Sunday, June 05, 2016

sermon, "You Are Never Alone", by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, May 29, 2016, Patten, ME





May 29, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
The Lonely
Luke 7:11-17
Psalm 96



“You Will Never Alone…”
Prayer for God’s Word to be heard through me or in spite of me…
A reading from Luke’s Gospel Chapter 7, verses 11-17. Listen to the Word of God to you and me His people…

Have you ever been in a room with hundreds of people and felt like you were alone? You may know many of the people there but you feel as if you don’t belong there…that you were an outcast even amongst those who you may call friends. It is a difficult feeling to have to deal with. No one wants to be alone. As a matter of fact, the Bible tells us that after God created man He pronounced that “It is not good for man to be alone…” so God created someone to be with him…to help him… But the fact of the matter is, we, as humanity, can get so wrapped up in ourselves and our needs we don’t see those who are on the outside…lost and alone.

Last week, we started to think about who those who are on the “outside” are and how we can bring them to the “inside”. We talked about those who are on the outside because they feel unworthy to be part of the inside and also about how we deem others unworthy to be part of our inner circle. We realized that the truth is…we are all unworthy and we are only made worthy in and through the blood of Jesus. But what about those who are on the outside feeling lonely? How would Jesus have us react to them? What would Jesus do…to coin a phrase…

Jesus reached out to the least, last and forgotten. He sought those who were on the margins of society. In the Scripture I read from Luke this morning, we see another example of Jesus’ concern for those in need. Imagine with me for a moment that you were the widow in the scripture. You had already lost your husband and now you have just lost your son. Can you imagine the pain she must have felt? She was now all alone with no one who would care for her…that is until Jesus came on the scene. Now Jesus told her…in the midst of her pain…“do not cry…do not weep”. Do not weep… Jesus came to her…in the midst of her pain and loneliness…and comforted her. Yes Jesus raised her son from the dead but He had compassion for her first. I am not sure if this story is not so much about the raising of the dead as it is about empathizing with others and comforting them in their need.

What would Jesus do…for the lonely outsider? What is Jesus asking us…you and me…to do for and with the lonely outsider…? Who do you consider the lonely? (Audience participation) What do you think we, as Christians…as Christ followers…should react about the crisis…and yes I call it a crisis…of loneliness? (More audience participation)
John 13:34-35 tells us:
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Just as I have loved you…How does this truth…this command from Jesus to His disciple’s change how you would react to an outsider…someone who is “unworthy” and lonely?

We have heard the instructions from Jesus to His disciples…those that He modeled and those that He spoke. We know how Jesus came for those who are unworthy and that includes you and me…not just “those”. WE have seen how Jesus reacted with compassion to and for those who were and are on the outskirts of society. So how do these truths change the way you and I will follow Jesus? How is it going to change the world right where we live? How are we going to be the light bearers in a world full of pain and loneliness? How will we follow in the footsteps of our Lord and King, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ? I started out titling my sermon “You Are Never Alone” but it ended as “You Will Never Be Alone”…how will we live that out as we reach out in Christ’s love for us to those who are lonely and afraid? What will we do…what will you do…what will I do…to change a life from mourning to praise?

Amen




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May 29, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
The Lonely
Luke 7:11-17
Psalm 96
and sermon, “You Are Never Alone”
text

video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
May 29, 2016
&
merged May 26, 2016
by the grace of God – v2
May 24, 2016
we are worthy
May 24, 2016
by the grace of God
edited May 24, 2016
Jesus was welcomed by the outsiders – v2
May 24, 2016
who is unworthy of God’s grace
May 23, 2016
who is unworthy of my grace
May 23, 2016
until we claimed Jesus
May 23, 2016
I am worthy
May 23, 2016
you are worthy
May 23, 2016
by grace we are on the inside
May 23, 2016
we are all unworthy
edited May 23, 2016
we are unworthy
May 23, 2016
he was unworthy
May 22, 2016
why are they kept on the outside
May 22, 2016
who are the outsiders
May 22, 2016
are they welcome
May 22, 2016
Jesus was welcomed by outsiders
May 22, 2016
silencing his voice
May 22, 2016
who is worthy
May 22, 2016
who are the outsiders
May 22, 2016
who do we find unworthy
May 22, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Trinity Sunday
Psalm 8
Luke 7:1-10
and sermon, “Are You Worthy?”
text

video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
-          Smokey the Bear and one of Pastor Ruth’s business cards
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
May 22, 2016
&
May 22, 2016
cleave to God
John 16:14-15
devotion for May 21, 2016
read May 22, 2016
&
May 22, 2016
work to do - 3
John 16:12-13
devotion for May 20, 2016
read May 22, 2016
&
May 22, 2016
call me to hope
Romans 5:2b-5
"Trinity Sunday"
&
devotion for May 22, 2016
read May 22, 2016
"Align with God"
Rachel G. Hackenberg
Upper Room Disciplines for 2016
May 16, 2016 to May 22, 2016
&
May 22, 2016
we have hope in God
Romans 5:2b-5
Trinity Sunday
&
edited May 21, 2016
be one in the Spirit – v3
May 21, 2016
how are we different - 2
May 21, 2016
how is the world different
May 21, 2016
we feel the power
May 21, 2016
touching the earth
May 21, 2016
moving in us
May 21, 2016
the arc is bent
May 15, 2016
the ripples spread
Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1-21
devotion for May 15, 2016
read May 15, 2016
&
May 13, 2016
Each day is a blessing
Romans 8:14-17
devotion for May 13, 2016
read May 13, 2016
&
May 12, 2016
Come, Holy Spirit
John 14:25-27
devotion for May 12, 2016
read May 12, 2016
&
edited May 12, 2016
Peace in the struggles – v2
May 11, 2016
Peace in the struggles
John 14:8-17, 25-27
devotion for May 11, 2016
read May 11, 2016
&
 “Creation in All Directions”
by Brad Gabriel
for May 9, 2016 to May 15, 2016
The Upper Room Disciplines 2016
&
edited May 20, 2016
be one in the Spirit – v2
May 15, 2016
be one in the Spirit
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
proclaimed - 2
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
restart the fire
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
ignited
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
make me hot
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
an uncontrolled fire
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
set afire
Pentecost Sunday
May 15, 2016
that spark - 2
May 15, 2016
set me ablaze - 2
May 15, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Pentecost Sunday
Sermon Series:
“When in doubt…read the instructions”
Be One in the Spirit
(What did Jesus instruct His disciples then and now…?)
Acts 2:1-21
1 Corinthians 12:1-13
Psalm 104:2-35
and sermon, “Keep the Candle Burning…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
May 15, 2016

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 41,300+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

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