Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Single-minded Devotion

Pastor Sherry’s message for September 21, 2025

Scriptures: Jer 8:-9:1; Ps 4; 1 Tim 2:1-7; Lk 16:1-13

Have you ever considered to what or to whom you might be single-mindedly devoted? To what in your life do you most give your attention and your effort? (1) Your spouse, focusing on his or her health and wellbeing? Charlie Kirk’s wife Ericka said recently that he asked her daily, “How can I serve you today?” He was a committed Christian but it also seems like he approached his marriage with a servant’s heart. (2) Your children or grandchildren? Are you fixated on their behavior, good or not so? Do you find yourself praying for their future spouse or for them to make wise decisions? (3) What about an aging parent? Are you absorbed with remembering their doctors’ appointments? Their medications? Their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing? (4) Or perhaps you are obsessed with your physical home? The repairs that are needed? Worried about worn out appliances or systems (roof, AC, heat, etc.) that should be replaced? Perhaps your pets take most of your attention (health, food, behavior.) This week I spent a significant time at the vets with a sick cat, so I know how that can happen. (6) Or maybe you are fixated on your work? Crops that demand harvesting now, or looming deadlines that demand your time and energy? Someone told me he had 4 deadlines to meet in 4 days this past week. It made for a very stressful few days. Frustrations with a boss that cannot be satisfied, miserable office mates, or work that has become boring and meaningless can all engross your time and mental effort.

Do you notice what I haven’t yet mentioned: Our God. Can we honestly say we have a single-minded focus on our Lord? This is the point of today’s seemingly “squirrely” Gospel (Luke 16:1-13). In it, Jesus tells the story of a dishonest but street-smart steward—let’s think of him as a manager of a “big box store” like Lowe’s or Home Depot. He’s supposed to be overseeing the condition and sale of the corporation’s goods, the dedication and performance of his employees, the satisfaction and safety of his customers, and the orderliness and cleanliness of the physical plant. But instead, corporate hears (probably due to a whistleblower) that he’s been dishonest and needs to be fired. The higher ups call him to task; his head’s on “the chopping block.” “Be prepared to endure an audit,” they say. “Be prepared to explain why you should not be fired immediately.”

This shrewd manager calls in customers whose accounts are in arrears, and offers them sweet deals. True, he’s tampering with the books—cheating the company–but says to one building contractor, “Here, I’ll cut what you owe Lowe’s in half.”  For another, he reduces the balance owed by 1/5th. Why the difference? Maybe one is his cousin or his brother-in-law, while the other is only a stranger. This is certainly a corrupt way to conduct business, but remember, the guy is a scoundrel! His single-minded devotion is to his own future! He’s hoping that when he is fired, these guys will remember him kindly and perhaps offer him a job. They may offer him a job not because he’s competent or honest, but because he did them a huge favor (quid pro quo).

Jesus is not commending him because he’s a model manager. The guy’s a crook who deserves to be fired! This parable is what is called a “parable of contrast”; by contrast, we don’t want to follow this guy’s immoral example. Think about the Rich Man, Lazarus, and the poor beggar, Dives (Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus never helped Dives while they both lived. Jesus says this Lazarus goes to hell but he wants Dives, who went to heaven, to go warn his living brothers of the dangers of being selg-focused and neglecting the poor. Jesus is saying, Don’t be like this Lazarus. Similarly with the fellow who goes to the king’s wedding but refuses to wear the wedding garments (Matthew 22:1-14). The king has already invited his friends, but they all give lame excuses not to attend. So, in anger, the king tells his servants to go out into the streets and bring in even strangers and the homeless. This random guy attends the wedding, but is not suitably attired, even though the king provided the appropriate clothing. The man is thrown out, losing heaven due to his ungrateful and rebellious spirit. Again, Jesus is saying, Don’t be like this guy!

Jesus does commend the unscrupulous manager due to his single-minded devotion—even though his focus is on himself and his personal economic security. Our Lord wants our focus to be single-mindedly on Him and on His Kingdom. We are to put Jesus first, daily, hourly.

I The other passages appointed for today help explain why our focus should be single-mindedly on Christ:

A. In Jeremiah 8:8-9:1, we find God about to punish the folks of the Southern Kingdom for not attending His prophet. Jeremiah weeps over Jerusalem and his countrymen. The Lord has allowed him to see into the future. He knows and describes the extreme devastation about to come. The Lord, too, is heartbroken that they are so hard-headed and so rebellious. Clearly there was enough balm or healing ointment in Gilead to heal them all; but they refused to humble themselves, ask God’s forgiveness, and accept His remedy. If they had remained faithful to the Lord, the Babylonians would not have been able to invade and subdue them. If they had single-mindedly focused on the Lord, they could have averted calamity and chastisement.

This brings me to an important aside: Do we really want to be healed? Sometimes—not always—it takes being submitted to God’s will, humbling ourselves, and also being repentant. It takes being willing to do whatever it takes. I remember a woman in seminary whose teen daughter was bedridden with an auto-immune disorder. She spent all she had chasing a cure for her child. She was actually single-mindedly focused on helping her daughter get well—to the exclusion of classes, assignments, and a fulltime job. She traveled to cities at some distance, whenever someone would say they knew of a doctor there or of an allergy specialist who had cured someone with similar symptoms. When one doctor at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh accused her of having Munchausen’s by Proxy—a condition where the parent makes the child sick so the parent can receive attention—the woman grew furious and told the medical fellow he was blaming her because he could not figure out what was wrong with her child. Finally, she heard of a doctor at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore who was researching teenaged autoimmune disorders. She took her adolescent there and they discerned the girl had all the classic symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Disorder, an illness little understood in the late 1990’s. Nevertheless, the girl and her mother finally had a diagnosis. It took another several years before the teen was healed, this time at a church in South Georgia who had a healing ministry. Are we willing to do all it takes to be healed? This woman was, for the sake of her child. 

B. In 1st Timothy 2:1-7, Paul tells us we must pray for our leaders and pray for our country. We are to pray for our leaders even if we didn’t vote for them; even if we don’t like or respect them; and even if we believe they are corrupt. Apparently there is an “assassination culture” gathering strength in our country today whose adherents believe that it is acceptable to kill those with whom we disagree politically. This should be abhorrent to us as Christians. We are not to kill our political adversaries. Paul insists we pray for those with whom we disagree. We ask God to help them see the Light (God’s Truth); we intercede for them; and we even give thanks for them.  

Paul goes on to say that he was chosen by Jesus to carry the message of Christ, as the Mediator between us and God the Father, to the Gentiles (the Lost at that time). We too are to carry the message that Jesus died to redeem sinners to those who don’t yet believe in Him. As he says in 2 Corinthians 5:18, we are Christ’s ambassadors, meant to join Him in this work of reconciliation. Without a doubt, Paul certainly served as a great example of single-minded devotion to Jesus.

C. Finally, in Psalm 4, David emphasizes for us the idea of God as redeemer and protector. In verse 1, he reveals that he is just like the rest of us—“His heart failed in the time of trouble.” (McGee, Psalms, Thomas Nelson, 1991, p.42.) It’s true, isn’t it? Like the Shrewd Steward, we often focus on “Woe is me” when we encounter trouble, instead of taking our trouble to the Lord and trusting Him to deal with it. In verses 2-3, David rebukes his enemies, and reassures himself that God will answer his earnest prayers. Further, in verses 4-5, he gives advice to the godly, those of us who love the Lord to not sin in our anger, and to trust in God. In the final three verses of the Psalm, he remembers God’s goodness to him, and that he can sleep well knowing the Lord keeps him safe.  David was, for the most part, single-minded in his devotion to God.

Let’s review the steps he recommends: (1) Recognize that our default is to lose heart when challenged with a crisis. (2) Reassure ourselves that God is for us, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). (3) Don’t proceed to sin, but trust in God. (4) Remember God’s goodness—you can rest in it.

This week, let’s try to follow his example and that of Paul. Lord, please give us hearts that are truly devoted to You. Amen!

©️2025 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Forgiveness: A Difficult Command

Pastor Sherry’s message for February 23, 2025

Scriptures: Gen 45:3-15; Ps 37:1-11, 39-40; 1 Cor 15:35-38, 42-50; Lk 6:27-38

Dr. Harry Ironside (1878-1951) was a gifted pastor who first served in the Salvation Army, then became the long term minister, and famous preacher, at the Moody Baptist Church in Chicago.  He told the following story:

On the Lord’s day a group of missionaries and believers in New Guinea were gathered together to observe the Lord’s Supper. After one young man sat down, a missionary recognized that a sudden tremor had passed through the young man’s body that indicated he was under a great nervous strain. Then in a moment all was quiet again. The missionary whispered, “What was it that troubled you?” “Ah,” he said, “But the man who just came in killed and ate the body of my father. And now he has come in to remember the Lord with us. At first I didn’t know whether I could endure it. But it is all right now. He is washed in the same precious blood.” And so together they had Communion. It is a marvelous thing, the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Does the world know anything of this?” 

(Borrowed from http://www.sermons.com, 2/20/25.)

I heard a similar story told by a man involved in Chuck Colson’s Prison Ministry.  He said a young fellow had killed this woman’s son, and was tried and sent to prison for the murder.  Some months later, she felt compelled—perhaps she had read this very Gospel account—to write to him and tell him she forgave him.  That’s extraordinary, isn’t it?  She send him 5 letters, and he returned each one to her unopened.  Finally, he responded to her following her 6th attempt to reach him. He was amazed that she would be willing to forgive him for his crime and wanted to know what compelled her to do so.  She wrote back, telling him about Jesus Christ.  They corresponded for a time and she led him to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.  They then decided to lead a Bible study in the prison, together, helping others come to a place of confession and forgiveness.  By several years after this, they had become such good friends that the woman asked to adopt the man who had killed her son.  He agreed.  This is the kind of extraordinary forgiveness that can only be accomplished by those who love Jesus and are inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Demonstrating forgiveness is difficult for any of us.  It’s easy enough to talk about, but very hard to practice.  I have said here before that it often feels like the emotional equivalent of curling your toe-nails backward.  We hope there is an easier way. I remember a Calvin and Hobbes cartoon from some years back in which the 6YO Calvin was telling his stuffed Tiger—who came to life when the two of them were alone—how bad he felt for calling a little girl names and hurting her feelings.  Hobbes was a very wise tiger and so he suggested that Calvin apologize to her.  Calvin thought about it for a moment then said, “I keep hoping there is a less obvious solution.”  Like Calvin, we just don’t want to experience the emotional pain of subduing our pride and admitting our fault.  In other words, we hate to humble ourselves, because forgiveness strikes at our pride.

Two of our passages today deal directly with the difficulty of forgiving another, or even ourselves. 

A. Jesus gives us His take on forgiveness in our Gospel lesson, Luke 6:22-38, , a continuation of His Sermon on the Plain.  Our Lord directs us to (v.27, NLT)—…love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.  Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.  This is really a difficult command, isn’t it?  At the least, would just like to avoid them forever.  But at our worst, we want to avenge ourselves.  The typical human response is to want revenge.  The young man in Dr. Ironside’s story had to forgive the cannibal who killed and ate his father–YIKES!  Forgiveness like this is truly beyond our human abilities.  It requires the supernatural assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Additionally, in verse 29, Jesus commands us to famously “turn the other cheek.”  J. Vernon McGee tells the story of an Irish prize fighter who was converted and became an itinerent pastor. 

“He happened to be in a new town setting up his evangelistic tent when a couple of tough thugs noticed what he was doing. Knowing nothing of his background, they made a few insulting remarks. The Irishman merely turned and looked at them. Pressing his luck, one of the bullies took a swing and struck a glancing blow on one side of the ex-boxer’s face. The former boxer shook it off and said nothing as he stuck out his jaw. The bully took another glancing blow on the other side. At that point the preacher swiftly took off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and announced, “The Lord gave me no further instructions,” Whop!” 

(As related by J. Vernon McGee in Charles Swindoll’s Tale of a Tardy Oxcart, 1998, p 214.)

Jesus later, in Matthew 18:22, tells Peter the trouble with forgiveness is that we are to forgive the same person not 7 times but 70 X 7—or an unlimited # of times.  He sums it up in today’s passage by charging us to (v.31)—Do to others as you would like them to do to you.  We are not to seek revenge or repay evil with evil.  Instead, we are called to treat everyone– even enemies– with love and mercy. 

Furthermore, He exhorts us just beyond this passage (vv.37-38)—Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For, with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

In A Forgiving God in an Unforgiving World, “Ron Lee Davis retells the true story of a priest in the Philippines, a much- loved man of God who carried the burden of a secret sin he had committed many years before. He had repented but still had no peace, no sense of God’s forgiveness.

In his parish was a woman who deeply loved God and who claimed to have visions in which she spoke with Christ and He with her. The priest, however, was skeptical. To test her he said, “The next time you speak with Christ, I want you to ask him what sin your priest committed while he was in seminary.” The woman agreed. A few days later the priest asked, “Well, did Christ visit you in your dreams?”
“Yes, he did,” she replied.
“And did you ask him what sin I committed in seminary?”
“Yes.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“He said, ‘I don’t remember'”


We all need to remember that whatever God forgives, He chooses to forget.  The God who knows everything—He is omniscient—choses to forget our sins when we confess them and ask for His forgiveness.  The poor priest was hanging onto to guilt that God had excused years ago. 

According to Jesus, we are blessed in the measure to which we bless others.  The trouble with un-forgiveness—even of ourselves–is that it blocks our ability to receive the blessings our Lord wants to give us, including healing.  Additionally, when we forgive others, and even ourselves, we experience a deep release of tension we might not even know we were holding in. 

B.  Jesus’ admonitions to forgive, not judge, and not condemn are so beautifully lived out by Old Testament Joseph (Genesis 45:3-15).  Recall that Joseph’s 10 brothers by other mothers had sold him into slavery (at age 17).  They fully expected him to die in Egypt. They then compounded their sin by lying to their father about Joseph’s supposed death, causing Jacob inordinate grief.   Joseph, after 14-15 years of slavery, correctly interprets Pharaoh’s dreams–Remember, 7 years of plentiful crops, followed by 7 years of devastating, region-wide famine. Two years into the famine, his 10 treacherous brothers arrive in Egypt to purchase food.

Unbeknownst to them, their lost brother Joseph has survived—by the design and grace of God—and is now second in command of all of Egypt  They fail to recognize him because he is clean shaven rather than bearded; dressed in Egyptian clothing, wig, and jewelry; 39 years old, 22 years older than when they last saw him; and speaking the Egyptian language while talking to them through an interpreter.

Now, with his brothers gathered around him in all his splendor as Prime Minister of Egypt, he sees/discerns/and reveals God’s purposes in the brothers’ crime against him.  At first, they can’t believe it is their brother.  Then they fear his retribution.  But in a truly Christ-like way, he reassures them, [The Message] (v.5+)—I am Joseph your brother whom you sold into Egypt.  But don’t feel badly, don’t blame yourselves for selling me.  God was behind it.  God sent me here ahead of you to save lives.  There has been a famine in the land now for two years; the famine will continue for five more years—neither plowing nor harvesting.  God sent me on ahead to pave the way and make sure there was a remnant in the land, to save your lives in an amazing act of deliverance.  So you see, it wasn’t you who sent me here but God.  He set me in place as a father to Pharaoh, put me in charge of his personal affairs, and made me ruler of all Egypt.  God uses Joseph to save his Father, his brothers, and his extended family (90 folks), as well  untold numbers of Egyptians and other gentiles in the region. 

Forgiveness, though difficult, is imperative.  Christ requires it of us.  Jesus modeled it for us, forgiving His murders from the Cross.  And He tells us in several places in Scripture that He forgives us to the degree we forgive others.  If we want God to forgive us, we need to be willing to forgive others.  Both OT Joseph and Jesus saw the blessings that flow to us from our forgiveness of others.

Finally, think about this story from the life of Martin Luther (1483-1546):

“In a dream, Martin Luther found himself being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of Luther’s sins, and held it before him. On reaching the end of the scroll Luther asked the devil, “Is that all?” “No,” came the reply, and a second scroll was thrust in front of him. Then, after a second came a third. But now the devil had no more. “You’ve forgotten something,” Luther exclaimed triumphantly. “Quickly write on each of them, ‘The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s son, cleanses us from all sins.'”

(Kurt Koch, Occult Bondage and Deliverance, Knegel Publishing, 1972, p. 10.)

Without a doubt, the main blessing is that God forgives us.  He covers our sins with the blood of Jesus Christ and he remembers them no more!  I attended a healing conference at the church of a friend of mine Friday night and Saturday morning.  The speaker said that not all illnesses are caused by forgiveness, but a great many are.  We tend not to think there could be spiritual roots to some diseases, but I have experienced for myself, as well as seen others healed when they made a list of all those they have not yet forgiven and pray forgiveness for them.  It’s a great practice!  Make a list of those you know you resent and need to forgive.  Then forgive them and watch and see what God does.

Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

©️2025 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

How to Love Well

Pastor Sherry’s message for December 29, 2024

Scriptures: 1 Sam 2:18-26; Ps 148; Col 3:12-17; Lk 2:41-52

I just went with my family to see the biopic movie on Bob Dylan, “A Complete Unknown.”  It was an excellent walk down memory lane as I realized how much his music and songwriting had impacted my life.  But his personal story was sad.  He felt so compelled to write music that his relationships suffered—he appeared to use people rather than to value them.  He also seemed to either suffer from OCD or to be somewhere on the Autism Spectrum.  And it was fairly clear that he had rejected God.  He is still alive, at 83.

How many of you have seen the movie, ”The Blind Side”?  This movie has been out a while and is also excellent (I liked it so much, I read the book).  But, unlike Dylan’s bio, it is a story of redemption!  A wealthy white woman, Leigh Anne Tuohy–a Christian, living in Memphis–takes in a poor, homeless, and very large African-American youth, Michael Oher.  Michael doesn’t really know his daddy.  His mother, with 9-10 neglected children, is on crack and in and out of jail.  So Michael had been sleeping on couches here and there, and overnighting in Laundromats and gymnasiums, before Leigh Anne invited him to live with her family.  The movie chronicles the Tuohys’ and Michael’s adjustments to each other, and how Michael is helped to catch up socially, academically, and athletically.  With the Tuohy’s help, Michael is able to graduate from a Christian High School, and become a superb offensive tackle who is highly recruited.  He goes on attend Ole Miss on a football scholarship, and in 2009, was a first round NFL draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens.

What I liked most about Michael Oher’s story is that it demonstates that the right kind of love can overcome allot of deficits, allot of obstacles.  Bob Dylan could have used this kind of love.  Though enormously talented, his life seems sad and lonely by comparison to that of Michael Oher.

I wish that were the end of the story.  Some time ago, however, I learned that Michael Oher had taken the Tuoeys to court.  They had claimed to have adopted him, but he later discovered they had not—they had instead made themselves trustees of the money he made.  What a disappointment!  It leads us to ask, “So does anyone love well?

I had to give this a lot of thought.  I believe two people who are great examples of folks who truly do love well are the characters in O Henry’s story, The gift of the Magi. Della and Jim are a poor, young married couple with no money for a Christmas gift for the other.  Jim has a gold watch handed down to him from his grandfather and his father.  Della has gorgeous long hair, down to her knees.  Jim sells his beloved watch to buy Della two jeweled hair combs, while Della sells her hair to buy Jim a gold chain for his watch.  They each gave away their most precious asset in order to fund a special gift for the other.  This, then, is a legitimate example of two people who love well.

Our God is a God of love; He has told us to love Him above all things and to love one another as well as we love ourselves. Fortunately, He hasn’t left us clueless about how to do this.  Let’s look at what our Scriptures have to say about how to love effectively, how to love well:

A. Psalm 148 tells us to love God above all things; all of heaven and all the earth’s creation is joined in loving praise of Him.  This is where it starts!  If we get the vertical relationship right [us to God], we know we are loved.  If we get the vertical relationship right, we can let go of trying to make others meet our needs for love.  If we get the vertical relationship right, God empowers us to love generously, to love extravagantly, while holding on to others loosely.  So, it all begins with loving God, praising Him, worshipping Him—like we are doing this morning.

B.  Our Old Testament lesson is from 1 Samue; 2:18-26.  IT tells the story of Hannah and her child, Samuel.  Hannah had been childless until she begged the Lord for a son, promising to place him in God’s service if God answered her prayer.  God does and the previously barren Hannah conceives Samuel [his name means, I asked the Lord for Him].  She keeps her promise and brings Samuel, when he is 3 years old (the age at which Hebrew children were weaned], to serve the Lord at Shiloh, where he will be mentored and trained by the Chief Priest, Eli.

Now this was indeed a risk as Eli had done a very poor job of raising his two sons, Hophni and Phineas.  As Samuel  was growing up, under Eli’s care, the word got around that Eli’s boys were hellions, evil and corrupt.  They helped themselves to the offerings at the altar, even before the Lord was given His portion—thus stealing from God.  YIKES!  They engaged in sexual liaisons with women who came to worship, fornicating in the Temple.  Double YIKES!  We don’t know why they were so bad—some scholars believe Eli may have been too indulgent with them.  By the time of our story today, God was fed up with them and had issued them the death penalty for their rotten behavior.

So Hannah has placed her beloved son among unsavory influences.  But she was a woman of prayer, so we can assume she prayed and prayed mightily for his safety, his intellectual growth, and his moral development.  Furthermore, she visited him when she could, bringing gifts, reminders that he was loved and remembered.  She gracefully models that she loves him enough not to thwart his destiny.  She wanted him to become who God meant him to be:  [1] The first prophet of Israel since Moses; [2] The best of the judges of Israel; [3] And the one who God sends to anoint Saul and David as kings over Israel.

Can we, like Hannah, love enough to take time to pray for our children and grandchildren🡪 asking God to provide for their safety and their physical, intellectual, and moral development?  Rather than determining we want a lawyer or a doctor, we need to look for where God has gifted our children and encourage them to live into their gifting—regardless of our preferences. It may be difficult and inconvenient to commit ourselves to this kind of love, but, as Samuel’s life indicates, it is certainly very effective.   

C.  Our New Testament lesson is drawn from  Colossians 3:12-17.  The Apostle Paul has come to the practical application of what it means to live out a Christian life:  it is to clothe ourselves with Christ, or to imitate Christ.  Eugene Peterson says it this way in his modern paraphrase of Scripture, The Message (p.2148)🡪…dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, [gentleness, patience, self-discipline], …and, regardless of what else you put on, wear love.  It’s your basic, all-purpose garment.  Never be without it!  To this list, Paul adds, be a person who forgives; take hold of God’s peace; demonstrate your appreciation to God for what you have; spend time in God’s Word, so that the wisdom/truth of Scripture is available to you; and encourage others.

I believe the O Henry characters, Jim and Della, live out these characteristics, but I didn’t see evidence of this in Bob Dylan.  It is possible to teach these values and attributes to our children and our grandchildren.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, it is even possible to live them out in our own lives.  Our lives are the best testimony to our children and grandchildren that we can give them.  Sometimes we are grouchy or tired or sick, and so we may not act very Christ-like; but, fortunately, kids who know they are loved tend to be forgiving and to look at the whole rather than a few poor exceptions.

D. Finally, our Gospel Lesson (Luke 2:41-52) recounts the only story we have from Jesus’ youth.  It demonstrates how home, synagogue, and Temple helped form Him.  Obviously Joseph and Mary have brought Him up in the faith.  They attend the Passover in Jerusalem annually.  The Law required believers to attend 3 feasts in Jerusalem each year; however, those who lived far way—Nazareth was 3 days’ journey from Jerusalem—only had to attend one, the Passover.  Men were required to go, but women were not, so the fact that Mary was there, too, is an indication of her own devotion to God.  Surely they had taken Him to Synagogue, taught Him Scripture, gave thanks at the table, and prayed with Him.  The year from age 12-13 was a year of preparation for Jewish boys.  At 13YO, they were declared men and were held accountable for their actions.

So the nearly adult Jesus is in the Temple, listening to and questioning the religious scholars of the day.  He is involved in learning more about God, and likely what the religious scholars were teaching about His Father.  His response was intended to remind Mary and Joseph that He was deep into preparation for His mission (saving humankind)–discussing theology and questioning men of God about His Father.  His response to their worry is to leave the company of scholars and journey back with them to Nazareth.  He is obedient to His parents, but the 3 days spent at the Temple underscore His devotion to God’s call upon His life.  Sometimes our response to God’s call may cause inconvenience to or even worry for others.  There is a tension between choosing God and choosing family, choosing God and choosing friendships.  Prioritizing is difficult.  Jesus, only a young adolescent, demonstrates the right priority: God first, parents second, and we may assume others 3rd.

Our God has provided Scripture–the examples of Hannah, Mary, Joseph, the teachings of Paul, and the model of Jesus–to help us to live lives characterized by love.   As we approach 2025, Let us intend to love well.  As we approach 2025, let us resolve to love effectively.

©️2024 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams 

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Making Room for God

Pastor Sherry’s message for June 2, 2024

Scriptures: 1 Sam 3:1-21; Ps 139:1-6, 13-18; 2 Cor 4:5-12; Mk 2:23-3:6

A pastor related the following story:  Apparently, the church he served was in a city and “…was located next to a Jewish synagogue. That synagogue was served by a rabbi who quite typically walked to the synagogue on the Sabbath, though his house was some distance away. It was not that he didn’t have a car, but that for him it was improper to drive on the Sabbath, for that constituted work. Sometimes I would see him riding a bicycle to synagogue. I suggested to him that that was a lot more work than simply turning on the ignition in an automobile. He said that when a person is riding a bicycle on the Sabbath, the person is not tempted to go shopping or run errands, or to pick up something at the cleaners. However, when one is driving a car, it is easy to do many more things than one intended to do, and thus, the special nature of the day is lost. He was, of course, attempting to live up to the requirements of the third commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.” Some people would honor his attempt to live by the requirements of this commandment. Others would see it as an unnecessary concern for an outdated concept.”

(Illustration borrowed from www.sermons.com, June 2, 2024.)

From this side of the Cross, we know that Jesus often got into it with the Pharisees over the issue of proper Sabbath-Keeping.  Notice, He never said we were not to honor the Sabbath.  After all, the 3rd Commandment requires us to keep a Sabbath. Jesus would not have ever suggested we violate any of the Commandments.  He just wanted us to be sure to take into account human needs (love, grace) over strict rule-keeping.

To understand where He was coming from, we need to remember the history behind the Father’s institution of the Sabbath.  It’s based on God’s model of resting, on the 7th day (in Genesis 2:2-3), after having worked six days to create the world.  We know from Psalm 121:3-4 that our God neither slumbers nor sleeps.  He, then, does not require rest to maintain or sustain Himself.  So, the obligation to keep a Sabbath was for our benefit, not His.  Additionally, the Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. That meant they worked 7 days a week, without a break.  Our gracious, loving God wanted them and us to be guaranteed at least a one-day pause.  He knew our bodies, minds and spirits needed rest.  He also knew our human tendency was to do as much as we could each day.  So perhaps He was also building in a brake system to help prevent “workaholism.”

But I think God also knew He would need to appoint a time for us to make room for Him in our lives.  Yes, we are to worship Him on Sundays—our Sabbath due to Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.  (The Jewish Sabbath is sundown Friday until Sundown Saturday.)  But we are also meant to use this time to make room for our relationship with Him.  Think about this:  The prohibition against murder (Commandment #6) is spelled out by God in four words—You shall not murder.  But God used 94 words to explain the Sabbath (Commandment #3).  God obviously views our keeping a Sabbath as very important.  Incidentally, your Sabbath does not need to be Sunday.  Many folks have to work on Sunday.  If this is true for you, be sure to set aside another day to seek rest and to visit with God.

Let’s see what further light our Scripture passages today shed on this topic:

A. 1 Samuel 3:1-21 relates God’s call to the young man, Samuel, to become His prophet (our Old Testament lesson last week shared a similar call to Isaiah, who came later in Biblical history).  You may recall that Samuel was given over to the priest, Eli, to be raised for God’s service (his previously barren mother, Hannah, had made this promise to the Lord).  He would have been about 3 years old when Hannah placed him in Eli’s care.

Eli had fed and housed him, and no doubt showed him what to do in God’s service–but he, a priest, did not teach him to make room for God in his personal life.  YIKES!  So Scholars tell us the 1st two calls awakening the sleeping Samuel were God’s call to salvation.  (Samuel would have been about 12 years old.) The latter two calls were God’s call upon him to serve the Lord as His prophet.  This is just after the time of the Moses, Joshua, and the Judges—all men (and one woman) whom God had selected to lead Israel (about 1200-1000BC).  From Samuel’s time until that of Jesus, God tended to speak to His people through prophets.

Eli was now old and out of touch with the Lord.  Verse 1 tells us—…in those days the word of the Lord was rare….God wasn’t speaking because few folks were listening.  God no longer spoke to Eli, his clergyperson.  Eli apparently went through the motions, but did not make space in his life for a relationship with the Lord.  So in this passage, God essentially fires Eli and calls Samuel to replace him.  Eli wasn’t so far gone that he did not realize what was happening.  He did prepare Samuel to answer the Lord’s call.  Samuel then went on to serve God faithfully for years.  The Lord used him to anoint the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.  And Samuel listened carefully to God, making room for Him in his life.

B. In light of this lesson, we can look at Psalm 139 perhaps in a new way.  It’s certainly reassuring to know that God knows us intimately (He is both omniscient and omnipresent), and that there is nothing we might say or do that He does not already perceive.  But consider also how carefully and completely God pursues us for relationship.  He created us for relationship with Him.  He has made room and time for us.  So, if we do not feel close to God, who is at fault?  It’s us!  It is up to us to nurture a deep relationship with Him—to meet Him halfway.  King David encourages us in this psalm to make room in our lives for God.

C.  Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 exhorts us to be aware of how generously God has gifted us:  In verse 6, he proclaims—For God, who said, ’Let light shine out of the darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Christ.  In other words, He loved us enough to send Jesus into our lives.  Jesus–and now, since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit–both gift us with life and light.  These are both “treasures” to which God has given us access, even though we are weak containers/”jars of clay”/”earthen vessels.”  He calls ordinary folks like you and me so that only God gets the glory.

Paul fervently believed our job/our ministry is to convey this wonderful knowledge we hold within ourselves—our born again relationship with Jesus, and the Gospel of Christ—to others who don’t know Him.  There is an old country expression:  “You can’t get back from where you ain’t been.”  In other words, we can’t convey to others what we don’t know ourselves.  Paul’s understanding, and ours, is that we cannot do this well if we do not make room in our lives for—or abide in–Jesus.

D. Finally, we have our Gospel message, Mark 2:23-3:6.  In this extended passage, Jesus has two encounters with the Pharisees over Sabbath-Keeping:

One occurs while Jesus and His disciples are out walking through a field.  His disciples are hungry.  There was room in God’s Law to cover this situation—Deut 23:25—If you enter your neighbor’s grain field, you may pick kernels with your hands, but you must not put a sickle to his standing grain.  But the Pharisees had decided picking kernels was work and should not be done on the Sabbath, no matter who hungry you might be.  Jesus, however, trumps them with precedent:  David and his men, pursued through the wilderness by King Saul, were hungry.  The High Priest, Abiathar, gave them the 12 loaves of showbread in the Holy Place to eat (1 Samuel 21:1-6).  It was reserved for the priests to eat at day’s end.  Jesus uses this to make the point that legalities must be tempered with love and grace.  You may bend the Sabbath Law in service of saving the lives of righteous persons.  David and his Mighty Men, as well as Jesus and His closest followers, were both hungry and righteous.

The other incident takes place, during worship, in a synagogue.

The guy with the withered hand was probably a “plant.”  Knowing this was a trap, Jesus calls the guy forth, saying (3:3)—Stand up in front of everyone.  Obviously, and knowing their negative intent, Jesus did not back away from doing what He knew was the right thing, to heal the handicapped man.  He also very wisely asks the Pharisees, (3:4)—Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?

In both instances, Jesus reiterates that the Sabbath was made for we humans.  The Pharisees practically abolished it by hemming it in with too many, often ridiculous rules.  We have practically abolished it by paying it too little attention.

An Eastern guru once poured tea for a fellow who insisted he wanted to discover how to have a deeper relationship with the divine.  The fellow kept talking and talking as the guru poured and poured, letting the tea overrun the cup.  When the seeker asked what the guru was doing, the wise man said, “This cup is like you.  You are so full of yourself there is no room for God.”   We don’t want to be like that guy.  We want to make room for the Lord.

Sabbath-Keeping helps us make room for God.  Being here in church every Sunday shows Him we are serious about wanting to honor Him. 

We want to get to the place that we don’t feel right if we haven’t been to church.  We probably should feel guilty if we have let other things take precedence over our relationship with the Lord.  This is a way we can tend the vertical of the Cross.  When I finally got this point in my early 40’s, I realized there was always something I heard each week—whether from the Scripture readings, the hymns, the sermons, the prayers, or even a comment by another member of the congregation—that I knew the Lord meant for me to hear.  If I missed church, I ran the risk of missing what God had for me.

Sabbath-Keeping also keeps us connected to our spiritual family, the horizontal of the Cross.  Each of us is important here.  When we don’t attend, the Body is left poorer.  Before I went to Seminary, I attended the same church in Tallahassee for 11 years.  I realized if I did not attend church a given Sunday, I would miss seeing some of those dear folks I did not encounter in any other arena of my life.  Let’s try to be consistent present in  worship each Sunday.  Your spiritual family loves you and misses you when you do not attend.  Amen.

©️2024 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams 

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Counterculture

Pastor Sherry’s message for April 28, 2024

Scriptures: Acts 8:26-40; Ps 22:15-31; 1 Jn 4:7-21; Jn 15:1-8

Years ago (in the early 1970’s), I was teaching Sociology in a Catholic Girls School in Newport, Rhode Island.  I was a new teacher, trying to impress upon my high school students—all 12th graders—how difficult it is to not conform to societal expectations.  It seems to be true that most of us conform or go along with what is expected, most of the time, so as not to be singled out or harassed by “the crowd.”  You would not usually drive the wrong way on a one way street, for instance.  Most of us would not deliberately walk out of a store without paying for what we found there.  My biggest fear in high school was that I would show up to “Wear Your Pajamas to School Day” in my pj’s, only to discover I had the wrong day.  People are doing more outrageous things in public now than was true back in the 70’s…but most people, most of the time, do what we call is normative or normal. 

So I asked my girls if they would be willing to try a harmless experiment in not conforming.  They wore school uniforms, so there were very few ways they could modify their dress to be unique.  I challenged them to do something simple like wear ribbons in their hair (not a trend at that time).  No one was willing to do even something this tame.  When I led them in a discussion as to why that was, they replied that they did not want to “stick out.”  I considered the experiment a success because they had to seriously consider the personal cost of not conforming to cultural expectations, and decided the potential embarrassment wasn’t worth it.

I bring this up today because, as Christians, we sometimes forget how countercultural Jesus was, and how countercultural He expects us to be as well:

A.  Let’s look at Acts 8:26-40.  In this passage, Dr. Luke describes deacon Philip’s encounter with a fellow returning to Ethiopia.  Persecution against Christians had broken out in Jerusalem.  One would think, “This is terrible!”  But in a countercultural, counterintuitive way, God uses it to begin to push the disciples out into Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (to begin to fulfill the “Great Commission”).  Philip (not the Apostle, but a deacon) goes to Samaria.  In verses 5-8, before this passage, we are told that he preached the Word, healed the sick, and cast out demons.  He was doing an excellent job!  The culture would say, “He’s a success. Keep him there!”  But God, through the Holy Spirit, sends him off in a countercultural direction.

Philip was serving the Lord in Samaria, to the north, but was suddenly sent to the Gaza Road, way to the South.  The Holy Spirit directs him to the Ethiopian Treasury Secretary.  The guy was a North African believer in Judaism.  Notice:  He has already encountered the Word of God in the Old Testament.  He is reading Isaiah 53, the last of the 4 Suffering Servant Songs—all of which predict Jesus—but he does not understand it.  Philip, in a divine appointment, offers to help him.  The Holy Spirit has already prompted the Ethiopian official to be curious about Scripture.  Then God prompted Philip to be right there to explain.  Philip does such a good job of explaining the Gospel that the guy wants to become a Christ-follower.  He asks to be baptized.  They are in what is essentially a desert, but miraculously spy water—is this a divine appointment or what?–and out in broad daylight, before any passersby, in a countercultural, not-to-be expected way, Philip baptizes him.  Wow!

Wouldn’t we expect, then, that Philip would continue to hang out with the guy, to be sure any other of his questions were answered?  But no, the Holy Spirit immediately whisks him away to a Philistine city, Ashdod, to evangelize others.  Our God seems to delight in doing the unexpected.

In fact, I think He enjoys surprising us in countercultural ways.

Scripture is silent about how many Samaritans or Philistines came to Christ through the ministry of Philip.  But Early Church history tells us that the first big Christian church was built in Ethiopia!  That Ethiopian must have gone home and told many others about Jesus.  Even today Ethiopia is a majority Christian nation surrounded by Moslem nations.

In 1 John 4:7-21, John, the Apostle of love, sets out several countercultural realities about AGAPEO love—the love of God poured out upon us–not philios [brotherly ] or eros [sexual] kinds of love.  In verse 7, we are told that agapeo love comes from God, because God is love.  Love is not our initiative; we humans did not invent it.  So, it makes sense that, as stated in verse 12, when we demonstrate love, we are imitating God.  God demonstrated His love for us (verse14) by sending Jesus to redeem us.  Verses16-17 remind us that one of the ways we see or experience or cooperate with God is by doing things that are motivated by love. 

Aren’t we touched when we see a TV ad (like for Tunnels to Towers or St. Jude’s Childrens’ Hospital), through which generous people provide homes for disabled servicemen, pay off mortgages for police widows, or pay for treatment for kids with cancer?  James writes in 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  In other words, if you are moved to do something generous or kind—like contribute to one of these charitable organizations–it is because the Holy Spirit has inspired you.  Watch the news.  It’s hard to see any evidence of love in action.  Loving actions are countercultural and our God wants us to get into the habit of behaving this way.

John adds in verse 18—There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.  Knowing God loves us can keep us from caving in to fear.

God’s perfect love for us casts out our fear.  If we live on a daily diet of the broadcast news, we can become fearful of many things…everything from nuclear holocaust, to being mugged or car-jacked, or to losing our homes, health, or incomes.  But if we can focus on God’s love for us, we can enjoy freedom from these kinds of anxieties.  The peace that passes all understanding—not dependent upon our circumstances, but on our relationship with Jesus–is clearly countercultural.

C. Our Psalm today, (22:25-31), reminds us that God’s rule is universal.   If we are aware of what is going on in the world currently, we might be skeptical that this is true.  Anti-Jewish protestors are swarming our college campuses nationwide, threatening the safety of Jewish students; and causing graduations to be cancelled for the very students who missed their high school graduation ceremonies due to Covid lockdowns.  There are wars in Ukraine and between Israel and Arab Terrorists.  Our economy is shaky and the cost of gas and groceries is sky-high.  Wherever we look, it appears as though what we call wrong is seen as right by the culture, and what we see as right, the culture condemns.

The psalmist, King David, wants us to be reassured that the day will come that (vv.27-28)—All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations.  This view is countercultural now, but we who believe in Jesus Christ, and in His 2nd Coming, trust that this prediction will come true.

D. Finally, we have our Gospel lesson, John15:1-8—I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  In this lesson, Jesus is referring to Himself as the “genuine Israel.”  All throughout the Old Testament, the vineyard or grape vines are a metaphor for the Jewish people.  If Jesus is the authentic Israelite, it is because He has loved His Father, been obedient to His Father, and loved His people. 

Additionally, He is saying that we can do nothing of any significance apart from Him.  Our culture would have us believe that might makes right; that the one with the most money, biggest social network, or most political power/influence wins. But, counterculturally, we know that none of that stuff will get us to Heaven!  Money, power, fame, even health can all be lost. But a vital relationship with Jesus will see us through this life and safely into the next.

If loving Jesus today makes us nonconformists or even dinosaurs, well I say, so be it!  I don’t know about you, but I would rather love Jesus and live outside the current norms than be a cultural conformist.  Remember, as my little experiment with my high school students demonstrated, the pull or power of the culture over us is very strong.  Wearing ribbons is not a sufficient motivator to behave in a countercultural manner, but being a follower of Jesus Christ is—or should be!

This week, try to be aware of times and events when our faith runs counter to the culture.   Look for the opportunities that exist when God provides you a divine appointment.  Let’s try also to be countercultural people who daily demonstrate God’s love.  Amen and amen!

©️2024 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams 

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Rebellious Tenants

Pastor Sherry’s message for October 8, 2023

Scriptures: Ex 20:1-21; Ps 19; Phil 3:4b-14; Matt 21:33-46

The story is told of Josef Stalin (the horrendous dictator from 1924-1953 of Soviet Russia, who killed between 6-9 million of his own countrymen) that “…at one time [he] had been a seminary student, preparing for the ministry. At a later time it seems that he made a decisive change from his belief in God. This dramatic and complete reversal of conviction that resulted in his hatred for all religion is why Lenin chose Stalin and positioned him in authority–a choice Lenin too late regretted. (The name Stalin, which means “steel,” was not his real name, but was given to him by his contemporaries who fell under the steel-like determination of his will.) And as Stalin lay dying, his one last gesture was a clenched fist toward God, his heart as cold and hard as steel. (Ravi Zacharias, Can Man Live Without God, Word Publishing, 1994, p. 26).

How amazing to think Stalin had started out as a Christ-follower, only to defect to atheistic communism. He came to believe that the Christian Church had helped oppress the Russian people. He also decided that the Russian Orthodox Church held too much power—power that could be turned against the communists. So he killed and imprisoned many, many religious leaders and many Christians. In an incredible example of human pride, it would seem that he grew tired of waiting on God to change human behavior and to irradiate human injustice, and took the job into his own hands—only to become a perpetrator or human injustice.

That the Church still survives in Russia, despite decades of persecution, is a testimony to the fact that dictators can control our behaviors but not our beliefs. Furthermore, look at the oppressive tactics communist dictators use to coerce compliance: In the last century and into this one, both Russian and Chinese communists are responsible for an estimated 100 million deaths. They build walls to keep people in, rather than out (for example, the Berlin Wall and the border between North and South Korea). They shoot people who try to escape their borders. They use imprisonment, slave labor camps, executions, brain-washing, and even starvation to crush the will of anyone they consider an enemy of their regime.

Contrast this with our God Who wants us to live by a moral code, but never forces our compliance:

A. Psalm 19, written by King David, reminds us of how God’s glory is on display in His creation->v.1->The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies declare the work of His hands. His masterpieces are all available for everyone to see. This is what theologians call “general revelation,” and helps explain how anyone who thinks about such things can know God exists. Scripture and the person of Jesus are considered “specific revelation,” because you have to be curious and willing to read the Bible and to learn about Jesus.

Beginning in verse 7, David extolls or celebrates God’s specific revelation of Himself in His Law->The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving [restoring] the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. From this side of the Cross, we know adhering to the Law cannot save us. It is like a mirror we hold up to our faces which proves to us that we are not perfect. It makes clear to us that we need a savior, a rescuer, a redeemer. But even so, God does not force us to believe or to comply.

Additionally, that famous verse 14 foreshadows Christ->May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus is both the Rock of Ages and the Solid Rock on which we stand.

B. Our Genesis lesson (20:1-21) lays out the 10 Commandments. These 10 laws are the foundation of human moral behavior. The first 4 tell how we are to behave toward God; the last 6 specify how we are to behave toward other people. The Chinese communist leader, Xi Jinping, has recently altered each of the 10 commandments to fit communist rhetoric—Woe be unto Him! He either doesn’t know or doesn’t care that we are not to add to nor take away from the words of Scripture. Lord, please frustrate the ways of the wicked! (Psalm 146:9).

The 10 Commandments of the Bible are not meant to cramp our style, but rather to ensure we live morally and peaceably with our neighbors, and to provide a sense of security and safety for all of us. Consider how many of the commandments are broken daily in the United States, and observe the results: (I apologize in advance if anyone is offended that I take on political issues. Some believe pastors should never comment on political issues as they can be so divisive. However, my undergraduate degree was in Sociology and so I have been trained to observe societal trends. Like you, perhaps, I find many political trends today very alarming, and anti-Christian, and feel compelled to denounce them in the name of Christ.)

1.) Gangs of looters steal store goods without consequences in major cities (Commandment #8). I saw an article this week in which it was reported that 97% of restaurants in San Francisco have been vandalized, in the past year, in one form or another. It is true that if District Attorneys don’t prosecute and our courts do not punish those who are guilty, lawlessness abounds and prices go up—so that we all pay—and stores and restaurants go out of business. Conversely, when we can be pretty sure that no one will steal or damage our stuff, businesses can exist and we can feel safe, secure, and protected.

2.) Lying (Commandment #9) is so commonplace in Washington D.C. that we no longer have confidence in most of our governmental officials, governmental agencies, or most news media. Whatever happened to “Your word is your bond?” Truth-telling is essential in a democratic republic. We must be able to trust that politicians do what they claimed they would do in order to get elected, and that governmental agencies exist to ensure the rights of our citizens are maintained, not violated.

3.) Don’t even get me started on Commandment #6, Don’t murder, or #7, Don’t commit adultery. If you know someone whose family member has been murdered, or whose parents, spouse, or sibling suffered through adultery, you know the impacts of both sins are long-lasting and incredibly painful.

These are not kill-joy commandments, but rather the guardrails on the mountain-pass-highway-of-life. God has made us like Ferraris or Rolls Royces. We are not meant for driving off into the rough or down the cliff on the side of the road. When we disregard any of the commandments, we run the risk of tearing ourselves up, spiritually, emotionally, and sometimes physically. Someone has said, “Grace is what God is, while Law captures God’s thinking with regard to what people ought to be” (as shared by Rev. Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Commentary on Exodus, Thomas Nelson, 1991, p.23). Again, our God does not coerce us.

C. We might say that Paul is on a roll in our epistle lesson today, Philippians 3:4b-14. He cites all his credentials: He came from godly parents; he was born into the tribe of Benjamin, Jacob’s favorite son in his old age and thus a favored tribe; he is a leader of the Hebrews and a Pharisee, a teacher and protector of the law; he was zealous in persecuting the infant Christian Church, believing they were heretics; and he kept God’s Law righteously, always offering the designated sacrifices for his sins—not perfect, but perfectly compliant.

However, despite all these glowing accomplishments, he—since coming to know Jesus—has discerned that they are as useless as scubala, human or animal waste products. None of our human successes earns us heaven. Neither our lineage nor our achievements can save us. So he implores us to realize this in our own lives and seek out Jesus. Like a runner in an Olympic relay race, we want to (v.12)->…press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Additionally, he urges us (v.14)->Forgetting what is behind [our past] and straining toward what is ahead, … [we] press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus. He wants us to recognize that nothing earthly is more important than our relationship with God. He wants us to choose to put God first in our lives.

D. Finally, in our Matthew 21:33-46 passage, Jesus gives us a front row seat to a major confrontation He has with the Jewish religious leaders. Remember, from last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus had made them aware that they continuously sinned against God by saying “yes” to His service, but “no” to following His will. He immediately follows this up by telling them the Parable of the Tenants. In this story, the vineyard owner is God; the rebellious tenants are the Jewish religious leadership; the servants thrown out or killed were the prophets; and the son is of course Jesus. He asks the leaders what the owner of the vineyard will do to those rebellious tenants when he returns. They answer correctly (v.41)->He [God the Father] will bring those wretches to a wretched end…and He will rent the vineyard to other tenants who will give Him His share of the crop at harvest time. Though they have studied Scripture, they have missed recognizing God’s Son, Jesus the Messiah. (Notice, embedded in the parable, Jesus predicts His death at their hands.) So He declares (v.43)->Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

The leadership of God’s mission to save humankind will be transferred from them to the emerging Christian Church. This, of course, enrages them and 5 chapters later, they arrest and execute Him. Some have used this passage as a justification to persecute the Jews, but they have no excuse if they have read the later chapters of Romans and of Revelation. Both books make the case that God still considers the Jews—as well as the addition of the Church–to be His Chosen people

Though not believers, the dictators Josef Stalin and Xi Jinping are rebellious tenants. The Jewish religious leadership of Jesus’ day were also rebellious tenants. Jesus strips them of their leadership over God’s earthly kingdom. That was their punishment. Imagine what punishments await the communist leaders of this and the past century!

We don’t want to be rebellious tenants. Our God has revealed Himself—and His heart–through His creation and His Law. His laws are meant for our good—to keep us from crashing and burning. Neither they nor our own excellent achievements can save us. But in His mercy, our God has sent us His Son, Jesus to save and to redeem us. Let us thank Him, praise Him, and obey Him. Amen!

©️2023 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Our Starting Point, Our Standing Place

Pastor Sherry’s message for February 5, 2023,

Scriptures: Isa 58:1-12; Ps 112:1-10; 1 Cor 2:1-16; Matt 5:13-20

Over my years here, you have probably realized that I don’t usually preach from the writings of Paul. I find him often difficult to understand and more often addressing theological points rather than everyday life. But this week, the Lord told me it was time for me to “Grow up!” So, today I will focus on the second chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. In chapter #2, he focuses on our correct starting point with Jesus and our secure standing point.

But first, let’s look at some humorous examples of various starting points:

(1) Great grandma’s recipe for chicken and dumplings: First, catch a chicken (Aren’t we glad we don’t have to do this today?). I remember this as a little child. My grandparents had a few chickens. Saturday afternoon they would kill one; my grandmother would pluck the feathers and clean it out, and then cook it for Sunday dinner.

(2) In the 1920’s, the University of Michigan had a famous football coach named Fielding Harris Yost. One season, Michigan had been badly beaten by Notre Dame, one of their major archrivals. The atmosphere on the train trip back to Ann Arbor was silent and dismal, as players waited to be thoroughly chewed out. Eventually, Yost stood up in the aisle to address the team. In a calm manner, and with a solemn demeanor, Yost held up a football and explained, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”

(3) You may have noticed that I struggle with my weight. Both of my grandmothers were plump (I always thought they were “fluffy” and provided such comfortable laps for a child), so I think I may have been genetically primed to carry extra pounds. At any rate, I have tried almost every diet plan known to humankind: Weight Watchers; The Daniel Diet (based on what Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego ate in Nebuchadnezzar’s court); Jenny Craig; The Maker’s Diet (consisting of vegetables like leeks and grains like spelt found in Old Testament times); Keto; and GoLo (or as my son calls it, “NoGo.”). Even when I struggle to take the excess pounds off, I cannot seem to preserve or maintain a reduced weight. I can start, but I can’t seem to successfully stand. Here’s the truth: I know the secret of weight loss, but I just enjoy eating too much of the wrong things. The most effective weight loss strategy—the starting point and the standing place of weight loss–boils down to this truth: Eat Less, Move More.

(Ideas borrowed from the Revs. John Fairless and Delmer Cilton, The Lectionary Lab Commentary, Year A, 2013, p.51.)

Again, I believe this is where the apostle Paul is coming from as he addresses the Church in Corinth (Greece) (1 Corinthians 2:1-16). Here’s the historic situation: Paul had established this church, in about 18 months, from 49-50 AD. The city was a sea port of Greece, numbering about 400,000, and populated by sailors, soldiers, and tradespeople of many races, nationalities, and belief systems. Additionally, it offered more than 1,000 male and female prostitutes to copulate with “worshipers” of the goddess Aphrodite and the god Apollo, in fertility rites.

Needless to say, the prevailing lifestyles were carnal ones—a lot like present day Las Vegas, which panders to about every addiction know to humankind–focused on meeting all sorts of human “needs.”

Since founding the church, a number of problems had arisen, so Paul wrote this first letter to them, from Ephesus, to address the 5 most troubling dilemmas:

(1) Divisions—those who preferred Apollos, or Peter, or Paul. He made short work of this issue in chapter 1. Christianity is not a cult of personality. We are all followers of Jesus Christ. We are to keep our focus on Jesus…End of story (Starting point, standing place).

(2) A case of a man sleeping with his stepmother—YIKES! This sin was a “notorious” one because everyone in Corinth knew about it. It was a disturbing example to nonbelievers. In a later chapter Paul gives the church a choice: the man can stop having sex with his stepmother and repent, or he can be expelled from the church.

(3) Law suits between members. Paul says, “God forbid!” This is not behavior grounded in Christian love. It is also a poor witness to nonbelievers. Paul wants the Corinthians to forgive as they have been forgiven.

(4) Abuses of Christian freedom (using grace as an excuse to continue to live as though we don’t know Jesus). Again, in a later chapter, Paul says in essence, “No, we really don’t have the freedom to do wrong.”

We are to remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. When we fornicate or commit adultery, we bring Jesus into that illicit relationship. Again, YIKES!

(5) And, finally, he addressed the general chaos he had heard reigned during communion. People were hogging the bread and getting drunk on communion wine. Paul calls this a violation of the law of love and charity with our neighbor. It was selfish, indulgent behavior. We are to receive communion decently and in order, not taking more than our fair share.

He begins, in chapter two, to instruct (and correct) them by returning to the starting point, the basics: Remember, before you cook a chicken, you need to have one on hand. If you want to win at football, you need to know how to handle the ball (knowing the rules and having some strategic moves doesn’t hurt either). In other words, this is an “eat less, move more” moment for the Church at Corinth. The basic starting point (and standing place) for the Christian Church is (v.2) …Jesus Christ and Him crucified [and resurrected].

Paul then goes on to tell them (vv.3-4) he is not a great orator or a gifted debater, both of which were skills highly prized by Greeks I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. He spoke as an ordinary person, not caring to draw attention to himself as a great preacher. He claims he had no eloquent words, no clever arguments; just “the Word of God for the People of God.” He says he preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, so all the glory would go not to him but to the Lord.

Next, he reminds them (vv.6-8) that salvation was purchased for us by the Son, but it was planned by the Father. Paradoxically, the Gospel is both simple and exceedingly complex–simple enough for an illiterate or uneducated person to grasp; but also so profound that it challenges the most brilliant minds. He stresses that the “lost”—and even immature believers—won’t get it. Jesus Christ crucified for our sins may seem ridiculous (foolishness) to nonbelievers. Nonbelievers of that day said, He was a nobody from nowhere of importance! And, He was executed as a criminal! Even Satan thought he had defeated Jesus at the Cross. Jesus’ death on the Cross is a mystery, a sacred secret, an unveiling of God’s plan from Old Testament times. These truths were hidden in the Old Testament (hinted at by the prophets, but not explained). They were also hidden from the unsaved world, people like Pilate and Herod, and others who encountered Jesus and never suspected Who He really was: The Son of God; The Creator and Redeemer of the World.

But Paul then asserts that these truths were revealed to us, by the Holy Spirit, and through the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And Paul and the other apostles all devoted their lives to sharing them with anyone who wanted to understand.

This wisdom is still valid and applicable to our lives today. In verses 9-10, Paul quotes from Isaiah 64:4 ’What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love Him—these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Holy Spirit has revealed to us God’s thoughts, God’s wisdom. After all, Deep speaks to deep (Psalm 42:7);

(V.13) —This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. God’s thoughts have been preserved for us in God’s Word (the Bible).

Paul wants the Corinthians and us to know that our standing place is secure in Jesus Christ. We don’t have to placate a group of immoral immortals, as pagans do their gods (who often act like out-of-control humans). Our God has done the work of salvation for us. We simply have to say, “Yes, Lord, I believe.” Paul also wants us and them to realize that because we love Jesus, we have the mind of Christ. Through Christ, we are redeemed or ransomed. Through Christ, we are made right with God the Father (our sin is washed away by Jesus’ blood). Through Christ, we are sanctified, set apart for God’s service as works in progress. In Christ, we come to understand the wisdom of God.

So what’s the point for us today in modern-time America? We start right and stand firm/true when we accept and believe that Jesus Christ has saved us. This is not a faith based on human wisdom, but on the wisdom of God–even if nonbelievers consider it to be far-fetched.

As a result, those of us who are in Christ can say that, “Every Day is a good day.” It might not always look like it. It might not always feel like it. But think of this: We close our service each Sunday with a portion of the Kenyan (African, Anglican) liturgy…

All our problems…we send to the Cross of Christ.

All our difficulties…we send to the Cross of Christ.

All the devil’s works…we send to the Cross of Christ.

And all of our hopes…we set on the Risen Christ.

The purpose of this is to remind us, as we leave worship to go out into the world again, that we can give every trouble we encounter to Jesus. We can stand firm on the fact that He is able to take care of it all. We can also stand firm on the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our hope.

Our starting point and our standing place is this: Jesus Christ and Him crucified…and raised from the dead. Halleluiah! Amen!

©️2023 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Becoming a Mature Follower of Christ

Pastor Sherry’s Message for 7/24/2022

Scriptures: Hosea 1:2-10; Ps 85; Colossians 3:1-11; Lk 11:1-13

As I looked through my former sermons this week, I discovered that I had preached on the Hosea passage in 2016, and on Luke 11 in 2019. So, I believed the Lord was calling me to tackle the Epistle lesson with you today. It wasn’t until the passage was read this morning that I realized I had messed up. The passage appointed for today was Colossians 2:6-19. I am a highly intuitive person, focused on the “Big Picture” and not much given to details, so I mistakenly addressed the passage appointed for next Sunday, Colossians 3:1-11. I apologize. Perhaps the Lord meant for someone to focus on chapter 3 instead of the last half of chapter 2 today.

Colossians is one of Paul’s 4 pastoral letters (including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) written from prison in Ephesus.

Apparently, Paul never met in person with the church in Colosse (75-100 mi east of Ephesus). It had instead been planted by a disciple of his named Epaphrus. We could say that Paul was like a spiritual grandfather to this church.

His focus in this letter is becoming a mature believer in Christ. Many folks in Colosse had become as sick of the immoral excesses of paganism as we have of what we see/hear happening in DC, NYC, LA, Chicago, etc. They were initially attracted to the high ethical standards offered by the Jewish faith. They looked at the Torah and were impressed with laws that said don’t do this or that, don’t taste this or that, or don’t handle this or that.

They saw these laws as a means of escaping the soul-killing, vapid, immoral world of paganism. It was as though they thought, Maybe keeping these rules will help us live a better life; and Perhaps keeping these rules will help us improve our spiritual lives.

But Paul tells them this way of thinking is an illusion, a dead-end. First of all, none of us can keep these rules perfectly. So we end up trading what Bishop. N.T. Wright calls, “a worldly self-indulgence of a sensual kind for a worldly self-indulgence of a spiritual kind” (Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters, N.T. Wright, Westminister John Knox Press, 2002, p.174.)

We reduce our faith to keeping a set of earthly rules, and avoid developing the deep relationship God desires with us. Additionally, contrary to popular thought, rule-keeping doesn’t lead to holiness. Holiness requires that we die to self. Rule-keeping keeps our focus on ourselves. Holiness requires that we die to self and are raised to live for God. The Good News is that by being in Christ, we have the supernatural assistance of the Holy Spirit—if we ask for it—to help us live out our lives at a higher moral standard. It’s not a matter of trying harder in our own strength, but rather of cooperating with the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul admonishes us to (verses 1-2) Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. And in verse 5, he adds Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. In verses 8-9, he adds to the list of behaviors to avoid, including anger, rage, wickedness, blasphemy, dirty talk, and lying. This is like putting aside an old set of tattered and soiled clothes and taking up and putting on your very best. In the 1st century church, folks being baptized showed up in their old clothes, were immersed in the waters of baptism, and then dressed in new, white garments, symbolizing their new status as followers of Christ Jesus.

If it’s not just rule-keeping, how do we proceed? We have to know what needs to be changed in order to cooperate with changing it.

Let’s look first at the main categories of sins that Paul lists here:

1. Sexual misbehavior–This one is tough because our culture today—like that of ancient Corinth or Colosse, is overly sexualized. Much of American advertising makes sexual appeals. It doesn’t take too many clicks on the internet before you stumble onto pornographic images. (I worry about what our children are being exposed to at too young an age.) But Paul means everything from sexual intercourse outside of marriage (fornication), to adultery, and even including sexual fantasies. Paul calls these behaviors idolatry because, as in all pagan worship, they require that you give your allegiance to something of this world rather than to our holy and supernatural Trinitarian God.

2. The 2nd category Paul cites are sins involving unedifying speech. This includes everything from angry, malicious speech to gossip, slander, and lying. Wouldn’t Paul have a fit over the way folks lie in Washington DC? When I taught Psychology at the community college in Gainesville, I heard my students punctuate their sentences with the “f” word. Reminding them that they were there to get a higher education, I challenged them to try to elevate their vocabulary by replacing that word with something more dignified. To my delight, they got the concept and did cuss much less in class.

Both sexual and verbal sins can tear a community apart. Years ago, before I went to seminary, I had a pastor with whom I was very close. He was like an older brother in the Lord. We met about once a month for breakfast, to talk over the Bible study I was leading and other leadership concerns of our church. I later discovered he had been fired by our bishop for having an affair with another woman in our congregation. He and I had met just the day before this took place. He had told me he had 3 things to tell me, but ran out of time to tell me the last. When I learned what had happened, I figured he was too ashamed to confess he had compromised his calling. His family was humiliated. We had a booming college ministry at the time. They were so disappointed in him that they said we were all hypocrites and left the church. Other adults left as well, and for the same reason. Our community was hurt by this one man’s sexual sin.

Paul presents the problem (these two very popular sin-groups) and their solution. In verse 10, he writes [since you have put on your new self]…which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator…. Remember back to the 80’s and 90’s when people would ask, WWJD? What would Jesus do? It was a great slogan because it reminded us to stop and think before acting/speaking. It encouraged us to think about how Jesus might view our actions or our speech. Would He say, Well done, good and faithful servant? Or would He want us to, Go and sin no more? Again, as Bishop N.T. Wright says, “Being a Christian means learning to think harder, not to leave your brain behind in the quest for new experiences. Thinking straight and knowing the truth are part of what it means to be a truly human being, the sort of human being the gospel is meant to create. (Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters, pp. 179-180.) We think harder because we are not just considering what we want to do, but also what the Lord would desire of us. We know the truth because Scripture reveals it. Immoral behavior and malicious speech may feel good at first, but the truth is that they leave a bad aftertaste. Our consciences bother us. Then the Holy Spirit compels us to make amends, which humble and perhaps embarrass us further. In the long run, it is simply easier for us to train ourselves to avoid the behaviors Paul lists.

This is another way of saying we are growing in spiritual maturity. Consider these definitions of Christian maturity:

(1) Chuck Swindoll—One of the marks of maturity is the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable.

(2) Fred Cook—Maturity is the ability to do a job whether supervised or not; finish it once started; carry money without spending it; and …bear an injustice without wanting to get even. If Cook is correct, his definition is quite an indictment of our current culture, isn’t it? We are trying to get along with a huge number of spiritually immature persons.

(3) John McNaughton—Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.

(4) Anonymous—Maturity is moving from a soft skin-tough heart to a tough skin-soft heart (This one requires some pondering).

When we are followers of Jesus Christ, trying to think like Jesus and live in ways that please Him, we might come to say like John Newton🡪 I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say with the great apostle, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” (Chuck Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart, Word Publishing, 1998, p.370.)

The Apostle Paul wanted the Colossian Church—and us—to grow in spiritual maturity. This is not an easy task. It involves self-denial. It can and often does involve pain. The devotional, Today in the Word, printed a story years ago (1987) about how a mother eagle encourages her chicks to leave the nest:

Though many of us have seen pictures of a huge eagle’s nest high in the branches of a tree or in the crag of a cliff, few of us have gotten a glimpse inside. When a mother eagle builds her nest she starts with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks, and a number of other items that seem entirely unsuitable for the project. But then she lines the nest with a thick padding of wool, feathers, and fur from animals she has killed, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs. By the time the growing birds reach flying age, the comfort of the nest and the luxury of free meals make them quite reluctant to leave. That’s when the mother eagle begins “stirring up the nest.” With her strong talons she begins pulling up the thick carpet of fur and feathers, bringing the sharp rocks and branches to the surface. As more of the bedding gets plucked up, the nest becomes more uncomfortable for the young eagles. Eventually, this and other urgings prompt the growing eagles to leave their once-comfortable abode and move on to more mature behavior.

It’s not easy to mature spiritually, but we can attain it—or at least move toward it—by cooperating with the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Like the mother eagle, He can and does comfort us when we are afflicted (hungry, lonely, tired, etc); but also like her, He can and does afflict us when we get too comfortable. This side of heaven, we don’t attain perfection. Nevertheless, we want to be like John Newton, the former captain of a British slave ship, who repented, came to Christ, and was ordained. He is also the one who wrote the hymn, “Amazing Grace”. Remember he said, I am not what I might be, I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I wish to be, I am not what I hope to be. But I thank God I am not what I once was…. Hopefully, day by day, we are making progress in becoming more and more like Christ Jesus.

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

©️2022 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

The Watchman’s Challenge

Pastor Sherry’s message for July 17, 2022

Scriptures: Amos 8:1-12; Ps 52; Col 1:15-28; Lk 10:38-42

Last week, I encouraged us to become like “watchmen” on the walls surrounding our country. By this I meant “Prayer Warriors” for the USA. We looked at Amos, chapter 7, and recognized how America—like ancient Israel—is out of alignment with the Lord. Amos’ image, given to him by God, was that of a plumb line. It is a simple device (a string with a weight at the end will do) to help insure a straight vertical line for a wall, or for hanging wallpaper. I’ve seen cabinet installers use laser beams to ensure they set the cabinets in straight; the laser is a new form of plumb line.) The prophet was telling the Northern Kingdom that they were out of plumb with God. Citing a number of examples, we could see where our country, too, is currently out of plumb with God.

This week, in Amos 8:1-12, God gives His prophet the image of ripe fruit. Ripe fruit is fruit taken at its peak. Prior to ripening, it is too sour or too hard to eat. By the same token, you don’t want to let ripe fruit sit around for very long. It gets mushy, brown, or soggy—it spoils; it also attracts fruit flies. God is saying to Israel that “the time is ripe” for them.

Either they change their sinful ways and return to sincere worship of God; or God will no longer spare them. This was God’s final image of warning to them in the book of Amos.

Again, I think this is a very relevant message for us in America today. Like with the Northern Kingdom, many Americans don’t worship the One, True God anymore. And some who do are only going through the motions: God condemned the Israelites for thinking about their businesses while at worship. What do we think about while here in church together? Are we focused on the Lord, or on what we’ll have for lunch after? What we might do later?

The Israelites were infamous at that time for corrupt business practices: Skimping on the quantity—providing less of what was wanted for the same or a larger price; inflating the price; cheating with dishonest scales (and other measures); and buying the poor (with silver or for a pair of sandals.) We tend not to think of ourselves as buying the poor, but what about engaging in sex trafficking, buying the sexual use of someone’s body. And while we no longer have debtors’ prisons, we do have a staggering number of homeless persons who cannot afford to live in today’s economy. It appears as though a surprising number of folks in America don’t realize that God sees all and knows all, and intends to hold them (us) accountable. In vv.7-10, God reminds Israel (and us) The Lord has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.” The Pride of Jacob is a poetic name for the yet to come Jesus (as predicted by Amos around 750 BC). God is swearing by His Son, Jesus, that He will not forget their corrupt deeds (He sees and remembers all evil acts). If the Father makes a vow based on His Son, is there any question that He means to abide by it? No!

I have heard people joke about going to hell: they say they intend to party with all their friends who they think will be there too. YIKES! This is no joking matter! Humans in hell will not be partying! They will be eternally separated from God, as well as from any of their godly friends and relatives. Worse yet, they will experience unending, everlasting torment at the hand of demons who hate God and God’s people. This is not something to aspire to, even glibly.

Amos ends the passage with predictions of what is to come in the end times (the 7 year Great Tribulation): (1) There will be massive earthquakes. (2) Sunlight will be limited to ½ a day. (3) Those who rejoice now will be weeping then, in mourning, wishing they had chosen to follow Jesus while there was yet time. (4) And there will be a famine of hearing God’s Word.

Back then, God sent no more prophets, after Malachi, to declare His word for the 400 years remaining before Jesus’ birth and the appearance of John the Baptist. It appears that even now the Lord has lifted His hand of protection from us, so that we are already experiencing …an increase of evil (as predicted by Jesus in Matthew 24:12).

If this alarms you, be at peace as our remaining Scriptures today are all very encouraging.

A. Our Psalm 52 describes King David’s fearless confidence in God when he was attacked by an arrogant and wicked enemy king. In vv.1-4, he declares there is no reason for evil ones to boast as God will bring them down. John Lawrence, in his book Down to Earth, reports how a city of wicked and sacrilegious people dared God to show Himself:

“On December 25, 1908—Jesus’ Birthday–a newspaper published in Messina, Sicily, printed a parody against God, daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake. Three days later, on December 28, the city and its surrounding district was devastated by a terrible quake that killed 84,000 people.” (Cited in Today in the Word, October, 1997, p. 25). This foolish city went too far. They incurred the wrath of God. We can only hope that God separated out the scoffers and blasphemers for judgment and spared the righteous. At any rate, He clearly remembered their arrogance and their unbelief.

King David goes on to assert (vv.6-7) that the righteous will be ultimately vindicated–which David was, again and again. And those of us who love Jesus will be too. Verses 8-9 conclude with David asserting that he will trust in the Lord—an encouragement for us to do likewise.

B. In Colossians 1:15-28, Paul makes his case for the supremacy of Christ. Why should the believer trust in Jesus? Because Jesus…(1) created all things; (2) is set apart from and is superior to all created things; (3) holds all of creation together (Science has discovered that all human and animal connective tissue has at its heart a substance called lamina. This substance appears in cell bodies in it the shape of a cross. Literally, the Cross of Christ holds our bodies together. (4) He is the head of His body, the Church; and (5) because God had Jesus reconcile all things to the Father. (6) Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Father now looks at those of us who love His Son through the eyes of Christ. He forgives us our failings. He offers us grace, love, and mercy.

C. Our Gospel lesson (Luke 10:38-42) records Jesus’ interactions with Mary and Martha. God bless her, Martha is focused on the task of creating a meal for our Lord. Mary, her sister, has abandoned the task to deepen her relationship with Jesus. Jesus reassures Martha that she is not to worry, while affirming Mary’s focus on Him and His teaching. This is a lesson for each of us, too, isn’t it? We don’t want to be invested in doing things for God without spending time investing in our relationship with Him daily.

God’s judgment is coming for America, just as it did for ancient Israel. But we still have time to get right with our Lord: First, we can trust in Him…as a God who protects and defends those who love Him; because of Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross for our sakes; and because He desires a deep relationship with each one of us.

Last week, I encouraged us to stand as watchmen (and watchwomen), praying daily for our country to turn back to God.

This week, I challenge us to pray daily for America. We want to do this because we love the USA. We want to do this because prayer– and the ballot box–are the only means we have for encouraging a national return to Christ. Consider this story from Stuart Strachan, Jr., about Babe Ruth, the great professional baseball player from 1914—1935. For those not familiar with “the Babe,” he hit 714 home runs in his career, and was responsible for bringing another 2, 214 runners in to score. He also contributed to a phenomenal 12 World’s Series wins:

Most of us have heard of Babe Ruth, but have you ever heard of Babe Pinelli? Pinelli was an umpire in Major League Baseball who once called The Great Bambino (Ruth) out on strikes. When the crowd began booing in disapproval of the call, Babe turned to the umpire and said “There’s 40,000 people here who know that the last pitch was a ball.” The coaches and players braced for a swift ejection, but instead, Pinelli responded coolly, “Maybe so, Babe, but mine is the only opinion that counts.”

In life it’s easy to get caught up in the opinions of others, but in the end, it’s not our scoffers or critics by whom we will be judged. The Only Opinion That Matters is God’s.

God may be ready to “lower the boom” on America. Whether His judgment comes tomorrow or 5 or 20 years from now, we should not be afraid. Instead, we are to be faithful until Christ returns. Instead, we need to function as praying watchmen as we wait and watch to see what God does.

©️2022 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams

Posted on by Cheryl Norman

Semantic Spin Revisited

Pastor Sherry’s message for June 6, 2021

Scriptures 1 Sam 8:1-20; Ps 138; 2 Cor 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

Three years ago, when these Scripture passages appeared in the Lectionary, I preached about “Semantic Spin,” and the distinction the media and politicians were making at that time between a “spy” and an “informant.” I referred to that as a real life example of defining something one way to deflect criticism, when in truth it is actually the opposite.  Despite the 9th Commandment, which prohibits lying–or bearing false witness against another—isn’t it all too frequent that we find our politicians, media, business leaders, educators, and neighbors, spinning lies to in an attempt to manipulate our cooperation/compliance/agreement?  Some notable examples recently include: 

​​1. Critical Race Theory—now embedded in our school curricula, government, military, and corporations—and touted as truth, it defines human history as a struggle between oppressors, usually white, against everyone else.  This is Marxism with a new spin.  Rather than breeding a spirit of unity in our country, it actually promotes racial division and hatred.

​​2. We were told the Group “Black Lives Matter” exists to encourage and strengthen black families; but it is actually a front for funding and fomenting civil unrest and hatred toward America.

​​3. We were told Covid-19 did not originate in a Chinese Virology Lab, so as not to offend the Chinese Communist government. But now a significant amount of evidence supports the conclusion that it was manufactured by the Chinese and escaped containment.

​​4. The power elites advocate that, contrary to science and to God’s order, there is no such thing as two genders.  Kindergarteners in some school districts are being taught this as truth.   They are also recommending that kids as young as 8YO should be allowed to opt for sex ​change surgeries and authorized to use powerful sex change hormones.

​​5. President Biden’s proposed Budget for 2022 resumes federal funding for abortions because they are considered by some as a women’s health issue.  What about the health of the unborn baby?

6. 1 year ago, segregation was immoral, but now we are going to segregate those who have declined taking the Covid vaccine from these who have taken it. If we begin this sort of discrimination, what might be next? Will we segregate those with Hepatitis-C, with TB, or with HIV-Aids?

Radical influences in our culture would like us to set human will above human nature or even common sense, let alone good theology.

My favorite news commentator often ends his show by stating that his program is “the sworn enemy of lying, pomposity, smugness, and group think.”  These four are all good things to oppose and are currently rampant in our culture.

​Our Scriptures today provide two further examples of Semantic Spin, and how God responds to it:

1 Sam 8:1-20àThe Israelites are unhappy. The Prophet Samuel has reached retirement age, so the question has arisen as to who should replace him. Like Eli’s sons before him, Samuels’ two sons did not walk in the ways of the Lord. They were either not believers at all, or they knew better–but lacked integrity–and sold their influence to the highest bidder. The people did not want these two young men to lead them. Up until this point, there had been no king in Israel. God had appointed a prophet (or a judge) who was to hear from God what He wanted, then convey God’s will to the people. So rather than ask the prophet to inquire of God who God wanted to lead them, they ask for a king. Notice, Samuel could have inquired of the Lord but he didn’t. And now the people have an excuse they spin to justify getting a king: A reliable prophet has not been assigned us.

So, we’d like to be like all the other countries of the known world, and have a king.  What they really mean—but don’t say—is that we want to do things our way rather than be led by the Lord.

​In verse 9, God tells Samuel not to take it personally—God knows they are actually rejecting Him, not Samuel—but to warn them what having a king might mean for them.  God has a special house, the Tabernacle, but they will have to build another special house for the king, a palace.  This will cost them money, which means they will be taxed.  A king will want to have his own army, which will result in higher taxes.  And their sons will be conscripted into the army, while their daughters will serve as palace maids, artisans, and possibly wives and concubines.  Samuel warns them in verses13+àHe [a king] will take the best of your fields and vineyards and give them to his attendants….He will take the best of your menservants, maidservants, cattle and donkeys….He will take a 10thof your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.

​Nevertheless, despite all these arguments against it, the people still demand a human king.  What were they thinking? God is not fooled!  They can spin it however they want, but they are rejecting God’s leadership.

We gotta have a king…is a semantic spin on disobedience.  It’s a “no confidence vote” for God—we don’t trust The One who is the same today, yesterday, and forever—so we want to place our trust in a human, fallible, possibly self-focused leader.  REALLY?  YIKES!  They will get a king but at considerable cost.  Accepting semantic spin is ultimately expensive.

​In our Gospel lesson, Mark 3:20-35, Jesus is teaching in Capernaum, 30 miles from Nazareth.  He’s been so swamped by ministry at this point that He has ducked into a home to get a meal (probably Peter and Andrew’s house). But the teachers of the Law have followed Him, to accuse Him:  This time they claim He is doing His miraculous work by the power of Satan.  Good gracious!  Think of this:  They are saying the 2ndPerson of the Trinity, who stands before them, is doing work inspired by the Father (Person 1), through the power of the Holy Spirit (Person 3)—and they are claiming He is instead drawing on the power of Satan.  Even Satanists will tell you their power comes from the Devil.   What an insulting charge! What an outrageous spin!

​But Jesus responds to them calmly and logically.  Essentially, He says, I am casting Satan out of people; why would Satan want Me to work contrary to his goals?  He asserts in verses 23-26àHow can Satan drive out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.  Then He warns them—I am doing what I do by the power of the Holy Spirit.  If you call what I do a work of Satan, you have blasphemed/falsely accused both the Holy Spirit and Me, two persons of the Trinity.  This is not smart. This is in fact an unforgivable sin because it credits the Work of God to Satan; and it indicates a heart already taken over by Satan.  Again, semantic spin is very expensive!

​Now He’s really said it, hasn’t He?  The crowd is murmuring, no doubt speculating how long Jesus has before the power elites arrest Him.  Some gossip, or perhaps even some well-meaning person, runs the 30 miles to Nazareth to get Mary, James and Jude to rescue Jesus before He is arrested.  No doubt they cry, He’s talking crazy!  He’s making them mad!  They’ll arrest Him for sure!  You better go see about Him!  Afterall, John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, has already been arrested and jailed.  His family knows what tends to happen to religious zealots.  They’ve suggested Jesus is crazy, but He is just honestly challenging the illogical arguments of the teachers of the Law.  He’s being defined as out of His mind—semantic spin–

but He’s actually exercising His power as God to define what is true.

Nevertheless, Mary and her grown sons rush to rescue Him. When Jesus is told that His family has arrived, He responds in an unexpected way. We/they would have expected Him to go greet them. Instead, Heredefines the concept of family: Verse 33àWho are my mother and my brothers? Verse 34àWhoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother. He is saying the spirit-ties of those who believe in Him actually form a closer relationship to Him than blood ties do. Haven’t you found that this is so? I share much more in common with the Body of Christ than I do with my blood kin who do not accept Jesus as Lord. I can and do love them; but there is not the same meeting of the mind and heartwith them that I enjoy with my fellow-believers. We have heard, “Blood is thicker than water.” But here Jesus is saying that the waters of Baptism are supernaturally “thicker than the blood of family.”

So, let’s return to the business of “semantic spin revisited.”

There’s a lot of this going around in our culture today. We need to know God’s Word to discern the truth. We need to call upon the Holy Spirit to pare away fiction or lies from the truth. We can ask the Holy Spirit for spiritual gifts of wisdom and discernment. He can and will help us identify—and resist–lying, pomposity, smugness, and group-think.

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Let’s pray: Gracious Lord, please lead, guide and direct us. Help us not to be taken in by those whose motives are to tear down another and advance their own cause. Help us to discern truth and to recognize semantic spin. The enemy tried so many times to accost you with lies, Lord Jesus. We appear to be similarly bombarded with lies today. Reveal to us the truth in every political and governmental situation. Bring integrity and truth-telling back into the halls and agencies of our national and state governments. Rule and overrule the hearts of anyone who is corrupt or who is advancing an evil plot. Bring all lies and corruption out into the light of Christ, we pray in His all-powerful name. AMEN

©️2021 Rev. Dr. Sherry Adams