[0:00] This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made.
[0:24] Let us rejoice, let us rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
[0:44] This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made. Hi, we're the Pendletones.
[1:02] First time visitors, please pick up your welcome bag at the connection site in the back of the sanctuary, or at our welcome and information desk. Everyone, please write your name on our friendship card.
[1:14] Fill in your address to receive the newsletter or update your information. On the back, you can put prayer concerns, blessings, or notes to the staff, and place in the offering plate. Enjoy the service!
[1:27] We are glad to have you here for church this morning. The clipboard that are going around are an opportunity for prayer. We do prayer vigils once in a while for 24 hours, and we have one coming up.
[1:38] And I know praying for an entire hour sounds like that's impossible, but it's amazing how quickly the time goes by. So I do encourage you to sign up for that. I also want to mention that we are changing our schedule this in two weeks, September 10th, and this is what the schedule will be like.
[1:55] We will have worship at 9 o'clock like we're having right now. We'll have Sunday school at 10.15 for all ages, and we will have worship again at 11.15. This is an old, old schedule that we used when our church was the strongest and the healthiest, and we're trying to go back to some old principles and understandings.
[2:15] One is we'll have junior church for the little ones. So three-year-olds through third grade will have a program during worship, and we'll start in the ark. But the older children we're trying to bring back into worship because we really need to renew the idea of worship, and for the adults, Sunday school.
[2:34] So we're going back to a different schedule. We're going to give it a try and see how it works and look forward to having you participate with us this coming fall. Let's pray, shall we? Lord, we thank you for your blessings, and we pray that you'll bring your spirit upon us, that in all that we do and all that we are this morning, it will be for you.
[2:51] Bless us, Lord. Fill us and give us your peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I'd like to invite you all to stand if you're able as we worship together singing Rescue the Perishing.
[3:01] Rescue the perishing Care for the dying Snatch them in pity From sin and the grave Weep or the erring one Lift up the fallen Tell them of Jesus The mighty to save Rescue the perishing Care for the dying Jesus is merciful Jesus will save Though they are signing him
[4:01] Still he is waiting Waiting the penitent child to receive Plead with them earnestly Plead with them gently He will forgive if they only believe Rescue the perishing Care for the dying Jesus is merciful Jesus will save Down in the human heart Crushed by the tantrum Feelings I bury That grace can restore Touched by a loving heart Wakened by kindness Chords that are broken Will vibrate once more Rescue the perishing Rescue the perishing Care for the dying Jesus is merciful Jesus will save
[5:04] The Lord be with you Take a moment if you will And greet your neighbor With the peace of the spirit That's going to change too I'd like to invite the children Come up and join me now If any kids want to come on down Good morning guys Do you know what these are?
[5:42] These are spices Yes They smell really cool Here You guys can smell them If you want to Anybody want to smell one? Here you go I know you did Here pass it around Pass it around Here you go You can pass that one around Okay They're all different Aren't they?
[6:01] Yeah Some of them Some of them smell like Whoa And some of them smell like Fruit Don't they? And some of them smell sweet What They smell spicy Yes they do Absolutely And And Do you know That without these Our food would taste Kind of Yeah Yeah So we put spices in Because Well it makes our food better And I tell people about spices This is Cardamone I found this one a few years ago It's really cool Makes your food taste wonderful Tarragon is what makes our baked fish Taste so special At the fish fry Some people have asked me that And this other one Garum Marcella Is just cool My sister told me about this one Really good on me And this one In the jar I have no idea What it is My sister makes it up for me And she gives me a jar every year And I love it So I use it But I don't know what's in it I have no idea Isn't that kind of funny There are some seeds in there
[7:02] Yeah And there's some green stuff Other than that I have no idea what it is But it's very good Spices are great And I try to tell people About things that are great Just like I tell people About all kinds of special things In my life And the greatest thing In our lives Anybody want to guess who it is?
[7:17] Jesus Jesus So I tell people about Jesus Because Jesus makes our lives special Okay And you should do that too I'm going to invite you to share If you've got something you want to share That you're thankful for Just raise your hand Family Jackets Anybody else?
[7:37] No There we go Dogs Dogs Okay Lord we are thankful For all the special things In our lives Our family Our pets The things that Make our lives wonderful Bless us always And help us to share Those good things with others For it's in Jesus name we pray Amen Okay you guys can go out To church school All the children are invited To go out to church school Good morning Isn't it a beautiful day?
[8:16] I'm just It's been such a beautiful weekend And can you just feel The presence of the Lord Here in this place? That's what makes the day Really beautiful Amen? Amen Amen It is a wonderful thing God is moving us In all kinds of ways Into a new season We're moving out of summer And into that Back to the normal routine Kind of a thing And God's moving us As a church Into a new season too It is a blessing To know that God Is doing a new thing In our midst Let's bring our gifts Tithes and offerings Before the Lord Offering them up With thankful hearts For all God's doing In our lives And we're getting all together And we have those Sometimes And we're asking To happen And still Let's tell this So And when we're asking And when we're asking Thank you.
[9:33] Remember. Redemption's hill where your blood was spilled.
[9:46] For my ransom. Everything I want held dear.
[9:57] I count it all as lost. Lead me to the cross where your love poured out.
[10:10] Bring me to my knees. Lord, I lay me down. And rid me of myself. I belong to you.
[10:24] Oh, lead me. Lead me to the cross. You were as I.
[10:51] Tempted and tried. Human. The word became flesh.
[11:04] For my sin and death. Now you're risen. Everything I want held dear.
[11:19] I count it all as lost. Lead me to the cross where your love poured out.
[11:31] Bring me to my knees. Lord, I lay me down. And rid me of myself. I belong to you.
[11:45] Oh, lead me. Lead me to the cross. Lead me to your heart.
[11:59] Lead me to your heart. To your heart. Lead me to your heart.
[12:12] Lead me to the cross.
[12:25] Where your love poured out. Bring me to my knees. Lord, I lay me down.
[12:37] And rid me of myself. I belong to you. Oh, lead me. Lead me to the cross.
[12:54] Thank you.y Praise Him above the heavenly host Praise God, His Son, and Holy Ghost Amen Dear Heavenly Father, we give you thanks and praise for this day and for the opportunity to gather and worship you.
[13:53] Lord, we ask that you would bless this offering. Give us wisdom to know how to best use it for the furtherance of your kingdom that many would come to salvation in Jesus Christ.
[14:04] That we would honor and glorify your name in that work. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Please be seated. We do have some concerns and some joys to add to what we've spoken of already.
[14:21] Ellie Drake is in the hospital right now. She has a pulmonary embolism and we want to keep her in our prayers. Joe Ventura, who was hospitalized with a blood infection, is home now and he's recovering.
[14:34] So we keep him in our prayers as well. Dorothy Thuman had surgery on Thursday. She's home now recovering. And Dottie Ryer is having some medical tests this week.
[14:45] We want to keep her lifted up too. With these concerns and those that are in your heart, whether you join me from your seat or at the rail, let's turn to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we come before you now knowing that you are the great and mighty God, creator of all things, who hears and answers our prayers.
[15:16] We are grateful for the opportunity to lift up these concerns, Lord. We ask that you would touch us, draw our hearts toward you, make us well able to pray, make us well able to minister to the needs of the people you put in our path.
[15:44] We especially lift up, Lord, all of those who are sick and infirm. We pray that you will touch them with your healing power. Make them whole, Lord God.
[15:56] Make them whole from the tops of their heads to the soles of their feet, in their spirits, in their souls, and in their bodies. Lord, you are the one who knows what each one truly needs.
[16:09] We pray that you meet those needs as you have promised. Lord, we pray for those who are grieving losses of all kinds.
[16:22] We pray that they will be comforted and granted peace as they draw close to you. Let them know that you are with them, Lord. Let them feel your presence.
[16:37] Father, we pray for all of those who are enduring the hardship of a very, very bad weather. Lord God, whose homes and properties are damaged, whose lives are threatened.
[16:51] Lord, we just ask in Jesus' name for peace in those situations. We pray that you would move on the hearts of people to help where help is needed.
[17:04] We pray, Lord God, that as your church, we would go forth hearing your voice, carrying your presence, and being witnesses to your great love and grace and mercy.
[17:23] Lord, we pray for you. Lord, you pray for us help us, Lord. Strengthen our faith so that we can reach others for you. Lord, we pray for you. Lord, we pray for you.
[17:34] Lord, we pray for you. Be with us now as we sing the songs of praise, as we hear the words spoken and proclaimed and expounded on as Pastor Tom delivers the message that you've given him for us this day.
[17:48] Let all of these things, Lord God, be a blessing to each and every one of us. Let our worship be a blessing to you. Transform us, Lord, and make us able to go out into the world and represent you well.
[18:07] In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Shall we hear from the word of the Lord? Good morning, everyone.
[18:43] I'll be reading from Luke chapter 10, verses 1 through 11, then 16 through 20. After this, the Lord appointed 72 others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
[19:04] He told them, The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
[19:16] Go. I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals and do not greet anyone on the road.
[19:27] When you enter a house, first say, Peace to this house. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them. If not, it will return to you.
[19:39] Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.
[19:54] Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God has come near to you. But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you.
[20:10] Yet be sure of this, the kingdom of God has come near. Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me, but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.
[20:26] The 72 returned with joy and said, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
[20:37] I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
[20:54] This is the word of our Lord. Thanks be to God. Thank you, Louis. We've been doing a sermon series where we've had some quizzes and we're going to start right out with the quiz.
[21:05] So get out your little pieces of paper wherever you might have them. Most of you should know about this. If not, take a piece off your bulletin or whatever you wish. You can even use the technology there with PendletonChurch.org.
[21:17] Here's the question. What list is closest to what you value most in life? If you had to pick one of these lists, which would it be? Would it be A, you value your car, your house, and your job most?
[21:30] B, spices and tools and sub shops? C, your faith, your family, and your values? Or D, your money, your health, and your education?
[21:41] Not so easy, is it? There's all things that we like and enjoy. Go ahead. A, B, C, or D. Let's see how we do. We'll collect those up. They're going to send those.
[21:51] If you could send those down to the aisles, they'll come around and pick them up and we'll see what your answers are in a few minutes. You know, I do like to cook and that's why I share with people about these unusual spices.
[22:03] There are some pretty neat spices out there. My daughter even gets me one from France. And these kind of things can make our food taste particularly good. As I said, I put about nine spices in the fish fries for the fish.
[22:17] And so it's not just fish thrown into some butter. It's got an unusual flavor because of that. When we go on the mission trip, sometimes the kids will ask me for what they call the cool tool. The cool tool is basically a Dremel and it cuts under doors.
[22:32] It cuts around outlets for drywall. It cuts almost everywhere anything. So we call it the cool tool. And if you don't have one and you do a lot of work, you should get a cool tool because they're pretty cool.
[22:45] The other day I was talking to my neighbor and I said, you know, I called the sub shop out in Perry called Daryl's. And I called up and they answered the phone and I said, hi, I'd like to order a sub.
[22:56] And they said, would you like the same one you got last time? I'm like, oh, I'm getting creeped out now. And they proceeded to describe right down to exact details of what I wanted on it.
[23:07] What I had. And they said, now that's for Tom, right? I said, oh, this is just too much. This is too much. And then they asked me, well, what is this Daryl's? I said, you've lived here 30 years and you don't know what Daryl's is?
[23:19] And I said, it's a great place with subs and pizza. Well, that afternoon they went to Daryl's. And they came back and they said, that's a great place. When we find a good restaurant or someplace we like to go, we share those things with people.
[23:32] We share with people about spices or about tools or about special places to eat. And yet the most important thing in our lives is that we love God.
[23:42] Amen? And we struggle to share that. I love to tell the story. It will be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
[23:57] You know, in this passage, it actually says in verse 2, or verse 3 rather, go. He doesn't say if it's comfortable or if you feel like it or if it works for you or fits in your schedule.
[24:08] He says, go and tell people about me. In verse 1 and 2 it actually says that he chose the people. He appointed them. He didn't let them volunteer. It wasn't up to them. He said, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, and the one back there and you over there, go.
[24:24] Go. God picks people and chooses them to share the message. Some have an easier way about it and are more comfortable because they're those kind of outgoing people and some not so much, but each one has someone that God calls them to reach.
[24:41] 72 people. At this point in time, Jesus probably didn't have more than maybe 80 or 100 people following him around, so this is most of his disciples. Most of you are expected to go.
[24:53] It's easy, though, to share the things in our lives that make things go well, like spices or tools or subchops, but we struggle with sharing God.
[25:06] Even though he's the most important thing in the life of a Christian, we struggle with it. And this passage talks a little bit about it. After all, he says, I send you out, in verse 3, like sheeps among wolves.
[25:21] This isn't going to be an easy thing. In some ways, our culture is hostile to the message we want to share with them, and God knows that. Now, I've been a salesman all my life.
[25:34] The only difference between me now and 40 years ago is the product I sell. I've got the best one now to sell, right? But basically, I've been doing sales all my life, and you know what I learned about sales?
[25:44] Here's the key. Reject the rejection. I used to have to sell lawn care to people in the middle of the winter. They've got three feet of snow on their lawn, and I'm calling them up to see if they want their grass taken care of.
[25:56] And I had other friends doing it with me, too. And I sold more than they did, and you know what the reason was? They would get on the phone with somebody who said, I don't think so. What are you, crazy? It's the middle of the winter, and start arguing and talking and trying to convince them.
[26:08] I'd tell them, hang up the phone. Keep going. There's a person out there waiting. Oh, I was going to call you guys this spring. That's the one you want. Reject the rejection.
[26:19] Forget about the people that refuse you. Forget about the people that refuse God. In verse 16, he says, whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects God himself.
[26:37] It's not you. It's God that they don't want to have anything to do, but it says that the harvest is white. There are people out there all over the place that want to experience God in the way you do.
[26:55] So reject the rejection and look for the ones who are struggling. John Wesley, who started our denomination, needed to learn how to reject the rejection. He was a priest in the Church of England.
[27:08] He was ordained. He was a well-trained, educated priest whose father was a priest. But he wasn't allowed to preach in any of the churches of England.
[27:20] He was expelled from preaching in the church he belonged to. Like me, if I was expelled from the United Methodist churches, even though I'm a pastor, they didn't take away his credentials. They just didn't let him preach in their churches.
[27:31] And you want to know the reason why? He brought in the wrong people. He brought in the wrong folks. Because you know what that means. If we start bringing the wrong people in here and you have to have them sit next to you or your spouse or your kids, you might be going, Pastor Tom's getting the wrong folks in here.
[27:51] This isn't what I signed up for. And John Wesley was bringing in the wrong kind of people as far as the church people were concerned. So they told him, you're not welcome in the church anymore. So John Wesley didn't go home and mope and cry and whine.
[28:05] It's not fair. He went out to where the people were. He preached his sermons in the countryside. Sometimes thousands of people. I don't know how they did that. He must have had a voice like a cannon. You know?
[28:16] He preached in coal mines. I can't even picture being in a coal mine nonetheless preaching in one. He went to where the people were that needed to hear about God because there's people out there that are struggling.
[28:30] They're lost. They're hurting. And they need Jesus. Jesus. In this Bible just a couple chapters over in chapter 15 tells a story about a sheep.
[28:45] Jesus says, suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulder and goes home.
[28:57] Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, rejoice with me. I have found my lost sheep. You know, my understanding of sheep and I don't know a lot about them so you can correct me if I'm wrong is that they're not very smart.
[29:11] They sort of like wander off. Ooh, a butterfly. Ooh, fresh grass. Look at that. Ooh, look at that over there. I could go over there. You know, kind of like people, right?
[29:22] Because God uses sheep as an example of us. Wander off. So you can picture this little sheep now all of a sudden realizes that they don't know where they are. Oh, where am I?
[29:34] And they're trying to find the way home but they can't see it because there's no one there to guide them. They're used to having a shepherd to show them which way to go. They're used to having dogs even to bark at them.
[29:46] They're used to having other sheep to follow behind. There's little narrow paths. There's wide paths. There's scary paths and the little sheep is shaking because they're lost and they need to be found.
[30:01] That's how God feels about people because they get lost like this young girl. That's when I started to distance myself from God and from relationships and from people because I was so consumed with having a boyfriend and just not even that I wanted to be with the person it's just that I wanted a long-term relationship.
[30:19] I was just desperate for the attention that I didn't get as a child from my family. We got to know each other and after about a year of dating is when things started to get really bad.
[30:29] We didn't really start fighting until we had been dating for a while but then we started fighting and fighting and fighting and it got to the point that we were fighting about things stupid things like he wanted to do things with me and I didn't want to put out.
[30:42] I didn't want to be that person and I met a guy that became one of my best friends and I did bars for the first time with him. I got high for the first time with him. I did ecstasy for the first time with him and several times later and I got drunk for the first time with him.
[30:55] So I listened to him and I was like okay that's fine I can do those things I mean I'm not a godly person anymore I don't go to church you know God God's whatever I'm not good enough for God I'm not gonna be good enough for God so why would I go to church when I'm out drinking partying living life on the weekends you know I just I wasn't satisfied with that life I was tired of feeling like I wasn't even good enough to be to be someone that could go to church that could be loved by God I wasn't satisfied I couldn't find happiness I couldn't find joy but she doesn't know where to look you notice how she talks fast those of us that are older are not used to listening that quick she talks fast because she's anxious she's worried she's lost she's a little sheep that doesn't know which way to go and we know but we don't share and some people say it's because we don't know how so let me give you
[31:56] Jesus quick study on how to share your faith okay we're gonna go through this pretty quickly in verse 1 he says go with a partner just like the ark go two by two don't go alone it's a frightening world out there don't go and do anything alone you should have a partner in everything you do it's good for you number two he says travel light don't take a bunch of extra baggage don't take stuff you gotta worry about and take care of and spend time with just go out there relying on God the interesting one is in verse 4 it says don't greet people along the way and we're like what aren't you supposed to be no what he's saying is keep focused keep focused if you lose your focus you won't get to what you're doing like some of you who you know you go upstairs for something and you get up there and you get distracted and you're looking at something and you're doing this and that and then you walk downstairs and you go oh shoot right because we all do that because we get distracted it's so easy to get distracted in this world get a plan and follow the plan it says begin with peace offer your peace we'll talk more about that in a little bit but Christians are too quick to offer judgment the world is not really in need of judgment right now they need peace most of it they need love they need the grace of God in fact in verse 9 it actually says to bring healing and I know what some of you will say
[33:21] I'm not a doctor I'm not a nurse but you know we can all bring healing some people can do amazing miracles and I've seen that happen I just went to a wedding for a little girl that my wife and I prayed for when she was a baby the doctor said she would die and yesterday we were at her wedding truth of the matter is those miracles happen but that's not what you have to do to bring healing sometimes all you need to do is talk to someone be with that person nobody else is talking to put your arm around somebody who's struggling and hurting be there when somebody needs a helping hand that brings healing it also says that that you'll learn the peace will return to you or not God will show you where you should share the faith God will lead you you don't have to go out and start banging on doors or going out into the crowds and yelling at them just wait and God will bring the people to you but will you be bold enough to share when God puts those people in your presence and then it says
[34:23] I think this is interesting eat what they serve you stay where they sleep you in other words start where they are we sometimes get really weird about worrying about ourselves and people aren't going to listen to what we have to say until we listen to what they have to say you know this food thing is kind of interesting I remember years and years ago I worked for Chemlon and there was a lady that I wanted to talk to about her account and she invited me in to eat rhubarb pie I don't like rhubarb pie just FYI it's not I don't like it right but I want to talk to her so knowing good sales techniques you eat the rhubarb pie alright because if you care about what they care about if you listen to what they say if you're there where they're at if you begin where they are they'll listen to what you have to say I've heard people say to me all kinds of goofy things about God that's fine that's fine but they won't listen to what I have to say until I listen to what they have to say they won't care what I care about until I care about what they care about and share with everyone did you notice that that some of the people in the story will reject the message in fact it even talks about kicking the dust of your heels off you know don't worry about them and what that simply means is if somebody's not interested move on don't be spending time on people that don't really want to hear what you have to say because remember the harvest is white there's people out there waiting for you to show up but share it with everyone even the people you think don't want to hear because believe it or not there's people out there that you think don't want to hear that have been waiting desperately to hear about God share it with everyone find that lost sheep
[36:10] I want to tell you about a guy named Harry Denman Harry Denman was a person in the United Methodist Church years and years ago he had dropped out of school and his Sunday school teacher encouraged him to go back to school he actually went back to school got a college degree and then got a master's degree in business and he became a church manager a manager of a church bigger than this church one of those large churches where he had to just manage everything that was going on and he does such a great job that the United Methodist Church the whole big denomination hired him but they didn't hire him to run a business area they hired him to run the evangelism division he started out with five people and a number of years later there were 300 people working in our country on bringing people to Jesus Christ but it wasn't the fact that he made this organization so great or that he had this great career it was Harry himself Harry chose not to get married and not to have children on purpose because he said it'll take time away from sharing about Jesus and everywhere he went he talked about Jesus and Harry had a fairly decent job it paid reasonably well but let me tell you what Harry owned
[37:17] I can show you I won't get too much in detail he had a brown suit and he had a briefcase I couldn't find a briefcase anymore so I used this bag and inside that briefcase was a change of underwear a clean shirt and a pair of pajamas and no matter the fact that he had a good income that's all he owned because everything Harry ever got he spent on other people Wesley was that way by the way too he was a prolific author and made what would be today millions and millions of dollars selling his products his books and things and he died with only owning a couple of spoons in a collection because these people were so committed to Jesus that they would use their resources to bring the word of God to people amazing really beyond most of our comprehension even those of us who have given up a lot for God really don't get to that point I never have when I moved to Wyoming
[38:19] I gave up my house I gave up my job I gave up my future but I took a I took a U-Haul full of stuff with me not a suit right Harry used to go into diners and he would talk to the people and of course because his job required him to ride on airplanes he would talk to the stewardesses a lot and there are a lot of stories about Harry but just a couple of them was the stewardesses he would get their address I know that sounds creepy but think back in that day right he'd get their addresses and he'd write a letter to their mothers saying what wonderful young women they were can you imagine a better gift that you could give to a young lady than to send a letter home to mom saying how wonderful you are he would stop in at the diners and have coffee and talk to people about God one young woman he ran across said well I'd like to go to church but I can't get off from work in fact I have a little baby at home but I can't get to church to have her baptized so he went in the back and talked to the boss and he came out he said you got Sunday off you can go get the baby baptized this week I'll go with you amazing
[39:21] I don't know that you all can be Harry Denman they even give an award out in the United Methodist Church now for the layperson and the pastor who do the most every year to bring somebody to God I don't know that we can be Harry Denmans but we can bring people to Jesus he wasn't a pastor he wasn't even really truly paid to do this it was his life it was who he was because he cared about the lost sheep and faith is not shared head to head faith is shared heart to heart when they see your heart when they see your love when they see your care they want to experience that too the last thing on the list that Jesus gives us is he says when you go into any place any town anywhere proclaim the kingdom of heaven is near the kingdom of heaven is near God wants to be with you God wants to love you God wants to care for you it doesn't matter who you are what you've done where you've been what your life has looked like what you feel about anything
[40:28] God wants to be with you that's the message that's the message that changes the world and it's the message we need to bring we need to care enough to go out of our comfort zone to share and it's not because we need more people in our church it's not because somehow we need more money to pay the bills it's not because we need somebody more to work on the fish fries it's because people need Jesus I went to see a mother the other day from our church and she was talking about her daughter who I knew since she was a little girl and she says well she's afraid to come to church because she doesn't come to church in Pendleton anymore she goes to another area church and she thinks you're going to be mad at her mad at her because she grew up and went to church hello this is what we're living for it's not about our kingdom it's about
[41:29] God's kingdom how do we breathe the love of God into people's hearts because they're in trouble you know when you kick the dust off your heels he also said to tell the people the kingdom of God is there it's a double-edged sword it can bring peace it can bring love it can bring joy but it can bring the end and there are people that are on the way to hell on the way to destruction and they're living in hell now and they don't know the way in the book of Matthew it says enter through the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction many enter through it but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it I want you to think about that little sheep that poor little sheep is out there by themselves and they're looking around and they see this narrow kind of difficult little path and they see a wide path which way do you think they're going to go because they have no one to help them no one to share with them no one to show they're alone they're troubled and they're afraid
[42:39] God says when we reach these there's rejoicing in heaven and we should rejoice too that our names are written in the book of life I love to tell the story because I know it's true it satisfies my longing like nothing else can do we have a great power we have the most amazing power in the universe universe it transforms lives it transforms the world right in front of us they said demons listen to what we said Satan fell from heaven at the command of Christians because there is nothing we need to be afraid of when God is with us when we bring the grace of God it changes everything like this young woman went from despair to Jesus somewhere along the lines
[43:47] I met a few friends that finally told me that I was good enough for God because I didn't feel like I was good enough for God because they were going to church every Sunday and I hadn't gone to church in five years and I didn't understand I was like how come you know God you pray I was like you seem pretty happy like what makes you so happy he's like how come you can talk to God and I can't and they told me Becca God's always been there for you God still loves you I hurt people because I was hurting and I tried to offend people because it made me feel better about myself because I knew that I was broken and I just couldn't grasp the concept that God loves me but I started to realize that I wanted that change I met some really cool people at work Steph and Stephen that started inviting me to church and I lied to Steph and Stephen for a while when they tried to get me to go to church just because I didn't want to go to Bible study because I was like if I go to Bible study I can't keep drinking on the weekends like I'll be a hypocrite I'm not going to be a hypocrite so I just kept telling her I didn't want to go and finally
[44:48] I started going and they made me realize that even though I am a sinner God still loves me and wants me and died on the cross for me for me I love to tell the story more wonderful it seems than all my golden fancies of all my dreams the most powerful thing in the world is the grace of God and we have it and it says that the harvest is ripe people say well folks don't want to go to church yes they do folks don't want to have God in life yes they do they're out there by the millions just waiting for somebody to invite them have you ever gotten a piece of mail from us anybody here ever get a piece of mail probably most of you we're the direct mail kings of the world not really but you know for churches we send out a lot of direct mail do you know that I have had people come to this church and say to me thank you for inviting me to your church this is the only time
[46:03] I've ever been invited to a church and I always wanted to go but I never got an invitation and you go wow from a little piece of paper we sent out in the mail can you imagine how much more powerful it would be if it came to someone they knew their friends their neighbor their family they actually say most people invited to church go they go we can break through the brokenness if we keep our focus on God and we keep our love on others I know we worry about the angry prodigal sons that ran off somewhere I'm not asking you to go drag down prodigals God didn't even do that go find the lost sheep they're alone they're troubled and they're afraid and I've got to tell you the truth sometimes they're afraid of us because we've got too many angry Christians out there too many
[47:04] Christians that haven't learned what it means to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul mind and strength and love your neighbor the way you would want to be loved in fact you want to know what makes United Methodist different ultimately and I think this church different than a lot is that you can come into this church and we'll accept you as you are you don't have to agree you don't have to be on the same political spectrum you don't even have to believe the same thing in your faith you just want to love God and love other people we want you we want you to be a part of it because we need we need the power of God's love it's God's love not his judgment that will change things you've seen this before some of you we need to turn it all inside out right you know these jackets are designed so that so that the hard parts on the outside and the soft parts on the inside that's the way churches seem to be we love each other but forget them out there we need to start showing that love to other people that concern that care for other people you know what else
[48:12] I discovered last night when I reached for my cell phone this also means that your wallet is out there it means your phone is out there and everything you care about is out there not hidden away anymore scary frightening powerful powerful the bible says a gentle answer will turn away wrath most of you have heard about this monument controversy that's going on in our country I read an article that was fascinating it said that some guys showed up to protect their monument they lined up stayed there all day to protect their monument and another group of people belonging to black lives matter showed up protesting their monument and they were in a standoff for a while and then one of the guys protecting the monument he said he saw this woman over there that looked like she was trembling in fear so he walked over to her like this and she just came up and threw her arms around him and hung him and wouldn't let go he said we're not
[49:19] KKK if I were KKK would I be hugging you like this and he said we decided we got to figure out a way to fix this thing stop fighting with each other stop arguing with each other we need to find a way together not a way that tears apart we need to find a way that brings love because that's who we are we are Christians and we are United Methodist Christians which means we have open hearts open doors open minds and we love people because that's what God called us commanded us to do see what you love your car your house your job nobody cares about those things they don't matter at all one of your rodent bills winning the Super Bowl I like that yeah yeah yeah nobody cares about spices tools in some shops either even though I've told everybody about it it's interesting how few even cared about your money your health and your education even though we're told that that's the most important thing isn't it get a good education so you can get a good job so you be taking care of the rest of your life if our faith and our family and our values are the most important thing why aren't we sharing them with the world oh we're afraid you know how many people speak boldly about God in our culture we're the biggest organization in America and some people you'd be surprised about are more than willing to share
[50:57] I am not talking about religion I am a Christian that is my faith I'm not asking you to be a Christian if you want to be one I can show you how first off I want to thank God because that's who I look up to he's graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand or any other human hand and I really decided to take things out of my own hands and put it in God's hand Mr. T a sinner but saved by grace yes yes yes because we all have sin that's why we're in church
[52:03] I would look back now and say I was a believer but I was not following Christ it's only when you meet Jesus and you look back at where you were you end up saying things lack what was I thinking what was I thinking what was I thinking that I let somebody not hear about Jesus what was I thinking that I let that little person get away without knowing about God what was I thinking that I let that lost sheep fall off a cliff what was I thinking we offer
[53:03] Christ not just because it changes the world it changes us I read a little article about that story about the monument people and it was interesting because the lady wrote back and said I'm not a part of black lives matters just so you know so I don't know that this story is true I made it up okay but I'm just picturing that woman she goes to just see what's going on and she's watching two groups facing off against each other and she knows something bad is going to happen and she's just trembling about it and one of the biggest bruisers comes over like this at her and I can hear her say to her friends I didn't know what to do so I just threw my arms around and hugged him and hugged the devil out of him because we're so absolutely convinced that we're the ones that need to go out and save somebody else's soul but you want to know what's going to save the church what's going to save the church what's going to save our hearts what's going and let people love us back and throw their arms around us that will transform our world and that's what God calls us to
[54:08] I love to tell the story for those who know it best seem hungry and thirsty to hear it like the rest I love I love to tell the story of unseen things of love of Jesus and his glory of Jesus and his love I love to tell the story because I know it is true it satisfies my longing as nothing else can do I love to tell the story it will be my theme in glory to tell the old old story of Jesus and his love
[55:27] I love to tell the story more wonderful it seems than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams I love to tell the story it did it did so much for me and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee I love to tell the story it will be my theme in glory to tell the old old story story of Jesus and his love I love to tell the story for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest rest
[56:45] I love to tell the story for some have never heard the message of salvation from God's holy word word I love I love to tell the story it will be my name in glory to tell the old old story of Jesus and his love love the story that Jesus was sent here to die for each and every one of us and we can place our trust our eternal salvation into Christ's hands in Christ alone my hope is found in Christ alone my hope is found
[58:05] He is my life my strength my song this cornerstone this solid ground firm with the fiercest the love of Christ is strong and soared while the minds are blown the depths of peace when fears are still and striving cease I conquer earth I all in all here in the love of Christ I stand Christ the Lord the Lord who took on fire the fullness of God in heaven that's made His gift of love and righteousness scorned by the ones He came to save till on that cross that Jesus died the Lamb of God was satisfied for every sin our sin was made here in the death of Christ
[59:24] I live through already love tombs unf Tas keeps Ferritions on this cross forth God is really the moment Light of the world by darkness slain Then bursting forth in glorious day Up from the grave He rose again And as He sank in victory Since death has lost its grip on me For I am His and He is mine
[60:27] Born through the precious blood of Christ No building high, no fear in death This is the power of Christ to me From my first try to final breath Jesus, a man's my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of end Can ever pluck me from His hand Till He returns, Lord calls me home Here in the power of Christ I stand That's our story Here in the power of Christ we stand
[61:28] Here in the power of Christ we live Here in the power of Christ we move forward with life And we have so many people out there who need this good news These are the days to share that love of Christ These are the days of Elijah Declaring the word of the Lord And these are the days of the servant Roses righteousness being restored And for these are days of great triumphs Of famine and darkness and soar Still we are the boys in the desert
[62:30] Riding, preparing the way of the Lord The holy gods Riding on the ground Shouting like the sun And you'll become With your voice Hear a jubilee And a cry up till salvation comes And a cry up till salvation comes With your voice And a cry up till salvation comes In the power of Christ These are the days of Ezekiel The tribal who's becoming as flesh And these are the days of your servant David, preveling the temple of praise And these are the days of the harvest The fields are as wide in the world And we are the days of the Savior And a cry up till salvation comes And a cry up till salvation comes
[63:31] And a cry up till salvation comes Come on, the holy gods Riding on the clouds Shouting like the sun And the hope is called With your voice And a cry up till salvation comes And a cry up till salvation comes Holy God, brightening out of clouds, shining like the sun, and thrilled his call.
[63:58] With your voice, hear a jubilee, Adam's eye until salvation comes. Adam's eye until salvation comes.
[64:09] Salvation comes to each and every one of us. Amen? Amen. Please be seated. We come this day because we are so filled with God's love. We want to worship God because of what God has done for us.
[64:23] And a church is in many ways like a hospital. Because, you know, we go through the week and try as we may to be on the right path and do always do the right thing. So many times we fail.
[64:33] And so we get to come back here worshiping God, knowing that God loves us in spite of everything and wants to be restored in relationship with us. And so we have an opportunity to confess and come to the table of grace.
[64:46] And won't you pray with me? Lord, I'm a sinner. Lord, I'm a sinner. I have failed in many ways. I have failed in many ways. I have not always thought good of others, good of myself.
[65:03] Good of myself. I've not always acted kindly. I've not always acted with love. I've not always acted with love. Heal me, Lord. Heal me, Lord.
[65:14] Take away any bitterness. Take away any hatred. Take away any distrust. And fill me with your love.
[65:28] Set me on the right path. Set me on the right path. That I may be a witness. I may be a witness. By what I say. By what I say. By what I do. By what I do.
[65:39] And even by my thoughts. By what I do. By what I do. By what I do. By what I do. By what I do. We praise you, Lord. Praise you, Lord. And thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for your forgiveness.
[65:51] In Jesus' name we pray. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. Hear the good news. Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
[66:02] And this means and proves God's love for each and every one of us. And so I can proclaim today in the name of Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven.
[66:14] In the name of Jesus Christ your sins are forgiven. Glory to God. Amen. In Christ alone I place my trust and find my glory in the power of the cross In every victory Let it be said of me My source of strength My source of hope Is Christ alone
[67:15] Amen.
[67:27] Amen. What a wonderful time it is to come to the Lord's table to come and celebrate Holy Communion with our Lord and Savior Jesus who invites us here.
[67:39] I love this liturgy. I love reading through it every week. You know why? I love to tell the story. And it tells the story from start to finish.
[67:51] Listen carefully. from the beginning to salvation to Jesus coming again it's all there. And we get to meet with Jesus here at the table.
[68:03] We don't understand how. It's a mystery. But somehow when we pray somehow when we come in faith God moves and the bread and the juice become for us the body and blood of Christ.
[68:22] Everyone is welcome at the table. If you love God repent of your sin and seek to live in peace as a disciple of Jesus Christ you are welcome at the table this morning.
[68:33] It doesn't matter if you've been coming all your life or if it's your first time here. You are welcome. Come expecting. Jesus will meet you here. The Lord be with you.
[68:46] Lift up your hearts. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you Father Almighty creator of heaven and earth.
[69:03] You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and our love failed your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity made covenant to be our sovereign God and spoke to us through your prophets who looked for that day when justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream when nations shall not lift up sword against nation neither shall they learn war anymore.
[69:35] And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn. Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might heaven and earth are full of your glory Hosanna in the highest blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest holy are you and blessed is your son Jesus Christ your spirit your spirit anointed him to preach good news to the poor to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people he healed the sick fed the hungry and ate with sinners by the baptism of his suffering death and resurrection you gave birth to your church delivered us from slavery and death to sin and death and made with us a new covenant by water and the spirit at his ascension you exalted him to sit and reign with you at your right hand on the night in which he gave himself up for us he took bread he gave thanks to you broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take and eat this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me and when the supper was over he took the cup he gave you thanks and praise and gave it to his disciples saying drink from this all of you this is the cup of my blood the blood of the new covenant poured out for you poured out for many for the forgiveness of sin do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me and so in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ's offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith
[71:53] Christ has died Christ is risen Christ will come again pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine make them be for us the body and blood of Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood by your spirit make us one with Christ one with each other and one in ministry to all the world until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet through your son Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit and your Holy Church all honor and glory is yours almighty Father now and forever amen shall we pray together with the confidence of children of God the prayer Jesus taught us our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever amen will those who are serving please come forward and what you you
[73:43] Thank you.
[74:13] Thank you.
[74:43] For healing or to light a candle, all are welcome. Come and join us. Let us pray. Let us pray. Let us pray. Let us pray.
[74:54] Thank you.
[75:24] Thank you.
[75:54] Thank you.
[76:24] Thank you.
[76:54] Thank you.
[77:24] Thank you.
[77:54] Thank you.
[78:24] Thank you.
[78:54] Thank you. Thank you.
[79:26] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[80:06] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[80:18] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[80:30] Thank you. Thank you.