October 3
Preacher: Gary Dennis
Special Event: World and Family Communion
Scripture: Matthew 6:7-15: “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Sermon Theme: “Why I Follow Jesus: It Allows Me to Forgive People Who Have Hurt Me.” Do you see the importance of forgiveness, as much as you might resist giving it to the person who hurt you? It is needed in families, in institutions and nations. It is needed for your health.
Martin Luther, as usual, had an insightful perspective on forgiveness. We should pay serious attention to what he had to say. He wrote,
Jesus is making “the continual forgiveness of the neighbor the primary and foremost duty of Christians, second only to faith and the reception of forgiveness” (Sermon on the Mount, p. 149).
Wow! I have to think again about the broken relationships in my life. I’d encourage you to do the same. How many are there?
One more time, listen to Jesus at the end of today’s scripture. He understands the pivotal importance of forgiveness.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (6:14-15).
This is another reason that I follow Jesus. He is constantly reminding me that I need to forgive.
Sermon Title: Why I Follow Jesus? Reason #4
October 10
Preacher: Gary Dennis
Special Event: Stephen Ministry Sunday
Scripture: Luke 6:27-36 –“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Sermon Theme: The fifth reason that I follow Jesus is he creates a standard for relationships that involves a “going beyond” what others would expect. I have always been drawn to any good thing that demands more. Jesus’ oxymoronic command does just that. He wants us to “love our enemies.”
When Jesus commands us to love our enemies, notice that he expresses it in terms of a verb – “love” your enemies. Loving one’s enemies is presented as an attitude or way of acting rather than an emotion. This is where many of us get stuck with this command. We say,
“I simply can’t change how I feel toward that person.”
Sometimes we will add,
“I can’t forget what they did to me or to ones that I love.”
Jesus is not asking you to change your feeling or to forget the hurtful thing that was done to you. Instead, he is asking you to do good toward the person who hates you. You see this distinction in the second phrase of the opening verse. Jesus tells us to,
“Love our enemies.”
Then, he immediately adds,
“Do good to those who hate you.”
Again, notice that Jesus does not say,
“Feel good to those who hate you.”
Nor, does he say,
“Forget what those who hate you did to you.”
Rather, Jesus wants us to act. Though our feelings may not have changed, though we still remember the painful incident, Jesus calls us to,
“Do good to those who hate you.”
Sermon Title: “Why I Follow Jesus? Reason #5”
October 17
Preacher: Gary Demarest
October 24
Preacher: Gary Dennis
Scripture: Luke 23:32-38, 44-46 — Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 [Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last.
Sermon Theme: “Why I Follow Jesus: Allows Me to Find Meaning in Places Where Other People Would Never Dream to Look.” Where would most people never dream of looking for meaning? The answer is simple. Most people would never dream of looking for meaning in the worst thing that has ever happened to them. They are convinced. Meaning simply cannot be found there. Instead, meaning is to be found in the good things, in the wonderful things, in the delightful things that happen to us. If we are to have a good life, we have to position ourselves in such a way that the wonderful things will outweigh the tough things. Otherwise, meaning will elude us.
I understand the logic. It is seductively attractive. Doesn’t everyone want a life where the good things outweigh the bad? Unfortunately, a whole lot of good things can be consumed by only one unfortunate experience in life. Since most of us have more than one tough thing happen to us, it’s almost impossible to accumulate enough good things to outweigh the bad, unless, of course, you choose to follow Jesus as your Savior and Lord. This is one of the reasons that I follow him.
Sermon Title: “Why I Follow Jesus? Reason #6”
October 31
Preacher: Gary Dennis
Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 — “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Sermon Theme: “Why Do I Follow Jesus? Allows Me to be Concerned About Issues of Justice.” At the end of chapter 24 and in the 25th chapter of Matthew, the scripture I read to you is the fourth of four parables about judgment about the kinds of things we should be doing to prepare for the day when Jesus comes again. In the first three, Jesus uses metaphors. We keep alert by caring for the household (24:45-51) bringing oil for lamps (25:1-13) and by using the talents God has given us (25:14-30). Again, the first three parables use metaphorical language.
What is different about the fourth parable, today’s scripture, is that Jesus uses un-metaphorical language for how disciples are supposed to stay alert for Jesus’ coming again. Disciples are supposed to do justice until Jesus comes again. We are supposed to give food to the hungry, offer clothing and hospitality to the needy, and visit hurting people. The services that Jesus expects of us are so basic. He does not say, “I was sick and you healed me,” or “I was in prison and you got me released.” Big miracles aren’t happening here; little ministries are. It’s the little stuff that we do that can make a difference, if it’s consistently done over the years. Feeding ministries, sheltering ministries and visitation ministries are the basic, mundane and unflashy services that Jesus highlights as appropriate expression of justice. One of my professors in seminary used to regularly say,
“Justice is what loves looks like in public” (James F. Armstrong).
Jesus calls us to do justice in his name.
Sermon Title: “Why I Follow Jesus? — Reason #7”
