A sermon for 2022

  A sermon for 2022

The apostle Paul while in Athens was asked to speak at the Areopagus by Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. This is his sermon. As important today as it was then. 

Paul states,

"So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked,    "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.  

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  

You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean."  

(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  

For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  

And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.' 

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill.  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."  

At that, Paul left the Council.  

A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.”Acts 17:17-34

For Christians this is an example of how to reach non-Christians. Paul did not condemn them. He didn’t say anything against their beliefs or lifestyle. He simply presented what he believed to those gathered. 

The result was some “sneered” at him. Others believed. While others wanted to hear more. 

When we as Christians present the gospel message this is how we should do it.

So is this the way you present the gospel message to those around you?

Please think about it.

In gentleness

 In gentleness

The apostle Peter writes,

“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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15,16.

Is Christ first in your life? Are you prepared to give an answer to everyone who wants to know why you follow Christ?

When you present the gospel message to someone do you do it respecting the person you are speaking to? Do you present the message of Christ with gentleness?

All of these things are necessary to reach people for Christ. If you don’t respect others, they wont respect you. If you don’t present the word of the Lord in a gentle fashion people will turn away from you.

It all comes down to what Jesus said,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

So are you obedient to what Peter and Jesus are saying?

Please think about it.

Let your light shine

  Let your light shine

Jesus said,

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

If you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus is your light shining before those around you?

The apostle Peter wrote,

"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:12.

Is this what you are doing?

I remember reading of an incident in a south east Asian country where a man in a small village for some reason got mad and a group of Christians and wanted his neighbours to help him persecute them. The neighbours said no. That Christians were good people.

Could this be said of you?

Or are you noted for your protesting against everything and everyone you disagree with?

Please think about it.

He will. Not you

  He will. Not you.

the Psalmist says of God,

"He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth."

                                                                                                      Psalm 96:13b. 

Here is a very important point lost on many Christians. Or at least those who call themselves Christians. The Psalmist makes it clear “HE, (God), will judge the world...”   

Jesus quoted in the Gospel of Luke,

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:7.

In Matthews Gospel Jesus is quoted as saying,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

Billy Graham the late American evangelist stated.

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                         Billy Graham

We will never win souls for Christ if we are even perceived as judging them. As Billy Graham stated it is our job to love.

Jesus made it clear what His purpose in coming to earth was for when he said,

“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.

These words should always be on our minds when we speak about Jesus, “ God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him”.

Is this the message you are presenting to the world?

Or are you in the habit of judging those in the world around you?

Please think about it.

Ascribe

  Ascribe

The Psalmist calls to the nations of the world to,    

"Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, 

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 

"Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

 bring an offering and come into his courts. 

Worship the LORD in the splendour of his holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth." 

                                                      Psalm 96:8,9.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this. Even more importantly are the people around you seeing this. For if you are not doing as the Psalmist states, how can you expect people around you to do it?

Francis of Assisi made two very important points when he said,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

AND

"The deeds you do may be the only

 sermon some persons will hear today" 

                                                        Francis of Assisi

When people look at the sermon that is your words and deeds, what will they say?

Please think about it

The Lord reigns

  The Lord reigns

The Psalmist states,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns.

" The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; 

He will judge the peoples with equity. 

"Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

 let the sea resound, and all that is in it; 

"let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. 

Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; 

they will sing before the LORD, for He comes, 

He comes to judge the earth. 

He will judge the world in righteousness 

and the peoples in His truth."

                                                               Psalm 96:10-13. 

As believers in God. Believers in Christ Jesus we are told to “Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns”. We are to warn them that God will one day Judge the people of this world in righteousness. 

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

Believing in God is a choice. When God created the world and everything in it. God gave man a freewill to believe what he wants to. That includes not believing in God. 

However God offers us hope in the form of Christ Jesus. Jesus referring to himself said,

"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.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son". John 3:16-18.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Sing, Proclaim, Declare

  Sing, Proclaim, Declare

The Psalmist proclaims,

“Sing to the LORD a new song; 

sing to the LORD, all the earth. 

Sing to the LORD, 

praise His name; 

proclaim His salvation day after day. 

Declare His glory among the nations, 

His marvellous deeds among all peoples.”

                                                           Psalm 96:1-3.

If you are a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus. 

Do you take time to praise God? 

Do you proclaim His salvation to those around you? 

Do you declare Gods glory to those around you? 

Do you declare Gods marvellous deeds among the people?

If not. Why not?

Please think about it.

Family, Friend, and Foe alike.

 Family Friend and Foe alike

Jesus said,

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22,23.

Mahatma Gandhi said,

"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, 

but you Christians - you are not like him."

                                                                     Mahatma Gandhi.

I'm convinced that Gandhi (and many people here in North America today) do not see true Christians. He saw people who claimed to be Christians. People who were not practising what Jesus taught.

The key message of Jesus can be put into one statement,

"So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" Matthew 7:12.

Jesus when asked,

 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  

This is the first and greatest commandment.  

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40.

When it comes to the definition of Christian love the apostle Paul wrote,

When it comes to Christian love the Apostle Paul defines it this way,

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13 

If a person claims to be a Christian and does not show unconditional love for those around them. I would doubt if they are Christians.

Thus my question to you; If you consider yourself a true Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus, are you showing unconditional love to those around you, Family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Ask, Seek, Knock, and Find

  Ask, Seek, Knock and Find

Jesus said,

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7,8.

I believe those words of Jesus quoted above. I believe that anyone who is truly looking for God will find Him.

I believe that provided we believe there is a God we will find him.

Ben Zion Bokser wrote,

"I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.

I have not seen God.  But I have looked at my child's eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.

I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.

I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.

I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation." Ben Zion Bokser

For me it is inconceivable that the universe we live in was not made by God.

The Psalmist said,

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

 the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                Psalm 19:1.

Do you believe this?

Are you wise?

 Are you wise?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5,6.

Are you wise when you deal with those around you, especially when it comes to your faith. 

I have found over the decades that I have been a Christian that there are many claiming to be Christians who are not wise.

They are as one friend aptly put it “bible thumpers”. They point out the sins of the world. They point to any groups they disagree with and call them sinners. Worse yet they try to take away or restrict the rights of some groups they disagree with. This should not be so.

Screaming and yelling at people telling them they are sinners is a waste of time. It will only push people away from God. Trying to restrict or take away rights of those you disagree with will push them away from Christ closing all dialogue completely. Not only that it may lead to a backlash that will cause the rights of Christians to be restricted.

No one wants to be told they are a sinner. And most non-Christians I know would not admit to being a sinner. Simply saying they are as good or better than some Christians they know.

Frankly I don’t believe it is our job as believers in Christ Jesus to tell people they are sinners. That is the job of the Holy spirit. 

Billy Graham the American evangelist once said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                  Billy Graham.

So are you showing the unconditional Love of Christ to those around you?

Please think about it.

Did you fill the world with love?

   Did you fill the world with love?

In the book of Proverbs we read,

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.” Proverbs 3:3,4.

When I was in my teens I watched a musical called Goodby Mr. Chips. I watched it a few years before I accepted Christ into my life. The theme tune of this movie (in the morning of my life) still resonates in my life today. It says,

In the Morning of My Life

by Leslie Bricusse 

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

                                                Leslie Bricusse   

                                                         From the Musical Good by Mr chips.

When you come to the end of your life and you stand before God will you honestly be able to tell God, you filled the world with Love your whole life through?

Please think about it.

Christians and money

  Christians and money

Matthews gospel records this interaction between Jesus and a rich young man.

"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." 

"Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,  honour your father and mother,' and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.''" 

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" 

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth." Matthew 19:16-22.

Now there is nothing wrong with having money. It’s what place it has in our life. It should never come before God or other people.

In the story Matthew relates we see that the rich man put his money ahead of everything. He was unwilling to give up his wealth and follow Jesus. Which brings us to the question; 

Are you willing to give up all you have to follow Jesus?

Do you think those preachers and evangelist you support would be willing to give up their wealth and still follow Christ?

Please think about it.