Blake Heffner December 31st, 2006

“Great Exhortations” 12/31/06 Texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Romans 13:8-14

INTRO: It’ New Year’s Eve Day, the time when traditionally we contemplate making resolutions designed to improve our lives. Have you set any personal goals yet? Well, the Bible is filled with exhortations (or encouragements) toward improving our lives. Let’s explore a few of them that might inspire us toward some meaningful resolutions for the year ahead.

1. At the End , Moses Urged: Choose Life!

It was Moses’ last speech. It was time to turn over the leadership to Joshua and bid his people farewell before they entered the Promised Land. Together they had witnessed God’s almighty hand in the Exodus and His distinctive guidance and providence in the wilderness for forty years. Yet, the people seemed so wayward, so vulnerable to failure. Moses would not be able to steer them straight any longer, so he offers one last urgent sermon:

“Listen! What I am telling you today is not too hard for you to understand. It’s not way out there beyond your reach. No, it’s the most basic, simple instruction: ‘Choose life, not death! If you choose to obey the commandments that the Lord has given you, and walk in his ways; if you will love the Lord your God above all things, then you will be blessed and enjoy a long life! If, however, you decide to go your own way, do your own thing, you will be in deep trouble. If you turn to other gods and serve them, you will surely be cursed and die. It’s your choice! I strongly recommend you choose life!”

Life is all about choices, isn’t it? Erma Bombeck, at the end of her life, looked back and reflected upon how some choices had robbed her of life. Like Moses, she tells us things are not too hard to understand or actualize. You may have heard this list before, but it is worth re-visiting now & then.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer). Or, How to make the most of the time we’ve got!}

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s” More “I’m sorry’s.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it and really see it .. . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with, what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.

Again, that’s not deep or esoteric advice. But, you will agree those are ways to choose life in the everyday sense. Maybe, there’s a resolution or two for each of us in that list!

2. Before Coke, Jesus Urged: Give Live Love!

Have you noticed the slogan on bottles of Coke lately? GIVE LIVE LOVE. What an original idea! Isn’t this really Jesus’ main message? If we are to choose life, we must choose to “give and live love!” We’ve heard this many times before. Paul summed it up in our lesson from Romans 13: “The only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law… [The whole Law] is summed up in one command, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ If you love someone, you will never do him or her wrong. ”

We fully understand what Paul is saying, don’t we? Love is not so-called “rocket science.” Yet, in this era of hyper-busy-ness, when we are consumed by our personal schedules and agendas, we find it very hard to consistently give and live love for others. Do you agree? To effectively care for those around us – relatives, friends, neighbors and strangers – we have to swim against the raging stream of busy-ness. It takes time and energy to care for others – as we naturally care for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I need to be more resolved in this area.

Years ago a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore assigned his class to visit a city slum and interview 200 boys. “On the basis of your findings, predict their future.” Shocked at what they saw in the slums, the students estimated that 90 percent of the boys interviewed would someday serve time in prison. Twenty years later the same professor asked another class to locate the survivors of the 200 boys and compare what happened. Of the 180 boys they could find, only four had ever been to jail. Why had the predictions by the earlier class proven false? A common denominator - over 100 of them remembered having the same high-school teacher, Miss O’Rourke, who had been a tremendous influence on them at the time. After a long search, Sheila O’Rourke was found in a nursing home in Memphis. When asked for her explanation she was puzzled and replied, “All I did was love every one of them.” Never doubt the power of love, especially the love of God in Christ Jesus.

That was the effect of one teacher during one year in the life of those hundreds of young men! Imagine what effect we can have on the people around us if we simply and consistently love them! “Giving and living love” shouldn’t be something we have to ‘add on’ to our agendas. It has to be our agenda, PERIOD. It is the only way to choose life! Let’s focus on this in 2007!

3. Before Nike, James Urged: Just Do It!

The apostle James realized the problem is not lack of knowledge on our part; it’s often failure to put into practice what we know. So, he urged us, long before Nike, to “Just do it!” Just take what we have learned and “walk the walk,” as they say. Friends, let’s be honest, isn’t it true that we often think about doing the right things, we just don’t always follow through.

One summer, a man spent the day on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida. The undertow was unusually strong that day, and more than once, lifeguards jumped down from their towers to rescue swimmers from the treacherous surf. Finally, the man went to the lifeguard station to express his appreciation for the dedication of these men. When he walked inside, he noticed a sign on the wall in large red letters: IF IN DOUBT, GO! And the man said, “Those same words should be on the walls of every church and on the wall of
every person’s soul.”

“If in doubt, go!” Let’s resolve to be quicker to act upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit this year. If we wonder that we haven’t seen someone lately, let’s pick up the phone. If we know someone has been grieving, let’s send a card and then pick up the phone. Like Erma Bombeck, let’s not let the state of our house keep us from inviting a friend or neighbor over for lunch or supper. Let’s not sweat the small stuff – and so much of our fretting is over small stuff. Could it be we have hurt someone – even unintentionally? If there is any question in our minds, let’s “just go” to them and try to make amends. When we get these little things down, we’ll be ready to move on to deeper and broader forms of love.

Friends, in 2007, may the Lord to help us to choose life, give love, and make time to act upon our intuitions – in Jesus’ name, for his glory!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the New Year that lies before us. It is a clean slate, thanks to your grace. Because, if we are in Christ, all things are made new: the past is finished and we have a fresh start. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit and enable us to make the most of this new beginning. Set before us goals that, by your grace, we can achieve. Show us how to love those around us – by being more patient, more kind, and less irritable, less self-centered. Lord, help us as a congregation to keep our eyes upon Jesus, who is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith…

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner December 31st, 2006

“Great Exhortations”

Texts: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Romans 13:8-14

INTRO: It’ New Year’s Eve Day, the time when traditionally we contemplate making resolutions designed to improve our lives. Have you set any personal goals yet? Well, the Bible is filled with exhortations (or encouragements) toward improving our lives. Let’s explore a few of them that might inspire us toward some meaningful resolutions for the year ahead.

1. At the End , Moses Urged: Choose Life!

It was Moses’ last speech. It was time to turn over the leadership to Joshua and bid his people farewell before they entered the Promised Land. Together they had witnessed God’s almighty hand in the Exodus and His distinctive guidance and providence in the wilderness for forty years. Yet, the people seemed so wayward, so vulnerable to failure. Moses would not be able to steer them straight any longer, so he offers one last urgent sermon:

“Listen! What I am telling you today is not too hard for you to understand. It’s not way out there beyond your reach. No, it’s the most basic, simple instruction: ‘Choose life, not death! If you choose to obey the commandments that the Lord has given you, and walk in his ways; if you will love the Lord your God above all things, then you will be blessed and enjoy a long life! If, however, you decide to go your own way, do your own thing, you will be in deep trouble. If you turn to other gods and serve them, you will surely be cursed and die. It’s your choice! I strongly recommend you choose life!”

Life is all about choices, isn’t it? Erma Bombeck, at the end of her life, looked back and reflected upon how some choices had robbed her of life. Like Moses, she tells us things are not too hard to understand or actualize. You may have heard this list before, but it is worth re-visiting now & then.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer). Or, How to make the most of the time we’ve got!}

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.” There would have been more “I love you’s” More “I’m sorry’s.”
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute…look at it and really see it .. . live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don’t worry about who doesn’t like you, who has more, or who’s doing what.
Instead, let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.
Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with, what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally.

Again, that’s not deep or esoteric advice. But, you will agree those are ways to choose life in the everyday sense. Maybe, there’s a resolution or two for each of us in that list!

1. Before Coke, Jesus Urged: Give Live Love!

Have you noticed the slogan on bottles of Coke lately? GIVE LIVE LOVE. What an original idea! Isn’t this really Jesus’ main message? If we are to choose life, we must choose to “give and live love!” We’ve heard this many times before. Paul summed it up in our lesson from Romans 13: “The only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law… [The whole Law] is summed up in one command, ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ If you love someone, you will never do him or her wrong. ”

We fully understand what Paul is saying, don’t we? Love is not so-called “rocket science.” Yet, in this era of hyper-busy-ness, when we are consumed by our personal schedules and agendas, we find it very hard to consistently give and live love for others. Do you agree? To effectively care for those around us – relatives, friends, neighbors and strangers – we have to swim against the raging stream of busy-ness. It takes time and energy to care for others – as we naturally care for ourselves. I don’t know about you, but I need to be more resolved in this area.

Years ago a sociology professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore assigned his class to visit a city slum and interview 200 boys. “On the basis of your findings, predict their future.” Shocked at what they saw in the slums, the students estimated that 90 percent of the boys interviewed would someday serve time in prison. Twenty years later the same professor asked another class to locate the survivors of the 200 boys and compare what happened. Of the 180 boys they could find, only four had ever been to jail. Why had the predictions by the earlier class proven false? A common denominator - over 100 of them remembered having the same high-school teacher, Miss O’Rourke, who had been a tremendous influence on them at the time. After a long search, Sheila O’Rourke was found in a nursing home in Memphis. When asked for her explanation she was puzzled and replied, “All I did was love every one of them.” Never doubt the power of love, especially the love of God in Christ Jesus.

That was the effect of one teacher during one year in the life of those hundreds of young men! Imagine what effect we can have on the people around us if we simply and consistently love them! “Giving and living love” shouldn’t be something we have to ‘add on’ to our agendas. It has to be our agenda, PERIOD. It is the only way to choose life! Let’s focus on this in 2007!

1. Before Nike, James Urged: Just Do It!

The apostle James realized the problem is not lack of knowledge on our part; it’s often failure to put into practice what we know. So, he urged us, long before Nike, to “Just do it!” Just take what we have learned and “walk the walk,” as they say. Friends, let’s be honest, isn’t it true that we often think about doing the right things, we just don’t always follow through.

One summer, a man spent the day on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida. The undertow was unusually strong that day, and more than once, lifeguards jumped down from their towers to rescue swimmers from the treacherous surf. Finally, the man went to the lifeguard station to express his appreciation for the dedication of these men. When he walked inside, he noticed a sign on the wall in large red letters: IF IN DOUBT, GO! And the man said, “Those same words should be on the walls of every church and on the wall of
every person’s soul.”

“If in doubt, go!” Let’s resolve to be quicker to act upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit this year. If we wonder that we haven’t seen someone lately, let’s pick up the phone. If we know someone has been grieving, let’s send a card and then pick up the phone. Like Erma Bombeck, let’s not let the state of our house keep us from inviting a friend or neighbor over for lunch or supper. Let’s not sweat the small stuff – and so much of our fretting is over small stuff. Could it be we have hurt someone – even unintentionally? If there is any question in our minds, let’s “just go” to them and try to make amends. When we get these little things down, we’ll be ready to move on to deeper and broader forms of love.

Friends, in 2007, may the Lord to help us to choose life, give love, and make time to act upon our intuitions – in Jesus’ name, for his glory!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the new year that lies before us. It is a clean slate, thanks to your grace. Because, if we are in Christ, all things are made new: the past is finished and we have a fresh start. Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit and enable us to make the most of this new beginning. Set before us goals that, by your grace, we can achieve. Show us how to love those around us – by being more patient, more kind, and less irritable, less self-centered. Lord, help us as a congregation to keep our eyes upon Jesus, who is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith…

• Uncategorized , Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner December 24th, 2006

“Christmas Wonder” December 24, 2006

Texts: The Christmas Stories in Luke and Matthew

[Sing] I wonder as I wander out under the sky

How Jesus the Savior did come for to die

For poor orn’ry people like you and like I

I wonder as I wander out under the sky.

This Advent I’ve watched with awe as the characters of the Christmas story seemed to come to life before my eyes…

Joseph. We know him as the carpenter, the artist with handtools. Joseph is the provider, who told the angel, “I’ll take the job! I’ll take care of God’s Son and his mother.” Over the years, our nativity figurines have become worn and weather-beaten. This fall a handful of artists offered many hours of careful labor to restore and repaint them. Take a close look when you get the chance; they are absolutely beautiful. What a wonderful gift!

Mary. We see her as a young woman, maybe a mere teenager. Yet, she was willing to believe the angel Gabriel, that nothing is impossible with God. Mary offered herself as the Lord’s servant: “Here I am! Let it be with me according to your word!” This past week I was touched as a young husband and wife offered themselves to the Lord just as freely. They recognized their need for a Savior and a new beginning, and – like Mary – they invited Jesus Christ to live in their hearts. How priceless is that?

The Shepherds. They witnessed the angelic host, then hustled to Bethlehem to find the baby in the manger. The last thing we hear about them is “they returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” Last Sunday afternoon, it seemed like a motley crew – over thirty of us, of all ages, gathering to sing Christmas carols. We visited a nursing home where one woman had her daughter push her wheelchair behind us – just to catch more of the joyous songs. It was a special evening; so many hearts were touched. And, I believe, like the original shepherds, the singers themselves returned home glorifying and praising God for the wonderful things they had heard and seen.

The Magi. Certainly they’re the strangest characters of the nativity scene. We don’t know exactly where they came from or where they went. But we do know that they followed the light of that star over Bethlehem and brought their precious gifts for the infant King. This week, I was fortunate enough to travel with three wise people. We came from the East too and visited a young, unmarried mother of four, bearing gifts for their Christmas. She graciously welcomed us in and then told us all about her kids and their trials as a family. She expressed gratitude for all the presents she could not have provided. It was a sacred and wonderful moment.

Many others joined in this magi-like giving - albeit indirectly - through the gifts to Northampton County residents and the Operation Christmas boxes. How marvelous it is that Jesus said, “As you have done it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you have done it to me!”

The Innkeeper. We have no idea who was on duty that night, minding the inn in Bethlehem. All we know is that business was so good there were no vacancies. Well, not exactly – there was some space round back where the animals were. They would provide warmth, and the manger could serve as a basinet. Just like an innkeeper, our Consistory is usually all business, especially this time of year when we have to create a new budget proposal. This past Monday evening, though, it was amazing. In spite of the business at hand, the meeting turned into a conversation about the vitality of our church family and the need for us to stoke the flame of love and fellowship in the months to come. Oh yes, we eventually did crunch some numbers, and nobody got home much before 11. But, like that original innkeeper, we came away with the wonderful insight that business isn’t everything; it’s not even close to the most important thing!

The Angel. Angels are God’s messengers. I suspect that they come in all shapes and sizes. One of them came up to me this week and said the most unusual thing: “I can’t wait until God comes and fixes all this… and you especially!” I did a double-take and started to grin. We both knew what she meant, but it came out a little funny. It was a priceless moment of laughter.

You know something, that angel really hit the nail on the head. Christmas is all about God coming to fix things… you and me especially! It’s captured so well by that carol “I wonder as I wander… how Jesus the Savior did come for to die for poor orn’ry people, like you and like I…”

When we are utterly honest, won’t we admit that we are the ornery ones who need some fixing? We’ve needed it since our ancestors ate that fruit and were unceremoniously escorted from the Garden. The little word for it is “sin” – something we don’t often connect with Christmas. Yet, sin is the very reason God sent his Son into this world – to fix it! We are the lost sheep that the Good Shepherd comes to gather in his arms. We are the anxious ones to whom Jesus says, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives.” We are the ones with so many ailments and conditions; to whom Isaiah declared, “By his stripes we are healed.” Oh, my friends, we are the ones with broken hearts to whom Jesus calls, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest.” We are the ones who find ourselves shackled by old habits and dim outlooks; to whom Jesus says, “If you continue in my word… you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”

All this began in that humble stable long, long ago, when [as Paul proclaims] the Son of God laid aside his crown, “emptied himself and took the form of a servant, being born in our human likeness. He humbled himself in obedience to the Father, even to the point of death on a cross. There-fore, God has highly exalted him and given him the name that is above every name. One day, at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and even under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This is why George Beverly Shea, that great singer, once wrote:

“There’s the wonder of sunset at evening,

The wonder as sunrise I see;

But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul

Is the wonder that God loves me.”

Have you taken the time lately to marvel at how much God loves you? He knows all about you – and still says, “I love you! I forgive you! I need you to show my love to others!” Jesus’ love is the wonder of all wonders! Tonight, I invite you to volunteer to become a character in the story of that great love.

We began with an American folk hymn, let’s end with another.

[Sing] “What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this

That caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.”

Please turn to number 177. As Richard brings us into the right key, let’s sing verses 2-4:

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down Beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, To God and to the Lamb I will sing, To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am,” While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and thro’ eternity I’ll sing on.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner December 17th, 2006

“Your Greatest Joy Is Still Ahead!” December 17, 2006

Texts: Isaiah 35 & 40 (sel.) Luke 1:46-55

INTRO: This morning we have great joys to celebrate!

* Yesterday, the Wilson Warriors football team won the state championship! This is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Let’s recognize the players in our midst this morning with a rousing cheer. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

* The brand-new pew cushions which surprised us this morning. They are a Christmas gift to St. John’s from an anonymous benefactor. Let’s take a moment to thank God and ask Him to consecrate them…

* And, this morning it has been our joy to welcome a new sister into God’s family through the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Madison Grace Pagats is a precious child of God!

* Think of your fondest Christmas memory… Where were you, who was with you, what made it such a joyous experience?

This certainly is an exhilarating moment! And, you have likely enjoyed euphoric moments in times past! Without taking anything away from these memories, my claim this morning is that, without a doubt, “our greatest joys are still ahead of us!” This is not merely my claim; it is the Bible’s proclamation – from beginning to end: Because Jesus Christ has come into this world and he is coming again, there are unspeakable joys ahead for everyone who receives him and believes in him.

I. The Joy of Perfect Justice

The prophet Isaiah declared (in his ninth chapter): “for unto us a child is given, to us a son is born; and the government will be upon his shoulder… and he will establish justice and righteousness for evermore” (9:6-7). Mary was captivated by this very thought in her song. She interpreted the meaning of this child conceived by the Holy Spirit to be God’s instrument to establish justice: “[God] has stretched out his strong arm and scattered the proud… He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty-handed.” In other words, the Messiah will turn everything around. “Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be brought low. [What has been] crooked will be made straight; and the rough places in life will become smooth!”

Freely translated, everything that has been wrong will be made right one day. You and I both know that this side of heaven there are no guarantees that the good guys always win. It’s dog eat dog out there, and the poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer. In the last century alone, millions of innocent people have been victimized on the basis of their ethnicity or religion, and it is still happening.

Mary and the prophets declare that the King of kings will put an end to this. He will establish perfect justice, wherein everyone gets what they deserve.
Have you suffered injustice, have you been treated unfairly or rejected? This has not gone unnoticed by Almighty God. Your valley will be lifted up! The crooked places in your life will be made straight, because Jesus is coming again to finish what started in Bethlehem! “We shall overcome one day” (as the spiritual says), and on that day we will rejoice in perfect justice!

II. The Joy of Complete Illumination

Again, it was Isaiah who declared, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (9:2). He was not speaking about the star of Bethlehem. That was merely a sigh pointing to the child who is the true “Light of the World.”

We still live in that condition called “deep darkness.” Think about it. There is so much confusion; morally everything is gray these days. Secularism is rising around the world. People seem to have less and less conviction and more and more indifference to the things of God. Even among us who believe, there is so much we do not understand, so many questions without a clear solution. Are you with me? Can you personally sense this darkness and our need for illumination?

But, there will be a day, the Bible says, when everything that has been hidden will be revealed. When Jesus returns we shall realize the meaning of those prophetic words: “Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Darkness shall cover the earth, [yes] thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will be seen upon you… You shall see and be radiant. Your heart shall thrill and rejoice!” On that day you and I will have no more questions, no more doubts; we shall rejoice in complete illumination!

III. The Joy of Perfect Healing

This morning we read from Isaiah 35 that “the desert will rejoice and blossom… streams of water will flow in the dry wastelands.” Isaiah interprets this vision to mean that “the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will unstopped, the lame shall get up and leap like a deer, and the tongues of the dumb will sing for joy.” This was fulfilled, as you know, in the life and ministry of Jesus (see Matthew 11:2-6).

If you perhaps cannot identify with those who are victims of injustice, or those who live in deep darkness, you can certainly identify with the need for healing. We need healing on all levels – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Everyone of us has some area of life which is like a desert, where flowers do not blossom and things just don’t work as they should. Physically, the older we get, the more ailments we seem to have. They tend to discourage us. Spiritually, we can identify even more with the picture of blindness and deafness, lameness and the inability to speak. But, friends, it is precisely in these dry and barren areas where the Lord wants to bring rivers of living water and new life. The Holy Spirit’s present mission is to open our eyes and ears to the kingdom of God, to strengthen our weak legs and enable us to leap and dance for joy. This joy is possible today. And, the day is coming when we shall rejoice in perfect healing – for “when he appears, we shall be like Him!” (I John 3:2).

IV. The Joy of Salvation

There is another form of joy, which Jesus describes in Luke 15. In fact he does it three ways. It is the joy of a lost sheep being found by its shepherd, a lost coin being found by its owner, and a lost son returning home to his father. Each of these stories ends the same way, there is a great celebration for, as Jesus says, “There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over 99 who need no repentance.” This is called the joy of our salvation. Some of us are still living in that far away country. We even know where home is, we long for the comforts of home, but there is something that keeps us from making the trip. How about you? You know that Jesus came to seek and save the lost – but maybe you think: “Someday, some other time, I’ll get things straight with Jesus. I know he’ll wait for me.”

Yes, the Lord is very patient with us. But, the longer the prodigal son stayed away from home, the more love and joy he missed. When he finally came home he was treated royally. If you aren’t sure where you stand with Jesus, why not straighten things out right now? Just tell him that you are that lost sheep, that lost coin, that lost son, and you want to be rescued from your old ways. You are a sinner in need of a Savior, and you are craving the acceptance and forgiveness of your heavenly Father. This Christmas, why not ask Jesus to be born in your heart – or reborn. This is our ticket to the most ultimate joy, a joy that even the angels share. We will experience even “the desert singing and shouting for joy!”

Friends, are you one who has been wounded by injustice? Do you feel like you have been living in darkness? Are you searching for genuine and complete healing? Do you feel a sense of being lost and far away from home? Come, then to Jesus Christ – the Babe of Bethlehem, whom the angel declared will bring great joy to all the people!

Prayer: “O holy child of Bethlehem! Descend to us we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us to day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tiding tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel.” Amen.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner December 10th, 2006

“Pathways to Peace” December 10, 2006

Texts: Isaiah 9:6-7; 26:3 Colossians 1:15-20

INTRO: Isaiah foretold that the child who is born to us, the Son who is given will be called “the Prince of Peace.” The angels declared to the shepherds that his birth would bring peace on earth and good will toward all. Yet, our world is still desperately lacking peace, and our lives are no different. Nonetheless, the Bible urges us to “seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:14). Let’s consider some of the pathways to peace in God’s Word.

I. Peace through Stillness

In this season, how often we find ourselves in such a dither that we don’t have any peace. We have so many things to do, so many places to go, that it feels more like chaos than peace. When things get crazy, the psalmist tells us to: “Be still and know I am God.” He is not suggesting we escape to a beach in the Caribbean. You may remember that Psalm 46 begins with imagery of an earthquake, where the mountains are shaking in the heart of the sea, the ocean waves are raging. The psalmist goes on to tells us that the Lord puts an end to wars by breaking bows, shattering spears, and burning shields with fire. It is amid this picture of violence that we read: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

The simplest pathway to peace for you and me is to stop for a moment –each day and just sit in the presence of the Lord. Just take a break from our frenzied activities, and be still. Sit down, maybe put on your favorite Christmas album, begin to breathe deeply and say the name of Jesus. It’s amazing how “pacifying” it is. This puts everything into perspective. We can let go and let God help us create an agenda we can live with!

II. Peace through Concentration and Trust

Sometimes, though, the tension and anxiety in our lives come from more than busy-ness. There are storms and stresses that just about bowl us over. You know what I mean: someone is very ill, another is out of work and has bills to pay, or a marriage has hit the rocks. Perhaps, someone very special has died at this time of year, and all we can think about is how much we miss that person. In such overwhelming situations, we can begin to despair of ever finding peace or joy again.

There’s a little verse tucked away in the prophecy of Isaiah that’s brought me through such situations in the past - chapter 26, verse 4. The version I memorized long ago runs like this: “Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.” “Perfect peace” – that sounds like something we only dream about!

Peter could verify this. Remember that windy night; the disciples were in their fishing boat. The waves were tossing them all around. Then, suddenly someone sees Jesus walking on the water! They were terrified – thinking he might be a ghost. Jesus identifies himself and says, “Don’t be afraid!” Peter says, “Lord, if it’s you, let me to come to you on the water!” You know the rest of the story. Jesus says, “Come!” And Peter leaps out of the boat and actually begins to walk on the water toward Jesus. But, when he notices the wind, he begins to think about the danger of drowning. He starts to sink like an anchor, until Jesus reaches out and catches him.

The point is that we often look more at the troubles that surround us than at the Lord who is right in front of us. If we could just keep our minds concentrated on Him, we’d experience the perfect peace Isaiah describes. Whenever we take our eyes off of the Lord, we succumb to anxiety and despair. This season, keep your mind “focused” on the One who is Lord even of the winds and waves in our lives – and He will give you peace.

III. Peace through Reconciliation

In our epistle lesson today, Paul alludes to another form of peace – the peace of reconciliation: “Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s sacrificial death on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.” We live in a day when “conscience” doesn’t seem to bother many folks. Few people realize that their lack of peace may come from being separated from the living God through sin.

Martin Luther, however, had an extremely sensitive conscience. He tried everything to please God. He confessed his sins, he fasted and prayed fervently; yet, he felt no peace. He knew that whatever he did could never satisfy a holy God. Then the Spirit revealed to him the good news that we don’t have to appease God. That is why God sent his only Son into the world! In terms of Colossians 1, Jesus was “making peace by the blood of his cross” so that all things might be reconciled (or brought back) to God! This realization brought indescribable peace and courage to Luther, and it still does to everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Savior.

Reconciliation has two dimensions. We often emphasize the vertical one – reconciliation between ourselves and God. All we have to do is confess our sins and accept Christ as God’s free gift of grace. For many folks it stops there. They have become “children of God,” but they still may not enjoy serenity in their soul. This is where other dimension of reconciliation comes in. Jesus taught that if we harbor anger or resentment toward another person, it will affect our peace with God. In fact, there is no peace with God without our making peace with our neighbors. How often Jesus tells us that we cannot enjoy the forgiveness of our sins by God unless we extend that forgiveness freely toward others. Similarly, we will never experience the peace of Christ until our fists become open hands reaching out to our enemies, our clenched teeth give way to a warm smile, and our hardened hearts overflow with the love that conquers a multitude of sins. When we let God’s mercy flow through us toward that person who has hurt us, we experience true freedom and healing. This Christmas, why not identify anyone who has offended you, and just let go of your claims of injustice. Ask the Lord to fill your heart with His forgiveness toward that person. The Bible doesn’t suggest this as an option. No, it is a mandate; we are called to be ministers of reconciliation. This is our surest pathway to that peace which the world cannot give or take away.

IV. Ultimate Peace

Finally, in these days, we are constantly reminded that there is no peace in the world. Every evening the news media tell us about the violence in Iraq or Lebanon or Israel or somewhere else in the world. The death toll is terrifying, and we almost grow numb to the carnage. Beyond that, we shudder that other nations are developing nuclear weapons. In this world, there never seems to be any lasting sense of peace. When one hot spot cools off, another heats up.

Yet, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. Isaiah declares: “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end!” And we say, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Come, and put an end to this systemic hatred and violence. Come, bring on the day when “they shall beat their swords into plow-shares and their spears into pruning hooks; and nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more!” (Isa. 2:4).

This is the sentiment expressed in the Christmas carol we are about to sing: “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” This carol was inspired by the angel’s message to the shepherds: “peace on earth, good will to men and women!” The jubilance of the bells on Christmas day is disturbed by the thought that “there is no peace on earth… for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace of earth good will to men” Yet, the bells seem to respond: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; the wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace of earth, good will to men.”

Centuries ago, the Puritan Thomas Watson summed up this whole message in a paragraph: “God the Son is called the Prince of Peace. He came into the world with a song of peace: “On earth peace…” He went out of the world with a legacy of peace, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.” Christ’s earnest prayer was for peace; he prayed that His people might be one. Christ no only prayed for peace, but bled for peace: “Having made peace through the blood of His cross.” He died not only to make peace between God and man, but between man and man. Christ suffered on the cross, that He might cement Christians together with His blood; as He prayed for peace, so He paid for peace.”

Friends, as we approach Christmas this year, let us “seek [this] peace and pursue it” in all its dimensions. Be still and experience God’s presence. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, and trust him to carry you through whatever storm is shaking your boat. Discover anew how Jesus has made peace with God by the blood of his cross, and share that peace, that reconciling love, with others. Then finally, listen to the bells that ring and remember that the Lord has a day when ultimate and lasting peace will come – on earth as it is in heaven!

Prayer

Great and gracious God, our heavenly Father, we praise you for sending your only Son into this world that we might have true and lasting peace: peace within and peace without. O Lord, bring us into this peace today, and in the days to come help us to share this peace with everyone we meet. May Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, be glorified in our lives. Amen.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner November 19th, 2006

“Thanksgiving’s Greatest Hits” November 19, 2006

Texts: James 1:17 Mark 8:34-38

INTRO: Virtually every artist who succeeds in the music recording industry eventually creates a “greatest hits” collection. Well, Thanksgiving has inspired some awesome music, and this morning we will sing a few of its greatest hits. As a way of preparing ourselves for this Thanksgiving, let’s look at the messages within the music. Let us pray…

I. “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart”

One chorus that could easily make the top-ten list of Thanksgiving music is not in our hymnal, but on our bulletin cover this morning. It’s one we often sing at the Blue Church, called simply “Give Thanks.”

Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy One; Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ his Son. And now let the weak say, “I am strong,” let the poor say, “I am rich” because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks.

The psalmist sang, “the Lord has done great things for us!” Paul discovered God’s grace means: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Jesus claimed: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” When we experience God’s grace, we cannot help but give thanks with grateful hearts.

II. “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”

Our first hymn this morning is no doubt one of the all-time favorites: “Come, ye thankful people, come – Raise the song of harvest-home.” These words hark back to an earlier time, when most of the folks around here were farmers or gardeners who grew their own food. “Harvest Home” was a major event in the Church calendar. People would bring in part of their harvest to decorate the sanctuary – pumpkins and squash, corn and peppers, apples and pears. The sanctuary was dressed like a beautiful horn of plenty. [We have some pictures of this!] Later on, these crops would be given to help feed others, mainly in nursing homes. Times have changed, but the needs have not. We are no longer permitted to send fresh vegetables to Phoebe Home. But there are still hungry people all around us. So, now we bring in canned goods for the local food bank, or write a check.

Did you notice that crops are not the only harvest this hymn speaks about? We also sing about the ultimate harvest: “Even so, Lord quickly come To Thy final harvest-home; Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin; there forever purified, In Thy presence to abide…” This is the most important harvest! This Thanksgiving, may we see our family celebrations as a foretaste of that glorious harvest home, when the Lord shall gather us together with all the saints at the great wedding feast of the Lamb!

III. “Now Thank We All Our God”

We will not sing this hymn until next Sunday, but surely it’s one of the classics! The history behind this hymn is significant. Martin Rinkart was a German pastor during the terribly severe Thirty Years War. Historians have argued that this “Christian” war between Protestants and Catholics ranks among the most devastating conflicts of all time. In Germany alone, the population was decimated from 16 million to 6 million. Think about that: five of every eight people died! As if bloody warfare weren’t enough, there was famine and the Plague of 1637. At times Rinkart was the only pastor in his town of Eilenberg. Yet, he was inspired to write:

“Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices; Who, from our mother’s arms, hath blest us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.”

Compared to what Rinkart faced, our Thanksgiving Day prayers seem rather bland, don’t they? Why is it that the things we take for granted sometimes have to be removed before our eyes are opened to appreciate them fully? This year, let’s rejoice that God has done and continues to do truly wondrous things for us!

IV. “Count Your Blessings”

One way to get a handle on that is to follow the suggestion of our final hymn today, “Count Your Blessings.” This old gospel hymn tell us how therapeutic it is to take the time to really reckon the blessings we enjoy all the time. Counting our blessings is an antidote for discouragement and anxiety and the weariness of being burdened with a load of care.

This is a very significant spiritual exercise. The other night I took out a sheet of paper and tried to list just the people for whom I am grateful. I ran out of room on that sheet and never even got to making the list of all the blessings of nature or the material blessings in my life. I encourage you to try it sometime this week. See how long you can go just listing people and things that make your life rich. I’ll bet if you take this seriously – I mean give it more than just a few minutes worth of thought - you will be overwhelmed with the blessings in your life. You’ll see that not only the good times but even the hard ones give us reason to thank the Lord. Consider how the Lord has brought us through storms and trials, through disease and difficulty, discouragement and distress. Through this process, “You will see what God hath done” and your heart will overflow with gratitude.

V. “My Tribute”

The final song in my “all-time” list is definitely the youngest of the group. It was written by Andrae Crouch in 1971. Don Mickel will be singing this song for us in a few moments. Unlike some of the other hymns, it has a singular focus. We’re not counting all our blessings, or even visualizing a traditional harvest home. No! Although Andrae alludes to many things that the Lord has done for him, there is really only one thing on his heart and mind: that is the love of Jesus Christ: “All that I am and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory! With His blood he has saved me; With His pow’r He has raised me; to God be the glory For the things He has done

Here’s my dilemma: the usual topics of our Thanksgiving conversations involve the big Turkey Day football games and how busy and/or fortunate we’ve been this past year. How about your gathering? It’s so easy and comfortable to thank God for our health and our prosperity, our family and friends, and especially for the good food before us. Why is it that we are so reluctant to talk about Jesus - much less mention his blood that saves us and his power that raises us? I am ashamed to say that on this score I am the chief of sinners. Often, when I am asked to lead the prayer, I feel so compelled to keep it short and superficial. dsfGet it done! Why? Why can I talk about almost anything but Jesus Christ – who is the source of “all I that am and ever hope to be?” Friends, are any of you in this boat with me? If so, I’ve come up with some ideas for changing things this year, getting our focus back on the Lord:

1. First, let’s remove some of the time pressure. Why not plan to have the thanksgiving conversation and prayer sometime either before we get the hot food out, or after the main course and before dessert? This way folks can relax and say some things from the heart about how they’ve been blessed.

2. During this time, why not sing something simple that gives God praise, like the Doxology or a verse from one of Thanksgiving’s greatest hits.

3. Let a young child read a verse or two of scripture. Try James 1:17 or verses from the psalms, giving thanks and praise to God.

4. By that point, hearts have been opened to recognizing God as the Giver of every good and perfect gift. Pray for the courage to offer your own honest, personal tribute to Jesus Christ. Start with “I want to thank the Lord Jesus for … [or] God has blessed me this year with…”

My hope and prayer is that we can bring the Lord right into the middle of our celebrations, where He belongs, rather than leaving Him as the unseen and unmentioned guest. To God be the glory! Amen.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you are so patient with us – even in this season of Thanksgiving. Help us to realize how much you have blessed us each and every day. Help us to take the time to make an inventory of your grace and mercy toward us. It truly is therapeutic.

Lord Jesus, as we gather with relatives and friends this week, help us not to be ashamed of you. How terrible it would be for you to be ashamed of us one day. Loosen our lips, let us dare to speak of your grace and mercy toward us. Lord, help us even to speak of you by name. For, it is only “with your blood you have saved us; and with your power that you have raised us.” Embolden us to give you all the glory and honor and praise.

Amen.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner November 11th, 2006

“Offerings” November 11, 2006

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism and Recognition of Veterans

Texts: Luke 21;1-4; 12;48b Romans 12:1,4-8

INTRO: The theme of stewardship is all about how we manage the gifts God has given us. It is about offering these gifts back to God and using them for other people. They are never purely for our own enjoyment. Let us pray.

I. God has given us all gifts – for the good of others

Of all the lists Paul gives us of God’s gifts, I like this one in Romans the best, because these are gifts that we can identify with. They are not the extraordinary ones, like speaking in strange tongues or working miracles – which God is still giving to people today. No, here he talks about things we know and appreciate: preaching, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading and showing compassion. We not only understand these gifts, we have benefited from them in others and we recognize them in our own lives.

In fact, Janet and Jeff, as parents of two boys, you’ll need every one of these gifts. Sometimes, you’ll need to preach to them and explain God’s will. They surely need you to serve them, teach them, encourage them, share your resources with them (big time!), lead them by your example, and show them compassion! Right?

I especially enjoy the picture of the Greek word for ‘encouragement.’ The KJV word ‘exhortation’ is a better translation. It means “to call near.” I see an athletic coach calling a player over, putting his arm on the player’s shoulder and telling him or her something important. It may be to admonish the player “Never do that again!” It may be a word of comfort after the player has really blundered. It may be an instruction for the rest of the team. It may be a word of encouragement that the player needs to get back into the game with confidence. What a tremendous gift it is to be an encourager.

Paul says that God grants each of us different gifts of grace. That’s true. Some are just more naturally gifted teachers; others more compassionate. I wonder if Paul might also agree that the Lord gives such things freely to us whenever and wherever they are needed. Our world is begging for such gifts today. Humble servanthood and wise leadership are rarely found in the same person. We often don’t take the time to offer sincere exhortation or heartfelt compassion. With so much debt and rampant spending, genuinely generous giving is also a rare gem.

The question is – the stewardship question is – am I / are we using the gifts that God has given us – or are we keeping them on the shelf for another day? Such gifts are never for ourselves, they are given for the sake of others. Who are the people around us that God wants us to bless?

II. Stewardship begins with “sacrifice”

Jesus told a story about a master who put his servants in charge of his affairs and then left town. His servants decided to throw a huge party while he was away. They didn’t manage his affairs faithfully. And when the master returned, they were severely punished. Stewardship begins with sacrifice - sacrificing our own agenda for that of others. Yesterday was Veterans Day, and soon we will recognize the veterans among us. Clearly, each of you had other options, but you chose to serve our country, to risk life and limb for our peace and freedom. Your tremendous sacrifices deserve to be honored.

Serving God requires sacrifice and trust in the Lord, too. David, would you tell us how God brought you into this ministry and has sustained you? …

Thank you, David. You have shared so much of yourself with us!

III. Becoming a “Living Sacrifice”

Before we talk about gifts, we should really back up. Paul began his 12th chapter to the Romans with a significant appeal: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.”

In others words, prior to receiving and using God’s gifts, we must become gifts. We must present ourselves – in body, mind and soul – to God as a “living sacrifice.” This is the key to biblical stewardship. Nothing of any value happens until we get this straight. When we have offered ourselves to God, and all we have is His, then we’re ready to think about using his gifts.

Paul gives us a clear example in II Corinthians. He is telling the Corinthians how the churches in Macedonia gave unexpected and lavish gifts for the poor in Jerusalem. “They gave voluntarily according to their means and even beyond their means…[But] first, they gave themselves to the Lord.” That’s the ticket. They became living sacrifices.

The key lies in first giving ourselves to the Lord. Then it’s easy to see that our talents belong to Him, as well as our time and our resources. Too many times stewardship campaigns start with resources, and leave out the critical part about first becoming living sacrifices.

IV. Check-list for “living sacrifices”

There are a five simple ways to tell if we are living sacrifices:

· First of all, do we have a deep desire to be in worshipful conversation with our Lord – not just on Sundays? Because we belong to Him, we will want to begin each and every day in conversation with Him - praising Him for his goodness, his love and mercy, asking Him what He would have us do that day, and seeking His help in meeting the challenges of the day.

· Secondly, do we will want to spend time each day in His Word, seeking to hear His voice speak to us through the pages of the Bible. The Bible leads us into worshiping God, trusting Him to supply our needs and guide our steps. OK, we may not actually read the Bible daily, but is there within us a hunger to feed on God’s Word as our spiritual food?

· Thirdly, do we sense that our lives are being changed? It’s not enough, in God’s eyes that we are saved – although that is fundamental. Paul is always exhorting us to be changed – to take off our old nature like dirty clothes and put on the new nature in Christ. What is the evidence that we are actually being changed? Can other people tell that we are different? If not, we may taken ourselves off of the living sacrifice altar.

· Fourthly, do we have this urge to serve the Lord in concrete ways? Do we find ourselves praying, as Don Mickel often sings, “Lord, what would you have me to do?” There are some around here who are always looking for such opportunities. You can see pictures that Dale Murray took when he was refurbishing the housing of the church bell recently. Nobody asked him to do this; he simply saw the need and decided to fill it. Another saint has begun compiling a pictorial record of all our veterans. She too is always looking for something that needs to be done and quietly doing these things. How about you?

· Finally, do we find ourselves with an insatiable desire to give of our financial resources to the Lord? [Here he goes! you’re thinking. Stewardship is almost always comes down to money!] Believe it or not, living sacrifices find unadulterated joy in giving. We see this in the widow’s life. She gave everything she had that day. It’s not how much you give, but how much it means to you. God loves when we give cheerfully that which means much to us.

So, how do you stack up as a living sacrifice? Are you right there with five “Yeses”? Or, are you wondering whether there is any hope for you? Friends, there is hope for us all – at every stage of the journey. I invite you – with Paul – to present yourselves today as a living sacrifice to God. Then, you will see his gifts of grace abound in your life!

Prayer

Gracious God, we thank you that you look more at our intentions than our performance. You love us and are so patient with us. When we go astray, like a good shepherd you come looking for us. When fail to follow through on our best intentions, you are kind and eager to call us near, like a good coach, and give us a word of exhortation. Whisper such words into our hearts this morning. Invite us into deeper dimensions of discipleship. Give us encouragement and that blessed assurance that “Jesus is mine” – yes a foretaste of glory divine…

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner November 5th, 2006

“Poetic Pictures of Sainthood”

November 5, 2006 Texts: Ephesians 1-3 (sel.)

INTRO: This morning we celebrate sainthood, in several forms. The Confirmands have just begun this journey, and they are about to receive their first Holy Communion. We have invited veterans of this journey to be our special guests this morning - members of the Confirmation Class of 1956. Two of them are here: Ruthann Murray Lutes and Carol Wagner McIntosh. We are so happy to have you, and we truly want to honor you today. Thirdly, we have remembered the saints who have gone to be with the Lord this past year.

Sainthood, in the Bible encompasses all these dimensions. So, for our scripture lesson this morning, list to several texts from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians: 1:1; 2:4-10; and 3:14-20:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Let us pray.

This morning I’m going to depart from the ordinary sermon mode. Most of the words of this message have been written by others. They are poetic. And they portray vivid pictures of the manifold nature of sainthood.

The first poem was written by Maya Angelou, a woman who is still writing profound poetry. This one is deceptively simple. It’s all about what it means to be a saint, or in her words, a Christian.

I. Christian by Maya Angelou

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,”
Now I’m found and forgiven.

When I say…”I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need CHRIST to be my guide.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
and need HIS strength to carry on.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
and need God to clean my mess.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
but, God believes I am worth it.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain,
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say… “I am a Christian”
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
who received God’s good grace, somehow.

My young friends, and everyone else for that matter, this is the essence of what it means to be a saint – not someone who is perfect, but just forgiven, by the grace of Jesus Christ. This is why we come to his Table today, to confess we have been lost and weak and a mess – but here we meet the One who can fix us up and put us back on the road.

II. The Wizard of Oz

Speaking of the road – the journey of faith – I was wondering how best for us to appreciate being on that road for fifty years. 1956 was quite a year! Elvis Presley made his national TV debut, as did “The Price Is Right” and “As the World Turns!” NBC introduced its peacock logo and brought in Chet Huntley and David Brinkley to anchor its nightly news. Dwight David Eisenhower was our President and it only cost 3 cents to mail a first class letter! Baseball fans marveled as Mickey Mantle won the rare Triple Crown. And Rosa Parks quietly, but firmly, took a seat in the front of a bus in Birmingham, Alabama – sparking the Civil Rights Movement.

There’s one other first worth mentioning. Maybe you caught it in this week’s paper. “The Wizard of Oz” made its TV debut too. And it has been shown every year since, capturing the imagination of all ages. That story in many ways connects with the journey of faith we call “sainthood.”

First of all, it is a journey. Our 50-year veterans will tell you that living our faith is a journey that takes you where you never imagined going. Like the “Yellow Brick Road” it is not easy. We encounter dangers and troubles; yet, there is a destination to which we are headed. You remember how the ragtag group with Dorothy was not very impressive. As Maya Angelou reminds us, we are not so very impressive either. We have plenty of shortcomings; yet the Lord has accepted us and even has work for us to do.

The Scarecrow needed a brain. The Tin Man wanted a heart, and the Cowardly Lion desperately desired courage. When they get to Emerald City, they discover that the very things they were seeking have been with them all along. We all have needs – real ones. And the Bible assures us that God is able to supply every need we have, on the way, according to his riches in Christ. I would invite you to interview our veteran saints, and ask them how the Lord has provided for their needs.

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3 is really a prayer for all of us – to equip us to run the race set before us. Whenever we come to worship God, we gain guidance and encouragement for the journey. Whenever we come to the Lord’s Table, we receive food and empowerment for the journey.

III. Go Down, Death

The choir’s anthem this morning told us about the destination of this journey. Heaven is not just “somewhere over the rainbow,” (as Judy Garland sang). It is “Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break. [Where] we’ll never ever wonder why again. Our questions here He’ll answer there. Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break.” Every saint is guaran-teed an eternal home in heaven. I’ll close with a moving picture of our journey’s end. Listen to this poem by James Weldon Johnson, entitled “Go Down, Death.”

Weep not, weep not,
She is not dead;
She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.
Heart-broken husband–weep no more;
Grief-stricken son–weep no more;
Left-lonesome daughter –weep no more;
She only just gone home.

Day before yesterday morning,
God was looking down from his great, high heaven,
Looking down on all his children,
And his eye fell of Sister Caroline,
Tossing on her bed of pain.
And God’s big heart was touched with pity,
With the everlasting pity.

And God sat back on his throne,
And he commanded that tall, bright angel standing at his right hand:
Call me Death!
And that tall, bright angel cried in a voice
That broke like a clap of thunder:
Call Death!–Call Death!
And the echo sounded down the streets of heaven
Till it reached away back to that shadowy place,
Where Death waits with his pale, white horses.

And Death heard the summons,
And he leaped on his fastest horse,
Pale as a sheet in the moonlight.
Up the golden street Death galloped,
And the hooves of his horses struck fire from the gold,
But they didn’t make no sound.
Up Death rode to the Great White Throne,
And waited for God’s command.

And God said: Go down, Death, go down,
Go down to Savannah, Georgia,
Down in Yamacraw,
And find Sister Caroline.
She’s borne the burden and heat of the day,
She’s labored long in my vineyard,
And she’s tired–
She’s weary–
Go down, Death, and bring her to me.

And Death didn’t say a word,
But he loosed the reins on his pale, white horse,
And he clamped the spurs to his bloodless sides,
And out and down he rode,
Through heaven’s pearly gates,
Past suns and moons and stars;
on Death rode,
Leaving the lightning’s flash behind;
Straight down he came.

While we were watching round her bed,
She turned her eyes and looked away,
She saw what we couldn’t see;
She saw Old Death. She saw Old Death
Coming like a falling star.
But Death didn’t frighten Sister Caroline;
He looked to her like a welcome friend.
And she whispered to us: I’m going home,
And she smiled and closed her eyes.

And Death took her up like a baby,
And she lay in his icy arms,
But she didn’t feel no chill.
And death began to ride again–
Up beyond the evening star,
Into the glittering light of glory,
On to the Great White Throne.
And there he laid Sister Caroline
On the loving breast of Jesus.

And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from her face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked her in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.

Weep not–weep not,
She is not dead;
She’s resting in the bosom of Jesus.

Let us pray…
O Lord, fill us with awe at the mystery of life in Christ. It begins in such simple ways, with a profession of faith. It continues as we grow in faith, as we face life’s challenges and discover that you are indeed with us. You never leave us alone, and you graciously hear our prayers for help and guidance, for encouragement and wisdom.

As we come to your Table this morning, touch us with your Holy Spirit. May Christ dwell in our hearts through faith. And may we become so rooted and established in your love that, together with all the saints, we may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Rekindle in our hearts the zeal to stay on the road that leads us through the narrow gate to eternal life with you in heaven – in Jesus’ name and for his glory we pray. Amen.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner October 29th, 2006

“God, I’m Just a Kid!” A Confirmation Meditation

October 29, 2006 Texts: Jeremiah 1:4-10 I Timothy 4:12

INTRO: “God, I’m just a kid!” That’s a rough translation of Jeremiah’s response to the Lord. Can you confirmands identify with him? You have finished the course of preparation; you are ready to stand before God, your families and this church family to profess your faith in Jesus Christ and your desire to serve him. But, somewhere in the back of your minds, aren’t you thinking, “It’s finally over! Now I can go back to where I was before – on the sidelines, out of the limelight. Nobody will expect much of me. I’m just a kid!” Well, I have news for you. God has done some pretty big things through kids like you. We’ll take the next few minutes to look a few of them. [But first, let us pray…]

1. Jeremiah

Let’s start with Jeremiah. By his own admission, he was way too young to assume the responsibility of prophet to the nation of Israel. He didn’t know how to get up in front of people and speak. A lot of us can identify with him – no matter what age we may be.

That didn’t faze God! The Lord said, “Heh, you don’t have to worry! I know you; I had this plan for your life from before you were born! Don’t say you’re too young. I am putting my words in your mouth. Just tell the people what I tell you. Don’t be afraid – I will be with you and protect you.”

If you feel a little like Jeremiah today, take heart. The Lord has a plan for your life too – He had it before you were born. And the Lord will equip you to say or do whatever it is he wants you to do. Do you believe that? If so, then this is the day to say “Here I am, Lord, send me, use me!”

2. David

David is another famous person whom God selected when he was very young. You can read about this in I Samuel 16. Samuel, the judge, has been sent to Bethlehem find the next king of Israel. He comes to Jesse’s house and announces that the next king would be one of his sons. So, Jesse brings his boys front and center. Eliab is the oldest. He is tall and strong, and a great soldier. But, the Lord tells Samuel, “Don’t look on the outward appearance. That’s the way people usually judge, but I look on the heart!” So, seven of Jesse’s fine boys have been paraded before Samuel – and the Lord tells him to reject each one of them. “Is this your whole brood?” Samuel asks Jesse. “Nope,” he replies, “My youngest is our tending my sheep.” So they go fetch David, and immediately Samuel knows he is the one. He is the youngest, and the least likely candidate, but the Lord knew something no one else did: David was a young man after God’s own heart. So, while he was still just a kid, Samuel anointed him with oil and declared him to be the next king of Israel.

Isn’t that encouraging. Everybody else seems to judge us by how we look, or how well we do in sports or in school. Are we pretty or handsome? Are we tall and strong and fast? It can make you feel pretty inadequate, right? Never forget David. The Lord looks at what’s in your heart – not at your size or shape or strength or brains. And if your heart is right with the Lord, there’s no telling what He can do through you!

Remember David’s clash with Goliath? He was still just a kid; his brothers told him to go home. Yet, David was the only one courageous enough to face that monstrous warrior. You know what happened: that huge giant went down with just one stone from his slingshot. David said, “This battle is the Lord’s.” Trust the Lord to handle your battles, to get you through every tough challenge, and you will be victorious in life!

3. Isaac

Isaac was just a kid when the Lord asked his father Abraham to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Imagine that! You can read the whole story in Genesis 22. It is a very significant story. Isaac is lying there on the pile of wood, all tied up. His father raises the knife to kill him – and then an angel of the Lord says, “Stop! Don’t kill your son. You have passed the test!” And Abraham saw a ram that was caught in a bush by his horns. Abraham took the ram for his sacrifice and his son was spared.

Young Isaac became the most graphic picture of how you and I are saved by God’s grace. Because we are sinners, we deserve to die. But God offered Jesus, his only Son, to be the ram, or sacrificial Lamb, who dies in our place. Jesus died so that we might live and serve the Lord. God invites us – no matter how young or old we are - to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to serve him. When you come front, you are saying: “Yes, Lord, thank you for saving me by grace; now I am ready and willing to serve you with my life.”

4. Jesus

We know something about Jesus when he was a boy, just twelve years old. It’s an interesting story. His parents brought him to Jerusalem for a big festival, but when they left for home, Jesus wasn’t with them. They assumed he was traveling with the group until about the third day, when he wasn’t anywhere to be found. Jesus, they soon discovered, was back in the Temple, listening to the teachers of the Law, and asking them questions. He was just a kid – but Luke tells us, “All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

You might say, “Well, he was the Son of God, he had an advantage!” But the truth is that he was fully human. That means, at 12 he was pretty much like you. You have the capacity to understand God’s Word. I pray that you will want to keep this conversation going, that you will want to keep on learning about the Lord and participate in the life of the church – even if or when your parents might not be here with you.

5. Timothy

Paul wrote two letters to his friend Timothy. We don’t really know how young Timothy was; he may not have been an adolescent like you. But, clearly he was young enough that some people were criticizing him and not respecting his calling to teach and preach God’s Word. I believe Paul’s advice in our scripture lesson was written for you, too: “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct, your love, faith and purity.”

In other words, “Don’t let anyone put you down or dismiss you by scoffing, ‘You’re just a kid!’” Paul has profound insight here. At your age you are already old enough to set an example for the rest of us – in the way you talk and act. Last fall, one of our recent confirmands got up in a rather heated meeting and did just that. She expressed being disturbed by the whole discussion and said, “In Sunday School we were taught to live by a simple song: The B-I-B-L-E. Yes, that’s the book for me. I’ll take my stand on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.” This young lady had expressed her faith and genuinely witnessed to all of us!

6. Ways You Can Make a Difference Right Now

The prophet Isaiah wrote: “ A little child shall lead them.” I believe this means God is still using young people like you to accomplish his purpose. God never says, “You’re just a kid!” God looks at your heart and has a plan for your life, to use you to build his kingdom. In closing, let me suggest a few ways in which you are already able to make a difference:

A. Humility and Obedience

Right now you are in a position where people give you orders – at home, in school, on the athletic field. Am I right? Well, learn to take orders with an attitude of humility. Respect those in authority over you. They are not always right – but they deserve your respect either way. And, they deserve your obedience. This seems to go against everything society is telling you, and even what your mind might be telling you. Why, you surely know more about some things than your parents. But, Jesus said the mark of a true disciple is the willingness to be a servant and not the boss. Right now is a good time to learn and practice humility, servanthood, and obedience to those in authority over you. Until you master this, you can never be a living sacrifice.

B. Love

Paul counseled young Timothy to be an example by his love. This is the perfect time of life for you to learn to treat everybody with respect and care. Others may be forming cliques and excluding kids who not in the “in” crowd. But you can reach out to such kids and be sensitive to their feelings. You can’t possibly be best friends with everybody, but you can respect everyone. You can accept those who are different from you – maybe they wear a turban or don’t eat the same foods. Get to know them and understand why they do what they do. You will be a shining example of Jesus’ love for all people. You may be just the friend someone else has been looking for.

C. Faith

Paul told Timothy that despite his youth, he could show others what faith is all about. We have planted the seeds of faith within you. Now it is up to you to keep cultivating these seeds. Like tender plants, faith will die unless we keep watering it. You have been required to come to church regularly; now it’s up to you to be a faithful worshiper.

You’ll really appreciate your faith when you mess things us. When you’ve really blown it, the world will condemn you. But, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Even your friends may walk away from you, but the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you. Other people may not forgive you, but hold a grudge against you. Yet, if we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just; he forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness! So, when you make mistakes – and we all do – turn to the Lord because he is merciful, confess your sins, seek forgiveness. The Holy Spirit will pick you up, dust you off, and get you going in a new direction.

D. Purity

We could spend an hour talking about purity. The simple fact is that at your age you are relatively innocent. Praise God! Try to stay this way. You will be exposed to all kinds of thoughts and suggestions in the years ahead. Learn to listen to your conscience. When you are tempted to do something you know is wrong, pray to the Lord for wisdom and courage and strength to resist the temptation. This is why it is important to stay close to Jesus Christ, stay in his Word, and stay in fellowship with other Christians. Otherwise, all alone we are much weaker and more vulnerable to temptation. Make every effort to remain pure in your hearts and minds, in your words and deeds.

There is so much more I would like to say this morning, but we’ll have to leave those things for another time. Let us pray…

Jeremiah 1:4-10

The Lord said to me, “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.”

I answered, “Sovereign Lord, I don’t know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, “Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak. Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

I Timothy 4:12

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for the believers in your speech, your conduct , your love, faith, and purity.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)

Blake Heffner October 22nd, 2006

“Celebrating Two Heroes” October 22, 2006

Texts: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

INTRO: This morning we are going to celebrate two heroes among us. Kevin Johnson, whom Lauren just sang about, died four years ago, on October 20th at the tender age of 13. He would have been confirmed that fall, and this would be his senior year in high school. Our other hero is with us this morning. Lester Race, Sr. turns 80 years young tomorrow – praise the Lord!

There is only one legitimate reason that we dare focus on people other than Jesus Christ in a sermon. They need to exemplify or embody some facet of God’s Word. By the time we finish, I hope you will agree that both Kevin and Lester really serve as models for us, and the light in their lives can inspire us to live our own lives in faith, love and hope. First, let us pray…

1. Smile!

Both our heroes smile – easily, naturally and warmly. My earliest recollection of Kevin is of this exuberant lad in maybe second or third grade bursting into church with a big smile and saying “Hi!” Kevin could melt a snowstorm with that big grin. And if that didn’t work, he’d lay one of his bear hugs on you. Lester, you can try to hide behind that fuzzy white beard, but your grin is just as disarming. When you smile, your eyes twinkle with delight. You and Kevin have made so many of us feel warm and accepted.

I discovered – to my astonishment – that the word “smile” does not occur in my Bible – at least according to Strong’s Concordance. Isn’t that amazing? Yet, can you imagine Jesus not smiling most of the time? He had a way of disarming folks, with both his look and his words of compassion. Rev. Fritz Shafer, who served our church for 10 years, used to say: “God is smiling on us!” Whether it’s in there literally or not, I believe he was right. And smiling is an effective way for us to reflect God’s love toward one another.

2. Enthusiasm!

Both our heroes are poster boys for enthusiasm. Kevin was enthusiastic about so many things. When he was in midget basketball, he wasn’t the greatest player – though he was very tall. Kevin played with gusto. His first basket ever was for the other team, but that didn’t stop Kevin. He kept on playing. Kevin enjoyed being an acolyte here. Even when other kids didn’t think it was cool, Kevin would eagerly say “Yes!” whenever he was asked.

I got a birds-eye view of Lester at work back in the nineties, when we went out to Fort Berthold, North Dakota, on our two workcamp trips. When it came to any facet of carpentry or construction, Lester was in his element. One day, we had to repair a door to the church. It was terribly out of plumb. No problem for Lester! He found a way to straighten things out and make every thing work – with enthusiasm. With his infectious laugh and light-hearted approach, Lester has a way of making any effort seem like fun!

These guys exemplify the spirit of Ecclesiastes 3: “All we can do is be happy and do the best we can while we are still alive. All of us should eat and drink and enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.” Next time you feel that your job or your schoolwork is getting you down, think about Kevin and Lester. Put a smile on your face and roll up your sleeves. The way to find happiness in our work is to approach every task with enthusiasm and zeal.

3. A Positive Outlook!

“Home on the range,” as we sing, “there never is heard a discouragin’ word, and the skies are not cloudy all day.” That’s the way it is with our heroes. They know how to look on the bright side of things. When Kevin was going down to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia for radiation therapy, he got to know two older men. They told his mom, Gina, how Kevin helped them get through their ordeal: “If Kevin could show up everyday with a smile on his face, how could we complain about our problems!” In the darkest days of Kevin’s crisis, when a doctor or nurse would ask him how he was doing, he’d usually say, “Excellent!” In his thirteen months of fighting cancer, he never asked “Why me?” and he never complained.

Lester has that same outlook. I asked him the other day about his life and career as a “jack of all trades.” He said quickly, “No complaints!” That speaks volumes in this day and age when so many folks are dissatisfied with what they have, what they are doing, and who they’re with Our heroes have the capacity to look beyond the clouds and see blue sky.

4. A Time for Everything

Our heroes both bring us face to face with the mystery of God’s timing. The scripture lesson begins: “Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses. He sets the time for birth and the time for death… God has set the right time for everything… and he never gives us the satisfaction of fully understanding what he does.” On this side of heaven we will never comprehend why a boy is given only thirteen years and another is given eighty or ninety. Birth and death both remind us how little we understand of God’s timing and plan. We have plenty of questions about such things, and no clear answers. We would certainly write the script differently if we were in charge. But, the Bible tells us that everything happens at the right time. Today let’s pause a moment and thank God that He is in control of the universe and every little thing that happens in our lives. Let’s admit how little we really understand and thank God that we are not in charge! Let us believe that God really has a plan that transcends the pain and suffering we experience.

5. Facing Suffering with Faith and Hope

Both our heroes have endured suffering, sustained by their faith. Kevin, at his young age, believed that God who loves us all has prepared a place for us, through Jesus Christ. We have a heavenly destiny and it will be glorious. This hope prompted Kevin to listen to a special song during his radiation. It’s called “Survivor” – by the group Destiny’s Child. It goes like this: “I’m a survivor, I’m not gonna give up, I’m not gonna stop, I’m gonna work harder, I’m a survivor, I’m gonna make it, I will survive, Keep on surviving.’” I believe Kevin did make it. He is a survivor and child of God!

You may be less familiar with Lester’s own taste of suffering. About 23 years ago, Lester and Dolores’ son Scott and Tammie had their first child, named Meghan. Meghan was born with an incomplete brain. She could hear but not see. She would never talk or walk. Meghan defied all the odds and lived to the age of five years! Meghan brought love and affection out of every person who met her. You can ask anyone in the family. Commenting on this stage of his life, Lester says simply “faith gets your through.” Amen.

Friends, all true heroes are strong in courage and hope. With hope, they are able to endure the pain and hardship we face. The Apostle Paul was such a person. He wrote: “I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his sons… We know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth… We [too] groan within ourselves… [Yet] we know that in all things God works for good with those who love him…” (Rom.

This is beautifully expressed in an anthem the choir will be singing in two weeks, on All Saints Sunday. Listen to the lyrics:

Everywhere I look around me there is pain in ev’ry eye; Broken hearts and promises, the sorrow of good-bye. I see suff’ring little children in a world that isn’t fair; and the only hope is the hope I have of a place somewhere. Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break. We’ll never ever wonder why again. Our questions here He’ll answer there. Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break.

It’s beyond my understanding how ev’rything will be; I only know my faith has sight of things my eyes can’t see. And a million years of endless joy for ev’ry tear we’ve cried, Will be the gift the Father gives as he welcomes us inside. Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break. We’ll never ever wonder why again. Our questions here He’ll answer there. Where eyes don’t cry and hearts don’t break…

Let us pray…

Gracious and loving God, we bless you for the gift of these two men of faith and love and hope. Let the light of Christ we have seen in their eyes and their smiles, their enthusiasm and genuinely positive outlook inspire us.

O God, we humbly confess today that we really do not understand how things happen as they do. Yet, we believe that you are the One who has determined a time and a season for everything under heaven. You have gathered Kevin to yourself – yet made so much of his brief life among us. You have given Lester Sr. so many productive years. We thank you that we can celebrate his vitality today. Bless him, we pray, and his whole family.

Finally, Lord, we acknowledge that you have used difficult circumstances in our lives to teach us many things – how precious every moment is, how priceless love and joy are, and how blessed we are to have a living hope for eternal life, in and through Jesus Christ. Lord, when life hurts, lift our eyes and hearts toward you – remind us of your love that transcends time and space, your promise of a seat of honor at the wedding feast of Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In Jesus’ name and for his glory we pray. Amen.

• Sermons
• Comments (0)