking with Jesus in a new way of life. We can also cry “It is finished” because everything that can be done about our sins has been done by Jesus. Our old way of life has been crucified with Christ and we have been freed or justified from sin. Once we have been freed from sin, we have to apply what we have been taught about our relationship to sin to our own lives. Once we have done that, we must say “no” to sin.

When we are baptized, we die to sin just like Christ died for our sins. We become a new creation, and as such we must live a new, resurrected life. We are called to make the same type of sacrifice that Jesus made. We must make that sacrifice as an act of devotion for what Christ has done for us. We must also make this sacrifice because there are people who have not yet received Christ’s grace. People need to see God’s grace, love and peace lived out in human form.

When we are baptized, we become united with him in that we are buried with him. Our life to that point is over and a new life begins. Our sins have been removed. The barriers that have kept us from the joy and freedom of the Gospel have been removed. We are free to live Christ’s love. We have been made righteous because of Christ’s sacrifice. God declares that we as sinful people are righteous, and that righteousness is based on a belief and trust in Jesus instead of on our good works. God imputes or credits Christ’s righteousness to sinners who believe in Christ and accept what he did for them on the cross. God justified himself by punishing sin.

The Law of Moses was good, holy and righteous, but it could not be kept, and so it cursed the people. The Law could only show God’s standard and condemn people who could not keep it. It could only trouble people’s consciences about their deeds just like General Kalashnikov’s conscience troubled him. The Law kept the people in chains, and today we are still in captivity. Some of us are captive to shopping. They can’t pass up a sale, even if their homes are already full of unnecessary stuff. Some people are slaves to food. They have never met a Tim Horton’s donut that they didn’t like. Some people are slaves to their jobs. They hate their jobs, but they are being paid too much to quit. Some corporations are slaves to greed. Their only concern is the bottom line.

Some people are slaves to human standards. Human standards can only trouble people’s consciences because humans are condemned when they can’t keep human standards. We can easily distort the true Word of God by adding our own traditional practices and making them equal with God’s original plan. We need to stand against these practices as the Lord did before we become tied to man-made traditions.

On the other hand, God does not condemn us when we fail to meet his perfect standards if we accept by faith the knowledge that Christ paid the penalty for our sins. When God calls us into holy living, his call comes with the conviction that we are to be different. If we try to run our lives the way we used to run them, we will fail. The only way to succeed is to have faith in Jesus. If we do, God will accept us by grace. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more or less.

How many of you remember the Peanuts comic strip character named Pig-Pen? The creator of the comic strip, Charles Schulz, described Pig-Pen as “a human soil bank who raised a cloud of dust on a perfectly clean street.” Wherever Pig-Pen went, he had a dirt cloud that loomed around him. It was a nasty, ugly stink cloud. When we show a lack of self-control by allowing sin to enter our lives, it is like a big stink cloud that follows us wherever we go.

The winner of the battle between the Spirit and the flesh depends on which one we feed. It is like the trapper who owned two dogs that he trained to fight. Every month he brought them to town to fight. The townspeople would bet on the winner. The owner also bet on the dogs, and he always won. Some people caught on and asked the owner how he knew which dog would win. The owner answered “The one who wins is the one I feed.”

We must set our minds on the things of God, seeking to please him and be obedient to him in all we do. That way, we feed the Spirit and insure our victory over sin. Choosing Christ helps us make better choices in life. When people accept Christ as their Saviour, they live happier, more fulfilled lives. Christ has changed what they believe themselves to be. They can trust the promise God made at their baptism that they would always be his children, and that no sin would be too big for him to forgive.

Bibliography

1. Jamieson, R.; Fawcett, A.R. & Brown, D.: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Oak Harbour, WA: Logos Research Systems Inc.; 1997)
2. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
3. Norman, R.S., “Justification by Faith” as in D.S. Dockery (Ed.): Holman Concise Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers; 1998)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
5. Radmacher, E.D.; Allen, R.B. & House, H.G.: Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1999)
6. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
7. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Am I Forgiven?” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
8. Rev. Gregory Seltz, “Keeping Score When It Counts” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
9. Dr Ed Young, “Which Dog Wins?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
10. Dr. Jack Graham, “What You Have to Do to Go to Heaven.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
11. John E. Werham, “Grace Understood.” Retrieved from www.forthright.net
12. Doug Fields, “Pig-Pen.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
13. Dr. Neil Anderson, “Fences Around the Laws.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
14. King Duncan, “The Second Step.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
15. William G. Carter, “Thanks God, We’re Already Dead.”  Retrieved from www.esermons.com
16. King Duncan, “A Lesson from Dr. Seuss.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
17. Steve Albertin, “Fido’s Dilemma.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
18. The Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn, “The Repentant Life.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

A few years ago, a riot took place in the House of Representatives in the state of Kansas. The elected representatives started their session with prayer, but one day the prayer caused an uproar. The prayer went like this:

“Heavenly Father, we come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, “Woe to those who call evil good,” but that’s exactly what we’ve done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and we have inverted our values.

We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it moral pluralism, and worshiped other gods and called it multiculturalism. We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.  We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery and neglected the needy and called it self-preservation.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice, and shot abortionists and called it justifiable.  We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem, and abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition, and polluted the airwaves with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us. Cleanse us from every sin and set us free.

Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of Kansas and have been ordained by You to govern this great state. Grant them Your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your will. I ask it in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

The passage from Matthew 10:24-39 is part of Jesus’ larger missionary discourse to his disciples. In this section, he talks about committed discipleship in the face of conflict. Jesus said that he came “not to bring peace, but a sword.” Jesus’ sword is the word of God. Jesus came to divide his people into two groups-those who are saved by grace and those who reject him and are condemned to spend eternity in hell. 

When people follow Jesus, they can expect to have conflicts, even with their own families. Choosing loyalty to anyone other than Christ disqualifies a person from being a disciple of Christ. Peace is the practice of refining everything that is not part of God’s righteous realm. Once they are refined, righteousness and justice will reign. Peace will realign our priorities and relationships. It’s like a fruit grower who prunes dead branches from his fruit trees. The surviving branches will bear even greater fruit.

Being Jesus’ disciple is not an invitation for glory. It is an invitation for sacrifice and suffering in the presence of powerful opposition. Jesus never promised us an easy life if we become his disciples. In fact, being Jesus’ disciple is one of the hardest things we can do. In the words of Loretta Lynn’s famous song:

I beg your pardon

I never promised you a rose garden

Along with the sunshine

There’s gotta be a little rain sometime

Israel was famous for persecuting both the prophets and Jesus. If they were persecuted for their faith, we will also face persecution.  This is hard for us in the developed world to understand and accept because until now we have not been ridiculed or put to death because of our faith. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the developing world have not been as fortunate. For example, listen to these headlines from a few years ago:

“Pastor Beaten in Iranian Prison and Taken to Unknown Location”

“The ugly reality of present-day Iraq, where the nation, and the Christian church, is now being destroyed and taken over by extremist Sunni militants”

“Christian Refugees Flood Out of Iraqi City; Trapped Residents Describe “Apocalyptic” Murder, Terror”

The situation is beginning to change for the worse here in the developed world. Teachers are hesitant to say anything positive about Christianity. The entertainment industry portrays Christianity in a negative light. Stories about the church’s good works rarely make news, but the misdeeds of the church are reported. We are getting closer to the day when Christians here in the developed world will find out firsthand about the dangers and hard choices Jesus is talking about.

This does not mean that we are to provoke persecution or seek martyrdom. They will come naturally when we expose evil, challenge power, demand change or undermine the status quo. Persecution will come naturally when we do what Christ asks us to do. Telling the world that they’ve given sin respectable names and are in need of a Savior doesn’t go over very well. Even though we are not to seek persecution and suffering, we must still take up our cross. If we are persecuted, we are to accept it because God will give us the strength we need to cope. If we lose our lives for God’s plans, then our lives will have meaning.

We are not to fear the power of our opponents. They can kill our physical bodies (which will die anyway), but they can’t kill our souls. Only God can kill our souls. We must fear God. God will have eternity to right the wrongs people inflict. Evildoers will be punished for all eternity.

Those of us who fear God do not have to fear anyone else or anything else. In fact, we are told not to be afraid to be persecuted for our faith. We must be afraid of what will happen when we do not obey Jesus’ instructions. For example, we must not be afraid to proclaim Jesus’ teachings. We must preach the truth boldly and in love. We are free to preach the good news because nothing is secret or hidden about the kingdom. We are free from fear because of the goodness of God. It governs even the smallest or most mundane matters of our lives. God cares about everything he created-even a tiny sparrow. In this passage, a tiny sparrow has become a symbol of something of little value. If God cares for something that has little value, he will care much more for his children, especially if they are Jesus’ disciples.

Because God cares for us, he is loyal to us, and in return he expects us to be loyal to him. If we are loyal to him, Jesus will acknowledge us in heaven. If we are not loyal to him, Jesus will deny us in heaven. It’s like asking Jesus to be our lawyer. If he takes our case, we will win. If he does not take our case, we will lose. We acknowledge Jesus and God by our deeds and our words. If we worship Jesus with our words but not our deeds, our witness is compromised. For example, we can acknowledge Jesus with words by regularly attending worship services, but if our behaviour the rest of the week is sinful, we are being hypocritical. Our words and deeds have to be consistent if our witness is to be effective.

The focus of our discipleship is on our relationship to Jesus. To be worthy of Christ we are to put him first in all family relations. To be worthy of Christ we are to take up our cross and identify with him, to accept the scandal of identification with him. To be worthy of Christ we are to choose him and his life instead of foolishly preserving our own way of life. Finding the selfish satisfaction of life means losing life and missing its larger fulfillment, but to lose our own interests for the sake of Christ is to find life.

The anchor has long been a symbol in Christian art for the hope we have in Jesus. When the storms of life come, including persecution and suffering for Christ’s sake, we have hope. We can hold fast to the faith that is in us. In the words from the hymn “Will Your Anchor Hold:”

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll

Fastened to the rock which cannot move

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

Bibliography

1. The Rev. Canon Frank S. Logue, “Facing Battles with the Promise of Victory.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
2. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
3. Exegesis for Matthew 10:24-39. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
4. The Rev. Robina Marie Winbush, “A Radical Reorientation.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
5. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 12^th Sunday (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
6. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package.
7. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
8. Selwyn Hughes, “The Deepest Law.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. Stephen Davey, “Disturbing the Peace.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

Last Sunday we read Matthew’s version of the Great Commission. Today, we read Matthew’s version of an earlier commission, one where Jesus sent the disciples into the world in pairs to preach, heal, cast out demons and raise the dead. They were not men of rank and office. They were plain men of good sense, fair character, great honesty with favourable opportunities of ascertaining the facts to which they were witness. They were ordinary people who could fulfill the commission. We as ordinary people are also capable of fulfilling the same commission.

The word “compassion” suggests strong emotion and means “to feel deep sympathy.”  Christ’s humanity allowed Him to show compassion for sinners in terms of human emotions. He was literally moved to tears over the plight of sinners. He knew their spiritual needs were more desperate than the need for physical healing. The only way to meet that need was to have more workers.

Jesus saw these people as “weary and scattered…sheep without a shepherd” because the religious leaders, who should have been their shepherds, were trying to lead them away from the one true shepherd. Jesus saw people burdened with the rites of religion, the doctrines and teachings of the Pharisees and neglected by people who should have been enlightened teachers.

Jesus knew that the number of people who flocked to His ministry was great. He knew people expected the Messiah and were prepared to receive the Gospel. He also knew that there were few people engaged in teaching the multitudes.

Because Jesus saw the great need of the multitudes, He urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest for more labourers. That prayer, which is at the core of the modern mission movement, is still the only hope for the “lost sheep” of each generation. We have a duty to pray for the conversion of the world. The harvest is just as plentiful now as it was in the time of Christ. Millions of people have not heard the gospel, and there are very few people to teach them. Evil runs wild in our world today. Only God can qualify those who go and preach the gospel to the world. We have a duty to pray to God to have pity on the world and send faithful people to tell the world about Jesus.

In the last verses of chapter 9, Jesus urges His disciples to pray for labourers. These verses summarize Jesus’ ministry of compassion. It is a presentation of the compassionate shepherd. It also shows the kingdom happens wherever Jesus is ruling. The kingdom creates a dualism in society, one that often pits Christians against the world and its evils. The kingdom calls us to a decision in the world.

In the first verses of chapter 10, He calls them to become the answer to their prayers as “sent ones.” They would be sent forth to share His presence, power and purpose. The answer to Jesus’ request came after prayer. Prayer conditions us to the will of God. Jesus prayed to God for more workers, and God answered His prayer. Prayer prepares us to share with Him. God often uses us to help answer our own prayers.

The 12 apostles were specifically told to take their message to the Jews and not the Gentiles or Samaritans. The message was for the Jews first. Jesus saw them as sheep without a shepherd. They were God’s chosen people. They spent a long time looking for the Messiah, so it was appropriate that the Gospel should be shared with them first. If the Jews accepted Jesus as their King, the nations would be blessed through them.

Because God had freely given the apostles the resources they would need to perform their ministry, they were not to sell their services and make money for what they did. If they sold their gifts for money, they could have made a fortune. At the same time, they would have obscured the message of Christ’s grace. They could accept support to meet their basic needs. Similarly, we are not to sell the gift of Christ’s grace for money, but those of us who are ordained and preach the Gospel can accept support for our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

In the late 19^th century, William Carey felt a call to travel to India as a missionary to share the Good News of Jesus. Fellow ministers scorned him, saying, “Young man, if God wants to save anyone in India, He will do it without your help or mine!” They missed the point of partnership. God does very little on earth without people like us.

Our ministry, like that of the apostles, falls into three categories. We are witnesses for the resurrection. We are teachers. We build on the foundation for the church. If we want to fulfill this ministry, we must be motivated. If we don’t have the motivation, we aren’t going to do anything.

Doing this ministry won’t be easy, just like the disciples’ ministry wasn’t easy. Jesus told the disciples that the world would be hostile to their message. He did not give them false hope. Hostility toward the disciples would not cease until they were martyred. Similarly, we will face various forms of persecution. The world is still hostile to the Good News.

A young person once told Billy Graham that he or she would be going on a mission trip with a church youth group. The group planned on serving a village in a very poor country, helping to put a roof on their church and doing some Bible programs for children. The young person asked Billy Graham for advice.

Billy Graham replied:

“But God not only wants to work through you to help others. He also wants to work in you while you’re serving the people of this village. Be alert to His leading, therefore, asking Him to use this experience to teach you new things about Himself and what He is doing in the world. You may discover, for example, that in spite of their poverty, the people of this village are actually rich in faith and love. Sometimes our wealth and comfortable lifestyle get in the way of a true commitment to Christ.” 

“God may also want to open your eyes to the needs of the world. Most people today have very little, compared with what we have; many, in fact, face hunger and disease almost daily. Do we care? Many also do not know Christ, and have never had an opportunity to hear of His love.”

Billy Graham’s message is also a message for us. As we serve others, God will work in us and teach us new things about Him and what He is doing in the world. He will teach us about other Christians through other people.

If we are to serve others, we must serve them as they need to be served and not as we decide to serve them. It is important for us to make faith in Christ an option-making faith a possibility to people. In doing so we respect their freedom while making them aware of their responsibility.

The nourishment Jesus offers us as the Bread of Life provides us with the fuel we need to serve others, and that’s what the life God gives us is about. God has given us the message and commissioned us to take it to the world. He has given us the methods. All He needs is for us to work together and do our share to reach the world for Christ. Will you make a commitment to help spread the Gospel and thereby be a part of what God is doing in the world today? I urge you to get out of your comfort zone. I urge you to care. I urge you to share. I urge you to pray, and I urge you to ask God for the boldness you will need to carry out His orders.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1297-1298)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; p.18)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Greg Laurie, “Why We Must Care.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
6. Kenny Luck, “Flight Briefing.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Pastor Ed Young, “Diet and Exercise.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
8. Richard Innes, “Exponential Growth.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
9. Philip Yancey, “The Likes of Us.” Retrieved from www.rbc.org
10. Billy Graham, “What Should I Do on My Mission trip?” Retrieved from www.billygraham.org
11. Richard Niell Donovan, “Biblical Commentary, Matthew 9:35-10:23.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

When I was a child, I had a paper route. Six mornings a week, I delivered newspapers to over a hundred customers before I had breakfast. One of the first sections that my customers looked at was the news, especially the front page. This was in the days before the Internet and email, so the newspaper was one of the main sources of news and information. Some of them also read the sports section to see if their favourite teams won. Many of them, including my own parents, also looked at the comics. That gave them a smile, especially if the news was full of stories of doom and gloom.

Jesus traveled all around the countryside. He went to many different towns and villages, and everywhere he went he saw crowds of people who were lost and helpless. It broke his heart. One day, he turned to his followers and said to them, “There are so many who need help, but there are not enough who are willing to help them. Get on your knees and pray that the Lord will send workers to help them.”

When they had finished praying, Jesus called twelve of his followers to come to him. “Go,” he said, “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” Do you know what else Jesus told his disciples? He said, “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'”

Wow! That’s good news, isn’t it? Think about it. “The kingdom of heaven is near.” It isn’t some far off place where we will go at some far-off time. In fact, you might even say, “It’s right here — right now.” Of course, Jesus came to give us eternal life in heaven, but he also came so that we could have life, and have it to the fullest — right now. Now, that’s good news that everyone should hear!

As a “paper boy”, delivering the news was my job. If I didn’t do my job, my customers didn’t get the news-and I usually got an earful! Just as Jesus called the twelve to deliver the good news, he has also called you and me to deliver the good news. If we don’t do our job, someone won’t get the good news today.

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Father, there is no better news than the good news that you love us and sent your Son so that we might have life and that we might have it abundantly. Help us to faithfully share that good news with others. Amen.

Bibliography

1. “Delivering the Good News.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.inc.

On Trinity Sunday we celebrate not a religious holiday or occasion, but a doctrine-the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is a concept that is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but it is there. The Trinity is a concept that is not easy to describe or understand. In fact, some ministers take Trinity Sunday off!

The Trinity is referred to indirectly in the passage from Matthew 28:16-20. All three members of the Trinity are always with us. They give us their cooperation and support. They help us and protect us. The name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit means the combined authority of all manifestations of God. When we are baptized we become  subject to the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Consequently, we receive the remission of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The one true God has a personality that is threefold and indicated by relationship as Father and Son. It is indicated by a mode of being as Spirit. It is indicated by the various parts taken by the Godhead in manifestation and in the work of redemption.

Jesus’ resurrection proved that what He taught was correct. He used His ultimate authority when He gave the disciples and us the Great Commission. He showed His ultimate power by promising to be with us forever. When Christ rose from the dead, He created a new community with real change in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God in action for all ages.

When Jesus states that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth, He declares His ultimate authority. He is the recipient of God’s authority. His deity is proved. As the Creator (God), He had the original right to all things. As the Redeemer (Son), even more so. The phrase “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” is a strong affirmation of Trinitarianism. When He commissioned the disciples, Jesus instituted the three-fold formula prior to the development of the Trinity. It holds Father, Son and Holy Spirit together as three personae by whom God encounters us in His love from all eternity to all eternity. Since all three members of the Trinity are with us all the time, we have the same authority Jesus had. We can bring God’s truth to the world because of His divine authority. His word will prosper if we are faithful to His message.

The Trinity allows us to make sense of the God who loves us enough to send Jesus to die for our sins. God who is God the Son is Christ not dead. The risen God who is God the Holy Spirit is not Jesus gone but Jesus present.

So now that we have the Great Commission, what do we do? First, we must show Christ-like behavior, and that includes being righteous. In the Old Testament times, being righteous meant obeying the Law of Moses perfectly, and that includes obeying the Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment is “Do not murder.” The Jews believed this referred to only the physical act of killing someone. Jesus argued that there is a broader meaning. He argued that words and anger can kill. That is, they show the true heart of a person. Anger and words such as senseless, stupid, shallow and the like violate the spirit of that commandment. If used, they may lead to a more open and dreadful infraction of that law.

For example, thirteen-year-old Marcy had little use for her loud, obnoxious, smelly little brother. “You’re just a jerk!” she yelled again and again. Her ten-year-old brother Mike didn’t exactly like his older sister either. He would often fire back, “You’re really stupid!” Their rivalry and toxic words polluted their home. God says it’s wrong to insult, wound, tear down, cut up, threaten or intimidate another person with our words. Hurtful words are hateful words.

Jesus taught that it is more important to have a heart that is right than to conform to the outright act of worship. For example, if a person brought a gift to the altar and remembered that someone had something against him, he was to leave the offering on the altar and go and be reconciled. The worship of God will not be acceptable until we are at peace with anyone we have hurt or offended.

Similarly, Christians are not to bring lawsuits against each other. We are encouraged to come to an agreement before going to court. God will see anyone who does not reconcile with those who have been offended as a violation of the commandment against murder. He will punish them accordingly.

Someone once asked Billy Graham, “If you ask God to forgive you for something you did to someone, does that mean you also have to ask them for forgiveness? I’m a Christian now, but I’m not sure I can do it. I don’t see what difference it would make anyway, except maybe to open old wounds.”

In his reply, Billy Graham wrote the following:

“It’s always important to seek the forgiveness of those we’ve hurt, even if it is hard to do….They might not forgive you, of course; they may reject your attempt or react with renewed anger over what you did, but then it becomes their problem, not yours. You will have done everything you could to let them know you regret what happened, and that you want their forgiveness.”

“Why is it important to seek the forgiveness of those we’ve hurt? For one thing, it could bring about reconciliation. After all, you were the one at fault: you alone are responsible for the hurt that resulted. But that hurt will only be healed if you seek to heal it and if the other person responds.”

Reconciling with those we have hurt is not easy. One of the barriers is pride. No one likes to admit they were wrong, because it is part of our sinful, human nature. Pride is a sin that needs to be faced, dealt with and confessed to God. If we have offended or hurt anyone, we need to make peace today. We must not put it off. When we reconcile with the people we have hurt, our relationships will be healthier. In Christ, it is never too late for reconciliation. God wants us to live in peace with everyone by sincerely humbling ourselves and finding reconciliation through Him.

It is no secret that sin often leads to health problems. If we refuse to forgive, bitterness creeps into our hearts and plants roots. It can spread to those around us. If it hardens in our hearts, it is next to impossible to remove. Forgiveness depends on us. Reconciliation is the ideal to work towards, but sometimes it is not possible. It depends on both parties. What others do is their choice. What we allow them to do is up to us. We are responsible only for our own actions.

When we ask others to forgive us, we have an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission. The Great Commission has not changed since the moment Jesus uttered it. Christians are to “go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey.” They are to accomplish all of this by His power and for His sake, through His Spirit. When followers of Jesus are slow to share their faith, or pour into the lives of others, it is often because they do not really take Jesus at His word when He says, “I am with you always.”

It’s isn’t easy for us to remember that the members of the Trinity are always with us. Sometimes we’re so blinded by disappointment that we can’t see Jesus walking with us throughout heartache and leading us to something better ahead. The Trinity shows us that there is a way for us that leads far beyond disappointment. The Trinity proves that we are in the presence of someone who cares, who leads, who has authority and wisdom.

All three members of the Trinity encourage us to get going. They are with us all of the time, so we have a life that is exciting and full of confidence that the members of the Trinity have done all things perfectly for us. Life with the Trinity is to be lived with their gifts and their blessing. When we read and study Scripture, when we are baptized into faith, when we take part in Holy Communion, it’s like receiving a kiss of grace from the Trinity.

The doctrine of the Trinity is a confession, not a definition. Who can define God? We can only confess our history and personal encounters with God. To confess God apart from Christ is impossible. To confess Christ apart from God the Creator of everything is impossible. To confess God in Christ apart from our experience of both through the Holy Spirit sustaining the church is impossible. All we can do is confess our faith in the one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1587-1588)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, p. 18)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Billy Graham, “How Can I Reconcile With my Sister?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
6. Rick Boxx, “Make Peace Today.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
7. “Hateful Words.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
8. Billy Graham, “Why Do I Need to Ask for Forgiveness?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
9. Steve Arterburn, “Handling Anger.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com
10. Dr. Harold Sala, “The Biblical Pattern of Reconciliation.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
11. The New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1-Matthew and Mark. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
12. Schofield’s Notes. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
13. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2006)
14. Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp; 1348-1351)
15. Christine Caine, “Something Better.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
16. The Rev. Gregory Seltz, “Living Life in the Power of His Name.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org