You are Set Free

Jesus laid hands on her and immediately she could stand up straight! An amazing story from Luke 13:10-17. A woman, bent over, by "a spirit of weakness" for 18 years was "set free" as Jesus touched her and proclaimed that she was.

Standing straight, facing the synogogue leaders who denounced her healing, what must she have thought? Recognized as important, even as a daughter of Abraham, by Jesus. She praised God. Her opponents were shamed. The people rejoiced!

From what do you need to be set free?

[preview of sermon "You are Set Free" - Good Shepherd UMC, Westminster, CA 8.26.07]

To Seek and to Save

Jesus was very clear about God's vision for his life: "to seek and to save those who are lost." Consequently, the Church's vision is the same.

So how does a church seek the lost? How does the Church save the lost? Do the lost know they need to be found?

Honestly, I struggle with the language here. It seems condescending for anyone to say to another, "You are lost....let me save you." I imagine the sting of a Bible thumping some poor unsuspecting person atop the head. And then running as fast as they can...the other direction.

So what is the church to do? Are there other options?

Jesus said the words, "I have been sent to seek and to save the lost" in response to his encounter with Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was found up a tree, trying to see Jesus. And Jesus approached him so they could share a meal. No Bible thumping at all.

How has Jesus approached us with companionship and grace? How can the Church "seek and save" like Jesus?

[sermon preview "To Seek and to Save" for Sunday, 8.19.07 Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, Westminster, CA]

Things Not Seen

Hebrews Chapter 11 tells of Abraham. He is a man who has lived his life with a dream, a hope and a vision. He wants to be a father. He has the hope of leaving a legacy. Of passing on his faith. Of passing on his life's work. And at age 75...he still has no child.

Verse 12 says, Abraham was "one who was as good as dead." So God's promise, "your descendents will be greater in number than the stars in the sky," must have seemed crazy.

But hoping, against what he must have felt.....Abraham believed God.

There are so many times in life that our hopes and dreams and visions don't come to pass. And there is very little reason to believe that anything in the future will change. Yet...it seems like the Bible speaks of a God who gives hope. The Bible tells of a God who has some amazing visions for His people's lives.

This God promises some unbelievable things...

Things that we cannot see.
Things that don't make any sense.

What have you been hoping for?

[Sneak Preview: "Things Not Seen" sermon for 8.12.07 @ Good Shepherd UMC, Westminster, CA]