Sunday, February 27, 2005



ANSWERS TO PRAYER
27 February 2005


I. Introduction
-- Luke 11:1-10

1. One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2. He said to them, "When you pray, say: "`Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3. Give us each day our daily bread.
4. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. '"
5. Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6. because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7. "Then the one inside answers, `Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'
8. I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.


-- share with you some about the life of George Mueller -- George Mueller living in the early 1800's in Bristol, Englad -- He dedicated his life to ministry and wanted to prove in his life that God answers prayers -- in the course of his life, he became known as a man who depended on prayer in all circumstance
-- when he died at the age of 92 years, he had built 5 large orphanages starting from scratch with no funds, received almost $7-1/2 million dollars, and saw over 50,000 specific answers to prayer in his life
-- let me give you an example of one famously answered prayer in his life
-- one morning at the orphanage, there was no food for breakfast and no money to buy food -- all the children were gathered there in the dining hall, waiting to be fed before school -- the workers didn't know what to do, but Mueller did
-- he told them to go ahead and set the table for breakfast with cups and bowls just like normal -- then he had the children take their places and he led them in prayer -- "Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat."
-- about the time he finished the prayer, there was a knock on the door -- The baker stood there, and said, "Mr. Mueller, I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it."
-- Mueller thanked the man and they brought the bread inside -- now they had food, but still nothing to drink but water.
-- No sooner had the baker left then there was a second knock at the door -- It was the milkman. -- believe it or not, but his milk cart had broken down right in front of the Orphanage -- since they would have to empty the wagon to repair it and since the milk would go bad before they could get it delivered, he wanted to know if the orphanage could use it
-- within minutes of praying and thanking God, God provided both food and milk to the orphans that morning and showed every single one of them the power of prayer

-- this morning, I want to take a few minutes and talk about prayer -- in the passage that we opened with, Jesus shared with His disciples and us how to pray to God and then made a remarkable promise to us

-- look back at verses 9-10 [read vs. 9-10] -- "everyone who asks receives"

-- do you believe that? -- do you believe that God answers every single prayer that you pray to Him?
-- scripture bears out that He does -- we always receive an answer -- but the problem is that sometimes He doesn't answer prayers the way we wish

II. Answers to Prayer
-- most people think that God answers prayers in one of three ways -- Yes -- No -- Wait
-- but, if you read through the Biblical account -- both Old and New Testament -- you will see that God actually seems to answer prayers in five different ways
A. No
-- let's talk first about the "No" answer -- we've all experienced times in our lives when we've prayed for something and God told us "No" -- we talked about that briefly last week -- God saying "No" may be why we have some names on the back of our bulletin who have been on there for at least the past five years -- the Apostle Paul experienced it when God refused to remove the thorn from his flesh
-- but, the thing we need to keep in mind is that when God says "No" -- He is really saying, "No, I love you too much"
-- some of the greatest blessings in the world come through unanswered prayer and through prayers where God says, "No, I love you too much"
-- C.S. Lewis once said that if God had given him everything he'd asked for, his life would have been a mess
-- in the Old Testament, King Hezekiah asked for more life when God told him he was about to die -- and God granted Hezekiah's prayer even though His initial answer was no -- the king lived to regret his request for a longer life as he opened the door for the Babylonian conquest
-- we don't like to hear "no" answers, even if they are for our own good -- I know in my own life, there were many prayers that I earnestly prayed to God and that He answered with "No" -- at the time I didn't understand -- but now I do -- God was not just saying "No" -- He was saying "No, I love you too much -- I have greater plans for your life"
-- if God had answered my prayers in the way I wanted Him to, I would not be here today serving in this church -- I would not be married to Kim -- and I would have missed out on many, many blessings -- God loved me enough to say "No"
-- a great example of God's compassion in saying "No, I love you too much" is in the story of Lazarus -- the sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus asking Him to heal Lazarus -- they knew He could do that -- but He said "No" -- He didn't go to see Lazarus for three more days -- until Lazarus had died and was buried
-- why? -- because He loved the sisters of Lazarus too much -- He wanted them to know Him not just as a Healer -- but also as a Savior -- also as One who held the keys to eternal life -- if He had said "yes" and healed Lazarus as they wanted, they would have missed out on knowing Him as the Messiah -- He said "No" because He loved them too much -- and He tells us "No" for the same reason

B. "Yes, I thought You'd Never Ask"
-- the next way God answers prayer is by saying "Yes" -- but God doesn't just say "Yes" -- He says "Yes" in several different ways
-- the first way is the way we are accustomed to -- we pray and God says "Yes" and our prayer gets answered just as we want -- but what God is actually saying is not just "Yes" but "Yes, I thought you'd never ask"
-- in the book of Matthew, chapter 20, we read about two blind men crying out to Jesus as He walked by -- "Son of David, have mercy on us" -- He stopped and went to them and asked them "what do you want me to do for you?" -- they answered, "Lord, we want our sight" -- He touched their eyes and they were healed and became His disciples
-- can't you just sense what Jesus was thinking as they called out to Him for healing? -- "Yes, I thought you'd never ask"
-- God does this a lot with new Christians -- He tends to reward the first steps of faith of new Christians by letting them see answers to prayer in their life -- kind of like a toddler just learning to walk -- parents and grandparents -- remember how you would get on one side of the room and call out to your child or grandchild -- and as they started walking towards you, you would respond and encourage them? -- and when they finally made it you would hug them and love them or give them a toy or treat? -- that's exactly what God does with new Christians -- He encourages them in their faith by answering their prayers with, "Yes, I thought you'd never ask -- Here you go"

C. Yes, and Here's More
-- but that's not the only "Yes" answer that God gives -- He also answers prayers by saying, "Yes, and here's more" -- how many of you have prayed for something and then had your prayers answered with even more blessings than you asked for? -- that is something God delights in doing
-- we can see a clear example of this in the life of Jesus -- when the friends lowered the paralytic man down through the hole in the roof -- praying that he would be healed -- what did Jesus do? -- He healed the man physically -- but He also said, "and here's more" and forgave the man of all his sins

D. "Yes, but not what you expected"
-- the final two ways that God answers "Yes" to our prayers requires more faith on our part -- the first is when God tells us "Yes, but not in the way you expected" -- how many times have you prayed for something and then had God meet that request in a totally and completely different manner?
-- I think that happens a lot -- God tells us in His word that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts -- most of the time when we pray, we already have worked it out in our heads and we think we know just how God is going to answer our prayers
-- maybe we pray for help with our finances, and we think we're going to get a raise -- but then a check from the insurance company comes in the mail -- or we receive a tax refund that we didn't know about -- I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me -- that's just God telling us "Yes, I'll answer your prayer, but just not in the way you expected"
-- it's just like I've shared in my testimony before -- I went to a Promise Keeper's event and rededicated my life and asked God to use me in ministry -- I knew God would say "Yes" but I really thought it would be through being a Bible study teacher -- but God said, "Yes, but not in the way you expected" -- and He blessed me by calling me to be a pastor
-- another real example of this we see in our lives is when we pray for someone to be healed and then they die -- I have seen this happen over and over -- we think that God has answered our prayers by saying "No" but He's really said, "Yes, but just not in the way you expected" -- instead of healing them here to live longer in an imperfect and fallen world, He gives them the ultimate healing by allowing them to enter eternity with Him -- when we pray and things don't work out like we expect, we need to remember that God doesn't work for us and that He is the God of the Unexpected

E. "Yes, but wait"
-- the final way God answers our prayers is by saying "Yes, but wait" -- this is another answer that requires faith on our part -- for reasons known only to God, there are times when He tells us He is going to grant our prayer request, but then we end up waiting for the answer for a long, long time
-- I know of people who have faithfully prayed for salvation for family members, but never saw it in their lifetime -- God did say "Yes" -- but the answer came after years of praying
-- think about the story of Abraham and Sarah in the Bible -- God promised they would have a child and that their descendants would outnumber the stars -- but years and years went by with no baby -- God was telling them "Yes, but wait" -- finally, when Sarah was over 90 years old -- God finally said "Yes, the time is now" -- and they conceived Isaac
-- the ultimate example of this is in the coming of Christ -- from the time of the fall in the Garden of Eden, mankind looked forward to a Savior -- God had promised a Savior -- but years and years and years went by until Jesus was born in Bethlehem -- we had to wait for our blessing
-- likewise, God has promised us that Jesus will come again -- the Apostle John closed the book of Revelation with these words "Come, Lord Jesus" -- but God told him -- and us -- "Yes, but wait" -- and we continue to wait -- in faith -- for Jesus to return

III. Closing
-- as Jesus told us in this passage, God always answers our prayers -- everyone who asks, receives -- he who seeks, finds -- and to him who knocks, the door will be opened
-- we just need to keep in mind the different ways that God answers our prayers when we pray to Him -- and trust that He always has our best interests in mind through His answers -- no matter what they are or what they seem to be to us
-- I want to close by sharing with you some principles that George Mueller worked out in his life based on his experiences with prayer -- I pray that these would enlighten you as you continue to seek God's face through prayer
"First, we should ask only for that which it would be for the glory of God to give to us; for that, and that alone, can be for our real good. But it is not enough that the thing for which we ask God be for His honour and glory,
secondly, we must ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus, expecting it only on the ground of His merits and worthiness. Thirdly, we should believe that God is able and willing to give us what we ask Him for. Fourthly, we should continue in prayer till the blessing is granted; without fixing to God a time when, or the circumstances under which, He should give the answer. Patience should be in exercise, in connection with our prayer.Fifthly, we should, at the same time, look out for and expect an answer till it comes. If we pray in this way, we shall not only have answers, thousands of answers to our prayers; but our own souls will be greatly refreshed and invigorated in connection with these answers."
-- let us pray

Monday, February 21, 2005

ON THE EMMAUS ROAD
20 February 2005


Focus: God's grace finds us no matter where we are
Function: To get the congregation to discover God's grace where they are on their journey

I. Road to Emmaus -- Luke 24:13-34
-- This is a familiar passage to us, but before we get into it, I need to share with you the context of where we are
-- Jesus has just been delivered up to the Chief Priests -- He has been tortured and crucified and died -- He was buried in a borrowed tomb -- and that is as much as these two disciples on the Emmaus Road knew
-- they had heard that the women went to the tomb and found it empty -- they knew that Peter and John had gone to the tomb and found it in the same way -- but they didn't know why -- they didn't understand the meaning of the empty tomb
-- all they knew was that Jesus was dead -- their hope was dead -- and all they had dreamed and believed about Jesus was dead too -- all they knew was that the disciples had scattered and the priests were persecuting them -- while some of the disciples hid in the upper room out of fear of the authorities, these two did the only thing that made sense to them -- they left Jerusalem

-- now, let's read verses 13-14
-- 13. Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.


-- What was Emmaus? -- we know from the text that it was a village about seven miles from Jerusalem -- you can go to Israel today and see Emmaus -- or at least the ruins of Emmaus -- that is the historical and physical fact
-- But, Emmaus was something else spiritually to these two disciples -- it was the place of defeat -- and when they set out on the road to Emmaus -- they were on the road of despair and discomfort and disbelief -- the road of discouragement

-- think for a moment about the two towns that laid on either end of the road
-- Jerusalem represented God for the Jewish people -- Jerusalem was the place where the Jewish people went to worship -- it was the place where the temple was located -- and God lived in the temple -- within the veil in the Holy of Holies
-- for the Jew -- to come to God meant you went to Jerusalem

-- but think about what these two disciples were doing -- they were headed to Emmaus -- and in order to do so, they turned their back on Jerusalem -- they turned their back on God -- they turned their back on their faith
-- Emmaus represented a turning away from God and a turning towards the world -- a rejection of God -- a loss of hope and of faith
-- these two disciples were without hope and without faith so they headed away from the only One who could help them

-- now, if we're all honest, you would have to admit that we've all been on this road to Emmaus at some point or the other -- maybe you're on the road right now -- or if you're not, then you're either just now getting off the road or you're headed to it
-- we all have been on the road to Emmaus -- times of despair and discomfort and discouragement -- times when we just lose our hope and our faith in God

II. What puts us on the road?
-- the two disciples were put on the road because of the death of Jesus and the death of all they had believed and hoped in -- but we can find ourselves on that same road in several different ways

A. Failure of Self
-- times when we sin against God -- when we just don't do what we know is right -- when we let ourselves down can put us on the road to Emmaus -- sometimes we just look at life and we look at what we're doing and we just have no hope and no faith -- we've lost it somewhere along the way, and we find ourselves separated from God -- with Jersualem at our back and Emmaus before us

B. Failure of Others
-- another way we find ourselves on the road to Emmaus is when others fail to meet our expectations -- Family lets you down -- Spouse lets you down -- Friends let you down
-- maybe there's job problems -- Financial problems -- Life problems
-- Worries of world choking out faith -- in the Bible Jesus told the parables of the seed -- and some of the seeds landed in the soil and sprung up only to be choked out by the worries of the world -- that's the road to Emmaus -- the road to worry and hopelessness and faithlessness

C. Failure of God
-- the last way we can find ourselves on the road to Emmaus is when God doesn't meet our expectations -- when God doesn't act the way we expect or want Him to -- when our prayers go unanswered or when God just says "no"
-- maybe we've just looked at our life and we've thought, "God, what's going on? I've been faithful -- I've trusted you -- but look at how my life is in shambles -- look at what I'm going through -- don't you even care?"
-- sometimes we feel that God has failed because He hasn't done what we wanted Him to do
-- that is exactly what is going on in this passage -- the two disciples are downcast and
discouraged because Jesus did not do what they expected

-- look with me at verses 15-21a
-- 15. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16. but they were kept from recognizing him.
17. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.
18. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19. "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
20. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21. but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.


-- did you see the tone of that passage -- the disciples were downcast -- "we had hoped" -- "HAD" -- they had given up hope -- they had lost faith -- they had lost their trust in Jesus and in His promises because He hadn't done what they expected
-- they all expected Him to come to Jerusalem and to establish His kingdom there -- when He rode in on Palm Sunday and the crowds shouted "Hosanna!" and the people praised Him, they just knew it was all happening
-- and now, just one week later, He has been tortured and killed and buried in a borrowed tomb -- hardly the path of a Messiah
-- and so they find themselves on the road to Emmaus -- lost -- discouraged -- hopeless -- and without faith -- putting their face towards Emmaus and their backs towards Jerusalem, for what could it possibly hold for them now?

III. The Way Back
-- Road to Emmaus is not a fun route -- walk through despair, discouragement, hopelessness, faithlessness -- but there is good news on the road

-- 21b. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
22. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
23. but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25. He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26. Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
27. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
29. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
33. They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.


-- Jesus came and met the disciples on the road -- He restored their faith and hope in Him
-- Example of Grace -- the prevenient grace of God reaching out to us through the problems of life -- meeting us at the point of our need -- even on the road to Emmaus -- even when we've turned our back on Him

-- look back at Verse 31 -- "Their eyes were opened" -- God's grace shows us the truth of our circumstances -- it provides hope in the midst of despair and faithfulness in the midst of adversity -- on the road, we are walking with a veil over our eyes -- like walking in a fog -- but God's grace removes the veil and clears the fog so we can see clearly and be encouraged by His presence

-- I really think that Verse 33 is the key verse in this passage -- "they got up and returned at once to Jerusalem" -- they returned at once -- they turned back to faith - they turned back to Jerusalem -- they turned back to Jesus
-- wonderful picture of repentance -- turning away from sin -- turning away from despair and discouragement and lack of faith -- turning to the author and perfector of our faith

-- on the road they learned the truth of what happened in Jerusalem on the cross as Jesus spoke to their hearts:
-- Forgiveness of Sin
-- Power over Death
-- Restoration of Fellowship -- with man and with God
-- Understanding of what God was doing

IV. Closing
-- where are you at this morning? -- are you on the road to Emmaus -- clouded with doubt and despair? -- filled with a sense of dread -- helpless -- hopeless -- lost?
-- if there's anything you should get from this passage today, it is this:
1) No matter where you are on your journey, God is there with you -- His presence is there with you -- His grace is there with you -- you just need to open your eyes and look and receive Him into your heart
2) Roads run both ways -- the road to Emmaus is also the road to Jerusalem -- the difference is in the direction -- and the direction is your choice
I WAS HUNGRY....

For the past several years I have been supporting the Society of St. Andrew through financial gifts. This organization does what it can to put foot leather to its faith, by providing food gleaned from the fields to hungry people throughout the world. The majority of this food would have gone to waste and left to rot in the field if the people of the Society of St. Andrew didn't step in to save it for others. In 2004, the Society of St. Andrew saved and distributed 31.2 million pounds of food. According to "The Link" from the South Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC, south Georgians distributed over 340,000 pounds of produce this past year.

So, how can you help? You can help by getting involved. Visit their website at www.endhunger.org and you can find out about making financial donations, becoming a member, or participating in "potato drops" and other gleaning events. Or, if you live in a rural area like we do, you can organize a gleaning day, where volunteers can go through the field after harvest to glean the remainder. You could arrange for local farmers or produce companies to donate their cull vegetables to you for distribution from the church or through St. Andrew.

If you are a federal employee, you can make direct financial contributions through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) program, where a portion of your paycheck gets diverted directly to the Society of St. Andrew.

No matter what you do, I would strongly encourage you to get involved in this worthwhile organization. At the very least, commit to praying for them on a regular basis.

Matthew 25: 43-40: "Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

U.S. Church Membership and Attendance Continues Its Decline

U.S. Church Membership and Attendance Continues Its Decline
[Source:  The Link, South Georgia Annual Conference UMC]
(Newscope) UM membership in the United States declined by more than 65,000 people from 2002 to 2003, according to the latest data available from the General Council on Finance and Administration, the agency responsible for collecting such data. The February issue of Background Data for Mission, published by the General Board of Global Ministries, analyzed this data by conferences along with statistics on worship and church school attendance. According to the report, every annual conference in the North Central, Northeast, and Western jurisdictions reported a decline in membership. Of the 13 annual conferences with membership growth, ten are in the Southeast. Meanwhile, seven annual conferences reported worship attendance growth. However, GBGM's Office of Research says some of these increases, along with some of the decreases, are due to reporting inconsistencies. The office's analysis claims only four annual conferences (Western Pennsylvania, Peninsula-Delaware, Mississippi, and Alabama-West Florida) had actual increases.

Church school attendance is less consistently reported than worship attendance. Nevertheless, three jurisdictions (Southeast, South Central, and Western) reported an increase in such attendance. A final statistic reported by the GBGM newsletter examined the number of local churches in each annual conference. Across the United States, an overall decline of 186 churches occurred, leaving 35,273 churches in 2003. Every jurisdiction reported a decline in the number of local churches. Average membership of local churches remains at 231, with attendance at 97. According to the report, half of U.S. churches have membership of 110 or less and an attendance of 51 or less.
 
 
 

Bible Study: Introduction to Ephesians

I. Synopsis

I.A. Author: Apostle Paul

Date Written: AD 60-64

Timing: Written while Paul was imprisoned in Rome

I.B. Ephesus -- the city

-- principal city of Asia Minor, located along the coast

-- Ephesus was located in what is now Turkey, along the western coast

-- Ephesus does not exist any longer -- only ruins exist

-- Ephesus was a vacation place for Roman emporers and was second in importance only to Rome

-- 4th largest city in Mediterranean world (population 250,000)

-- founded in 2000 b.c. by the Hittites

-- was an Oriental City -- eastern culture -- until 1000 b.c.

-- When Greeks came to Ephesus in 334 B.C., got mix of eastern and western cultures

-- in 281 B.C. the city was refounded under the old name of Ephesus and became one of the most important commercial ports in the Mediteranean

-- Rome took over about 129 B.C.

-- Ephesus was located on a harbor -- the Apostle Paul sailed right up to the gates of Ephesus

-- the harbor is now filled up and silted in -- the ruins of Ephesus are about 6 miles from the ocean now

-- Ephesus was home of religion that worshipped Diana (also called Artemis)

-- Temple of Diana was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

-- largest Greek temple ever constructed -- four times larger than the Parthenon

-- temple was built over a marsh on an artificial foundation of skins and charcoal -- did this so it would not be affected by earthquakes

-- temple had 127 columns -- contained great works of art

-- inside temple was idol of Diana -- goddess of fertility

-- flourishing trade was carried on in manufacture of silver shrines or models of the temple -- visitors to temple would buy the silver shrines as a memento of their visit

-- became a very important center of trade and commerce -- most important trading center in Asia -- leading political and intellectual center with major schools of philosophy

-- had an open theater capable of containing 50,000 spectators -- at the time it was the largest in the world

I.C. Paul's Visits to Ephesus

-- Paul visited Ephesus twice:

1) Acts 18:18-21 -- During Paul's second missionary trip -- AD 53

2) Acts 19:1-10 -- During Paul's third missionary trip

-- During Paul's second visit to Ephesus, he spent three months in synagogue preaching to Jews -- after they rejected him, he spent 2 years teaching in the school of Tyrannus

-- Apollos had ministered in Ephesus between Paul's visits

-- at the time, Apollos didn't know full gospel -- only knew the gospel preached by John the Baptist -- a baptism of repentance of sins

-- People of Ephesus heard more Bible teaching from Paul than any other people -- this was the reason why he was able to provide deeper teachings to them than to any other churches he wrote letters to

-- 1 Corinthians 16:8-9

-- Paul's preaching resulted in a great uprising -- Acts 19:23- 20:1

-- last visit with Ephesian elders -- Acts 20:17-38

-- Paul sent Timothy to be the pastor at Ephesus after he left -- 1 Tim 1:3

-- a few years later, Paul was sent to prison in Rome where he wrote this epistle -- the epistle was carried back to Ephesus by Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21)

-- After the Apostle John had returned from exile to Patmos, he went to Ephesus where he served as their pastor for several years. Tradition says John still cared for Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that she was with him in Ephesus (John 19:26-27). There is a tomb in Ephesus that is supposedly the tomb of Mary.

I.D. Outline of Book of Ephesians

-- Main focus on book is on unity in the body of Christ

-- six chapters:

1) first three chapters are about heavenly calling of church and are doctrinal

2) last three chapters are about earthly conduct of church -- practical application

-- Chapter 1: Church is a body

-- Chapter 2: Church is a temple

-- Chapter 3: Church is a mystery

-- Chapter 4: Church is a new man

-- Chapter 5: Church will be a bride

-- Chapter 6: Church is a soldier

-- Characteristics of the Ephesian Church

- Rev 2:1-7: praised for its strength and faithfulness. At the time Ephesians was written, the church was the ideal Christian community.

 
 

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Being a Christian

Being a Christian

by Maya Angelou

When I say..."I am a Christian", I'm not shouting I'm clean livin'.
I'm whispering I was lost, now I'm found and forgiven.

When I say..."I am a Christian" I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I'm not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say... "I am a Christian" I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches so I call upon His name.

When I say... "I am a Christian"  I'm not holier than thou,
I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace,
somehow.

 
 
 

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Methodists Open Hearts, Hands, Tables to the Homeless

Carrying out the historic social-action tradition of the Methodist church in America, some 100 participants of the United Methodist Church (UMC) "Healthy Churches: Transforming the World" conferences took to the streets to share their hearts and meals with the local homeless.

The impromptu event occurred during the national conference in Houston, Texas, where some 1,300 local church and regional leaders met to learn more about creating and maintaining healthy congregations, January 28-30.

According to the United Methodist News Service, the 100 people who decided to go to a fast-food restaurant and buy some 400 meals for a group of homeless people living under an expressway overpass, were inspired to go after singing a hymn entitled, "Invitation." The hymn in part reads: "There are tables in our city filled with lavish food and drink. Many dine there without pity, of the homeless never think."

After singing the song, Rev. We Hyun Chang, pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Concord, N.H., said he was ¡°surprised by the disparity" between the fancy hotel where the conference was and the stark surroundings under the overpass.

"I wanted to do something rather than just talk about it," he said to UMNS.

Led by Chang, the group of 100 members walked to a nearby McDonald's restaurant where they spent some $2,000 to buy more than 400 meals. They then went to the streets to share their lunches.

"This is wonderful," said Foster Riley who added that he had lived in several missions and shelters before ending up under the expressway for two days. "I think it made everybody's day. It was a cloudy day. But you came and brightened up our day. It was a good day for everybody."

While distributing the lunches, the UMC members also asked the homeless to come to the hotel for dinner. According to the UMNS, 100 of them came, but the Methodists did not know who benefited the most from the experience.

"It was really wonderful to have at my table one of those honored guests who was living under the expressway," said the Rev. Robert Sathuri, pastor of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Polo, Ill, to UMNS. "To go bring the communion bread and cup and receive communion from him, Steven, it was a fantastic, fantastic experience for my wife and I. I felt that we made room for Jesus at the table, and Jesus broke bread with us."
 

So, what do you think?  Should we see more congregations put their faith into action in this manner?  What would our churches be like if we ended each church service with a time of actual service?  Let's think about it this week.

Friday, February 04, 2005

SpongeBob and Buster

Well, unless you've been living under a rock for the past week or so, you've by now heard about the controversies involving Sponge Bob and Buster, cartoon characters that have been accused of spreading a pro-homosexuality message to our kids and grandkids.  Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family started the uproar with a scathing indictment of the use of SpongeBob in a video being sent to elementary schools for use in a tolerance curriculum, and Ms. Spelling, the current Secretary of Education, entered the fray by condemning an episode of Buster the Rabbit where he visits the children of two lesbian couples.  Why the uproar?  Is Dr. Dobson really saying, as some media have reported, that SpongeBob is gay? 
 
Here's the bottomline of this controversy, summed up in just a few words.  No, neither Dr. Dobson or Ms. Spelling are trying to say that cartoon characters are gay.  But, their concern is that pro-homosexual groups are using these cartoon characters to promote their agenda.  It's not an issue about cartoon characters, but over the use of questionable advertising that aims to sway the minds of impressionable children by using their favorite characters.  "But Mommy, SpongeBob says we should be tolerant and accept all other lifestyles!"  The videos in themselves are not explicitly pro-homosexual, but through the use of words such as "tolerance" and "diversity" and, more importantly, accompanied with the supporting information for teacher use, these programs are clear in their agenda -- to promote pro-homosexual policies through the indoctrination of our children.  This is just as harmful as the current crop of Saturday morning cartoons, which are nothing more than 30-minute advertisements for the current and hottest toys on the markets.  Cartoons and videos such as this are not being put forth simply for entertainment any more, they are being used to promote agendas, whether that is advertising for toys or convincing children that there is nothing wrong with same sex marriage.
 
Abraham Lincoln once said that the philosophy of the school yard in one generation would be the philosophy of the nation in the next.  In other words, what our children learn in the way of morals and rights now will become the policy of our nation in the future.  Having failed in the public arena to get same-sex marriage and pro-homosexual agendas accepted by the majority of Americans, activists are now turning to the school yard, being willing to wait a generation of so for their dream of "tolerance" and "diversity" to be made manifest.  As a strong proponent of family values based on a traditional Judeo-Christian ethic, I applaud Dr. Dobson for taking up the fight and turning the spotlight onto the actions of these activists.
 

Tuesday, February 01, 2005

Prayer Warriors

26 Guards
Author: Unknown

 Here's a message that will bring you chills. Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said, "I'll pray for him or her later?"  Or has anyone ever called you and said, "I need you to pray for me, I have this need?" Read the following story that was sent to me and may it change the way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray. This will bless you.

 A missionary on Furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan. "While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collect money from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to him about the Lord. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs. But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that 26-armed guards surrounded you.’ At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that jungle campsite. The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone.'

At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell him the exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who interrupted told him this story:


"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I was preparing to go play golf.  I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong; I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

 

This story is an incredible example of how the   Spirit of the Lord moves in mysterious ways. If   you ever hear such prodding, go along with it.


Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.  

 

If we all take it to heart, we can turn this world toward God once again.

 

As the above story clearly illustrates, "with God all things are possible."

 

More importantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful.


After you read this, give God thanks for the beautiful gift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the many miracles He works in your own daily life.


Who says God does not work in mysterious ways?


I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today. To guide you and protect you as you go along your way.... His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him our cares you know He will see us through. So when the road you’re traveling on seems difficult at best, just remember I'm here praying, and God will do the rest.

 

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” - Psalm 122:6 

 

“Bid om die vrede van Jerusalem; mag hulle wat jou liefhet, rustig lewe!” - Psalm 122:6 

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In His Service, <>< Sherry and Jim Heard

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Religious Persecution by the U.S.

Normally, I am the first to defend the U.S.'s actions in regards to the war on terror, but two events this past year have caused me to deviate from this position. The first event was the infamous torture of prisoners that occurred at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Nothing more can be said about that that has not already been said.

This second event, though, saddens me even more. It has recently come to light that a female interrogator of terror prisoners at Guatanomo Bay pointedly tried to humiliate prisoners based on their religion, and even took steps to turn them from their faith through her questioning. I understand the necessity of obtaining information on the war on terror, but we can never let the ends justify the means if it changes us in the process.

We are a country that was founded on religious freedom. Yes, in the early days of our country that meant solely Christianity. I still affirm that we are a Christian nation. But, the bedrock foundation of our country is religious freedom for all, regardless of their faith. That means that we should be the last place on the earth where religious persecution takes place.

I am not opposed to Christians sharing the good news of Christ with people from other faiths. That is a foundational belief. But it is another thing all together to try to force a person of another faith to leave their religion or to force them to commit what is deemed "sin" in their religion in the name of freedom. When we do that, we cease to be the nation God called us to be and we cease to be the Christians we claim to be.

Perhaps we should heed the words of the French Statesman, Alexander de Tocqueville, from the early 19th Century:
-- I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers, and it was not there.
-- I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests, and it was not there.
-- I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her rich mines and her vast world commerce, and it was not there.
-- I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning, and it was not there.
-- I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution, and it was not there
-- Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power -- America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great"

Sporadic Postings

Because of my work and church schedule over the past few weeks (and the next few weeks to come), I have not been able to post any items or sermons. I will try to post things as best I can as they come up, but probably will not get back to regular postings until March.