Pilgrim Reformed Church

Pilgrim Reformed Church

Sunday, July 24, 2011

This Week at Pilgrim

Opportunities for Worship, Prayer and Study

Monday, July 25th @ 7:00 PM ... Cline/Folwell Wedding
Tuesdau, July 26th @ Noon ... Prayer in Parlor
7:00 PM ... Bible Study in Cary Beck Classroom
Thursday, 7:00 PM ... Choir Practice in Sanctuary
Sunday, July 31st. ALL DAY ... STUFF THE TRUCK
9:15 ... Sunday School Opening
9:30 ... Sunday School
10:30 ... Worship

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
Monday, July 25th ... Robin Beck
Tuesday, July 26th ... Judy Russell & Amber Sink
Wednesday, July 27th ... Noah Byerly
Thursday, July 28th... Betty Johnson
Friday, July 28th ... Emma Edwards
Saturday, July 29th ... Audry Winebarger





THIS PASTOR'S VIEWPOINT

“How do I do this?” “How can I get there from here?” “How can we ever achieve peace in the world?” “How can God hear me when there are so many talking to him at the same time?” How, how, how! I don’t have to tell you there an awful lot of “how” questions asked every day.

They are asked by every one of us, from the youngest to the oldest. They are asked by the learned and unlearned among us. They are asked about things that have simple answers and those with terribly complex answers, and sometimes no answer at all.

I thought of the many “how questions” we ask after reading some very important “how” questions in my daily bible reading. I came upon them in Romans 10:14-15 (NLT), “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’

Those are a lot of really important “how” questions. We all are aware (at least I hope we are) that Christ commanded us to go out “into all the world”(Mark 16:15 NLT), the entire world with the good news. He didn’t say we are to send someone out to tell the Gospel story. He said to go out, period!

You might respond that’s not what the above verses tell us, it tells us to send someone, but if you think that, take another look. And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Well, yes, it does mention “sent” and it is my understanding that is precisely what Jesus did. “Go out into all the world…” But wait, you say, that’s foreign missions, I can’t do that.

What we overlook is that “all the world” begins right outside our front door, and it is that kind of telling others the good news about Jesus that will ultimately win the world for Jesus. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! To answer that question I guess we each have to look down at our own feet. How about yours, are they beautiful?

Sunday, July 17, 2011

This Week at Pilgrim



Opportunities for Worship, Study and Service

Sunday, July 17th 6:00 Youth Fellowship
Tuesday, July 19th Noon Prayer in the Parlor
7:00 PM PandaMandia Program & Refreshments
Thursday, July 19th Choir Practice in Sanctuary
Sunday, July 24, 9:15 Sunday School Opening

9:30 Sunday School

10:30 Worship


BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
July 17th ... Billy Knight
July 21 Wayne Morris







THIS PASTOR’S VIEWPOINT
I don’t have to tell you of the tremendous number of so called “reality” shows there are on television this year. Actually, there are probably more than I even know, and you can believe that there are more coming. If you add these to the game shows, which are in a sense also reality shows, the number boggles the mind.

No matter how different they are from one another they all have one thing in common, money. Usually that money amounts to big bucks for either the winner or survivor. One million dollars seems to be the going payoff rate for the reality shows whereas on the strictly game shows the winner’s amount varies greatly.

Bottom line is, however, that each contestant really wants just one thing, the BIG prize. It also seems that they are willing to do anything to win; cheating, lying, double-dealing and double-crossing are all a part of the game. Exhibitionism and self-debasement are also a part of the game and it seems that almost everybody will do anything to get on one of these shows. After all, the chance of winning a million there is so much better than from Publishers Outlet.

But this is nothing new. In fact, think back on all the fairy tales and children’s stories where the “good fairy” or the magic genie promised all kinds of wishes granted, to say nothing of great wealth. Like, say, you become a princess from being a poor girl with a really evil stepmother and live happily for ever after. Yeah, right.

There is, however, a much older story, one where any wish would be granted, and I came upon it in my daily Bible reading this week. Although it is a familiar story it seemed to have even more impact than usual, perhaps because of our national quest for the million-dollar pay-off, the end of all our problems.

What I discovered is 2 Chronicles 1:7, 10a (NLT). “That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!’” Solomon replied, “Give me wisdom and knowledge…” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if game and reality shows offered this as a prize!

The wonderful thing about “wisdom and knowledge” is that it is available to us, all of us, and we don’t even have to do all those dumb things contestants do. We have simply to ask God for it, as did Solomon.

Oh, perhaps, there is one other thing we need to do. We need to listen for God’s response … and follow it!

Sermon July 17, 2011
“So Who’s Running the Show”

Sermon texts: John 1:1-4; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:15-18

John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Matthew 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Ephesians 5:23 Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior

Colossians 1:15-18 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

A man was sitting at a stop light one morning. The lady in the car in front of him was apparently going through papers on the seat of her car, but when the light changed to green she didn’t move. She did not obey its command - a green light is a commandment, Thou shalt move ahead - it’s NOT a suggestion.

When the light turned to red, and she had still not moved, the man began (with his windows up) screaming epithets and beating on his steering wheel. His expressions of distress were interrupted by a policeman, gun drawn, tapping on his window. Against his protestations of, "You can't arrest me for hollering in my car," he was ordered into the back seat of the patrol car.

After about two hours in a holding cell, the arresting officer advised him he was free to go. The man, still irate said, "I knew you couldn't arrest me for what I was yelling in my own car. You haven't heard the last of this."

The officer replied, "I didn't arrest you for shouting in your car. I was directly behind you at the light. I saw you screaming and beating your steering wheel, and I said to myself, "What a jerk. But there is nothing I can do to him for throwing a fit in his own car." Then I noticed the 'Cross' hanging from your rear view mirror, the bright yellow 'Choose Life' license tag, the 'Jesus is Coming Soon' bumper sticker, and the Fish symbol , and I thought you must have stolen the car."

The question I’d like to discuss for a few moments this morning is “Who’s Running the Show.” Who is in charge of the church?

The idea for this message came to me when I saw a sign in front of a church that stated proudly “Under the Same Management For 2000 Years.”

That’s intriguing. We’re all used to seeing signs in shop windows that say “Under New Management” or “New Name, Same Management.” The only problem with these signs is that they really don’t tell us anything of any substance.

Does this mean the new food or service or product is better? You are given no idea, unless of course it was so bad to begin with it all it could do was improve. If, on the other hand, it was already superb, in which case, perhaps sadly, it is now less so.

What does this have to do with the church? Well, it’s all a matter of perception. My first thought of this “New Management” concept, was, as I hope yours might have as well, was “Isn’t it comforting to know that Jesus is still running the church, our church.”

This, however, is where we make our first mistake. Jesus isn’t running the church! Never has been. We are. You and I. And one of the problems with our management is that we are all too often no better than our friend in the illustration, someone driving a stolen Christian’s car.

If a church says it has been under the same management for 2000 years there must be some very old members at the reins.

No, the management of the church is in our hands, and perhaps that’s why we are having some of the problems within the Christian church we have today.
Remember the slogan, I think it was Trailways, or maybe the “dog” but whoever, it said “Leave the driving to us.”

Well, that’s what Christ did with his church, he left the driving to us…and frankly, some of those behind the wheel aren’t such good drivers.

The problem is we think of the church just like we think of our car. When we are behind the wheel we want it to go where we want it to go. We want it to respond according to our wishes. To go… well, when the light is green, to turn according to our desires and to park where we want it parked.

What’s the problem with this picture? Well, basically, we own the car but Jesus owns the church. Although he’s not the manager, he is the founder and he created the church for his purpose, not ours. Yes, of course he died for us, but he created the church for his purpose, and that purpose was to spread the Good News of salvation to the world.
And how are we to do this? Well, it doesn’t get done by managers with fish stickers on their bumpers and anger in their hearts.

Another way it doesn’t get done is by managers who think they can change the rules. You see, even before Jesus came to earth to found his church, God began setting down the by-laws and the constitution by which it would be managed.

He gave us The Ten Commandments for starters and through the centuries by way of his prophets, or messengers, he told us what pleased him (righteous behavior) and also what displeased him (sin). He has never deleted any of them as far as I have been able to tell. Yet, and what is so disturbing, is that some of his managers have, through the ages, modified the rules, made them more comfortable to live with, more accommodating. After all, they reasoned, if we ease off on some of this sin stuff perhaps we will be more welcoming to outsiders.

They’ll join us, and then they will add their money to our treasury and we’ll grow richer as a church … and isn’t that good management?

Oh, and while we’re at it let’s entertain them too. Nothing like less sin and more entertainment to fill the pews.

I worry that, at the rate some are going, Holy Communion will one day be celebrated with beer and hotdogs in front of a large TV screen and we’ll worship while a wide receiver kneels and crosses himself in the end zone.

Well, Jesus did make some modifications, some simplifications you might say, for our modern application of the Law such as this one from John 13:34, where he said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

What’s important is not just what he said but what he did. That’s scary to a lot of Christians because he loved us in a sacrificial way. He died for us, and our dying for another, especially one we may not know or even like, is not something that tops our list of things to do today.

What’s just as important is to note to whom he said it and that is discovered in the very next verse. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” It may come as a surprise but “my disciples” can very well be translated into “my managers,” the managers of his church and specifically Pilgrim.

It’s interesting how we think that computers are so great because they have made it possible for district managers (that’s what we are, after all) to manage a corporate business far from the source of the directors or owner when, all along Christians have had a much simpler system.

It’s called prayer and it doesn’t require any sophisticated hi-tech stuff. It never tells you have made a “fatal error,” I can’t tell you how that used to scare me …. or you have lost your connection with your POP Server.

Actually we call our POP Server - Father or in the Hebrew abba… and he never shuts down. One remarkable thing about our Christian system is that it operates 24/7, rain or shine from any place on earth with perfect clarity. And, furthermore, if we should neglect to check in at the home office, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to nudge us along on the proper managerial path.

No, our management hasn’t been around for 2000 years, and we keep it healthy by constantly bringing new people on board…all volunteers accepted!

What has been around for 2000 years are the founders, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And just to set the record straight, they are not absentee owners. They are with us right now, right here … and that’s something to be excited about!
So who’s running the show? Well, I guess we are…but always with his help and direction.

Amen.