Inquiring Minds - Romans 12:1-2 5-4-13

Sermon 5-4-13 inquiring minds – questions about life death and everything in between

Romans 12:1-2     A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform 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.

How I heard this as a youth

How the bishop explains it…..that our minds would be opened, renewed, paradigm shift

Don’t have to check your brain at the door.

Invitation to live in the now, many questions about eternity, live in the now.

should I feel guilty about having so much in a world where so many have so little.

Not guilty, but responsible

Rich man and lazarus luke 16

Parable of the talents mt 25 -  5,2,1 talent or bag of gold

Why do bad things

If God is perfect, why/how did He create a world with so many imperfections? Shouldn't a perfect being be able to create perfect things?

Why do bad things happen to good people?  Someone described a colleague as an evangelical atheist, who uses bad things happening to good people as why God does not exist.  

Why did Job have to suffer so much.

Harold Kushner’s book when bad things happen to good people

·         job 13:15 ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely^[a] defend my ways to his face.

·        Demello story

·         mt 5:45 ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

·        It’s the best of all worlds….we love and our choice matters

Praying for the dead

Give thanks for the dead

Pray for the living

Time in the old testament

I'm often puzzled with the measurement of "time" in the Bible and current "time"---Did Sarah really get pregnant when she was 90?? Is that our years? People in Genesis before Noah "lived for hundreds of years", Adam was 900+, Noah was 900+, Abraham 175?? How do I explain the concepts of time and age

Death dying heaven eternal life

I am dealing with frail, elderly parents right now, say something about dying, death and eternal life.

will  I continue to be tempted in heaven – and if so, does that entail a perpetual state of being forgiven?  it’s very difficult for me envision ever becoming “perfect.”  It’s just hard for me to imagine all these less-than-Christian thoughts being completely erased from my hard drive…so I ask….will I know longer be tempted in heaven?

To cross over is a great mystery.

From which on one ever comes back to discuss with us.

Spiritual existence.  We will be like the angels

Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord- MT 25

6. What will Heaven be like?
(Will we have physical bodies? what will we do?) will there be golden streets

we will live in the real spirit, in the presence of God. The thought of this and the understanding of this is beyond our comprehension.

1Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has ever seen, nor ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him".

Revelation 21:4 ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Does the Bible say anything about ages in heaven?  If a child dies on earth, do they stay a child in heaven?  Always wondered about this and if the Bible addresses it at all. 

5. Do dogs go to Heaven?
Isaiah 11:6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling^[a] together; and a little child will lead them.

Why does the Bible, specifically the New Testament, seem to suggest that when we die, physically as a believer, we will not get to be in heaven with Jesus until he makes His second coming?  1 Cor. 15:1-58 and 1 Thess. 4:15-17.  My understanding is that when a Christian passes away, their spirit instantly enters heaven and their shell of a body stays behind. 

To be absent from the body is to be present with the lord 2 cor 5:8

4. What would be the point of this life if what we learned here had not value in the spiritual after life?

I do think that we grow and change in this life. When we arrive in heaven, it should feel like home. [the renewing of the mind]

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Maybe there are different levels….different  things that happen to us depending on how we lived this life....

2 Corninthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body O do not know - God knows.

Of course there is purpose to our learning, growing and living here.

Jews in heaven?

I know some awesome Jews.  They do not believe Jesus was the Messiah.  It’s not that they need to be educated.  They have been informed and choose to believe differently.  Yet these are good people who believe in God and do good things for their fellow man. I have a hard time believing that a loving and graceful God would turn His back on them.

Mat 8:11 ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Luk 13:28

Why did Jesus say on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Bearing our sin

Quoting psalm 22

Mystery of God

My historic sense of self says there was a man named Jesus who claimed to be the son of God, performed miracles, was crucified and rose from the dead.  It's documented and I believe it; however, my scientific sense asks about God.  We are but small insignificant specks on a very small planet in a huge universe. 

At any given time thousands of people pray to God and He hears -- How? 

Through the years various Bible studies have expressed that when we pray the Holy Spirit groans for us and God hears.  If that's so, how does He make sense of all the groaning?  I think part of my problem is that I envision God as a giant of a man (way out in space somewhere.

Sometimes I feel very "in tune" while other times I feel very adrift.  Just because I think I'm following God's will for me, doesn't always mean I am.  I've misread so many signs and nudges throughout my lifetime, and it makes me sad. 

How can some people have such strong convictions about God all the time?

   I wish I could quit questioning and just go with it, but I can't. 

Should I have myself committed? :-)

Welcome to the human race

Some folks want a church where every question is answered. 

I tend to believe if you are around someone that knows it all, run as fast as you can

In my faith we have some answers and some handles

And we get to lean on the mystery of God

…..let us all lean into the mystery of God

9. Are we all smeared (sinners by nature) or does God love all of us unconditionally?
Both.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

Sin is about selfishness. This just means that we are all selfish by nature. Babies come out totally self-consumed. It is the human way.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17

6. What does it mean to live a holy life in this world?
but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Romans6:22

To have in your heart a passion, a desire to serve God and his people
It is a gift from God, you do not earn it. By the sacrifice of Jesus, our hearts are changed.

Not perfect, but growing in our desire for God.

Less of me, more of him

8. What do you do when your dreams for your life and your job don't come true?
Are our expectations too high?

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6in all you ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Proverbs3:5-7

conclusion

. I have been hurt by others in Bible studies who do not respect my opinion. When reading and interpreting the Bible, do I accept what the majority believe or do I trust my own opinion?

There is a blessing in the wisdom of others...

tradition holds the opinion of Wesley and Luther. Consider their thoughts.

the problem is that others hurt you.

Open your heart and mind to new perspectives………

May our minds be constantly renewed

Inquiring Minds - Questions about life after death Romans 8:35-39 04/14/2013

Sermon series – inquiring minds.  Questions about life death and everything in between part 2g

Romans 8:35-39  ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
                   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^{[j] psalm 44:22}

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

From a child……..Angels

Children have a right to ask questions.  We should engage them.

But remember that they usually don’t want paragraphs.

Don’t take them to seminary, answer their questions and let them play.

Children will take cues from you on how to act in times of pain…..

From a 7 year old……

How big are angels?   Can you see angels?
Can spirits fly?   Can you see them?
Can you feel them? Can they be bad?
Can demons be scared away by the spirits?
How are demons bad?   Can we turn them good?

I am concerned for our society that our kids ask questions about demons.

When I was a child we did not ask such questions.

These thoughts have been introduced to the world by dungeons and dragons, harry potter, etc.

I want to encourage you to create a world where your children know they are loved.  Where Gods love is bigger than all of the scary things.

What is the meaning of the pictures in the stain glass windows?
Adam and Eve in the Garden - Genesis 1,2
Noah and the flood - Genesis 6
Abraham and Issac - Genesis 22
Moses before the pharaoh - Exodus 5
Rahab and the prostitute - Joshua 2
Elijah ascends to Heaven in the chariot of fire – 2 kings 2

Birth of Jesus - Luke 2
Jesus presented in the temple - Luke 2
Jesus teaching the the temple - Luke 2
Baptism of Jesus - Luke 3
Jesus-sermons on the mount - Matthew 5,6,7
Jesus on the cross - Matthew 27
Jesus resurrected-ascending - Matthew 28

Holy Spirit-the day of the Pentecost - Acts 2

What about Anointing w oil in Methodist church

Practice reserved for two situations

Old testament kings are anointed……Saul and David anointed by Samuel

New Testament to anoint the sick

I have anointed people who were sick- usually at their request. 

I have never have anointed a king.

if someone commits suicide do they go to hell?

Suicide is the most painful thing.  If you are considering it, let me reach into you.

Permanent solution to a temporary problem

The most painful moments I have ever witnessed in life were helping families after a suicide.

Do they go to hell?  Nothing in scripture would indicate this.

If you are considering this, please get help.  Please reconsider.

Is there an unforgiveable sin

Jesus mentions this in mt 12, but he is talking to the Pharisees.

Sometimes we take things in the bible that were meant for the moment and try to make them universal.

·        Women should not speak in church.

·        Slaves obey your masters.

Jesus is talking to people that have witnessed his miracles.  They have attributed them to Satan.  Long as they are stuck there, they are probably in trouble.

Hell is a place that God has created for those who willfully reject him.

The mystics say that God did this in his love.  Allows a place for them to go.

If you are worried about the unpardonable sin, your worry in and of itself is sure proof that the spirit is alive and well in your heart.

1 John 1:9 (NIV) ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Sibling Rivalry

How come my brother and I fight so much?  We try not too.  Like when mom just comes home from work then we tattle tell on each other. then she gets mad at us and I dont like it.  We dont fight when we play outside. We drive our mom crazy when we do this. Even when my brother pesters me and i try to ignore him we still start fighting then everybody gets in a bad mood.  How come we have to fight each other.

I love my brother too, but the fighting makes me and my mom sad. or if I am fighting it makes Isaac and my mom sad or grumpy.

We are upset by things that we let bother us.

If they make fun of us because we have green hair, we are not bothered.

“Rivalry” is natural.  It is about getting attention.  Feeling loved. 

Cain and Abel.  Jacob and Esau.  James and John (Mark 10:37).

As we grow older, we find our connections.  We are not striving to be recognized.  Rivalries move to that of someone in the office that gets the attention or the promotion.

The greatest rivals can become the greatest allies. (Britain and America)

Methodist Connections

I don't necessarily detect the presence of a UMW or UMM. Women's Ministries is not the same as UMW. Since the Discipline is pretty firm in stating that these organizations should exist, why don't they?

The discipline is less firm than it used to be.   Many shalls are now mays and we have an over riding paragraph that indicates that churches can organize in what ever way they find efficient for effective ministry.

So while we don’t have a formalized and institutionalized expression of UMW or UMM, we do uphold their mission.  To bring together men and women respectively for prayer, fellowship and service.

Not only do we achieve these aims, we do so through a permission-giving model that deemphasizes rules about committee make-up and structure while promoting and enhancing opportunities to connect people to Jesus and transform the world.

I haven't seen the complete list of missions that Woods Chapel participates in, but I haven't heard mention of Della Lamb or Spofford which are "owned" by the UMC. a. does Woods Chapel support those missions? b. if not, why?

          I don’t think that Della Lamb or spofford are owned, I believe they are in an affiliate relationship with the UMC.  Some years ago, ministries like this were removed from the must give, to may give categories.

          mission were decentralized, giving local churches the power to support agencies           and organizations they are passionate about that align with their mission/gifts/unique callings.

We are heavily involved with spofford.  I don’t know that we are involved with della lamb. The way we get involved in ministries is a three step process.  A person must be able to demonstrate

Does the thing fit the mission

Who will do it?  Do I have a team that is interested?

How will it be funded?

There are many other ways that we are connected to the district and conference

Missions

Missions bld

Trailer in Joplin

Use of building

Pastors luncheon

Open welcome to our district and conf friends.

Can you be a good Christian if you don't take the Old Testament stories literally?
What is a good Christian? Loves God, loves neighbor, gives self away in the name of Jesus.
He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind," and, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Lk 10:27
Can you be a good Christian? Sure, if you want to be.

You can be a bad Christian and believe every Old Testament story too. We need to draw fewer lines of separation and more circles that take people in.

What about cremation?
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1Cor 15:42-44

Ecclesiastes 3:20  (NIV)

²⁰ All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.

Tithing, before or after taxes?
10% gross or net. Dave Ramsey says adjusted gross income.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there many be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it..Mal 3:10

How do we teach our children to stand against Atheism?
How do we combat atheism that is all around us? Idolatry?

You don't stand against something, you stand for something
You teach by word and deed

Set the example
Be ready to give answer

1Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Having spent Easter with my sister who is probably agnostic at best, what's the best reply for someone who is looking for ways to connect to God but hasn't found that way yet? She reads all sorts of "spiritual" books, but finds the Bible stories from when she was growing up as myths only - good for kids and teaching morality, but beyond that... I doubt she'd read the Bible. she thinks that as long as she's a good person, belief in God and Jesus are unnecesary. What would you tell her?

I would tell her that God is love. 1 jn 4

Most of these folks don’t believe in the god of the church, the jesus of the church.

The church has been so heavy, it has created many of these folks by its heavy handed ways

If they could ever get a picture of the amazing loving creator God, they might be more willing to listen.

You can show them.

I would like to know some suggestions on how you can "bring someone's faith back" after they have strayed.

Find some books, not heavy  books that they might read that would help them move along.

When you talk to them, don’t hurt them.

Let them see the love and joy of your life.

What are two more of your favorite scriptures?

My second question is, How does one love himself?   All throughout the bible we are taught this very important 2nd commandment from Jesus.  To love others as we love ourselves.  The Bible gives us all kinds of stories and ways to love others.  I know how to love my wife, son, daughter-in-law, family and friends.  However, no one has ever taught me how to love myself!

Prodigal son – radical forgiveness.

          Jesus was not known for running with former sinners

Romans 8

There is a difference between loving yourself and how you feel about yourself.

I am very grateful for my life.  I love the gift of life.  The chance that I have to do these things.

Sometimes I feel funny about myself.  Low self esteem.

I want to separate these two things out.

The healthiest love for God and others does not come from a broken, crushed, terrible outlook about myself.  The healthiest love for God and others comes from a sense that I am valued by God.

The little voice in the back of my head does not want to give up

But we need the voice of God to get louder.

God made me and God doesn’t make junk.

Nothing can separate me from God’s love.

 ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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?