CALL TO WORSHIP L: Are any among you suffering. P: Then let us pray L: Are any of you cheerful? P: Then let us sing songs of praise. L: Are you sick? P: Then let us turn to each other for God's healing touch. L.: The prayer of faith will save us ... All: And God will lift us up. 
Luke 19:1-10 New International Version (NIV) Zacchaeus the Tax Collector 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV) Praise to the God of All Comfort 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 
Pay It Forward
How many of you have seen the movie "Pay It Forward?" It may sound corny, but the movie woke me up to the world around me and the people with whom I encounter. The film is basically about living generously. A boy in 7th Grade responds to the call of his Social Studies teacher to come up with a plan to change the world and act on it. Turning 'pay backs' upside down, the boy comes up with 'pay it forward.' His idea was to find three people who need some help in a really big way, and needing some sacrifice, help the three people. But this act comes with a condition. Each of the three people who are helped must 'pay it forward' to three more people. The 'pay it forward' plan is set in motion and works in wonderful ways. Now, if you haven't seen the movie, I'm afraid I'm going to spoil it for you by giving away the ending. Unfortunately, the boy, in his selflessness, sacrifices his life for one of his people. His compassionate heart is memorialized at the end of the film as we see a long line of cars .... people who never knew him and who have been touched by his sacrifice and have experienced his compassion in their lives through someone else. I decided I'd like to speak on this particular topic a couple of weeks before Christmas, when I heard several different interest stories on the news about random acts of kindness. One was of a man who went through the Drive-thru of a Starbucks and paid for the coffee of the car behind him. The person in the car behind was astonished at the act and he decided to pay for the car behind him. A total of 87 cars passed through, each paying for the car behind, until the trend was finally broken. There was another story of someone giving a newlywed couple, who didn't have a lot of money, and were celebrating their first Christmas together, a free Christmas tree and stand. There. are people who secretly pay for camp tuition or youth groups retreats so that scholarships can be offered to kids who otherwise wouldn't get to go. There are people who open their homes to the lonely for holiday meals. And there are so many other stories. The 'pay it forward' idea is a legacy of creative generosity to be carried on. People who try it find the 'pay it forward' concept is a fun thing to do once in a while. Sure, it might cost you a few dollars, but the thrill of doing something nice and completely unexpected for an unsuspecting perfect stranger, who will never know who was ahead of him in line and therefore will never know who to thank or give credit to, is a great way to remind others that there is still a world full of kindness and generosity out there. The concept of 'paying it forward' is wonderful for a couple of reasons.
The grace that God has given to us is not just for our own benefit. Although we need to make sure we don't carry the analogy too far, there is certainly a sense in which God bestows His grace on us so that we can 'pay it forward.' Many of us know the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus. The events of that story took place near the end of Jesus' ministry. Jesus entered the Judean town of Jericho and a man named Zacchaeus climbed up a tree so he could see Jesus as He passed by. Zacchaeus was a short man, so he needed to climb the tree in order to see over the crowds. But Zacchaeus was also the chief tax collector in Jericho and an extremely wealthy man. One does not expect such a person to climb a tree to see anyone. His willingness to do so indicates the degree of desire which he had to see Jesus. So there he was, perched in a sycamore tree, when Jesus walked right to that very tree, looked up at Zacchaeus, called him by name and said, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today." I remember one of the songs we learned in Explorers, our church youth group: Zacchaeus was a wee little man, And a wee little man was he, He climbed up in a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Saviour passed that way, He looked up in that tree, And he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down! For I'm going to your house today." Zacchaeus and Jesus walk together towards Zacchaeus' house and the crowd starts to grumble and complain. They complain loudly enough that Zacchaeus hears it and he stops and responds by turning to Jesus and saying, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." In the days of Zacchaeus, all of us gathered here this morning would be considered wealthy. And more than likely the religious establishment of the day would have doubted our religious purity as a direct result of that wealth and the kind of jobs we have to get that wealth. Today, people like Zacchaeus, who are lost and don't really know Jesus, have their lives changed when they hear a sermon, hear a gospel song, or some event takes place in their lives and they are reunited with Jesus. The spirit of God begins to point them in His direction. Jesus told Zacchaeus and anyone else who was listening that this man was a saved man, that he was a new man in the Lord. Jesus closes His remarks with a clear mission statement. He says, "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Zacchaeus, giving away half his goods to the poor, and giving back fourfold to those from whom he took more than he should have was a gesture of 'pay it forward.' It would be a better world if we all followed Zacchaeus' model. We should be generous in the way we use our wealth. But I don't mean wealth in just terms of money, but with our talents and acts of kindness. This is a congregation of people who already do acts of kindness for others. We all have lots of stuff, but the people who 'pay it forward' realize that it is not their stuff at all. It is all from God, and God really owns it. The people who 'pay it forward' use it in ways that show forth the heart of God, the giver of all that we have. I read a story about a school teacher who knew all her students and the parents very well, and she was well liked by them all. One day, a new student arrived at the school. His name was Danny, and his parents weren't well off. He wasn't very good in most subjects, but he was a remarkable artist. The teacher showed him special attention, and included extra art projects in the curriculum to be able to give him positive feedback. December arrived, and the teacher's aide organized the kids in order to buy the teacher a Christmas present. Each child was to give a dollar toward the teacher's gift. It was supposed to be a surprise, but the teacher could easily tell what was happening. She knew that Danny would not be able to contribute a dollar. The day of the Christmas party arrived. Danny asked for some red construction paper and a marker. The teacher was surprised, but didn't hesitate to give him what he wanted. Later Danny asked for a piece of tape. She gladly gave it to him. After the party was over and everyone had gone, the teacher found a folded piece of red construction paper on her desk. She opened and read with tears streaming down her face the following message; "To my teacher. You have always been there for me, and I really appreciate it. I couldn't afford to get you anything so I'm giving you everything I have. Merry Christmas, love Danny." Inside that piece of construction paper Danny had taped a dime - everything he had! We Canadians have a lot of stuff and what will we do with all that stuff? Let's follow the example ofDanny. Let us communicate love. By doing so we will spread peace and the righteousness of God. I think we all could use a little unexpected act of kindness once in a while. I certainly welcome it. It not only restores my faith in humanity, but also leads me to believe that, with the right amount of effort and willingness, we can achieve harmony. For those who are skeptical, I pose these two questions for you to think about. Do we not all want the same things -clean water, a bright future for our children and grandchildren, a little piece of mind for everyone, a healthy planet for all of us to thrive in? Which is better, for everyone to have a piece of something, or for a small handful to have everything? I think most of us would say yes to the first question and pick the first option to the second question. Unless I'm completely off the mark, that is what I hope we all would choose. O Lord, help us to 'pay it forward' by remembering the debt we owe to Christ that is to be repaid in service to others. Amen.
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Opening Prayer God our Father, we pray that the message of your Son will dwell richly among us, as we teach and admonish one another with the wisdom you give, and sing with thankfulness in our hearts to you. And whatever we do, in word or deed, may it be done in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and for his glory. Amen. Shall we now pray the prayer he taught us to pray ... Our Father Who Art in Heaven ... Offertory Prayer Each of us is a fragile miracle, evidence of God's creative hands, and amazing grace. We are each unique, unrepeatable gifts to the world. We are proof of God's love. And so we who are the gifts of creation now give gifts to our Creator. Gifts brought in love. Amen Pastoral Prayer God our Father, source of all health, be near to those who suffer in the time of weakness and pain; as you have for us in our hours of need, relieve them of their burden and heal them, if it be yeur will. Give peaceful sleep to those who need rest for soul and body, and be with them in their hours of silence. Bless those who know not what another day will bring. Make them ready for whatever it may be; whether they must stand, or sit or be confined, grant them a strong spirit. Inspire with Your love those who bring healing and care to the suffering. May they bestow Your gifts of health and strength wherever they go. We offer up this prayer to You today in thanksgiving and love for the blessings You have bestowed upon us so many times in our lives, especially now in these hours of need. We also want to praise You for and ask your blessing for this Community in Christ you have given unto us. Thank You, Dear Lord, for bringing us a" into the healing light of your everlasting love. Your prayer warriors are true and mighty. Dear Lord, we come to You to ask blessing to each and everyone of these Warriors. Lord, we pray You continue to love, guide, and protect this Community In Christ, who has so eagerly have given of themselves. Grant this prayer, through Christ our Lord. Amen  Sang by Kevin and Neil : I want Jesus to walk with me I want Jesus to walk with me All along my pilgrim journey I want Jesus to walk with meIn my trial, Lord, walk with me In my trials, Lord, walk with me When the shades of life are falling Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me In my sorrow, Lord walk with me In my sorrows, Lord walk with me When my heart is aching Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me In my troubles, Lord walk with me In my troubles, Lord walk with me When my life becomes a burden, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me Written by Neil Elsmore : You got to walk all by Yourself  The gifs of God with Kevin Harvey Back ground Ephesians and Colossians = 2 sides of the same coin. Explaining fundamental doctrines of Christ, the Church, Faith, Salvation, Also Law and Grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Today I want to speak about gifts, and the nature of gifts. And a few of the gifts we get from God, according to these passages. By their very Nature “gifts” are given “freely” and received “freely” with gratitude and not earned. Gifts cannot be refused. In other words : you put your hands out and receive it, you be grateful and reap the benefits. This is how it is with regards to “Salvation”, “Faith” You need it (Salvation, Faith) and A. can’t buy it B. can’t earn it C. can’t work for it D. don’t get it by default because you and I are spiritually bankrupt. Romans 6:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:23 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, We don’t need a · “New” and better religion · New philosophy · New Laws etc .,..stricter · Positive thinking · More Money What the world needs and has is the greatest gift ever given, and that gift is the saviour, Jesus the Christ. Acts 4:12 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Christ is the object of our Faith. That is Paul’s message to the Ephesians then and it’s the message for us today. Read the Background of Ephesus at that time pagan magic, idolatry. Biggot- no Narrow- Yes The Temple Of Diana The disturbance over Diana of the Ephesians is one of the most promintent stories in the book of Acts (Acts 19:23-41). There were 33 temples in the Greco-Roman world where Diana was worshiped. After Paul's preaching in Ephesus had harmed the local silversmiths who made stautes of Diana, Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, were dragged into the theater. The disciples would not allow Paul to go into the assembly. "The Temple of Artemis (or Diana, according to her Roman name) at Ephesus ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. As the twin sister of Apollo and the daughter of Zeus, Artemis was known variously as the moon goddess, the goddess of hunting, and the patroness of young girls. The temple at Ephesus housed the multi-breasted image of Artemis which was reputed to have come directly from Zeus (Acts 19:35). The temple of Artemis in Paul's day was supported by 127 columns, each of them 60 meters (197 feet) high. The Ephesians took great pride in this grand edifice. During the Roman period, they promoted the worship of Artemis by minting coins with the inscription, 'Diana of Ephesus.'" (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, pp. 345-346). The temple was four times as large as the Parthenon. Pliny the Elder (A.D. 23-79) said the temple was constructed on marshy soil to safeguard it against earthquakes. "For over a thousand years this goddess with her temple provided a focal point for the rich religious, economic, and cultural life of her worshippers. Now hardly one stone can be seen of one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. Built on marshy ground not far from the Cayster River, it arose on a site occupied from time to time by several temples of which at least one dates from pre-Greek days. It faced west, toward the sea and the setting sun. Pliny the Younger tells us that the columns in front of the temple were carved with notable events in the life of the Greeks and that the statue of Artemis stood in the inner sanctuary. Some of the statuary from this temple is displayed in the New Hofburg Museum in Vienna. This temple was the first in the world to be constructed entirely of marble." (Everett Blake and Anna Edmonds, Biblical Sites In Turkey, p. 119). "After years of archeological research the ruins of the temple were discovered in 1877 by J. T. Wood. The platform on which the temple stood was 418 by 239 feet, and the temple itself was 342 by 163 feet and had over one hundred columns supporting its roof." (Homer Hailey, Revelation, An Introduction And Commentary, p. 120). The Hellenistic temple which Paul saw was destroyed in A.D. 262. "The original temple of Diana crumbled into the dust many centuries ago. It was rebuilt and became one of the seven wonders of the world. It was to this temple Alexander came. The Macedonian wanted his name carved on one of the 127 pillars. He offered all the riches of his eastern campaign for the privilege. The city fathers turned down the offer. But nobody refused Alexander. The Ephesians did. They talked him into a calm acceptance by saying 'If we put the name of another god on her temple it will upset her.' So the mightiest mortal on earth couldn't even buy the privilege to have his name on a pillar in the temple of a god. Years later Paul wrote to a group of Ephesians telling them they were the temple (not of a god) but of the Almighty God." (Jim McGuiggan, The Book Of Revelation, p. 44). "The goddess who had largely given Ephesus its wealth and importance -- so that it was a kind of Lourdes of the ancient world -- was at the core of so much human thinking. She derived from those early manifestations of religious belief, the mother-goddess figures to be found from Asia Minor to the Cyclades, and westward to Sicily. The embodiment of the female principle, she represented not only fertility but resurrection in the shape of new birth, the eternal return of life to the earth and, as found in a number of early carvings, the 'Tree of Life'. As Isis she bore the divine son, Horus; and as Artemis she was the Mother of Wild Things, the goddess of all animals. The Isis-Artemis conception embraced everything. It could be taken at any level; from the simple peasant's conception of the divinity who would ensure that his beasts and land were fruitful, to the intellectual idea of an all-creating mother who sustained the whole universe." (Ernle Bradford, Paul The Traveler, pp. 194-195). Bible Land History The City of Ephesus by David Padfield in Bible Tomes In this light, Paul reminds them before or without Christ: separate, excluded, no hope without God ….
Ephesians 2: 12-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household. Side bar You ever wonder, what is God doing? What God is up to : call Abraham, call people to dwell with us. He wants to be in you. Ephesians 2: 20-22 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy [a]temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2: 3-6 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Angelic beings wanted to know as well. Ephesians 3:9-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places Romans 11:25-32 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; 29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. 32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Warning to us : Romans 11: 18-20 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; So to back up a little bit to our main text If you can’t A. Buy it B. Earn it C. Work for it D. Be good enough Then How is Salvation achieved? Only by the currency of Faith. By grace through Faith… in what? The perfect sacrifice… Christ sacrifice :Death, Burial, Resurrection He came and he died. That blood was shed for me and for you. Seek the Lord with all your love and mind and you will find him. |