Sermons From My Heart

It was the day after Christmas. A church minister was looking at the nativity scene outside of his church when he noticed that the baby Jesus was missing from the figures. He turned toward the church to call the police when he saw a little boy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the baby Jesus. The minister walked up to the boy and said, “Where did you get the baby?” The boy replied, “I got him from the church.”

“And why did you take him?” the minster asked.

The little boy said with a sheepish smile, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to little Lord Jesus. I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it.”

We are well into the season of Advent, a time to remember both Christ’s birth in the stable in Bethlehem on that first Christmas over 2,000 years ago and his Second Coming. This time of remembrance includes a time of preparation. We have to prepare our hearts and minds to receive him. This can be hard to do at this time of the year because we are busy decorating our homes, buying gifts, attending Christmas parties, concerts and pageants and the many other events that are held at this time of year.

We can prepare ourselves by studying God’s Word, especially the story of Christ’s birth. A good place to start is with Mark’s Gospel, especially Mark 1:1-8, which we heard earlier in this morning’s service. Mark gets right to the heart of the matter. His Gospel does not include Jesus’ family tree like the Gospels of Matthew and Luke do. Mark’s Gospel does not even include the stories of Jesus’ birth, the angel Gabriel’s visit to the Virgin Mary, the visit of the Three Wise Men or any of the other stories that are associated with Christmas. Mark begins his Gospel by calling Jesus the Son of God. In fact, this is a frequent theme in Mark’s Gospel. Mark declares both the deity of Jesus and God as his heavenly Father.

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is firmly rooted in the Old Testament. Mark shows that Jesus’ appearance as the long-promised Messiah was long expected   in Israel’s history. The reading we heard earlier this morning from Isaiah 40:1-11 prophesied about a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah. That messenger was John the Baptist.

John the Baptist had a lot in common with Mark. John also got right to the heart of the matter. There was no extra “fluff” or padding. He saw Jesus as superior to and more worthy than him. John’s followers saw him as great, but John saw himself as not being worthy enough to attend to Jesus’ feet-a task that was dirty according to the culture of that time. John even claimed that Christ’s baptism with the Holy Spirit was superior to John’s baptism with water. Many Old Testament passages refer to the Holy Spirit being poured out like water. Jesus’ baptism supplies us with the power of the Holy Spirit.

John the Baptist accepted his role as the forerunner to Jesus. He did not want the glamour or the self-interest that came with the role as Number One. If this story happened today, we would be shocked because it goes against society’s desire for people to be in the spotlight. John shunned the spotlight by his appearance and location. After all, who wears camel’s hair and a leather belt? Who eats locusts and wild honey? Who preaches in the desert?

John’s style was matched by the substance of his message. He preached social justice and repentance. For example, in Matthew 3:7 John called the Pharisees who came to criticize his preaching a “brood of vipers”. He urged tax collectors to be honest and soldiers to be merciful.

Advent finds us in a different place this year, whether others can tell it or not. Once again we hear the far off voice of John the Baptist reaching out to us, becoming present to us. First, he calls us to repent: think things over; do an inventory of our lives; make the necessary changes that we have been putting off.   Like what? Repent from our sins, of course! But also repent from letting God slide to the periphery of our lives; for having made God a second-class citizen in our personal world. Repent from having treated our faith like a routine, an old habit – same old, same old. Repent from habits that hurt others and rob us of full life. Repent from being preoccupied with ourselves and having only a marginal interest in the well-being of others. Repent from a form of despair that says, “I’m too old to change.” “That’s just the way I am.”

As John set his life on a path of making straight the way for others, we are called to do the same.  Jesus tells us time and time again, that the greatest of all commandments…of all laws, is the law of love – the law of concern for those around us.  We have an obligation to all those around us to take the skills and resources we have and make straight the path for others to reach the Kingdom, by pointing the way to Jesus.

John calls on us to repent today. He calls on us to submit to Christ’s authority just like he (that is, John) submitted to Christ’s authority, even though he baptized Christ. The main point of John’s ministry is the supremacy of Christ’s ministry. Only Christ’s ministry, including the grace of God, can give us spiritual life.

John preached in the wilderness, and in some ways our modern society is a wilderness. The wilderness was where the Israelites were tested by God and where they rebelled against God. Our society and all of its temptations tests our faith at times. Our society and its wicked ways has rebelled against God. God saved the Israelites time and time again when they were in the wilderness, and he saves us today when we are in this modern-day wilderness. Our wilderness draws us together as people of faith just like the wilderness drew the Israelites together as a nation.

Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ, and that preparation involves preparing our hearts. Preparing our hearts means reaching out to those who have been hurt, including those who have been hurt accidentally or on purpose by our actions in life. By reaching out to those who are hurting, we prepare ourselves to receive Christ’s love, and that is one of the best Christmas gifts that we can receive.

Reaching out to those who are hurting sometimes means repentance and asking for forgiveness. All of us need repentance and forgiveness, even if we have already accepted Christ as our Saviour. John the Baptist preached and practiced a baptism of repentance. He baptized people to prepare them for the day when God will reign in judgment. John’s baptism was the first step toward a new life. Our own baptism in repentance also prepares us for the day when God will judge us, and the same baptism prepares us for a new life in Christ.

Repentance is more than feeling guilty about sin. It means changing direction, or abandoning our sinful ways and returning to God. It is a new way of thinking. When we learn a new way of thinking, we naturally change our behaviour. If our earlier actions have hurt other people, either accidentally or on purpose, we will feel truly sorry for the way we acted and the harm we have caused. Guilt is part of that repentance, but it is true repentance only when it causes us to change our minds and directions.

An old Hebrew legend tells of a disobedient angel atoning for his sin. God told him to go to earth and to bring back the most precious thing he could find as a gift for God. The angel visited earth and returned with a drop of blood from a soldier who had died for his country. God said, “That is precious, but it is not the most precious thing.” The angel went again to earth and returned with a drop of perspiration from a nurse who was caring for a sick child. God said, “That is precious, but it is not the most precious thing.”

The angel went again, and saw a rancher stalking a man who had stolen his cattle. The rancher followed the thief to his home, and peered through the scope of his rifle to see him move from room to room. He was about to pull the trigger, when the thief picked up a small child. The rancher watched as the thief kissed the child and put him to bed.

Suddenly the rancher was seized with remorse. He realized that he had nearly killed the child’s father. With a tear of repentance, he returned home. The angel caught the tear of repentance and brought it to heaven. God said, “You did well. Nothing is more precious than a tear of repentance.”

The good news of the Gospel brings hope to all of us, especially to those who find themselves on the fringes of our world. It also belongs there. The good news of God’s grace announces God’s presence on the fringe. God’s love goes beyond the boundaries of where we thought God was supposed to be. God promises that there is no place on earth where he will not go or be for us.

God will lead us through the deserts and wilderness of life. He will reveal his glory to us during the journey. His power will be felt where we are most vulnerable. The desert and the wilderness are suitable places to hear God speak to us, just like God spoke to Moses through the burning bush in the wilderness. What God says to us won’t always be what we want to hear, but what he says will be what we need to hear. In this season of Advent, we must continue on our journey through the wilderness to the stable in Bethlehem, and we must listen to what God says to us on the journey, because what he says to us will be good for us.

Bibliography

• Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing, 2013)

• McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

• Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 2005)

• Exegesis for Mark 1:1-8. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

• Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, Second Sunday of Advent (B)” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

• The Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson Jr., “Making Straight the Way.” Retrieved from www.day1.org

The writer of Psalm 85 talks about memories. Memories give us hope. For example, people who are grieving the loss of a loved one are often comforted by their memories of their loved ones. Memories let us recall with gratitude what God has done in the past, and they give us the hope that God will do good things for us again in the future. That makes our present sorrows and sufferings bearable.

Psalm 85 is a community lament. God was not pleased that his people were unfaithful, and he showed his displeasure. The people repented and asked God to forgive them. The six verbs-been favourable, brought back, have forgiven, covered, taken away, turned down-highlight God’s redemptive work in Israel’s history. God’s gracious dealings with Israel in the past justify the hope that He will once again show grace and forgiveness. The psalm closes with the confidence that God will forgive his people.

The psalmist also urges us to make sure that our repentance is genuine. He urges us not to make the same mistakes that caused God’s displeasure. The word mercy literally means “lovingkindness” or “steadfast love.” It is a powerful word used elsewhere in the Old Testament to describe God’s unconditional love and His covenant commitment. God’s promise of salvation is available to everyone who believes in him in faith, but that provision is not automatic. It only comes if we repent and turn to God in faith.

God’s judgment is the result of his righteousness and our sins. There will never be any reconciliation without repentance and forgiveness. Reconciliation was made possible by Christ’s death on the cross. Since he bore our sins and our punishment on his shoulders, we can come home to God. His wrath has been lifted, but it will return every time we sin. Every time we repent, God will forgive us, but that does not give us a license to sin.

Spiritual revival involves getting right with God and returning to a place in our lives where we can delight in God and celebrate his goodness, love and mercy. It will rescue us from the penalty of sin and the urge to practice our sins.

Jesus is like water. Both can go where we can’t go. Throw something against a wall, and it will hit the wall and drop. Throw water on a wall, and the water will spread. Jesus is the same. He is a spirit who is not limited by an earthly body. He enters our souls and quenches our spiritual thirst just like water quenches our physical thirst.

There is a spiritual thirst in the world today. Both the world and the church need revival. They need to heed the words of the old song, “That Old Time Religion”:

Give me that old time religion

give me that old time religion

Give me that old time religion

It’s good enough for me

Makes me love everybody

Makes me love everybody

Makes me love everybody

It’s good enough for me

It has saved our fathers

It has saved our fathers

It has saved our fathers

And it’s good enough for me

It was good for the prophet Daniel

It was good for the prophet Daniel

It was good for the prophet Daniel

And it’s good enough for me

Give me that old time religion

give me that old time religion

Give me that old time religion

It’s good enough for me

It was good for Hebrew children

it was good for Hebrew children

It was good for Hebrew children

And it’s good enough for me

The church needs to have the same impact that the church in the first century AD did. We and the church need to pray, evangelize and give faithfully of time, talent and treasures.

We need revival daily even thought we may say to ourselves, “I’ve confessed, tried and failed so many times. Revival doesn’t last.” Someone said the same thing to evangelist Billy Sunday in the early 1900s. He made the point that since personal revival wasn’t a permanent end to temptation, sin and failure, times of revival weren’t important. The man complained to Billy Sunday that revival just doesn’t last. Billy Sunday just smiled and replied, “Well, a bath doesn’t last either, but it’s good to take one occasionally!” Daily revival is like a daily bath. Both get rid of dirt and grime. A bath gets rid of physical dirt and grime, and daily revival gets rid of the spiritual dirt and grime called sin. When we are restored, we can rejoice at having been restored and forgiven. At the same time, we can anticipate with joy the fulfillment of prophecy and our promised salvation.

We can’t do anything to earn our salvation except repent and accept God by faith. Salvation is a gift from God that was paid for when Christ died on the cross. When God forgives us, we will know that God keeps his promises. God’s mercy and righteousness will always triumph over sin and death. Lovingkindness, righteousness and peace are characteristics of God, and they are also characteristics of our eternal, heavenly home.

Bibliography

• Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN; Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 762-763)

1. Houston, David: “Old Time Religion.” Retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com/old-time-religion-lyrics-david-houston.html
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Williams, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 14: Psalms 73-150 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989; pp. 108-113)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010, pp. 785-787)
6. Pastor Greg Laurie, “Revival is Personal.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
7. Joel Osteen, “Ask to Hear Him Better.” Retrieved from www.joelsoteen.com
8. Dr. Stephen Davey, “Taking a Bath-Daily!” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
9. Dr. Billy Graham, “Does God Give Up on a Nation That Turns Against Him?” Retrieved from www.billygraham.org
10. The Rev. Margaret Leichester-Stoddard, “Bible study, Proper 12 (C)-July 24, 2016.” Retrieved from http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2016/07/11/bible-study-proper-12-c-juolu-24-2016/

At first glance, the passage from Mark is full of doom and gloom. The disciples asked for signs of the end times, and Jesus told them that the end times would be full of danger. Is this really the way for us to start the season of Advent? Isn’t Advent supposed to be a time of hope and preparation? The answer to both questions is yes. Advent isn’t about preparing for Christmas. It’s about preparing for the coming of Christ. Advent always begins with preparing and waiting for Christ to come again. Just as the first coming was an event of cosmic proportion, so will the second coming be.

The passage from Mark is not meant to frighten us. It is meant to comfort us, especially as we face life’s trials. When people are suffering, we must acknowledge their pain, grief and obstacles. When we see the problems that will accompany the end times, it isn’t a sign that the Kingdom is late or has been derailed. We don’t know when it will come, but nothing can stop it from coming.

Jesus said that only God knows when Christ will return. Although Jesus was fully God, when He became human He voluntarily restricted the use of certain divine attributes. He didn’t use them unless God told Him to. He showed his Godlike character on several occasions, but He restricted the use of His divine attributes to those things God wanted Him to know during His time on earth.

Power and glory belong to God and to those who know Him and share the fellowship of His sufferings. As proof, He will send His angels to gather His elect from every corner of the earth. Just as summer arrives in Israel soon after fig trees start to blossom, so Jesus will return at the very end of the Great Tribulation, in power and glory, to set up His millennial kingdom-His 1,000-year reign on a restored earth. This should not be confused with the Rapture, the catching up of the saints that will occur before the Tribulation begins.

The Lord did not say the things in verses 32-37 to prompt speculation on when He might return. The Christian’s responsibility is to remain watchful, pure and ready. Jesus assures the disciples and us that God is in control of the universe. He assures them and us that their faith (and ours) will be rewarded with salvation.

We are impatient people. That’s one reason why it’s so hard for us to obey Jesus when He tells us to watch for His return. It’s not part of our nature. We want what we want, and we want it now. If we can’t have it right now, we’re going to do something else. Yes, it’s hard for us to wait for Jesus, but we ought to do it. Why?

1. Because Jesus asked us to be prepared for that unknown hour.
2. Because we will be released from the testing and temptations of this sinful place called earth.
3. Because when Jesus returns, all those who believe and have been granted forgiveness are going to be given a life which makes the best offerings of this world seem second-rate.

The promise of the permanence of the phrase, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away,” has sustained Christians throughout history. Jesus came through times when His enemies tried to attack and trap Him. They failed, and so will everyone who tries to find flaws in anything He says. He proved that His words are true. He can now say they are eternally sure.

The passage portrays the application of vigilance. Being on guard, being alert and watching, means more than expectant waiting. It means standing ready and being prepared for the Messiah’s return. Christ’s return is a forceful incentive for faithful discipleship. Our faithfulness is determined by our faith in Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, not by works. We must rely on Christ all the time.

What will Jesus find when He returns? Jesus has charged us with the responsibility for the household of faith. If we fall asleep so that the household misses His coming, God will hold us responsible. Christ warned us to always be alert. We as believers don’t have in ourselves sufficient resources to be alert to spiritual dangers that can so easily surprise us.

God gives each of us our own work to do. He expects us to faithfully carry out the duties He has given us in Jesus’ absence. Things will get worse before they get better. Properly understood, waiting for Christ’s return should help us live vigorously as we do God’s work in our world. Our lives will be very different if we live in the continual awareness of His coming. Being awake to Jesus gives meaning to our lives.

The Bible is still relevant today. It tells us about God, and God never changes. Because God doesn’t change, we can depend on His Word and turn to it for the guidance and help we need. Also, human nature has not changed. Just as God’s Word spoke to generations past, it still speaks to us-rebuking us, guiding us and turning us toward God.

If we don’t prepare ourselves ahead of time for Judgment Day, we won’t have time to prepare on that day. Either we will be ready, or we won’t. On that day we will acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, or we won’t. On that day we will have been forgiven of our sins, or we won’t. Jesus is coming, and we have to make sure that as many people as possible are prepared for that day.

Whether Jesus comes again in our lifetime or not, we would do well to be prepared. Whether or not we will be alive to see the end of the world as we know it, we will see the end of our own lives. We need to be spiritually prepared for the Second Coming, but we also need to be spiritually prepared for our own death. We can be prepared by reading our Bibles daily.

God’s Word doesn’t merely show us our sins; it also cleanses us. It shows us the problem and then gives us the solution. By reading God’s Word daily, we will reap its benefits. We can’t simply skim through our favourite passages when we need a pick-me-up. We must devour every page and glean every truth.

We need to keep our eyes fixed on the cross and the Saviour’s empty tomb. It was there, as well as throughout His life, that Jesus paid the price that won our salvation. If we look at Jesus’ sacrifice and if we continue to pray for deliverance and assistance, the Holy Spirit will help shut our souls to that which is sinful.

During the season of Advent, the church calls the world to look again at stories that have somehow become comfortably innocuous, to rediscover the disruptive signs that someone has been here moving about these places we call home, to stay awake to the startling possibility of his nearness in this place even now. Considering all the problems in the world today, Advent presents a unique opportunity for the church to stand in the gap and proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus through word and deed. Now is the time to be diligent in proclaiming the Good News in word and deed.

God has prepared something wonderful beyond our world and time. Is that more difficult to believe than the resurrection? Shouldn’t we believe that God will redeem the world?

The passage from Mark should make us eager for what is to come. Christ’s death and resurrection have assured us of our future. That future has been made present in and through us. We yearn to see the promised future now. The self-centered, careless values of the world will be replaced by new values. The reality of Jesus’ return is greater than the reality of shadows cast by our world. When we travel over life’s troubled seas, we have hope because Jesus will bring peace and calmness. When we feel captive by life’s problems, we have hope because Jesus will set us free.

The theme of the First Sunday of Advent is always this: be alert, be always ready to meet God because suddenly the end of history is going to be here. How can we be ready?

1. Live with the assurance that as children of God, we will be with Jesus when we die.
2. Show God’s love to everyone we meet.
3. Do the tasks God has given us to do. Our watching implies that we are faithful to our task and calling, even during opposition and life’s trials. Watching takes on the shape of expectancy.
4. Be loyal to Jesus Christ.

During this season of Advent, we are waiting for Christmas, but we are also waiting for something else. We are waiting for Jesus’ return. He told us that He would come again, and He told us to watch and be ready for Him. What should we do while we are waiting? We should worship and praise Him, love and serve Him, and share His love with others. When we do these things, we will be ready for His return, and we will find joy in the waiting place.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1368-1369)
2. McKenna, D.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 263-266)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
6. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Not Even Ten Minutes.” Retrieved from www.lhn.org
7. Rev. David Mainse, “Watch!” Retrieved from www.100words.com
8. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Waiting for Jesus.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org.
9. Jill Carattini, “Like a Thief.” Retrieved from slice@slilceofinfinity.org
10. The Rev. Timothy G. Warren, “Reading the Signs on Our Journey.” Retrieved from www.epipscopaldigitalneetwork.com
11. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for Mark 13:24-37.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
12. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Power of the Word.” Retrieved from www.ltw.org
13. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Looking Good.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
14. The Rev. Dr. Edward S. Gleason, “In the Time of This Mortal Life.” Retrieved from wwww.day1.org
15. Rick Morley, “Star Gazing-A Reflection on Mark 13:24-37.” Retrieved from www.rickmorley.com
16. Pastor Edward Markquart, “Suddenly.” Retrieved from www.sermonsfromseattle.com
17. The Rev. Dr. Russell Levenson Jr., “Two Minute Warning.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
18. “The Waiting Place.” Retrieved from www.Sermons4Kids.com

On Reign of Christ Sunday, we reflect on the mighty acts of God proclaimed every Sunday of the past year. We celebrate that, because Christ has humbled himself to the point of death on the cross, God has exalted Him and made Him King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Not all leaders are God-like. A good example is found in the passage we heard from Ezekiel. The passage is part of a long prophecy that Ezekiel received from God. It prophesied Israel’s failure to keep God’ covenant, God’s rejection of Israel and their eventual restoration. It was a condemnation of Israel’s leaders. Ezekiel wrote a hopeful message for the people in exile. Beginning with David, Israel’s kings were called the shepherds of God’s people. Mostly they weren’t the guiding and protecting shepherds David was. As a result, the people were left unattended, like sheep left for prey in the wilderness.

Their leaders were selfish. They lived off the people’s productivity and wealth. They didn’t seek to help Israel. They ruled for their own advantage. The result was that the people strayed from God. God promised to remove the shepherds and take over as the shepherd of the people. He promised to revive the people and punish their oppressors and their enemies. He promised that He will judge His people in a way that is similar to how a shepherd decides which sheep are kept, sold or slaughtered.

For many decades, the shepherds of Israel-the nation’s leaders, both spiritual and governmental-failed to lead the people into godly ways of living. Even worse, they did not model how to enjoy a growing relationship with the living God. Instead, they acted to enrich themselves at the expense of others. The Babylonian conquest occurred, in large part, because they failed to carry out their God-given duties. The nation collapsed and the people were scattered because its leaders failed.

The Lord removed the flock of Israel from the care of the nation’s spiritual and governmental leaders by eliminating those leaders through the Babylonian attack. While it is a great privilege to lead God’s people, it is a privilege that comes with enormous responsibility. God’s rule is full of healing and justice. It doesn’t exploit people the way human power does so often. God’s loving rule involves putting an end to the threat of exploitation and fear. God will hold bullies accountable for their actions.

The Festival of Christ the King first emerged as an attempt to counter the claims of some European dictators in the 20^th century. The real ruler of this age is Jesus Christ. This passage isn’t about the nature of human government or human leadership. It is about God’s plan of salvation. It is only through Christ that this prophecy is fulfilled. He is the one who provided for God’s people to have the great benefits of restoration.

Through Ezekiel, the Lord gives yet another promise that He will one day “search for, seek…out” and gather the people of Israel from all the places He has scattered them and bring them back to their Promised Land, where He will care for them and make them prosper. He will do for them what their leaders refused to do. This prophecy began to be fulfilled when the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, was born in Bethlehem and shepherds celebrated his arrival. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus ministered to the crowds, who were wandering sheep with no shepherd.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays his life down for the sheep. As Christians, we must change our understanding of power so that we devote all our passion and energy to loving God and our fellow man.

The image of God as our shepherd is for the encouragement of all who have been oppressed so that when they are rescued from despair they will not have any doubts or fears. If we feel secure we might be less likely to push, shove and scatter others to save a place for ourselves. To those who fail to join God in this work, there will be consequences-namely, separation from God. In the abusive and broken world called life, God is still faithful. If we are going to remain bound together in order to serve God more effectively, then we have to be responsible to one another.

Faithful shepherds of God’s flock pay special attention to the weak sheep among them and so take appropriate action to tend to their unique needs. The New Testament tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:14 to “comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.”

The modern-day church isn’t excluded from Ezekiel’s wrath. The church is gathered from the nations, where power is exercised in many ways, and not necessarily for the sake of human well-being. It’s worth asking ourselves how this exercise of power has fragmented the human community, isolating us from one another, leaving us scattered, injured and alone.

Our modern society is in a leadership crisis. Ezekiel’s condemnation applies today. Our society is now governed by the wealthy who not only control all branches of the government but who have created an alliance between corporate power and government oversight to the benefit of the wealthy and the powerful.

The passage from Ezekiel parallels the passage from Matthew 25:31-46, where Christ distinguishes between the sheep and the goats based on their deeds of social compassion toward the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and the imprisoned.

Verses 23 and 24 in the passage from Ezekiel promise that God would send the Messiah to shepherd His people, Israel, and that this Good Shepherd will care for them and provide for their needs. The phrase, “My servant David,” refers to the Messiah, the Promised One who would come from the lineage of David and restore Israel’s security. Contrary to the failed shepherds of Israel, Jesus not only cared for the sheep but put them first by laying His life down for them.

Jesus will be a “king” in quotation marks. He has few duties, and his primary requirement is that He will get the best seat in the house at future religious celebrations, and that seat is at the right hand of God. He won’t continue the oppressive and self-serving ways of His predecessors. Our setting aside a Sunday for the Reign of Christ doesn’t imply that this king will bank on his maleness nor exert his rule in a hierarchical fashion. He is a king, not according to human expectations, but rather a “king” after God’s own heart.

God does what He does for our benefit. He feeds us what He knows will give us health. He makes us lie down when we would rather keep moving. He is the Good and Great Shepherd. He will do whatever it takes to get us to stop and pay attention. A life that goes along with the world’s activities will face serious troubles until God brings us back to Him.

God knows that what we really want is His help. He loves us and searches us out among the problems we get ourselves into. We must let Him come close to us, lead us and guide us in the way He wants to. We must join Him in the search for the lost. Our God is willing to engage in the nasty, challenging, dangerous work of shepherding. He wants us to go and search for the lost as well, to wander every part of the community, to go where most people would not dare go, to go into situations that most people would avoid. For the desperate, the hungry, the oppressed and those in pain, no rescue can come soon enough. When the lost call to us for rescue, God doesn’t command us to be supreme. He commands us to be willing. He’ll do the rest.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1094-1095)
2. Stuart, D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 20: Ezekiel (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1989, pp. 307-313)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. “Success in God’s Past.” Retrieved from www.dailydisciples.org
6. Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Never Alone.” Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org
7. Christine Caine, “Seeking the Lost.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
8. Donna Stanford, “Bible Study, Christ the King (A).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
9. The Rev. Sue Haupert-Johnson, “God Has Left the Building.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
10. Ben H. Colvert, “Ezekiel 34:11-16,20-24.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
11. Carolyn J. Sharp, “Commentary on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
12. Margaret Odell, “Commentary on Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
13. Ralph W. Klein, “Commentary on Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
14. The Rev. Sue Haupert-Johnson, “God Has Left the Building.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
15. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, Christ the King (A), November 26, 2017.” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org

She wore her characteristic Indian sari with the blue border that represented the Missionaries of Charity, the order she founded in 1949. Her years on earth had bent her already small frame, but there was nothing small about Mother Teresa’s presence.

Who would have ever thought that this small Albanian woman would be an agent for change? She was shy and introverted as a child, and she was in fragile health. She was one of three children of a generous but unremarkable businessman. Yet somewhere along her life’s journey, she became convinced that Jesus walked in the “distressing disguise of the poor,” and she set out to love him by loving them. In 1989, she told a reporter that her Missionaries had picked up around 54,000 people from the streets of Calcutta, India and that 24,000 or so had died in her care.

None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone, and when we help them, we serve Jesus. When we do, we will hear the words of Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.

We will soon celebrate the beginning of the Advent season. It is a season of preparation for the coming of Christ, and not just his first coming as an infant in that stable in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. We will also remember that he will come again at the end of the age to set up his kingdom here on earth. No one knows when it will happen, and Jesus warned us not to try to predict when it will happen, but we must always be ready because it can happen at any time.

When he comes to earth to judge the people, he will judge them by what they have done for others and by what they have shared with others and not by what they know or who they know or by their church membership. We see Jesus through the eyes of compassion, and we can see that compassion in the work done by health care workers or emergency personnel such as police officers, paramedics or fire fighters.

The story of the last judgment in Matthew 25:31-46 is the minimum standard of behaviour that applies to all of us. Christ sees what we do because he is the recipient of our acts of kindness and mercy, no matter how big or small they are. It is about the acts of compassion, justice and gentleness which we do without having to think about them. What we do for others, we do for Jesus. Then we will receive God’s mercy and love.

The acts of compassion we do for others are within the reach of all of us. When we do these things, we tell others about Christ through our actions. The judgment identifies Christ with the underprivileged, so that anything we do for them is a deed of love for Christ. We must live like we take Jesus’ statement in Matthew 25:31-46 seriously. What we do with the Good News of Jesus has enormous consequences because the punishment of those who reject Jesus is just as eternal as the reward of those who serve him. Failing to show compassion for others condemns us to eternal damnation. Every person who receives Jesus Christ as their Saviour and shows compassion will receive rewards individually. Our service to others reflects the condition of our hearts. When we respond to God’s call to serve, we know that we are ministering to Jesus himself.

Do we sometimes look at those who are in need and refuse to help them because we think they deserved what happened to them? While it is true that some are in their particular situation because of their own actions, we are not to judge them or condemn them. Only God can do that, because his standards are perfect and higher than ours. Our job is to show Christ’s love by showing compassion for them, because when we do, we become Christ-like.

The story does simplify the basis on which God’s judgment is made. It has to do with how each person responds to everyday opportunities to help others in need. Jesus judges injustice instead of perpetuating it. Life in God’s kingdom is not about what we have or who we are, it’s about what we do. Random acts of kindness and serving the less fortunate in the community are powerful ways of authenticating the gospel. Jesus calls us to witness through our generosity. In the words of the Golden Rule, we are to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

We must be prepared to minister to the poor wherever God calls us to minister to them, whether it is in a nursing home or the local food bank, around the corner or around the world. Parceling out this kind of compassion will not result in loud whistles or applause. In fact, the best acts of compassion will never be known to most people, nor will large sums of money be dumped into our laps because we are committed to being helpful. Normally, acts of mercy are done in obscurity on behalf of unknown people. Those who would be greatest in God’s Kingdom are those who make themselves the least.

The good deeds commended in verses 25 and 26 are the result of our salvation. They are the criteria that God will use for judgment, because they are the evidence of our saving faith. We are to use our uniqueness and our unique gifts to do God’s work in the world. The good news is that Christians throughout the centuries, in response to the challenge of this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, have tried to help people in need, and in the process have made a better world. We, and they, will reap the reward of our earthly actions on the Day of Judgment, when Christ will look at us and say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants”.

Bibliography

• Max Lucado, “Outlive Your Life”. Retrieved from www.ChristianityToday.com

• Kelly McFadden, “Fill the Need”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

• Dr. Robert Heerspink, “Before the Bench”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net

• Diane Singer, “The Human Touch”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

• Dr. Robert H. Schuller, “The Good Samaritan”. Retrieved from www.hourofpower.cc

• Charles Swindoll, “Restoring Compassion”. Retrieved from www.insight.org

• Lucado, Max: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 2010)

• Augsburg, Myron S.; Ogilvie, Lloyd J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publisher, Inc., 1982)

• MacArthur, John: MacArthur Study Bible, NASV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 2006;2008)

• Stanley, Charles F., Life Applications Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc., 2006;2008)

• The Rev. Dr. Wiley Stephens, UYMC, “Heaven’s Audit of One’s Soul”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

• The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Carter, UMC, “Our Spiritual Bottom Line”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

• The Rev. Deborah Fortel, PCUSA, “If Only We Had Known”. Retrieved from www.day1.org

• The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lane Butts, UMC, “Dear God, Where Are You?” Retrieved from www.day1.org

• Exegesis for Matthew 25:31-46. Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

• Selwyn Hughes, “The Great Peril of the Saints”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

• The Rev. Ken Klaus, “No Surprise Here”. Retrieved from www.lhm.org

• Dr. Michael Youssef, “While We Wait”. Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

• Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Final Exam”. Retrieved from www.crosswalkmail.com

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary. Part of Lessonmaker 9 Bible software package.

• ESV Study Bible. Part of Lessonmaker 9 Bible software package.

• John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, the Reign of Christ-November 20, 2011. Retrieved from http://lectionary.seemslikegod.org/archives/the-reign-of-christ-november-20-2011

• Dr. Greg Garrett, TEC, “If Christ is King, What Does That Mean?” Retrieved from www.day1.org

• Daniel Clendenin, PhD., “The Judgment of Injustice: The Feast of Christ the King”. Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus,net/index.shtml?view=print

• The Rev. Dr. Billy Graham, “Will We Have Any Idea When the End is Coming?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com/religionandspirituality/billygraham/s-970982?print

• MacArthur, John: MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006, 2008)

• Stanley, Charles F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006, 2008)

• Augsburger, Myron S.; Ogilvie, Lloyd J. : The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982)

• Fr. Anthony Axe. O.P., “Not of This World”. Retrieved from www.torch.op.org

In Ephesians 1:15- the apostle Paul prays that the church in Ephesus will embrace their spiritual gifts into their hearts. He prays that the Ephesians will understand the revelation God has given them regarding their spiritual gifts. Paul was intent on bringing the true light of Christ with the Gospel message. He reminds us in Ephesians 2:1-2 that “we were once dead in transgressions and sins, in which we used to live when we followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus shows us how to pray for others. He reminds us that Christ has set us free from the bondage of sin. Paul wants us to know the hope of God’s calling, the riches of our eternal inheritance, and the greatness of God’s power.

We need to know God and his character. We can only know God through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us spiritual insight from the depth of our thought process. This allows us to see the grand hope to which God has called us through his grace.

Believers must know Christ and not just gain knowledge about him. Believers must also understand Christ with all of their hearts, intellects, emotions, and wills. Such understanding is not available to non-believers. When I talk about the heart, I’m not talking about the physical organ. The New Testament defines the heart as the higher intelligence in which will and emotions cooperate with the mind.

Every believer can use God’s power. Such power is dynamic, energetic, mighty and strong. This mighty power is anchored in heaven. It raised Jesus from the dead and seated Jesus at God’s right hand. Prayer that flows from a deep sense of gratitude is forceful and rooted in thankfulness. Our source of its glory is God himself.

Christ has conquered the power of evil, and will continue to conquer it in the future. Knowing the victorious Christ allows believers to face life’s challenges. Thanks to Christ’s power, no sinner is beyond rescue and no saint is beyond recovery.

The Holy Spirit comes to us when we pray and accept Christ in faith. Once our human spirit is dedicated to God and inspired by God, the Holy Spirit can work in the world through us. That is the rationale behind the Parable of the Talents. The revelation of the Holy Spirit is an activity of God. Sometimes new Christians seem to be in closer contact with God than Christians who have been faithful for years. Have we allowed our spirits to be dulled by the materialistic nature of our world? Society pressures us to be rational, but we must remember that God is not rational as defined by the world. His ways are not the world’s ways.

As the Holy Spirit enlightens us, our knowledge of God expands. That enlightenment is tied in with the hope to which we are called by Christ. That hope transforms us. That hope includes the hope of life after death. That hope is at the heart of the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection to eternal life with him. The enlightenment we get from our expanded knowledge of God also shines a light on the riches of the glory of our eternal inheritance. We will spend eternity with the angels and redeemed people.

The enlightenment also shines a light on the awesomeness of God’s power, especially when it is exercised by believers. This is the Resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead. It is the same power that took Jesus back to heaven. It is the same power that exists over heaven and earth. It is the same power that defeated evil. It is the same power that will exist for all eternity. It is the same power that will heal the sick, drive out demons, renew our spirits, reconcile our relationships and bring peace. God’s power changes lives. God’s power is real. It meets us at our point of need. It is dependable and consistent.

Ephesians 1:15-28 is often read on the Sunday when we celebrate Christ’s ascension. Ephesians has been called “The Epistle of the Ascension” because it is in this letter where we meet the exalted Christ. The reading is also appropriate for Reign of Christ Sunday because on this particular Sunday we also meet the Christ who is exalted as our heavenly king and Saviour. Christ is the king or head, but we are his body. Whatever Christ would do, we must do. We are his hands and feet. We are to do God’s work by spreading the Good News of the kingdom, but we must not claim to be equal to him. Because of our sinful human nature, we are under judgment. Christ is the centre of the unity that God wants for all sinners. We are the instrument through which that unity will be created.

The Holy Spirit reveals God’s wisdom to us. It is a part of the power that we have as believers. The power we have allows us to live in freedom and victory over satanic forces. This power is greater than earthly powers. God’s wisdom is available to us, but we often refuse to obey it. We can’t pick and choose when to obey God. It is not something we can take from God and leave. We can only get it through a living relationship with God.

We need wisdom. It is the ability to make the right calls. We get wisdom in five ways:

1. Entering into a personal relationship with God.
2. Praying for wisdom.
3. Meditating on God’s Word.
4. Hearing and heeding the counsel of people we respect.
5. Seeking wisdom with all of our heart.

God is a visionary leader. He sees opportunities in the spiritual world-opportunities for us to do his will. He is saving people through Jesus and through us when we do his work in our world. He allows us to see that this is his world and he is in it. His heavenly vision needs our earthly support.

All of us have a calling. It is our responsibility to exercise Christ-like control over our lives.

We have the same authority in the spiritual realm as those Christ sent out personally. In fact, because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, we can have greater spiritual power because we are in Christ instead of being with Christ. We must be conscious of this authority. We must be aware of that authority so that we will be aware of our rich, eternal inheritance.

The power of Jesus isn’t like any power that we know on this earth. God’s power is so great that it is beyond anything we can imagine. It has vital strength which can overcome any obstacles and gain complete control over our lives. His power redefines and changes our lives. It recreates us as his new people through the water of baptism. His power is stronger than death – it gives eternal life. His power forgives even our worst sins. His power gives us new directions – daily it kills everything that is evil and corrupting in our lives and renews us as his chosen people. His power gives us his body and blood in a piece of bread and a sip of wine. His power gives us faith through the Word of God. He is ready to use his power in our lives, our families, and our work places. He is ready to use his power when we are overcome with fear, worry, grief, and pain

The power in the cross is evident when out of love God gave up his son’s life for our sake. He loaded our sins on Jesus’ shoulders when Jesus was on the cross. The power of the cross raised Jesus from the dead. God’s power gave Jesus all power and authority when Jesus returned to heaven. God’s power is based on the love he has for us.

There is power in the cross, and there is hope in the cross. Hope keeps us fighting for Christ in our evil world. Hope keeps us going when times are tough. Hope keeps us going when we face persecution. Hope abides. God isn’t finished with us yet!

Bibliography

 * Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

• Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.: 1982)

• Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Asking for Wisdom.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

• Gary Robinson, “So you’re Not a Visionary.” Retrieved from www.preaching.com

• Dr. Neil Anderson, “Our Access to Christ’s Authority.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

• Os Hillman, “The Question of Calling.” Retrieved from Christainity.com@crosswalkmail.com

• Dr. Neil Anderson, “Our Dynamic Power Source.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

• Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “False Light.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

1. 1. Rick Ezell, “Five Ways to Get Wisdom.” Retrieved from www.greerfbc.org
   2. Dr. Randy White, “Hope, Richness and Greatness.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

• Dr. Neil Anderson, “Our Access to Christ’s Authority.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

1. C. Clifton Black, “Commentary on Ephesians 1:15-23.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
2. Eduardo A. Colon-Emeric, “The Hope of Your Calling.” Retrieved from www.faithandleadership.com
3. Pastor Vince Gerhardy, “Ascension Power.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

Have you ever been afraid to use your gifts, talents or skills? Have you ever thought that your skills and talents were not appreciated by other people? If the answer to either one or both of these questions is “yes”, then you can probably sympathize with the third slave on the Parable of the Talents, which I read from Matthew 25:14-30 earlier in this morning’s service.

The word “talent” represents all of the opportunities God has given his people to serve him. Talents include wealth, abilities and learning. The parable teaches us to invest everything God gives us for his glory. If we want to be faithful servants of Christ, we must use what he gives us to spread the Good News. If we are faithful stewards in this life, we will be rewarded with even greater responsibility in the next life. The reward will be in proportion to the tasks we have accomplished.

Sometimes when we do God’s work, we will not feel appreciated. I’m speaking from experience. I’ve often felt that my ministry has not been appreciated in the community, but I was proven wrong at my 10th anniversary service in 2014. When we feel that what we are doing for God is not appreciated here on earth, all we have to do is what I did-pray to God. When we please him, we are doing our daily job. The greatest reward God can give will go to godly people who have laboured faithfully without any earthly recognition.

We are encouraged to be better than average. We are encouraged to excel. So why don’t we excel? Why don’t we try? The answer is fear. Fearful servants, are afraid of God. They see him as a harsh taskmaster. They do not see the meaning of the term, “fear God” as “total reverence.” They take the term “fear God” quite literally, and therefore they never multiply the gifts God gave them.

To know God, as the moral slave knew, is to be afraid. To really know God is to agree that he does indeed make his rain to fall upon the just and the unjust alike. To know God is to acknowledge, as the fearful slave acknowledged, that he’s a tough man, playing by rules we can easily question and often find deplorable. Such knowledge would make almost any thinking person afraid, and thus it was that the unprofitable slave took up the shield of playing it safe in order to hold his fear at bay.

God is both a generous rewarder and a strict judge. He evaluates our stewardship on the basis of how well we administer the responsibilities and talents he has given us. He evaluates our stewardship based on how well we have kept His priorities instead of our own. If we use his gifts to spread the Good News, we will be rewarded. If we don’t, we will be punished by being separated from him for eternity.

We must master and receive the gifts God gives us, including the gift of time. No matter how old or how young we are, we can still use the gifts God gave us. Even when we are sick, God can still use us. If we master and use the gifts God gave us, we will have plenty of time to grow in faith and spread God’s Kingdom here on earth.

One of the most important gifts we have is our salvation. Sometimes we take it for granted, and sometimes we treat it like one of our most prized possessions. Sometimes we treat it with reverence and respect when we are first saved, but sometimes over time we take it for granted. That is the wrong attitude to have. The gift of salvation is a gift from God, and we are to use it just as we use all of the other gifts he has given us.

Another one of the gifts God has given us is the Gospel. He gave us that gift not so that our ability to spread it can be put to good use, but so that our inability is exposed and God is glorified. We can’t, but God can.

Christ demands faithfulness. If we are faithful we will produce results. If we do not use what God gave us, we will lose everything. We are to dedicate ourselves and all we have been given to Christ so that he can multiply those gifts.

Jesus seems to imply that there will be a long period of time between his first coming and his second coming, but the delay does not mean that he will not be coming. We are duty-bound to expand God’s kingdom in his absence regardless of how long we have to wait for him to return.

God sees everything from the beginning to the end, even if we can’t understand things. He sees our motives. He sees how we handle even the smallest of things, and our future depends on the little things. Contrary to what a popular saying says, we must “sweat the small stuff.”

So how can we know what God wants us to do? It’s simple. We have to read the Bible. If we do, we will discover that God does not want us to play it safe. He wants us to take risks. No risk, no reward. We have to risk living the life Jesus taught us to lead instead of the life the world wants us to lead.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from the Parable of the Talents:

1. Be good stewards of your abilities. Lose them or lose them.
2. Don’t be afraid to try.
3. Never say, “I have so little, my contribution won’t matter.” Every little bit helps.
4. People may not be equal in talent but they can sure be equal in effort.

The faithful servants gambled with the master’s goods in pure blind faith that that was really what he meant for them to do. They yearned so completely, in other words, that they believed his intentions–his spirit, if you will–as they understood it, and they gambled themselves on fulfilling it. They loved the master with all their hearts and souls and minds, for this is the first and great commandment, and all the others are secondary unto it. The only proper response to such stories as these is to pray that God may give each of us such grace and faithfulness in our times as he gave to those faithful servants in their storied ones.

We are getting closer to the end of the church year. In fact, two weeks from today we will be starting the season of Advent. Advent is a time to remember Jesus’ birth in the stable in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. It is also a time to prepare for his Second Coming, and Matthew 25 talks about being prepared for the coming kingdom. When God comes to judge us, will we be afraid that we will be cast into the fires of hell? Are we being too cautious when it comes to serving God? Are we afraid of failure? Are we afraid of taking the chances that discipleship requires? The Parable of the Talents encourages us to take bold, risky action.

The Parable of the Talents is about trust. God trusts us to use the gifts he has given us to spread his kingdom here on earth. He calls on us to return the favour by acting on the gifts he has given us out of trust. God has blessed us so much that we can’t lift our bushel baskets on our own. God only asks that we use, spend and grow our resources, including our talents. He only asks that we love him enough not to hoard or hide our resources. We can trust him. Can he trust us?

Winston Churchill once said that “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” On Judgment Day, we will be called on to give a personal report to God. That report will be based on the choices we make here and now. We can make any changes we want to here and now. It will be too late to make them when we stand before God.

Bibliography

 * Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

• ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

• Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

• Sheri Rose Shepherd, “His Perfect Gifts.” Retrieved from www.e.biblegateway.com

• Joni Eareckson Tada, “Rewards.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

• Joni Eareckson Tada, “The Legacy of Mary Rose.” Retrieved from www.joniandfriends.org

• Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Little Things.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org

• T.M. Moore, “A Parable for Our Time.” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org

• Dave Brannon, “Still Working.” Retrieved from www.rbc.org

• Joe Gibbs, “Who’s the Boss?” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

1. Dr. David Jeremiah, “Faithful over Few, Ruler over Many.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
2. Richard Inness, “The Choices We Make Make US.” Retrieved from www.actsweb.org
3. James Howell, “Trojan Horse.” Retrieved from www.religion-online.org
4. Phyllis Tickle, “The Story of Two Parables.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
5. The Rev. Charles Hoffacker, “Trust, Not Fear.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
6. The Rev. Dr. David E. Leninger, “The One in the Middle.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
7. Dr. Philip W. McLarty, “What Are You Afraid Of?” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
8. Exegesis for Matthew 25:14-30. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
9. Fr. John Boll, O.P., “Volume 2: 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 16, 2014” Retrieved from volume2@lists.opsouth.org

One of the interesting aspects of humanity is the fact that all of us are different. These differences make the world interesting to say the least. After all, the world would be a very boring place if everyone was identical. On the other hand, differences can lead to problems if they are not dealt with. In terms of Christianity, these differences can divide people into two groups-those who have weak faith, and those whose faith is strong. Those who have strong faith are to accept and help those who are slipping in their faith. We see an example of how differences in faith can divide people in the passage from Romans 14:1-12.

Many Christians in Rome were converts from pagan religion. Part of pagan religion involved sacrificing animals in honour of a god. Any meat that was not burned in fire or eaten during the ritual could be sold in the market. Converts from pagan religion were afraid to eat meat that was offered to idols, so they usually did not eat any meat that they did not prepare themselves.

Some people in the church who felt free to eat meat passed judgment on those who did not. Those who made the criticisms were weak in their faith. When Paul suggested vegetarians also judged those who ate meat, he was saying that the sin of despising and disgracing brothers and sisters can work both ways. Neither behavior is acceptable to God; both must be avoided in the body of Christ. Paul urged those who were on either side of the issue to show understanding, compassion and tenderness. He urged those who were strong in faith to be considerate in the exercise of their freedom and strengthen the weak. Love and fellowship in Christ should be the basis for Christian acceptance of one another.

The church faces similar issues today. How many churches condemn their members who don’t behave according to that church’s teachings? Every church could be changed if it took these principles to heart:

1. A life of grace begins with mutual acceptance. Accepting another person doesn’t mean that we must agree with him or her. We can respectfully disagree with ideas or opinions without rejecting the person who holds them.
2. An attitude of grace requires releasing others to be who God wants them to be.
3. A commitment to grace forbids one from judging someone else. We don’t know all the facts of the situation. We can’t be objective. We can’t redeem. God is the only person who can fulfill these criteria.

All of us are faced with people who seem different. We have different values and can use those to judge ourselves superior to others, but God has already judged us and found us worthy of love, compassion and salvation. Instead of focusing too much on how our differences stack up against each other, we should turn our focus toward the God who sees us and loves us all the same. All of us are the same in the only way that matters. We are God’s beloved, for whom Christ died so that we may life forever. None of our differences compare to this one, essential similarity.

We belong to God. He will renew our minds. We must give Him the chance to change us and fellow believers. We must not try to control others’ behavior based on what pleases us. The motivation to change behavior must come from a conscience that has been changed by God. God is pleased with the individual Christian because of Christ, not because of his or her views on peripheral matters. Christians are to have the same attitude, striving toward unity, not unnecessary dissension.

We are not to judge others when it comes to non-essential matter of faith. We must ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Every believer should make sure their conscience does not condemn them and then act on what they believe, being responsible to make judgments about things not specifically covered in Scripture. The centre of Christian life is faithfulness and love toward God-whether in obeying Scripture or seeking to apply scriptural principles .

Paul wants believers to deal with controversial issues on the solid base of commitment to Christ instead of surrendering to pressure. This does not mean that it doesn’t matter what Christians believe or how they believe. In many matters, Christ and the apostles were clear. In many areas of spiritual experience there are no hard and fast rules, so a certain degree of freedom has been granted.

God tells us that there will be a day when each of us will have to give an account of what we did with the gifts He gave us. Why does He do this? It’s because He knows that we don’t want to behave well unless acting badly has consequences. If we judge another person, we assume God’s role. We place ourselves above Him. To play the role of God in another person’s life is dangerous. God is the only person who has the right to judge others. His standards are much higher than ours. If He is not pleased with a person’s conduct, He will deal with the situation as he sees fit. He will use the Holy Spirit to change the offender’s conduct so that it will be more Christ-like, just like the Holy Spirit changes our behavior. Christians will stand one day before Christ’s judgment seat, not to determine their salvation, but to have their works examined before receiving rewards.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1564)
2.  Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010, pp. 286-294)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 1 Bible software package.
4. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, pp. 244-247)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Joe Gibbs, “Judgment Day.” Retrieved from www.GamePlanForLife.com
8. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for Romans 14:1-12.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

It’s not hard to tell that we are getting closer to the end of the church year. In fact, three weeks from today we will be celebrating the First Sunday in Advent. The Gospel readings for these last few weeks of the Season of Pentecost talk about what God’s judgement will be like. They talk about the separating of the faithful from the unfaithful. Today’s reading from Matthew 25:1-13, which is known as the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids, emphasizes the important of being prepared for Christ’s return.

Jesus described preparations for a wedding. Weddings provided much needed relief from the humdrum and hard work of daily life. Usually women took care of children and performed household chores. They looked forward to any small distraction, such as their daily visit to the village well where they could visit with other village women.

But, occasionally, their tedium was broken by the great events of village life––weddings, births, and bar mitzvahs––even funerals. Of these, weddings involved the greatest celebration. At a wedding, the couple was the center of village life for days on end. After the marriage ceremony, there was feasting, dancing, and revelry, which could last for several days. For the couple, it was “the gladdest week in all their lives”. It was a glad week for their friends as well––an event not to be missed!

An important part of the wedding ceremony was the procession from the home of the bride’s parents to the couple’s new home. As the bridegroom escorted his bride to their new home, their pathway was lit by wedding guests holding aloft flaming torches, probably sticks wrapped with oily rags.

A wedding was a great joy for all the members of the community, but especially so for the young women invited to serve as the bride’s attendants. It was an honor to be asked to participate, and those who agreed were expected to do so enthusiastically and responsibly. The young women were expected to be ready, because the bridegroom’s coming signaled the beginning of a great and joyous festival––something that promised to be one of the highlights of these young women’s lives.

Many of you know what it is like to be prepared for something. If you lived on a farm, you prepared for the winter months. If you have ever gone on a trip, you had to prepare first. Some of you even prepared for the day when you would be here in this nursing home. The most important thing we can do is to prepare for Christ’s return.

Matthew wrote his Gospel a half-century after the resurrection. He struggled with the issue of the delayed Second Coming. Many first-generation Christians believed that Jesus would return in their lifetimes, but by the time Matthew wrote his Gospel, many years had passed since the Resurrection, and many Christians were beginning to wonder how long it would take for Jesus to return. In this series of parables, Matthew encouraged the church to maintain its vigil, even though the people were weary of maintaining an “alert status.”

In this parable, the oil represents the Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins are those who have not truly been saved. Believers can’t just impart the Holy Spirit (i.e. share the oil) to unbelievers. Each person must receive salvation for himself or herself before it’s too late. God’s judgment is unequivocal and irreversible. We can’t know Christian assurance without the Holy Spirit.

The bride in this parable is the church. In fact, the church is referred to in Scripture as “the bride of Christ.” Just like a bride and groom have to be ready for the wedding, the church as the bride of Christ has to be ready for him when he comes. As Christians we are part of the church, so we have to be ready for his return. We have to keep our lamps fed with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We must see that we are continually growing in the love of God and service to others.

What does it mean for us to keep our lamps fed? Being prepared––having oil––means working faithfully for the Lord. It means practicing good stewardship––good ecological practices––careful management of time and money––generosity to those in need––proclamation of the Word––the possibilities go on and on. Being prepared––having oil––means generosity to those in need. Jesus makes it clear that he has expectations regarding our behavior––standards that we must take seriously––obedience to which we must aspire. In this parable, he also makes it clear that there is a time for repentance and a time when repentance will be too late.

We are called to be faithful to God and obey him. Being faithful is the meaning of waiting for the Lord to come. There will be no second chances when Christ returns. The Lord of the household-aka God-is not being rude when he denies entrance to the foolish virgins. He assumes those who really want to join in the festivities will come prepared. We must always be prepared for the Lord to return, because he could return at any time. We do not know the exact date and time when he will return, but we do know that Christ has promised great joy to those who are prepared for his return and grave consequences for those who are not prepared.

Bibliography

 1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible Software package.

3. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 23: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

4. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2010)

5. Exegesis for Matthew 25:1-13. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

6. Pastor Dave Risendal, “Five of Them were Foolish, and Five Were Wise.” Retrieved from donotreply@wordpress.com

Most parents have at one time or another jokingly said, “Do as I say, not as I do.” But somehow, children never seem to listen. Why? Because apparently actions speak louder than words. The warning Jesus issued in Matthew 23:1-12 is the same: “Do as they say (for, after all, they sit on Moses’ seat), but not as they do.”

In many synagogues of Jesus’ time, a stone seat at the front of the building provided the first century equivalent of a pulpit. It was the place where the authorized successors of Moses would sit and teach the congregation. Jesus told His listeners that they should heed what these teachers said about the Law of Moses, but not the latter, rabbinic additions to the law. They were not to mimic the actions of these teachers.

Hearing the truth from repulsive people isn’t easy. We must listen to them because the truth is the truth, and Jesus said to heed it. If the messenger turns you off, do not let him or her turn you off from the message. To alter a popular phrase, if you don’t like the messenger, don’t shoot the message.

This passage shows the contrasting styles of leadership of the Pharisees and Christians. The Pharisees wanted to be easily seen. They clothed themselves and acted in a way to be the focal point for the community. They were visible for both the faithful and Roman rulers. In contrast, Christian leaders kept a low profile.

Jesus went on the offensive against the Pharisees, addressing a mixed crowd of His disciples and various members of the public gathered in the temple courts. Jesus spoke harshly to the Pharisees. When love speaks harshly, it does so because no other loving way has a chance of breaking through. He focused on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes. From this point on, a climatic confrontation was inevitable.

God called the Pharisees to this high position so that they might provide expert counsel on spiritual matters to people who had to work for a living, or who didn’t have an opportunity to study the law, or who were illiterate and would not have access to the scrolls even if they could read. God called the scribes and Pharisees to be servants to such people, but they treated the call as if to privilege rather than to vocation—to honour rather than to servanthood. Teachers of Scripture have a special responsibility to model the behaviours that they teach. Their personal conduct should provide a visible lesson. The lack of integrity undermines the work of the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus objected to the Pharisees’ style of leadership. They set themselves above the good of their communities. They sought power and approval. They acted and dressed for effect. The Pharisees were quick to distort Scripture and require observant Jews to carry out all kinds of onerous demands, but they were not willing to inconvenience themselves in the least to help struggling people grow spiritually. They did not practice what they preached.

The Pharisees had 613 rules that the people had to follow if they wanted to live lives that were pleasing to God. By focusing on these rules, the Pharisees neglected the important issues of love and justice. They appointed heavy rules and regulations and insisted people obey them, but they refused to help. These rules referred to ceremonies and rites appointed by Moses. The Pharisees were gratified with titles and wanted these titles to denote their superiority. Every time a title was given to them it implied their superiority to the persons who used it.

Jesus forbade His disciples from seeking titles. He was their Master, and they were equal in authority. They could neither covet nor receive a title which implied that one was above the others or which infringes on His right to be their Teacher and Master. The word “father” denotes authority, eminence and superiority. In this sense it belongs to God and not to man. Christians are equal. God has supreme authority. He is the only one with the right to give laws, declare doctrines to bind the conscience and punish disobedience. Christ taught that the source of life and truth was God, and we should not seek or accept a title which properly belongs to God.

Jesus also urged his followers to avoid the trappings of power and self-promotion. He wanted his followers to act as He did and serve others. In that way others would be attracted to join the assembly of the saved. The members of the assembly gathered to await the Lord’s return and celebrate the intimacy of God. Why would anyone want a title that promoted self when the Lord returns?

We must do good works, and some works, such as benevolence or teaching, must be seen to have any impact. To do a good thing is a good thing, but to do good to be seen is a serious offense. It is hypocrisy, and hypocrisy turns people away from God. God has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to hypocrisy.

If we live a life of hypocrisy and like the Pharisees don’t practice what we preach, we become a hindrance of the gospel of Jesus rather than a help. We must practice what we preach. The life we live and how we treat others will either support or undermine the message we are trying to communicate. We must do what we can to lighten the loads that weigh on people, and our leaders must not let the respect and honour they receive go to their heads. Pride tends to derail those whose true calling is to humble service.

Authoritative teachers live according to Christ’s rules. They love God and love people. They do not abuse other people. They don’t promote their own status. They don’t seek promotion or fame. Any title they use refers to servanthood rather than rank or superiority. It’s common in churches to see people who have been placed in leadership positions lose their attitude of servanthood. We are encouraged to shut down inappropriate responses to Jesus in favour of living and serving Him as He did and still does-in us, out through us, or not at all. In every organization there are people who are already serving at the lowest levels of the power hierarchy, those already working in overlooked roles. These people are often unseen, existing only in the shadows. Making unseen people visible within the power hierarchy can be a way to exalt and lift up the humble.

God expects us to care for one another and serve one another. Imagine for a moment how our ministry to others could be if we knew we could count on each other. Our actions matter. We are human and prone to falling short, but we should take care to act in ways that honour our faith as best we can. We must not be discouraged by how we fall short or how we fail to fully live the teachings we profess and pass on to others. Instead, with faith in that Word “at work in you who believe,” we are assured that God is not finished with us yet.

Jesus identified the Pharisees’ root problem: they arranged their world to convince onlookers they were especially holy, devout, or knowledgeable about God’s Word, all to secure control and elevate themselves. What is missing is the space, silence, and vulnerability necessary to receive the radiant love of God. When we approach the Christian life as a constant stream of virtuous activity directed as loudly as possible both at God and at our faith community— “Look at me! Look at all the wonderful things I’m doing!”—the still, small voice of the Spirit is very easily drowned out. Our self-imposed burden of a needy ego, never patient enough to learn the love of God, will sooner or later become the arrogance and self-satisfaction of the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus is calling us away from the self-seeking life that pulls at us like a giant magnet and toward a highly disciplined discipleship that requires more than what we want to give. This passage demands a lot from us. Not only are we to avoid seeking honours and titles, but we are also required to prevent people from using them of us. Instead of worrying that we can’t do enough, let us do what we can and believe that God will do the rest. As Mother Theresa once said, “God doesn’t call us to be successful (meaning great). God calls us only to be faithful.”

God’s Word is at work in us as believers. That’s the most important thing of all as we seek to carry our own burdens and those of our fellow disciples. No burden we shoulder is ours to carry alone. The Holy Spirit within us is always present and ready to do the heavy lifting. Jesus says it himself in the Gospel of Matthew: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The burdens of life and community may never go away, but when the love of God pervades them, they are no longer crushing weights. Our burdens become a steadying presence, anchoring and grounding us in the faithful pursuit of grace and truth. For it is when we commit to turning our burdens over to God that we are at last empowered to bear the burdens of one another. And a burden shared becomes a burden halved, as the old saying goes. Perhaps we could modify it for ourselves—a burden shared becomes a burden graced.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1322-1323)
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. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Principles Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Michael Brooks, “Religion as You Like It.” Retrieved from www.forthrigh.et
8. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for Matthew 23:1-12.” Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
9. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
10. Pastor Ken Klaus, “Adiaphora.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhmin.org
11. Alyce McKenzie, “Do as I Say, Not As I Do: Lectionary Reflections on Matthew 23.: Retrieved from www.patheos.com
12. Greg Carey, “Commentary on Matthew 23:1-12.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
13. The Rev. Whitney Rice, “Do You Feel Burdened?” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com