SERMON TITLE: “Meditations on the Cross: The Great High Priest”
SERMON TEXT: Hebrews 4:14 – 5:10 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: March 27, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION So, over the past few weeks, have you been meditating on the cross? I know that’s what we’ve been doing here. But I’m wondering if, outside of church also, have you found yourself looking at a cross and thinking more about it? I hope so! One of the people who has been worshiping with us over Facebook Live lives in Colorado. Alyce sent me a photo of a 5” cross that her niece gave her. The niece made the cross in a ceramics class. It’s quite fancy with lots of decorative features. I looked up the style of the cross online and discovered that it is a “Bottony Cross.” That’s not botany, like plants. It gets that “Bottony” name because of the three button-like knobs on the ends of the horizontal and vertical pieces of the cross. In keeping with the liturgical color for Lent, Alyce’s niece colored the Bottony cross purple. As artistic crosses come in many decorative varieties, so do they symbolically represent a variety of understandings of what happened when Jesus died on the cross and how we believers receive salvation through his crucifixion. Just like artists interpret through clay, wood, paint, and a variety of other media—so do Christian theologians interpret through scriptures, songs, stories, academic articles, and devotional literature. Some of us even teach Sunday school lessons and preach sermons as ways to share our meditations on the cross. So far in this Lenten sermon series, we’ve pondered what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote to the Corinthians that the weakness and foolishness of the cross had become the power and wisdom of God. Then we read from the Gospel of John that Jesus was lifted up high on the cross so that we might have life through the love of God. And, last Sunday, we reviewed what First Peter and some other scriptures have to say about Jesus, the Lamb of God who died on the cross, so that we might have freedom from sin. Our salvation through Jesus is so multi-faceted that no one image would ever be able to tell the whole story. But, fortunately for us, today’s scripture text from the Letter to the Hebrews adds yet another angle. This morning, I invite you to meditate on the cross with me through the prism of Jesus the Great High Priest. Continue reading
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SERMON TITLE: “Meditations on the Cross: The Lamb of God”
SERMON TEXT: 1 Peter 1:13-21 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: March 20, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION During this Lenten season that leads up to Good Friday and Easter, we’ve been meditating on the cross. So far we’ve considered the cross as the power and wisdom of God and the cross as the love of God. Last week I told you about a woman who has a big cross necklace collection. Today I’ve brought with me a couple of Celtic crosses. Since we just celebrated St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it would make sense to talk about the cross that is commonly used in Ireland. I know these are too little for you to see, but I think you’ll recognize the description. While they may have more or less decorative features, all Celtic crosses are basically the same. Besides the vertical and horizontal bars of the cross, a Celtic cross also has a circle that goes around the intersection of the cross. No one is exactly sure why the circle was used. Possibly it was a practical feature to help support the arms of the cross, so that stone crosses would stand up more strongly. Possibly the circle was a holdover from the previous Irish practice of worshiping the sun. Or, it has been suggested that the circle at the center of the cross is a representation of the saintly halo of Jesus. Of course, the Celtic cross, like any other type of cross, is a symbol of Christian faith. As Christians, we believe that something very important happened when Jesus died on the cross. For two thousand years, biblical writers and great theologians have tried to figure out exactly how we receive salvation through Jesus’ death. Those teachers of Christian faith have suggested a number of ideas rather than just one. And that’s why we can spend the entire season of Lent considering different ways of understanding what Jesus did for us on the cross. Today, I invite you to look with me at the biblical text of First Peter, chapter one, and imagine how the cross helps us think about how our salvation comes through Jesus, the Lamb of God. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Meditations on the Cross: The Love of God”
SERMON TEXT: John 3:1-17 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: March 13, 2022 (Girl Scout Sunday) INTRODUCTION On Wednesday, I attended an Interfaith Works meeting. One of the participants from another church told us about her practice of wearing a different cross necklace every day during the season of Lent. Doris said she has a big collection of cross necklaces that she has acquired over many decades and while traveling to different places in the world. Her collection must be large, since Lent is 40 days plus six Sundays long! Doris told us that—this year, because of the Ukrainian crisis—she started Lent by wearing the crosses which either came from the country of Ukraine or that bear the Ukrainian colors of blue and yellow. After she ran out of those, she started wearing the crosses which bore the colors of the neighboring countries of Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova, which are receiving the millions of refugees who are fleeing the Russian invasion. This is Doris’ way of praying for God’s love to surround those people who are suffering such a horrific crisis. This story about Doris and her cross collection goes very well with our Lenten focus. Last Sunday, we began our “meditations on the cross” series with the Apostle Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, in which he wrote how God had turned the weakness and foolishness of the cross into the power and wisdom of God for our salvation. Today, on this second Sunday of Lent, we turn to the Gospel according to John, to ponder how the cross demonstrates to us the love of God. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Meditations on the Cross: The Power and Wisdom of God”
SERMON TEXT: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: March 6, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION Some of you came to the church on Wednesday to get your ashes. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, which, in the Christian tradition, is a season of repentance and spiritual preparation leading up to Easter. During this season of Lent, we remember Jesus’ time in the wilderness when he was tempted and went without food for 40 days, and maybe we ourselves give up some food or habits in order to better focus our attention on Christ. We remember how diligently and selflessly Jesus ministered to the sick and the poor. We remember how Jesus drew the circle wide to include women, children, and those who were considered outcasts and sinners. We also recall how Jesus’ teaching and acts of inclusivity were perceived as threats to those in power and how that conflict came to a head with Jesus’ death on a cross. If Jesus’ story had ended with the cross, we probably wouldn’t be Christians today. The story would have been too sad to hold human attention and devotion for 2000 years. Fortunately, the story of Christ went on to include Easter and Pentecost too. But at this time of the year, we aren’t yet ready for the joys of Easter and the excitement of Pentecost. Before we get there, we need to do some careful soul searching. We need to recognize where we have fallen short and repent of the sins that get in between us and Jesus. We need to practice some spiritual disciplines to fortify our courage. And we need to spend some time considering Jesus’ tremendous sacrifice. What did the cross mean for him? What has it meant for Christians through the ages? What does the cross mean for us today? So, over these weeks leading up to Good Friday, we’re going to look at the cross from different angles. If you have a cross at home that hangs on your wall, or a cross necklace that you wear, I invite you to spend some time during Lent contemplating that cross. Here in worship, we’re going to use a variety of scriptures to engage in some “Meditations on the Cross.” Today we begin this spiritual discipline with First Corinthians, chapter one. Let’s take a look at this text and see what the Apostle Paul means when he describes the cross as “the power and wisdom of God.” Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Awesome God of Assurance”
SERMON TEXT: Luke 8:28-36 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: February 27, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION Many of you have asked me about my vacation. Since it fits well with today’s scripture reading of the Transfiguration story, I’m going to tell you about it. To get to our destination, Steve and I drove through southern Idaho and across the middle of Oregon. Heading west on US Highway 20, we drove from Ontario, Oregon, through Burns. As we drew nearer to the city of Bend, we could see the Three Sisters mountains poking up above the horizon. All three of the Sisters are above 10,000 feet. We could also see the tall peaks of Mt. Washington, Mt. Bachelor, and Three-Fingered Jack—all in the Cascade Mountain Range. On that day, those snow-capped peaks shone brilliantly against the blue-sky background and fed our hunger for the visual beauty of God’s glorious creation. When we reached Eugene and headed south to Roseburg on Interstate 5, we could see that we had entered a new season. On the west side of the Cascades, spring was coming fast. The hillsides were covered in lush green grass. About half of the deciduous trees and bushes had already leafed out. Over the next several days, we noticed many trees in blossom. And, in small flower beds, and in big fields next to grazing sheep, we saw bright yellow daffodils showing off their splendor. Of course, being near the coast, there was also some fog. When we visited Bandon, Coos Bay, and Reedsport, a cold and rainy front had moved in, so instead of walking on the beach, we found some strategic spots where we could enjoy watching the crashing waves from the comfort of our parked car. Our trip to western Oregon also included some important visits with Steve’s mother and Steve’s two brothers and their wives. All of that went well. Coming back home, we followed a storm that had hit the Cascades and left several feet of new snow. Fortunately, the plows and sand trucks had been out. It was slow going, but no new snow was falling. The blur of a constantly-mud-splattered windshield and the dazzling brightness of the snowy landscape made vision a little challenging sometimes. We were constantly taking our sunglasses on and off because the skies were alternately mixed with sunshine and clouds. When we got back into Utah, we felt the relief of dry and clear roads and the assurance that we were almost home. So, yes, we had a nice week away. It gave me a lot of opportunity to reflect on our “Awesome God” theme that we have been focusing on this month and, specifically, on the Transfiguration story from Luke 9. With images of dazzling, snowy mountains and foggy, cloudy uncertainties, I invite you to experience with me our awesome God of assurance. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Awesome God: Voice in the Silence”
SERMON TEXT: 1 Kings 19:4-18 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: February 13, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION I like to read the Zits comic strip. As you may know, Zits tells the story of a teenage boy named Jeremy. His Mom, Dad, and high school friends are regular characters too. Jeremy is usually portrayed as a rather unambitious fellow, who is often seen with his lanky body sprawled across some piece of furniture. In a strip from a week or two ago, Jeremy is sitting sideways over a plush chair, engaged with his cell phone. His mom asks him, “Any plans for the weekend, Jeremy?” Jeremy replies, “I never make plans. If I do, I run the risk of missing out on some awesome opportunity that might pop up at any time.” His mom retorts, “So you’ll just sit there staring at your phone for two days instead.” And Jeremy responds, “It’s better than possibly doing something non-awesome.”1 Well, Jeremy does have a point. Awesome is pretty important, and we wouldn’t want to miss it because we were too busy doing something else. During this month of February, we’re focusing our worship services on the awesomeness of God. Last Sunday, we read the story of Isaiah’s awesome experience of God’s holiness in the temple. It was marvelous, terrifying, and grace-filled. It was a life-changing experience that directed Isaiah into a life of prophetic ministry. Today, our awesome-God story comes from the Old Testament book of First Kings. As Peggy read for us, the story is about Elijah’s encounter with God on the mountain. Let’s lend an ear and listen carefully and see if we too can hear God’s awesome voice in the silence. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Awesome God: A Holy Encounter”
SERMON TEXT: Isaiah 6:1-8 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: February 6, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION When I was a senior in high school, a missionary came to speak at my church one evening. I don’t remember what country she came from or what she said. All I remember is that she showed us some slides of the people with whom she did her missionary work. When she finished speaking, our pastor asked the ushers to pass the plates so we could give an offering in support of her ministry. While the music was playing and the people were digging out their wallets, I felt overcome by a power greater than myself. While everyone else was wondering whether to put a five or a ten dollar bill in the plate, I felt myself drawn to the front of the church to pray at the kneeling rail. God was calling me to give more than my money. God was calling me to give my life. You have to understand that that church was much-accustomed to people coming up front to kneel and pray. But usually it was at the urging of the preacher, in the form of an altar call. This time, though, no one had even suggested such a thing. No one, that is, except God. I can’t say that that evening’s experience was the single defining moment of my call to ministry. God spoke to me several times over some years. But that night-the-missionary-spoke was one experience I’ll never forget. I felt it throughout my body. It was an awesome calling. It was a holy encounter. Have you ever had a spiritual experience so profound that it changed your life? Throughout this month of February, I want us to focus our attention on those powerful divine connections. We’ll be talking about biblical characters from long ago and how even we today are moved and touched by our awesome God. Today we begin with Isaiah, chapter six. Let’s see what Isaiah’s experience of an awesome God tells us about a holy encounter. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Renewing Our Resolutions: Witness”
SERMON TEXT: Acts 10:34-48 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: January 30, 2022 at First UMC INTRODUCTION A couple weeks ago, I read an article in The Salt Lake Tribune. The article was an interview of Brian Covey, a football receiver for the University of Utah Utes. The article could have been about football plays in the recent Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day. But, instead, the interview was a lot more about Brian Covey’s religious faith as a returned missionary and active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When the interviewer asked Covey if he ever had any football opponents who made his faith difficult, Brian described a situation from his sophomore year, when the Utes were playing against the University of Washington. Brian got tackled by a guy much bigger than him. While Brian was still on the ground suffering from the blow, one of the Washington players walked past and snarled, “That’s what you get, Jesus boy.” Covey reported that he has heard that kind of remark on the field more than once. But he said he hasn’t minded. “I’m happy to be called ‘Jesus boy,’’ he said. “That’s a compliment, you know . . . Football has given me a platform to really show that Christ is the most important thing to me.”* In this first month of this New Year, we’ve been talking about the vows we make when we join a United Methodist church. As we just witnessed in our worship service this morning, when new persons join our congregation, they make some important promises. But they aren’t alone in those vows, since everyone in the worship service is also given an opportunity to respond with our own re-commitment to participate faithfully in the congregation with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness. Today, we’re exploring that last one. We may not be football players with a big audience. But as United Methodists, we’re still faced with this question of, “How do we represent Christ on the field of life?” What does it mean for us to renew our resolution to participate faithfully as a witness? Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Renewing Our Resolutions: Service”
SERMON TEXT: Ephesians 4:1-16 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: January 23, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION Many of you know that David Barron works at Weber Human Services. Because of a recent conversation David had there, one of his co-workers contacted our church. She was hoping we would put up a flyer and help publicize the need for senior volunteers. She’s looking for volunteers to serve as companions to other senior citizens, to serve as foster grandparents to children, and to serve in our community’s many different helping agencies. The flyer she sent had a graphic that said, “Doing good is good for you.” It indicated that volunteering “reduces depression, chronic pain, stress, risk of disease, and social isolation.” According to the flyer, volunteering also “increases physical fitness, mental function, sense of purpose, social connection, and longevity.” Those are all great reasons for retirees to call up Weber Human Services and volunteer. Even when our age causes us to put the M-F, 8-5 responsibilities of our jobs and careers behind us, we still have many talents, knowledge, and skills to offer. Of course, that isn’t news that has to come to us from Weber Human Services. We in the church have long known that service is an important part of our life together in the body of Christ. Like prayers, presence, and financial gifts—which we have discussed over the past three weeks—service is one of the vows we make when we join a United Methodist church. So, as we continue our series on “Renewing Our Resolutions,” I invite you to delve with me into Ephesians, chapter four, and see what we can learn about service. Continue reading SERMON TITLE: “Renewing Our Resolutions: Gifts”
SERMON TEXT: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 PREACHER: Rev. Kim James OCCASION: January 16, 2022, at First UMC INTRODUCTION How are you doing with your New Year’s resolutions? We’re now two full weeks into 2022. Are you still watching what you eat? Are you still exercising? Hopefully you haven’t already given up on your goals to a new and improved you. As I started this series on renewing our resolutions, I read quite a few articles on how to maintain our efforts to change our habits. Most of them boiled down to something like this. 1) Make sure your resolution is relevant to your life. 2) Make sure it’s specific, so you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve. 3) Make sure it’s attainable, not something totally unrealistic. 4) Make sure you surround yourself with a supportive community that will cheer you on. And, last but not least, 5) make sure you plan for trouble. Think ahead about what might trip you up, demotivate you, or sabotage your goal, so that—when such a thing inevitably happens—you’ll be able to take it in stride, pick yourself up, and keep moving in the right direction. Whatever personal goals you set for this New Year, I hope you are, in fact, making some desired progress. Here in worship, we’re spending this month of January talking about renewing the resolutions or vows that we make when we join a United Methodist church. As we stated earlier, in our unison reading, those vows are that we will participate faithfully in the congregation through our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Today’s topic is renewing our resolution of gifts. Continue reading |
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