Tuesday, August 29, 2017

sermon, Hope Bearer, by Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten,ME, August 27, 2017



 August 27, 2017

Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
 (Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
“Bearing Hope”
Psalm 138
Philippians 1:9-11 GNT


Hope Bearer…

The Lord be with you…let us pray… (prayer for the Spirit’s indwelling as bring God’s words of hope this morning…)

Please stand for the reading of the Gospel according to St. John, chapter 15, verses 1-8. Listen to words of caution from God to the people of God as we seek His will…

After Pastor Roy prayed, “Please bring this young woman back so that I can get it right this time. Amen.” He knew he had not seen the last of this young lady named Hope. About a week later there was a knock on his study door. Never did he imagine how just a few words he spoke would help effect a change in someone’s life…

“Hi Pastor Roy, do you have a few minutes?” the person asked. “Why I have all the time in the world for you Hope. Come on in…” he said as he looked to heaven and said a quiet thank you. “First I would like to apologize for how I reacted the last time we met. I just have never had anyone really care about what I was thinking before.” Hope said as she sat down. “No problem. How are you? How have you been? What’s been going on?” he asked. “Well…sort of confused and I just don’t understand all that you said.” Hope explained. “Well…what is it that is troubling you?” “Well…you said Jesus loves you last time as I left out the door. How can He love someone like me? I have not been all that perfect in my life. I haven’t listened to that voice inside me. I have been or done…fill in the blank. But you say He loves me.”

“Well actually Hope…none of us deserve Jesus’ love but He gives it anyway…that’s what we call grace. An unmerited gift that God gives all who believe in Jesus.” Pastor Roy explained as he thought... ”God give me the right words to share with this young lady. Thank you for the second chance as well…” “Ok well what if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior and not sure how to do that?” Hope said as she was looking for the grace of God to enter in.

“All you have to do Hope is ask Him in…admit you are a sinner and need Him to save you” Pastor Roy said, “that’s it, no special anything but it has to come from your heart.” “Can I do it now?” Hope asked as the hope within her began to grow. “Sure, do you want me to pray with you?” asked Pastor Roy “Oh would you please,” hope exclaimed with a tear in her eye. “Ok…here goes…
Dear Jesus, I have not been all that nice in my life. I have had a hard life and have done some pretty hard things. But I can’t do this life thing alone anymore. I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for all that I have done. I need You. Please come and live in my life. Please come and help me because I can’t help myself. Please make me new and give me hope and peace in my life…Amen”
What gives you hope? We live in a chaotic world full of hopelessness and despair.  How do we cultivate hope in our lives...and have enough to share with a broken world? We all now that hope doesn’t happen overnight and it is a process. But when we begin to have this living hope in us it is as if a light is turned on in our lives, a bright light. But the question is…how do we hold on to this hope we have?

Over the past few weeks, we have plowed the fields of hope and germinated the seed. As it sprouted we have planted it in the soil…the good and cultivated soil, that is sustained by God and His word…so that it could take root and go deep down into the ground and watered by the Living Water. Now remember, if hope is not planted, there is no grounding…no growth. It is shallow and when trials of life some scorching in it is dried up and withers…  The only way to withstand the pressures of life our hope has root itself in good soil where it receives water…Living Water.

When our hope is grounded in the good soil of God’s Word and in our Hearts, we are filled with Joy, Love, and Faith. It is in the tilling of the soil that the seeds of love and hope begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within those who God calls us to plant within. Now the fun part, we need to take care of and nourish our gardens as well as our hope…we need to do our part as well…

We have talked about the fact that at times, we may feel we want to move on. We have done what we feel needed to be done. We may even want to move on because of a painful…fill in the blank. We may be going through a fire and feel we are done… But…but…God says, not just yet…you need to stay put where you are. As we bloom where we are…the fruits are shared within our community of the church and out into the larger community of the world…

So here we are now, rooted and planted, being watered and growing, now fruit is becoming evident. I was looking a few weeks ago at my butternut squash. I was excited looking at all the blooms. But a I looked underneath I could see these tiny, little squashes on the vines…they were bearing fruit… I was so excited that I had even had anything to do with this growing thing…I have never done it before. But to see those tiny squash…wow God is awesome in the way He creates…even underneath all the leaves and flowers…

Sometimes, there is growth underneath the chaos and mess of this world…. we need to look underneath the looks of things and see the new creation being formed right before our eyes. The important thing is that there is evidence of growth…the fruit begins to appear. In the John scripture from this morning we hear a warning of what will happen if we do not cultivate and grow. “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me. Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.” such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.

Now let’s put a different spin on this whole bearing fruit thing… The word “bearing” means (two of the definitions we will look at this morning):
1. :  the act, power, or time of bringing forth offspring or fruit
2. a :  an object, surface, or point that supports
   b :  a machine part in which another part (such as a journal or pin) turns or slides
Ok…we are bearing fruit ourselves…but…but...we also need to be a point of support for those who need it as they bear fruit of their own. The goodness…the fruit…has to be shared with all if we are going to be true followers of Jesus Christ. He didn’t pick and choose and we don’t have the option to choose if we are to bear His light in the world.
The diversity of the fruit…the variety of fruit…should be celebrated, not judged as not worthy. We say we love all. That means ALL. We need to vow to honor diversity and share God’s over flowing goodness to those around us… and hold or even carry other’s burdens. We need to become that garden of diversity that God created so long ago.

Think about this for a moment. God created the Garden of Eden long ago. It was beautiful in it’s diversity and after each day God said it was good. Diversity is good. The garden that was created was beautiful…beyond compare. Then He created human beings, not the same but they were different and within the difference they were compatible…not the same but they completed and complement each other. There is completeness in diversity. We can’t all be the same and we need to celebrate that and help nurture and bear other as they grow within their own diversity so that we are complete…

There is hope to be found by you and I. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…I would like to leave you with a piece of scripture from Philippians 1:9-11. It is a prayer that Paul had for the Christians in Philippi and one I pray for you and I as we bear our hope and the hopes of others:

Philippians 1:9-11Good News Translation (GNT)
I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment, 10 so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. 11 Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.

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
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

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

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