Protection from the Perils of Life

Sermon September 26, 2010 on the Scripture text Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16.  The Scripture reading was responsive, so I have included it below.  The Choir sang "God is Our Refuge." 

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
²will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”
³For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
⁴he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
⁶or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
¹⁴Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
¹⁵When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

Praying for Peace

Sermon September 19, 2010, on 1 Timothy 2:1-7.  Peace begins with us.  Do we do what makes for peace?

Grace Overflows

Sermon on September 12, 2010, on Luke 15:1-10 and 1 Timothy 1:12-17.  The song following the sermon is Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone. 

What others are saying about MTD

As a follow up to my Faith and Teens post, I read this post on emergingumc by Taylor Burton-Edwards on Moralistic Therapeutic Deism.

emergingumc: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism: Treating the Parasite on Discipleship to Jesus

So, check it out and tell me what you think. Is there a cure for MTD? Are you with me in seeking one?

Membership Has its...Responsibilities

Remember the old American Express commercial "membership has its privileges?"  Well, the United Methodist Church could say "with privilege comes responsibility."  In the book, Restoring Methodism, by James and Molly Scott, it is asserted that according to findings by the National Council of Churches in the book Why Conservative Churches are Growing the "primary reason conservative churches were growing was their clear and strict rules for belief and practice, which translated into membership requirements."  The book further stated that conservative did not necessarily mean conservative in the beliefs and practices they were so strict about, and often these conservative churches were liberal in their social gospel. 

Simply put, the churches required something from their members, and so in order to be received into the membership of the church one would be required to attend classes before taking the membership vows.  I personally take confirmation of the youth very seriously and they are required to attend classes before they can join the church, but I have been admittedly lax in this when it comes to adult membership.  A friend of mind posed this question to United Methodist Clergy on facebook, "Does your church require training in a membership class before a person may join?" I would love to, but would feel the need to apologize for those who are already members who do not live up to their membership vows. 

The book Restoring Methodism also suggests that if members are not supporting their church by their prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness, our membership vows, then we should remove them from membership rolls of the church.  John Wesley was known to hold Societies accountable, but he was also known to allow himself to be held accountable.  What do you think it would be like if United Methodist Churches today removed those members who were not fulfilling the covenant vows made at their membership? 

Since I feel the biggest threat to Christianity today are 'token' Christians, those who are Christian in name only and their actions are far from the ideals and teachings of Christ, I think more accountability is necessary.  But how do we bring this about?  My question is how do we get from here (with low or no accountability) to there (where we hold our members accountable and require membership classes to become a member)?  If you are a member of The United Methodist Church, would you be willing to be held accountable to your membership vows?  Would you be willing to take a class for membership?  And would you be willing to take "refresher courses" as you or your pastor felt was needed? 

Let me hear your thoughts on this subject.

Like Putty in God's Hands

Sermon September 5, 2010, on the scripture reading Jeremiah 18:1-10.  Oh that we all might be like "Putty in God's Hands."  We had a potter work clay on a pottery wheel during the special music and reading of the scripture.  She was referenced in the sermon.