Sermon Nuggets Fri April 18
Theme Walk on Water
Verses- John 6:21-25 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.
23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Matt 14:28-35 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him. (NIV)
THE LORD ACTS IN OUR DISTRESS
The storm calmed after Jesus reached out to save Peter in his distress. Walking with Jesus can cause distressing moments when we look at our circumstances instead of Him. But He still acts in reaching out to Peter, calming the storm, and joining the others in the boat. John tells us they were safe and everything was OK.
Jesus’ all knowing power reminds me and you He has not forgotten us. Even when it does not seem as if He is doing anything about it, my faith is made strong to wait. He knows what’s going on. Don’t worry. We are His own.
It is another wonderful thought to realize His presence, His closeness, His being there, but in it all He is acting out His perfect will. Romans 8:28 is still true even though it is often misquoted. All things do work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. The disciples were called according to His purposes. They were obedient and saw a marvelous demonstration of the power of Jesus and times in their lives later after Jesus’ ascension they needed to remind themselves of that on going care in the midst of distress.
The disciples were afraid of losing their lives on a boat, but Jesus saved them. Yet all of them, except John, lost their lives in persecutions for their faith. Did Jesus leave them and not see them? Many were healed in Jesus ministry. He acted and His glory was seen, but we also read of many who later prayed for healing and did not receive it and we know that all who were healed eventually, sooner or later, got sick and died if some other accident didn’t occur first. God did not mean for us to live forever on this earth.
When people accept the fact that God is at work acting in our situation to glorify the father, success is guaranteed.
Operation Mobilization reflected on God’s intervention after their mercy ship sunk. Since it was launched in 1971 more than 7 million people walked up its gangways, 1 million participated in training, 30 million pieces of literature. Then one day in South America during a storm it stank. What happened? Where was Jesus? Did He know?
The director responded a few months after it was sunk. 1. There was unity in prayer - People from all over rallied as intercessors for those involved. 2. Encouragement - Urbana director wrote “We want to help during these days of warfare for the kingdom. Praise the Lord as he has already won the victory otherwise we couldn’t stand the attacks could we? You must have some plans on the drawing board that are going and a great deal to the world of the Lord, or you wouldn’t be the target for such heavy attacks. 3. Refocus of Direction - Ship is a tool, people are the ministry. It helps sort our priorities and revise our ministry plans before the Lord. 4. Worldwide response – Japanese Christians sent check 10,000 Brazil 25,000 Venezuelans 15,000 Barbados, poorest country, Panama tons of clothing Four children brought a jar of their savings -$11.87
Was the sinking of the Logos a tragedy? God forbid. Like every great crises of life, it was an opportunity for God’s people to “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”
In His time Jesus acts. We remain faithful because He is faithful.
Pastor Dale
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Lord Speaks in our Distress John 6:19,20
Sermon nuggets Thurs April 17, 2008
Verses John 6:19-20 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." (NIV)
Matt 14:28-31 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
THE LORD SPEAKS IN OUR DISTRESS
The words of Jesus were take courage. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Jesus word brought faith. “Courage is not the absence of fear,” someone has said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Being a Christian neither guarantees fortitude nor frees us of all anxious feelings but it does give us a message from God’s word, which is one of the most effective ways in which He speaks today.
People fear perhaps most often the unknown and it is easy to see that when they imagined a ghost that was the unknown in a dark and anxious moment. Isn’t it easy to see how our imagination gets away from us when we are scared? I am not so sure that watching all kinds of violence and murders on TV and movies doesn’t increase our fears and make us more paranoid than we ought to be.
One of the most comforting places to go in distress is to the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit use the words to speak to the needs of our hearts.
Henri Nouwen talks about the power of communion with Christ; perhaps we call it quiet time or personal devotions. Call it what you want, but whether it is pleading prayer, or quiet reflections on what Jesus tells us, listen to Him speak. The steady man in the faith is one who is able to be obedient to God and hear His voice. Jesus had just previously renewed his heart in communion with His Father. Now these words of comfort are for Peter.
Seeing the Lord come is comforting for He always sees us. Hearing his voice by His Spirit and through His word adds to steadying the unsettled waters of our spirit, to confidence that nothing will happen to us, as His child, outside of His ultimate will.
Looking at Matthew’s account of this story we see Peter also walking on the water at the bidding of Jesus. There is comfort in the knowledge the Lord is with us in our distress, but Peter exercizes great love and faith in his prayer. He asks that he too might come to Jesus by means of walking on the water. The words of Jesus were meant in answer to the prayer of Peter. "Come"
Jesus speaks to Him to draw upon the Lord's power to do the unthinkable. It was not all disciples that got out of the boat. Indeed, Jesus did not call them all out. It was an experience for Peter's faith. Yet all marveled. All worshiped.
The growing faith of the disciples happened as they spent more time with Him, understood His heart, realized His power, and experienced His love. I often think how much more life has meaning when it is grounded in our centering in Him. He desires we have ears to hear and eyes to see. He is waiting to meet with us, learn from Him, and draw from His presence.
Pastor Dale
Verses John 6:19-20 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid." (NIV)
Matt 14:28-31 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"
THE LORD SPEAKS IN OUR DISTRESS
The words of Jesus were take courage. “It is I, don’t be afraid.” Jesus word brought faith. “Courage is not the absence of fear,” someone has said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.” Being a Christian neither guarantees fortitude nor frees us of all anxious feelings but it does give us a message from God’s word, which is one of the most effective ways in which He speaks today.
People fear perhaps most often the unknown and it is easy to see that when they imagined a ghost that was the unknown in a dark and anxious moment. Isn’t it easy to see how our imagination gets away from us when we are scared? I am not so sure that watching all kinds of violence and murders on TV and movies doesn’t increase our fears and make us more paranoid than we ought to be.
One of the most comforting places to go in distress is to the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit use the words to speak to the needs of our hearts.
Henri Nouwen talks about the power of communion with Christ; perhaps we call it quiet time or personal devotions. Call it what you want, but whether it is pleading prayer, or quiet reflections on what Jesus tells us, listen to Him speak. The steady man in the faith is one who is able to be obedient to God and hear His voice. Jesus had just previously renewed his heart in communion with His Father. Now these words of comfort are for Peter.
Seeing the Lord come is comforting for He always sees us. Hearing his voice by His Spirit and through His word adds to steadying the unsettled waters of our spirit, to confidence that nothing will happen to us, as His child, outside of His ultimate will.
Looking at Matthew’s account of this story we see Peter also walking on the water at the bidding of Jesus. There is comfort in the knowledge the Lord is with us in our distress, but Peter exercizes great love and faith in his prayer. He asks that he too might come to Jesus by means of walking on the water. The words of Jesus were meant in answer to the prayer of Peter. "Come"
Jesus speaks to Him to draw upon the Lord's power to do the unthinkable. It was not all disciples that got out of the boat. Indeed, Jesus did not call them all out. It was an experience for Peter's faith. Yet all marveled. All worshiped.
The growing faith of the disciples happened as they spent more time with Him, understood His heart, realized His power, and experienced His love. I often think how much more life has meaning when it is grounded in our centering in Him. He desires we have ears to hear and eyes to see. He is waiting to meet with us, learn from Him, and draw from His presence.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The Lord Comes to us. John 6:18-20
Sermon nuggets Weds April 16, 2008
Theme Walk on Water
Verses-John 6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
THE LORD COMES IN OUR DISTRESS
The disciples needed to learn not only to trust Jesus when He is in the boat, but to be aware that He is with them always. He comes to them, howbeit, in this unusual fashion by walking on the water. They were scared, thinking it was a ghost.
Someone mentioned that every miracle Jesus performed He did so to help others in their need and never for His own needs. He did not change stones into bread that he might eat, but did multiply fish and bread so others could eat. He did not take himself from the cross and overcome the guards at his own pain and discomfort of the cross, but he did raise the sick, cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. He did not jump off the temple pinnacle that others might follow him and receive the worship which he rightly deserves, but instead He does walk supernaturally on the water to bring comfort and peace to his beloved disciples. He does always use the miraculous, but his love and presence is there never the less.
His presence is here to calm the winds and the waves, to change the situation, and to bring comfort in loneliness and fear. They were no longer alone. They were reminded again that even as they should have remembered, Jesus was in control.
Notice they were not spared from the storm. The storm was no problem for Jesus as it is with us. I like the one contemporary song that gives us that idea. "Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes Other times He calms His child."
What a joy we have in the latter days when we have the presence of God with us and even within us. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within us all the time. You cannot ever be outside of His presence if you have received Christ into your life.
There are special times when the Lord makes us aware of His closeness and His presence in a special and unique manner. Often, even in crises situations, a person will tell of an experience that confirms this in unusual ways. More than once I have had the occasion to be called on to one who was sick or terminal or called to the home of the family of someone who had just died. I have often heard the comment made, “Pastor, I don’t know what people do without Jesus Christ.” I don’t either. Hebrews 13:6 Lo, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, henceforth we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear for what can man do to me?
Whatever your are going through the Lord sees and is there, sometimes even in ways we can't imagine. What comforting words those were to those in the boat-"It is I; don't be afraid." Those same words are for you.
Pastor Dale
Theme Walk on Water
Verses-John 6:18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."
THE LORD COMES IN OUR DISTRESS
The disciples needed to learn not only to trust Jesus when He is in the boat, but to be aware that He is with them always. He comes to them, howbeit, in this unusual fashion by walking on the water. They were scared, thinking it was a ghost.
Someone mentioned that every miracle Jesus performed He did so to help others in their need and never for His own needs. He did not change stones into bread that he might eat, but did multiply fish and bread so others could eat. He did not take himself from the cross and overcome the guards at his own pain and discomfort of the cross, but he did raise the sick, cause the blind to see and the lame to walk. He did not jump off the temple pinnacle that others might follow him and receive the worship which he rightly deserves, but instead He does walk supernaturally on the water to bring comfort and peace to his beloved disciples. He does always use the miraculous, but his love and presence is there never the less.
His presence is here to calm the winds and the waves, to change the situation, and to bring comfort in loneliness and fear. They were no longer alone. They were reminded again that even as they should have remembered, Jesus was in control.
Notice they were not spared from the storm. The storm was no problem for Jesus as it is with us. I like the one contemporary song that gives us that idea. "Sometimes He calms the storm. Sometimes Other times He calms His child."
What a joy we have in the latter days when we have the presence of God with us and even within us. The Holy Spirit is dwelling within us all the time. You cannot ever be outside of His presence if you have received Christ into your life.
There are special times when the Lord makes us aware of His closeness and His presence in a special and unique manner. Often, even in crises situations, a person will tell of an experience that confirms this in unusual ways. More than once I have had the occasion to be called on to one who was sick or terminal or called to the home of the family of someone who had just died. I have often heard the comment made, “Pastor, I don’t know what people do without Jesus Christ.” I don’t either. Hebrews 13:6 Lo, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee, henceforth we can confidently say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear for what can man do to me?
Whatever your are going through the Lord sees and is there, sometimes even in ways we can't imagine. What comforting words those were to those in the boat-"It is I; don't be afraid." Those same words are for you.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
The Lord Sees John 6:16,17
Sermon Nuggets Tues April 15, 2008
Theme- Walk on Water
Verses John 6:16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,
17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
Mark 6:45-48 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
THE LORD SEES
We remember that other Gospels help us see the whole picture. Jesus and the disciples had a very busy day, they were looking to relax and then a multitude descended upon them. As we mentioned last week, Jesus feeds the 5,000, more probably, 20,000 people. Jesus is trying to reveal to His disciples who He is and His care for them. Jesus is now ready to give them a mid-term examination. See what they learned. He compels them to get into the boat while He goes to the hills to pray.
As the disciples obeyed Christ they found themselves in the midst of a rip snorting storm. They knew they were in danger; there they were in the middle of the night and fighting for their lives. Sometimes we are in trouble because we obey the Lord. In the distress of their lives they were in a panic situation. There was a time, which John does not record but is in two other gospels, when Jesus was asleep in the boat and called the winds and the waves to be still. It is good to have Jesus in the boat, but now He wasn’t in the boat. I think lesson one is; Jesus can do miracles, He is from God. Lesson two; Jesus will protect and keep you. Lesson three; as they saw in the boat, He was able to do it. Another lesson of faith is feeding the multitude, He can provide. Now he is stretching them further to understand he does not have to be in the boat for them to trust. He can even be out of their sight but realize that they are not out of His sight.
The Lord sees our distress. The Lord sees what is happening. The disciples were unaware of the fact. When Jesus was in the hills praying I am sure He was praying for them. I am sure because of the prayers that we have recorded in the 17th and 18th chapters of John when Jesus prays often for his disciples, interceding on their behalf. Scripture teaches us that Jesus is now interceding on our behalf also. Isn’t that good to know? He sees us in our distress. He knows what we are going through. He does see our insecurities, fears and problems that face us. We have gone thru deep waters, most of us, and we can testify that he is there, but what about the ones that are going to face us or the ones that some of you may feel like you are in right now? Can you take comfort in the test of faith that if you have accepted Jesus and seeking to make him Lord of your life, He sees and knows all that is going on even when others may misunderstand?
When Martin Luther was in the throes of the reformation and the Pope was trying to bring him back to the Catholic Church, he sent a cardinal to deal with Luther and buy him with gold. The cardinal wrote to the Pope, “The fool does not love gold.”
The cardinal, when he could not convince Luther, said to him, “What do you think? The Pope cares for the opinion of a German boor? The Pope’s little finger is stronger than all of Germany. Do you expect your princes to take up arms to defend you – you, a wretched worm like you? I tell you No! And where will you be then?”
Luther’s response was simply, “Where I am now, in the hands of Almighty God.” Luther knew the Lord saw his situation and the threats of man did not move him.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Walk on Water
Verses John 6:16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,
17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.
Mark 6:45-48 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land.
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
THE LORD SEES
We remember that other Gospels help us see the whole picture. Jesus and the disciples had a very busy day, they were looking to relax and then a multitude descended upon them. As we mentioned last week, Jesus feeds the 5,000, more probably, 20,000 people. Jesus is trying to reveal to His disciples who He is and His care for them. Jesus is now ready to give them a mid-term examination. See what they learned. He compels them to get into the boat while He goes to the hills to pray.
As the disciples obeyed Christ they found themselves in the midst of a rip snorting storm. They knew they were in danger; there they were in the middle of the night and fighting for their lives. Sometimes we are in trouble because we obey the Lord. In the distress of their lives they were in a panic situation. There was a time, which John does not record but is in two other gospels, when Jesus was asleep in the boat and called the winds and the waves to be still. It is good to have Jesus in the boat, but now He wasn’t in the boat. I think lesson one is; Jesus can do miracles, He is from God. Lesson two; Jesus will protect and keep you. Lesson three; as they saw in the boat, He was able to do it. Another lesson of faith is feeding the multitude, He can provide. Now he is stretching them further to understand he does not have to be in the boat for them to trust. He can even be out of their sight but realize that they are not out of His sight.
The Lord sees our distress. The Lord sees what is happening. The disciples were unaware of the fact. When Jesus was in the hills praying I am sure He was praying for them. I am sure because of the prayers that we have recorded in the 17th and 18th chapters of John when Jesus prays often for his disciples, interceding on their behalf. Scripture teaches us that Jesus is now interceding on our behalf also. Isn’t that good to know? He sees us in our distress. He knows what we are going through. He does see our insecurities, fears and problems that face us. We have gone thru deep waters, most of us, and we can testify that he is there, but what about the ones that are going to face us or the ones that some of you may feel like you are in right now? Can you take comfort in the test of faith that if you have accepted Jesus and seeking to make him Lord of your life, He sees and knows all that is going on even when others may misunderstand?
When Martin Luther was in the throes of the reformation and the Pope was trying to bring him back to the Catholic Church, he sent a cardinal to deal with Luther and buy him with gold. The cardinal wrote to the Pope, “The fool does not love gold.”
The cardinal, when he could not convince Luther, said to him, “What do you think? The Pope cares for the opinion of a German boor? The Pope’s little finger is stronger than all of Germany. Do you expect your princes to take up arms to defend you – you, a wretched worm like you? I tell you No! And where will you be then?”
Luther’s response was simply, “Where I am now, in the hands of Almighty God.” Luther knew the Lord saw his situation and the threats of man did not move him.
Pastor Dale
Monday, April 14, 2008
Walk on Water John 6:16-24
Sermon nuggets Mon April 14
Theme- Walk on Water
Verses (John 6:16-24 )
Walk on Water
This week we will think about Jesus walking on the water.
Following the exhausting day, Jesus sends the disciples into a boat at night while he goes to a solitude place to be with his Father. Jesus surprisingly comes to his disciples after the winds kicked up by walking on the water.
Ed Bratcher wrote a book, “The Walk on Water Syndrome”. He talks to people in the ministry of the mistake many pastors, missionaries and full time workers have which can also be a problem for all Christians. Either people place us in a category that is only reserved for Jesus, or we have the temptation that we ourselves have a spiritual edge over the rest of the believers and think we can do what only God can do, or what He does not call us to do.
I have been blessed pastoring at Stanchfield with mature Christians who also understand the humanness of its leaders. You are a patient and forgiving lot. However, my worse enemy is myself. My ideals and expectations are far greater than my capabilities. Unfortunately, in many churches people look to their spiritual leaders with abilities to walk on water and do the impossible. Many Christians carry that same expectation upon themselves.
Dr. Roger White, a psychiatrist who has counseled many Christians, states that a minister is under constant pressure to accomplish far more than he is capable of doing. Some of the expectations that the average congregation has of its pastors are: 1) They must be a perfect moral example, without sin 2) He must provide moral and emotional support at all times regardless of his own condition 3) He must be an able administrator both in the church and in the community 4) He must be an able public speaker on any and every topic 5) He must perform as an actor – keeping people on the edge of their seats at all times, be able to act in all settings such as funerals, weddings, picnics, baptisms, etc. 6) He must serve as a philosopher, a teacher of values, even though the people agree before hand that they will not listen 7) He must perform as a counselor, a role which is particularly emotionally exhausting Dr. Roger White added, “If anyone could accomplish all of these tasks, he would also be able to walk on water.”
It is admirable to want to be more like Jesus and are devastated when we can’t be. We need Him for we are all weak and haven’t arrived yet. We are impatient with our own humanness, and feeling guilty that we fall far short of our own expectations of righteousness, either feel like quitting or covering up. That’s the walk on water syndrome. We all need to be ministered unto. We need to see and admit the winds and waves often overtake us much like Peter. We need those hands that reach out in love and help us up. Then we see those hands are really the hands of Jesus.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Walk on Water
Verses (John 6:16-24 )
Walk on Water
This week we will think about Jesus walking on the water.
Following the exhausting day, Jesus sends the disciples into a boat at night while he goes to a solitude place to be with his Father. Jesus surprisingly comes to his disciples after the winds kicked up by walking on the water.
Ed Bratcher wrote a book, “The Walk on Water Syndrome”. He talks to people in the ministry of the mistake many pastors, missionaries and full time workers have which can also be a problem for all Christians. Either people place us in a category that is only reserved for Jesus, or we have the temptation that we ourselves have a spiritual edge over the rest of the believers and think we can do what only God can do, or what He does not call us to do.
I have been blessed pastoring at Stanchfield with mature Christians who also understand the humanness of its leaders. You are a patient and forgiving lot. However, my worse enemy is myself. My ideals and expectations are far greater than my capabilities. Unfortunately, in many churches people look to their spiritual leaders with abilities to walk on water and do the impossible. Many Christians carry that same expectation upon themselves.
Dr. Roger White, a psychiatrist who has counseled many Christians, states that a minister is under constant pressure to accomplish far more than he is capable of doing. Some of the expectations that the average congregation has of its pastors are: 1) They must be a perfect moral example, without sin 2) He must provide moral and emotional support at all times regardless of his own condition 3) He must be an able administrator both in the church and in the community 4) He must be an able public speaker on any and every topic 5) He must perform as an actor – keeping people on the edge of their seats at all times, be able to act in all settings such as funerals, weddings, picnics, baptisms, etc. 6) He must serve as a philosopher, a teacher of values, even though the people agree before hand that they will not listen 7) He must perform as a counselor, a role which is particularly emotionally exhausting Dr. Roger White added, “If anyone could accomplish all of these tasks, he would also be able to walk on water.”
It is admirable to want to be more like Jesus and are devastated when we can’t be. We need Him for we are all weak and haven’t arrived yet. We are impatient with our own humanness, and feeling guilty that we fall far short of our own expectations of righteousness, either feel like quitting or covering up. That’s the walk on water syndrome. We all need to be ministered unto. We need to see and admit the winds and waves often overtake us much like Peter. We need those hands that reach out in love and help us up. Then we see those hands are really the hands of Jesus.
Pastor Dale
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