Suncook UMC
Sunday February 13, 2011
Psalm 18:1-3, 46 Gods Word Translation
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 New Living Translation
Matthew 5:21-37 Common English Bible
Matthew 5:17 Common English Bible
A Life or Death Situation
(Aka. . . A Fine Line Between Heaven and Hell)
Rules. . . there are so many rules around us. There are rules on how you should drive. . . rules on how you should act in public as well as in your home. . . good rules that help us and bad rules that exclude and alienate others. We grew up with rules that our parents gave us. I mean these are to just name a few. . . there are so many rules that it is confusing at times which rules we are to follow when.
When we read the Old Testament of the Bible we can get really confused about rules. There are rules about how the temple was to be set up. . . rules about how to worship. . . rules about what to eat and how to eat it. . . rules about what the Priest should wear. . . the list is so long I don’t really think we could cover them in the time for my sermon. . . it’s a no wonder the Israelites kept sinning. . . they couldn’t keep up with the many rules they had. . . but all kidding aside, rules are mostly there to keep us safe from harm. . .
Last week. . . Pastor Huntley read a piece of scripture that has made me think a lot about the laws in the bible. . . I have thought about how vital. . . if at all. . . they are to my life as a Christian. The Scripture I am talking about is the one from Matthew 5:17 that read. . . (And I am quoting the Common English Bible)
“Don’t even begin to think that I have come to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I haven’t come to do away with them but to fulfill them.”
Jesus didn’t abolish the Law but fulfilled it. Jesus even validates and expands. . . unpacks. . . some of these laws in Matthew 5:21-37. Listen to what Jesus had to say: (Read Matthew 5:21-37 from the common English Bible)
So many “Christians” today say that they live under the law of grace and not under the law of the Old Testament. They think that they can do whatever they want and will be covered by grace. Well. . . it is true we live under grace but this is the way that I see it...Yes we are under grace but we are still under the Law of Moses and the prophets. We still need to “act accordingly” but when we mess up. . . and we as humankind has proved that we will at times. . . this is where the grace comes in. we no longer have to offer a “burnt offering” for our sin. . . remember, Jesus was the last sacrifice for sin. . . what we need to offer is a heart that is changed, a life that turns away from sin and back to God. Now that’s REAL GRACE. There is a choice here of which way we want to go.
In “Alice in Wonderland”, there is a scene where Alice is at a cross roads and she is not sure which way to go. The Cheshire cat asks here where she is going and she says she doesn’t know. Well the cat then tells her that it doesn’t make a difference which she chooses then. We as Christians have a road and a road map to follow, the Bible. Even though the way may be a little confusing and hard at times, if we stay on the path our future is bright, when we stray off that path we are in danger of going down a path that leads to darkness and death.
Just as the Israelites were challenged with a choice of life and goodness or death and sin, we too are offered the same choice in our lives. It is difficult at times to discern which is which. We sometimes think that something will lead to life (a certain job, a certain way of life, a certain relationship in our lives) actually can lead to death. So what are we to do? Beloved brothers and sisters. . . God has chosen us to be His. . . God has given us rules to live by. . . if we look at something and it will harm others, then maybe we should turn and run in the other direction. . . God gives life but sin only gives death. We have a life or death situation here. We have a choice to make. . . choose life and live abundantly in the presence of our Creator or choose death and live in the way of a fallen world. Which will you choose? There is a fine line between Heaven and Hell. How will you choose to walk it?
Let us pray. . .
Loving God, Giver of all that is good, we pray for your guidance as we live the lives you have given us. Help us to discern your will, help us to choose the right path. We thank you that you offer us Mercy and Grace in our lives. May we be ever mindful that we are yours and are loved beyond comprehension. We love you and give you all praise and honor through our Redeemer and Esteemer, Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen. . . amen. . . and amen.
Matthew
5:21-37 (Common English Bible)
Law
of murder
Law
of adultery
Law
of Divorce
Law
of Oaths
Matthew
5:17 (Common English Bible)
Deuteronomy
30:15-20 (New Living Translation)
Psalm
18:1-3, 46 (God’s Word Translation) (Call to Worship)
Prayer
of Invocation
Prayer
of Dedication
Exodus
16:13-15, Psalm 34:8, John 4:10, 1 Corinthians 5:8
(Centering
Hymn: “All Who Hunger”, The Faith We Sing #2126)
Romans
14:7
(Lord,
Speak To Me”, United Methodist Hymnal #463)
Acts
2:42
(“Let
Us Break Bread Together”, United Methodist Hymnal #618)
Isaiah
55:1, Matthew 5:6, Matthew 11:28
(“You
Who Are Thirsty”, The Faith We Sing #2132)
1
John 1:7
(“Trust
and Obey”, United Methodist Hymnal #467)
Worship
Theme: “God gives life . . . sin gives death”
and
sermon, “A Life or Death Situation
(Aka
. . . A fine line between Heaven and Hell)”
by
Pastor Ruth L. Foss
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon
blog
meditation
blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook,
NH
February
13, 2011
Sixth
Sunday after Epiphany
&
Matthew
5:13-20 (NRSV)
(and
Matthew 5:1-12, Beatitudes)
John
6:51 (Call to Worship)
Isaiah
58.6-12 (NRSV)
John
13:34-35 and Ephesians 4:4-6
(“They'll
Know We Are Christians by Our Love”, The Faith We Sing #2223)
Micah
6:8
(“We
Are Called”, The Faith We Sing #2172)
Call
to Worship (John 6:51)
Prayer
of Confession
Prayer
of Dedication
Worship
Theme: “A Meal for All People”
and
sermon, “Salty
Christians”
by
Reverend Huntley Halvorson
Suncook
United Methodist Church
Suncook,
NH
February
6, 2011
Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
All of my
poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015.
All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for
usage. See all 40,630+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
No comments:
Post a Comment