Archive for category: Sermons

Exploring Our Heritage: Do Good

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. (John 6:1-2)

Bishop Ruben Job wrote: It is God who loves all and permits the rain to fall on all. So, this decision will mean that I must seek good for all. I must seek what is best for those whose position and condition may be far different than my vision for them. It will mean that I will seek to heal the wounds of my sisters and brothers, no matter if their social position, economic achievement, or lifestyle is radically different from mine. It will mean that the words and acts that wound and divide will be changed to words and acts that heal and bring together. It will mean that movements that seek to divide and conquer will become movements that seek to unite and empower all. It will mean that the common good will be my first thought and what is good for me will become a secondary thought .

Jesus modeled doing good…and John Wesley followed in his footsteps. We will explore how John W. did good…and look at ways we are needed today.

He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. (Mark 6:31-32)

Rest is important to your spiritual walk with the Lord, and many Christians today don’t appreciate the value of rest or keeping the Sabbath day holy. Rest allows our mind, body, and soul to renew and start with even more strength and focus. Scripture is filled with God’s promises to provide rest when we seek God in times of Sabbath. God is an endless source of peace and strength if we would just slow down and find that rest, even if for a moment in God’s presence.

Exploring Sabbath: Re-Orienting

One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?”And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” (Mark 2:23-28)

We hear of many rules pertaining to Sabbath-keeping, but the Sabbath was created for far more than what not to do on a particular day. Mark helps us understand that we need to look more deeply into the meaning of Sabbath.

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Seeing the beauty of creation, including ourselves, from God’s eyes opens us up to the new and wonderful things God is doing in God’s world.

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.  (Psalm 139:7-10)

Wherever we look, God’s presence can be seen. God creates each of us with love and care, and we are uniquely wonderful.