October 8, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon
Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(A
is for “Acknowledge the Life Changing Words of the Bible”)
Psalm
23 (The Voice)
John
3:16-17(NLT)
2
Timothy 3:16-17New Living Translation (NLT)
Mark
12:30-31New Living Translation (NLT)
Romans 8:28-30The Voice
(VOICE)
Galatians
2:20Common English Bible (CEB)
Philippians
4:13Common English Bible (CEB)
James
1:2-4The Voice (VOICE)
“A Is For…Acknowledging the Truth"
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 John, chapter 3, verses 16
through 17. Listen to the Word of God …His Love Letter…to His people…
As
Hope sat I the new/renewed Christian class she began to feel very despondent,
hopeless, to the fact that she had left God so long ago. “You have to admit you
are wrong. You will always be wrong. Repent, I say repent. You are all sinners
and the only way to get forgiveness is to admit you are unworthy…so unworthy
are you!” the speaker commenced. Hope thought, “this is too hard. I will never
be good enough. Yah, I have done things in the past and I know I am unworthy.
But this guy is over the top with all this “REPENT!” stuff.” As if he could
hear her thoughts the speaker declared, “If you do not admit you are wrong and
unworthy, repent of your sinful life, God will not accept you and you are
damned to hell. You must live a life of repentance every day.”
“But
how about grace and forgiveness. Doesn’t God give us that and wipes away our
sins?” Hope couldn’t believe what was coming out of her mouth, “God’s Word says
those exact words. It is those words that change our lives’, doesn’t it? Not
the whole “life of repentance thing”, now she had done it she thought. “Well of
course it says that but we have to do so much more than that. It really isn’t
that simple,” the instructor retorted. “Um…I think I will go on what I know,
not what you think you know. This has been interesting but I think I am going
to stand on the Word of God and not that of man.” Hope exclaimed as she left
the classroom. “What an idiot,” she thought as she shut the door behind her.
Acknowledge:
verb (used with object), acknowledged, acknowledging.
b)
to show or express recognition or realization of:
(these are but just 3 definitions. There
are more but for today, let’s just use these)
How do you acknowledge things in your life? Give time to answer. Why do you think it is important…or maybe
unimportant…to acknowledge things and people in our lives? Give time to answer. We
acknowledge the things we believe and the people we know because that is a way
of believing the truth within.
Last week I talked about how I had been sitting
in the sanctuary thinking about the banners we have on the walls on either side
of the chancel. Each letter in Patten it tells about how we live out that
letter in community and in the world. But do you and I truly live what we say.
It is easy to put statements on a banner but a whole different thing to live it
out.
I have sent us out into the word with the gospel
of grace, peace, and love. To be who we
say we are. But we actually have to act upon the statements we make. They look
good and all but actions speak volumes about who and whose we are.
So…the first letter in the P.A.T.T.E.N. Banner
is “P”. P is for “Pray Every Day”. And I asked, last week, how are you and I
doing with that? Do you think that there needs to be a renewed indwelling of
the Spirit in our lives and the life of our church? Questions we need to pray about each day as we become that engine of
the church.
The next is just as important…if not more
important than the first. Without it there is really no reason to go into the
world and make disciples. A is for
“Acknowledge the life changing Words of the Bible.” If we don’t believe that the
word of God can change people why would we go into the world…into our
community…with the love and peace of Christ? Why would we even bother reaching
out into the community and the world I it wasn’t going to do something to
change the tide of the chaos around us?
My question I pose to you is this…do you believe
the scripture I read from the Gospel of John this morning…John 3:16-17? Do you
and I “acknowledge”, admit to be real or true; recognize the existence, truth, or fact of in
our lives? OK…how about the lives of others. Do we truly believe…acknowledge…
that these are facts for all of humanity? Are we treating others as if they are
partners with us in this truth? If we believe it for our lives…why wouldn’t
they be true for others.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us:
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is
useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our
lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is
right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his
people to do every good work.
Do you and I acknowledge this to be true? Do we
believe that God’s word changes lives? Do we believe that God will change and
prepare our lives to align with His and His purpose in our lives? Is it just
for those who are saved or can it also change the lives of the “unsaved” into
new lives in Christ Jesus? Do we acknowledge this truth and share this truth or
do we think it won’t matter anyway…they
are too lost for God? (On a side
bar…there are many 3:16-16 scriptures that actually work together…3= perfect
6+1=7 = perfect Number…But
that’s another sermon all together…)
I
want to share a few verses that are all about the life changing of God’s Word.
You and I need to think about these as we decide whether or not we are going to
acknowledge… to show or express recognition or realization of
: to recognize the authority, validity, or claims of…God’s
Word to be that fulcrum…that pivot point…that changes lives…
Mark
12:30-31New Living Translation (NLT)
30 And you must love the Lord your
God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’
As
we love God more than anything and anyone, our lives are…other’s lives will be
changed. We will display a love that knows no boundaries as we love others as
ourselves…maybe even more than ourselves…
Romans 8:28-30The Voice (VOICE)
28 We are confident that God is able to
orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and
accept His invitation to live according to His plan. 29-30 From the distant past, His eternal love
reached into the future. You see, He knew those who would be His
one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son
so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers
and sisters. As for those He chose beforehand, He called them to a different
destiny so that they would experience what it means to be made right with God
and share in His glory.
God
knew you and I…all of those who need us to share…and so…we are change by this
love to be conformed…to have a life conformed to that of Jesus… Lives are
changed…
Galatians 2:20Common English
Bible (CEB)
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no
longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I
live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave
himself for me.
Lives
are changed as we accept Christ as our Savior. Do you believe that it can change the lives of others as well?
13 I can endure all these things through the
power of the one who gives me strength.
The
Word of God gives us strength as we believe in the one who will strengthen us
in all things… Do you believe the Word of
God changes lives?
2-4 Don’t run from tests and hardships,
brothers and sisters. As
difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you
embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as
you endure. And true patience
brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long
journey and cross the finish line—mature,
complete, and wanting nothing.
God’s
Word tells us that as we endure we will blossom and grow in faith and trust in
the One who sees us through. Do you
believe the Word of God can change lives?
With
all this evidence, with all the evidence in our faith walks…yours and mine…do
you and I believe in the power of the Word of God? And if we acknowledge that
the Word of God as life changing, are we believing it for others? Do we believe
it enough to acknowledge it to those who need it most so that they too can have
a changed life…hope? Or do we keep it to ourselves and only show it on Sunday’s
as we gather in God’s “House of Prayer” and praise? What will it take for you
and I to acknowledge the wonderous Words of life for you, for me, for and to a
world in need of a word…the Word of Life… the change of epic proportions…?
Amen
October 23,
2017
Trust in His
Victory
October 22, 2017
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(Part 3 of 6)
(T is for “Trust in His Victory”)
Psalm 99 (MSG)
John 3:16-17(NLT)
Proverbs 3:5-6 (MSG)
Revelation 21:1-7 (CEB)
Romans 15:13; Psalm 9:10; Psalm 13:5 (NIV)
Psalm 20:7; Psalm 31:14; Psalm 56:3; Psalm 84:12 (NIV)
and
sermon, “T is for … Trust”
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
October 22, 2017
&
October 16,
2017
we proclaim
the truth
edited October
16, 2017
we stand on
the word – v2
October 16,
2017
we stand on
the word
October 16,
2017
we rely on
holy scripture
October 16,
2017
speaking out
loud the power
October 15,
2017
if we don’t
believe
October 15,
2017
the word can
change lives
October 15,
2017
at the core of
our faith
edited October
15, 2017
we count on
the word – v3
edited October
15, 2017
we count on
the word – v2
October 15,
2017
we count on
the word
edited October
15, 2017
nothing of us
– v2
October 15,
2017
nothing of us
October 15, 2017
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(Part 2 of 6)
(A is for
“Acknowledge the Life Changing Words of the Bible”)
Psalm 23 (The Voice)
John 3:16-17 (NLT)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 New Living Translation (NLT)
Mark 12:30-31 New Living Translation (NLT)
Romans 8:28-30 The Voice (VOICE)
Galatians 2:20 Common English Bible (CEB)
Philippians 4:13 Common English Bible (CEB)
James 1:2-4 The Voice (VOICE)
and
sermon, “A Is for Acknowledge the life changing Word of God”
text:
video:
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and closing
song, testimony of Becky Phillips,
and departing
blessing
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
October 15, 2017
&
October 15,
2017
we must pray
daily
October 15,
2017
our prayers
must be real
October 14,
2017
we must be
honest, authentic – v2
October 14,
2017
we need to be
deliberate
edited October
14, 2017
are we honest,
authentic – v3
(changing the
order of the stanzas)
merged October
14, 2017
are we honest,
authentic – v2
edited/ new
title October 14, 2017
we must be
honest, authentic
October 14,
2017
are we honest,
authentic
edited October
14, 2017
do we pray
without ceasing – v3
(editing
original)
edited October
13, 2017
pray for each
other – v2
October
13, 2017
pray
for each other
edited
October 13, 2017
advocating,
petitioning God – v2
October
13, 2017
advocating,
petitioning God
October
13, 2017
praying
for them - 3
October
13, 2017
by
faith and grace
Psalm
106:19-23
Psalm
106:1-6, 19-23
Exodus
32:1-6
Exodus
32:1-14
The
Golden Calf
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Supplicate,
Sing, See”
October
9, 2017 to October 15, 2017
by
Wen-Ling Lai
devotion
for October 13, 2017
read
October 13, 2017
&
edited
October 12, 2017
yet
I still receive grace – v2
October
12, 2017
yet
I still receive grace
October
12, 2017
confessing
our sins
Psalm
106:1-6
Psalm
106:1-6, 19-23
Philippians
4:7-9
Philippians
4:1-9
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Supplicate,
Sing, See”
October
9, 2017 to October 15, 2017
by
Wen-Ling Lai
devotion
for October 12, 2017
read
October 12, 2017
&
edited October
11, 2017
God remembered
His promise – v2
edited October
11, 2017
Moses saved
the Israeli people
edited
October 11, 2017
he
saved his people – v2
October
11, 2017
he
saved his people
October
11, 2017
His
prayer was effective – v2
edited/merged
October 11, 2017
He
prayed for his people – v2
October
11, 2017
His
prayer was effective
October
11,2017
He
prayed for his people
October
11, 2017
God
remembered His promise
Exodus
32:11-14
Exodus
32:1-14
The
Golden Calf
Philippians
4:6
Philippians
4:1-9
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Supplicate,
Sing, See”
October
9, 2017 to October 15, 2017
by
Wen-Ling Lai
devotion
for October 11, 2017
read
October 11, 2017
&
October 13,
2017
as we pray together
October 13,
2017
come together
in prayer
October 13,
2017
we manifest
prayer
October 13,
2017
as we gather
together
October 13,
2017
Christ
withdrew
October 12,
2017
All about
prayer
October 12,
2017
Do we gather
in prayer
edited October
12, 2017
make of me a
house of prayer – v2
edited/ new
name October 12, 2017
make of me a
house of prayer
October 12,
2017
make me a
house of prayer
edited October
12, 2017
we promise to
pray – v2
October 12,
2017
I lift up my
prayers
edited October
12, 2017
do we pray
without ceasing – v2
October 11, 2017
do we pray
without ceasing
October 10,
2017
we promise to
pray
October
10, 2017
called
to be a house
October
10, 2017
I’ll
be there
October 9,
2017
praying every
day
October 9,
2017
praying
without ceasing
edited October
9, 2017
Christ sat
down beside me
(my testimony
10/8/17)
October 9,
2017
He sat down
beside me
(my testimony
10/8/17)
October 9,
2017
you answered
my prayer
(my testimony
10/8/17)
October 9,
2017
you forgave me
(my testimony
10/8/17)
October 9,
2017
I was active
in church
(my testimony
10/8/17)
edited October
8, 2017
our temple a
house – v2
October 8,
2017
our temple a
house
October 8,
2017
Giving God Our
Hopes
October 8,
2017
standing on
prayer
October 8,
2017
walking in
prayer
October 8, 2017
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series: “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(“P is for “Pray Every Day”)
(P.A.T.T.E.N. banner in the church)
Psalm 25:1-9
Matthew 18:18-20
Isaiah 56:6-8
Hebrews 10:19-25
Revelations 5:8-10
Acts 1:12-14
Acts 2
and
sermon, “P Is for Prayer”
text:
video:
(including testimony of Raymond A. Foss)
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
October 8,
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 45,260 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, PATTEN, ME, scripture, promise, trust,
victory,
#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Patten #prayer
#scripture #promise #trust #victory
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church, poem, PATTEN, ME, Psalm 23, John 3, word,
scripture, promise, sermon,
#sermon #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Patten #prayer
#Psalm23 #John3 #word #scripture #promise
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