Self-Examination

The message this morning is titled Self-Examination, which is something many of us do when the temps drop to near thirty below zero like today. We ask ourselves why we are living here in Northern Minnesota. Nevertheless Pastor Brad Shannon greeted us warmly to call our service to order. 

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, ushering in a season of repentance and renewal as we look toward Easter. One of the challenges in life is that in our efforts to overcome sin we learn how powerless we are. At an unimaginable cost to Himself, our Lord's grace and mercy have been showered upon us.

Announcements

~ If you are interested in becoming a member, we'll be having a Membership class soon. Contact Pastor Brad.

~ Wednesday and Thursday will be another pair of work days at the church. Much progress has been made.
~ Tuesday afternoon there will be several from our church family singing at the Wesley Residence nursing home at 2:00 p.m. Contact Chuck or Darlene if you would like to join them.

Chuck opened the service by reading from Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom 
or the strong boast of their strength 
or the rich boast of their riches, 
but let the one who boasts boast about this: 
that they have the understanding to know me, 
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
 justice and righteousness on earth, 
for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

The trio sang a new song to usher us into worship. Brad then prayed and the trio sang When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder before we sang a number of songs together. They also sang a Dallas Holm song during the offering.

Self-Examination

Brad began by reading Romans 7:15-25

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Brad noted that this is a message that springboards off the Ash Wednesday message.

Brad asked, "Why is sin so devastating?" Harry Eliason answered, "It separates us from God."

Pastor Brad then pointed out that sin is the only thing that can destroy us from the inside out. Sin is the one thing that can destroy what is eternal.

Psalm 24:3-4a states
Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? 
Who may stand in his holy place? 
The one who has clean hands and a pure heart...

There are actually laws in this country about cleaning hands, but how do we gain a pure heart?

In Genesis 3 we see how it happened with Adam and Eve.

What Brad points out is the manner in which the serpent deceived Eve, by misrepresenting God so that they question His character.

Temptation is not sin, but when we are tempted Brad says we need to invite God into the situation. That was the big failure of Adam and Eve.

God's concern for us is that we develop character. In the Garden of Eden the first couple did not have character, rather they were innocent. Character is develped when we are tested and make choices ourselves.

In verse 8 it states that they attempted to hide from God after this violation, eating the fruit fo the forbidden tree. God says, "Where are you?" Adam answers, "I heard you, I was afraid and I hid." Not exactly a lie but not coming clean.

God asks a more direct question, "Did you eat from the tree?" Adam blames Eve and actually blames God for having made her.

When confronted, Eve blames the serpent.

In verse 21 God made garments of skin to cover their nakedness. What's interesting that this is the first time blood was shed, a foreshadowing of the sacrifice that would be needed later to atone for sin, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

Brad moved on to the story of Cain and Abel, another early story of failure. Once again a situation emerges and God asks a pointed question to help Cain understand what is going on. "Sin is crouching at your door." Cain doesn't like it, ignores the warning, then takes his brother's life.

Now to us. Confession and repentance are a necessary part of the Christian community. Today we need people in our lives with whom we can be transparent and accountable.

Galatians 6:1 states, Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

Cain and Abel is not a Sunday school story. It addresses the radical nature of sin in our world. And how much pain and tragedy that occurs in this broken world of ours which occurs in secret.

The Good News is that at the center of the Bible is the Cross of Jesus. For God so loved the world...

What is it that you need to confess to God?

Ash Wednesday Service 2009

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." ~ Romans 3:23

Tonight was a special evening on a number of levels. We shared a meal in advance, and enjoyed one another’s company over soup and sandwiches. This kind of fellowship is good for strengthening ties to our church family.

On another level, the Ash Wednesday service inaugurates Lent, a period of time leading to the Cross and resurrection, the centerpiece of Christian faith.

Pastor Brad opened by noting that the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are traditionally created by burning the dried palms from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. In this manner a certain continuity is created as we simultaneously prepare for Easter and remember it.

It was pointed out that the ashes on Ash Wednesday point back to the Old Testament notion of sackcloth and ashes, a sign of repentance and purification. In Matthew 11:21 associates sackcloth and ashes with remorse. Other verses referencing ashes include Numbers 19:9 & 17, and Hebrews 9:13.

There is a difference between penitence and repentance, Brad said. Repentance is identified with the will or volition, and indicates a turning around, a change of direction. Penitence is more a matter of the heart.

Ashes are also a reminder that we came from ashes and to ashes we will return. The service offers an opportunity for us to recognize our brokenness, and once again remember the wonders of His grace.

After the customary introit, worship and responsive readings, Pastor Brad shared a message.

That Pesky Word

Sin, he noted, is a word that is not used much anymore. The dictionary defines sin as a “transgression of divine law.” It is a willful wrong.

Nowadays we use different language. We say things like, “I made a mistake,” or “I goofed.” Sometimes we say “oops” as if it was just a stupid little mess-up or an error of judgment or “I didn’t know an better, shucks.”

We don’t like the word sin because it says something fundamental about what we are. If everything is just a mistake, then it’s not sin. And if there is no sin, then there’s no need for a savior. The solution for a mistake is to try harder next time, or study more and pay attention more, get more education, whatever. But if I am a sinner, I need a Savior.

Sin is indicative of intentionality. It was not just a goof up. It reflects something deeper going on.

If everything is just a mistake, then there can be no guilt.

When Jesus enters the situation, he not only says that being “good enough” to please God is a challenge, he raises the bar so high it is impossible. No one can be “good enough.” Yet, He says, “I love you.”

In other words, it is worse than you thought because you’re worse than you thought, and simultaneously God loves you more than you can imagine.

Jesus said, “I have come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.”

The essence of Matthew 5 vs 21 and following is that (a) you’re a sinner, and (b) God loves sinners.

Until you embrace the fact that you’re a sinner, you’ll never embrace the Savior. People who see themselves as goof ups don’t need a Savior.

Brad then re-told the story of the Prodigal Son as found in Luke 15. After the son takes his portion of the inheritance and squander it, he reaches such a low point in his life that it would be better to be a servant for his father than what he is doing now. He returns home, saying, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

The father’s response is remarkable. “Bring the best robe… “ and he puts a ring on the son’s finger… sandals on his feet, saying, “This son of mine was dead…”

The sooner we embrace the fact that we are sinners, the sooner we experience grace.

In Romans 3:23, Paul essentially says, “You owed so much there is no way you could repay it, so I had someone else pay the price.”

It’s not about figuring it all out and getting it right someday. The ashes are a symbol that say, “I can’t do it on my own.”

With this we came to the table at the front of the sanctuary in a ceremony named simply the imposition of ashes.

It was a very special service, and time of remembering the grace and mercy of God in Jesus.

“Open Wide and Say Ahhh”

There were a number of visitors with us on this warm, sunny summer day. Pastor Brad welcomed all this Independence Day weekend, foreshadowing his message with comments about James 3 and its emphasis on taming the tongue.

In commenting on our freedoms which we share as Americans, Pastor Brad noted that there are more slaves today than at any time in history, and that we should not take our freedoms for granted.

Scripture reading today, by Ruth Anne:
Zechariah 9:9-12
Romans 7:15-25a

“Open Wide and Say Ahhh”
Has anyone here ever said something they wish they could take back? After sharing a painful personal incident from his younger days, he noted that the Bible says many words about word. Proverb 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”

Words can help someone, or crush their spirit. Words can instruct, or discourage. Words have great power.

In another personal anecdote, Pastor Brad shared how one time years ago he was teaching a Bible study and someone shared something, but his glib reply showed that he was not really listening, and the person brought him up short by pointing this out. “You weren’t really listening to me,” the woman said. He dismissed it, until a week later another person said that he was not listening to them either. The reality is that we need to not only watch what we say, but also watch what we don’t say.

Jesus was the perfect model of how we are to be. He was both grace and truth. He could speak the truth, but with great gentleness and sensitivity. “A bruised reed He will not break,” writes Isaiah.

Pastor Brad then cited the verse, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as if it were the very words of God.”

Unfortunately, sin interferes. As a result, we have a pattern of connecting and disconnecting. From the beginning, when you look behind the fig leaf, Adam and Eve were both harboring shame and guilt.

5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. ~ James 3:5-6

The evil one wants to divide and destroy what God has done, and uses our words to do it.

There are five areas where we mess up.

1. Name Calling
Even playful name calling can hurt. We’ve all done some of it when young. We don’t realize when we are doing it that we’re hitting a sore spot. People often hide that. But when we see we’ve said something that hurt, we need to apologize quickly. It is better to have verbal discipline and not hurt people.

2. Blaming
Many couples fall into this. “I am the way I am because of you.” Instead of owning their behavior, couples often blame the other. Proverbs 22:13 refers to the sluggard who does not assume responsibility. Rather, he hides himself to avoid pain. The blame game is unhealthy.

3. Generalizing
“You always do that…” or “You never do that…” Proverbs 10:21 says “The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” To generalize is to not show good judgment.

4. Critical Comments, Critical Spirit
Critical words stick and hurt for a long time.

5. Anger
Frequently, you will find that angry people grew up in a home with an angry person. Proverb 29:11 cautions, “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”

Pastor Brad reminded us that, on the other hand, when someone comes to us & they’re angry, we should not minimize it by dismissing it or spiritualizing it. Nor should we speak too quickly. Jesus was not rattled by another’s anger. The Scriptures compel us to mourn with those who mourn.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.
13 He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame. ~ Prov. 18:12-13

We need to be good listeners and take ownership of our words. Again Past Brad reminded us that we should speak as if our words were the very words of God.

After celebrating, sharing communion together, he reminded us in closing, “On the other side, we need to extend grace to those who have said hurtful things to us.”