January 16, 2000 - LESSON: Ephesians 5.18-20, NRSV

SERMON TITLE: In All Circumstances

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. Interviews
    1. Ask the farmer whose emerging crop is being destroyed by a hot sun and a dry sky...
    2. Ask a business-person who is scraping out the mud and debris from the flood that washed away the whole inventory...
    3. Ask the person who stands weeping amisdt the destruction of the tornado that wiped out the family...
    4. Ask the parents whose child was still-born...
    5. Ask the person who is told there is but a short time to live because of a terminal cancer...
  2. What are you going to ask?
  3. Ask each of them if in the midst of the darkness of life it is still possible to:
    1. Give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    2. No one suggests that this is easy.
  4. Could you give thanks?
    1. If your answer is "No!", why can't you?
    2. If your answer is, "Yes!", how can you?
    3. You must develop a world view that creates the option.
      1. A world view that always holds the option open
      2. A world view that creates the possibility of praise.
      3. You need the "stuff" that makes all this a reality.
        1. George Goldtrap, Ormond-by-the-Sea, FL in The Joyful Noiseletter, February 2000 recounts how a group of scientists decided that mankind had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they chose one scientist to and tell God that they were through with Him.(1)
          1. The scientist went to God and said, "We've advanced to where we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so we've decided that we no longer need you."
          2. God listened patiently,- then replied: "Very well. Then let's have a man-making contest."
          3. "Good idea," the scientist said.
          4. "But," God said, 'we'll do it just like I did back in the good old days with Adam."
          5. "No problem," the scientist said, bending down and grabbing a handful of dirt.
          6. "No, you go get your own dirt!" God said.

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        2. You have to get your own dirt
          1. That make the contest much more difficult.
          2. The scientists would be stymied by the requirement.
          3. The Christian would not be stymied.

MAIN BODY:

  1. For the Christian, God provides the dirt
    1. This is made very clear
    2. Look at Colossians 1.9-14
      1. For this reason, since the day we heard it, Paul and his companions have not ceased praying for you and asking that
      2. you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will
      3. in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
      4. so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord,
      5. fully pleasing to him,
      6. as you bear fruit in every good work
      7. and as you grow in the knowledge of God.
      8. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and
      9. may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,
      10. while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,
      11. who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.
    3. This is the dirt.

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  2. The dirt has a purpose that goes far beyond the limited conceptions of the human mind.
    1. There is a reason for it.
    2. There is a purpose for it.
    3. Read Ephesians 5.18-20
      1. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery;
        1. Okay we can understand the purpose of this.
        2. but be filled with the Spirit,
      2. as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,
      3. singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
      4. giving thanks to God the Father at all times and
      5. for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. There is something that God provides in Christ that makes it possible to have an entirely different understanding of life and a positive and constructive attitude of and for life.
    1. It is found in giving thanks at all times.
    2. It is found in giving thanks for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. At all times
      2. And for everything
  4. In all the circumstances and situations of life?
    1. How do you accomplish this?
      1. Is this impossible?
      2. Is it possible?

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CONCLUSION:

  1. This could be called show and tell time.
    1. Show and tell is part of our children's school day.
      1. It can be either an organized part where something is shown in class.
      2. It can be simply the revelation of a child's philosophy of life revealed in what is said and done.
    2. Polly Walther, Coloma (MI) United Methodist Church sent the Joyful Noiseletter the following story.(2)
      1. A teacher in a private school announced to her second-grade class that the next day's "show and tell" would focus on things that they frequently saw in their house of worship.
      2. The next day, a little boy stood up and said, 'My name is Daniel. I'm Jewish, and this is a Star of David."
      3. A little girl stood up and said, "My name is Mary and I'm a Catholic. This is a crucifix."
      4. Then another little boy stood up and said, "My name is Bobby. I'm a Methodist and this is a casserole."
  2. We stand up and what do we offer, what do we say?
    1. I am a Christian and I can give thanks for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. At all times
      2. And for everything
    2. In all the circumstances and situations of life!
      1. Amen and
      2. Amen!

1. The Joyful Noiseletter, February 2000, p. 2 -via George Goldtrap, Ormond-by-the-Sea, FL

2. The Joyful Noiseletter, February, 2000, p. 2, -via Polly Walther, Coloma (MI) United Methodist Church

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