No Price, Too High!

Part 1

Sermon Notes:  August 9, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

 

Matthew 13:44-46 NRSV

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ”

John 3:16-21 NRSV

16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.  20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.  21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

 

A.  Introduction

    1.  Time Magazine

        a.  Some years back Time Magazine asked a group of Americans to rate one-hundred famous events in history as to their significance.  The results of that poll were amazing!  Number one was Columbus’ “discovery” of America.  Three events tied for fourteenth on the list:  The discovery of X-Rays, the Wright Brother’s first plane flight, and the Crucifixion of Jesus!!!  If the poll were done today, I’m sadly aware that in all probability anything to do with Jesus would be even lower on the list.

        b.  This poll indicates that we Christians have not done a good job of communicating to our nation and the world the meaning of the cross. 

    2.  Today’s Scripture:  John 3:16

        a.  For indeed, at the heart of the Bible is the Gospel, at the heart of the Gospel is the cross, and at the heart of the cross is the very love of God.

        b.  That is, of course, what today’s very familiar Scripture tells us:  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NRSV)  The cross of Jesus tells us that no price was too high for God to pay to redeem us.  That is how much God loves each of us.  That is how much God loves you.  This Sunday and next, I will be sharing four truths about the cross of Christ.

 

B.  The cross means that you are a person of vital worth.

 

    1.  Soldier

        a.  During World War II in an intense fire fight a young soldier named John rushed into no man’s land to save a wounded comrade.  As John was dragging this fellow soldier to safety he was struck from behind by several bullets.  John would later die from these wounds.  The other fellow would make a full recovery and be sent home.  Sometime later this soldier was invited to dinner by John’s parents.  The man arrived late, was intoxicated and impolite.  After the delicious meal he hurried on out the door without one thank you or mention of John’s heroism.  John’s mother burst into tears and said to her husband:  “To think that our son had to die to save a thing like that!”

        b.  As we look at human behavior and even our own at times, we wonder why God did not say or think the same thing about us.  However, the Scriptures are clear.  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit believe that you and I are worth it.  The Son of God willingly died to redeem lost humankind back to the Father.  God says that you are worth it.  Do not forget what Jesus said before His sacrifice for your salvation:  “The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” (John 15:13 NCV)  And then He went out and did just that.  Such love is beyond our comprehension.

 

    2.  Sculpture of Kokopelli

        a.  Sometime in the nineteen seventies a middle-aged woman was visiting her parents in Arizona and became fascinated by western and Native American art.  She fell in love with a five foot tall bronze statue of Kokopelli that was for sale in a gallery on Main Street in Scottsdale.  This was before the internet so she sent her husband a telegram describing the work of art and informing him of the price.  Her husband wired her back immediately, whereupon she went directly to the gallery and purchased her beloved statue of Kokopelli.  Taking it home with her she showed it to her husband who was irate with anger.  He stammered, “I wired you clear instructions that you were not to buy that thing!  I told you, NO, price too high!”  Confused she said, “Dear, that’s not what your telegram said.  Read it for yourself.”  Looking at the telegram the man learned the importance of punctuation for this is what it said:  “NO PRICE, TOO HIGH!” 

        b.  “God has shown us how much he loves us – it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!” (Romans 5:8 TEV)  “NO PRICE, TOO HIGH!” is what God says about each of us.  To many of us this is beyond our understanding.  After all, we compared to the Almighty and the vastness of creation seem to be pretty insignificant.  Yet God lovingly looks at each one of us and says:  NO PRICE, TOO HIGH!  That IS the testimony of the Gospel.  In fact, that is the Gospel.  God sees you and me as persons of vital worth!

 

C.  The cross means that you are a person of infinite potential!

    1.  Date

        a.  A teenage boy finally got up the courage to ask a special young lady out for a date.  This was the lad’s first real date and in his eagerness he got the time mixed up and showed up over an hour early.  The young woman’s kid brother gladly escorted the teenage boy down the hallway to see big sis.  She had no make up on, was dressed in a baggy shirt and shorts, and her hair was an absolute mess!  Turning with curling iron in hand she spied her date and blushed.  Her little brother laughed like a hyena and needless to say it was one of those awkward moments.  Composing herself she looked at her date and said, “How do you like my hair?”  The lad stammered, then smiled and said, “It looks as if it is about to become something wonderful!”

        b.  That is how God sees you and me.  No matter how much we’ve messed things up, God looks at you and sees the potential deep inside.  God sees your magnificent potential!  The Creator sees the wonderful person that He made you to be.  I hope you see it too and embrace the words of King David:  “I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.    What you have done is wonderful.  I know this very well.” (Psalm 139:14 NCV)

    2.  Stars

        a.  There was a young Polish girl named Marie Sklondowska, who had an encouraging teacher.  The teacher said, “Some of you have stars at your fingertips.”  Marie went on to study science at the Sorbonne in Paris where she fell in love with a fellow named Pierre Curie.  And they reached for the stars together!  It was not easy.  People laughed at their research concerning radioactive elements, and at times they were so destitute they had little to eat.  On the verge of admitting failure they walked into their laboratory one night to see their evaporation dishes aglow in the darkness.  They had discovered a new element:  Radium!  This discovery was a turning point in modern physics leading others to further studies into the very nature of the atom.  Further, this discovery would lead humankind into such medical treatments as radiation therapy to fight cancer.  Marie Sklodowska Curie or Madame Curie as many know her was the first female professor at the University of Paris and the first person ever to be honored with two Nobel Prizes!

        b.  The stars are at your fingertips, too.  In this loving and sacred place do you not sense it?  God has great plans for you.  Do not say you are too young or too old.  God is calling you to step out in faith.  In the weeks and months ahead pray and seek the Lord’s guidance.  God might be calling you to do one of these things:  Take those music lessons.  Join a theater group.  Design that better mousetrap or other useful product for humankind.  Volunteer to serve at a homeless shelter or go on an overseas mission trip.  Write that novel.  Go on the archaeological dig.  Travel around the world.  Go back to school or study to be a minister.  Open your heart to God’s nudging in the months ahead and reach for the stars!  Indeed God has plans for you to do something great and important; plans to do something that blesses people in a positive way.  Trust God’s promise:  “For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 RSV)

 

D.  Conclusion

    1.  Next Sunday, I will talk about how you and I can best reach for the stars.  It is not how the world thinks.  It is in following Christ.  It is in picking up your own cross as the Lord’s servant that you find the most meaningful life.  This is the treasure of heaven and the pearl of great price.

    2.  Today, we remember these truths: 

        a.  The cross means that you are a person of vital worth.

        b.  The cross means that you are a person of infinite potential!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(4)

 

No Price, Too High!

 

1.  The cross means that you are a person of vital worth.

 

2.  The cross means that you are a person of infinite potential!

 

3.  The cross reminds you that dedication is costly.

 

4.  In picking up the cross of Jesus, you find the most meaningful life!

 

 

Matthew 13:44-46 NRSV

44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ”

 

John 3:16-21 NRSV

16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 

18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 

20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 

21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”