A Wonderful New Year!

Sermon Notes

January 6, 2008

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

 

Ephesians 1:3-6 NRSV

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

 

A.  Introduction

 

    1.  King Tut’s tomb

        a.  For nearly fifteen years, archaeologist Howard Carter had been digging in Egypt’s famous Valley of the Kings.  He was looking for the royal tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamen with the hope that it unlike the other tombs had not been looted in antiquity.  The year was 1922 and Carter was running out of funding and time.

        b.  Then workers discovered sixteen stairs leading into the earth.  Thousands of baskets filled with rocks and sand had to be carried away, but eventually a door was found at the end of a long passageway.  Howard Carter drilled a small hole in the door and then probed with a rod.  There was an opening or room of some sort behind the door.  So Carter inserted a candle into the hole and peered in.  He was as he put it, “Struck dumb with amazement!”  An assistant asked, “Can you see anything?”  Carter replied, “Yes, wonderful things!”

 

    2.  Ephesians, a New Year and a New Hope!

        a.  Paul gives us some reasons why you and I can look into this New Year and see wonderful things!  He gives us reasons why we can look forward with anticipation instead of anxiety.  You see, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is filled with hope and optimism!  He begins by telling the Ephesians they are blessed.  He assures them that Jesus Christ will be victorious!  God’s love will win.  Through Jesus, God is reconciling the world unto Himself.  Trust the Lord, know His blessings, and receive His promise of new life!

        b.  And Paul wrote all this while he was in prison in Rome!  Paul shames us.  We have a setback at work, or a disappointing personal experience, or even a slight inconvenience in life and we’re ready to cry out about how difficult we have it!  And even if you are having a truly tough time, look to Paul, and see his call for us to trust in the love and goodness of Jesus Christ.  We can trust the Lord.  The year of 2008 can truly be a fantastic year!  Ephesians 1:3-6 gives us three great reasons why we can look into this New Year and see wonderful things:

 

B.  We are blessed!

 

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Ephesians 1:3

        a.  First of all we are blessed.  Verse one in today’s Scripture says:  “Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS BLESSED US in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3 NRSV)

        b.  Do you understand that?  God loves each and every one of you and sends His blessings upon you!

 

    2.  College kids and the poor farmer

        a.  When Mark Tidd was in college he and some buddies rented a house.  One day an old man knocked on their door.  The old fellow’s eyes were glassy, and his furrowed brow glistened with silver stubble.  He held a wicker basket holding some vegetables.  Now some of the vegetables looked ok, but some were less than appealing.  The man bid the students good morning, and offered his produce for sale.  The college kids felt uneasy with this man at their door.  They made a quick purchase to alleviate both their pity and fear.  Next week the old man returned, and introduced himself as Earl Roth.  He told them that he lived in the green house down the road and had a little farm.  They knew the place.  It was a shack.  The paint was peeling, and he couldn’t have had much more than a couple of acres of land.  Eventually the young people’s fears subsided.  They realized that it was not alcohol, but cataracts that had marbleized Mr. Roth’s eyes.  On subsequent visits Mr. Roth would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched shoes, and pull out a harmonica.  With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he’d puff out old Gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and large doses of praise to God for all the Lord’s blessings!

        b.  The college kids felt sorry for the old man so they went to the thrift store and got him three pairs of shoes and a bag of clothes, hoping that at least one pair of shoes and a couple of the outfits would fit the old guy.  They snuck over to his house late at night and put the bag of shoes and clothes on the old man’s front porch.  On Mr. Roth’s next visit, he exclaimed, “The Lord is so good!  I came out of my house this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch!”  Mark replied, “That’s wonderful, Mr. Roth!  We’re happy for you.”  Mr. Roth responded, “And what is even more wonderful, just yesterday I met some people that could use the shoes and clothing!”  Earl Roth did not have much by most of our standards.  However, he could see all the blessings that God had given him, and he was thankful and willing to share with others.  How about you?  Do you know that God loves you?  Do you have family and friends that love you?  Do you have a place to live?  Do you have food to eat?  Do you have a lot of other blessings?  Sure you do.  You are blessed.

 

C.  We are chosen!

 

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Ephesians 1:4

        a.  Paul, also, tells us that we are chosen!  “Just as HE CHOSE US in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.” (Ephesians 1:4 NRSV)

        b.  God is so different from the world.  Many know the pain of being chosen last to play some childhood game.  And many know the hurt of not being chosen for something like the high school football team, or that job promotion at work.  The world can and will reject you.  God never will.  Today’s Scripture says that you and I have been chosen by the Lord, Himself!  Can you get your mind around the meaning of this?  It means that God loves you so much that the Almighty chooses you to be with Him forever!

 

    2.  Old Violin

        a.  There is a beautiful poem, that later became a song, written by Myra Brooks Welch.  It begins with the line:  “’Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.”  And the bidding starts and it gets to $3 when a gray haired man comes forward.  He picks up the old violin, dusts it off and tightens the strings.  Then he draws the bow across it and plays a “melody pure and sweet, as sweet as an angel sings.”  This time the bidding jumps to $1,000, then $2,000, and then the old violin finally sells for $3,000!  Some do not get it and ask, “What changed its worth?”  And the answer is:  “The touch of the master’s hand.”  The poem goes on to state how sometimes the world views a person as worthless and of no account.  However, the Master of the Universe sees worth and value inside that person, and the touch of His hand can reveal the beautiful music within. 

        b.  No matter who casts you aside, Jesus reaches down to claim you.  Even if society, your friends, or even your family declare you of no value, reject you, and do not want you, know this:  God will never abandon you.  And like that discarded violin, God will pick you up, and call you His own.  God loves you, and “God our Savior, desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (I Timothy 2:3b-4 RSV)  The Creator chooses you as His own.  All you have to do is accept His acceptance.

 

D.  We have a destiny!

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Ephesians 1:5-6

        a.  And finally, the Bible tells us this:  “He DESTINED US for adoption AS HIS CHILDREN through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (I Timothy 1:5-6 NRSV)  Many scholars believe the phrase “In love” should not be the end of verse 4, but the beginning of verse 5, and thus read:  “IN LOVE HE DESTINED US for adoption AS HIS CHILDREN through Jesus Christ.”

        b.  Love is the important word here.  Variations of it appear two more times in verse 6, where we see the words “grace” and “Beloved.”  Too many get hung up on the word “destined” or “predestined” as it is sometimes translated, and get into theological arguments about whether God gives us freewill or not.  God’s destiny for us certainly has some specifics for each individual.  But mostly God wants us to be kind and loving.  God’s destiny for us is to live as the loving children of the One whom Jesus called our “Father in Heaven.”

    2.  Movie:  IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

        a.  Remember the movie, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE?  Jimmy Stewart plays the main character, George Bailey.  George is always putting off his own dreams to take care of his family.  He ends up running the family Savings and Loan Company, and not traveling around the world or going to college.  George doesn’t feel as if his life has much purpose.  Then Uncle Billy loses a large sum of the company’s money.  The family will be ruined and destitute.  George is angry, but afraid for Uncle Billy to go to jail, so he takes the blame.  Unable to raise the lost money, George contemplates suicide.  As George stands on the side of a bridge thinking about jumping, a man jumps into the river, and George jumps in and saves him!  Later George finds out that the funny little man is his guardian angel, Clarence.  George Bailey says he’d be better off if he had never been born.  The angel grants his wish.

        b.  When George goes back to town he finds that it is no longer Bedford Falls, but Pottersville, and it is run by the meanest man in town, Mr. Potter.  It is a harsh, uncaring and immoral place.  George discovers that his brother died years ago, because he was not there to pull him out of the icy river.  And all the sailors that his brother saved on a troop ship during World War II also die.  His mother is destitute and takes in boarders.  His Uncle Billy is in an insane asylum.  The town druggist gives a boy the wrong medicine and kills the boy, because George was not there to tell him he used the wrong bottle.  The druggist has become a hopeless alcoholic.  George’s wife Mary never married and has become a frightened and distrustful “old maid.”  He realizes that his life did make a difference, and the angel restores things as they were.  Indeed, George Bailey realizes that his acts of love and kindness have made a difference for his family and even his community!  We were made to love, as God loves us.

        c.  You and I have a destiny.  God has a plan for each of our lives.  And you and I each have to wrestle with the specifics of our own God given destiny.  However, in general we know God’s plan for us.  The plan has to do with being the loving children of a Heavenly Father.  Simply put, our destiny, and what God wants us to be is His loving children.  And whenever we reach out in love and kindness to others, and do God’s will, it does make a difference and it does make our world a better place.

 

E.  Conclusion:  Recap

    1.  We are blessed!                2.  We are chosen!               3.  We have a destiny!

 

Ephesians 1:3-6 NRSV

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.  5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

 

A Wonderful New Year!

 

                      1.  We are blessed!

 

                      2.  We are chosen!

 

                      3.  We have a destiny!