John 1:43-51
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
As a parent, one of my worst fears is losing one of my children in a crowded store. I don’t know how I would respond in the ensuing search, should one of my boys become lost, but I do know that I would shout at the top of my lungs, “We have found him!” when my child was found.
In today’s Gospel lesson, Philip encounters Jesus and becomes a follower. He goes to Nathanael and says the words, “We have found him about whom Moses…and the prophets wrote!” I don’t know the level of enthusiasm in his voice, but I can imagine that Philip was quite excited with the news that he had to share with Nathanael. Philip was asserting that this man Jesus was the one for which the Jews had been waiting. The Messiah was in their midst and he was the man Jesus. Philip couldn’t wait to share what he had learned.
I wonder, how many of us have that same kind of enthusiasm. When was the last time that any of us boldly went to a relative or friend and said, “I have found him—the one who is the savior of the world. Come and meet him!” It’s sad to say, but for most of us, such statements are few and far between. We simply don’t have the enthusiasm for our faith that we need to have. We let moments slip by rather than stepping up and speaking out. It’s time for that to change.
This year, I hope that all of us can find at least one person that we can step up to and share the Good News with. Begin praying today for that person to come your way and for the boldness to speak up when the time comes.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Monday, January 02, 2006
What Do You Say About Yourself?
John 1:19-28
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
A few years ago, when I lived in Chilhowie, Virginia, I was out driving one night in Marion, Virginia. I pulled into the parking lot of a store and a police car pulled in behind me. Before I could get out of my car the officer got out of his car and came to my window. He informed me that my license tag sticker was two years out of date. He then said, “Who are you?” My response was, “I am a United Methodist minister.” I don’t know why he asked who I was rather than what my name was. I don’t know why I answered with the label of who I am rather than my name, but I did. My answer was like letting the air out of his balloon. I had the feeling that he was about to read me the riot act. However, when he learned I was a minister, he said, “You guys have a hard job. Tell you what I’m going to do. You get a new sticker first thing Monday morning and we’ll let it go at that.” I avoided a ticket that night and I’m not sure why, other than I was a minister. I don’t know what was going through the officers mind, but something was and my being a minister made him react in a different sort of way.
This was the problem that John the Baptizer faced as he was questioned by the representatives from the Temple. “Who are you?” They then went through a list of who they thought that he might be. He denied being the Messiah, Elijah, or the prophet. Well, that left them perplexed. They had run out of options, they then asked, “What do you say about yourself?” He then went on to explain who he was in his own terms rather than in their terms. This meant that he knew his mission. It meant that he knew his reason for being. He knew specifically what God had called him to do and he was doing it.
I wonder how you would answer that question, “What do you say about yourself?” How would you explain yourself and God’s activity in your life? Think about it and share some of your thoughts with me.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
A few years ago, when I lived in Chilhowie, Virginia, I was out driving one night in Marion, Virginia. I pulled into the parking lot of a store and a police car pulled in behind me. Before I could get out of my car the officer got out of his car and came to my window. He informed me that my license tag sticker was two years out of date. He then said, “Who are you?” My response was, “I am a United Methodist minister.” I don’t know why he asked who I was rather than what my name was. I don’t know why I answered with the label of who I am rather than my name, but I did. My answer was like letting the air out of his balloon. I had the feeling that he was about to read me the riot act. However, when he learned I was a minister, he said, “You guys have a hard job. Tell you what I’m going to do. You get a new sticker first thing Monday morning and we’ll let it go at that.” I avoided a ticket that night and I’m not sure why, other than I was a minister. I don’t know what was going through the officers mind, but something was and my being a minister made him react in a different sort of way.
This was the problem that John the Baptizer faced as he was questioned by the representatives from the Temple. “Who are you?” They then went through a list of who they thought that he might be. He denied being the Messiah, Elijah, or the prophet. Well, that left them perplexed. They had run out of options, they then asked, “What do you say about yourself?” He then went on to explain who he was in his own terms rather than in their terms. This meant that he knew his mission. It meant that he knew his reason for being. He knew specifically what God had called him to do and he was doing it.
I wonder how you would answer that question, “What do you say about yourself?” How would you explain yourself and God’s activity in your life? Think about it and share some of your thoughts with me.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Go Now and See
Luke 2:15-21
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
“Let us go now…and see…” There is something about the immediacy and intimacy of these words that we cannot overlook. Our faith has to be a go now and see kind of faith. We don’t get closer to God by sitting back and listening to what someone else tells us about God. To get close to God, we have to be willing to go and see what God is all about. We have to be willing to enter into a relationship with God through his son Jesus. That means we’ve got to get to know Jesus.
We can do this through the Bible. We can also do this through prayer. Likewise, we can do this through the faces of those we serve. After all, Jesus said, “What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.”
As we begin this new year, it is time for all of us to take a go now and see attitude. If our church is going to reach its full potential for God, then all of us need to step up and step out in faith looking for the places to which God is calling us and then boldly going there to do the ministry to which we have been called.
Are you ready to go now and see what God has in store for you?
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
“Let us go now…and see…” There is something about the immediacy and intimacy of these words that we cannot overlook. Our faith has to be a go now and see kind of faith. We don’t get closer to God by sitting back and listening to what someone else tells us about God. To get close to God, we have to be willing to go and see what God is all about. We have to be willing to enter into a relationship with God through his son Jesus. That means we’ve got to get to know Jesus.
We can do this through the Bible. We can also do this through prayer. Likewise, we can do this through the faces of those we serve. After all, Jesus said, “What you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.”
As we begin this new year, it is time for all of us to take a go now and see attitude. If our church is going to reach its full potential for God, then all of us need to step up and step out in faith looking for the places to which God is calling us and then boldly going there to do the ministry to which we have been called.
Are you ready to go now and see what God has in store for you?
Looking Ahead at 2006
As I begin the year of 2006, there are some goals in my ministry that I hope to achieve. The following, in no order of importance, are some of the things I hope to achieve this year:
Bible Studies—I want to offer a study of the United Methodist view of Holy Communion and Baptism. I also want to offer a study on Healing and Wholeness.
Prayer Studies/Practices –I want to teach a series of sessions on various forms of prayer so that you might be exposed to different ways of praying. I then want to begin a Sunday night Vesper service where we will use the various forms of prayer that we have learned. Once a month, I want the Vesper service to have a time for laying on of hands in prayer and anointing with oil for healing.
Worship—Following the communion study, I want to celebrate weekly communion during the season of Lent. Yes, I said weekly. I know this is unusual, but I think it could be beneficial. I also want to form teams that will take communion to our homebound members on a regular basis.
Evangelism – I want to offer a class on evangelism. I want to continue to pursue servant evangelism projects.
Visitation – I hope to visit each homebound member on an every other month basis.
Fellowship – I hope that we can find some way to make regular Wednesday night meals happen at the church.
Communication – I want to continue the monthly newsletter. I want to establish and internet presence with a church web site. I want to continue to send out the Pastor’s Connexion to everyone that has an email that will receive it. I want to continue the Pastor’s Ponderings blog and hope that many of you will become regular readers of it. I also hope to produce a series of DVD’s that will explain some of the ministry opportunities available at the church and one that can be given to visitors to introduce them to the church.
Finances – I want to begin to help us see a more realistic view about our church finances and help you see where it is that the money you give goes and what good it does in Jesus’ name. There is also some talk of a financial stewardship campaign for the fall months.
Personal Devotions – I have begun a regular devotional time using www.sacredspace.com I intend to keep this practice up. I also desire to set some time away 2-3 times this year for personal prayer retreats.
Well, these are some of the things I have been thinking about as 2006 begins. Give me your feedback on some of them or let me know what you are planning for 2006.
Bible Studies—I want to offer a study of the United Methodist view of Holy Communion and Baptism. I also want to offer a study on Healing and Wholeness.
Prayer Studies/Practices –I want to teach a series of sessions on various forms of prayer so that you might be exposed to different ways of praying. I then want to begin a Sunday night Vesper service where we will use the various forms of prayer that we have learned. Once a month, I want the Vesper service to have a time for laying on of hands in prayer and anointing with oil for healing.
Worship—Following the communion study, I want to celebrate weekly communion during the season of Lent. Yes, I said weekly. I know this is unusual, but I think it could be beneficial. I also want to form teams that will take communion to our homebound members on a regular basis.
Evangelism – I want to offer a class on evangelism. I want to continue to pursue servant evangelism projects.
Visitation – I hope to visit each homebound member on an every other month basis.
Fellowship – I hope that we can find some way to make regular Wednesday night meals happen at the church.
Communication – I want to continue the monthly newsletter. I want to establish and internet presence with a church web site. I want to continue to send out the Pastor’s Connexion to everyone that has an email that will receive it. I want to continue the Pastor’s Ponderings blog and hope that many of you will become regular readers of it. I also hope to produce a series of DVD’s that will explain some of the ministry opportunities available at the church and one that can be given to visitors to introduce them to the church.
Finances – I want to begin to help us see a more realistic view about our church finances and help you see where it is that the money you give goes and what good it does in Jesus’ name. There is also some talk of a financial stewardship campaign for the fall months.
Personal Devotions – I have begun a regular devotional time using www.sacredspace.com I intend to keep this practice up. I also desire to set some time away 2-3 times this year for personal prayer retreats.
Well, these are some of the things I have been thinking about as 2006 begins. Give me your feedback on some of them or let me know what you are planning for 2006.
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