Why A Miracle?

from John 6:1-15. John's reporting of the feeding of the 5,000.

• Imagine the enormity of this event. 5000 men. (HersheyPark stadium seats 16,000… every man with say one woman one child… imagine speaking to such a crowd… imagine the time to feed (imagine the time just to commune our worship!)

• Miracles are weird. They bother people. (From Leif Enger's Peace Like A River (PLAR. 2001): "Real miracles bother people. They rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of the earth.") 

Miracles are UNREASONABLE and they DEMAND a response.

More I think about feeding of thousands more I think I’d lie awake at night, that wasn’t supposed to happen. I want to know more about this guy, and it is out of my comfort zone.

• Another selection from PLAR: "People fear miracles because they fear being changed, though ignoring them will change you also."  

(imagine telling about this miracle. Imagine not telling)

• Why miracle? (John 6:14 “When the people saw that he had done a miraculous sign they said This is truly the prophet who is coming into the world”)

This miracle shows God’s ability beyond shadow of a doubt. No natural explanation. In some cases undeniable just by sheer enormity (as setup: huge crowd, wilderness. Another account in Matthew says they were in wilderness for days.  You can't blame this on people not really being hungry or just eating the snacks they had brought with them...)

• Another selection from PLAR: "No miracle happens without a witness. Someone to declare, Here’s what I saw. Here’s how it went. Make of it what you will."

• This miracle: nurture belief in Jesus as God’s anointed one… this is no ordinary prophet. Worth paying attention to. Worth learning about, following, living for.

This is no ordinary God.

Purpose of miracle: So that they may know & believe that Jesus is Lord.

• Prayer that our actions and reactions may point to You / Bell Skit* / Hymn 529

*This scripture was selected today to go along with a handbell skit in which a picnic basket tells his point-of-view of the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 and his story is punctuated by handbell selections.

They Want to See Jesus

John 12:30-33

Fifth Sunday of Lent

• This weekend’s Middle School performance of Willy Wonka (stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1964 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

   What’s the draw about Willy Wonka? Sweets. Celebration. Color. Fantasy. Child-like and care-free. Life.

   All of this points to the world that needs sweetening, needs life, needs celebration. Fallen from Eden.

The Candyman makes the world taste good. 

And the world tastes good because the Candyman thinks it should.

• This weekend’s movie release of The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins 2008), $19.7M opening night record for non-sequel movie, second to Harry Potter and Twilight series.

   What’s the draw? Well-written adolescent lit, exciting action, appealing to guys and gals, underdog, stick-it-to-the-man, struggle.

   The world is broken and life is hard, and there is an oppressive ruling class (us v. them).

• John chapter 12, Greeks want to see Jesus.

   What’s the draw? Some of both. Redemption of life.

Jesus came: 12:46 light in darkness. 10:10 life abundant. 10:28 life eternal. 4:10 living water. 6:35 bread of life. 8:32 truth & freedom.

• Greeks want to see Jesus and they approach disciples who have Greek names because they (the Greeks) see that Jesus has something they want.

   (People may approach you if they see that you have something they want.)

And people want life. And rest. And redemption.

• So invite them that they may find that here, in Jesus,

And live in such a way that people will want to have what you have.

• 117 We Come, O Christ, to You

The Gospel You Can't

Ephesians 2:1-10 and Ezekiel 37

Fourth Sunday of Lent

• Spring must be here… daffodils emerging. Deadlooking bulbs, now looking alive... no wonder they're a sign of Easter hope, of cancer hope.

  Yet the dead appearance a bulb has is not the death talked about in Ephesians b/c natural cycle of dormancy and growth. No dormancy and expected growth author of Ephesians is seeing, just death.

   Like Ezek 37, the dry bones. A valley of bones. That’s death. That’s not dormant, that’s death. Them bones aren’t gonna grow flesh themselves and walk.

But God makes it happen. Not only that but God invites Ezekiel to be part of it, witness and prophet.

• What is the death in Ephesians? 

It’s hedonism (pursuit of pleasure above all else). 

It’s immaturity (verse 3 you were like children). 

It’s disobedience to will of God.

It’s the ethos of today: spirit of tolerance, if it feels good do it, if nobody gets hurt…

(excursis on goodness apart from God? Personal value as standard for ethics, but personal values are personal and fluid, and try as we may, not universal. Even if ppl did come to consensus, value by consensus is best we can do? How about value based on unchanging and infinitely good, external but intimate God. Whose design, goal, and interest is good (2:10). Life is sacred and meaningful because it is endowed by God. The cure for society’s ills is the willful submission to God’s leadership and LORDship.)

Destructive spiritual power (verse 2). Like cancer, rampant growth of the unintended and unwelcome.

Read Verse 1 again.

• Verse 6: However, God is rich in mercy. Act of God to bring back to life, as in valley of dry bones. God’s great mercy and love.

   Why? To show future generations How Great Thou Art (verse 7).

• Gospel = good news = life. New life. Restored life.

• salvation is God’s gift (8). Not your accomplishment. Endowment, not entitlement.

And God intends for us to use it well, to share with world How Great Thou Art.

• The Gospel you can’t.  You can't earn it, you can't do it, it is a gift.

What can you (do)? You can receive (the gift) believe (the Gospel) and achieve. Live in submission to God and in mission to world.

• Hymn 505 Love Lifted Me

"Preach"

Mark 9:2-9 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Transfiguration Sunday

• Sometimes you see in the newspaper or esp. online soldier’s surprise visit with family and it makes you smile… Josie’s pride over Christmas visit of soldier nephew Steve V. active duty – several folks in the congregation… joyful reunion that encourages and strengthens both family and soldier

That’s how I think of the transfiguration… Jesus has been on his chosen assignment for some time now – thirty odd years, let’s say, since he was deployed on his mission of salvation and reconciliation. And though he keeps in regular contact with father (and his commander), actual reunions are rare.

The pace of his assignment is picking up, he’s getting nearer his objective, and he’s told his company a bit about the mission and the company’s not sure what to think… takes a few squad leaders with him and goes on a little divine recon. Meets with Moses and Elijah and receives divine affirmation for the mission, God’s “atta-boy”, keep on keepin on, you got it. This is my son whom I dearly love. Listen to him! Don’t get distracted by other things, listen to Jesus! He’s the one.

And Jesus (I imagine) is re-invigorated.

Great thing to be reinvigorated, receive affirmation as you’re about to undertake something difficult. Set aside some of the hindrances, get past stumbling blocks, focus on the important.

• I’ve been at Ctown some thirty odd weeks, deployed on a mission, and recently reinvigorated. Not supernaturally but internally, in this body

with this infrastructure (people moving, visiting, leading), ability to examine and expand

• Mark 1:38 let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out… there are folks that don’t know Jesus, don’t know the gospel – Gordon L’s (he died last week) prayer was for them, and that is our purpose

• light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ…. How folks need Jesus now, how are we preaching it… how we continue to preach it… preach the gospel at all times, if necessary, use words.

My nickname is "Preach," given to me by some friends on the “fringe” (outside the church)... Be in relationship, invitational, attractive.

• transfiguration energized Jesus and benefited disciples, who were seeing beyond shadow of doubt that this Jesus the Nazarene was indeed something marvelous and wonderful.. that they would dedicate the rest of their lives to his service and celebration.

• be encouraged, be encouragement

• Hymn 512: My Savior’s Love

I stand amazed at the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be, how marvelous, how wonderful is my savior’s love for me.

More Than Chocolates, More Than Roses

From John 15, Exodus 16


• Singles Awareness Day is coming up…  (I shared statistics from http://www.theromantic.com/valentinesday/trivia.htm)

I asked the congregation for their responses:

Expressing love -- marital or friendship. In what ways? How often?

(responses included hugs, kisses, intentional time together)

For marriages lacking in the affection department Dr. Willard Harley (psychologist, marriage guru, author, owner of  http://www.marriagebuilders.com/  ) recommendations… (http://www.marriagebuilders.com/graphic/mbi5010_qa.html) 

• How about expressions of non-romantic love? Love of children/parents, teachers, mentors, friends, neighbors… intentional time with. And whether you’re in a romantic relationship or not, there are a lot more people you can share non-romantic love with than one…

There are many ways to express love, and does it ever get old, really? 

Intentionality is key.

• Holy Communion (literally "with unity", sharing) is holding hands with God, intentional presence with. It’s an expression and celebration of God’s love. There is an element of communion, of course, that is sober and reflective as you consider your own sinfulness that drove Christ to self-sacrifice, but to dwell on just the penitential aspect of communion without celebrating the love in communion would be like recognizing a birthday by only recounting the pains of labor. Communion is holding hands with God, or intentionally spending time with someone who’s important to you.

I don’t know about you but I want that. I think it’s the sweetest thing to see a couple that’s been married for 65 years that wants nothing but to hold hands. It doesn’t get old.

• And as we looked at a number of ways to celebrate love, there’s more than one way to celebrate communion.

Picture the Last Supper, a dozen or so folks gathered at one table. Jesus passes the bread around, each takes a piece. Maybe their hands touch as they pass the bread. Jesus passes the cup around, each takes a sip. They’re sharing not only Jesus’ life but each others lives.

Fast-forward two thousand years and we have a few ways that we have changed how we take communion... intinction, where we receive from a common loaf and cup (as perhaps Jesus' disciples did), or in the pews with the individual cups and cubes, where we all partake at the same time...

• Communion is a gift of God. We read earlier from the book of Exodus. I included that today to show how God gifted the people with manna not once in a while but every day, and exactly sufficiently. Then I read from John 15, where Jesus adjures the disciples to stay connected to him (as the Dr. Harley love list).

• In communion we celebrate God’s love and we celebrate community. And it is good. Better than chocolate and roses.

• Proceed from message into The Great Thanksgiving

A Day in the Life

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Souper Bowl of Caring Sunday

Mark 1:29-39

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

• Today will be Super Bowl 46: the rematch. SB42 MVP Manning v. Brady (5^thSB, 2sbmvps, 3^rd would tie Montana’s record). A hundred players anxious to prove their worth. What motivates a player? Do best. Victory. Glory. Coach. A hundred players know that today is the day to do their best.

• Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a gift…

• I'm a fan of John Wesley, but it’s tough when you measure up to a workaholic… I read one resource that said JW thought little of the man who did not pray for 4 hrs a day… by the way, JW did not have any children and he married late, nevertheless…

• A day in the life of JW. Rise 4am for prayer. 5am preach the first sermon of the day. Expected fellow preachers and layfolk to be there. If not preaching then riding to next preaching engagement, or praying, or writing.

          If not engaged in one of these acts of piety, involved in acts of charity. Visiting sick and imprisoned, overseeing education of laborer’s children (& laborers), overseeing medical clinic for those who couldn’t afford it… Fasted twice a week, lived simply and gave away the bulk of his income. Traveled 4,500 miles a year by horseback, preached over 40,000 times, wrote 32 volumes of sermons and commentaries.

          An impressive man. A man driven by desire to save souls AND to better lives. Died at 87, did not know the meaning of “retirement”.

• A day in the life of Apostle Paul. Started to think about Paul and the passage from 1 Corinthians 9 about Paul wanting to relate to people of all walks of life so that he might reach them for Christ, and thought about my friend Billy, whose enthusiasm for evangelism rivals a sports fan’s enthusiasm for their team.  Billy (and I imagine Paul) hates to miss an opportunity to talk to someone about Jesus, why? That none may perish.

• A day in the life of Jesus. First chapter of Mark, Jesus has recently called four disciples to follow him, and they go to Peter’s home town. On the morning of the Sabbath Jesus teaches in the synagogue and casts a demon out of a man. After church they go back to Peter’s house, and after he heals Peter’s mom, the people of Capernaum bring the sick and possessed to him until after sunset.

          After a hard day’s work, get some rest, no? Some folks don’t even go to work tomorrow because of watching SB today! But no, Jesus, who was up until after dark, arises well before sunrise to pray. Jesus, the very Son of God, chooses to start his day on his knees before God, and then instead of taking it easy, heads off to the surrounding towns to do it all again.

• History, mystery, gift… only currency is present, spend it for the glory of God, guided by church’s mission to reach out to everyone with the love of Christ and to make living, growing disciples of JC… or personal mission, if you have one… or UMC’s if you don’t: make disciples of JC for the transformation of the world. Know mission, get to know people, that none may perish and that some may know God. This Is What You’ve Been Trained For…

• Margaret Clarkson, who was born in 1915, was a teacher in a gold-mining camp in northern Ontario, Canada. It was a lonely life for this woman, but she also knew that this is where God wanted her to serve Him. She had a great desire to be a missionary on a foreign field but because of her health was unable to go. One day she was reading again the verse John 20:21, "Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." While meditating on this verse she wrote the words to a hymn that has become a favorite during missionary conferences, "So Send I You." Maybe after reading the words to this hymn a person would fear the call to missions. But, what a person must understand is that when God calls, He gives such a great desire that all else is unsatisfying and empty.

• Hymn 310 So Send I You

A Promise and an Appeal

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 and 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

• A bit of what’s what… The Deuteronomy passage is about Moses and the power of God which is so awesome that people were frightened of it, scared to death. And God says to the people “I will raise up a mediator, someone like you, someone from among you, who will speak my words.”

Moses was such a prophet. There were many other prophets. Jesus Christ certainly was fully human in order to be completely relatable to humanity.

God promises to provide a go-between.

• [aside] The power point just has some words I want in front of you:

“The living core of the Christian faith is revealed in Scripture, illumined by Tradition, vivified in personal Experience, and confirmed by Reason.”

“Our mission is to reach out to all persons with the love of Christ,
and to make living, growing disciples of Jesus Christ.”

• Paul on food and freedom.  Culture of animal sacrifice, then question about eating meat from marketplace (which had likely been sacrificed to idol): Is eating it participation in idolatry?

Paul’s answer: “No, but…” If someone, another believer, a less-experienced believer sees you doing it and imitates you and falls because of it, you share responsibility for their fall.

∴ Act out of love for them. Put aside what YOU are strong enough to do, for their benefit.

• Application: Paul appeals to community over license. Your faith informs your behavior. Let your behavior be moderated by love.

All is permissible, but not all is beneficial (1 Cor. 6:12). You have the freedom to do anything, but not everything is helpful.  Kids, listen up!

• What is beneficial? That which is edifying, building up, good for the community.

Jesus Christ set aside the power of God Almighty (could do anything) in order to connect with us without overwhelming us. Met us on our level, to spur us onto the next.

John Wooden (UCLA Basketball coach, 1960s, 10 NCAA Championships in 12 yrs, 88-game winning streak) would be a poor basketball coach if he didn’t drill a team on the basics. A good coach doesn’t start out with the advanced stuff but moves the team through the foundations in succession. And btw, he was a devout Christian, considering his beliefs more important to him than basketball: "I have always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior…”

• Certainly we desire to mature in faith, and our mission is to make growing, living disciples – by engaging folks at all levels and saying Walk with me…

• What is beneficial is what edifies community.

Behavior informed by faith and moderated by love.

Prayer: that we may grow in faith & knowledge & love, and use what God has given us to bless others. Inspire us and build us up, Lord.

• Hymn 382 Be Thou My Vision