Christ is Risen - What Now? | A Sermon for Easter

Introduction
We are celebrating the risen Lord! Our Easter cantata tells the whole story—beginning with Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem. The crowds were excited, but they misunderstood His mission. They thought He came as a conquering king to overthrow the Romans and reward the “good” people of Jerusalem.

But as the week unfolded, they realized something deeper—there are no “good” people. We are all dead in our sins and in need of rescue. Jesus came not just to fix a political problem, but to lift us out of our spiritual grave. He died on the cross to save us, and on Sunday, He rose again—defeating sin and death once and for all.

The Resurrection Makes a Difference
Let’s look at Romans 6:4 - “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

The resurrection isn’t just something that happened to Jesus—it’s something that happens in us. When we follow Christ, we die to our old self and are raised to new life.  That new life doesn’t begin after death—it begins now. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

Jesus takes off our old grave clothes—the sin, the shame, the brokenness—and clothes us in righteousness, purpose, and hope. Just like many of us put on new clothes on Easter, we put on a new life in Christ.

A New Heart and a New Way
In the Old Testament, God promised to take away our hearts of stone and give us hearts of flesh—hearts that want to follow Him. That’s what happens when we walk with Jesus. He begins to change our desires, our values, and our relationships.

And the kingdom of heaven? It’s not far off in the future. It’s not just for after we die. It’s here and now. Every time we love what Jesus loves, every time we show compassion, we get a glimpse of heaven on earth.

And it’s for everyone—not just the people of Jerusalem or Israel, but the Gentiles, the Romans, and even the people we struggle with today. When Jesus changes our hearts, we begin to see others the way He sees them.

We Need Each Other
Hebrews 10:25 reminds us: “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”

Jesus didn’t do ministry alone. He gathered a group of twelve very different people—some of whom would’ve hated each other before they met Him—and He made them a family.

That’s what the church is: a family of faith. We don’t always agree. We’re not always alike. But we’re meant to grow together, encourage one another, and live as a resurrection people together.

An Invitation to New Life
If you’re visiting today, I’m so glad you’re here. You are always welcome at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church. Every Sunday is a little Easter, a chance to worship the risen Lord and grow together.

If you’ve been attending for a while, maybe today is the day to go deeper—join a small group, get involved in a Bible study, or find a way to serve. We grow best when we grow together.

And if you’ve never been baptized or joined a church, maybe today is your day to say yes to that next step of faith. Jesus is calling us out of the grave and into a living, breathing relationship with Him.

Wherever God is calling you, don’t walk alone. The church is where we live out the power of the resurrection together. And if Pleasant Grove is where God is planting you, we would be honored to walk that journey with you.

Jesus or Barabbas | A Palm Sunday Sermon

Introduction
The Palm Sunday story is important to remember. Not just because it’s fun to have our kids enter the sanctuary singing and waving palm branches. There is a critical message in this story we need to hear, but often miss.

It’s a story that goes right down to the core of what it means for us to live as Christ’s followers. So, I encourage you to listen closely and think deeply today. Hear the Palm Sunday message with fresh ears.

Matthew 21:6-11
⁶ The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. ⁸ A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. ⁹ The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna^[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[c]

“Hosanna^[d] in the highest heaven!”

¹⁰ When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Hosanna!
There are several important symbols in this story that reveal what’s really going on. The first clue is the word the people shouted.  What did they shout?
They shouted “Hosanna!”  The word sounds like a praise, but it has a specific meaning. It’s a quote of Psalm 118:25, “Please, Lord, please save us.  Please, Lord, please give us success.” Hosanna means:  Lord Save us!

Now, when the Israelites shouted Hosanna to Jesus, they had a specific salvation in mind. They were NOT demanding He save them from their sins so they could go to heaven.  No. They meant, “Save us from these Romans who rule over us and oppress us!” The Israelites wanted to be rid of the Romans. They wanted Israel to be an independent Kingdom again.  They wanted prosperity. They wanted Israel to be great again like it was back in its glory days.

A Second Symbol: The Palm Branches
The second symbol that reveals what the Palm Sunday story is really about is the palm branches.
Palm branches were the national symbol of Israel.  They became the national symbol of Israel in 167 BC when the Maccabees, a family of Jewish priest, led a successful military revolt against the Seleucid Empire and gained Jewish independence.  The Israelites celebrates their victory by waving palm branches.  Afterwards, Israel was independent for about 80 years before the Romans took over Israel.

So as Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palms Sunday, the Jews waved palm branches the same way Americans might wave American flags at a fourth of July parade.  They waved their palm branches, remembering how the Maccabees revolted and gained Jewish independence, and they shouted to Jesus, “Hosanna! Lord, please save us from these Romans!”

…to the son of David!
A third symbol is how they addressed Jesus. The called Him: the son of David. The Jews in Jerusalem wanted to go back to what they considered the glory days of Israel. In their minds, David’s kingdom was the greatest time in Israelite history. He conquered all their enemies.  He untied Israel as one nation. He established peace and prosperity.  And Israel was respected by all the nation around them. (Of course, they conveniently forgot that David levied tremendously high taxes.  God said there was so much blood on his hands he couldn’t build God a temple.  David is also known for an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and for murdering her husband, Uriah, to cover it up. And David’s son, Absolom, led a rebellion and tried to steal David’s Kingdom.) But the Jews of Jesus’ day wanted Israel to be great again, like it was back when David was king. And so they waved their Palm branches, shouted: “Hosanna! Lord, save us now (like the Macabbees)!  And make us great again (like we were when David was king)!”

Donkey/Warhorse
There’s one more symbol—the donkey.  Jesus rode in on a donkey.  Actually, it was a donkey’s colt (a baby donkey).  This was the fulfilment of prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. But it was also sent a powerful message that did NOT align with the hopes of the crowds cheering for Jesus.  They wanted a military king who would bring a sword and ride in on a warhorse to defeat the Romans.  But Jesus came in on a humble little baby donkey talking about peace and forgiveness, and telling everyone they needed to “love their enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” This was not the image or words of a conquering king.  They were not the words most Jewish people in Israel expected or wanted to hear.

Pilate and his Roman military also came to Jerusalem that day.  (It is well documented that Roman governors like Pilate rode into Jerusalem to maintain order on major Jewish festivals like Passover, which drew large crowds and carried the potential for unrest.  And when the Romans arrived, they rode in on Warhorse with banners flying and swords and armor flashing.  They wanted to make sure everyone in Jerusalem could see their military power so as to deter any thought of rebellion.

So we have this contrast—Jesus on a humble donkey and Pilate and the Romans on warhorses. It’s clear what the people wanted.  They wanted Jesus to be their military king who would save them by kicking out the Romans and make Israel great again like it was when David was king. It’s clear they were excited, but it’s also sad that they missed the whole point of why Jesus came. And we can see this sadness bring Jesus to tears in Luke’s version of the Palm Sunday story.  In Luke, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, because He knows hey won’t listen to Him. 

Nevertheless, Jesus spent a week preaching and teaching in Jerusalem. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and invited them to receive it. But Jesus wasn’t offering the kind of Kingdom they wanted.  Instead of peace, they wanted war. Instead of forgiveness, they wanted revenge.  Instead of love, they wanted to hate the Romans.  Instead of serving, they wanted power. And instead of the King of Heaven, they wanted Barabbas.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested on Thursday night. He was tried and sentenced to death. On Friday, Pilate sought to have him released.

Luke 23:18-20
¹⁸ Then a mighty roar rose from the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill him, and release Barabbas to us!” ¹⁹ (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Jesus or Barabbas?
People haven’t changed much in 2,000 years.  We still struggle to pick Jesus over Barrabas.
“What?!” You say, “I would never choose Barrabas over Jesus!”  Is that so?
Whenever we choose the ways of the world over the ways of Jesus, we’re choosing Barabbas.
When we demand immediate results instead of trusting God’s timing, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we prioritize safety and comfort over obedience and sacrifice, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we follow the crowd instead of standing for truth, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we elevate charisma or influence over character, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we choose temporary gain over eternal reward, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we define success by winning instead of by faithfulness, we’re choosing Barrabas.
When we choose the kingdoms of this world over God’s Kingdom, we are choosing Barrabas.

Who Will You Choose?
So here we are—just like the crowd in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.
Jesus enters humbly, offering peace, forgiveness, and the way of the cross.
Barabbas stands as the symbol of worldly strength, quick fixes, and the kind of power that dominates.  The people had a choice then. You have a choice now.

Every day, with every decision—how you treat your neighbor, how you lead your family, how you handle conflict, how you vote, how you speak, how you spend, how you love—you are choosing:  Jesus… or Barabbas.

Will you submit to Jesus—even when it means patience, humility, and sacrifice?
Or will you go with the crowd, shouting "Save us!" but only on your terms?

Will you lay down your life and follow the servant King on the donkey?
Or will you cling to the world's ways, hoping for glory, comfort, prosperity, and control?

So today, I challenge you to look honestly at your life. 
Not just what you say you believe—but your choices. 
Actions speak louder than words.

And ask yourself:
Whose Kingdom am I really choosing?

 

The Church | A Sermon on Ephesians 2:19-22

Introduction
This is the last message in our series on Holy Ground.  We have studied the historical contexts of God making space to meet with people on Holy Ground.  We’ve learned about the Tabernacle where God chose to live in a tent while the Israelites wandered through the desert.  We learned about the Holy Temple in Jerusalem Solomon built to reflect the glory of God.  Today, we will consider the Church, the new living Temple where people meet with God on Holy Ground.

This is also a significant day in the life of our congregation.  For today we will rededicate
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church to the glory of God and the mission of His Church.
In January of this year, Pleasant Grove official moved our membership from the United MC to the Global Methodist Church.  It was not an easy process.  It took a great deal of work, a great deal of patience, and a great deal of money to fulfill our obligations to the United Methodist Church and to cover disaffiliation fees.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone for your support and dedication through this transition.  I greatly appreciated your care and concern for me and my family…

More importantly, I am grateful to the Lord that He has blessed me to serve a congregation that places allegiance t the Word of God above all else and was committed to do whatever necessary to remain faithful to God by practicing biblical Christianity in ways we felt led.

This has been a long process that has been bathed in prayer from the start.  We began discussions about our relationship with the UMC in early 2020.  It was at that time we changed our name from Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church to Pleasant Grove Methodist Church in anticipation of expected changes in the direction of our church.  We expected a change might happen at the scheduled 2020 General Conference that May, but then COVID delayed General Conference and any changes it might bring.  In July of 2022, we had a town hall meeting and polled members about their preference for PG’s future.  They indicated their desire to seek disaffiliation from the United Methodist Church.  Illegal and unfair stalling by the North Georgia Annual Conference of the UMC in early 2023 delayed Pleasant Grove’s exit from the UMC until the Superior Court of Cobb County ruled the NGUMC must honor their offer to allow churches to disaffiliate for reasons of conscience.  

Within 6 months, Pleasant Grove raised over $50K to cover disaffiliation fees.  I’m so proud of the church's commitment God’s Word.  It is one thing to say you believe the Bible with your lips.  It is another thing to put your money where our mouth is.  Pleasant Grove proved their true allegiance is to the Holy Bible.

I want to specifically name those who served on Pleasant Grove's disaffiliation team:  Marcus Blalock, Maribeth Reno, and Rita Wagers.  And also those who were part of the affiliation team:  Debra Sloan, Elaine McDonald, Harold Brooker, Kevin Roberts, Kyle Marlow, Mike Wilson, Salena Weed, and Tom Dickson.

On July 25^th of 2023, Pleasant Grove officially voted to disaffiliate from the UMC.  On November 19^th of 2023, PG officially voted to join the new Global Methodist Church; our church was the very first in our community to choose to join and be approved as a GMC church.  Since that time, our church has been working through the transition.  And today, we officially rededicate our church as Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, a Global Methodist Church.   

I want to emphasize that this is not just a change of denominational affiliation but a recommitment to our shared faith and mission.  At PGMC, we believe the Bible is the foundation of all we believe and practice.  And we believe we live out our Christian beliefs in connection with other believers.  Our congregation does not stand alone.  We live out our faith connected with other Christians from around the entire globe.  We are part of a global movement, with churches all across the US, in the Phillipines, Europe, Africa, and South America.

And so today, it is very significant that we hold this service to rededicate ourselves as a symbolic act to embrace our identity and mission in the Global Methodist Church.  And today, I want to share 3 Scriptures from God’s Holy Word to help chart our future as God’s people at PG.

Joshua 24:15
"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

These were Joshua's words to the Israelites as they took possession of the Promised Land.  He challenged them to make reaffirm their covenant to serve their Lord, Yahweh, alone.  

It is fitting that we should remember these words today as we rededicate our church to the Lord, Yahweh.  I challenge you to make a personal and collective commitment to put God first, above everything else in your life.  This is the sacred covenant we make on this holy ground.

2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

This Scripture was spoken by God to Solomon during the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem nearly 4,000 years ago.  It reminds us of God’s promise of renewal and healing when His people turn to Him wholeheartedly.  As we rededicate our church and seek renewal (both personally and as a congregation), we must commit to humbling ourselves, seeking God’s face, and being true to His word.

Our Core Values
Our decision to join the Global Methodist Church is an outward expression of our core values to
hold to scriptural authority in connection with other believers who live holy lives and seek to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Prayer must be at the center of everything we do.  

As an outward expression of the centrality of prayer to our church, we are renovating our prayer room to make it a beautiful place of peace, inviting to all to come and lift up prayers to our God.  This is a fresh start for our church and a new chapter in the life of the church.  Let prayer always be at the center of everything we do.

Ephesians 2:19-22
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Last week, we learned about the glory of the Temple in Jerusalem where God dwelled.  But this Scripture in the New Testament teaches that, because of Jesus Christ, Christians have become the new Temple where God’s Holy Spirit dwells.  The Church—which is not a building but every person who follows Jesus—is the new Temple.  Jesus is the cornerstone, and the teachings of the Apostles about Jesus in the New Testament are the foundation of everything we believe and do.

But everyone of you (if you believe in Jesus) is a living stone in this spiritual Temple.  And together, we reflect God’s presence in the world.  Just as this building, located here on Cleveland Highway, stands as a physical symbol of God's presence to the thousands of people who drive past it every day, you who are part of this church are a living reminder to everyone you encounter, everyday, that God is presence in our world.  What you say and how you live are testaments to Jesus Christ every moment of your life.  Therefore, I encourage you live out your faith, carefully and prayerfully, for you are the Church.

Conclusion
We are physical people who live in a physical world.  Therefore, it is helpful for us to have physical things to remind us of our spiritual covenants.  We have been focusing all year long on renovating and renewing both the physical aspects of our worship as well as reviving the spiritual practices of our  lives.  Many things have already been done:
We installed a new LED sign in 2020 showing our new name - Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.
We stalled new floors in our Sunday school wing in 2021.
We purchased new hymnals and new pew Bibles for our sanctuary this year.

There are other things still in progress:
We will soon publish a new pictorial directory for our church.
We will repair our flag poll and install new flags.
We have several clean up projects to accomplish around our campus.
We will renovated prayer room.

How could you live out the commitments we make today with a renewed commitment to clean up and maintain our physical environment as we also renew our spiritual lives? 

Ceremony of Rededication
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Place Rock on the altar – 

This rock was picked up from the ground in the Holy Land during a trip in 2008.  We place it on the altar as a call to remember our church is holy ground.  Let us remember and treat these grounds as sacred.

Place Bible on the altar
We place this Pew Bible on the altar as a reminder that we stand firmly on God’s Holy Word.  I call upon you to study the Bible, to know it's precepts, and to live them out everyday.

Place Hymnal on the altar

We place this hymnal on the altar as a reminder that we must worship Jesus passionately.  I call upon you to worship Jesus passionately in Spirit & Truth.

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Place Prayer Book on the altar
We place this book of prayers on the altar to remind us of the centrality of pray in Christian living.  I call upon you to pray fervently.

Place Candles on the altar
We place these candles on the altar to remind us that we are to be the light of the world.  Jesus said, you are to be like a city on the hill whose light shines for all to see.  I call upon you to be the light to the world, shining forth good deeds that point people to Jesus our Lord.

Rededicating Ourselves as Members
Do you believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit? I do.

Do you confess Jesus Christ as Savior, put your whole trust in His grace, and promise to serve Him as your Lord? I do.

Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures? I do.

Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to keep God’s holy will and commandments and walk in the same all the days of your life as a faithful member of Christ’s holy church? I do.

Will you be loyal to Christ through the Global Methodist Church and joining with your brothers and sisters around the world do all in your power to fulfill its mission? I will.

Will you be a faithful member of Pleasant Grove Methodist Church, a Global Methodist local church, doing all in your power to strengthen its ministries through your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness as Christ’s representative in this world? I will.

Place a Bottle of Oil on the Altar

We place this bottle of oil on the altar to remind us that we are filled with the Holy Spirit and annointed to share the Good News about Christ.  I call on you to be filled with the Holy Spirit ad to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

[Invite the congregation to come forward and be anointed with oil.]

Prayer of Dedication

The Wanderer | A Sermon on James 5:19-20

Introduction
Last weekend, my son and I took a road trip to wander through North and South Dakota.  Through teh magic of the internet, I was able to worship with my church online as the gifted Sherry Dickson shared about the power of prayer.  It will forever be one of my most cherished memories to worship with my church family at the online service while I was driving through some of God's grandest and most glorious creation crossing the border from North to South Dakota.  Pictures like the one posted here just do not do it justice.  I guess you have to see it for yourself.  I encourage everyone to take advantage of an online service whenever you need it.  And I personally invite you to my church's online service where you will be loved and inspired. (You can worship with us live at our online service every week at 10:55 AM at this link - www.facebook.com/pgmc.dalton/live)

After my wanderings, it was good to be back this past Sunday in person.  Here is the final message in our series on the Epistle of James from the final verses in this powerful letter.

James 5:19-20
¹⁹ My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, ²⁰ you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Christmas in July
Every year, we do something special.  We celebrate Christmas in July, because December is such a busy month and the message of Christmas can get lost in it.  So, we sing Christmas songs and remember the Christmas story in the middle of the summer.  It's a cherished tradition of our congregation.  It is fitting for Christmas in July to read James’ final verses;  they are a message of hope, redemption, and love.  They align beautifully with the heart of the Christmas story.   For God’s love was shown in the birth of Jesus Christ, the ultimate bringer-back of wanderers.

Two Important Truths
This passage reveals two truths.  First, Christians sometimes wander from the truth.  James says:
“If someone among you wanders away from the truth…”  Remember, James is writing to Christians.  So, James is implying that Christians sometimes wander away.  Nothing can steal your salvation or ever make God stop loving you; however, you can walk away from it by your own choice.  God still allows us free-will, even after we are saved.   And unfortunately, some Christians choose to walk away from God.  So the first thing James reveals is Christians sometimes walk away from God’s salvation.

The second truth is this:  we should seek to bring people back when they wander.  James’ concluding words remind us of the importance of community and the responsibility we have for one another.  When someone wanders from the truth, it’s our duty to guide them back with love and compassion.  This isn’t about judgment or condemnation, but about saving someone from spiritual death and covering their sins with grace.

It's important to remember that the early Christians, to whom James wrote, faced severe persecution for their faith.  Many of them remained steadfast despite immense suffering.  This dedication could understandably lead to feelings of anger or resentment toward those who abandoned their faith under pressure.  Yet, James urges them—and us—not to let these emotions prevent us from reaching out in love.  Instead of holding on to bitterness, we are called to welcome back those who have strayed, recognizing the grace and forgiveness that God extends to all of us.

The Christmas story ought to be a perfect reminder that none of us deserves God’s grace.  Jesus left the glory of Heaven to be born as a helpless infant and ultimately gave His life for us on the cross of Calvary not  because we were such good people who deserved it.  No. Romans 5:8 tells us, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”  We ought to extend the same grace to everyone else—including Christians who backslide or wander away from the faith.

In our church family, we are called to look out for each other.  The journey of faith is not walked alone.  We need each other’s support, accountability, and encouragement.  We are indeed to "be our brother's keeper."  The act of bringing someone back should be done with the same love and grace that Christ showed us.  It’s a call to love in action, to reach out with compassion and understanding.

The Christmas Connection
Christmas is the celebration of God’s great rescue mission for humanity.  Jesus came into the world to bring back all of us who have wandered from the truth.  Just as we are called to pursue those who wander, God pursued us through Jesus.  The birth of Christ is God reaching out to bring us back into a relationship with Him.

In John 8:12, Jesus says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  Christmas celebrates that light coming into our dark world to guide us back to the path of truth.

Consider John Newton, the author of "Amazing Grace" (perhaps one of the best known and loved Christian hymns).  John Newton was raised in a Christian household.  John’s dad was a pastor and John became a Christian at an early age, but he abandoned his faith and led a life far from Christian values.
He became involved in the slave trade, living a life of moral and spiritual bankruptcy.  However, during a life-threatening storm at sea, Newton experienced what he described as a profound spiritual  awakening.  This event marked the beginning of his return to faith.  Newton was assisted in is return to the Christian faith by several Christian friends like Thomas Scott and Thomas [How-ess] Howeis who helped mentor Newton as he returned to Christian faith.  Newton eventually left the slave trade and became an Anglican priest.  Newton's journey from wandering to restoration deeply influenced his writing of "Amazing Grace," a song that has touched countless lives with its message of forgiveness and redemption.

The Gift of Redemption
Bringing back a wanderer is a gift of redemption.  It’s a theme echoed every Christmas.  The ultimate gift given to us is the gift of Jesus, who redeems us from our sins.  Just as there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7), there is great joy in seeing a brother or sister restored to the faith.
It’s a moment of celebration, much like the joy we experience and celebrate at Christmas.

Conclusion
As we conclude our journey through the Epistle of James, we are reminded our faith is not just  personal’ it is communal.  We have a role in each other’s spiritual journeys.  Therefore, let us be inspired by the greatest act of love—the birth of Jesus Christ—who was born to reach out to all who have wandered from the truth.

May we carry the spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year round, actively seeking to bring back the wanderers with love, grace, and compassion.  In doing so, we not only save them from death but also celebrate the true essence of Christmas—God’s redemptive love for all.

Let us pray.  Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to bring us back to You.  Help us to carry this message of love and redemption in our hearts and to reach out to those who have wandered from the truth.  Fill us with compassion, grace, and the courage to bring them back into Your loving arms.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

Invitation
Are there any here today, who need to make a recommitment to Christ?
Maybe you have been a Christian, but at some point you wandered away. 
Today, you can come back.  Won’t you come?
Pray to Jesus today and recommit your life to Him now.

Maybe you have never decided to follow Jesus and be a Christian. 
But maybe you feel like today you want to become a Christian and follow Jesus.
I can’t think of a better time than right now to do it.
Won’t you come?  Pray to Jesus right now and tell Him you want to be a Christian. 
Then tell a pastor or a close Christian friend.

Life is a Mist | A Sermon on James 4:13-17

Introduction
I woke up early this morning and decided to get on up and come to church and finish up my sermon on James 4:13-17.  As I drove in through the dark morning air around 5:30, there were a few fingers of thin fog crossing the road in the dips and depressions along the way.  It was pretty.  But it’s so dry, I knew the mist would evaporate before you got up to make your way here. 

But the mist brought to mind this morning’s passage from the Epistle of James for it says our lives are like a morning mist that is here for a short time and then vanishes.

 

James 4:13-17
¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes.  All such boasting is evil.  ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

 

Proverbs 16:9
It is said, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.  I believe that whole heartedly.  I’ve always been a planner.  It’s something my Mom instilled in me at a young age.  

When I was in the 3^rd or 4^th grade.  I was always pestering my mom to buy me those little toy airplanes with the windup propellers powered by a rubber band.  So she said, "I think you can build one of those yourself."  She started saving the Styrofoam trays that came in the meat packages from the grocery store.  She would wash them and then give them to me and I would build airplanes out of them.  I got creative and made all different designs.  It was a lot of fun.

My mom said, “You know, you like building those so much you might like to be an engineer who designs airplanes.”  And I thought she was probably right so I started planning how I could be an engineer one day.  And my mom in her wisdom said, "You know if you want to be an engineer, you'll need to make good grades in school so you can go to college."  And that encouraged me to do beter in school.  So from the time I was only 8 or 9 years old, I was already planning ahead for my future.  I planned to grow up and design airplanes for a living.

 

But God had other plans.  Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”  When I graduated high school, I didn't have enough money to attend college to be an aerospace engineer.  But a college in Marietta offered a  full scholarship to be a textile engineer.  So, my plans changed.  And as I neared the end of my college degree, God changed my plans again.  I started to feel God calling me to be a pastor instead of an engineer.  Jesus told the fisherman Peter, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  To me, Jesus said, “Follow me and I will make you an engineer of me, discipling them to grow closer to God."  So my plans changed again and I started pursuing a life of ministry as a Methodist pastor.

James says very bluntly, it is arrogant, sinful, and presumptuous to make plans without considering the Lord’s will.  More than that, if Jesus is truly our Lord (as Christians say He is), then we ought to be 100% sold out to Lord’s will (as opposed to our own).   So we ought to seek to do the Lord’s will and not just ask Him to bless our own plans. 

I’m still a planner, but I’ve learned some new principles about planning from Jesus over the last 30 years that I want to pass along:

Godly Planning

First – Acknowledge God's Sovereignty.

God is sovereign.  That means God is in control of everything and has the power and the right  to decide what happens.  James 4:15 says, "Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’"

When making plans, consistently acknowledge that God is in control and that His will should take precedence over your own.  Of course, this is an attitude and a state of mind, but it can help become our state of mind when we actually say things like "if it is the Lord’s will" and genuinely mean it.

Second – Seek God's Guidance Through Prayer.
Rather than coming up with your own plans and then asking God to bless them, start by seeking God will from the get-go.  Not only is it more efficient, it actually helps you grow closer to the Lord and practice being in-tune with His Holy Spirit. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Prayer is essential to Christian living.  Regularly pray for wisdom and guidance when making plans.  Ask God to reveal His will for your life and to direct your steps.  And then follow Him in faith.

Third – Be Open to God’s Redirection.
Make your plans with great humility.  Don’t be so set on your plans that you cling to them if God wants to change them.  And God might change your plans for any number of reasons.  
Your plans might not be His plans.  Which plans do you really want to follow?
Your plans might only align partially with God’s plans.  For me, going to college was only partially God's plan.  I needed to go to college to fulfill my calling to be a Methodist minister (Methodist pastors must first get a bachelors degree and then go on to seminary for a masters degree).  Any bachelor's degree would do.  But God had to alter my initial educational plans and I had to be willing to obey and adapt.  

God may change His plans based on something you don’t know about.  He always knows better.  Do you remember what you were doing on the morning of March 12^th, 2020?   I do.  It was a thursday morning and I was preparing to serve as a chaplain (spiritual director) on a Walk to Emmaus spiritual retreat.  We had all heard of COVID-19, but it wasn't something that was really effecting our lives much on Thursday morning, March 12th.  But by the evening that day, my retreat and the whole world was shut down.  Even church that coming Sunday, March 15, was canceled.  Not just my church, but almost every church in the country.  No one was supposed to gather in the sanctuary.  What were we going to do?  But God, in His wisdom, had helped us plan for it without our even knowing it.

Three years earlier (back in 2017), I had had a casual conversation with another pastor in another town who said they had started livestreaming their service on Facebook.  "Yeah, we iust have someone hold up their smart phone and lives stream it."  I though, "Hmmm...  We could do that." So we started doing it in our church.  I got a few volunteers and we had people stream very bad quality recordings of the service.  By January of 2020, we decided if we were going to keep live streaming, we really needed to up our game.  So we installed our first real camera in the church balcony for the purpose. We thought it would be easy--just add the camera, but it caused all kinds of technical problems.  And we experimented through January and February and by March we had all the bugs worked out.  So when March 15th rolled around and we couldn't have in-person church, God had already helped us get everything ready for a full livestream service without our even knowing what He was planning!  God is good!  He sees things you do not.  So stay in touch with His plans.

Proverbs 19:21 – "You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. "  When it comes to planning, remain flexible and be open to changes in your plans, understanding that God may have different and better plans for you.  Be willing to adapt when circumstances change, trusting that God is guiding you.

Fourth, Involve Wise Counsel.  Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."  Christians live in community.  We don’t practice our faith alone.  I don’t care what anyone says, your faith in God is not a private matter.  It is not just something between you and God. Don’t believe that lie.  Faith in Jesus Christ has never been something that was a private thing.

Jesus called 12 disciples and they lived out their faith together.  Christianity in the New Testament was always an interaction between people living together.  Even before God created people or the world, He was not alone because God is a Trinity.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit live together in a perfectly harmonious relationship.  And we are made in God's image.  Therefore, we are to live in community.

So, when you make plans, you ought to seek the wise counsel of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
One of the biggest mistakes when I answered the call to ministry was trying to figure it out all on my own.  I didn't talk to anyone about it.  I didn't even talk to my wife.  How sad.  It caused unnecessary strife in our marriage and even delayed my calling by three years.  All I had to do was talk to her.  

Humility involves recognizing that you don't have all the answers.  When you plan, seek advice from trusted, godly friends, mentors, or leaders who can provide wisdom and perspective.

 

Life is a Mist
I hope you take to heart James’ sobering reminder that our lives are like a morning mist—brief and fleeting.  Just as the mist evaporates with the rising sun, our time on this earth is short and uncertain.

As I drove to church early this morning and noticed the drifting mist, I thought of the many people I have known—people my own age or even younger—who have already passed on.  I’ve been thinking about that lately.

My youngest daughter will be a senior in high school this coming school year.  Then, Kelly and I will enter a new stage of life.  I sometimes wonder what it will hold.  Will we continue to be happy and healthy?  Will there be a diagnosis of cancer or something worse?  I don’t know.  I hope for the best.  But I also know there are no guarantees.  Life is a mist.  We do not know what tomorrow holds, and we cannot control the future.  But we do know who holds the future, and that is God.

James urges us to live with humility, acknowledging God's sovereignty in all our plans.  We must recognize that while we can make plans, it is the Lord who directs our steps.  This means being open to His guidance and redirection, seeking His will through prayer, involving wise counsel, and being flexible enough to adapt when circumstances change.

Now, in light of the brevity of life, I want to challenge you to respond to this message today.  If you have not yet given your life to Jesus Christ, do not delay.  Accept Him as your Lord and Savior right now.  Don’t put off the most important decision of your life.

For those of you who are already Christians, consider if there is something God is calling you to do that you have been postponing.  Maybe it’s reconciling with a loved one, stepping into a new ministry, or making a significant life change.  Whatever it is, don’t wait.  Take action today.  Remember, James said “it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”

Our lives are but a mist, and we must make the most of the time God has given us.  Let's choose to live each day with purpose, seeking God's will, and trusting in His perfect plan for our lives.

Closing Prayer
Sovereign God, we come with humble hearts, acknowledging Your rightful rule over our lives.  Help us to live with the awareness that our time here is short and to make the most of every moment by seeking Your will.  For those who need to make a decision today, give them the courage to act now.  For those who need to take a step of faith, provide them with Your guidance and strength.  Thank You for being our constant guide and support.  In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.