Sermons

John Winthrop

Bear with me while I do a bit of math (I’m not good at this, so we’re going do approximates!) Please let me use 2,000 years since Jesus’ death – I know that’s years off, but it’s so much easier to work in round numbers and we do not know exact dates.  From there we know there have been about 104,000 weekends. It would only take 10 churches to hold services each Sunday morning to reach over a million sermons, right?

A recent estimate of American congregations gives us a much larger number. Hartford Institute estimates there are roughly 350,000 religious congregations in the United States. That could be over eleven million Sunday morning sermons just in my lifetime.

So, in my 73 years there would be approximately 3,800 weekends that I could have heard one of them. No, I didn’t attend every weekend, but there have been many years I’ve attended Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Wednesday and some years attended revivals that lasted six days – so I’ve probably heard a number of sermons close to that figure.

Which ones do I remember? Few. Top memory is Angel Martinez during a Billy Graham Crusade in Tulsa in the late 1950’s. There are several others I’ve heard, and many I’ve read. One was given by my husband’s 10th great-grand uncle, John Winthrop, “A Model of Christian Charity,” the ending of which gives us “A City Upon A Hill.” One history explains how he:

… delivered this famous lay sermon aboard the Arbella to settlers traveling to New England. Although it is possible to exaggerate the significance of this particular sermon, which remained unpublished for two centuries after Winthrop delivered it, it nonetheless provides a clear statement of the sense of special purpose that helped motivate the settlement of New England.

Sometimes a sermon title sticks in the mind and becomes confused with a verse. For example, although Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God” used Deuteronomy 32:35, it is often thought to refer to:

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31 KJV)

That confusion is one reason I study the Bible references in sermons, to see whether there are disconnects – and to see where the author made connections that are applicable in my life. Out of the multi-millions of sermons through the ages, the Bible still gives me the best I love and never tire of reading. Peter’s first sermon at Pentecost is always a heart catcher:

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: (Acts 2:14 KJV)

This is followed by the good news that was given to all men through prophecy across centuries.  My second most loved sermon is Paul’s in Athens:

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. (Acts 17:22-23 KJV)

A close third is the one Paul gave before Agrippa, who was convicted enough to say:

Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.  (Acts 26:29 KJV)

From those millions of sermons have come millions of people moving a step beyond Agrippa, people who publicly made their decision, stated their belief and confessed Jesus Christ as savior:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 KJV)

Heard any good sermons lately?

The Same, But Different

They look similar, but different. No, it’s not just lighting or camera angle, these are screen captures of two different quilts. From the number of participants, there are hundreds around the world, each slightly different from the other though they all have the same pattern, same instructions from Bonnie K. Hunter’s Grand Illusion.

Some have finished their quilts, others have saved the instructions and will start later. Some have seams matching exactly, others have a a few that are a few threads off. Some have been taken apart – often – others seldom pick up a seam ripper.

All show the basic design, beautiful movement that brings the quilt to life before it wraps someone in comfortable warmth. It’s one example of why I’ve come to enjoy my new hobby of piecing patterns to make a quilt. No – for those who may ask – I have not pieced the Grand Illusion (but I did save the instructions, in case I get the time.)

Why bring it up now? Because I see a lesson here from verses Paul gave us:

Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:15-18 KJV)

Just as the quilts are different, sermons are different and preachers are different. How can we tell which ones follow the pattern? By understanding the instructions. And, though you may find that this is repetitious, it remains valid:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

Scriptures are our instructions, our standards by which we measure what we do, and what we don’t do. Don’t worry about measuring others, we’re responsible for ourselves. We have instructions on that:

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. (Matthew 7:5 KJV)

Please read Matthew 7:1-4, too, in order to get a fuller message. Too many people stop with Matthew 7:1. Once we have instructions, it would be good for ourselves to follow them – wouldn’t it?

There are patterns in scripture, too. Within the gospel message runs a thread of love – the unequaled love of God for man:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

I read that in a Spanish version years ago:

Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo, que ha dado a su Hijo unigénito, para que todo aquel que en él cree, no se pierda, mas tenga vida eterna.

I remember how someone translated it back to me: Because of the manner God loved the world. It doesn’t matter what language is used – God loved. John said again, slightly differently:

We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19 KJV)

Love is a beautiful pattern. Always the same, slightly different.

A Read Bible

Portions of Texas can related to the “dry and thirsty land” of Psalm 63. But that’s not what caught my eye on my friend’s picture, so I focused on just a few verses to talk about how we can tell this is an often read verse.

The highlighting is obvious, beginning with:

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1 KJV)

My Bible tells me this was written by David when he was in the Judean wilderness, pursued by enemies but firmly grounded in God’s ability to sustain him. Then we skip to the last half of verse 4:

I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Psalms 63:4 KJV)

and verse 6:

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. (Psalms 63:6 KJV)

Those remind me of highlights I’ve made that have very personal applications. What’s very noticeable is that these highlights were not made at the same time as the underlining. And, the underlining shows that different verses were marked with different pens, indicating different times.

This Psalm of David was visited, revisited and revisited again and again. There are multiple messages in these short verses.  Of course, the Psalm is much longer, but I cropped only the portion of the page that contained this Psalm.

I’m familiar with such a read Bible – I have a few. I carried one from 1977. It has highlights, underlines, notations, dates, preachers’ names – reminders of messages from its pages. I’ve moved to e-Sword on my computer (the copy/paste of verses come from there) and my smart phone. The app has the ability to highlight, but my note taking has moved to a purse-sized spiral so my notes are more copious!

I encourage Bible reading for a number of reasons – primarily as the foundation of faith:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

… the source of doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

That’s why it’s a blessing to find proof of a read Bible – over and over again. May I suggest 1 John as a good place to start? There he speaks of the witnesses, the events and the reason he writes:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:1-4 KJV)

Just listen close to the rest of the story. Don’t be afraid to re-read – there are additional messages in the good news given to us.

Revivable

Photo @ AGR, please do not reuse

Isn’t that a beautiful photograph? It was shared by one of our church family. New Year’s Day we had the right combination of temperature/drizzle to build layers of ice. We were fortunate that by Friday morning the ice was not covering the roadway, but there was fog, that added more layers to the ice on trees, fences and a layer on our mailbox. By Friday night we were experiencing thunderstorms as warm, moist air spread into those cold layers.

That grass appears dead. Those specific leaves are. But there are good roots there that will provide green shoots next year, in spite of drought conditions here. We get a bit of moisture now and again so our springs are beautiful – and I’m already looking forward to the one coming!

There are good people with similar situations – good roots, a strong biblical knowledge, but they’re in need of a reviving growth:

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? (Psalms 85:6 KJV)

Yes, He will – and we don’t need an evangelist to visit our church to get us started. While those meetings are uplifting and energizing, we don’t need to wait until a special time to allow God to revive us again and have us rejoicing in Him. We can ask for it ourselves:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

No, we can’t do it ourselves, how could we? We need this because we are no longer as close to the Lord as we once were – and as we need to be in order to be joyful. David experienced this more than once and understood what he needed:

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalms 51:12 KJV)

Do you see the mountains and valleys in life? The times when our Lord felt so very close – and the times when it seemed there was no way to reach Him. He does not change. He does not move.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8 KJV)

We, however, do. We are error prone. We need to remember who those errors affect:

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:1-4 KJV)

We will be judged.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2 Timothy 4:1 KJV)

Why not do a little soul searching now, requesting that heart cleansing, restoration of joy and acknowledgement of His loving kindness, His mercy, ever to us-ward:

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. (Psalms 40:3-5 KJV)

Tested

Today I was tested. That’s been happening for a couple of years now, so I’m learning more and more about myself. Today’s was a neuropsychological test because I’ve been concerned about short term memory loss and wondered if it was connected to “Henry”, the small meningioma lodged in my frontal lobe. One test today was similar to:

The tester reads aloud a list, called "Monday's shopping list". The list contains sixteen common words, each of which belongs to one of four categories: thus, there are four fruits, four herbs and spices, etc. The subject is then asked to recall as many of these items as possible.

I still remember the list I was given started with “truck”, did have vegetables, furniture and animals. I find it odd to have those words still wondering around in my brain. I couldn’t help but find the tests interesting – but there are things I do not wish to forget, and more that I wish to learn.

I do not want to lose my vocabulary. Having a wide range of words to select from helps me explain what I read, to share what I receive from the Bible with others where it may be of solace. We are told:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16 KJV)

To me, that means scripture is not simply to read and move on. It’s the basis for our belief system. We use it to set our standards, to see where our actions may be blamed or lack approval. Once we see the error, we use the scriptures to set a course for correction. We allow scripture to be our instruction, for God’s goal is righteousness – a moral rightness that leaves us without guilt, moving toward being without sin. And, the next verse tells us why:

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17 KJV)

There’s that “good works” again. Those are goals we set as we desire to please God, not for our salvation. I never want to forget this verse:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

It is balanced by another I want to remember:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:17-18 KJV)

I want to remember all of those – and other scriptures that have helped build my faith, as God promised:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Never omit reading God’s word. We may forget it over time, but it’s always available for our use to know Him better, to bring ourselves closer to Him in order to achieve His goals, that we may show our faith and share with others. At least, that’s what I think. How about you?

Last Night

Jesus walks on water, by Ivan Aivazovsky (1888)

Last night we spent a few hours with close friends and new acquaintances. There were two sermons – the first given by one of our “preacher boys” of a decade ago, now grown into a man of God preaching to a growing congregation, getting ready to build their own church. The other was our church’s Youth Minister during the years we had those active “preacher boys,” now the pastor of a long-time established church whose members joined us for this service. It was a blessed way to end the year.

No – Beloved Husband and I did not make it with them until midnight – we did make it past our bedtime, and it was well worth the expended energy. While the messages carried so much more, let me share just a bit today from Matthew:

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (Matthew 14:28 KJV)

No, the preacher’s message wasn’t focused on this verse – he covered 14:23-33 and had five good point regarding faith. This particular verse reminded me of a recent post about bargaining with God.

Here the disciples were afraid, thinking it was a spirit walking on the water, but Jesus told them not to fear, that it was Him. Note that Peter was uncertain – “if it be thou.”

Peter wanted confirmation, so he offered a bargain – if you are Jesus, tell me to come to you. Prove yourself to me and I’ll believe. Sound familiar? Have you heard someone explain their disbelief in God based on their not seeing God? Bargaining with God remains a bad idea.

Jesus responded to Peter’s request:

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. (Matthew 14:29 KJV)

There it was – the call from Christ and the response from Peter, stepping out in faith, out of the boat onto the water, answering his Lord’s call. Then, reality sets in:

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:30 KJV)

Sound familiar? We see what’s around us and cannot equate the Lord’s calling us to what we see in the world. How can we possibly do what we’ve accepted the call to do? Can’t He see what we see? Aren’t we supposed to receive good gifts, have what makes us happy, lead people to him – instead of being in a fear-filled experience beyond our ability? Jesus has seen this before:

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31 KJV)

I can answer Jesus’ question – I doubt because I know my lack of ability and have not depended totally on Him. Oh, I want to. I’ve seen people who have. I know Peter stepped out in faith – but doubt seeped into him as it still does for followers today.

My lack of faith does not lessen God’s ability. I, and many others, stop taking that one step at a time, one step after another, continuing forward. We’re Peter, seeing the boisterous world around us, becoming afraid. That’s when we need to remember Peter’s cry:

Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:30c KJV)

He will.

A Psalm of David

There are lots of those – psalms of David. He was a man who spoke often to God, and expected answers. This is a short one, nine verses, which includes:

A prayer to hear God’s word;

Denunciation of wickedness;

Thanksgiving for what God had done for him in the past.

Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. (Psalms 28:1-2 KJV)

How does that compare with:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)

David did acknowledge God’s holiness, but did not see Him as a Father, but he did recognize what happens to those who lead or are led into temptation:

Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. (Psalms 28:3-5 KJV)

David closes, as I pray I always will, with thankfulness and praises:

Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. (Psalms 28:6-9 KJV)

Besides just reading the Bible – there’s a lesson to take away from just these two prayers. The first lesson is to believe God, as the omnipotent creator, is ready to hear us and that He will respond. If we cannot believe He is, why would we ask Him for anything? And, why would He respond?

Second lesson is that there have always been evil – Adam and Eve gave into disobedience, David did, too and Jesus acknowledged temptations, telling us to ask our Father to keep us from them. It is possible to be delivered from evil, from those who disregard the Lord and His works. Do we wish to be delivered from such?

Third – be grateful. There’s no need for me to include a list of gratitude for everyone, but I’m grateful that God is mindful of His creation.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:   (Hebrews 2:6-7 KJV)

That “certain place” is another from David, Psalm 8. The Hebrews writer thought of that after writing:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3 KJV)

What does happen if so great a salvation is neglected? Are we neglecting it? Or, are we acknowledging, following, thanking and praising the Lord our God?