Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Preaching
THE WESLEYAN PREACHING ANNUAL 2001--2002
WORSHIP HELPS
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God is so good!
People: His love barrel is never empty.
Leader: Express to the world how God set you free.
People: He has placed our feet on the road marked - Salvation.
Leader: He takes you to a good place to live
People: Where the water flows and the fields grow,
Leader: Where the hungry are fed and the thirsty drink.
All: God is so good!
OFFERING THOUGHT
Dear God, we give You center place in our lives. As You occupy Your rightful spot, may You fill our whole heart with Yourself. Amen.
BENEDICTION
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17 KJV)
SERMON BRIEFS
I Am Joseph
Genesis 45:1--15
Imagine the shock. "They were terrified." What an ordeal the brothers had been through. First there was the famine, then the trips to Egypt, then the request for Benjamin following the accusations of theft. They came this last time knowing not what to expect. Fearing the worst, they made the trip to Egypt one more time because they were hungry. They had not been able to figure out this Egyptian official. They certainly had not expected to hear those words: "I am Joseph." Let us try to imagine a few of the thoughts that flooded their minds.
First came the remembering. They had so much to remember. Their thoughts turned to an obnoxious brother who seemed to be favored by their father. They remembered the dreams he shared; the coat he wore; the camel train that took him away; the lies they told their father about his disappearance. And they remembered the times since when their thoughts of the past haunted them. It had been a long time. They never expected to see him again. Now Joseph's statement causes them to confront their past, and they were terrified.
And so it is. The past is always there, usually in the shadows, but sometimes in the light. Those with a terrifying past may try to hide it in many ways. They may use alcohol or drugs. They may rationalize away pain or guilt. The past may lurk in the shadows until a chance encounter or a crisis brings it to light. Then it rushes in to fill the present leaving no room for escape. Perhaps the bothers remembered.
Next came the fear of retaliation. They heard "I am Joseph," and were terrified. The little brother with the pretty coat now stood before them dressed in the power of royal splendor. They were dumbfounded. Fear for their lives gripped them. Had he not already tricked them? Had he not already plotted to get all of them, including Benjamin, alone with him in a closed room with the power of Pharaoh guarding the door? Absolute power was his, and they had not the slightest idea how he might use it. Remembering how they had treated their brother in the past, they feared retaliation.
When the past comes into the future, it not only brings remembrance of wrongs toward God or others; but it fears the future. We have an innate sense of justice. When we are wronged, we expect the wrongdoer to be wronged or make restitution, or both. If we are the wrongdoers, we continually sense that someday, somewhere, justice will be meted out upon us. No wonder the brothers were terrified.
But grace offers another possibility. The past can be brought into the present and restoration can occur. Joseph uses all the power available to him to provide for the well--being of his family. He invites them to come to Goshen - all of them: father, brothers, children, grandchildren, flocks and herds. He admonishes them to make the move quickly.
Instead of piling on guilt, or making condemning speeches Joseph envisions the hand of God in their shared history. Joseph learned through previous experiences that God was watching over him. He had occasional doubts, but now it made sense. God was preparing him to rescue his family from destitution. His testimony to his brothers was also a song of worship to God for His providential care. Joseph explains to them that God used their folly to secure their own future. Their rejection of him eventuated in their own salvation.
Paul picks up a similar theme in Romans chapter eleven. The rejection of their Messiah by Israel prepared the way for His presentation as the Redeemer of all humankind. The scarlet thread of redemption, stitched throughout the entire Old Testament, becomes the strong cord of grace that unites believing Jew and Gentile into one Spirit--led community.
Remembrance need not terrorize us. We are not required to experience retaliation for sins of the past. Restoration is possible. Grace is available. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be welcomed into the presence of a forgiving God just as Joseph welcomed his brothers.
J. Duane Beals
Please Don't Feed The Animals
Matthew 15:10--28
It is a well--known and proven axiom that one cannot give what one does not have. We may share from abundance or from want, but there must be something. Nature teaches that nothing can come from a vacuum. In fact, everything rushes in to fill a vacuum. Mathematically, nothing can be deducted from zero.
The lady in this passage was at level zero. She must have been a single mother; else she would, in those days, have deferred to her husband to acquire help from the master. If she was a widow, then how was she supporting herself? Were there older children as well? We know so little, but what we do know is that there was a need.
I find it interesting that the passage for this day includes two distinct stories that are somewhat connected. Before dealing with the Canaanite woman, Jesus told the disciples that it was not what went into the body (or mouth) that caused defilement, but what came out in the way of actions and words. That statement put to rest the discussion surrounding traditional and ceremonial washing of the hands, highlighting the need for a clean heart and life. Now, Jesus has the opportunity to deal with the tradition of excluding people who do not follow those traditions.
I. Our source of power is in Christ.
There is so much to say about this woman who approaches Jesus much like a prostitute in those days. She was powerless; she was a "she." She had a sick child. She was clearly an unwanted annoyance to almost everyone. But it is to those who admit they are powerless over their situation that God, through Jesus Christ, can help.
There are several opinions about why Jesus was initially so rude to the woman. My own suspicions are that Jesus did not feel the same way toward her as others did, but was reflecting rather sarcastically the prevailing attitude. Would anyone see the connection between what he said earlier and this occasion to minister? Only those who were there would know, but I think Matthew caught on at least.
The woman's answer is full of faith, but it is also full of respect for the situation of the day. In those days, it was customary to throw pieces of bread to the dogs in the street from the tables of the privileged. The Canaanite woman is not asking for that which she does not deserve. She only wants the overflow. Yet, how rich is the grace of God that the full measure of blessing is given to the humble and not to the proud, however deserving they may think they are in life.
II. It is into Christ's church that the power flows.
When Jesus told the apostles that he would build His church and the gates of Hell (Hades) would not prevail against it, He was not just spouting platitudes. He was serious. And so it is, that the church becomes the vehicle of Salvation. Do not be confused. The church does not have saving power in and of itself, just because it is the church. Rather, God has ordained the church to be the handler of his great grace. It is for this reason that one must confess faith in God through Jesus Christ in order to be a member of the church. It is the main qualifier. We may ask candidates for membership if they will support the church and be active in their participation, but without faith in Christ such things are moot.
III. It is from that flow that help comes.
I would call you back to our original premise that one cannot give what one does not have. If the church has been commissioned and empowered, then the grace will quite naturally flow. That flow, by the way, occurs as we obey our Lord and it slows or even stops if we do not live in obedience.
Some years ago, I was chairman of the Board of Directors of our area youth camp. In the natural process of things, the cabins had begun to look a bit shabby and in need of paint. There was only one problem standing in our way - money. Paint, in the area of the camp, was quite expensive because it was a tourist area. So, I began to shop around and found a merchant in the community I served who would sell us paint at nearly half the price we would have paid in the area around the camp grounds. I bought such a quantity of paint that I had to put some in the trunk of my car, some in the back seat, and some in the front seat just to keep my car balanced as I delivered it. I had made a connection with a merchant who was able to help me. If I had not known him, such a bargain might not have been executed.
Do you see what I am saying? It is our constant connection with the God who made us that enables us to be effective witnesses to his grace. Jesus naturally had such connections and kept them fresh. His calling to us is to do the same.
Howard W. Sallee
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: God is so good!
People: His love barrel is never empty.
Leader: Express to the world how God set you free.
People: He has placed our feet on the road marked - Salvation.
Leader: He takes you to a good place to live
People: Where the water flows and the fields grow,
Leader: Where the hungry are fed and the thirsty drink.
All: God is so good!
OFFERING THOUGHT
Dear God, we give You center place in our lives. As You occupy Your rightful spot, may You fill our whole heart with Yourself. Amen.
BENEDICTION
"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17 KJV)
SERMON BRIEFS
I Am Joseph
Genesis 45:1--15
Imagine the shock. "They were terrified." What an ordeal the brothers had been through. First there was the famine, then the trips to Egypt, then the request for Benjamin following the accusations of theft. They came this last time knowing not what to expect. Fearing the worst, they made the trip to Egypt one more time because they were hungry. They had not been able to figure out this Egyptian official. They certainly had not expected to hear those words: "I am Joseph." Let us try to imagine a few of the thoughts that flooded their minds.
First came the remembering. They had so much to remember. Their thoughts turned to an obnoxious brother who seemed to be favored by their father. They remembered the dreams he shared; the coat he wore; the camel train that took him away; the lies they told their father about his disappearance. And they remembered the times since when their thoughts of the past haunted them. It had been a long time. They never expected to see him again. Now Joseph's statement causes them to confront their past, and they were terrified.
And so it is. The past is always there, usually in the shadows, but sometimes in the light. Those with a terrifying past may try to hide it in many ways. They may use alcohol or drugs. They may rationalize away pain or guilt. The past may lurk in the shadows until a chance encounter or a crisis brings it to light. Then it rushes in to fill the present leaving no room for escape. Perhaps the bothers remembered.
Next came the fear of retaliation. They heard "I am Joseph," and were terrified. The little brother with the pretty coat now stood before them dressed in the power of royal splendor. They were dumbfounded. Fear for their lives gripped them. Had he not already tricked them? Had he not already plotted to get all of them, including Benjamin, alone with him in a closed room with the power of Pharaoh guarding the door? Absolute power was his, and they had not the slightest idea how he might use it. Remembering how they had treated their brother in the past, they feared retaliation.
When the past comes into the future, it not only brings remembrance of wrongs toward God or others; but it fears the future. We have an innate sense of justice. When we are wronged, we expect the wrongdoer to be wronged or make restitution, or both. If we are the wrongdoers, we continually sense that someday, somewhere, justice will be meted out upon us. No wonder the brothers were terrified.
But grace offers another possibility. The past can be brought into the present and restoration can occur. Joseph uses all the power available to him to provide for the well--being of his family. He invites them to come to Goshen - all of them: father, brothers, children, grandchildren, flocks and herds. He admonishes them to make the move quickly.
Instead of piling on guilt, or making condemning speeches Joseph envisions the hand of God in their shared history. Joseph learned through previous experiences that God was watching over him. He had occasional doubts, but now it made sense. God was preparing him to rescue his family from destitution. His testimony to his brothers was also a song of worship to God for His providential care. Joseph explains to them that God used their folly to secure their own future. Their rejection of him eventuated in their own salvation.
Paul picks up a similar theme in Romans chapter eleven. The rejection of their Messiah by Israel prepared the way for His presentation as the Redeemer of all humankind. The scarlet thread of redemption, stitched throughout the entire Old Testament, becomes the strong cord of grace that unites believing Jew and Gentile into one Spirit--led community.
Remembrance need not terrorize us. We are not required to experience retaliation for sins of the past. Restoration is possible. Grace is available. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can be welcomed into the presence of a forgiving God just as Joseph welcomed his brothers.
J. Duane Beals
Please Don't Feed The Animals
Matthew 15:10--28
It is a well--known and proven axiom that one cannot give what one does not have. We may share from abundance or from want, but there must be something. Nature teaches that nothing can come from a vacuum. In fact, everything rushes in to fill a vacuum. Mathematically, nothing can be deducted from zero.
The lady in this passage was at level zero. She must have been a single mother; else she would, in those days, have deferred to her husband to acquire help from the master. If she was a widow, then how was she supporting herself? Were there older children as well? We know so little, but what we do know is that there was a need.
I find it interesting that the passage for this day includes two distinct stories that are somewhat connected. Before dealing with the Canaanite woman, Jesus told the disciples that it was not what went into the body (or mouth) that caused defilement, but what came out in the way of actions and words. That statement put to rest the discussion surrounding traditional and ceremonial washing of the hands, highlighting the need for a clean heart and life. Now, Jesus has the opportunity to deal with the tradition of excluding people who do not follow those traditions.
I. Our source of power is in Christ.
There is so much to say about this woman who approaches Jesus much like a prostitute in those days. She was powerless; she was a "she." She had a sick child. She was clearly an unwanted annoyance to almost everyone. But it is to those who admit they are powerless over their situation that God, through Jesus Christ, can help.
There are several opinions about why Jesus was initially so rude to the woman. My own suspicions are that Jesus did not feel the same way toward her as others did, but was reflecting rather sarcastically the prevailing attitude. Would anyone see the connection between what he said earlier and this occasion to minister? Only those who were there would know, but I think Matthew caught on at least.
The woman's answer is full of faith, but it is also full of respect for the situation of the day. In those days, it was customary to throw pieces of bread to the dogs in the street from the tables of the privileged. The Canaanite woman is not asking for that which she does not deserve. She only wants the overflow. Yet, how rich is the grace of God that the full measure of blessing is given to the humble and not to the proud, however deserving they may think they are in life.
II. It is into Christ's church that the power flows.
When Jesus told the apostles that he would build His church and the gates of Hell (Hades) would not prevail against it, He was not just spouting platitudes. He was serious. And so it is, that the church becomes the vehicle of Salvation. Do not be confused. The church does not have saving power in and of itself, just because it is the church. Rather, God has ordained the church to be the handler of his great grace. It is for this reason that one must confess faith in God through Jesus Christ in order to be a member of the church. It is the main qualifier. We may ask candidates for membership if they will support the church and be active in their participation, but without faith in Christ such things are moot.
III. It is from that flow that help comes.
I would call you back to our original premise that one cannot give what one does not have. If the church has been commissioned and empowered, then the grace will quite naturally flow. That flow, by the way, occurs as we obey our Lord and it slows or even stops if we do not live in obedience.
Some years ago, I was chairman of the Board of Directors of our area youth camp. In the natural process of things, the cabins had begun to look a bit shabby and in need of paint. There was only one problem standing in our way - money. Paint, in the area of the camp, was quite expensive because it was a tourist area. So, I began to shop around and found a merchant in the community I served who would sell us paint at nearly half the price we would have paid in the area around the camp grounds. I bought such a quantity of paint that I had to put some in the trunk of my car, some in the back seat, and some in the front seat just to keep my car balanced as I delivered it. I had made a connection with a merchant who was able to help me. If I had not known him, such a bargain might not have been executed.
Do you see what I am saying? It is our constant connection with the God who made us that enables us to be effective witnesses to his grace. Jesus naturally had such connections and kept them fresh. His calling to us is to do the same.
Howard W. Sallee
