"A Little Faith"

By Rev. Billy D. Strayhorn

(1 Kings 17:8-16; Mark 12:38-44)

1 Kings 17:8-16

[8] Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, [9] "Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you." [10] So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink." [11] As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." [12] But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." [13] Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. [14] For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth." [15] She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. [16] The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.

Mark 12:38-44

[38] As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, [39] and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! [40] They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." [41] He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. [43] Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. [44] For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

(NRSV)

INTRODUCTION:

Isn't it amazing what God can do with a couple of pennies, a little flour and a little oil, all mixed together with a little faith. That's the common ingredient between the two passages the youth have read. Widows with little more than their faith are lifted up as shining examples. Why? Because they gave from the heart. They gave their all and proved that a little goes a long way in Kingdom of God.

I. AT THE TEMPLE:

A. The story of the widow and her two penny offering at the Temple always amazes me. Our Sanctuary isn't really that big. It's sixty by sixty-five. The Temple was 725 by 275 feet. About two and a half football fields long by one football field wide. it wouldn't be much wider than the choir loft and the entrance to the Holy of Holies would be about where the altar is.

The point is this: Jesus was sitting at the Beautiful Gate, the gates leading into the Temple proper. He was 20 to 75 feet away from the closest offering box. And remember, this was a noisy place. Think about how noisy the narthex is on Sunday mornings. Imagine two or three thousand people talking, praying, putting their offerings in, or just walking through. Above all the noise of the crowd, Jesus heard the widow's offering go in. He not only heard but simply by the sound, he knew how much it was, two pennies. Listen to that: (drop two pennies). Can you imagine?

B. Jesus noticed the little things. It wasn't the pretense of the Pharisees that got His attention, it was the small but heartfelt offering of this widow. Just as it was the small offering of bread made from the last of her meal and oil that the widow who fed Elijah made. Both widows made living sacrifices. God notices when we make those kind of sacrifices; those offerings made out of love without any pretense.

II. US:

A. So, what does that have to do with us. Well, you'd be surprised what God can do with two cents and a little faith. These passages of Scripture point out just how much can be accomplished with a little bread, your two cents and a little faith. Take the bread for example. A single loaf delivered to the right house, opened a whole new area of ministry for this Church. The person who baked that loaf and the person who delivered that loaf, both did it out of love. And God blessed those gifts.

B. I really don't need very many illustrations this morning because this whole service is an illustration of the power of faith, an illustration of good stewardship. This is Youth Sunday. Our Youth Ministry is one of the best acts of stewardship we can perform. We have one of the best youth programs in the Conference. It is steady, we have solid leadership. I don't want to mention names because I know that I would probably leave somebody out. But our Youth Minstry is making a difference. Add in the children's programs and we are making a major investment in the future of the Church. It started with a couple of people and a little faith.

C. We also have a phenomenal music ministry in this Church. It involves youth, children, adults. I really believe it is one of top ten Music Programs in the Annual Conference. Not many Churches have as many or as varied a music ministry as we do. From chimes to bells, to youth, adults and music camp. Music is very much a part of what we do and who we are. And our Music Ministry is making a difference.

D. We haven't been doing any of these things for show. We're not trying to build ourselves up, we're trying to build up those who are involved, those whom we touch, those who worship with us.

During our Building Campaign we talked about not equal giving, but equal sacrifice and God has honored those sacrifices. Next week, as we dedicate our pledges we will also have a brief moment in the service to dedicate the new building. Then, on January 11th, once the holiday season is over, and we have time to get the rooms all furnished, etc. We will have a formal Open House and invite everyone involved for a special day of celebration of this building where we make a difference.

CONCLUSION:

Our challenge is to keep focused and to continue to make a difference. Your pledges help us keep the main thing the main thing. I'm looking forward to a year where we can focus on ministries that deal with people and issues and not just the building in which those ministries will take place. The building has been been fun but I'm ready to move on to the ministries it was designed for. I want to fill it until we are forced to build again.

Two years ago, during a COM planning session we adopted a slogan or ministry statement: "Christ Centered People, Making Disciples, Making a Difference." This is what we are. Through Bible studies, through, music, worship, youth - we ARE making disciples and we ARE making a difference. All it takes is your 2 cents, your meal and oil and a little faith. Mix them all together and what do you get? St. John the Apostle UMC, a Church of faith and faithfulness. A Church that makes a difference.