"Can
You Say That Again?”
a condensed version of the
sermon delivered by Rev. Kirk Moore on February 4, 2007 at St.
Matthew United Church of Christ, Wheaton, Illinois
This Morning's
Scripture Reading is: |
7 1/2 years.
That's not a really long time, but it is a long time. It's long enough to think back to wonder what kind of impact you've had by being part of a place like St. Matthew.
Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to repeat some things I've said in sermons over the years. I hope you remember them. Even more, I hope that the things you heard -- and the things you hear, make a difference.
The first one isn't really something I said. It was from a friend of mine. (Bring out Josh)
- "Hi! It's me -- Josh! And I want to tell you about a new company I'm starting. It's the Tenco Candy Company!
- "The Tenco Candy company?"
- "Yup! And the first product we're gonna make is for men that have bad breath. They're called Tenco Man Mints!"
- "I hoped I wouldn't have to hear that one again!"
(Josh exits)
Here are some others: If you're interested in seeing what sermons they are from, you can check out website-- each quote is linked to where it came from.
From "Is It Windy in Here?" 6-11-00
when things are finished I hope you feel bothered, bewildered, confused -- yet very challenged.
From "Dancin' in the Pews" 7-16-00
In case you hadn't noticed, I'm a person who is outgoing, energetic, and often excited. No really, You may think I'm shy and reserved, but I am really outgoing and energetic! However, all too often I forget to be excited about my relationship with God.
Of course – when we make announcements, everyone thinks their announcement is the important one – one that must be said. "I know announcements are too long, but this one is important!"
From "Procrastination" 11/28/04
My brothers and sisters --. You'd better beware of procrastination when it comes to your salvation. It might put you at risk of conflagration. I don’t mean to cause consternation -- but we as a nation must turn from our flesh-centered celebration and instead walk the road of sanctification!
From "Until Christ Returns" 11/2/03
I’m a mess – and God loves me and wants to be with me through everything.
From "The Resurrection Debate" 4-7-02
I really can’t offer you any physical or scientific evidence of Christ's resurrection. I can tell you that I believe in it. I believe that Jesus Christ lived on Earth, was crucified, died and was buried. And I believe that on the third day he really did rise from the grave -- alive.
I have doubt that the Bible has come to us without the flaws people have put into it. But I have faith that the Bible as it has come to us is the Bible from which God wants us to study and to learn. I have doubt that a loving God would allow all the hate and evil and tragedy in the world – even if it is people who have set the wheels in motion that lead to all of it. But I believe that God has a picture that is much larger than mine and that God is far smarter than I am or anyone else in the world could ever hope to be.
I believe that we have built up walls that divide people who are followers of Christ. Some of our church traditions have become completely unmovable and actually keep us from living what God has promised. Our denominations are kinds of walls that divide us even though we are part of the same body. And most of all, the structures we have built have become fortresses where people come to worship -- but outside the walls we do not exist.
Look around the sanctuary. There are people here who you may have never noticed. There are people here who you have known for years. There are people here you have seen but have never met. There might be people here that you try to avoid.
From "The Neighborhood" 7/11/04
God’s neighborhood is big enough for all kinds of different people. It is big enough for babies, children, youth, young adults, middle age- adults, seniors – everyone. It is big enough for those with no education and those with advanced degrees. God’s neighborhood is big enough for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. God’s neighborhood is big enough for rich people, poor people and "barely scraping by" people. God’s neighborhood is big enough for people with disabilities and people with mental illness. God’s neighborhood is big enough for Republicans, Democrats, independents, Greens; political activists and political apathists. God’s neighborhood is big enough for soldiers, militia, and terrorists.
From "Discovering Jesus Once Again: Upside- Down 2/15/04
Sometimes you read things or hear things that get you all twisted upside-down inside – either in anger, sadness or contempt. Jesus stirred those kinds of feelings when he walked the Earth. I believe he still does it today.
From "No Matter Who, No Matter Where" 1/23/05
Paul didn’t say that people couldn't disagree about things -- or that they couldn’t argue -- but he did tell them that they had to agree that Christ was the one they were serving. Isn't that foundational for Christianity? It doesn't mean that the issues we discuss . . . and argue about aren't important. It does mean that as we follow Christ our disagreements have to have the knowledge surrounding them that we are disagreeing as people who agree that we love Jesus. The issues are huge. Politics, Abortion, Homosexuality, Poverty, War. There are no easy answers to huge issues. And we have to somehow understand that people who follow Jesus don't agree on even the biggest issues.
From "Counsel for an Ornery Church: Building on a Firm Foundation" 2/5/06
With Jesus at the core -- the foundation -- we build in different ways. We have different ideas about how to worship. We have different ideas about when to worship. We have different ideas about what policies we should have as a church. We have different ideas about how our annual budget should look. We have different ideas about what we should do in the future with our structure and property.We have different ways that we think to build on the foundation of Jesus. I think that some have the idea that having Jesus at our core means we'll always be in agreement. I don’t think that -- I believe that how we continue to have Jesus at our core while we disagree with others who have Jesus at our core is what shows that Jesus is our foundation.
From "Welcome Uncertainty" 8/7/05
From "Unexpected and Unconventional" 12-24-00
Conventional wisdom tells us that when we feel safe in our own nest we can rest easy. I believe God's unconventional way takes us away from where we feel safe to where we must rely on God to protect us.
From "A Teenage Mother" 12-23-01
God's wisdom is way beyond ours. I think that God chose humble and controversial beginnings for Jesus so Jesus would know humanity. I believe that is was so that Jesus would live through problems and persecution and understand how humans think and feel.
From "James and John: Why is Everybody Mad at Us?" 6-30-02
It's not wrong to have money. It's not wrong to have fame. It is not wrong to have nice homes and cars. . . Jesus didn’t model all that though -- did he?
When you see a tree you can be reminded that you are like a branch on that tree. You do what a branch does – it bears fruit. If you’re off the tree you can’t bear fruit. But you can and do bear fruit because it is part of your very nature as a branch on the tree!
From "You Knew About This?" 12/24/06
What happens when we question what people have written? What happens when we question the way people have understood the Bible and prophesy for a long, long time? Is it time to circle the wagons and protect what must be protected or is it time to fight to protect what must be protected? Does the phrase 'God is still speaking' mean that we ignore what the Bible says in place of some new thought? Does it mean that we have more and new things to understand from God's word? Does it mean something else? Is it possible that sometimes the words become more sacred than the truth? Is it possible that sometimes the desire to get to the truth becomes more sacred than the truth?
From "From Slavery to Freedom: God Revealed" 10/16/05
Do we find God revealed only in the things that please us? Is it only in what we perceive as good? Can we acknowledge God even when things aren't going as we want them to go? Is it possible for us to continue to love, trust and see God in the best and worst of times?
From "Where are We Going?" 12/26/04
Jesus is the outcast. Jesus is the homeless. Jesus is the nobody everyone turns away from. Jesus is the person voted "least likely to succeed". Jesus is the annoying neighbor who plays their music too loud. Jesus is all those people who make your skin crawl.
This religion -- that really old time religion -- is something that is not at all pompous or hypocritical. It is -- let me say it again -- genuine, authentic, deep and true. It seeks to care for the widows and the orphans and the poor and the rejected and the outcast and the sick and the marginalized and the angry and the bullied and those who are being persecuted and those who work hard every day and still don’t have enough and the people you didn't really want to care for. It’s seeking to genuinely, authentically, deeply and truly follow God and what God desires for you to be and to do.
From "Jesus Changes Everything: Status" 10/8/06
I believe that God wants us to share our lives with another. I believe that God wants us to love that person and be loved by them. And God doesn't want us to abuse that love or take that love for granted. And anyone who has experienced something different than that -- leading to divorce, or feeling shunned, or outcast, unwanted, unimportant -- unloved - are precious. People dealing with hurt need compassion and support and healing.
From "Counsel for an Ornery Church: Stumbling Blocks" 2/26/06
There are lots of times that people do things in church that cause offense to others. There are times where believers take a stand for what they believe and it is not comfortable for others to hear it. There is a time when people disagree so much that people on both sides of an issue are sure that the other side is creating a stumbling block to faith. And I don’t have any easy answers to that problem. I do have a guideline that I think is worth following, however. If something we do or say or teach becomes a stumbling block, it's better to not do it. But . . . if the stumbling block is stopping a person from exploiting, abusing, or devaluing another person -- then it is worth doing.
From "Let Loose the Spirit" 5/15/05
I believe that when the Holy Spirit fills us -- we are not moved to give God less of ourselves. We are motivated and driven to grow in our faith -- to reach out to others in need and to turn away from the things that keep us from God's call on our lives.
From "Recognizing Jesus" 1/7/07
Where do we forget or fail to see Jesus?
From "Some Explaining to Do" 6/18/06
Learning more, digging deeper, considering that there is more to understand is something that is so important to our faith growth. When we read the Bible, listen to sermons, attend Sunday School, participate in Bible study, read devotions, discuss with our friends, we’re in the process of seeking more than what is simply on the surface.
In this life of stress, sickness, anger, sadness and sorrow, take a break to – not from – God.
From "And all this Without a Good Spinner Bait" 2-4-01
I don’t think you need some fancy or highly technical way to share how God has moved in your life with others. Just tell your story to them! The concept seems simple.
How amazing it could be if instead of resorting to anger and harsh words with one another we continually sought out ways to understand the validity of others opinions.
From "Jesus Changes Everything: The Signs" 11/19/06
Instead of arguing with someone about the right interpretation of scripture, how about taking the "Do not be afraid" part seriously. Offer Jesus' hope to someone this week. Think of someone you'd like to offer Jesus hopes to this week. Offering this hope wrapped in a hellfire and damnation package isn't what I have in mind here. Offer Jesus hope in the form of peace, assistance, care, kindness, forgiveness, reconciliation, generosity and love.
Whether or not you are a follower of Jesus, make a commitment to serve your brother and sister in a tangible, significant way for the next month. And then make a commitment to do it again next month. Do it for six months straight -- and then see if you even realize that you're doing it -- or if you've become unaware.
From "The 'Aha' Moment " 2/20/05
I'd like to issue a challenge for the next 35 mornings -- Wake up and ask "God Guide Me today" as soon as you wake up. Trust that God will. I don’t know what your experience will be. I don't know how your journey will go. But I'll be interested to hear about it
Here’s a challenge – for you -- for me too. Pick a time. Early in the morning - at night - whenever. Pick it when it is not completely convenient (so that you notice and don’t forget too quickly), then go off by yourself and pray. Do it all week. And then at the end of the week – do it again.
From "Barnabus the Encourager" 8-4-02
Think of three things you can say to someone today to encourage them. Who will you say it to? What will you do to help encourage them?
Remember to pray for one person – one minute a day – at one o-clock.
From "Walking on Water" 8/8/99
Trust God -- Step out in Faith. Trust God -- Persevere. Trust God -- Share your faith. Trust God -- Take a risk for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
From "Counsel for an Ornery Church: The Resurrection" 4/23/06
Jesus came to give us life. God has done all the work. There is nothing at all we can do to ever earn God's love or God's grace. Jesus gave us two foundational and essential rules. Do you remember them? Love God with all that you are -- and love your neighbor as yourself.
Can you say that again?