RECTOR’S NOTES
Lenten/Easter 2019
That Excuse is Not Excused
People bring people to Christ and the church. That’s a basic Biblical principle that’s essential for a healthy church. With all major mainline churches declining, let’s go back to the basics. After [many] years of ministry, I think I’ve heard most of the excuses of why people and churches don’t practice this principle. People inviting and bringing people to Christ and thechurch should be an ongoing practice of every member of every church. Here are some excuses I’ve heard for not inviting - and a rebuttal for each:
- “I think that’s the minister’s job.” A huge misconception about church is that the minister is hired to do the ministry. The Bible clearly states that every member of the church is a minister.
- “I don’t think people would be interested in coming.” It’s not our prerogative to determine whether or not people are going to come. It’s our responsibility to invite them. We are not called to be successful – we are called to be faithful!
- “Our church is big enough.” Whenever a church thinks it’s big enough, it departs from Scriptural expectations. The Great Commission to go and make disciples does not include a membership limit!
- “I’m afraid people will be offended.” Would a person with a fatal illness be offended if you offered them an invitation to see a doctor who could definitely help heal them? Most people will never be offended by a winsome, sincere, humble invitation.
- “I don’t know the person well enough to invite them.” Sometimes it’s easier to invite people that you don’t know well. We should be inviting everybody that we do know well– and don’t know well!
- “I’m not sure our people would accept them.” A church must be open for all people regardless of their education level, or skin color, or financial strength, or dress, or some sin they committed. If the church starts defining who can and cannot be invited, we cease to be a church and become a social club!
- “My religion is private – just between me and God.” Christian faith is private, but it is also public. I’m glad that Jesus, the disciples, and the early church didn’t keep their faith private, or else we wouldn’t have a church today. Private faith is an oxymoron!
- “I don’t invite because we have a committee on evangelism at the church.” That’s a good recipe for decline and ultimate closure. The entire church is the evangelism committee!
- “When talking with people we get involved in conversations about a lot of interesting things and I forget to do it.” We don’t forget things that are really important. If we forget to invite people to Christ and His church, it indicates that our faith and love for people are far down our list of priorities!
- “It has never occurred to me that this is something I ought to do.” After reading this article, this will never again be a legitimate excuse.
No excuse – the only day you don’t need to invite people is on a day of the week that doesn't end in Y
By John Ed Mathison
NOVEMBER 18, 2018
WHAT GOD DOES WITH A PROMISE/GIFT
Old Testament – The Book of 1st Samuel
Hannah the future mother of the yet unborn Samuel was labeled with a Brandthat she wanted to change: Barren- unable to have children. In this momentin history, to be unable to conceive or give birth was seen as some sort of curse. Someone in the family, some relative or someone must have done something wrong; sinned; committed some heinous act; caused some harm that caused this inability to have children.
- Hannah made a promise to God: If God gave her a son, she would give the
Child back to God to be used as an instrument of God’s choosing.
- God often gives more than we ask, expect or can imagine.
- God indeed blesses Hannah with a son, she names him Samuel which means: I have asked him of the Lord.
- Hannah carries Samuel when he is weaned, to the temple and thePriest Eli. It will quickly become evident that Samuel is an anointed
and gifted boy, who promises to grow into a great Prophet of God.
- Hannah visits Samuel on a regular basis carrying him clothing, an Ephod or robe as he grows. On one such visit Eli blesses Hannah for her gift of Samuel to God.
- Hannah and her husband Elkanah will have an addition three sons and two daughters, this from a woman once called barren. God will supply!
NOVEMBER 11, 2018
A WOMAN CALLED RUTH
Old Testament-The Book of Ruth Chapters 1-4
The Book of Ruth is a story of redemption, recovery and renewal. If you carry nothing else away from the Story of Ruth, know that the beginning of life or any circumstance, no matter how difficult, does not necessarily foretell the ending or final outcome.
Refugees: we can understand what it means to be an immigrant if we understand this story. There is a famine in the land. Something that was
very common in this time period of history. Remember there was no refrigeration and long term storage was not common. There was no
crop insurance and it was a world that was really every person for themselves. Sophisticated farming with irrigation, fertilizer, pest control and all the other real agricultural advances were yet to come. You never knew how long a famine would last.
were Ephrathties from Bethelhem of Judah. They were in the Land
of Moab when the famine came.
Ruth 1:3-5: “But Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without two sons and her husband.
Ruth 1:16b: “ Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God."
Ruth was committed to Naomi, and also was impressed by Naomi. They would be both a comfort, counsel and companion to one another. In the end Naomi would nurse the child Obed, born to Ruth and her new husband Boaz. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, who is still called the Greatest King of Israel. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is born: “from the root of Jesse, the Lineage of David.” Hang On God is not through with your situation!
NOVEMBER 4, 2018
ALL SAINTS DAY
Isaiah 25: 6-9 Revelation 21:1-6a Gospel of John 11:32-44
The Scripture readings today all focus on the loss of loved ones that now are
a part of the company of heaven. Each passage at some point mentions
tears or crying, an emotion that often naturally presents itself when a death
happens. God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Jesus is the strength
of our lives. The source of all we need. The completion of all that is unfinished. Jesus Christ is still in the miracle working business. Put your trust in God and never be disappointed. God is always available, even right now. We believe as Christians in an afterlife with God. The Saints of God when they depart this mortal life are all with God. This mortality puts on immortality. This corruptible
puts on the incorruptible. Death, where is thy sting?
If you have ever flown on a plane you are listed on something called a
manifest. A manifest is a list of passengers or an invoice for cargo. When
your boarding pass is scanned at check in, you are electronically added to
the manifest. When you are a believer in God, you are also on a manifest.
That is a manifest that God has prepared, often called The Lambs Book of Life.
Jesus promised that those who believe, would see the Glory of God.
Jesus Christ is the Resurrection, the way and the life. That Power of
Resurrection raised Lazarus from the dead, because Jesus is life. There is
nothing too hard for God. Nothing too far gone. Nothing that God cannot fix, heal, restore or reconcile. God is able. God is more than enough!
OCTOBER 28, 2018
PART 4 OF 4: OCTOBER 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
UNDERSTANDING JOB, UNDERSTANDING CRISIS, UNDERSTANDING GOD
JOB 42:1-6, 10-17
RESTORATION AND RECONCILIATION
JOB’S Greatest Lesson: When Job No longer possesses any earthly thing,
JOB knows that with God he really still has everything.
JOB gets it DAY ONE, the late Maya Angelou, extraordinary poet,
author and play write says in one of her great quotes:
“When someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.”
everything. Remember if JOB is the richest man in the EAST, he was
a Billionaire in today’s conversion. JOB 1:21-“ Naked I came from my
my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave,
and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
5. God makes JOB more than whole. JOB is given twice what he lost, so again JOB is the richest, greatest person in the EAST. That is the eastern
portion of the known world of that day. God lets JOB live another 140 years. God gives JOB a new family. Most important: it is not what God
did to JOB, it is what God did for JOB. JOB is even better than before!
You will be too.
OCTOBER 21, 2018
PART 3 OF 4: OCTOBER 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
UNDERSTANDING JOB, UNDERSTANDING CRISIS, UNDERSTANDING GOD
JOB NEVER ASKS GOD WHY?
GOD’S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION JOB NEVER ASKED:
“Do you see what I see, do you hear what I hear.”
wealthiest person in the East, you realize that Job was a Billionaire.
2. It is easier for some persons to accept the fact that Job lost his health, but when confronted with the idea that Job lost that much money in
today’s equivalency, is difficult to fathom.
People become so oriented to class and ownership that to imagine
losing as much as Job is challenging. (The Rich Young Ruler)
relocation of the company are often seen as doing something bad
to deserve such a circumstance and that is not true.
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you and you shall
declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the
earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determines its
measurements—surely you know.
God did not NEED to answer Job, rather God explained to Job who God is!
Like Job we need to learn to accept and contemplate the mystery of God!
OCTOBER 14, 2018
PART 2 OF 4: OCTOBER 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th
UNDERSTANDING JOB, UNDERSTANDING CRISIS, UNDERSTANDING GOD
PSALM 22:1- “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
and are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
