60-Second Sermon

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James Macie was a 16th-century scientist educated in the finest English universities, but due to being born under questionable circumstances, he never felt a part of the English high society in which his family lived.

This likely factored into how he handled the vast wealth he accrued during his lifetime, which was eventually passed on to a fledgling country instead of his homeland of England.

Later in life, Macie ended up taking on the last name of his actual father instead of the placeholder name he was given at birth. And millions of people have benefited from the endowment left by James Macie, who actual name was James Smithson, patron of the Smithsonian Institution. 

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that “God does not show favoritism.”  

Our calling is to be kind and loving to everyone, not because of their standing in society, but because they are loved by God. Don’t show favoritism; instead, show the love of God.

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Johann Philippe Baratier was a German scholar. He published 11 works during the 18th century and authored many more unpublished manuscripts.

He grew up with a highly structured educational framework, which led to his ability to speak fluent French, Latin and Dutch, in addition to his ability to read Greek fluently. Within three years of studying Hebrew, he was able to translate the Old Testament into both Latin and French.

And while those feats are remarkable in and of themselves, there is one more caveat that makes them even more impressive … You see, Baratier accomplished all of those achievements by the age of 11.

In a letter to Timothy, Paul wrote: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Or as it says in the Message: “Don’t let anyone put you down because you’re young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.”

We may not accomplish the feats of Baratier, but we all, no matter how young or old, can make a difference here on earth by teaching others through how we live. Be encouraged this week to live the kind of life that pleases God. 

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It was perhaps that most daunting speech of William Safire’s career. In the summer of 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were preparing to walk on the moon .. and the entire world would be watching.

Safire was the speechwriter for then-president Richard Nixon, and it was his job to write a speech that would capture the attention of the nation and ease the anxiety of the moment.

However, the speech that Safire undoubtedly wrestled over wasn’t one that President Nixon delivered on national television. In fact, it wasn’t delivered at all. Safire’s speech was written in case of disaster; in case something went wrong with the moon landing and the astronauts were not able to make it back to earth. And it never saw the light of day until 1999, on the 30th anniversary of the moon landing.

In Galatians (5:13), Paul writes “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

The work that we do for the kingdom, whether it is known to many or only to God, is the most important work that we will do on the earth. We, as Christians, are called to serve others, to share the Good News of Jesus, and to shower others with the love of God.

It can be hard work. It can be time-consuming. And like Safire’s speech, it can be daunting. But there is nothing we will do that will be more impressive in the eyes of God than serving Him and others, even if we traveled to the moon and back.

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During the Christmas season, citizens in Japan begin envisioning the image of a man with white hair and a beard, inevitably smiling a mischievous grin. He has a ruddy complexion and always seems to be wearing the same outfit. 

While Christmas in America is oftentimes accompanied by pictures of Santa Claus, the images in Japan are a little different. Instead of Santa Claus, Christmas to them is represented by Colonel Sanders … yes, that Colonel Sanders.

In Ephesians, we are told that “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. … By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

The story of how KFC became a staple of Japanese Christmases is a long and winding affair, but a part of the story entails some miscommunication and a little misinterpretation.

Paul, on the other hand, leaves us with no room for misinterpretation. We are all sinners, we are all lost, and there’s nothing we could ever do to earn our way to salvation. But due to God’s grace and His immeasurable love for us, Jesus paid our debt; not because of anything we’ve done, but because He’s is a loving God.

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James Polk’s campaign platform was simple. He was young, and he would do everything he planned in one term and then step down. After he was elected as the 11th U.S. President, he followed through on his campaign promise. 

But what makes Polk’s story even more interesting is what has happened since his death. Due to family and legal entanglements, Polk’s body has been moved three times, with a fourth move lingering as a present-day possibility. In death, Polk could end up moving almost as many times as he did when he was alive.

In Acts, Luke writes that “God raised [Jesus] from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”

Death is a terrible invader in this world, an unwelcome guest. But it is not the end. Death tried to defeat Jesus, but He overcame the grave. And one day, he will make all things new, once and for all, doing away with sin and death, and sadness and loss. What a glorious day that will be. 

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Twenty years ago, film financier Caroline Hamilton listened as a friend described his adventures as a polar explorer. She thought to herself, “If he can do it, so can I.” But she took it a step further and did something that had never been done. 

After putting an ad in a local English newspaper, she had a collection of 20 amateur adventurers, all women, some of whom had never hiked before. During the trek, some of the team nearly froze to death, but the group eventually completed the 416-mile slog through temperatures of -50 degrees, becoming the first all-female group to hike to the North Pole 

In the 103rd Psalm, David encourages us that “as far as the east is from the west, so far does God remove our transgressions from us.”

Whenever someone reaches the North Pole, the next step they take is to the South. However, if they travel east or west, they will continue in that direction forever.

That’s how God’s love is for us. It never ends. It never stops. It never fails. God loves you, and that love for you will never cease.

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Wood frogs are similar to every other animal in the world, with one big exception. Every year, they freeze to death, only to come back to life when Spring arrives.

Each September, two-thirds of the water in their bodies turns to ice, their hearts stop beating, and their blood stops flowing. They are for all intents and purposes, dead. And then, as the months become warmer, they thaw out and hop away, as if nothing happened.

In Romans, Paul tells us “If we have united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His. We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (6:5-6)

Just as the wood frog comes back to life in the spring, our stories don’t end on earth. That’s why we as Christians should be known for our joy, our hope, and our peace. Death is not our ending. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we will be raised to live with Him eternally. 

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From the outside, Oak Ridge, Tenn. seemed to be a town like any other. Neighborhoods consisted of single-family homes with white picket fences, parents doing yard work and mowing the grass while children played in the yard or rode their bikes. But the town of 75,000 held a darker secret.

The writer of Proverbs tells us that “whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (28:13)

It wasn’t a coincidence that no one on the outside knew about the town’s main employer, and that the workers weren’t allowed to discuss their occupations with their wives or children. In fact, it wasn’t until much later that the Tennessee city’s operation was tied to another city much further north, a city that lent its name to the research and work being done in Oak Ridge – specifically the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the atomic bomb.

We need community, and we are a family that should carry each other’s burdens. You aren’t alone in your struggles, and you don’t have to wrestle with your sinful nature by yourself. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other, and seek the peace, guidance and freedom that can only come through Jesus.

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In the early 1800s, a German doctor discovered a specific bacterium in food that was leading to many illnesses in the area. By the early 1900s, the discovery had turned into a public health hazard, and it was identified as one of the most dangerous contagions in the world. By the early 2000s, people were paying to have this toxin injected into their bodies.

Proverbs rhetorically asks us, “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?” (6:27-28)

Researchers and scientists discovered a beneficial use for the toxin that centuries earlier led to many deaths, and Botulinum toxin, better known as Botox, is used today in the aid of everything from eye muscle disorders to migraine headaches 

But just as we wouldn’t inject an unknown poison into our bodies, we have to be careful with what we feed ourselves spiritually. Flee from sin. Call on the name of the Lord who saves. And set your eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.

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The colonel was leading a charge during the Spanish-American War, but the charge had stalled. His superiors ordered the troops to hold their position, but the colonel argued that they should be allowed to proceed.

In Matthew (10:38-39), Jesus challenges us that “whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The colonel was willing to sacrifice his life in battle, and he led his troops in a charge up the hill, inspiring other soldiers to follow and turning the tide of the Battle of San Juan Hill.

The soldiers in the colonel’s unit, known as the Rough Riders, were willing to follow their leader wherever he led. In truth, so was an entire nation, as witnessed by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt’s election to the White House as president just three years after he led the charge.

We as Christians serve a Savior who was willing to die for us, and we need to challenge ourselves by asking, are we giving up our lives for Christ.

Don’t hold back. Serve God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and put others above yourself. 

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