Jwquaker's Blog
Sermon
Fear Not, Little Flock
By Jared Warner
Willow Creek Friends Church
August 11, 2019
Luke 12:32–40 (ESV)
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
How many of us live in fear? It is almost impossible to live in our current era and not have fear crouching at our doorsteps. The news media markets fear with nearly every report it does not matter what political slant you watch or listen to, fear oozes no matter what. People prey on our fears, they use our fears to sell products to us. I have a fear of being caught on the road in a storm so I carry with me at all times blankets, stuff to light a fire, trash bags for trash or to use for other emergencies, and jumper cables. I even have a power converter in case I need to charge a computer or phone that cannot plug into my car. I also carry with me everyday a backpack that has spare batteries for my hearing aid, a power cable from every type of device I own, along with a power adapter, a first aid kit, and enough books to keep me entertain for weeks. You might say that is just good planning and you might be right but the reason I first started carrying everything was not out of the mindset of being prepared, but the fear that I might be trapped.
Fear is probably the second best marketing gimmick, we know what the first one is and I do not have to tell you that, but fear is right behind. Fear sells because it is packaged in a way that makes you feel like you are being responsible. I remember nineteen years ago everyone I knew was buying emergency supplies. They were filling totes with canned goods, dried meats, bottled water and pretty much anything else you could think of. Why, because someone wrote a book that played on our fears. Many of you probably remember it too. Someone said that our computers were not capable of recognizing the year 2000 and when the calendar switched to this new century, every digital record would be lost because as far as it was concerned it was the year 1900. This would cause a massive failure in every system from our medical records to the power grid. Our cars would not run, our banks would fail, planes would fall out of the sky and we would have to resort to using horse drawn sources of power. We were sold fear.
There is nothing wrong with being prepared. It is good to have supplies ready in case we have a storm. It is good to have cash on hand for those times your credit and debit cards do not work. It is good to fill your tank with fuel before the warning light turns on. But when we let fear take over we no longer think clearly. We listen to the news and we form ideas in our head and react without thinking everything through. We make decisions based on our emotions in a moment and not the wisdom we gained through experience. When we live our lives in fear we are allowing ourselves to be manipulated and controlled, we allow our ignorance to rule our lives and we stop thinking rationally.
This past week, I have spoken to many people about fear. Every day as I work I am met by people that see someone they find strange and I have to walk them to their vehicle. They are afraid of being a victim, and their fear is so great they cannot walk a few yards from the building to their car. Recent events in the news has just increased fear. And I listen to words of fear being spoken constantly from all sides. This fear is driving people to purchase supplies they do not need, and causing others to stay home and stop doing the things they love. Very few people have actually looked beyond their own fears. And the worst thing about it all is that fear is what started the entire avalanche of fear.
There is a fine line between letting wisdom rule in our lives and letting fear drive us. And Jesus tells us Fear not. Today’s passage begins with those very words. Fear not. What do those words mean to you?
The word we translate as fear, is one that can be used in many ways from causing you to flee to terror. It can also be used in a religious reverence. Jesus tells us not to fear. We look at those words in this era of history and we almost want to laugh. How can we not fear? We can list off thousands of things to fear from the flu to terrorism, yet in all of this Jesus says do not fear. Do not allow all of that to drive you. Do not let it control your life. Easy for Jesus to say he did not live in our neighborhood.
Think for a moment about Jesus’s time. There is a reason Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan, not because we needed to hear that it is important to help injured people on the roadside. He told the story because there were bandits along the road. He told that story in that way because it was likely that that very thing could happen. First century Judea was filled with terrorists, they called themselves patriots, but they were bandits willing to use force and fear to subjugate the population around them. And they preyed on that fear, they used it to force people to choose a side. Either you support them or you are a roman sympathizer. There was no middle ground, no moderates. There was no debate to methods or theory, simply a statement of support or not. Fear. And they had every right to fear, because the Romans were not exactly the most gentle rulers either. It was not uncommon for them to prove a point by making an example of someone who just happened to be in an area they were at. Simon assisted Jesus with the cross not because he was strong, but because he did not want to join Jesus on the cross. We fear and our fears are often unjustified. It is alright to be cautious, it is even good to be prepared, but it is wrong to live our lives being driven by fear.
Jesus says, “Fear not, little flock.” I find this phrase humorous. I said last week if you do not see humor in scripture, you just are not reading it. Fear not little flock. Jesus is calling them all sheep, but not just sheep, little sheep that cannot survive on their own. He is being endearing, because who does not like little sheep, but he is also being a little harsh. He is saying this because this passage is coming from the same sermon that we spoke of last week. He is challenging the religious leaders, he says they are so caught up in their systems of interpretation that they measure every possible source of income and are sure to tithe even a tenth of mint. I explained that this is a simple herb that is basically a weed that has a few redeeming qualities. But still a weed. He got after the religious leaders for this and then he challenged the younger brother of a family because he was using that same thought process to encourage Jesus to support his cause in regard to inheritance. Following this challenge he looks around a the crowd and teach about anxiety. He says do not be anxious about anything. God provides for the birds, God clothes the flowers of the field. Our worry and our fears do nothing but waste time.
Fear not, little flock. Jesus often refers to humanity as sheep. There are many reasons for this. Sheep were one of the first domesticated animals in human history. They are one of the most useful of animals too. They provide both wool for clothing and meat for the table. A flock of sheep was a sign of wealth because you would not be in need. But there is a downside of sheep. They are some of the stupidest animals. The require constant supervision. They will get themselves lost by eating. They can get so transfixed on the grass before them that they will take a bite and take a step until they no long are with the flock. They also have lost most of their wild instincts of protection. Most animals have some sense of defense but sheep only know run. A threat presents itself and they all run sometimes they will follow the sheep in front of them and sometimes they will just run on their own. A shepherd must protect the sheep and keep them together or they will become lost. The other annoying thing about sheep is that they have a thing about water. It freaks them out. If the water moves they will run away. Sheep are like the perpetual icon of living in fear and being lead by the desires of the moment.
This is why the twenty-third Psalm is so important:
Psalm 23 (ESV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The shepherd in this psalm makes sure they have plenty to eat, to such a degree that they are full and they lay down in their food. He takes them to the still waters so they can drink their fill without getting afraid. He keeps them on the path leading them even when bodies want them to run out of fear. They are safe and protected between the rod and staff.
Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Perfect love cast out fear. Fear causes us to withdraw, love causes us to reach out. Those that are not bound by fear will live a life of joy. Willing to build relationships and to engage and encourage a community. This is what God wants to give us. A kingdom is more than a nation but influence. When Jesus speaks of kingdom he is not speaking of political entities but the scope of influence and a way of life. The kingdom of God is not one that is on earth because it is beyond earth, but it begins right were we are. It is God’s pleasure to give us the kingdom.
It is God’s pleasure to take away our fears so we can live free. Imagine how that might look. Again, since we are a little flock remember the words of David in his psalm. We fear about what we will eat, yet he makes us lay down in green pastures. We fear evil, yet when we walk in the valley of death with Christ we will not fear evil, because Christ overcame the threat that valley held over us. He protects us with his rod and staff, he heals us with his oil. And his mercy give us a dwelling place, a kingdom, a community.
But still we fear. It is one thing to know God wants to provide in our minds but our hearts still fear. We still worry. I am not exempt from this. I lay awake at night worrying about many things. Usually I turn those worries into prayers but I am still often in dis ease. Jesus does not leave us alone even here.
Sell your possessions he says. And immediately our hearts are going back into a state of fear. If I sell everything what will I do, where will I live, how will I survive. Calm down. Jesus is telling us fear not. Sell your possessions, not sell all your possessions. Jesus is telling everyone that will listen to work. Continue to do what you do, continue to buy and sell. Continue to build and repair. Keep working. But change your attitude. Fear is self centered, and love is others centered. The world is self centered, the kingdom of God is others centered. Sell your possessions and give to the needy.
Jesus is telling us how to see the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. He shows us this throughout his life. He made it his custom to worship in the synagogues. He withdrew often to pray. And he ministered to the sick and taught. Jesus had a lifestyle of worship, prayer and ministry. Jesus used the gifts he had to serve those around him. Jesus worked. He worked hard. But his work was not focused only on his own needs. He did everything to build the community. He made it his custom to worship with everyone, not because he needed to attend a meeting for worship, but because we need encouragement. We need the community to pray with us, to remind us that there is more to life than our troubles, we need each other to redirect our attention to God. Jesus honors this and made it his custom to encourage worship together. But corporate worship is not enough. We also need personal spiritual discipline and prayer. What we bring to worship reflects what we do in our daily lives. If worship is dry and boring, it is not the church’s fault but our own, we have nothing to offer others so it becomes something dead to us. And instead of encouragement worship reinforces our fears. What we do on our own as we withdraw to isolated places to pray revives our spirit so we can worship fully. And both of these should direct our attention out to others.
Jesus left the time he spent praying and he walked down the hillside seeing crowds of people waiting for him, and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Animals driven by fear and the hungers of the body. Each of us can look at our world today and we see this all around us. Fear and hunger of some sort. Hunger for attention as we post selfies on social media. Hungry for knowledge as we dive into our studies. Hungry for food. And fear…oh the fear. If we go out to Walmart we can be shot. If we go to a concert what will happen? If we drive on the interstate highway someone will crash into us. Hunger and fear we are sheep. Jesus says work and earn money but instead of letting fear rule how you use it build your community. Invest what you have to encourage others. Minister to their needs. If what you have is time give your time. If what you have is a tool of trade then give your money to use to build the kingdom. Use all you have not to be controlled by fear but let God direct it to build his kingdom here.
There is a reason Jesus says to work and give to those in need. If we do not give, if all our attention is focused on ourselves how can we serve those around us. Since I am a bi vocational pastor, I have several interesting conversations. Many times I am called on to speak for all the entire church even the expressions of faith that I myself do not adhere too, Because of these conversations I have studied a great deal and I have found that I respect why some of the traditions of other faith traditions. Like why the Catholic church encourages their priests not to marry. I definitely do not agree because I love my wife and am proud to be a father. But there are limits that family places on our ability to serve God. If a church needs a pastor I am not always free to go serve that church, because I have to make sure my family has what they need. I cannot move as easily because my son has school to attend. But an unmarried pastor can go at a moment’s notice. Another tradition that is important is one that both Quakers and many Anabaptist churches embrace, simplicity. The reason it is important is similar to the catholic priest being unmarried, a simple lifestyle allows us to serve quickly. If we train ourselves to live on less we have more to offer others. If my house is not filled with a truckload of possessions I can move fairly quickly. If I am disciplined in my spending habits I can invest the profits of my labor into areas that will benefit the community at large. I can give to schools. I can assist with hospital bills, I can even provide the means so others can be released to serve God more fully.
These ideas are what Jesus is talking about. Fear not, God whats us to live in the kingdom today. Sell our possessions and give to the needy, be ready to act quickly so we can answer Christ’s call at any moment. These things can take on many forms. Are we ready to act when we hear the news from Rwanda that pastors must have an education before the government will allow them to serve? Can we send funds to help them get that education? Can we quickly respond to the ministry needs in Lawrence or Topeka where new ministry opportunities are emerging? Can we respond quickly in our own community. Can we provide assistance to those among us that may not have a grasp of our language? Can we assist the students among us with their studies so that they can be released to serve God in whatever way they are called? Can we respond to our local schools when their educators do not have the funds to buy books for the children they teach? Can we respond to assist those whose home were lost to fire or a flood? Are we loving God with everything we have or are we instead being driven by fears?
I said that this week has been filled with many discussions about fear. In each of those discussions I encouraged those people to embrace the love of God and to seek wisdom and knowledge. Because when we have knowledge of the things we fear, the fear no longer controls us. I encouraged those I spoke to focus on what they can do instead of what they cannot do, because again if we are afraid of what we cannot give our children that fear holds us back. I spoke to people who were afraid that they would not be financially able to accomplish the goals they had set for themselves and I encouraged them to pursue their goals and asked how I could help, directing their attention away from where they lack and back on something more important where God has provided. Fear not little flock its God’s pleasure to give us the kingdom, so let us live in it today by following Christ loving God in our worship. Embracing the Holy Spirit in our daily prayers and study, and living the love and lifestyle Christ shows us with those around us. We have all we need to do what God is calling us to do already available to us, but are we too afraid to see it.
Things You Have Prepared
By Jared Warner
Willow Creek Friends Church
8/4/2019
Luke 12:13–21 (ESV)
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
I have a small confession to make this week. I love the gospel, I love the stories that Jesus told, and I love imagining what it would have been like to see and hear the teachings and healing in first person. I love the gospel, but I really do not like this parable. I do not know if it is good for a pastor to say that he dislikes a portion of scripture, but it is true. I do not like this parable, because it cuts a little too deep.
In case you were not aware, Jesus spoke a great deal about financial issues. In polite conversations you are encouraged not to speak about religion, politics, and money. Well, Jesus pretty much blew polite conversation out of the water because he spoke a great deal about money and religion, and although he was not very political he was not a much of a fan of how those in power treated those who did not have the influence. I think this is part of the reason I largely dislike this passage, because Jesus is basically forcing us to take a look at the things of our lives and consider where we stand. But we need to set the scene a bit before we go too far.
Jesus at this point is in Judea. He had spent some time with his friends in Bethany, where Martha was annoyed at her sister Mary because Mary was not helping in the kitchen. Then they went out into the community and Jesus healed a man who was considered demon possessed and mute. This healing is important because, from my understanding, ancient exorcisms required the exorcist to converse with the evil spirit and since this man was mute they were powerless against it. Jesus healed the man and everyone was amazed. A man who everyone in the community knew was mute and frankly scary to be around, was now in his right mind and having a conversation with them.
The religious leaders were worried. They did not know what to do or how to respond. Someone has just done something that they do not do. They did something in a manner that they do not do things. And that person is attracting attention that they themselves want. So they respond like any rational human being, they rant and rave that Jesus is the devil himself, Beelzebub. This rant goes on for a while, until Jesus puts a stop to it by telling them that their argument was pretty ridiculous because why would the devil work against himself?
Jesus made the powerful look like fools, which cause many in the crowds to get excited. One lady got so excited that she yelled out at the top of her lungs, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” If you do not think that the bible is filled with humor, you have not been reading it closely enough. Yes, this woman is honoring Jesus’s mother, but she is also challenging those powerful men Jesus just made to look like a fool. It is like a first century, “Your mamma Joke.”
Imagine if someone yelled this out at you. Seriously, I doubt you could keep a straight face. Yet, Jesus knowing that the tension was high shifted the direction of the conversation to something a bit more productive. “Blessed rather are those that hear God’s word, and keep it.” He then went into a critic of the religious customs and traditions.
Jesus was very critical of the practice of religion during his ministry. He was not critical of worship, but the accepted traditions that were formulated on human interpretations. These interpretations were not necessarily wrong, but they were often misguided. Taking laws meant for one specialized group and applying them to everyone, or even making definitions to the meanings to leverage control over others. This can be seen in the law of resting on the Sabbath. They had determined the farthest distance a person could walk without effort. This then required that synagogues would need to be built within that walking distance, and if you happened to live beyond you would need to help fund the building of a new place of worship. This is not exactly wrong. It was providing and encouraging people to stay focused on their worship, but what happens if you happen to live in an area that did not have a great population density? You were required to maintain a place of worship to a minimum standard.
Which is why Jesus spoke critically of religion. There was pressure on the people to provide it became a duty instead of a blessing. And those that could provide more of the finances began to wield greater power within the communities. Faith which was started as communion between God and humanity became a wrestling match to determine who was the most righteous. This went to the extent that anything of value even the herbs used to season food was up for inspection. Joseph gave a tithe on the lamb he sold, but Abraham gave a tithe on the lamb and his basil. Who gave more? Who should we pay the most attention to? Faith was no longer worship, but a contest. And this competition infected every aspect of their lives.
This is where we meet Jesus today. He had just pointed out the venom of the religious competition through the various woes he proclaimed about the pharisees and the lawyers. And someone though hey now would be a great time to have this teacher shame my brother into giving me more of the family wealth. When we read this first section, the part that prompts Jesus to tell the parable of the rich fool, we often think that Jesus is condemning wealth. That is not the complete truth, like many things there is more to the story. If the righteous were so concerned with giving a tithe on every potential source of wealth, then that same mentality was used for the issues of family inheritance. This story does speak about finances but it also speaks to the condition of our hearts where finances become the very reason we exist.
There was someone in the crowd that yells, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” At first glance we might take up the banner for this man. He feels as if he was treated unjustly and a righteous person would take up that cause. But Jesus does not organize a protest. He does not form a political action committee to speak to the needs of the younger brothers. Instead Jesus treat this man in a similar manner as he was treating the rich and powerful just a few verses prior.
He said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” You can almost hear the annoyance in Jesus’s voice. He has been teaching the crowds that the pharisees and the lawyers were so focused on their own power and influence over people that they had developed a civil system around them that was so intricate that they would bring even a tenth of the mint to include in the tithe. Do you know what mint is? Yes mint has value I love mint, I cannot make it through a day without using some product containing mint. Mint has value, but a little mint goes a long ways. I say this for a couple of reasons, the first is mint is pretty strong, and the second is mint spread rapidly. In some areas mint is considered a weed. A nice smelling weed but still a weed. Imagine a system of life where we were so concerned with righteousness that we were making sure we included the value of the weeds in our yard. Did you claim the value of the dandelions in your yard on your taxes? They have value too you know. You can eat the leaves, you can use them in a tea to medicinal purposes, and they are a very important source of pollen for the early production of honey. Did you make sure the appraiser added that to your property value?
“Who made me the arbitrator over you?” Jesus asks. He says this because this family is more concerned with the financial values of their inheritance than the relationship they have with one another. This man wants his fair share, and he will not be happy until every possible thing of value has been counted. This is probably the worst aspect of humanity. I hate the value we place on things. Often I have sat in homes of the recently deceased and listened to members of that family arguing about who should get what. I sat once listening to remarks said against one branch while everyone was sitting on furniture bearing labels with the names of the branch making the arguments. I do not like listening to those conversations, and I have told my relatives that I will not argue, and if there is something that they think I should have then offer it to me. Oddly enough the things that were most meaningful to me have been unanimously offered, and I cherish the books I have received from my ancestors. And I have used my great-grandfathers bible study books often in my ministry. What is more important the furniture or the relationship?
Jesus continues, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” I want us to consider this for a moment. The word translated as covetousness is also greediness, but not just in terms of financial gains or material possessions. It can also refer to the desires of increasing power and influence over others. It is the idea of placing yourself before others, or fulfilling your desires before you are concerned with that of others. The concept of possessions likewise can include more than assets. Basically Jesus is telling everyone present and listening to those words that they need to examine their lives. Why exactly are you wanting God to intervene?
Jesus then tells us a parable:
“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
I want us to consider this in the context, because so often we look at this parable detached from the words around it. Even our bibles will often give this exchange the heading “The parable of the rich fool.” The parable is indeed about a rich fool but the conversation that prompted the parable was most likely to the younger brother. When we consider this aspect the parable is less about capitalism or socialism as it is often used, instead it speaks about what is most important in life.
The fool of the parable is completely self-centered, to such a degree that the only conversation he has is with himself. “I will say to my soul, ‘soul…” This gives the impression that when this man prays he is not praying to God, but to himself. He is his own god. And I mention prayer because this parable comes within the same batch of teaching as Luke’s account of the Lord’s prayer. It is amazing how Jesus in a simple story can incorporate and tie his teachings together.
Jesus’s teaching prior to this story could be highlighted by the phrase, “Blessed rather are those that hear God’s word, and keep it.” As he punctuates what that blessing means he teaches about prayer, he speaks about letting our light shine and not to hide it. He teaches about how we can become focused on the interpretations of men instead of listening to the voice of God in prayer, and this entire series of lesson began because of the fear that some leaders were losing influence. They were fearful because their god was not God, their god was their own desires. They may go to the temple to pray, but their prayers were focused on themselves, they were conversing with their soul not the Spirit of God.
The man came to Jesus pleading that he would be his advocate, “tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” And Jesus answers with a story about my crops, my barn, my new barn, my grain and goods, my life, my soul, my enjoyment. He then concludes the story with God’s answer to the self devoted man. “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?”
Whose will they be? That is an interesting and at times a frightening question. If we are no longer here to control things how might our possessions be used? If I cannot dictate how can I be sure that things will be done properly? If you notice those fears have a foundation on one word, I. There will be a point in time where I am no longer and everything I work for will be passed down to others.
Several days ago I made a comment on Facebook that I hoped would prompt thinking in this area. And the responses I received were interesting to me. The comment I made was, “Why don’t we start thinking about how we will leave the Meeting house for the next church to succeed…what if we were to stop looking at the budget as how we can survive and start thinking this money we have is God’s, the building we have is God’s, and what can we do today to help God’s ministry tomorrow.” By in large people my age and younger had positive response to this statement. And those older than me questioned why I would make such a statement. The reality is that statement comes from the very same source this young fool in today’s passage comes from. I, like, many others think in terms of my and we struggle with letting go. I struggle with control. I struggle with the ideas of dictating how things should be done. But maybe we need to view things from the other side of the coin. Have I invested all I have into those around me, to the point that when I am no longer here they will take what is given to them and continue to move forward?
We have much. Each one of us has gifts that God has given us for the sake of His kingdom. I am often amazed at how much our small Meeting can do, because we trust in God. I go to Yearly Meeting and people across seven states are excited about the opportunities God has given us. But do we see God in our midst? Do we trust that God will provide if we generously give of what He has blessed us with? Do we release those among us to do the ministry that God has called them to do? Do we trust our Meeting to discern the Spirit’s leading?
The single truth in all of this is that everything we have is a gift from God. Where we live is a gift. Our family is a gift. Our career is a gift. Our assets are all gifts entrusted to us by the blessings of God. We work yes, we toil yes, we strive to increase the return on the investment God has made in us, but even the air we breath is a gift from God, without him we have nothing but an empty shell and a withered soul. But God loves us so much that he sent his son, not to condemn us but to save us. He sent his son to teach us and show us what life with God truly is. He gave us a new life and new lifestyle. A lifestyle where we love God, embrace the Holy Spirit and live the love of Christ with others. A lifestyle where we come together in worship to praise God for his blessings, and encourage one another to seek him more deeply. We embrace the Spirit when we spend time in prayer and meditating on scripture, letting the words soak deep into our souls filling them with life and hope as it encourages us to grow. And we live the love of Christ when we respond to the Spirit’s leading and put our faith and prayers into action by serving those around us according to the gifts God has given us.
I look around our Meetinghouse today and I like I often do say God is good. I consider where we have been and where we are and I say God is faithful. And when I consider what God could do with us I have hope. Not because of me, or even us, I have hope because I know Christ and want to know him more. I have hope because Christ came and he lived with mankind, he suffered and he died. I have hope because he rose again to life and for two thousand years his influence remains on earth as it is in heaven. I have hope because He changed my life and I know he can breath life into others as well.
As we enter this time of open worship consider again the parable Jesus spoke today. Consider where all things came from and where they will go. And as we consider this, ask God what he would have you do.
Yearly Meeting
Every year Friends Meetings throughout a common geographic area gather together to worship and conduct business. This is called Yearly Meeting, very creative I know. On Sunday morning we live stream this meeting for worship and you are welcome to join us.
Sunday Meeting for Worship
“PLACE YOUR LIFE BEFORE GOD
1–2 12 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
https://ref.ly/r/message/Ro12.1 via the Logos Bible Android app.
https://ref.ly/r/message/Ro12.2 via the Logos Bible Android app.
Family Promise Wichita, KS
https://familypromisewichita.org/
Evangelical Friends Church- Mid America Yearly Meeting