October 6, 2013                                     World Communion Sunday

Finishing Well

Hebrews 12:1-4

Synopsis: This is the first Sunday in October and most of you are aware that today is race day.  This is Emmanuel’s fourth AmazinGrace 5K Race and Kids Fun Run.  The race raises money for the Food Pantry at Appalachian Outreach.  Each month volunteers at the pantry distribute food to anywhere from 400 to 600 families, that amounts to around 1,600 people.  We have been inviting people to join us in the race for months and to “Feel The Hunger – Fill The Pantry!”  Some of you also know that October is World Hunger month.  This race starts our response right here at home. 

      What you may not know is that we are also celebrating World Communion Sunday.  Churches around the world celebrate communion every Sunday but today we call attention to the unity we all have in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:4-6, NIV). 

      I want to bring both of those celebrations into my thoughts for today as I talk about Finishing Well Hebrew 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

Scripture Text (NLT): Ephesians 4:4-6, NIV; Hebrews 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4

September 29, 2013                                                                           

The Seventh Blessing

Revelation 22:12-15

Synopsis: What is your favorite number in the book of Revelation?  There really are a lot to choose from.  In fact, John does more with numbers in the Revelation than there are numbers used in the Old Testament book of Numbers.  John’s favorite number seems to be “seven.”  At least you will find he uses it more than any other number.

      Today I want to talk about The Seventh Blessing found in the book of the Revelation.  They are not numbered, but there are seven beatitudes in the book and the one found in Revelation22:14 is the seventh.  Let’s look first at the seventh blessing and then examine the context of the blessing.  Then we will zoom out to look at the use of beatitudes in the New Testament before zooming in on the seventh blessing again.

      The question I want to keep before you is simple.  Are you one of those who are blessed?  Yes, we are all blessed in many ways, but are you one of those who are receiving the Seventh blessing?  If not, would you like to do be?  Do you know what you need to do to become one of the blessed?  I invite you to join me in the journey of The Seventh Blessing.

Scripture Text (NLT): Revelation 22:14, 12-15; Matthew 5:3-12, NAS; Revelation 1:3, 14:13,16:15, 19:9, 20:6, 22:7-9, 12-15, 7:9-17 (Scripture Reading)

Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-17

Guest Speaker Norman Eskridge

September 15, 2013                                                                           

Giving’s Up To You

Genesis 14:17-20

Synopsis: How do you determine the amount of your contributions to charities?  In particular, how do you determine the amount of your contributions to the church?  As you know there are many options vying for or even competing for your gifts.  So how do you decide?  What is the mandate for believers?  As you can tell, I am full of questions today, but I do want to help you find some answers.  Let’s begin, in the beginning (Genesis 14) with the story of Abram, the “father” of the faith.

      Abram was returning to the valley of Sodom and Gomorrah from his great victory.  He knew he had been blessed.  Abram was loaded down with the spoils of war when he metMelchizedek the high priest and king of Salem.  Following worship and a blessing Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe (ten percent) of the spoils.  How did he arrive at that amount and why did he give anything?  Answer: He wanted to.

      If giving is up to you then you decide what you want to do and do it.  Christians are not under the law although some would like to think they are.  Is ten percent too much or not enough?  Should you go by what everybody else is doing or is there a better way to determine your response?  I think the simple answer is blessing.  Give, like Abram, according to your blessings.  Paul tells us about the believers have been blessed beyond measure (Galatians 4:4-7) by the High Priest of our Faith Jesus Christ.  He gives us a simple plan on how to live out of our blessing (Galatians 5:16-18).  

Scripture Text (The Message & NAS): Genesis 14:14-20; Galatians 4:4-7, 5:16-18

Scripture Reading: Genesis 14:14-16

September 8, 2013                                                                             

Everybody Knows!

Luke 18:9-14

Synopsis: Jesus taught in parables.  Part of the reason has to do with how we learn.  “Stories” are a very effective way to communicate truths.  Jesus used stories to help us understand truths we often don’t want to hear.  He wasn’t the first to use stories in this manner (Psalm 78:1-8).  In fact there are many examples in the Old Testament.  Parables force the hearers to see and understand truths from a different perspective.  God’s!

      “Everybody Knows!”  Have you ever heard those words spoken at your gossip fence?  Most everybody knows how this works.  People are stereotyped according to their actions or the actions of others with whom they share some particular identity.  Stereotypes are often imprinted on family members or relatives because of the actions of others.  Racial, ethnic, religious, socioeconomic prejudices all come about as a result of what “Everybody Knows.”  Maybe you shouldn’t “judge a book by its cover”, but it seems everybody does.  Jesus taught us not to judge people on the actions of others.

      It may not be surprising that people like stereotyping other people, but what amazes me is that many of those people don’t particular mind fulfilling the role others have projected on them.  Here again, Jesus taught us not to act like other people say we should, but to be faithful to what God the Father knows about us. 

      Jesus wants us to realize that God the Father does not see or judge people as other people do.  That is the lesson drawn from His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). 

Scripture Text (NLT): Psalm 78:1-8 NLT & NRSV; Matthew 13:10-17, NRSV; Luke 18:9-14, NLT.

Scripture Reading: Luke 18:9-14

August 18, 2013                                                                                

Servants All

Ephesians 4:11-13

Synopsis: Jesus choose, appointed, selected, ordained twelve out of the number of disciples to be apostles (Mark 3:14-16).  That made them special…right?  Well, the in sight of those around them…maybe, but Jesus used them to teach God’s lesson that all were servants (John13:12-17).  

      Churches often have “ordination” service to “ordain” people in the church for particular ministries to the body.   Whoever would be leaders in the church must be servants to all finds meaning in a word located in the dictionary between ordain and ordination.  That word is “ordinary.”  All Christians have the same mission (Ephesians 4:11-13).  It doesn’t matter what your individual assignment, gifts, callings, position might be in the church.  Your ethnic diversity doesn’t affect your assignment any more than you socioeconomic standing or sexuality (Galatians 3:26-29).  Every believer is called, gifted, ordained by God the Father to minister to others in the church until all come to maturity in Christ Jesus.  All believers are called to be ordinary, because all are designated to be servants.

      Have you found your place of service in the body of Christ?  If not, why?  Maybe you are not looking, immature, lazy or …  Time is what you are wasting.  You only have a short time to fulfill your calling.  Better get started.

Scripture Text (NLT): Mark 3:14-16a; John 13:12-17; Ephesians 4:11-13; Galatians 3:26-29

Scripture Reading: John 13:12-17

Homecoming 2013

Guest Speaker Dr. Randall O'brien.

August 4, 2013                                                                                  

The Exception

Luke 17:17-18

Synopsis: Have you ever stood out in a crowd of people?  Some times that is a good thing to have happen.  I know people who plan on doing things to get attention.  But standing out in a crowd isn’t always a good thing.

      May times, however, people stand out in a crowd because of problems in their lives.  That is the case for those with leprosy.  Luke 17:11-19 tells of Jesus healing ten lepers.  They all stood out because others feared the disease they carried and under the law they were commanded not to associate with others so their disease wouldn’t spread.  Whenever they were approached by others they had to cry out “Unclean! Unclean!”  Colonies have been established for those with leprosy.  The law might have kept the disease from spreading but it did nothing to heal those who had it. 

      Jesus healed the ten, but one stood out as an “exception” among them.  He, the Bible says, was a “Samaritan” and therefore considered to be a “foreigner.”  In other words, he stood out even among the other lepers.   The thing that made him stand out in our story was that he alone came back to give thanks.  All were healed.  The other nine did that which was required by the law, but this Samaritan came back to acknowledge the source of his healing.

      What is it that the Lord requires of you?  Does God require the keeping of the law that cannot heal or is there more?  We misunderstand God’s intensions when we separate doing from being (Deuteronomy 10:12-13).  Does God require a greater sacrifice from us?  No, God has provided the sacrifice (Micah 6:6-8).  Allow me to change the question.  What does your healing require you to do.  Surely, believers need to stand out in the crowd because of their love for the one who has healed them and given them a place of belonging.

Scripture Text (NLT): Luke 17:11-19; Deuteronomy 10:12-13; Micah 6:6-8;

July 7, 2013                                                                                       

Taking Hold of the Promise

Elijah 2:11-14

Synopsis: My message today is part of our celebration of The Remembrance (Lord’s Supper) and carries the theme forward from last Sunday’s sermon comparing and contrasting Elijah’s ascension story to of Christ.  I hope to focus attention on the elements of the meal as a sign that we believers are “taking hold of the promise” as Elisha did when he picked up Elijah’s cloak (Elijah 2:11-14).

      Jesus used the challenge of the cross (Matthew 10:37-39) with His disciples.  It is not enough to say you believe or that you belong.  The power of faith comes in the cross of Christ.

      Paul used the analogy of a soldier’s armor (Ephesians 6:10-17) and called on believers to suit up for the battle of faith.  He was not talking about a flesh and blood warfare, but a spiritual battle. 

      Now hear the words of Jesus as He spoke His disciples on the night He was betrayed (Mark 14:22-25).  Is He not inviting them to be identified with Him and are we not invited to do the same every time we come to the Lord’s Table in of Remembrance of Him?

Scripture Text (NLT): Elijah 2:11-14; Matthew 10:37-39; Ephesians 6:10-17; Mark 14:22-25

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 30:1-4

June 30, 2013                                                                                    

“Up Up and Away”

2 Kings 2:1-25 & Acts 1:1-11

Synopsis: When believers start talking about the ascension our minds are often drawn to the rapture or to thoughts of heaven and life beyond this world.  I enjoy contemplation on such things.  That is certainly not all that I think believers should take away from those stories.  In my message today I want to juxtapose to ascension stories and draw attention to some similarities that should challenge all believers as we move forward in life.

      The first of the ascension stories come from 2 Kings 2.  It is the story of Elijah’s ascent.  The second is that of Jesus’ ascension and is found in Acts 1:1-11.  Of course, there is a lot more to these stories than the passages mentioned.  These events served as “punctuation marks” in the development of the story of God’s work of redemption. 

      When I have compared and contrasted these stories there were some elements of each that stood out in my mind and caused be to focus my attention on the ones left behind.  “Up Up and Away” may make us think of Elijah and Jesus, but it should challenge us believers to be about the Father’s business.  There is work for us to do so “Up Up and Away.”

Scripture Text (NLT): 2 Kings 2:1-25; Acts 1:1-11

Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 2:9-10