July
30, 2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series: This Living
Hope
(Adapted from Marcia
McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 2 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm 128
Matthew 13:1-9
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:18-24
Christ explaining the
Parable of the Sower
Psalm 139:13-16
Matthew 13:31-33
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Parable of the Yeast
and Sermon, “Germinating
Seeds of Hope”
“Germinating
Seeds of Hope”
Good Morning; today is the second Sunday of
the sermon series Pastor Ruth began last week on “This Living Hope”. She preached on God’s love, God’s grace,
God’s promise, God’s plan, and God’s hope for us.
Today let us go deeper, let us welcome the
gifts, the seeds God sows, the seeds of the kingdom, of the gospel; may they
grow within us, to fulfill that prayer in the Psalm Sharon shared with us, that
we may be fruitful.
Please stand as you are able for the reading
of the gospel according to Matthew. I am reading from Matthew 13:1-9 and Matthew
13:18-24 (NIV).
18
“Listen then to the parable of the sower” and what this parable means, from the
words of our Master, Jesus Christ:
13
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large
crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the
people stood on the shore.
3
Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow
his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the
birds came and ate it up.
19
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the
evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed
sown along the path.
5
Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up
quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants
were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
20
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at
once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a
short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly
fall away.
7
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.
22
The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the
worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it
unfruitful.
8
Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty
or thirty times what was sown.
23 [.
. . ] the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and
understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty
or thirty times what was sown.”
And
this is the important verse . . . Matthew 13:9.
9
Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
That
is exactly the point. Jesus is not hiding the ball, though He spoke in
parables. This one was so important that he spelled it out in the same chapter
in detailed language for the disciples that we must all understand.
And I
said MUST understand because this is critical. We may be farther from the earth
than the people of Jesus’ day; but we are closer here in Patten than those in
big cities. We understand more the planting and the harvest; but much of what
God does, is still in secret, according to His timeline, His purpose.
Many
of you know about seeds and soil and what happens in the ground; but in some
ways it remains a mystery, a miracle, known only to God.
Chapter
13 of Matthew is loaded with parables, about the kingdom of God, each of them
one of the seeds God sows, as Christ, in Matthew 13, verse 19, tells us
directly. The seeds are the message of the gospel.
In Matthew 13:31-32, we have the
parable of the Mustard Seed. (NIV)
31 He told them
another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed,
which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though
it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden
plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
And in Matthew 13:33, we read The Parable of the
Yeast (The Message)
33 Christ told them
another story. “God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough
for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises.”
In these three parables, I hear an echo of the
Psalms, the reading today about the blessing to come, about being fruitful, and
especially a passage from Psalm 139:13-16.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
God’s
hand is upon us in secret, within. We have to nurture that faith, that faith which
God is working within us. This is Christ’s promise and our hope.
We
want to be the good soil, we need to be the good soil, to be open to God’s
calling on our lives. We need to be ready, prepared for the seed, ready to care
for the good news we have been given, the hope planted within us, the breath of
the Spirit igniting our faith.
We
have the seed planted, in the soil, the good soil, the fields of our hearts,
waiting, in secret, for God’s time alone.
Before
the planting, there is the preparing of the soil. After the planting, there is
the nurturing, the caring for the seed, for the soil, the watering, the
weeding, all of this guided by faith, because most of the growing is in secret
deep down within the seed, in the soil. The seeds germinate in the ground after
a time of dormancy.
There
is a lot of truth in the idea that the faith of a farmer has to be strong
because so much of what they do relies on God’s little miracle, starting with
the right seed, the right soil, the right amount of water, the right amount of
heat, of sunlight, all of it happening in God’s time alone.
We
are seeking, searching, but the seed is within us, growing in the soil, after a
time of dormancy, like spring after the winter, waiting, growing in secret, a
miracle within the seed, germinating in the soil, sending down roots, deep into
our faith.
And
we need that hope to work within us, the faith that we carry within that seed,
like a small mustard seed growing within us, or maybe more like the yeast,
spreading in the kneading, in the working of the dough, throughout, so the
yeast can do its work in the secret, the darkness within the walls of the
dough, spreading, rising, as the Spirit fills us.
Now,
I have never been a farmer, nothing more than a little garden in my yard at
least; but I have seen the fruits of yeast growing, in secret within the skin
of a loaf of bread, or a whole proof box full of rack after rack of rolls in an
industrial bakery I worked in one summer in 1979.
I
worked in the mixing room on the third floor where the yeast was added to the
ingredients and just the right amount of water to make the dough and I worked
on the pan-o-matic on the first floor where the 300lbs of each batch of dough
was divided into the different kind of rolls we were making at the time , but
mostly I worked between the proof box, where humidity and temperature were set
to activate the yeast, and the roll oven, often for a 12 hour shift.
Each
time I went into the proof box to get a rack of pans of rolls, the smell of
yeast and the humidity of the air would hit me. My glasses would fog over. The
yeast had definitely done its thing, germinating, growing, down inside the
dough, spread throughout. My clothes and
hair were thick with the smell of yeast long after my shift was over.
We
prepare the materials, we prepared the dough, but the growth was hidden, like
the germinating seeds in the good soil of our hearts.
We
must nurture the soil, preparing it for the seeds, the gospel that God sows
into us. We must embrace the seeds when they are planted within us. Yes, we
must embrace the seed. . .
embrace the seed
embrace the seed
the hope that God
has planted
the seed in the soil
of our hearts,
our lives
embrace the seed
the message of
the gospel
the promise of
Christ Jesus
His love, His
sacrifice
embrace the seed
the calling
awaking in secret
deep within the
soil
of our lives, of
our hearts
We
must water and feed the seed in the soil, within us. We must add warmth, light,
all that the seed needs to grow. We must read the word, we must prayer, we must
serve, we must spend time in worship, feeding our lives, our hearts.
But,
most of all, we have to trust in God; we must have faith in God, for it is God
who provides the growth. And in that faith is our hope, for the new life to
come.
Amen.
----------------
edited August
29, 2017
our hope
cannot stay hidden – v2
August 29,
2017
our hope
cannot stay hidden
August 29,
2017
we are called
to witness – 2
August 29,
2017
we each are
the witness
edited August
29, 2017
only Christ
can redeem us – v2
August 29,
2017
only Christ
can redeem us
August 28,
2017
none of us are
worthy - 2
August 28,
2017
he told her
about Jesus
August 27, 2017
he shared his
faith
August 27,
2017
offering her
hope
August 27, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“Bearing Hope”
Psalm 138
John 15:1-8 GNT
Philippians 1:9-11 GNT
and
sermon, “Hope Bearer…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 27,
2017
&
August 20,
2017
Help me go
grow
August 20,
2017
before I gave
my life to Christ
edited August
20, 2017
I have been
you – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/08/i-have-been-you-v2.html
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2017/08/i-have-been-you-v2.html
August 20,
2017
I have been
you
August 20,
2017
whatever your
station
August 20,
2017
slave or free
August 20,
2017
grow there
August 20,
2017
give to them
willingly
August 20,
2017
show them
compassion
August 20,
2017
offer mercy,
grace
August 20,
2017
do not resist
them
August 20,
2017
strip them of
power
August 20,
2017
may hope find
a home
edited August
20, 2017
may hope abide
– v2
August 20,
2017
may hope abide
August 20, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“Residing with Hope”
Psalm 133
Luke 3:10-14
1 Corinthians 7:20-24
Jeremiah 29:4-7
and
sermon, “Where Hope Resides”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 20,
2017
&
August 19,
2017
nurturing hope
edited/ new
name August 19, 2017
if the
seedling isn’t planted
August 19, 2017
if the seed
isn’t planted
August 19,
2017
It is hard to
believe
August 19,
2017
Hope begins to
sprout and root
edited August
19, 2017
Hope
germinates and grows – v2
August 19,
2017
Hope
germinates and grows – v1
August 19,
2017
hope is like a
seed
August 19,
2017
a flickering
of something
edited August
19, 2017
a kernel of
hope – v3
edited August
19, 2017
a kernel of
hope – v2 (2)
August 19,
2017
a kernel of
hope (2)
August 19,
2017
seeds of hope
within us
August 13, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 4 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm
105:1-6
Mark
4:1-8 NIV
Ephesians
3:16-19 NIV
John
4:13-14
Zephaniah
3:17
Romans
12:12
Romans
15:4
and
sermon, “Nurturing Planted Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 13,
2017
&
August 10,
2017
our roots are
anchored in Christ
August 10,
2017
we are
grounded in Christ
August 10,
2017
our hope is
grounded
edited August
6, 2017
we must accept
the seed – v3
edited August
6, 2017
we must accept
the seed – v2
August 6, 2017
we must accept
the seed
edited August
6, 2017
for hope to
grow – v2
August 6, 2017
for hope to
grow
edited August
6, 2017
Hope is
planted – v2
August 6, 2017
Hope is
planted
August 6, 2017
the roots
going deep
new name/
edited August 6, 2017
the seedlings
planted
(editing “the
young plants planted”)
August 6, 2017
let your roots
grow down
August 6, 2017
cultivate the
hope inside
August 6, 2017
plant the
seeds of grace
August 6, 2017
plant the
seeds of love
August 6, 2017
get them in
the ground
edited August
6, 2017
germinated
seeds – v2
August 6, 2017
germinated
seeds
August 6, 2017
the seed
growing
August 6, 2017
living in hope
August 6, 2017
may our hearts
be open
edited August
6, 2017
that we might
understand – v4
August 6, 2017
the young
plants planted
August 6, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
week 3 - “Planting Seeds of Hope”
Mark
4:1-8
Parable
of the Sower
Psalm 145:7-8; 14-21
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
Colossians 2:6-8 NLT
Sermon, “Planting Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 6, 2017
&
August 2, 2017
hidden in our
flesh
August 2, 2017
growing in our
soil
edited/ new
name August 2, 2017
growing in the
good soil
August 2, 2017
growing in the
ground
August 2, 2017
hidden in the
ground
edited August 2,
2017
After the
planting – v2
August 1, 2017
We must water
and feed
August 1, 2017
Like seeds,
like yeast
August 1, 2017
that we might
understand – v3
August 1, 2017
we must
understand
August 1, 2017
not in riddles
but parables
edited July
31, 2017
that we might
understand – v2
July 31, 2017
that we might
understand
July 31, 2017
we must hear
God’s word
edited July
31, 2017
we are
seeking, searching – v2
July 31, 2017
We are
seeking, searching
July 31, 2017
We have the
seed planted
merged July
31, 2017
Before the
planting – v2
July 31, 2017
After the
planting
July 31, 2017
Before the
planting
July 30, 2017
We want to be
the good soil
July 30, 2017
we need that
hope to work within us
edited July
30, 2017
we must
embrace the seeds – v2
July 30, 2017
we must trust
in God
edited July
30, 2017
a little more
hope – v3
(editing
original again)
edited July
30, 2017
we must
embrace the seeds
edited July
30, 2017
embrace the
seeds
July 30, 2017
embrace the
seed
July 30, 2017
hope is alive
within us
July 30, 2017
hope planted
within us
&
July 29, 2017
we are the
soil – v2
July 29, 2017
do we nurture
the seed – v2
July
16, 2017
do
we nurture the seed
edited July
16, 2017
do we care for
the message – v2
July 16, 2017
do we care for
the message
July 16, 2017
do we welcome
the seed
July
16, 2017
are
we the soil
July
16, 2017
we
hold the seed
July
16, 2017
we
are the sower
July
15, 2017
we
are the soil
edited
July 15, 2017
held
by the thorns – v2
July
15, 2017
held
by the thorns
July
15, 2017
choked
by the briars
Matthew
13:18-23
Matthew
13:1-9, 18-23
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“The
Promise and Work of God’s Word”
July
10, 2017 to July 16, 2017
by
John Adcox
devotion
for July 15, 2017
read
July 15, 2017
&
edited
July 29, 2017
a
miracle in the seed – v2
July
29, 2017
searching,
seeking - 2
July
29, 2017
a
miracle in the seed
edited
July 29, 2017
seeking
treasure – v2
edited
July 29, 2017
Finding
Treasure – v2
merged/edited
July 29, 2017
Seeking
treasure, Finding treasure
July
29, 2017
seeking
treasure
July
29, 2017
Finding
Treasure
Matthew
13:44-52
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures
from God”
July
24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by
Chris Folmsbee
devotion
for July 29, 2017
read
July 29, 2017
&
July
28, 2017
tiny
acts of love
edited
July 28, 2017
out
of God’s great love – v2
July
28, 2017
the
kingdom of God growing
Matthew
13:31-33
The
Parables of the Mustard Seed
the
Parable of the Yeast
Matthew
13:31-33, 44-52
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Treasures
from God”
July
24, 2017 to July 30, 2017
by
Chris Folmsbee
devotion
for July 27, 2017
read
July 28, 2017
&
edited July
27, 2017
Germinating
Seeds of Hope – v2
July 27, 2017
Germinating
Seeds of Hope
July 30, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 2 - “This Living Hope”
opening prayer
video
Psalm 128
Matthew 13:1-9
Parable of the Sower
Matthew 13:18-24
Christ explaining the Parable of the Sower
Psalm 139:13-16
Matthew
13:31-33
Parable
of the Mustard Seed
Parable
of the Yeast
prayer
before sermon
and Sermon, “Germinating Seeds of Hope”
text:
video:
by Raymond A.
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Raymond A.
Foss
closing prayer
video
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 30, 2017
&
edited July 26, 2017
a little more hope – v2
July 26, 2017
a little more hope
July 26, 2017
we are imprisoned by our fears
edited/ new name July 24, 2017
we are strangled by anxiety
July 24, 2017
immobilized by fear
July 24, 2017
freed by hope
July 23, 2017
Hope is Trust
July 23, 2017
why are we so anxious
July 23, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
“A Future With Hope”)
week 1 - “This Living Hope”
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Jeremiah 29:11-14 Amplified Bible
Romans 5:1-5 Amplified Bible
John 3:16-17 Amplified Bible
and Sermon, “This Living Hope”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 23, 2017
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, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See
all 44,830 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church, Luke 3, Psalm 138, John 12, Philippians 1, poem,
seed, home,
#Christ #God
#Spirit #Faith #prayer #love #grace #hope #poem #seed #Luke3 #Psalm138
#John12 #Philippians1
sermon, Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church, John 3, Jeremiah 29, Romans 5, Jesus, poem, Matthew
13, Psalm 139, Psalm 128, seed, germinate,
#sermon #Christ
#God #Spirit #Faith #prayer #love #grace #Psalm139 #Matthew13 #disciple #hope
#poem #seed
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