Sunday, July 28, 2013

Sermon, "Live Your Worship Out Loud!", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, July 28, 2013

July 28, 2013
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”
Sermon 4 of Summer Series
Ephesians 1:3-14 (Gods Word Translation)
Acts 2:38-47 (New Revised Standard Version)

“Live Your Worship Out Loud!”

Let us pray. . .  (Pray for the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and insight. . . )

Have you ever been so happy about something that you couldn’t hold it in. . . you found something that you were so happy with that you want to share your joy with everyone around you? Since we have moved here I have found something that I never knew existed. . . it’s called “Gonzo”. It takes stains out of anything. It works on clothing and carpets. I am so excited about having it and how well it works I have been telling people about it. I want them to have the same ease in their cleaning adventures. . .  It is something that I never want to be without anymore. Since I have found it. . . it is indispensable.

In the same way. . . years ago I found something that I just want to share with everyone that I encounter. It is why I stand before you today. It is something that I just can’t hold in. . . something that I want to articulate to those around me. That one thing that is even more precious to me than the “Gonzo” cleaner is the love that I have found in Christ Jesus. It is the joy that fills my heart every time I think of God’s goodness and mercy. It is the peace that I have knowing that I am deeply loved and forgiven. I don’t. . . OK I can’t. . . keep it in. I want to live my worship of God in Christ Jesus out Loud for the entire world to see.

We are getting ready, as a church family, to embark on a cruise this summer. We will be “Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”. But before we set sail, we are taking some time to learn about our Captain, our Lord Jesus. We have decided that He is our Risen Lord and King. . . that Jesus can be trusted to be there helping us in the “stormy season” of our faith journey. As we have been looking at the “resume” of our Captain, we have come to realize that we never walk alone. I have even challenged you to look within your heart and to decide how much Jesus really means to you. . . that Jesus is worth more than gold itself and that we are a precious pearl to our God. He sold everything He had. . . put His Son, Jesus on the line. . . for humanity to have a right relationship with Him. . .  We have even talked about the new eye sight we receive from our Captain that sees all, knows all and tells all to us, His faithful disciples.

But, how do we honor our Captain? Do we only enjoy His Company just once a week or is there more to the life in which we are called? How are we. . . as Jesus’ disciples. . . called to live our lives? What are we to do with the message of hope. . . the message of forgiveness. . . the message of redemption and joy? Do we lock it up in a box and put it on a shelf for us to use when we are in times of trouble or do we share it with those who don’t know about this gift that our God has lavished upon us? What should we do?

In the Ephesians Scripture this morning we hear Paul telling the people of Ephesus all about what God has done through Christ Jesus. Paul gives us an idea of how he lived his life. . . an idea of what he did with the message that he received. Can you here the excitement in his voice as he tells the people of Ephesus about what God has done? Paul even tells them. . . as well as us. . . what type of life God gives us. . . a praising and glorious life. We are given a chance for a life as people who are free. . . abundantly free. . . because of God’s love for us. . . for humanity. It is through and in Christ that we find out who we are. . . beloved sons and daughters. And not only that. . . even before we heard and believed in the gospel of grace God had his eye on us. . . God had a glorious plan for our lives. God focused His love on you and on me. . . wanting to makes us holy in His sight. . . wanting to adopt us. . .  With all this being said. . . how can we not want to live our worship out loud for the world to see. . . how can we not want to share it with everyone we come in contact with?

But. . . what does that look like. We can say that we want to live out worship out loud but what does it really look like? I think we can get a glimpse of what it looks like from the words of Peter found in Acts 2:38-47 and how people reacted to Peter’s words. Listen to Peter’s words and see if you can see a glimpse of that wonderful way of living. . .

Acts 2:38-47 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Life among the Believers

43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Did you hear how these believers lived? Did you hear what happened after they believed? They lived their worship and faith out loud for all to see and because of it. . . their numbers increased. They shared everything they had with those who were in need. They trusted that God would supply their needs individually so they were free to share what they had. Peter was bold when he spoke out against how these people were living. Peter was spirited when he told them what they had to do to live the life that God promised. Peter held nothing back and because of that, three thousand people gave their life to Christ. What a change we can make when we live our worship out loud for everyone to see.

The people responded by living their own worship out loud. They took care of each other. They were glad and lived a generous life with each other. They praised God not only with their mouths but with their lives. And day by day the Lord added to their numbers! We need to live our worship out loud so that others may learn about the joy within us. We need to live our worship out loud so that others can be free. We need to live our worship out loud so others can be saved. . .

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s time. It’s time we changed the tide of our world. It is time we changed the way we live our lives. It is time we renewed the joy within us. And within that renewing of our minds, we too can affect a change in the lives of those around us. We can be hope for the hopeless, light for those who live in darkness, be that city on a hill for all to see. . .

My question for you is this, are you living your worship of God out loud? Is there someone who needs to not only hear about but see Christ living and breathing in you? Are you feeling the joy of your salvation or has it grown cold with time and through despair? Maybe. . . just maybe. . . if we spend time in worship and joy. . . if we spend time pondering on the goodness of our God. . . we can rekindle that fire. Maybe. . . just maybe. . . we will be blessed in the blessing of others. Perhaps. . . just perhaps. . . if we begin to live our lives in thanksgiving and worship we can change the tide in which we live. It is time we decide to be bold in our faith. It is time that we, like Peter, begin to encourage others to take that step to a new and happier life. The time is here. . . the time is now. Our God still increases the numbers of believers each day. But we need to live that life of worship. . . we need to be in collaboration with the work that God is doing in the world around us. Then maybe. . . just maybe. . . we can turn the tide and win the victory for Jesus. Maybe. . . just maybe. . .  

Amen. . .

July 28, 2013
Theme: “Do We Worship Only on Sunday?”
Ephesians 1:3-14 (Gods Word Translation)
Ephesians 1:3-14 (The Message)
Acts 2:38-47 (New Revised Standard Version)
children’s message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon “Live Your Worship Out Loud!”
“Shout It From the Mountaintops”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Sermon 4 of Summer Series
“Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 28, 2013
&
Theme: “Can we see the big picture”
“Big Picture Followers”
1 Corinthians 13:9-12 (GOD’S WORD translation)
Mark 6:1-6 (The Message)
“Just a Carpenter”
Mark 6:1-6 (NRSV)
“Jesus Rejected in Nazareth”
children’s message
sometimes our vision is foggy
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon “Seeing More Clearly. . . ”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Sermon 3 of Summer Series
“Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 21, 2013
&
Luke 7:36-47 (The Message)
Mark 5:21-34 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Matthew 13:44-46
children’s message
We are precious to God
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon “How much does Jesus really matter?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Sermon 2 of Summer Series
“Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 14, 2013
&
Mark 4:35-41 (The Message)
Luke 4:16-21 (Common English Bible)
Matthew 14:22-33
children’s message
We are not alone
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon “Who Is this Captain”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Sermon 1 of Summer Series
“Cruising Sacred Waters with Jesus”
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
July 7, 2013

All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 24,070+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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