July 31, 2011
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 118:19-20, 24 NRSV Bible
1 Peter 3:8-9, 15 NRSV Bible
Acts 11:2-18 NRSV Bible
“I Got Your Back”
I have been listening a lot these days about the problem that America has regarding the debt ceiling. . . about how we, as a country, have a real problem on or hands. If we don’t find a solution soon we are in for a world of problems. In listening to the news stations like CNN and such, I have heard one thing that keeps reverberating with me. There is one view that keeps coming to me. That view is that government just can’t get along. Everyone is out for their own agenda and they won’t budge until they get what they want. It doesn’t matter that these different political camps are working on the same problem of the debt. They need to have their own self-interests fed. What they believe is more important than what is good for the “whole community.”
You know. . . this kind of reminds me of the Star Trek movie “In Search of Spock”. . . at least I think that’s the name of it. . . the one where Spock is in this chamber and Jim is on the outside. In this chamber, all this radioactive stuff is going on. He is in there because the “core” of the ship needs to be fixed or the ship will blow. Spock is dying and Jim wants to get him out. . . to save him. Spock says to him “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.” He was willing to give his one life for the life of the many people on the Enterprise. . . maybe the people in Washington need to see this movie. . .
And now. . . I have been told. . . they have made a decision to have a 2.5 trillion dollar budget deal that hurts the poor and it doesn’t even touch the lives of the super rich. . . how great and merciful is that? It has made me also think about the Christian community. How some Christians won’t budge on their beliefs. . . their own agendas. . . even if it hurts the “whole Christian community”. . . Christianity itself.
Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at Adam Hamilton’s book “When Christians Get It Wrong.” We’ve talked about how some young people see some Christians, of how they are un-Christian to others and treat them with disdain instead of love. We’ve talked about how some young people have seen how some Christians have on kind of blinders when it comes to the Sciences. We’ve even talked a little about how some young people see Christians in the political arena and how they don’t hold to their “Christian values”. . . these instances are making these young people turn away from Christianity. . . away from the saving grace of Christ.
This week, we are going to talk about how some young people see Christians as they interact with others from other religions. For some reason, there are some Christians that won’t budge from their “doctrinal” beliefs. They believe that what they know or what they think they know is the right belief and everyone else has it wrong. Anyone who thinks anything that is different than them is an outsider, doomed to Hell and damnation. Where the grace. . . is where is the mercy. . . where is the love in that?
In his book. . . Adam Hamilton talks about three types of “arenas”
1. Universalismthe belief that everyone will be reconciled to God. It’s nice to think that everyone will be reconciled no matter what but it takes away the freedom of those who choose to reject God’s invitation given through the cross. Scripture even tells us that God invites us. . . not that God forces us to accept His invitation.
2. Exclusivismthe belief that anyone who has not accepted Christ is not going to heaven. This means that children who died without receiving Christ or those with a mental disability who have not accepted Christ and even those who have never heard the Gospel of Grace. These children of God will never reach their heavenly home. . .
And
3. InclusivismThe belief that Jesus died for the sins of the world and God gives salvation to anyone based on His own criteria. This gives people who sought to serve Him a chance, even if they never heard the gospel of Grace. . . or people who never quite understood where this grace is found, at the foot of the Cross. . . God looks at the heart of the individual.
Peter had this type of issue about his beliefs until God helped him understand through a dream. It changed Peter’s life forever. It is found in Acts 11:2-18. . . lets read the account of his dream together. . . it is found on page. . . in your pew bible. . . Read Act 11:2-18.
Peter finally understood. . . he got it. It was not up to him to say who is worthy and who is not. . . it was not up to him to decide who belongs. Only God can do that.
Salvation is by grace and grace alone. It is not our grace but God’s grace to us. All we bring to the table is faith. . . that’s it. . . nothing more. Our faith enables us to believe that God loves us, has called us to be His and offers us salvation. The most powerful witness we can give is to love others no matter what. . . to show compassion and mercy to others no matter what. Think about it for a minute. . . if we were not shown compassion and mercy from God, there never would have been a cross at Calvary. . . there never would have been salvation offered to us as a free gift from God. Where would we be without it?
Where would our hope come from. . . ? What we need to do is to be sure that others receive the same hope and love that we have received.
Amen!
James 2:8-13 (Common
English Bible)
Acts 10:13-15, 27-28 (NRSV
Bible)
Call to Worship (GBOD)
Prayer of Dedication
Worship Theme: “We all
have sacred worth. . .”
and sermon: “God says
what?!”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist
Church
Suncook, NH
August 21, 2011
Eleventh Sunday of
Pentecost
&
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (NRSV
Bible)
Job 16:1-5 (NRSV Bible)
Psalm 96:1-6 (NRSV
Bible)(Call to Worship)
Communion
Worship Theme: “Why do bad
things happen?”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “In My
Weakness I am Strong”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist
Church
Suncook, NH
August 7, 2011
Nineth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Acts 11:2-18 (NRSV Bible)
1 Peter 3:8-9, 15 (NRSV
Bible)
Psalm 118:19-20, 24 (NRSV
Bible)(Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “We are all
one Family of God”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “I Got Your
Back!”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist
Church
Suncook, NH
July 31, 2011
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Genesis 1:1-8
Matthew 22:16b-17, 21b-22
Unison Prayer
“Loving, Merciful God,
giver of all knowledge,
we thank you for your
Spirit, here among us.
We ask for eyes to see you
at work in our lives
and the lives of others,
ears to hear the words
you have for us, and a
heart that is open to
your love and grace. It is
truly good to be in
the house of the Lord!
Amen.”
Worship Theme: “God’s
Wisdom”
Children’s Time
and sermon: “We don’t know
everything?”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist
Church
Suncook, NH
July 24, 2011
Seventh Sunday of
Pentecost
&
church sign, “Hanging Out
with Jesus”
July 17, 2011
&
Luke 15:1-2
The Parable of the Lost
Sheep
“This man (Jesus) welcomes
sinners and eats with them.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (GOD’s
WORD Translation)
Psalm 92:1-2 (GOD’s WORD
Translation)(Call to Worship)
Worship Theme: “What kind
of people did Jesus hang with?”
and sermon: “When
Christians Are Un-Christian”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Suncook United Methodist
Church
Suncook, NH
July 17, 2011
Sixth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Sermon series by the
Reverend Adam Hamilton
“When Christians Get It Wrong”
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