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Sunday, August 28, 2016

sermon, Risking It All, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, August 21, 2016, Patten, ME



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
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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