Sermon 10-19-03 Isaiah 6
Serving God by serving others
Story of man and the bikers
A man arrives at the pearly gates, and St. Peter looks up his record and says, “Well, you didn’t do anything particularly good, but neither did you do anything particularly bad. I’ll tell you what: If you can tell me of one really good deed you’ve done, I’ll let you stay.”So the man says, “Well, once I saw some bikers menacing a young woman. I stopped my car. I took out my tire iron. I walked up to their leader, a huge, hairy, ugly man, full of tattoos. He had a nose ring. I ripped it right out of his nose, and I said, ‘You leave this girl alone, you hear?’ I stared at all of them, and I said, ‘Now get out of here, or you’ll have to answer to me.’”St. Peter was impressed.”When did this happen?” he asked the man.”About two minutes ago.”
Each of us has gifts, talents and abilities
Christian service begins when we see God
We’re not Isaiah. Sometimes we don’t want to help
The Reader’s Digest recently reported the following recorded message on a department store answering machine: “If you are calling to place an order, press 5. If you are calling to register a complaint, press 304-9783726434 398712. Have a good day.”
Most people wish to serve God—but in an advisory capacity only.
We act when we understand the need
pictures
there are many ways to serve
We offer to help
Assimilation coord
Will be after you
Connecting people
You willl be asked to indicate how you will serve in 2004
If you are a member, you have made a commitment to be in service
Duty yes, but not just a duty, a joy
-there may be some good left undone if you don’t help
much joy….
It brings meaning
the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, “This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor.”
They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy idleness disintegrated.
I am the pastor and it is my job to do and say these things. But I could have other jobs. I am not here because it is my job. I am here because I want others to know what I found in the world, I want them to know there is a path. Woods chapel gives a little light for people to see by. Christian people follow a brighter light than the glimmer of their own candle; they are part of something beautiful .... Our church is filled with people who are working for peace and freedom, who are out there on the streets and inside praying, and they are home writing letters, and they are at the shelters with platters of food.
Old bible, the ongoing story
Be willing to serve where ever God calls you
God is looking for those to serve in His name
God takes a hand whenever he can find it and just does what he likes with it. Sometimes he takes a bishop’s hand and lays it on a child’s head in benediction. And then he takes the hand of a doctor to relieve the pain, the hand of a mother to guide a child. And sometimes he takes the hand of a poor old creature like me to give comfort to a neighbor. But they’re all hands touched by his Spirit, and his Spirit’s everywhere lookin’ for hands to use.
Serving God by serving others
Story of man and the bikers
A man arrives at the pearly gates, and St. Peter looks up his record and says, “Well, you didn’t do anything particularly good, but neither did you do anything particularly bad. I’ll tell you what: If you can tell me of one really good deed you’ve done, I’ll let you stay.”So the man says, “Well, once I saw some bikers menacing a young woman. I stopped my car. I took out my tire iron. I walked up to their leader, a huge, hairy, ugly man, full of tattoos. He had a nose ring. I ripped it right out of his nose, and I said, ‘You leave this girl alone, you hear?’ I stared at all of them, and I said, ‘Now get out of here, or you’ll have to answer to me.’”St. Peter was impressed.”When did this happen?” he asked the man.”About two minutes ago.”
Each of us has gifts, talents and abilities
Christian service begins when we see God
We’re not Isaiah. Sometimes we don’t want to help
The Reader’s Digest recently reported the following recorded message on a department store answering machine: “If you are calling to place an order, press 5. If you are calling to register a complaint, press 304-9783726434 398712. Have a good day.”
Most people wish to serve God—but in an advisory capacity only.
We act when we understand the need
pictures
there are many ways to serve
We offer to help
Assimilation coord
Will be after you
Connecting people
You willl be asked to indicate how you will serve in 2004
If you are a member, you have made a commitment to be in service
Duty yes, but not just a duty, a joy
-there may be some good left undone if you don’t help
much joy….
It brings meaning
the Roman aqueduct at Segovia, in his native Spain. It was built in 109 A.D. For eighteen hundred years, it carried cool water from the mountains to the hot and thirsty city. Nearly sixty generations of men drank from its flow. Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, “This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor.”
They did; they laid modern iron pipes. They gave the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest. And the aqueduct began to fall apart. The sun beating on the dry mortar caused it to crumble. The bricks and stone sagged and threatened to fall. What ages of service could not destroy idleness disintegrated.
I am the pastor and it is my job to do and say these things. But I could have other jobs. I am not here because it is my job. I am here because I want others to know what I found in the world, I want them to know there is a path. Woods chapel gives a little light for people to see by. Christian people follow a brighter light than the glimmer of their own candle; they are part of something beautiful .... Our church is filled with people who are working for peace and freedom, who are out there on the streets and inside praying, and they are home writing letters, and they are at the shelters with platters of food.
Old bible, the ongoing story
Be willing to serve where ever God calls you
God is looking for those to serve in His name
God takes a hand whenever he can find it and just does what he likes with it. Sometimes he takes a bishop’s hand and lays it on a child’s head in benediction. And then he takes the hand of a doctor to relieve the pain, the hand of a mother to guide a child. And sometimes he takes the hand of a poor old creature like me to give comfort to a neighbor. But they’re all hands touched by his Spirit, and his Spirit’s everywhere lookin’ for hands to use.
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