Week Five (Service) - Sunday

Service

In the last half of the 20^th century, the catch-phrase A Personal Relationship with God gained popularity within many Christian circles.  While I don’t believe you will find many people who would dispute the need of such a relationship, I have come to discover that many people don’t really understand what a personal relationship with God means.  The one passage in the Bible that probably has the greatest impact on my life is the one known as the Great Commandment.  In these couple of verses, Jesus basically sums up our whole purpose in life saying, “Love the Lord your God with all of you heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love your neighbor as yourself” (Paraphrased).  It must be stressed again and again that this commandment has two parts.  Each is indelibly linked to the other.  The first part is to love God, above and beyond anything and everyone else.  This is where many want to stop.  They want to love God and that want to believe that this fulfills their personal relationship with God requirement.  But, there is a second part of this commandment that cannot be ignored – to love others as you love yourself. 

Why would Jesus put these two together?  Shouldn’t loving God be enough?  Actually, it’s very simple to see the link, if you think about it.  Everything and everyone, every one, is God’s own unique creation.  Great care and love has been spent to create each person.  God loves every person.  No one is an exception.  So for us to refuse to love every other person, regardless of how much we may dislike them, is to minimize God’s creation.  That response in turn implies that we know better than God, which elevates us in our minds above God.  Friends, that is sin. 

Still there are many who truly love God and sympathize for the poor and afflicted.  They are ardent in their prayers for God to intervene on their behalf.  Some feel compelled to give monetarily.  Yet, they still have an emptiness within them.  They do not feel like they have an intimate relationship with God.  Many times, pastors are approached by tearful persons who feel they do not have that “Blessed Assurance” within them.  They can’t say with any certainty that they feel God within them.  They come to pastors and other Christian mentors for help to settle their restless souls.  The cure is basically always the same, if you want to feel God in you, you have to let God be in you and work through you.

If you will recall, Jesus said that he came to serve, not to be served.  If we are truly disciples or followers of Jesus, then we are to do likewise.  The student is not greater than the teacher.  So, we must get ourselves into being servants, not just of God, but of all people. 

Some may ask, can’t I just give money and let professionals do the work?  While money is a vital necessity in missionary efforts, it is not the most important part.  Unquestionably, the most important thing that you can do in Christian mission is to become physically involved.  Money provides for needs, but it cannot take the place of the human touch.  People need to be touched, to be reminded that they are human.  Think about it, Jesus could have healed the sick just by speaking, but more often than not, the gift of healing came through his touch.

Shortly after World War II, a small European town began to clean up from the ravages of battle.  Though many of their buildings and homes had been utterly destroyed, nothing brought as much despair as the damage sustained by one particular statue.  In the center of the town stood a statue of Jesus, which had been carved with great care from one piece of flawless marble.  It had been the source of pride in the town as it portrayed Jesus with his arms outstretched, as if beckoning those who gazed upon him to come and take refuge in his embrace.  But as was the case in so many pieces of art, it too suffered from the great conflict.   Both of the hands of the statue had been broken off.  The townspeople gathered to discuss how they were going to respond to the desecration of their beloved statue.  Some petitioned that the town spend no expense and have the statue repaired.  Some concluded that not even the most masterful artisan could restore their beloved statue to its former glory, so it would be better to have it removed and replaced.  The town became embittered.  Then one morning, a hand-carved sign appeared at the base of the statue and because of its appearance, the statue remains standing in the square to this day.  The words on the sign gave new meaning and relevance to the statue of Jesus.  The sign simply read, “I Have No Hands But Yours.”

All of this is to say that, as in the open verse of Romans 12, God doesn’t need our words and beliefs…God needs our bodies.  Anyone can give money, and everyone should pray, but only you can give yourself.  Putting ourselves at the disposal of God’s work in the lives of those who are hurting is the greatest expression of love that we can give to others and to our God.


JOURNAL QUESTIONS

1. Reflect on your sermon notes and journal reading from today.


GROUP EXERCISE

10 minutes - Community Building (informal time of gathering)
10 minutes - Sharing of Concerns and Praises
  5 minutes - Prayer for One Another
30 minutes - Discussion of Topic
                     - What journal entry would you like to share?
                     - What missions have you been involved in before?
                     - What missions would you be willing to become involved in personally and as a group?
  5 minutes - Wrap Up/Closing Prayer 

Week Four (Worship) - Saturday

Mark 7:1-9

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!
 





^Reflect
How might we still be vain in our worship?

Week Four (Worship) - Friday

Daniel 3

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. 3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." 25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.





^Reflect
How serious did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego take worship?

Week Four (Thursday) - Thursday

Psalm 100

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.





^Reflect
This is a psalm of thanksgiving. Why?

Week Four (Worship) - Wednesday

Job 1

1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. 4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom. 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." 9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." 12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. 13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.







^Reflect
What can we learn from Job about true worship?

Week Four (Worship) - Tuesday

Luke 4:1-13

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' " 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' " 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: " 'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.



^Reflect
Do we succumb ti temptation and worship something other than God?

Week Four (Worship) - Monday

Exodus 23:20-26

1 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2 saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3 (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. ) 5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?" 6 He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." 9 And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!




^Reflect
When we reject other gods and worship only the LORD God, what can we expect?