Monday, March 23, 2015

Stewardship Moment - Murphy Harpst Children's Home Trinity UMC March 22, 2015


Good morning.  My name is Keith Howell and I serve Christ on your Stewardship Committee.  We wish to communicate the ways that your obedience to God’s will financially is impacting the world around us. 

In this light, this morning we wanted to say “thank you”, because of your faithfulness, Trinity is able to provide all of the building material for the Murphy Harpst Day of Service this Saturday. 

Let me paraphrase some comments from Brian Hampton of MH:

Trinity (Rome) UMC is a leader in supporting Murphy Harpst, a financial leader, ranking in the top ten donor churches.  In addition to the financial support of the church itself and many individuals within the church, as well as donations from many Sunday School classes.  And Trinity makes an extraordinary offering of gifts and gift cards at Christmas.

The Trinity Day of Service on campus is one of the more significant dates on our calendar. Trinity’s is the largest, best attended, and most productive service day Murphy Harpst has. 

Murphy Harpst provides services to Georgia’s most severely disturbed children.  Children who have suffered egregious neglect and abuse.  It is not uncommon for these children to have experienced 14 or more unsuccessful foster placements before arriving at Murphy Harpst.  

For these kids Murphy Harpst is a safe haven, a place to receive effective treatment, education, and spiritual growth.  They gain a whole new life experience and a real chance to function in society.  

But this you know. 

What you may not know is that Murphy Harpst can reasonably claim an 80% success rate with the over 200 children they serve each year.  Children who would otherwise be lost to the correctional system as adults.  

Each one of these kids ache with a dream to live with some sense of what you and I would call normal; but for them, for them it is huge, it’s monumental. 

So what does this have to do with Stewardship?

Let me illustrate in closing:
Lets say that you got a call from Donald Trump to come to dinner, the purpose being to discuss a potential business venture that is so big, it would not only change your life, but the lives of many others as well. 

Now, Donald Trump does some big stuff – grandiose stuff, monumental ventures, and you, in our example, are invited to be a part of it.  That would be too fantastic to pass up, wouldn’t it? 
Now lets also say that in advance of this meeting you receive a check that is more than adequate to cover all of your expenses to come to the meeting; more than enough for clothes, travel, accommodations, etc. 

Let me ask you: If you had this opportunity would you set enough aside to pick up the tab for dinner? 

Think about what he brings to the table: capital, success, business experience, and personal banking, media, and political connections.  And you bring to the table – well – you.  Seriously, would you save enough to, just out of simple gratitude, to say when the check comes: “No, Mr. Trump, let me get this”? 

How much more then, should we give back to God?

Christ Jesus calls you and I to the table where Heaven and Earth intersect.  He brings all His majesty, and glory, and we bring . . . well, ourselves.  All He asks is that “Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;” (Proverbs 3:9) - To faithfully participate in ministry by our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness

Heaven and Earth will intersect in Polk county, Georgia this Saturday where 200 children can have their lives changed each year  –  changing these children’s lives for Jesus Christ is more than big, its monumental. 

Monday, March 9, 2015

The Great Commission

Delivered at Floyd Springs UMC, Floyd Springs, GA March 8, 2015

Psalm 25:9
9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

First, it is an honor to be with you this morning. If you are visiting
with us this morning, please know that I am the Lay Servant.  You should visit again when Rev Patrick Hopper is here and you will have a wonderful experience for certain.  Wayne would normally be here in Patrick’s stead, but he is recovering from shoulder surgery and doing well.  Needless to say, those are mighty shoes to fill up here so please be praying. 

I grew up in Glenwood and graduated from Armuchee High.  For those of you who may have known me then, please let me assure you that the temperature in Hades still exceeds 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  My presence here is a testament to depth of God’s mercy and the height of His grace. 

I remember right at the age of 10 playing softball across the street.  Actually, I don’t think that you can call it playing.  They gave me a glove and put me in the outfield where I could do the least damage.  I am not very athletic.  Good times.

Let me ask you: Who are you discipling?  Who is discipleing you? 

When Patrick called me a few days ago, I asked if you all were working on a series, or the lectionary, etc.  He said just preach the Gospel.  Great-I thought. 

From that I felt lead to spend some time on Matthew 28 this morning.  Let’s talk about how we are commanded to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We are now in the season of Lent.  The key part of the Easter narrative that, I think, gets overlooked from time to time is the “Great Commission”. 

It seems that we celebrate the magnificent resurrection, and it IS magnificent and WORTHY OF CELEBRATION.  Make no mistake.  However- the great commission, Matthew 28, when it is discussed, to my recollection, is isolated from the resurrection.  That is a shame for it is our part in the Gospel mission! 

Let’s take a closer look at what Matthew wrote for us here:

Verse 17: “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” 
Now why did Matthew have to put that in there?  Did we really need to know that?  If you are writing a book that is designed to bring me to trust Jesus could you not just lay that aside?  I am glad it is there. 

Lets ask “Why on earth did some of the disciples doubt?”  They just saw the resurrection!!

We shouldn’t be too harsh in our assessment of doubting disciples.  But put this in historical context: Though the disciples never truly understood Jesus or His mission to this point, this is the man that taught them, fed them, loved them, and taken care of them for the last three years.  They loved Him and they were witnesses to the most brutal beating, scourging, torture and execution that the Roman empire could employ on the human, Jesus Christ.  

He was a miracle worker yet, in their eyes, He was incapable to escape death on the cross. 

Now they are witnessing to the most mindboggling miracle in all of history: Jesus did escape the grave!  The hope of all mankind! 

Keep in mind also that this was prior to Pentecost – so they did not have the Holy Spirit as we do now.  Really, who could blame them for having doubts? 

Item #1: People Come to Christ with Doubts and Fears. 
Lets face it: just like these disciples, we all come to Christ with our doubts and fears don’t we?  Keep that in mind when we are making disciples. 

Verse 18: “Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” 

Jesus establishes that HE has the right, the authority, and the expectation that WE should be obedient to His command. 

Item #2: As Jesus is the Supreme Authority, we should let nothing in Heaven or on earth ever interfere with our duty to carry out the Great Commission - ever. 

Verse 19 and 20 is where we are going to spend most of our time this morning.
Verse 19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  

Jesus says “go and make disciples” and then tells us how.  Most of us don’t make it past the “go” part.  Many times we emphasize the first word “go” and “all nations” then immediately relegate this command to the foreign mission field.  Not so fast. 

Item #3: The mission field includes the people in West Africa and the person sitting next to you in the pew. 

And when we do pass “go”, it goes something like this: We baptize them, hand them a bible and a membership card, and say “If you have any questions, I’ll have the preacher give you a call”.  And then we wonder why the culture is unraveling all around us. 

This, loved ones, is the crucial failure of the American Church.  All denominations.  We do not love one another with the love of Christ to interrupt our lives to help others live the life of a disciple. 

Item #4 - Our obedience must go beyond evangelism to include discipleship if we are to carry out the great commission!

Notice that Jesus said “Make Disciples” - Not just tell people about Him, invite them to church, or wear the tee-shirt.  Making disciples is not a spectator sport – it is full-contact.  Just as Jesus discipled the early church, He expects us to disciple others. 

We must invest ourselves in each other.  Otherwise, the resurrection was pointless. 

In order to make disciples, you must first BE a disciple.  “Who are we discipling and who is discipling us?” 

Does not mean that you have to be perfect, just willing to carry out Christ’s command.  For me personally, Romans 12:1-2 sums up discipleship. 

Romans 12:1,2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Be a living sacrifice- be willing to give up our will for His.
Renew our minds so that we will know the will of God and be different from the culture that surrounds us. 

Matthew 22:36-40
35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

You know the disciplines of faith:
         Bible study – read devotionals daily is good.  Join a Bible study group.  We need to know the Word. 
         Prayer – Really pray.  Pray like it makes a difference; because it does. 
         Tithing – Malachi 3:6-12
         Fasting – Matthew 9:14-17.
         Worship – we are to worship.
         Fellowship – have Christian friends that will hold you lovingly to account.  Ask yourself “Who is mentoring me?” 

Pray over these areas in your life - for we are called to be obedient.  For if we are to make disciples then we must LIVE THE FAITH THAT WE PROFESS. 

People despise hypocrisy.  If they do not see our actions lining up with our words, then they will stand in line somewhere else.  They will try Islam, Kabala, Eastern Mysticism, dianetics,  - what have you.

Though people hate hypocrisy, they respect sincerity.  No one expects us to be walking perfection - so don’t wait to be perfect to begin.  You will struggle in these disciplines – to be honest I am having a time with my prayer life right now.  But I cannot let that get in the way of my calling. 

The difference is simple: are you using Christianity to get what you want or are you using what God gives you to further benefit His Kingdom?  Are we serving our will or His? 

Paul confessed these same struggles common to all followers in Romans 7:19.  For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing.” 

But it did not stop him from carrying out the Great Commission!  Let it be the same with us. 

Verse 20 “ . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

We must teach them the complete Gospel: “teaching them to obey everything . . . “ 
Our calling is to Baptize and to teach.  Baptism (salvation) is a one-time event.  Teaching (sanctification) is a lifetime process.  Jesus saves, we baptize.  The Holy Spirit guides, we teach.  This is where we drop the ball. 

How do I find people to disciple?
You don’t.  Ask for God to bring people to disciple into your life when you are ready.  But they have to be in your life – not at arm’s distance.  If you are sincere, the Holy Spirit will put them in your path.  But be careful before you do, because it is tough to actively make disciples. 

You find yourself on the phone when you would rather be watching Downton Abby.  You will have kids at your house when you thought your kid-tending days were behind you.  You will cry with them, laugh with them, be angry for them – (be angry with them) but don’t give up on them. 

It can be frustrating.  Be patient with them.  Jesus got frustrated with His disciples, and still does.  But He still did His Father’s will. 

WE must also be aware that Christ loved the disenfranchised and those on society’s margins.  When Jesus said “All Nations”, He was not only referring to geography; there are no ethnic barriers in the Kingdom of God. 

“Red and Yellow Black and White, They are Precious in His sight . . . “ 
You will find your comfort zone being stretched for sure. 
Obedience has a cost.  It is true what Victor Frankl said: “Those who would give light must endure burning.”

Why is the Great Commission important?  It is important because nature hates a vacuum.  People are hurting and are looking for answers.  They are looking for acceptance and meaning anywhere they can find it, especially our young people.  They will numb life’s pain through alcohol, drugs, and fantasies.  They search for relevance in street gangs, unhealthy relationships, or cults. 

But just as devastating are misplaced priorities: we may worship our career and social standing.  Many will put their families on the alter of prosperity for the sake of a successful career track. 

I believe that Revival, if we truly want it, is on the horizon.  But like any blessing, we need to be ready for it.  We in the church need to grow closer to Christ and we are to bring people with us – for the good of the Kingdom.  Some will not want to come along, but we still need to offer them a ride.  Luke 14:23

Living the Christian life is not a spectator sport.  It is full contact. 

This is serious business.  Eternity depends on it.  We will be held accountable. 

For decades we in this nation had the luxury of a culture and society based on a Christian worldview.  Have you noticed any changes lately?  We no longer look at marriage through the lens of Ephesians 5:21-33.  Our society no longer can define evil when it should be clear to everyone – much less as found in Romans 1, Galatians 5 and throughout the Bible.  

I look at the world around us and pray for revival.  I pray that God would send His spirit among this nation again and spare us from the sin to which we have resigned and the madness that flows in its wake. 

But if God hears our prayers and revival is truly just over the horizon – again I have to wonder: “Will we be ready for it?” 

What good is it for a farmer to plant a garden only to let the harvest rot in the field?  What if God brings a harvest of souls to our doorstep and we fail to love them, to teach them, and to disciple them?  Then their very lives will rot in the shadow of our steeples.  And we will be held accountable for it. 
Pray for God to send people into our lives to mentor and disciple.  Pray for us to be there for them in their struggles, to laugh with them, cry with them, pray with them, be patient with them – live for them. 

We need to reach beyond ourselves to love one another, to hold each other up and not tear down.  When we do have differences, our goal is to restore, not to reject. 

Should we embrace everyone in our lives?  No, there will be people our lives that we will have to love at arm’s length for a while.  But we must love them just the same. 

Let me close with this: we do not do this work alone.  Christ did not give us this command to only ascend to Heaven and abandon us on earth.
We have His promise:
Final Item: “20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." 

Let us pray.

Matthew 9:14-17
14 Then John's disciples came and asked him, "How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" 15 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.