Second-Last Sunday in the church year
Sun 13, Nov 2005
Jeremiah 25:30-32
Psalm 105:1-7
1 Thessalonians 1:3-10
Matthew 25:31-46
Children's Sermon: Heidi brought out a box, calling it a "treasure chest." "What's in the box?" she asked them. The box was empty, but she said we are the treasure. We are the feet that bring peace.
Sermon: (Frank Eberhardt)
Jeremiah describes charges and judgement on mankind. Paul predicts judgement. There are no executive decisions, no meetings, no procrastination, no "I didn't realize it would happen." All will be judged by the "truly, if you did such to the least of these, you did so unto me." From birth to death, all the judgement will be based on our relationship to God. We will all be accountable for our actions.
(Pastor speaks about voter assembly as being an example of `unto me.').
At the sacrament, do we approach God with an agenda?
There is a book entitled And Jesus Said. Mabel Shaw was a missionary to the Bantu people. She taught the Bantu, "If you love the chief (Jesus), you will give water to anyone who asks." This impressed the people. The other tribe, called the Porters, came to the town, thirsty, and the children of the village gave them water. "We are children of the chief," they said. This was the best sermon ever. The `unto me' is a world-wide ideal. Jesus said to not be self motivated. Generosity is about the Spirit, not money. Even if you lose the person you love, remember the `unto me.'
Frank was trying to get through traffic one day. They just sat there and didn't move. He thought the driver up ahead was an idiot. But the traffic was held up by a person helping an old man across the street. The pastor felt like an idiot himself.
(Reads Matthew 25). Every day is a new opportunity to serve Christ. A new pastor had been assigned to a congregation. He was asked to meet a person named George Smith, who made cursing an art. The guy didn't go to church, so the pastor went to see George where he normally went fishing. "A new pastor," George said. "I'll be damned." The pastor said, "Not if I can help it." The pastor described the poverty of the city to him and George donated to the cause, no questions asked. George never set foot in the church, but he helped out a great deal.
"Forgive and be forgiven." When a man's child is raped by someone, God says that man should forgive the rapist. The forgiveness is not about the enormity of the deed, but the enormity of the need for forgiveness. Big sins need big forgiveness.
Sun Wi Lin wrote, "Never tell a kid `you are too dirty to wash.'"
(Pastor reads Thessalonians 1:3-10). Will you forgive? Or will you say, "it's not something I do"? What if you are faced with only the judgement of God? Jesus cleanses us. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. New opportunities for imperfect people. When God commands, he enables.