Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

 I saw a sign a few days ago that read, “U.S. Navy 3 — Pirates 0.” It made me think about the daring rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. When the episode began I was impressed with the Captain’s self-sacrificing spirit in regard to saving his crew. As the story continued, I was impressed with the quality and integrity of the crew as well as the Captain.

I kept thinking, “send in the Seals” as the days drug out. As it turned out, that is exactly what happened. The result was the rescue of the Captain, execution of three pirates, and capture of one. It was a display of mercy and justice!

Then I thought about those Navy Seals. Those men are not Seals for fame or fortune. They did not become elite warriors by buying their way in or by a fancy pedigree. They are elite because they paid the price. They have ability, received training, and learned discipline. They know that all of the pain they endure in their training is for the saving of life – theirs and those they are sent to rescue.

God gives each of us certain abilities. He teaches us discipline (we typically call it patience). Each step of our walk with Jesus involves his training process. To what end? It is for the completion of our God-given mission. We are to become fully-devoted followers of Jesus and rescue those enslaved by the evil one.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

• BEARING THE MARK Joseph Damien was a nineteenth-century missionary who ministered to people with leprosy on the island of Molokai, Hawaii. Those suffering grew to love him and revered the sacrificial life he lived out before them. One morning before Damien was to lead daily worship, he was pouring some hot water into a cup when the water swirled out and fell onto his bare foot. It took him a moment to realize that he had not felt any sensation. Gripped by the sudden fear of what this could mean, he poured more hot water on the same spot. No feeling whatsoever. Damien immediately knew what had happened. As he walked tearfully to deliver his sermon, no one at first noticed the difference in his opening line. He normally began every sermon with, “My fellow believers.” But this morning he began with, “My fellow lepers.”

• Today I can address you in a number of ways – “Fellow believers;” or “Fellow sinners.”

Jesus has made us saints based on our faith in him

Yet, we all struggle with sin

• Marshall Keeble – “If I miss them in Christ I will get them in Adam.”

• From time to time we need to stop and examine our lives – how is my walk with God? What sins are impacting me? How is my walk with my fellow believers?

• THEN, we need to take action – What do I need to do to combat the temptations I am experiencing and be more faithful and fruitful?

• Instruction Manual – The Bible – SLIDE of Crash of one of the World’s Most Expensive Plane — $200M

• WE put a huge priority on our worship services. We think if we do the right acts of worship nothing else matters. Jesus puts a priority on worship that involves harmony with PEOPLE:

John 17.20-21 — ²⁰“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹ that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 13.34-35 – ³⁴ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ³⁵ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

Conflict Among God’s People Happens:

Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage. The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, “You’re absolutely right.” The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, “You’re absolutely right.” Afterward, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. “Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That’s impossible-they can’t both be absolutely right.” The sage turned to his wife and said, “You’re absolutely right.”

Biblical Examples – Aaron & Miriam; Acts 6; Paul & Barnabas over John Mark . . .

•1.      Be Humble – Matthew 18.3-4

•2.      Follow Procedure <The Instruction Manual>

• a. Private, Face to Face Conversation – 18.15
• i. If he sins against you
• ii. If you sin against him (5.23)
• iii. Go quickly

USA Today had an article on the front page about those who escaped the World Trade Center on September 11. After interviewing over 300 survivors and family members of victims, USA Today concluded that in the South tower those who didn’t delay but ran for safety immediately are the one’s who survived. Those who delayed are the ones who perished. Our spiritual life is much the same, that those who delay and put off a commitment to Jesus Christ or spiritual actions often wait until it’s too late. USA Today also noted that people lived or died in the towers by groups, influenced to stay or go by the people around them. The same is true in our spirituality, that people are often influenced to seek Christ or to reject Christ by those around them.

• iv. Show him his fault

• v. Seek Reconciliation – NOT justification to be angry; NOT winning an argument;

• b. Witnesses (v. 16)
• i. It is easier to involve others before we talk to our brother — Gossip

Harriet, the church gossip and self-appointed supervisor of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose into other people’s business. Several residents were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked all afternoon in front of the town’s only bar. She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know that he was an alcoholic. George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and then just walked away. He said nothing. Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Harriet’s house and left it there all night…

• ii. “What did ___________ say when you talked to him/her?”

• c. Tell the Church (v. 17a) – Get it in the open;

• d. If no reconciliation – Love them as an outsider (v. 17b)

•3.      Remember the Difficulty of Forgiveness – 18.21-22

• a. Rabbis – Forgive three times
• b. Peter – 7
• c. Jesus – 77

•d.      Genesis 4.15; 24 - Forgive with this kind of intensity – Cain & Lamech

•4.      Resist Temptations:

• a. Revenge
• b. Ignore it, it will go away – It usually doesn’t
• c. Distance myself from the person/issue

• Parable of the unmerciful servant (18.23-35) – King forgives large debt and expects us to forgive the lesser ones;

• During WWII, a German soldier plunged into a shell hole. There he found a wounded enemy. The fallen soldier was soaked with blood and only minutes from death. Touched by the plight of the man, the German soldier offered him water.

Through that simple, small kindness a bond was formed. The dying man pointed to his shirt pocket.

The German soldier took from it a wallet and removed some family pictures. He held them so the wounded man could look at his loved ones for the last time. With bullets raging overhead and war all around them, these two enemies were, for a few moments, friends.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT SHELL HOLE? Did all evil cease to exist? No. Were all wrongs made right? No. What happened was this: Two enemies saw each other as humans in need of help. And that’s what forgiveness is.

Forgiveness is rising above the war, looking beyond what we are, and choosing to see others, not as enemies or even as friends, BUT AS FELLOW SOLDIERS WANTING TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.

• Golden rule/1^st and 2^nd commands cannot be fulfilled if we mistreat one another or harbor grudges

• There has been a lot of hurt over the years – unintentional
• Today – pick up the phone and make an appointment to see someone you need to reconcile with.

• RE Lee – Cut it down and forget it.

 Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• How do you respond when someone cuts you off in traffic?
• Which animal most describes the way you tend to settle disputes?
  • Ostrich – Ignore them
  • Tiger – Confront them
  • Parrot – Gossip about them
  • Monkey – Joke about them
  • Gazelle – Run from them
  • Other ____________

Study

Read Matthew 5:21-24 and Matthew 18:15-20 and discuss the following with your Group:

• Why do you think this is such a difficult issue for us?
• When have you seen someone ignore a problem and “it went away”?
• What do you think of the “procedure” that Jesus details in 18.15-20? Why will this work? What happens if we don’t follow it? What is a “supernatural by-product” of the process?
• Why is it important that we “straighten out” matter is we are the offender OR if we are offended?
• What do you think is the relationship of resolving our conflicts and worship?

Apply

• For you, what is the hardest part about asking for forgiveness from another person?
• What is the hardest thing about giving forgiveness?
• What is the hardest thing for you about any kind of conflict?
• What do you need to do to improve?
• As a community of faith, how can we do better at resolving our issues?

 One of the things that struck me from church history and modern observations is just how the church reflects the culture in which it lives. Read about the seven churches of Asia in Revelation and notice how their culture impacted them. With that in mind, I thought about the influence of our current culture on us.

Two centuries ago, our country was governed by the Constitution. People knew and practiced its tenets. That mindset was reflected in churches, too. It was during this period when the American Restoration Movement began. People used the BIBLE as their basis for decision-making and practice. “Speak where the Bible speaks” was the mantra.

Have you noticed a distancing from our Constitution in America? Have you noticed a distancing from the Bible by its churches? Who knows the Constitution better – people of the late 18^th Century or people of today? What about the Bible?

We may not be able to turn America back to the Constitution. We may not be able to turn Christendom back to the Bible. We can determine to take God at his word and let him direct our paths (Psalm 119:105).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 I visited my mom in Florida last week. Before my dad got sick and died, they bought a little house there. They intended to spend part of the year there and part of the year in Kentucky. Last Thursday night I walked on the beach. I saw the full orange moon rise over the ocean from the spot where the sea “touches” the sky. It filled the heavens and reflected off of the water. It was an impressive sight.

Then I thought, “Why is this night different than the others?” It was the fifth anniversary of my dad’s death. That was significant, but there was more. This was the anniversary of Jesus’ “Last Supper.” Over 2000 years ago, Jesus and his disciples shared the Passover meal as a family and reflected on the events of the exodus from Egypt. Then, he became the real “Passover lamb” who takes away the sins of the world.

As disciples of Jesus the Passover time of year is significant. “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” It was the best for us; it was the worst for him. Jesus suffered unimaginable agony for us.

Jesus did not “pass over” the opportunity to take away the curse of sin. He did not think of himself, rather, he looked down through the ages and saw each of us and our need for his sacrifice. So, he went to the cross. The even better news is that the grave could not hold him. He lives and we celebrate his death, burial, and resurrection each week.

What do I think of when I see the full moon? I think back to my dad and feel gratitude and pain. I think back even further to Jesus with deep emotions of appreciation that stir me to want to be a better disciple. How about you?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry

  As Passover and Easter are closing in on us, I thought this lesson might be helpful in thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. Of course, his death, burial, and resurrection occurred during Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of First Fruits. God’s timing was “spot on.”

Open:

Please share your answer to one of the following:

• If you have given blood, tell us about the positives and negatives (pun intended) that you experienced.
• Tell about an unusual mess or stain you had to clean up. How did it turn out?

Study:

Read Hebrews 9:11-28 and discuss the following with your group.

• In what ways was Jesus’ priesthood different than the Old Testament priests? (11-14)
• How was his cleansing of people different than the old? (15-22)
• In what ways do you think Jesus’ covenant is new? (15-22)
• What is the significance of Jesus’ entrance into heaven on our behalf? (23-28)
• How do you think his sacrifice is superior to the old way? (23-28)
• What is significant here about Jesus’ return? (23-28)

Apply:

• When you hear of the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins, how do you feel?
• Humbled
• Bored
• Grateful
• Knowledgeable
• Other ___________

• What do you think people outside of church think when they hear the story?

• What analogies can we use to help people grasp the seriousness of sin and their value to God?

Maybe you heard the joke about an atheist who complained to a friend because Christians had their special holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, and Jews celebrate their national holidays, such as Passover and Yom Kippur. “But we atheists,” he said, “have no recognized national holidays. It’s unfair discrimination.” His friend replied, “Why don’t you celebrate April first?” The Fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus declare deity. These events display the sovereignty and compassion of God. They also declare our need for him.

In Churches of Christ, we take bread and fruit of the vine each week as reminders of those three unique days over 2000 years ago (Acts 20:7). They remind us of what Jesus did. They also serve as a reminder to God of the covenant he made with us through Jesus.

This is similar to the rainbow reminder after the flood. God told Noah that he would put a bow in the sky and when he saw it he would remember his covenant with Noah and the earth to never again destroy the earth by water (Genesis 9:8-17).

Every time we commune we affirm the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This declaration goes to one another; to the world; to the heavenly host; and to the very throne of heaven. God will keep his covenant; will we?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Last night I attended a presentation by Phil Carson, Canadian County (OK) District 1 Tax Commissioner. He showed slides of the work being done on our roads and bridges. He also showed pictures of bridges which were constructed during the Depression by the CCC and WPA. The bridges were small and narrow because the traffic was much lighter then and vehicles were smaller.Mr. Carson then showed us bridges that his crew is currently constructing. Each bridge is at least thirty feet wide. This is larger than what is currently needed by our current traffic. He stated his reason: “You build bridges for the future, not the present.”

I thought this was a terrific statement, especially in light of the times in which we live. The government is placing a debt on future generations that will likely never be paid. There is despair on every side, and the predictions are that it will get worse. That is where we come in. We have the privilege and responsibility of building bigger and better bridges into the future – with the gospel. After all, where is the real hope? It is not in a government; it is not in money; it is not in influential people. It is only in Jesus.

What happens to future generations begins with us. Will our children, grand-children, and great-great-grandchildren know Jesus? They will if we build bridges to the future.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene