Thankoffering Day.
The congregation has been encoraged to give no only through money but also through the sharing of their talents: songs they have wrote, dramas, poems or any other means.
Call to Worship
Ephesians 5: 2-
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Song: Rejoice the Lord is King
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Sarah's song - Sarah on Guitar.. Simon and Sarah
Notices and Offering
Ste song
Drama: Bo and Natasha
Bible Readings Mat 10: 24-32
Keith's song - Keith on Guitar
(Flower Give thanks)
Reasons to be thankful
We tell people when we are thankful
Speak gratitude
Disciples had much to be thankful for - wanted to share this
Pick up Mat 10 where we left off last week - Jesus sending out 12
Tells them to go out with mutuality, confidence, and integrity
(Hands - Mutuality)
v24 Student is not above teacher
slave not above master
It is enough to be like your teacher / master
Jesus builds them up - tells them they are to be like himself
They have been his students, now they are to represent him; to be like him.
Yet they are not above him, nor are they above those to whom they go. There is to be mutuality - to meet people on common ground; level playing field.
Illus: MPH picture from the Guardian
White and black hand
Africa is not an empty basket that the affluent West will fill, but a rich land who we can learn from as we see them released into freedom
There is to be the mark of the one we follow in the disciples
V25
Those who follow inherit and display the characteristics
We are to be like Christ
(pic - Self-confidence)
v26 do not be afraid of them
When Jesus sent out the 12, he sent them out with confidence.
They'd been with Jesus for some time. (Look back at earlier chapters of Matthew, if this is an ordered account)
They had already witnessed the healing of a man with leprosy, the calming of the storm, the healing of the demoniac and the dead girl brought back to life among others.
They had heard teachings, amazing teachings on divorce, murder, revenge, love,
and now after all this they were to go and tell others what they had seen and heard.
Can you see why they had so much to be thankful for?
Yet despite all this Jesus knew they were afraid and says to them "do not be afraid of them"
While away this week I have been reminded again that we are a missionary church and each Christian is a missionary Christian.
Earlier this month at Church council we were discussing outreach. How do we at church share the goodness for which we are thankful?
How have we done it in the past?
How can we do it better today?
There was a feeling in the room that we could do more - but what we need to do is still a matter of prayer.
We need to know something of the good news the disciples knew before we can share with confidence and hope
The main problem with the church today is what is commonly termed 'the theology of indifference'. It is sad to say, but we are a long way removed from the disciples whom Jesus sent out.
Removed in geography, history, personal experience.
If we witness something first hand, there is something exciting in telling others what we have seen and heard.
If our parents share their stories with us, again there is a sense of ownership and we still share something of the excitement of the story.
Yet the further we are removed from the story, the less connected we become.
The less energised, enthusiastic and concerned we are. Hence the theology of indifference.
I think I have said before one of the great questions the preacher should ask of the sermon is., "so what?" So what if Jesus sent out 12 blokes 2,000 years ago? So what for me today?
Why does my congregation need to know this? How will it impact your life?
But let me repeat again that we are involved with a missionary faith. One of the great missionary faiths of our day. And each Christian is on the front life of mission with a truth to share of a life changing gospel that makes an impact today.
Is that right? Do you believe it?
If yes, then the big question is, "how do we do this?"
Read v 24
There is nothing concealed….
pic: Integrity
Roy Searle, president of BU, says "what people require today is authenticity over relevance." The world is looking for us to be real, authentic, genuine, people of integrity.
Jesus hates double standards; double-mindedness, insincerity, deviousness, dishonesty, half-heartedness. Again and again we see evidence of this in the early chapters of Matthew
Examples - good trees not bearing good fruit; people hiding lights under bowls, wolves in sheep's clothing, men serving two masters
Jesus' strong teaching against hypocrisy urged people to be completely sincere. Jesus sends out his disciples 2,000 years ago and sends us out today to be people who live honestly, vulnerably, authentically and openly. For the truth is seen when we do. God is glorified when we do.
If we want to see people touched by the good news of Jesus, we need to live in a way that demonstrates our faith. They will get it. They will see God this way. They will get it… but they may not like it
V28
God is to be honoured. God is with us.
V28 is not a threat.
Jesus rather stresses the urgency that they share their faith with those who have no hope.
"Destroy the soul and body in hell!"
But do we in Leytonstone believe in Hell in 2005?
Luther: "without a healthy understanding of the devil and hell, you will have no desire to share Jesus in heaven"
Do we lack a healthy understanding of hell?
Many people are locked in to the medieval understanding of eternal punishment, as portrayed in renaissance art. But surely Hell is alienation from the love of God
God's desire is that we know and share His love with faithfulness, integrity and honesty. These things matter. These things count for eternity.
So Christ sends out the 12 with these words in their ears:
V29
Pic - Sparrow
They have already considered the birds of the air. And again Jesus points them to their feathered friends. Note this: Great theology is found not just by studying great books, but by watching the birds.
Illus: My story: the Yardley Wood sparrow
It is God's desire to cherish us and to challenge us; to keep us safe in his love and to send us out with his love. To bless us and to bless others through us.
On this thankoffering Day we have an opportunity to give of our finance.
This morning we have been grateful to give of our talents
Excellent we are so blessed
Now we are challenged to give of our all as we go out to share the good news of Jesus did, with mutuality, confidence and integrity.
Today, tomorrow and for the rest of our lives. Amen
Joy possible interlude on the flute. (Children join us)
Thankoffering received.
Norman's Song.
Psalm 50 - children bring their talents.
150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, (Adam)
praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, (Ribbons)
praise him with string instruments (Mariella)
praise Him on the flute, (Esther)
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, (clap)
praise him with resounding cymbals. (double clap)
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
We believe in God who made the world, who loves it and laughs at it. Who created human beings each to be different and asked them to get on with each other; who took the risk of leaving us alone knowing that one day our differences might threaten the earth’s safety; who trusts us in full knowledge of our frailness.
We believe in Jesus Christ, who came among us insignificantly, who grew among us uneventfully, who walked among us incognito; who, to change the world, became redundant and called others to stay away from security; who befriended those whose company would discredit him; who pardoned those who deserved to be condemned; who healed those who were hopeless cases; who spoke the deepest truths in the language of the living room; who contradicted common sense by accepting the cross and taking on the grave and being liberated to love on the third day; who calls us, now as then, to a life which is absurd, by the standards of the world.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, through whom God surprises, disappoints, cajoles and questions us; who is the bringer of strength and source of humour; who leads us to discover the truth we avoid; who is a paradox, ever present yet unpredictable.
And we believe that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of the world; and we rejoice that God has made it so.
This is the table of the Lord.
It is made ready for those who love him and who want to love him more.
So come, you who have much faith, and you who have little.
You who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time.
You who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come.
It is Christ who invites us to meet him here.
Let us share the story of how this sacrament began
On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, he sat at supper with his disciples. While they were eating, he took bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave it to them with the words, “This is my body. It is broken for you. Do this to remember me.” Later on he took the wine, poured it out and gave it to them saying, “This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Drink from it, all of you, to remember me.
So now, following Jesus’ example and command, we take this bread and wine, the ordinary things of the world through which God will bless us.
On the plate with the bread are some grapes – these are particularly for the children who do not yet take the bread and wine, but available to whoever wishes to partake. This isn’t a second rate communion, for the grape is a vital part of the life of the vine, just as our children our a vital part of church life. The grape – not yet trodden down by the feet of those who would seek to make it into something else; not fully matured, but full of potential and possibilities. I would invite you to take two grapes – one to eat immediately, and the other to eat when we drink the wine as a park of our unity in Christ.
And as Jesus offered thanks, let us also celebrate God’s goodness.
Send down your Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus Christ, on us and on these gifts of bread and wine that they may become for us your body, healing, forgiving and making whole; and that we may become, for you, your body, loving and caring in the world until your kingdom comes. Amen.
Jesus said do not share at this table whilst you have a problem with your brother, rather put it right first, and then share this bread and wine. Let us freely reach out to each other and share Gods peace with each other. The peace of Christ be with you.
The body of Christ is given for you (bread is broken and shared)
The blood of Christ is given for you (the cup is lifted up)
Wine is shared - Let us drink and be thankful.
At this table of joy and suffering where you, our God, give life and hope, we pray for all that concerns us.
Let us offer our prayers both spoken and unspoken
Merciful God, forgive us when we exclude people such as those whom Jesus calls blessed.
Open our hearts and our hands to reach out and to risk loving and serving
those who suffer, and are hurting and exploited in our society. As disciples
of Christ and rooted in him, we pray that the fruit of the Holy Spirit -
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - may be borne in abundance in our lives and actively shared with neighbours with needs. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen
Amen
Closing Hymn: Father, Lord of all creation
Go into this week
blessed by the overwhelming goodness of God
blessed by the inclusive love of Jesus Christ
blessed by the limitless growth of the Holy Spirit