He Saved Us

The Baptism of Our Lord

He Saved Us

Text: Titus 3:4-7

There was a father once who had a number of children, and ooh I tell you, those children were something.  They sure had a mind of their own.  The father loved them though.  He protected them tirelessly, even when they didn’t realize he was doing it.  He provided for them graciously, even though they weren’t always thankful for it.  In addition to all of that love, he also taught them what was right and good for them to do.

For example, there was a local cliff in town.  All the other children loved to go near it.  But it was so dangerous.  The children didn’t realize it, but even though there was water below, the fall off the cliff could result in death.  The father knew this, so he told his children exactly what to do and what not to do.  He told them to stay away from the cliff, to not even flirt with the thought of the cliff but rather to stay on the straight and narrow and veer away from disaster and death.

But did the children listen?  Of course not.  The thought of the cliff was so exciting and exhilarating—so tempting.  All the other kids were doing it.  Why couldn’t they?  So day by day they began to disobey their father more and more.  They veered off the road toward the cliff more and more as they daringly dabbled with danger.  The father knew it and repeatedly warned them about what he wanted and the danger of disobeying.  But they didn’t listen.  Finally it got to the point where they were pretty much doing the exact opposite of what their loving father wanted and they were at the cliff every day.

Children – Our Mission and Our Model

20th Sunday after Pentecost

Children: Our Mission and Our Model

Text: Mark 10:13-16

Intro 

I’m sure most have a picture in their minds of this story.  It’s one of those feel good, warm your heart kinds of stories.  You picture Jesus, perhaps sitting on a big rock.  You envision young kids maybe around the age of kindergarten to third or fourth grade.  They’re gleefully running up to Jesus, nearly piling on him like they would a fun uncle who came to visit.  In your mind you see Jesus with a great big smile warmly welcoming these kids.
That’s the picture most have in their minds.  That’s what we see in paintings and portraits.  That’s even the scene that my father’s church has in a 40 foot tall stained glass window that was built over 100 years ago.  But that’s not exactly what happened.
We’re told in the story that people were bringing little children to Jesus.  While you and I have an idea for what constitutes a little child, in the Greek culture they used that word specifically for children ages zero to four.  When it says they were bringing little children, it means really little children.  Perhaps there were others kids, but these were mostly babies, toddlers, and preschoolers being brought to Jesus.

The Father is So Pleased

The Baptism of Our Lord

The Father is So Pleased

Text: Mark 1:9-11

What does it take to make someone happy?  It depends on the person I suppose.  It used to be that you could give almost anyone on our staff a Big Mac and a Large Fry and a Diet Coke, and we would all be pleased as Punch.  A new year and a few resolutions later, now most of us would be pleased with something that A) we are allowed to eat that B) actually tastes good, too.

Ladies, what does it take to make a husband happy?  Probably not much.  Fill his belly and let him be a scrubby bum on the couch watching the NFL playoffs maybe?  Then he would be pleased.

Guys, what does it take to make a wife happy?  Oh boy, where do we start?  (No, we won’t say that!)  This is a little more challenging though.  Don’t forget her birthday . . . or an anniversary . . . or Valentine’s Day . . . or any other possible day you could give flowers and a card.  Help with the wash and the dishes.  Listen without watching TV at the same time.  Let her hold the remote control.  Communicate.  Maybe (hopefully!) then she would be pleased.

But what would it take to make God happy?  How could you please God?  Jesus had a conversation with a man about this one time.  A suitable answer was given:  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.  

Our God Saves

Baptism of Our Lord Sunday

Our God Saves

1. By his mercy

2. By his means

3. By his grace

Text: Titus 3:4-7

Intro

What is your God like?  Is your God like Buddha?  If they try hard enough and renounce enough things of this world and live with enough kindness and love (and maybe after reincarnating a few times), Buddhists might possibly become one with their god and maybe reach nirvana—enlightenment.

Is your God like one of the Hindu gods?  “Which one?” you ask?  Good question.  There are millions of Hindu gods.  The ultimate high god is named Brahma and is much like Buddha in the sense that maybe if you are worthy enough (and lucky enough) you might become one with him or even become a god yourself.

Is your God like the god of Taoism in Japan?  A force that pervades the universe like the movie Star Wars?  Hopefully, if you are good enough, you can tap into the good side of the Yin and Yang and harness its power.

 Is your God like Allah?  Many Muslims portray Allah as a loving, kind God.  Yet Allah demands obedience, and Allah abhors defiance.  Americans know well how many Muslims take seriously Allah’s demands for jihad against infidels.  If you are an extremist Wahabi Sunni Muslim you might need to sacrifice your life to gain eternity.

Is your God like the Jewish version of Yahweh?  If you practice circumcision, if you eat kosher, if you obey the Sabbath, and if you follow the rest of the laws of Moses, then maybe you might find rest with God.

What is our God like?  Our God is certainly almighty, all-powerful, perfect, and righteous.  He tells us in the Bible, “I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One.”  God’s people cry out in the Bible, “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.”  In regards to holiness, might, power, and perfection our God is just like other alleged gods of the world.

Daily Devotion on John 3:1-17

Text: John 3:1-17

Who is Jesus and why is he here? What is God up to? These were the questions that led Nicodemus to rendezvous with Jesus for a late night, behind the scenes interview. It was obvious to Nicodemus that Jesus had come from God because Jesus was doing miracles that only a prophet of God could do. So who was Jesus, was he a prophet or something more? And if he was a prophet what message from God did he have for the Israelites?

Jesus’ beautiful response was just what Nicodemus needed to hear. Jesus’ response is also exactly what we need to hear.

Important point #1: Yes I am from God. I come from God with a heavenly message

Important point #2: Unless you receive the Holy Spirit you cannot go to heaven (the Holy Spirit comes through the waters of baptism)

Important point #3: The Son of Man (a title for Jesus the Son of God) will be lifted up. If you believe in him you will have eternal life.

Important point #4: God the Father orchestrated all of this because he did not wish to condemn the whole world.

I don’t know what Nicodemus expected to hear from Jesus. I don’t know what he wanted to hear from Jesus, but I do know that what he heard was exactly what he needed to hear. “Nicodemus, your triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is offering you the only way to get to heaven. Believe and heaven is yours.”

It’s the gospel, it is the message that every human desperately needs to know. It is the story of our loving God that you desperately need to know. I don’t know what first led you to Jesus. I don’t know what you expect Jesus to do for you, but I do know that he already is offering you everything you need. Heaven is yours, Jesus is offering it to you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for setting into motion a plan to bring your lost, sinful world back into your loving embrace.

Jesus the Son of God, thank you for offering your life as the ransom which buys our souls a mansion in heaven.

Holy Spirit, thank you for creating in our hearts faith that clings to the promise of Jesus, thank you for bringing about our second birth as children of God.

Amen.