Sermon Video: "The Word became flesh" - John 1:14

“The Word became flesh”, those words begin John 1:14 and themselves are filled to overflowing with meaning.  The incarnation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God now joined together with human flesh and blood in a Bethlehem manger, becomes the pivot point of history as divinity is combined with humanity in God’s all-out effort to restore humanity to fellowship with him.  This dual nature of Jesus, far from being just an interested fact, is an essential element in the Gospel message itself that cannot be watered-down because the essence of the Good News is that our faith is IN Jesus Christ, the God-man.  What he accomplished while here on earth is entirely connected with who he was.

                The phrase after that first one is equally full of implications, “and made his dwelling among us.”  To Jewish readers, this harkens back to the term used to describe God’s portable dwelling with his people, the Tabernacle.  God tabernacled with his people, dwelling among them, but in a very unapproachable way, within the Holy of Holies, only accessible once per year on the Day of Atonement, and only by the High Priest.  Now, with the incarnation, God through Jesus is reaching out, letting the children sit on his lap, talking with people, having lunch with “sinners”, and even reaching out his hand to touch the untouchable lepers.  God is “with us” in a far more dramatic way, a step that paves the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to dwell within those who follow Jesus.

                The last third of the verse speaks of the glory of Jesus, an example of the unique glory of God, and the grace and truth that he brought with him.  The glory revealed within Jesus is another reminder of how far short humanity has fallen from that of our Creator, the coming of the Christ was an act of grace designed to rectify that deficit, and the truth preached by Jesus is that he himself is the way through which we can be saved.  Thus Christmas is indeed a time for celebration, a time to commemorate the coming of the Way, the Truth, and the Life to dwell among us, to be one of us, and to save us.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

Sermon Video: "to become children of God", John 1:10-13

As the prologue to the Gospel of John continues, John writes of the lack of reception of the Word of God by first his own creation, which did not recognize him, and then his own people, who did not receive him.  This rejection, both baffling and ironic, could have been a disaster for humanity, but God’s mercy triumphed over man’s obstinacy to extend God’s grace to “all who received him” regardless of who they might be.  That God would continue to work to forgive humanity despite the difficulties that effort continues to encounter is certainly a testament to the mercy of God, but John’s explanation of God’s actions doesn’t stop at his mercy, it continues to and showcases God’s grace.  Those who do receive the Word, the Christ, are not only forgiven, but far beyond that they are also given the “right to become children of God”.  God is not only willing to forgive, and avert the wrath we had earned through rebellion, but also desires to reconcile humanity to himself by making those who accept him part of his family.  This spiritual adoption is a blessing unlooked for, and certainly one that is not capable of being earned, a true act of Amazing Grace from God to us.  What does it mean to be a “child of God”?  There are rights and privileges that come with it, but in the end the most important thing may be the knowledge that God chose you as his own, he loved you enough to seek you out, and that is certainly a reason to know joy at Christmas.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

"No Earthly Good", in defense of Ecumenism

I recently experienced my first significant resistance to our efforts through Mustard Seed Missions to work ecumenically to help the needy.  Thankfully, this opposition did not come from anyone in my church, or even anyone here in our community or in one of the forty churches we partner with.  The objection to the work of Mustard Seed Missions came from people who had no direct knowledge of our work, but rather only an objection to the principle of ecumenism, in most of its forms, regardless of its application in our case and without any first-hand, or even second-hand knowledge of what it is that we actually do for people here in Venango County in the name of Christ.

It did of course bother me somewhat, and sadden me, to know that sincere Christians would object to a ministry that has brought so much hope and brotherly love not only to our clients but to our churches, but it didn’t really surprise me.  There is a long standing tradition in Church history of choosing principles over people in the sense that the people involved are considered to be casualties of the need to hold on tightly to principles and therefore such casualties are regrettable but not avoidable.  As I pondered this situation this morning I was reminded of a song that I knew as a kid that was covered by the Oak Ridge Boys but originally written and sung by Johnny Cash, “No earthly good”.  A portion of the third verse speaks to this point: “If you're holdin' heaven then spread it around, There are hungry hands reaching up here from the ground, Move over and share the high ground where you stood, So heavenly minded and you're no earthly good”.

Principles are an important thing, the fundamentals of the Christian faith are an essential part of what defines us that we cannot afford to lose.  That being said, the fractured and varied Church that exists today is the reality with which we must work.  In an ideal world, there would only be one Church, all in doctrinal agreement and all correctly following the Word of God.  In case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t an ideal world.  We have two primary choices then as we face the reality of the divisions within the Church of Jesus Christ: #1 Build a wall around our church to avoid the “corrupting” influence of the theology of churches that we object to and only work with completely like-minded people for the kingdom of God #2 Work with all of our sister churches for the sake of the lost even though we have important differences in our theology.

As someone who grew up enjoying the hard-nosed theology of the Apostle Paul, I can see the appeal of taking a stand on principle, but the words of Jesus Christ compel me forward, “whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”  In a world of darkness, I choose to seek out other lights that shine besides my own, together we will shine brighter as we share the light of Jesus Christ.

Sermon Video: "In the beginning was the Word" - John 1:1-5

The story of Christmas, with all its wondrous details of angels, shepherds, magi, and a manger is a compilation from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.  The Gospel of Mark begins its narrative of the life of Jesus with the adult John the Baptist’s call to the people of Israel to repent, John’s Gospel, like Mark’s, begins its narrative with John the Baptist, but it does include a prologue that sheds some powerful light upon the Christmas story even without mentioning any of the parts of the story that children love to hear.  Luke begins his story with the coming of Gabriel to Zechariah to foretell the birth of John the Baptist, Matthew with the dream of Joseph where the angel tells him that Mary’s pregnancy is not a sinful mistake but a divine intervention.  John’s prologue backs up much further than either of these accounts of Jesus by starting, “In the beginning”.  The one who will become incarnate at Bethlehem has a history that predates all of creation and even time itself.  Before anything that now is, except for God, had come to be, the Word of God already was in existence.  That Word, which could also be translated as: thought, expression, idea, or speech, was both with God “in the beginning” and that Word was God from the beginning.  With his opening statement, John’s Gospel makes an incredible and amazing claim for Jesus: he was, and is God. 

                This same claim concerning Jesus will be made throughout John’s Gospel, most famously with the “I AM” statements, yet here in the prologue John has already removed all doubt from those who would question his intention.  If John is taken at face value, Jesus must be considered as fully God, anything less is to ignore the Gospel’s claims.  Along with existing before all else, the Word also had a necessary role in the creation of everything that exists, so much so that John assures us that nothing exists that he didn’t have a part in creating. 

                The next thing that John shares concerning the Word of God pertains to life itself.  It is clear that human life is qualitatively superior to all other life as we know it, we alone ask ourselves about where life came from, what its purpose is, and what happens to us after we die.  Such questions have been asked by our ancestors throughout history, but the light had only shined dimly through natural revelation (looking at the world around us) and those who had a connection with God but were themselves imperfect vessels.  All of that changed with the coming of the Word, who was both originator of the life of mankind, as well as a beacon of light shining in the darkness and pointing us toward the Father.  The darkness, for its part, has been entirely unable to understand/overcome the coming of the light of Christ, it cannot understand how humility, service, and self-sacrifice are God’s ultimate tools of victory because hate does not comprehend love.

                John has already made definitive claims about who Jesus, as the Word of God, was and is, as John’s prologue continues, in vs. 10-14, the purpose of his coming among us in the flesh will be made clear.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

What if we fail to act?

The parable of the talents, located in Matthew 25:14-30, and Luke 19:12-27, has been interpreted in a variety of ways, some taking the talent literally and focusing on our use of money, others using the coincidence in English to talk about talents as our skills and abilities, still others focusing on our time or energy.  For the most part, these various interpretations focus upon the obligations and responsibilities of the followers of Jesus Christ as individuals.  The local church, and the Church in a community, as well as the Church as a whole, likewise has a responsibility to utilize its talents, whether that be money, abilities, facilities, or whatever other resources, for the kingdom of God.
What happens when a single church, or a whole community of Churches, instead sits on the sidelines and doesn't do much with what they have been given?  The same response that Jesus explained in the parable for individuals applies to the collective body of Christ as well.  If we fail to act, if we fail to be a part of the solution for peace, justice, dignity, and the value of human life, we will have failed in an integral part of our task as the Church of Jesus Christ.  Our primary focus is, and must always be, the reconciliation of the lost to Jesus through faith in his death and resurrection, but that cannot be the only thing we care about as a church nor the only thing we devote ourselves to working toward.  The passage that immediately follows the parable in Matthew contains Jesus' encouragement and warning that "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."  There is fear in some evangelical circles of mixing the proclamation of the Gospel with social causes, lest concerns for poverty or social justice overwhelm the spread of the Good News, but there is an equal danger of sterilizing the proclamation of the Gospel and robbing it of its power to transform not only individuals, but communities and society too, if we remove Jesus' often repeated concern for the needs of the "least of these" from our efforts.
What will it cost us to properly proclaim the Gospel?  We will certainly have to invest our time, money, labor, and love in the lives of other people through efforts such as: food and clothing pantries, disaster relief, utilities/housing assistance, and whichever other ways we can strive to help those in need.
There is one other area that we will have to stretch in order to fulfill our calling as the Church of Jesus Christ:  We're going to have to work together.  Individual churches will not be enough, the problems are too big, we need the whole power of ALL of the Church, not just those portions of it with which we feel comfortable, not just those portions of it that look, feel, and sound like us.  The calling of the Gospel of Jesus Christ demands more from us than that which we are comfortable giving, if we truly hope to multiply our talents and hear one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant", we've got to get serious as local churches about working together.

Sermon Video: "Give thanks to the LORD" - Psalm 107

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  A familiar refrain from Psalm 107 that is echoed throughout Scripture.  In this psalm, there is a clear pattern that repeats itself of ABCD, ABCD, ABCD, and ABCD.  For each time through, the “A” is an example of on type of trouble that people endure in life, “B” is the universally appropriate response, “they cried out to the LORD in their trouble”, along with God’s ever-merciful response, “and he delivered them from their distress”. “C” is the description of how God saves, and “D” is the necessary response of thanksgiving from humanity, “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men”.  Thus the “B” and “D” are like the chorus of a hymn, repeated each time through to show that no matter what the problem is, where it came from or what caused it, the proper response is still to cry out to the LORD who will hear and help, and then to follow that deliverance up with thanks given back to God.  The purpose of the psalmists words is to show us that we have only one place to turn in times of trouble, for only God can save and he is willing to do so, and to teach us that we owe God our gratitude for all that he has done for us.  In much the same way as the venerable hymns of Luther, Wesley, Crosby, and our other favorites, not only is the psalm meant to be pleasing with its sound when sung, but thought provoking to our minds as we consider its words.  The last verse sums it up, “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.”

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video 

Sermon Video: The Consequences of Forsaking the LORD - 2 Chronicles 24:17-25

The second half of the life of King Joash of Judah raises difficult to answer questions.  In the first half of chapter 24 of 2 Chronicles, Joash was the driving force behind the restoration of the temple of the LORD, but after the death of his mentor and father-figure, the priest Jehoida, everything begins to fall apart.  After listening to bad advice from flatterers, Joash abandons the temple of the LORD that he had so recently been dedicated to and instead embraces idol worship.  For Joash, and the people of Judah, this isn’t simply a choice they’re making to worship as they see fit, it is a betrayal of the covenantal promises made by God and Abraham, expanded upon by God and Moses, and recommitted to under Jehoida’s leadership only a few years previously.  That covenant is very specific in its requirements for complete fidelity on the part of the people of God, any flirtation with other gods is considered to be a form of adultery, the false god being akin to a harlot. \

God doesn’t take such betrayal lightly, and in this case he responds by sending prophets, who are ignored, and then ups the ante by calling upon Zechariah, the grandson of Jehoida, to deliver a message of judgment against Joash and the people.  Instead of repenting following Zechariah’s words, the people conspire, with the consent of the king, to murder Zechariah by stoning him to death within the courtyard of the temple.  This monumental act of ingratitude by Joash toward the kin of Jehoida who had risked his life to protect Joash as a child and restore him to the throne of David, is hard to fathom.  What could have gone so wrong in Joash’s mind that he fell so far from grace?

In the end, Joash dies at the hands of his own household officials and is refused burial in the tombs of the kings of Judah alongside David, even though Jehoida had been given that honor.  The choices of Joash to worship false gods had consequences, his refusal to repent compounded by his murder of God’s messenger, brought disaster on himself and his people.  He could have followed David’s example of repentance, even after Zechariah’s words, but he chose to follow the path of destruction to the bitter end.  Don’t let the same pattern of sin and judgment continue in your life, or the life of those you love, sin will always have consequences, it is inevitable, but while life lasts, falling upon our knees in repentance before the mercy of God is always an option.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

Who is responsible for the poor?

Whose responsibility is it to help the poor, the government or the Church?  Prior to the Industrial Revolution the answer was the Church by default, nobody else had the resources to help much, even if the various kings or emperors had wanted to.  After Constantine, the Church had grown in influence, wealth, and power, eventually receiving tithes in the forms of taxes and taking on the responsibility to help the destitute.  After the French Revolution, that arrangement began to change, modern constitutional governments were more efficient and the horrors of Dickensian working conditions in overcrowded cities cried out for universal protections against misfortune.  By the time of the New Deal and Great Society, the Church had taken on a much smaller role in poverty relief, relegated to running the occasional shelter or food pantry, organizing disaster relief, perhaps helping out with an electrical bill or overdue rent. 

                But what if the answer to the question of helping fight poverty wasn’t either the government or the Church, but instead the government working in cooperation with the Church?  What if government could tap into the willingness of faith inspired volunteers to help their fellow man, and the churches could tap into the resources of government for help with financing and administering that volunteer spirit?  It would take a degree of trust from both parties.  The government would have to understand that fighting poverty requires a spiritual element alongside all the others in order to find long-term success, and the churches would have to understand that their call to make disciples is best fulfilled when real help in the name of Jesus Christ is included.

                This isn’t just a hypothetical, it has been tried with success in a variety of places and circumstances, recently here in Western Pennsylvania where the Human Services Department of Venango County has partnered with dozens of churches to work together to help the most vulnerable living amongst us.  The resulting leap of faith created Mustard Seed Missions of Venango County, a non-denominational para-church organization which in two years has helped nearly 300 clients by harnessing over 6,000 hours of volunteer labor and multiplying a local government grant, as well as charitable grants and donations from churches and individuals, by at least four-fold.  The answer to poverty isn’t the Church OR the government, the answer begins with trust and cooperation from both of them.

What do we choose to say about people?

How often is what we say to someone else about a third party something good about that person?  The news, be it local or national, politics or pop culture, print, TV, radio, or internet tends to focus upon the negative such that there are plenty of people that you or I know about only because of a negative report that we heard about that person.  The negative: the scandalous, salacious, and gossip laden grabs our attention, the stories of quiet good being done for selfless reasons get lost in the endless chatter about the latest celebrity, politician, or athlete DUI or overdose.
Aren't we meant for better than this?  Shouldn't we be making an effort to uphold and support the good and turn away from, instead of repeating, the bad?  The words of Matthew Henry on this topic ring true, "What is good in men we should take all occasions to speak of and often repeat it, what is evil we should make mention of but sparingly, and no more than is needful."
Think about the last few conversations you've had where you talked about a third party to somebody...How often did you focus on the good, sharing encouragement and thanking God, how often did you pass along gossip, take guilty pleasure in the misfortune of others, or simply laugh at their expense?  The things that we choose to say about other people, say an awful lot about us too.

Sermon Video: Joash restores the house of the LORD, 2 Chronicles 24:1-16

It isn’t often that the maintenance or repair of the church building ends up being a sermon topic, but given how prominently such work can be in the life of a church, perhaps it should be.  It was a church restoration project, and the unscrupulous financing that was attempted to fund it, that led to Martin Luther’s protest against indulgences and eventually the Protestant Reformation.  Few churches with a long history can say that they haven’t had to deal with strife or dissension centered around the funding for, or execution of, a plan to build or repair their church building.

                In 2 Chronicles 24, King Joash, now come of age following the regency of his protector, the priest Jehoida, has decided to use his authority as king to correct the disrepair that has befallen the house of the LORD.  Joash’s initial attempt, simply telling the priests to divert some of their incoming funds to the project, fails through lack of cooperation by the priests.  At this point the king, in cooperation with Jehoida, takes charge of the collection of the annual tax that the priests had formerly collected in decides to place an offering box at the entrance to the temple to collect these funds with the restoration project as the top priority.

                The alternative fund collecting idea of Joash is a great success, the people give gladly to the project enabling it to move forward quickly.  With the help of honest and hardworking craftsmen, the temple repair project is finished with enough funds left over to replace the golden objects used in worship that had been stolen and profaned by being used to worship Baal.  In the end, the efforts of Joash and Jehoida are entirely successful, and once again proper worship of the LORD can take place within the temple.

                The maintenance and repair, building or expanding, of the place wherein God is to be worshiped is an act of piety.  It ought to be an effort of collective sacrifice that brings the people of God together, which makes it all the more tragic when it instead tears them apart.  Those who give of their time, talent, or treasure to the service of the church building itself deserve gratitude and honor alongside those who likewise give to the benefit of the church’s programs.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Sermon Video: The Priests' Revolution - 2 Chronicles 23

The courageous hiding of the child Joash by his aunt Jehosheba from the murderous intentions of Queen Athaliah was but the beginning of the efforts to resist her tyrannical and idolatrous rule.  For the next seven years, Joash was hidden in the temple by the priest Jehoida, Jehosheba’s husband, until Jehoida had been able to secretly build up enough support among the military, priests and Levites, and elders of Judah to attempt to overthrow the queen.

                The efforts of Jehoida, fraught with danger as they were should they be discovered prematurely, ultimately came off without a hitch as the conspiracy unfolded according to plan and the city of Jerusalem was quickly under the control of those who had proclaimed Joash, now seven years old, as the rightful king as the only surviving direct descendant of David.  The rebels had risked much in going against a queen willing to murder her own family to maintain power, but they had chosen to make that risk on the side of that which if right in fulfillment of God’s promise to protect the throne of David.

                The people of Jerusalem, upon hearing the proclamation that Joash is the new king, rather than hiding indoors and waiting to see who prevails between the queen and the rebels, instead throng into the streets to celebrate their liberation.  Athaliah, rejected by her subjects and bereft of supporters, makes a dramatic entrance into the temple courts shouting, “Treason!”, but to no avail.  Jehoida orders her taken back to the palace where she is put to death, fittingly in the building she was willing to kill in order to control.

                It was an unlikely revolution, centered around a dispossessed child-king, led by a priest, and yet it succeeded with very little bloodshed.  Those involved in the conspiracy had been ready to spend their lives for the sake of that which is right, because of the promise of the word of God and the support of the people of Jerusalem, they didn’t have to.

                What does this mean for us?  We are unlikely to find ourselves in the midst of a revolution against a tyrant, but we will still have opportunities for acts of courage in defense of the weak, acts of purity in defiance of corruption.  Jehoida and those who followed him risked death to do the right thing, we can certainly risk far less to do likewise.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

How can a small church make a difference?

How can a small church fulfill its obligation to help the poor when its resources of money and volunteers are limited?  An answer that is often not fully utilized is to partner with other local churches to pool resources.  First Baptist Church of Franklin has been a part of Mustard Seed Missions of Venango County since its founding in 2012, in part because it offers us a chance to make a difference in the lives of far more people than we could ever hope to achieve on our own.  In its first two years, Mustard Seed Missions, a non-denominational para-church ministry, has had over 280 clients referred to it by the Human Services Department of Venango County.  The only reason why this organization can hope to help so many is that it receives both funds and volunteers from dozens of churches throughout the county.  On our own, we can only help a few people, in cooperation with other Baptist churches, we could help a few more, but when we open our minds and hearts to the idea of working with any and every Christian Church in our midst, the work for the kingdom truly multiples beyond our expectations.  How can your church make a difference?  Step One: Stop thinking of it as your church and remember that it’s His Church, and so is the Methodist Church down the street, and the Catholic Church across town, and the Presbyterian Church outside of town…

Sermon Video: Athaliah chooses power over children - 2 Chronicles 22

How does someone who values human life, from conception until natural death, understand the thinking of someone who is convinced that abortion is an “act of love”?  In a new book called Pro, Katha Pollitt asserts that abortion is a social good for women, men, and children.  Where can we begin to unravel the thought process that leads to such a conclusion?

                In 2 Chronicles 22, the reign of Ahaziah, son of Jehoram, only lasts a year before he is killed alongside Ahab’s son Joram by the agent of God’s wrath against Israel’s wickedness, Jehu.  The kingdom of Judah has plummeted from its moral high-point under Jehoshaphat with the murderous reign of his son Jehoram and grandson Ahaziah.  Now, in the wake of Ahaziah’s death, his mother Athaliah (Ahab’s daughter) decides to take over the throne for herself and proceeds to attempt to wipe out any remaining descendants of David that had survived Jehoram’s killing of his six brothers and other relatives.  Even though God preserved Ahaziah for the sake of the line of David, it now appears that Athaliah will finish the job.  How can a woman turn against her own children and grandchildren and choose to murder them for the sake of power?  The darkness of the heart of mankind is a truly frightening thing when it destroys the natural bonds of love and protection that we expect from a parent and turns them instead into the total disregard for human life that Athaliah shows here.

                At this point in the story, modern man’s willingness to treat human life as expendable seems to be in keeping with our history, unfortunately.  When the children are about to be murdered, however, one of their aunts, Jehosheba, decides to risk her own life to act as she hides the year old Joash from Athaliah’s henchmen.  From that point on, Jehosheba and her husband Jehoida, a priest of the temple, hide the child for the next six years from Athaliah.  Where do they keep the only surviving heir of the line of David safe?  Within the temple of the LORD. 

                How do we as Christians respond to the threat against the innocent posed by abortion and euthanasia?  The political process cannot be our primary response, as it may never bear fruit and doesn’t help those vulnerable today.  We must commit ourselves, as a Church, to supporting the young pregnant girl, the exhausted parents of the special needs child, and the family wracked by end-of-life issues, we must offer concrete support to anyone we know in such a situation, and also support the organizations that are helping within our communities (such as ABC Life Center, here in Franklin) with our money, time, and prayer.

                We cannot understand how anyone could think of life as something to be discarded when inconvenient, but human history is full of examples of people doing just that.  We can, and must, do our utmost to protect the weak from those who, like Athaliah and Katha Pollitt, have decided that some lives don’t really matter.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video

Sermon Video: Jehoram abandons the LORD - 2 Chronicles 21

When the families of the pious king Jehoshaphat and the idolater Ahab came together in marriage, Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram with Ahab’s daughter, the resulting union was disastrous for the kingdom of Judah.  Instead of following in his father’s God-honoring ways, Jehoram followed the path of Ahab, leading his own people away from the LORD and “prostituting” themselves with false gods.  In addition to his failures as a spiritual leader for his people, Jehoram also desecrated the good name of the house of David by murdering all six of his brothers and other relatives besides in order to secure his throne, a throne that had been given to him as the eldest as a matter of custom.

                How does a child of such a good man as Jehoshaphat end up being so wicked?  Such thoughts are deeply troubling to us, as we lack any real answer beyond falling back upon human freewill.  If not for the promise of God to David, a promise that could not be revoked because God is faithful even when his people are not, the house of David was not destroyed, even though the actions of Jehoram brought judgment upon himself, his family, and his people.  Jehoram was afflicted with a painful disease that killed him after two years, his sons and wives were captured by an invading army and killed, and his kingdom suffered from that invasion as well.  In the end, Jehoram died, “to nobody’s regret”, without the honor done to the previous six generations of his family that had ruled over Judah.

                The story of Jehoram is a cautionary tale, a tragedy that reminds us to never take for granted that our spiritual and moral values will be those of the next generation, each person must still decide for himself or herself to follow the LORD.  Also, Jehoram’s downfall reminds us of the true consequences of sin, something we perhaps take for granted as a people forgiven by God, but something we should not for the wages of sin are still death, even for those washed by the blood of the Lamb.  Lastly, we need to hold out hope for those who have lost their way, for people who have known the grace of God but walked from it, perhaps our continued prayers will be the vehicle through which God’s grace finally reaches them. 

To watch the video, click on the link below:

Sermon Video 

An article I wrote about Mustard Seed Missions

It was pretty cool to see ABCOPAD (our denominational region, American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware) feature an article I wrote about Mustard Seed Missions.  The newsletter goes out to a lot of churches, hopefully this will spur them on to take a chance on inter-church cooperative ministry and also look into what sort of church-government cooperative efforts might be available to help the poor in their area.  We've also recently had the joy of seeing a Mustard Seed inspired effort begin in neighboring Mercer County, and a new one about to start up in another neighboring county, Crawford.  God is good, his people can do awesome things for the kingdom when they work together.

ABCOPAD newsletter

When warnings go unheeded

“No marvel that hardened sinners are not frightened from sin and to repentance by the threatening of misery in another world, which is future and out of sight, when the certain prospect of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates and the ruin of their healths, will not restrain them from vicious courses.”  This is from Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary, the passage he’s commenting upon is 2 Chronicles 21 where King Jehoram is confronted by a letter from the prophet Elijah predicting woe to him personally and to his kingdom because of his exceedingly great wickedness (he murdered his six brothers).  Henry is correct to note that the consequences of sin are not wholly relegated to judgment after death, we see what choosing to embrace evil does to humanity day after day.  The truth that virtue is its own reward, and your sin fill find you, out is clear for anyone willing to look at it, but ignored by those whose hearts are unwilling to admit their error and seek God’s forgiveness.  This is clearly a flaw in our fallen human nature, something that we will always have to strive against, and the reason why Plato’s simply solution of educating everyone on right and wrong is insufficient to create a better world.  In Plato’s mind, “to know the good is to do the good”.  Sadly, as Henry correctly points out, there have always been people willing to ignore what they can plainly see.  As it always does, grace rescues humanity from itself when God intervenes, first through sending Christ to make the way possible, and now each time when he calls through the Spirit to break through our resistance and blindness.  The warning of future judgment is still necessary, and the pointing out of present consequences still appropriate, but we also need to remember that such things will not always be sufficient to turn the sinner from his/her self-destructive path; there but for the grace of God go I.

Sermon Video - "The battle is not yours, but God's" 2 Chronicles 20

                After barely escaping his disastrous alliance with Ahab, King Jehoshaphat returns to Jerusalem where he faces rebuke from God’s prophet.  Jehoshaphat proves his character by taking the criticism, and returning to the work he should have been doing, the administration of justice and support of God’s Law for his people.  In the midst of this renewed effort to be the type of king the people of God need, calamity strikes without warning: Jehoshaphat is informed of a league of three kingdoms to the east that have joined to invade Judah, and they’re already on this side of the Jordan River.

                In the midst of a crisis that could end his kingdom and destroy his people if not thwarted, Jehoshaphat turns not to his palace to meet with his generals, but to the temple to lead the assembled people of God in prayer.  With the invading army only a day away, Jehoshaphat prays before the people, recalling God’s seat upon the throne of heaven, his promise to Abraham, and ending by recalling that his ancestors had shown mercy to the Edomites who are now amongst those invading Judah, which leads to a call for God to show justice.

                The response to Jehoshaphat’s powerful prayer is impressive: God speaks through a Levite in attendance at this assembly in the temple courtyard to assure his people that they need not be afraid even of an approaching army, for “the battle is not yours, but God’s”.  This is the key truth for Jehoshaphat and for us today.  The true battle between Good and Evil was never ours to win or lose, it was always the responsibility of God, and the outcome of victory was never in doubt.  The champion of the cause of right is the Lamb of God, who is indeed worthy.

                The battle is God’s, but his people still need to put on their armor and take the field.  Jehoshaphat leads the army out of Jerusalem with a choir of men in front praising God, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”  As the people praise, God throws the enemy army into confusion and they turn upon each other and destroy themselves.  What was the key to victory?  The power of God fulfilling his Word.  And how was that power accessed?  By the fervent prayer of his people, gathered together, and their subsequent steps of obedience in faithful trust. 

To watch the video, click on the link below:

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Sermon Video: Jehoshaphat seeks the Word of the LORD, 2 Chronicles 18

Jehoshaphat, son of Asa, was a man who, “walked in the ways his father David had followed.”  As king of Judah he continued his father’s fight against idolatry and went a step further by sending his officials along with priests and Levites to all the towns of Judah to teach the people the Word of God so that they would understand their obligations under the Covenant. 

                The fault that can be found in Jehoshaphat lies not with himself but with those whom he chose to associate.  Jehoshaphat made a politically savvy, but spiritually foolish decision to ally himself with Ahab, king of Israel, by having his son marry Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter.  This familial alliance led Ahab to ask Jehoshaphat to help him reclaim a city that had been lost in the previous wars with Aram when Jehoshaphat’s father Asa had bribed them to invade Israel.  Perhaps Jehoshaphat was naïve, perhaps he was an idealist hoping to reunite the kingdom, but he agreed to help Ahab in the proposed war.

                Jehoshaphat was not without caution, however, and he required Ahab to consult a prophet of the LORD before proceeding.  Ahab’s court contained 400 prophets, but not one of whom served the LORD.  When Micaiah spoke to Ahab the Word of the LORD, he did not concur with the 400 false prophets that victory was assured, instead he told Ahab that this venture would be a calamity that would cost him his life.  How did Ahab respond to the truth, he locked Micaiah in prison intending to gloat over him when he returned victorious.

                Jehoshaphat should have stopped right there, he was the one who asked Ahab to seek God’s counsel, and now he had heard it, but he didn’t listen to it.  In the ensuing battle, Ahab disguised himself to try to avoid God’s judgment, while Jehoshaphat remained in his royal robes and was nearly killed by enemy soldiers seeking to kill the king of Israel.  At the last possible moment, Jehoshaphat realized his error and called out to the LORD who rescued him.  Ahab did not thwart God’s Word through his subterfuge, a “random” arrow hit him in an “unlucky” spot between the pieces of his armor and killed him.  The Word of the LORD had been given to Ahab and Jehoshaphat, both of them failed to heed it, and Jehoshaphat was very nearly caught up in the destruction that fell upon Ahab.  The Word of God is not to be trifled with, it is our warning against error and our comfort in despair, to seek it is certainly the correct first step, but we must still listen to it and obey.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

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What of those who stumble and fall?

I have known too many Christians in who, as Paul called it, “shipwrecked” their faith.  Mostly men, but a few women, who destroyed their witness and tarnished their good deeds through a huge error later on in life, usually the sin of lust.  Coming to terms with this isn’t easy.  These are people that took a wonderful gift, God’s amazing grace through Jesus, and seemingly squandered it by making everything they did or said in the past seem like a waste.  Those of you who know me are probably thinking of some of the same individuals, if you don’t know me, you are likely to know some people yourself that fit this description.  Instead of asking questions about theology, and getting into a Calvinist vs. Arminian debate, let me instead share the words of the Biblical commentator from the 18^th century, Matthew Henry.

                The occasion for Matthew Henry’s quote is his commentary on 2 Chronicles 16, the end of King Asa’s life.  Asa had been a tremendous man of God, full of piety, zeal, and faith, but he stumbled badly at the end, committing sin when his trust in God faltered, and refusing to repent when God sent a prophet to correct him.  The text doesn’t tell us that Asa reconciled with God before he died, when last it speaks of him he is still refusing to seek God’s face.  What do we say of such a man, do we applaud his earlier victories won through faith, or do we focus upon the disappointing ending of an otherwise exemplary life?  As someone who conducts funerals, this question is certainly practical for me, but it also speaks to the pain that my heart feels for brothers and sisters in Christ who have drifted away, or sometimes sprinted away, from their faith.

                Henry’s charitable, and also I think in keeping with God’s abundant grace, view of such lives was this, “The eminent piety and usefulness of good men ought to be remembered to their praise, though they have had their blemishes.  Let their faults be buried in their graves, while their services are remembered over their graves.”  We won’t have an answer to our wondering about people who end poorly, but focusing upon that which was good in their life and letting God deal with that which was bad, seems like the right way to go to me.

Sermon Video: Those whom the LORD strengthens, 2 Chronicles 16

To start well is great, to finish strong is good too, but can we remain solid throughout our lives?  King Asa of Judah, great-grandson of David, started out as king with an amazing amount of piety, zeal, and faith.  He not only rid his people of the plague of idolatry, but he also led them to victory over an invading army by relying upon the LORD, and followed that up by leading his people in a rededication ceremony to the Covenant of Moses.  Fifteen years later, Asa, a man who chose peace over war when his foe was weak, is once again confronted by the prospect of war.  Baasha, the new king of the kindred of Judah to the north, Israel, has occupied a hill along the road leading up to Jerusalem, and fortified it.

                How will Asa respond?  Up until this point he has chosen to live by faith, but when this particular trial comes Asa responds out of fear.  Instead of relying upon the LORD, as he has successfully done previously with spectacular success, Asa attempts a desperate and underhanded ploy.  King Asa convinces the ally of Baasha of Israel, Ben-Hadad of Aram, to betray him and instead of helping Baasha attack Judah, Ben-Hadad invades Israel.  The betrayal of Israel was purchased with the gold and silver of not only Asa’s palace treasury, but the treasury of the temple of the LORD as well.  In the end, Asa succeeds in defending his kingdom, Baasha if forced to withdraw from building his fort when his northern villages are captured by Ben-Hadad, but at a steep cost.  Asa sacrificed his own integrity by outsourcing the sin of another and bears some of the responsibility for the deaths of his kindred attack by the army he paid to invade them.

                God, in order to explain to Asa his displeasure, sends him a prophet.  The prophet tells Asa that his lack of faith has not only cost him a chance at lasting peace, but also robbed God of the opportunity to destroy Ben-Hadad’s army along with the invading army of Baasha.  If Asa had continued to trust in God, a far greater and lasting victory would have been achieved, and without the moral stain of Asa’s chosen path.  Instead, the kingdom of Aram to the north will continue to plague not only Israel, but eventually Judah as well.

                Asa could have stood firm, he could have become one of the greatest kings of God’s people, if only he had continued to trust God.  God is ready to help those who seek him, he told Asa, “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  It isn’t enough to trust in God, we need to continue in that trust from beginning to end, through thick and thin.  When Asa died, he was honored by his people as a man who had served God with all his heart, he deserved that honor, but he could have been much more, if only he had continued to trust in the LORD.

To watch the video, click on the link below:

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How do you know if a ministry is right for you?

How do you know if a potential ministry opportunity is the right one for you?  As a church pastor, this is a question we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis.  There are plenty of opportunities out there, far more than we have the resources of time, energy, or money to be a part of, so how do we know if the latest idea is one that will really make a difference for the kingdom of God?  The usual answers about talent and passion can be useful guides, after all, few pastors are likely to be much good at trying to be someone they aren’t by tackling a problem where talent is lacking, and most pastors will find it hard to stick with a ministry that doesn’t speak to the passion that drove them to choose to serve the Lord in the first place.  Instead of looking at this from a philosophical or practical viewpoint, let me relate to you the story of how I came to be involved in the para-church ministry that now occupies a great deal of my ministry effort.

            In 2012 I was new to Franklin, Pennsylvania.  I had just moved her in January with my wife, Nicole, from Michigan where I had been a part-time pastor of a small rural church and a part-time alternative education teacher.  The First Baptist Church of Franklin is an established church with a rich history and a beautiful building.  The numbers at First Baptist had dwindled in recent years, but the passion of the people for serving God was still evident to me when I came here to candidate.  When I accepted the job I knew it would be a long-term process of turning things around, but I also knew I would have the support of the congregation to do it.

            In the spring of 2012 I was invited to attend a meeting of the Children’s Roundtable of Venango County, a group consisting of local government officials, civic leaders, and local pastors, by another pastor who was unable to attend this particular meeting.  Not knowing what the focus of this particular group was, other than guessing that it had something to do with Children’s issues, I attended the meeting.  The first meeting was informational for me, learning about some of the local poverty related issues that affect children, but didn’t point toward any particular involvement on my part.  When I attended a second meeting everything changed.

            At the second meeting of the Children’s Roundtable, it was clear that these local government officials and civic leaders were looking to the local churches as a potential source of manpower to help alleviate some of the previously identified problems.  At this meeting, the local CYS solicitor, a good man who I now count as a friend, asked me to speak on behalf of the churches of our county and represent them.  Now keep in mind, I was the junior member of anybody’s ministerium list, still trying to figure out my role in this community, and certainly not anyone with any particular authority to speak for others.  But I was there, and I went with it.

            During the next several months, I became more and more involved in the process of talking about what needs the local churches might be able to help address, and how they would go about doing it.  What started out as a wholly unexpected request to speak on behalf of my fellow pastors, soon saw me become the default leader of the church response and the host of the eventual meeting to share this proposed local government and church cooperative effort.

            When that meeting of about sixty interested people happened, we were covering ground that I had never imagined would be a part of my ministry here at First Baptist.  I do have a history of ecumenical efforts, and this church has its own history of participating in the local food pantry and benevolent fund, but where this was going was far beyond anything that either I or they had attempted before.  The basic premise of the idea that was then forming was to build a partnership between the Human Services Department of Venango County {It had begun as a CYS effort, but quickly grew to include Aging, Mental Health, and all the rest} who would provide the information of their clients who needed help beyond what they could give, and local churches of all denominations throughout our whole county.

            In November of 2012 I led a second meeting to formulate our initial action plan, hoping to find a core group of people from several churches willing to be on a committee to get this lofty idea off the ground.  Once again, I ended up with more than I bargained for.  We did find our core leadership group that night, many of whom are still vital to our organization’s efforts, but we also found something fairly daunting: our first referral.  One of the caseworkers in attendance brought the file of her client who was in need of help, and after getting her permission to share that information, she told us about the significant repairs that this home needed before winter set in.  Before we had a name, before we had an official leadership, we had work to do, and that is what we did.  We helped someone when we were just trying to figure out who we were.  From that day onward, the referrals started to flow in, first slowly, then a trickle, eventually a flood we can barely keep our heads above.

            We eventually settled on the name of, Mustard Seed Missions of Venango County.  It wasn’t a ministry that I went in search of.  The way that it functions today has a lot of my input on it, but the primary idea of government/church cooperation belonged to somebody else.  I had never been much of an administrator, and my teaching days certainly didn’t develop a love of paperwork in me, but when it came time to choose our first president, all eyes were looking at my end of the table.

  Why did I do it, why take on this significant daily burden when I already had a church that needed me?  One reason is that I felt liberated as a full-time pastor from my years of juggling two jobs and I really wanted to make a difference in this community.  A second reason is that I had this strong feeling as the idea began to be formed early in 2012 that it wouldn’t get off the ground if one of the local pastors didn’t adopt it as his own.  Lastly, I just couldn’t say no when I was asked if the churches of our county would be willing to help the poor, if we can’t say yes to that question, what can we say yes to?

How do you know if a ministry is the right one for you?  I’m not sure I have any profound answer to that question from my own experience, but I sure knew that I had found my answer when I agreed to be a part of our para-church, non-denominational, government/church cooperative effort to help the poor in the name of Christ.

Sermon Video: The faithfulness of Asa - 2 Chronicles 14-15

History is full of the stories of heroes and villains who attempted or accomplished dramatic things.  Far less well known are the builders, creators, and reformers whose efforts often go unnoticed even though their impact is not.  One such less well known but not less accomplished person in the Bible is the King of Judah, Asa.  Asa was the son of Abijah, a war hero who only reigned for three years, but he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps.  The kingdom of Israel, which had rebelled against Asa’s grandfather Rehoboam, was exceedingly weakened by Abijah’s victory over them in battle, but Asa didn’t press forward to try to reclaim the land that Rehoboam’s pride had forfeited.  Instead, Asa chose a path of peace.  The temptation to seek glory in war was overshadowed in his mind by the need to work for reform amongst his own people.

                The focus of Asa’s reign as king was the destruction of the idols and altars of foreign gods that had existed in Judah since the days of Solomon.  This cancer upon the spiritual faithfulness of God’s covenant people had grown and was long overdue for removal.  When Asa came to the throne, he used his power and authority on behalf of the cause of moral purity, following the commands of the Word of God.  To remove idolatry would not be enough, however, Asa also urged his people to renew their efforts to follow the Law.  Whenever we seek to combat sin, we only do part of the needed task if we don’t replace sin with righteousness.  Our hearts abhor a vacuum, if sin is removed it will return again if the right and the good have not filled its place.

                Asa also prepared his people for war, building up the nation’s defenses, even in a time of peace.  This foresight proved valuable when the nation was invaded, but even though he had prepared ahead of time, Asa still cried out to the LORD for deliverance.  Asa’s mixture of prudence and reliance upon God is certainly worth emulating in our own lives.  We can and should use our mind and resources to prepare for the uncertainty of the future, and we certainly still need to rely upon the Lord when that day of trouble comes.

                After all of these victories, God sends the prophet Azariah to warn the people against the danger of wandering away during the good times.  God promises to always remain as long as his people are faithful, but warns them that if they leave him, he won’t stick around.  This reminds us that we have a relationship with God, something that requires commitment from both sides.  If we abandon God, how can we expect to still have a relationship?  To protect against such a mistake, Asa encourages the people to rededicate themselves to God, offering sacrifices and taking new oaths of fidelity.  The concluding commentary is encouraging, “They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them.  So the LORD gave them rest on every side.”

To watch the video, click on the link below:

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Sermon Video: Rehoboam, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - 2 Chronicles 11-12

Is being a follower of Jesus Christ a sprint or a marathon?  In the case of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and new king of Judah, his reign started exceedingly poorly.  His pride cost him the allegiance of the northern ten tribes, a situation he intends to remedy by going to war against his rebellious subjects.  At this point, God sends a prophet to deter Rehoboam from making war against his own kindred, and Rehoboam listens.  Over the years that follow, Rehoboam has both times of faithfulness to God and times of wandering away from the LORD.  He makes some wise decisions, and some foolish ones.  With such a mixed life of ups and downs, what is the final verdict for Rehoboam?  “He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 12:14)  He never fully committed himself to following God.  When times were tough, he was willing to rely upon God, but when things improved, his devotion wavered.  In the end, his lukewarm obedience to God was just not good enough. 

            How many Christians treat their faith the same way?  When we need God, we’re full of devotion, when we start to think that we don’t, or when faith starts to cost us something (i.e. service to others), the appeal fades away and so do we.  That isn’t good enough.  Either God is God of our lives, either we serve him fully, or we’re just kidding ourselves.  Rehoboam never got past seeing God as an expediency, he never decided to devote himself to God, don’t make the same mistake.

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Avoiding the fool's bargain

While working on my sermon for this week, I was reading Matthew Henry’s commentary on II Chronicles that was written in 1708.  The text tells of Levites who left their homes and land in the northern ten tribes of Israel and migrated south to Judah because their new king, Jeroboam, had replaced worship of the LORD with idolatry in order to keep his people from going to Jerusalem to worship.  Jeroboam’s political decision proved to be utterly disastrous as it started Israel down a road of moral decline that ended in the destruction of the kingdom in 722 at the hands of the Assyrians.  The Levites, seeing that they were no longer welcome, and that they could not continue to serve God as they had done, decided to leave the land that had been given to support them while they ministered.  It was a costly decision for them, one that took away a certain income and left them hoping for the best in a new land.  It was also clearly a wise and brave decision, to choose morality over money, a choice that continues to be put before God's people in our world today as it was when Matthew Henry commented on the decision of the Levites three hundred years ago.  In response to their choice, Henry wrote, “No secular advantages whatsoever should draw us thither, or detain us there, where we are in danger of making shipwreck of faith and good conscience.”  Whether that advantage is money, fame, or influence, it just isn’t worth it.  To risk your reputation, your honor, and your faith in God for such things will always be a fool’s bargain.  

Sermon Video: The Pride of Rehoboam, II Chronicles 10

When Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and grandson of David, ascended to the throne of the Kingdom of Israel, he faced a potentially explosive situation at the very beginning of his reign.  The taxes that had been levied by Solomon felt oppressive to the people and they chose a man who rebelled against Solomon, Jeroboam, to be their spokesman and bring their grievance to the new king.  {Side note: II Kings tells us that Jeroboam had already been chosen as the king of the tribes that would break away by the prophet Ahijah}.

            After taking three days to consider the request, and consulting both his father’s advisors and the men of his own age, Rehoboam answers the request by his new subjects exceedingly harshly.  The arrogance and lack of compassion in his answer, as Rehoboam vows to raise the taxes instead and rule by fear, shutting the door on the possibility that he might rule by wisdom and love for the people, actually drives the people away and begins the rebellion that splits the descendants of Abraham into two nations.

            It would be easy to criticize Rehoboam for listening to his own generation and ignoring the advice of his elders, that flaw is so common in our world in every generation that it hardly needs to be pointed out.  A secondary application of this text that may be overlooked by those who assume that have little of Rehoboam’s power in this world, is the idea of how power and authority are used by Christians.  We’ve all been on the wrong side of somebody with power over us who was willing to use that power for their own ends, and I would imagine that most of us have fallen to the temptation to do the same thing to somebody beneath us.  The example of Christ, to use power with compassion and humility, applies to us all as we all do have relationships where we have power over somebody else and it is up to us to make sure that we aren’t corrupted by that power but instead treat it as an opportunity to be a servant.

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Sermon Video: Who is the greatest, and who is on our side? Luke 9:46-50

Just prior to his decision to set out resolutely for Jerusalem, Jesus deals with two misconceptions on the part of his disciples.  Both of these questions involve the warped perspective of humanity versus the correct perspective of God.  In both instances, Jesus reveals to his disciples that the viewpoint of God is what they must adapt to because it is the basis of the kingdom of God.

            In the first episode, the disciples are busy arguing amongst themselves about which of them will be the greatest when the Messiah establishes his kingdom.  Forget for a moment that Jesus just told them once again that his future contains suffering; the debate is still woefully misplaced because it focuses on the human preoccupation with appearing great instead of God’s judgment regarding true greatness.  Jesus corrects their error by using a child with no rank, status, or privileges to illustrate that in the kingdom of God greatness will be awarded to those who serve the least in this world.

            In the second instance, the disciples attempt to stop a man who is copying their ministry by casting out demons in the name of Jesus.  Jesus responds to this desire to monopolize the work of the kingdom by declaring the very generous parameter that, “whoever is not against you is for you.”  In working for God, we don’t have the luxury deciding who we want to work with and who we want to be accepting of.  Everyone who is working by the power of the Holy Spirit, for the sake of the Gospel, and the glory of the Father, is on our side.  All of our excuses to exclude those we don’t like or don’t agree with fall by the wayside in light of Jesus’ declaration of unity for all those who follow him.

            It isn’t easy to adopt either of these perspectives.  Our human nature seeks aggrandizement at the expense of others; it is only by the power of God that we can hope to seek the benefit of others in a Christ-like manner.  Likewise, it is clear that those who follow Christ are not united, that divisions have always plagued his Church, but that is no excuse for us to perpetuate the mistakes of our ancestors in the faith.

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Sermon Video: Unbelief and Betrayal, Luke 9:37-45

When Jesus comes down from the mountain with Peter, John, and James, after having just revealed his own glory, he returns to the reality that vast crowds await his help.  Among the crowd is a man whose son is severely afflicted by demonic possession, evidently in the form of epilepsy.  This man had brought his son to the disciples who were unable to help, evidently because of a lack of faith.  Jesus responds to this situation by revealing frustration at the “unbelieving and perverse generation” that he has to work with before he heals the child.  That frustration from Jesus is not an isolated response from God to finding that faith is lacking, nor is it an isolated response from mankind to lack faith in things in which we believe.  The people of Israel certainly believed in God, but lacked faith in him sufficient to keep them from asking for a golden calf.  Likewise, Americans respond to polls by declaring a belief that God and heaven exists, as well as a belief in the power of prayer, and yet far too many lack sufficient faith to actually take that belief and let it transform their lives.  They believe, but they don’t act, but they lack faith.

            After his success with healing the boy, Jesus immediately tells his disciples about his upcoming betrayal, even while the crowd celebrates by praising God for the healing.  Why now?  Jesus knows that surface admiration is not sufficient, to simply acknowledge God is not the same obeying him.  Jesus knows that his mission will end in betrayal, as had that of many of the prophets of old, but there will be a difference this time.  Instead of a tragic tale that ends in woe, the death of Jesus will be a transformative moment because it will end in resurrection.  Mankind has the capacity to indulge in evil, to reject love, and to betray the Son of Man, yet God has the capacity to overcome that rebellion with divine grace.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we too must embrace love over hate, good over evil, because one day faith, hope, and love will be utterly triumphant over unbelief, despair, and hate because Jesus has proven that light and darkness are not in any way equals.  Darkness is merely an absence of light, it has no life of its own; as Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”

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Sermon Video: Jesus is God, Luke 9:28-36

Modern skeptics of the Bible, such as Dr. Bart Ehrman who wrote How Jesus Became God, have asserted that Jesus didn’t think of himself as divine, that his disciples never thought of him as such, and that all such references in the NT are later changes made by the Church.  Aside from the lack of evidence for such claims, there is the additional problem that the entire message of the New Testament, and the Bible as a whole, falls completely flat if Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, was simply a man wrongfully accused and executed by the Romans.  If Jesus isn’t God, in the same sense that Abraham and Moses spoke to God, Christianity has no reason to exist and all of its teaching are useless.  The disciples did believe in the divinity of Jesus, as did his earliest followers because they witnessed things that could not be explained any other way, among that ample evidence was the Transfiguration of Jesus witnessed by Peter, John, and James.

            The Transfiguration, during a time of prayer on a mountain in Galilee, was not a transformation of Jesus, but rather a revelation of that which was already within him.  As the “Word became flesh”, to use John’s description, Jesus had within himself both all of humanity, except sin, and all of divinity, willingly limited in time and space.  Why such a fuss?  Why would God go to such great lengths when he could have just sent another prophet to share the same message as Jesus?  The answer is simple, no one else could have accomplished the task that the Father required of the Messiah.  Another messenger would not have fixed the fundamental problem that separated humanity from God: human sinful rebellion.  Only by coming amongst us, only by accepting the role of vicarious savior, could Jesus forever open up the path to redemption; only he could do it, and only if he was indeed the Son of God.

            The Church has always taught the divinity of Jesus, those who denied it in the Early Church were opposed, their teachings labeled as heresy.  This belief is absolutely foundational to everything that the Church and Christians think, say, and do.  Jesus is God.

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