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19th Sunday After Pentecost
with 1 Timothy
6:6-19
www.FirstChurchBville.com
@FirstUMCBville @kerrfunk
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There was a dog sitting on a porch,
occasionally howling in pain. A passerby asked why the dog was howling.
“Oh, he’s sitting on a nail,” said a man on the porch.
“Oh, he’s sitting on a nail,” said a man on the porch.
“Well,
why doesn’t he move?!” asked the passerby.
“It
doesn’t hurt that much!”
It’s
amazing the things we will put up with,
and the things we’ll complain about.
and the things we’ll complain about.
Suppose
the porch builder consistently built poor quality porches, and you got a new
neighbor who wanted a porch…
Who are you going to recommend? Someone else!
Who are you going to recommend? Someone else!
Or
consider Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7
which was recalled after reports of fire and explosion.
which was recalled after reports of fire and explosion.
We warn about danger. WHY DO WE WARN?
Responsible folks in community relationship warn about danger because we care about others.
Responsible folks in community relationship warn about danger because we care about others.
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The first epistle to Timothy, a set of instructions and advice from seasoned
pastor and mentor to mentee. In the sixth chapter Paul warns about the danger
of riches. Yes, the danger. Paul treats the acquisition of riches as a “fatal
distraction” if you will, and lifts up “Great gain in godliness with
contentment” (verse 6).
That’s the ideal.
That’s the ideal.
Be
not attached to goods or status, pursuit of material gain.
Instead pursue God.
Remember your confession of faith with other faithful, and with the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Instead pursue God.
Remember your confession of faith with other faithful, and with the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Be rich in good works (verse 18). Be like
Jesus. Live generously.
More Like You, the choir sang.
John 3:30: He must increase and I must decrease.
More Like You, the choir sang.
John 3:30: He must increase and I must decrease.
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Some interesting statistics about giving: According to the Nat’l Center for Charitable Statistics,
people who give highest percentage of their income:
People who earn >$10M, give 5.9% of their income.
Next highest: people who earn <$50K, give 4%.
There’s a U-shape between them, with the lowest at $200-250K (who give 2.4%)
(also: 45% of religious folks give average of $1700 or 1.8%)
(my belief: some above average folk here.
Aside: consider your giving)
people who give highest percentage of their income:
People who earn >$10M, give 5.9% of their income.
Next highest: people who earn <$50K, give 4%.
There’s a U-shape between them, with the lowest at $200-250K (who give 2.4%)
(also: 45% of religious folks give average of $1700 or 1.8%)
(my belief: some above average folk here.
Aside: consider your giving)
• We warn because we care about others.
And
because we care about others, I would offer two words:
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One: Seek to be responsibly educated, which includes NOT being immovably right.
Don’t be closed to discussion or relationship with folks who think/act/believe
differently.
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Two: Use your status for good. Face it, we’re white Christians, for the most
part heterosexual.
We are in a position of privilege and power (P&P).
That is, folks who aren’t straight don’t have the same P&P
(think about the simple freedom of walking hand in hand.
Or not getting fired or evicted because of your orientation.)
Don’t be so distracted by majority status
that you neglect those who don’t have that status.
We are in a position of privilege and power (P&P).
That is, folks who aren’t straight don’t have the same P&P
(think about the simple freedom of walking hand in hand.
Or not getting fired or evicted because of your orientation.)
Don’t be so distracted by majority status
that you neglect those who don’t have that status.
Folks
who are not white don’t have the same power and privilege.
I have never worried that I’d be pulled over and or shot bc the color of my skin, because I have P&P. Use my voice, my status my P&P because I care about others, for benefit of others.
I have never worried that I’d be pulled over and or shot bc the color of my skin, because I have P&P. Use my voice, my status my P&P because I care about others, for benefit of others.
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Paul encourages Timothy & community to remember the good confession (6:12)
Let us remember the good confessions we’ve taken.
Let us remember the good confessions we’ve taken.
From
the baptismal vows in the hymnal:
p. 35 #8
p. 35 #8
Do
you, as Christ’s body, the church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your
commitment to Christ? (We do.)
Will
you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include [other
church members] in your care?
With God’s help we will proclaim the good
news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround these
persons with a community of love and forgiveness, that they may grow in their
trust of God, and be found faithful in their service to others. We will pray
for them, that they may be true disciples who walk in the way that leads to
life.
p.
38 #15
As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? (We will).
As members of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness? (We will).
Members
of the household of God, I commend these persons to your love and care. Do all
in your power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in
love.
We give thanks for all that God has
already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together
with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of The United Methodist
Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of
the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our
witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
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Hymn 189 Fairest Lord Jesus
1 Timothy 6:6-19 (NRSV)
6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, therefore we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who make their highest goal to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 7 for we brought nothing into the world, therefore we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who make their highest goal to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
11 But as for you,
man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,
endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the
faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which
you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In
the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in
his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge
you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until
the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will
bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the
King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has
immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or
can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17 As
for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or
to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are
to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so
that they may take hold of the life that really is life. X
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