Monday, August 26, 2024

Sunday (August 25) Pastoral Prayer



August 25, 2024
Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

O God, as we just sang in our prayer hymn, there is welcome for the sinner and more graces for the good. Thank you for the wideness of your mercy that is far beyond what we can ever comprehend!

 

Just as you called, guided, sustained, forgave, and strengthened David throughout his life, may we also rededicate ourselves to you. Whenever we grow weary, remind us of the wideness of your mercy that is more than enough to help us grow in being the people you have called us to be.

 

Bless this temple, this sanctuary, this congregation, to be a place of welcome, hope, kindness, and generosity. O God, baptize us afresh in the life-giving Spirit of Jesus.

 

And today, we pray for all who are on our hearts and minds especially those who are in need of your healing and comforting presence. Be with the people who are on our church’s prayer list as well as with other needs that we have lifted up during this time of prayer.

 

Thank you for this summer in which we have been able to focus on the life of David. And as we begin to transition into a new month and a new rhythm of life, remind us that you will continue to be with us and that your faithfulness is never ending.

 

Take our 57 cents and what we may believe to be small and insignificant resources and multiply them so that your love would be extended through us into our broken and hurting world. May the wideness of your mercy continue to amaze and astound us just as it did for David throughout his life.

 

We pray this in the name of the Son of David, Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to say together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Sermon (August 25) “The Life of David: A Dream Fulfilled” by Rev. Robert McDowell


August 25, 2024
Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     This is a little risky for a preacher to do but I’m going to ask it anyway.   Is there anyone here today who has attended worship at this church the past thirteen Sundays?  That dates all the way back to June 2nd when we began our summer “Life of David” sermon series.

     Proudly raise your hand if you have been here all of these Sundays since June 2nd.  I have a gift I want to give to you.  I personally don’t qualify because I was away for one of those Sundays.

     I just want to thank you for your commitment to weekly worship attendance because that’s not easy to do during the summer months.  But not only that.  You also have survived the longest sermon series I have ever preached in my pastoral ministry.

     During these past thirteen Sundays, we have focused on the life of David from the Old Testament.  When I first thought of possibly dedicating a whole season of the year looking at this one individual, I was worried that it would be a little too much.  I was also worried that I would run out of things to say each week.  But what I found was that so much more could have been said and covered about this one man.

     So here we are.  The final Sunday.  And I need to wrap things up.  The focus last Sunday as well as today isn’t so much on David but on his son, Solomon.  And in today’s scripture reading from I Kings, it’s all about Solomon dedicating the new Temple in Jerusalem.  Even though David has died, his name appears three times in our reading for today.  Three times.

     The first time is when we are reminded that another name for the city of Jerusalem is “City of David.”  If you remember, David had bravely claimed the city of Jerusalem as the new capitol for the people of Israel after he had taken it from the Jebusites.

     The second time David’s name is mentioned is in Solomon’s dedication prayer when he refers to a covenant that God had made with David.  And the third time David’s name is mentioned is when Solomon refers to David as his father in his prayer.

     David’s not even around anymore and yet so much about this story of Solomon dedicating the new Temple won’t let us forget the critical role David played during these glory years of Israel.

     In one of the community’s I served as pastor, I became friends with a Church of Christ pastor who had served as a pastor of his church for over 25 years.  He retired from his church during my time in the community.

     At his retirement, I paid him a high compliment when I said, “Pete, when people refer to my church, they say the Methodist Church on North Detroit Street.’  But when people refer to your church they say, ‘That’s Pete Cramer’s Church.’”  I said to Pete, “When the church is identified by the name of the pastor, you know that you’ve had some staying power.”

     Solomon may be King, but this is still called the city of David. 

     Long before the Temple actually got built, it was David’s idea.  The Temple was David’s biggest dream.  He so wanted to build this Temple especially since all of the nations surrounding him had temples for their gods. 

     Plus, it didn’t seem right that he was living in a luxurious palace while the Lord was without a permanent dwelling place.  But the Lord did tell him that a day would come when a Temple would be built, just not during his lifetime. 

     You know, the truth is that we don’t always get to see the results of our deepest longings and dreams in our lifetime.  They come after us and sometimes when we’re long gone.  This is definitely true about the life of David.  He didn’t get to see his dream of a Temple for the Lord and he also experienced his share of broken relationships and disappointments in his lifetime. 

     Sometimes we put David on a pedestal and forget that in many ways, he was like us.  Not everything comes together as we envision, and we wonder if we’re really making a difference.

     As I’ve been thinking about this scripture of Solomon dedicating the new Temple in Jerusalem, I thought about how Temple University in Philadelphia was founded.  Penny and I met at Temple University when we were college students there back in the early 1980s.

     Its name is Temple, not because of any direct Jewish connection, but because of Temple Baptist Church.  And the story goes like this:

      Back in the early 1900s, a sobbing little girl named Hattie May Wiatt stood near Temple Baptist Church there in Philadelphia, a small church from which she had been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

     Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday School class. The child was so touched that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

     A couple of years later, this child was found dead in one of the poor tenement buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

     Inside of that purse, they found 57 cents and a note scribbled in child-like handwriting which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school.”  For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

     When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

     But the story didn’t end there! A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth thousands of dollars. When told that the church didn’t have that kind of money, the realtor offered the land for 57 cents.

     Church members were so moved by this act of generosity that they made large financial donations. Checks came from far and wide.

     Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00 a huge sum especially for the early 1900s. The little girl’s unselfish love had paid large dividends.

     If you are ever in the city of Philadelphia, you can look up Temple Baptist Church, that has a seating capacity of 3,300 and Temple University that has almost 40,000 students.  You can drive by Good Samaritan Hospital and the Temple Baptist Church Sunday School building which provides plenty of room, so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside to learn about Jesus.

     In one of the rooms of this building there is a picture of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Next to her picture is a portrait of her pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell.    

     And now back to our Old Testament story. David wanted to build the Temple during his lifetime, but it wasn’t until his son, Solomon built it that his dream was fulfilled where all of God’s people from near and far could come together for worship. 

     We don’t always know what a difference our dreams and our gifts make, but this story of Solomon and the Temple reminds us that God is faithful.

     We have a temple here as well. This is a beautiful church building. This has been a place where so many people have experienced God’s love and grace over the years.

     In one of the churches I served as pastor, we celebrated our 200th anniversary.

     We had a special bicentennial worship service that included several old church pictures that were put into a bicentennial video presentation.

     After that very inspiring worship service, one of our long-time church members came up to me crying.  And with tears streaming down her face, she said with a quivering voice, “When I saw my children who are now all grown in several of those video pictures during the service, I was so thankful to God that they grew up in a church like this where they experienced God’s love.”

     This is why we build Temples, right? That’s why our church building exists. We are here to help people experience God’s love. We are here to be a haven of blessing and peace for all who enter this building.

     David’s dream wasn’t just that a Temple would get built for God someday.  David’s dream was that more and more people would come to know of God’s faithfulness and love. 

     This is why in our scripture reading for today, David’s son, Solomon concludes his dedication prayer with these words, “so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people of Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.”

     The famous archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple once said, “The church exists for the people who are not already in it.”  The reason why we have this Temple is to share God’s love with the people in our community. 

     One Sunday morning after worship in one of the churches I was serving, a ten-year-old came up to me with her friend who was about the same age. “Pastor Robert, I want you to meet my friend.  I brought her to church with me.” 

     And she went on to tell her friend about one of the stories I shared in a recent sermon.  I looked at her grandmother who was standing close by and she said, “She doesn’t miss a thing.”

     That ten-year-old understood why her Temple existed.  She knew that it was there for the people who were not already in it.  She knew that God loved her, and she wanted to share that love with her friends.

     Solomon’s dedication of the Temple is a good ending for our summer series on the life of David.  David’s dream finally came true.

     But actually, David’s biggest dream wouldn’t be fulfilled until several hundred years later when through his lineage, God sent Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.  Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness from our sins, hope for our future, the promise of eternal life, and the strength to be the people God has called us to be.

     Because of Jesus, the unthinkable becomes thinkable.  The impossible becomes possible.  We can make a difference because God looks at our heart, not at our height.  We can battle giants with a single sling.  We can grieve with hope because God comforts us.  We can claim this community for God.  We can dance because the victory has already been won.  We can receive forgiveness from our sins.  And we can dream big and reach out to more and more people both near and far.  

     All of this is what the life of David teaches us. 

     I think of all of the dreams and longings that are in our hearts as we worship together this morning. So many dreams. I can even see the little thought bubbles over each of your heads out there. OK, I really can’t, but I can use my imagination.

     I can see that you have dreams like…

     “I want to grow closer to God.” “I want more people to know of God’s love.” “I want to serve others.” “I want my life to have meaning and purpose.” “I want to use my gifts and resources to be a blessing to others.” “I want to serve in a new way.” I want to make a difference in the world. “I want to find my career path.” “I want to meet new friends.” “I want to make a positive difference in how I live my life.”

     All of these dreams and so many more that could be mentioned.

     Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the new Temple was also a dream, a dream for God’s house to be a place of blessing for all who would come.

     When the building cornerstone of my previous church was dedicated back in 1957 following a church fire that had destroyed the previous building, the congregation had a Solomon like dream as well. Their dream was expressed in a prayer from that dedication ceremony that was held on April 28, 1957. It has become one of my all time favorite prayers.

     The prayer was, “O God, baptize your church afresh in the life-giving spirit of Jesus!”

      May this dream continue to be fulfilled with God’s help through you and me.


Monday, August 19, 2024

Sermon (August 18) “The Life of David: Good Answer!” by Rev. Robert McDowell

August 18, 2024
Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     Well, the first verse of our Old Testament scripture reading is a real downer because it tells us of David’s death.   We have been spending a full summer exploring this one man’s life.  I hope that we have learned a lot from this incredible man of faith.  He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he was known as man after God’s own heart.

     To help remind us of what a great person of faith David was, the author of I Kings gives us a small portion of his obituary.   He tells us, “The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.”

     We’re going to conclude our series on the life of David by focusing today and next Sunday on Solomon, David’s son who became the new King of Israel.  And right off the bat, we learn something very important about Solomon.  Like his father, he too wants to be a man after God’s own heart.

     While Solomon was dreaming one night, God tells him, “Ask what I should give you.”  I know of a lot of people who would love God to say something like this to them.  I mean, how would you respond if you heard God say this to you? 

     And Solomon asked God to give him wisdom.  Good answer, Solomon!  Very impressive!   You could have asked for wealth or power or fame, but you chose wisdom.

     Maybe you’ve heard the story of an angel who appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom, or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.

     "Done!" says the angel and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a glowing halo of light. After a few seconds, one of his colleagues whispers, "Now that you have been given all of this wisdom, say something wise."

     The dean looks intently at his colleagues gathered around him and says, "I should have taken the money."

     Thankfully, I don’t think that Solomon changed his mind after he asked God to give him wisdom.  Actually, I’m thinking that Solomon already had a lot of wisdom since he chose this over wealth or any other type of selfish request. 

     And here’s what is really impressive; we are told that he’s a child.  Solomon is already showing that he is beyond his years at a very young age.

     Even to this day, we sometimes use or hear the phrase “having the wisdom of Solomon.”  It’s because of this story in the Old Testament.  Jesus even refers to Solomon’s wisdom during his teaching on the Sermon on the Mount.  The words, “Solomon” and “wisdom” are closely associated with each other.

     But what kind of wisdom are we talking about?  A little later in our scripture reading, we are told that the Lord will give Solomon an understanding to discern what is right.  Wisdom isn’t just about how much information or knowledge we have.  It’s about what we do with that knowledge.

     Knowledge is important.  There are some basic things we need to know to help us make good decisions in life.  And so, as a new school year begins, it’s important for students to study hard, hand in assignments on time, follow directions, and be nice to the teachers.  Learning can be a lot of fun.

     Penny tells the story of one of her first years in teaching.  She was a first-grade teacher at the time.  She asked the class what was the capital of Mexico which is Mexico City.  One of her eager first graders raised her hand and with a grin on her face said, “The letter, ‘M’ is the capital of Mexico.”

     Now that I think about it, I know all the capitals too!  Learning is meant to be fun.

     Penny also shared with me of something very simple that parents can do to help their children learn. Research shows that if you read to your child even just fifteen minutes a day throughout the school year, they will vastly expand their vocabulary. And you will have a stronger bond with your child. It’s a double win by simply reading to your child at least fifteen minutes a day.  

     Reading is a great way for all of us to grow in wisdom and understanding. Our faith is meant to be a learning faith where we read, study, and meditate on the scriptures.

     When seeking to have a learning faith, it’s not just about taking in knowledge and memorizing some bible verses. Wisdom is so much more.

     Here are some things to help us in having a learning faith when reading the Bible. The first thing is to be aware of our own assumptions about what we think any bible verse or passage in the Bible means. Just be aware of those assumptions that we all have.

     The second thing is to try to understand what the Bible meant to the original listeners. We need to understand the historical context of when it was first told. It’s also helpful when we know what kind of literature it is. Is it a historical event? Is it a parable? Is it a letter?

     And here’s the really, really challenging part in all of this. Wisdom is really about trying to take those first two things and then figure out what that passage of scripture means in our day and age and the particular context in which we live. And this requires a lot of prayer and thoughtfulness.

     A long-time church member came up to me one time and said, “You know.  I’m really glad that I’ve been part of this bible study.  It’s made me want to know more about the Bible and now I’m reading it every day.”

     I think about Jesus and how immersed he was in the scriptures.  As a faithful Jew in the first century, Jesus was able to use his incredible knowledge of the scriptures to help people understand how God had sent him to be the one who would bring salvation to the world.  And the more that we are able to know the stories of the bible, the more that we are going to understand who Jesus is.

     For example, in today’s Gospel reading where Jesus is teaching and telling the crowd that he is “The living bread that has come down from heaven and whoever eats of this bread will live forever,” he’s referring to the Old Testament story of how God provided bread or manna to the people of Israel when they were starving  in the wilderness. Knowing the Old Testament helps us to understand the New Testament.

     I love when I’m part of a bible study and someone’s eyes light up when they learn something new about their faith.  There is so much more that I have to learn about the bible.  Many times, it’s somebody’s comment or insight that helps me to see the scripture in a new way.

     There’s no doubt that knowledge is an important part of what it means to be wise.  We need to know the biblical stories, we need to be aware of the world around us, and we need to be as informed as possible.  Let’s encourage each other to keep learning and discovering new things about our faith.  That’s an important part of wisdom.

     In addition to information and content, wisdom is also about discernment and how we use the knowledge that we have.  That’s really the key in being people who are wise.  We can have all of the knowledge in the world, but unless we use that knowledge in wise and loving ways, it really doesn’t mean a whole lot.  St. Augustine from the 4th century said that all true learning starts with love.

     This is why I am so impressed with Solomon’s answer.  He didn’t just want God to give him knowledge.  In verse 9 of our scripture reading, Solomon tells God, “Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil.”

     As followers of Jesus, we are called to be good stewards of all of the gifts that God has given us which include our finances, our possessions, our gifts, our talents, our relationships, and our minds.  Part of being a good steward with our minds is to allow God to help us to do the most loving and wise thing when faced with a complicated situation.

     I can’t even begin to tell you the number of times when I’ve been in church meetings and just when it seemed like there were no good answers or solutions to something we were facing, some very wise person came up with just the right idea.

     Someone shared with me about a difficult situation he was facing at work. He was dealing with a customer who was very angry and upset at something that really wasn’t this person’s fault. 

     Even though he said he was so tempted to get into an argument, he kept calm and didn’t lose his temper.  The situation ended up getting resolved.  God gave this church member the strength to be wise and discerning in that situation. 

     Life isn’t easy.  We all face what seem to be impossible situations.  We don’t always know which direction to take or how to approach things.  Yogi Berra, the famous baseball player known for his quotes once said.  “When you come to a fork in road, just take it.”  If it was only that simple!

     I’m pretty sure that there are many of us here today who have come to a fork in the road.  You’re facing a complex situation and it’s difficult to know what the right thing is to do.  It might be a financial decision or a medical decision or a relationship decision or some other kind of difficult decision that is causing sleepless nights and a lot of anxiety.

     Who knows, maybe young Solomon was having one of those tossing and turning nights as he was anxious about being the new King of Israel following his father’s death.  And in the middle of the night, God gave Solomon just what he needed, an understanding mind.

     No wonder the Psalmist says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  It’s when we go to the Lord in prayer that we receive the wisdom and the guidance we need.

     I sense that there are many of us here today, who like Solomon, are in need of God’s wisdom.  I believe that prayer is an important way for us to receive the wisdom and the guidance that God so much wants to give to us.  As you feel led, I invite you right where you’re seated to bow your heads for a time of prayer.

     I don’t know what people might be facing. 

     Maybe it’s a relationship issue that has them tied up in knots.  Or a financial problem and they don’t know where to turn.  Or someone may be worried about finding a job or how to handle a situation at work.  Or maybe a student who is worried about the new school. We all face times when we are faced with decisions and complex situations.

     Whatever it is, God invites us in these next few moments to ask for wisdom and discernment in trusting in God to find our way forward.  Let’s just take a minute in silence and listen for God’s voice.  And then I’ll close our time together with a prayer.

(Praying in Silence)

     As we continue in prayer, one of the prayers that I turn to whenever I feel lost and in need of God’s wisdom and guidance is the one I’m about to offer now.  May it be a blessing to you and may we all seek God’s wisdom, like Solomon.

     “O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”


Sunday Pastoral Prayer (August 18)

August 18, 2024
Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Spirit of the Living God, grant to each one of us a wisdom that goes far deeper than just knowing enough information to pass a test. Grant us a wisdom that would lead us to be the most loving, compassionate, generous, and hope-filled people we can possibly be.

 

Thank you for those moments when we learn something new about the Bible or how someone sees it from a very different perspective than our own. Grant us open hearts and open minds whenever we hear your scriptures read so that your Word would fall afresh upon us.

 

As we offer our prayers to you today, we especially pray for people who are facing complex and difficult decisions. Shine your light upon them so that they can more clearly see their way forward. Grant to them an extra measure of patience as they seek to discern the best path forward in whatever they may be facing.

 

We also lift up to you students and parents, teachers, and professors who are beginning a new school year. Like Solomon, grant to each of them greater wisdom and understanding in a way that will help them to help make our world a better place.

 

And grant us greater wisdom as a people of faith, a wisdom that doesn’t just settle for easy answers and cliches, but a wisdom that is open to thoughtful study, reflective prayer, and loving action. May this be all of our prayer as we begin this new school year.

 

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh upon us as we pray the words that Jesus our teacher taught his disciples to say together…

 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.