[Propertalk] Fwd: Sermon for Easter 2B

[Joe Parrish]

 Forwarded:

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: SERMONSHOP SERMONS <sermonshop-sermons.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Fri, Apr 13, 2012 12:28 pm
Subject: Sermon for Easter 2B


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Doubting Thomas” or “Out of Sight- Out
of Mind” or “Your Mother’s Faith Won’t Save You” and deals all the
lessons.  Here it is:

Happy Easter!  Yes, it’s still the Easter season and will be for 43
more days.  As you recall, last Sunday I reminded us that this is a
Good Friday world, but the Easter promise is that God has already
overcome.  In this world of difficulties, fear, frustration, and
death- it looks like evil has the last word- but it doesn’t, because
the Lord has overcome.  In the middle of the mess, Jesus calls our
name like he called Mary’s Magdalene’s name; takes us by the hand; and
walks us through it.  By God’s grace, there is absolutely no situation
so hopeless that God cannot use it to empower us and glorify himself.
Even death itself is swallowed up in victory, because it is the
gateway to heaven.  Yes, that’s God’s Easter promise to us.

This last week really pointed up the Good Friday reality of our
world.  Three people were shot last week-end; George Zimmerman- the
Florida man was finally arrested- you know- he’s the man who shot and
killed a 17 year old teenager armed only with Skittles and a can of
iced tea; and the list goes on and on.  All of these people were
younger than I am; many are younger than most of you are.  We really
don’t expect someone younger than we are to die, but no one has a
claim on life.  Not one of us, even the youngest child, has even the
slightest idea about how much longer we have of this life- which
brings us to the point of this sermon.  It’s not just Thomas- each one
of us absolutely must develop our own personal relationship with
Jesus.  Each one of us absolutely must put our money where our mouth
is and walk with God.  Your mother’s faith won’t save you- only a
faith of your own is enough to get you through the hard times and on
to eternal life with our Lord.

I’ve mentioned this before, but it really made an impression on me.
Some time ago, I mentioned how ghastly it was for Judas to betray
Jesus, then asked if it’s possible for people today to betray Jesus,
and if so- how.  One of our very perceptive members quickly answered-
“Oh sure- out of sight; out of mind!”  Do you know, that person was
right!  The opposite of faith is NOT doubt; it’s indifference- an
attitude of “I don’t care” or “I’m too busy to bother with Jesus and
church right now.”  Then when the hard times come (as they come to
everyone), we haven’t developed the spiritual relationship with our
Lord to survive with power.  How do you protect yourself?  Here are
four ways- each one from the Bible lessons today.

FROM THE ACTS LESSON- don’t be stingy and let money and possessions be
your god.  You can’t take it with you, and they wouldn’t do any good
anyway!  Did you hear of the man who figured out a way to get his gold
to heaven?  As he walked in those gorgeous gates dragging his huge
stock of gold, the angels just shook their heads.  “The very streets
are paved with gold up here!” they said.  “Why in the world would that
foolish man drag in more paving bricks?!”  Your money and possessions
won’t save you; only your faith and absolute trust in the living Lord
will.

FROM THE PSALM- don’t let squabbles between family members get you
down and poison your spirit.  There are two problems with family- we
don’t get to choose them and they know us well enough to really pull
our chains!  Give them to God and forgive.

FROM THE 1ST JOHN LESSON- live what you believe.  If you’re not living
it, you really don’t believe it.  Actions speak louder than words.

FINALLY, FROM JOHN’S GOSPEL- don’t make Thomas’ mistake.  Do you know
what it was?  If he had been with the fellowship of disciples on
Easter day, he would have seen Jesus too.  Keep the Sabbath- don’t
miss church.  Our culture has six days (plus the powerful tool of the
television set) to inculcate its values of me, my, mine and buy, buy,
buy into your very soul.  Let God undo the damage and give you an
attitude adjustment every Sunday.  What frequently happens to AA
members when they stop going to meetings?  What frequently happens to
Weight Watcher members when they stop going to meetings?  The same
thing happens to Christians when they stop going to church- out of
sight, out of mind- and they slowly drift away from their source of
power.  The trouble is- the drifting happens so gradually we don’t
notice it- like the frog and the boiling water.  If that frog started
to jump in the pot, he’d sense the danger as soon as his little toe
touched the edge and he’d escape.  If, however, he starts in the pot
and then the water gradually comes to a boil, he doesn’t notice the
danger and the next thing you know- he’s frog stew.

As we prayed in this morning’s collect, may God empower us to show
forth in our lives what we profess in our Easter faith.  Amen.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20120413/e63605a6/attachment.htm>