The Apostles' Creed, part 3

Introduction
God called Israel to be His people—to reflect His character and make Him known to the world. But again and again, they fell short of that calling.  Jesus came to fulfill what Israel had been called to do. His story echoes theirs: He came out of Egypt, passed through the waters of baptism, and entered the wilderness. Where Israel had been unfaithful, Jesus remained faithful.

Through Jesus, God gathers His people into a family that includes both Jews and Gentiles. That helps us hear the contrast in today’s passage. Israel once stood trembling before Mount Sinai. Now, through Christ, we come to the heavenly Mount Zion, joining angels and saints in the presence of God. Listen to these words from Hebrews. 

Hebrews 12:18, 22-24
¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; ²² But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The Apostles’ Creed
Today, we continue with the 3^rd part of our sermon series on the Apostles’ Creed. 

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, dead, and buried;

he descended to the dead;

the third day he rose from the dead; 

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; 

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, and the communion of saints…

This last part is what I want to discuss today.  Christians say this every Sunday.  But do we know what is means? 

"I believe in the Holy Spirit…"
The Holy Spirit (AKA the Holy Ghost, the Counselor, the Spirit of God, or simply the Spirit) is the third part of the Trinity of God.  The Trinity is a mysterious and often misunderstood concept Christians use to describe God.  In brief, God consists of three distinct but equal Persons.[1]  We believe God is one being, not three gods; but the One God expresses Himself as the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus was a Jew, and monotheistic Israelite, who subscribed to the Shema in the Old Testament law that says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." ()Deuteronomy 6:4) and the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3, which says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Yet the monotheistic Jesus commanded his followers in Matthew 28:19 to “…go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  Christians baptize in the name of One God—who is expressed by Christians in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

This is a great mystery, because in our human experience, we don't really experience 3-in-1 kind of people.  Humans aren't like that.  But God is above and beyond our experience.  He is not bound to operate by the laws of human experience or even the laws of nature.  And so we are confronted with this mystery:  the Scriptures say God is One, but it also shows us God is three.  And so Christian theologians have developed the doctrine of the Trinity as our feeble attempt to explain what is not fully explainable.  But we know it to be so because Scripture repeatedly expresses God's 3-in-1 nature.

Way back in the beginning, in Genesis 1:26 – ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings^[a] in our image, to be like us…”  The Hebrew word naʿaseh means ‘Let us make’—God speaks in the plural, which makes since if God is 3-in-1.

We see all 3 persons of the Trinity present at the baptism of Jesus.  Matthew 3:16-17 – ^{16 "}After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened^[g] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  God is present in Jesus (the Son), the Holy Spirit (descending like a dove), and the Father (the voice speaking from heaven).

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, God places His Holy Spirit in us.  The Holy Spirit is the part of God that gives us eternal life.[2]  

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?”

Titus 3:3 – “He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit is also the part of God that supernaturally enables us to live and serve according to God’s plan.

1 Corinthians 12:4 – “Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.”

The Holy Spirit is also the voice of God that acts as our conscience to teach us right from wrong and lead us in the way God wants us to go.

Galatians 5:25 – “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Listen to the still small voice of God; it is the Holy Spirit trying to lead you.  And cultivate your ability to hear by practicing spiritual disciplines (like prayer, sacraments, worship, and Scripture) and  through obedience.  (God is not going to keep speaking to you to show you the way if you don't actively listen and obey.)

"I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church…"
The word in this phrase that confuses people the most is probably “catholic.”  Why do we believe in the catholic church?

We are not referring to the Roman Catholic Church, which is just one of many denominations of the Church.  The word catholic means “universal.”   As a title for the Church, it was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in 107 A.D. when he wrote, “Where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” [3]

So by catholic, we are referring to the mystical union of all Christians throughout the world who are united as one body (or one Church) in Christ.  It is not limited by denomination, or race, or nationality, or even by time.  Christ came for all and all who receive Him are part of his Holy Catholic Church. 

I believe the “catholic” (or universal) Church is Holy.  People in our times often complain about the Church’s shortcomings.  You don’t have to tell me about the shortcomings of the church.  I’m a pastor.  I’m on the “inside” of the church structure. I sometimes see the darkest parts of the church that no one else sees.  Yet still I believe in a holy Church. Why? 

Because the True Church is the spiritual Church that follows Christ.  At our best, Stark Methodist is one expression of this Spiritual Church.  It is what we strive to be—to truly embody the Spirit of Christ as a church.  The Church is holy because it is the only organization in the Bible established by Christ. 

Matthew 16:18-19 – Jesus said, “Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven.”

The Church was established and empowered by the Son of God.  And the Church is Holy because God’s Spirit works through the Church to make people holy.

Matthew 18:20 – “Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there.”   When we gather together as a church, the Spirit of God is present and works to change us into the likeness of Christ.  And the same Spirit leads Christ followers to go into the world to spread holiness everywhere they go.

Christians were never meant to be “lone rangers.”  We must belong to the Church.  A Christian who separates from the church grows cold.  I have never heard of someone growing closer to God after they abandoned the church.  But I can tell countless stories of people whose faith grew weaker or died spiritually because they stopped going to church.

Considered all the lives that have been positively influenced over the centuries by Jesus through the Church.  The best of what we experience in our world today came to be through the efforts of faithful Christians through the Holy Catholic Church.  What other organization can claim such a powerful influence that spans 2,000 years?

"I believe in the communion of saints…"
We say this every week in our Apostles’ Creed, but who knows what it means?  The Communion of Saints is the fellowship and spiritual cooperation of all Christians in the body of Christ.  This includes those on earth and those who already in heaven. 

Hebrews 12:23 from our Scripture lesson this morning says, when you worship “…you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect.” 

In worship, we join together even with the saints in heaven!  How glorious!  As we gather for worship, it is a time to gather in the spirit with the saints who’ve gone before us!

Hebrews 12:1, says “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…” referring to the believers who have gone before us whose stories encourage us to have faith in God. 

Referring to the same “cloud of witnesses,” Hebrews 11:40 says, “God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them [the dead in Christ], for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.” 

This says the lives of people already with God in heaven are tied to our lives—they can’t receive their “final prize” until we finish the race.  The final prize they await is the Day of Judgment when the wrongs of this world shall be made right and God shall create a new heaven and new earth.

So, we are part of a great fellowship of saints.  We are all pulling for each other—encouraging one another to love and good deeds.  Even the saints in heaven are pulling for us.

You Are Not Alone
Sometimes the Christian life feels lonely.  You may wonder if anyone understands your struggles.  You may feel too weak to do what God is asking you to do.  But listen to what we have confessed today: You are not alone.

The Holy Spirit lives in you. You belong to a Church that stretches around the world. And you are part of a fellowship of saints that even death cannot break.

So don’t try to live your faith alone. Listen to the Spirit.  Let your church family walk beside you.  Remember the faithful people whose lives taught you to trust Jesus.  And when we say these words again, let’s say them as people who believe they are true:  “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.”

God is with us. We belong to Christ. And we belong to one another.

---

[1] Quickverse Life Application Bible – Dictionary entry for “Trinity”

[2] http://www.therealpresence.org/essentials/creed/acc09.htm

[3] http://www.therealpresence.org/essentials/creed/acc10.htm

The Apostles' Creed, part 2

Introduction
A few year ago, I had a church member tell me how much he appreciated reciting the Apostles' Creed in church each Sunday.  You see, he didn't grow up in a Methodist church, but a little country church and they didn't say the creed.  And when he came to the Methodist church, he was skeptical of what seemed like a unnecessarily formal ritual.  But after a a while, he asked his young daughter what Christians believe and she recited to him the Apostles' Creed.  And man told me, "I get it now."

The Apostles' Creed is a beautiful and succinct summary of the basic Christians faith--what we believe.  It’s important to know, everything in the Creed is based on Scripture.  Now, you can't look up the Apostle's Creed and find it in the Bible.  But all the principles it teach are in the Word.  And that's why we believe it.  

Matthew 16:13-17
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[a]
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[c] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Ephesians 1:4-5
Scripture tells us that God sent Jesus to save and perfect His children.  Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”

Who is Jesus?  If a person stopped you on the street and asked, “Who is Jesus?”  What would you say?  What would you say if they asked you what He did?  Perhaps you would be at a loss about what to say, but you don’t have to be, because we recite who Jesus is and what He did every Sunday in our Apostle’s Creed.  Say it with me:

The Apostles’ Creed
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, dead, and buried;
He descended to the dead;
the third day He rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead...

The Creed (founded upon Scripture) tells us who Jesus is and what He did:
“He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary…”

You know the Christmas story.  God sent the angel Gabriel to appear to Mary.  In Luke 1:34-35 it says, Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

Jesus is special.  He was part of God’s plan to save us from the beginning.  He is the Son of God.  He is the product of a miraculous birth. He is the fulfillment of a multitude of prophecies given hundreds of years ahead of time. 

Yet He was also born as a helpless baby to a very human mother.  He was flesh and blood. 
He had to grow up like us.  He had to learn.  He felt emotions, got his feelings hurt, felt hunger, got tired, cried real tears and shed real blood.  Hebrews 2:17 says, “It was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.”

Jesus also suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

Pilate – Pilate was the Roman governor in charge of Jerusalem when Jesus was arrested.
Matthew 27:1-2 – “Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound him and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”  [A real person…  Seat in Caesarea Philippi…]

Suffered – John 19:1-3 – “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, and they hit him with their fists.”

Crucified – John 19:17-18 – “Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him.”

Buried – Mark 15:46 – “Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth, and taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, he wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.”
These are real places.  These are not just stories.  These events really happened.  Jesus is a real man who went through utter agony and paid the ultimate price for you and me!

Descended to the Dead - Not all denomination say this one; there are various interpretations and some choose to leave it out.  But this concept is also in Scripture.  In 1 Peter 3:18-20 it says, "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.  So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat."

And 1 Peter 4:6 — “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead…”
(See also Acts 2:2, 31; Ephesians 4:8-10; and Romans 10:6-7)

There are differing interpretations on why Jesus descended to the dead and what it means.  I find comfort in thinking that it means even those who lived and died before Christ's atoning sacrifice had a chance to hear His message and be saved and Christ personally took them the message.

On the Third Day, He rose from the dead.  When the Jesus’ followers came to the tomb to put spices on his body in Luke 24:5-6, the angels said, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!

Thousands, if not millions, of people visit this tomb every year.  Jesus is still not there.  I’ve been there and I’ve seen it and I can testify.  The tomb is empty; Jesus is risen!  I know He is risen, because I talked to Him just this morning!

We believe in a Lord who has authority over everything—even death.  When you begin to worry that your problems are too big, remember you believe in Jesus Christ who rose from the grave!  He can overcome any problem you face—even death.  

He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

It was important for Jesus to return to heaven.  It tells us that His home is heaven.  Jesus has taken His rightful place on the heavenly throne.  We too should set our sights on our Heavenly Home and think not only of this world.  For even if we suffer and die here (as Christ did), our true Home is in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus’ ascension to heaven also tells us that we have a job to do here on earth.  If Jesus wanted to do all the work, He would have stayed until all the work was done.  He ascended to heaven so we would have a chance to do some of the work ourselves.  Though Jesus empowers us and helps us to accomplish his plans, we are the ones who have to act as his hands and feet.  We are his body.  If we don’t act as Jesus to this world, no one will.

Acts 1:11b say, “Someday, just as you saw him go, [Jesus] will return!”  One of the fundamental beliefs of our faith laid down in the Bible is that Jesus is going to come back to judge the living and the dead.  One day, all people will be held accountable for their actions.  Therefore, it would be wise for us to live a life of godly service, doing as much good as we can with what we have in the time we have left. 

Say it again with me:
We 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, dead, and buried;
He descended to the dead;
the third day He rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Salvation Comes from Jesus
Do you truly believe?  Reciting the words doesn’t save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus based on true faith saves you.  It is when your eyes are suddenly opened and you realize, “Oh my!  Jesus really does want to save me!  He really did suffer and die for me.  He was whipped for my transgressions.  He was punished for my disobedience.  He bled to wash away my sins!  He died for me!  And on the third day, He rose from the grave.  He ascended to heaven and one day He’s going to come back for me and I want to be ready!” 

When you realize that, repent, and you pray in your heart, “Lord, I believe in You and I want You to save me!  Forgive me!  Help me to live the way You want me to live!  Be the Lord and Savior of my life!” Then, you will be saved. 

The Apostles' Creed, Part 1

Introduction
Nicole is an old acquaintance of mine from High School. She grew up as a good Catholic girl and took classes to teach her the basics of the Christian faith.  One of the lessons she learned was the Apostles Creed—the same creed we say on Sunday mornings, the same creed used in thousands of churches of many different denominations all around the world.  

As an adult, Nicole still remembers the creed she learned as a child and it is a continual reminder of the Christian faith.  Nicole has hosted many exchange students from around the world and the Apostles’ Creed helped Nicole share her faith with them as she explained what Christians believe.  Nicole has been a good an ambassador for Christ.  

Christians should take advantage of every opportunity to share our faith with others.  But in order to do that, we have to know what we believe.  Perhaps, like Nicole, the Apostles’ Creed can help you be more effective in explaining what you believe.  The Creed is a succinct declaration of our belief—the faith handed down to us for generations all the way back to the 12 Apostles in the Bible.  (And most of us probably have the Apostles’ Creed committed to memory by now!)   

Over the next few weeks, we’ll study the Apostles’ Creed—mining the rich treasures of our faith hidden in each section.  But first, let’s hear the Word of God.

Scripture Readings
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

I believe in…
Now, say the first section of the Apostles’ Creed with me:  We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord…  Here we have the first and most basic statement about our Christian faith.

We Believe in God
We believe in God.  We believe there is a Higher Power that is beyond us.  There is more to life than just us and what we see.  There is a God.  

That simple fact changes life from a mere struggle for the survival of the fittest to something altogether more meaningful.  It means there must be a grander purpose to life.  These four simple words,

“We believe in God…”, beg us to ask all kinds of questions like: Who is this God?  What is God like?  Can I know God and how do we relate to each other? 

The next words of the Creed provide some of the answer the Christian faith offers:

“We believe in God the Father.”
God is like a father.  He looks after and cares about His children.  He provides for them.  He teaches them.  He disciplines them.  He plays with them.   

When my kids were little, we would sometimes wrestle and tickle each other.  What a sight to see an grown man with his children climbing all over him, laughing and playing.  

God is a Father.  We can play with God, but He will also discipline us when we are disobedient. 

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
God is almighty: all powerful, all knowing, and present in all places.  God is the last word, the final say.  He has authority over all things.  No one and no thing can overpower Him or circumvent Him. 

These words may be troubling to those who wish to disobey or disregard God; but, knowing that God is Almighty is a great comfort to those who seek Him for strength to overcome adversities that are too big for us to handle on our own (but never too big for an Almighty God). 

Look up at the stars in the night sky.  There are a thousand billion trillion stars in the universe.  The stars you see are trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of miles away.  God is present on each of those at the same time that He is here.  God created it all and He has power and wisdom and authority over it all.

Now, Christians are not the only religion that believes in God.  Every civilization in the history of the world—regardless of where in the world they lived—has believed in God in some form.  But of all the religions of the world, Christianity is unique because we believe in Jesus Christ.  Without Jesus Christ, our faith is incomplete.

We believe in Jesus Christ.
The word Christ means Messiah, the chosen one. We believe Jesus was appointed by God for the special purpose of saving humanity.  We believe that Jesus can save us.  We believe that Jesus can save our children.  We believe that Jesus can save our parents, our friends, our neighbors, our wife or husband.  We believe that the salvation of the world comes through Jesus the Christ!

We believe in Jesus Christ His only Son.
Jesus is more than just a man.  All religions have great people who have shaped their religions—Jews have Moses, Buddhists have Buddha, Muslims have Muhammad.  But these men were mere mortals. 

Christians believe Jesus is more than just a man.  Jesus is the Son of God.  John 1:1 (which refers to Jesus as “the Word”) says, “In the beginning the Word [Jesus] already existed. He was with God, and he was God.”  So, Jesus is the Son of God and He is God.  Jesus was with God when the world was created.  What a mysterious faith we have!

We believe that Jesus is God and also the Son of God, that Jesus is a divine being and also lived as a man! We don’t have enough time today to explore all the ramifications of Jesus as the Son of God—but it is a fundamental and unique belief of the Christian faith that Jesus is the Son of God.

And we believe Jesus is the His only Son.
That is, Jesus is unique in his relationship with God.  There are no other “sons” of God that can lead us to God besides Jesus.  

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Our Lord
And finally, we believe in Jesus Christ the only Son of God our Lord.  That is, we submit to the Lordship of Jesus in our life.  We surrender our lives to him and accept his authority over us.  We seek to obey his teachings and follow his direction for daily life.

Say the first part of the Apostles’ Creed with me again:  I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord…

Conclusion
Members of our church promise to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  We must know what we believe if we want to be effective witnesses. 

The Apostles’ Creed helps us know what we believe.  It gives us the basics of the faith in a few short statements.  I hope it will help you share your faith with others as you recall the deep meaning of our Creed.

Not only do I hope you will share your faith.  Even more important, I hope you will truly believe.  Do you truly believe the words you say when you recite the Apostles’ Creed?  Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord?  More than anything, I hope you will truly believe and know the eternal life that God offers all who do.

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.