Sermons From My Heart

The end is here!

We’ve reached the end of another church year. This coming Sunday is Reign of Christ Sunday, when we celebrate the mystery of Christ’s kingly power. Reign of Christ Sunday is a fairly new religious observance. It was started by Pope Pius XI in 1925. According to the papal encyclical that introduced the Reign of Christ Sunday, Christ the King rules over the church and the whole world—if not now, than at the end of time.

Reign of Christ Sunday is time for us to reflect on our lives and think about how our words and deed will be judged by others and by God. If we have been faithful to God and to our calling, we will be restored. We have to admit our shortcomings as become involved in ministering to others.

Christ is the king who saves us. He associated with sinners so that he could save everyone. The soldiers at the cross wondered how he could save others when he could not save himself. They did not realize that the salvation they wanted was of this world, but the salvation Jesus offered was eternal. Jesus is the king of the cross. He died on the cross but rose again three days later. He died to save us from eternal separation from God. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. When his flock is wandering and lost and without shepherds, God grieves. When the flock is being cared for and is growing in relationship with God, his heart is full of joy.

Jesus is the king because he is the firstborn, just like the oldest male child of a modern king will become king when the current king dies. Jesus has the pre-eminence and the right of inheritance over all creation. He existed before the universe was created and he is exalted in rank above it.

Jesus’ power as king comes not from military power but from inviting us to become one with him. His power is shown in his service to us and his willingness to accept the punishment we deserve as sinners. His everlasting kingdom speaks of the realm of salvation where all believers live in a current and eternal spiritual relationship with God. This relationship will be under the care and authority of Jesus.

When Jesus said in Luke 23:33-43, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing,” he was referring both to the people who crucified him and us. The thief who asked for salvation had a much more significant salvation than the other thief. Jesus exercised the power of pardon that he has as king. The thief who asked for forgiveness accepted responsibility for his actions, so he was able to ask for forgiveness and receive it. If we believe in Christ and accept responsibility for our actions, we can also receive forgiveness when we ask for it.

We need a Saviour who can bring good news to our sin-filled world. Jeremiah referred to the Saviour in Jeremiah 23:1-8. The people of Israel forgot about the covenant they made with God. They sold out to earthly desires and expected God to forget about what they did. Jeremiah did not want them to forget about the covenant. Their misplaced faith led to judgment. They were faithless, and God was faithful. He showed his faithfulness by sending Jesus. Jeremiah proclaimed what Christ would do. Jesus came to heal the sick, gather the lost sheep, restore the faith and rule with righteousness and justice. The oppressed were restored. Jeremiah was looking to the future, but Christ is here with us today. Jesus is a just and right ruler.

God’s people needed Jesus and so do we. Jesus is our best hope. Jesus is our only hope. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, the hallmark of our Christian faith. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus fed us with God’s Word, washed us of our sins and died for us. We are called to be shepherds of Jesus’ flock. We are to follow the model of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We are to care for Jesus’ flock by sharing the Good News whenever and wherever we can.

The earthly shepherds who are our leaders are sometimes less than what they are called to be. The people under their care experienced the consequences of the evil actions of their leaders. God’s plans for the people of Israel were a reversal of what their failed leadership had done. Leadership would become a model of God as a true shepherd of the people.

Christ is the creator king. He created us. We were created to be good, but we allowed sin to pollute our lives. Jesus rules over us. As our ruler, he is the head of the Christian body. Just as a human body responds to the head, we as members of the Christian body have to respond to our head-Jesus. That is the essence of the Christian faith.

Our God is a righteous god. This concept can best be explained by acknowledging its opposite-depravity. Depravity-or our sin-filled world-is the very opposite of how we can best describe God. If we stay faithful and obedient to God, we will receive his blessings. We will not have to fear anything, and we will lack for nothing. We will be fruitful and multiply.

During the Korean War, Billy Graham visited American soldiers. He visited hospitals and talked and prayed with wounded soldiers. On one visit, he met a soldier who was lying face down in a cradle because his spine had been shattered by a bullet. A hole had been cut in the bottom of the cradle so the soldier could see through to the floor. When Billy Graham was talking to him, the soldier said, “I would like to see your face, Mr. Graham.” Billy Graham got down on his back under the cradle so the soldier could look down at his face. This is a metaphor for what God did for us through Jesus Christ. God the king came down to our level so that we could see what God is like. It reminds us of Paul’s statement that Christ is the image of the invisible God. God came down to our level to reach us and save us.

We are called on to do the Christian work of reconciliation, suffering for the sake of Christ and others, loving the lost and sharing the Cross of Christ even if it means bearing our own cross. We must never give up no matter how difficult things get. When darkness enters our lives and burnout or spiritual fatigue threaten to remove all hope, God will be in his finest hour and the prophet Jeremiah will see his finest vision. God will sustain us. When we have received the redemption, reconciliation and forgiveness that results from Christ’s death and resurrection, Christ will rule our lives. 

In Colossians 1:11-20, Paul clearly states that Christ is the truth, and if we believe in Christ, he will help us avoid the lies that will lead us away from him. We will receive his power and strength, and they come from his glory-a glory that is so overwhelming that we can’t experience it. We will be reunited with God. God has made us fit to receive his power and strength. We have been released from sin’s slavery because of the redemptive power of Christ’s blood. Christ defeated the evil powers of sin and death. When we believe in Christ we join in that victory and his power. This power is greater than any of our human powers. Christ as the head of our Christian body allows us to accomplish great things.

Jesus is God in human form. He is the window through which we see God’s true nature. He is the mediator between us and God. Everything he does and everything he is points to his supremacy as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is the one by whom, for whom, and through whom everything was made. He knows what our problems are and he knows how to fix them. He can transform our lives. We as Christians and members of the church will never be in a defensive position as long as we remember that we and the church are the body of Christ through whom He intends to become head over everything else.

Who or what rules our lives? How do we answer that question for ourselves? When we declare that Christ is the king, we mean that Christ is the most important matter in our lives. Christ the king allows us to live by grace, and not by law or our own deeds. When we pursue Christ the king, we are not afraid of being uncomfortable. We are secure enough to take risks and full enough of his grace to spend big on mercy. Jesus responded when a needy person came to him, and we must also respond when a needy person comes to us. Christ’s kingdom is a kingdom where forgiveness is given to anyone who asks for it. The kingdom is a new kingdom of relationships based on equality, justice, forgiveness and compassion.

Christ’s kingdom is a mystery. It is a mystery that was hidden for thousands of years. It was revealed in Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ’s kingdom lives in us because of the Holy Spirit, but only if we are like the repentant thief and accept him by faith as our Saviour. In a world where evil reigns and we feel that there is no hope, we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ the king is in charge. Our ultimate destiny is in the hands of the one true God who loved us enough to die for us, and the only thing he asks for in return is that we live for him. Long live the king!

Bibliography

1. Exegesis for Luke 23:33-43. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
2. Alton Wedel, “And He Shall Reign”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
3. James Merritt, “Israel: |The World’s Invincible Nation”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
4. John Wayne Clark, “The Shepherd King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
5. R. Kevin Mohr, “Shepherds Who Will Shepherd”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
6. Mark Ellingson, “Salvation Includes Social Justice”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
7. John R. Brokhoff and Robert W. Stackel, “God’s Kind of King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
8. Richard E. Gribble, CSC, “Conversion to Christ”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. Dr. Harold Sala, “Jehovah Tsidkenu (God, the Righteous One)”. Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
10. Bayless Conley, “Richer Blessings”. Retrieved from www.answersrbc.org
11. Guest, J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series; Vol. 19: Jeremiah/Lamentations (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1988)
12. Joseph M. McShane, “The Magic Kingdom”. Retrieved from www.religiononline.org
13. Exegesis for Colossians 1:11-20. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
14. Dunnam, M.D & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series; Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
15. MacArthur, J.F. Jr. : The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
16. Rebecca Barlow Jordan, “Supremacy”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
17. Anne Graham Lotz, “Fixing What’s Wrong”. Retrieved from www.angelministries.org
18. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, Christ the King, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
19. Exegesis for Jeremiah 23:1-8. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
20. King Duncan, “Christ the King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
21. Donna Schaper, “When Christ is King”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
22. Johnny Dean, “The Invisible God”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
23. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, Christ the King, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
24. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Reign of Christ, Year C. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org
25. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “They Say There’s Another King, One Called Jesus”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net.

Two gas company servicemen, a senior training supervisor and a young trainee, were out checking meters in a suburban neighborhood. They parked their truck at the end of the alley and worked their way to the other end. At the last house a woman looking out her kitchen window watched the two men as they checked her gas meter.

After they finished checking the meter, the senior supervisor challenged his younger co-worker to a foot race down the alley back to the truck to prove that an older guy could outrun a younger one.  As they came running up to the truck, they realized the lady from that last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They stopped and asked her what was wrong.
Gasping for breath, she replied, “When I see two gas men running as hard as you two were, I figured I’d better run too!”

This little story and the passage we heard from Luke 21:5-19 are examples of the old adage that things are not always what they seem to be. When the disciples saw Herod’s temple, they saw its external beauty, but they failed to see what really behind it-spiritual bankruptcy, hypocrisy, oppression, rejection of Christ and the Gospel, and Christ’s impending death at the hands of the religious authorities.

That’s why Jesus warned the disciples to beware of the false teachers who would come and proclaim that they were the promised Messiah. He knew that just like the temple’s beauty hid its ugly secrets, the false teachers with their appearances, methods and teachings would hide their true motives. False teachers exist in our society today. This can best be explained with another story. It is a comedy routine that I heard several years ago. In this routine, comedian Steve Martin is doing his imitation of a preacher. Part of the routine goes like this:

“The other day I talked to God, and he promised me that he would not talk to any other TV preachers. So if you hear any of those other TV preachers saying that they talked to God, do not send them the $1.50 for their polyester prayer handkerchief”

It is somewhat ironic though that on the Vision TV channel here in Canada you can actually see on Sunday afternoon an evangelist who actually DOES send people a Prosperity Prayer handkerchief. He claims that he personally blesses each handkerchief, and that if you call and ask for one of these handkerchiefs, you will be blessed financially, health-wise, etc. This particular evangelist along with other evangelists such as Benny Hinn and Joel Osteen promotes what is known as the Prosperity Gospel. It is the belief that God intends his followers to prosper in a materialistic way. Instead of talking about mansions in heaven, they talk about mansions here on earth. They do not tell their followers that Christ expects them to take up their cross and follow him, and their religion bears little resemblance to Jesus and his teachings, especially his teachings about being persecuted for following him.

Not all false prophets are religious. Some of them promote get-rich-quick schemes and preach a gospel of stocks, bonds and real estate. Some of you might have heard of the Bernie Madoff saga. He was the mastermind of a scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. Unfortunately, there are all kinds of schemers out there, especially schemers who will prey on the elderly and the less fortunate in society.

Jesus does not promise us a rose garden here on earth. In fact, he makes it quite clear to us and his disciples that people will hate them and persecute them. He doesn’t tell the disciples that they will escape pain, and he doesn’t tell us that either. He promises that the persecutions that his followers will face will give them opportunities to witness to the Gospel.

Those who do Christ’s work in the world can expect to face persecution. For example, in the Third World Christians regularly face imprisonment, threats, harassment, beatings and even death for their faith. We here in the developed world do not face these extremes, but we still face the prospect of rejection, job loss or discrimination for our faith. Thankfully, in the times of trial, we can turn to God for strength, hope and support. He will give us the strength to face adversity and persecution. He will tell us what to do, say and even think, just like he promised the disciples that he will tell them what to do, say and think.

For example, Peter and John will be arrested and use the occasion to witness to the council. This is mentioned in Acts 4:1-22. The council will be amazed at their testimony and will order them not to speak of Jesus further, but fear of the people will keep them from meting out more severe punishment. Stephen will preach a long and powerful sermon to the council in Acts 7, and it will lead to his martyrdom. Paul and Silas will be arrested and flogged, but they will sing songs of praise in prison. An earthquake will free them, but they will stay in their cells and eventually convert the jailer and his family. When the authorities try to release them, they will assert their Roman citizenship and protest their wrongful arrest, forcing the authorities to apologize. This is mentioned in Acts 16:16-40.

When Rome destroyed the temple in 70 AD, the Jews were scattered to the four winds. They were without a homeland until the United Nations created the state of Israel in 1947. They survived and grew stronger and more resilient-just like they did during persecutions such as the Holocaust. They survived because Yahweh/God gave them strength. They were forced to take responsibility for worship wherever they happened to be. We are the same. When faced with adversity, we have a choice. We can let it beat us, or we can beat it. God will give us the strength to beat it, and in the process, we will become stronger and better Christians because of our experience.

Some of you might have heard of an actress named Renee Russo. She is one of the most glamorous women in Hollywood and has acted in movies with stars such as Kevin Costner, John Travolta and Mel Gibson. These things are external signs of success, but for years she did not feel successful on the inside. After she dropped out of school in her teens, she was discovered by an agent and moved to New York to model. She thought that getting jobs and recognition would make her happy, but they didn’t. They were not enough. Her low self-esteem made her feel like no amount of success was enough. She kept thinking that business success or people around her could fill the void and make her happy, but nothing did.

So she dropped out of the business and began taking classes in theology. For four years she studied theology, and slowly she began to realize that her lack of self-esteem was caused by a lack of faith. She had been going through life without any purpose, no reason for doing the things she did. She was not aware of her gifts, and she had no set goals for her life. As she learned more about faith, she understood that every life has a purpose, and that every person has something special to contribute. Now that she has a new outlook on life, she is much better able to handle her success. She is now married and the mother of a young daughter. All these things might have been out of her reach if she had never taken the time to learn about her faith.

Renee Russo was fortunate to discover that her feelings of misery and insecurity could be used in a positive way to help her find God. That is true of every experience in life. There is a meaning to life. There is a purpose. Even more importantly, behind life there is a divine intelligence that can help us turn negatives into positives, tragedies into triumphs, heartaches into hallelujahs.

Luke’s Gospel reading is one that fundamentalist, Bible-thumping preachers would love because it speaks of the “hell, fire and brimstone” that will occur before Christ returns. Are we in the end times today? Maybe yes, maybe no. Although Christ mentions the signs of his return, and many of these signs are around us today, many of these signs also appeared in the past.

We often want to know what the future looks like. That’s why some people resort to seeing false prophets or teachers such as psychics and fortune-tellers. We have the only true psychic and fortune teller, and his name is Jesus. In our Gospel reading, Jesus tells us and the disciples what the future will be like, and he does not pull any punches. The future will not be easy for his followers as they do his work in our world. We must make our brothers and sisters in Christ (as well as the lost) feel the real need to be a part of the worshipping community. If we are persecuted for our work, we can take comfort in the knowledge that in the end God will fashion eternity.

The work will not be easy. We will get tired. It’s hard to put others’ needs ahead of our own. It’s hard to volunteer to work at the local food bank or help with the local Christmas Cheer campaign or teach a Bible study and to keep on doing it week after week, month after month, year after year. It’s even tough for us to do the right thing in our lives when it is often easier to take shortcuts. It is at times like these when we need that vision of Christ’s return to sustain us. We get that hope and keep it alive through prayer and worship. They fill our spiritual gas tank and give us the energy to continue.

The cost of discipleship is obedience to God and imbedded in that cost is the gift of freedom. We know that the cost of work is service to us, long hours, tired bodies, weary minds. And it is all for the glory of God. And the gift imbedded in that strenuous activity is joy in the Lord. The good news is that we are all followers, not pioneers, and God holds us all close throughout all our life’s journey. We are indeed beloved and blessed.

Bibliography

1. Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New American Standard Version
2. Exegesis for Luke 21:5-19. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
3. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “Out of the Rubble”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
4. The Rev. Dr. Margaret Neill, “The Joy of Struggle”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
5. Abingdon Commentary, Luke 21:5-19. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
6. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package
7. Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Wordsearch Bible software package
8. King Duncan, “Bracing for the Rough”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. John Wayne Clarke, “The End of Time”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. David Lenninger, “Of Rubble and Trouble”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
11. Larry R. Kalajainen, “Not Yet Quitting Time”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
12. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 33^rd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

Every house has a firm foundation. Without it, the house would quickly fall down. Similarly, our faith has a firm foundation-Jesus Christ. That foundation can never be shaken.

The word “Shaken” is sometimes used to describe what happens to a home’s foundations in an earthquake. It can also describe what happens to weak faith when trouble comes. Believers in Thessalonica were alarmed because they mistakenly believed they had missed the rapture and were living in the Tribulation-a rumour they were more prone to believe because they were being persecuted. This false teaching had come to them either by a fraudulent revelation, a false report, or a forged letter bearing Paul’s name. Paul spent some time correcting this error.

The Day of the Lord doesn’t describe a literal 24-hour period but was prophesied by the Old Testament prophets as a time when God would visit the earth to judge the wicked and to save His people. In the New Testament, this event includes the Tribulation, the Second Coming, the millennium and the final judgment. Paul assumed that the arrival of the Day of the Lord and the Second Coming would occur at the same time as part of a single event. Paul wanted to help the Thessalonians gain a long-term perspective on their suffering. He assured them of God’s eternal plan, that he loved them, chose them, saved them, sanctified them, called them and has invited them to share in Christ’s glory.

Paul wanted to encourage the Thessalonians to stand firm in their faith. Paul assured them that the Day of the Lord and the Tribulation have not yet come. As proof, he mentioned certain things that must precede these events following the Rapture of the church. First, the truth of God’s word will be rejected. There will be a specific walking away from the truth people once believed. Second, just before Christ returns the Antichrist will be released and revealed. The Greek word for “revealed” also means “uncovered” or “unveiled.” It is the same word that described the revelation of Jesus. The Antichrist will in some ways imitate Christ, even as he opposes Him. The Antichrist doesn’t want any rivals. He will insist that he is God. The man of sin will sit as God in the temple of God and falsely declare himself to be the only one worthy of the world’s worship. This is another event that will happen before the Great Tribulation.

The “falling away” from God’s Word has started already. Church attendance is dwindling. There is increased opposition to Christianity in the world. Terrorism and wars are on the rise. At times like these, we need to look not to the world and its solutions but to Christ. These are signs that Christ’s return is near. We don’t know the exact date, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that Christ will soon make things right.

The Greek word for “chose” is used nowhere else in the New Testament. It means “to select for oneself” with the intent to enjoy it after it becomes yours. God chose His people before the foundation of the world; they could not possibly choose him unless he had chosen them first.

Being chosen by God is a call to responsibility. God has chosen us as his first fruits so that we can tell everyone we know about His love and saving grace. We will face ridicule, rejection and opposition like Jesus did, but we are to stand fast. We can do this because God will support, strengthen and encourage us. He loves us, consoles us and gives us hope because of His grace.

Christians don’t have to be worried about the Second Coming. We can be confident and encouraged because we have been sanctified and chosen to be saved by the Holy Spirit. There is no room for pride in our efforts to improve the world, and there’s also no room for despair at the state of the world around us.  It’s important that we hold on to Christ’s teachings. They have been tried and tested and found to be true. Just like these teachings have withstood the test of time, God’s love has stood the test of time. Just like these teachings have transcended history, God’s love is infinite and eternal.

Because God has done so much for them, His people are urged to stand fast and hold tightly to the truth that they have been taught. They might not understand everything that is happening, but they can be confident in the resources God has provided from eternity past to eternity future. The word “traditions” does not refer to human institutions such as worship styles or musical preferences which will change with the times but the doctrinal teachings that originated with God and were taught by Paul and the other apostles. These must never change. Everything we do must be based on the lordship of Christ and the authority of the Bible. His standards must be our standards.

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in verses 16 and 17 provided them with an eternal perspective on the persecution they were facing. These verses focus on God’s love and grace in Christ. He wants them not just to know and protect the truth but to practice it, comforted, stabilized and ethical in every good word and work. Knowing and practicing the Word of God strengthens our Christian walk and spirit. God’s grace and love encourage and strengthen us in every good deed and word. If we want to grow close to God, we have to forgive our enemies, encourage others and pray daily. This is hard work, and at times we will be discouraged, but it will be worth it in the end.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1693-1696)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Demarest, G.W. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 32: 1,2 Thessalonians/1,2 Timothy/Titus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984; pp. 127-133)
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. Ryan Duncan, “A Spiritual Workout.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
7. Ed Young, “Consistency Over Culture.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
8. T.M. Moore, “Word and Deed.” Retrieved from www.ailbe.org
9. Mariam Kamell, “Commentary on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5,13-17.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1847

Good morning boys and girls!

How many of you like riddles? I liked them when I was your age, and I still like them because they make you think. Jesus also liked riddles. He liked it when people told him riddles, and he also used riddles called parables. He used these riddles to teach the people about God.

One day, Jesus was approached by a group of Sadducees — religious leaders who did not believe in the resurrection. They were trying to trick Jesus into agreeing that there was no resurrection. They asked him to answer this riddle: “The law of Moses says that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. Then the third brother married her. This continued until all seven brothers had married the same woman. Finally, the woman also died. So tell us, who will she be married to after the resurrection since all seven were married to her!”

My, that is a tricky riddle, isn’t it? Listen to Jesus’ answer.

Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. But in the age to come, those who are raised from the dead will not marry or be married. Not only that, but they will never die again. They will live forever as the children of God.”

Jesus went on to say, “Even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, he is the God of the living.”

After Jesus answered their riddle so wisely, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Now, you and I know that Jesus promised us that if we love him and trust in him, we will live forever in heaven with him. Isn’t it sad that some people do not believe there is a resurrection and eternal life in heaven?

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for promising us eternal life in heaven. Help us to live the life you want us to live so that we can be with you in heaven. We ask this in Jesus’ name, AMEN

It’s not hard to tell that the church year is coming to an end. In fact, in a little more than three weeks, the season of Advent will start. The issues that have been placed before us in the last couple of weeks are about what comes next. Today, we focus on the resurrection. The emphasis of Luke 20:27-38 is not about how and when our age will end. It is about what our futures will be after this age passes away and the time of human life is ended.

At the time of this story from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is in Jerusalem in the days before his crucifixion. The Sadducees were not really interested in the resurrection. In fact, they did not believe in the resurrection at all. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament, and nowhere in these books was the idea of resurrection mentioned. Their real purpose was to attempt to compromise Jesus’ authority.

Under the Law of Moses as mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:56, a man whose brother died without children was required to marry his brother’s widow. The firstborn child of that union was to bear the name of the deceased brother so that the brother’s lineage would continue. This law also benefitted the widow because it gave her financial security for the future. Procreation was necessary then as it is now, but it will not be necessary in the new life in Christ because people will not be subject to death any more.

Jesus’ understanding of God’s will is superior to ours or his opponents. Jesus’ reply to the Sadducees affirms that there will be a resurrection where the new life will be much different from what we think it will be. For example, many of you are suffering from the health effects of old age. In the new life after the resurrection, there will be no more suffering or pain-only hope, peace, joy and health.

We tend to think that the new life will be like life is now, complete with marriage. We will recognize our loved ones, including our spouses who have gone before us, but there will be no marriage in heaven. Our relationships with people will be deeper and different from what they were on earth. No longer will people be held captive by sin, age or health problems. In the New Testament, immortality and resurrection become linked in a “now” and “future” relationship.

We can’t understand things we have not seen. We have to accept them by faith, just like we have to accept God’s Word by faith. Even the world’s greatest preachers have trouble understanding the Word of God. Billy Graham once had a struggle with the truth of God’s word, but one evening he knelt by a tree stump and declared to God that he would accept God’s Word by faith.

It’s sometimes hard for us to believe in the big things in life when we have so many little issues and struggles that we let take up lots of space in our lives. When we are obsessed with the little things in life, it’s not easy for us to step back and understand everlasting life. We can only imagine what heaven will be like. Some people imagine it as a beautiful place with endless good times. Others imagine it as a place where there will be no sickness, old age or pain. Our ability to imagine what heaven will be like is our way of expressing our faith that our loved ones are alive and well and are getting along with each other.

For example, C.S. Lewis, who wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, once told the story of a woman who was thrown into a dungeon. Her only light came from a barred window high above. She gave birth to a son, who had never seen the outside world. He couldn’t reach the window to see outside, so his mother told him about green fields and waves crashing on the shore-but he couldn’t imagine what she was describing. Eventually, she persuaded the guards to give her some paper and charcoal so she could draw pictures to show her son what the outside world was really like-but what the boy came to understand was that the outside world looked like black lines on a white piece of paper.

The reality keeps returning to us, and it is stark. We have to let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give new relationships. Otherwise, our ability to accept the good news of resurrection and life after death is limited. Our loved ones are buried in a cemetery. Their gravestones are in a line and mark the names of our loved ones along with the dates of their births and deaths. We wonder where they are and what they are doing. At times like that, we can turn to the Scriptures for comfort, especially the passage we heard today.

Jesus does not tell us what lies ahead for us in heaven. He does say that heaven is not a continuation of what we know here on earth, so we don’t need earthly things such as marriage or prosperity. We are to continue being children of God here on earth so that we will be in his arms when we die. Those who are willing to give their lives to God now will find that God will be there for them when the journey of their earthly life is over. We are to love one another just as God loves us and share God’s love for people in a way that excludes no one. In effect, marital love is extended and perfected, so that what’s best about human beings in this life is made available in an even better way to all of us in the next life.

If God is our God, and we are his people, death is not the end of the story. It is the beginning. Someone once said that “today is the first day of the rest of your life” and that will be especially true on the day we die. When we die, the Lord will not abandon us. He will be there to greet us. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. We have Christ’s promise of the reality of the resurrection through Christ’s own death and resurrection. Because he lives, we too shall live. Living without the doctrine of resurrection, or the hope it offers, cheapens this life.

Bibliography

1. Exegesis for Luke 20:27-38. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
2. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “God’s Novelty”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
3. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “Seven Weddings and a Funeral”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
4. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 32^nd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
5. Dr. Ray Pritchard, “Can We Still Believe in Life After Death?” Retrieved from www.keepbelieving.org
6. Fr. Dominic Ryan, O.P., “Unlimited Hope”. Retrieved from www.torch.op.org
7. The Rev. Martha Sterne, “Sermon for Proper 27”. Retrieved from www.day1.org/596-sermon_for_proper_27.htm
8. Abingdon Commentary, Luke 20:27-40. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. Unknown, “are there any Questions?” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. John Wayne Clarke, “Putting Eternity to the Test”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
11. Johnny Dean, “The Seven Lost Words of the Church” Retrieved from www.esermons.com

Have you ever wondered about what life will be like in heaven after we die? If so, you’ll be interested in what Jesus has to say about the subject in the passage from Luke 20:27-38.

The Sadducees’ question about the resurrection was a ridiculous one because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. Their question was designed to draw Jesus into an argument based on Old Testament law. Deuteronomy 25:5 commanded a man to marry his brother’s wife if the brother died. If they had a son, the son was to be named after the deceased brother. The Sadducees asked which of the seven brothers would be married to the widow in the resurrection.

The question reflected the common attitude toward women at that time. Women were seen as being no better than property. They had few rights and could be divorced by their husbands for petty reasons. Widows were in an even worse situation if they had no sons to look after them.

Jesus was quick to poke holes in the Sadducees’ logic. They were talking in human terms, but Jesus and God always talk in heavenly terms. Remember that God’s ways are not our ways and sometimes his ways are hard for us to understand. Heaven is a Godly concept that we can’t easily understand. Jesus does not give us a definite description of what heaven is like, but he does tell us that life in heaven will not be a continuation of life here on earth. Therefore, there will be no marriage, no property or worrying about property. Jesus also says that the only part of our earthly life that will continue in heaven is that we will continue to be children of God. When we die, we will fall into his arms and he will never let us go.

In our earthly life, marriage and procreation are necessary for life to continue. In our heavenly life, we will never die, so we will never have to worry about property and who will inherit our property after we die. We can’t prove the resurrection with rational arguments. We can’t understand things we have not seen. We have to accept them by faith, just like we have to accept God’s Word by faith. Even the world’s greatest preachers have trouble understanding the Word of God. Billy Graham once had a struggle with the truth of God’s Word, but one evening he knelt by a tree stump and declared to God that he would accept God’s Word by faith.

Jesus commented on the Sadducees’ rejection of the resurrection by referring to Moses. The Sadducees only believed in the first five books of the Old Testament, including the books written by Moses. These books did not talk about the resurrection. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, he said, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” If there was no life after death, God would have said, “I was their God,” instead of “I am their God.” The phrase “I am” proves that our soul survives physical death and implies that the dead in Christ will rise when he returns.

The Gospel message is not about a continuation. It is about a new life. Jesus’ death and resurrection makes this new life possible. It is better that anything our current life can offer. It is a new birth, a new age, the unveiled sight of God. Heaven is God’s responsibility, not ours. Our responsibility is how we live our lives here and now. We have no idea what’s coming in the next life, no way to imagine how the next life will be even richer than the life we know now. We can’t let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give us new relationships. That limits our ability to accept the good news of eternal life. All life is under God’s direction, so everything we do needs to be seen in light of what God does in our world.

When we stop worrying about life after death, our lives will take on a new direction and a new energy. We will see the world with eyes that see God at our side as we face life’s challenges.  It is appropriate that we are hearing this reading at this time in the church year. Three weeks from today we will enter the season of Advent, which begins a new church year. As we conclude our church year and look toward what is to come, our readings focus on what is to come. Christian faith is about living, loving God and loving people.

It’s sometimes hard for us to believe in the big things in life when we have so many little issues and struggles that we let take up lots of space in our lives. When we are obsessed with the little things in life, it’s not easy for us to step back and understand everlasting life. We can only imagine what heaven will be like. Some people imagine it as a beautiful place with endless good times. Others imagine it as a place where there will be no sickness, old age or pain. Our ability to imagine what heaven will be like is our way of expressing our faith that our loved ones are alive and well and are getting along with each other.

For example, C.S. Lewis, who wrote “The Chronicles of Narnia”, once told the story of a woman who was thrown into a dungeon. Her only light came from a barred window high above. She gave birth to a son, who had never seen the outside world. He couldn’t reach the window to see outside, so his mother told him about green fields and waves crashing on the shore-but he couldn’t imagine what she was describing. Eventually, she persuaded the guards to give her some paper and charcoal so she could draw pictures to show her son what the outside world was really like-but what the boy came to understand was that the outside world looked like black lines on a white piece of paper.

The reality keeps returning to us, and it is stark. We have to let go of today’s relationships and trust God to give new relationships. Otherwise, our ability to accept the good news of resurrection and life after death is limited. Our loved ones are buried in a cemetery. Their gravestones are in a line and mark the names of our loved ones along with the dates of their births and deaths. We wonder where they are and what they are doing. At times like that, we can turn to the Scriptures for comfort, especially the passage we heard today.

Those who are willing to give their lives to God now will find that God will be there for them when the journey of their earthly life is over. We are to love one another just as God loves us and share God’s love for people in a way that excludes no one. In effect, marital love is extended and perfected, so that what’s best about human beings in this life is made available in an even better way to all of us in the next life.

If God is our God, and we are his people, death is not the end of the story. It is the beginning. Someone once said that “today is the first day of the rest of your life” and that will be especially true on the day we die. When we die, the Lord will not abandon us. He will be there to greet us. To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord. We have Christ’s promise of the reality of the resurrection through Christ’s own death and resurrection. Because he lives, we too shall live. Living without the doctrine of resurrection, or the hope it offers, cheapens this life.

The Gospel passage is about the next life. It’s about what happens after we die, especially if we are followers of Christ. For the Sadducees, death was the end of life’s journey. Jesus reveals that God is a god of life and not a god of death. For believers, death is just the end of one phase of life and the beginning of a new, glorious life-a life that we can only barely begin to understand now and will completely understand when we sit at the Master’s feet. Christ’s resurrection glorified life, and the hope of the resurrection for believers glorifies them. The resurrection gives us hope.

In order for us to receive the hope and glory of the resurrection, we have to repent. Repentance gives us hope for the future. Paul argued that the process of resurrection and repentance began with Jesus’ bodily resurrection. Resurrection is the start of a new life in heaven with Christ. Our dead, physical bodies will be raised spiritually to a new life.

In order for us to understand the resurrection, we have to expand our ideas about who and what God is and what we can do. We can’t limit God with our own limited human reasoning. God continually surprises us. The future he has planned for us is a glorious one that is far more than we can imagine and different from what we can imagine.

Bibliography

1. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 32^nd Sunday, Year C”. Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
2. Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J. : The Preacher’s Commentary Series; Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
3. Rev. Wayne Palmer, “Doubts About the Resurrection “. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr. : The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2006)
5. Exegesis for Luke 20:27-38. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
6. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “God’s Novelty”. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
7. Brett Blair, “His Teachings”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
8. John Wayne Clarke, “Putting Eternity to the Test”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
9. King Duncan, “Easter in November”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
10. Exegesis for 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
11. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

Lectionary Homiletics, Vol. XXIV, No. 6 (St. Paul, MN: Luther Seminary; 2

How do you handle crises in your lives? Do you blame or belittle God?

In Old Testament times, people assumed that their crises implied God’s absence or apathy. In reality, God uses current events to remind people that there isn’t a day that goes by that we aren’t dealing with God. No matter what the trauma or crises is in our lives, God can be trusted to bring comfort in the short-term and restoration in the long run. We hear that promise in Joel 2:23-32.

A great crisis came upon the Israelites-God’s judgment. They had to return to God with fasting, weeping and mourning. They had to cry out to God for deliverance. That deliverance was so profound and underserved that Joel told the Israelites in Joel 2:18 that they should retell the story and pass it on to their children.

The passage from Joel is just as important to the church today as it was to the church in New Testament times. It is a prophecy of what is to come. The first half of the passage mentions how the Holy Ghost will work in the lives of God’s children as the end times approach. The second half of the passage mentions the supernatural events that will take place as related to the earth and the heavens. Prophesy in Scripture often produces praise to God. Dreams and visions were customary ways that the Lord communicated special revelations in Old Testament times.

God brings about both the good and the bad. The seasons of famine have a divine purpose in our lives. They accomplish things that only these hard places can accomplish. But there is a time when those hard places have accomplished their purpose and God begins to restore.

God said, “Vengeance will be mine,” and the passage from Joel is a slightly different version of God’s statement. The harvests will again be plentiful for the people to eat and be satisfied. The people will praise God’s name, recognizing the source of their sustenance. In addition, people will know God, His presence and His uniqueness. They will know that He is with them. They will know that He is their God, active on their behalf and the One to whom they owe allegiance.

God’s plan for the people of Joel’s time and for us is that of restoration to health as whole people and as a healthy community. That depends on a righteous relationship with God. This is part of returning to God with all our hearts.

In Acts 2, Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32 in his famous sermon on the Day of Pentecost. God’s Spirit gives life to everyone. When the Old Testament texts talk about the Spirit of God coming on humans, it is most often to specially equip someone or a group of people for a great task such as craftsmen, prophets, warriors, leaders and kings. Today God still pours out His Spirit on all believers. It fills them and empowers them to serve Him in holiness and great joy.

In Old Testament times, prophets discerned with unusual clarity the significance of current events and the circumstances of God’s people. Based on their diagnosis, they spoke a word from God to provoke His people to change. By speaking God’s word to our world, prophets call us to radical transformation.

Prophets also offered pastoral care and comfort. They kept the dreams of God’s people and His kingdom alive in times of disaster and discouragement. They generated hope, affirmed identity and created a new future. They offered both a negative critique and positive affirmation and encouragement. They demanded radical change and invited the people to patient endurance.  Today, the church and the world need both prophetic critique that demands change and pastoral comfort on the long road of endurance.

The Spirit encompasses everyone regardless of sex, age or social status, but sometimes we in the church make distinctions about whose bodies’ matter without thinking twice. Are black and brown bodies equal to white bodies? Are African bodies equal to American or Canadian bodies? Are the bodies of prisoners equal to free bodies? The answer to all of these questions and many more is a resounding “yes.” The traditional hierarchies of power are destroyed. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians, there is no longer, “Jew or Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.” Christ removes all the barriers that we erect between classes, races and genders. God is equally open to everyone, and we are all the same in His eyes.

It’s one thing for us to say we believe God’s spirit is poured out on all flesh and a totally different thing to live it out in our daily lives. Which of our practices do we need to examine? Which sins do we need to confess?

What would it mean for us that God’s Spirit is for everyone? People will prophesy, dream dreams and see visions. Prophecy means proclaiming God’s Word. The gift of prophecy gives us supernatural power to discern the inner meaning of what is happening around us and what God wants to tell us.

Would you like to have new love for people, be able to care for them profoundly and become effective in helping them reach their full potential?

Would you like to have x-ray vision to be able to see beneath the surface of people to their deepest hopes and hurts?

Would you like to be able to discern what God wants to say to people through you?

Would you like to be able to speak the truth to people in love in a winsome, winning way?

Would you like to have a direct, personal experience of God’s Spirit and become a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered person?

Any Christian who says “yes” to these questions is ready to receive the call to be a prophet and receive the monetary, situational, relational,  spiritual gift of prophecy. The needs of people and groups before us will bring forth the gift of the Spirit from within us. Our responsibility is to “keep on being filled with the Spirit,” as written in Ephesians 5:18. The Spirit gives this gift when we get into challenges requiring the wisdom, insight, discernment and boldness the gift provides.

Joel 2:25-27 reminds us that the promised abundance is still on the way. Eating, praise and satisfaction are all promises of the wonders to come-especially when we get to heaven. God will generously provide for us, but more importantly, He will be in the midst of His people, regardless of gender, age, sex or social rank.

All of us as believers have wasted years when we turned away from God. Some of us have regrets about those years. Regret is a painful emotion and a worse reality. There are so many past words, actions and decisions that we wish we could take back. There are so many actions that brought unwanted and lasting consequences. Perhaps we feel that our past sins have robbed us of many good years.

We can take comfort in the knowledge that God will restore those years. God won’t turn back the clocks of our lives, but He will pack so much blessing in the years we have left that we will live a life full of joy, victories and pleasures. All we have to do is repent and ask God to carry out His plans for our lives. We can escape the coming judgments that are reserved for this earth by putting our trust in Jesus. We can ask Him to forgive us and accept His mercy and grace.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1170-1171)
2. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 22: Hosea/Joel/Amos/Obadiah/Jonah (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1990; pp. 253-263)
3. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
4. “No such Thing as Wasted Years.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
5. Phil Ware, “Heartlight Daily Verse, September 20, 2014.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. “Forgiveness.” Retrieved from Oneplace@crosswalkmail.com
7. Os Hillman, “When God restores What the Locusts Eat.” Retrieved from tgif@marketplaceleaders.org
8. Bob Thompson, “Always Dealing with God.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
9. Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Terrified or trusting?” Retrieved from devotion@reallifewithjackhibbs.org
10. Ron Moore, “Regret and Restoration.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
11. Rev. Megan Purdue, “Proper 25C 1^st Reading.” Retrieved from www.aplainaccount.org/copy-of-proper-25c-psalm-1/
12. John Holbert, “Locusts, Armies, Despair and Hope: Reflections on Joel 2:23-32.” Retrieved from www.patheos.com/progressive=christian/locusts-armies-john-holbert-10-22-2013.aspx
13. Daniel Clendenin, “Comfort and Critique: The Prophet Joel and a Plague of Locusts.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus,net/Essays/20131021JJ.shtml
14. Bob Thompson, “Always Dealing with God.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org
15. Tammy Maltby, “A Vision for Trauma’s Aftermath.” Retrieved from dailytreasure@markinc.org
16. Walter C. Bouzard, “Commentary on Joel 2:23-32.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3052

What would you say to someone if you knew you were speaking to them for the last time? What advice would you give?

These same questions were likely on Paul’s mind when he wrote his second letter to Timothy. Paul wrote this letter from a prison cell in Rome, and he knew that he would soon be put to death by Emperor Nero. The letter to Timothy was a “passing of the torch.” In this letter Paul gave final instruction to his star pupil Timothy much like a schoolteacher gives final instructions to his or her students before they write a final exam.

It’s a good idea for us to reflect back on our spiritual lives once in awhile. It helps us live even better as we move forward. Our spiritual lives will face setbacks, hardships and difficulties. We can’t change something that happened in the past, but we can change how we do things from this moment forward.

The term, “At my first defense” speaks of Paul’s first imprisonment. This, his final imprisonment, was Paul’s Gethsemane. It was the end of his earthly journey and the beginning of his journey into eternal glory. He was delivered from danger.

Paul wanted to continue doing God’s work until the last possible moment, and he wanted to study God’s work until the last minute. In other words, he stayed focused on God until the last minute. He set a good example for us as Christians to follow. When we stay focused on Christ and study His word, we can withstand all of life’s challenges. Success eventually follows when we refuse to quit.

Paul has completed the work God assigned him to do. God has given the same assignment to both Timothy and us. It was up to Timothy to continue this work, and it’s up to us to continue it as well. Paul is now prepared to receive the crown of righteousness that God gives to all believers. This is possible because of God’s grace. All true believers who hope for Christ’s return and persevere in doing His work will receive this crown. When we devote our lives to doing God’s work, we might not receive earthly rewards. The results of our work will last for eternity as long as we keep getting up and going when we fall.

Paul’s life has been a sacrificial offering. The word “departure” suggests the untying of a boat from its moorings. Paul’s exit from this life will mean a new life ahead in eternity. Paul, like most people who know that their life is coming to an end, looked backward before passing into his eternal reward. Staring death in the face can bring out the best in people. The real prospect of death forces us to focus on what is significant in our lives.

Paul had every reason to be resentful. He had no money, clothes or food. He was in prison. His morale was dwindling. The only familiar person who was there to encourage him was the apostle Luke. All of his other friends deserted him because in Rome at that time supporting a Christian at his/her trial would have led to a death sentence. Paul’s last words had no hint of bitterness, resentment or regret. His unbreakable spirit emerged. He was more concerned about others than he was about himself. He extended forgiveness to those who abandoned him, thereby following the examples of Jesus when he was on the cross and Stephen when he was stoned to death.

God also stood by Paul, and God will also stand by us. When we are tired, he will give us strength. When failure is inevitable, he steps in and helps us find the strength to finish the work he gave us to do. We need his strength because we are in a spiritual war. We are fighting against evil in this world, flesh that is corrupt and a devil that is busy. Like soldiers on the front line of a battle we are in a battle that is demanding and risky, but the prize is worth fighting for. Jesus will not be ashamed of His soldiers. In fact, he will be in the trenches leading us and fighting alongside us. When we win the fight, we will get a foretaste of the reward we will receive in heaven.

Paul has no regrets about his past. All three images-fight the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith-have involved sacrifice, labour and danger. Now they represent the successful completion of Paul’s earthly ministry. Paul accepted the reality of his situation. God gave Paul the strength he needed to spread the Gospel, and God also gave Paul the strength to face his upcoming death. God rescued Paul from his fate not by preventing his death but by taking him to heaven. Christian life and ministry is a commitment to run all the way to the finish line.

Paul’s acceptance of his situation is a good example for us as Christians to follow. Things could be better, but they could also be worse. Our place in life can only be experienced by us. If we can change anything for the better, we must do so. If we are being blessed, we must share our blessings with gratitude with others. If we have any regrets, we need to address them now before they poison our spirit or ruin the rest of our lives. If we long for payback, we long for justice to show itself. When we fear payback, we become afraid that justice will show itself. We want our own efforts to matter. Complete justice rarely comes, and when it does come it rarely comes at the speed we want it to arrive at.

Those who are eager for Christ’s appearing are usually eager to fulfill His calling before He returns. They persevere because they know that their final salvation and righteousness are sure. Paul saw his upcoming death as a release from the toils of responsibility. He saw the hand of God moving to give him mercy and to spread the gospel among the people who were persecuting him. He saw his upcoming trial as another opportunity to spread the good news.

It’s important for us to look above what’s here on earth and to know where our treasures are. It’s also important for us to be true witnesses for God by showing others that we serve someone greater than us. When it comes to committing our resources in service to Jesus, we can only do what we can.  If we want to do well, we need to live well. If we want to live well, we need to figure out what our God-given purpose in life is and give it our best shot with God’s help.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp. 1723-1724)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s Living Insights on 1&2 Timothy/Titus (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 2016, pp. 232-239,247-249)
3. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Demarest, G. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 32: 1,2 Thessalonians/1,2 Timothy/Titus (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 1986)
6. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
7. Richard Inness, “Keeping the Faith.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Famous Last Words.” Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
9. Dr. Harold Sala, “Quitting.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
10. Ed Young, “Invest in Your Future.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
11. Richard Inness, “What’s Your Purpose in Life?” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
12. Joni Eareckson Tada, “The Good Fight.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org
13. Alistair Begg, “His Kingdom.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

Matt Skinner, “Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18.” Retrieved from

A man went to visit a psychiatrist. “Doc, I’ve got two problems.” The psychiatrist said, “Okay, tell me all about it.” The man began, “Well, first of all, I think I am a Coca-Cola machine”.

The psychiatrist sat the man down and started therapy. For weeks, he gave it his best shot, but nothing seemed to happen. Finally, out of exasperation, the psychiatrist jumped up one day, took two quarters out of his pocket, shoved them in the man’s mouth, grabbed him by the ears and shook him until he swallowed the quarters. Then he hollered, “Okay, now give me a Coke”.

That’s when the man said, “I can’t, Doc. That’s my second problem. I’m out of order.”

The only people God can help are those who admit that they have a problem. They have to admit that they are “out of order”. They have to admit that they have a problem, admit what the problem is, seek help to overcome it and persist until the problem is resolved.

Have you ever thought that you were better than other people? If you have, how can you call yourself a Christian? Christians prove by their words and deeds that they are the same as everyone else, the only difference being that they show Christ’s love and that they admit that they are sinners and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness. That is the point of the Gospel reading from Luke 18:9-14.

My mother’s doctor told her when she had to start using a cane that “pride goeth before a fall”. Jesus warned the people that the idea that we are self-sufficient for our salvation is a prideful one. Pride is one obstacle to faith. It blinds us to our needs because it makes us think that we can handle our needs and if we can’t handle them, they weren’t important anyway. Pride has no room for mercy, no need for forgiveness. If we think that we can satisfy our own needs, or if we think we are better than anyone else, we are dead wrong. All of us “put our pants on one leg at a time”, as the old saying goes. All of us are the same. If you want proof, look at any cemetery. Rich and poor are buried side by side. Jesus exalted the man who knew his place in the game of grace. How about us? Jesus knew that we have a need that can never be covered over or washed away by human deeds.

It reminds me of a story about a minister who was waiting to board a plane. He saw a businessman run up to an airline attendant and demand immediate entry on the plane. The attendant asked him to go to the end of the line and wait his turn. The man shouted, “Do you know who I am?” He said he was a senior executive who flew often, and he could have her fired. She said, “Well, I guess I’ll wait for that call, but you’ll still have to go to the end of the line”.

Arrogance is the opposite of true self-esteem, and it is the opposite of the two Great Commandments to love God and love people. Humility is a realistic assessment of who we are in God’s eyes. Connecting with who we are in God’s eyes is the start of our spiritual journey. The remainder of the journey involves staying in touch with who we can become with God’s help.

The Pharisee represented the best in religious society. His life reflected care about religious things. Pharisees were pious lay people and religious leaders who were dedicated to their religious observance and admired by others of their faith. The Pharisee thought that he was better than everyone else. He tried to justify himself in the eyes of God. These were his two big mistakes, and they are the same two mistakes all of us make at times. Sometimes we think that we are better than others, and I’m just as guilty of that mistake as everyone else is. We use anything and everything we can to justify ourselves-intelligence, where we went to school, where we live, sports, family, job, etc. We feel the need to prove ourselves to God, but that isn’t necessary as long as we come to him in true faith just like the tax collector came to God in faith.

The main issue in this reading is the sin of self-righteousness, the belief in salvation by works instead of trusting in God’s grace. The Pharisee believed that his good works would get him into heaven, but the tax collector had the humility to do what God requires. He faced the truth about himself and asked for God’s mercy and forgiveness. We can’t gain God’s favour with good works. Our good works have to be backed up with a genuine, humble faith. God has no use for people who boast of their achievements. We must humbly repent and confess our guilt. Humility raises us up to heaven.

Jesus sees the truth about people by looking into their hearts. He saw that the Pharisee was not sincere, and he knew that the tax collector was sincere. Someone who is honest with God sees himself as he truly is. Anyone who repents and calls on Christ will be redeemed by God.

Jesus wants lives that have been transformed. He wants to see followers who love others like he loves us. He wants followers who will feed the hungry, care for the sick, clothe the naked. By doing these things, we will grow close to God.

Religion is not the same as Christianity. Religion concentrates on worshipping God by following man-made rules. Christianity concentrates on worshipping God in sincere faith and on loving others. There are five rules that will free us from religion:

1. Refuse to bind ourselves and others with man-made rules.
2. Reject appearances as a spiritual yardstick. Looks can be deceiving.
3. Review our walk with God and beware of the danger of form without function.
4. Return to the basis of examination and confession.
5. Remain humble.

We must remember that what matters to God is our heart and that we are sincere in our relationship with him. God will answer our prayers with a “yes” if we actually offer our prayers to him.

Jewish law required that the faithful give 10 percent of their income from crops and livestock to God’s work, but the Pharisee went beyond that by giving 10 percent of all his income. Jewish law required that the faithful fast or go without food one day per year, but the Pharisee fasted two days per week. He was a religious over-achiever. He stood off by himself and looked at other worshippers, eyeing some of them with contempt. In modern language he would say something like this, “O Lord, how thankful I am that I’m not loitering on some street corner, a no-count drug abuser living off welfare. I thank you that I’m not a homosexual or an abortionist or New Ager or Hollywood pagan. O Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re prefect in every way.”

Sinners are justified when God’s righteousness is added to their account. In other words, sinners are justified when they accept God in faith as their saviour. It was on this basis that the tax collector was saved, and it is on that same basis that we are saved. The tax collector’s heart was a pigsty, but when he prayed he opened the doors wide and begged God to enter. He was not happy with himself and was desperate for grace. Where the Pharisee’s prayer was self-centered, the tax collector’s prayer was God-centered. He did not compare himself to others. He made no reference to what he did or what he did not do. He knew that God knew him just like God knows each and every one of us, and this knowledge broke him open and made him want something better than all that he was and all that he did. Jesus likes sinners because they know that they still have room to grow and depend on God. Jesus also likes sinners because they do not look down on others.

God can take our miserable efforts and make something useful out of them. He takes our mismanaged lives, our failed efforts, our missed marks, our shameful deeds, our attitudes, our sinful lives and out of his resourcefulness he saves us by creating something new, worthy and wonderful that still has usefulness and beauty in his divine plan for our lives.

A martial arts student met his instructor for tea. The student said to his teacher, “I’ve learned all you have to teach me about defending myself. I want to learn one more thing now. Please teach me about the ways of God.”

The teacher took the teakettle and started pouring the student’s cup full of tea. Soon the cup overflowed and spilled over onto the saucer. The teacher continued to pour the tea until it spilled over the saucer and then onto the floor.

The student finally said, “Stop, stop, the tea is spilling over. The cup can’t take any more.” The teacher looked at the student and said, “You are so full of yourself that there is no room in your life for God. It is not possible for you to learn the ways of God until you learn to empty yourself.” That is a good lesson for all of us to learn.

When we are 100% dependent on God’s grace and admit that we are nothing, that admission impresses God to the extent that we have earned God’s favour and God’s life. This parable invites us to reflect on our claims to righteousness and goodness and whether it puts us in a position of justification and righteousness with God.

Bibliography

1. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2009)
2. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “Lord Have Mercy: What’s Wrong and What’s Right?” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
3. John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org
4. Jang Ho Park, “How DO We Pray?” Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
5. James MacDonald, “Freedom from Religion”. Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Greg Laurie, “The Right Way to Pray”. Retrieved from www.harvest.org
7. Dick Inness, “I Have a Problem”. Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
8. Jude Siciliano, OP “First Impressions, 30^th Sunday, Year C” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
9. T.M. Moore, “Pride”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
10. George Vink, “Looking at Ourselves”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
11. Paul DeVries, “A Parable of Prayer”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
12. Reginald Smith, “Knowing Your Place”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
13. Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, “God’s Just Rewards”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org
14. Exegesis for Luke 18:9-14. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
15. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.
16. MacArthur, J.F.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers,; 2006)
17. King Duncan, “Why Jesus Likes Sinners.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
18. R. Curtis Fussell, “Pride.” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
19. Leonard Sweet, “License to Steal”. Retrieved from www.esermons.com
20. Dr. Bill Bouknight, “Broken and Beautiful” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
21. Alan J. Weenink, “The Cunning Craftsman, God” Retrieved from www.esermons.com
22. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Two Ways”. Retrieved from www.lectioonary.org

Good morning boys and girls!

Have any of you ever been bullied, teased or made fun of? It isn’t very much fun, is it? Believe me, I know the feeling because when I was your age I was bullied, made fun of and teased. Why do you think some people act like that?

Have you heard anyone brag about how good they are in school or in sports? What do you think of people who are like that? Why do you think people act like that?

Well, one reason why people brag, bully, tease or make fun of other people might be that they think that they are better than other people. But as God’s children we know that this is not true. We are all the same in the eyes of God, and he hates people who think they are better than anyone else.

Our Gospel reading today from Luke 18:9-14 talks about someone who thought that he was better than anyone else.Boys and girls, the Pharisee thought that he was better than anyone else. The Pharisees were among the religious leaders in society at that time, and they were so observant of religious laws that they thought that they were better than other people in society.

In contrast, the tax collector was among the lowest class of people in society. Some of you have probably heard your parents complain about how much they have to pay to the tax man, and if you want to know why they complain, just wait until you have jobs of your own and have to pay taxes! In Jesus’ time, tax collectors “bought” their jobs from the Romans. They collected the taxes that people owed to the Romans, but they also tried to collect as much tax revenue as they could from the people. The difference between what the tax collectors collected and what they paid to Rome was their salary.

The tax collector was truly sorry for his sins and prayed to God with all of his heart. In contrast, the Pharisee bragged about how better he was than the Pharisee. Jesus does not like people who brag or think that they are better than other people. He said in the passage that in his coming kingdom those who think they are better than other people will be among those who will be made humble, and those who are humble and come to Jesus in humble faith will be glorified. Jesus likes humble people.

Let us bow our heads, close our eyes and have a moment of prayer. Dear God, thank you for loving us when we come to you with humble hearts filled with true faith. Help us always to be close to you in faith and humility. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.