Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven.  God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world. God destined us to be His adopted children through Jesus Christ because of His love. This was according to His goodwill and plan and to honor His glorious grace that He has given to us freely through the Son whom He loves. …. Ephesians 1

It was one of those moments that seemed unimportant to some, but it was crushing to me. I can remember standing on the playground at Jones-Wheat Elementary School in Bainbridge. We were getting ready for a friendly game of kick-ball during recess and everyone was lined up across from the “captains.” Now, like all boys and girls, I was confident that I was the best choice possible. I knew nobody could out kick, out run, or out defend me, but when the ‘captains’ began making their choices, I was ignored. I wasn’t chosen first … or second … or fifth. In fact, I wasn’t chosen at all. After the choices were made, the captain who picked last said: “Okay, I guess I’ll take Tucker.” Translation required, “Okay. I guess I’m stuck with Tucker.”
This wasn’t the first time or the last time this happened. Many have been stuck with me over the years.

The Gospels tells us how Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee and told those fishermen, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” One by one, He chose them … Them … common, ordinary men and women. And lest they feel confident about their decision to follow, He reminded them: “You didn’t choose me; I chose you and appointed you, that you might bear much fruit.” Paul told the church at Ephesus: “God chose us in Christ Jesus.” Wait! How revolutionary is that? I didn’t choose to follow Jesus; He chose to call me. And He chose you! He chose us all. When we were lined up on the “playground” of life, He came along and said: “Follow me. You’ve made the team.” Like Mean Joe Green in the Coke Commercial, God bestowed upon us a special “jersey,” the righteousness of Christ. He made us Holy and He calls us to live in holiness of heart and life. I made the team; Jesus chose me! Hallelujah!

Lord Jesus, Team Captain, thank you for choosing me. I know that there is nothing good about me, but you. I realize that it’s not what I can do, but what you can do through me. I realize it’s not my talent or skills or knowledge or wisdom, but you working in me and through me! And so, today, I yield to you. Teach me, Lord. Equip me, Lord. Empower me, Lord, so that I might be ever, only all for you. And thank you for allowing me to “play” on the winning team. In Christ’s name … AMEN!

^{He made it so that you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy People.  He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves.  He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins!  Because the fullness of God was pleased to live in Him and He reconciled all things to Himself through Him – whether things on earth or in the heavens.  He brought peace through the blood of His cross.  Once you were alienated fro God and you were enemies with Him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions.  But now, He has reconciled you by His physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. ….. Colossians 1 (various verses)}

When I was a child, I was free!  Now, I didn’t realize it.  In fact, I thought, to varying degrees at various times, that I was bound – bound by the lifestyle of my family; bound by the rules of my family; bound by the limitations of Bainbridge, Georgia which didn’t even have a theater for much of my teen years.  But now I know that this was one of the freest times of my life.  In my parent’s home, living by my parent’s rules, I was free from major responsibility.  I was free from harm and under their protection.  I was free from laboring and searching for my survival under their provision.  I was free from having to decide what was right and wrong and how to live under their pronouncements.  O to be that free again!

In this wild and crazy world called Modernity (or Post-modernity, as the case may be), many suffer from a complete lack of freedom.  Having cast off the restraints of their childhood, people seem to live with wreckless abandon, driven by nothing more than their selfish desires.  They claim to be free – free from parental control and influence, free from church dogma and dictates, free from cultural expectations, etc.  But they’re not really free.  What many see as proof of their freedom is often the very thing that enslaves them.  For example: I was told by an addict once: “I’m free to do whatever I want.  I can stop any time I want; I just don’t want to stop.”  Really?  A few weeks later, when he tried to stop, he discovered just how much control he was under and just how little freedom he had.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul wrote: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.”  Jesus Himself said: “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  Why, then, do many “Christians” continue living as if they are still bound?  Many times, we accept for ourselves the label “Christian,” but we do not accept the freedom that comes with knowing Christ or else we totally misunderstand it.  You see, Christian freedom isn’t living in wreckless abandon in relation to God’s Holy Word.  Christian freedom is living under the Pronouncements, the Provision, and the Protection of God.  Christian freedom is living in God’s House by God’s rules.  And that takes discipline, not church discipline, not discipline from other believers … self-discipline or what the Bible calls self-control (Galatians 5:23).  Self-discipline is the price we pay for being truly free.  That’s what Elton Trueblood said in The New Man for Our Time, “Discipline is the price of freedom.”

O God, Jesus teaches us to call you Father, to see you as He sees you, as His source of life and strength and purpose.  What a joy to live in your house, by your rules!  And when that seems more like a slave’s task than a blessing, help me to remember what true freedom is.  Help me to rediscover the work of the Holy Spirit in myself, producing self-control, self-discipline, so that others might see in me the freedom only Christ can give.  I pray this, not just for today, but for every day to come!  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I planned to visit you many times, although I have been prevented from coming until now.  I want to harvest some fruit among you, just as I have done among the other Gentiles.  I have a responsibility both to Greeks and to those who don’t speak Greek, both to the wise and to the foolish.  That’s why I’m ready to preach the Gospel also to you who are in Rome.  I’m not ashamed of the gospel.  It is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous person will live by faith.’                                               … Romans 1:13 – 17

As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His ultimate departure, He told them that they would one day stand before kings and princes and give testimony to their faith in Him.  I wonder if those common Jews – fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, – were able to comprehend what He was saying.  I wonder if Peter imagined standing before Nero, or if John foresaw the day he would be exiled to Patmos.

Being continually filled and re-filled with the Holy Spirit, those common, ordinary Jewish men, and a handful of women, took the Gospel from “Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the utter most parts of the earth.”  And along the way, trouble found them at every turn.  It was said of them, “Those who have turned the world upside down with their teaching have come here also.”  So, they were persecuted and mocked; they were alienated and ostracized; yet, they went on proclaiming – with lifestyle and with voice – the gospel of Jesus Christ.  A later convert and Apostle, Paul could have spoken for the rest when he wrote to the church at Rome … “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.”

In a Christian culture, it’s easy to be Christian!  It’s easy to share your faith and let everyone around you know what you believe and in whom you believe.  But we’re not in Kansas anymore.  Ours is not a Christian Culture.  While the vestiges of Christendom remain visible here and there, ours is now a post-Christian (or as I prefer to call it, a pre-Christian) culture.  In a Pre-Christian world, we tend to be a little more withdrawn when it comes to proclaiming the Gospel.  In a culture that believes Christians to be close-minded, out of touch, out of date, old fashioned, and irrelevant, it’s a little harder to proclaim the Gospel with life and voice without experiencing some kind of backlash.  This will not change tomorrow, or the day after, next week or the week after, etc.  So, what are we to do?

Perhaps we need to reconsider where Peter, James and John (and Paul) found themselves.  They too lived in a pre-Christian world, an increasingly hostile environment.  And yet, with life and voice, they proclaimed the gospel.  Inspired and lead by the Holy Spirit, they stood in market places and private homes and told the story of Jesus’ life, suffering, death, and resurrection and exactly what that meant to them and the different it had made in their lives.  They weren’t ashamed!

Am I?  Are you?

There are parents who don’t know how to share the faith with their own kids and kids who don’t know how to witness to their own parents.  It’s unnatural.  It’s not easy.  How, then, can we share the faith with strangers?  With associates at work?  With neighbors across the fence?  What we need today is a holy boldness to proclaim the Gospel … with our lives and with our voices … across the street and around the world.  In cooperation with and in opposition to the ways of this world.   As Mr. Wesley said: “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.”

O God, give us those “preachers,” those holy proclaimers of your Gospel – men, women, and children – who will proclaim with voice and life the difference you have made in their lives.  Let us no longer fear, but be filled with faith as we read the stories of those long ago who trusted in you and never regretted it.  And so, let us proclaim it until Christ is seen in us and your Kingdom comes more perfectly among us.  Amen!

A certain ruler asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to obtain eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except the one God. You know the commandments. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t murder. Don’t steal. Don’t give false testimony. Honor your father and mother.” Then the ruler said, “I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy.” When Jesus heard this, he said, “There’s one more thing. Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me.” When he heard these words, the man became sad because he was extremely rich.

God is good (all the time)! And all the time (God is good)! Have you ever wondered why that’s so important? What do we mean when we say, “God is good”? And what difference does it make? I know that what the Bible says about us is true: on our own, we’re not good! We are selfish, self-absorbed, and self-centered. Left to our own devices, we look out for # 1 and even our attempts at goodness are simply veiled attempts at self-gratification and self-glorification! We’re not even sure what goodness is, because that – like everything else in our culture – is up for constant debate and redefinition. And yet, we are constantly seeking goodness! We go looking for a good book to read, not a bad book! We want to see a good movie, not a bad movie! We want a good cup of coffee, a good meal, a good friend, good kids, and good worship! But how do we know if something is really good?

One of the first declarations in the Bible is made by God … “It is very good.” _ Creation is very good, because it was made good by a good God! The Psalmist said: “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good! And His faithful love endures forever.” _ And so, we were taught as little children to pray: “God is great! God is good! Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands, we all are fed; thank you, Lord, for daily bread. Amen!” So, God is good … all the time! But what does that mean? Is God good the same way coffee is good? Well, the Psalmist did say: “O taste and see that the Lord is good! Those who take refuge in Him are truly blessed,” _ but what that means is: We come to know God is good through personal experience. God’s actions demonstrate His goodness! And so, in her great hymn, “He Giveth More Grace,” Annie Flint wrote: “His love has no limits; His grace has no measure; His power no boundary known unto men; for out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.”

God is good, because God acts in ways that are good. His love for us overflows in generosity to us. In fact, that’s what this word really means. The Greek word for goodness is agathosunei which means “love demonstrated by giving.” And so, some versions of the Bible translate this word as “generosity.” So, goodness isn’t something we are; goodness is something we do. Paul said: “The works of the flesh are obvious … but the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” _ So, are you good? You know, it’s very interesting to me that in 23 years of pastoral ministry, I’ve never buried a bad person. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been told: “Preacher, he was a good man,” or “She was a good woman.” Even the meanest, stingiest church member I’ve ever had was “a good man.” But remember: we’re the same people on a search for goodness – good food, good coffee, good friends, and good worship. And the problem is: you and I don’t get to define goodness. We don’t set the standard and we probably wouldn’t recognize goodness if we saw it.

One day, a rich young man came to Jesus. He said: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life.” And Jesus asked him: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God! Now, you know what the Bible says ‘Don’t sleep around outside of marriage;’ ‘Don’t murder;’ ‘Don’t steal;’ ‘Don’t lie against your neighbor;’ and ‘Honor your father and mother.’” The man said: “Yeah! I’ve done that since I was a little boy.” And Jesus said: “Then, there’s one more thing: sell everything you have and give it to the poor and come, follow me.” And Luke says: “He went away very sad because he had a lot of money.” And immediately, the disciples began questioning Jesus, because they had given up a lot to follow Him. But Jesus said: “I assure you that everyone who has given up possessions and posterity for the Kingdom will receive back what they’ve given up and even more.” You see, God expects more from us than just cognitive ascent; God expects us to be like Jesus … to be good or generous!

So, this morning, let’s look at four ways that you and I can demonstrate the presence of the Holy Spirit through our generosity!

First, we must be generous with encouragement! In the Book of Acts, Luke tells us about Barnabas. Barnabas was among the disciples in the Church at Jerusalem. And when the Jews in Jerusalem began persecuting the Church, he settled in Antioch in Syria. Now, the Church at Antioch was experiencing a few challenges. Jews and Gentiles were having trouble coming together and being a church family and nobody seemed to have the answers. Then, Barnabas remembered a Pharisee that had converted to Christianity. And the Pharisee’s name was Saul of Tarsus. Now, after his conversion, Saul had tried to join the church in Jerusalem where the other disciples were, but they wouldn’t accept him, because they saw him as a persecutor and a murderer of Christians. So, Saul gave up and went home to Tarsus, but Barnabas went down to Tarsus, found Paul, and brought him to Antioch. Friends, Christianity spread from a Jewish sect in Palestine to Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the world, because when Paul was down and out, Barnabas was generous with encouragement. Is there someone in your life who is down and out? Is there someone who has given up? What would happen if you were generous with encouragement? What difference could you make in his or her life and what difference could you make in the world?

Second, we must be generous with forgiveness! One day, Peter asked Jesus: “Lord, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me? 7 times?” Now, Peter thought he was being generous. But Jesus said: “No! Not just 7 times, but 70 x 7.” Jesus was telling Peter: “You aren’t being generous enough.” You see, our forgiveness of one another is meant to reflect the forgiveness of God! Paul tells us: “Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ.” _ So, is there someone that you need to forgive this morning? What difference could you make in their lives if you were generous with forgiveness!

Third, we must be generous with kindness! Last week, we talked about kindness and how kindness is: acts of benevolence that demonstrate our love for others. Kindness is really living out the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” _ One day, a group from First Church set up a booth downtown to give away free ice cream. Give a hug and get a free ice cream cone. And kids came from everywhere and the line was long, but Little Susie waited. And when it was her turn, she asked for a chocolate cone. So, the lady fixed her ice cream and they exchanged a hug and just as Susie turned to leave, she reached back and gave the lady another hug. And she said: “Ms. Sally, keep the change.” Is there someone you need to show kindness to this morning? What difference could you make in their lives if you were generous with kindness?

Fourth, we must be generous with our resources! When God called Abram to leave Ur of the Chaldees, God said: “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you; I will curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you.” _ God says, “Abram, I’m gonna bless you and you’re going to be a blessing to others.” Brothers and Sisters, one of things you and I have to learn is that the blessings we have aren’t meant to make us rich; they’re not meant to give us power, position, or prestige. Our blessings are meant to be shared with others. We are blessed to be a blessing! And that goes for all our resources – our money and our possessions. Is there someone you need to share with this morning? What difference could you make in their lives if you were generous with your resources? So, let’s think about this a minute! Let’s look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word. Are we really good? Now, Preacher, that’s a good person right there! Is that what people say? Are you generous with your encouragement, with your forgiveness, with your kindness, and with your resources? In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. … I urge the elders: Like shepherds tend the flock of God among you.  Watch over it.  Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God.  Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly.  Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to you care, but become examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.  In the same way, I urge you you are younger: accept the authority of elders.  And everyone clothe yourself with humility toward each other.  God stands against the proud, but He gives favor to the humble.  Therefore, humble yourselves under God’s power so that He may raise you up in the last day.  …. 1 Peter 5:1 – 6

The Church in America has been hit by three great storms: American individualism, clergy scandals, and lack of respect for authority.  These storms have resulted in a great mistrust between clergy and laity.  It just isn’t the same as it once was.  There was a day when clergy received a lot of respect and carried a lot of authority.  His or her word meant something … to church people and to community people.  Today, the voice of the clergy is quieted, just another voice among many voices calling for our attention.  Clergy were once trusted; now, there is great suspicion.  Clergy were once followed.  When the pastor said: “Brothers and Sisters, I believe God is leading us in this direction or that,” the laity followed.  It was a Shepherding – Sheeping Relationship.  Today, some follow; some abstain totally; and others go into all out rebellion.

In his letter to the church, the Apostle Peter, disciple of Jesus Christ, gave instructions for those who wish to lead God’s people, God’s flock.  I note several:
1.  Lead voluntarily, not as an obligation.
2.  Lead eagerly, not greedily
3.  Lead by serving.
Then, Peter but one word of instruction for Sheep:  Accept the authority of your Shepherd
And finally, Peter gives the key to making it all work … humility.  Humility from the Shepherd and humility from the Sheep as well.

As a Pastor, I have been called to shepherd the flock of God.  I have read and accepted those instructions from Peter as God’s calling upon my life and I have sought to abide by them.  And yet, I think three storms that have hit the American Church when coupled with my personal failures has created an atmosphere where I cannot lead and the church cannot or will not follow.  I want to be better; the church needs me to be better; and God is working to make me better.  My task is to simply humble myself before God and allow Him to do His work in me.  I know and trust that once His work is seen more perfectly in me, then His work through Him will be made more complete.

O God, I weep over your church today, over my lack of leadership and over the church’s reluctance to follow.  Your church needs good under-shepherds and I have failed to be effective.  Your church needs good Sheep and I have failed to train them.  Forgive me, Lord, and work in me to make me more like the Good Shepherd, Jesus your Son.  For I lift this prayer in His holy name … Amen!

Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.  You’ll receive the same judgment you give.   Whatever you deal out will be dealt out to you.  …   Therefore, you should treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you; this is the Law and the Prophets. …. Matthew 7:1 – 2, 12

One day, a man came to my office.  He came to tell me that I was fat.  He came (I think and trust) because he loves me and was concerned about my health.  That was the way he presented the issue to me.  But then, he said something like this: “I can name two families who aren’t attending our church anymore, because of your weight.”   Wow!  Really?

I can see you!  You can see me!  Because we are Friends, Relatives, Associates, or Neighbors, you have seen my faults and failures, or dare I say it … SINS.  I don’t expect that you would accept my faults, failures, or sins.  Heck!  I can’t even do that myself.  I simply ask that in spite of my faults, failures, and sins, you accept ME; you love ME.  You don’t have change your opinion and say that what you know to be wrong is actually right!  But what I need you to do is to understand that in spite of my fault, failure, and sin, I’m still a man – created in the image of God, redeemed by the grace of God, and sustained by the love of God.

This is what I try to do for you.  I know your faults and failures; I know your sins (at least some of them).  And because I am loved by God, I love you.  Because I am accepted by God, I accept you … in spite of what I know, in spite of what I see, and in spite of my experience with you.  Why?   Because God wants me to be like Him.  God doesn’t love my sin; God doesn’t accept my sin; God doesn’t change His holy standard to include my sin as okay.  God loves me; God accepts me; and God continues to work in me to conform me to His holy standard.

Jesus said: “Don’t judge … treat people the way you want them to treat you.”  I hope to live by this simple yet nearly impossible standard today.

Holy God, your word is the standard by which you call me to live my life.  You call me to love those things that you love.  Left alone, I cannot and will not accomplish this.  My eyes and mind size people up.  My eyes and mind make their faults, failures, and sins much greater than mine so that I can feel good about myself.  So first, O God, open my eyes to see the ugliness of my sin.  And then, open my heart to love and accept others, even when I cannot love and accept the ugliness of their sin.  In this way, help me be more like Jesus today.  Amen!