7-23-17 Tent Camping…with Jesus!

10 pics 01-10 / 3 seconds each (transition from song to preaching as I walk to the platform)

Scripture:      2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Who has ever been tent camping?

As a kid, we used to tent camp at Kelly’s Island with my dad.

As a youth, I tent camped a few times.

As an adult, I have not done tent camping much. When I was a youth pastor in Kansas City we went tent camping in the Ozark mountains – it was so cold Kim stayed in the van.

Camping in a tent can be miserable – or it can be wonderful…it brings you closer to nature, and closer…literally to your family or friends.

It seems God enjoyed tent camping and that style of camping (not like todays’ popular glamping which is glamorous/camping), but the simplicity of a tent is where God seems to relate to us. It is also a perfect way for understanding our theme text:

Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets

at many times and in various ways,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son,

whom he appointed heir of all things,

and through whom he made the universe.

The Son is the radiance of God's glory

and the exact representation of his being,

sustaining all things by his powerful word.     

          The omni-present or Everywhere present God – came to a specific people/person (Jews/Moses), at a specific time (Over 3400 years ago), in a specific place (foot of Mt. Sanai = Gulf of Suez & Aquaba)…a tent.

          Before there was a formal Tabernacle – Moses had a simple tent where he met with God:

Exodus 33:7-11

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. (Ex 13:21-22 By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. [Pillar is designed to hold up a building – temple of God / Were these pillars man made or divine?]) Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Tents of Israel pic Notice that the people all lived in a tent – and God was showing that he came to them in a form that is understandable yet miraculous – a miracle pillar of fire and cloud but also residing in a tent even as they did.  As the community moved toward the promised land and had an understanding that God came to live among them – God instructed Moses to have them build Him a more permanent Sacred Tent called the “Tabernacle”. mishkan: dwelling place, tabernacle. 

RNM – the tabernacle video 3:00 minutes

          God was serious about “tabernacling” dwelling with the people in a way that was familiar to them – in a tent.  As the video said, this lasted until David – through his son Solomon, built the first more permanent Temple – designed very much like, and for the same purpose as the mobile tabernacle – it was a sacred tent made from stone, wood and gold instead of canvas. The pillar of smoke and fire were no longer present, but the shekinah glory of God still rested in the holy of holies.

          When the Babylonians destroyed the temple, Ezekiel describes it as the glory of the Lord leaving the scene (tent) and going back to heaven. The Greek word skenoo used in John 1:14 literally means “to pitch a tent.” In Greek, the word for tent is skene — which is the word from which we get our English word, scene. Early Greek actors used tents as changing booths for their performances; and eventually, when scenic backdrops were used for their plays, the same word was applied. Over time the word skene began to be applied to any scenic background, and hence the word scene has come down to us with that meaning.

This word skene (tent) is the very word used in the New Testament to refer to the tabernacle of God used by Israel in their early worship of God. In the Greek NT therefore, the word translated “tabernacle” is skene — “the tent” The writer of the book of Hebrews calls it “the true tent [skene] that the Lord set up” (Hebrews 8:2).

Hundreds of years later God returns to pitch his tent – this time not made with human hands but God himself in the flesh. John wrote that the glory of God had come back—this time in a new tent — in the body of Jesus Christ. “…and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father…” (John 1:14). God’s presence was bound by a little tent outside the camp to a larger tabernacle to the temple – all mere representations of the true tabernacle/tent – Jesus himself.

Now the Mt. of transfiguration makes sense – When Moses and Elijah appear to Peter James and John = Peter wants to build TENTS for them to stay in so they can worship them. However – a “cloud” appears and hides Moses, Elijah and Jesus form their view and God says: “This is my son, worship him” and the cloud is gone and only Jesus remains.

And what did Paul say? (who was BTW a...“tent” maker)  2 Cor 5:1-5  Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Spoke thru prophets in the past – now thru his son – the old tent / the new tent!

CONCLUSION

          We began talking about that first TENT where Moses met with God. Do you remember where it was located?  Exodus 33:7  Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting."

          Now we know that God has tented among us in Jesus – where do we meet Jesus?  Hebrews 13:11-14   The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

7-16-17 Is it time for a reboot?

Scripture:     John 21:15-19

TITLE SLIDE:

Does your PC not seem to run as well as it once did? Wait – you thought I meant Personal Computer – NO – Presence of Christ. Is the presence of Christ not what it once was? Are you like the first church mentioned in the book of Revelation – the church of Ephesus? Rev 2:2-5  I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

          You have gone to church for many years and you serve in several areas but you feel burnt out – spiritually lethargic – uninspired? Well, sounds like a case of a lost first love. We will come back to this text in a little bit to find a solution to our situation.

There are not a lot of examples in the NT of a reboot because it does not cover enough time, though there are some. The OT is full of reboots.  Adam and Eve sinned, they had to reboot in a new location outside of paradise. Cain killed able, God gave Adam and Eve Seth and other children. God hated how His creation was living and he killed them all except his Noah reboot team. God’s people were enslaved in Egypt and God gave them a reboot right through the Red sea across the Jordan River and into the Promised land. When the people offended God, He was always raising up a remnant to reboot the Hebrew people to be in right relationship with Him. While the Jews were in Exile, Jerusalem was in shambles and God used Nehemiah to reboot the city, and restore the word of God.

The best reboot example in the NT is Peter. As predicted by Jesus, he denied even knowing Jesus - 3 times. After the resurrection, during breakfast on the beach Jesus reboots a discouraged failed Simon Peter. John 21:15-19 (Not this text on a slide)

When they had finished eating,

Jesus: "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus: "Feed my lambs." "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"

Peter: "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus: "Take care of my sheep." "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter: (hurt Jesus asked him the third time) "Lord, you know all things; you know that I

            love you."

Jesus: "Feed my sheep. " (3 times denied – 3 times rebooted) Jesus accentuated the reboot by using the exact same two words he had used to call Jesus in the beginning): "Follow me!"

Sometimes long term Social Networks (relationships) need a reboot. The only way they get rebooted is when you do something different – not when you wait for someone else to do something different.

Computer Reboot may refer to any of the following:

A reboot is the process of restarting a working computer using hardware (e.g. a power button) instead of software. Rebooting is sometimes necessary after installing a software program, installing operating system updates, to recover from an error, or to re-initialize drivers or hardware devices.

A HARD reboot vs. a SOFT reboot

A reboot may be a cold or hard reboot, which means the power was physically shut off and then turned back on. It can also be a warm or soft reboot, which means the system restarted without loss of power.

Note: Users should only perform a hard reboot if the computer is completely frozen, as it may damage hardware components.

          Spiritually speaking we only need a hard reboot one time. God started us up and we used our own intelligence to determine how our life should be and we were not living by God’s way – we lived without faith in Christ. In that case, we need a complete shutdown to allow the bad stuff to go away (that is called forgiveness and cleansing). Then we are restarted or rebooted with everything aligned for a fresh start. To not get sluggish again this may require a change of friends, location, external situations.

Or maybe you are just a bit distant and need a soft reboot requiring a change of thoughts, attitudes and perspectives. This is the person in the church who has been a Christian for awhile and the Christian life has simply become routine. Church attendance, worship, financial giving, bible reading, prayer time, fellowship, are less than they were at first. Inviting people to New Life in Christ or even inviting people to church has taken a distant back seat. If any of those are true – it is time for a soft reboot – you don’t need unplugged or completed shut down, because your hardware is working fine – it is your software that needs rebooted – your thoughts, attitudes, perspective – it is time to regain your first love with the passion you had at first.

          Over time churches can get tired, lethargic and distant from God and may require a hard reboot (like FBC Jerome) or a soft reboot where some reorganization is needed.

          Every church will need some kind of reboot at least every 10 years, if not sooner.  10 years ago, Ashland Church rebooted by making a major change in location, and now we are ready for another reboot which is why we are going through the church Unique process. Insanity is to keep doing the same things in the same way and expect different results.

In his book "Crazy Love", Francis Chan put it this way: people who truly follow Jesus care about the Kingdom, live lives that connect with the poor, do things that don't make sense in terms of worldly success or wealth, will seek humility not recognition, take joy in loving people, will be known as givers, not takers, will orient their lives around eternity; and will be characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God.

Isn't choosing to be changed an absolute necessity of entering into God's Kingdom? Cardinal Newman once said: "to live is to change, and to live well is to change often." In other words, if we always do what we've always done, we will always get what we've always gotten.

The culture around us is not changing to make church growth and evangelism easy – in fact it is always working to make it harder. As the culture changes – our methods and systems and procedures must ALWAYS be changing founded on the unchanging Word of God and Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here!

3 REBOOT STORIES [FOCUS ON JESUS]

1               James & John (Salome) Sit at your right and left hand in heaven.

2               Peter walk on water

3               Thomas needs to see nail holes in Jesus’ hands

Jesus said (SLIDE) “Follow Me”

7-2-17 I Pledge Allegiance…

Scripture:       Psalm 139:14

Red Skelton’s Pledge of Allegiance / https://youtu.be/TZBTyTWOZCM

On July 4th, 1776, The United States declared its independence from Great Britain. Sometime after, once that declaration had been printed, 56 brave men signed that document known as "The Declaration of Independence" and pledged their allegiance to this new nation.

Do you have any idea what price these men paid?

* Five were captured and tortured by the British before they died.

* Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned to the ground.

* Two lost their sons in the war.

* One had two sons captured.

* Nine fought and died from wounds or the hardships of the war.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British navy. He sold his home to pay his debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKean was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in Congress without pay and he died a very poor man.

Thomas Nelson’s home was seized by the British at the Battle of Yorktown and used as a command post. He urged General George Washington to open fire on it. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

FREEDOM HAS ALWAYS EXACTED A PRICE.

We may stand out of respect for the flag, but we kneel in worship and adoration before the cross.

          For any president term of office – it is not a period, rather a comma. For the King who dies on the cross, it is not a comma and not a period; it IS and exclamation point!!!

Gal 4:1-7

What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Gal 4:21-23 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

WE ARE BORN OF ONE OF TWO WOMEN – Slave woman born the natural way (sin) or the Free woman born the Spirit (miracle) way (forgiven) Hagar/Ishmael and Sarah/Isaac

Gal 4:28-31   Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."  Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Do you remember what it says in Hebrews 1:1-3a

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.     

Gal 5:1-6 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

The free woman, and her husband and son learned that freedom would cost a price. (Abraham and Isaac – ram (lamb) caught in the thicket. The ram took Isaacs place. The ‘Lamb’ takes our place.

Stripped of clothes and all worldly possessions – he died between those who had broken the law///he died for those who had broken the law. He died to take the penalty for the law breakers. Not those like the thieves who broke civil laws – but for all mankind since Adam and Eve who broke the law of God. For everyone enslaved to sin – Jesus died in their place so they could be set from the guilt and penalty of sin knowing that trying to keep the law would never make us holy as God had designed, only the holy one on the cross – trusting in him – could ever make us holy – fit for eternal life – free from the sin that held us in slavery. Our shakles broken, our chains are gone. We are set free to live on and on as we now know where our allegiance lies – with the lamb of God who came to die.

Begin CD music: “I Pledge Allegiance”

Chorus opening

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant's throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

Now the years have come, and the years have gone
But the cause of Jesus still goes on
Now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the one who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame

I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

to the Lamb

06-25-17 MAKER FUN FACTORY Created by God - Built for a Purpose

Scripture:    Psalm 139:14

Did a brief sermonette as this was VBS Sunday.

Ps 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

6-18-17 Have a beer with Dad Or He knows my name!

Scripture:      Numbers 27:1-7

CHEERS VIDEO – thumb drive

When I was a kid and tried “Near Beer” non-alcoholic beer, it tasted what I would imagine urine would taste like. The first time I tried a “real beer” 3.2 alcohol content, I didn’t feel a lot different. Beer is an acquired taste. And there are not only many brands of beer, there are different types of beer: Ales, Lagers, Stouts, Porters, and Malts. Beer is big business: In 2015, the U.S. beer industry (sold) 207 million barrels of beer – equivalent to more than 2.8 billion cases of 24-12 ounce servings.

Why are we talking about beer? It could be just a clever ‘hook’ for a Father’s Day sermon, or it may suggest something a little more important. Remove the Baptist stigma of alcohol for just a moment and think about one of the more positive things about beer. It is often a part of socializing – especially with guys and therefore; Fathers. You might picture a father and grown son on a fishing trip drinking a few beers together. Or maybe you picture the old sit com “Cheers” with Cliff sitting on his bar stool, Sam behind the bar and in walks the next character and everyone greets him with one word: “Norm”. The social aspect says the place where I drink beer is the place where everyone knows my name.

I want to invite all Fathers, in fact all men and boys to enjoy a beer after the service together where we can get to know each other’s name a little better. A root beer that is…in fact a [PIC of Dads root beer] Dad’s Root Beer.

Getting to know people is difficult for many. We are often shy and not sure what to say and bad at remembering a person’s name. I was going to find a list of names from the bible that are difficult to say and even harder to remember and jokingly have you try to remember them – like:

SLIDES for each of the names in blue

Isaiah’s son?          Mahershalalhashbaz

The King of Mesopotamia?       Chushanrishathaim

Joseph’s Egyptian given name?           Zaphnathpaaneah

A king of Assyria?           Tilgathpilneser

A king of Babylon?         Berodachbaladan Berodach + father’s name Baladan

King Saul’s grandson taken care of by King David?           Mephibosheth

But I decided against doing something like trying to have remember or even know who those people are. So we won’t do what we just did. As I was looking for something like that I opened my bible to Numbers where I knew would be lists of names and I happened to open to chapter 27 – one which I had recently read. I could not believe…what one part of it said…related to today’s message.  Numbers 27:1-7  The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They approached the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said, “Our father died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together against the Lord, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. Why should our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property among our father's relatives.” So Moses brought their case before the Lord  and the Lord said to him, “What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their father's inheritance over to them.”

          This was a monumental step forward for women. But the importance is their passion to not allow their father’s name to disappear. Even if others forget – God ALWAYS knows my name! We can go back 5 generations and beyond that we have no idea who is responsible for our being here…but God knows their name. People 6 generations past us won’t remember who we are (although they will have even greater technology to see and hear us) but still, God will know our name. The bible confirms over and over that God almighty who created the Universe, knows you.

Isa 43:1     But now, this is what the Lord says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Ex 33:17     And the Lord said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."

Jer 1:5     "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Ps 139:1-6     O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. You hem me in — behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

John 10:14-15     "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”

It feels good when someone knows your name. It means you are valued enough to have them remember. Imagine how valued you are by God that he knows your name. But take caution, it is not enough that God knows your name, but that your name is written with the blood of Jesus in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 20:12-15     Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

          There is good news for those who claim the name of Jesus!

Lyrics “He Knows My Name”

I have a Maker / He formed my heart / Before even time began / My life was in his hands

He knows my name / He knows my every thought / He sees each tear that falls / And He hears me when I call

I have a Father / He calls me His own / He'll never leave me / No matter where I go

He knows my name / He knows my every thought / He sees each tear that falls / And He hears me when I call

          Not everyone had a good Father. But we all have the Father God who loves us through his son, even as Jesus is recorded saying from glory in the book of Revelation:

Rev 3:4-6     Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

CLICK LINK BELOW
NEW Cheers Video at end of Monday Message Recap

6-11-17 Growing up with the weeds!

Scripture:  Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

Can you imagine being the most beautiful, colorful, tastey, ripe, amazing, delicious fruit there is. But as you grow, you notice there are more and more weeds growing up around you. What should you do? They are blocking some of your sunshine, drinking up some of your water, using up some of your nutrients. What should you do? They are keeping your ‘fruit-ness’ from being noticed, they ‘ugly up’ your garden neighborhood. What should you do with those…well…those weeds? According to Webster’s dictionary a weed is: “a plant that is not valued where it is growing and is usually of vigorous growth; especially :  one that tends to overgrow or choke out more desirable plants.”

What should you do? Before you answer that, let me give you more background to your particular situation. There was a very loving, caring, creative gardener who picked you out among many to be the special fruit plant that you are. He planted you in the exact place, at the exact time, with the exact surroundings that were right for just you. Things were going so well at first. Your growth was amazing and people marveled at how beautiful you were. But then another gardener came along who despised ALL fruit, who wanted to do away with fruit but was prevented from burning the field or cutting the fruit down. So he got creative and when no one noticed he snuck into the garden under the cover of darkness and planted weed everywhere. In a very short time there was hardly a beautiful vibrant fruit that wasn’t now surrounded by ugly dense life threatening weeds.

          Having that additional information, what should you do? If it were me I would ask my wife to take care of it – she is the queen of weeding. She loves pulling weeds because she loves how beautiful it looks when the weeds are gone. You might ask the gardener to do something about it. You might pray about it.

SO, What Should You Do? WWJD = Ask What Would Jesus Do?

Matt 13:24-30; 36-43

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.  27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 "'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 29 "'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'"

It doesn’t sound like sound logical farming. Most of us would pull the weeds.  By the way. Who planted the weeds? “An enemy?” Yes, but not just AN enemy – it was “his” enemy – the enemy of the one who sowed the good seed. The land owner sowed good seed and His Enemy sowed the weed seed. Why would his enemy do that? Suppose for a moment that the enemy used to be a friend, or even an employee of the land owner. What if the employee thought too much of himself and started acting like he was the boss and eventually the land owner had to fire him. The kind of rage that can come from a fireing can be very intense and aggressive. I had to fire someone who came back that night with their spouse and wiped out all information on a computer and slandered me on the internet. So, it is possible in this story that the person became an enemy because he tried taking over the business and got fired and now he is out for revenge and retaliation.

It is awesome that Jesus teaches these things in parables. In fact, it says in verse 34-35 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."

Since we are not in the same culture and time as Jesus it would be awesome if he would sometimes explain his parables. Oh wait, you have to skip past the next few verses and he does just that. This is a Matthew Sandwich Cookie and we need to leave the cream center of the cookie alone for a moment.

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." 37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. (Jesus/God) 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. (Christians) The weeds are the sons of the evil one, (non-Christians) 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. (Satan) The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

          Who are thrown out to be burned? The weeds = the sons of the evil one. I was a son of the evil one, you were a son of the evil one – that changed when you invited Jesus to become your land owner and not allow Satan to feed you lies anymore exactly like he did to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. There are still many weeds in our surrounding garden. God leaves them there in hopes that those who bear fruit will show the weeds how they can be changed and become beautiful fruit bearing plants as well. As much as the weeds make our garden ugly and seem to impair our growth – we were once like them and a fruit bearing plant showed us how we could be changed – not how we could change but how the gardener – Jesus – could change us. Which is exactly why Matthew put the delicious cream in the center of his cookie for us to feast on.

Matthew Sandwich Cookie – The story & the meaning of the story outside and the cream filling has different but related stories.

31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."

33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."

          The outside of our cookie tells us the weeds and wheat will grow together – the cream center tells us that God’s kingdom will grow and grow and grow which happens everytime a weed becomes a stalk of wheat – a fruit bearing plant. We must do our part in showing the weeds the way – Jesus said only he is THE WAY!

6-4-17 Church Camp = Unplugged; but awesome Social Networks!

Scripture:  Ephesians 3:16-20 MSG

          Who would love a chance to spend some quality time with Jesus? Who would like to speak directly with Jesus and hear him speak to you?

Church helps us do that. Reading the Bible helps us do that. Prayer helps us do that. Spending time with other Christians helps us do that. I don’t know any experience in life that does all of that and more than when a person goes to church camp. It allows a young person to unplug. Yes unplug form electronics but I mean unplug from the pressures, anxietites and struggles of simply growing up. To take a few days for children to almost a week for youth and let the cares of home, work or school take a back seat and as the song says, Let Jesus take the wheel while you ride shotgun with Jesus.

American Baptist Churches in Ohio have a long history of making sure a church camp – get close to Jesus – experience is available for our young people.

FROM…Tar Hollow…TO Kirkwood, Judson Hills and Koinonia…

…NOW Koinonia and Kirkwood/Matthew 25 Ministries.

          Jesus had his own church camp experiences to get closer to God; His Father…

Age 12 in the temple discussing the bible and things about God.

Jesus would go to a solitary place to pray and get close to God the Father.

Jesus was always spending time with his 12 disciples to mentor them.

Church camps have great Christian mentors, teachers and role models.

          I encourage Ashland adults, to consider becoming a camp counselor. You will receive training and become part of a team. You don’t have to know the Bible inside and out, however, your bible knowledge will grow as you are a part of a camp team leading people younger than you. 1 Cor 11:1  Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Church camp will have campers from all walks of life. Kids from the suburbs and kids in high poverty areas go to church camp. Kids into sports and kids into music go to church camp.

          Students learn the bible at camp like with no other experience they will ever have unless they go to seminary – which is where preachers go to learn. Think about how good Vacation Bible School is where kids spend a few hours a day for 5 days focusing on God – imagine that for 6 days 24 hours a day / Here is why we want our children and youth to become passionate about reading and learning the bible: Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly”

Let’s here from some of those who have been campers, counselors, parents, camp pastors and camp directors.

Testimonies:

Gretchen – came to faith at bible missions conference

Dave & Nancy Harris – Camping & their children counseling

Gary – Love for the bible at camp

Joanne Scobie – Counseling and that daughter met husband at camp 50 years ago.

Nathan – Camper and Camp Pastor/Director and Prayer…connect to Jesus at camp.

Ephesians 3:16-20 MSG says exactly what we pray and believe can happen for campers and those who serve at camp:  I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit — not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength — that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.