August 21, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
Risky Business
“Risking It All”
Psalm 103:1-6
Mark 5:21-43
Mark 6:1-29
“Risking It All”
Prayer for illumination and for God’s word to
be heard through me or in spite of me…
Have
you ever had to give news to someone that you weren’t quite sure how they were
going to take it? It is hard sometime when you have to give news that could
shatter what they believe. But sometimes in the shattering something new
emerges… But still…they might resent what you are saying and of course they end
up resenting you at the same time. No one wants to hear that they may be
thinking or believing or acting in ways that just don’t match up to who society
says they should be…that don’t match up to the words they say…that don’t match
up to who or what God has called them to be.
It
is risky to risk it all for others. But as Jesus modeled for us…it is only in
the risking that others are set free…it is only as we risk all that we are
actually set free…
As
I have said…If Jesus was alive today…He would probably have trouble getting
life insurance because of the risk factor of what He was doing. Jesus was
constantly doing risky things, rubbing the religious rulers the wrong way,
eating with “those” people, touching the sick and the leapers…just to name a
few things. It seems that to work for the Kingdom…it requires some Risky
Business. The question is…are we willing to take risks for love and justice?
What price do we pay when we play it safe? We have looked at some of Jesus’
risky business encounters to see what He has modeled for those who would become
His followers…by the way...that means you
and me…
First,
nothing is held back. Jesus held nothing back in His ministry. He did His
ministry right out in the open where everyone could see. But even though they saw what Jesus was doing, the people around Him
just didn’t get it right…we are also called to live our Christian life…our
call…not behind closed doors but out in the open…
Second,
realize that it is not always nice and neat. The religious leaders…the
scribes…the writers of the laws…were saying we have a nice and neat protocol
and this man is turning it upside down…they
were unable to see…they had the scales of law covering their eyes…they could
not see God, incarnate, standing right in front of them…He even told them who
He was and they still couldn’t see. And we had to ask ourselves… When do we live by our church laws and not
wanting to get our self-changed…changed to taking a risk to help others? When
are we unwilling to touch the leper and make him clean…?
Third…we
can’t do this alone… we need God’s help…and we need each other’s help. . It is
through and in God that we are strengthen…it is in and through God we have a
new vison of who and what others are…it is through and in God that we become
community. When we come together in community we will see the “risk factor” go
down because we are not alone but united as one. There was nothing held back in Jesus’ ministry…including His life…we
too should live…should serve with nothing held back…with the help of community.
Jesus
reached out to those “untouchables’ in the world. This was risky business,
these people were real sick and hurting and rather than keeping Himself away
from these people…risking being made “unclean” by their touch…He was right in
the middle of them. A woman who had
spent 12 years isolated…unclean…came close in order to touch the Healer. Listen
to her story found in Mark 5:21-43 (I am
reading excerpts from this piece of scripture this morning but this is where
the story is found)
25 And a woman was there who
had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal
under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of
getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up
behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I
just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped
and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
Jesus
tells this woman that she is healed and that her faith is what healed her. Jesus
risked being unclean to make others clean… This woman risked coming
close to be healed.
A
Jewish leader risks his reputation by asking the Healer to heal his daughter.
22 Then one of the synagogue
leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He
pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put
your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” “After he put them all
out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him,
and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her,
“Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42
Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years
old)”.
All
this risky business that Jesus did you would think that His home town would be
so proud of Him. Right? Not so much…
If you die they name a street after you but while living and you come up
against what they believe…well let’s just say a prophet is never welcome in
their home town and leave it at that… At times…people are going to disappoint
us when we think they should have our backs. Listen to what happened when Jesus
went home and got a homecoming that wasn’t quite what we would expect… I will be reading excerpts from Mark 6:1-29
Jesus left there and went to
his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began
to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get
these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What
are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter?
Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon?
Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
When
He began they were all amazed but as He spoke He probably made a few of them
squirm a little in their seats.
Jesus said to them, “A
prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in
his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a
few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
These
people Missed a blessing…they missed the miracle because of their closed
mindedness…because of their inability to hear the Good News that would set them
free…It’s risky business when you bring news that make people squirm. As a
matter of fact, the end part of the Mark 6 scripture talks about John the
Baptist being beheaded because Herod’s wife Herodias didn’t like what he had to
say about their marriage… But we are called to follow Jesus’ example as we
bring the Good News to those who sit in darkness…
God
is calling His people to a new thing. Jesus is requiring something radical of
His disciples…His followers…His image in the world. We are called to be risk
takers. We are called follow Jesus’ example. We are called to be risk takers
for God so that others will know the good news of the gospel… But that means we
are going to have to change. We are going to have to get a little dirty. But we
can’t do this alone… we need God’s help…and we need each other’s help. When we come together in community we will
see the “risk factor” go down because we are not alone but united as one. No matter the risk we need to bring the Light
of the World within the Good News to those who are in need of some Good News…in
need of a Savior…who sit in darkness whatever
that may look like… As I have said before, Jesus is showing us a more excellent
way. Lives depend on it…Jesus is counting on us… What is the cost of one life to you? What about the cost that was
paid for yours on the cross of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ who risked it all?
AMEN
====
August
28, 2016
August
25, 2016
what
price do we pay
August
25, 2016
willing
to take risks
edited
August 24, 2016
If
Jesus was here with us
August
24, 2016
not
matching up
edited/
renamed August 23, 2016
If
Jesus was here with us
August
23, 2016
If
Jesus was alive today
August
23, 2016
speaking
truth to their power
August
23, 2016
their
words become lies
August
23, 2016
shattering
what they believe
edited/merged
August 22, 2016
in
the shattering, something new emerges
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2016/08/in-shattering-something-new-emerges.html
edited/new August 22, 2016
something
new emerges
edited/new
August 22, 2016
in
the shattering, in the breaking
August
22, 2016
in
the shattering
edited
August 22, 2016
Love
above all else – v2
edited
August 22, 2016
Truth
to change us – v2
August
21, 2016
love
to set them free
August
21, 2016
Love
to set us free
August
21, 2016
Truth
to change us
August
21, 2016
Love
above all else
August
21, 2016
you
bless us
August
21, 2016
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon
Series:
Risky
Business
“Risking
It All”
Psalm
103:1-6
Mark
5:21-43
Mark
6:1-29
message: “Risking It All”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
&
edited August 21, 2016
in the face of adversity – 2 – v2
August
21, 2016
we
judge, we divide
edited
August 21, 2016
How
can we love – v2
August
21, 2016
How
can we love
August 21, 2016
How can the light shine
August 21, 2016
we must pull together
August 21, 2016
We judge our neighbor
edited August 21, 2016
We damage the fabric – v3
August 20, 2016
in the face of adversity - 2
August 20, 2016
in community we find hope
August 20, 2016
we repair the breach – 2
August 20, 2016
binding the cords
August 20, 2016
stitching the wounds
edited August 20, 2016
We damage the
fabric – v2
August 20, 2016
We damage the fabric
We damage the fabric #2
We damage the fabric #1
August
14, 2016
Worship in the Park (indoors)
Scripture:
Habakkuk 3:17-19
message: “Worship in the Park”
video:
text:
by Pastor Ruth Foss
praise music led by
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church Praise Team
Director, Chuck Loucka
opening prayer
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
prayer over the offering
by Pastor Franklin Randall, Jr.
Patten Pentecostal Church
&
August 7, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
Risky Business
Psalm 146
Mark 1:21-45
Mark 2:1-22
sermon “Nothing Held Back”
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
August 7, 2016
&
August 9, 2015
Worship in the Park
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
John 13:34-35
John 15:1-17
Lord’s Prayer
message: “Community”
by Raymond A. Foss
&
praise music led by
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church Praise Team
Director, Chuck Loucka
&
opening prayer
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
&
prayer before the offering
and songs of praise over the offering
by Pastor Franklin Randall, Jr.
Patten Pentecostal Church
&
Pastor Rodney Lord’s sermon, 2014
Worship in the Park
======
Psalm 133
Psalm 84:5
Revelations 4:11
Revelations 5
Deuteronomy 5:16
Leviticus 19
John 4
1 Peter 3:15
Jeremiah 29:11
Hebrews
Romans 15:13
&
message by Pastor Rodney Lord
August 10, 2014
Patten Academy Park
Patten, ME
&
Pastor Ruth Foss
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV
sermon
“There is Hope in Community”
Worship in the Park
Patten Pioneer Days
August 11, 2013
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 41,570+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
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