Open Minds

Sermon Notes

September 16, 2007

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

 

Luke 6:37-42 NRSV

37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

39He also told them a parable:  “Can a blind person guide a blind person?  Will not both fall into a pit?  40A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.  41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  42Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

 

Ephesians 2:1-10 NRSV

1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.  3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.  4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast.  10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

 

A.  Introduction

    1.  Peanuts Comic Strip

        a.  In the Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown and Lucy are walking on the sidewalk.  Charlie Brown asks, “Lucy, are you going to make any New Year’s resolutions?”   Lucy angrily answers, “What?  What for?  What’s wrong with me now?  I like myself the way I am!  Why should I change?  What in the world is the matter with you, Charlie Brown?  I’m all right the way I am!  I don’t have to improve.  How could I improve?  How, I ask you?  How?”  Poor Charlie Brown just mutters, “Good grief!”

        b.  Some people, like Lucy, have rather closed minds.  They are not open to any new ideas.  They certainly are not open to any ideas, but their own.  A closed mind is a dangerous thing.

    2.  II Corinthians 4:4

        a.  At youth camp one year, the following paraphrased version of II Corinthians 4:4 was shared by one of our speakers:  “They do not see, because the devil has closed their minds to the light of the Gospel and the glory of Christ.” (II Corinthians 4:4 paraphrase)

        b.  The Bible warns against having a closed mind.  Jesus did so in Matthew’s Gospel (13:14-15), and Paul does the same not only in the just quoted text from II Corinthians 4:4, but also in The Acts of the Apostles (28:26-27).  Further in Nehemiah 1:6 and Luke 24:32 & 45, just to name two places, the Bible calls us to have minds open to the things of God.  This morning I will share three things concerning our call to have open minds.

 

B.  You don’t know it all!

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Luke 6:40

        a.  Jesus in Luke 6:40 says, “A disciple is not above his teacher…” (Luke 6:40 RSV)

        b.  No matter how much you know about something, there is always someone who knows more than you do.  This is true of earthly persons and above all true as we stand in the presence of the Almighty.  And that thought ought to humble us greatly.

    2.  World’s Smartest Man!

        a.  A small airplane took off from a lonely Alaskan runway.  On board were the pilot and three passengers.  One of the passengers was a Boy Scout planning to go on a 50-mile solo hike.  Another passenger was an elderly pastor, who took care of several remote mission stations.  The final passenger was a petroleum scientist heading for the Alaskan pipeline.  The plane develops engine trouble and the pilot rushes back to the passenger area and exclaims, “The plane is going down!  We only have three parachutes and I have a family back home.”  The pilot then puts a chute on his back, opens the door and jumps.  The petroleum scientist jumps to his feet and declares, “I am the smartest man in the world.  It would be a great tragedy for all humanity if my life were snuffed out.”  He then grabs a parachute and jumps out.

        b.  The old pastor then pats the Boy Scout’s shoulder and says, “Son, I’ve lived a long life.  You go on and take the last chute.  “Don’t worry,” the scout tells the pastor.  “We’re gonna both make it.  The world’s smartest man just jumped out of the plane wearing my back pack!”

        c.  Be careful how puffed up you make yourself.  Your selfish pride may make you look like the fool.  Your pride may, also, hurt you or others.  Indeed, we all know how nationalistic and religious pride can lead to all sorts of bad things like terrorism and inquisitions.

C.  Be tolerant of others.

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Luke 6:37 & Luke 6:41-42

        a.  Jesus in Luke 6:37 states, “Do not judge others and God will not judge you; do not condemn others and God will not condemn you; forgive others and God will forgive you.” (Luke 6:37 TEV)  Further in verses 41-42 Jesus deals with the hypocrisy of looking for specks in others eyes, when you have a big log in your own eye!

        b.  Jesus is just calling us to be tolerant of others, as God is tolerant toward us.

    2.  Wizard of Id

        a.  In the Wizard of Id comic strip a family in a mule drawn wagon pulls up in front of the castle.  The father speaks to Sir Rodney, “Is there any prejudice in this kingdom?”  Rodney responds, “Why do you ask?”  The father responds, “My wife Emma is an Irish Catholic, and I’m a Polish Jew…  But the kids are both Evangelical Protestants.”  Rodney says, “You’re welcome to stay, but you won’t hear many jokes.”

        b.  We have a way of distrusting and ridiculing those that are different from us.  Selfishly we think that our side is the only right side.  But we can learn and grow.  We can be more willing to look at others points of view.  We can learn to see the validity in their beliefs, dreams and hopes.  This does not mean that we are to be a people of no convictions.  In America we are free to hold strongly to our religious beliefs.  And indeed I strongly believe that Jesus is God Incarnate.  However, I freely admit that I do not know everything.  This, though, I do know:  It is not my job to judge others.  It is not my job to assign people to Heaven or Hell.  All of those things are God’s job and God’s job alone.  God in Jesus gave you and me an assignment, and that is to LOVE others as God loves us.  That is our job, and thus obviously a part of this call to love is to be tolerant of others.  We are to have an open mind.

 

D.  Don’t forget God’s mercy to you!

    1.  Today’s Scripture:  Ephesians 2:4-5

        a.  In Ephesians 2:4-5 Paul says, “But God’s mercy is so abundant, and His love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life with Christ.  It is by God’s grace that you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5 TEV)

        b.  All of life is a gift from God.  And above all, salvation is a gift.  All of us need forgiveness and none of us could merit it on our own.  Yet God freely offers us this gift beyond gifts!

    2.  A Tale of Two Pastors

        a.  Let me tell you a tale of two Pastors.  I met these fellows in Dallas, Texas when I was a seminary student.  The first minister, whose name I’ve changed, we’ll call Toby.  Toby, the son of a much loved United Methodist minister, rebelled against his family’s Christian values for years.  He lied, stole and was dishonest in his dealings.  He drank in excess and was near to being an alcoholic.  He cheated on his wife and she divorced him.  Then, as Toby put it, he found religion.  He went to a Bible College and became a pastor at an independent Christian Church.  One afternoon we had an inter-denominational gathering of the Churches in the northwest part of Dallas.  Toby was there and spent his allotted speaking time condemning the rest of us.  In his opinion, most of us gathered there were not fit for Heaven because we did not baptize in the right way and we did not use only the King James Version of the Bible.  And his list of those that he thought God would “burn in Hell” included sinners, secular humanists, half of Christianity, and all the people of the other religions of the world!  I wondered, “Where is the grace and mercy in Toby’s religion?”  Here was a man, who by his own admission, God had forgiven a multitude of sins.  And what is his response?  Toby judges others.

        b.  Then there was Tom Shipp.  Tom was raised by alcoholic parents, who abused him, and eventually abandoned him.  He became a child of the street and at a young age joined a gang.  He did some very terrible things.  Later he made some of the gang members angry and they beat him senseless.  Then believing him to be dead they threw him into a river.  Somehow he managed to swim to the opposite shore.  A Christian couple found him and got him medical treatment.  They, also, took the troubled youth into their own home, loved him, and raised him as their own son.  This couple, also, told him about Jesus and His love.  It took some time, but eventually Tom accepted Christ as his Savior.

        c.  So what was Tom’s life like after becoming a Christian?  Tom was one of the most grace filled people I have ever met.  He became a United Methodist pastor.  Tom did not dislike alcoholics because his drunken parents abused and abandoned him.  No Tom had a great love for alcoholics and his Church, Love Chapel, always had a ministry with alcoholics and those struggling with drug addictions.  Tom had a great concern for young people.  His Church ministered in gang areas and rescued young people from the cycle of gang violence.  They offered safe places to live and educational opportunities.  My most vivid memory of Tom Shipp was at a Conference meeting held at his Church.  Other pastors of big churches seemed to parade around with a bit of pomp.  Tom helped the United Methodist Women of his church serve the meals.  Tom helped a janitor clean up a spilled tray of food.  That was Tom Shipp.  His response to God’s mercy was to have a thankful heart and be merciful to others.

        d.  So what is your response to God’s mercy?  It ought to be one of deep personal gratitude and awe in the presence of God’s goodness.  Your response should, also, include showing others mercy as God has been merciful to you.

 

E.  Conclusion

    1.  The Church of the open hearts, open minds and open doors!

            Our United Methodist heritage calls us to be a people with open hearts, open minds, and open doors.  Today, we hear the call to have open minds.  This morning let us remember these three things:

    2.  Recap

        a.  You don’t know it all!

        b.  Be tolerant of others.

        c.  Don’t forget God’s mercy to you!

 

Open Minds

 

        1.  You don’t know it all!

 

        2.  Be tolerant of others.

 

        3.  Don’t forget God’s mercy to you!

 

Luke 6:37-42 NRSV

37“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

39He also told them a parable:  “Can a blind person guide a blind person?  Will not both fall into a pit?  40A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.  41Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?  42Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.

 

Ephesians 2:1-10 NRSV

1You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.  3All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God — 9not the result of works, so that no one may boast.  10For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.