Bringing Treasure

Twentysixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

on Matthew 12:31-37, 

in which Jesus mentions a sin which will not be forgiven
and speaks again of bearing good fruit.

www.FirstChurchBville@gmail.com  @FirstUMCBville  @kerrfunk

• Curious, puzzling, partly disturbing passage to read. Blasphemy against the HS is unforgivable? The general thinking is if you are concerned that you've committed the “unforgivable sin”, you haven't.

• Jesus says tree is good (and its fruit) or tree is bad (and its fruit).
If you didn't get it, he spells it out: there are good people and there are evil people, and everyone will have to answer for their actions. (v.36)

How's that make you feel?
Makes me a little squirmy...
Makes me kinda wish God graded on a curve,
so that I (a pretty decent fellow)
could be compared against someone really bad...

That's kinda how we think of it, if we're honest.

• But if we're honest, does not each person already deserve condemned guilty? (v.37)

I think of Rom 3:10 (no one blameless) and 3:23 (all have sinned)

and John 3:17 (Jesus did not come to condemn...)

Good news that although all earn condemnation, 

Rom 8:1 there is no condemnation and Rom 10:9 Believe in heart, testify with lips... and John 17:3 gift of eternal life is to know God

• Our words and deeds represent / indicate what's inside us.

• We're on crest of new year...
making plans, committees, budget, leadership, vision.
Asking you to confirm, reaffirm commitment to Christ and to congregation... to bring good fruit out of your good treasure.

• Commitment to Christ: All. Willingness to let the light of Christ shine in dark corners of life, not withhold parts. Commitment to witness. To learn at Master's feet.

• Commitment to congregation. We affirm that we will support the church with our “prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness” in our baptismal/new member vows.

• Easy (& fun) to commit to a sports team, but compare the return...
Your team doesn't notice much if you leave them.
The church notices. We need your commitment (to Christ and church)

• Prayer from p. 401, UMH

• Hymn 444 Young and Fearless Prophet