October 29, 2017
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon
Series “P.A.T.T.E.N.”
(T
is for “Teach Our Children”)
Psalm
1(The Voice)
Matthew
19:3-15(The Voice)
Proverbs
22:6(The Voice)
Psalm 78:2-4The Voice
(VOICE)
Deuteronomy 4:9-10The
Voice (VOICE)
Deuteronomy 6:5-9The
Voice (VOICE)
“T Is For…Teach "
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 14, verses 1
through 3. Listen to the Word of God …His Love Letter…to His people…
Matthew
19:13-15 The Voice
13 At this, some of Jesus’ followers brought their children before Jesus; they
wanted Him to place His hands on the children and pray for them. Some of the
disciples, mistakenly thinking
that Jesus wouldn’t want to be bothered with the likes of children, began
to rebuke the crowd.
Jesus: 14 Let the
little children come to Me; do not get in their way. For the kingdom of heaven
belongs to children like these.
15 He laid His hands on them, He prayed with them, and then He left
that spot and went elsewhere.
Hope
felt that she couldn’t trust anyone but herself. When she found Jesus, she felt
that she would be able to believe in and trust all the people who say they are
Christian. But she soon found out that they were just as flawed as she was and
that they too would let her down from time to time. She vowed never to believe
in anyone or anything again. Why should she? She was always let down…
She
often wondered what happened to the little girl that trusted and believed? Then
she would remember what she had been through and only thought of how naive and
foolish she was to believe that any of this were true. If it were true, why was
her life so hard? Why did she go through all the pain and suffering? What kind
of God let’s that happen to little girls who love Him?
Hope
thought back to her younger years. She remembered growing up in a house that
was dysfunctional at best. But there were people in her community who cared
about her. They would come and take her to the park or to church with them.
They shared the stories of the bible with her. She Loved the story of Esther
best…how a poor girl became a queen and saved all her people. Wow to be a
person who saved a whole nation… She remembered how loved she felt as she heard
the stories of Jesus and how much He loved her. If it were not for these
people, she doesn’t know how she would have made it. Life was so much easier
then…
Teach:
transitive verb
1 a :to cause to know something
b :to cause to know how
c :to accustom to some action or attitude
d :to cause to know the disagreeable consequences of
some action
2:to
guide the studies of
3:to
impart the knowledge of
4 a :to instruct by precept, example, or experience
b :to make known and accepted
5:to
conduct instruction regularly in
to provide instruction :act as a teacher
Where do you get your knowledge? Now there is
knowledge of the world but to be more precise, where did you learn about God?
Or, who taught you about God…right from wrong…to have or not to have morals? Give time to answer. How important was that on your life? What
significance did, and does it have in your life? 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”. And I asked 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? Are we becoming the engine of the church?
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. Do we not? And,
if we believe it for our lives…it is true for others. As we Go out we need to
trust God for the victory…that we may never see but believe…have faith…it will
happen.
The
next letter is more about the legacy we leave for the future…the letter “T” … teach
our children. There is nothing more important than that. Without being taught,
children will not have any moral compass at all. You see the world around us
now. Do you think there has been a disconnect in this truth? Give time to answer. “Children are great
imitators. So, give them something to imitate.”-Anonymous
The
scripture I read from Matthew this morning, we hear about how important the
children were to Jesus. He was a busy man. He went about towns healing and
teaching, and yet He had time for the least of these. I can just see the scene
now...Jesus is sitting there trying to get a little rest and the sound of
children’s laughter filled the air. IT must have brought a smile to His face as
He thought of the joy in their tiny voices. Then the parents wanted to have
them blessed by Jesus. They must have had great faith in Jesus and that
whatever He prayed would be answered. They had seen and heard about the
healings. Now that the Physician was in their midst they wanted their children
protected…just as you and I would want.
We live in a world that is full
of chaos and confusion. Just watch the News. There is so much pain and
suffering and people are trying to find a way to alleviate the pain and
suffering so they seek knowledge. You hear about all these “Self-help” gadgets
and gizmos, books and tapes. You can find the knowledge of the world in any
book from the bestselling authors but…but…it
is only the knowledge of God that will alleviate the pain. But there can be no
knowledge unless someone steps up to teach.
You all know I have a heart for
this community. I have a passion for the least of these and how I long for them
to know the Jesus I know…heck I want
everyone to know the Jesus I know. It seems to me that not just in our
community but humanity in general has forgotten the words of Deuteronomy 4:9-1
and 6:5-9:
Deuteronomy
4:9-10The Voice (VOICE)
Moses: 9 So
watch what you do! Be careful with your very life! Don’t forget the things you
saw with your own eyes, and don’t let them fade from your memory. Remember them
your whole life; teach them to your children and your grandchildren. 10 Remember
the day you stood before the Eternal, your True God, at Horeb when He called you to come close. He
told me, “Bring all the people to Me. I want them to hear My words, so that
they will learn to fear Me as long as they live on this earth and will teach
their children to do the same.”
Deuteronomy 6:5-9The Voice (VOICE)
5 You should love Him, your True God, with
all your heart and soul, with every ounce of your strength. 6 Make the things I’m
commanding you today part of who you are. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when
you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the
road. Make them the last thing you talk about before you go to bed and the
first thing you talk about the next morning. 8 Do whatever
it takes to remember them: tie a reminder on your hand and bind a
reminder on your forehead where
you’ll see it all the time, 9 such as on the doorpost where you cross the threshold
or on the city gate.
How sad it makes me…how it
grieves my heart…to see the way the children of today are acting…the morals
many of them lack…
But guess what…it is not a
hopeless situation. You see, the responsibility doesn’t fall just on the
parent. It falls on you and me as well. Scripture is clear on this point. Psalm
78:2-4 tells us:
2 I will open my mouth in parables;
I will speak of ancient mysteries—
3 Things that we have heard about, things that we have known,
things which our ancestors declared to us again and again.
4 We will not keep these things secret from their children;
rather, we will tell the coming generation
All about the praise that is due to the Eternal One.
We will tell them all about His strength, power, and wonders
I will speak of ancient mysteries—
3 Things that we have heard about, things that we have known,
things which our ancestors declared to us again and again.
4 We will not keep these things secret from their children;
rather, we will tell the coming generation
All about the praise that is due to the Eternal One.
We will tell them all about His strength, power, and wonders
How can we watch a child who
needs the Savior and do nothing? How can we say I don’t want to get involved
and say we follow Christ who got into everyone’s business…even the learned? (Proverbs 22:6The Voice (VOICE)6 Teach
a child how to follow the right way; even when he is old, he will stay on
course.)
We
have talked many times about how we need to serve the children of this
community. We used to have the Kids Life program in which we were able to reach
the children with the gospel of grace. But as time has gone by and we have
gotten older and it is difficult to keep up with these energetic kids. Well…I
have been convicted that I have only been using excuses and not let God be God
in my life. Especially because what has
been happening at the elementary school…the very school we served with the
kid’s life program. There is a child there writing bomb threats on the walls.
So, with that being said…I have talked with the Katahdin High School and the
students need to have Community Service to graduate. We are going to be able to
collaborate with them and give them the hours as they help us with our new
children’s program.
Why
am I telling you this? Because it takes a village to raise a child. Because
even though we are going to have the High Schoolers to help, I still need…the
children still need…all of you. I need us to be the mentors…this congregation
to help with a meal or two. Because Matthew 18:5-6 tells us:
Matthew 18:5-6New International Version
(NIV)
5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my
name welcomes me.
Causing to Stumble
6 “If anyone causes one of these little
ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a
large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the
sea.
Are
we that stumbling block, that obstacle, for these children when we don’t serve
them, if we don’t think out of the box to implement a way of reaching them? You will be hearing more about the new
program and for now I would like for you to:
1.
Pray
about the program
2.
Pay
about what your part in this is…
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 or do we try
to write our own stories end? Are we trying to be the playwright in our lives
or are we willing to be the understudy of the One who knows all the lines? Are
we trusting His victory in our lives and the lives of others or are we just
saying we do because that is what we are supposed to do? Are we teaching the
next generation the precepts of God and leading them to a relationship with
Jesus? 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 …?
Amen
=====================
November 2,
2017
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
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 45,290 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, children, teach, sermon,
#sermon #Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #Patten #prayer
#scripture #promise #trust #victory #children #teach @PastorRuthFoss
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