The Devil Made Me Do It

Sunday Worship 11am, April 11, 2021 In the Sanctuary, Online at Zoom & https://www.facebook.com/centrechurchpa/ 83 New Park Road, New Park, PA 17352 https://centrechurchpa.org 1 Second Sunday of Easter April 11, 2021 Welcome Pastor Don Hackett Announcements Elder Paul McPherson Prelude He Is Risen! He Is Risen! – E. Broughton Kathleen Wilson Call to Worship Come to the Lord, all you people, asking God to fill your needs. Lord, we know that you are faithful, giving us every good thing. Come to the Lord, all you people, seeking answers for your troubled souls. Lord, we know that in You are all wisdom and knowledge. Teach us your ways, God, and give rest to our hearts. Come to the Lord, all you people, knocking and waiting. Know that God is ready to meet us all in this place! Here, Lord, in your presence, we have our needs met. Open our hearts, our minds, our ears, and our eyes, so that we receive what You have for us this day. Hymn #25 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDe0ABw5IHs Prayer of Confession & the Lord’s Prayer God, help us to recognize our responsibility for the choices we make. Forgive us for the times that we have excused sin instead of repenting and turning back to You. Keep us at the foot of the cross looking to Jesus the Christ. Help us to make the right choices and to resist temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit, to Your praise and glory. We ask that you hear us as we continue our confession in silence… We pray this humbly in Christ's name, who taught us to pray: Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Sharing of Prayer Requests 2 Prayers of the People By Erin M. Cline O God of the Last Supper God of the Cross And God of the Empty Tomb We come before you now and we pause. We inhale the scent of snow-white Easter lilies. We see the rain as it falls in veils and sheets of April showers. And we listen. Holy Week has passed. But how we long to live by the marvelous story we have heard. Let us remain ever beside you at the table of the Last Supper. Show us who is hungry. And give us the courage to offer them bread from your table. Show us who is thirsty. And give us the strength to lift up the cup of your love. Most of all, show us how to linger at the table, serving others — doing all that we do in remembrance of You and by the power of your Love. We lift these simple words up to you, O God. Amen The Offering (online donations at https://centrechurchpa.org/) Offertory I Serve a Risen Savior – A. Ackley Michael Austin, solo Prayers of Dedication and Illumination Scripture Text - James 1:13-18 Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. So, my very dear friends, don’t get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures. The Word of Our Lord, Thanks Be to God 3 Witness – Cindy Hagge Sermon “Running with Christ” Rev. Dr. Don Hackett For me, Spring is track season. I love to watch people run. Everyone has his or her own way of running. We move our bodies through time and space in lots of different ways. Some style may be more efficient than others, but they are all beautiful because they are moving. Welcome to track season for the followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus has run the race and finished strong. Now Christ is cheering you and me to do the same. I love how the Apostle Paul says this in Philippians 3:12-14: I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Yes! Go Paul! As we know, he ran hard as long and as far as he could until he embraced Christ at the finish line. Finish line When I was in graduate school in 1997 finishing up my final thesis, I was tired. I was working full-time, married with two small children, and was running out of steam to wrap up this degree. I was tempted to give up. I felt God wanted me to finish this, so I kept working. One day I was driving to New Jersey to hand over another chapter to be edited by a friend. I was feeling very discouraged. I turned on the radio and it sounded like some pop gospel tune. It did not seem appealing, so I changed the station. For some reason, the radio reception was poor in that area, so I turned the radio off. About 15 minutes later I tried the radio again. To my surprise it was the same pop song. I listened. The woman sang about running. It turned out to be Twila Paris and the song, Runner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FShMBUSqKHk Courier valiant, bearing the flame Messenger noble, sent in His name Faster and harder, run through the night Desperate relay, carry the light Carry the light Chorus: Runner, when the road is long, Feel like giving in but you're hanging on Oh runner, when the race is won, You will run into his arms 4 As I envisioned myself running into the arms of Jesus, I knew it was all worth it. Whatever God wanted me to do, I would do it. By his power and grace I would continue. Friends, you and I were made to run with Christ and He is waiting for us at the finish line. James The book of James, we are starting to study this month, is a runner’s manual. Written by a younger brother of Jesus, James gives us 5 chapters of hit-the-road wisdom. He is writing to the Jewish followers of Christ who have spread out from Jerusalem and now dispersed among many countries. James knows life is hard, especially for those who carry the name of Christ. The Romans did not like them, the Greeks did not understand them, and other Jews were threatened by their new faith. Along with the book of Galatians, James in one of the oldest books in the New Testament. Like a good coach, James now a leader in the church in Jerusalem, is giving timeless advice on how to run long and hard in Christ. James starts his letter with this surprising statement: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy Pure joy, sheer gift, calm delight when we face tough times? How can James say that?! When hard times hit people typically yell, complain, get angry, or become quiet and depressed. Consider it pure joy? To do this James has us step back, way back. He wants us to see the whole panoramic view of our lives. We are here on Earth to learn how to love God and grow and serve as his people. Christ came to teach us and show us the way of God’s amazing love. This is not all there is. We are getting ready along with all of creation for a new life. This is runner’s camp where we learn to run with God. As we encounter hardships along the way, we are like runners on a cross-country course covered in obstacles. We go up. We come down. We go through the streams and over boulders. We run and slide in the mud. We keep running. Each hardship builds us into stronger, more adaptable runners. We can run with joy and calm delight because we know this is what the course is like and its’ purpose is to build us up. 5 The course of life Life is hard and often painful. On this side of Heaven, it always will be with struggle. We know this. We expect this. Each trial that comes our way is an opportunity to hang on God even more. We enjoy the beauty as we run, however, we see the finish line. Christ is waiting for us, cheering us to run hard, love well, and do the work we were sent to do. James knows that running with Christ stretches us beyond our comfort and wisdom. Becoming a new person in Christ unfolds one step at a time. Just when we think we are making process, something happens to test us again, at a deeper level. It could be something big like a loss of someone important to you. It could be a change in your life you need to make but nothing is coming easy. It could even be something small and everyday like trying to get an answer through customer service on the phone. The little things can trip us up the easiest. You will appreciate the humor of this. I was in the middle of writing this sermon last week when I need to call a regional bank about a fee on my statement. Do you think I was able to call and get a quick, clear answer? No. I made my way through a complex of options to find the extension of custom service…where I waited and waited. When I got through to a representative we got disconnected in the middle of our call and I had to start all over. I paused and looked up. “This is pretty funny.” I was getting frustrated, and the thoughts were going through my mind that were not helpful. I took a deep breathe, and say, “OK, how should I respond, Jesus?” I went down to my computer and finished my request online. Everything in life can work to shape us to be more like Jesus if we are open. Wisdom for the race In chapter One of James, my top three favorite life coaching tips are: 1. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2,3 2. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 6 3. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; James 1:13 Temptation Let us look at that third one a little more closely. “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” When we feel tempted, it is not God. Why? God is good, not evil. God wants you and me to grow and mature, not fail. When we are tempted, we are the ones who decide. We are the ones feeling the pull. We cannot shift the blame to God or anyone else. James spells out the subtle process of temptation and sin: Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14-15 The goal of temptation is to trip us up, pull us away from God. We know when we are being tempted. We feel it in our souls. Something out there looks good, and we want it. The pull is powerful. What is true about temptation is that what is being promised, cannot fully be delivered. Temptation promises what it cannot deliver. “If I buy this item, I will be happy!” Not for long, right? “If I give into this relationship that I know is wrong, it will be fun.” Not for long, right? “If I cheat on this document, it will be my last time.” Not likely. Once we start doing something, we tend to keep repeating the same pattern. That is the way humans are wired. If we want to run with God, we put ourselves with the people and practices that will point us toward God. That is why we meet regularly together. We need each other to run this race. You might think that God puts obstacles, trials in our way to make us strong. Life is a mess. God did not want it this way. God had a garden made for us to thrive in and we left. We thought we knew better than God. God is joining us in this mess called life on Earth with all the pain and suffering. That is what Jesus did. He left Heaven to suffer with us and to lead us out of the death trap of sin. God is not out to trip us up, but rescue and restore us. Evil continues. Life is hard. God is not done. The Son is coming back to wrap it all up. Thank you, James, for showing us how to run! 7 Confession of Faith [from Apostles’ Creed, 390 AD] I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. *that is, the true Christian church of all times and all places Hymn #160 The Day of Resurrection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49hPB6NTVEE Benediction from Hebrews 12:1-3 1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 2. let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 3. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 4. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 5. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Benediction Finally, sisters and brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Let the majesty of the Father be the light by which we walk, the compassion of the Son be the love by which we live, the presence of the Spirit be the power by which we serve. Amen. 8 The beautiful flowers in our sanctuary today are in memory of Reed Anderson. A Celebration of Reed’s life is being planned for Saturday, August 7, 2021. Hymn #25 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven 1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King! 2 Prase him for his grace and favor to his people in distress. Prais him, still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless. Allelua, alleluia! Glorious in his faithfulness! 3 Fatherlike he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows. In his hand he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia, alleluia! Widely yet his mercy flows! 4 Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face. Sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace! Hymn #160 The Day of Resurrection 1 The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad; the Passover of gladness, the Passover of God. From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky, our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory. 2 Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright the Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light; and listening to his accents, may hear, so calm and plain, his own "All hail!" and, hearing, may raise the victor strain. 3 Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin! Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein! Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend, for Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end. 9