Sunday March 21st, 2021
I. A trusting heart makes a decision
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
II. A trusting heart is completely devoted
35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
III. A trusting heart has direction/focus
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Conclusion:
Trusting God through life is revealed by our INTENT. Our intent is revealed by the word of God.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” … It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Loving you, with the love Christ gives.
Pastor Mike
Sunday March 14th, 2021
As Christians we weren’t called to choose a religion, we are called to choose a person. So consider these things about Him.
In Matthew 3:14, after meeting Jesus, John said: “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” But, Jesus convinces John to baptize him nonetheless. The baptism of Jesus sets a pattern for all who believe in Him.
Jesus was transformed on the mountain. … God’s glory was revealed in Jesus. John 14:7-10 records Jesus as equating Himself with the Father, and He claims that knowing Him is like knowing God the Father. The Transfiguration reveals his otherness.
Matthew 27:32-44
Jesus then looked to heaven and asked God “forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” When taking his last breath, Jesus spoke: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit…it is finished.” Extraordinary events marked the death of Jesus. The Crucifixion is the cost God paid for our Salvation.
Luke 24
Through resurrection, Christians know life has triumphed over death, good over evil, and hope over despair. The resurrection is a sign of God’s great power over death. Since Jesus came out of the grave, we set our hope on life after death.
John 11:25-26
For Christians, the fact that Jesus’ followers witnessed him ascending into the clouds leaves no doubt that Jesus is alive and with God the Father in Heaven, and no longer has the limitation of only living on Earth. He is risen, and we have life through Him.
As we consider these high points in the life of Jesus, we are brought to a decision about who and what He is. We must choose, so we choose the person, Jesus Christ.
Loving you with the love that Christ gives, Pastor Mike
Sunday March 7th, 2021
The sacrament of Holy Communion:
is such a common occurrence in the landscape of our worship that its uncommon richness sometimes gets lost.
One sacrament, several names
The Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion and the Eucharist are all names for this sacrament celebrated by United Methodists. Each of these names highlights an aspect of this act of worship.
According to This Holy Mystery, The United Methodist Church’s official document on communion, “The Lord’s Supper reminds us that Jesus Christ is the host and that we participate at Christ’s invitation.” Jesus invites us to take part in the special meal he ate with his disciples the night before his crucifixion, and other meals he shared in homes and on hillsides.“The term Holy Communion invites us to focus on the self-giving of the Holy God which makes the sacrament an occasion of grace, and on the holiness of our communion with God and one another,” This Holy Mystery continues.
Finally, “Eucharist, from the Greek word for thanksgiving, reminds us that the sacrament is thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation.”
The Services of Word and Table in the front of The United Methodist Hymnal lead us in celebrating the fullness of the sacrament.
Invitation:
Our communion liturgy begins with words spoken on Jesus’ behalf inviting “all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another.”
There are no conditions for church membership or completion of a class required.
The baptized present are all invited, even if they belong to a different church. Those not baptized are not barred from receiving, but “should be counseled and nurtured toward baptism as soon as possible,” This Holy Mystery advises.
In addition, there is no minimum age. Even baptized infants are invited.‘Open communion’
“Ecumenically, the term ‘open communion’ … means that all of the baptized are welcome to receive,” explains the Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of worship resources with Discipleship Ministries. This distinguishes our invitation from some other Christian denominations that may require additional rites before one is welcome to the table.
Confession, pardon and peace:
During the next part of the service, we prepare ourselves to offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving by repenting of sin and seeking to live in peace with one another.
After praying a prayer of confession, we share words of pardon that remind us of the grace freely available to all who repent, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!”
The Peace then follows, where we offer one another signs of reconciliation and love, affirming our desire to live as a reconciled community in Christ
Selected readings from
Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, director of worship resources with Discipleship Ministries.
Pastor Mike – Loving you with the love that Christ gives!
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