Monthly Archives: April 2014

Sermon Connection

Render Unto Caesar

They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But He detected their trickery and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:21-25 (NASB)

Millions of Americans have been engaged for the last few months in the annual ritual of “rendering to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”. All of the activity and anxiety will climax today and then subside for the next nine months. Each of us will deal with the stress in different ways. One of the ways is to joke about it. Nicky Gumbel tells us of a man who sent a check to the government for back taxes with a note attached that said: “I felt so guilty for cheating on my taxes I had to send you this check. If I don’t feel any better, I’ll send you the rest.”

This joke that Nicky tells represents, at least in part, the thinking that resides in this ritual. We want to do everything to minimize how much we have to pay. My intention is not to discuss the tax laws or even to share “loop holes” that might be over looked in the code. I am drawn to the symbolism found on April 15th, “the day of reckoning”. Each year we give an accounting to the government as to what we have earned. We follow the tax code so that each of us are using the same standard by which we offer our account. And when we get to the bottom line, we celebrate or lament the outcome. Either way, we have to account for what we have done.

Try what you will, and many try to get around paying taxes, sooner or later we will face a day of reckoning. If this is true about something as simple as paying taxes, why would anyone think the principle of accountability would not be applied on an eternal scale? Jesus reminds us of this when ask about paying taxes. So on this day, April 15th, a day of reckoning, take the time to reflect on the eternal principles set forth in the Bible, God’s Holy Word. The standard by which all people will gave an accounting. Reflect on just one question, “Are you rendering unto God all that is His?”

The coins we use are stamped with the images of our government so it stand to reason that a part of it pays taxes. The Bible says in Genesis 1:27 (NASB), “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” We are created in the image of God, therefore let us live life according to the design of the Creator. Take time to read about His plan for you today.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the reminder that I will be held accountable for how I live life. Forgive me for living only for myself. Help me to live according to the Golden Rule “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you …” Matthew 7:12 (NASB). In Jesus Name, Amen.

Announcement

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Easter Sunrise Service

 April 20th @ 7:00 AM

The Sunbury Ruitan Club will be serving breakfast in the fellowship hall immediately following the service.

 

 

 

Announcement

Wednesday, April 16th

7:30 PM

Damascus Christian Church

Sunbury, NC

We will be participating in their Holy Week Services. We will have no family night supper or small groups that night. Please join us at Damascus for worship.

 

Sermon Connection

The Refiners Fire

He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Malachi 3:3 (HCSB)

With Easter fast approaching, I my studies are drawn to the passion of Christ. The last week before His crucifixion was an emotional roller coaster. He was never swayed from His purpose, His calling. In our world, it seems as though the emotional experiences that impact our lives greatly determine what and how we live. Most of us do not like being in the middle of conflict, if you will, “the heat of the moment”, but this is where God is where God has chosen to work in our lives. The following story told by Tim Harrison helps to illustrate this.

“The story is told of a group of women that met for Bible study. While studying in the book of Malachi, chapter three, they came across verse three which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This verse puzzled the women and they wondered how this statement applied to the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out more about the process of refining silver, and to get back to the group at their next Bible study.

The following week, the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him while at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined. The man answered yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy–when I see my image in it.”

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

I have for some time now been determined to do things my way. Even when things got worse, I have doubled down to see it through. Please help me to realize that crises in my life are design to destroy the imperfect thoughts, ways, and habits. I desire to be like You. Give me the courage to not just endure the fire, but be refined by it. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sermon Connection

CHRISTIAN CITIZEN

Which Kingdom Do You Serve?

Everyone must submit to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2 (HCSB)

In our country, we are taught to have a high threshold of toleration for any and everything. However, in the midst of that teaching, we have forgotten the lessons of history. The flag ceremony I shared yesterday, reminds us from whence we have come and hopefully give us the courage to take a stand on the principles upon which it is built. My fear is that we are slowly forgetting those principles and moreover, the One who gave them.  Our hope, that is to say our future, is built on nothing less that Jesus Christ and His righteousness. If we follow Him, we must expect trials and tribulations along the way. Going along to get along is not an option. The following is a story adapted from a sermon Bob Joyce preached entitled “What’s Your Story” and reminds us of what can happen when we forget.

“A thirty-four-year-old German woman named Anna Rosmus recently told the tragic story of what happened in her hometown in Germany during World War II. Speaking at Carson-Newman College in Tennessee, she told of growing up in Passau, Germany, years after the war. As a teenager, she wrote a school essay about the postcard beauty of her hometown. The town is located near the Austrian border in Bavaria. The essay won her a national award.

The following year, on a similar school project, Anna decided to write about her hometown during World War II. She wanted to write about the stories she had heard about how bravely her town resisted the Nazis, fought against them, and rejected the political machine of Hitler.

What she discovered shocked her and the world. She found in old newspaper clippings that not only did many people in her town sympathize with the Nazis, but they actively worked and collaborated with them. She later found that eight slave labor camps were begun in and around her hometown. The camps were used by the Nazis to work Jewish prisoners to death. Instead of using gas, the Nazis killed thousands by working and starving them. Prisoners were forced to dig their own graves.

Then she learned something even more horrible. As American soldiers were entering her town on May 2, 1945, many of the townspeople were pouring gasoline on defenseless Russian Jews, strapping them to railroad tracks, and setting them on fire.

What were the churches doing during this time? Anna Rosmus stated that the swastika was on daily display in the churches in her town. The churches obeyed and supported the Nazi movement because of the biblical teaching that all authority is given from God and must be obeyed (Romans 13:1-2).

By wrapping itself in the German flag, the church lost its prophetic voice and its soul. It failed to read Revelation 13, which exhorts believers to resist governments which become evil and satanic. Civil religion …. the marriage of church and state …. always makes the church a loser.”

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

I love my homeland because I have experienced the freedom to worship and live in a Christian land. Help me always to worship You instead of what You have created. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sermon Connection

CHRISTIAN CITIZEN

Get Involved

Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace and order, it’s God’s order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you’re irresponsible to the state, then you’re irresponsible with God, and God will hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you’re trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear. Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible citizen and you’ll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage. But if you’re breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren’t there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping order, and he uses them to do it. That’s why you must live responsibly—not just to avoid punishment but also because it’s the right way to live.  That’s also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders. Romans 13:1-7 (MSG)

Have you ever witnessed an event that has left you wondering why somebody does not do something? We have probably all seen something that has evoke that kind of response. However, the question should not be why “somebody” doesn’t do something but rather what can I do?

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, “Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing out of the way. What an inconvenience!”

Finally, a man came along and, seeing the boulder, took a branch from a tree and pried the boulder enough to get it rolling and rolled it off to the side of the road. Lying underneath the rock, he found a small bag with a note. The man picked up the note and read it. It read as follows:

“Thank you for being a true servant of the kingdom. Many have passed this way and complained because of the state of the problem and spoken of what ought to be done. But you have taken the responsibility upon yourself to serve the kingdom instead. You are the type of citizen of which we need more. Please accept this bag of gold for your service. Traveler after traveler have walked by simply because they didn’t care enough about the kingdom to serve.”

I wonder what “bags of gold” we are missing each day, simply because we don’t bother to get involved.  If our nation was filled with citizens that were involved as much as we are, what would our nation look like? Could it be that what we see in the world today is a reflection of our own involvement?

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

Help me to be sensitive to your leading in this world. I know there are many things that happen each day where your servants could make a difference. Help me to be one of them. In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Sermon Connection

CHRISTIAN CITIZENSHIP

A Sacred Trust

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Romans 13:1-2 (NASB)

Our citizens pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. The phrase “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all” is an idea that has given birth to the greatest nation on the face of the earth. However, it is not just a phrase. It is the cornerstone upon which our nations is built. Liberty and justice are rights for which the vast majority of people around the world long and we have inherited them. However, like so many, inheritance is usually taken for granted.

The founding fathers of this great land new the price for freedom was extremely high. So many willingly gave their life for a cause that no one up until that time had ever experienced. They believed God, the Creator of all that is, endowed every person with inalienable rights. This was their sacred trust!

Our first president George Washington, appealed to God while he was in office praying (I wonder what he would think today knowing praying in government facilities is forbidden?):

“Almighty God; We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United states at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

James Madison, the primary author of the Constitution of the United States, said this: ’”We have staked the whole future of our new nation NOT upon the power of government; far from it. We have staked the future of all our political constitutions upon the capacity of each of ourselves to govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.”’

Our sacred trust is that we have been given for what so many long: the opportunity to rule ourselves! However, our liberties and our expectation for justice will not last unless we realize that this form of government was created and will work only when we recognize the God from whom these blessing flow. We must, as its citizens, pick up the mantle of responsibility with sound moral judgment and engage our world.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for taking for granted these most precious gifts. Help me to engage my culture by participating in electing the people who will govern us. Give me the discernment to elect morally upright people that fear You. And please bless the USA. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Sermon Connection

CHRISTIAN CITIZEN

One Nation Under God

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. Romans 13:1-2 (NASB)

I attended a funeral the other day where the person being memorialized was given military honors. I have always been moved by such services. I like the ceremony because it is packed with meaning. If we take the time to look, we can trace the roots of such meaning. In this case, it gives clear evidence of God and our responsibility as Christians. This flag folding ceremony was taken from the US Air Force Academy.

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered in to the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on mother’s day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to father, for he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God we Trust.”

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for the rich heritage of our country. May we be responsible with this precious gift as we pass it down to those who follow always keeping faith in You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

SERMONS

There have been times when “deferred gratification” has been likened to sacrifice. Deferred gratification is the ability to wait in order to obtain something that one wants. It is the same process we use when we save our money to buy something that we really want. We put off the simpler things like eating out so we can save money to buy the more expensive items later. Dave Ramsey says, “Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later.” It is a great concept, but it does not compare to sacrifice that our Lord taught.

 

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Sermon Connection

SACRIFICE

Cost and Sacrifice

Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 (HCSB)

When I read Luke 9:23, it seems at first to be extremely hard to do. And I must confess it is at times. I mean, think about it. Jesus is saying, that whoever follows Him must live a life of self-denial and carry around your own instrument of death in the process. This is not the way to win friends and influence enemies. However, it is the way to have fully devoted followers committed even unto death.

Have you ever want to do something so much that you that you radically change your life to accomplish the task. This is what Christians are called to do when Christ says “Follow Me”. For the sake of illustration, looking at athletes might help. Paul J. Meyer wrote in Unlocking Your Legacy:

“Cost and self-sacrifice do not make something hard. Nobody feels sorry for the athlete who wins an Olympic medal, even though the person paid an incredible price through grueling effort behind the scenes, denying himself or herself certain things, probably for several years, all for one hopeful brief moment of glory. The medal, once attained, minimizes every cost and self-sacrifice.”

Meyer continues, “Following God is similar in many respects. There are costs and self-sacrifice to be made, but that does not mean it is hard to follow God. Hard is when you compete but never win, invest but lose everything, work but receive nothing for your efforts, and show love but receive hate in return…. When I compare my costs and self-sacrifices with what I have already received and will receive in return, my costs and self-sacrifices are insignificant!”

The Apostle Paul wrote confidently in 2 Timothy 4:7 saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He was faithful in following Jesus. He further states “There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8 (HCSB) Paul did not focus on the hardships, but the cross. In the end, he will not wear the struggles, but the crown.

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord,

Help me to focus only on the very next step I need to take in following you. Help me not to dwell on the past nor look to far ahead. Please help me to be sensitive to Your leading. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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