This week we talked about the ever popular topic of Tithing, as a continuation of our summer of "All Request Sermons". Our scripture lessons of Mark 12:41-44 and especially Malachi 3:8-12 heavily influenced our conversation in which I tried to point out why sincere Christians should tithe.
First we defined "tithe" as ten percent of one's income. Not ten percent of what's left over after bills, or ten percent of what's left from going out to dinner the night before, but ten percent of what you bring in financially, from the top.
Next I spent some time talking about several of the thoughts I had about how to convince people that tithing is something they should do. The list runs something like this:
A) Mention that tithing is a key indicator of spiritual maturity
B) Present the sad reality that 20% of the people contribute a whopping 80% of any given church's income!
C) Demonstrate that given the average household income in the area ($50,000/year) and the approximate number of households in our two congregations (15-20 McDonough, 35-40 Oxford) that our annual incomes from Sunday offerings should FAR exceed our actual budgets if everyone were to tithe ($100,000 dollars income for McDonough, and up to $200,000 for Oxford).
** Here I would like to point out something I left out in both churches. Imagine if even half of the people in our congregations tithed. Imagine what kind of money problems we'd have then. Namely, we'd be asking ourselves what should we do with this EXTRA money, instead of where are we going to get the money to pay our bills! This would mean that our congregations could be involved in just about any mission or ministry we wanted and have a real impact. No longer would we be known for our buildings, but for the ministry that flows out from those buildings. Tithing is not about paying bills, but about enabling faith communities/congregations to engage in real and meaningful ministry instead of spending all their time and energy merely surviving! **
D) Use my own personal experience of tithing even when I was left with $200/month to pay for food, gas and utilities for me, my wife, and our oldest daughter, with another child on the way. Part of this experience was God never letting us down, and always providing for us in one way or another.
E) Finally I settled on turning back to the passage from Malachi and it's challenge to "put me (God) to the test" give our tithe and "see if I (God) will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing." [Malachi 3:10] After I had brought us back to this passage I acknowledged that the only way anyone can be truly convinced of anything is to try it for him or herself. So again I will say to you, test God on this, give him your tithe and see if he does not bless you. See if God is not faithful to his promise to provide for you and care for your needs. Unless you've personally taken the step in faith, unless you experience God's providence for yourself, you will never be convinced and your faith will forever remain merely a concept, an idea, simply a theory!
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Annual Conference and Niagara Falls
So the Martin family went to Niagara Falls June 2nd-4th. It was our mini-family vacation which followed Annual Conference. If you are unfamiliar, Annual Conference is a yearly meeting where each church/charge from within our Conference (the Wyoming Conference) sends their pastor as well as at least one lay person for a weekend filled with meetings, worship, legislation, fellowship, spiritual workshops, and much more. This time of conferencing with other area United Methodists also proves to be a good time to learn more about the nature and direction of our greater church. Annual Conference is open to all, and each church can even send youth and young adults for a reduced price of only $10 (room and board included). For the youth there are several fun activities planned including parties, concerts, and dancing..jpg)
Enough of Annual Conference Commercials, back to our family vacation, where we saw the mighty waterfalls, rode the Maid of the Mist (where both girls spent the whole time crying) and got soaked, went to Canada, and even had a Jacuzzi in our hotel room!
We had a great time, and hope next time to actually bring proper identification for ourselves and the girls (ie birth certificates/passports) so the Canadian authorities don't threaten to take our children away from us! If you are curious, just ask, we'll be glad to tell you the wonderfully entertaining story, although at the time it was truly terrifying. Other than that minor mishap, our vacation was great, and was filled with many fun memories and great photo opportunities!
Monday, June 16, 2008
June 15th Sermon Capsule
So this week, I was supposed to be answering the question about whether or not animals go to heaven. It was a question from the congregation as a part of our "Summer of All Request Sermons". I did my homework, found pertinent scriptures and was ready to go, when while praying Saturday night, I was struck with the phrase "not doing, but being". Well this certainly put a kink in my plans, but I quickly found myself thinking of Luke 10:38-42 (the story of Jesus' visit to Mary and Martha).
My new sermon focussed on the fact that Martha was so caught up in doing that she was missing just being with Jesus, while Mary chose to merely be with Jesus. The story then shows Martha complaining about this, but Jesus telling her that Mary has chosen the better thing. I pointed out that many of us are so busy doing that we miss out on just being, with God, with our families, with our friends, etc.
I further challenged the men, especially on father's day, especially in a culture that so values hard work and providing for our families, to not miss out on the opportunities to be dads, husbands, friends, etc. because they are too busy doing. The ironic part of this reality, is that if you asked many men, why they are so busy doing, they would tell you it's for their families, but if you asked those same families what they wanted most from these men, the families would say they just want their husbands/fathers/sons being with them.
In case you were curious about my original sermon, the answer was neither "yes" nor "no", since I could find no place in scripture that supported either stance explicitly. Instead I pointed to several places in scripture where there is a concern for the whole of creation including the redemption and renewal of all of creation, and said that at the least it could be implied that God loves and cares for creation very much. I also pointed to Mark 16:14-15 where Jesus instructs the eleven to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." (v. 15, NRSV) Such an instruction would at least imply the possibility that animals also need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
So go on believing Lucy, Lucky, Max, and Sophia will be in heaven with you, and also make time to just be instead of always getting caught up in doing.
My new sermon focussed on the fact that Martha was so caught up in doing that she was missing just being with Jesus, while Mary chose to merely be with Jesus. The story then shows Martha complaining about this, but Jesus telling her that Mary has chosen the better thing. I pointed out that many of us are so busy doing that we miss out on just being, with God, with our families, with our friends, etc.
I further challenged the men, especially on father's day, especially in a culture that so values hard work and providing for our families, to not miss out on the opportunities to be dads, husbands, friends, etc. because they are too busy doing. The ironic part of this reality, is that if you asked many men, why they are so busy doing, they would tell you it's for their families, but if you asked those same families what they wanted most from these men, the families would say they just want their husbands/fathers/sons being with them.
In case you were curious about my original sermon, the answer was neither "yes" nor "no", since I could find no place in scripture that supported either stance explicitly. Instead I pointed to several places in scripture where there is a concern for the whole of creation including the redemption and renewal of all of creation, and said that at the least it could be implied that God loves and cares for creation very much. I also pointed to Mark 16:14-15 where Jesus instructs the eleven to "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation." (v. 15, NRSV) Such an instruction would at least imply the possibility that animals also need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.
So go on believing Lucy, Lucky, Max, and Sophia will be in heaven with you, and also make time to just be instead of always getting caught up in doing.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
June 8th Sermon Capsule
This past Sunday we discussed the polarizing issue of homosexuality. My sermon began with the assumption that the Bible is authoritative for our lives, meaning that our lives should be lived according to Scripture. I mentioned that this assumption is not shared by everyone and therefore what follows might not be shared by all.
After introducing this initial assumption, I discussed two biblical texts that point to homosexuality as a sin (1 Timothy 1:3-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). My second point drew from the same scriptures and stated that homosexuality is a sin like any other sin, no better or no worse. I compared homosexuality to lying, gossiping, and breaking a promise (all mentioned within the lists of sins from the two texts, alongside homosexuality). Finally I pointed out that if God's grace is sufficient to forgive us from our sins, then it is likewise sufficient to forgive a person of homosexuality or any other sin for that matter.
My sermon concluded with some application of these points, including my belief on the subject of homosexual persons attending church and becoming members. As far as attending church is concerned I pointed out that in the 1 Timothy passage the author asserts that Jesus Christ came to save sinners (v.15), and so if we consider someone a sinner then a place where they could encounter Christ is the BEST place for them. In respect to homosexuals becoming members of United Methodist Churches (or any churches) I reminded everyone that we are all sinners, and that part of joining the church is repenting of sin and accepting the forgiveness and freedom from sin offered to us through Jesus Christ. With this in mind, as long as a person is willing to repent of their sin, it is quite appropriate for them to join the church.
This topic is indeed controversial, and fraught with potential pitfalls for well meaning Christians from all sides of the issue, but what I tried to present was a view that does not deny the reality of sin, but also does not limit God's grace from forgiving that sin (whatever it may be). Feel free to post and even express your disagreement, I certainly encouraged that throughout my sermon this Sunday.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
After introducing this initial assumption, I discussed two biblical texts that point to homosexuality as a sin (1 Timothy 1:3-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). My second point drew from the same scriptures and stated that homosexuality is a sin like any other sin, no better or no worse. I compared homosexuality to lying, gossiping, and breaking a promise (all mentioned within the lists of sins from the two texts, alongside homosexuality). Finally I pointed out that if God's grace is sufficient to forgive us from our sins, then it is likewise sufficient to forgive a person of homosexuality or any other sin for that matter.
My sermon concluded with some application of these points, including my belief on the subject of homosexual persons attending church and becoming members. As far as attending church is concerned I pointed out that in the 1 Timothy passage the author asserts that Jesus Christ came to save sinners (v.15), and so if we consider someone a sinner then a place where they could encounter Christ is the BEST place for them. In respect to homosexuals becoming members of United Methodist Churches (or any churches) I reminded everyone that we are all sinners, and that part of joining the church is repenting of sin and accepting the forgiveness and freedom from sin offered to us through Jesus Christ. With this in mind, as long as a person is willing to repent of their sin, it is quite appropriate for them to join the church.
This topic is indeed controversial, and fraught with potential pitfalls for well meaning Christians from all sides of the issue, but what I tried to present was a view that does not deny the reality of sin, but also does not limit God's grace from forgiving that sin (whatever it may be). Feel free to post and even express your disagreement, I certainly encouraged that throughout my sermon this Sunday.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor John
Welcome
If you're reading this, you've found the blog for the Oxford & McDonough United Methodist Churches. The current pastor of the two congregations, John Martin, will be updating this blog with Sunday sermon capsules, information about upcoming events, and anything else that he feels might be important or interesting for any and all who read the blog.
Please feel free to submit questions to Pastor John, either by posting them on this blog, e-mailing him at Phlppns121@hotmail.com, or by contacting him personally. He will then reply to your questions on this blog or in person, depending on the nature of your question.
We hope you enjoy the blog, our churches newly updated and reformatted website (http://www.gbgm-umc.org/oxfordnyumc/Welcome.html), and our worship services.
Please feel free to submit questions to Pastor John, either by posting them on this blog, e-mailing him at Phlppns121@hotmail.com, or by contacting him personally. He will then reply to your questions on this blog or in person, depending on the nature of your question.
We hope you enjoy the blog, our churches newly updated and reformatted website (http://www.gbgm-umc.org/oxfordnyumc/Welcome.html), and our worship services.
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