Bridges, 2008

Bridges, Jerry. Trusting God Even when Life Hurts. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2008

Sermon for 12/11/13 "Redemption Drawing Near" Luke 21

Sermon “Redemption Drawing Near”

Wildlife scene from trip to Boston - full of flora and fauna in the midst of traffic, noise, people.

The last days are coming. Jesus’ return is near. How do we know?

We think it would be a time of comfort and joy, peace, prosperity.

But instead we have trouble

 signs

 distress

 roaring sea - great and dangerous power

 fear, foreboding - try watching CNN, doomsday stories

It seems that everything which is good and right has been overturned!

What will we do?

Look up.

Straighten up.

Receive the promises of God.

You are safe, you are secure, you are imperishable.

All the disaster that comes upon us, all that can come upon us, as we trust in Jesus we find ourselves safe. There’s no harm. Figs - perishable fruit - and we are guarded by the Lord.

Back to the traffic scene and the bees busy about their work.

Summer is near. Where’s our mind?

Tillich, 1948, Chapter 7 "The Depth of Existence"

Chapter 7 “The Depth of Existence” pp. 52-63

2 Corinthians 2:10; Psalm 130:1

Our meditation is about “depth”

 depth transferred from space to a spiritual quality

2 meanings - opposite of . . .

 shallow - truth deep not shallow

 high - suffering is deep not high

Both are contrasted to the surface, first appearance

That which doesn’t disappoint is below the surface

 Digging below the surface causes upheaval.

 Good to look below our own surface

 Often we only look at our surface.

God is the depth, the foundation of all.

 We find that depth as we look at others around us.

 The depth of God may be “hope” for us, maybe history, it varies from person to person.

Most of us find it safer to avoid that depth.

 We think it complicated when in fact it is simple.

 Depth, in fact, is dangerous, which is why Jesus calls those who endure it “blessed.”

Willimon, 1984, Chapter 8 "Getting Everyone into the Act: Lay Involvement in Planning and Evaluating Worship"

Chapter 8 “Getting Everyone into the Act: Lay Involvement in Planning and Evaluating Worship” pp. 103-111

In this final chapter, Willimon proposes that it is necessary to involve a broad spectrum of the laity in planning and executing worship leadership. he recommends a worship and music committee that oversees weekly plans, musical equipment, accompanists, acolytes, ushers, decorations, and the like. This committee consists of people who wish to learn about worship and liturgy and who will support the pastor and his vision for the life of the church. When the people are involved in this way they will gain more from their participation in worship. Their enthusiasm will spread throughout the congregation.

Brueggemann, 2001, Chapter 7 "A Note on the Practice of Ministry"

Chapter 7 “A Note on the Practice of Ministry” pp. 115-119

Brueggemann summarizes his argument as follows. Moses’ prophetic work criticized the establishment of Pharaoh, energizing God’s people toward freedom. These reforms were too radical. In the establishment of kings, Israel reasserted the royal principles of Egypt. jeremiah put the monarchy to death, expressing mourning. Isaiah gave hope and saw Israel’s joy reborn. Jesus laid death and despair to rest, bringing life and hope. This work of ministry is done in every age. Through the prophetic ministry we seek four dimensions. First, we evoke an alternative community. Second, we build a consistently biblical worldview. Third, we penetrate numbness and grief. Finally, we penetrate despair, giving true hope. This move, essentially from death to life, is exactly what Jesus always brings. It is our job to act as his instruments to deliver it to our world.

Sermon for 12/8/13 "Prepare the Way of the Lord"

Sermon “Prepare the Way of the Lord”

Matthew 3

Prepare the way

That means, “Get ready. The King is coming.”

Job once, long ago, working in the office of a college development director.

 person responsible to bring in large amounts of money

 create positive image for the organization

 can make or break the future of the college, regardless of academics

My job was to prepare the way. The offices had been gutted. Rubble from old walls, broken things all around, filthy place, dust mask required

Get ready.

 get rid of the trash

 clear out the rubble

 Salvage? Maybe, but not much

 trees that are not bearing fruit are cut down and burned

 chaff is swept away from the threshing floor - burns very fast

 husks, weeds, rubble - everything that isn’t fastened down - it goes

We shoveled plaster, wires, wood, old blinds, broken glass into trash cans, removed it to dumpsters, had those removed to the landfill - all to ruin.

Was it time for the development director to move in?

Another crew came in, several crews - fresh paint, new light fixtures, carpet, windows, decorations - a new scene without chaos and destruction

Where do we stand in this time of Advent, the time of preparation for the coming king?

 no depending on history “we always did…”

 no depending on heritage “my parents were, I used to be…”

 no depending on current situation “always in church, try to be a good person…”

All our goodness, all our righteousness - it’s chaff, goodness mixed with sin, good for burning

What will we do? Absolutely nothing. It’s all our striving and trying that gets us into the fix of the Pharisees and Saducees, the people who would be looked up to, the religious elite.

We bring nothing to the bargaining table. We bring nothing but a need for forgiveness and restoration.

John baptized for repentance. Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. We look to Jesus.

bringing judgment and destruction

bringing healing and restoration

He will take us, broken, rebellious, toxic, and wash us. He will cleanse us to be useful to him. And he will give us the message, the same message of the Gospel which has been since Genesis chapter 3, that sin will be judged in the Son of Man, Jesus, our Lord.

Jesus alone will come to present us to the Father without fault, blameless, by taking the blame and guilt we deserve upon himself. He receives our scorn and death so we can receive his life and hope. We are found in him.

Lord Jesus, cleanse us, your people, and use us as your servants, bringing your peace, life and hope in this world of darkness. Come to deliver us.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Tillich, 1948, Chapter 6 "The Escape from God"

Chapter 6 “The Escape from God” pp. 38-51

Psalm 139

How can we ever escape the presence of God? This inescapability is precisely what makes God be God.

 Idealists may think they could rise up and escape.

 Those who long for death cannot escape.

 Our world tries to rush here and there - no escape.

Would we flee the god of our own making? No. he is like us.

It is the true God from whom we would hide.

The true God knows us completely, beginning to end.

Theological terminology often talks about God in terms of “omnipresence” and “omniscience.” This leaves us in the realm of speculation. We are left with ideas about God instead of the presence and knowledge of God. The Christian life is not about a theory, but about a person. We know that God knows us intimately and is always with us. This confronts us with our sin. It gives us reason to fear.

As the Psalmist reflects on God’s knowledge of him and care for him, he is moved to awe and wonder. God cares for his people. There is finally no need to fear.

Near the end of the Psalm, the author realizes again his sinfulness. It brings fear. Knowing God’s love, he asks for deliverance.