Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture: Matthew 15:10-20
Jesus speaks about what makes a person clean or not
(I showed this clip from Meet the Family, Ben Stiller saying grace)
• On saying grace. No right or wrong, don’t get me wrong, but grace for sake of grace is lacking life.
Are you thankful? How do you show it?
Children show it well...
• Actions speak louder than words. Actions reveal heart.
God is interested in heart, therefore God is interested in combination of how we live our lives and why.
• in fact it can’t simply be HOW because then adherence to the LAW would be sufficient
• Jesus was new & upset some standards that had been carefully set up but which lacked relationship... grace for the sake of grace, instead of grace out of thanksgiving.
Without relationship the Law is devoid of life.
Actions reveal heart
• We are 9 years away from centennial (8/29/20)
It will be our ability to indicate our heart with our actions,
Our ability to live in relationship (w/ God, w/ eachother, w/ community)
That will take us with strength into 2nd 100 years
• & as we move forward we must consciously examine our practices and how they reveal our heart – our decisions as individuals and as a congregation must connect to our heart, our reason for being the congregation of CUMC
What practices? Prayer force, missions, choirs, ministries, vbs...
Reveal what about our heart? Love & thanksgiving to God, service to community
• Jesus’ message is clear: if we are participants in kingdom of God
May the actions we undertake reveal our hearts, continually molded shaped conformed to God.
• Hymn 271 Standing on the Promises
Worship attendance: 150
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