May 3, 2015
Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church
Sermon
2 in Sermon Series
“Five
Marks of a Christian”
Adapted
from: “Five Marks of a Methodist”
By
Steve Harper
Psalm
73:24-28 CEB
Philippians
4:4-9 NIV
I Will Rejoice For He Is My God!
Prayer for God’s word
to be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
I love getting good news, be
it for myself or for someone else. Good news is so needed in a world that seems
to be nothing but bad. We see it in the news and in the news paper. This world
seems to have gone from bad to worse. So when someone has good news it really
is something to rejoice about.
Even in heaven there is
rejoicing. We are told in scripture that there is much rejoicing when one soul
turns from sin and turns to God. When God created the heavens and the earth and
all that is within it, He stepped back and rejoiced in His creation and called
it very good.
I would rather live my life
rejoicing. . . looking to find the good that there is in the world and
rejoicing about it. . . than the alternative of feeling down all the time. . . finding
not much to rejoice about. At dinner time, we sit around the table and give
thanks. . . rejoice about. . . one thing that happened that day that was good.
. . something that we are thankful for.
We have begun our journey of
looking at the five things. . . five ways. . . that we can see that we are
“being changed by the story” of Easter. I have adapted this Sermon Series from
a book written by Steve Harper that is titled “Five Marks of a Methodist: The Fruit of a Living Faith.” But this
book is not just for “Methodist”, it is for all who follow Christ. It gives
five distinct ways to tell. . . to visually see. . . that you are being
“changed by the story”, not just reading it.
The five ways are as
follows:
A “Christian” not just Methodist:
1.
Loves God
2.
Rejoices in God
3.
Gives Thanks
4.
Prays Constantly
5.
Loves Others
Last
week, we talked about the first of these character traits. We love God. We love
God with all that we are. . . and all that we have within us. This love we have
for God is what drives us in our relationship with Him. The more we are in love
with Him the more we want to know Him. And the more we know Him the more we
want of Him in our lives.
The next tell tale sign is
that we rejoice in God. The Psalm that I read this morning, talks about
rejoicing in God. . . being so overjoyed that there is nothing that compares to
Him. We are so overjoyed that we can’t help but talk about Him and all that He
has done. As we rejoice in the Lord, we
witness to a world that is in such need of the Good News. There are so many
that need the hope of the gospel. As they hear the news and accept it in their
lives, they too begin to rejoice in our God and Savior. . .
In the Letter to the Philippians,
Paul talks about this rejoicing in God. In the fourth chapter He gives these
instructions:
Philippians
4:4-9New International Version (NIV)
Final Exhortations
4 Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and
sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received
or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will
be with you.
As we rejoice in the Lord we
are changed. . . the story has changed us. . . we become gentle and “fearless”.
We know that we can go to God in prayer and He will answer. We are given peace.
Instead of concentrating on the chaos around us we are concentrated on what is
good. And that brings us joy instead of the despair that our world seems pretty
abundant with.
Joy. . . real joy that makes
you “dance in the streets”. . . flows from the love of God. The joy of the Lord
truly is our strength. Being a Christ follower. . . being a disciple of Christ .
. . is a whole-life response to God’s grace. . . With all of our heart. . . all of our mind. . . and all of our
strength. This joy is not a fleeting or superficial thing but it takes over
our whole being. Being loved by God and loving God builds a bond that produces
a life that can only be found in relationship with Him.
A Christian rejoices in God.
. . they rejoice with God. . . for God is there all in all. So how is it with your joy meter? Are you
rejoicing in god or is the chaos of the world creeping in and stealing your
joy? Come to the fountain of joy and be revived again. Come to the life giving
waters our Savoir offers and come away rejoicing in the streets. Come to the
font of blessings and have the joy of your salvation restored. Rejoice in God
for He is good.
Amen!
May
3, 2015
Fifth
Sunday of Easter
Psalm
73:23-28 (Common English Bible)
Philippians
4:4-9 (The Message)
and sermon,
“I
Will Rejoice for He Is My God!“
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – Life Saver candy
-
“Grab
the life preserver”
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
“Our
God is Faithful”
“Happy
Song”
“God
is Good All The Time”
“I
Will Magnify His Name”
“Spirit
of the Living God”
Offertory, “Trust His Heart”
Communion “God of Wonders”
closing song, “Blessed Be The Lord God Almighty”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
May 3, 2015
&
Fourth
Sunday of Easter
Matthew
22:36-38
1 John
4:16b-21
and sermon,
“Loving
God. . . “
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – bracelet of fishing hooks
-
“We
are all called to be fishers of men”
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
centering
song – “Surely The Presence”
Opening
Prayer
“There
Is Power In The Blood”
“Deep
and Wide”
“The
Lord Reigns”
“Glory
To The Lamb”
Offertory, “People Need The Lord”
Pastoral Prayer
closing song, “Pass It On”
Departing Blessing
song after departing blessing, “The Lord Reigns”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 26, 2015
&
Third
Sunday of Easter
Acts
3:12-19
1 John 3:1-7
Acts 3:1-19
Matthew
28:18-20
2 Kings 2:1-11
and sermon,
“Let
the Story Change You”
video:
text:
by
Raymond A. Foss
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – sunglasses and mint/candy
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
“Sweet,
Sweet Spirit”
“Do
Lord”
“My
Life Is In You Lord”
“Your
Love, Oh Lord”
Offertory, “O How I Love Jesus”
closing song, “The Dancing Heart”
song after departing blessing, “Sweet, Sweet
Spirit”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 19, 2015
&
First
Sunday after Easter
Isaiah
52:13-15
Luke
24:13-53
Walk to
Emmaus
Christ
Appearing to Disciples
Ascension
and sermon,
“The
Rest of the Story”
by
Steve Curtis
Children’s Message
-
mystery
box – large candle
-
“Shine the light as copies of Jesus”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
“Trees
of the Field”
“Trading
My Sorrows”
“You
Are My All In All”
“Agnus
Dei”
Offertory, “Behold the Lamb”
https://youtu.be/m0vHQHIlQ8kPrayer of
Thanksgiving
Communion, “You Have Been Given” and “I Sing
Praises”
closing song, “The Power Of Your Love”
closing songs, “My Tribute” and “The Strong Name
of Jesus”
song after Departing Blessing, “Trading My
Sorrows”
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 12, 2015
&
April 5, 2015
Easter
Sunday!
Surely the Presence
Greetings and Announcements / Opening
Prayer
Let The Glory Come Down!
Matthew
28:1-10 (The Message)
John
20:1
John
20:11-16 (Amplified Bible)
Communion
and sermon “The End Is Just
the Beginning. . . ”
scan:
video:
text:
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
“I
Believe in Jesus”
“Go
To The Rock”
“Joyful,
Joyful We Adore Thee”
“Fairest
Lord Jesus”
Matthew 28:1-10 and
Offertory, “He’s Alive”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Children’s Message
Communion, “The Old Rugged Cross” and
Because He Lives
closing song, “This Is The Day”
Departing Blessing
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
April 5, 2015
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