September 17, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With
Hope”)
“The Building”
Psalm 103:1-17
Luke 6:47-49 (The
Voice Translation)
1 Peter 2:4-6 (The
Voice Translation)
Psalm 127:1 (The
Voice Translation)
“W.I.P. (Work In Progress)…”
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. Luke, chapter 6, verses 47-49. Listen to words of caution from
God to the people of God as we seek His will…
As Hope and Ms. Love
hugged, for what seemed like an eternity, Hope knew she had found her hope and
her remembrance of the hope within her… “Oh Ms. Love, I remember everything you
had taught me.” Hope exclaimed, “I am glad that you had those memories to hold
on to in your life” Ms. Love answered. “So, what’s next? I have accepted Jesus
and now what do I do?” Hope asked not sue of herself. “Well, one thing is that
you need to start building your house” Ms. Love explained. “Building my house
…what do you mean building my house? I live in a nice apartment now and I don’t
think I want to leave it to build a house. Especially if I am building it on my
own” Hope said a little anxious about the thought of building something.
“Oh Hope, you have so much
to learn. I hope I am up to the challenge” Ms. L. thought. “It’s not a physical
house but a Spiritual house. As you build your hope you begin to build a house
for the Holy Spirit to reside in…you build up your temple of God.” Ms. L.
explained to Hope…she could see the confusion in her eyes as she went on, “your
body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and He resides in you but you need to
build the temple larger now because as you get more hope in your life, it is
going to need a bigger place to live. As you learn more about God and who He
is…your hope is built larger and larger. Then as it gets larger, you get to
share it with others but you still need to build that Spiritual house… If you
don’t build it, when storm of life some…and they will come…you won’t be able to
withstand the storm.”
“All this is so confusing,
how am I going to be able to do this?” Hope sighed. “That’s the whole point…you
can’t but God through the Holy Spirit can.” Ms. L. tried to explain. Still
seeing the confusion Ms. L. suggested. “Why don’t you come by my place
tomorrow. We can talk some more and help you in your confusion.” “Oh, that
would be so nice, thank you” Hope answered still a little confused but wanting
to understand. “Great, here is my address. Why don’t you come by around 10 and
we will get you on your way to your own construction?” “Ok…well I will see you
then. And thank you again.” Hope said as she hugged her long-lost friend good
bye. “Well 10it is then. See you then.”
In
what do you find hope? We live in a chaotic world full of hopelessness and
despair, how can we have hope? We need to cultivate hope in our lives...and
have enough to share with a broken world. This doesn’t happen overnight, it is
a process. But as we begin to have a 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 been farming…so to speak. To recap…we have plowed
the fields and germinated seeds. They sprouted and we have planted them in the
good and cultivated soil, that is sustained by God and His word…the seedlings hopefully
have taken root and has gone deep down into the ground and watered by the
Living Water. Remember, if the seedling…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.
We
have tilled the soil so that the seeds
of love and hope could begin to grow and sprout new hope within us and within
those who Go calls us to plant within. There are times that we may even want to
move on because of a painful…fill in the
blank. But…God says, not just yet…you need to stay put where you are. So,
we bloom where we are…the fruits are shared within our community of the church
and out into the larger community of the world. Hope becomes evident in our
lives and the lives of others… (If it
isn’t evident…is there really any hope to be found?)
We
may become weary at times…you can’t just
keep putting out and not run out. We become tired, discouraged, exhausted,
and disappointed. We need to revive ourselves with the word of God…go to the
well that will give us rest and rejuvenate us to continue. We also are to help
others revive as well… And we
remember all those victories we have had in and through Jesus…that keeps us
going forward and hold on to the hope within us.
But…where is the foundation of your hope, what do
you hope in? Give time to answer. Well, Psalm 127 verse 1 tells us:
1 Unless the Eternal
builds the house,
those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing.
Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city,
those who guard it have wasted their time.
those who labor to raise it will have worked for nothing.
Unless the Eternal stands watch over the city,
those who guard it have wasted their time.
Do you think we build hope? And if we build is
there any type of construction plans to go by? I know we want to build it
right. Give time to answer. Our faith walk is something that is
built as we walk our lives with Jesus. It builds each time we trust a little
more…so it is with our hope. It is built and we continue to build it
until it is complete and we are on the other side of heaven. Our lives are
truly a construction site as we are built up in Christ Jesus…individually and
as the body. We are W.I.P.’s, Works In Progress…a holy construction site for
God.
According to the Scripture from Luke this morning,
how are we to build our house…what is the true foundation to our house? Give
time to answer. WE need to build our house…our Spiritual house…our
hope…upon the sturdy rock…the cornerstone that was rejected by man but
acceptable to God, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As we trust and build our
house on the Rock of Ages, every time we go through that storm and the house
stands…our hope grows…our story grows… it is that story we share to help others
build their own hope.
As we become part of the community of Christ
Followers, and become part of something so much bigger than ourselves, we have
the opportunity to build up the whole, strengthening and creating foundations
of love and justice, faith and hope not for just the moment but a lasting
ripple in the tide of grace.
It is within community that hope is nurtured and
grows. It is built into a living hope within us and within the community. 1
Peter 2:4-6 tells us:
4 Come to Him—the
living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious. 5 Like
living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order
of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God
through Jesus the Anointed. 6 For it says in the
words of the prophet Isaiah,
See
here—I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.
a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.
Our hope will not fail us. Our hope will not leave
us or forsake us. Our hope stands the test of time. Our hope in Jesus will
bring us through the fiercest storm of life…We shall not be disgraced and we
shall not be moved. We are built upon the everlasting rock that will not be
moved. We are to be living stones that live out the hope of the gospel of
peace, love and grace.
Where
and what do you set your hope upon? Are you living in a construction or
destruction site? Are you being washed out with the tide or are you standing
firm on the solid Rock? Beloved remember that you and I are a construction
site, forever being built up in Christ Jesus. We are works in progress and in
being such, we have room for improvement and growth…expansion...maybe even a
whole renovation project. Bu know this…there
is hope, to be found by you and me. Where there is hope…there is possibilities…
Amen!
September 17,
2017
buried in the
good soil, planted
September 17,
2017
I remember
everything you taught me
September 17,
2017
she remembered
every lesson
September 17,
2017
the student
became the teacher
September 17,
2017
she had found
her hope
September 17,
2017
on the rock,
on the foundation
September 17,
2017
start building
your house
September 17, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 9
“”
Psalm 103:1-17
Luke 6:47-49 (The Voice Translation)
1 Peter 2:4-6 (The Voice Translation)
Psalm 127:1 (The Voice Translation)
and
sermon, “W.I.P. (Work In Progress)
…”
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
September 17,
2017
&
edited
September 16, 2017
there is life
in this hope – v2
edited September
15, 2017
the hope of
America must not die – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
the dream of
America must not perish – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
hope reminds
us – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
life is in
this hope – v2
edited/new
name September 15, 2017
there is life
in this hope
edited
September 15, 2017
we must hold onto hope – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
Hold hope
tightly – v2
edited
September 15, 2017
don’t let go
of hope – v2
September 12,
2017
life is in
this hope
edited
September 12, 2017
hope grows –
v2
September 12,
2017
hope grows
September 12,
2017
hope reminds
us
September 11,
2017
the hope of
America must not die
September 11,
2017
the dream of
America must not perish
edited
September 11, 2017
the seed of
hope must not die – v2
September 11,
2017
the seed of
hope must not die
edited, new
name September 10, 2017
don’t let go
of hope
September 10,
2017
Hold hope
tightly
September 10,
2017
we must hold
onto hope
September 10, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 8
“The Remembering”
Psalm 119:33-40
Luke 22:14-19
and
sermon, “Hope’s Little Reminders…”
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
September 10,
2017
&
Matthew
18:18-20
Matthew
18:15-20
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Searching
the Scriptures”
September
4, 2017 to September 10, 2017
by
Mark H. Stephenson
devotion
for September 10, 2017
read
September 10, 2017
&
edited
September 10, 2017
we can have
hope – v2
September 4,
2017
we can have
hope
September 4,
2017
it is hope
that sustains us
September 4,
2017
it is hope
that ignites us
September 4,
2017
hope fuels us
September 3, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series: This Living Hope
(Adapted from
Marcia McPhee’s
A Future With Hope”)
Week 7
“The Sustaining”
Psalm 105:1-6
Isaiah 46:4
Psalm 54:4
Psalm 55:22
Isaiah 50:4
Matthew 11:28-30
Revelations 22:17a
and
sermon, “Hope’s Sustaining Power”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson Memorial
United Methodist Church
September 3,
2017
&
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our words
August 30,
2017
there is power
in God’s grace
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our prayers
August 30,
2017
there is power
in our hope
August 30,
2017
our words have
impact
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”)
Week 6
“Bearing Hope”
Psalm 138
John 15:1-8 GNT
Philippians 1:9-11 GNT
and
sermon, “Hope Bearer…”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
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”)
Week 5
“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 44,940 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, poem, seed, home, Psalm 103, Psalm 127, Luke
6, 1 Peter 2, work in progress, build,
#Christ #God
#Spirit #Faith #prayer #love #grace #poem #seed #Psalm103 #hope #Psalm127
#Luke6 #1Peter2 #rock #foundation #house
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