12-28-2017

Good Morning All,

        Matthew 16:6; “Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

        It is often called “herd mentality” or “mob mentality”.  It is a social and psychological phenomenon which describes when a group of people begin to act in a fashion that may be different than how they would act individually.  We see it most often on the school yard.  All of a sudden, a group of kids decide to pick on one child.  The group just gangs up and is merciless to one child.  Many have experienced this at one time or another.  It may have been on either side of the interaction.  You may have been the victim or you may have been one of the perpetrators.  This event seems to grow beyond any sense of logic or reason.

    Some scientists think that when a group begins to act in this fashion; that one of the first things to go away is personal responsibility.  People tend to see their personal beliefs and actions to be overruled and controlled by the mob.  We simply go along with the crowd and as someone begins to escalate the problem, many seem to just go along even escalating the event as it occurs.  Many scientists feel that each person can deny personal culpability; it frees the individual from personal guilt.

    When Jesus was speaking of the “leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees”, he was speaking specifically of their false teachings.  It also can speak to the way that sin, once it begins to grow, can easily consume those who are either not paying attention or are easily swayed.  So if we are in a group and gossip begins; it becomes easy for us to join in, add to the lies and falsehoods, and perpetuate the pain.  Be sure to always remember that, sin causes pain to all those involved.  Sin is something that can and does grow easily if we let it.  It can grow until it crowds out all of our faithful actions. 

    Jesus warns us against this.  He warns us that sin, left unchecked, grows and grows until it destroys all around it.   Sin, when viewed as harmless or “not that big of a deal” grows until it reaches the point where many are harmed.  This is why Jesus continually encourages us to be watchful; to be alert to what is going on around us, what is being said, on what is happening.  Sin can start so small and mushroom so large before we even have time to think.  Sin is stronger and faster than we are; our only hope is to avoid it.  The only way to avoid it is to cling to Christ through the faith that he gives us.

    We are never stronger than sin.  We should never think we can play with it or toy with it.  Sin is only destructive and painful.  Our only chance of avoiding the leaven of sin is to cling to the cross of Christ.

Father, lead me to cling to your wondrous grace.  Lead me to hold onto the cross of Christ.  Keep me from the enticement of sin.  Be with those who are being tempted and are weakening.  Give them the strength to stand up to the struggles of sin.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret        

12-27-2017

Good Morning All,

              Luke 10: 2; “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

    Are you one of those people who look on in awe as someone does something that you just don’t see yourself doing?  Are you amazed when someone becomes a missionary, moves half way around the world, lives in some remote part of the world in order to witness about Jesus?  Do you marvel when someone quits their job and suddenly becomes a mission person like a nurse or teacher or carpenter?  They leave a good paying job, the security they know and go to where their skills are desperately needed but definitely in a poor paying, somewhat unsafe place.

   It doesn’t even have to be this grand.  Maybe you see someone serve on a district or regional board for the church.  They have to get up and speak before large crowds and place their faith and their ideas out there where they can be attacked.  It might just being an elder in your church and you think “there is no way I could do that!” 

    We often hear that we need to “get out of our comfort zone.”  We need to “expand our horizons.”  In some ways this is true but in some ways; not so much.  It is true in that we need to live our life as a witness for Christ.  If we always shrink away, we need to strive to let our light shine.  Yet if you are one of those people who struggle doing that; then start small.  You don’t have to give up your job and move to a place you can’t pronounce.  You can start at home and at your place of work.  You can start with your children and grandchildren or your brothers and sisters or your spouse.  Then you can move to your co-workers and friends.

   The great thing is that you don’t have to be an elegant speaker; you simply need to let the love of Christ shine through.  It can be with a kind word first thing in the morning; it can be an extra dose of patience.  It can be stopping to help open a door or a simple smile.  Showing God’s love by simple acts of kindness can go a long way.  It can lead to someone asking you why you are so kind and happy.  Here is a chance to witness.  It doesn’t have to be a long theological statement.  It can simply be that with Jesus in my heart I am content with my life.  If they want a deeper answer, send them to your pastor.

   There is a lot of harvesting to do.  There are many souls who need to hear of God’s grace.  Any way that they can hear the message is important and those souls that are next door to you need it as much as someone a half a world away.  God calls us to witness to everyone.  It doesn’t have to be fancy; just honest.  After that, let the Holy Spirit take over.

Father, give me the courage to be your voice.  Give me the courage to be your hands and your arms.  Let your love flow through me to those who need it the most.  Keep me alert to the times and places when I can do the most good.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret

12-26-2017

Good Morning to you All,

    Acts 7:59; “And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

    Today is the Feast of Stephen, the one from King Wenceslas.  This is the day that we commemorate the martyrdom of Stephen.  It is church tradition to commemorate the death of the martyrs with a day to remember them. Stephen is first because he was the first to be martyred; that is he was killed because of his faith.  He was stoned by a group of Jewish leaders who, after hearing his testimony of faith, became enraged.  They took him out of the city and stoned him.  His dying words were for mercy on his murderers.  He called out, “Lord do not hold this sin against them.”

    The one thing about the stoning of Stephen that always intrigues is the insertion of the comment how the men who stoned Stephen had laid their garments at the feet of Saul.  This is the Saul who later would breathe fire in his attempt to stamp out the “blasphemous” new group of Christians.  He went from city to city with writs from the High Priest to seek out these men who were confessing that Jesus was the Son of God and bring them back to Jerusalem.  There they would be “dealt with”.  No one was as determined to destroy this “Jesus cult” as Saul was.  This was the Saul who would later become Paul; the man who would author one half of the New Testament.

    The thing that I want us to take away from this story is that no one is ever beyond hope.  Paul was just about the worst person in the world.  He was actively and violently seeking to destroy the church.  Yet Jesus called Paul and saved him.  Just like He wants to call you and save you.  It doesn’t matter what is in your past.  Jesus still wants you to hear his words of forgiveness.  It doesn’t matter if you are a woman who had an abortion or a spouse who destroyed your marriage.  It doesn’t matter if you and a family member had a huge fight and you said and did things which were wrong.  There is no sin that will keep you from God’s grace.

    Many times the media will act like there is something that is unforgivable.  Nothing is unforgivable.  To say that there is will be an attempt to limit God’s mercy and God’s mercy has no limit.  So if you feel the guilt of “unforgivability”, that is the devil speaking and not God’s Word of mercy.  God’s mercy is beyond any limits that anyone tries to place on it.  This is the certainty that we place our hope on.  God will free us from the pain of sin and the pain of guilt.  He forgives us.  This is to allow us to leave the guilt of sin behind us.  You are totally lovable to God.  He sent his Son to die for you.  He did this because he loves you completely and entirely.  God loves you for you and that love will never die.

Father of mercy, too often we feel completely worthless and beyond hope.  Yet your mercy and forgiveness is always there to bring us back to you.  Guard us by your Spirit and strengthen our faith.  Be with those who are especially guilty at this time.  Guide them to know your grace and feel the gift of your wondrous love.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret