March 7, Second Sunday in Lent, Girl Scout Sunday.

Lesson: Matthew 13.44-50.

Sermon Title: What's It Worth?

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INTRODUCTION:

Billy Graham likes to tell the story of a time when Albert Einstein took a train to an out-of-town engagement. (1)

The conductor stopped by to punch his ticket.

The great scientist, preoccupied with his work, began to rummage through his coat pockets and briefcase to no avail.

With great embarrassment he explained that he couldn't find his ticket.

The conductor said, "We all know who you are, Dr. Einstein. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it. Everything is okay."

The conductor walked the aisle punching other tickets.

Before he moved to the next car, though, he looked back and saw Einstein on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor walked back and politely said, "Dr. Einstein, please don't worry about it. I know who you are."

Exasperated, Einstein looked up and said, "I, too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going!"

  1. Like Einstein we may know who we are.

  2. Do we know where we are going?

    1. In the summer of 1982 I was a counselor at the national meeting of the National Association Pilgrim Fellowship at Slippery Rock College, Slippery Rock, PA.

    2. It was at this meeting that I learned a new song which provides direction.

I'm on My Way to Canaan's Land

I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

If father won't go, it won't hinder me
If father won't go, it won't hinder me
If father won't go, it won't hinder me
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

If mother won't go, it won't hinder me
If mother won't go, it won't hinder me
If mother won't go, it won't hinder me
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

If sister won't go, it won't hinder me
If sister won't go, it won't hinder me
If sister won't go, it won't hinder me
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

Oh, be baptized in Jesus's name
Oh, be baptized in Jesus's name
Oh, be baptized in Jesus's name
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way to Canaan's land
I'm on my way (Praise God) I'm on my way

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MAIN BODY:

  1. So we are on our way to Canaan's Land, another name for the Kingdom of God.

    1. Along the way, how do we contend with the distractions?

    2. Along the way, how do we know what is valuable?

      1. How do you tell the difference between the counterfeit and the true?

      2. How do you tell the difference between the cheap and shoddy and quality?

        1. Inexpensive can be quality.

        2. Expensive can be cheap and shoddy.

      3. How can you tell the genuineness and falseness?

      4. How can you tell the difference between sincerity and artificiality

    3. Does it help to be reminded of what Jesus had to say about value.

    4. To highlight value, Jesus told two parables.

  2. It will not be long until the farmers who need to will be doing their spring plowing.

    1. Pretend you have rented a field.

    2. There are times when the furrows are long.

      1. You have hit something, but are not sure what it is.

      2. It may be a rock, or other object.

      3. It has done no damage.

      4. It is nothing to get excited about.

    3. But on the return trip across the field you reach that spot and see something glittering, glistening in the furrow.

      1. Do you ignore it.

      2. Do you get down and see what it is.

      3. What if it is a great treasure.

    4. This may be a larger problem for us than it was for the farmer in Jesus' story.

      1. We may not be able to claim the treasure for ourselves.

      2. Honesty would compel one to reveal what had happened.

    5. This is not the case with the man in Jesus' story.

      1. He had rented a field.

      2. He was plowing.

      3. The plow turned a furrow and there was a treasure trove.

      4. He realized significant size of the treasure.

      5. He could not afford to buy the field outright.

      6. So he sold all that he had to buy the field.

      7. This was ethical and legal.

      8. In times of distress or threat, people often buried their treasure.

      9. The location would be lost through neglect or death.

    6. The kingdom of heaven is likened to the treasure.

    7. There is no question as to its value.

    8. It is worth everything.

  3. The second story Jesus told is about a merchant who specializes in pearls.

    1. Last year, daughter-in-law, Karin asked is I would like to go with her to the Kehe Food Distributors trade show.

      1. 8 long aisles of exhibitors.

      2. We walked each one down and back to see what was being offered.

        1. My feet were tired.

        2. My back was sore.

      3. Wearing a name tag. Not a buyer. Value diminished.

      4. Karin went to each of the exhibitors to see if there was something that had value that could be sold through the General Store.

    2. The merchant in Jesus' story is not a casual buyer, but makes his living buying and selling pearls.

    3. He is walking through the market place and see a pearl like no others that he has seen before.

    4. He recognizes its great value and again goes and sells what he has in order to purchase the pearl.

    5. The pearl is likened to the Kingdom of Heaven.

  1. This is the measure by which everything else is judged or evaluated.

    1. It has to be judged or evaluated.

    2. To fail in this process leaves one open to end result which is described in the last parable in this series, Matthew 13:47-13:50 (NRSVA)

      1. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

      2. So it will be at the end of the age.

      3. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

    3. Our understanding of edible and inedible is very different from that of a Jewish fisherman.

      1. They were only allowed to eat fish which had fins and scales.

      2. They were not allowed to eat scavengers of bottom fish.

    4. The net is a drag net that gathers all into its web.

    5. The catch has to be separated.

    6. Into which pile will we find ourselves?

    7. Does the answer to this question directly confront us with the nature and scope of what we have come to value?

    1.  

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CONCLUSION

  1. I believe that we know something about value, especially the value of the Kingdom of Heaven.

  2. The question is what happens now.

When is a farmer not a farmer? (2)

A young reporter wanted to get a feel for agriculture, so he called upon a farmer and said, "How's your wheat coming along?"

The farmer replied, "I didn't plant any."

"Really?" asked the reporter. "I thought this was supposed to be wheat country."

"Some say it is," came the reply. "But I was afraid we might not see enough rain this year."

"Well, what about your corn. How is it doing?" the young man inquired.

"Didn't plant corn this year," the farmer said. "I was afraid of corn blight."

"Alfalfa?"

"Nope. Afraid the price might drop."

"Well, then," asked the reporter, "what did you plant?"

"Nothin'," the farmer said. "I just played it safe."

  1. Do you want to play it safe or to take the risk?

    1. Where are you going.

    2. We started out with an old song, let us finish with another one, "Life's Railway To Heaven."

Words: The origin of this song is murky. Eliza R. Snow may have written the original lyrics, with M. E. Abbey (a Baptist minister in Georgia in the 1890's) supplying the chorus. There is a similar poem/hymn by Snow, called "Truth Reflects upon Our Senses," which Tillman put to this same tune in 1909. At any rate, Abbey and Tillman copyrighted "Life's Railway to Heaven" in 1890.

It has long been a favorite in the railroading community.

"Life's Railway to Heaven"


Life is like a mountain railroad, with an engineer that's brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels; never falter, never quail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will roll up grades of trial; you will cross the bridge of strife;
See that Christ is your Conductor on this lightning train of life;
Always mindful of obstruction, do your duty, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

You will often find obstructions; look for storms of wind and rain;
On a fill, or curve, or trestle, they will almost ditch your train;
Put your trust alone in Jesus; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

As you roll across the trestle, spanning Jordan's swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot into which your train will glide;
There you'll meet the Superintendent, God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous, plaudit, "Weary pilgrim, welcome home!"

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.

    1. This does speak of value and determination.

    2. Does it impact our minds, does it speak to our hearts?

AMEN.

1. Chaplain Dave Deppmeier, "Touch of Grace," afneurope.army.mil/Chaplain/word.htm.

2. Source unknown.

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