Romance Ruth 2

Sermon Nuggets week of Aug 29 Romance

Verses Ruth 2: 1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side, from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing, whose name was Boaz.

2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter."

3 So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back.

5 Boaz asked the foreman of his harvesters, "Whose young woman is that?"

6 The foreman replied, "She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi.

A Love Story- Romance

Last week we began a series on love as revealed in the characters of the book of Ruth. We talked about loyalty and how it was demonstrated in commitment, choice, and caring. Ruth and Naomi had those qualities when it came to their husbands and when it came to their love for God. We saw in chapter 1 how a man named Elimelech and his family left their home in Bethlehem to go to Moab because of a famine. Elimelech and his two sons die while in Moab, and the widow Naomi is left all alone with her two daughters-in-law.

Naomi decided to return to her home when she had heard they had food again. Her life in Moab had become hard, and so she sought more comfort and left for her homeland. So far everyone is looking for greener pastures. What about Orpah? She too eventually returned to Moab because she realized her life in Judah with Naomi would not be easy and she preferred her chances of security with a husband even though it meant going back to her pagan gods instead of the faith in the Lord God. Ruth on the other had gave up everything to stay with her mother-in-law. She intentionally went into a harder situation. She left comfort. She gave up family and friends, with no promise of a future. Why? I suspect it was out of love for Naomi and commitment to her God. Unfortunately Naomi’s grief was blocking her ability to see God’s work, His sovereignty, and His gracious providence. But I suspect that happens in our lives as well when things go badly for us. We look sight of the larger picture because we don’t see the future very well. Faith is trusting in God’s providence and believing he will bring good out of it one way or another. God lifts the famine and opens a way home for Naomi. He gives her an amazingly devoted and loving daughter-in-law to accompany her. And preserves a kinsman of Naomi's husband who will some day marry Ruth and preserve Naomi's line. But Naomi sees none of this.

Well I want to continue and look a bit a another aspect of love, it is romance. Our culture loves love stories, however I think it is so taken by lusts it confuses love for sex.

Here is a true letter to Dear Abby. “Dear Abby. I am a 23 years old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years. It’s getting expensive and I think my boy friend should share half the cost, but I don’t know him well enough to discuss money with him. Do you have any advice?”

Unfortunately many couples fail to see is that those who do live together before marriage have a vastly greater chance for divorce for a number of reasons. One is that when you are strong to your convictions you stick it out longer in your commitment to marriage than leaving. Shallow convictions regarding marriage gives shallow commitment to another for life.

Another is a person more apt to live together before marriage is more apt to have an affair because there is less importance on morals and values of marriage. Another is that some find to have intimate relationship with someone who is not their spouse to be sexually stimulating and after marriage with society sanctioning it, there is a reduction in arousal unless they start cheating. God’s word is truth and His ways are best.

What I would like to address this week are some unromantic romantic ideas. Character has a lot to do with what really makes up a special relationship whether in marriage or in family life, church, and so forth.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 30 Character

Verses: Ruth 2: 7 She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.' She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter."

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me-- a foreigner?"

13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant-- though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls."

17 So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.

18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

The Character of the WOMAN-

There are some traits about Ruth that captures the attention of Boaz, the bachelor. You have heard it said that there is one kind of girl guys like to date and a different kind of girl guys like to marry. Certainly I will not say that physical attraction has no place, but it is different from sexual attraction. Nowhere do I read there was love at first sight. But she caught his attention when Ruth was gleaning barley in the fields.

We talked about her loyalty, so I won’t say a lot more about that. But in addition to loyalty to her Mother-in-law she also showed respect which is an equally important ingredient to making a relationship work. One of the commands is “Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long.”

If you are young man and you are considering a girl as a possible mate, observe her attitude toward her mother? Is she kind, gracious, respectful toward her mother? Or is she discourteous, unkind, and rude? What about the fellow? How does he treat his father? Watch the way one acts toward his parents for it is often a reflection in other relationships in life at home. People act one way in public and with friend than they do with family. For can be disrespectful to his parent but act gracious toward others. But if you have someone who respects and treats his or her family well, then that is often how he or she will deal with his own family in the future.

The Ruth impressed Boaz foreman by being industrious. V. 7 She went into t he field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest.” Also notice v. 17 she gleaned in the field until evening, but then her job wasn’t done. She threshed the barley she had gathered and carried it back to town. She was a good, hard, worker. I thank the Lord for families that teach their kids to work and not to be afraid of it. It is important to learn responsibility from a young age. Ruth worked hard in the fields. It is hot, and back breaking. But to get food for herself and Naomi she was willing to work and do her best.

One thing I don’t understand is people who do not have work and little money refuse jobs that are available because they feel it is beneath them, or the work didn’t suit them, or the pay wasn’t what they thought they deserved.

We need to support our loved ones. Some jobs don’t pay enough, but having something is better than nothing until something else opens up. There is great value if someone is able bodied to be independent by their work and put some pride into it. Many women work very hard and may not get paid for it. Lots of housewives cook meals, wash clothes, take care of shopping for the family, make lunches, make beds, can, freeze food, and clean house, raise children, help with the chores. Love is expressed by hands that are working to provide the needs. The Bible says, “Do what your hand finds to do.”

Prov 32 talks bout a virtuous woman as a good wife. Reread that and you’ll find one willing to work with hands, get bargains, buy and sell land, provide for her family getting up early. It says she does not eat the bread of idleness.

Ruth is humble she bowed down with her face to the ground v 10 She wasn’t haughty. She wasn’t proud. She was humble in her attitude. She says of herself in v 13 that she doesn’t even have the standing of the servant girls so why is she being treated so nicely?

Related to humility is thankfulness. She appreciated what was done. She saw the need in others and was thankful in little things. How important is that word is in marriage? Thank you. Do you ever thank your mate for all they do? For task around the house? One man was upset and said, “Why should I say thanks? She never thanks me for going to work. It is part of the responsibility that doesn’t deserve thanks. “

When we take the various tasks for granted, then we start living in selfishness and pride. God honors a grateful heart.

1 Peter 3:4 says, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead it should be that of your inner self the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. Which is of great wroth in Gods’ sight.”

What impressed Boaz was the character of Ruth. Not her background, not her status, not her clothing, not her name but I’d call it the unromantic, romantic facts that are the basis for love.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Aug 31

Verses Ruth 2: 4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back.

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls.

9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled."

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed, "Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me-- a foreigner?"

11 Boaz replied, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband-- how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.

12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

The Character of A MAN- Compassion

As we look at the man Boaz would make it on a magazine lists of the most eligible bachelors. He is highly respected in the community. He is wealthy, He would make a good catch and many young ladies and their parents would keep their eye on him. But there is more to him than just being a wealthy landowner with servants.

Boaz is a man of God. Why else would the story-teller pause to record the way Boaz greeted his servants? "And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem; and he said to the reapers, 'The Lord be with you,' and they answered, 'The Lord bless you."' If you want to know a man's relation to God you need to find out how far God has saturated to the details of his everyday life. Evidently Boaz was such a God-saturated man that his farming business and his relationship to his employees was shot through with God. He greeted them with God. And we will see in a minute than these were more than pious platitudes.

He was generous and cared for the poor. Boaz followed the Scriptures from Deut 24. He didn’t have to, but God promises if you helped the poor you would be blessed. That was the heart of Boaz. He was kind to those who were without and willing to share with them. There were a number of other women that would come following the harvester and taking the grain that was overlooked.

My wife used to work on a lettuce farm. Now it isn’t hard to get all the lettuce that is suppose to be harvested, but I could tell she had experience in the fields when we would go blueberry or strawberry picking. She would assign me an area and I’d lumber along getting the fruit and filling my bucket trying to keep up with her but my bucket would only be half full while hers would be full. Then she’d go over my area again and get all the stuff that I didn’t see. I’d try to explain to her that I was following the old testament practice of helping the poor by leaving some for those who followed me. She didn’t buy it.

Boaz generosity as well as giving Ruth some special attention came when he instructed his foreman to let the men leave a little extra so Ruth can get more.

I don’t like to waste things. It came from my Mother who also, like many of you, went through the depression. It bothered me, for instance, when the government would set up rules almost requiring waste. There is so much food required for each nursing home resident and if they didn’t eat it even if it wasn’t touched it had to be thrown away. You couldn’t give it away, you couldn’t have other staff eat perfectly good food. You couldn’t take it home to animals, because it might be suspect that you were cheating this resident so untouched perfectly good food and a lot of it was pitched in the garbage.

I’d much rather have this arrangement where the poor could come and get it and there not be any problems with insurance companies or people who would sue the owner if they fell down or sprained their backs picking up food left behind. Sometimes in our society common sense just goes flying out the window.

I heard now of a movement where some countries are trying to stop shipments of clothing to the poor because the clothing industries in those countries see it as unfair competition to their jobs, so you’d rather go naked they get free clothing. I don’t get it.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Sept 1

Verses Ruth 2: 14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar." When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, "Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her.

16 Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her."

Ruth 2:19-21

19 Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!" Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. "The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz," she said.

20 "The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers."

21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "He even said to me, 'Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.'"

(NIV)

The Character of Kindness

But notice Boaz kindness. Even though he was wealthy and a landowner, he was also good to his workers. He was not stuck up employer who would have little to do with his hired hands. Some won’t mix with the help, but that was not the character of Boaz.

I remember a mop lady at Pleasant Hill Nursing home telling me a story over and over again of one of the administrators who called her to clean up a mess that someone had left. She was so angry because she just cleaned up the hallway that that walked away to get her composure. Then she returned to the spot and saw the administrator on his hands and knees cleaning what she at first refused to do. She said you could have slapped her in the face. Then she worried about losing her job. Now, however, that administrator could ask her to do anything and she’d go it out of the great respect she had for him willing to do what needed to be done regardless of his status.

Boaz was not prejudiced. He helped the foreigner in need. He was thoughtful. If she was thirsty, then go ahead and drink out of the cistern my men bring. He invited Ruth to share in the lunch that they provided for the workers. It is plain old fashioned courtesy And thoughtfulness to others instead of being out only to make money and get what he can from them.

Boaz also gave Ruth protection. That is a problem for a widow who is young to support herself and not be under the protection of another man, because they were open for being sexually abuse and attacked. Some forced to make their living by prostitution for it was not legal at that time for women to own property only men would own property. Unless they found some man that took pity on them and cared for them and give them housing and property they were sunk, and this is what Boaz did. He recognized that Ruth had sacrificed herself for the family of Elimelech and felt the responsibility for her as well because he was a shirt-tail relative. This was part of his religious obligation. He ordered the men not to touch her and that made her feel important.

She was a woman who was a stranger, a foreigner, no family no friends, but only commitment and loyalty caused her to come to these fields. But with all this Boaz did what many women wish their husbands would do- he made her feel special. There are many gracious women who have found happiness in marriage with a mate, who didn’t have much money, or much looks, or much education, but they take notice of their wives and in turn treat them with respect and consideration. O what many wives would give for a little bit of consideration.

These are the unromantic romantic characteristics that make the man as God would have us be.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Sept 2

Verses: Ruth 2: 4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "The LORD be with you!" "The LORD bless you!" they called back.

12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

13 "May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord," she said. "You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant-- though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls."

20 "The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added, "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers."

The Character of GOD

The most important aspect to a budding romance is the character and will of God. When God is at the center of a relationship it makes all the difference in the world. Both Ruth and Boaz were committed to the Lord. Ruth as a fairly recent convert and Boaz was one who lived his faith.

We know the Lord’s command for Israelites not to marry foreign women. The reason given in the Bible is because it will cause people to turn to other gods and people will be led into false belief. The Bible also warns against Christians marrying non Christians for the same reason. Families tend not to worship, put God first, or keep their faith active. When you have gotten so romantically involved that your emotions carry you away it is hard to focus on God’s priorities. Some think they can change their mate once they get married, but that seldom happens. If you have become a Christian after marriage and your spouse is not saved yet, that is a different story. You pray and live your life God wants you to live it and be the best spouse you can and so that the Holy Spirit may work on your spouses heart, but you have choice before you say I do.

My friend John Hoeldtke put it this way, “The reason that the directive were given were religiously these people would lead their offspring astray. I have searched the Scriptures until I do not know how to search t hem any further. I cannot find where God ever condemned interracial marriage. The reason why the Jewish people were not to marry people from the other nations was religious-not racial. A Moabitess was a pagan of a despised nation. Why could Boaz marry her? The answer is that she had already become a believer and made her commitment to the Lord. She did so before Boaz came on the scene as well.”

Also notice how this match is God directed. As it turned out Ruth found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz. Who was from the clan of Elimelech. There are no coincidences with God. "Do you know how many times the word coincidence (or any other word like it) is used is the Bible? Zero. Not one event in all of Scripture is ever spoken of as having been coincidental." Look at Naomi’s response in vs 20 “The Lord has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.” This man is our close relative. He is one of our kinsman-redeemers.” Ruth and Boaz were also in God’s will because it was His plan for them to marry.

I believe when a young person surrenders his or her will to the Lord and says, “I want to do your will more than anything else whether it means I marry or do not marry you know better what I need that I do.” The Lord has a way of getting that person into contact with another believer so that in a sacred sense the two seem to have been just right for each other.

In order for God to lead, one’s heart must be right. Ruth was always under God’s care and protection. Ruth could have gone to another’s field where she would have been neglected abused, mocked, or stolen, but God provided. Now she is instructed to stay close to the servant girls for Boaz protection. She would have all she wanted then.

It is the Lord, Yahweh who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living—Naomi and Ruth, or to the dead—her deceased husband Elimelech. God has provided a plan to honor and save them. It was all coming so fast to Naomi. She is so excited she repeats herself. And then the reality of the situation finally comes to her. She finally remembers the significance of who Boaz is. He is their kinsman-redeemer. Boaz is the redeemer. A kin who can marry a widow and preserve the family.

Now we see the part the Lord plays. It was the Lord who stopped the famine. It was the Lord who bound Ruth to Naomi in love. It was the Lord who preserved Boaz for Ruth. Ruth did not just happen to come to Boaz's field. The light of God's love has finally broken through bright enough for Naomi to see. The Lord is kind. He is good to all who take refuge under his wings

In Gods’ part of the relationship we see that he is able and willing to bless. Little did they know then they were to be the ancestor of the king of Israel and the Messianic line and ultimately the Savior of the World. God is interested in the poor, the helpless, the stranger, the forgotten. Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”” They story of a pagan girl you choose correctly and see the blessing of God is all part of the backdrop to a love story. Romantic? Ah much more than that. It is founded on the spiritual for that is the basis of love.

This is the message of the gospel in the Old Testament and the New Testament. God will have mercy on anyone who humbles himself like Ruth and takes refuge under the wings of God.

Pastor Dale

A Love Story-Loyalty Ruth 1

Sermon Nuggets Ruth 1 Love Story

Verses Ruth 1: 1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.

2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

A Love Story

A Minister was planning to do a wedding following a morning church service. After the benediction he had planned to call the couple down to be married for a brief ceremony, but he just couldn’t think of their names. “Will those wanting to get married please come to the front”. He requested.

Immediate 6 single ladies, three widows and 2 men stepped forward.

I decided to review the book of Ruth these next four weeks and look at different aspects of love. This was one of the favorite books of the Hebrew young women as they dreamed of being a blessed wife.

The first characteristic of love that I think chapter one illustrates is loyalty. It is an admirable characteristic. But more important than loyalty is the object or the one to whom loyalty is directed. Top on our list ought to be God. It is an admirable trait to be loyal to your spouse, loyal to your country, but one ought to rethink loyalty if it leads to sin. What about those loyal to Saddam Hussein, or Adolph Hitler, though admirable is also damning. The code of loyalty and silence among the mafia, or Al Quada is important, but ungodly.

The book of Ruth not only teaches us about love, but about the sovereignty of God and His decision to use a foreigner, a Moabite, a woman for his greater plans. Ruth is to be the grandmother of King David making her part of the kingly line. It shows that even in the OT God does love people regardless of race, color, education, or gender.

But we shall see how God lifts up and honors this woman, Ruth.

When Benjamin Franklin was the Ambassador to France, he occasionally attended the Infidels Club -- a group that spent most of its time searching for and reading literary masterpieces. On one occasion Franklin read the book of Ruth to the club, but changed all the names and places in it so it would not be recognized as a book of the Bible. When he finished, the listeners were unanimous in their praise. They said it was one of the most beautiful short stories that they had ever heard, and demanded that he tell them where he had run across such a remarkable work of art. He enjoyed telling them that it came from the Bible!

This story takes place during the period of the Judges. In Israel’s day after they had conquered the land with their leader, Joshua, they settled down in their various allotted places according to the tribes. Within a generation devotion to the Lord dwindled. Judges were appointed to rule over disputes, but it wasn’t that effective. Samson was a Judge and we remember what kind of problems he had. So it was said of the period in Judges 17:6 ”In those days there was no king in Israel , but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

God said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The family of this story is the family of Elimelech who fled to Moab with his two teenaged sons and his wife, Naomi, apparently for economic reasons. He could get food and a job. People relocate for lots of reasons. Those are good reasons, but one must also ask is it God’s will? Some are looking for better jobs, more money, advancement, greener pastures, better climate or education. All of that is fine, but what does God want for you? Do you pray about where the Lord would have you live, or go to school, or work?

There is always a struggle of living for the Lord and doing what He wants when we live among people and work with folks for whom godly values are non existent. One must ask how much the culture around us influences us, or how much do we influence the culture around it. There was a reason God instructed His people not to marry foreign women. There is a reason God’s word says not to be unequally yoke with unbelievers.

There are challenges and consequences that could be avoided. But there are also occasions were a faithful witness can be use by God’s grace to show His love and acceptance.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 23 Commitment

Verses- 3 Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years,5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.

7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me.

9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband." Then she kissed them and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, "We will go back with you to your people."

11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?

Love is demonstrated by Commitment

The story is unfolded. There was a draught in Israel and specifically felt in Bethlehem. It was not uncommon for God also to judge his people through circumstances like this as a wake up call to repentance. Sometimes God would use other foreign nations and pagan nations to success as victories as a judgment against God’s people.

There are a lot of innocent people that pay for the mistakes of others and their quick decisions. Some consequences cannot be reversed. Elimelech took his family to Moab, rather than be under the general judgment of God and was able to get bread and his two sons married Moabite women. It is interesting to realize what their names meant.

“Chilion- means one who life has reached its term or limits or pining away. Mahlon means sickly or diseased. Perhaps it was a product of the consequences, we do not know, but all three men died, Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion, and they didn’t have any children and all three widows within that 10 years people of time were destitute.

In biblical times a woman depended on her husband or sons to provide for her. Without men she was forced to beg on the streets and rely on the kindness of others, similarly to what we have seen in modern day Afghanistan under the Taliban rule.
What caught my attention was the way in which how much the daughters-in-law love Naomi. That doesn’t always happen in relationships. What happens when one marries someone that you as a parent don’t approve of. What should your reaction be? Disown them? Have nothing to do with them? Let them know they have made a mistake and now must live with it?”

What I see in his passage is that Ruth and Orpah had such a respect and love for Naomi I think it must be how she treated and reacted to her daughters-in-law. Naomi loved her God, her husband and her sons. She loved Israel. But she apparently showed and demonstrated her love for her daughters in law. Maybe they were not who she wanted her sons to marry. But she apparently showed them kindness as well.

Instead of the influence of the Moabites on the faith of this family, Naomi’s faith apparently influenced these young women. They accepted Jehovah of Israel. When Naomi heard about the Lord visiting Bethlehem again with bread she decided to go back to her people, her land, her God and having a concern for the daughters in law tried to think what was best for them. Unselfishly she told them to go back to their families as well. She didn’t have anything to offer them and they would be in a situation perhaps of getting marriage again and gaining a family.

Knowing what she knew of the laws of Israel there was also not a likelihood that they would marry Moabite women with Israelite girls around.

The commitment I see is Naomi to her husband when they leave to a foreign land. And of Ruth to Naomi who won’t leave her alone. Commitment is part of love. It is also important part of marriage. It is more than a feeling. It is a decision to stick with another through the ups and downs of life. It may not mean always agreeing with the other, but seeking to do what is best for the relationship because the other person or people matter.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Aug 24 Challenges

Verses- Ruth 1:12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me-- even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons--13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!"

14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her.

15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her."

16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Love is demonstrated through Challenges

Any commitment is usually challenged. We might commit to something or someone but the depth of that commitment is revealed when things in life get hard. When there is temptation, when there are hard times. When we make a commitment to something how dedicated are we to stick to that commitment and what might be reasons to go back on promises?

Although I value the importance of commitment I must say commitment to the wrong cause deserves to be broken. If someone makes a sinful promise it would be wrong before God to keep that commitment. If someone is committed to worship a family idol and presented with the truth of Jesus Christ, it would be important to repent and commit to truth.

So it does take thought, prayer and re-evaluation when we are challenged to reconsider our decisions.

Women in the Bible days have a very rough life. We see some societies that are male dominated where women have very little or no rights.

I caught the end of one of the TV news magazine stories recently where a male passenger on an airplane from the Muslim background was sitting next to a Muslim woman. She asked the man a simple question. He became furious with her and publicly rebuked her for a woman is not allowed to speak to a man unless she is spoke to first. We might find those customs odd in our world, but this similar to the world also in which Ruth lived. Not Muslim, but definitely patriarchal. Women were not given many rights. There are some societies in which there are no rights. The woman is told who to marry and what her responsibilities are to be a good wife.

The challenge to their commitment started with the death of their husbands and these women realized they had great needs, not only in love but protection and provision in a society that could abuse them. The daughters-in-law loved Naomi and she in turn loved them. But without resources they had to rethink their commitment. They had to make a choice to follow Naomi back to a foreign country for them with this new God that is suppose to have all things in his hands. Or they were to choose to go to material security by returning to find a husband and children and positions among their own people? One road seemed bright and secure, the other road seemed unsure and scary and new. They had no idea what the future would hold. Both out of their love and devotion to Naomi did not want to leave her, but she made them rethink and look at the situation of what would be best for them.

You see there is a cultural code in that day for widows (Ex 22:22 and Deut 10:18) It talks about the care of widow and the Hebrew way. It had to do with a Levirate marriage, which meant a dead man’s brother was to marry the widow to provide her security and give her children to carry on the family name and inheritance. But Naomi had no more sons and she said You will not wait for me to have a son and grow up to marry you. So Naomi wanted them to find what she had lost- security safety and home.

Orpah though about her challenges among a people foreign to her and vulnerability in that environment and realized as going back to her people and her gods was a better option. She apparently made a start in spiritual matters but like so often happens it is circumstances that cause people to turn away from their commitment and their decision to go back to their former way of living. They knew evil and sin. The prospect of security, a husband, material provisions influenced her even though she was sad to say goodbye.

The road of faith to follow the Lord gives no promise of home, give no assurance of security. Like the seed that falls on thorny or rocky soil there are challenges good and bad to our Christian life. Many will go back on their commitment. For some to give their lives to Jesus and love him might mean giving up a job, or a home to follow him. Love is force to decide between convenience and personal pleasures and interest to pleasing the one whom you love.

2 Tim 4:20 says, “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.”” Orpah was to become a wife again. Ruth also faced the same challenge. One never hears about more about Orpah, whereas Ruth is spoken through all the history as part of Christ’s ancestry.

How has your love commitment been challenged?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 25 Choices

Verses Ruth 1: 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Love is demonstrated by Choices

Challenges that come to evaluate love will result in some choices we make. Commitment is also a choice. When people stand to take a wife or a husband they are choosing to make a vow of loyalty to each other in life.

We are like Ruth in that we are aliens and strangers in this land. Eph 2 says, “Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with Gods’ people and members of God’s household” We can become part of God’s household by making that important choice- to make him our God and give to him our allegiances. We were born into sin. That was Ruth’s situation. We were lost and part of people apt from God. Yet by Gods grace he continued to work out the details in our lives and he did so in Ruth’s life. For there is a turning away from her background and choose to live with Naomi and follow the Lord

Many people might talk about being a Christian and go to church, but there has been no choice to turn from sin. They have never changed direction of their lives. They are never making Christ Lord and master of their lives.

Orpah chose to return to her land and her people, which was pagan. Ruth chose to turn her back on her past and express her love to Naomi by going with her wherever she went.

How much do we love Jesus? Knowing we are loved by Christ and receiving the promises of being in His care we also choose to love, but where will that love lead us? For Ruth her choice was to leave her race, her cultural adjustment, receive discrimination, giving up an old friends and go with her mother-in-law.

That as the call of Joshua who said, “Choose this day whom you will serve”.

That is the call of Christ. “He who is not for me is against me” ”He who confessed me before men him also will I confess before my father. He who does not confess me before me, neither will I confess him before my father.” That is what love is -a commitment and with this commitment come choices if we are going to follow and remain faithful to our vows.

It was God who broke the famine and opened the way home (1:6). It was God who preserved a kinsman to continue Naomi's line (2:20). And it was God who constrains Ruth to stay with Naomi. But Naomi is so embittered by God's hard providence that she can't see his mercy at work in her life. She needed someone to love her as well.

Ruth's commitment to her destitute mother-in-law is simply astonishing. "Where you die I will die and there be buried" (v. 17). In other words, she will never return home, not even if Naomi dies. "Your God will be my God" (v. 16).

Naomi has just said in verse 13, "The hand of the Lord has gone forth against me." Naomi's experience of God was bitterness because of her circumstances. But in spite of this, Ruth forsakes her religious heritage and makes the God of Israel her God. Perhaps she had made that commitment years before, when her husband told her of the great love of God for Israel and his power at the Red Sea and his glorious purpose of peace and righteousness. Somehow or other Ruth had come to trust in Naomi's God in spite of Naomi's bitter experiences. Her love required some choices as does yours.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Aug 26 Caring

Verses- Ruth 1: 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"

20 "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Love is demonstrated by Caring.

Even though commitment is the core of love, yet you can’t hardly love without showing care. It is the core of commitment. If we are committed to another we will care about them.

Ruth’s shows her caring spirit by making Naomi’s hardships her hardships. And so links herself to the surviving member of the family of Elimelech because it is the right and responsible thing to do to care for the one in need.

Unfortunately we see laws forcing fathers to pay for the needs of their children when they divorce. Many mothers only care for their needs and wants and children are neglected.

As Christians we are also called to love not just our family, but those around us. We are to care for the poor, the disadvantaged, those who experience injustice. Caring for others is a mark of a Christian because it is a mark of Jesus.

Ruth showed her responsibility to the devotions of Naomi and demonstrated true love and loyalty by seeking to care for her and yet she didn’t have to. She showed humility in taking on that responsibly. “Where you go, I will go.” Is the caring expressed by saying my life’s direction is in your hand. Or “where thou lodge I will lodge.” Lodging is supplying the basic needs. It is the understanding what is important isn’t the house, it is the person and people within that house. Treasure your family while you have them. To feed, cloth and shelter, is not enough. It is to care, to love and help them with various and appropriate support as needed.

“Your people will be my people.” That commitment of caring is saying that people of God will now become my people. I will so dedicate myself to share and become one with them- The community of God is now the church, not the Israeli community. It is to say yes to a Christian, saying yes to brother and sister in the Lord. Friends change, People change, and this now becomes a new spiritual family. It involves caring for one another hand devoting each other to the tasks around us under the direction of the father. “Your God be my god. That is the essence of message. I will continue in my walk with Jehovah God. I will make him my God and the Lord, this is a prayer may be punished me if that isn’t true. Whether thou will die, I will die”, indicates the commitment for life, there I’ll be buried. We become involved in the business of the Kingdom and realize this graciousness unto the end. The commitment caring and helping is life-long. It is a final and complete one until he calls us home.

Naomi passed final judgment on herself and on the Lord before the Lord finished. Our mistake is that we single out some experience and then judge god by this alone, wondering why he allowed it. It is easily we forget His many blessings and benefits to us.

Ruth and Naomi came at the beginning of the barley harvest that is the spring that is the first crop as the first chapter ends. It shows the scene as all seems lost, but it isn’t, for now the glimmer of hope shines. There is something that is coming.

The problem with Naomi is that she has forgotten the story of Joseph who also went into a foreign country. He was sold as a slave. He was framed by an adulteress and put in prison. He had every reason to say, with Naomi, "The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me." But he kept his faith and God turned it all for his personal good and for Israel's national good. The key lesson in Genesis 50:20 is this: "As for you, you meant it for evil against me [Joseph says to his brothers]; but God meant it for good." Naomi is right to believe in a sovereign almighty God who governs the affairs of nations and families and gives each day its part of pain and pleasure. But she needs to open her eyes to the signs of his merciful purposes.

Not only the spring harvest but Naomi needs to open her eyes to Ruth. What a gift! What a blessing! Yet as she and Ruth stand before the people of Bethlehem Naomi says in verse 21, "The Lord has brought me back empty." Not so, Naomi! You are so weary with the night of adversity that you can't see the dawn of rejoicing. What would she say if she could see that in Ruth she would gain a man-child and that this man-child would be the grandfather of the greatest king of Israel and that this king of Israel would foreshadow the King of kings, Jesus Christ, the Lord of the universe?

The Author of love is Jesus Christ who showed his commitment to us while we were sinners Christ died for us. He chose us even before the world began. He cares for us.

Pastor Dale

House Building -Matt 7:24-29

Sermon Nuggets Mon Aug 15

Verses

Matt 7:24-29

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

(NIV)

House building

In 1174 the Italian architect Bonnano Pisano began work bell tower for a Cathedral the tower was to be eight-stories and 185-foot-tall tall. There was just one "little" problem: builders quickly discovered that the soil was much softer than they had anticipated, and the foundation was far too shallow to adequately hold the structure! And sure enough, before long the whole structure had begun to tilt... and it continued to tilt... until finally the architect and the builders realized that nothing could be done to make the Leaning Tower of Pisa straight again. It took 176 years to build the Tower of Pisa and during that time many things were done to try and compensate for the "tilt. Foundation was shored up; the upper levels were even built at an angle to try to make the top of the tower look straight. Nothing worked. The tower has stood for over 800 years, but it leans 18 feet away from where it should be. One day, experts say, it will fall and all because it wasn’t built on the right foundation.

Jesus gives us an illustration of a wise man and foolish man. The conclusion all related to the foundation upon which they build their houses. Jesus knew houses. He was a carpenter. No doubt he had seen storms cause houses to fall due to their poor foundation.

As is common he takes an earthly story and brings out a heavenly meaning, which is how one person defined a parable. Jesus laid down instructions on kingdom living. It is impossible to live up to. But with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we can see better the heart of God and the attitudes within that Jesus demonstrated in living to the glory of His Father who is in heaven.

Now here comes the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon. Are you going to hear only, or are your going to do something about what you’ve listened to? Those who listen politely are contrasted with those who decide to go with God completely. There is a cost and there are alternatives. Which shall it be for you?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 16

Notice the Similarities.

The parable of the wise and foolish man indicates some similarities between the two. Jesus compared them to people who hear his message. It is easy to nod in agreement with the Sermon on the Mount but there is powerful stuff there, most of which gets ignored.

Each man saw the need of a house and built one. There are quality made homes and those which are quickly put together. They might look the same from the outside. So what might be the same is the outward appearance.

The implication is both the wise and the foolish hear the message. Being a hearer is better than not listening at all. There are people we are told in the Bible that are not even hearers. Some have no opportunity because we haven’t obeyed the Lord and evangelized our world. Some have no one to tell them and we must promote missions and evangelism. The call to missions and evangelism it to give everyone a chance to hear.

I think we have many church attenders that hear the message of Jesus repeatedly. They may be part of the church, part of a congregation, part of the fellowship. They may read their Bibles, pray, buy Christian literature, and books. From outward appearances you cannot any difference just like you can’t tell a house that is well built and one that is on a strong foundation without further investigation. One that is quickly slapped together and on sand will fall. On the outside you cannot tell a difference.

That is how it is with people looking for religion. They may think it is all the same. But everyone needs a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All other beliefs and practices are counterfeit.

There are other similarities. The floods came and smote the house. Here in a very literal sense there came rains. Indeed the adjectives are plan The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against the house. Each description builds on the previous one. Both experiences are similar. I am reminded of the verse. “the Lord causes the sun to sun and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust” There is no religious discrimination. It rains and streams rise winds blow and houses are put under stress.

Jesus is not telling us how to find a safe, comfortable setting or an ideal atmosphere where life remains non-threatening and where the climate is wonderfully calm and supportive. What he is telling us that we must face reality, that life is difficult, we will have to face the storms and accept the pain and discomfort and the heartaches.

Many storms bring violence, tragedies. But there are more difficulties in our fallen world which affect us all. We witness all types of catastrophes sickness, illness, disease, misfortune, and the unexpected death in each and everyone’s life. I wish I could tell you to be a Christian is to have no more problems. but I hear many a preacher speak the opposite. I still hear so many people asking, “Why did this happen to me?” meaning that I am a believer in Jesus I should be given special treatment from circumstances here on earth? Regardless of faith, color, or creed, size or money you will have sunshine and rain, some will have floods and tornados. some more than others. Things that will affect the country, the county, the state will affect all citizens in it, but it was brought to their very homes. The stream and river broke again that very house. What they built was being threatened personally and individually. Hard times came. The storm did not by-pass either home.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Aug 17

Verses- Luke 6:48-49

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Notice the Differences.

Luke 6:47,48 fills us in a little more the details of this parable concerning a well built house. Most of the difference comes with the wise man. He was a doer, not just a hearer. Three verbs used to describe the situation- dug, down, deep and laid the foundation on the rock. The other built on the sand.

It is not so much that the foolish man actually believes that sand is a better foundation to build on. It’s just that he simply gives no thought to the importance of a good foundation. In his view, it is the house which is important and not the foundation.

We might apply the parable to our choice of a life long mate. Shall we choose the exciting, popular person even though she/he is arrogant, proud and somewhat flighty or shall we choose the decent, quite and godly person?
The one who digs must make plans for his house. He studies the blueprints and measures out the dimensions carefully. It takes planning. It takes labor; it takes toil and effort to do it right the first time.

I think about the words “dug deep”. Deep digging is contrasted with shallow work. The deeper you go, the less likely something will fall over. To dig is to toil; to deepen is to carry on that toil but more. The deeper you go the more difficult it becomes and the harder ground. To deepen is more than just breaking the surface. It is to be willing to discover more and more.

Then there is the laying of the foundation. Everything depends, not on the construction, but the object upon which the foundation is laid. The foolish man laid his foundation on the sand, the wise man on the rock. That makes all the difference. Sand implies the things which pass away. The foolish man is impatient wanting it done now, quickly and inexpensive. The wise man thinks ahead and makes plans.

Gregory Elder tells a story when he was a kid growing up on the Atlantic Coast. He spent long hours working on intricate sand castles; whole cities would appear beneath his hands. One year, for several days in a row, he was accosted by bullies who smashed his creations. Finally he tried an experiment: He placed cinder blocks, rocks, and chunks of concrete in the base of my castles. Then he built the sand kingdoms on top of the rocks. When the local toughs appeared (while he watched from a distance), their bare feet suddenly met their match. There might be other implications for building on rocks.

Many people see the church in grave peril from a variety of dangers: secularism, politics, heresies, or plain old sin. They forget that the church is built upon a Rock (Mt. 16:16), over which the gates of hell itself shall not prevail.”

Jesus is making the point of the difference is between hearing and doing. Doing implies commitment to build well and on the right foundation that will not shake and fall. What is missing? The work, the toil, the planning, and the preparation, the time, the energy, the money, the total commitment to what makes a good house.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 18

Verses Matt 7: 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Luke 6:49b The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

The Consequences

Then came the storm, the flood, and the danger. I guess the difference between the doer and the hearer comes at the end. It says the stream could not shake the house that was built on the rock, because it had been well built. Of the other we read, “And immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great.” That makes all the difference in the world. One house stood as protection as the fortress as a shelter, the other collapsed into nothing, and all was lost because there was no foundation.

Note the description of the fall: "And great was the fall of it." It is great because it will fall forever. It is great because there is no remedy for the fall. Once your eternal house has fallen you are doomed forever

Do you want to know something significant? As an outward observer you probably couldn’t tell much difference between the two houses, or the two men. As they lived and were on display you probably couldn’t tell much difference one thinking he might be smarter because he saved money and got the job done quicker. the one way one person came out as a doer was after the storm. He withstood it, and the other was lost.

It doesn’t matter how elegant the living room, appears how functional the kitchen is, or where we have the remote control garage door openers and entertainment center and Jacuzzis, everything depends on whether the whole structure will withstand the storm.

Jesus is not talking about how to build a house he is fully and clearly talking about building lives by faith on Jesus Christ, himself. Many hear but do not obey.

Don’t just be impressed with words, but what you’ve heard put into action. Be doers of all of this or it will not do you one bit of good. Then you are a wise man, when you walk in his ways, wisdom gives sensibility to one who knows, and security to one who has the power and stability in the circumstance that throw so many, but salvation is for all eternity for we are house builders. What kind of house are you building? “Isn’t it strange That prince and kings and clown that caper in sawdust rings, and common people like you and me are builders for eternity?”

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Aug 19

Verses- Matt 7: 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

The Message

Today concludes the series on the Sermon on the Mount. But Jesus wasn’t just interested in people being impressed with His sermon. He just preached the greatest sermon ever. It still is. When he was done I wonder if people lined up and said, “Jesus that was a real inspiration, thank you so much. We all needed to hear that. Thanks Jesus that was the best sermon I ever heard.”

They did say he spoke with authority and to like the other teachers. The crowd was impressed with the speaker. Because he taught as one who had authority. He said several times, “I tell you”. He could do so only as the Son of the Living God. But hearing the message was not enough. Learning does not take place until it is put into action. Jesus said it first. “Do not be hearers only but doers.”

From the beginning Jesus describes the people of the kingdom, they are people who are poor in spirit, they mourn over their sin, they are meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, their merciful, pure in heart, they are peacemakers, and for all that they are persecuted people. Then he goes on to tell the influence followers of Jesus must have. We must be like salt to a world that is decaying holding back ungodliness and unrighteousness.

We will get upset bloggers and responses when we say no to abortion and no to pornography, no to gambling and drug and alcohol and tobacco abuses, and we will get people calling us narrow minded and prudish when we say there is sin that affects us all and we cannot watch it happen without doing something. We must be lights to those around us not only showing corruption in the world, but what righteousness is, not self righteousness, but there is a life in Jesus Christ that is worth living for and worth dying for.

Then Jesus talks about the standard of Scripture for which he fulfills, and in order to enter the kingdom we must have a righteousness that even surpasses the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees. To put it bluntly they have outward form of religious activities, you must have a heart change that affects your minds, your thoughts, your motives, your attitudes. Scripture is our standard, the Holy Spirit becomes the change agent in our hearts to make us born again and sanctify us to live and think like Jesus. We not only do not take lives, we learn to control anger and the sins of resentments that tear down others. We not only guard against adultery, but no longer treat other sexes for our own selfish lusting desires. It makes a difference what we read and watch. Jesus people are honest in word and deed, and long suffering even with their enemies.

Following Jesus affects religious activities so when you fast and give and pray, it is from the heart, Not for show, but for right relationships with God. Then he says our secular responsibilities also portray a different attitude than what the world has. Our interests in money and how we spend and use it affects where our hearts really lie. Do we think we are going to live here forever, or in heaven forever. That makes a difference in attitude toward our positions and our priorities. Do we worry about things, or leave those worries to God. Do we turn over our needs to the Lord and trust him to work it out, or to we make the meeting of our needs the prime focus of our existing on this world? We must apply the principles of righteousness to our everyday life.

When it comes to relating to others don’t be judging and being harsh, critical with one another without self evaluation. Then having laid down the application of a changed life. Jesus shows us the provision for having achieved all these by asking, seeking and knocking. If you say the standard is too high and you can’t reach it, then ask and do not stop asking, If you want to grow in your Christian character then Lord will answer if you seek it with you heart. If you want to live in God’s will then knock and keep on knocking and I will assure you, you will discover his will if your heart really want it. That type of praying is far different than the request lists you hear in most praying.

Now in the conclusion of the sermon he tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. How do you want to be treated? Then treat others that same way. The reason is that this is God’s will.

In conclusion listen to what Jesus is telling us. Take it or leave it. You cannot be a follower of Jesus and live according to the selfish pursuits of life and the worldly manners of the people around you. Which is it going to be? The narrow way or the broad way, for most will not follow, most will look righteous and good and holy, but there is no real fruit, most will claim to know the Lord, but only a few actually are followers. In what are you placing your faith? In your good life, or religious activity? Or is it in faith in the works of Jesus Christ and coming poor, broken, sinner asking for God’s healing in your life? For that is the only way that you will be saved? The path of Jesus is to way to eternal life. Are you willing to follow or not.

The greatest decision you will make in this life does not concern this life at all. It concerns the life to come. Many will never make a decision concerning Jesus and their life because they do not think it all that important. To them money is important, fun and friends is important, having a fine car and nice house is important. These things are the building material of their life but they are unwise because they have no foundation but sand. The storm is coming and many of you will find you have built in vain.

Pastor Dale

The Narrow Way Matt 7:13-23

Sermon Nuggets Mon Aug 8 The Narrow Way

Verses Matt 7:13-23

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

The Narrow Way

In High School I studied Robert Frost’s poem “A Road Not Traveled” It wrote:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood. And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear, Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay, In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I marked the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh, Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference

We talked and studied the poem in English class referring, of course, to more than a walk in the wood But as poems are mean to discuss life. Some choose paths that the crowds do not choose. It makes a difference. In fact, to follow the crowd in most cases generally proves disappointing. Yet, we are all deeply affected by other people and what they think of us.

The Lord taught about the broad and narrow gates. The narrow gate being the road less traveled and the broad gate being the way of most people go and it makes all the difference.

When we discuss as important an issue as where you will spend eternity it is important to know what Jesus says.

Recently I heard some preacher talk about salvation by death. What meant was that more often than not he would hear everyone was going to heaven. Every funeral he went do assured the grieving that their loved one awaits them in heaven and has gone to a better place. The criteria for heaven was just to die. This is a far different teaching that what we will look at this week.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Aug 9

Verses- Matt 7: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Salvation is for the Few

Christ followers are in the minority. Most of the people you go to school with and you work with and who live around you are spiritually lost and going to Hell. Because of that, many will look down on those who take Christ seriously.

When I was in public school I was better prepared for teasing because I was expecting it since I held different values than most of my school friends. I've been made fun of for going to church, for not drinking, for smoking, and partying, for not having sex and being a virgin. I've been teased for doing what I believed honored the Lord.

If you are saved you will be made fun of or disliked by some people. Count on it. I have letters in my file this year from people angry with me because of Christian principles and opinions that I do not keep to myself. People want to mold you in their thinking; Jesus wants to mold you in His thinking. You will have to make a decision who you are going to please. The broad road is easy the narrow one is hard.

I remember the shock I had when I was 9 and 10 years old and went to Christian camp. I was far from perfect, and still am far from perfect, but I knew the difference between right and wrong. I knew that I failed many times, but I also know a number of other boys in Jr. Boys Camp who went to my church and were active in youth clubs. When they stole, swore, lied, bullied others around, when they acted one way in front of the minister and counselor and rebellious when they were not around they didn't even try to live up to what Jesus taught. It was a good lesson for me in Jr. Boys' camp, because I found that same things to be true in all of the rest of my life. There are many who say they are Christians but do not act like it. Some give great testimonies but away from church act completely different. Not just falling in to sin, but living it boldly and openly. Church attendance, Baptism, communion, confirmation and coming forward at camp to pray a sinner’s prayer does not save anyone.

Jesus taught there are two gates a narrow gate and a broad one. There are two roads, a narrow road and a broad one. There are two groups of people, a large crowd and the few in number. Which shall it be for you?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Aug 9

Verses- Matt 7: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Salvation is for the Faithful

Jesus said, “I am the door, if any man enter by me he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jn. 14 "I am the way the truth and the life, no many cometh unto the Father but by me.” There is no salvation apart from trusting in Jesus Christ for your salvation. Jesus said “I came to seek and save that which is lost.” All of us are sinners. We are all lost. We are unholy and yet the love of God sent His only Son to die for the penalty of your sin and provide the way to know God. However there are only a few that by faith enter through the narrow gate to received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Most do not.

According to National and International Religion Report said, "Fewer than 10% of Americans are deeply committed Christians. These people are a breed apart. They are more tolerant of people of diverse background. They are more involved in charitable activities. They are more involved in practical Christianity. They are absolutely committed to prayer... Also they are far, far happier than the rest of the population."

He continued to report, that most Americans who profess Christianity don't know the basic teaching of the faith and they don't act significantly different from non-Christians in their daily lives. He added, the Sunday school and religious-education system in this country is not working." Not being grounded in the faith these professing believers are open for anything that comes along. The churched are just as likely as the unchurched to engage in unethical behavior. Studies also show a growing percentage of Christians who say they can sustain their faith without attending church.

You get the impression that just about everyone is going to heaven because he is really a nice fellow, or great to his kids, or never cheated in his business dealings. In fact, I have hardly met anyone who doesn't think they will eventually make it to heaven, regardless of their life. Some believe souls will suffer for a period of time to pay for sin and then go to heaven. There are many false teachings that are promoted at a rapid rate through internet, and popular media, through songs, and books, and the New Age movement and Emergent church movement for growth. Universalism is gaining ground and the elimination of hell as recently popularized by Rob Bell is creeping into evangelical circles. There are teachers who conclude, “How can a loving God send anyone to Hell? Since Jesus died for the sins of the world then the whole world will be saved.

Increasingly people believe portions of the Bibl and grossly ignore other portions. When I and others around me raised up verses from the Bible that contradicted that view he responded, "Well, you can't believe the whole Bible you know." How can a loving God send anyone to Hell. Well, apparently Jesus was a liar, or as he would say, they people that wrote the Bible did not get it straight. If you don't like what it says, then pick and choose what you like and throw out the rest. That's the ticket, lets make our own religion and believe what we want

Many who knew Jesus rejected him. The crowd wanted to praise and honor Jesus with palm branches because faith in Jesus brought food, and health and love and affirmation for the poor, and hope for a better life, but when Jesus taught about commitment of salvation, people were forced to look at Him and his righteousness and rather than follow the one they wanted him to be, he called them to suffer for their faith and only a few responded. He was slaughtered and suffered because of our sins. He was the sacrifice taking our place on the cross. Those who do not put their faith in Jesus will go to Hell.

Some like to look at Jesus full of love and ignore his teaching on Hell. Jesus taught more about the reality of hell than any of the other portions of the Bible. Hell is eternal punishment and suffering apart from God's presence eternally. We are all Hell bound until we go through the narrow gate and trust in Christ, crying out to him for forgiveness and salvation.

Most people would never want to be rejected by friends, or laughed at for being religious, or give up activities they think make them acceptable. Most like popular religion so we must present it in a way as to not offend anyone. Only a few will ever enter the kingdom of heaven, all the rest will be in Hell.

Due to finding teachers who appeal to the people, most want to accept Jesus on their terms and not his. Most want to be popular and be accepted by others more than by God. Until we are willing to denounce ourselves we can never enter the narrow gate. The road to greatness is never easy it is always a lot of difficulty.

There are only two roads the broad road requires no discipline, no do's and don'ts everyone can go there regardless their views. It is not hard, it is easy. It is not lonely. It offers fun, pleasure, sensuality. But it leads to destruction. Sin always does. Men can chose to violate the laws of God but it has a consequence. It leads. When you crash there is no one to pick you up.

We cannot change the message in order to please our own egos and think we get more people saved under our ministry than some other preacher. If a person needs to be pressured into making a decision for

Christ he'll probably change his mind later. If we can talk you into it, then someone can talk you out of it. We want to see people saved so we adapt the message to get a commitment but that is not what Jesus does. If you are wiling to give up all you have and all you are and turn it over to Jesus then you follow Him. That is the narrow path and only a few find it. Only a few want to. Only a few understand.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Aug 11

Verses- Matt 7: 15-20 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Salvation Results in Fruit

Jesus warns against false prophets that will try to pervert the faith. People can appear harmless and sound like Christians, but in fact are dangerous twisting important doctrine and teaching salvation other than by faith in Christ. Cults of all kinds come quickly to mind. Many live very strict lives and some of the nicest people you'll ever want to know. Some cults show more love and acceptance of others than lots of Christian churches. Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Christian Science has been around for a long time. Other false teachers can be in traditional churches or new churches which emphasize salvation by works, or signs instead of faith.

Jesus uses the illustration of fruit trees. If you see a tree full of rich, ripe apples you know it is a good tree. Good trees produce fruit, Bad tress produce no fruit, or bad fruit. By their fruits ye shall know them. The key to fruit-bearing is our relationship with Jesus Christ and letting His Spirit have his way in our lives. When you don't see any spiritual growth something is wrong. Sometimes the tree is immature. Transplanting a tree may take three years before it bears fruit. It needs consistent watering, feeding and care. Those who are young in the faith usually don't display all the attitudes and actions of mature believers, nor can you expect them to.

Sometimes a tree doesn't produce fruit because it is malnourished. Poor soil and dry weather can destroy a tree's fruit. Christians who are deprived of regular nourishment soon lose their commitment to Christ. Prayer, Scripture, and church involvement are essential to growth.

But you will never find an elm tree producing produce. From a distance you may not be able to identify a tree, but with closer examination you may not have a fruit tree. A person may look like a Christian, talk like a Christ, and act like a Christian, that can be all outside appearances.

The false prophet is concerned for himself cares for self more than Jesus or the flock or others. The bad fruit is seen in gluttony and greedy, looking for personal gain, teaching for profit and what he can get out of it rather than what he can put into it.

I am always suspicious of people that are getting rich out of the ministry. Now that isn't the same thing as rich people or rich ministers if they are also good business men and investors with the money God has given them. But if money is central in their minds and they are getting wealthy because of marketing their ministry skills beware, something is wrong. If a person is building a following of people around himself instead of Jesus and the Bible is only used as a spring board to declare his own doctrine, beware. When people start claiming they have some religious revelations and visions from God revealing added truth, or corrective truth, then something is not right. If a preacher is the only one who is right and discourages you from studying yourself in the Bible then you have a problem.

Galatians 5 speaks of the fruit of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit. Something is wrong if we are not fruitful. I John says it, "If we walk in darkness and say that we are in the light we lie and the truth is not in us." Fruit of the spirit is the realization that we were created not to be blessed by God, but to bless Him and serve Him according to the strength from the wisdom and power he has given to us.

Having salvation produces fruit. No branch can bear fruit by itself Jesus told His disciples a branch must remain in the vine. “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (Jn. 15:4,5) You see the point isn't so much on the fact that we are producing fruit as it is that we are building a growing healthy relationship with God who bears the fruit in us.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Aug 12

Verses- Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'

23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Salvation Results in Followers

The follower of Jesus takes his commitment to Christ seriously. He and she desires to please the Lord. Few there are that will enter the gate. When one does it results in changed a life and perspective. If not then one must question if a person was saved.

We know we are not saved by works, yet there will be works in the life of a Christian. Many think they are saved by their works. This is certainly not so. To call on the Lord is to recognize the commitment to follow and obey. And when we have that desire we are surprised when Jesus calls us friends, for that is what we become. Not on an equal footing, but in a relationship that is loving and more intimate.

I know preachers, and teachers that do not know the Lord, although they knew all about him. Some are very intellectual, some are very emotions. Some never miss church on Sunday and give more than their tithe. Some are kind to people and serve the poor and fight injustice but they have not given their hearts to Christ. It is a good self made religion. True faith centers on the works of Christ, trusting him resulting in the desire to give up sin and the desire to obey him.

The Scriptures go so far as to indicate even bold claims or miraculous deeds do not guarantee they are true servants of the Lord. When the evidence of questionable shows they are greedy wolves feeding on the flock of God. We should be discerning enough to recognize them for what they are, false teachers. The garbage speaks for itself. Doing religious deeds is not the same as following Jesus as Lord.

For Jesus obedience was motivation enough to come from glory to serve mankind. It was motivation enough to be obedient to his father to suffer the cross and sacrifice His life. Obedience is expression of relationship to the Lord regardless of what others demand, ask, or do. People can walk down at alter calls, turn in many pledge cards, be baptized and preach sermons, be missionaries, study in Christian school be a S.S. teacher and church officers, and even perform spiritual miracles of healing and exorcism, but without being true followers. The problem with the presentation of the gospel in our culture is a Me centered selfishness. One is encouraged to accept Christ you will get joy, accept the Lord and you will have peace, without realizing it we need to plead that instead of judgment God gives us grace to save us from condemnation. Then repentance occurs.

Keith Green, who was untimely killed in a plane accident, made a strong but startling statement. "Jesus never had a follow up program. He never had an alter call, he never pressured people into making decisions for Him. It was Jesus habit of letting people follow him. If they want life then they will have to give up that which keeps them from obedience and follow. We preach a man made gospel we get people to come forward to the altar by bringing forced pressures that has nothing to do with God. We lead them in a prayer, then they are not yet convinced what they need to say, and then to top it off, we give them counseling telling them it is a sin to doubt their salvation."

It is a narrow gate. It is for those who love the Lord to the point of being serious about following Him- and then letting Him lead.

Pastor Dale