November 26, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Christ
the King Sunday
Psalm
95:1-7
Matthew
25:31-46
Revelation
19:11-16
(All
Scripture is from “The Voice” Bible)
“The
King is coming…”
The Lord be with
you…Let us pray…
Please
stand for the reading of the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 25, verses 31
to 46. Listen for a Word from God for both you and I, children of the King…
Hope as
sat at the table in the coffee shop, she thought to herself, “why is this whole
Jesus thing so complicated. I know that He is above all and that He is the King
of kings and or of all lords. God’s Word tells us that and so much more. It
also tells us that He is going to return soon. So why are so many acting as if
it is just a myth. They say they are Christians…there goes that label again…and
they believe that God’s word is true, but they don’t seem to care about the
fact that when He returns He is going to judge all of us. He will see right
into the heart and separate us between those who lived out His commission and
those who just did it lip service.”
As
she pondered, there was a voice that seemed to come out of nowhere. She was so
deep in thought that it startled her. “Hi…are you ok Ms.?” the voice
questioned. “Oh, my goodness, you scared me. Well sort of Okay. Why do you
ask?” Hope asked the stranger who had just came and sat at the table next to
her. “Well you look as if you could use a friend. What do you mean by sort of
ok? Is there something I can do to help?” the woman asked. Hope thought s she
looked truly concerned for her and that there was something about her that made
her feel comfortable. “I am sorry, introductions are in order here. My name is
Esther. I come here often, mainly because it is just around the corner from my
house, but it does have some pretty good coffee.” “Hi Esther, my name s Hope. I
was just thinking about a few things. Are you by any chance a Christian?” Hope
asked, a little apprehensively. “Sure m. I love God and Jesus. I hope that
doesn’t scare you away. It seems as if when I tell people that I am a
Christian, they look for the closest exit.” Esther lamented. “Good. My question
is this. If Christians believe in the bible and the truth it tells them, why
don’t they act it out in their lives. I mean it tells us that Jesus is coming
back and that they need to be about His work, but they act as if it wasn’t
true. They don’t seem to care that they are going to be judged when He comes
back. They look at others with no compassion and love. I am so confused…” Hope
asked. “Are you by happen of chance a person new or has recently come back to
Jesus?” Esther asked. “Newly back…” Hope sighed.
“Well…all
believers are not the same. Some are out doing all they can for God’s Kingdom
and not their own. But others are too busy building their own that they can’t
see the signs of His return. They have sort of accepted the invitation but
don’t really understand what the invitation is all about,” Esther explained.
“Invitation. What kind of invitation are you talking about?” Hope asked even
more confused now. “I can see no one has ever helped you understand what this
whole invitation to Jesus is all about. Let’s get some more coffee. I will try
to explain it to you,” Esther said over her shoulder as she went to the coffee
station. “Cream and sugar Hun?”, she asked. “Yes please,” Hope answered… “Ok…let’s
get started…”
Good morning to you all and happy Christ the
King Sunday. “Christ the King is the
last Sunday of the season of Pentecost and of the church year. This day
completes the Christian journey through the life of Jesus Christ on
earth and in heaven which began with the preparation for the birth of Jesus in
Advent.” So,
it is actually the last day in the liturgical year. Now… “Kings are absolute rulers: they attain power by raising and
leading armies into war against other countries. Jesus' war was not against
people or against a country, but against sin, death, and the power of the
Devil. By his death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus won the war against
evil.
All
that Christians are asked to do is to accept that Jesus fought and won the war
for their sakes and to recognize him as King of Kings. On Christ the King
Sunday, Christians recognize and worship Christ as king of heaven and earth for
all time without challenge and without end.”
It is interesting how we celebrate the return of
Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords just before we begin the journey to
the stable where it all began. We are all given an invitation to the stable.
You and I have said yes to the invitation. You and I have said yes to the offer
of redemption. You and I have said yes…Jesus is our all-in-all. But my question
is this. What have you and I done for the kingdom? Give time to answer. Are you and I not only expectantly waiting to
celebrate His birth, but also waiting expectantly for His return? God’s Word
tells us that He is going to return. (I
am paraphrasing here) I have gone to prepare a place for you and if I go to
prepare a place for you, I will return to bring you where I am…where I have
prepared that place for you…
Scripture is clear about what we are to be doing…we
are to be about our Fathers business as Jesus was. And if we are not…well we
have heard what will happen. That Whole sheep and goat thing we hear about in
the scripture from Matthew. You and I
sang the Revelation Song this morning…but do we believe? Do you and I believe
that He is the One that was, and is, and is to come? Is to come… And if so what
are we doing with that knowledge…
One of my most favorite passages in the bible
comes from Revelation 19… I can envision the scene…Let me read the scripture
for you but I want you to do something for me…close your eyes, clear your mind,
and envision what I am reading…
Revelation
19:11-16The Voice (VOICE)
11 I looked up and saw that
heaven had opened. Suddenly, a white horse appeared. Its rider is called Faithful
and True, and with righteousness He exercises judgment and wages war. 12 His
eyes burn like a flaming fire, and on His head, are many crowns. His name was
written before the creation of the
world, and no one knew it except He Himself. 13 He is
dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and
the name He was known by is The Word of God. 14 And the armies
of heaven, outfitted in fine linen, white and pure, were following behind Him
on white steeds. 15 From His mouth darts a sharp sword with
which to strike down the nations. He will rule over them with a scepter made of
iron. He will trample the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God, the All
Powerful. 16 And there on His robe and on His thigh, was
written His name: King of kings and Lord of lords.
Can you picture it…can you picture yourself in
that army from heaven? It is believed that “The saints who have fought the good
fight here, and who loved not their lives unto the death, will share the
triumph of their king,” they are part of the army from heaven. We…are part of that army…we are the ones
dressed in White…we are the ones who fight with and for the Kingdom. This
is clear proof that He is coming back to judged… How are you and I going to be
judged? It is all about choices and what we do with the invitation.
What is within that invitation? Where does the
invitation begin? What are you and I invited too and is it something we think
is important enough to invite others? I would propose this to you… This Advent,
let’s go on a journey. I would like us to journey into “The Invitation” and find “An Invitation”
… to…well that’s what we are going to
discover…maybe for the first time… My challenge to you is this…you have all
be given invitations for “The Invitation”
… share them. People say they don’t come to church because they are not
invited…well… invite them to “An
Invitation” to discover the invitation of Advent…the celebration of the
birth of the King of kings, whose manger was perfectly King sized. Let us shout from the rooftop, with the
Psalmist…
1 Come, let us worship in
song, a joyful offering to the
Eternal.
Shout! Shout with joy to the rock of our liberation.
2 Come face-to-face with God, and give thanks;
with loud and joyful voices, praise Him in songs.
3 For the Eternal is a great God,
and a great King, supreme over all gods.
6 Come, let us worship Him. Everyone bow down;
kneel before the Eternal who made us.
7 For He is our God
and we are His people, the flock of His pasture,
His sheep protected and nurtured by His hand.
Shout! Shout with joy to the rock of our liberation.
2 Come face-to-face with God, and give thanks;
with loud and joyful voices, praise Him in songs.
3 For the Eternal is a great God,
and a great King, supreme over all gods.
6 Come, let us worship Him. Everyone bow down;
kneel before the Eternal who made us.
7 For He is our God
and we are His people, the flock of His pasture,
His sheep protected and nurtured by His hand.
The
King is coming…will you and I be ready…?
Amen.
November 28,
2017
when I say I
am a Christian
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
I say I am a
Christian
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
We say we are
Christians
November 28,
2017
They say they
are Christians
edited/new
name November 28, 2017
Christ will
come down from heaven
edited
November 28, 2017
Christ will
judge us – v2
November 28,
2017
Christ will
judge us
November 28,
2017
God will see
our heart
November 27,
2017
whitewashed
Christians
Matthew
23:27-28 (The Message)
““You’re
hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds!
You’re like
manicured grave plots, grass clipped and the flowers bright,
but six feet
down it’s all rotting bones and worm-eaten flesh.
People look at
you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin
you’re total
frauds.”
November 27,
2017
false
Christians - 2
edited
November 27, 2017
lumped in with
the others – v2
November 27,
2017
lumped in with
the others
edited
November 26, 2017
Why would I
want to be a Christian – v2
November 26,
2017
why would I
want to be a “Christian”
November 26,
2017
the name
Christian spit from their lips
November 26,
2017
the name
Christian spit from their lips
edited
November 26, 2017
I saw heaven
open – v2
edited to fit
Twitter 280 characters
November 26,
2017
I saw heaven
open
November 26,
2017
Ladies of
scripture
November 26,
2017
Christ the
King Sunday
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
Psalm 95:1-7
(The Voice
Matthew
25:31-46 (The Voice)
The Final
Judgement
The Sheep and
the Goats
Revelations
19:11-16 (The Voice)
The Rider
and sermon “The
King is coming…”
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
Christ the
King Sunday
November 26,
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 45,540 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
Christ,
Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, Stetson Memorial United
Methodist Church, poem, Matthew 25, Psalm 95, prayer, Christ the King Sunday,
Revelation 19, sheep, goats, judgement, Christian, second coming, Advent,
#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Psalm95
#Matthew25 #pray #praying #prayer #hope #ChristtheKingSunday #Revelation19
#sheep #goats #judgement #Christian #Esther #rider #secondcoming #Advent
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