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.

Straight Talk About Life & Death Eccl 3:9-14 10/14/2012

10-14-12 Sermon straight talk about life and death  Eccl 3 9-14

What does the worker gain from his toil?^{(E) 10} I have seen the burden God has laid on men.^{(F) 11} He has made everything beautiful in its time.^(G) He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom^(H) what God has done from beginning to end.^{(I) 12} I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. ¹³ That everyone may eat and drink,^(J) and find satisfaction^(K) in all his toil—this is the gift of God.^{(L) 14} I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.^(M)

Need some volunteers for the orchestra

The scripture says

To eat and drink and find satisfaction in your work.  This is a gift of God

How many people really find satisfaction and joy in life?

We are asleep in this life

Walking with our heads down

We are exhausted

We have allowed ourselves to be drug into parts of life that don’t matter

We have lost the party

We have lost the celebration

We need to remind each other that life is good.

	Picture Here of smiling child

 

Most babies understand that life is a celebration. 

Everyone is happy.  Everything is good. 

There is a general trust in the world

Yet it doesn’t take very long and we grow out of that simple innocence.

Partly because of what others do to us

We carry many Burdens upon our backs

Woe to the Pharisees u put them on others, but won’t carry them yrselves

Voices of authority that hurt us

Voices that are still in the back of our heads- years later

Partly we get hurt because we take the messages in.

We take them in.  we allow these voices to hurt us

You can be in pain and suffer, or you can be in pain and not suffer.

Monk found enlightenment.  Before enlightenment, I was depressed and I suffered.  After enlightenment, I am still depressed, but I no longer suffer

Jesus said, don’t worry about your life….

He talked about the birds of the air and the Lilies of the field

We worry about so much

The dog and the rabbit.

One runs for fun the other runs for its life.

Which does you life feel like?

Awake thou that sleepest

Eph 5:14 Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

This is about more than saying yes to Jesus.

Some Christians punch their ticket for heaven

they believe but have no joy - no celebration

We are missing a great thing in this life

	Picture here

 

Mom’s norman Rockwell

“lift up thine eyes”

We spend a lot of time in this life looking at the wrong things

We focus on and invest in things that will not satisfy

Cars, clothes and stuff. 

The one with the most toys at the end wins.

When we focus on what we want we are never happy.

When we focus on the good parts of life, then we are whole.

Life is both work and spirituality

I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.

God has placed eternity in their hearts- we know that there is more

I was speaking at a funeral recently, it was my job to talk about the person’s spiritual life.  But as I listened to the family and friends talk about the person’s personal life, I realized that their entire life was spiritual.

So is yours.

Imagine asking Jesus – “How’s your spiritual life?”

Its all spiritual.  The trick is to wake up and act like it.

To see life for what it is

What if you stop thinking of yourself as tall or short, rich or poor.  Wearing nice or cheap clothes.

Nice car, old car. 

You are not your house, your clothes or even the people around you. 

You are not them and you are not defined by them unless you allow yourself to be

What if you think of yourself right now as the sum total of the love that is in your life.  Are you empty or are you full?

When you think of the love that you have, even if it is just a little bit.  Doesn’t that make you happy?  When we think of the love in our hearts, doesn’t the rest of life cease to be important?

People that are awake are no longer trapped by everything that happens to them

They are no longer dominated by the worries of life.

The Symphony

they see life as a symphony.  Every person, every part, is a beautiful layer of the music.

How do you know if you are awake to life?  How do you see yourself?  How do you see others?

It is a difficult journey that not everyone undertakes.

One writer describe his struggle in terms of trying to make progress on the three most difficult things

The three most difficult things for any human being

1.     Returning love for hate

2.     Including the excluded

3.     Admitting you were wrong

See the world as god sees the world and you begin to make progress really living.

When we are looking at others in a human way, our eye is obstructed.  Jesus said take the board out of your eye.

When we stop trying to look at others and things that we don’t like, and instead look at God, then we can see as we should

Romans 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good^(BD) of those who love him

Ok god if I love you more, the painful things will go away

Instead of

I trust you god.  I am going to stop resisting this thing, & see the good in it.

That is when we begin to wake up.  Circumstances don’t change.  We chg

The sermon is straight talk about life and death

Lets talk about the death part for a moment

I witness so many fine Christian people who are terrified of death

Why should we be?

Death is a natural part of life.

Last time I looked every one of us was going to die.

So why are we surprised when it comes to those we love?

Everyone else can die but not my family?

When we learn how to live, we learn how to die.

Great people show us, not just how to live, but also how to face death

They don’t just talk about trusting god, they trust God

This is then how we come to know how to die

When our hope is finally no longer in things, but in god

Spirituality is not attained by adding more things to our life

It is largely found by removing the things that should not be there

When we stop loving that which should not be exalted,

When we let god have his rightful place, then the result is peace.

When we put no other gods before him

There were many people that Jesus could not help.

The same rain falls on all, in some it produces thorns, in others, flowers

You will decide if your life is filled with joy or worry.

you must seek this awareness.  No one else can do it for you. 

Either you will pursue it, or you will not have it.

“Every man dies, not every man really lives.” – Wm Wallace in Braveheart

May God bless you and fill you on this journey w/the things that truly matter May you be filled with the life that truly is life.