The Word

Sermon May 13, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:28:18 GMT

"Family as God Intended"

Psalm 78:1 – 8

Rev Ted Jansen May 13, 2012 First UMC

1.) I invite us to consider from Psalm 78:1 – 8 two words; perspective and purpose. God's perspective for our families is to consider the past and seek to influence the future. God's purpose for our families is to Tell, Teach, Trust.

2.) As we look at Psalm 78:1 – 8 there are six generations mentioned. This was interesting to me. This represents a perspective God wants us to have. Here are the verses and the generations; Vs. 5 forefathers, vs. 3 fathers, implied in text is current generation, vs. 4 children, vs. 6 children not yet born, vs. 6 second generation children not yet born.

Perspective of past and future in family life is vital. We learn and understand about our past we need to have a perspective of our families two generations ahead of us, or three depending on what generation you are in.

I want you to visualize your past generations and your future generations with these six chairs that I have in front of you. We are all connected as family.

3.) What do you know of the past generations in your family? Some of you have done research on your family and know a lot.

How many of you have seen the show on PBS called, "Exploring our Roots?" It is a show that researches the family generations and tells the stories from the past.

I pulled out a family history that my father and my great uncle worked on. This was given to me when Kevin was born in 1991. Let me tell you a little about me and some of the Jansen family line that this information documents back 13 generations.

I am a first generation American; my father came to the United States after World War 2, in 1947, from Norway. Let me read some sentences from some of the generations.

The Bible believes it is important to communicate and give perspective on the generations. In different parts of scripture we can see lists of names. Mathew 1 records the lineage of Abraham to Jesus. Jesus was connected in the generations, through his family.

Let's focus on the purpose of the family in three words; tell, teach, trust.

4.) Tell. "we will tell the next generation…" (Psalm 78:4)

We are to tell each generation about the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the wonders he has done. That is what the Psalm teaches. We need to share in our family relationships the story of God in our lives.

When you experience an answer to prayer, when you see a beautiful sunset, when you know the peace of God in your heart, when you experience wonder like a child at something you know that God has done you need to tell your family and others about it. You tell your faith story and it shapes the family God has given you. Others see God because of your telling.

Response: We need to tell others our thanks to God. I invite you to share a word of thanks, or a word of praise, or a joy in your heart to God for something you have experienced this past day, week, month or year. We are a family and we need to tell the next generation.

5.) Teach. "to teach their children…" (Psalm 78:5)

We are to teach the scriptures, the principles, the standards, the truth that we find in the Word of God to our families. We need to root our families in God's Word and let it be a foundation for life together. We do this for all the ages of our children.

The Psalmist writes that God has given us "statutes for Jacob, and established the law in Israel." This is so a common foundation is given to each generation. 2 Timothy 3:16 from The Message translation tells us this, "Every part of scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another-showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way." The entire Old and New Testaments are God inspired.

Let me read the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 as a foundation of truth. I want to focus on one verse, Exodus 20:16, which says, "Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

We teach our children the importance of honoring our parents based on the biblical teaching. God's word has pointed us in this direction. It lays this foundation.

6.) Today is Mother's Day, a day for honoring our mothers. Did you know that Mother's Day in the United States is about 100 years old? Different countries in the world have different celebrations at different times of the year from different traditions. Some traditions go back more in time than the United States.

It is important to remember and honor mothers, not just because our culture reminds us to but because when we do we are obeying a biblical principle that we teach in our families.

Anna Jarvis was the woman who spearheaded the effort to honor her mother and all mothers in 1907. She was attributed to starting "Mother's Day" in the United States on the second Sunday of May. In reading about her life she was saddened at the commercialization of the day in her later years. She wanted to help focus all on honoring mothers, not to lead people to buy cards, candy, food and other gifts.

We honor our Mothers today and pray for them. We bless them. We teach our children and grandchildren the importance of honoring mothers (and fathers.) on this day and every day.

Response: I invite you to repeat this prayer after me. Lord, we honor our mothers, and all mothers this day. May they be blessed and know your love. Amen.

7.) Trust. "Then they would put their trust in God." (Psalm 78:7)

We trust God and allow our family relationships to nurture, support and strengthen our faith. The people that we live with can see and know how our faith in God is real, or not. Faith cannot be given to your children, or grandchildren; each generation has to trust God for themself.

Do you trust God or self? Your family will see and experience your answer.

We express our trust in God by our time, our money, our energy, our attitude, our values. When you give money to God in the offering you are living out your trust. When you give of your time in coming to worship you are living out your trust. When you volunteer in a ministry you are living out your trust. When you pray for others you are living out that trust. When you give God your future and your family you are living out your trust.

8.) a.) When I meet with couples to talk about baptizing their children I like to meet with them in their home. The baptismal vows are vital and important and speak about trust. I realize that how the vows are lived out in the home will make the biggest difference in the life of the child. If a child does not see Mom and Dad trust God in the home they might wonder how God plays a role in life. Trust is lived out in a family.

b.) I received a note a few weeks ago from someone who was coming to worship after not coming for a period of time. They shared with me that they were "taking baby steps to get back to church and God." That note communicated trust because it said that they were seeking to get back to God. They wanted to trust more.

Response: Let us sing together one verse of a hymn written 140 years ago, from a generation from the past. The song is "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" and is #462 in the United Methodist Hymnal. I like the last phrase, "O for grace to trust him more." May we trust in Christ more today than we did yesterday.

9.) We continue to learn from God's word, from the generations, and from life itself about how to be family. Sometimes we get things right and we are thankful; sometimes we don't get them right and have to forgive, learn and try again.

How are things with your family? Let me tell you a story about our family when our children were younger when things didn't go so well.

10.) One of the things that I had our children do was to run around the garden that we had in the backyard in Kokomo. I made them do it three times. It was often after we came home from being in the car, or going out to eat, or at times just after we finished our evening meal. It was a dad thing I made the kids do. Sue had nothing to do with this practice.

Another thing that I did whenever Sue was gone overnight or for the evening was take the kids to Kentucky Fried Chicken. Sue didn't really like KFC and I did so the kids knew that when Mom was gone at least one meal was KFC.

Erica remembers one particular time going to KFC and eating lots of fried chicken and rolls. She was feeling a little sick and very full. She remembers when we came home I made all of us run around the garden three times. That made her feel miserable and sicker that night.

I realized that I shouldn't do that again, as far as loading them up with chicken and having them run around the garden.

I don't think I messed our children up too much by doing that. But when we do make mistakes we need to realize and believe that God has created each child and each family to have a perspective and purpose.

There are things that I have done right and am doing right and see the benefits. There are things that I have done wrong and am doing wrong that I need to learn from and seek to become better as a dad in my family. I need God's plan and prayer as well as each family does.

11.) William and Nancie Carmichael wrote these words for the book, "Lord, Bless My Child."

"Several years ago I began to take note of the specifics of the spontaneous prayers I was praying for our children. To my surprise I found much repetition. I discovered that I prayed most often for their safety and protection, adding a few prayers about an attitude or physical problem. I realized that I could be praying with a much larger agenda.

Often as parents, we feel out of control. We fear that the world's allure, the peer pressure, and the natural wayward bent of the human spirit will take our children far away from God. While those are real dangers, God is in control, and prayer is one thing we can do to have a profound effect on our children's future.

After all, God has a life plan for these kids. Although everyday stuff is important to God, He has in mind a much bigger picture than the latest head cold or stubborn streak my kid may be experiencing. In one sense, we have our children for about eighteen years, but He has them for eternity. He has a life mission for these children. He wants to develop their gifts and talents. He wants to begin, even now; to see them develop the traits of Jesus Christ Himself. He has their eternity in mind."

Closing Prayer

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Sermon May 6, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:57:02 GMT

Marriage as God Intended

Genesis 1:26-31, 2:18-25

May, 6, 2012

Pastor Allison Yankey

I want to let you in on a little secret. God did not grant me the gift of empathy when it comes to taking care of a sick husband. When one of my girls gets sick, I have no problem running to their aid and getting the things that they need. But poor Josh. If he gets sick, I have a really hard time expressing the appropriate level of compassion for his ailments. I guess I just figure he's old enough to take care of himself, and it's never as bad as he reports it to be. This lack of empathy led to an interesting discussion this week. You see, when Josh and I got married, we decided that we wanted to select vows that were more representative of who we were and the commitment we were choosing to make, which I'll get into more detail about in a minute. Unfortunately, 6 years later, we cannot remember what precisely we committed to, and now Josh wants to know if I committed to love him in sickness and in health. So, I scoured my emails and found our original vows and wouldn't you know it, I have discovered that I am contractually obligated to love my husband regardless of the state of his physical health. ::sigh::

But more importantly than that, it was a good reminder and refresher of the commitment that we made when we got married. Here's a brief history for you. Josh and I both received our bachelor's degrees at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. We traveled separately on ministry teams during our freshmen year, and then traveled together our sophomore year. This meant that we spent several hours a week, every weekend, and ten weeks of the summer serving alongside one another through music and ministry. Over the course of the summer of our sophomore year, after dating four or five months, God moved in my life setting my heart for Josh. I knew that I would never love another man as long as God's intention for me was to have Josh as my husband. The romantic in me set aside a time to sit and express this to Josh. So we took a few minutes one afternoon at a camp and I told him, "Josh, I don't expect you to respond to this, but I want you to know that I love you." To which Josh quickly responded, "I know." Now, I knew he wanted to wait until an engagement to use the big "l" word, but I don't think I had quite expected this response. Regardless, the following summer we were engaged, and the summer after that brought about our wedding ceremony.

We have always felt very strongly that God had called us together as a couple, not just for our own benefit but also to be an example of what a good Christian marriage should look like. Not that we always succeed, as many times I have felt remorse over the way we have handled a situation, but that we are committed to fulfilling that which God has called us to in one another's lives. And God has called us, as well as each of you in your marriage relationships, to mutually complete one another, to multiply a Godly legacy, and to mirror God's image.

First, let's chat about what it means to mutually complete one another. I remember a few years ago Char Binkley was here talking with us about several different things, but what sticks out in my mind was her realization that her husband was not put on this earth in order to satisfy and fulfill her every need and desire. As nice as that might be, it simply isn't the case. Satisfying and fulfilling our lives is God's job. But, God has given us a spouse in order to perfectly complement our lives.

Let's go to the creation of Adam and Eve. After God has made Adam, He declares that it is not good for Adam to be alone and that he needs a helper who will be suitable for him. Let's unpack this for just a moment. First, Adam has a relationship with God and that relationship is uniquely fulfilling and satisfying to Adam. They are able to walk and talk together and to build a friendship based on their relationship. But God has also created a unique need of aloneness in Adam that is not filled by God's presence. Remember, this is before brokenness enters into the picture, so our aloneness in this sense is not a result of our humanity but is a reality of our created nature.

Next, God created Eve out of a rib in Adam's side. A few things of interest here. First, God chose to use a bone that regenerates meaning that Adam's rib probably regrew, which still allows for his perfected state before the Fall. Second, God chose to use a rib bone rather than a head or foot bone, perhaps as a symbol of Eve's equality with Adam. Famed theologian and commentator Matthew Henry has put it this way, "The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved."

Finally, God brought Eve to Adam and Adam received her. Notice, Adam didn't say, "Well, Eve, you look pretty good, and after I'm done making a few changes you'll be even better!" Or "I guess you'll do." No, Adam rejoiced and recognized that Eve was made of the same stuff and that they could now do life together. It is also important to note that through this first part of Genesis when God talks about Adam needing a helper, He isn't referring to Adam's need for a maid or a nanny. When God says helper, He is actually using the same language He uses for Himself in other places in Scripture. For instance, Psalm 30.10 says, "Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me. Lord, be my help." This word "help" in the Hebrew is the exact same as in Genesis 2 where God states that Adam needs a suitable helper. I say this not to take a stand for women's rights but instead to share with you that Adam needed someone in his life who could help him in life just as God might help – not as a servant but as one with great value and purpose. The same is true with Eve. She would need Adam to help her in life as one with great value and purpose. To be called a "helper" here speaks more to the simple fact that God had plans for Adam that He could not fulfill without a mate – he was incomplete. Adam needed Eve.

And allow me to interject a sidebar here. This passage does not imply that every unmarried person is incomplete without a spouse. We are all created in the image of God, and we all bring glory to God when we live life as He has called us, seeking to fulfill our purpose. But in God's timing, He does choose to bring a husband and wife together so that they may accomplish what they could not have accomplished apart. Together, as husband and wife, you are called to be, and you can be, stronger and more effective than when you were apart. Part of this is seen in our complementary gifts and skills where a husband's weaknesses are his wife's strengths and a wife's weaknesses are her husband's strengths. There is a balance that is created in this sense. But I also believe that this is seen in our willingness to no longer be independent individuals bent on accomplishing our own desires and seeing our own needs met. Instead, we must strive to work together as an interdependent couple, not only serving alongside one another but also serving one another.

The second purpose of marriage is to multiply a Godly legacy. I won't spend much time on this because Pastor Ted will be preaching about this next week, but it is our job if God gives us children to minister to them so that they may share the faith that we have come to accept. The family is one of the best places in order to grow the faith and to disciple someone else since you share all of life together. Besides, it is God's mandate to us as Christians. Tune in next week for the full version.

The third purpose of marriage is to mirror God's image. This is critical. As we read in the first portion of today's Scripture, God created us in His image and that includes the ways in which we interact with and respond to one another. God chose to reveal to us a part of His character and being through our relationships. For instance, when we forgive one another, we reflect Him who forgave us in Christ. When a man and woman come together in a marriage, with God at the center of their relationship, they will reflect His image. The world will see in that relationship a representation of who God is and how He loves. A couple can demonstrate a portion of God's love, His forgiveness, and His commitment to His people through their love, forgiveness, and commitment to one another. There is far more at stake in your relationship with your spouse than simply the opportunity to enjoy one another's company. God's reputation, the way His image is projected to others, is intimately connected to your interactions with your spouse.

So what does all this mean for us? It means that God had a particular plan and intention in not only His creation of Adam and Eve and you and me but in His creation of marriage relationships. We cannot take lightly our commitment to one another. We cannot ignore how our relationship is projected to others. We cannot overlook our responsibility to uphold our spouses and children to the standards and Biblical mandates given to us by our God. The statistics on marriage and family are staggering. One look at the family lives of a classroom of school children will tell you that many have given way to the world's way of handling marriage and family. Another glance at the media and celebrity marriages will inform you of their opinion of a supposed sacred institution. This is not to say there are not exceptions to the rule and that divorce and family separation are not sometimes necessary. But rather to say that celebrating a 30, 40, or 50 year marriage anniversary should be the norm, that families should strive to serve one another and to reach out to their friends, family, and community in an effort to share God's love, and that God's name should be uplifted and not blasphemed in the context of a marriage.

While I was in college, I traveled with our choir all four years. We would spend several weekends and all of Spring Break singing at schools and churches and then stay overnight at someone's home, known to us as a host home. One particular evening, I was staying at a home with this wonderful couple and over dinner I asked about their marriage. I simply said something like, "I have been so interested watching the two of you interact over the course of the evening. I'm not sure I have ever seen a couple so gracious and loving toward one another. I would love to have a marriage like this someday. Can you tell me how you do it?" To which they responded, "We decided some years ago that it was our responsibility and call to serve one another. This marriage isn't about us getting something out of it but rather about us putting something into it for the benefit of the other." And you could tell. There was a spirit surrounding this home that felt different. It felt right. It felt good. It felt like God was truly pleased with His children and how they had chosen to interact with one another.

If this morning you are here as a single person, I hope you will take away two thoughts. First, if it is not God's intention for you to be married, rejoice in the fact that you can accomplish so much in the state God has given you. The apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7.17, "Each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them." There are benefits and disadvantages to both marriage and singleness. Do not spend your time worrying about which state you are in but rather worry about whether or not you are seeking to accomplish God's will. Second, if it is God's intention for you to be married, I hope that you will take away these thoughts as a goal for when you find that person that is God's provision for you. Seek to begin your marriage as God has intended rather than trying to backpedal and fix it after 5, 10, or 20 years.

If this morning you are here as a married person, I challenge you to take up the mantle of serving your spouse. Forget the notion that marriage is all about your happiness and your pleasure. Push out the thoughts of this world that say you deserve a, b, and c. Instead, allow yourself to be reminded that God has called you to mutually complete one another, to multiply His legacy, and to mirror His image not only in your marriage but in all you say, think, and do. It is never too late to begin.

And so let me close this morning by sharing with you the dedication that my husband and I committed to one another nearly 6 years ago so that you may be challenged to make a similar commitment in your own marriage relationship. Invite you to join your hearts with me in prayer, and if, this morning, you are sitting near your spouse and desire to recommit your relationship to God, this may be an excellent opportunity to do so through holding hands or whatever is comfortable for you.

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Sermon April 22, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:45:41 GMT

"A Call from Jesus to Follow Again"

John 21:1 – 19

Rev Ted Jansen April 22, 2012 First UMC

(I need 6 people to decorate a poster with the words: Failure, Willingness, Recognition, Comfort, Challenge, Call.)

1.) Peter and six disciples decide to go fishing on the Sea of Galilee. This was after Jesus had been resurrected from the dead and the disciples had seen him a few times. With all that has happened to them in Jerusalem going fishing seemed like a good thing. It would help them unwind. Fishing was comfortable, familiar and safe. They had experienced a lot of stress. When you go through stressful times you need to feel comfortable, have your stress reduced.

What happened on the fishing trip? They ended up catching nothing, they failed. They used to do this for a living and now they had failed? This left them feeling frustration, uncertainty, maybe anger or even confusion.

2.) Then a stranger asks them, "How's the fishing?" You would think that this would be a good time for a "fishing story." "Well, you should have seen the ones that got away!" They could have said. They told the truth to this stranger that they caught nothing. They failed to catch fish.

This stranger tells them to cast the net on the other side. At that moment they could have decided to forget it, not to listen, or criticize this stranger. Instead they were willing to try and so they threw the net on the other side.

Then they caught a huge number of fish and had to drag the net in the water. They couldn't bring the fish into the boat.

Then, Peter and the disciples recognize Jesus. This stranger is Jesus! Peter jumps in the water to swim to shore to meet Him.

Jesus has a fire going and He feeds the disciples some breakfast. He comforts them, nurtures them, talks to them and lets them enjoy His presence around a meal He has prepared.

3.) Jesus then talks to Peter privately when he asks, "do you love me?" Peter replies, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

This happens another time and another. We believe Jesus asked Peter three times because Peter denied Jesus three times. This conversation challenge Peter.

An insight into this conversation are the words for love that Jesus and Peter use. In the Greek language there are several different words for love. Jesus is using the word, agape, when He asks Peter if he loves Him. Agape is an unconditional, unmerited, unbelievable love that is self-giving, sacrificial, not expecting anything in return. This is what Jesus is asking Peter. "Do you love me in such a way that you will not expect anything in return?" No conditions.

Peter doesn't use the same word, agape, when he responds to Jesus. Peter uses the word, phileo. Phileo is the term for friendship love. This is a mutual giving and receiving love. Friendship love is based on mutual giving of time and money and shared experiences.

Jesus is asking Peter for unconditional love and Peter is responding with love that has conditions. Peter is saying, "I will love you if you will love me." Peter does not respond by an unconditional love.

So Jesus on the third time He asks Peter about his love uses the term phileo. Peter says yes, to Jesus, again, a third time.

Jesus challenges Peter in describing his future life and how he will not be in control of his life. Then Jesus looks at Peter and calls him to "Follow Me."

4.) This journey of hope that Peter has been on for three years and this fishing trip end with a call to follow Jesus again.

We don't have a response from Peter recorded in the scripture but what we do have is Peter's life recorded in the book of Acts. We see Peter living out his call to Jesus Christ.

As we look at our lives, the witness of the church that began on Pentecost and First UMC I want to let this scripture and six words guide us. The six words are: Failure, Willingness, Recognition, Comfort, Challenge, Call.

5.) Failure. It makes us vulnerable and uncomfortable. Failure could lead us into believing that we are no good. We have to be careful not to believe that when we "fail" at something, a task, that it means that we are a failure.

We need to separate tasks and us and learn from our failure. John Maxwell has written a book called "Fail Forward." His premise is that we must learn from our failures and move ahead. John Maxell writes, "One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures. Instead, they need to keep the bigger picture in mind. [A successful baseball player] doesn't look at an out that he makes and think of failure. He sees it within the context of the bigger picture. His perspective leads to perseverance. His perseverance brings longevity. And his longevity gives him opportunities for success." (From a website quoting John Maxwell's book)

When you have failed at some level you feel pain. When you feel pain you can either get stuck in pain, try to deny pain, avoid pain, learn from pain, or get out of pain in positive ways.

A few weeks ago I was really discouraged about things in the life of the church. I was feeling low and down and focused on things I don't do as well, things I feel like I have failed at. I wondered if I had made any difference in the life of this church. I felt like the glass was half empty, and not half full.

Peter, a former fisherman, wonders is there anything I can do anymore? I can't fish, I have denied Jesus, what do I do?

We need to acknowledge that we have failed at times in our church.

6.) Willingness. Willingness to change, grow, learn, listen, experiment, is a very healthy thing. It often comes from a hard place in our lives.

We need willingness in the life of our church. We need to be willing to try to throw the net on the other side of the boat. We keep throwing the net on the side that we are familiar with, the side that we have always thrown it on, the side that we have been trained to throw it on, the side that has worked in the past. But we are coming up with no results. We need to be willing to try the other side.

7.) Recognition. Where have we seen the face of Jesus? How have you known that you are loved? I recognized Jesus and His love for me in the Good Friday service when the scripture was being read. I was able to see and experience and recognize Jesus and His life given out of love for me when he was crucified on the cross.

We need to recognize the Risen Presence of Jesus Christ in the church.

8.) Comfort. We need comfort in this congregation.

Jesus Christ loves each of us and Jesus Christ loves this church. We are all different, but together, as a group of people, Jesus Christ loves this body. We are one of many bodies, churches, in the life of this community and we are loved. Jesus feeds us with His Spirit when we worship. Jesus loves us through Communion, His word, through leaders, through dreams, prayers and ways we serve the needs of our community.

Jesus likes being with each of us. He invites each of us to His lake place and feeds us some fish, bread and some ice tea. Ahh. We can relax and enjoy being with Him. He loves us and cares for us.

9.) Challenge. Our purpose is not a life of comfort, though we need to rest in it from time to time. Jesus knows that. Jesus will challenge us in our faith, our commitment, our desire to change, grow. He will challenge us to be better for His sake and purpose.

We have asked the Church Doctor to come to help us become more effective. We have asked to be challenged. This means that we are going to be stretched, pushed, moved to action.

We read in the book of Acts how Peter responded to the challenge of Jesus. Peter preached to Cornelius, a Gentile, who he never would have chosen to go to and his entire family was saved and was baptized and the Holy Spirit came on them. It was God's way of telling Peter don't limit God but let the Spirit lead you in the way you share my life.

We need the Holy Spirit to challenge us to be the church in a way that we might not be even thinking about.

10.) Call. We have been called by God to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We do this by inviting people to Believe, Impact and Grow. BIG Church. That is our model.

God called this congregation in its history in unique and special ways. God called this congregation to leave a physical location and physical building to move to a new location, a new building, and create a new identity. In November of 1964 this congregation prayed and believe that they heard the call of God to move. So, the plans were set. In November of 1971 this building was first used for God's purpose. That was 41 years ago. How many of you were here in that first Sunday or first year. We want to thank you for your faithfulness in hearing the call of God.

I have heard stories about some people who did not want to move to this location and chose to leave the congregation. This is hard because if you believe you are called by God you would hope and pray that all would hear and believe that call, but not everyone comes with you.

We need to be spiritually ready. We need to hear the call of God as we decide to change, even though all will not agree. We might make decisions that some will not agree with and some that might decide that they cannot be a part of this congregation as it heads into the future. We need to have a strong, strong sense of the call of God. "Follow Me."

We need to pray that we will hear the call of Jesus to follow again.

11.) I am going to guide us in praying at each of these prayer stations of the words I have lifted up for us to consider. Failure. Willingness. Recognition. Comfort. Challenge. Call.

I want us to consider our own lives of faith and our part of this congregation at this point in our journey of hope.

12.) Benediction of worship service. God is with you and will lead us in the future. Will you be willing to be open to a new thing? If so, I ask you to come to worship next Sunday and sit in a different location to prepare yourself to be open to a new thing that the Lord will lead us in.

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Sermon Wednesday, April 4, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:34:59 GMT

Breakfast with Jesus

John 21.1-14 (MSG)

Pastor Allison Yankey

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Holy Week: Fellowship, Feast, & Worship

As we gather tonight, we are journeying toward the cross and certainly considering what Jesus' last days were all about. We are preparing in the next few days to worship, honor, remember, and celebrate the following events. Tomorrow night, Maundy Thursday, we will remember the last supper that Jesus participated in with His disciples. During this time, Jesus spoke about His upcoming death and predicted the betrayal by Judas. He also started to transform the disciples' thinking regarding the Old Testament laws and the covenant that had been made by God with the people. Friday evening, Good Friday, we remember Christ's gruesome death on the cross, the creation of a new covenant between God and His people, and the abolishment of the first covenant. We acknowledge Christ's death and His absence from us for 3 days, and then we celebrate and honor His resurrection on Easter Sunday when the women found the tomb empty. In another 40 days, which happens to fall on May 17th this year, we will celebrate the ascension of Jesus, which is when His resurrected body, which had been teaching and visiting the disciples, was taken up into heaven. These are all well celebrated and recognized events amidst the church calendar.

But tonight, I want to talk about life after Easter Sunday. Life after Jesus death and resurrection, but before the ascension. As Johnny read for us in the book of John, the scene opens with a discussion amongst a group of the disciples. The opening lines here are telling: Jesus has slowly been making His appearance to different groups of people: first to the women, then to the disciples, then to Thomas, and again to the disciples. Imagine the state of mind in which the disciples find themselves. They just watched their teacher, leader, friend, and Savior get brutally murdered just a few days prior. Then Jesus had appeared to them and spoken with them, so now He is alive and back to be amongst them! So when we meet up with this group of guys, they have decided to go fishing. I wonder if it is the type of fishing trip where the guys were headed out to clear their minds and figure out how to deal with the events of the previous few days. Or perhaps they were just getting hungry and this was how they were moving on with their lives. Either way, life was never going to be the same for them.

• Table Question: What made life different after Jesus resurrected? What did Jesus being alive really mean? [For kids: Would you like to be a fisherman as your job? What do you do when you need a break from a tough situation?]

So these men get in their boats and travel out to sea in order to catch some fish. What do you suppose their conversations were like? Were they dreaming? What this for real? Had all of this actually happened? All the while, they kept throwing their nets off the side of the boat, over and over again, trying to catch something, anything. But no luck. Scripture tells us they were out all day and all night. Then morning came. Perhaps many of them were asleep, taking a short nap before another long day of fishing. Then, one awoke, stretched his arms, and suddenly noticed a person, standing on the beach. Before they could even consider the possibilities, the man on the beach started speaking to them. "Good morning! Have you caught your breakfast yet??" To which, of course, they had to reply no, they had not yet been able to supply for their basic need of food for breakfast. So, the gentleman on the beach gives them some direction. "Why don't you try throwing your net off the other side of the boat?" Having caught nothing, and having nothing to lose, the disciples throw the net off the other side of the boat, and miraculously, within seconds, the net was so full they could not even pull it in.

• Table Question: How would you respond to this situation? Is there a particular situation in which you are looking for some extra help or directions from God? [For kids: What do you think the fish looked like that the disciples caught in their net? What do you do when someone offers you help?]

So check out what happens next. As soon as the net fills with fish, the disciples realize it's Jesus and cry out, "It's the Master!" Simon Peter throws on his clothes and dives into the sea. The other disciples row as fast as they can to get to the shore. They want so desperately to be in Jesus' presence that they scurry with anxiousness and expectation, wanting to cling onto any remnant of Him that they can.

And what miracle is awaiting their arrival on the shore? Jesus is already cooking breakfast. Personally, I like to imagine Jesus, standing on the shore, in an apron, with a huge grin on His face awaiting the arrival of the disciples. Sort of like the old Folgers commercial where the long lost son comes home and starts a pot of coffee. Then you see mom and dad flee out of bed crying, "Peter!" I see Jesus just standing there sort of like, "What took you so long?"

So the disciples pull in to shore all of their fish – 153 to be exact, yet the irony is that Jesus didn't need their fish. He had already provided for them. And as we sit here this evening, we must again acknowledge that God has already provided for each of us.

• Table Question: How has God provided for you? [For kids: Take a brief moment and talk about how God has provided us with what we need, like our baked potatoes are a gift from God. What has God provided you with today? Food? Friends? A new outlook?]

You see, Jesus died on the cross knowing what we needed – a Savior. He had experienced life, He was experiencing death, he knew what pain, heartache, and sickness felt like. And because Jesus is God, He knows how to provide for all of our needs.

• Video: Come Awake

I imagine that tonight we have all brought some sort of baggage with us. Some sort of guilt, shame, anxiety, grief, despair, lament, sorrow – you name it, probably someone here can claim it. But here is the joy in all of this. God gives us hope. We know and acknowledge that He has provided for us in small ways and big ways. Why should we not also apply that to all areas of our lives? There is nothing that Christ's death on the cross and His following resurrection cannot conquer or defeat. Nothing. No sin, no shame, no guilt, no lies, no sorrow, no despair. He defeated every last thing that might keep us from running wholeheartedly towards Him. So let us, tonight, recognize God's provision for us, and awake from the grave of brokenness and selfishness and come to life on the other side of Easter.

While we share in this last song together, I invite you to come toward the platform and enjoy a few Goldfish as a reminder of God's provision for you. Simply take a little container and scoop up a snack knowing that God loves you, God cares for you, and God is standing on the beach in His apron with a huge grin saying, "Guess what?! Breakfast is ready! Look what I have prepared for you!"

• How Deep The Father's Love For Us

• Answer Questions

1 Corinthians 2.9 says, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." I invite you to continue on your journey of hope. To enjoy the provisions of the Father, and to look with joy and excitement on all that God has prepared for you. Enjoy the remainder of your Holy Week!

• Easter Intro Video

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Easter Sermon April 8, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:26:54 GMT

"He is Not Here"

Luke 24:1 – 12

Rev Ted Jansen April 8, 2012 First UMC

1.) Early in the morning the women are going to the tomb with the spices that they had prepared. Filled with grief and pain they were planning to put them on the body of Jesus.

At the tomb they saw the stone had been rolled away and upon entering the tomb did not find Jesus' body. They met two angelic men who spoke to them. "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! (Luke 24:5, 6)

He is not here… He has risen. "He is not here." Those words physically in this setting describe emptiness. Emptiness. He is not here. I want to dwell on that theme of emptiness in a figurative sense today. It seems on Resurrection Sunday we often focus on the "He has risen" part of the verse. That phrase describes the fullness of the promise, the hope and the life of Jesus who was made alive again. But perhaps we don't spend enough time on emptiness as the women experienced it and as we experience it at times.

2.) The word empty in the dictionary has many meanings. The one that I noticed was "having no purpose." Empty means having no purpose.

The women had "no purpose" for the spices, for their time, for their energy, for their love, for their grief. They had no purpose. They were empty.

When they experienced the emptiness of not seeing Jesus' body it caused them to discover loneliness, grief, sorrow, sadness, vulnerability, stress, all sorts of things they were not prepared for. Emptiness came to them when the angel said, "He is not here."

3.) a.) Have you ever experienced emptiness? Have you ever lost your purpose? Have you ever expected something to happen a certain way and it did not turn out that way? Have you faced the death of a family member or friend? Have you lost a job or had a job change? Have you looked at your life and sensed uncertainty? Have you ever felt empty inside, because of the lack of health, friends, finances, joy, or even faith in a loving God?

If you ever experienced emptiness you might have an idea of what the woman were going through when the angel said, "He is not here."

b.) In moments of emptiness 1.) we might lose hope as we look at our condition, 2.) we might try to fill our emptiness with things, people, experiences that won't last, 3.) we might look to God to fill our lives.

4.) Emptiness can cause us to lose hope.

Hopelessness is the belief that whatever circumstances we are in today they cannot get better in the future. We are stuck, we are victims, we are powerless, and we cannot change. We lose hope. This sense of being without hope can cause us to withdraw from others or to hurt others. Hope can be lost when we feel empty.

Have you seen the commercial with the girl calling the boy and telling him that she is giving him the silent treatment? He then says that she doesn't understand what the silent treatment is. She does because she is seen not talking on the phone to the boy and making a face, as he calls her name. Hello, Hello, he calls out to her. But she is not talking.

Have you ever feel like God was giving you the "silent treatment?" You are going through some hard times and it appears that God is not talking, listening, loving, caring for you? God is silent and your hope is fading?

Emptiness can cause us to lose hope.

5.) Emptiness can cause us to fill our lives with people, things, experiences, pleasures, activities. When we do fill our lives it can give us a good feeling for a little while but because our own efforts are temporary we never get filled up. We can spend a lifetime pursuing all sorts of things to fill up our emptiness but we will never be full.

I watched "60 Minutes" last week on a segment on the effects of sugar. A study shared that sugar gives you a good feeling, a pleasurable response that they can measure in your brain. The interesting thing was that in order to have the same feeling of pleasure in the brain you had to have more and more sugar for the same response as time went on. The show mentioned the addictive nature of sugar and how we believe we need to eat more of it, not less, for the same good feeling it gives us.

This is true not only of sugar but of all sorts of things that we seek to fill the emptiness in our lives with.

6.) Emptiness can cause us to look to God. When we are empty the Lord is close, we only have to look around and seek Him.

Jesus experienced this on His last night in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was praying because Jesus was at an empty, lonely place in his soul and he wanted three of the closer disciples to be with Him. Yet, Jesus was upset that they couldn't stay awake. Jesus prayed for three hours as He emptied Himself, not wanting to die but desiring to do the will of God. Jesus looked to God in His time of emptiness. It was all He could do.

7.) Each of you has a cup. I want you to look at that cup and think of the journey of this past week, past month, past year, or past years. See the emptiness of your cup and in your mind name the emptiness that you have experienced in your life. The truth is that we have all experienced emptiness at some point.

Have there been times when you lost hope? Or have you filled your emptiness with things that were not fulfilling you? Are you looking to God, looking to Christ, to fill the emptiness that you have. Have you ever asked Jesus Christ to come into your life? Perhaps you need to look to God as a time of renewal of faith or to affirm your faith today?

Let God stir in your some memories of emptiness. (Allow some quiet time.)

8.) I have some great news. The message of Resurrection day is this; "He is not Here…He has risen!" God can take the emptiness of your life and create fullness because of the miracle of Jesus and His Resurrection.

As you look at the empty cup you can think to yourself, "Well, the cup will always be empty and that is how life is going to be. There is no hope of it getting filled up."

Or you can try to fill this cup with substances that will not fill it up. You can say, "I'll keep trying to fill my life of emptiness."

Or you can fill the cup with water that comes from God. The emptiness is gone and fullness in the Living Water, the eternal water, comes to us from God. (Take a pitcher of water and fill the cup to overflowing with water spilling out.)

9.) When we profess faith in the Risen Christ, we are yielding our lives to the Holy Spirit who takes water from God's love and lets it pour into our empty souls. This is the great news of the Resurrection.

We can get filled up by God's love each time we come to God in faith; it is not a one-time visit to the love of God. We are filled up every week when we come to worship, every day when we spend time in devotions, and at different times throughout the day.

Each time we read God's Word, fellowship with God's people, witness the beauty of creation, gather for worship, celebrate Communion, pray to God, serve others, give our money, God fills us up with His presence.

(Fill my Cup Lord, I lift it up Lord, Come and fill this thirsting of my soul…)

10.) Whenever we proclaim our faith, in private and in public God fills us up. Let us express our faith as recited in the Apostle's Creed. (#881 in the UMH)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come again to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic** Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

11.) We are a people who are on a journey of hope. I want us to be a witness to one another this day.

If you have experienced hope in this service, the last few days, or this past week, past month, or past year I am going to invite you to hold your cup up, as a symbol of God filling your empty places. You have been empty and want others to know that God's living presence as filled you in some way in the places that were empty. Your raising your cup is saying to others that the Risen Christ is present in the world. He has filled me with hope and grace. Or you desire to have God fill you with the hope that the Risen Christ can bring to you. Lift up your cup as a prayer to God.

12.) I want to close this sermon with a song by Matt Maher called, "Alive Again." It is a video that God can use to speak to each of us in our need today. We can be alive today because of the Risen Lord and be filled in the empty places of our souls.

13.) Closing Prayer

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Sermon March 25, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:15:59 GMT

God's Design: Worship Centered in Christ

March 25, 2012

Rev. Allison Yankey

Hebrews 10.1-25 (NLT)

I don't know about you, but I love to know the reason behind things. My mom loves to tell me that when I was a child, I never simply went along with something just because that's what we were going to do. I always wanted to know why that was the best option and where the other possibilities might take us. And so that is where we find ourselves today, on the last Sunday of our sermon series about God's design for worship. At the conclusion of my sermon, it may appear as though Pastor Ted and I have not answered all your questions about Temple worship and how it relates to our faith journey. If you have questions that do remain unanswered, I would love it if you would jot them down and drop them in my mailbox, the front office box, or email or text them to me throughout the week. I would love to finish up the Lenten season by answering your questions on Facebook, in the newsletter, and perhaps here on a Sunday morning.

We have spent the last several weeks discussing what God's design was for Solomon's temple and what worship may have looked like for the early Jews. And so today, we have come to discover why God gave so many directives on early worship and why we don't have to subscribe to those specifics today.

I want to start by first emphasizing how important it was for the early Jews to practice the laws given to them in the Old Testament. For them, temple worship was a way of life, designed to keep them in right relationship with God, their Leader, Provider, and Sustainer. It was also a reminder to them that God, who was Holy and Perfect, was interested in dwelling with them, who were broken and imperfect.

But what Hebrews 10.1 tells us is that the Temple and sacrificial system were never intended to be the solution for all time. Instead, they were to be a preparation for the coming of Christ. Sort of like training wheels. When a child is first learning how to ride a bicycle, they might first start with a tricycle and slowly work their way up to a bicycle with training wheels. Consider with me for a moment how ridiculous a full size bike with tiny little wheels on the back looks. But, that is what teaches and trains the child about balance and stability. It also gives them a sense of confidence so they can soon ride the bike without the training wheels. You see, bicycles were never intended to be always ridden with training wheels, but rather to be used in the interim while the rider gets used to the new system.

And so the system of laws, as set up under Moses, was a sort of training wheel set for God's redemptive plan. It provided a context for understanding what Christ would accomplish once He came to earth. Verses 1-8 tell us all about how insufficient the sacrificial system was the cleansing of the people. Check out this phrase in verse 1 and verse 2: "perfect cleansing." What this is in fact implying is that the purpose of being cleansed, of being purified, is to be perfectly cleansed. It carries a sense of finality, of completion, of not having to do it over and over and over again – which is precisely what temple worship required. Verse 4 says it perfectly, "For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

So upon the recognition of this, where do we go? To the gift of Christ – verse 9. Jesus says, ""Look, I have come to do Your will." He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time." God and His people made a covenant through Moses back in Exodus 24 where God promises to take care of His people, which is the first covenant that Hebrews is referring to. The second covenant has it's beginning at the Last Supper, where Jesus is sharing in the Passover Feast with His disciples. He says, "This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." He is making a direct reference back to the first covenant as well as to the sacrificial system of offering bulls and goats. But this time He is saying that He will be the sacrifice, He will be the one on the bronze altar, He will be the one who is offered up for the forgiveness of the people's sins. And this will be the precise moment with the new covenant will begin.

Essentially, three things happened when Christ died on the cross. First, the old covenant was destroyed. When Moses went up on Mount Sinai, he spoke with God about His requirements and laws for His people, reaffirming and establishing His covenant. This is when Moses received all the instructions for the Tabernacle as well as the 10 commandments and the Book of the Covenant. God's people, in this moment, promised to be obedient to these laws and regulations that were set before them and to progress in their life of faith so that they might continue to be in a right relationship with God. Here is how a covenant works. Two people enter into an agreement with promises of what they will do and what the curse sanctions, or consequences, will be if one of them breaks it. So, when the people broke their covenant with God, they had to offer up sacrifices in order to make that relationship right again. And God, in His great mercy, renewed His covenant with His people each time they offered their sacrifices. But as we read in Hebrews 10, the temple and laws were never the point, and besides, it was never enough. It was never sufficient. The priests had to go back day in and day out in order to make restitution for the people of God. When Christ came, He knew that He was creating a new covenant with God's people and that the old system was irreparably broken. So He became the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate ransom. His death was the ultimate punishment for the sins and grievances of the people against God. Essentially, someone had to die, someone had to complete the curse sanction. And Christ, being perfect in every way, was the perfect sacrifice. So by His death on the cross, He ended the first covenant, releasing God's people from those requirements and exhausting God's righteous anger against sin committed under the old covenant. It is interesting to note that the Temple itself was destroyed in a battle in 70 AD, a mere 35-40 years after the death of Christ. Perhaps its destruction was the ultimate sign of its rejection by God and His desire for a new way of relationship.

Second, a new covenant was created. Christ began to transform the understanding of the disciples of God's covenant with them through the Passover Feast. He then initiates the covenant through His death on the cross. All ancient covenants were inaugurated by means of a sacrifice, and this one was no different. Verses 11-14, as well as the previous chapters in Hebrews 11, describe in detail how Christ is superior to the prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, the Old Testament priesthood, the High Priest, and finally the sacrificial system and the sanctuary. I love how the Message translates verse 14. It says, "It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people." Let me read that again. "It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people." It then goes on to say, "By that single offering, He did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process."

Perhaps it helps to compare the sacrificial system to the work of Christ in this way. It seems that Etch-a-Sketches have taken hold of the public eye recently due to some creative campaigning. I love playing with an Etch-a-Sketch, although I must admit I am not very talented at it. But one thing that I have often been held up by is that it is very difficult to erase the picture I have been drawing. Often times I feel like I shake it and shake it and shake it, and I can still see the fine remnants of the picture I was trying desperately to create. That is very similar to the sacrificial system. People brought their sacrifices and offerings on a continual basis in an effort to rid themselves of that impurity. But no matter how many sacrifices they offered, their condition was still the same – imperfect, broken, and fully aware of their sinful nature and guilt. Then Christ walks onto the scene and becomes the ultimate sacrifice. There is no longer a need for sacrifices. Verses 15-18 speak directly to this. God has created a new covenant and not one that He has written on tablets of stone. Instead, God has written the covenant on our hearts and on our minds. There is an indwelling of God's Spirit that we are now able to attain. We no longer have to live our lives filled with guilt and condemnation. There is a freedom of spirit that is now available because of the saving death of Christ on the cross and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is not to say that many of us don't daily walk with guilt and shame, but to say that there is a way of life available free from this weight. And that life is through the gift of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the persistence of the Holy Spirit.

Which brings me to the third thing that happened at the crucifixion of Christ. At the moment of Christ's final breath upon the cross, Luke 23.44-45 records this: "By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle." As we have described the aspects of the Temple over the past few weeks, you may recall the layout. First, people entered into the courtyard and presented their offerings for the priests. Next, the priest could move into the Holy Place where the lampstand, incense, table of the bread of the presence, and more were located. Finally, only once a year and only the High Priest could enter into the Most Holy Place, the Holy of Holies. This place was where the presence of God dwelt and was separated from the Holy Place by a veil or curtain. It is extremely symbolic and important for us to note that at the death of Christ that veil was torn in two. This is further confirmation of the inauguration of the new covenant between God and His people. No longer did people need to go through the High Priest in order to speak to God or to be in His presence. Instead, we have the freedom to enter directly into His presence and to commune with Him.

It is interesting to me how God used Temple worship as a parallel and context for understanding who Christ is. Let's look at verses 19-22 and see the similarities. Verses 19 and 20: "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place." As we talked about earlier, the Most Holy Place, which is where God dwells, is now available to us because of the life-giving sacrifice of Christ. Verse 21 and 22: "And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him." We know that Christ has become the greatest High Priest of all and has secured everlasting forgiveness and salvation for us. Second half of verse 22: "For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water." Purity was such an important aspect of Temple worship and in being seen as righteous before God. We no longer have to worry about how we appear to God because Christ has taken care of that for us in His perfect sacrifice.

And so, how then shall we respond? Verses 23-25: "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near." Next Sunday, we are beginning our Journey of Hope and that hope is founded in the promise that we have in Christ Jesus. God has always desired to be in relationship with His people – you and me. God has always dwelt amongst His people – behind the curtain in the Most Holy Place pre-Jesus, and in our hearts and minds after Jesus' death and upon the appearance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot wait for you to join us on this journey through the month of April to experience all that God has prepared for you. But more importantly, we hope that you are already traveling the journey of hope as you walk daily with Christ.

This morning, I want to encourage and remind you that there is a life of freedom available through Christ. You don't have to live daily with guilt and shame. God doesn't desire for you to see Him as unapproachable or righteous beyond your reach. Our God is here. He is present. He is ready and waiting for you to have a conversation with Him. If, this morning, you are wondering if that journey is for you, then I would encourage you first to open your heart to God. Speak to Him about where He wants you and how you can take that first step. If you have questions about the journey, then let's chat after the service. My desire is for no one to leave this sanctuary today without knowing the freedom that Christ offers.

Often, our guilt and shame are still attached to us because of our refusal to let go of our situations. Or we still feel guilty because we think that is what God expects of us. Perhaps some of us have never seen anyone living a life of true spiritual freedom and therefore don't know how else to behave. It's interesting, as we consider the sacrificial system, that the offering up of bulls and goats did more to remind people of their sinfulness than their forgiveness. It's like a child who has misbehaved and recognizes their error, yet still has to listen to the lecture by their parents. We've all been there, right? "Please don't yell at me. I already know that I messed up." God knows that we've messed up. We know that we've messed up. So God turns to us and says, "It's okay, my child. I have already sent my Son who covers over all of your mistakes and misguided ways. Instead of dwelling on your past, let's acknowledge the error and look toward the future so we can figure out how to grow this relationship together."

So I want to offer you a few moments of silent prayer to allow you to relinquish control, to release yourself from the cyclical thinking, and to allow God to move in your life that you may experience true spiritual freedom.

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Sermon March 18, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:34:40 GMT

"Worship Preparation"

Exodus 30:17 – 33

Rev Ted Jansen March 18, 2012 First UMC

1.) March Madness. It starts with 68 teams playing basketball. All of the teams have the hopes and dreams of being named the champion. How many of you have watched a few minutes, or more of a game that has been on in the last few days? Teams have been preparing for this tournament all year.

It takes a lot of time, effort, energy, commitment to play basketball in the Division 1 tournament.

The teams cannot experience victory, achievement and fulfillment without a high level commitment. A big part of that commitment involves being prepared. How has your team been prepared for the game, the strategies, the hype, the emotion, and all that goes with March Madness? Preparation comes from a coach and players who agree on a consistent and disciplined teaching approach.

2.) What helps you get prepared for a presentation at work, for leading your football team, for a music performance, for a semester exam, for a Bible study lesson you are going to teach, for a sales call you will make? How do you get prepared for the important things in your life?

Perhaps you have a consistent and disciplined pattern, routine or focus that prepares you.

3.) God gave His word to Moses about the design for worship. From that design we see the desire of God. As God's word from the Old Testament, especially in regards to worship, shows us it is important for preparation to be done before worship.

Worship wasn't something that could be done as people desired or just making things up. No, worship was to be prepared for with a consistent and disciplined approach. Listen to this quote from the "Handbook of Bible Application." (Page 661)

"A true worship experience is often a direct result of preparation for worship. Offerings had to be brought regularly and presented according to prescribed rituals under the priests' supervision. Following these rituals took time, and this gave people the opportunity to prepare their heart for worship. Unless our heart is ready, worship is meaningless. In contrast, God is delighted, and we get more from it, when our heart is prepared to come before him in a spirit of thankfulness."

We are exploring two practices from the Old Testament that instructions were given by God in order to prepare for worship.

4.) The first thing God wanted the priests to do was to wash their hands and feet. God wanted a basin made out of bronze to be built for that purpose. We read in Exodus 30: 20, 21 these words.

"Whenever they enter the Tent of the Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also when they approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made to the Lord by fire, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die."

They prepared by washing. If they didn't they would die! That makes you realize this is important, really important. Why was this important for the priests?

5.) When the priests were washing their hands and feet it was an act of purification. When they washed, they were cleaning the physical dirt from their hands and feet. They were getting pure, clean, physically when they washed.

The same concept applies spiritually. When they washed it was as if their spiritual dirt, or uncleanness was washed away, it was purified. The basin reminded them of their need for spiritual washing. The priests were not pure and needed to be cleansed.

6.) We prepare for worship by understanding that each of us is a sinner; we are dirty spiritually and in need of forgiveness, cleansing, salvation, grace. When we are aware of this we gain a humble and contrite spirit.

I had a conversation with a man who is involved with the AA in our building and he mentioned to me that at the beginning of the meetings they usually introduce them themselves as _____, I am an alcoholic, or some variation of that. It reminded me of the humility and need that is before each of them as they begin the meetings.

7.) Listen to Psalm 51:1 – 17. These words are from David, who was the King, who had pride in his life which led him to the sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba. When he was reminded of his sinfulness these words were expressed. We can prepare by making David's words our words.

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8.) The second thing we read about is that the furnishings along with Aaron and his sons were to be anointed with oil. In Exodus 30:25, 29, 31, 32 the word sacred or holy is mentioned seven times. The oil is a symbol of the Holiness of God. When Moses and Aaron put the oil on the furnishings it made them holy; they were set apart. The priests were to have a sense of the Holiness as they prepared for worship because of the oil on them. They were set apart. God's Holiness was to be remembered.

One way the priests would remember was because of the smell of the oil. It was unique in its fragrance. The oil had an aroma to remind the priests of the aroma of God's holy presence.

They priests were to prepare by focusing on the Holiness of God.

9.) We prepare for worship by being aware of the Holiness of God's presence. Revelation 19:4 – 7 can help us as we read about the twenty four elders and the four living creatures. They are crying out, falling down and worshipping God. "The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried:"Amen, Hallelujah!" Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."

We see this picture of praise to the Holy Lord God Almighty in Revelation.

10.) The Old Testament teaches us that preparation for worship had a dual focus of Holiness and Sinfulness. Washing away our sinfulness and putting on the Holiness of God.

(Point to the bowl and share.) The bowl reminds us of our need for purification and our need for washing our spiritual life, our sin away.

(Put the stole on.) The stole reminds me of the need to be draped in the Holiness of God as we enter a time for worship. All around us God's holy presence in here.

How did you prepare for worship? How did you prepare at home, on the drive here, as you entered the building? Was your heart prepared as you sat down in this place?

11.) I asked the Worship Committee what they find helpful as they prepare for worship.

Some said that what helps them prepare is a sense of quietness, softness, and solitude. This is needed to help them let go of the noise, voices and distractions of the week. It is important to be "quiet" before the Lord.

Others said that making a connection, joining in fellowship and conversation was helpful. They needed to be humanly connected in friendship to remind them of the divine connection, God's relationship to them.

We are all different and we respond to different worship aspects. Should we have a wash basin available? Should we anoint each person with oil? What can we do to help us be free from distractions as we come to worship, to be prepared to worship God?

At times, in spite of our best efforts, we can get distracted by life. When that happens we need to allow humor and grace be evident in our lives instead of rigid focus.

12.) When Sue and I were at the New Haven UMC we had Kevin and Lydia baptized. When Kevin was baptized I shared with the Senior Pastor that I would like to have no responsibilities that day, I only wanted to be a dad with my family. So, I was at home helping Sue get Erica, who was a two year old, and Kevin ready. I normally came to the sanctuary by myself and Sue got herself and the kids ready.

So, this was new. I wanted to have the entire experience of God's presence when Kevin was baptized and not have to be concerned about the worship service.

What I remember about that day was the Sue was holding Kevin and Sue's family was with us. Then Erica was getting fidgety and I was trying to focus and enjoy this moment and time. Then Erica said in semi-soft voice, "Daddy, I have to go potty." Well I tried to ignore her at first and thought well she can hold it. Then somehow Sue looked at me and gave me the "eye." I think Erica said it again this time a little louder and the people around me heard it. It was then that I had to get up, in the middle of the worship service to take Erica to go to the bathroom. People were chuckling at me as I sought not to be a distraction to others that day.

I had my focus on God shifted because of a two year old who was being potty trained. I was stressed out but then I realized that this is life and what are you going to do.

13.) God knows our heart and our desire for worship. May we come with a heart as prepared as we can on the Holiness of God and the Sinfulness of our lives.

I invite us to come to the foot of the cross where we see and experience the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of my life redeemed by the love of God. (Ted then sings the chorus, "Father, I Adore You.")

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Sermon February 12, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:13:43 GMT

Rev Allison Yankey

February 12, 2012

Auburn First United Methodist Church

"Worship With Your Senses"

Think back to one of your favorite memories. I want you to close your eyes and try to recall that moment. Can you see it playing before you? What did it feel like? Where there certain sounds or smells that captured you? Perhaps you can taste the moment or hear something specific. Allow yourself to rest in that moment and re-experience it. As you open your eyes, consider what just happened. As you recalled a memory, you noticed how you experienced it not just with your ears or eyes but with the whole of your being. Even in this moment, in this room, what are you experiencing? What do you see? What do you hear? What do you feel? Can you taste something in the air? Is there a certain smell that is lingering? What are your senses telling you about this place? What are you experiencing?

As we travel through our message this morning, I want to continue the conversation: what are some of the things that you can experience with your senses? I want to try something a little different this morning and integrate a little bit of technology into the message. If you brought your cell phone with you, I encourage you to text this number, begin your message with ____, and then write your message answering the question: what can you experience with your senses? Perhaps it is the smell of freshly baked cookies or the sight of your children. Whatever things you really enjoy experiencing through your senses, please text it in now.

Here is where we are headed: I believe that God designed worship to be a symphony for our senses. You see, as we enter into our teaching this morning, I want you to recognize how you were created and how God designed us to experience Him as we worship. We don't just take Him in by hearing about His teaching on a Sunday morning. We experience Him in every moment of how we live.

Let's look to the Scriptures to see how God desires us to live and worship. [Explain Deut. 10.12-22] As we enter the story in Deuteronomy 10, Moses is giving directions to the Israelites as they are about to continue on their journey to the Promised Land. While Moses was up the mountain the first time to initially receive the two stone tablets with the 10 commandments, God gave him instructions on what worship was to look like, what the Tabernacle was to look like, and how the people were supposed to live. As Moses came down and saw the people worshiping the golden calf, he became angry and smashed the tablets. So back up the mountain he went to get a new set. He creates the two stone tablets and a wooden chest, later to be known as the Ark of the Covenant. God writes on the tablets, and Moses puts the tablets into the Ark.

So, as Moses comes down from the mountain the second time, he is hoping that he does not return to a similar scene. Instead, this time he is prepared to convey to the Israelites all that it is he learned from God while he was up on the mountain. And the Israelites are ready to receive the message. What he conveys is that God is not demanding something of them that is unreasonable or out of His character. Rather, he comes straight to the heart of the law saying, "God asks you to fear Him (or to view Him with awe, wonder, and respect), to walk in His ways, to love Him, to serve Him with all you have, and to do what He asks you." Imagine a father having a conversation with a child who has misbehaved. The child stands in fear wondering how the father will react to their disobedience, and the father lovingly says, "Honey, I love you and I would do anything for you. But I need you to listen to me. I know what is best for you, and I know how to take care of you. Trust me. What I ask in return is to simply do what I ask knowing that I will never ask something of you that is unreasonable or impossible. Can you promise me you'll try? Can you promise me you'll do the best you can?" What I want to highlight this morning is that God asks us to serve Him with all that we have, not just with one aspect of ourselves, not half-heartedly, or with just one sense, but with everything we have been given.

Flip forward two chapters, and we hear God commanding His people saying, "You are to seek out the place the Lord your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His Name there for His dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have bowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you." [Deut. 12.5-7]

God is beginning to lay out His plan for the Tabernacle, the place of worship as the people travel to the Promised Land. God had very specific designs for this place of worship. If you would, please turn with me to the book of Exodus, chapter 25, and we'll be walking through several sections in the coming chapters. I just want you to be able to see the references for the particular items we will be talking about.

You'll notice this morning that there are several objects up on the platform to ponder over. These are representations of different aspects of worship in the Tabernacle, the place of worship. When God called His people to build this, He incorporated each of their senses into the design.

Let's begin first with what we don't see up here - the sense of hearing as found in Exodus 26.9-19. As an ancient Israelite would have approached the Tabernacle, the first place he would have come to would be the courtyard. He would immediately see the cloud of God's presence over the Tabernacle, but he would also hear the bleating animals, the bustling workers, and the other Israelites who had come bringing their animals and other sacrifices for offerings. Imagine the sights and sounds of a busy marketplace.

At this point, the rest of worship was the responsibility of the priests. They were the mediator between the people and God. While people were responsible for knowing and obeying the commands of God, they were not in a direct relationship with God as we are today. Let's see how the priests continued on the worship experience.

As the priest moved from the altar where the animals were sacrificed to the actual Tabernacle, he would touch/bathe his hands and feet in a bronze laver (lay-ver) found in Exodus 30.17-21. This was a large, shallow basin of water made from bronze mirrors donated by the women. We are not entirely sure what this may have looked like, but our large washing bowl on display this morning is a good representation of this important piece. Washing in the basin was a sign of becoming holy or pure and was required of the priests before offering sacrifices or entering the Tabernacle itself.

As the priest moved into the actual Tabernacle (really one big giant tent), the first thing he would most likely see would be the golden lampstand as found in Exodus 25.31-40. This provided light for the priests, as it was the only light, and was made from one single piece of gold weighing approximately 75 pounds. It might have been similar to the one we see here today, as it had a central shaft with three branches coming from each of the sides. Each of the cups on the branches held an oil lamp that was fueled by clear, high-quality olive oil donated by Israelites as offerings to the Tabernacle. It was the responsibility of the priests to keep the lamps burning continually, all day and all night.

Next, the priest might smell the sweet fragrance from the altar of incense as found in Exodus 30.1-10 and 34-38. Twice per day, priests were to burn incense on the altar. This, like the lampstand, was to be burned constantly. It also required a special blend of spices that were only to be used in the Tabernacle. Perhaps you can imagine the smell of the Tabernacle as you sense this incense wafting toward you.

Finally, the priest would approach the Table of the Bread of Presence as found in Exodus 25.23-30. This was a visual reminder of the covenant with Israel which involved God promising to be Israel's God and King, to protect, provide, and fight for Israel, and to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. In return, Israel promised to be faithful to God and obey His commands. In the Old Testament, people often sealed their covenants with a meal. It formalized their agreement, but even more importantly, it bound them in a close relationship. So every week, the bread on the table was replaced, and the priests were allowed to eat the bread as a sort of covenant meal with God. This morning, we also have a representation of the bread on our table here.

You see, as God designed worship, He accounted for each of our senses, seeking to meet our need to be addressed as whole people. Worship has changed quite a bit from what might have been experienced at the Tabernacle. One of the most unique aspects of this particular community is how inundated the people were with the Scriptures. It was on their doorposts, they carried them on their foreheads and on their arms. They spoke about them all throughout the day and meditated on them through the night. Worship and love of God was more organic and a way of life rather than just a single moment or hour in a day.

This is certainly not to say that worship today is any less important or inferior to what happened in the days before Christ. Rather, I would say that we have a wonderful privilege to worship God in spirit and truth – to commune with Him directly rather than having someone else shoulder the responsibility. But what we must be aware of is how often are we engaging with the God who created us? Is God everywhere we look and in all that we do? Are we considering Him and His Words through each moment and in each action?

We are expected to fully engage ourselves with God in whatever way we encounter Him. How are we giving ourselves completely to Him? How do we approach worship on a Sunday morning? How do we approach worship while at work? On the phone or computer? At the drive-thru as we rush to get to a meeting on time? As we interact with others, how are we worshiping God in our conversations and thoughts? Are we allowing God to pervade all five of our senses or do we only feel He can communicate through our ears? It is certainly difficult in our culture with a sort of sensory overload. This is not to say that we are to set aside all things that might distract, but instead to learn how to engage all of our options and opportunities in such a way that we can magnify God more and greater.

God desires to heal us and make us whole people. He desires to bring restoration to the whole person and not just to the brain. He created us in His image with His design, and He desires for us to engage all five of our senses as we interact with Him. So let us not relegate our worship to simply cerebral moments on a Sunday morning. Let us not simply sing with our lips and hear with our ears. Let us not engage in mission through simply our checkbooks or our hands. Shame on us if we think that only certain parts of us and our culture are appropriate for the worship of God. So rather, let us join with the whole of God's people, praising and worshiping Him with all that we have, with all that we are, all that we have been given, and all that we hope to be. For God created each of our senses so that we could more fully experience and engage Him.

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Sermon January 8, 2012

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:01:12 GMT

"Healing for Outcast People"

Matthew 8:1 – 4

Ted Jansen January 8, 2012 First UMC

1.) Jesus Christ is in the healing business. We celebrated the birth of Jesus, God's gift to us at Christmas. Matthew 1:21 tells us what the angel spoke to Joseph. "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name, Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Jesus' name and purpose are centered on the word, "save." Jesus will "save" his people. The word save in the Greek language is soza which means wholeness, healing, made better. So the word, save, means to restore, renew, and make whole again.

If Jesus's name and purpose was to bring healing to the world that implies that we have a need for wholeness and healing. That means that there are places in our lives that are not complete, that are broken, that cause us hurt and pain. As we consider this truth I invite you to think of the ways that we try to fix ourselves, or heal our own hurts. We try to escape our pain and hurts, or we try to compensate in areas, we deny our hurts, or we become paralyzed. Some times we succeed in helping ourselves, other times our needs, our hurts lead us to despair.

We all have imperfections in our lives and we need healing. Let us look to the Healer.

2.) Rev. James Wagner, a retired United Methodist Pastor, wrote a book called, "An Adventure in Healing and Wholeness." He describes five aspects of our health; Spiritual Health, Physical Health, Mental/Emotional Health, Relational Health and Ultimate/Eternal Health. Let's look at each one and how Christ can bring healing to us.

3.) Spiritual Health has to do with our soul and our personal relationship with God. Rev Wagner says that this is the first and primary aspect of health. Listen to this quote from his book on page 41. "Paul Tournier, the famous Swiss physician, believed that a spiritual unrest underlies almost every chronic and acute illness. When this unrest reaches great enough proportions, it throws the body's immune system out of balance. Another medical doctor has stated that twenty-five percent of his patients could be cured by medical means alone, but that seventy-five percent needed the best medical care and the best spiritual care combined."

Healing comes from Christ when we believe in Christ. We experience forgiveness for our sins, protection from evil, and peace that passes understanding, among other benefits.

Physical Health has to do with our body, all of its systems, its needs, and how we maintain it. When we get enough rest, exercise, eat the right foods and make positive choices for our bodies we have good physical health. But we can get sick with common colds, we break our bones, our different parts of the body wear out, we get cancer, we have different genetic conditions that affect us. Each of us have concerns as we relate to our physical health.

Healing can come from Christ to our bodies in medical and spiritual ways. We tend to focus on healing on only think about physical health.

Mental and Emotional Health has to do with our mind, our attitude, our thinking, our emotions. This can be a complex arena as we think about our emotional/mental life. How do we define mental and emotional health? Someone who behaves in bizarre and violent ways is said to have emotional instability. We might have had to overcome some damage and brokenness from the past emotionally. We might have been abused or have made decisions in life that has affected us emotionally in ways that we struggle with. Or we might have a very positive, happy, and joy filled spirit.

Healing comes from Christ when we are no longer paralyzed by fears, selfishness, and other negative emotions. Oftentimes healing happens when you begin new Christian practices like prayer, reading scripture and becoming regular in worship attendance. You allow God to work in your mind and emotions with healing in this way.

Relational Health has to do with the people that we interact with. The practice of forgiveness as we relate to others is vital in our relationships. As we think of the relationships that we have are there some that are strained, conflicted, filled with tension, bitterness? Are our relationships healthy and positive? How would other people describe you as they are in relationship with you?

Healing comes from Christ when our relationships are positive, based on trust, respect, appreciation, genuine and authentic love. A strained relationship becomes better when Christ is bringing His healing grace to you.

Ultimate Health, according to Rev. James Wagner, has to do with the death of our body and the experience of resurrection with Jesus Christ in heaven.

Healing comes from Christ when our lives come to an end and we enter into heaven with the one who was raised from the dead. This is eternal life.

4.) As I was thinking of these five aspects of health two images of circles came to mind. The first image is a perfect circle and represents the healing that Jesus provides. Jesus came to "save," make us whole and heal us.

The second image is four jagged circles that start at the middle and work out from the center. The first circle, the core of our lives, is our spiritual health, the next circle is our physical health, the third our mental/emotional health, the fourth our relational health. These all are jagged and not smooth circles. The jagged edges represent the imperfections of our lives, the places where we are broken and in need of healing and wholeness. When Christ heals us He can take the jaggedness out of our lives and make them more like a true circle.

The last circle is a complete and whole circle. It represents when we have faith in Christ and our body dies we are given ultimate health and are healed in heaven with Christ.

As you picture your life in this format what is your area of greatest need? If I would ask you to draw your life with these circles they all would be different, wouldn't they? Our need are all in different areas.

Matthew 8:1 – 4 describes a healing moment to bring your life into. Jesus and His heart of love are seen in three expressions. Jesus; came down, reached out, and was willing.

5.) Jesus came down. Jesus had been up on the mountain preaching the great Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7). "Coming down" symbolizes the Lord coming from Heaven to earth, from preaching to putting in practice the love of God, from a Holy persona to a human position.

We see a man with leprosy coming to Jesus. The crowd that was with Jesus gasped because of the condition of this sick man and that he initiated conversation with Jesus. In Leviticus 13 and 14 God told the Hebrew people that if someone had leprosy they would be; unclean, would have to live outside of the town and would have to shout, "unclean," when they saw people coming close.

It appears that this man did not abide by those "rules." He brought his uncleanness to Jesus, a holy and pure preacher/teacher. He was around lots of people and he did not shout, "unclean," to give people a warning.

This man of need boldly expressed his faith in Jesus when he declared, "If you are willing you can make me clean." This man was aware of how vulnerable and at risk he was.

Jesus comes down and meets us where we live, with our needs.

6.) Jesus reached out. Jesus did not flinch at this man's request. Jesus did not pull away, or detour his path. Jesus reached out. He touched the man. Jesus, and all the people knew, that if you touch a person that is unclean you are considered unclean. Yet, Jesus, as the Son of God, who came to save people and make them whole and heal them touched the man. Jesus would not become dirty or unclean because He was God and He came to "save."

One way to think of this is to consider what happens in a darkened room when light comes. Darkness does not overcome the light, but light overcomes darkness, always. Jesus, as the light and love of God will never become dark or without love or unclean.

Jesus is reaching to you. By the Holy Spirit His hand is in your hand.

7.) Jesus was willing. Jesus spoke the words, "I am willing… be clean." Those words lifted this man and transformed his life. He was healed physically but I believe that he also had a healing in his relationship with God, with others, and in his mind and emotions.

Jesus always transforms life. Healing always happens because of Jesus Christ.

I want you to believe that Jesus Christ is willing and able to bring healing to you. We are not the ones who direct or tell God how to bring healing. God doesn't act based on our will but on God's own will. God doesn't give us His reasons for His will but we have to trust that there is healing given to us, wholeness in Jesus' name. Healing might not be immediate or even in an area that we are asking for but Jesus will bring wholeness to our lives.

Jesus is willing to begin healing, to bring healing, to build upon healing in your life today, at this moment.

8.) Take a moment to breathe and allow the Spirit of God to speak to your spirit as you listen to this paraphrase of the prayer of St Francis of Assisi that Rev James K Wagner wrote. (Adventure in Healing and Wholeness, page 89)

"Gracious, loving, caring God,

Source of all healing and wholeness,

Make us instruments of your healing.

When we are weak and in pain, help us to rest;

When we are anxious, help us to wait patiently;

When we are fearful, help us to trust in You;

When we are lonely, help us to love;

When we place You apart from us, help us to know that You are still near.

Healing God, grant us not so much to demand everything from ourselves, as to allow others to help us;

Grant us not so much to seek escape, as to face ourselves and to learn the depths of Your love.

For it is in being uncertain and not in control, that we find true faith;

In knowing the limits of mind and body, that we find wholeness of spirit;

In passing through death that we find life that lasts forever.

In the name of Christ Jesus, our Savior, our Healer, our Lord, we offer ourselves to you. Amen.

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Sermon December 24, 2011

jyankey@auburnfirstunited.com — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:45:53 GMT

Christmas Eve Meditation 2011

Rev. Ted Jansen

1.) John's Gospel give us a picture of God and His purpose as it relates to the birth of Christ. Mark's Gospel give us not details on the birth but begins with the ministry of Jesus. We look to Matthew and Luke for birth info.

John writes in the opening words in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

Two chapters later Jesus says in 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life."

That is what we focus on as we celebrate Christ's birth in this place tonight.

2.) I remind each of us that we accept the love of God as a gift; we do not earn that love from God. We forget that truth or let it fade. It is a gift given; God's gift of love given to the world.

3.) There was a Bishop in Myra called Nicolas. He was a very caring and loving man, faithful to God and serving the needs of others. He lived around 300AD. He was believed to give gifts secretly to children and poor people out of his loving and generous faith. His loving spirit and character grew out of his faith in Christ. Bishop Nicolas gave to others freely because he was one who had the gift of God's love in Christ in the heart.

The emphasis in our culture for the last several hundred years has moved from the gift of God's love in Christ that Saint Nicolas had to highlighting Santa Claus who checks on us to see whether we are naughty or nice! This shift emphasizes how we have lived this past year.

This theology, or understanding of God, based on Santa Claus, is that we only get a gift based on our behavior, our works, our good deeds. If we have been naughty, have been bad, have sinned, then we get punished; we are not given good gifts. This shift in emphasis makes us think more about ourselves, and our character rather than on the giver of the gift, God Almighty.

4.) So, I remind you that God has given you his very best gift, His Son, whether you have been naughty or nice, whether you have called on His name in prayer and praise or you have cursed Him.

The truth is that we are all naughty, we all are sinners, we all have failed to measure up, we are not on the good list, none of us have attained the glory of God, we have missed the mark. On the measuring stick of "nice" there is no one that deserves the gift of Christ.

Yet, do not focus on your deeds but on the divine love of God that gives to all people.

5.) The divine calls us to pray and receive the gift of love. The prayer of accepting God in Christ is needed each day. Some of you might have prayed a prayer of belief 25 years ago and are committed and vital in the life of a church. Some of you have never prayed a prayer asking Christ to come into your heart. Some of you have been connected to the church in the past but it was more out of duty than devotion. Some of you have a true hunger in your heart. Some of you have been focusing on your self too long and you are empty. Some of you are hurting and in need of God's gift right now.

Faith in Christ is real each day, it is a daily decision. It does not matter what you did yesterday or last year, or 25 years ago. Do you want the gift of God's love in your heart? I ask all of you repeat after me this simple prayer.

Almighty God I believe that you love me. You gave your one and only Son for me. I am not worthy of your love. I am a sinner.

Yet, you love me. I ask you Jesus, to come into my heart. Forgive me for my sins. Live in me. I praise you for the gift of love. Amen.

6.) As a symbol of the love of God that is in your heart receive the light of Christ. We have received the life of Christ in prayer, so let us receive the light of Christ in practice. Make this a new beginning in your heart and faith.

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