Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

 Like the farmer, God is patient with the pulling of the weeds.  God does not want to cast out hypocrites from His church immediately.  But when a hypocrite starts to influence a believer, then something would have to be done.  Why is God so patient?

• We all have weed-like tendencies to sin, so we need to be forgiven through the death of Jesus, God's Son, on the cross, which is the payment sin demands.

•  Weeds can look like plants, and believers can look like unbelievers to the unaided human eye.  We need to be patient so a weed-looking plant can survive.

• Eternity is a long time to spend in hell (think:  eternal life sentence without the possibility of parole), so God wants His judgment to be based on truth and exact.

• Who knows, a weed might become a plant--an unbeliever might become a believer by being around believers (gardeners, don't try this at home.  The weed in your garden will never become a plant.  This happens only in God's garden).

So, be patient with others.  Put up with them. Be loving, serving, caring, forgiving, just as God treats you because of Jesus.

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God is a silly farmer, be like Him

Based on the July 13, 2008 sermon from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23  That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear."

     "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."  NIV

     I wouldn't want that farmer (sower) to plant my seeds.  He threw them on the road, in the clay, and among the weeds, as well as in the fertile feed.  If Jesus is the sower, Jesus is a silly farmer--unless, of course, Jesus has another reason to through seeds everywhere.  And Jesus does have another reason to through seeds everywhere.  After all:

• Those are powerful seeds to grow where planted;

• He wants as much crop as possible;

• He shows His generosity;

• We want to be like the good soil but often we act like rock, so He takes another chance with us and continues to be generous with His generous gift:  Sin's forgiven because He paid sin's  bill when He took out His "wallet" and gave His life by dying on the cross.

     So Jesus isn't so silly.  And He wants us to be like Him.  Be generous in telling and showing others the undeserved love God has for them as well as for us. Don't give up on someone who isn't a believer.  Keep sharing forgiveness with him or her.  Live a life of Christian generosity. 

     In just one day recently I had people cut me off while I was driving.  Someone did a U-turn across four lanes and cut me off.  A pedestrian cut me off on U.S. 30 by walking in front of me without even looking.  Another turned into a driveway by cutting across my path on Ind. 51.  There were more.  I never used my horn so much in one day--"telling" them they were bad.

     My wife said, "You shouldn't use your horn so much."  I said, "You're right.  I am preparing this sermon for Trinity congregation to be generous with forgiveness, the seed of the parable here, and I should practice what I preach.  You can't turn love and forgiveness on and off like a faucet.  I have to be generous with everyone, even the undeserving, because God is generous with me, and I am undeserving.

     My wife had a more practical answer.  "You shouldn't use your horn so much because some of those people might be carrying guns and they will shoot you."  Well, that's a good reason, too.

     But generosity breeds generosity.  God is generous with us, and today in this passage He is telling us to be generous to fault with others--and be like Him.  Amen.

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Tired?  Walk Along with Jesus

Based on the July 6, 2008 sermon from Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30  [Jesus said] "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  NIV

     Does your soul feel tired?  Have you faced trouble and wondered why God has brought no answer to the problem?  People sometimes conclude that God doesn't love me.  Jesus brings rest for the soul by reassuring us that He died to pay for your sins, so God does love you.  Now you can face the problem knowing God can be counted as your friend who is there to help you.

     And while taking the yoke of Jesus might seem to be a burden, it really isn't.  Back in His day a sick ox was often coupled by a yoke to a healthy ox.  The sick animal could get exercise and become healthy while the healthy animal took the weight of the load.  The weak ox simply walked along.  So walk along side of  Jesus, who carried your heavy load of sin to cross to lift it off of you, and now carries your burdens of life.

 

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June 2008

The Christian's "Cross"

Based on the June 29, 2008 sermon from Matthew 10:34-42

       Christians carry a "cross".  Most times we say, "I never saw that problem coming."  But we

 get through it.  Jesus tells us to expect burdens we carry because we are Christians, and to be

aware of people who tell us our Christian life will be free from trouble.  Jesus Himself was not

 spared from His cross, so we as His body will not be spared either. 

• A cross reminds us that we still are sinners, although we are forgiven and do not suffer the punishment of sin.  Like cancer patients in remission, we too stay close to Dr. Jesus and his cure.

• Don't expect to chose your cross.  It could be in the form of illness, reversal of fortune, ridicule, ANYTHING which we suffer BECAUSE we are Christians.  A story about a man who wanted to chose his own cross goes this way:  A man thought his cross was too big to bear, so he asked for a shorter one, which he got.  But when the man came upon a wide river to cross, he could not because his cross was too short to bridge the river.  So by not bearing a bigger burden earlier he was unable to bear a larger burden later on.

• A cross is a test of obedience.  God allows a cross to come your way and says, "OK, now what are you going to do?"  He wants us to trust Him rather than our own abilities.

• Expect Jesus to shape your cross.  All things work out for good.  Nothing will separate you from His love.  He will not give you more than your faith can handle.

• Expect to get through the cross.  It will end.  You will serve God as you carry it and when you are able to put it down.  You are following The Servant, Jesus and so you are not in darkness but the light of life.

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It's Tough To Be A Christian

Based on the June 22, 2008 sermon from Matthew 10:24-33

     It's tough to be a Christian.  But Jesus said, "If they call me 'Lord of the flies,' how much worse will you be treated?"  Just say, "Jesus is the only way to heaven," or "There is only one God, Father Son and Holy Ghost," or "Abortion is murder" or "Homosexuality is a sin," or "I'm going to forgive that person," or "I'm going to do it the right way no matter how I've been treated," and see the reaction of society.

     Our natural tendency is to not say anything to rock the boat.  But Jesus warned "whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

     God forgives us of not speaking out

• We are forgiven by the One who spoke out for us on the cross on which he died:  "Father, forgive them" (Luke 23:34).

• We are forgiven by the One who speaks out for us now:  "If anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father--Christ Jesus the righteous" (1 John 2:1). 

• We are forgiven by the One who will speak out for you:  "Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32).

     With forgiveness comes the tendency of the new creation God has made us to speak up.  Remember:

• You are a part of Jesus

• The motives of those mocking Christianity will be revealed (Matthew 10: 26)

• Those who mock have no way to do eternal harm (Matthew 10: 28)

• Your allegiance is to the One who controls your eternal destiny (Matthew 10:28)

• You are more valuable than a bird which will not die apart from the Father (Matthew 10:31)  Amen.

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YOU ARE AN ANSWER TO PRAYER

Based on the June 15, 2008 sermon from Matthew 9:35-38 and 10:1-20

     You are an answer to prayer. Read the passage above.  Jesus had compassion on the people and told his disciples to pray for people to go and work and then he sent them out to work.  They became the answer to the prayer.  You are an answer to prayer.

     You weren't always an answer to prayer, for while we were yet sinners Christ died for our sins (Romans 5:8).  In dying, you saw what Christ did to your enemies:  sin--the guilt and punishment were removed; death--became physical death only, and something your body goes through but you don't; the Devil--stripped of his power to accuse you successfully.  And more than this, you are saved by Jesus' life--his purpose still today is to see you get to heaven (Romans 5:10).  Even more than that, his mind never changes about you, so you can rejoice (Romans 5:11).  So while before faith came you were not an answer to prayer, now after faith has come you are.

     Even now we still need Christ because our sinfulness gets in the way of being an answer to prayer.  Exodus 19 tells us to obey and keep the covenant, and sometimes still we don't.  But Christ has, for you.  So you are God's treasured possession among all he has (and since he knows what he has, he will not trade you in for someone else). 

     What prayer do we answer?  To have compassion, to help the harassed and helpless by telling them they have a God in Christ who cares and leads.

     You answer prayer when you see needs and respond.  Don't worry if you feel ill equipped for the task--Jesus will give you what you need to do the job, just like the disciples.  And know that you are important.  Jesus Matthew named the disciples to show each one counted.  You count.

     Your main goal is to tell people that God is near because sin has been forgiven by Jesus.  God is near by the help you give--telling them about Jesus and helping them with their problems.  You give without looking for a return, yet you know there will be a return.  You give God's peace.  Some will take it and some won't.  don't worry about those who reject you--they reject Jesus as well.  And if you have to defend yourself--your faith, your actions--the Holy Spirit will speak up through you.

     Recently a tornado tore through a camp where Boy Scouts were camping.  While four died, the others, many age 13, helped rescue and provided first aid and shelter and comfort.  They were an answer to prayer.  Recently a girl in Hobart was attacked by another teen age girl.  A JROTC student came to the rescue.  He was an answer to prayer.

     God knows you are an answer to prayer.  Amen.

                                                                                                              --Pastor Nagy

 

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