I AM THANKFUL FOR THE GOSPEL TO THE REJECTS
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Connection Cards -
Connection Cards -
Good morning! Welcome to NCF!
If this is your first time visiting us we would love to connect with you.
The best way for us to do that is if you will fill out the connect card on the back page of the bulletin.
Fill that out at some point during the message and after the service take that card back to our connection table.
Now if you do turn in your card we will give you a really cool coffee mug.
Like I said, we just want to make a connection with you, and this is the best way for us to get back a hold of you to connect.
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Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
Well, it is the thankful month!
Well, it is the thankful month!
How many of you have something you are thankful for?
Maybe you are thankful for your family and friends
Maybe you are thankful for your job
Maybe you are thankful for your health
Or maybe you are thankful for the drizzly rain we have had.
Let me share with you our key Scripture this month.
Turn with me to -
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!
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I want to spend this month talking about 3 things I am very thankful for.
I want to spend this month talking about 3 things I am very thankful for.
In 2 weeks we will talk about being thankful for the Church.
Next week we will talk about being thankful that God does not leave us in the messes we have created for ourselves.
And today....
I am going to talk to you about what I am really thankful for.
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I AM THANKFUL FOR THE GOSPEL TO OUTCASTS AND REJECTS.
I AM THANKFUL FOR THE GOSPEL TO OUTCASTS AND REJECTS.
What is an outcast or reject?
Simply put it is a person who has been excluded and made to feel as though they do not belong or fit in.
Have you ever felt like an outcast or reject?
I know I have and it was not a good feeling.
I know I have and it was not a good feeling.
I recall when my parents divorced and my mother could no longer afford the money to send me to our church private school, Blackwell Christian Academy.
I had to go into third grade at our local public school while spend pre-K- 2nd grade at BCA.
I knew no one and they made sure I knew I was not part of the cool kids.
I was in a fight every day of school for that first year. Kid after kid pushed, and poked and laughed at me.
I felt miserable.
And I felt like a reject, an outcast.
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But not all feelings of rejection are due to others.
But not all feelings of rejection are due to others.
Sometimes, we through our own actions remove ourselves from others.
We may blame them for our feeling of rejection but the truth is we, did it to ourselves.
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I lived that experience as well.
I felt like my mother and dad had rejected me.
But in honestly they never rejected me, I had pushed them away through my disobedience , rebellious attitude and drug use.
I created the gulf between us and then blamed them for my feelings of rejection.
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If we are honest we have all at some point have been treated like a reject.
And if we are honest at some point we pushed people away and blamed them for how we felt.
So, what is the cure for the outcast and reject?
True acceptance and love.
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So, I AM THANKFUL GOD LOVES THE OUTCASTS AND REJECTS.
So, I AM THANKFUL GOD LOVES THE OUTCASTS AND REJECTS.
Turn with me to
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
What do all these people who Jesus says are blessed have in common?
What do all these people who Jesus says are blessed have in common?
They are all outcasts.
Poor in spirit –
Mournful –
Meek –
Those who desire righteousness and justice –
Merciful –
Pure in heart -
Peace makers -
Persecuted –
Everyone one of these people are rejected by the normal society and yet Jesus calls them blessed.
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Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of the Gospel to the outcast.
The Good News To Rejects Everywhere.
The Good News To Rejects Everywhere.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Luke 15:
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
The worst kind of reject is the reject of their own making.
The worst kind of reject is the reject of their own making.
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
Luke 15:
The Father never rejected the boy, rather he gave his son what he asked for.
Rather the boy rejected the Father
This is the human life story.
God never rejects us but, rather we reject him.
We then blame him for all our problems even though they are the problems we create.
What we call God’s wrath is simply the Father giving to us what we ask for.
Romans
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
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All rejects have a delusional heart.
All rejects have a delusional heart.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.
Once the young man has run out of money and has fallen on very hard times he decides it is time to return home.
Do you see his delusion?
The boy rejected his father and it has turned out bad for him.
But now he believes his father has rejected him.
How often we feel this way?
We step away from God, fall on hard times from our own lifestyle and actions and then believe God has rejected us.
“I will go home but I will no longer be a son (daughter) now I will go home and be a servant. “
We think God is fickle like us.
If I rejected him, surly he has rejected me.
If I ran from Him, surly he has turned his back on me.
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The Gospel to us rejects is better than we could ever imagine.
The Gospel to us rejects is better than we could ever imagine.
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Notice the Father was looking for his son.
I imagine every day that father went to the road and stood in hope that he would see his son walking down that dusty road.
The father had never turned his back.
No instead he was in hope looking down the road of life for the return of his child.
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Maybe you feel as though God has turn his back on you.
Who could blame him. You have rejected yourself, he must have rejected you.
But no. Our father is looking down that dirty path of life with love and hope.
His greatest desire is to see you returning home.
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Filled with compassion and love the father runs towards his lost son.
With an embrace and kiss, the father is already declaring who this boy is.
You are no servant, you are my son.
This is how God desires to receive us all.
Yes, we mess up.
Yes, we have hurt ourselves and others.
But God desperately desires to run to us, and with the pig slop of our sins still on our clothes he embraces and kisses our muddy face.
The father does not tell the boy to change his clothes first, or to wash his face.
The father does not push him away until the pig manure is cleaned off.
No in his filth the Father embraces and kisses his child.
Oh what a beautiful picture of how God receives us.
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Not only are we embraced and kissed but the father exchanges our filthy garments for his best.
Not only are we embraced and kissed but the father exchanges our filthy garments for his best.
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Vs – 22-24
Who is the house has the finest garment?
The father of course.
The father exchanged his son’s filthy garments for His own finest robe.
But there is more.
The father also placed the ring of authority on His son.
This very ring would be the same as a credit card today.
The son who took all his share and then wasted it has now been given the authority of His father’s name and the ability to purchase with the Father’s credit.
Oh, but wait there is more.
Not only does the boy get the father’s finest robe and ring but, now he is given shoes.
In the ancient, when you were given shoes your feet were first washed.
In other words, the father has his son cleansed.
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This is our story.
This is our story.
Wrecked in a life of death and destruction, the father has received us back.
He ran towards us rather than away from us.
He embraced and kissed us in our filth.
He then clothes us in His own righteousness, for ours is as filthy rags.
He washes us and cleans us with his word. Removing from our hearts the manure of sin.
And then he gives us the authority of His name.
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The Father then desires to throw a party.
The Father then desires to throw a party.
Like the father in this story, when we come home to God, we come home as sons and daughters.
And then God throws a party.
That is right. When we come home to God, Heaven throws a party.
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The warning to the self-righteous.
The warning to the self-righteous.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
Vs 25 -31
Sadly, for some, the longer they are saved the further the memory of their salvation is.
We can become self-righteous and forget that we were all the prodigal son.
And we were all covered in filth.
Your filth may be different than my filth, but it is still filth.
Christians can forget, that their robe of righteousness is not their own but it belongs to their father.
Christians can forget, that every day God wants to party with them, if they would just ask.
Christians can forget, that the Father had to wash them with his word and is still in the process of washing them.
Let us never forget the beauty of the Gospel to the rejects.
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Let’s finish this today by me giving you 6 ways we should be impacted by the Gospel to the rejects.
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How the Gospel to The Rejects Should Impact Us
How the Gospel to The Rejects Should Impact Us
T – Treasure our relationship with God.
H – Hope for the best in others.
A- Acts of love and mercy to others. (Especially to those who do not seem to fit in anywhere.) (His mercy towards us should give us mercy towards others)
N – Never give up hope for the prodigals in our lives.
K – Koinonia We are family joined by Jesus. (No jealousy, for we are all accepted and loved by God through Jesus)
S – Sing praise for we are accepted into God’s family.
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Paul Summerizes the Gospel to rejects like this
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
:?
I am thankful that God took this reject and made me a son.
I am thankful that God loves those who have been rejected, the outcasts and nobodies.
With all the love God has shown me through Jesus how can I not give thanks
By
Treasuring my relationship with Him
Hoping for the best in others
Showing Acts of kindness and mercy to others who do not fit in.
Never giving up hope for the prodigals in my life
Living in a Koinonia relationship with you my family in Christ.
And singing songs of praise for what Jesus has done.
Oh church, I am thankful!