Jan
24 – open doors
15 Now
when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, coming to meet him; and he
greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?”
And Jehonadab answered, “It is.”
Jehu said, “If
it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and he took
him up to him into the chariot.
[after the welcome, stand shake hands and greet – meet someone you have never met]
The series on Methodism continues
Week one...John Wesley's heart was warmed. We still believe that God can touch, warm and change the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit
Week two...beliefs...
Week one...John Wesley's heart was warmed. We still believe that God can touch, warm and change the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit
Week two...beliefs...
the
simple gospel, nothing is added
respect
and love for the scriptures
grace
based...focus not on a persons sin, but on God's ability to help them
love
is central, love is key, love is the mark of a Methodist
Today,
I am a United Methodist because everyone is welcome
2Kings10:15 - Elisha the prophet, jehu the king
If your heart is with me, give me your hand
2Kings10:15 - Elisha the prophet, jehu the king
If your heart is with me, give me your hand
catholic spirit - essentials, not periperals
we will focus on the essentials
we will not be divided by peripherals...
why are there so many small churches?
we will focus on the essentials
we will not be divided by peripherals...
why are there so many small churches?
Preach politics, carve of 1/3 of folks
Jesus was a Democrat...if Republican He would have rode into Jerusalem on and elephant.\
Methodist slogan: open doors, open hearts, open minds
Who will you vote for, what are your feelings on abortion, what is your opinion of stem cell research...I am not concerned with such things.
I have an opinion, but I am not in the business of causing u to agree with me
There is only one thing we must agree on, Jesus Christ and him crucified
Is your heart as mine? Then give me your hand...
We can learn from people who are different from us DJ Good & Leroy Cundiff
We are enriched when we love them and try to understand them
People are always more important than ideas.
who are you willing to give your hand to?
Wesley opened the church to the poor
He preached in the fields to coal miners as they can out after work
Jesus was a Democrat...if Republican He would have rode into Jerusalem on and elephant.\
Methodist slogan: open doors, open hearts, open minds
Who will you vote for, what are your feelings on abortion, what is your opinion of stem cell research...I am not concerned with such things.
I have an opinion, but I am not in the business of causing u to agree with me
There is only one thing we must agree on, Jesus Christ and him crucified
Is your heart as mine? Then give me your hand...
We can learn from people who are different from us DJ Good & Leroy Cundiff
We are enriched when we love them and try to understand them
People are always more important than ideas.
who are you willing to give your hand to?
Wesley opened the church to the poor
He preached in the fields to coal miners as they can out after work
This message was unwelcome in the church
Who will you welcome into this church?
Is everyone welcome?
MLKjr We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and , therefore brothers.
We must never see each other as white. black, Asian, we must look and see a child of God
You don't have to believe in Jesus to attend church here
Non-Christians are welcome
Will you welcome those who do not sing
members tell me….I don't understand why people don't sing, something is wrong...
People that can only come 1 per month...welcome?
Pew renters vs time-share owners
Church competes for available time
Conservative vs liberal
Those with piercings
Fred Phelps? Jim Jones?
Boundaries...members can do something that staff cannot do.
Some behavior, staff must leave
Who will you welcome into this church?
Is everyone welcome?
MLKjr We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.
The good neighbor looks beyond the external accidents and discerns those inner qualities that make all men human and , therefore brothers.
We must never see each other as white. black, Asian, we must look and see a child of God
You don't have to believe in Jesus to attend church here
Non-Christians are welcome
Will you welcome those who do not sing
members tell me….I don't understand why people don't sing, something is wrong...
People that can only come 1 per month...welcome?
Pew renters vs time-share owners
Church competes for available time
Conservative vs liberal
Those with piercings
Fred Phelps? Jim Jones?
Boundaries...members can do something that staff cannot do.
Some behavior, staff must leave
Some
behavior in congregation, under escort...stalker – not welcome
Back to who is welcome...
You are welcome but we have no room for your children
What if we tried to reach the 20 somethings are they welcome? Would you put up with their music so that we might win them? Let our church grow old and die...we do not want to change.
What if we brought 100 new people into the church and their presence caused a disruption to your friendships... what if you had to share your time, you had to split your Sunday School class...would they be welcome?
Who will sit at the banquent table? [how many stories like this are there?]
Scriptures...
Luke 7 Jesus feet are washed by a prostitute
Luke 8 Gerasene demoniac-from across the sea...
Luke 10 Good Samaritan [a Samaritan and good]
John 4 Woman at the well
Acts 10 Peter's vision of clean and unclean
Jesus hung with tax collectors and sinners
He drove religious people crazy
The church, especially the large church is a paradigm of Christian community.
Community is not longer about agreement
Biblical hospitality included
--Welcome with a kiss
--washing their feet
--food and drink
today during greeting, I asked you to meet people that you did not know.
Today I ask you welcome them
Buy them a cup of coffee
Take them to lunch
See the good in them and give them a hand up
Dear Lord,
May everyone feel welcome at this church. May everyone feel that they are loved. May then sense the feeling of family. Lord, let no one ever worry about race, wealth or age. May everyone who walks in this door find Jesus. and may they find Jesus in how we treat them. Amen
Back to who is welcome...
You are welcome but we have no room for your children
What if we tried to reach the 20 somethings are they welcome? Would you put up with their music so that we might win them? Let our church grow old and die...we do not want to change.
What if we brought 100 new people into the church and their presence caused a disruption to your friendships... what if you had to share your time, you had to split your Sunday School class...would they be welcome?
Who will sit at the banquent table? [how many stories like this are there?]
Scriptures...
Luke 7 Jesus feet are washed by a prostitute
Luke 8 Gerasene demoniac-from across the sea...
Luke 10 Good Samaritan [a Samaritan and good]
John 4 Woman at the well
Acts 10 Peter's vision of clean and unclean
Jesus hung with tax collectors and sinners
He drove religious people crazy
The church, especially the large church is a paradigm of Christian community.
Community is not longer about agreement
Biblical hospitality included
--Welcome with a kiss
--washing their feet
--food and drink
today during greeting, I asked you to meet people that you did not know.
Today I ask you welcome them
Buy them a cup of coffee
Take them to lunch
See the good in them and give them a hand up
Dear Lord,
May everyone feel welcome at this church. May everyone feel that they are loved. May then sense the feeling of family. Lord, let no one ever worry about race, wealth or age. May everyone who walks in this door find Jesus. and may they find Jesus in how we treat them. Amen
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