Sunday, March 09, 2014

sermon, "Our Redeemer Lives", by Ray Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, March 9, 2014

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon 9 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
sermon “Our Redeemer Lives”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Go’el”)
by Raymond A. Foss
March 9, 2014

“Our Redeemer Lives”
Good morning. This is the first time I have preached here at Stetson Memorial, but it is not my first time. That was back in 1972 when I preached the Children’s Sunday message on the Warm Fuzzies and the Cold Pricklies. And I preached last Sunday at Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. There I was preaching the eighth (8th) and final sermon of a sermon series on Christianity’s Family Tree. The sermon was called, “So What Makes Us Methodist?”

Yes, I, the spouse of a United Methodist pastor was preaching on Methodism. Hmm…  I have often wondered on how to explain exactly how to describe what makes us Methodists, because we do believe a lot of the same things as other Christians.

Well, I still had to do a lot of research to try to make it interesting. And, the topic was a bit dry, talking about how we are a people of the Extreme Center. The readings had a lot of academic stuff in it, explaining how our theology and the way we do church is different than other denominations, including Pentecostals, who broke off from Methodists, in part because we weren’t animated enough. 

I’m not sure how that could have ever happened, I mean I was sharing about the Wesleyan Quadrilateral and how John Wesley was “strangely warmed”.

And now, today I am preaching the nineth (9th) sermon of a year-long sermon series on the Sacred Names of God. We are going to be learning about the name “Go’el”, which means Redeemer.

In between last Sunday and today though, we observed Ash Wednesday, the start of the Season of Lent, a time of reflection and walking with Christ after he turned his face toward Jerusalem to live out God’s plan for his life.

But my Lent starts a little earlier before the Ash Wednesday service, because for the last six (6) years I have burned the palms of the prior year’s Palm Sunday to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

There is a lot of meaning in that act for me, to think of palms that were waved in triumphant as Christ rode into Jerusalem being burned, just as the hosannas of that first Palm Sunday became the angry flames of Friday morning when the mob called for Christ to be crucified and the ashes of Good Friday and Holy Saturday when Christ was on the cross and in the tomb.

 I wanted to share one poem I wrote on Friday with you, it is called, “breathing in Sorrow”, and I capitalized the word sorrow in the title as if sorrow became a proper noun, a named presence that walks with us during Lent.

breathing in Sorrow

sensing Sorrow’s presence
in the fire’s progress
breathing in the smoke
deeply, deeply
that transformation
drawn into the pit

the palms of Sunday
covered with our hosannas!
their burning so quickly
in becoming smoke, ashes

breathing in Sorrow
a cloak, a presence
the ashes drawn within
into my lungs, onto my heart
hidden, in secret, within
within my body, upon my life

my walk different
after the smoke, the ashes
sensing Sorrow’s presence
in life, in memory

But, that isn’t the whole story. Just as Methodism isn’t defined by our liturgy and our disciplines alone, neither is our journey in Lent marked only by our sorrow, our guilt, our fears, our awareness of our sin.

John Wesley, that bookish founder of Methodism, is said to have traveled over 250,000 miles all over the British Isles preaching the Good News. He was asked why people came out to the fields where he preached. He said, “I set myself on fire and they come to watch me burn.”

He was filled by the same flames of Pentecost that burned in the first disciples.

So too, Ash Wednesday is not the final answer, because we have our “Go’el”, our Redeemer in God in Christ Jesus. We are not merely people of the dust, of the ashes, bound by our sin under the weight of the Law or the burden of Adam’s original sin as we learn in Romans 5:12-19. Listen to this Good News, that though we have Death Through Adam, we have Life Through Christ:

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (NIV)

We may be people of dust, of clay but we also are people of the Holy Spirit, of Christ indwelling within us. We are freed completely by Christ’s perfect sacrifice, the fragrant offering of His body upon Golgotha’s cross.

We are given life by the breath of God within us and we are given eternal life by Christ stepping in to pay our cost… our ransom (to redeem), to free us from our bondage, our burden, forgiving us eternally of the wages of sin and death.

And, like all believers, we are assured of our salvation because Our Redeemer Lives as is shouted in the scripture from Job today. No matter the trials that the Tempter put Job through, he knew God was with him. Job knew and declared God would stand on the earth and that he, Job, would look upon the Living God

We too have that victory, we are redeemed, we too are lifted up, raised from the dead, from the chains that bound us, by His triumphant resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. He rose like a phoenix from the ashes and ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

We too will see God, we too will see Christ face to face with our own eyes. We too are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.

So, let’s get our blood moving a little bit. Let’s rise up from our Ashes as Easter People as Pentecost People, who believe Our Redeemer Lives.

I am going to need a couple of volunteers. We are going to divide the congregation into two groups. The people on this side are going to shout out “GO” when Chrissie holds up her sign and the people on this side are going to shout “EL” when Steve holds up his sign.

Let’s see how this works. GO, EL; GO, EL; GO, EL; one more time, so they can hear it down at the Pentecost Church - GO, EL!

Thanks for playing along, otherwise it would have been my other thought which was for us to all sing along and act out “We can all trust in our G-O-E-L”, to the tune of the song Y-M-C-A…

That’s right, the Ashes of Ash Wednesday becomes the Shout of He Lives!, He is Risen Indeed! of Easter, for we serve a God who loves us, who wants relationship with us, and because we know Our Redeemer Lives.

Cue video of My Redeemer Lives, by Nicole C. Mullin…
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKrBqD7uhBM) (start at 1:38 minutes)

Amen and Hallelujah! We rise from the ashes because Our Redeemer Lives!

March 9, 2014
Sermon 9 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Job 19:25-27 New International Version (NIV)
Romans 5:12-19 New International Version (NIV)
Isaiah 49:7
Leviticus 25:48-49
Numbers 35:9-30
Jeremiah 50:33-34
Mark 10:54
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Go’el (go’EL)à Redeemer
Worship Songs
-          Shine, Jesus, Shine
-          Celebrate Jesus
-          Awesome In This Place
-          My Jesus, I Love Thee
Opening Prayer
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Communion
-          You Have Been Given
-          Hallowed Be Thine Name
Closing Song
-          Give Me Oil for My Lamp
(with nod to John Wesley’s quote,
“I set myself on fire and they come to watch me burn”)
children’s sermon
-          Why are You Sad?
and sermon “Our Redeemer Lives”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Go’el”)
by Raymond A. Foss
filling in for Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 9, 2014
&
Sermon 8 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Psalm 46
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El Olam (EL o-LAM)à Everlasting/Eternal God
and sermon “Hello My Name El Olam”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Olam”)
by Ellen Alward Dickinson
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
March 2, 2014
&
Sermon 7 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Daniel 4:19, 24-35 (The Names of God Bible)
1 Kings 19 (The Names of God Bible)
Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
[Genesis 14:18-23- originally planned to be used]
“Praying the Names of God: A Daily Guide”
By, Ann Spangler
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El Elyon (EL el-YOHN)à God Most High
Worship Songs (Praise Hymn):
-          Crown Him With Many Crowns
-          To God Be the Glory
-          Standing on the Promises
-          Great Is Thy Faithfulness
-          Holy, Holy, Holy
-          The Old Rugged Cross
-          I  Need Thee Every Hour
-          Rock of Ages
Offering
-          Be Thou My Vision
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon, “God Rocks!”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
The Lord’s Table
-          Agnus Dei
Closing Songs
-          How Great Thou Art
and sermon ““Hello My Name El Elyon”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Elyon”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 23, 2014
&
Sermon 6 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Ishà Bridegroom
Hosea 2:16, 19-20
Revelations 19:6-9
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Worship Songs:
-          Bless His Holy Name
children’s sermon, Scouting Sunday,
by Jean Howes
-          God’s promise
and sermon “Hello My Name Is… Ish/ Bridegroom”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Ish”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 9, 2014
&
Sermon 5 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Adonay (Adonai)à Lord
Daniel 9:9-16
Daniel 9:17-19
Daniel 9:9-19
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Worship Songs:
-          Dancing Heart
-          Let Everything That Has Breath
-          I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
-          Amazing Grace
Offering
-          Light The Fire Again
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Communion / The Lord’s Table
-          With All My Hearts
-          10,000 Reasons
children’s sermon
-          a servant is someone who serves the Lord,
using all of their talents to bring His kingdom on earth,
serving our Master in everything they say and do.
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon “Hello My Name Adonay”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …Adonay”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
February 2, 2014
&
Sermon 4 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El Chayà Living God
Joshua 3:7-13
2 Kings 19:14-16
Jeremiah 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 6:15-16
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Worship Songs:
-          Soon and Very Soon (King)
-          Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (Lord, King)
-          Spirit of the Living God (Living God)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
“We have a living and breathing God who is always there for us.
He answers us when we call. Our God is not dead…He surely alive…“
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon “Hello My Name is …El Chay”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name is …El Chay / Living God”)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 26, 2014
&
Sermon 3 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          El à God
-          Elohimà God
-          EloahàGod
Genesis 1:2-2:3
Deuteronomy 28:2-6
(All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Offering – “I Will Bless the Lord”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          “and God Created. . . “
by Pastor Ruth
Closing Song – “Friend of God”
and sermon “Hello My Name is …El, Elohim, and Eloah”
 (in the bulletin as “Hello My Name Is. . . God“)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 19, 2014
&
Baptism of the Lord Sunday
(and a time to celebrate and remember our own baptism)
Sermon 2 of “What’s In A Name…”
Sermon Series on “The Sacred Names of God”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Yeshua --> Jesus
-          Mashiach --> Christ, Messiah
Matthew 1:18-21
Psalm 2
Mark 1:14-20
Matthew 3:13-17
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
Reception of new members
Offering – “The New 23rd
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          There is only One who can save us, Jesus, the one Savior
Closing Song – “The River Is Here”
and sermon “Hello My Name is …Yeshua/Mashiach”
(in the bulletin as “Hello My Name Is. . . Jesus, Christ, Messiah“)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 12, 2014
&
Epiphany Sunday
Epiphany of the Lord Sunday
Sermon Series on “The Names of God”
Sermon 1 of “What’s In A Name…”
Names of God and Definitions from Sermon today:
-          Ha-Shem -> the Name
-          Ehyeh -> I Am
Exodus 3:13-14
Leviticus 24:10-16
 (All Scripture is from The Names of God Bible)
offering – worship your holy name
Prayer of Thanksgiving
children’s sermon
-          different names, different meaning – one person
-          many names for God, all one God
communion –
-          “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
-          “Lord, You Are More Precious Than Silver”
and sermon “Our Many Faceted God”
(saved as “Hello My Name Is. . . “)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
January 5, 2014


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 37,150+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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