Lunenburg United Methodist Charge
Antioch UMC Williams UMC
On our walk. . . . .
May 28, 2008
I Corinthians 9:19-27
I am free. I don't belong to anyone. But I make myself a slave to everyone. I do it to win as many as I can to Christ. To the Jews I became like a Jew. That was to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one who was under the law, even though I myself am not under the law. That was to win those under the law. To those who don't have the law I became like one who doesn't have the law. I am not free from God's law. I am under Christ's law. Now I can win those who don't have the law. To those who are weak I became weak. That was to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that in all possible ways I might save some. I do all of that because of the good news. And I want to share in its blessings.
In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don't you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever. So I do not run like someone who doesn't run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules and fail to win the prize.
“Garage Door Evangelism”
In Dary Northrop’s book, Garage Door Evangelism, he discusses some new ways to “do church” in the 21st century. He says that often churches give a picture of perfection--only the beautiful Front Door Image. People who are not used to going to church are fearful of entering because they are afraid they can’t live up to the image. Weary of disappointment and failure, people want to know that we are real--genuine and that what we claim to be really matches our lives. What do people see during the week as you live your lives on the job or wherever you go? Do they perceive you as a “Pat Answer” Christian who tries to convince them that when they come to Christ it will solve all of their problems? Do they perceive you as a Christian who speaks one thing and lives another? We want people to see us as we are, genuinely trusting the Lord in our pain and struggles. Do they see us as we really are knowing that, “Yes, Christ does make a difference?”
Dary says that we should open the garage doors of our churches and our lives so that “what you see is what you get.” That is probably a little scary to some of us as we try to live up to a certain image of a Christian. If we open the garage door of our lives to people, we are afraid they will judge us or criticize us. They might disagree with our opinions, it might reveal our lack of spirituality and knowledge of the Bible, they may see that we don’t have all the answers to life’s problems. But at the same time, people can get a glimpse of our interests, our hobbies, our work, the things that bring us joy in our life in spite of the clutter and mess we are still trying to clean up in our lives. Most of us are more prepared for the front door than for the garage door. We would rather convince others that we are who we would like to become rather than who we really are. We wonder if people would still like us and accept us if they discover things about us that we would never tell them. When people look into the garage of our house they may say, “What a Mess!! This place is terrible!! Maybe say, “this person is really organized. This is so neat. Or this person loves gardening, or skiing, or motorcycles or any number of things.”
Let’s take a look at bringing people into the church by way of the garage door rather than the beautiful front door. Well, you say, “Churches don’t have literal garage doors.” Right, but what I am getting at is that we allow people to see how Christianity is affecting our real lives all week long, not just on Sunday morning. Is it real to us? Does it make a difference like we say it does? People today want to experience an authentic faith. We must be able to create hope in people who sometimes view us as more spiritual than we really are. When we admit our faults before people discover them, we succeed in building bridges of trust rather than barriers. They, too, have a garage. We must be willing to connect with those outside the church walls.
Actually Northrop’s book is not a brand new concept. In this scripture Paul had the same idea. How can we become more effective in conveying the Good News to people around us?
Paul says in verse 19, “I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people for Christ.” He says, “to the Jews I became like the Jews to win the Jews.” “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law.” “To the weak I became weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”
Paul adapted himself to the religious, non-religious, those with meticulous morality, loose living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized--whoever, in order that he might win some. He quickly adds though-- “I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ, but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view.”
For too long we have asked people to break all ties with the publicans and sinners not realizing that God put those same people in their lives for a purpose.
You don’t live the sinful lifestyle of the person who does not know the Lord. You are not going out drinking with your buddies or experimenting with drugs or any number of other things that are clearly wrong. Paul, in this chapter is not COMPROMISING or acting in an unprincipled manner. But he tries to find COMMON ground and COMMON interests and fit in as much as possible that he might win some. Paul ADAPTED both his conduct and his presentation of the Good News to various classes and conditions so as to effectively communicate to them the truth of God’s love whether they be Jews, Gentiles, or pagans.
Think of some of the people you have shared your faith with. What groups of people are you especially aware of who need God’s love?
You would present the gospel in a variety of ways to people in these different groups. What barriers are there between you and some of these people? What “rights” would you willingly give up in order to communicate with them? Paul said that he was willing to sacrifice his personal rights and comforts as a Jew and a Roman citizen for the sake of others. This is a question to ask ourselves. Am I willing to adapt to others and find common ground with people. Or do I insist on doing things the way it always has been done. Same old, same old. In what ways would you be willing to change in order to see someone know Christ? Great changes would take place in our lives and in the lives of those around us if we had the compassion that caused us to think in terms of helping others come to know Jesus. I believe that Paul got Jesus’ message. He said, “I am willing to do whatever it takes that I might win some” (v. 23). Paul was talking about Garage Door Evangelism back then just as this 21st center book describes. He let people see him as he really was. He adapted himself to a variety of situations. He said, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4:12). But he went on to say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Why Was Paul Like This? He had the big picture and saw it in the light of eternity. He compared himself with a person running a race. He said, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (v. 24).
As individuals as well as the church in general, we must adapt the Good News to meet the unique needs of each individual we meet. Personal, voluntary self-discipline will always be necessary. A church that cannot adapt to change will not be effective in reaching the unchurched. Change that meets the needs of our generation is not change that compromises the truth of the gospel.
Have a blessed week Rev. Ed
This Weeks Event:
Saturday, May 31
Ladies Tea @ Williams@ 3:00PM
Emmaus Gathering @ VUMAC @ 7:30PM
Monday, June 2
Bible Study @ Antioch @ 7:00 PM
Tuesday, June 3
Bible Study @ Audrey Smith’s @ 10:00 AM
Wednesday, June 4
Service @ Pineview Assisted Living Facility @ 10:00 AM
Prayer Meeting @ Williams @ 5:45 PM
Choir Practice @ Williams @ 6:30 PM
Worship Events –June 1,2008
This week’s reading will be: Sermon Text – Antioch: Matt 28: 16-20
Williams: Matt 7:21-29
Hebrew Text – Antioch: Gen 1:2,-2:4
Williams: Psalm 46
Pianists: Leigh Ann Bacon, Roger Reese
GRADUATION SUNDAY
We will be celebrating all the new graduates in our churches on Sunday, June 8th. Please plan on attending this special occasion to help us lift up all of the graduates who have worked so hard through the years. Let’s make sure they know we are proud of their accomplishment. If you have someone who is graduating, please be sure to let me know by June 1st.
William’s Women’s Tea
The monthly Women’s Tea will be held on May 31st at 3:00 PM at William’s UMC. Debbie Blue will be presenting the program this month. If you are looking for a great time of fellowship, good food and an inspirational program please join the. Watch for news on the June Tea as they are going to foreign countries.
Sunday School is available each Sunday morning. The importance of Sunday School is that, though you may think hearing the word will suffice for you, you really need to be in attendance at Sunday School to gather all the information that you can in an open discussion classroom. Jesus’ word cannot be totally understood just by listening to a sermon. You have to interact with it and with other Christians to learn what He was saying to us. This is a life long study and you should take part. There is a class for every age so please plan on joining us to learn more about our Lord, Jesus Christ. Sunday School at Williams begins at 10:45 AM and at Antioch at 10:00 AM.
Evening Bible Study . Evening Bible study will continue on June 2 at 7:00PM at Antioch. We will be reviewing II Samuel. We will discuss the events depicted in the book. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
Morning Bible Study. Morning Bible study will continue on May 27th at 10:00AM at Audrey Smith’s house. We will be reviewing II Samuel. We will discuss the events depicted in the book. If you are looking for a study of God’s word join us not only for the study, but good fellowship.
If you cannot reach Rev. Ed at the parsonage, you may call him on his cell phone: 252-532-0952. He can also be reached via e-mail at revedumc@yahoo.com .
Southside Emmaus Walk No. 66
Please be in prayer as Jane will be teaming at a Women’s Emmaus Walk this weekend. She and 30 other ladies and men will be bringing 35 women closer to God, and Jesus Christ and make them stronger leaders in their churches.
Please keep the following families in your prayers:
Marjorie Thompson
Christian Sutton
Bertha Arthur
Sarah Agnes Callis
Sheila Cage
Edith Tanner
Margaret Conner
Sara Sutton
Jeff Hendricks
Earl "Chucky” Barnes
Our Military
Nathan Hendricks
Edna Bagley
Mary
Maria Kay
Dorothy Ann Irby
June Watson
Frances Hawthorne
Ellen & John Gentry
Rooster Wells
Elizabeth Biggerstaff
Becky Eades & boys
Gertrude Hite
Bernard Bottoms
Unspoken
Tommy Cage
Mary Bastikis
Nancy McDaniel
Faye Seamster
Harry Smith
Haynie Hite
Grace DiStefano
Wanda Chumney
Rev. Al Green
Joe Coleman
Alicia Clary
Dorothy Driskill
Junior McHenry
Layton Powell
Margaret Smith
Colton Zaleski
Robin Overeach
CV & Agnes Thompson
Walter B. Moseley
Kenneth McDaniel
Justin McDaniel
Nancy Grant
Marjorie Coleman
Conner Buchanan
Peggy Sue Fogg
Judy Sister
Elizabeth Krammel
Doug Winn
Kay Thompson
Just a Note: When I was appointed to this charge one of the requests that was made of me was to keep the Antioch Men’s Breakfast going. Now as I enter my third year we have experienced a dramatic drop in the number of men who attend the breakfast. If you would like to join us for breakfast and fellowship please do! We meet the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM and we are willing to cook if there are enough men to join the five or six regulars who attend. If you would like to join us please contact Earl Callis, Tommy Barnes, Wayne Hendicks or me. Our next breakfast is scheduled for June 7. Hope to see you there!!
Prayer Gram.
Please, when putting somebody’s name on our prayer list, PRINT their names and addresses if you have them. This will help us get the prayer grams out sooner and it will also make it easier to read during services.
The Methodist Way – The Doing
A Methodist youth group went on a mission – building project in Jamaica. A Methodist group gathered at the state Capital to protest the possibility of a state lottery A Methodist pastor started small cell groups in her local church. A Methodist layperson made an impassioned speech against capital punishment. A Methodist organization offered a telephone prayer ministry. A Methodist Sunday School class went once a month to serve breakfast at a homeless shelter. A Methodist congregation hosted a neighborhood discussion on homosexuality. A Methodist teen told a friend he did not like it when his friend told racially demeaning jokes. A Methodist member got a five hundred dollar raise at work and immediately increased her pledge by fifty dollars. A Methodist college sold the stock it owned in a company that made most of its money from the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.
What do all these things have in common? They are examples of Methodist doing, activity that is possible by God’s sanctifying grace (grace that makes us holy). Methodist doing is about holiness, living a holy life, doing things that reflect what it is to be a set apart, holy people. I t is the result of seeking always to focus fully on the love of God and the love of neighbor. Works of mercy are called prudential means of grace, meaning that over the centuries Christians have discovered that God blesses such activity with grace. (It is “prudent,” wise, to open oneself to such gifts from God, hence “prudential means of grace.”)
For Methodists, holiness involves more than one’s personal relationship with God. Holiness grows out of one’s personal relationship with God, but it is social; that is, it involves others. In preaching on the Sermon on the Mount, John Wesley said, “Christianity is essentially a social religion, and …. To turn it into a solitary religion is indeed to destroy it.” He also wrote, “The Gospel of Christ knows no religion but social, no holiness but social holiness.” The Christian walk is more than “just me and Jesus.” It includes all those other folks whom Jesus loves and for whom Jesus died.
Methodists seek the sanctification (the holiness) of all that life touches. Colossians 1:17 is a recognition that Jesus is Lord of all. God desires the whole, full life for all God’s creation, for all of God’s created people. “God so loved the world …..” (John 3:16, so we also must love the world! The traditional language describing early American Methodism is “reform the continent” and “spreading scripture holiness over the land.”
Being Methodist in the Bible Belt” F. Belton Joyner, Jr.
Just a bit of humor:
The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play.
"Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But, you'll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about the finances." During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up."
At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star Spangled Banner." And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!
Ask someone to join us in worship. Have a blessed week!
