June 26, 2016
Stetson
Memorial UMC
Sermon
Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 16:7-11
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Hebrews 13:2
“The Dust of the
Church…”
Pray for God’s words
and not my own…
A reading from the
Gospel of Luke, chapter 10, verses 1 to 11 and 16-20.Listen to the Word of God
to you and me…the beloved of God.
I have found that when traveling you can have two outcomes
from the place you are visiting. You can be welcomed with open arms…talk about the open arms of the Holy Land
Pilgrimage. And you can have a not so welcoming experience…talk about Mexico. It is very much the
same as we travel as Jesus’ disciples in the world. There have been welcoming
places and those places that we need to almost “run for our lives” from… In
Jesus’ time, the disciples had the same types of reactions as they spread the
Good News. But Jesus gave them instructions on what to do when they came up
against the attitudes of the places they would visit…
Who do we see as “outsiders”? We are continuing our journey
with the Holy Spirit as we look at the ways we consider people as “Those
People” on the outside of where we are…the ones we consider to be on the
outside of our acceptance, and how we can change our view of others and how we
can bring them from the “outside” in.
We have talked about those who are on the outside because
they feel unworthy to be part of the inside…but we also, at times, deem others
unworthy to be part of our inner circle. We have come to realize…we are all
unworthy and we are only made worthy in and through the blood of Jesus. We have
talked about those who are out there lonely and afraid…and how if we are to follow Jesus we are to go and meet
them where they are…wherever they are…and have compassion…console them…and
invite the inside where they can feel and know the love of Jesus… We have also
decided we want healing from being judgmentally challenged and be those true
ambassadors of Jesus and our homeland, heaven. We also want to extend that
healing to those who are bound in chains…to introduce them to the One who breaks
all chains and gives freedom… And
those who are homeless, spiritually and/or physically, we are to help them find
their home sweet home.
What about those travelers…those who don’t “belong” tour
community…those who maybe just passing through or maybe traveling to make their
home within our community looking for a home? I love the Hebrews 13:2 Scripture
about travelers… Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by
doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.
You never know who is really coming through our doors…
In the Scripture from Luke that I read this morning, we hear
Jesus’ instructions to the 70 that were sent out to proclaim the kingdom of
God. Now these disciples of Jesus went out pretty sparse. They had nothing with
them…nothing of the world, we too should
bring nothing of this world as we too proclaim the kingdom of God and the Good
News…no extra clothes, no extra sandals, no money…just what they had on
their backs…how I would feel about that…
Now these 70 were going to have one of two reactions as they entered the city.
Either they would be welcomed and taken care of or…they were going to be
unwelcomed.
Now if they were accepted…they would share the Good News,
heal the sick, cast out demons…all of the good stuff. But…but…If they were not welcome…if the city chose to not be hospitable
to them…it would not go very well for them.
“But whatever city you enter and they do not welcome you, go
out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your city which clings to our
feet we wipe off in protest against you [breaking all ties]; yet understand
this, that the kingdom of God has come near [and you rejected it].’”
Ok…here we go…I just
want to stop here for a moment with a thought…How many times is Christ’s church
like the unwelcoming city? How many times have we turned others away because
they are different? How many times do we turn others away or even chase them
away because we don’t like the message of their journey? Have we turned people
away when they have had “Good News” that didn’t go with our agenda…they came
with the Kingdom Agenda and they left the dust of our church outside the door.
We are all travelers in this world not our own…for our home is in heaven. I
think we all may have been rejected in some way in our lives… So why do we
continue to reject those who have a message from God…from the Kingdom because
they are different or tit just doesn’t fit in our pretty little box? Just
something to ponder…
Travelers are always outsiders, visiting new places and
having to adjust to the customs and cultures outside of their own experience of
life. Jesus warned the disciples that they would come up against rejection at
times. We too are rejected at times when we bring the message of the kingdom…
Jesus wants us to make the most of the places we are
welcomed and not worry too much about the places we are not…don’t dwell on the negative people give
us…it is only hurting the rejected not the rejecter… It is the places where
we are welcomed that we go from outsider to insider. We are to embrace the
outsider…scars…tattoos…mo hawks…purple
hair…a message that may make us squirm a little…to go where they are and
bring them in…be the body of Christ.
I am reminded of a song by Casting Crowns…”If We Are The Body”… It’s about …well
it’s one of those songs that challenge us as Christians. Let me give you a few
stanza’s of it…I think You’ll get the
message…
It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way, there is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
The bridge gets me every time…
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
So…in short…we are all unworthy but made worthy not through
our own doing but what Christ did on the Cross. We were all the unlovely until
Christ came into our lives and made us beautiful. We were all lonely on the outside
until someone asked us to come in and feel the unfailing love of God. We are
now ambassadors of our country who should have a new…uncluttered vision that
can see the sacred worth of all that we survey…of all we come in contact with. We
are also healed to bring healing to those who are on the outside of our
communities…as well as the inside of those same communities. We are to help the
homeless find a home…whatever that will look like. We are also to be a people
who welcome the traveler whether on a spiritual journey or a physical one.
We need to get this right…there are lives depending on it.
We need to be about the Kingdom…proclaiming the Good News. We are to look past
the outside and be concerned about the inside of those who are in need…whether
it be physical, spiritual or both. Maybe if we could just look beyond the outside
and be concerned about what’s on the inside. Perhaps if stop and listened to
their message…welcomed “angels unaware”…we might be changed to be closer to the
image of Christ.
Let us go forth, in faith and trust, and proclaim the
Kingdom is at hand. Let us forget the past and worldly things and move forward
in love and healing. Perhaps, just maybe, as open our hearts and our doors we
may not have that dust of rejection at our door. Perhaps we would be like that
70 sent out and have a joyous result not only that our names are recorded in
heaven but that there are more names written because we swept the dust off our
welcome mat and welcomed others in…in and through the Name of our Risen Lord
Jesus Christ.
Amen!
====
July 3, 2016
July 3, 2016
welcome them
July 3, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 30:1-5
Luke 10:25-37
The Good Samaritan
and sermon, “He’s from Away”
text
draft text –
7/2/16
video
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by Chrissy
McCarthy
Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 3, 2016
&
July 2, 2016
welcoming to them
edited July 2, 2016
from the “outside” in – v2
June 27, 2016
from the “outside” in
edited June 27, 2016
Those People – 2 – v2
June 26, 2016
Those People - 2
June 26, 2016
do not lose focus
June 26, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 16:7-11
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
and sermon, “The Dust of the Church…”
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
June 26, 2016
&
edited June 25, 2016
love the stranger – v3
edited June 25, 2016
love the stranger – v2
June 25, 2016
love the stranger
edited/ merged June 25, 2016
Jesus came for those who were unworthy – v2
June 25, 2016
Jesus came for those who were unworthy
June 25, 2016
do not cry, do not weep
June 25, 2016
in the midst of her pain
June 25, 2016
bring them in
June 25, 2016
no one wants to be alone
June 25, 2016
we don’t see them
June 25, 2016
Christ sought those
June 25, 2016
Lost and Alone
written June 22, 2016
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
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
May 29, 2016
&
June 25, 2016
We are not alone - 3
Psalm 77:1-2, 1-20
Psalm 77:1-20
devotion for June 23, 2016
read June 23, 2016
“Learning from What We Would Avoid”
Disciplines June 20, 2016 to June 26, 2016
by Robert P Fugarino
Upper Room Disciplines for 2016
&
edited June 19, 2016
open our arms – v2
June 19, 2016
open our arms
June 19, 2016
let light shine in
June 19, 2016
open our doors
June 19, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 8
Luke 9:51-62
and sermon, “Home Sweet Home…”
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
June 19, 2016
&
June 18, 2016
make this a place of welcome
anticipating tomorrow’s sermon
June 19, 2016
&
June 18, 2016
were they demons
June 18, 2016
chains that bind us
June 18, 2016
release the demons
June 18, 2016
the demons leave us
June 18, 2016
we free others
June 18, 2016
Freed of our chains
June 12, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 139
Luke 8:26-39
and sermon, “Broken Chains”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
June 12, 2016
&
June 11, 2016
he missed a blessing
June 11, 2016
he couldn’t see her
June 11, 2016
he didn’t see her gift
June 5, 2016
she gave her all
June 5, 2016
offering to Christ
June 5, 2016
washing His feet
June 5, 2016
dividing the flock
June 5, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
“Senior Recognition Sunday”
Sermon Series:
“Outsiders”
Psalm 146
Luke 7:36-8:3
and sermon, “Judgmentally Challenged”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message from Mystery Box
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial
United Methodist Church
June 5, 2016
&
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
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
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 41,390+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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