All Peoples

Grace and Peace to you! Good morning! Welcome to another special online gathering. I’m picturing your faces right now. I can’t wait until we are able to safely be together again in a few weeks. Today we are all looking to the same savior. All gathered around our phones, our tablets, our computers, our TV’s.

Separated for now, we are coming before God where we are in worship, so let’s really focus on him in these moments together. So turn off other sounds, gather everyone around. Get yourself truly ready to worship. And kids, maybe Azalia and Aziya and Charles III are out there today. Any other kids, we welcome you too! You are also an important part of our church family as always. We have lessons and videos for you to experience offline as well.

AT THIS TIME LETS SAY THE LORD’s PRAYER TOGETHER. THIS IS THE PRAYER JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES

PROCLAIM SLIDE

NOW LET’S SAY THE APOSTLE’S CREED TOGETHER

Let’s pray: Heavenly Father we thank you today for life and health and peace. But our hearts are breaking Lord for the pain our country is experiencing today. Help us to love everyone. Help us to let go of biases that divide us. Show us how to be part of your solution. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Today maybe your heart is heavy but here is a song that helps bring it all back together...we have secured the rights to stream so let’s sing together at this time:

PROCLAIM: WORSHIP SET

PROCLAIM SLIDE: TITHES and OFFERINGS-

your giving makes a big difference now more than ever as we not only stay strong but also change lives. On facebook and zoom and by phone we are discipling people. We need you to do your part by reaching out where you are to help and support neighbors and friends with needs. We want to empower you to serve your neighborhood. Take what you receive and multiply it where you live. Calls, texts, social media messages, videos of encouragement to kids and families and isolated friends and loved ones. Trips to the store so someone else doesn’t have to go. We also want to know about the needs you see that we could help fill in the days ahead. Some of you can serve as hosts on these platforms to encourage and chat with others during the livestream events. There are many ways you can serve. Right now your financial gift can help to empower all of these ministries as well. So please do what you can today. To give you can click the GIVE button there on church online or visit our website FAIRMEADOW.FAITHLIFESITES.COM and click Give today. Honestly we’ve had a little trouble with the mail being reliable so if you can give electronically that’s the best way. Be sure to let us know to be looking for your gift if you do choose to mail it.At this time we want to pray for our ministries and our world and Joy is going to come lead us at this time...

VIDEO: JOY PRAYER

VIDEO: Barbara Seranno SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:16–20 NIV

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Disciples Worshiped Jesus

But this alone wasn’t enough. Because even there in person the Bible tells us that some doubted. They worshiped him so we know that we do need to do that. This is why we gather, online, by phone and when we can in person. Worship is what Jesus’ disciples do. It has always been the case. Without it human beings drift. Without worship human beings forget their true values. Human beings get weighed down by the cares of life, even the good ones, who are trying. So the disciples could see in Jesus the presence of God. He wasn’t just like any other man. He was fully God and fully Man and revealed God to us like no mere messenger could. They worshiped him. But some doubted. How could they doubt with Jesus right there in front of them? Well the simple answer is because they are human beings. We have an incredible capacity to doubt. Sometimes it helps us figure out when someone is snookering us. Sometimes it hurts us when we doubt even those who love us and are for us. Those who might have the help we need. Even God. So if worship was all they did they would definitely experience periods of doubt and they would definitely miss so much of what God was doing all the time in between wonderful moments of worship private or public.

So Jesus no doubt sees this and gives them a focus. He reminds them of who he is and why they should listen up. Then he gives them what we call the great commission. The big send off. The Mission Impossible. The Launch codes. Whatever you want to call it, Jesus clarifies what they are to be doing until their lives end or they see him face to face again. And I’ll give you a hint it’s not just holding worship services. And notice that he doesn’t say: go to the places it’s easy for you to go to and talk to the people it’s easy for you to talk to and save the people just. like. you.

That’s for sure what he doesn’t say...

We Hold Worship Services

Now the truth is that Jesus gets revealed to us today. We read the Bible, we get together with folks who pray and believe like we do. We share our stories of how God helped us through. It’s inspiring and encouraging. When we see him, we worship him. But some of us doubt on a given day as well. We aren’t so different from people in Jesus’ day. But are we even as committed as they were?

You tend to believe in what you give yourself to the most. So I guess in America we believe in Netflix and Cable News channels and our facebook feed. When we see Jesus we worship him. But oh man what happens when we look away and hear all the bad news? Maybe we doubt, too. So worship services aren’t all there is. Even daily devotions isn’t the be all end all for following Jesus.

Jesus gives us stuff to do. The question is: do we do it?

Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Well hopefully what we are doing right now is helping that to happen. It takes quite a bit of extra effort to pull off these services and one bad thing is most of it falls on me. But we can’t just pat ourselves on the back when we get through another worship service, because even if we have helped people see Jesus, some still will doubt and struggle.

And that’s not the half of it. Some people will die in their doubt. Some people will be crushed under the knee of a society that doesn’t care. We will get cozy in our people group and the world will go to hell. Worse yet, we get bored and become part of the problem. We don’t know or aren’t serving our neighbors so we decide they are causing all our problems and start to notice every little thing they do wrong. If you’re not like me you must be a problem.

But Jesus said: preach the gospel. baptize them in the name of the father, son and holy spirit. Teach them to obey everything I commanded you.

And friends you can boil down the commands of Jesus into one word: love. Love God with all that you are. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Who are your enemies: republicans? democrats? white people? black people? brown people? No, for the Christian we only see people to love and serve.

We don’t have time to sit around and doubt if we get off our duffs and make disciples. Live like Jesus so you can teach someone else how to live like Jesus by spending time with them. That’s what we are supposed to be doing 24-7.

And we translate this as go to all nations. But really what it says is go to every people group. Ethnos is the word, like we have the word ethnic group. So we are to look at the world as one people, the children of God, created by God, meant to be part of one family of love and grace in Jesus.

I’m happy that we have people of several different skin colors that are part of our church family. It’s a sign that we are beginning to learn how to love everyone. But I’m sure we can do a whole lot better than we are right now. There’s a lot at stake. The reason our world is falling apart is because Christians haven’t loved like they could. So where does that fall in your life? Could you do better? Do you need to do better?

We can’t reach our neighbor if we don’t love our neighbor, amen? We can’t love our neighbor unless we understand their pain and loss. So right now our world is having a moment. Don’t miss it. Don’t turn away. Don’t judge. Listen. Learn.

Proverbs 31:8–9 NIV

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Jesus has received all authority

Hey so Jesus told them, don’t try to be smart and figure it all out. You don’t need to try to control your world because all authority belongs to me! The disciples were being SENT on a mission. They don’t have to dream it up from scratch. They don’t have to figure out where or what. Jesus said go to everyone and teach them everything.

So the love of Jesus guided their mission. And somehow by the power of God they got good at it, because here we still are. The church has a future. But really it’s more like the world has a better future if the church will let Jesus lead. They did let Jesus lead. He gave them authority and they stopped doubting and believed. They went into every corner of their world and to every person who would listen and they loved them all so much the world said, WOW! These people have been with Jesus. We need to learn more about him. And then they taught them. and So they fulfilled the words of Jesus.

They spent time with those the world of their time rejected: women. slaves. outcasts. They adopted the abandoned children of their day. They stood up for those who have no voice. The world was blown away and that’s how the good news spread so fast.

They didn’t just worship and doubt, worship and doubt, worship and doubt. They showed the love of Jesus sometimes in costly ways. And then they taught others to do the same. We want to know if the music is good and if they have enough for our kids. It’s sad.

I am with you always, even to the end

Is that enough? Until our mission is done. Until God calls us home. Or until Jesus returns to make his dwelling among us forever, he is with us, amen!

He still has all authority ladies and gentlemen. So just lay down that load this morning because you can! Jesus is in charge so let him lead. Right now it’s a lot more like water skiing than it is like a pleasant walk. Hold on to Jesus but don’t try to control the rope. Try to float under his power and direction.

Nobody should be playing God whether they are a judge, a president or a police officer or even just a neighbor. There is a God and we all answer to him. So lets live with humility.

Let’s never panic because Jesus is in charge. Is he in charge of your life? We are still in the middle of a pandemic so we do need to be careful and follow the guidelines. But let’s make sure we love.

If we are going to love like Jesus all kinds of people will be welcome in our church family.

Our general church leaders in the church of the Nazarene have called us to prayer and fasting for the healing of wounds in our country. Prayer and fasting for things to be set right. But first they must be set right in our hearts.

If you resent people who look different than you, give it to God today. He’s been helping people get over the sin of bias and favoritism for a very long time. He can help you. But he won’t argue with you. It’s wrong. Confess it. Begin healing and making things right around you.

If you’ve been caught in cycle of worship and doubt. Worship and doubt, break that cycle today. Answer the call of the great commission. Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary use words. But let there be no doubt in the mind of others that Jesus’ one command was to love. Love God, then love people. Live a life of love and teach others to do the same. Jesus commanded you to do it. And he promised to empower you to do it. He’s right there leading the way. Let him lead. Fear not.

The world is changing. But he is Lord also of that future. I think God is at work and we need to be in flow of what God is doing lest we miss it. The way to make sure is to keep making disciples of all kinds of people. Every kind of people are God’s people. Amen? Hopefully by the grace of God we have made some progress. But God calls us upward. So we march on with every kind of people who need Jesus.

Some day the world will end, but Jesus said even on that day I’m with you always. Let’s pray that the world of injustice ends. Let’s pray that the kingdom comes. Fast from things that distract us from God’s love and our mission until we see the Kingdom breaking forth, amen?

You can do it. We can do it. Most importantly God can do it through all of us. Don’t miss this moment. Lean into it. And we can see brighter days by the grace of God...