November 12, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon
Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(N
is for… “Nourish the Gospel Through Evangelism”))
Psalm
78:1-8 (The Voice)
Matthew
28:18-20 The Message (MSG)
2
Timothy 1:6-11The Voice (VOICE)
Isaiah
6:8 The Message (MSG)
“Food For Thought… "
Testimony…
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 Matthew, chapter 28, verses 18-20.
Listen to the Word of God …His Love Letter…to His people…
Hope
thought that leaving a legacy of hope was hopeless in this world of chaos…or
was she being too near sighted for her own good… Hope decided to walk through the park to clear
her head. She noticed an empty bench and
decided to sit for a while.
As
she sat she thought about all that has happened recently, and she became more
confused as ever. Tears began to stream from her eyes as she looked up to
heaven and began to pray. “God…I am not sure if you are listening or not, but I
need help. I just don’t understand all these rules and regulations. I don’t
understand how to find you in all of this. I begin to think I understand and
then someone proves me different. Help
me please…I don’t know what is right and what is wrong. Please help me to
understand and know You…the real You. Amen” As she prayed she didn’t notice
that someone had sat down on the other end of the bench. They could hear her as
she prayed. When she was finished she was startled by the voice next to her.
“Are
you okay honey…can I help?” the person who had sat next to her asked. “Oh, you
startled me. I don’t know if anyone can help me” Hope exclaimed. Hope looked at
the woman next to her. She was an older woman who seemed to have a gentleness
in her eyes. She felt an ease come over her just at the tone of her voice. “You
never know. Try me…” The woman answered. “Well…I don’t know if you are a
Christian or not and if you are I am sorry but most Christians I know is so
un-Christian in their actions. They are judgmental and do not have a heart of
love and compassion. I thought that is what Christianity is…being like Jesus
and well to tell you the truth…I really think I don’t want to be one of them…”
Hope said with sadness in her eyes and in her voice.
“Oh,
honey I am so sorry that you have been so disillusioned by those who claim the
Christian faith. It seems that it has become a four-letter word, and no one
wants any part of it. Oh, how we have
gotten it wrong. Look this is what I believe. First Christian is a label…a name
now a day. Those who believe in Jesus do believe in Jesus but somewhere, some
have forgotten that we ae called to act like Him as well. We are to be His
mirror image and that includes loving all and not judging…hanging out with
those that society deems unworthy…helping others and not so much
ourselves…anything Jesus did we need to do too” the stranger explained. “Trust
in your heart…do what it says…It is one of the ways God speaks His instruction
and love into our Spirit. Read His word. In It you will find all the truth that
you need. Hold His word in your heart and share with the world what you have
been given.”
“That
all sounds really good and it is how I believe, but where can I find a place to
grow, a place that God can use me?” Hope asked, hopping that this person would
be able to give her precise instruction. “Close your eyes and listen to your
heart. God will lead you to where He wants you to be.” At this Hope closed her
eyes and quieted herself. There was a peace and hope that welled within her.
She opened her eyes to thank the stranger but there was no one there beside
her. She was alone in the park, with nothing but the wind rustling the leaves.
Did she imagine what just happened or was there another explanation…?
Nourish:
(transitive verb)
2:to
promote the growth of
Good morning. What do you think would happen if
we didn’t nourish ourselves? Give time to
answer.
We have been talking 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 must act upon the statements we make…those statements on our
wall. 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”. How are you and I doing with that? I believe
that there needs to be a renewed indwelling of the Spirit in our lives and the
life of our church so that we can move forward for the kingdom of God. Prayer
is the engine of the church. Without it…it runs out of steam. A is for
“Acknowledge the life changing Words of the Bible.” As I have said, if we don’t
believe that the word of God can change people there is no sense of going into
the world…into our community…with the love and peace of Christ. There is no
real sense to our faith because we base our faith on God’s Word. Also, if we
believe it for our lives…it is true for others.
As we Go out we need to, first T, “trust God for the victory” … we may never see it but
believe…have faith…it will happen. The second “T” has to do with the legacy we
leave as we Teach our children…all children, even each other…for we are all
children of God. Within the enlargement of the “E”, we are given a new set of
eyes…God’s eyes…as we look past our walls into the world in need of
visionaries…
The
last letter…the letter “N” … can get us a little nervous about what we are
called to do… “Nourish the Gospel Through Evangelism”. What is
the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “evangelism”? Give time to answer. The word evangelism
means:
1:the
winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ
2:militant
or crusading zeal
( think it is the militant/ crusading
zeal that get in the way at time. That’s what may turn us off…what may turn
others off the Gospel of peace.)
Evangelism is the announcement,
proclamation, and/or preaching of the gospel (1
Corinthians 15:1-4), the good news of and about Jesus Christ. Therefore, the
gospel is a communicated message—communicated in verbal (Luke 7:22; Romans
10:14-17) and/or written (Luke 1:1-4)
form. (Christian
Apologetics & Research Ministry) So, basically, it is all about sharing
the Gospel with those who don’t know but need Jesus in their life. We have been commissioned, by Jesus, in the
Matthew I read to go out and preach the Gospel, teaching others what we have
been taught. How hard is that? Give time
to answer. Why would it be hard to share the Gospel? Give time to answer.
So,
“Evangelism
is teaching (heralding, proclaiming, preaching) the gospel (the message from
God that leads us to salvation) with the aim (hope, desire, goal) to persuade
(convince, convert).” ( https://www.9marks.org/article)
. We teach to help others realize and accept the Gospel and Salvation in and
through Jesus Christ.
Now, the way we go about that is what may differ,
but the result is Jesus. There are some who may have sort of given the word
“evangelism” a bad report. As we heard in our Q an A in the beginning of my
sermon. Some think of those pushy people who scare people away instead of
drawing them in. We claim the we “Nourish the Gospel Through Evangelism”
…we promote the growth of the Gospel. How are we doing with that? What are we
doing to live that out…? Give time to answer.
Ok…so what are some ways we evangelize? Give
time to answer.
1.
Lifestyle Evangelism
Lifestyle evangelism is often understood one of two
ways:
a.
Live right and people
will see the gospel in one’s life
b.
Live right and people
will ask about God
2.
Servant Evangelism
(aka Service Evangelism)
This approach uses simple acts of kindness, or
service, for evangelism.
3.
Event Evangelism
An outreach event is held, the public is invited,
and ideally the gospel is shared with those who attend.
4.
Neighborhood
Evangelism (aka Door-to-Door Evangelism)
(Jehovah’s
Witnesses and Mormons—that’s what many think of when they hear about
door-to-door evangelism.) This method
involves going to homes and sharing the gospel with those who answer.
5. Street
Preaching Evangelism
It
involves someone standing at a location with pedestrian traffic and proclaiming
the gospel to passersby. (Kind of like
John the Baptist)
6. Tract
Evangelism
Tract
evangelism uses gospel tracts to present the gospel.
7. (My Favorite) Conversational
Evangelism (aka Relational Evangelism)
Some
may distinguish between “conversational” and “relational.” Conversational
evangelism is starting a conversation for the purpose of sharing the gospel;
relational evangelism is seeking to relate to the person, looking for
permission—i.e., an open door—to discuss spiritual matters. This is how Jesus evangelized…speaking to
others on their level, where they were in life…and sharing the Good News of
salvation for all who believe…
With
there being so many ways to evangelize. I am sure that there are times that you
are evangelizing and not even know it… We need to get the gospel out there into
the streets and not just within our walls…
2
Timothy 1:6-11 tells states:
2 Timothy 1:6-11The Voice (VOICE)
6 This is why I write to remind you to stir up
the gift of God that was conveyed to
you when I laid my hands upon you. 7 You see, God
did not give us a cowardly spirit but a powerful, loving, and disciplined
spirit.
God’s
gift of faith is like a flame, and when the embers of the fire have cooled you
must fan them again and keep them ablaze.
8 So don’t be embarrassed
to testify about our Lord or for me, His prisoner. Join us in suffering for the
good news by the strength and power
of God. 9 God has already saved us and called us to this holy calling—not
because of any good works we may have done, but because of His own intention
and because eons and eons ago (before
time itself existed), He gave us this grace in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King. 10 And
now, the time has come! That
grace was revealed when our Savior, Jesus the Anointed, appeared; and through His resurrection He has
wiped out death and brought to light life and immortality by way of this good
news. 11 I was appointed a preacher,
emissary, and teacher of this message.
We
are appointed preacher…we are appointed emissary…and we are to teach… As we
nourish the Gospel…as we nurture and promote growth of the gospel, therefore
following the Great Commission Jesus Christ have given us. The Commission to: “Go
out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking
them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then
instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as
you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
With all the evidence in our faith walks…yours
and mine…do you and I believe in the power of the Word of God? Do we trust in
His good and perfect plan? Are we
willing to follow His plan for us and lay down our own? God has the final say
in everything…no matter how big or how small. Are we teaching the next
generation the precepts of God and leading them to a relationship with Jesus? We need and expanded vision to evangelize to
those who need the Gospel…the hope…salvation found there in. If we don’t
include the Hope’s of the world…our vision is short-sided and restrictive. There
is victory in Jesus. Are you and I willing to lay down our agenda for the
victorious life found in Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord …?
As we feast and nourish our Spirit with God’s
Word, we will be prepared to promote the Kingdom of God…not by force but in the
way the Way, the Truth and the Life shared the kingdom, with compassion and
love. God wants all souls to be saved. His word says every knee shall bow and
tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. How can they confess if they have not heard?
How can they hear if no one is sent…if we sit in our comfortable Ivory Towers? I
pray that we too will utter the words found in Isaiah 6:8…no I challenge you to
believe and utter the words of Isaiah 6:8… Hope needs a few good men and women
who will echo the words:
And then I heard the voice of the Master:
“Whom shall I send?
Who will go for us?”
I spoke up,
“Whom shall I send?
Who will go for us?”
I spoke up,
“I’ll go.
Send me!”
Send me!”
Amen
==========================
edited November 12, 2017
Are We Sharing – v2
November 12, 2017
Are We Sharing
November 12,
2017
shine the
light of Jesus - 2
November 12,
2017
witness to the
gospel
November 12,
2017
teach this
message
November 12,
2017
share the Way
&
November
12, 2017
to
the next generation
November
12, 2017
teach
them to our children
Psalm
78:1-7
God’s
Goodness and Israel’s Ingratitude
The
Upper Room Disciplines for 2017
“Listen
to the Teachings”
November
6, 2017 to November 12, 2017
by
George Hovaness Donigian
&
edited
November 11, 2017
why are you
here – v2
November 11,
2017
why are you
here
get out there
get out there
November 12,
2017
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series
“P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(week 6 of 6)
(N is for…
“Nourish the Gospel Through Evangelism”))
Psalm 78:1-8
(The Voice)
Matthew
28:18-20 The Message (MSG)
2 Timothy
1:6-11The Voice (VOICE)
Isaiah 6:8 The
Message (MSG)
And then I heard the voice of the Master:
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!”
“Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?”
I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!”
and sermon, “Food
for Thought…”
text
video:
part 1
ending
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
November 12,
2017
&
edited
November 10, 2017
Bought with
Christ’s blood – v2
edited
November 10, 2017
bought with
Christ’s blood
edited to fit
in 280 characters for Twitter
edited
November 10, 2017
bought with
His blood – 2 – v3
edited
November 10, 2017
bought with
His blood – 2 – v2
with third
stanza as originally planned
edited
November 10, 2017
laying down
our agendas – v2
edited
November 9, 2017
conforming our
steps to Christ – v4
edited
November 9, 2017
conforming our
steps to Christ – v3
edited
November 9, 2017
conforming our
steps to Christ – v2
November 9,
2017
conforming our
steps to Christ
November 9,
2017
laying down
our agendas
November 9,
2017
new vision,
new eyes
November 9,
2017
the victorious
life found in Jesus
November 6,
2017
intricate
beauty
November 6,
2017
the eyes of
Samuel
November 6,
2017
our vision
increased
November 6,
2017
our focus
magnified
November 5,
2017
the enormity
of the present
November 5,
2017
to have their
vision
November 5,
2017
bought with
His blood - 2
pastoral
prayer
November 5,
2017
Seeking God
now
worship video
November 5,
2017
the plans of
the Creator
November 5,
2017
a new set of
eyes
November 5,
2017
Can we see the
path
November 5,
2017
All Saints Day
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series
“P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(week 5 of 6)
(E is for… “Enlarge
Our Vision”)
Psalm 34:1-10
(MSG)
Praise for
Deliverance from Trouble
Luke 12:22-24
(The Voice)
Do Not Worry
John 17:20-23 The
Message (MSG)
1 Samuel
16:5-13 The Voice (VOICE)
The anointing
of David (not his older brothers)
Great
Thanksgiving and prayer before communion
worship video
– “God doesn’t want you to go to church”
and sermon,
“The Bigger Picture”
text
original draft
video:
part 1
part 2
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Children’s
Message
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
November 5,
2017
All Saints Day
&
October 29,
2017
just as flawed
as she was
October 29, 2017
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(Part 4 of 6)
(T is for “Teach Our Children”)
Psalm 1 (The Voice)
Matthew 19:3-15 (The Voice)
Proverbs 22:6 (The Voice)
Psalm 78:2-4 (The Voice)
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 (The Voice)
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (The Voice)
and
sermon, “T is for … Teach”
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 29,
2017
&
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
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2015, 2016, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See
all 45,420 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
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Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, hope, prayer, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson
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