10/22/2024
Leftovers Continued…
It’s not just the fact that God is un-impressed by our leftovers, it actually goes deeper than that. In a sense, Jesus is passionately and purposely opposed to anything leftover. To be a follower of Jesus Christ is to work diligently to make sure that in the end nothing at all is left over.
You might have heard various voices in our society say, He who dies with the most toys wins. But Leonard Sweet says for the faithful follower of Jesus today it’s the opposite--it’s He who bounces his last check wins. In other words, when I’ve used everything that has been entrusted to me faithfully, joyfully, generously—there will nothing left over. The leading indicator of a well-lived life will not be a collection of fine things, a weighty stock portfolio or an impressive estate, but the legacy of love we leave behind.
In a very real sense, we will know we have ‘made it’ if we have used what we’ve been given not to make our own lives easier or more comfortable, but if we’ve used what we have been given to make a difference in our world. When the time comes for us to go and be with our God—and that time will come for all of us here--it makes sense to have nothing left over. Because at that point, we can’t use it. God doesn’t want it. So it’s our job to get rid of it—to provide a feast of grace here and now.
One day I know I will stand before my Lord and God as naked as the day I was born. I will be left with only two things: empty hands and a joyful heart. I want to be able to stand there and know with some confidence that I have used what I have been given mindfully and faithfully. I want to be able to stand there knowing that the best of what I had was what I shared with those I love, with the Lord I serve, and those who needed even more than myself. What a moment that will be, but it will only be wonderful if I share what I have been given now, today. I know that tomorrow will take care of itself, because I know that my God will always take care of his child.
Archived Posts
The Loss of a Great Christian Leader
The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)
Jesus Hears A Who
Few people know that Horton Hears A Who comes from the 25th Chapter of Matthew.
Matthew 24: One More Thing...
I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about. I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....
Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered
Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard. We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church. I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon. It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.
What Was the Crowd Celebrating on Palm Sunday?
I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry". I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification. Enjoy!
The Best Kind of Trouble-maker
While working on this last week’s sermon I was looking through Phillip Yancey’s excellent book—The Jesus I Never Knew—when I came across a section that I found profound. It didn’t quite fit my sermon, but it caught my eye enough that I copied it down.