Sermon Notes 8/26/07

From the Sermon "Coals and Cucumbers"

One of the primary keys to effective church ministry was spelled out for us on the Day of Pentecost; the congregation has to function in One Accord (Acts 2:1)...we need to be spiritually connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ...

Analogy of Watermelons and Cucumbers...including some facts about cucumbers:

Cucumbers lying in the sun on a hot day are cooler on the inside than on the outside. Its core temperature can be ten degrees cooler than its outside, as long as it’s connected to the vine…

Even without a thermometer, its temperature can be easily detected by the touch.

Once the cucumber is severed from the vine – it loses its ability to keep its cool.

Jesus said, in John 15:5, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those who abide in me, and I in the them, will bear much fruit. But apart from me, you can do nothing.”

In Acts 2:40-47, we see the other keys to effective church ministry displayed for us:

40 And [on the Day of Pentecost, Peter] with many other words, he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

In verse 40, sermons being preached from the Word of God produced results…

In verse 41, we see that public baptism was of significance as a public declaration of faith.

In verse 42, the fellowship continued steadfastly in Biblical doctrine and – again – fellowship, Holy Communion and casual meals, and prayer.

In verse 43, the fellowship maintained a healthy respect for the Lord. (They practiced Micah 6:8 as a way of life).

In verse 44, all the believers in the fellowship came together, and were spiritually unified.

In verse 45, they were in ministry to those in need.

In verse 46, again, they fellowshipped together regularly, and with sincerity and gladness.

In verse 47, the fellowship of believers praised God, and looked up others with favor…

And the Lord added to their number, day by day, those who were being saved…

This can happen in ANY church that follows this example.

Also referenced in the sermon: The story of 'The Shadow of the Cross,' wherein a stubborn soul slipped into Eternity, despite the fact that he lived next door to a church - and he was never witnessed to by any of the church members...

The story of 'The Coals on the Hearth,' in which a man who withdrew from his church was visited by his minister, who pulled a single coal from a clump of glowing coals, to silently offer up an analogy of what happens when we fall out of fellowship with other believers...to keep the fire going, we must be unified, be in one accord, and let the Holy Spirit lead us as individuals, and as a church...

A great future lies ahead for Zion UMC if we follow the leadership of the Lord!

Kinston Indians Game - 8/26/07

SMYF Trip to West Water Park

SMYF Youth Group Lock-In

Sermon Notes for Sunday, 8/19/07

From the Sermon, Why Are We Here? or There's No Such Thing as a Perfect Church...

There is no such thing as a perfect church. I have heard it said, “If you find a perfect church – don’t go there. You’ll ruin it.”

For as long as churches have been in existence, there have been conflicts.

Examples:

• The story from the London newspaper, about the man who griped about hearing approximately 1,040 sermons over a period of 20 years, and not feeling spiritually fed or remembering one of them; and the response about eating 3,120 meals over that time span, and not remembering a one of them, either, but being fed in some capacity.

• The Story of the Three Envelopes…in a nutshell, it's about a new minister who, in his first days of work finds a metal box in his desk, left to him by the preceding minister. Within the box are three envelopes with instructions to open them, in turn, in the event of trouble. The church runs smoothly at first, but trouble soon arises and the minister opens the first envelope. It advises him to blame his predecessor. That succeeds in the short term, but soon new difficulties arise. The minister opens the second envelope. It advises him to blame the denomination and the denominational hierarchy. That again succeeds, but soon the minister is faced with more trouble. He opens the third envelope only to find instructions to prepare three envelopes marked 1, 2, and 3...

Acts Chapter 2 details how God brought the Church to life on the Day of Pentecost with his Holy Breath (Acts 2:2 – the “mighty rushing wind”) just as He brought life to Adam through His Holy Breath – His pnuema…where we get the word Pneumonia from…the Church is for our Spiritual betterment...for empowerment, that we might minister to the world at large...

The Holy Spirit falls upon a congregation for a reason, and we should respond accordingly...

Genesis 6:3 - "My Spirit shall not always strive with man..."

Two forms of time:

Chronos Time: Ordinary, everyday time (where we get the word 'chronometer' - watch - from)

Chairos Time: God's appointed, Divine, Holy time

Scriptural Texts for Sunday, 7/28/07

From the sermon "Eighteen Inches from Heaven or Hell"

The story from Luke 16:19-31 – Lazarus and the Rich Man

References to Hell being cast into the Lake of Fire as the 'Second Death':

A description of Judgement Day: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:14,15.

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." Revelation 20:6

"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Revelation 2:11

Reference to God's hope that a sinner will repent: "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezekiel 33:11

Reference to God aiding the Saint to overcome temptation: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished." 2 Peter 2:9.

Reference to Christ being the 'straight gate': "Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat." Matthew 7:13

Also cited, but not quoted, 2 Corinthians 5:8 - "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Scriptural Texts for Sunday, 8/12/07

From the Sermon entitled "Who's the Fool Now?"

Matthew 5:22 – But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Proverbs 14:6 – A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is arrogant and careless.

Proverbs 17:28 – Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise.

Proverbs 18:2 - A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.

Proverbs 26:11 – As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Romans 1:22 – Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools.

1 Corinthians 1:18, 25 – For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…(25) The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Psalm 110:11 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Also referenced, but not cited, Acts 26:28 - "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.' "

SMYF Bible Picture Theater

On Tuesday night, August the 14th, 2007, our Senior UMYF met and read the story of Zacchaeus from the 19th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, about the spiritual reformation of a crooked tax collector. Then they acted the story out in patomime in seven photographs.

Luke 19:1-10

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus;

he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was,
but being a short man he could not,
because of the crowd.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him,

since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
6 So he came down at once, and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter,
"He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (NIV)

Charge Conference 2007

Our Charge Conference is scheduled for November 5th, 2007, at 7:30 p.m.

The theme is Continuing to Grow as Healthy Congregations...

Following is the order for the event:

The Call to Worship

Come, Church, to the One who said, “I chose you.” That One is the Lord of the Church, Jesus Christ. Our Lord calls us to health to serve him and to grow as his body on earth. Let us remember God’s call to be a healthy community to serve him. Let us celebrate the ways God is making us healthier. Let us seek new ways to grow as healthy disciples of Jesus Christ.

A Song/Music about the Church, perhaps Hymn No. 545, Verses 1-2. Could be done a cappella or with accompaniment.

Opening Prayer

Testimony: A lay person shares a summary of how God has blessed and strengthened the church in the past year.

The Superintendent Convenes the Charge Conference:

Recording Secretary takes roll.

The Prayer of Confession: We confess that we have not been the church which you called us to be. At times we have been self-centered rather than centered in Christ. We have not practiced hospitality as a sign of God's presence and grace among those with whom we share life. We have allowed the world to form us rather than God's Spirit. We have continued in the comfortable means of ministry rather than pursuing risk-taking mission. Redeeming Lord, forgive us we pray and restore us to spiritual health that we might become the congregation that you, and you, alone, can bring into being. Amen.

A brief silence is kept.

The Pardon

The pastor offers a pardon concluding with:

In the Name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Glory to God! Amen.

The Scripture Lesson

The Sermon/Video

A Song/Music, perhaps Hymn No. 545, Verses 3-4

The Offering

Our response to God, including our

1.) Talents. . . Lay Leadership Report Lay Speaker Recommendations and Recommendations for Ordained Ministry

2.) (Voting with written ballots) All are presented and offered for approval.

3.) Service and Treasure. . . Apportionments are presented and discussed s service tying us to the larger Church and our mutual mission.

The Treasurer/Finance Chair reads the apportionments:

A healthy congregation seeks to use its resources to help others And to extend the ministries of Jesus Christ far beyond ourselves. We seek to be a healthy congregation through the ministries of The United Methodist Church. Therefore, we acknowledge that we are being asked to support that ministry in the following way:

Apportioned World Service/Conference Bene. _____________

Past Service Liability _____________

Episcopal Fund _____________

Africa University _____________

Black College Fund _____________

Interdenominational Cooperation _____________

3. Presence. . . The presence and service of a pastor(s) and their support. Clergy compensation is presented and approved. S/PPRC Chair reports:

We are thankful for the presence and ministry of our Pastor and make these statements of support for the health of our church:

Pastor’s Salary _____________

Pastor’s Travel _____________ (Paid by voucher: __yes, __ no)

Housing Allowance __________

Utilities ___________ (Paid by voucher __, yes; __ no)

Continuing Education _________

(Paid by voucher: __yes, __ no) Housing Allowance __________

1.) Reports of other clergy relating to the Charge Conference (Other than this local church’s clergy; may be written or oral.)

2.) Report of local church clergy focusing on what God is calling this congregation to do in the coming year as the pastor discerns it and what God is calling the congregation to do for greater health and service to the Lord. Clergy could speak to any efforts of their congregation to grow to greater spiritual health.

Other Business

The Great Thanksgiving Page 12 Variations on the Great Thanksgiving can be used depending on day and season.

Prayer of Thanks

The list of saints, those members who have died since the last charge conference could be read at this point if desired.

*Song or Hymn. What about Hymn No. 545 again, Verses 1 and 5.

*The Blessing The Superintendent

Fourth of July Celebration 2007

To kick off the Fourth of July, and to break in our new pastor, Zion UMC held its annual Fourth of July cook-out - complete with horseshoes, volleyball, home-made ice cream, water games, and topped off with evening fireworks...

A grand time was had by all...