Sermon nuggets Fri Sept 5
Theme Love Talk
Verses- John 13:37-38 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
Zealous Love
Emotions can be a great part of love of relationship, but there must be more than that. I liked the zeal of Peter. He is committing his life to Jesus and promising him dedication that will go to the grave. Jesus warns Peter of his coming denial. Jesus humbles Peter and us and lets us know that we do not have the strength even if we have the desire of remaining faithful if it were left to us. Only by receiving His love and strength can anyone of us remain faithful.
The problem isn't failure. It is how we handle failure. Peter was overconfident mistaking zeal for ability. A committed love is more than zeal, it is also humble. The promises people make in emotional moment are not always realistic. Commitment is progress toward the goal and real commitment is shown more in Peter’s getting up again, than never to have failed or fallen. The things that Peter said he would never do he did.
We will read in the 18th Chapter how Peter was with sword drawn and swinging when people came to take Jesus away. He tried.
When a young girl at the door recognized him as a disciple of Jesus Peter denied ever knowing Him. The same experience happened with a couple of the soldiers warmed themselves by a fire. He swore he never knew Him.
Jesus knows that Satan is around always seeking to cause us to fall in different ways. If Peter can do it, I can do it, and so can you. Are we more zealous that Peter?
In the book, “Discipleship for Ordinary People”, Stuart Biscoe wrote of a young colleague who was officiating at a funeral of a war veteran. The military friends wished to have a part in the service. They requested the pastor to lead them down to the casket, stand with them for a solemn moment of remembrance, and then lead them out through the side door. This he proceeded to do, but unfortunately the effect was somewhat marred when he picked the wrong door. The result was that they marched with military precision into a broom closet, in full view of the mourners, and had to beat a hasty retreat covered with confusion.
Briscoe writes. "This true story illustrates a cardinal rule or two. First, if you're going to lead, make sure you know where you're going. Secondly, if you're going to follow, make sure that you are following someone who knows what he is doing."
Of course, we follow the Lord who knows were He is going and we do not seek to have people follow us in our zeal, but point them to the Christ who is the only one worth following.
Perhaps the love that has been tried and forgiven is a stronger love than zeal without awareness. Peter is no longer as arrogant. He can more easily forgive others too because he is one who has been forgiven.
Our Christian life does not depend on our intentions, but praise God, it depends on His love and by His grace.
Pastor Dale
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Love Looks Ahead John 13:36
Sermon nuggets Thur Sept 4
Theme: Love Talks
Verse John 13:36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Love Looks Ahead
Jesus now promises His disciples they will eventually follow Him and be with Him. I am not sure what went through their minds that night, I am sure they couldn't begin to comprehend the implications that we understand with the Heavenly Kingdom. I am not sure that we can comprehend even that which has been revealed to us that gives us a taste of glory. The dwelling of God will be with man.
There was a man who told of his experience visiting a piano manufacturing plant. The guide took him first to large workroom where men were cutting and shaping wood and steel. Nothing there bore any resemblance to a piano. Then next they visited another department where parts were being fitted into frames, but still no strings or keys. In the third room more pieces, and finally the guide took his guest to the show room where there were many fine instruments on display. A skilled musician was at one keyboard playing the music of the masters. The visitor expected the finished product to be beautiful and it was.
God in His grace has saved us and we are being changed into the image of Christ form glory to glory. One day that will be completed, and shall be on display before the entire universe to the praise of His glory. But for now we are in the process of being completed. There is a day coming when the future fulfillment will be perfect divine love in the very presence of our creator.
Andrew Bonor sent Charles Spurgeon a copy of his commentary on Leviticus and Spurgeon was pleased and felt his heart blessed and encouraged when he read it. He wrote to the author, "Dear Dr. Bonor please send your autograph along with a photograph of yourself in the book." Bonor's book was soon returned with the following note, "Dear Spurgeon Here is the book with my autograph and photograph. If you had been willing to wait a short season, you could have had a better likeness, for I shall be like Him . I shall see Him as He is."
Friends because of God's love we shall be with him. We shall belike him, in character. We shall have the hope of that reunion that keeps us faithful and would keep the disciples from the time of the resurrection until their death.
Pastor Dale
Theme: Love Talks
Verse John 13:36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Love Looks Ahead
Jesus now promises His disciples they will eventually follow Him and be with Him. I am not sure what went through their minds that night, I am sure they couldn't begin to comprehend the implications that we understand with the Heavenly Kingdom. I am not sure that we can comprehend even that which has been revealed to us that gives us a taste of glory. The dwelling of God will be with man.
There was a man who told of his experience visiting a piano manufacturing plant. The guide took him first to large workroom where men were cutting and shaping wood and steel. Nothing there bore any resemblance to a piano. Then next they visited another department where parts were being fitted into frames, but still no strings or keys. In the third room more pieces, and finally the guide took his guest to the show room where there were many fine instruments on display. A skilled musician was at one keyboard playing the music of the masters. The visitor expected the finished product to be beautiful and it was.
God in His grace has saved us and we are being changed into the image of Christ form glory to glory. One day that will be completed, and shall be on display before the entire universe to the praise of His glory. But for now we are in the process of being completed. There is a day coming when the future fulfillment will be perfect divine love in the very presence of our creator.
Andrew Bonor sent Charles Spurgeon a copy of his commentary on Leviticus and Spurgeon was pleased and felt his heart blessed and encouraged when he read it. He wrote to the author, "Dear Dr. Bonor please send your autograph along with a photograph of yourself in the book." Bonor's book was soon returned with the following note, "Dear Spurgeon Here is the book with my autograph and photograph. If you had been willing to wait a short season, you could have had a better likeness, for I shall be like Him . I shall see Him as He is."
Friends because of God's love we shall be with him. We shall belike him, in character. We shall have the hope of that reunion that keeps us faithful and would keep the disciples from the time of the resurrection until their death.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Loving Others John 13:34-35
Sermon nuggets Weds Sept 3
Theme: Love Talks
Verses John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Love Carries Over to Others
Not too many days earlier Jesus was listening to the disciples argue who was the greatest. Then he went into the house and as they were having their meal none of them would stoop low enough to take on the position of the slave by washing feet. Jesus their teacher and Master confident in his position and serving attitude took the bowl and the towel and washed their feet. Then he tells them to do this to one another. Follow His example. Demonstrate acts of love to one another.
That segment was followed by the identification of Judas as the betrayer. Now Jesus commands them to love one another. He wants them to show the world what love is. Love is not being selfish, it is not erotic, it is not possessive and jealous, it is self-giving.
One of the ways Christianity was attractive later was when people saw how they loved one another. Don't wait for someone to love you. Show your love to them. Give and it will be given. Don't keep accounts.
As I have shared before, William Glasser, a noted psychologist explains in his book, “Reality Therapy” there are two essential needs we all have: the need to love and be loved, and the need to feel worthwhile. People need to see love expressed in ways that is different than the world understands it.
If a group of people had never seen or witnessed Christianity in action before were told to follow us around for a week to observe and then to imitate our actions and behavior, on the basis of what they saw, I wonder what form their Christianity would take? What would it look like? And do you think Christ would recognize it as what he had in mind when he came to found his Church?
I believe there are many who are content to love God and let God love them and think that is all there is the to Christian life. If there is one of many verses that support the importance of Christian fellowship and the church as a local institution it is also this verse. How can you love others, without other fellow-believers to love? You can't learn love out in the woods some place with just you and your Bible. You cannot learn to love as a hermit on retreat. You need people to learn Christian love. For then you will learn to love when love isn't always returned. You will learn to pray for someone you might not particularly choose to befriend, but God has chosen him or her for you. You are brought together young and old, rich and poor, Swede and Norwegian, Republican and Democrat, black and white and commanded to love one another.
I was talking to someone recently who married another with a ready made family. It was a death of a spouse and that person had children. The couple loved each other, they wanted to get married, but with the marriage also came the step-children into the deal. Now it isn't easy to be a step parent and it isn't easy to be a step-child. But they come along for the ride. The commandment is if you love the spouse, love his children. He chose her but he didn't necessarily choose them. So it is in the Church. You chose Christ because you love Him, but in choosing Christ you also, as part of the package, get all the others who belong to Christ, because they belong to him they belong to you too. Sometimes they are people with deep problem and needs. Sometimes they can be irritating, annoying or just plain pains in the neck. You choose Christ but you don't get to choose those who belong to Christ. In loving Him we are commanded to love those who belong to Him.
I think Bob Brunko was right when he said, "When people eventually join a Church there is usually a spirit of euphoria. They are sure they have finally found the perfect Church. Then time goes by and little by little, here and there they discern that the people who comprise the Church are humans and mortal and sinful--just like themselves. They quite often react by becoming bitter and disillusioned and they think of shoving off for greener pastures. But my feeling is this--here is the real test of whether or not I am loving as Christ loved me. It doesn't take divine love to love illusions we have manufactured in our own feverish imaginations, but it does take divine love to love people with eyes wide open to what they really are."
Pastor Dale.
Theme: Love Talks
Verses John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Love Carries Over to Others
Not too many days earlier Jesus was listening to the disciples argue who was the greatest. Then he went into the house and as they were having their meal none of them would stoop low enough to take on the position of the slave by washing feet. Jesus their teacher and Master confident in his position and serving attitude took the bowl and the towel and washed their feet. Then he tells them to do this to one another. Follow His example. Demonstrate acts of love to one another.
That segment was followed by the identification of Judas as the betrayer. Now Jesus commands them to love one another. He wants them to show the world what love is. Love is not being selfish, it is not erotic, it is not possessive and jealous, it is self-giving.
One of the ways Christianity was attractive later was when people saw how they loved one another. Don't wait for someone to love you. Show your love to them. Give and it will be given. Don't keep accounts.
As I have shared before, William Glasser, a noted psychologist explains in his book, “Reality Therapy” there are two essential needs we all have: the need to love and be loved, and the need to feel worthwhile. People need to see love expressed in ways that is different than the world understands it.
If a group of people had never seen or witnessed Christianity in action before were told to follow us around for a week to observe and then to imitate our actions and behavior, on the basis of what they saw, I wonder what form their Christianity would take? What would it look like? And do you think Christ would recognize it as what he had in mind when he came to found his Church?
I believe there are many who are content to love God and let God love them and think that is all there is the to Christian life. If there is one of many verses that support the importance of Christian fellowship and the church as a local institution it is also this verse. How can you love others, without other fellow-believers to love? You can't learn love out in the woods some place with just you and your Bible. You cannot learn to love as a hermit on retreat. You need people to learn Christian love. For then you will learn to love when love isn't always returned. You will learn to pray for someone you might not particularly choose to befriend, but God has chosen him or her for you. You are brought together young and old, rich and poor, Swede and Norwegian, Republican and Democrat, black and white and commanded to love one another.
I was talking to someone recently who married another with a ready made family. It was a death of a spouse and that person had children. The couple loved each other, they wanted to get married, but with the marriage also came the step-children into the deal. Now it isn't easy to be a step parent and it isn't easy to be a step-child. But they come along for the ride. The commandment is if you love the spouse, love his children. He chose her but he didn't necessarily choose them. So it is in the Church. You chose Christ because you love Him, but in choosing Christ you also, as part of the package, get all the others who belong to Christ, because they belong to him they belong to you too. Sometimes they are people with deep problem and needs. Sometimes they can be irritating, annoying or just plain pains in the neck. You choose Christ but you don't get to choose those who belong to Christ. In loving Him we are commanded to love those who belong to Him.
I think Bob Brunko was right when he said, "When people eventually join a Church there is usually a spirit of euphoria. They are sure they have finally found the perfect Church. Then time goes by and little by little, here and there they discern that the people who comprise the Church are humans and mortal and sinful--just like themselves. They quite often react by becoming bitter and disillusioned and they think of shoving off for greener pastures. But my feeling is this--here is the real test of whether or not I am loving as Christ loved me. It doesn't take divine love to love illusions we have manufactured in our own feverish imaginations, but it does take divine love to love people with eyes wide open to what they really are."
Pastor Dale.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Love Begins with God John 13:31-33
Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 2
Theme Love Talk
Verse John 13:31-32 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Love Begins with God
There is the glory of the Father and the Son. God the Father is glorified in the Son and God will glorify the Son in himself. We notice in these verses the importance of the glory of God and of His son, Jesus Christ. The very purpose for which we exist is to give glory to God. God’s glory is wrapped up in His attributes-His love, mercy, grace, wisdom, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence reflect and declare the glory of God. And at the cross the attributes of God was manifest as it had never been before. The power of God was made visible on the cross.
The kings ofthe earth and rulers of the earth took counsel together against God and against Christ. The sin nailed Jesus to a cross. The hatred of Satan put forth his best effort. The world, Satan and every demon threw all the power they had a Christ and he overcame it all. In death He broke every bond and every power of Satan forever. Love, mercy, grace, and wisdom as well is best demonstrated at the cross.
Before Jesus leaves He has this love talk. But the amazing story of Jesus is the He shows love has always been initiated by God. We love because He first loved us. The relationship has been personal because Jesus initiated. He looks on these men as his little children. The wonderful truth is notonly are we children of God but also those born into his family by faith are considered brothers and sisters because we have the same father.
I think of those days when I called my boys “my little children”. I haven’t called them that for years for they are bigger than I am. There was a time when I was the delight of their preschool life. They couldn’t wait for me to come home and protested when I left. Ah….those were the days.
But just like time came for me to leave home and grow independent of my folks, so it is with “my little children.” But when do we become independent of our Lord? Never. We delight in His presence. We would despair to see Him go. Jesus will be leaving his little children. Upon Him they so desperately depend.
The disciples have grown to love Jesus and wanted to be around Him wherever He goes. He is preparing them for His departure and tells them they cannot follow him now, but He'll be back and then will take them with Him.
Perhaps Jesus is speaking ofhis death. Perhaps he is referring to the ascension and the place of being with his Father and leaving them behind for now. I vote for the later, but knowing this separation will bring grief, He wants them to know they are and always will be family.
John 1:12 says, “For as many as received him He gave the right to become sons of God even to those who believe on his name." We are made into Jesus family by faith. It is by the seed of the Holy Spirit We are made alive and this new pure love is granted to us and in us.
The story is told often of King James V of Scotland who would roam among his subjects in disguise. On one such journey through the Highlands he came with a friend to an inn. He sat at the common dining table and ate with other travelers. As he and his companion went upstairs to their room, a man who had sat at the table questioned the innkeeper. "Who is the taller of those two men gone upstairs?" the innkeeper replied, "Father John of Ballengeuch".
The man replied,"Father John nothing, I know him, my eyes deceive me not, he is Royal James."
Jesus was disguise, but now He is being revealed to His family in a whole new way.
Eph 5:2 "Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children andlive a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for usas a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Pastor Dale
Theme Love Talk
Verse John 13:31-32 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.
32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Love Begins with God
There is the glory of the Father and the Son. God the Father is glorified in the Son and God will glorify the Son in himself. We notice in these verses the importance of the glory of God and of His son, Jesus Christ. The very purpose for which we exist is to give glory to God. God’s glory is wrapped up in His attributes-His love, mercy, grace, wisdom, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence reflect and declare the glory of God. And at the cross the attributes of God was manifest as it had never been before. The power of God was made visible on the cross.
The kings ofthe earth and rulers of the earth took counsel together against God and against Christ. The sin nailed Jesus to a cross. The hatred of Satan put forth his best effort. The world, Satan and every demon threw all the power they had a Christ and he overcame it all. In death He broke every bond and every power of Satan forever. Love, mercy, grace, and wisdom as well is best demonstrated at the cross.
Before Jesus leaves He has this love talk. But the amazing story of Jesus is the He shows love has always been initiated by God. We love because He first loved us. The relationship has been personal because Jesus initiated. He looks on these men as his little children. The wonderful truth is notonly are we children of God but also those born into his family by faith are considered brothers and sisters because we have the same father.
I think of those days when I called my boys “my little children”. I haven’t called them that for years for they are bigger than I am. There was a time when I was the delight of their preschool life. They couldn’t wait for me to come home and protested when I left. Ah….those were the days.
But just like time came for me to leave home and grow independent of my folks, so it is with “my little children.” But when do we become independent of our Lord? Never. We delight in His presence. We would despair to see Him go. Jesus will be leaving his little children. Upon Him they so desperately depend.
The disciples have grown to love Jesus and wanted to be around Him wherever He goes. He is preparing them for His departure and tells them they cannot follow him now, but He'll be back and then will take them with Him.
Perhaps Jesus is speaking ofhis death. Perhaps he is referring to the ascension and the place of being with his Father and leaving them behind for now. I vote for the later, but knowing this separation will bring grief, He wants them to know they are and always will be family.
John 1:12 says, “For as many as received him He gave the right to become sons of God even to those who believe on his name." We are made into Jesus family by faith. It is by the seed of the Holy Spirit We are made alive and this new pure love is granted to us and in us.
The story is told often of King James V of Scotland who would roam among his subjects in disguise. On one such journey through the Highlands he came with a friend to an inn. He sat at the common dining table and ate with other travelers. As he and his companion went upstairs to their room, a man who had sat at the table questioned the innkeeper. "Who is the taller of those two men gone upstairs?" the innkeeper replied, "Father John of Ballengeuch".
The man replied,"Father John nothing, I know him, my eyes deceive me not, he is Royal James."
Jesus was disguise, but now He is being revealed to His family in a whole new way.
Eph 5:2 "Be imitators of God, therefore as dearly loved children andlive a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for usas a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Pastor Dale
Monday, September 1, 2008
Love involves a Relationshp John 13:33
Sermon nuggets Mon Sept 1
Theme LOVE TALK
Verses John 13:33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Love Involves a Relationship
Letters to God: "Dear God, I'm taking violin, but you shouldn't listen yet because I still squeak a lot, Love Russell"
I still feel a lot like Russell, I squeak a lot. I feel like saying, Dear Lord you have given me lessons to be like Jesus only don't watch yet because I still squeak a lot. We fall short of being what we want to be and even fall short of being Christians that we know we should be and fall short of being what Christ wants of us.
Doesn't that make is seem like giving up? Or pretending before others that we've arrived, and not letting anyone in the church or around me know that I have failures, doubts, questions, problems.
I think one of the key elements in resting in Jesus' love is the reminder that we need not try to love God more, and therefore try to be better, but rather by be more aware of God's love for us and letting Him do it to us. As that happens we have a mark, a distinctive feature that ought to make us different than the rest of the people around us.
As Jesus is about to leave he calls his disciples “My Little Children”. As he prepares to give them this love talk there is something important that precedes any lessons on love. It is the understanding that love involves a relationship with another person, or with God. It isn’t just something we do, it is someone we are involved with.
Jesus identifies his relationship comparing it to a father loving his children and wanting the best for them. He is involved most certainly with loving the world, but there is something special that includes intimacy with this most special of friends whom he sees as his little children.
We can talk about loving God and His loving us, but the relationship in which we find most delight is the intimacy that is personal and special. The uniqueness of the love relationship we can have with our Father is the special understanding and conversations that is for us and us alone.
He loved the disciples. But more than that, He loved John and Peter and James. He loved Bartholomew and Simon and Nathaniel. He called each one individually to Himself. He knew their individual struggles, gifts and heart. He knows you by name and plans to have an individual special relationship that is special from others.
Marriages have wedding bands as symbols of love. In some of the Moslem nations a woman wears a veil if she is unmarried, or a half veil if she is married. In Africa the marks of love might be a stripe on the face or a ring in the nose, but with the believer the mark of love is how we treat the Lord, and others.
There are some things we can observe about Love as Jesus is sharing in this intimate setting with his special friends.
Pastor Dale
Theme LOVE TALK
Verses John 13:33"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
Love Involves a Relationship
Letters to God: "Dear God, I'm taking violin, but you shouldn't listen yet because I still squeak a lot, Love Russell"
I still feel a lot like Russell, I squeak a lot. I feel like saying, Dear Lord you have given me lessons to be like Jesus only don't watch yet because I still squeak a lot. We fall short of being what we want to be and even fall short of being Christians that we know we should be and fall short of being what Christ wants of us.
Doesn't that make is seem like giving up? Or pretending before others that we've arrived, and not letting anyone in the church or around me know that I have failures, doubts, questions, problems.
I think one of the key elements in resting in Jesus' love is the reminder that we need not try to love God more, and therefore try to be better, but rather by be more aware of God's love for us and letting Him do it to us. As that happens we have a mark, a distinctive feature that ought to make us different than the rest of the people around us.
As Jesus is about to leave he calls his disciples “My Little Children”. As he prepares to give them this love talk there is something important that precedes any lessons on love. It is the understanding that love involves a relationship with another person, or with God. It isn’t just something we do, it is someone we are involved with.
Jesus identifies his relationship comparing it to a father loving his children and wanting the best for them. He is involved most certainly with loving the world, but there is something special that includes intimacy with this most special of friends whom he sees as his little children.
We can talk about loving God and His loving us, but the relationship in which we find most delight is the intimacy that is personal and special. The uniqueness of the love relationship we can have with our Father is the special understanding and conversations that is for us and us alone.
He loved the disciples. But more than that, He loved John and Peter and James. He loved Bartholomew and Simon and Nathaniel. He called each one individually to Himself. He knew their individual struggles, gifts and heart. He knows you by name and plans to have an individual special relationship that is special from others.
Marriages have wedding bands as symbols of love. In some of the Moslem nations a woman wears a veil if she is unmarried, or a half veil if she is married. In Africa the marks of love might be a stripe on the face or a ring in the nose, but with the believer the mark of love is how we treat the Lord, and others.
There are some things we can observe about Love as Jesus is sharing in this intimate setting with his special friends.
Pastor Dale
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