October 13, 2002
Twenty-First Sunday After Pentecost
[36] While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
[37] They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
[38] He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
[39] Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
[40] And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
[41] While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
[42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
[43] and he took it and ate in their presence.
[44] Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."
[45] Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
[46] and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day,
[47] and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
[48] You are witnesses of these things.
[49] And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." [NRSV]
"Whatever"
(Philippians 4:1-9)
Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn
My mother-in-law sent me a copy of an ad that appeared, I assume, in the personal section of "The Atlanta Journal": SINGLE BLACK FEMALE...
Seeks male companionship, ethnicity unimportant. I'm a very good looking girl who LOVES to play. I love long walks in the woods, riding in your pickup truck, hunting, camping, and fishing trips, cozy winter nights lying by the fire. Candle light dinners will have me eating out of your hand. Rub me the right way and watch me respond. I'll be at the front door when you get home from work, wearing only what nature gave me. Kiss me and I'm yours. Call xxx-xxxx and ask for Daisy".
Over 15,000 men found themselves talking to the local Humane Society about an 8-week-old black LABRADOR retriever.
All 15,000 of those men would have avoided embarrassment if they had just heeded Paul's words here in Philippians.
Let's look at that together. Philippians 4:1-9 (If you didn't bring your Bible this morning you can find it on the inside of the bulletin.)
[1] Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
[2] I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
[3] Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
[5] Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
[6] Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
[7] And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[8] Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
[9] Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
[NRSV]
The verse I want to focus on this morning is verse 8: "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
If those 15,000 guys had spent more time studying Scripture and being involved in the Church where they could focus on the things "commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise" they wouldn't have been so embarrassed.
Today we've come to celebrate Bible Sunday. I hope you're all equipped with your favorite verse because in a little while we'll be writing those verses on the floor. But first let's look at what Paul writes.
The word "Whatever," while it still has it's original meaning, has been converted into a word of dismissal. "Whatever!" Someone says it in a certain tone and you can almost see the eyes roll, the hand go up and hear disdain and dismissal. Paul uses it as a word of commendation. He says: "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
This being Bible Sunday, what could be more "honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent or worthy of praise" than Scripture.
This morning we stand upon the foundation and floor of our new Worship center. Encased in this concrete are the stones upon which we wrote our names and then wrapped them in prayer, not once but twice. This foundation contains our prayers of thanksgiving for those who have gone before us and our prayers and dreams for the future of this Church. Today we will be writing our favorite verses of Scripture on the floor before it gets covered with Carpet. And from this point on, not only will our Church and all of our worship be built on the foundation of prayer. But our lives, our worship or ministry will literally and symbolically be standing on the Word of God.
So today is a good day to look at the questions: What Is The Bible. Why Is It Different Than All Other Books?
There are five things I want to look at this morning. THE BIBLE IS: THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, OUR STANDARD, REVELATORY, LIFE CHANGING, AND EMPOWERING.
A. FIRST, THE BIBLE IS: THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
Now what do we mean by that. Different people have different meanings for the same word or phrase. Just look at the word "peas." Here in Texas you order a "mess of peas" and you're going to get a bowl of black eyed peas, right? Up north, if you order a "mess of peas," the first thing their going to do is look at you strange, because they have no idea what you mean by "a mess." A mess is something you have to clean up.
Second, when they do figure out what you're talking about, they're going to bring you a bowl of English peas or Green Peas.
When some people say THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, they mean that God dictated every single word of the Bible. They define INSPIRED to mean that the words of the Bible were the actual words God spoke to the writers of the Bible. That's called literalism. Consequently, these folks believe that the Word of God is infallible.
I'm of a different opinion, as are most United Methodists. I still believe that THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD. I still believe that it is trustworthy and true. But I don't believe that God dictated every word.
I believe that the Bible is God Breathed. By that I mean that the Holy Spirit inspired and filled the people who actually wrote the various books, letters and histories contained in the Bible. But the Spirit didn't take over and make them some Spirit filled robot stenographer, so to speak. Instead, I believe that God, through the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit, interacted and inspired the authors to write what has been written.
God always works with us and through us. God always uses us for who we are, in spite of or because of our faults and frailties. That's Grace and that's the ongoing, unchanging Biblical witness. So, why would God change operating modes all of a sudden when it came to the writing of Scripture? I don't think God would.
Does that change it's importance for us? Not in the least. Does that change the Inspiration? No sir, for me, it makes Scripture more accessible, available and understandable. Isaiah says in Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever." [NRSV]
B. The second thing some people mean when they say: THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD, is that the King James Version is the only version. Don't get me wrong, I like the KJV. I like Shakespeare, too. But if you have trouble understanding Shakespeare, then you'll have trouble understanding the KJV of the Bible because they are both written in the same vernacular.
The Bible was written so that we can be inspired by God, too. If we can't understand the meaning of the words we are reading, what good is it. So get a translation you understand, one that reads like you speak. That's why I like The Message so much. Even though it's more of a modern paraphrase, it really gets to the heart of the meaning.
2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [NRSV]
2 Tim. 3:16 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another - showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. [Msg]
You and I know what the first translation meant but look at how much clearer the Message makes it. And that's just one verse. Find a translation you can understand and then whatever translation you choose, read it. THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
SECOND, THE BIBLE IS: OUR STANDARD
In Washington D.C. there is a building called the "National Institute of Standards & Technology." The personnel of this facility are responsible for storing perfect samples of weights and measurements. They have what are called "prototypes" of pound weights and kilograms. Measuring rods for feet, yards and metric measurements like meters.
For example, there is a "Meter Standard." Prior to 1960, before computers and lasers and all the latest technology, there was a a reinforced bar of platinum alloyed with exactly 10% iridium. When they want to know the exact measurement of a "meter" they cool this bar down to 0 degrees Celsius at a sea level of 45 degrees latitude then they know they will have the exact tip to tip measurement of a meter. That bar is known as "prototype #27." The original is now kept in a suburb of Paris at the International Bureau of Weights & Measures.
As Christians, we also have a measuring rod that never changes. It's the Bible. The Bible is our "Institute of Standards" so to speak.
I just read 2 Tim. 3:16-17 "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness," But in verse 17 Paul goes on to say: "so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." [NRSV] Or as the Message puts it: "Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." [Msg]
I really like the way the Message puts that. "Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
The Bible is our Moral Measuring Stick. It is not just rules and history. It is the measuring rod, the plumb line by which we measure our lives. THE BIBLE IS OUR STANDARD.
THIRD, THE BIBLE IS: REVELATORY
The Bible reveals the Character, the Love and the Grace of God. On page after page we find out just how much love God has for us. We find out just how much God wants us to be in relationship with Him. We find out the extent to which God will go to make that relationship a reality.
In Exodus 3:7-8 we find out God is our Deliverer:
"Then the Lord said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey." [NRSV]
In Psalm 23:4 we find out God is a God of Comfort.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." [KJV]
In Psalm 65:5 we find out that God is a God of Hope.
"By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas." [NRSV]
In John 3:16-18a we find out God is a God of Love and Salvation.
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted;" [Msg]
And in Romans 5:1-5 we find out that God is a God of Grace.
Paul writes: "By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us - set us right with him, make us fit for him - we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" [Msg]
THE BIBLE IS: REVELATORY, it reveals the Character, the Love and the Grace of God.
FOURTH, THE BIBLE IS: LIFE CHANGING.
Steve McQueen was a top billing actor who lead a life as tough as the ones he portrayed in his movies. Success filled his life until alcohol and a failed marriage left him empty. In the midst of his despair he attended a crusade led by one of Billy Graham's associates.
During the crusade McQueen made a profession of faith and requested an opportunity to speak with Billy Graham. A connecting flight in Los Angeles allowed Dr. Graham to spend a couple of hours with Mr. McQueen in the actor's limousine. There, the great evangelist shared numerous scriptures in his quest to give spiritual hope and confidence.
One of the things Steve McQueen struggled with is what a lot of us struggle with, how can God give the gift of salvation and eternal life to a someone who has such a checkered past and lived such a forsaken life?
In their search of Scripture, Billy Graham pointed out Titus 1:2. And this is where Steve McQueen found his hope: "the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago"
Mr. McQueen requested something on which to write down the verse but Billy Graham gave McQueen his Bible instead. Later, Steve McQueen died in Mexico while seeking experimental treatment for his terminal cancer. He passed into eternal life with his Bible opened to Titus 1 and his finger resting on verse 2.
The Message puts it this way: Titus 1:2 My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago - and he doesn't break promises! [Msg]
Whatever situation we find ourselves in, irregardless of our past, we have the hope of God's eternal promise. Steve McQueen found life and hope and eternal life, all through one verse of Scripture. THE BIBLE IS: LIFE CHANGING. (1)
FINALLY, THE BIBLE IS: EMPOWERING.
It empowers us to live as God's children. I'm constantly amazed at how relevant the Scripture is. I'm constantly amazed at how much power the Scripture gives to my daily life and the to lives of others. And I'm constantly amazed at how the Holy Spirit directs me to the passages I need the most, just when I need them the most.
When I'm struggling with whether or not I can do some difficult task, I remember Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." [NRSV]
When things get tough and I'm feeling alone, I remember John 14:18 "I will not leave you orphaned." [NRSV] And Isaiah 40:31 "those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." [NRSV]
When I've had four or five funerals in a row and I'm tired of death or when a friend dies and I'm mourning their loss, I remember John 14:1-2 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" [NRSV]
When the problems of the world seem to swallow me up and I wonder if we're going to make it or if the world truly is going where it's hot in a hand basket, I remember John 16:33 "In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" [NRSV]
And if I get caught up in a moment of self pity for my lack of relationship with my father and the strained relationship with my step father and I'm feeling like I don't belong to anyone. I remember Romans 8:14-17 "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ - if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." [NRSV]
THE BIBLE IS: EMPOWERING.
But then you know that don't you. That's why you're here this morning, to worship God but also to write those verses that have been inspiring, revelatory, a standard for your life, life changing and empowering.
One Sunday during the "children's sermon time" the pastor held up a sign with the letters "USA" and asked the kids if they knew what those letters stood for. All the kids responded with, "The United States of America!" Later, she held up another sign with the letters, "WWJD." (Nearly everyone in the congregation knew that means "What Would Jesus Do?")
The pastor asked the children if they knew what those letters stood for. After a few seconds the pastor offered to help by telling the children that the letter "J" stood for "Jesus."
Immediately, one little boy threw his hand up in the air and yelled, "w-w-w dot Jesus dot com!" (2)
The Internet has made a huge difference in how we communicate. The Bible has made a big difference in WHAT we communicate.
When we read the Bible and try to live a life based on Scripture we are communicating to all those around us just how important it is to us and to the life of the Church. And that's something pretty "commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise" to be thinking about. So take time to think about the "Whatever" of your faith.
1. The Autoillustrator, (Greeley, CO, 1993) 970.330.1925 (Autoill@AOL.com)
2. kidwarmers (formerly funny kids newsletter)
3.
4.
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Homiletics, (Communications Resources, Inc., Canton, OH)
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Dynamic Preaching, (Seven Worlds Publishing, Knoxville, TN)
The Clergy Journal, (Logos Productions, Inc., Inver Grove Heights, MN)
Preaching Magazine (Preaching Resources, Jackson, TN)
Circuit Rider, (The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville, TN)
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The New Interpreter's Bible, (Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1995)
Lectionary Preaching Workbook, Cycle A, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 2002) SermonPrep Version.
Preaching the Miracles, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 1998) SermonPrep Version.
Preaching the Parables, Cycle A, (CSS Publishing, Lima, OH, 1997) SermonPrep Version.