Inquiring Minds, Part 1 James 3:2-12b 4-7-13

Sermon 4-7-13   Inquiring minds pt 1     James 3:2-12b

² We all stumble^(D) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say^(E) is perfect,^(F) able to keep their whole body in check.^(G)3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.^{(H) 4} Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.^(I) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire,^(J) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,^(K) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.^(L)7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.^(M)9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.^{(N) 10} Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?^(O) Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Spent four days in Nicaragua.  Be talking about this in a few weeks.  Considering adopting a village.  Please be praying about this.

Today - This is a new series.  Inquiring minds.  Questions about life, death and everything in between.  Part 1

Questions collected by email and facebook, feel free to toss some in the mix.  Cant answer all of them, but will do what we can.

We won’t get to all questions.  Some questions require a conversation or more time than we have here.  Would love to schedule a time to talk if you have such a question.

When you ask, “what are your questions”, you have to be prepared for some tough ones like…

Where are the cheetos?

What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?

Christian life-many of the questions asked concern the 

How to deal with mean/rude people?  How to turn the other cheek?  How to see the joy?

How can I learn to be patient with others impatience?

Rule 1.  Refer back to James.   Close mouth. Don’t always have to say what we think. Tame the tongue.

You don’t have to say everything that you feel.

Don’t let out what you feel inside

This does not mean you don’t have an opinion or that you can’t share your feelings, but how we say something is often as important as what we say.  Timing is another important piece to remember.  We have to exercise control over our thoughts, words, actions.

People are more important than ideas

Rule 2. Patience is a virtue. It is a response, not a reaction.  We can practice being patient with other by first being patient with ourselves and recognizing God is patient. 

Rule 3.  Start to work in seeing the good. 

They are broken

          This is a small thing

          I may be powerless here.  That is ok

          In fact everything is ok….

My question is why are we all so stubborn...or is that just me?

It’s just you!

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverb 14:12 & 16:25)

We have brains.  We have free will.  We become convinced of things over time.  We should have convictions.  Things we hold on to. 

          But we also need to have an open mind

The question is how open will we remain to change? 

How willing are we to consider new information and ideas?

We like things to go our way

          We don’t like change

          Life forces change on us

          We all have choices in how we respond to them

          Do you remember a time when you were against something, then it turned out ok after all?   

Ministry or threat.  People and ideas.  Are they a threat to your well being, or do they represent a chance for you to be in ministry?

Proverb 18:2  Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions

Why is it so hard to concentrate on reading the Bible or preaching. Sometimes my mind does not seem to absorb what I am reading. This is a question from my husband.

         

First, if your mind wanders, chase it, see where it goes.  Maybe God has something for you there.

I’ve never been able to read more/absorb more by beating myself up about being distracted.  We have to give ourselves a break.  You are not a bad person because you get distracted or fall asleep.

There are multiple intelligences.  Different ways of learning.

Having trouble absorbing what you read?

Maybe you don’t learn best by reading.  Get the Bible on audio (still in the bookstore?) 

Or get a different Bible.  Read with someone. 

Maybe there’s a lot going on. Brains are full

Slow down. Rest. Relax.

Its ok to fall asleep while reading

Just don’t stop seeking God.

Ask, seek, knock (Matthew 7:7)

Make up  of the church

How many were raised Methodist?  Baptist?  Didn’t attend church.  only raise your hand if you are comfortable.  You can answer more than once.

How many former catholics are there at wcc?

How did the Catholic Church begin from the crucifixion of Jesus.  

Didn’t……. church was persecuted for 300 years.  No way to organize until Constantine…….edict of Milan 311.  Ended persecution.  He organized and ran the first councils….council of nicea led by emperor, not pope

Why did the Protestant Church begin and when? 1517 luthers 95 thesis on whittenburg door. Calvin,  Zwingli, Lutherans, Moravians, reformed, Anabaptists, puritans, Presbyterians.  Anglicans 1534.  Methodists 1784

Do you believe in predestination?

Describe what it is

Two sides of the discussion- john calvin 1530’s & Jacob Arminius 1590’s

Calvinism.  People are totally depraved and cannot choose God.  God elects predestins some to heaven some to hell.  Justification is limited to who god chooses. Holy spirit cannot be resisited.  Once saved, always saved.

Arminius. Depravity does not get in the way of free will. All that choose Christ are elected.  There is unlimited justification.  Holy spirit can be resisted.  You can fall away.

If you take predestination with the rest of Calvinism, its pretty harsh

Reeces peanut butter cup theology.

I believe that god knows, but does not force

Methodists tend to stand in the stream of free will

Lots of Personal questions came in

What is the most difficult, for you, about being a pastor (and a husband, and a Dad, and a friend...)

·        Husband- when I am mad at her. We are different.  But I want to serve her.  Sometimes I don’t think I get a fair shake.  Tame the tongue

·        Dad – when you have to discipline them- alli and the bible…

·        Friend- I love being a friend.  when you lose a friend

If you could do anything and knew you wouldn't fail, what would you choose?

·        Open satellite churches / Start a radio program

·        Write a book / Send missionaries into the field

What is one of your favorite passages in the bible and why?

·        Romans 1:20 –

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,^(AQ) so that people are without excuse.^(AR)

·        Good Samaritan Luke 10

·        Prodigal son Luke 15 - Romans 8

·        Psalm 23  - 1cor 13 - 1 jn 4

Do you share your faith and beliefs as openly with your family as you do with the church? Do you minister to them as you would stranger on the street in need of help?

conclusion

If you had to explain/show your son who Jesus was/is, but you couldn't use words, what would you do/how would you 'explain' Him?