The Sermon on the Amount | A Sermon on Mark 12:41-44

Introduction
The title of my message today is:  “The Sermon on the Amount.”  You can probably guess the subject of the message from the title.  This sermon answers a question people often ask:  “How much money should I give at church?” 

Money is a sensitive subject—especially when a preacher is the one talking about it. 
But I hope you will listen closely, because this is important.   

Jesus talked about money a lot, because He understood how people handle money is one of the main things that reveals the inward and unseen state of their hearts. 
Since Jesus cares deeply about us and how we handle money, we should too.

The Tithe
In the Old Testament, the guideline for giving was called the tithe.  A tithe is a tenth of a person’s income.  The tradition of giving 10% of your income to God through the church goes all the way back to the patriarch Abraham in Genesis 14.  

Abraham gave God 10% of all the assets he recovered from a battle with an invading army.  Abraham knew God was the one who gave him victory in battle. 
The tithe was a way for Abraham to honor God for the victory.

Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, also practiced tithing.  God promised in a dream to bless Jacob with land and many descendants.  In gratitude, Jacob promised in Gen. 28:22, “I will give God a tenth of everything he gives me.”

The tithe became the standard for giving throughout the Old Testament and was codified in Jewish law.  Leviticus 27:30 – “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart to him as holy.”  And verse 32 – “The Lord also owns every tenth animal counted off from your herds and flocks. They are set apart to him as holy.”

Besides showing gratitude to God, the tithe was also a way to support people who had no other means of support—priests, refugees, widows, and orphans (see Deuteronomy 14:28-29).  The Bible says tithing also teaches people to trust and revere God (see Deuteronomy 14:23).

Average Annual Income and the Tithe
Tithing continued in the New Testament and is still the standard for giving in churches today.  So, to the question: “What amount should I give the church?” the answer for many Christians is: “10% of your income.”  The average annual income for Butts County, GA is about $48,000 per year.  So, for example, a person who earns $48,000 per year would give $4,800 per year to the church (or about $92 per week).

Now, I could spend the next 10 minutes trying to convince you why you should give a full tithe to the church; I could quote Bible verses and speak of my own personal experience with tithing and what a blessing it’s been.  And such a sermon would be challenging, because most people in the church don’t tithe and it’s not easy to give away 10% of your income. 

 The truth is, a message about giving 10% to the church wouldn’t be challenging enough.  God has an even greater challenge for you this morning.  So, I want to read to you from the Gospel of Mark 12:41-44.

Mark 12:41-44
⁴¹ Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.

⁴³ Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. ⁴⁴ For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

The Collection Box in the Temple
In the Temple in Jesus day, the collection boxes kind of looked like a trumpet on top of a box.  The “horn” was made of brass.  So, as you dropped coins into it, the metal coins would rattle against the brass horn as they went into the box (and back then all money was coins; there was no paper money).  So as people entered the Temple, it was all designed to show off how much money people gave (and by implication, how wealthy and important they were). 

You can imagine the scene:  Maybe one person drops a small bag of coins into the collection box and you can hear the sound of numerous coins rattling down the horn.  And everyone hears it and thinks: “Hmmm…”  Then, a wealthier person empties a larger bag of coins into the box and it really makes a lot of noise.  And people think, “Wow!”  And the family that dropped that money in can stand a little taller—proud of their wealth and the fact that everyone knows it.  And the Bible says Jesus was sitting there near the collection box watching people drop in their money.  That’s an interesting thought.  Jesus was interested in what people did with their money. 

In our day, we are very private about what we give to the church.  We are very careful at Stark to keep your financial giving confidential.  But Jesus knows what you give.  Jesus knows not only what you give, but what you can give and why you do or don’t give.  Jesus knows your heart.  Just as Jesus watched as the crowds giving their money to the Temple, Jesus watches as people give money to the church today.

Jesus wasn’t impressed by all the rich people giving their money.  He knew most of them had so much extra that they could give and it didn’t even hurt.  It might sound impressive to hear such a loud jingling as a sack full of money rattled down into the collection box, but Jesus knew it was money a rich man would never even miss. 

And Jesus knew their hearts.  Maybe Jesus wasn’t impressed because He knew many of the richest givers cared more about what people thought about them than what God thought.  Maybe Jesus knew the richest givers really didn’t care about the poor or the needy, they just wanted to be admired.  Jesus knew their hearts.

And then a poor widow came to the collection box.  She dropped in two small coins.  These coins were called Lepta.  They were the smallest Greek copper coin, about 1/128 of a laborer’s daily wage--insignificant to most people of the day.  We might think of them as a couple pennies. 

Yet Jesus admired the widow because He knew it was all she had. Jesus said:  “This poor widow has given more than everyone else. They only gave a tiny part of their great income; but she gave everything she had to live on, even though she is very poor.”  The law only required 10%, but the widow gave everything she had.

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.  The world and all its people belong to him.”  God already owns everything.  (God is the only person in existence is truly “independently wealthy.”)  God doesn’t need your money or my money or anyone’s money. 

And He certainly doesn’t need a poor widow’s two cents.  But the widow’s gift is remarkable because it shows she is content with her life and she trusts God will take care of her.  She had incredible faith.  She trusted in God rather than her money.  And so, God had from her what He wanted most of all—her heart.

Now I want to be careful.  Jesus isn’t asking poor people to give the church their grocery money.  One verse before this story of the widow’s offering, in Mark 12:40, Jesus has condemned religious leaders for “shamelessly cheat[ing] widows out of their property and then pretend[ing] to be pious by making long prayers in public.”  And now here comes a widow who gives everything she has.  Jesus isn't praising a religious system that impoverishes vulnerable people.  He's watching a woman whose entire life is placed in God's hands.  He admires her faith, while simultaneously rebuking rich religious people for their hypocrisy.

It’s Better to Give Your Heart than Your Money
It is far better to give someone your heart than your money.  How much better off would we all be if we understood this principle?  It is better to give your heart than your money. 

 “How many marriages have deteriorated into empty emotions because the husbands do not hear the silent yearnings of the wife when she says, ‘I don’t want your money.  I want you.’  How many parents have lost their children because they failed to interpret the signs, ‘I don’t want your presents, [Mom and Dad].  I want you.’”[i]  Too often we try to buy people off—but no amount of money can substitute for your heart.

Most churchgoers know the number. Ten percent. In fact, a recent Lifeway study found that 77% of Protestant churchgoers believe tithing is still a biblical command.  But only about half say they actually give 10% or more to their church.  Barna found an even wider gap when looking at Christians more broadly:  only 21% of Christians said they give 10% or more of their income to their church.  Apparently, knowing the number and trusting God with the amount are two very different things.

Others may feel very proud they do give a full tithe on their income.  They’re giving at more than most others.  They may feel like they’ve done their duty and they aren’t challenged to do more.  “Why, look at me!  I’m a tither!”  Whether you do or don’t tithe, don’t miss the heart of Christ’s Gospel.  In Jesus Christ, God says, “I don’t want what you have; I want you.”[ii] 

God didn’t send His son to die on the cross of Calvary so that He could just have 10% of our income. He did it because He wants you—every part of you.  God doesn’t just want you 10% of the time; He wants you all the time and for all eternity.  God doesn’t want your money.  He wants you!  And where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.[iii] 

What’s more, Jesus didn’t just come to save you; he came to save the whole world.  And he appointed the Church as His Body to carry out His mission.  He said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations…”[iv]  We are nothing less than the Body of Christ.  His mission has become our mission. 
His passion has become our passion.  What an awesome responsibility! What an incredible honor—to spend ourselves and all we have for the souls of our brothers and sisters here in Butts County and to the ends of the earth. 

The Apostle Paul understood the full ramifications of this.  He said in all sincerity, “I will gladly spend myself and all I have for your spiritual good…” That is the attitude I pray for us to have.  How far are we willing to go for the spiritual good of the person sitting next to us today?  Are we willing to expend ourselves and all we have for the people in our community? 

The True Amount = Everything
You see, the real question is not: “What amount of money should I give to the church?”  In light of our purpose as Christians and the tremendous need around the world, the question is: “How much dare I spend on myself?”  The question is not: “Can I afford to give 10% of my income to the church?”  The question is, “Can I justify the lifestyle that consumes 90% of my income?” 

 We live in one of the most prosperous nations in the world, and a lot of good has come of it, but is it enough?  Have we done all we could do with the vast wealth God has given us?  Have I done all the good I can do with the wealth God has given me?

A lot of people would say the problem with the church today is not enough Christians actually tithe.  I disagree.  The problem isn’t whether or not we tithe.  The problem is we haven’t followed the example of the widow.  We haven’t given everything to God. 

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[i] John Wilkerson, “I Seek Not What is Yours, but You”

[ii] 2 Corinthians 12:14

[iii] Mathew 6:21

[iv] Matthew 12:19

Sound Different | A Sermon on Mark 11:22-25

Introduction
I will never forget the first time I said "I love you" to Kelly.  She was only 16 and I was 18.  We'd only been dating for a short time.  I walked her to her door after one of our dates and said good night and then it just came out, "I love you."  I said it as much out of habit as anything (that's the what we said when we told each other good night in my childhood family).  There was an awkward pause... and Kelly did not reciprocate.

Back in the car on the drive home, I was kicking myself.  Why did I say that?  It wasn't appropriate because we hadn't been dating long enough and I didn't really mean it; it just slipped out.  When I got to my house, the phone rang and it was Kelly.  She said, "I think I should explain why I didn't say I love you back.  Those are very important words to me and I don't use them lightly.  I think you should really know that you love someone before you tell them "I love you.""

Now that sounded different—so much more mature and honest than most 16-year-old girls I knew at the time.  And it impressed me that Kelly had a deeper understanding of love and was willing to stand up for what she believed in and to call me and explain.

We are supposed to sound different than the world.  You see, long ago, God chose you to be holy different—to think different, to act different, to look different, and to sound different.  

How you sound—what you say—is serious business.  Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences."  
Proverbs 15:4 says, "Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit." 
And Proverbs 12:18 says, "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."  And listen to what Jesus said about the power of what holy people say. 

Mark 11:22-25
²² Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. ²⁴ I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. ²⁵ But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

In the Passage, Jesus Implies 3 Ways Holy People Will Sound Different.

First, holy people have faith to speak and move mountains.  Holy people use their words to change lives and change the world. In the 1960s, Martin Luther King, Jr. looked around and found a world full of racial discrimination and segregation.

It seemed like an impossible mountain to move, but King knew it was not right and he was a Christian leader, a holy man. So, King began to speak and what he said sounded different from everyone else. He urged non-violent protest. He spoke about how segregation and racial bigotry was hurtful not just black people, but also to white people and oppressors. King preached that we all need healing--even those who are mistreating others.

Holy people don't just sound different when they speak out on momentous social justice issues.  
Mountains are moved in small ways every day.  Does anyone know who Albert McMakin is?  Probably not.  Albert was a relatively unknown farm worker in North Carolina.  But he attended a revival service where an evangelist named Mordecai Ham was preaching.  Albert invited a 15 year old boy to go with him.  The teenager went reluctantly, but was deeply moved at the service and gave his life to Christ.  That teenager was Billy Graham.  With out the relatively unknown Albert McMakin, we would never have had the powerful evangelist, Billy Graham.

Holy people pray. Philippians 4:6 says, "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."    When others get mad, get sad, get worried, get discouraged, holy people pray.  

Negative emotions produce more negative emotions.  Worry and stress produce more worry and stress.  Everyone gets to talking and dwelling on their worries and stress and all the negative emotions just get worse and more intense. 

But holy people sound different.  Holy people pray and God gives them peace.  And peace gives birth to more peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

Holy People forgive. When Jesus was hanging on the cross, he looked down at the soldier gambling for his clothes and said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).  Holy people sound different because they forgive.

On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof gunned down 9 Christians in a church in Charleston, SC.  The relatives of the slain had a chance to speak directly to the gunman at his first court appearance. One by one, those who chose to speak did not choose anger.  Somehow—by the grace and power of God—they were able to speak life even in the presence of the man who brought death to their loved ones.  

[i]Nadine Collier, the daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance, said at the hearing, her voice breaking with emotion. “I forgive you,” she told him. “You took something very precious away from me. I will never get to talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you, and have mercy on your soul… You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. If God forgives you, I forgive you.”

Forgiveness sounds different. It brings healing—first it helps you heal.  Bitterness will poison you from the inside out.  Holding a grudge will tear you apart and damage all your other relationships.  Forgiveness helps you heal and move on to the brighter future God want to give you.

Are You Ready to Sound Different?
Thankfully, most of us will never experience the tragedy of our loved ones being gunned down in a church prayer meeting.  But there are still some practical things that everyone can do to sound different than the world.  

First of all, get in the Word of God.  Jesus said, "What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45).  So, fill your heart with God's Word. 
Dig into the Bible so that you are more and more like Christ in your heart.  Then everything you say will flow from your Christ-like heart and you will sound different.

Second, refuse to use abusive or vulgar language.  Don't try to tear people down in order to make yourself feel better or right.  There is already too much of that going on in our world.  Holy people should sound different.  Refrain from cutting remarks or trolling on social media.  Refuse to gossip or talk trash about people behind their backs.  Instead of texting or emailing, call or visit and talk to people directly. 

Third, encourage people with love and grace. Be kind.  Be positive.  The world has enough negativity and darkness.  Sound different.  Speak light, not darkness.  Speak life, not death.

Fourth, use your words to invite people to Jesus.  People don't just need a church to attend. They need a relationship with Jesus Christ. They need to know that God loves them, that Christ died for them, that there is forgiveness and grace and new life available through Him.

Now, inviting someone to church can certainly be part of inviting them to Jesus. We need Jesus, and we need each other. Christ calls His people to gather as the Church.  But our ultimate goal isn't simply to get people through the doors of a building.  Our goal is to help people meet Jesus.

Some will say, “But I've already talked to everyone I know.”  Then maybe it's time to widen the circle.

Jesus told a parable about a great banquet. A master prepared a feast and invited his guests, but one by one they made excuses. So, the master told his servant to go out into the streets and lanes and bring in people who had never expected to receive an invitation. And when there was still room, he said, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.”

There are people all around us who are hungry for something they may not even know how to name. Some are lonely. Some are hurting. Some are carrying guilt. Some have lost hope.
Some may never respond to an invitation to “come to church,” but they might respond to someone who genuinely loves them enough to listen to their story and share their own.

So go. Build relationships with people. Invite somebody to lunch. Listen to them.  Learn their story. Tell them yours. And when the opportunity comes, tell them about Jesus.

They may be different from you. That's OK. Jesus loves different.  In fact, God chose us to be different and holy.

Don't just invite people to church. Invite people to Jesus—and then invite them to come follow Him with us.

Are you Ready to Sound Different?  Good!  Because God wants you to be holy different—to think different, to act different, to look different, to sound different, to be different.  You are His holy people, a royal priesthood set apart for His special purposes to go into all the world and make disciples of Jesus Christ to build His Kingdom.  Amen.

Guest Speaker - Rev. Claire Yoder | "The Body of Christ" | A Sermon on John 6

Rev. Claire Yoder spoke at my church this past Sunday while I was a away celebrating my 32nd wedding anniversary.  Here is a transcript of her message:

The Ggospel of John, chapter 6, and I will be starting at verse 26. But I will not read the entire thing — we will do specific verses 26 and 27. Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly" — now when he says that, it means listen up, guys, I got something important to tell. "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and you were filled. Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God has set his seal."

And then we'll go to verses 33–35. "Truly, truly, I say to you, for the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world." Then they said to him, "Lord, always give us this bread." And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst."

Verse 41: "Therefore the Jews were grumbling about him." So what else was new? Because he said, "I am the bread that came down out of heaven."

Verse 48: "I am the bread of life." Is anybody keeping count of how many times he said, "I am the bread of life."

Verse 51–57: "I am the living bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Then the Jews began to argue and say to one another, "How can this man give his flesh?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As a living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me, he also will live because of me."

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

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This story from John has a few surprising elements to it. The way Jesus handles this situation is confusing sometimes, because some of the things that he is saying is upsetting his followers. It seems that he doesn't make it easier. You would think a God of compassion, a God of love, the God of wonderful things, of miracles, would want to make it easier for the people. But it gets more difficult for them most of the time.

We want to take down barriers in people's way and we want to help them get past these barriers. If someone finds something difficult to understand, what's the first thing we want to do? Explain it to them. We want them to understand. We just hop right in there. We want to make it easier for them. And if there is something in their way, especially one of our children, we want to move it. We want to take it out of the way. And certainly this is what we would expect of Jesus. But this isn't what Jesus does here. Instead of making it easier to believe, he seems that he wants to make it harder. Instead of opening a door, he seems to throw up a barrier.

Early in this chapter, Jesus has fed the multitudes. And so they follow him because they have experienced that miracle. They believe in him. They saw it happen. It's the perfect opportunity for Jesus to add to the number of his followers. They'd appear to be on his side. But Jesus says to them, "I tell you the truth. You are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and you got full. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."

Now, notice here, he begins a little gently. He's healed them. He's fed them. But now he gets down to business. He points them beyond the satisfaction of their physical needs to their eternal spiritual needs. He promises to give them the bread of life of which he is speaking. But this isn't the kind of bread that they were thinking about. Jesus, if somebody says to you, "I'll give you some bread," we think about the loaf of bread that we go and get and make a sandwich with. That's the kind of bread they're thinking about. They don't get yet what Jesus is saying to them. They're as clueless as the disciples are so many times.

Jesus said, "The bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." And then they respond, "Sir, from now on, give us this bread." As if they haven't already gotten it. Jesus knows they don't understand. And he says, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry and who believes in me will never be thirsty." But they still don't understand the metaphor. And they are offended. The scripture says they began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven."

Now, since they are upset, you'd think that Jesus would move on to something else, but he doesn't. He only repeats what he's already said, but he adds to the offense. He says it again: "I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

How many times now has he said it? More than once. We know the Jews had very strict dietary rules. There were kosher foods and foods that they would never ever think of eating. Pork was one of the meats that they'd never eat. And if they did, they would become unclean, which was a bad thing back in those days. And cannibalism. Now Jesus is saying, "You've got to eat my flesh." That's cannibalism, folks. Well, and it's a whole different category. So when he said that the bread he was talking about was his flesh, it offended them beyond words. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Now, this really would be a good time to kind of soft pedal, but Jesus just makes it worse by saying, "I tell you the truth. Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him."

How many more times does he have to say it? Because we don't know the original language, we don't really understand the provocative impact that this had on these people. Jesus makes it even worse because he changes the verbs here. Early in his statements, he uses a verb that simply means to eat. But in the last part of his statement, he uses a verb that means to chew, to gnaw, to crunch. Pretty graphic. Many of his followers turned back and no longer followed him. They never came back. Why does Jesus do this? Well, the loyalty of the 12 is even questionable at this point. And we know this because he said to them, "You don't want to leave me too, do you?"

I believe Jesus did this because he was interested in something more than superficial faith. He was not looking for numbers. You know, a lot of times pastors, churches, they want numbers. They got to turn them in at conference at the end of the year. They got to be responsible for growing the church. Except they want numbers. But Jesus was looking for true disciples. It's all too easy to want God to meet our needs and provide for us and never consider what's really important and what he really desires to do for us and in us.

Through our faith, we have to scale the barriers. Rather than trying to avoid them, rather than trying to go around them, rather than trying to pretend they aren't there, we have to face them. Life is full of barriers. And those of you that are in my category, the more mature people, we've had one or two barriers in our lifetime. I know a lot of people who are offended at God. They're mad at him and they turn away because their life hasn't turned out the way they think it should have for them. They don't face the barriers. Their temptation is, "Where was God when I needed him? Why did God let this happen to me or to my loved one?" Now, I understand these feelings, but it's a barrier that must be faced if we are to find our way. And it's not easy to follow God. The scripture tells us following Jesus is not going to be easy. So get ready for it when you make a commitment. It is not easy to follow God all the time. And we should not pretend that it is. We shouldn't go out there and tell God we have 100%, 365 days a year, 24 hours of every one of those days, and nothing is ever wrong. It just doesn't work that way. The way of God is often hard, but in the end, we see that it is better and easier than not following God.

There have always been barriers and those who have faced them with faith have become much stronger people. Ever heard of the saying, "If it doesn't kill you, it'll make you stronger." I think everybody has.

Let's take the Israelites for example. They're leaving Egypt. They're excited about what's to come and at the same time, they're a little anxious because they really don't know what's getting ready to happen. They're filled with the excitement of God's promises. And at the same time, there are so many barriers to obtaining their freedom. They got to deal with Pharaoh. They don't have any food. They don't have any water in the desert. And it doesn't take them long to start bickering among themselves. They're complaining already and asking Moses, "Why did you take us out of Egypt? Why did you save us?" How many years? 400 years they prayed to God, "Take us out of this forsaken place," and he answered their prayers. So you better be careful what you pray for.

Think about Job. Job is the epitome of facing his barriers with faith. He was the most tortured person I know of in the Old Testament. But he is the epitome of how to deal with our barriers and not try to avoid them. He kept the faith. How he did it, I'm not sure. I think Paul would have said to Job, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Job kept his faith throughout his entire ordeal. He never let anyone or anything weaken his faith. Remember one of his friends say, "Why don't you just forget about God?" He says, "No, no, no. That's not the way it works." He had every reason to be angry at life. He had every reason to be angry at other people. He had every reason to be mad with God. But in the end, he overcomes the barriers. And he says, "Though he," meaning God, "slay me, yet I will trust him." No matter what God does to me, I will never forsake him because he will never leave me alone. Now, how is that for strong faith?

I know people who have prayed for strength to allow their adversities to bring glory to God. They never lose their faith. They never get angry at God. But you know what? If we do get angry with God, he can take our anger. The trick is don't lose your faith. Don't lose your faith in God. He understands you're frustrated. He's going to get you through it in spite of all of your doubts. He's going to get you through it. But we must keep the faith.

I saw an interview with a man who had no arms or no legs. You may have seen it. It was quite a while ago. His name was Nick. He had a rare genetic disorder. He had two small feet attached to his torso. Now, as a kid, he had struggled emotionally and physically because his years in grammar, kindergarten, grammar school, middle school, high school were kind of miserable because the other kids didn't really accept him. He had to work on accepting his conditions. And as an adult, he said he had a ridiculously wonderful life. He has a motorboat. He loves to fish. He can swim. He's married. People are always asking him how he can claim he has a ridiculously good life. And he tells them, "You assume — have you ever divided the word 'assume'? You assume that I am suffering from what I lack. I choose to live by what the Bible says. God is the answer yesterday, today, and always. When people read about my life or witness me living it, they are prone to congratulate me for being victorious over my disabilities. And I tell them very quickly that my victory came in surrender. It comes every day when I acknowledge that I can't do this on my own. So I say to God, I give it to you, and then I give it to him, and I don't take it back."

How many of us say we're going to give it to God and two hours later we're worrying about it again? We're fretting over it. We really didn't give it to him, or if we did, we're Indian givers. He says, "The Lord took my pain and turned it into something good. He gave my life meaning when no one and nothing else could. And if God can take someone like me, someone without arms or legs, and use me as their hands and feet, he can use anybody. It's not about ability. The only thing God needs from you and from me is a willing heart."

Barriers — we all have them. I hear my grandmother who died in 1987 and she's still in my head saying, "My dear, it isn't your problems that count, but how you face them and how you handle them."

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen.

---

Now, today we're going to celebrate communion. I kind of battled a little while back and forth with myself. Am I going to do a Labor Day sermon or a communion sermon? And it didn't take long for me to say communion's the important one. That's the way we're going to go. Jesus said, "Remember me every time you eat or drink." How many of you eat more than once a day? Twice a day, three times a day. Do I need to keep going? A snack in the morning, take a nap, get up, go to the refrigerator, get something to eat, get something to drink. We don't even think about it. Sometimes it's just gotten to be habit. I know some of us have an elastic arm — it just goes from there to here. Do you remember to thank God every time you eat and drink? Probably not. I don't. I should. I try to. I'm getting better at it. It took me 83 years, but I'm getting better at it.

But Jesus came to take the sins of the world on himself so that we might be saved from our sins. He continued to tell his disciples and us on that night when he broke the bread that he was coming for that very purpose — to save the world from sin. And after he broke the bread, he gave it to them and he said, "This is my body which has been broken for you." And then after the supper, he took the cup and he said, "This is my blood of the new covenant which has been shed for you and for many. Drink ye all of this."

Now, this is the Lord's table. This is not a Methodist table, a Baptist table, Episcopalian table, a Presbyterian table. I could just go on and on. But it's the Lord's table. And all who earnestly have repented of their sins and want to live as Jesus wants us to live — he invites us to come and partake in this holy meal.

Look Different | A Sermon on Matthew 5:14-16

Introduction

Long ago, God chose you to be Holy and Different. Christians are meant to Think Different, Act Different, and today I want to share that we should Look Different.  

Of all the sermons in this series, I was concerned about this one the most.  Why did God want me to talk about how Christians should look?  I thought about the different ways Christians have looked and dressed over the years.  And to make things easy, I’ve compiled picture showing how Christians can look different. Maybe you would like to choose one of these looks? 

You could choose the monastic look of the monk or the nun.

You could choose the 16-17 century clerical style of Jonathan Edwards or John Wesley.

Or maybe you would like the more contemporary look of the modern worship style.

Or you could opt for a more glamorous televangelist hairdo—what I call the "GlamorEvangelist".

Or if that's not hardcore enough, you could go with the crazy street preacher look.

Maybe we should bring back hats in church?

Or, fellas, maybe you want to go with the bearded look.  There's a handy guide for Christian beard styles…

If we really want to know how Christians should look different, let’s go to the Word of God.

Matthew 5:14-16
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus’ Fashion Advice
Jesus didn’t give much fashion advice.  He did talk about the Pharisees’ clothing once.  The Pharisees liked to dress in elaborate robes ornamented with boxes called phylacteries that held tiny scrolls of scripture.  They liked to be noticed and to look "holy," but Jesus warned they were like white washed tombs, beautiful on the outside but, on the inside, full of dead men's bones.

In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus said you shouldn't worry about what you will wear; He said the lilies of the field are better clothed than anything King Solomon ever wore (and Solomon was the richest man who ever lived).

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus gives a few images of how we are to “look.”  It has more to do with our character, but it can affect the way we look too.  The images He uses are:  light, a city, and a shining lamp. 

Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and have an inner light that shines. There’s something special about them that transcends clothing, age, or the world’s standards of beauty.  Our inner light leads us and even gives light to others, but in order for the light to shine, you have to open yourself up to the Holy Spirit. 

You have to listen to what the Spirit says and then obey—even if it's uncomfortable or challenging.  When you cooperate with the Spirit, you become more like Christ.

You can also give light to others.  Christians are called to be a witness.  Church members promise to support the church with their prayers, the presence, their gifts, their service, and their witness.  Being a witness means telling people what Jesus has done for you.  Even if you don't say anything, people see the way you live.  And if you let the Holy Spirit lead you, you will shine brightly and others will see.

There's something else about that shining inner light.  Jesus said it can't be hidden.  He said we shouldn't try to hide it any more than we would try to hide the light of a lamp. 

I'm so thankful I live in America—a land where we have the freedom to live as Christians.  It was quite dangerous for the earliest followers of Christ and it is still dangerous for many Christians who live in places like North Korea, China, Africa, and Pakistan today.  Many Christians have to worship in secret and try to keep their faith hidden.  Can you imagine the burden of that?  How do you keep your faith in Christ secret when it causes you to shine like a lamp or a city on a hill? 

I'm so glad Christians in America don't have to hide our light.  And I think we ought to try and shine as brightly as we can in honor and memory of those who didn't have this privilege.  How dare we disrespect those who suffer for Christ by taking our shining privileges for granted?

Christians Gather Together
I’ve never been a big city kind of person.  I think I’m truly a country man at heart.  I love the peace and quiet.  I like my privacy.  I don’t want to be right up on my neighbors.

But Jesus said Christians are like a city on a hill.  Cities are a place where lots and lots of people gathering together.  And that tells you something about how Christians look.  Christians gather together in groups. 

You can't have a city with just one person and there are no solitary Christians.  Christians must come together.  Think of the two most important ceremonies in the Christian Church.  The two sacraments Jesus commanded His followers to practice are Baptism and Communion.  You don’t practice either of them by yourself.  You get together with other believers to experience them. 

Christians look different because we are always gathering together with other to worship, to study, to serve, to grow, to hold one another accountable, and to just share life. 

Christians Have Scars
Last week, I shared I have this old truck I call "Dry Bones."  It used to be a dump truck.  They say farm trucks live a hard life, but the life of a dump truck is just brutal! 

You can see the scars from that tough life in the rust that covers Dry Bones.  But it's the rusty old worn-out look that I like most about Dry Bones. 
It reminds me so much of the Christian life.

Jesus comes to us when we are broken and beat down by the consequences of our sin.  He loves us, despite our ugliness, and He redeems us and gives us a new life.  That's what I think about when I see my Dry Bones truck.  It was just a worn out dump truck, discarded and forgotten, but I'm bringing it back to life and making it cool.  People stop me all the time and tell me, "Man, I really love that old truck."  And they love it, not because it's shiny and new.  They love it because it’s rusty and worn-out.

Dry Bones is a good picture for how Christians look different.  Christians have scars.  Even Jesus had scars.  In fact, the risen Christ often showed people His scars to prove it was really Him.  "Look," He would say, "Here are the scars where the nails pierced my hands.  Here is where the spear pierced my side."  Jesus scars are not an ugly thing anymore.  Now, they are a badge of honor that shows what He did for us--how much He loves us.  

Christians have scares too—scars inflicted by the sins of others and some we caused ourselves.  But a scar is not a live wound.  It is a wound that has healed.  And if Jesus is healing you (that’s who Christians are—people Christ has healed and/or is healing)—you will have the scars to prove it. 

And your scars aren't an ugly thing; they are a badge of honor that glorifies God and shows what Christ has done for you.  Don't be afraid to show your scars—to say, "Here.  Here is where Christ healed me from sin."  Our scars tell our story.

Two More Scriptures for Christian Fashion
Before I close, let me share a couple more scriptures about how Christians should dress.

Luke 12:35 – Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.

1 Peter 5:5 – And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So, be dressed for service and dress yourself in humility.  That's your Christians fashion advice. 

Conclusion
Remember, God chose you long ago to be different, to be holy.   God chose you to think different, act different, and to look different. 

You should be like a city on a hill, shining for all the world to see so they may glorify God. 
Are you ready to look different?

Act Different | A Sermon on Ephesians 4:13-32

Introduction
Long ago, God chose you to be Holy and different—to think different and to act different.  Thoughts and actions go hand in hand.  The way you think changes the way you act.  But sometimes, the way you act can change the way you think. 

Today, I want to share how God's Holy people should act different than the rest of the world.  Listen to what the Word of God says. 

Ephesians 4:17-32
¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. ³² Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Characteristics of the Ungodly
Our passage lists some characteristics of ungodly people.  It uses the word "Gentiles", but in the context Gentile means anyone who doesn't follow Jesus.  Gentiles are the ungodly and the passage begins saying they have dark minds.

Our world is full of senseless violence.  We see it too often in mass shootings in our times.  We don't understand why someone would do such a thing.  Whether it’s a terrorism, hate, or just a mental illness, it’s clear these acts come from a dark mind. 

We say, "How can anyone do something like that?  I would never do that!"  We don’t understand, but know this:  the same darkness lurks in every human heart.  We are sinful, fallen creatures.  We may never pick up a gun and shoot someone, but we do other things that hurt people because we are broken inside.  Christians are those who admit we are broken beyond repair and desperately need Jesus to heal us and save us. 

The ungodly have a dark mind and hard hearts and they have closed their minds to God.  They refuse to let Him be Lord and continue to seek their own selfish designs.  Ephesians says they have no sense of shame, live for pleasure, and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

Paul’s not just saying how bad the ungodly are.  His point is:  that’s how bad we all are without God.  That's how we all used to be before Christ saved us.  But now, Christians shouldn’t be like that anymore. We should be different.

Christians Act Different
Ephesians tells how Christians should to act different.  Christians are to stop telling lies.  We have to be honest with each other, even when the truth is awkward or difficult or goes against generally accepted beliefs.

And the passage says, "Don’t let anger control you.”  Notice, it doesn’t say don’t get angry.  It says don’t let your anger control you.  Anger is a natural emotion—especially in the face of evil and injustice, like when someone murders innocent children.  Anger can motivate you to act when you need to act, but don't let anger control you.  Don't lose you temper and let anger make you do or say something you shouldn't.

And the passage says, “quit stealing.”  Work hard and give.  Notice, it's not enough to just stop stealing.  Christians act different by going even further and being generous, which is actually the opposite of stealing.

Christians should be different because we don’t use foul or abusive language.  Now, if you've grown up in church or among polite people, you might nod your head in agreement.  Don't cuss.  But Christian differentness is so much more than just refraining from profanity. 

“Dry Bones” Truck
I have an old F350 rat rod pickup truck I call "Dry Bones."  A few years ago, I was on my way to a car show.  I stopped by a hardware store to pick up something to shine the tires (The tires are the only thing on the truck capable of shining.)

Anyway, as I checked out, the cashier asked if that was my truck outside.  "Yes ma'am," I said. 

"Do you mind if I come out and take a look at it?"
"Sure." I said and we went out and she looked it over.  She immediately exclaimed, "Man!  That's cool as heck!"  (Only, she didn't say heck.)

So we were walking around it and got to the back tailgate where there is this big wooden cross and she repeated, "Man! That is cool as heck!"  (Only she didn't say heck.) 

Then she looked over at me and saw I was wearing a Christian t-shirt and a cross necklace.  
And she said, "And your a Christian."  "Yes ma'am."
"And you go to church."  "Yes ma'am."
"And I just cussed in front of you."
And I said, "Yes ma'am, but don't you worry about it.  I'm not offended and God loves you."

I’m not too worried about that lady for her choice of words.  On the other hand, I knew of a Christian who was a member my church at that time who frequently made abusive remarks on Facebook about politicians she didn’t like.  The ironic thing is she considered herself an ultra-devout Christian.  In fact, she made some of her vicious comments because she thought being Christian meant she was supposed to.  The truth is, I think God is more disappointed in her vitriol than He is about the lady at Ace Hardware who used a 4-letter word to express her admiration of my truck.

Act different.  Speak life and hope as verse 29 says:  “…Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”  Verse 31 hints at what real foul language is.  It says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.”

Ephesians 4:32
We have all acted like ungodly people at one time or another (Rm 3:23). However, the Word of God teaches us to let the Holy Spirit of God invade our hearts and change us so we act different.

Verse 32 says, “Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Christians act different. We are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.  Some will say, "Yeah, but I know some non-Christians who are kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving."  The difference is why Christians act this way.  We are different because Jesus Christ acted that way toward us first.  Christ was kind and gracious to us even when we didn't deserve it.

Christians Act Different Because We Never Give Up
Good people will eventually run out of goodness.  Christians don't have to run out because our source of goodness is not us—it is beyond us; it is in our eternal Lord, Jesus. 

In Christ, there is always hope.  The symbol for Christianity is the cross.  The cross is not a decoration or piece of jewelry.   The cross is an instrument of torture and death.  Our Founder was crucified on it.  And everyone—including Jesus' closest followers—thought all hope was lost.  They saw him die and put in a tomb.  But then on the third day, Jesus rose from the grave.  

There is always hope!  And every time we look at a cross, we are reminded—the is always hope!  Never give up!  The Holy Spirit works within Christians to change us and make us act different.  You may have a long way to go, but you don’t have to change all at once.  Don’t be overwhelmed.  Remember, following Jesus is a journey.  You make it one step at a time.  

Don’t give up.  Let the Holy Spirit change you little by little, day by day, and soon you will start to look back and see just how far you’ve come.  Trust Jesus to take you from the person you are now to the person God wants you to be.

Are You Ready to Act Different?
Spend time talking to Jesus.  Is He your Lord?  Your all in all?  Is He the most important priority in your life?  

When Jesus is your all in all, you think different and act different.  When Jesus is your all in all, there is a fire down deep in your bones that drives you to love God and love your neighbor.  

You might get tired sometimes, but then the Lord fills you with new energy, and renewed drive, and bold courage, and relentless ambition, and Holy Ghost power, and Spiritual energy, and you go out and change the world! 

Following Jesus is a journey, and none of us has arrived yet.  But maybe today God is showing you a next step—something He wants to change in you, something you need to let go of, or some new way He is calling you to live.  You don’t have to have it all figured out, but spend some time praying to Jesus and say, “Lord, here I am. Keep changing me. Help me take my next step and act different.”