September

(Television)

·       Our favorite dramas include incredible build-ups towards a relationship with two people and also the painful downfall.  They show us an emotional war waged both internally and externally.  

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        Our scripture today addresses people that are starting the    movement that will eventually be known as Christianity.  James is a very short book, but he packs an incredible amount of wisdom into his words.  He encourages people to defy the emotions that tell them to act for themselves and instead see all people with the eyes of God.   

James 4

 1What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

The two scriptures used in the August 26th Sermon are

Luke 14:25-33

The Cost of Being a Disciple (Jesus is very popular at this moment and enormous crowds are following him wherever he goes.  While most try to convince us that the cost of something we want is not that high, Jesus is very honest.  He goes against the grain and tells people that they will have to make sacrifices to follow him. )

 25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

 28"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

 31"Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple

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Jeremiah 18:1-6

At the Potter's House (The Old Testament prophets were called to help others realize that they had varied from God's love, God's will, and ultimately God's love.  Here a weary Jeremiah (prophet) is told to visit a potter's workshop.  God speaks to Jeremiah and explains that the people of Israel are not beyond hope.) 

 1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Go down to the potter's house, and there I will give you my message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

These are the scripture passages used for the July 29th message video

1 Samuel 3

The LORD Calls Samuel

 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple ^[a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel.
      Samuel answered, "Here I am." 5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

 6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

 8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."
      Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.' " So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!"
      Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Mark 1:14-20

The Calling of the First Disciples

 14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

 16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.

 19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

  There are many times in my life where I have felt nervous about the task that lay before me.  Instances that come to mind are moving to a new school in the 2nd grade and making new friends, successfuly completing the first year at The Citadel, becoming a parent, and completing the ordination process for the United Methodist Church.  Each of these instances have prepared me for now what is my greatest challenge. 

  I have been asked to guide a new church to reach thier full potential.  I must rely on everything I have learned from seminary, my student appointment in Seneca, SC and my appointment as an associate minister at John Wesley UMC in Charleston.  I could not be more excited/nervous to have this incredible opportunity.

  Join with me and watch us grow.  Many participate in the life of a church, some particpate in the death of a church, but how many can say they have participated in the birth of a church.