The Table Of Grace

“he now showed them the full extent of his love.”

(Aunt Alma – stiff – formal)

He set the table that night with grace – wonderful grace.

This was the night before Jesus was betrayed.  How much might have been on his mind right then?

! THE BUILDING

Ten Little Christians, standing in a line,

One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late,

One slept too late on Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to Heaven,

One took the low road, then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like some chicks,

One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive,

but one lost his interest then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for heaven's shore,

but one stopped to rest, then there were only four.

Four little Christians, each busy as a bee

One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew not what to do,

One joined the sporting crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,

differed with each other, then there was one.

One little Christian, can't do much 'tis true;

brought his friend to Bible study -- then there were two.

Two earnest Christians, each won one more,

that doubled the number, then there were four.

Four sincere Christians worked early and worked late,

Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight splendid Christians, if they doubled as before,

In just a few short weeks, we'd have 1,024

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true,

You either belong to The Building,

Or to the wrecking crew!

The Grace to Serve

JN 13:2 The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. [3] Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; [4] so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. [5] After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"  7 Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."  Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."  9 "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"  10 Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." [11] For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.  12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. [13] "You call me `Teacher' and `Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. [14] Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. [15] I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. [16] I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [17] Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

A demonstration of the love of God.  He was a servant who thought no job to demean him.  Because he realized that in serving others he was in fact serving God.

Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Peter Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me.  They were odd people and most difficult to understand.  The way they lived was a shame.

All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have enjoyed worshiping with them.

Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with friends.

Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn't speak to him.  So guess who went to church -- uh, huh -- Nobody.

Really, Nobody was the only decent one of the four.

Nobody did the visitation.  Nobody worked on the church building.

Once they needed a Sunday school teacher.  Everybody thought Anybody would do it, and Anybody thought Somebody would do it. And you know who did it?  That's exactly right -- Nobody!

It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area.  Everybody thought Somebody should try to win him for Christ. Anybody could have made an effort.  You probably know who finally won him:  Nobody!

q      He surrendered his right to be served.  It means getting beyond position.  He has set that example for us.  Forsaking the idea that something is due me because of something that I have accomplished or some position that I occupy.  Even respect.  (Man applied to one of our Wesleyan Colleges My name is Dr. ……)

q      He surrendered to the likelihood of being misunderstood.  Perhaps there never was a man more misunderstood than Christ. In his own mind he was the fulfillment of the law.  Paul wrote that the law was a “schoolmaster to bring us to Christ.”

He was too great for his disciples.  And in view of what he plainly said, is it any wonder that all who were rich and prosperous felt a horror of strange things, a swimming of their world at his teaching?  Perhaps the priests and the rich men understood him better than his followers.  He was dragging out all the little private reservations they had made from social service into the light of a universal religious life.  He was like some terrible moral huntsman digging mankind out of the snug burrows in which they had lived hitherto.  In the white blaze of this kingdom of his there was to be no property, no privilege, no pride and precedence; no motive indeed and no reward but love.  Is it any wonder that men were dazzled and blinded and cried out against him?  Even his disciples cried out when he would not spare them the light.  Is it any wonder that the priests realized that between this man and themselves there was no choice but that he or priestcraft should perish?  Is it any wonder that the Roman soldiers, confronted and amazed  by something soaring over their comprehension and threatening all their disciplines, should take refuge in wild laughter, and crown him with thorns and robe him in purple and make a mock Caesar of him?  For to take him seriously was to enter upon a strange and alarming life, to abandon habits, to control instincts and impulses, to essay an incredible happiness...  Is it any wonder that to this day this Galilean is too much for our small hearts?

 ... H. G. Wells, The Outline of History [1920]

I Sought Him

    I sought Him where my logic led.

        "This friend is always sure and right;

        His lantern is sufficient light --

    I need no star," I said.

    I sought Him in the city square.

        Logic and I went up and down

        The marketplace of many a town,

    And He was never there.

    I tracked Him to the mind's far rim.

        The valiant Intellect went forth

        To east and west and south and north,

    And found no trace of Him.

    We walked the world from sun to sun,

        Logic and I, with little Faith,

        But never came to Nazareth,

    Or found the Holy One.

    I sought in vain. And finally,

        Back to the heart's small house I crept,

        And fell upon my knees, and wept;

    And lo! -- He came to me!

                              ... Sara Henderson Hay

q      He surrendered his desire to be appreciated.  There are so many times in life when we are sidetracked in our spiritual lives because we look to be properly recognized and appreciated and it does not always come.  Sometimes when we are particularly weak and weary and we need encouragement and nothing comes, then we have the temptation to feel slighted and allow ourselves to nurture “hurt” within us.  That sense of hurt is as damaging as anger and bitterness.  Anger lashes out at the perceived inequities of life and hurt withdraws.  Either one a quick temper or oversensitivity is equally ungodly and must be conquered if we are to be followers of Christ.

The Grace to Deal With Our Enemies

JN 13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."  22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. [23] One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. [24] Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."  25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"  26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. [27] As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, [28] but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. [29] Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. [30] As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

q      The people who don’t like us.  This was a difficult thing for me to accept – that there actually would be people who didn’t like me.  I thought the call to the ministry was going to always be a happy, peaceful experience.  Not so.  Accepting the fact that I will not please everyone in everything that I do and I will not please everyone if I do nothing – this has been an invaluable realization as I have tried to preserve my personal vision for ministry and to remain a minister.  We judge ourselves by our intentions – others judge us by our actions.

q      The people that you don’t like.  How many of you this morning have liked everyone that you’ve met since you started coming to church.  Really what counts as a demonstration of love – love in it’s most practical terms is not how you feel about another person but how you treat them.

q      The people who deliberately wrong us.  This is the acid test of our faith.  How do you respond to people who deliberately do you wrong?  If we preach forgiveness and falter at this point then we have not grasped the essence of the gospel.  Jesus treated Judas in such a way that the disciples did not recognize him as the traitor.  They did not have a clue who among them was the traitor.  He in no way betrayed his knowledge of who would ultimately sell him out.

The Grace to Go Alone

JN 13:31 When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. [32] If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.  33 "My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.  34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. [35] By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."  36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"  Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."  37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."  38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

q      To accept personal pain, loss, inconvenience.  What if you are the only one who seems to be responding to God’s call to service?  What if you look around and see that no one else seems to be responding?  God’s call will many times call us to walk with God – alone.

q      To embrace a greater cause than your own.  We have a wonderful cause here at First Wesleyan.  Not the only church in the world but a wonderful one.  Are you currently giving yourself for any other cause?  If not then most likely you are busy serving your own interests – they are the evident priorities that God sees you establishing.  No matter what your lips are saying God knows that your concern for yourself is greater than your concern for Him.  We need a Sunday evening program for younger children.  Need people who are willing to work in this area.  Looking for people who are willing to function as a part of the CARE ministry of our church.  Now the point here is not that you become involved in this specific program but that you become a kingdom builder – investing in some effort to minister to people.

q      To refrain from judging those who don’t rise to your causes.  Sometimes we become cynical and judgmental when others do not see the same passion for a particular ministry.

q      To be personally faithful  Peter’s restoration – What about John.

JN 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"  "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."  16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"  He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"      Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. [18] I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." [19] Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"    21:20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") [21] When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"

REASONS I STOPPED ATTENDING FOOTBALL GAMES/Church

1.  Every time I went, they asked me for money.

2.  The people sitting next to me didn't seem very friendly.

3.  The seats were too hard.

4.  The coach never came to call on me.

5.  The referee made a decision I disagreed with.

6.  I was sitting with hypocrites - they came only to see what others were wearing.

7.  Some of the games went into overtime and I was late getting home.

8.  The band did songs I didn't like.

9.  The games were scheduled when I wanted to do other things.

10. My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up.

11. Since I read a book about football, I know more than the coaches do anyhow.

12. I don't want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.