Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Ministry Matters: preach. teach. worship. reach. lead. for Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Ministry Matters: preach. teach. worship. reach. lead. for Tuesday, 26 August 2014

BISHOP PALMER SPEAKS OUT ABOUT FERGUSON CRISIS

Race, justice, and the
body of Christ

Bishop Gregory Palmer and Rev. Brian Milford discuss the shooting of Michael Brown, the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri and justice and race issues as they relate to the body of Christ. LISTEN

United Methodist Bishop Gregory Palmer and Brian Milford discuss the shooting of Michael Brown, the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, and justice and race issues as they relate to the body of Christ. Bishop Palmer is a contributor to Finding Our Way: Love and Law in the United Methodist Church.

Susanna Wesley, Adam Hamilton, and our kids by Clifton Stringer

In “Revival,” Adam Hamilton writes, “Among the beautiful things Susanna Wesley did with her children was to spend one hour a week with each child, asking about their faith, their fears, their hopes and dreams, the state of their souls.” So why not do likewise? READ MORE: We're reading Adam Hamilton’s “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It” over the next few weeks. If you’d like to read with us, pick up a copy and join the discussion! #revivalbook

Adam Hamilton's new book, “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It,” appeared prominently on my radar screen after my friend Shane Raynor told me it is Hamilton's best book yet. Having started to read it, I can see what the buzz is about. Acting as both pastor and theologian, Hamilton brings together crucial spiritual moments in the life of John Wesley, the contexts of Scripture and the early church, and our contemporary contexts into an enlightening, spiritually inspiring, and imagination-growing juxtaposition. He clearly wants the book to foment Wesleyan revival, as the title suggests.
In the coming weeks, I would like to go through what I take to be some of the key lessons Rev. Hamilton has to teach us. I hope you'll join me, and maybe even read along yourself. Of course there's much more good stuff in this book than we'll be able to cover. And of course we won't always agree with Rev. Hamilton, or probably with each other. I'll do my best to follow up with comments in the comment thread, and we can treat this like a book group — one of my favorite things to conduct as a pastor anyways!
As I read chapter 1, to my surprise, Susanna Wesley stole my heart. There is a lot to learn about John and Charles' amazing mom in this chapter — she is educated, lovely, pious, strong, and wise — but one sentence of Adam's prose leaped off the page in terms of what I needed to learn from her life:
"Among the beautiful things Susanna Wesley did with her children was to spend one hour a week with each child, asking about their faith, their fears, their hopes and dreams, the state of their souls" (23).
Hamilton goes on to note that, "this loving activity was to shape Wesley’s later practice of asking Methodists to meet together weekly in small groups to enquire about one another’s progress in the faith" (23-24). This is very significant, yet I think Susanna's actions raise a more basic question for us. Especially for those of us who are parents. But also for those of us who are pastors. Or youth pastors. Or laypeople in leadership in a local church.
The question, as near as I can discern it: Why not do likewise? Why not devote an hour a week to each of our children's souls, to his or her development as a whole person and child of God?
It sounds like Susanna Wesley was the spiritual director behind her sons' sanctity. The way Hamilton phrases it — that Susanna discussed with each or her children "their faith, their fears, their hopes and dreams" — almost makes her sound like an Ignatian spiritual director. Some churches today would describe what she was doing as discipling her children. That may be, but as all parents know, you can't turn your children into model-discple saints. You can't even force them to be Christians (though you can make them go with you to church if they are going to live under your roof). Conversion and sanctification are ultimately the work of the Spirit.
What Susanna does, and invites us to do, is to water the garden the Lord has given us to tend in our children. We create the soil so that those children who find the grace to respond to the Lord's call to holiness have the resources — spiritual, emotional, relational — and the character and convictions, to follow Jesus radically in a frequently discouraging, dark, and brutal world.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow. Because of this, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but the only one who is anything is God who makes it grow." (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Susanna and Samuel watered, and God gave the growth.
Parents, God help us, let us water.
This post is part of a series of articles and features related to “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It.”

More Christian than Jesus by Dave Barnhart

Far be it from me to criticize Jesus, but he doesn’t always argue like a Christian.
For one thing, like an internet troll, he uses distraction and ad hominem (personal) attacks. Just look at Matthew 15: The Pharisees ask Jesus why his disciples don’t wash their hands before they eat, as is the custom. It’s a legitimate question. Imagine sitting down to a meal and watching the preacher skip the blessing! Of course, there’s no commandment in the Bible to say grace over meals, but if you don’t, you signal that you’re not really religious, right?
But instead of answering their question politely, Jesus goes on the attack. Jesus says that the Bible warns of hypocrites like them (making it personal). Then he brings up something totally irrelevant—their failure to adequately care for their elderly parents (verse 4). Finally, he talks in general about the pointlessness of dietary codes and concludes with vulgar language about all food being turned into poop (verse 17). It’s shocking. The religious leaders surely thought it was uncalled for. Maybe they even thought it was shrill. Arrogant.
Now, before anyone comes to Jesus’ defense and explains that it’s okay for Jesus to talk this way because he’s Jesus, let me also point out that this is not the only time that Jesus doesn’t argue like a Christian. Although he tells his followers not to call anyone a fool (Matthew 5:22), later on he calls his religious opponents fools and worse (Matthew 23:17). While most Bibles translate his invective against the religious leaders as “Woe to you” (23:13), the Scholars Bible bites the bullet and translates it as “Damn you.” (Considering what “woe” meant to the prophets, and the fact that we don’t ever say, “woe to you” in our own conversation, “damn” probably carries the appropriate rhetorical force. This is strong language.)
I think it’s important to recognize when Jesus loses his cool, because it indicates that these things are really important to him. Only a few times do the Gospels actually say Jesus was angry: when religious leaders opposed healing on the sabbath (Mark 3:5) and when his disciples prevented children from approaching him (Mark 10:14). But we can tell from his language when he has lost his composure in arguments with religious leaders.
I point this out because today, in these contentious times, when religious leaders are as polarized as their congregations over issues like poverty, LGBTQ rights, and health care, it’s common for well-meaning Christians to wring their hands about the fact that we who should be united are always arguing. We should be more civil. We shouldn’t make things personal. We should work toward justice without upsetting people—like Jesus did.
I believe that it is possible for friends to disagree and argue important issues without hatred. I’ve seen it happen in classrooms and restaurants. But in front of a hostile, heckling audience, Jesus went toe-to-toe with religious leaders to defend those they excluded: children, the disabled, and the ones they “locked out of the kingdom.”
For those of us who argue passionately for social justice, including LGBTQ acceptance, it sometimes feels as though we’re expected to be more Christian than Jesus. We’re expected to hear condescending rhetoric like “Love the sinner, hate the sin,” but not reply in a way that would make clear how that rhetoric actually sounds: “Love the bigot, hate the bigotry.”
The way most Christians read the Bible, the Pharisees are the bad guys, and there’s no reason to question or criticize Jesus’ response to them. This puts us safely beyond the reach of Jesus’ harshest criticisms. But the fact is, as religious leaders, most of us clergy are in the Pharisee’s position, trying to do our best to live according to God’s ethical commandments and to teach others to do the same (Matthew 5:19-20). Nobody wants to be a jerk. So we should at least try to imagine how we are like the Pharisees, and hear Jesus’ words to us:
Do we religious leaders today lock people out of the kingdom of God (Matthew 23:13)? Or was that just something that happened in Jesus’ day, and nobody does that anymore?
Does anyone obsess over minor matters of the law but neglect justice and mercy and faith (Matthew 23:23)? Or was that just a first century problem?
Do any religious leaders impose hard requirements (like life-long celibacy) on others (like LGBTQ persons) that they themselves don’t have to bear (23:4)? Or was Jesus only talking about a tendency of first-century Jewish religious leaders? When he criticized purity codes, was Jesus merely fighting for the rights of gentiles to eat bacon sandwiches?
When I hear Jesus’ at his angriest, I want to be on his side—but the truth is, as a religious leader, his judgment is heaviest on my tribe. It is unpleasant to have someone place you on the receiving end of biblical polemic, but I believe it is important for Christian leaders to feel the sharp edge of the sword they often wield against others. If Jesus called me a blind guide or a fool, I doubt I would embrace him as a friend who tells me hard truths. I would likely dismiss him as arrogant, insulting, and shrill. I can imagine religious leaders saying that Jesus should try to be more Christian.

When Christians
rush to judgment by Shane Raynor

How are Christians handling the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri and the controversy surrounding Mark Driscoll, the pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle?

When Christians rush to judgment by Shane Raynor on Mixcloud

8 reasons a church plant may not grow by Ron Edmondson

I’ve worked with a lot of church plants. And, I’ve been involved in two — as a planter. Every planter goes into the process hoping to see lives changed with the gospel. Hoping to grow. Some work. Some don’t.

Why is that?

Well, of course, there are spiritual factors at work. Some sow seeds and others reap harvest. Sometimes God uses the plant in a unique way — that doesn’t produce huge numbers of attendees. And, frankly, sometimes the planter had no business planting. It was never really what they were called to do. It looked “exciting” from the outside — all the “cool” people are doing it, but God had a different plan for the planter’s life.

But, speaking specifically about strategic type of reasons a church plant doesn’t grow, I’ve observed a few things.

Here are 8 reasons a church plant may not grow.

You live by someone else’s rules. I’ve seen it so many times. A church plant has the rules of the denomination or an association and they simply don’t work where they are located. The plant doesn’t contextualize the structure to the culture and community around them. The exact same model won’t always work in two different church plants — even across town from each other. Principles are often transferable, but not necessarily practices.

You try to be like everyone else. This is similar to number one but has to do more with the planter. The planter has a vision but it’s someone else’s vision. They have a desire to look just like someone else they admire. Every plant needs its own vision birthed by God in the heart of its own planter. The truth presented should be the same as every other church plant, but the style of delivery will have some uniqueness to the planter.

You depend too much on outside funding. Rather than developing givers and volunteers from with inside the plant, the plant waits for the outside checks to come. The problem with outside funding is that it eventually disappears. It is rarely sustainable long-term. And, if not careful, the planter becomes dependent on these resources. Obviously there are exceptions. Some plants may never be able to fully fund themselves. But, in my experience, many times this problem exists because the planter has not discipled the people attending in the area of giving.

You build programs over relationships. This is a common problem I’ve seen too. A church planter enters an area, implements a few programs, and believes that people will naturally acclimate to those programs. And they may for a short time. But in the end programs will not sustain people. Relationships will.

You worry too much about structure. You’ll get there. And you need structure. But, especially in the initial days, focus more on loving a community. Then on building structure. My advice is to have some basic structure in place, but not have that structure so rigid or controlling that you can’t adapt quickly to the needs of the community. Then spend your greatest energy loving people.

You waited for them to come to you. You thought “new” would be enough. Build it they will come works in the movies. But it doesn’t even work in established churches anymore, why would it work in church plants? The future attendees in any church are usually outside somewhere waiting to be asked. And sometimes they don’t even know it. It’s our job to go find them.

You didn’t protect yourself and your family. We can’t count the number of church plants that never really accomplished all that they could have because the planter wasn’t healthy enough to see it through. It could be a moral failure, burnout, or a family that is falling apart under the stress of the plant. (Let me speak specifically into this one. Every planter needs mentoring, discipline and accountability. From the start. Not after the need is discovered.)

You held too tightly to your way. Church plants can recruit entrepreneurial leaders. It’s a natural attraction. Given the authority to actually lead this can be one of the most powerful benefits of the church plant. When the planter ignores this and keeps people from feeling empowered, growth is limited to the church planter’s abilities. The planter should certainly control — or maybe the word is protect — the theological foundation, but implementation of vision should be shared with others.

Those are just a few observations. If God has called you to a church plant, plant well. I’m pulling for you.

Ron Edmondson blogs at RonEdmondson.com.

This Sunday
August 31, 2014

12th Sunday after Pentecost - Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Exodus 3:1-2 Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the west end of the wilderness and came to the mountain of God, Horeb. The angel of God appeared to him in flames of fire blazing out of the middle of a bush. He looked. The bush was blazing away but it didn’t burn up.

3 Moses said, “What’s going on here? I can’t believe this! Amazing! Why doesn’t the bush burn up?”

4 God saw that he had stopped to look. God called to him from out of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

He said, “Yes? I’m right here!”

5 God said, “Don’t come any closer. Remove your sandals from your feet. You’re standing on holy ground.”

6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.”

Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God.

7-8 God said, “I’ve taken a good, long look at the affliction of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their cries for deliverance from their slave masters; I know all about their pain. And now I have come down to help them, pry them loose from the grip of Egypt, get them out of that country and bring them to a good land with wide-open spaces, a land lush with milk and honey, the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.

9-10 “The Israelite cry for help has come to me, and I’ve seen for myself how cruelly they’re being treated by the Egyptians. It’s time for you to go back: I’m sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 Moses answered God, “But why me? What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 “I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”

13 Then Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the People of Israel and I tell them, ‘The God of your fathers sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What do I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, ‘I-AM sent me to you.’”

15 God continued with Moses: “This is what you’re to say to the Israelites: ‘God, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob sent me to you.’ This has always been my name, and this is how I always will be known.

Psalm 105:1-6 Hallelujah!

Thank God! Pray to him by name!

Tell everyone you meet what he has done!

Sing him songs, belt out hymns,

translate his wonders into music!

Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,

you who seek God. Live a happy life!

Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;

be alert for signs of his presence.

Remember the world of wonders he has made,

his miracles, and the verdicts he’s rendered—

O seed of Abraham, his servant,

O child of Jacob, his chosen.

23-42 Then Israel entered Egypt,

Jacob immigrated to the Land of Ham.

God gave his people lots of babies;

soon their numbers alarmed their foes.

He turned the Egyptians against his people;

they abused and cheated God’s servants.

Then he sent his servant Moses,

and Aaron, whom he also chose.

They worked marvels in that spiritual wasteland,

miracles in the Land of Ham.

He spoke, “Darkness!” and it turned dark—

they couldn’t see what they were doing.

He turned all their water to blood

so that all their fish died;

He made frogs swarm through the land,

even into the king’s bedroom;

He gave the word and flies swarmed,

gnats filled the air.

He substituted hail for rain,

he stabbed their land with lightning;

He wasted their vines and fig trees,

smashed their groves of trees to splinters;

With a word he brought in locusts,

millions of locusts, armies of locusts;

They consumed every blade of grass in the country

and picked the ground clean of produce;

He struck down every firstborn in the land,

the first fruits of their virile powers.

He led Israel out, their arms filled with loot,

and not one among his tribes even stumbled.

Egypt was glad to have them go—

they were scared to death of them.

God spread a cloud to keep them cool through the day

and a fire to light their way through the night;

They prayed and he brought quail,

filled them with the bread of heaven;

He opened the rock and water poured out;

it flowed like a river through that desert—

All because he remembered his Covenant,

his promise to Abraham, his servant.

43-45 Remember this! He led his people out singing for joy;

his chosen people marched, singing their hearts out!

He made them a gift of the country they entered,

helped them seize the wealth of the nations

So they could do everything he told them—

could follow his instructions to the letter.

Hallelujah!

Romans 12:9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.

17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

Matthew 16: You’re Not in the Driver’s Seat

21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”

23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.”

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary:

Exodus 3:1-15

Verse 1

[1] Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

Now Moses - The years of Moses's life are remarkably divided into three forties; the first forty he spent as a prince in Pharaoh's court, the second a shepherd in Midian, the third a king in Jeshurun. He had now finished his second forty when he received his commission to bring Israel out of Egypt. Sometimes it is long before God calls his servants out to that work which of old he designed them for. Moses was born to be Israel's deliverer, and yet not a word is said of it to him till he is eighty years of age.

Even to Horeb — Horeb and Sinai were two tops of the same mountain.

Verse 2

[2] And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him — It was an extraordinary manifestation of the divine glory; what was visible was produced by the ministry of an angel, but he heard God in it speaking to him.

In a flame of fire — To shew that God was about to bring terror and destruction to his enemies, light and heat to his people, and to display his glory before all.

And the bush burned, and yet was not consumed — An emblem of the church now in bondage in Egypt, burning in the brick-kilns, yet not consumed; cast down, but not destroyed.

Verse 3

[3] And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

I will turn aside and see — He speaks as one inquisitive, and bold in his inquiry; whatever it was, he would if possible know the meaning of it.

Verse 4

[4] And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see it, God called to him — If he had carelessly neglected it, it is likely God had departed and said nothing to him.

God called and said, Moses, Moses — This which he heard could not but surprise him much more than what he saw. Divine calls are then effectual, when the spirit of God makes them particular, and calls us as by name. The Word calls, Ho, every one; the Spirit, by the application of that, calls, Ho, such a one; I know thee by name.

Here am I — Not only to hear what is said, but to do what I am bidden.

Verse 5

[5] And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Put off thy shoes from off thy feet — The putting off the shoe was then what the putting off the hat is now, a token of respect and submission. The ground is holy ground, made so by this special manifestation of the divine presence. We ought to approach to God with a solemn pause and preparation; and to express our inward reverence, by a grave and reverent behaviour in the worship of God, carefully avoiding every thing that looks light, or rude.

Verse 6

[6] Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

I am the God of thy father — He lets him know it is God that speaks to him, to engage his reverence, faith and obedience. Thy father, thy pious father Amram, and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, thy ancestors. Engaged to them by solemn covenant, which I am now come to perform.

And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God — The more we see of God, the more cause we shall see to worship him with reverence and godly fear. And even the manifestations of God's grace should increase our humble reverence of him.

Verse 8

[8] And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

I am come down to deliver them — When God doth something very extraordinary, he is said to come down to do it, as Isaiah 64:1. This deliverance was typical of our redemption by Christ, and in that the eternal Word did indeed come down from heaven to deliver us.

A large land — So it was, according to its true and ancient bounds, as they are described, Genesis 15:18, and not according to those narrow limits, to which they were afterwards confined for their unbelief and impiety.

A land flowing with milk and honey — A proverbial expression, abounding with the choicest fruits, both for necessity and delight.

Verse 10

[10] Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

I will send thee — And the same hand that now fetched a shepherd out of a desert to be the planter of the Jewish church, afterwards fetched fishermen from their ships to be the planters of the Christian church, that the excellency of the power might be of God.

Verse 11

[11] And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Who am I? — He thinks himself unworthy of the honour and unable for the work. He thinks he wants courage, and therefore cannot go to Pharaoh: he thinks he wants conduct, and therefore cannot bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt; they are unarmed, undisciplined, quite dispirited, utterly unable to help themselves, Moses was incomparably the fittest of any man living for this work, eminent for learning, wisdom, experience, valour, faith, holiness, and yet Who am I? The more fit any person is for service, commonly the less opinion he has of himself.

Verse 12

[12] And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.

Certainly I will be with thee — Those that are weak in themselves, yet may do wonders being strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. God's presence puts wisdom and strength into the weak and foolish, and is enough to answer all objections.

Verse 13

[13] And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

When they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? — What name shall I use, whereby thou mayest be distinguished from false gods, and thy people may be encouraged to expect deliverance from thee?

Verse 14

[14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

And God said — Two names God would now be known by. 1. A name that speaks what he is in himself, I am that I am - This explains his name Jehovah, and signifies, 1st, That he is self-existent; he has his being of himself, and has no dependence upon any other. And being self-existent he cannot but be self-sufficient, and therefore all-sufficient, and the inexhaustible fountain of being and bliss. 2dly, That he is eternal and unchangeable, always the same, yesterday to-day, and for ever: he will be what he will be, and what he is. 3dly. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature, and not a man that he should lie. Let Israel know this, I am hath sent me unto you. 2. A name that speaks what he is to his people. Lest that name I am should puzzle them, he is farther directed to make use of another name of God, more familiar.

Verse 15

[15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

The Lord God of our fathers hath sent me unto you — Thus God made himself known, that he might revive among them the religion of their fathers, which was much decayed, and almost lost. And that he might raise their expectations of the speedy performance of the promises made unto their fathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are particularly named, because with Abraham the covenant was first made, and with Isaac and Jacob oft expressly renewed, and these three were distinguished from their brethren, and chosen to be the trustees of the covenant. This God will have to be his name for ever, and it has been, is, and will be his name, by which his worshippers know him, and distinguish him from all false gods.

Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c

Verse 3

[3] Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

Glory — Glory in the God whom you serve, as the only true God.

Verse 4

[4] Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Seek — The Lord in his strength, in his sanctuary, or before the ark, which is called God's strength.

Face — His gracious presence.

Verse 5

[5] Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

Judgments — The punishments which he brought upon Egypt by his mere word.

Verse 6

[6] O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

Of Jacob — The only branch of Abraham's seed to whom the following blessings belong.

Verse 23

[23] Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.

Ham — Ham was the father of Mizraim, or the Egyptians, Genesis 10:6.

Verse 25

[25] He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.

Turned — That is, suffered them, to be turned.

Romans 12:9-21

Verse 9

[9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Having spoken of faith and its fruit, Romans 12:3, etc., he comes now to love. The ninth, tenth, and eleventh verses refer to chapter the seventh; the twelfth verse to chapter the eighth; the thirteenth verse, of communicating to the saints, whether Jews or gentiles, to chapter the ninth, etc. Part of the sixteenth verse is repeated from Romans 11:25.

Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good — Both inwardly and outwardly, whatever ill-will or danger may follow.

Verse 10

[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

In honour preferring one another — Which you will do, if you habitually consider what is good in others, and what is evil in yourselves.

Verse 11

[11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Whatsoever ye do, do it with your might. In every business diligently and fervently serving the Lord - Doing all to God, not to man.

Verse 12

[12] Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Rejoicing in hope — Of perfect holiness and everlasting happiness. Hitherto of faith and love; now of hope also, see the fifth and eighth chapters; afterwards of duties toward others; saints, Romans 12:13 persecutors, Romans 12:14 friends, strangers, enemies, Romans 12:15, etc.

Verse 13

[13] Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Communicate to the necessities of the saints — Relieve all Christians that are in want. It is remarkable, that the apostle, treating expressly of the duties flowing from the communion of saints, yet never says one word about the dead.

Pursue hospitality — Not only embracing those that offer, but seeking opportunities to exercise it.

Verse 14

[14] Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Curse not — No, not in your heart.

Verse 15

[15] Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Rejoice — The direct opposite to weeping is laughter; but this does not so well suit a Christian.

Verse 16

[16] Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Mind not high things — Desire not riches, honour, or the company of the great.

Verse 17

[17] Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Provide — Think beforehand; contrive to give as little offence as may be to any.

Verse 19

[19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Dearly beloved — So he softens the rugged spirit. Revenge not yourselves, but leave that to God. Perhaps it might more properly be rendered, leave room for wrath; that is, the wrath of God, to whom vengeance properly belongs. Deuteronomy 32:35

Verse 20

[20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Feed him — With your own hand: if it be needful, even put bread into his mouth.

Heap coals of fire upon his head — That part which is most sensible. "So artists melt the sullen ore of lead, By heaping coals of fire upon its head; In the kind warmth the metal learns to glow, And pure from dross the silver runs below." Proverbs 25:21, etc.

Verse 21

[21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

And if you see no present fruit, yet persevere.

Be not overcome with evil — As all are who avenge themselves. But overcome evil with good. Conquer your enemies by kindness and patience.

Matthew 16:21-28

Verse 21

[21] From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

From that time Jesus began to tell his disciples, that he must suffer many things — Perhaps this expression, began, always implied his entering on a set and solemn discourse. Hitherto he had mainly taught them only one point, That he was the Christ. From this time he taught them another, That Christ must through sufferings and death enter into his glory.

From the elders — The most honourable and experienced men; the chief priests - Accounted the most religious; and the scribes - The most learned body of men in the nation. Would not one have expected, that these should have been the very first to receive him? But not many wise, not many noble were called.

Favour thyself — The advice of the world, the flesh, and the devil, to every one of our Lord's followers. Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22.

Verse 23

[23] But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Get thee behind me — Out of my sight. It is not improbable, Peter might step before him, to stop him.

Satan — Our Lord is not recorded to have given so sharp a reproof to any other of his apostles on any occasion. He saw it was needful for the pride of Peter's heart, puffed up with the commendation lately given him. Perhaps the term Satan may not barely mean, Thou art my enemy, while thou fanciest thyself most my friend; but also, Thou art acting the very part of Satan, both by endeavouring to hinder the redemption of mankind, and by giving me the most deadly advice that can ever spring from the pit of hell.

Thou savourest not — Dost not relish or desire. We may learn from hence, 1. That whosoever says to us in such a case, Favour thyself, is acting the part of the devil: 2. That the proper answer to such an adviser is, Get thee behind me: 3. That otherwise he will be an offence to us, an occasion of our stumbling, if not falling: 4. That this advice always proceeds from the not relishing the things of God, but the things of men. Yea, so far is this advice, favour thyself, from being fit for a Christian either to give or take, that if any man will come after Christ, his very first step is to deny, or renounce himself: in the room of his own will, to substitute the will of God, as his one principle of action.

Verse 24

[24] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

If any man be willing to come after me — None is forced; but if any will be a Christian, it must be on these terms, Let him deny himself, and take up his cross - A rule that can never be too much observed: let him in all things deny his own will, however pleasing, and do the will of God, however painful. Should we not consider all crosses, all things grievous to flesh and blood, as what they really are, as opportunities of embracing God's will at the expense of our own? And consequently as so many steps by which we may advance toward perfection? We should make a swift progress in the spiritual life, if we were faithful in this practice. Crosses are so frequent, that whoever makes advantage of them, will soon be a great gainer. Great crosses are occasions of great improvement: and the little ones, which come daily, and even hourly, make up in number what they want in weight. We may in these daily and hourly crosses make effectual oblations of our will to God; which oblations, so frequently repeated, will soon amount to a great sum. Let us remember then (what can never be sufficiently inculcated) that God is the author of all events: that none is so small or inconsiderable, as to escape his notice and direction. Every event therefore declares to us the will of God, to which thus declared we should heartily submit. We should renounce our own to embrace it; we should approve and choose what his choice warrants as best for us. Herein should we exercise ourselves continually; this should be our practice all the day long. We should in humility accept the little crosses that are dispensed to us, as those that best suit our weakness. Let us bear these little things, at least for God's sake, and prefer his will to our own in matters of so small importance. And his goodness will accept these mean oblations; for he despiseth not the day of small things. Matthew 10:38.

Verse 25

[25] For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Whosoever will save his life — At the expense of his conscience: whosoever, in the very highest instance, that of life itself, will not renounce himself, shall be lost eternally. But can any man hope he should be able thus to renounce himself, if he cannot do it in the smallest instances? And whosoever will lose his life shall find it - What he loses on earth he shall find in heaven. Matthew 10:39; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 17:33; John 12:25.

Verse 27

[27] For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

For the Son of man shall come — For there is no way to escape the righteous judgment of God.

Verse 28

[28] Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

And as an emblem of this, there are some here who shall live to see tho Messiah coming to set up his mediatorial kingdom, with great power and glory, by the increase of his Church, and the destruction of the temple, city, and polity of the Jews.

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WORSHIP FOR KIDS: AUGUST 31, 2014By Carolyn C. Brown

From a Child’s Point of View

Old Testament: Exodus 3:1-15. Like Moses, most children are fascinated by the bush that burns but does not burn up. Unfortunately, their curiosity about how it happened and what it looked like often keeps them from hearing what God said to Moses.

When they do listen to the conversation, children learn two truths. The first is that when God sees something that needs to be done, God sends specific people to do it. In this case, God was aware of the suffering of the Hebrew slaves and sent Moses to rescue them. Similarly, when God sees people hurting today, God calls on people—people like us—to save them.

The second truth is that even great people like Moses are frightened by trying to do God’s work. Moses’ question “Why me?” is very like our response to setting aside our snack money to feed hungry people, or trying to befriend the kid everyone else ignores or teases. To explore this second point more fully, expand the reading to include the rest of Moses’ attempts to avoid the job (Exod. 4:1-17).

Children, who tend to be interested in meaningful names such as those of Indians, are interested in God’s name, “I am who I am” or “I am who I will be.” In other words, God is bigger and “more” than we can ever describe.

Psalm: 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c. Verses 1-6 of the psalm call on worshipers to praise God, who is at work in the world. Verses 23-26 offer as an example the Hebrew experience in Egypt. The Good News Bible offers the clearest translation for children.

Epistle: Romans 12:9-21. At the beginning of a school and club year, children are keenly aware of and interested in rules. For them, this passage might be titled “Paul’s Rules for Getting Along with People.” Though the passage is somewhat of a hodgepodge, it can be restated:

• Treat every person as a friend.

• Always do what is right.

• Help people when they need your help.

• Pay attention to people’s feelings. Laugh with those who are happy and comfort those who are sad.

• Do not act stuck-up or think you are smarter than you are.

• Ask God to be good to people who give you trouble.

• Do not try to get even with people who are mean to you. Instead, treat then kindly. (Your kindness will make them ashamed of what they did.)

• Do not give in to evil ideas or plans. Instead, find even better good ideas and plans.

Gospel: Matthew 16:21-28. This is a difficult passage for children to understand as it is read. Peter being called Satan by Jesus, talk of stumbling blocks and saving or losing lives, and references to the Son of Man—all these overwhelm children. However, when it is pointed out, children recognize the human inclination (shared by Peter) to avoid suffering and protect ourselves. They are as disturbed as adults are by Jesus’ insistence that our lives will be best when we fight this inclination and sacrifice what we want and need in order to help someone else. Children need to hear examples from family and school life, in which children give up their TV show so that another family member can watch a favorite; do the most hated job in the household (maybe clean the cat’s litter) for another family member; protect a little kid cornered by bigger kids, and so forth.

Text Connections: Though the word cross is not used in Exodus, the story about Moses can be an example of what it means to “take up your cross.” The directives in Romans, however, cannot be used for this purpose. “Taking up your cross” involves much more than getting along with others. It requires putting yourself on the line, or suffering on behalf of others.

Watch Words

Cross is a Christian code word. It stands for a rich variety of related things. In today’s texts it stands for suffering in order to take care of or to save others. Introduce cross as a code word, and be careful that all your references to it clearly fit this definition.

Let the Children Sing

The repetitive phrases and simple format of “Here I Am, Lord” catch the attention of children and invite them to answer God’s call. “Take My Life, and Let It Be Consecrated” and “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” are also discipleship hymns children can sing.

“I Sing the Almighty Power of God” is a good praise hymn for a holiday weekend when most people are outdoors.

The Liturgical Child

1. In preparing your reading of the Exodus passage, practice saying each of Moses’ lines aloud so that they communicate his fear and make his attempts to wiggle out of God’s call obvious.

2. Invite a children’s class to lead the following version of the psalm, with each child reading one line. In a smaller congregation, ask younger children to read the short phrases, with older children reading the paragraphs at the end. The congregation’s response to each: Alleluia!

Give thanks to God and call on God’s name! Alleluia!

Tell everyone what God has done! Alleluia!

Sing to God! Praise God with music! Alleluia!

Tell of God’s wonderful works! Alleluia!

Be glad that we belong to God! Alleluia!

Let all who worship God rejoice! Alleluia!

Go to the Lord for help! Alleluia!

Worship God continually! Alleluia!

Listen, you descendants of Abraham and Jacob. Remember the marvelous things God has done and the decisions God has made! Alleluia!

When the Hebrews moved to Egypt and settled there, God made them to increase in numbers. God made them stronger than the Egyptians, and the Egyptians hated them and treated them badly. Then God sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them with God’s power. Alleluia!

3. Create a responsive affirmation with short descriptions of suffering and oppression, including global, local, and family problems. The congregation’s response to each need: “God sees their suffering and says to us, ‘Come, I will send you.’ “

Sermon Resources

1. Note that sometimes God sends a whole family to do a job. Describe the relationship among Miriam, Moses, and Aaron, and tell about their work. Cite examples of families in your congregation who do God’s work together (e.g., walking on the CROP walk or packing clothes for a mission).

2. "The Integration of Mary-Larkin Thornhill" by Ann Waldron (E. P. Dutton, 1975), tells about a junior-high girl, the only white student at a black school in the 1970s. She and her family work through crisis after crisis as they make a stand for racial justice. This fictitious story, or similar stories of your own creation, help children to imagine themselves answering God’s call as Moses did.

3. Develop a back-to-school sermon around Paul’s advice in Romans. Open by explaining that though this sermon will speak mostly about living as a Christian at school, what is true for children at school is true also for architects, carpenters, businesswomen, and homemakers.

Make a series of posters based on Paul’s advice: Make your life a gift to God; Use your gifts well; Avoid evil and stick with good; Love one another; Respect all people; Work hard and do not be lazy; Serve God; Be joyful and hopeful; Be patient when you suffer; Pray!; Share with those in need. Give one poster to each of eleven children, to hold up in front of the congregation. Read them one at the time, noting that each gives good advice. Then select three or four for the sermon, take them with you into the pulpit, and prop each one up as you speak about it.

WORSHIP CONNECTION: AUGUST 31, 2014 by Nancy C. Townley

12th Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green

SCRIPTURE READINGS: Exodus 3:1-15; Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

CALLS TO WORSHIP

Call to Worship #1:

L: Give thanks to the Lord!

P: We will sing God’s praises!

L: Seek the Lord and God’s strength.

P: We continually seek God’s presence in our lives.

L: Remember all the wonderful things that God has done.

P: Praise the Lord! AMEN.

Call to Worship #2:

L: How shall we get along with one anther in this world?

P: The Apostle Paul said that our love should be genuine. We should hate what is evil and hold fast to what is good.

L: We should honor one another with kindness and compassion.

P: We should always be strong in our enthusiasm to serve God.

L: Come, let us joyfully worship God in all that we do.

P: Let us praise God in our words, our thoughts, and our actions. AMEN.

Call to Worship #3:

[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2242, “Walk with Me,” offer the following call to worship as directed.]

L: God is calling us today to be a part of the healing ministry for this world.

P: But we aren’t sure we are the ones for this job.

L: Moses received God’s call and he wasn’t sure either. Peter was so afraid of what was going to happen to Jesus that he tried to prevent Jesus from going to Jerusalem. All of us experience concerns and questions when it comes to following God.

P: It may be difficult, but we will place our trust in God’s guidance.

Choral Ensemble: singing verse 1 and 2 of “Walk with Me”

L: Come, let us offer our lives in service to God.

P: Let us praise God and serve by helping others in need. AMEN.

Call to Worship #4:

L: Have you heard God’s call in your life?

P: We’re not sure. Sometimes we think we know what God wants us to do; but at other times things are not very clear.

L: Place your trust in the Lord. God is with you always.

P: Lord, it is a scary thing to do--to just place our trust in you.

L: God is with you. You will be safe.

P: Thanks be to God who watches over us and guides us. AMEN.

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PRAYERS, READING, BENEDICTION

Opening Prayer

Lord, we have gathered here today to hear your word for us. We marvel at the witness of Moses who received your call to liberate your enslaved people. We also struggle with the issues of safety and security that plagued Peter when Jesus set his sights on entering Jerusalem. Be with us this day, guiding our spirits and opening our hearts to hear your forgiveness and call to us. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. AMEN.

Prayer of Confession

Lord, perhaps your voice issuing forth from a burning bush is what we need to shake us from our complacency. We have a hard time comprehending your call to us because we feel so inadequate to respond in faithful service. So we look to others to do the work. We are happy to support their efforts with our funds and our limited interest. Now, Lord, we need to take the next step into actual service to you. Forgive our slowness of action and heart, O Lord. Quicken our spirits to accept the call you have for us. Give us courage and strength to do your will and help others in need. We ask these things in the name of Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

Words of Assurance

In the power of the burning bush, in the quiet stillness, in the everyday noises of living, God is calling to each one of us, telling us to trust in the gifts with which God has bestowed on us. You are beloved and blessed by God to be a blessing to others. Rejoice!

Pastoral Prayer

Lord, we love the drama of the burning bush. Here is the quaking Moses, telling God that God has made a mistake. Moses does not believe that he can perform the task to which God has called him. But God knows better. God will provide the support structure for this awesome task. We are just like Moses. We tell God that God has made a mistake; we are not able or worthy to undertake the task of hope and peace for this world. We mumble about responsibilities and commitments, but God chides us to be in service by helping others. God will give us the strength, the tools, the support that we need. What do we need to fear? This day we have brought before God the names of people and situations that lay heavily on our hearts. We feel powerless to bring the healing words of hope, and so we offer these situations to God for God’s compassionate mercy. Our trust in God is rightly placed. For God hears our prayers and will respond. We can count on God to be present with us and with all those in need. Now it is our turn to respond to God’s call with a fervent yes, trusting in God’s presence and guidance. Let us go forth to serve joyfully and confidently in God’s world. AMEN.

Reading

[Note: Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2139, “Oh, I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hands on Me,” have a soloist or small choral ensemble sing verse 1 with the refrain at the beginning of this reading and again at the end just prior to the pastor’s statement.]

Soloist: singing verse 1 with refrain of “Oh I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hands on Me”

Reader 1:

God wants me to work in the local food pantry, helping stock shelves and bag groceries. It’s only one day a month. I think I can handle that.