WELCOME TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

JULY 15, 2007

 GOOD MORNING.

WE ASK THAT YOU SIGN THE RED BOOK OF FRIENDSHIP SO WE WILL KNOW OF YOUR ATTENDANCE WITH US AND THEN PASS TO THE OUTSIDE.

YOU MIGHT NOTICE THAT I AM NOT JENNIFER.

THE BOARD MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED.

THERE ARE SOME ISSUES ABOUT DETAILS ABOUT  THE CONSTRUCTION AND UTC PARKING.

I ALSO KNOW THE ELDERS WILL HAVE THEIR NEXT MEETING ON MONDAY THE 23RD.

LET US QUIET OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO WORSHIP OUR LORD.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE CALL TO WORSHIP.

LET US STAND AND SING OUR HYMN OF PRAISE NUMBER 15.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

IF THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.

CHRISTINE HAS ITS THIS MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

THIS MORNING I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BEING A NEIGHBOR.

I BROUGHT A STORY TO READ TO YOU.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL THERE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN NAMED MR. ROGERS.

MR. ROGERS WAS A WONDERFUL NEIGHBOR AND EVERY TIME HE CAME INTO HIS HOUSE HE WOULD TAKE OFF HIS JACKET AND PUT ON HIS SWEATER.

HE WOULD PUT ON HIS SHOES AND TIE THEM.

AND THEN HE WOULD SING A SONG.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR.

WOULD YOU BE MINE?  COULD YOU BE MINE?

WOULD YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR.

AND THEN BY THE TIME HE WAS FINISHED TYING HIS SHOES HE WOULD ASK WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

MR. ROGERS DIED SOME YEARS AGO.

HE DIED BECAUSE HE WAS REALLY OLD.

HE HAD ALL OF THESE NEIGHBORS IN THE WORLD AND BEFORE HE DIED, HE GAVE AN INTERVIEW, AND MR. ROGERS SAID I AM REALLY NOT FAMOUS, I JUST CAME FOR A VISIT IN YOUR HOME.

HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE A NEIGHBOR.

IN THE BIBLE, CHAPTER 10, JESUS TALKS ABOUT A NEIGHBOR.

I WILL READ YOU THIS STORY.

ONE DAY THERE WAS A LAWYER AND HE ASKED WHAT JESUS HAD TO DO FOR ETERNAL LIFE AND JESUS ASKED WHAT GOD'S LAW SAID AND THE LAWYER SAID LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF AND JESUS SAID YOU ARE RIGHT.

AND THEN THE LAWYER ASKED WELL JESUS, WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?

JESUS TOLD THE STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO WAS TRAVELING AND HE WAS ATTACKED BY ROBBERS, THEY BEAT HIM AND TOOK ALL HIS CLOTHES.

A PRIEST CAME BY AND CROSSED TO THE OTHER SIDE, A LITTLE WHILE LATER ANOTHER MAN CAME BY AND WALKED WAY OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DID NOT TOUCH THE MAN AND THEN A LITTLE LATER A SAMARITAN CAME BY AND HE SAW THE MAN AND HE STOPPED AND FIXED HIS WOUNDS AND TOOK HIM TO THE INN AND PAID FOR HIM A ROOM AND HE WAS A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

JESUS ASKED THE LAWYER WHICH OF THESE MEN WERE A GOOD NEIGHBOR?

AND THE LAWYER SAID THE ONE WHO HELPED HIM WAS THE GOOD NEIGHBOR.

WELL THERE ARE A LOT OF NEIGHBORS IN THE WORLD WHO NEED HELP.

AND WE CAN ALL BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR BY DOING WHAT THE MAN DID IN JESUS' STORY.

JUST SAY KIND WORDS AND HELP SOMEBODY.

AND JUST LIKE MY FRIEND MR. ROGERS. 

HE WAS A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

HE WAS ALWAYS KIND.

THIS WEEK AND THE REST OF THE YEAR I WANT YOU TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO SOMEBODY.

LET US PRAY.

DEAR GOD, HELP US TO BE A NEIGHBOR TO SOMEONE IN NEED.

IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY. 

AMEN.

I HAD A GOOD NEIGHBOR THIS WEEK IN OUR CONGREGATION THAT FILLED UP MY SUCKER BUCKET.

WE WERE ALL GOOD NEIGHBORS ‑‑ THEY TORE INTO THE BUCKET.

ARE THERE ANY JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS MORNING?

CONCERNS,  PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR?

ANYONE?

 >> WE SHOULD ALL REMEMBER FRANCIS COLE.

SHE HAD ANOTHER FLAREUP WITH HER HEART THIS WEEK, BUT SHE SEEMS TO BEING OKAY THE LAST TIME I SAW HER.

 >> WE PRAY THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD TRIP TO TEXAS.

 >> OTHERS?

 >> THIS IS A JOY ‑‑ THOMAS AND HIS WIFE GINA HAVE MADE AN OFFER ON A HOUSE ABOUT 5‑MILES FROM US.

 >> THAT IS GREAT, RIGHT?

 >> OTHERS?

 >> THIS WEEK LEANNE FROM OUR CHURCH IS GOING TO CHURCH CAMP SO LET'S KEEP HER IN OUR PRAYERS AT CHURCH CAMP.

 >> THE REASON FOR THE TRIP TO TEXAS IS TO ATTEND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF OUR CHURCH.

IT NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS.

THERE WILL BE WORSHIP, EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS, THERE WILL BE BUSINESS TO CONDUCT FOR OUR CHURCH AND ALL OF US NEED TO BE IN CONSTANT PRAYER FOR THE DIRECTION THAT OUR CHURCH WILL TAKE SO THAT IT WILL SERVE THE WILL OF GOD.

BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION.

LET US PRAY.

WE OFFER OURSELVES AGAIN TO YOU THIS DAY O LORD.

WE OFFER OURSELVES BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE PRESENT,  THAT YOU CARE, THAT YOU SEEK OUR BEST, SO WE OPEN OUR HEARTS THAT WE MIGHT OFFER OUR JOYS, AND OUR WOUNDS, THAT WE MIGHT CELEBRATE THOSE JOYS WITH US AND HEAL OUR WOUNDS.

SOMETIMES WE CAN NAME THE WOUNDS AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE TOO DEEP EVEN FOR WORDS.

SO IT IS GOOD THAT YOU COME TO US, WORDS AND NO WORDS.

BECAUSE YOU READ OUR HEARTS AND FOR THAT WE ARE VERY THANKFUL.

WE COME TO LIFT YOU UP AND TO BE LIFTED UP.

WE COME PROCLAIMING YOUR NAME.

WE COME ONCE AGAIN NAMED LORD OF OUR LIVES  TO CLAIM THAT REALITY.

WE COME BECAUSE WE NEED YOUR ENERGY THAT YOU GIVE THROUGH YOUR SPIRIT.

IT HAS BEEN A LONG WEEK AND WE NEED YOUR POWER ONCE AGAIN TO GET THROUGH ANOTHER WEEK.

WE NEED THAT BRACE THAT SUSTAINS US AND THAT REMINDS US IN YOUR EYES WE ARE OKAY.

THAT WE ARE SAFE, THAT YOU TRAVEL ALONG WITH US.

I SUPPOSE WE EXPECT A LOT OUT OF THIS HOUR OF WORSHIP.

BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE THE ONE TO DELIVER US AND WE ARE OPEN TO RECEIVE.

SO OCCUPY OUR HEARTS AND MINDS SO WE MIGHT RECEIVE THIS POWER THAT COMES FROM YOUR SPIRIT, SO THAT WE MIGHT BE TRANSFORMED, SO THAT WE MIGHT  BE GOOD NEIGHBORS.

WE ARE REMINDED BY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES.

(LORD'S PRAYER BEING PRAYED)

I WILL READ FROM LUKE CHAPTER 11, VERSE

AND HE SAID TO THEM, SUPPOSE ONE OF YOU HAS A FRIEND AND YOU GO TO HIM AT MIDNIGHT AND SAY TO HIM, FRIEND, LEND ME THREE LOAVES OF BREAD.

FOR A FRIEND OF MINE HAS ARRIVED AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SET BEFORE HIM. 

AND HE ANSWERS FROM WITHIN, DO NOT BOTHER ME, THE DOOR HAS ALREADY BEEN LOCKED AND MY CHILDREN ARE WITH ME IN BED.

I CANNOT GET UP AND GIVE YOU ANYTHING.

I TELL YOU, EVEN THOUGH HE WILL NOT GET UP AND GIVE ANYTHING BECAUSE HE IS HIS FRIEND, AT LEAST BECAUSE OF HIS PERSISTENCE HE WILL GET UP AND GIVE HIM WHATEVER HE NEEDS.

SO I SAY TO YOU, ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN YOU, SEARCH AND YOU WILL FIND, KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPEN FOR YOU.

FOR EVERYONE WHO ASKS RECEIVES, AND EVERYONE WHO SEARCHES FINDS.

AND FOR EVERYONE WHO KNOCKS THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED.

IS THERE ANYONE AMONG YOU WHO, IF YOUR CHILD ASKS FOR A FISH WILL GIVE HIM A SNAKE INSTEAD OF A FISH? 

OR IF A CHILD ASKS FOR AN EGG, WILL GIVE HIM A SCORPION?

IF YOU KNOW HOW TO GIVE GIFTS TO YOUR CHILDREN HOW MUCH MORE WILL THE HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO ASKS HIM?

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

LET US PRAY:

FOR YOUR WORDS O GOD WE GIVE YOU THANKS THAT THEY MIGHT PENETRATE OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE TRANSFORMED IN THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST, IN WHOSE NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN. 

JESUS OFFERS US THE SMALL BUT POWERFUL PARABLE.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS THERE WERE NOT MANY PUBLIC INNS OR HOTELS SO PEOPLE HAD TO RELY ON FRIENDS AND  RELATIVES TO KEEP THEM OVERNIGHT.

NOW MOST OF THESE HOMES ARE NOT AS LAVISH AS OUR HOMES, THEY WERE ONE ROOM OR TWO ROOMS, EVERYONE ATE AND SPENT TIME TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM AND ONE ROOM THEY SLEPT TOGETHER, PARENTS AND CHILDREN, NOT EVEN IN A BED.

YOU GOT UP EARLY, YOU WENT TO WORK, CHILDREN TOO, AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU COME HOME, YOU EAT SUPPER, MAYBE SPEND A LITTLE TIME TALKING AND SHARING, AND YOU WENT TO BED, CANDLES OUT.

SO I EMPATHIZE WITH THIS NEIGHBOR.

I MEAN, YOU GET THE KIDS DOWN FINALLY, IF YOU HAD CHILDREN YOU KNOW HOW IT IS TO GET KIDS TO BED.

OH MOMMY I NEED WATER, OR I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM AND THEN I WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER STORY.

WHICH I ALWAYS WONDER WHY WE GIVE THEM WATER WHEN YOU KNOW THEY WILL HAVE TO GO TO BATHROOM.

THEY ARE SLICK THAT WAY.

THEN THERE IS A KNOCK, THE NEIGHBOR HAS GUESTS, HE IS EMBARRASSED, HE NEEDS BREAD.

NOW YOU HAVE WORKED ALL DAY AND FED THE CHILDREN AND EVERYBODY IS IN BED AND YOU ARE ALL IN THE ONE LITTLE ROOM, THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS TO MAKE A RUCKUS AND WAKE EVERYBODY UP BUT YOUR NEIGHBOR NEEDS BREAD.

I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THIS PARABLE HAS GIVEN ME TROUBLE FOR A LONG TIME.

IT IS JESUS' RESPONSE TO THE DISCIPLES WHO WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PRAY, TEACH US TO PRAY THEY SAID.

BUT IT MAKES IT SEEM AS IF PERSISTENCE IS THE KEY TO AUTHENTIC PRAYING.

IF WE KEEP AT IT LONG ENOUGH, WE CAN DO IT.

IF WE ANNOY GOD ENOUGH GOD FINALLY SAYS OKAY ALREADY, I WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT, JUST GO TO BED.

[INAUDIBLE].

THEN I CAME ACROSS THIS WORD,  THE GREEK WORD KHI.

IT MEANS  ABOUT OR IT CAN BE SO, OR IT CAN BE THE WORD BUT.

DEPENDING ON THE CONTEXT AND THERE IN VERSE 9 READING FROM THE MESSAGE TRANSLATION HERE IS WHAT I AM SAYING, AND IF YOU PUT THE WORD BUT THERE, BUT IF YOU SAY ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.

(HE IS READING FROM THE MESSAGE)

IF YOUR LITTLE GIRL ASKS FOR AN EGG DO YOU TRICK HER WITH A SPIDER?

AS BAD AS YOU ARE YOU ARE AT LEAST DECENT TO YOUR OWN CHILDREN AND DON'T YOU THINK THE FATHER WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU ASK?

BUT HERE IS WHAT I AM SAYING, AND THE LIGHTBULB WENT OFF.

JESUS IS OFFERING US TWO VIEWS OF GOD.

ONE THAT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED FOR AGES AND THE ONE THAT HE IS OFFERING US NOW.

TWO VIEWS OF GOD.

BUT,  HERE IS WHAT I AM SAYING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY REMEMBER THE MYTH OF PROMETHEUS.

HE LOOKED DOWN FROM MOUNT OLYMPUS AND SAW HUMAN BEINGS STUMBLING IN THE DARK AND HE HAD COMPASSION AND TOOK SOME FIRE AND BROUGHT IT DOWN TO THE HUMAN RACE AND THE HEAD GOD WAS MAD AND SAID THAT HE HAD VIOLATED THE RULES OF GOD WHICH IS NO GOD SHOULD FEEL COMPASSION FOR EARTH AND SO PROMETHEUS WAS PUNISHED BY BEING CHAINED TO A ROCK WITH A VULTURE EATING HIS INSIDES.

THAT IS THE FIRST VIEW JESUS OFFERS US BUT HERE IS WHAT I AM SAYING.

I MEAN REALLY WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM THE WILL OF GOD HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?

WHAT DO YOU HONESTLY THINK WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DID TURN YOUR WHOLE LIFE OVER TO GOD?

WOULD THINGS GET BETTERS OR WORSE THAN THEY ARE NOW?

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS NOW AND I THINK MANY PEOPLE THINK GOD IS A KILLJOY.

I HAVE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THAT IF THEY DID OPEN THE DOOR TO GOD GOD WOULD DEMAND THAT THEY GIVE UP EVERYTHING THEY ENJOY.

THAT IS WHY JESUS USES THIS PARABLE TO GIVE US AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW OF GOD.

JESUS ACTUALLY PUTS A SMILE ON GOD, AS A LOVING PARENT.

NOT SOMEONE WHO IS OUT TO GET US, NOT SOMEBODY WHO IF WE ANNOY ENOUGH WILL GIVE IN.

I SAW THE MOVIE GOD ALMIGHTY.

I RECOMMEND IT.

IT IS ABOUT THIS BROADCASTER WHO IS ELECTED TO CONGRESS BUT GOD HAS DIFFERENT PLANS FOR HIM.

HE WANTED HIM TO BUILD AN ARK.

THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE MOVIE HE THINKS GOD IS OUT TO GET HIM AND THROUGHOUT THE MOVIE GOD TELLS HIM I LOVE YOU AND YOU NEED TO TRUST ME AND IT IS NOT UNTIL THE END OF THE MOVIE THAT HE GETS THAT.

HE THINKS THROUGH THE WHOLE MOVIE THAT GOD IS OUT TO GET HIM.

HE IS EXPERIENCING GOD AS FATHER WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE REALLY DEALING WITH.

HE DIDN'T EXPERIENCE GOD AS LOVE UNTIL THE END OF THE MOVIE.

BUT LIKE ALL OF US, FEAR VERSUS LOVE.

AND I DON'T MEAN WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT AWE AND RESPECT ‑‑ I MEAN AFRAID THAT GOD IS OUT TO GET YOU.

FEAR VERSUS LOVE.

OR INADEQUATE VERSUS ABUNDANCE.

DO WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD CAN FULFILL OUR REAL NEEDS?

YOU KNOW I BELIEVE THAT GOD GIVES US WHAT WE NEED.

THAT IS ABUNDANCE.

OR WE ARE DEALING WITH WORKING HARD VERSUS RECEIVING THE GIFT OF GRACE.

IF WE WORK HARDER, IF WE PRAY HARDER, IF WE GO AT IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN GOD WILL RELENT.

IF WE WORK HARDER AT CHRISTIANITY GOD WILL RELENT INSTEAD OF THE IDEA THAT THIS IS A GIFT THAT GOD WANTS TO GIVE US BECAUSE GOD LOVES US.

WE PRAY TO A GOD THAT GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN ASK OR EXPECT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?

GOD'S VERY SELF.

THAT SOMEHOW THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT GOD GIVES US HIMSELF.

AND COMPARED TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE THINK WE NEED OR WANT AND THAT WE PRAY FOR, IT SEEMS TO PALE TO WHAT GOD IS REALLY OFFERING US.

GOD IS GIVING HIMSELF TO US IN THIS PARABLE TO REMIND US THAT WE DON'T WALK ALONE IN THIS LIFE AND THAT ALL WE NEED HE CAN OFFER IN HIS PRESENCE.

ISN'T THAT WHAT WE REALLY NEED ANY WAY?

AT THE END OF THE DAY?

THAT GOD IS WITH US AND THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE MAKING OUR WAY IN THIS WORLD?

I GREW UP WITH THAT OLD VERSION OF GOD.

I GREW UP THINKING I HAD TO WATCH OUT BECAUSE GOD WAS GOING TO GET HE.

I GREW UP WITH THE IDEA THAT I HAD TO GET THINGS MYSELF, NOT ONLY WHAT I NEEDED BUT WHAT I WANTED AND I CONFUSED THE TWO LIKE I AM SURE MANY OF US HAVE.

NOT TRUSTING IN THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD, THAT GOD ACTUALLY WANTS TO OFFER WHAT I NEED.

I GREW UP THINKING THAT IF I JUST WORK HARD ENOUGH, GOD WILL BE MY FRIEND.

AND THEN ALL ALONG GOD WAS MY FRIEND.

OFFERING ME A GIFT OF GRACE.

I DIDN'T LIKE THIS PARABLE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT, HERE IS WHAT I AM SAYING.

THAT OLD VIEW OF GOD THAT WORKS ON FEAR AND INADEQUACY AND WORKING HARD IS NOT THE GOD THAT JESUS COMES TO OFFER US.

THAT IS NOT THE GOD.

ONCE AND FOR ALL WE NEED TO THROW THAT GOD AWAY AND ACCEPT THE GOD THAT JESUS COMES TO OFFER.

ONE THAT COMES TO LOVE WITH US NO MATTER WHAT.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE OR WHO YOU ARE.

GOD OFFERS HIS VERY SELF TO US AND IF I REFLECT DEEPLY ON WHAT I NEED IN THE WORLD TODAY, I NEED GOD WALKING WITH ME.

WHETHER YOU WISH TO CLAIM THAT FRIENDSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME OR NOT, GOD IS ALWAYS READY TO OFFER FRIENDSHIP.

IF YOU WISH TO JOIN THE FELLOWSHIP OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH I INVITE YOU TO COME FORWARD.

LET US STAND AND SING.

YOU MAY BE SEATED.

NOW WE COME TO OUR TIME OF COMMUNION.

CHRIST OUR FRIEND AND INVITES ALL WHO SEEK PEACE AND CHARITY, CHRIST INVITES US TO THIS TABLE FOR IT IS HIS TABLE AND ALL ARE WELCOME.

LET US SHARE IN OUR PRAYER ON CONFESSION.

LET US PRAY.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE ARE FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAINED SEATED AS WE SING OUR HYMN NUMBER 424.

FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO HAVE GIVEN UNTO YOU FOR ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED HE TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN HE GAVE THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID THIS IS MY BODY DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP AND SAID THIS IS MY COVENANT DO IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

OUR MOST GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE AND WE CELEBRATE EACH LORD'S DAY AS JESUS TOOK THE BREAD WE ALWAYS TAKE THE LOAF AND GIVE YOU THANKS TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, OUR LIVES OFTEN REFLECT LESS THAN THE BEST.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE COMMUNION MOMENTS.

FORGIVE US AND KEEP US ALWAYS IN YOUR SERVICE.

IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME.

THANK YOU THAT YOU NEVER LEAVE US ALONE.

AS THIS WINE RENEWS US, [INAUDIBLE].

WE WILL DRAW STRENGTH EACH DAY.

WILL YOU SHARE WITH ME THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

PRAYER OF BENEDICTION IS NUMBER 550.

WILL YOU RECEIVE THE BENEDICTION?

LET US GO FORTH TRUSTING IN HE, FROM THE GOD WHOM JESUS OFFERS REMEMBERING THE GRACIOUS WORDS OF JESUS, BE NOT AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS EVEN TO THE END.

AMEN