LET US PRAY: LORD GOD, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER,
WE CONFESS TO YOU THAT VERY OFTEN IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE LIKE THE PHARISEES, BOUND BY THE LAW
AND TRADITION, BOUND BY OUR OWN WANTS AND DESIRES.
TODAY, BY THE POWER OF YOUR WORD, OPEN OUR HEARTS WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT
TO HEAR THE TRUE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL,
SO THAT WE MAY LEAVE OUR PHARISAICAL WAYS BEHIND
TO BE PEOPLE OF LOVE AND OUTREACH.
WE PRAY THIS IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
"MY GOODNESS," I ALWAYS THINK, "THOSE PHARISEES!"
I'M TELLING YOU.
BOUND BY THE LAW, BOUND BY TRADITION, BOUND BY THE PAST, BOUND BY HABITS, BOUND BY FEAR,
BOUND BY SATAN.
AND THAT PRETTY MUCH DESCRIBES THE PHARISEES.
IF YOU READ ABOUT THEM THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF JESUS,
EVERYTHING IN LIFE SEEMED TO BIND THEM UP.
MAYBE THEY NEEDED A LAXATIVE, I DON'T KNOW, THAT MIGHT HAVE HELPED THEM A LITTLE BIT,
BUT THEY WERE BOUND UP.
SO BOUND UP THAT THEY FAILED TO DO MINISTRY.
SO BOUND UP THAT THEY FAILED TO LOVE PEOPLE WITH THE LOVE OF JESUS.
SO BOUND UP THAT THE CHURCH UNDER THEM, THEIR FAITH WAS DYING.
SO BOUND UP THAT PEOPLE WERE AFRAID OF THEM.
SO BOUND UP THAT THEY WORKED WITH THE OTHER RULING OFFICIALS TO PUT JESUS TO DEATH.
THAT'S THE PHARISEES.
AND THAT'S HOW PHARISEES OPERATE.
AND IT'S PRETTY SCARY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
THE SABBATH.
THE SABBATH IS A DAY OF REST.
JESUS SAYS IN OUR TEXT FOR TODAY THAT THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN,
NOT MAN FOR THE SABBATH.
WHEN GOD CREATED THE SABBATH DAY, AND HE RESTED ON THAT LAST DAY,
SANCTIFYING AND MAKING HOLY THE SABBATH DAY,
IT WAS A GIFT TO YOU AND TO ME.
IT WAS A GIFT THAT HE GAVE US SO THAT WE COULD TAKE DELIGHT IN HIM.
IT WAS A GIFT THAT HE GAVE TO YOU AND TO ME SO THAT WE COULD REST IN HIM.
IT WAS A GIFT HE GAVE FOR YOU AND FOR ME SO THAT WE COULD BE FREE IN JESUS TO EXPERIENCE
THE FREEDOM OF THE GOSPEL, THE POWER OF GOD'S MERCY,
AND THE WONDER OF GOD'S GRACE.
BUT THOSE OLD PHARISEES, IF YOU LISTEN TODAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD ABOUT THE
SABBATH DAY, WAS IT?
NO.
THEY MADE IT SO LAW-BOUND THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN LIFT YOUR FINGER,
LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR HEEL AND GO TO HELL.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SABBATH, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO LOOK
AT THE SABBATH.
ONE WAY THAT WE COMMONLY THINK ABOUT THE SABBATH IS IT'S OUR DAY OF WORSHIP.
IT'S A DAY THAT WE COME TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, TO RECEIVE THE SACRAMENTS,
AND TO RESPOND TO GOD WITH PRAYER, PRAISE, AND THANKSGIVING.
AND THAT INDEED IS THE SABBATH DAY, AND THAT CAN BE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
SOME PEOPLE WORSHIP ON SATURDAYS, SOME ON SUNDAYS, SOME ON WEDNESDAYS,
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.
BUT IT'S A DAY OF WORSHIP.
WE ALSO THINK OF THE SABBATH AS A DAY OF REST.
A DAY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM OUR LABORS.
I ALWAYS LAUGH AT THAT, BECAUSE I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT TAKING SABBATHS MYSELF,
EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE SAID I WAS, I'M REALLY NOT.
AND THE REALITY IS, I THINK ABOUT THIS:
WHO AM I, IN GOD'S PRESENCE?
GOD TOOK A DAY OF REST AFTER CREATING THE WORLD IN SIX DAYS TO REST ON THE SEVENTH,
AND I TELL YOU, I AM NOT NEARLY AS POWERFUL AS GOD.
SORRY TO DISAPPOINT YOU ON THAT ONE.
BUT I FALL VERY SHORT OF BEING GOD.
SO I NEED A DAY OF REST, I'M SURE YOU DO TOO!
BUT VERY OFTEN WE FORGET ABOUT THAT, AND OUR DAY OF REST BECOMES DAY OF HYPE AND ACTIVITY
AND WORK AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.
A DAY OF SABBATH IS ALSO A DAY TO CONNECT WITH OUR FAMILY.
I'M REALLY CONVINCED THAT ONE OF THE BREAKDOWNS WE'RE SEEING IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY
(AND THIS IS ANOTHER SERMON FOR ANOTHER TIME),
BUT ONE OF THE BREAKDOWNS WE'RE SEEING IN OUR SOCIETY TODAY,
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE'RE SEEING MORE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS
AND MORE PROBLEMS OF THAT NATURE, IS THAT THERE'S BEEN A BREAKDOWN IN FAMILY,
A BREAKDOWN IN QUALITY TIME, WITH PEOPLE SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR LOVED ONES.
THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T TAKING THE SABBATH DAY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S A GIFT FROM GOD THAT HE'S HANDED US, AND HE SAYS, HERE.
NOT ONLY IS THIS A DAY TO REST, BUT IT'S A DAY TO BE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY,
TO LOVE ON EACH OTHER, TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, TO FORGIVE EACH OTHER, TO NOURISH EACH OTHER,
TO DELIGHT IN EACH OTHER, TO SHARE EACH OTHER'S BURDENS, TO FELLOWSHIP AND TO GROW.
BUT TODAY'S LESSON ALSO SHOWS US SOMETHING ELSE VERY IMPORTANT ABOUT THE SABBATH DAY.
ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS OR WAYS THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THE SABBATH DAY,
AND TO FIND OUR PEACE IS BY CHOOSING LOVE OVER EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU SEE, THE TITLE OF THE SERMON IS "LAW VS. LOVE."
IT'S QUITE INTENTIONAL, ACTUALLY.
BECAUSE SO OFTEN IN OUR LIVES, WE LIKE TO CHOOSE THE LAW LIKE THE PHARISEES.
WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THAT TODAY.
RATHER THAN THE LOVE OF JESUS, WHICH IS POWERFUL AND OVERWHELMING,
THAT LOVE WHICH SAVES US, AND THE LOVE WHICH SAVES OTHERS, AS WE DO THE WORK OF OUR LORD.
THE LOVE THAT COMPELS US TO SHARE JESUS WITH OTHERS.
SO ONE OF THE GREAT WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SABBATH DAY EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES,
IS BY LOVING.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED IN YOUR LIFE, WHEN YOU DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMEBODY,
OR WHEN YOU ARE LOVING SOMEBODY, YOU FEEL GOOD?
DO YOU KNOW THAT?
DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND OR YOUR SPOUSE
OR YOUR HUSBAND OR YOUR BOYFRIEND?
DO ANY OF YOU REMEMBER THAT?
NOBODY REMEMBERS THAT? OK, A COUPLE OF YOU. GOOD, I'M GLAD.
GOOD.
IT FELT GOOD, RIGHT?
YOU JUST FELT THIS PEACE AND THIS JOY, AND EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.
AND OVER AND OVER WE FALL IN LOVE WITH OUR SPOUSES AGAIN, AND THAT LOVE GROWS AND IT
CHANGES AND WE'RE MARRIED AND WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT IT FELT GOOD.
WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOU'VE HELPED SOMEBODY BEFORE?
MAYBE ONE OF YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS OR A FRIEND IS DOWN ON HARD TIMES AND YOU HELP THEM,
YOU PRAY WITH THEM, YOU COME ALONGSIDE OF THEM.
YOU DO SOMETHING NICE FOR THEM.
OR YOU GIVE A SMILE TO THE CASHIER AT WALMART.
(I ALWAYS SAY WALMART BECAUSE THAT'S GOTTA BE A TOUGH PLACE TO WORK.
IT'S GOTTA BE A TOUGH PLACE TO WORK).
AND YOU GIVE A SMILE TO THEM AND YOU TELL THEM, "HAVE A GREAT DAY, AND GOD BLESS YOU."
IT FEELS GOOD INSIDE, RIGHT?
IT FEELS GOOD INSIDE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE MADE TO DO.
WE'RE MADE TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS.
HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER HAD ONE OF THESE WEEKS (I KNOW I HAVE)
WHERE YOU'RE TIRED AND YOU'RE EXHAUSTED AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING HAS GONE WRONG?
AND YET YOU HAVE THIS ONE INSTANCE WHERE YOU GET TO LOVE SOMEBODY,
WHETHER THAT'S YOUR SPOUSE OR WHOEVER ELSE,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WEEK JUST SEEMS BETTER,
IF NOT COMPLETELY BETTER, A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
I SEE RAFAEL SHAKING HIS HEAD, AS A POLICE OFFICER, MAYBE WHEN HE DOESN'T GIVE A TICKET
TO SOMEBODY WHO'S SPEEDING.
HE FEELS REALLY GOOD, RIGHT?
YES.
THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S MY PLUG FOR THE DAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS.
ANYWAYS...
BUT WE DO, WE FEEL GOOD WHEN WE LOVE PEOPLE.
WE FEEL GOOD WHEN WE TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE.
JESUS MAKES IT VERY CLEAR TODAY THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE LAW THAT SUPERSEDES ALL.
THERE IS ONLY ONE LAW THAT SUPERSEDES EVERYTHING:
AND THAT IS THAT WE CHOOSE LOVE, KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND HELPING OUR FELLOW MAN
OVER EVERYTHING ELSE.
THAT IS, THAT WE CHOOSE LOVE, KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND HELPING OUR FELLOW MAN
OVER EVERYTHING ELSE.
THE PHARISEES DIDN'T GET IT. THEY WERE BLINDED BY IT.
FOR THEM, THE LAW WAS THE LAW.
THE LAW WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THEIR LIVES, AND THAT RULED EVERYTHING.
AND THAT MEANT IF IT WAS NOT LOVING YOU, IT WAS NOT LOVING YOU.
THAT MEANT IF IT WAS TO HATE YOU, IT WAS TO HATE YOU.
THINK ABOUT THE PHARISEES, AND THE GOOD SAMARITAN.
WHAT DID THE PHARISEE DO FOR THE GUY WHO WAS HURT IN THE GOOD SAMARITAN STORY?
HE WALKED ON BY. WHY?
BECAUSE IT WASN'T LAWFUL, FIRST OF ALL, TO BE AROUND SOMEBODY WHO WAS OF LOW CASTE,
AND IT WASN'T LAWFUL TO TOUCH SOMEBODY WHO WAS BLEEDING.
SO HE LEFT HIM THERE TO DIE, WITH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ON HIS WAY.
THAT'S WHAT PHARISEES DO.
THINK ABOUT THE PHARISEES, WHAT DID THEY DO TO JESUS?
JESUS WASN'T FOLLOWING THEIR LAW OR THEIR WAYS SO WHAT DO THEY DO?
THEY PLAN A CRUCIFIXION.
WE'RE GOING TO KILL THE MAN, BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED HIM AFTER ALL.
THE PHARISEES WERE BOUND FROM TAKING RISKS.
THEY WERE BOUND FROM REACHING OUT.
THEY WERE BOUND FROM DOING GOOD WORKS,
BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LAW.
THEIR OWN WORRIES, THEIR OWN FEARS, AND THEIR OWN DOUBTS, AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS,
THE FAITH THAT THEY WERE PROCLAIMING WAS DYING.
THE PHARISEES -
THEIR FEAR LED TO HATE AND BITTERNESS.
JESUS CONFRONTS THEM WITH THE TRUTH.
IN THE GOSPEL LESSON FOR TODAY, JESUS LOOKS AT THEM AND HE SAYS,
"WHICH IS IT LAWFUL TO DO?
TO DO GOOD, OR HARM; OR TO KILL, OR TO SAVE?"
WHICH IS IT LAWFUL TO DO?
THAT'S WHAT I ASK ALL THE TIME.
WHICH IS IT LAWFUL TO DO?
TO DO GOOD OR HARM, OR TO KILL OR SAVE?
AND THAT'S A QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK EVERY TIME WE DO MINISTRY IN OUR OWN LIVES AND IN
OUR CONGREGATION: WHICH IS IT LAWFUL TO DO?
TO DO GOOD OR HARM, OR TO KILL OR SAVE?
IT'S A QUESTION THAT JESUS CONFRONTS US WITH
AS WE LIVE OUT THE SABBATH EVERY DAY IN OUR LIVES.
OH, HOW GOD'S CHURCH TODAY SEEMS THE SAME AS THE PHARISAICAL PAST.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST OUR CHURCH,
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD.
WE GET CAUGHT UP IN TRADITION.
HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED THAT?
NOT SO MUCH HERE, BUT WE DO.
I'VE BEEN TO CHURCHES BEFORE WHERE IF THE CANDLES WEREN'T LIT, THEN IT REALLY WASN'T
A WORSHIP SERVICE.
WE GET CAUGHT UP IN TRADITION IN THE WAYS WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT,
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE WANT, JUST LIKE THE PHARISEES.
WE GET CAUGHT UP IN FEAR. "WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY!"
HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER HEARD THAT BEFORE?
WE'VE NEVER DONE IT THAT WAY, SO WE CAN'T DO THAT.
WE GET CAUGHT UP IN FEAR, BECAUSE STEPPING OUT AND TRYING SOMETHING NEW PARALYZES US.
WE GET CAUGHT UP IN FEAR, BECAUSE WHAT BEGINS TO HAPPEN IS WE BEGIN TO LET LEGAL WORRIES
OR CONCERNS OR THE PRESENT AGE OR OUR WORRIES ABOUT DOING THIS OR THAT
CONFINE US FROM DOING OUTREACH AND FROM SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS.
BECAUSE WE ARE PHARISEES IN OUR OWN RIGHT.
BECAUSE WE ARE SINFUL PEOPLE, AND WE GRAVITATE TO THE LAW.
WE GRAVITATE TO WORRY, DOUBT, FEAR, OUR OWN SELFISH WANTS AND DESIRES,
OUR OWN HATRED, OUR OWN LIVING IN THIS WORLD
WHERE JESUS CALLS US TO LIVE ABOVE THIS WORLD IN HIS KINGDOM,
BECAUSE HIS WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS AND HIS THOUGHTS ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS.
HE CALLS US TO LIVE ABOVE THAT.
WE GET CAUGHT IN OUR LIVES, BEING PHARISEES, BY ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT AND PATRIOTISM
TO BECOME OUR RELIGION.
IT'S RUNNING RAMPANT IN OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY TODAY.
MORE PEOPLE WORSHIP THE IDEAL OF AMERICA THAN THEY DO JESUS CHRIST.
AND THAT'S QUITE SCARY, IF YOU ASK ME.
WE GET CAUGHT UP LIKE THE PHARISEES IN RULES AND REGULATIONS, WORRIES, DOUBTS,
WORSHIP OF THE BUDGET, AND NUMBERS IN OUR PEWS.
YOU SEE, THOSE ARE ALL PHARISAICAL WAYS.
I'M GUILTY OF IT.
WE'RE ALL GUILTY OF IT.
WE'RE GUILTY OF IT BECAUSE WE GRAVITATE TO THE NEGATIVE.
THAT'S WHERE SATAN WANTS US TO BE.
WE GRAVITATE TO THE LAW, BECAUSE LAW ULTIMATELY,
WHEN WE TAKE OUT THE GOSPEL AND TAKE OUT THE LOVE, INCREASES IN OUR LIVES FEAR.
FEAR FROM DOING GOOD. FEAR FROM DOING MISSION.
FEAR FROM MOVING FORWARD. FEAR FROM HELPING PEOPLE.
AND THAT FEAR IS FROM SATAN HIMSELF.
FEAR IS FROM SATAN, WHO RULES THIS WORLD.
BECAUSE GOD'S LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR,
AND ALLOWS US TO MOVE FORWARD, UNBOUNDED, SHARING THE LOVE OF JESUS,
REACHING OUR NEIGHBOR, AND DOING THE WORK OF THE LORD
(AND SOMETIMES, MESSING UP DOING IT), BUT KNOWING THAT EVEN WHEN WE MESS UP,
AS MARTIN LUTHER SAYS, TO GUARD AGAINST BEING THE PHARISEES,
WE ALWAYS ERR ON WHAT IS RIGHT WHICH IS THE GOSPEL.
BECAUSE IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE IN THE GOSPEL, WE'RE ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF SATAN.
AND THAT'S HOW GOD'S KINGDOM GROWS.
THAT'S HOW WE, AS A CONGREGATION, GROW.
BY LIVING THE GOSPEL AND THE LOVE OF JESUS IN OUR LIVES.
BY BEING THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN OUR WORLD AND BY LEAVING THE PHARISAICAL WAYS BEHIND US.
YOU SEE, THE LAW BECOMES OUR GUIDE, RATHER
WHEN WE ARE PHARISEES, THE LAW BECOMES OUR GUIDE RATHER THAN THE LAW OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
SO JUST WHAT IS THE LAW OF CHRIST? YOU MIGHT ASK.
IT'S LOVE.
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY? IN GALATIANS 6:2
"BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS, AND IN THIS WAY, YOU FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST."
IT DOESN'T SAY TO PUT LEGAL WORRIES BEFORE THAT.
IT DOESN'T SAY TO PUT FEARS BEFORE IT.
IT DOESN'T SAY TO PUT OUR OWN HEARTS AND WANTS AND DESIRES BEFORE IT.
NO.
THE LAW OF CHRIST IS BEARING THE HARDSHIP AND LOAD OF OTHERS
IN COMPLETE LOVE AND SELF-SACRIFICE
AS JESUS DID WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
HE COULD HAVE SAID, "I'M NOT GONNA DO THAT!
THEY'RE BAD PEOPLE. THEY'RE SINNERS. WHY WOULD I WANT TO DO THAT?"
BUT HE DIDN'T. HE SELF-SACRIFICED HIMSELF, LIVING IN LOVE,
TO DIE ON THE CROSS TO FORGIVE US ALL OF OUR SINS
TO SET US FREE FROM SIN, DEATH, AND THE DEVIL, AND RAISE UP FROM THE DEAD
TO GIVE US THE GIFT OF HEAVEN, SO THAT WE CAN LIVE IN THIS WORLD
UNBOUND BY FEAR, UNBOUND BY LAW,
UNBOUND BY EVERYTHING THAT HOLDS US BACK SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD,
LIFTING HIGH THE CROSS OF CHRIST, PROCLAIMING THE EMPTY TOMB,
AND THE JOYOUS FORGIVENESS, MERCY, AND GRACE THAT GOD GIVES US,
SO THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD MAY KNOW IT TOO.
SEEKING OUT DOING WORKS OF LOVE AND ACTION.
YOU SEE, TRUE REST, REAL SABBATH, IS FOUND WHEN WE SEEK TO LOVE OTHERS WITH AGAPE LOVE,
WHICH IS PERFECT LOVE. THAT'S JESUS' LOVE.
THAT'S WHERE REAL SABBATH IS FOUND.
REAL SABBATH IS FOUND IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE SEEK TO SHARE OUR BURDEN WITH OTHERS
AND ALLOW THEM TO CARRY OUR BURDENS. THIS IS CALLED VULNERABILITY.
THE VERY PLACE THAT WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO WHEN WE'RE HAVING HARDSHIP IS THE CHURCH,
BUT IT VERY OFTEN DOESN'T BECOME THAT BECAUSE WE'RE SO PHARISAICAL.
HEAVEN FORBID I SHARE MY PROBLEM WITH YOU, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO JUDGE ME.
BUT THE VERY THING THAT THIS LAW OF CHRIST SAYS IS,
GOING TO CHURCH AND BEING ABLE TO OPEN UP TO OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
AND ALLOWING THEM TO WALK WITH US BRINGS HEALING, FELLOWSHIP, LOVE
AND FORGIVENESS INTO OUR LIVES AND CELEBRATES THE GRACE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US
AND FILLS US WITH THE HOPE OF KNOWING THAT WE WILL LIVE FOREVER.
LIVING OUT REAL SABBATH MEANS WE CARRY EACH OTHER'S BURDENS AS WELL.
IT MEANS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO WALK BY OUR BROTHER AND SISTER,
AND LOVE THEM THROUGH THE HARDEST TIMES OF THEIR LIFE,
THROUGH SOME UGLY TIMES, AND TIMES WE MAY NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR,
BUT WE'RE WILLING TO WALK WITH THEM AND LOVE THEM, WHY?
BECAUSE IT SHARES THE LOVE OF JESUS WITH THEM
AS JESUS USES US TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO THEM,
AND THE POWER OF HIS SAVING MESSAGE TO THEM. AND ALSO, TO US.
LIVING THE REAL SABBATH MEANS WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO RELEASE US FROM OUR FEARS,
OUR TRADITIONS, OUR PRIDE, AND SEEK TO TAKE RISKS IN LOVING OUTREACH,
THAT SEEMS SO CONTRARY TO OUR HUMAN LAW, AND OUR HUMAN LOGIC,
SO THAT WE MAY ALLOW THE LOVE OF JESUS TO FLOW, AND FLOW, AND FLOW.
THAT'S THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
THAT'S THE OUTREACH OF THE CHURCH.
THAT IS THE JOB OF THE SABBATH, TO LIVE THE LAW OF CHRIST,
WHICH IS DEMONSTRATED TO YOU AND TO ME IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION
SO THAT WE MAY LIVE FOREVER, WHICH HE GAVE TO YOU IN BAPTISM,
CLAIMING YOU AS HIS CHILD, WHERE HE TOOK THE BIGGEST RISK IN LIFE,
GIVING SINNERS LIKE YOU AND ME THE INHERITANCE OF HIS KINGDOM,
BUT IT DIDN'T STOP HIM. HE TOOK A RISK!
BECAUSE HE LOVES US.
AS HE COMES TO US IN THE BREAD AND WINE WHICH WE WILL DRINK TODAY,
TO LOVE AND STRENGTHEN US AND FORGIVE US.
YOU SEE, IT'S THAT LOVE THAT OVERWHELMS THE WORLD,
THAT CHANGES THE WORLD, THAT CHANGES HEARTS AND LIVES,
THAT SHOWS THE WORLD THE CHURCH IS TRULY THE REFUGE FOR THE WEARY,
HOPE FOR THE BROKEN, AND BLESSEDNESS FOR THOSE WHO ARE SAD AND DEPRESSED.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.
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