Sunday, September 27, 2020

Dont Cancel Jesus - Lady Glenda Dudley

 

Pericope: John 7:25-30, 37-39

Scripture Text: John 7:25 - 25 At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?

Sermon Title:  Don’t Cancel Jesus!

Point 1. Before you cancel Jesus check the facts (vs. 21-24 - 21 Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22 Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23 Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”)

Fact” John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

Fact” Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Point 2. Before you cancel Jesus, understand His motives (vs. 28,29 - 28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me.”)

“Motive” The bible said in John 10:10 He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, 

“Motive” it also tells us that the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost. I John 1:3  says that “The son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.

Point 3. Before you cancel Jesus, you need a drink of water (37,38 - 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them

 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink  Whoever  believes in me, as the scripture has said out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Ecclesiastes 3:11a  He has also set eternity in the human heart. 

John 6:35 it says that I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Life Application

Before you decide to cancel Jesus, consider this:

1.  Check your track record with check

2.  His water will never run out

3.  Don’t dry up and die

4.   Let Him satisfy your thirst

40 Days of Prayer

 If you have already signed the petition for prayer then you are good to go.  Go to

4 more info download the guide here: https://www.turnoutsunday.com/40-day-fast

Friends,

 We do not have to tell you that this is a historic and pivotal moment in our nation’s history. We are just weeks away from one of the most consequential elections that America has had—one that will determine the kind of nation we will be. At the same time, we are in the midst of a global pandemic that has claimed more than 200,000 lives, an economic crisis that has resulted in the loss of millions of jobs, and a racial reckoning that is holding America accountable to its racist past and trying to loosen the ironclad grip that white supremacy has on our nation

If ever there was a time to pray and fast, that time is now!

Yet, we know from our scriptures that sometimes it takes prayer and fasting to move heaven and earth! When wondering why they could not cast an evil spirit out of a boy the disciples asked Jesus what they had done wrong. He responded, “…This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29, NKJV) In other words, fasting is one of the weapons of our warfare. This is why we are asking you to join us as Black Clergy and allies in a 40-Day Prayer Fast for a Free, Fair & Safe 2020 Election.  Click the link below to sign the letter.

http://chng.it/5DBXNQKML8

We will begin the Prayer Fast on Friday, September 25th through Tuesday, November 3rd (ending at sundown).  We invite you during this time to fast in whatever way you are able and to remember to pray daily for our nation and for the election. A prayer guide is now being developed to lead us in our daily devotion time and a Facebook Live Prayer Hour will be held prior to the election. Details will follow.  

We hope you will join us and be steadfast in prayer and fasting for our nation. There is so much at stake for our communities in this election that we want to bombard heaven with our petitions, trusting and believing that God will hear our cries and answer our call for justice, mercy and, a fair and safe election.

Please feel free to share this invitation with your networks. We know that it only takes two or three gathered for God to be in our midst. Imagine what heavenly power we may unleash if we join our voices together in prayer in the 40 days leading up to the election! Truly, we will be able to move valleys of despair, obstacles of white supremacy, and barriers of injustice to mountains of hope and healing. Let’s do our part. then watch God work for our good!

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Traci Blackmon

Dr. Jamal Bryant

Bishop Timothy J. Clarke

Dr. Kendrick Curry

Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley, Sr.

Dr. Gerald Durley

Dr. Cynthia L. Hale

Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III

Bishop Reginald Jackson

Pastor John K. Jenkins

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie

Pastor Michael McBride

Rev. Terrance McKinley

Bishop W. Darin Moore

Dr. Otis Moss, Jr

Dr. Otis Moss III

Dr. Dexter Nutall

Dr. Teresa Hord Owens

Dr. Zina Pierre

Bishop Frank Madison Reid III

Dr. Ron Sider

Dr. T. DeWitt Smith, Jr.

Dr. Gina Stewart

Rev. Adam Taylor

Bishop Walter S. Thomas, Sr.

Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune

Rev. Jim Wallis

Rev. Mathew L. Watley

Dr. Jim Winkler

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Cancelled Pt 2

 

Pericope: John 8: 31-41 - 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

 

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]”

 

39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

 

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[b] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”

 

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

Sermon Text: John 8: 32 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Sermon Title: Cancelled Pt 2 Your Truth – Really!?

Point 1: Truth has an origin. Hebrews 6: 13 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,

       

Matthew 28:18 -. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

 and power to you

Rom 13:1 - Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God

Point 2: Truth is delegated. Vs 42, 58 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

a)  the way this works is we become carriers of the truth.  Matthew 18: 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses; 2 Cor. 13:1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses

b)  Pastor, Priest, Preacher, Prophet are the ones in the front line of upholding truth

a.  The pastor provides pastoral care with truth

b.  The priests intercedes on behalf of the truth

c.   The preacher proclaims truth for salvation

d.  The prophet speaks truth to power. 

c)  (Gutenberg press 1450) Royal priesthood 1 Pet 2: 9 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. But it doesn't stop there.

Point 3: Truth stabilizes and set order. Vs 44 44 …[the devil]. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

       

Vs 59 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. 

Romans 13: 2 CEV - 2 People who oppose the authorities are opposing what God has done, and they will be punished.

Point 4: You have an; experience, a story, but you don’t have your own truth. Vs 46 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

        a) Moral relativism

        b) Tolerance Is the kissing cousin.

Point 5: Truth points people to God. Vs 45 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!

        a) Truth is Intolerant

        b) Absolute

 

Life Application:

1.  Accept Jesus as the truth and light

2.  Lean into the market place

3.  Return next week for the rest

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Sermon Title: Condemned!

Sermon Title: Condemned!

Introduction:

You think you already know because you read this FB post before, but here the text again for the first time.

John 8: 1-11 8 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Sermon Text: John 8: 11 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.

Sermon Title: Cancelled Pt 1 Condemned!

Point 1. Caught. Vs 4, 8 4, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

          

         The law is clear. Lev 20: 10 10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death. Duet 22: 22 22 If a man is found sleeping with another man’s wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.

Point 2. Consider. Vs 6, 8 6 …in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

Point 3. Correct.  Vs 7 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Jesus covered the woman and corrected the situation.

There is no condemnation, Romans 8: 1 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, REPEAT

Other people will cancel you but not Jesus. Others will say your life is over because of a mistake, a sin, an error in judgement, but not Jesus. Vs 11 Vs 11 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Life Application:

1. Search yourself before you search for someone to cancel/condemn (life is best scene the lens of a mirror in a glass house)

2. Don’t participate in cancel culture

3. Be a person of second chances

Communion

Virtual Family Sunday Questions

What ways can we create community as a family? How has our viewership/church attendance enhanced or diminished our family covenant? What way...