Sermon- reach out- pt 3- helping other churches 7-26-09 Gal 6:1-10
Reach out series, part 3 – 1-helping others, 2-sharing your faith, 3-helping other churches
Seems like an odd topic……seldom discussed
Invitation to think spiritually
why wouldn’t churches help each other
Well funny you should ask, you never hear of scout troops dogging each other. Troop 255 is better than troop 1877
When you go to eat at Chili’s the server doesn’t tell you that the food at 54th street is terrible,
But churches and pastors can sometimes act like high schools….
we are the good ones, they are the bad ones.
Every town I have ever lived in, someone said
Our church is the biggest one in town….you stink
Vacation visit to grace umc……Robinson’s at grace umc
Friends, it should not be so- we are all on the same team- not competitors
In new testament times churches helped each other
they were independent, they were also interdependent as well.
none of the churches in the New Testament stood alone
they did not refuse to interact with one another.
But, they served and helped one another.
And they did this, not because they had some sort of control that they wanted, rather they did it because they loved other churches, and wanted to see the gospel flourish in another location.
Acts 1:8 describes the work of the Holy Spirit in the work of taking the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.
By the time acts is concluded, the church has spread all over the thn known world
In Acts 11 the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas off to Antioch. To help w a revival
Later in acts 11 Antioch sends money and support to help with a famine in Judea
In Acts 16 Paul meets -timothy was raised in Lystra and Derbe, but left those places, and ministered with Paul in many cities As these churches released this man, he became a help to many other churches.
In Phil 4 the Philippian church sends a gift for the traveling ministry to Paul thru their messenger Epaphroditus
Paul sent tychiucus to the ephesian and collossian church. He was also a helper to the ministry of Titus
Colossians 4:7, "As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information."
Titus traveling with Paul and on behalf of Paul.
Titus visited Corinth (2 Cor. 12:18). He also spent some time in Dalmatia
Paul writes to Titus in chapter 1, verse 5, "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you."
In Romans 15 the churches of Macedonia and Achaia helping the needy in Jerusalem
Our scripture today asks us to do good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of faith. Who is the household of faith today?
I want every church to grow, except those that are hurting others
Who is the family of faith-
Presbyterian, Lutherans, Greek and Russian orthodox, Amish, Mennonites, Methodist, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Nondenominational, Catholic, reformed, Assemblies of God, Pentecostal, Holiness, Quaker,
How does your church currently care for others?
We are not bragging and can never do so.
. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Everything we learned we learned from others
Church of resurrection
Downtown Lees summit umc
Schweitzer in Springfield, lacroix in cape Girardeau, Kirkwood umc
How do we help other churches now?
We have done seminars
Independence, Peculiar, Wichita, Harrisonville, st. Joseph, st Louis, Jefferson city, Warrenton, Sedalia, Springfield
Some of the things that we cover in the presentations
Culture, organization, permission giving, values, missions statements, missions; outward focus, call based ministry, stewardship, dealing w conflict, discipleship
Classes coming up in a few months…..Going to go thru this ……
Helped financially
Mozambique
CVV
5% from fund- list them
Will have another fund like this in our next capital funds drive
Spent time with pastors and staff
Intern program for seminary students
District office coming here in June
Why is this important
We were a church plant –LS first umc
Do you remember where we came from? We need to give back
The conference gave us 405/260,000
Kingdom thinking
Not self thinking…I am not being fed, but how can I help???
What else can we do
Understand that you are in the mission field with all Christians in all churches
See other churches as our brothers and sister
Never speak ill of another congregation
Never try to steal another church’s people, unless they are being hurt
Go visit bob Jeppson’s church
Starting a new church
Go with the new church – new, smaller, like pastor dave
Go with new church for a year……
Go for a month…….be an usher or a greeter for a month
God calls each of us to ministry in our church, In our neighbor hood, and with all Christians in the world. We are in this together. John Wesley said, the world is my parish.
Let us pray.
Showing posts with label helping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helping. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Reach Out...Helping Others 1John 3:16-20 7-12-09
Sermon 7-12-09 reach out- helping others scripture 1 jn 3:16-20
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
What is the Christian faith?
A relationship with God thru Jesus Christ
that translates into a life that gives itself away in the name of and spirit of christ.
We have been taught that there is a danger in works righteousness.
And there is.
What we have not been taught is that there is a danger in knowledge only spirituality.
We were taught to believe in Jesus, go to church, read the bible, and have daily devotions. No one ever told me that if we stopped there, we run the risk in living a life of faith that is still self centered.
My money, my car, my house, my blessings, my stuff, my time, my God at my convenience
While avoiding works righteousness, I fear that we have created a culture of Christians in America
That excuse not helping the poor
That have forgotten about the hungry in Africa and KC
That drive by the homeless, the very ones that exemplify “the least of these”
Many American Christians dismiss the notion of stewardship
We choose to use our resources as we see fit
We See others as we choose instead of seeing them as God sees them
We have driven away an entire generation of Americans by trying to tell them the gospel story without the accompanying actions of love.
There is no witness with out action.
Maslow’s higherarchy of needs
Physiological Needs
the most basic needs - water, air, food, and sleep- all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.
Security Needs
Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment.
Social Needs
These include needs for belonging, love, and affection. friendships, romance, families -involvement in social, community or religious groups.
Esteem Needs
things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment.
Self-actualizing Needs
Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling their potential
Where does the verbal message of the gospel fit?
It hits the three top levels, but not level one…..
We cant speak to them if we don’t feed them
What is the evidence of scripture
What do we see in the life of jesus?
Jn 13 - Washing feet
They were talking about who was great…jesus washed feet
Mt. 14 story of Loaves and fishes- feeding the 5,000
Jesus healed many. Dinner time came. The disciples wanted to send them away
Jesus said, no, we are going to feed them
Mark 9 -a cup of cold water 33-37 and 41
33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." ………41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
Luke 10- Good Samaritan- the religious people pass by
Show the video - Good sam version for 2009
Mt 25- I was in prison and you visited me. I was hungry and you fed me
doesn’t ask how they got hungry or in prison….just that you fed me.
Mt 25 version for 2009
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For you saw me hungry on the corner with a sign but kept your window rolled up., I was thirsty under the bridge and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a strange new neighbor and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and your closets were full of things that you did not wear, but you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison at the Jackson County detention center, 1300 Cherry, KCMO and you did not look after me.' 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty on a corner or a stranger in our neighborhood or needing clothes or sick or in prison in Kansas City, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
James = faith w/o works
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
There is no witness without action
quotes
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Quotes on Sacrifice
Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?
St francis………- Preach the gospel. Use words if needed.
Conclusion - We have forgotten who we are/ who we were
story reported in the New York Times about a female commuter who suffered a seizure during the New York rush hour. While hundreds of commuters streamed by, it was only the homeless, living in the city's bus terminal, who showed concern and compassion. It was the homeless who put their hats, scarves and gloves under the woman's head. It was the homeless who wiped her face. It was the homeless who watched over her while one of them got a police officer to radio for help. The title of this newspaper report? None But the Homeless Stopped: None But the Homeless Helped.-New York Times, 3 January 1990,
Do you remember a time in your life when you didn’t have money for food.
When you couldn’t go anywhere because you needed your gas to go to work
reaching out begins with a commitment to help those less fortunate
prayer of st francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy. grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
What is the Christian faith?
A relationship with God thru Jesus Christ
that translates into a life that gives itself away in the name of and spirit of christ.
We have been taught that there is a danger in works righteousness.
And there is.
What we have not been taught is that there is a danger in knowledge only spirituality.
We were taught to believe in Jesus, go to church, read the bible, and have daily devotions. No one ever told me that if we stopped there, we run the risk in living a life of faith that is still self centered.
My money, my car, my house, my blessings, my stuff, my time, my God at my convenience
While avoiding works righteousness, I fear that we have created a culture of Christians in America
That excuse not helping the poor
That have forgotten about the hungry in Africa and KC
That drive by the homeless, the very ones that exemplify “the least of these”
Many American Christians dismiss the notion of stewardship
We choose to use our resources as we see fit
We See others as we choose instead of seeing them as God sees them
We have driven away an entire generation of Americans by trying to tell them the gospel story without the accompanying actions of love.
There is no witness with out action.
Maslow’s higherarchy of needs
Physiological Needs
the most basic needs - water, air, food, and sleep- all needs become secondary until these physiological needs are met.
Security Needs
Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health insurance, safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment.
Social Needs
These include needs for belonging, love, and affection. friendships, romance, families -involvement in social, community or religious groups.
Esteem Needs
things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and accomplishment.
Self-actualizing Needs
Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling their potential
Where does the verbal message of the gospel fit?
It hits the three top levels, but not level one…..
We cant speak to them if we don’t feed them
What is the evidence of scripture
What do we see in the life of jesus?
Jn 13 - Washing feet
They were talking about who was great…jesus washed feet
Mt. 14 story of Loaves and fishes- feeding the 5,000
Jesus healed many. Dinner time came. The disciples wanted to send them away
Jesus said, no, we are going to feed them
Mark 9 -a cup of cold water 33-37 and 41
33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." 36He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." ………41I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
Luke 10- Good Samaritan- the religious people pass by
Show the video - Good sam version for 2009
Mt 25- I was in prison and you visited me. I was hungry and you fed me
doesn’t ask how they got hungry or in prison….just that you fed me.
Mt 25 version for 2009
41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For you saw me hungry on the corner with a sign but kept your window rolled up., I was thirsty under the bridge and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a strange new neighbor and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and your closets were full of things that you did not wear, but you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison at the Jackson County detention center, 1300 Cherry, KCMO and you did not look after me.' 44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty on a corner or a stranger in our neighborhood or needing clothes or sick or in prison in Kansas City, and did not help you?' 45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
James = faith w/o works
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
There is no witness without action
quotes
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Quotes on Sacrifice
Life's most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?
St francis………- Preach the gospel. Use words if needed.
Conclusion - We have forgotten who we are/ who we were
story reported in the New York Times about a female commuter who suffered a seizure during the New York rush hour. While hundreds of commuters streamed by, it was only the homeless, living in the city's bus terminal, who showed concern and compassion. It was the homeless who put their hats, scarves and gloves under the woman's head. It was the homeless who wiped her face. It was the homeless who watched over her while one of them got a police officer to radio for help. The title of this newspaper report? None But the Homeless Stopped: None But the Homeless Helped.-New York Times, 3 January 1990,
Do you remember a time in your life when you didn’t have money for food.
When you couldn’t go anywhere because you needed your gas to go to work
reaching out begins with a commitment to help those less fortunate
prayer of st francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy. grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
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