Eighth Sunday of Kingdomtide
Theme: Is there room for God?
2 Samuel 7:1-11 NLT Bible
Ephesians 2:10-22 NLT Bible
Mark 6:53-56 NLT Bible
Where does God want to live?
The Lord be with you
And also with you
Let us pray…
Loving and eternal God, full of compassion and wisdom, we thank you for this day that we can worship in your temple. Lord we ask for your Spirit to speak to us…open our eyes to eternal things so that w may know your will for our lives. May we be transformed by your Spirit and leave a changed people. Speak to us in ways that only you can speak…show us your glory and we will sing a new song of your goodness and mercy. Speak Lord…the sheep of your pasture long to hear your voice.
A reading from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, verses 53-56…here ends the reading from the gospel of Mark…
Over the past few weeks, we have boarded the ship SS Suncook and have been learning about our Captain, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. We have talked about His name and what it means to us as individuals and as Christians in general. Where do we put Him in our lives? We learned about looking at the big picture and not at the piece of the picture just before us. We have also talked about if we worship only on Sundays or if we live our lives out loud. Today we are going to talk about if there is room for God in our lives. Where does God really want to live?
Now, at the beginning of the service you were given a rock. You were asked to think about things that hinder your relationship with God and others, those things that weigh us down so much that at times we may not even be able to breathe, and to put those hindrances into the rock. At the end of my sermon we will do something with those rocks that we hold. But in the meantime, let’s talk about where God really wants to live…
In the Ephesians passage read this morning, we hear about a temple of the Lord. Now this is not just any temple. It is not a temple for just a few. This temple in which God lives is within you and within me. It is with in all who believe and we all together form this temple of God. God wants all believers to be joined together through Christ…Jew and Gentile alike. God wants to live with His people…for His people to be His dwelling place by the Spirit within each believer. Is there room in your dwelling place for God or are there other things that take His place?
Now, we have God living in us as His dwelling place. Does God want to live in us and just stay there dormant? From the Mark scripture I just read I think the answer for that is no. Jesus and His disciples shared the God within them with the people around them. They cured the sick, cast out daemons, taught about the kingdom of God. They shared God with the people around them which opened the door for others to receive the wonderful gift of God within their lives. The early church shared the God within them…the Spirit within them…and the church grew in numbers and continues to grow as we disciples continue to share God with others. We become that “fringe of garment” that people can touch and be healed. Is there room enough for your life for God so that you can become a piece of that fringe on His robe?
But I think that the 2 Samuel Scripture really points to the essence of God’s dwelling place. David wanted to build a temple…a building…for God to live in. He was upset because he lived in such a grand palace and the Ark was only in a tent. He thought that that was not good enough for God. We too at times think that God lives in our buildings more than within us. But God told Him NO…HE had never lived in a building but with the people able to move where ever the people went. God still wants to be on the move…going out into the world around us as we take Him to the least and the lost…to the poor and suffering. God had always been with David and still continues to be with us not in just some building.
God wants to live in a place that He has designed not in a place where we have designed for Him. He wants to design our lives so that He fits in perfect. Are we willing to let God have the grand design on our lives?
He wants to live in a place where He provides the protection. Not in a place where others decide what protection is needed…God has the ultimate protection plan for His children. Is God providing protection for us or are we still trying to do it on our own?
God wants to live in a dynamic place. HE’s not satisfied with staying in one place…in or “temples”. Our God is a God on the move…Moving through us, within us and out of us onto the world around us. It’s like a large RV that is large enough for all for His children to come along for the ride. Are we willing to let God move us into places where we may be uncomfortable…out of our element…out of our temples?
God wants to live with his people. God, like us, wants to live in a neighborhood that is welcoming. He won’t move into a place where He is not welcome. He won’t force Himself on the neighborhood. Do you want God to move into your neighborhood?
God wants to live in a restful place. He gives us rest and in His presence we have peace and rest. But to have that rest, we need to depend on Him…to believe, to have faith that He will provide for us. Do you believe God will give you rest?
And God wants to live in a place He will provide. I read this beautiful description about how God builds that place. You see:
He makes plans and the blueprints.
He builds and remodels
He builds a new site on the old
He builds it in the shadow of the old right next door
He has the perfect model and building site, the perfect materials and builder.
Jesus is building that home in our hearts. But on this site is just a temporary home, our true home is built in heaven.
God sees the potential in us. He purchased the property with the blood of His Son. He immediately tears down what is there and begins building a new dwelling place for His Spirit. And the best part…the building is better than it was before. He builds His dream house in our hearts.
He is not interested in living in a house made by man but in the house that he built. Is your life Gods dream house? Where does God want to live?
WE are now ready to set sail on the Sacred Waters of our faith to visit some other ports but there is one thing we have to do. You know how I asked you to hold on to the rock given to you this morning and think about something that keeps you waited down…something that inhibits your relationship with God or others. Well…we are now going to do something with those rocks.
You see, years ago, ships used rocks as a ballast when the cargo hole was empty. The ballast was typically a solid in the form of rocks or sand. The rocks or sand would have to be moved onto or off the ship manually depending on the amount of cargo on board. Our ballast is those things that weigh us down. We have now taken on new cargo as we learned about our Captain of the ship so not it’s time to get rid of those rocks. I invite each and every one of us to come forward as we sing our last hymn and leave our ballast at the foot of the cross…To trust God with our ballast and sail the waters with Him as our guide. Let us sail the Sacred Waters of our faith buoyed by the love and joy of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
July 23, 2012
Spirit Study
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 22, 2012
&
Fifth of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Is There Room for God?
Mark 6:53-56 (New Living Translation Bible)
2 Samuel 7:1-14a (New Living Translation Bible)
Ephesians 2:19-22 (New Living Translation Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012, 2 Samuel 7:1-14a)
Anthem, “Ave Maria”, by Diane Mitchell
Message for children
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon – “Where Does God Want to Live?”
by Pastor Ruth Foss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 22, 2012
Eighth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
Fourth of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme – Do We Worship Only On Sunday?
Mark 6:14-29 (The Message Bible)
2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer
Pastoral Prayer by Pastor Ruth Foss
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012, Ephesians 1:3-14)
Message for children,
about King David dancing for joy
by Pastor Ruth
and sermon – “Doing It Your Way, Every Day”
by Mary Ann Cioffi
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 15, 2012
Seventh Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
Third of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme - Can we see the big picture?
Mark 6:1-13 (The Living Bible)
Psalm 48 (NRSV)
2 Corinthians 12:2-10 (The Living Bible)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2009)
Unison Prayer
Prayer of Dedication (Mark 6:1-13)
Message for children, only the walking stick (Mark 6:1-13)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
and sermon - “Big Picture Followers”
by Kathy Akerman
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 8, 2012
Sixth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
second of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Theme - Where do we put Jesus in our lives?
Mark 5:21-43 (GOD’s WORD Translation)
Psalm 130 (Common English Bible)
2 Corinthians 8:7-15 (NIV)
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)(Psalm 130, Mark 5)
Unison Prayer
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/unison-prayer-suncook-united-methodist.html
Prayer of the People
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/prayers-of-people-suncook-united.html
Prayer of Dedication (Mark 5:21-43) (2 Corinthians 8, Mark 5)
(adapted from GBOD 2012 and Abington Worship 2012)
Communion, UMH, page 9
Message for children, “There is Power in a Touch”
http://www.sermons4kids.com/power_in_a_touch.htm
(Mark 5:27-29)
Sermon - What Jesus Means to Me!
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/07/sermon-what-jesus-means-to-me-suncook.html
by Raymond A. Foss
http://www.facebook.com/raymond.a.foss
Poetry Where You Live
http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://www.suncookumc.org
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
July 1, 2012
Fifth Sunday of Kingdomtide
&
first of a worship series on:
“Cruising the Sacred Waters of Our Faith”
Mark 4:35-41 (Common English Bible)
Jesus stops a storm
Psalm 9:9-11 (NRSV Bible)
Psalm 9:9-20 (NRSV Bible)
2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (NRSV Bible)
2 Corinthians 6:1-13 (NRSV Bible)
Worship Theme: “What’s in a name?”
Call to Worship (Abington Worship 2012)
Unison Prayer (Abington Worship 2012)
Hymn: “It Is Well With My Soul”, UMH #377
Prayer of Dedication (GBOD 2012 (2 Corinthians 6: 1-13))
Message for Children, “A story about some rocks”
David and Goliath
and sermon, ““Who Is Jesus?”
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/who-is-jesus
by Pastor Ruth Foss
http://www.facebook.com/pastorruthfoss
http://www.ahandmaidenofthelord.blogspot.com
http://pastorruth.posterous.com/
A Handmaiden of the Lord
http://www.suncookumc.org
Suncook United Methodist Church
http://facebook.com/groups/136632035559/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Suncook-United-Methodist-Church/102221356487965
Suncook, NH
June 24, 2012
Fourth Sunday of Kingdomtide
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