Sermon (October 13) “The Book of Job: Trust Test”

October 13, 2024

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     The company board members have taken their seats around the mahogany table.  The newly hired CEO stands before her board members for the very first time. 

     She has an uphill battle on her hands because her predecessor had lied to them about the performance of the company and as a consequence, many people had lost their jobs, and the company was now facing serious financial difficulties.

     The first words out of her mouth were, “I just want you to know that my overall goal as your new CEO is to be faithful in carrying out the mission of this company.”

     A board member leans toward another board member and softly says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

    Mom and dad have done everything possible to help their teenage daughter get back on the straight and narrow.  They had done their very best in providing their daughter with help to deal with her chemical dependency and belligerent behavior.  She had run away from home and now wanted to become part of the family again.

     The parents: excited that their daughter was now home, yet still emotionally drained in trying to help her over the past several months, are faced with the troubling question.  Can we trust our daughter again?

     Trust is an important issue for all of us.

     I have a niece who lives in California, and she was promoted to a manager position in a health-related field.  I asked her what it was like to be a manager and if she liked her new role.

     And she said, “I’ve discovered that it’s not easy for me to trust people to be able to do their jobs.  I mean, I train them the best that I can to help them be successful, but it’s so disappointing when they don’t implement what I’ve taught them. Sometimes, I really struggle with trusting them to do their jobs.” 

     The premise of the Book of Job is that God actually trusts that Job will keep his faith when bad things come his way. This isn’t so much a book about whether or not Job will keep his trust in God. This is a book that reminds us that God has faith in us.

     From the opening verse, we are introduced to this man, Job.   And we are told from the get-go that Job was blameless and upright, one who feared and respected God.  And he also happened to be very wealthy.

     We are even given the details of his financial portfolio. He had a lot of children, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 oxen, 500 donkeys, and on and on.  Job had everything.

     But one day, the Lord gathered all of his heavenly beings together, and one of those heavenly beings, who’s name was Satan, which literally means “the accuser,” tells the Lord that he doesn’t think that Job is truly someone who could be trusted.

     And this accuser, this Satan, says, “I’ll bet that the only reason Job follows you is because of the possessions and wealth you have given him.  You take away his big screen TV, and in no time, he’ll be cursing you behind your back.  You can count on it.”

     And the Lord tells the accuser, “You’re on.  Go ahead and do what you will to him.”

     Well, you probably know the story of Job.  It’s become familiar to people both inside the faith as well as outside the faith.  And I think that’s because it gets us thinking about our motivation as human beings.

     It can be easy to follow God when things are going great.  You think to yourself. 

     “I have my job.  I have my family.  I’ve got a pension plan and health insurance.  I have a nice house, even a vacation home.  I’m still fairly young. My life is ahead of me. But what if for some reason, our possessions would be taken from us?  Would we still pray to God?  Would we still follow God?  Would we even bother going to church?”

     This is a book of the Bible that wants us to think about that piercing question – “What’s my motivation in following God?  And when times get tough, will I remain faithful?”  The book of Job is really a gut check for all of us.  What truly motivates us?

     Well, the Greek Philosophers, such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle have said that the desires of the body, the pleasures and pains of our senses, are what truly motivate us as humans.

     Other philosophers have said, “No, instinct is what really motivates us as humans.”  And still others have said that our psychological or maybe our physiological needs are what really drive us in life.

     And so, when Satan challenges God to see what truly motivates Job to be a blameless and upright individual, someone who fears God, a lot is at stake here. 

     Does money really talk?  Are our lives really just about pleasure and pain, instinct and survival? 

     A church member in one of my previous churches shared his faith story with me one day.  It was a story of the good life.  He had it all.  A good job.  Loving wife.  Nice car.  And lots of stuff that we can buy and make us happy. 

     But then he said to me, that those things really didn’t make him happy like he thought they would.  In fact, he was feeling pretty empty inside, empty because he didn’t know that there was a God in heaven who wanted nothing more than for him to know that he was loved and created for a purpose in life.

     And then the good life started to crack.  That good job in the company was all of the sudden taken away.  The money to buy those things that he thought would fill his emptiness was gone as well. 

     He was empty before, and now he became even emptier.  Like Job, he was facing a faith test. We all face these faith tests from time to time.

     This time – it wasn’t pain or pleasure or even instinct.  No.  He knew that he needed God in his life to fill an emptiness that only God could fill.  Even though he was now empty of things, he was now turning toward God.

     One of the reasons why the Bible has been able to stand the test of time is because the story in this book looks very similar to our story.

     I mean, here you have a God who creates humankind in His image and after he creates us, he calls us good.  And then we are called to take care of this good world, and what do we do? 

     We disobey God.  Sin enters the world, and it leads to the first murder and to sins of idolatry to the point where God sends the flood and destroys the earth.

     You would think that God would lose trust in humankind after all of this.  “Here, I gave them this beautiful garden to enjoy, and they messed that up.  And then they go out and kill and do all kinds of bad things.” 

     But even before God destroys the earth with a flood, he finds this man named, Noah, and he has him build an ark which ends up saving this family so that God’s good creation would be able to continue again.

     And after you read the Noah story and how they survive the flood, you think, “Now, we’ll get it right.  Now, we’ll keep our faith in God.” 

     But no.  We mess things up again.  We build a tower, thinking that we really don’t need God anymore.  But does God give up on us?  Amazingly, no.  What does God do?

     God chooses Abraham and Sara and makes a covenant with them.  I will promise to be your God and you will become a great nation. 

     And that’s all well and good, but you know the story.  Sometimes we end up being faithful in living out this covenant, but most of the time, we end up not being so faithful.

     And yet, again and again, what does God keep doing?  God keeps reaching out to you and to me, inviting us to be faithful in living out the covenant he has made with us. God still trusts us to be the people we were created to be, people who were created in the image of God.

     And maybe this is why the Book of Job is included in our Bible.  Just when we were at our lowest point and wondering if God still thinks we can be trustworthy, we are introduced to this man, Job. 

     In these opening verses, God tells Satan, “Go ahead.  Push him to the limits if you will. But I’m telling you. He’s not motivated by riches and the good life.  You’re underestimating him.”

     So how does Job do with the trust test?

      Our scripture reading this morning ends with Job losing almost everything – most of his family, his livestock, his possessions, and even his own health.

     Picture Job sitting on a garbage heap and in the dust of the ashes that surround him.  Even after he’s lost just about everything, he somehow is still able to express his faith in God.  He offers this well-known classic statement of faith.

     “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

     In your face, Satan. Round one goes to Job.

     Sure, there will be more tests to come Job’s way, and we’ll get to those over the next couple of weeks as we continue to focus on this fascinating book of the Bible, but isn’t it good to know that we passed this first major test?

     When I say, “we passed this first major test,” you heard me right. Job represents you and me in this story.

     The Book of Job has often been seen as a book of the Bible that solves the mystery as to why bad things happen to good people. Unfortunately, neither this book, nor any book in the bible adequately answers this age-old question.

     It does however remind us that even though bad things may happen to us, even tragic things, God is present with us in our sufferings. These first pages of the Book of Job point us to a God who actually believes in us and trusts us to remain faithful even when we face times of suffering and pain.

     I used to think that the Book of Job was to help me believe in God. I now think it’s more of a book to help me see that God still believes in me.

     Actually, as I think about it, most of my trust tests haven’t been with whether or not I can trust God. My trust tests are more about seeing myself the way that God sees me.

     As I think back on my life, these are the kinds of thoughts I have said to myself over and over again. Maybe you have some of your own.

     “I’ll never get good grades in school because I’m just not smart enough.” “There’s no way that I’m as good or better than my teammates.” “I am definitely going to fail this exam.” “She won’t go out with me.”

     “There’s no way that God wants me to become a pastor.” I don’t belong at this meeting. What do I have to offer?” “They’re not going to get anything out of this sermon.” “Is this blog post really going to make any difference?”

     Maybe God sees something in us that we don’t always see in ourselves.  Maybe God sees someone who is created in God’s own image.

     Maybe God sees someone who would go so far as to build an ark in the middle of a desert so that God will be able to start all over and bring renewal to the world.

     Or maybe God notices someone, who would do the unthinkable – like respond to God’s calling by leaving everything behind in order to begin a new nation, a chosen people, a royal priesthood.

     Maybe you find it difficult to see yourself as God sees you…

     …someone who has been created in the image of God, someone who is loved, someone who can offer love, someone who has gifts to share, someone who can make a difference in the world, someone for whom God sent His only son to die on a cross…

     …and someone who just might believe that the good news of our faith is actually true.

     Someone, who one day, will be able to look back on the good times and the bad times, and like our friend, Job still be able to say…

     Blessed be the name of the Lord!

 

Sunday (October 13) Pastoral Prayer

October 13, 2024

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

O God, we do trust you because you love us and you are always faithful. We’re just not so sure if we see ourselves that way you see us, as people created in your image. We have so many doubts and insecurities. We often second guess ourselves. We sometimes struggle with our self-image. We wonder if we have what it takes to fulfill the purposes for which you have called us.

 

Thank you for our prayer hymn that reminds us that there is mercy with you and you will surely give us rest simply by trusting in your Word. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for trusting us. And thank you for giving us the church where we can remind each other that we are your blessed, beloved, and beautiful children of God and that there are no exceptions, asterisks, or loopholes.

 

We pray for those who are on our prayer lists and for the many people who are on our hearts and minds today especially the people in Florida who were in the destructive path of Hurricane Milton this past week as well as those who continue to recover from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.

 

We pray for first responders, law enforcement officers, utility workers, and relief agencies including our own United Methodist Committee on Relief as they work together to rebuild and provide assistance to those in need.

 

And during those times when like Job, it feels like we have lost everything, remind us that you always offer us your daily bread which you invite us to receive in this very moment even as we pray 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 (Oct. 6/World Communion Sunday) “Brothers and Sisters” by Rev. Robert McDowell

October 6 2024

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

     There’s a little phrase in our Hebrews scripture reading this morning that really got my attention. It’s found in verse 11 where we are told that Jesus isn’t ashamed to call us “brothers and sisters.”

     Brothers and sisters.

     Every time I begin at a new church, people in the congregation will tell me, “Watch what you say because everybody is related to someone around here.”

     When I was attending my home church in Pennsylvania, the pastor had me serve as a worship leader on Sunday mornings. On several of those Sundays, my brother would offer special music.

     When my brother was done singing, it would be my turn to read the scripture lesson. And I would always say the same lame comment that would always get a cheap laugh from the congregation.

     I just couldn’t resist.  I would say, “Thank you for your beautiful music, ‘Brother, David.’”

     But it’s true. We’re not just biological brothers. We’re also spiritual brothers like how the author of our Hebrews scripture reading means it.

     We might not call each other “brothers and sisters” like some denominations do, but that’s who we are. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

     Just because we’re brothers and sisters in Christ, doesn’t mean that we look alike or share the same opinions. We’re related because of our common connection with Jesus Christ. Jesus is who makes us brothers and sisters.

     And seeing ourselves as brothers and sisters doesn’t mean that it’s always easy to get along and be in fellowship. Maybe that’s why the bible uses this language of brothers and sisters as often as it does. We need to be reminded that we are part of God’s family through Jesus Christ.

     This is one of the reasons that we observe World Communion Sunday each year. It’s not only important to see each other as brothers and sisters in this place, but also with churches and other denominations throughout the world. This is what makes the church unique in a world of we’s and they’s.

     We might disagree with each other over what color the sanctuary carpet should be. We might have differing opinions on the meaning of scripture. Our thoughts on favorite hymns will probably be all over the board, but what keeps us together is that we always remember that we are brothers and sisters of Christ.

     This is the reason why we think twice before saying something hurtful about another person in the church. This is the reason why we are more prone to offer an encouraging word rather than a critical word to someone. It’s because we remember scriptures like this one from Hebrews that reminds us that we are brothers and sisters.

     There are also many Christian denominations that are very different from the church we attend and the United Methodist Church in general. They have different ways of worshipping. They have different methods in finding a pastor. They have different views on what a Sacrament is or isn’t.

     All of these differences, and yet on this day, this day we call, “World Communion Sunday,” we remember that in spite of all of our differences, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

     Rachel Held Evans was a Christian blogger, author, and gifted speaker. She wasn’t United Methodist even though her speaking circuit included a lot of United Methodist settings. Sadly, Rachel died just a few years ago from a sudden illness. She was only in her 30s. 

     In one of her more recent books, Searching for Sunday, she talks about her spiritual journey in finding a church that she can call home.

     In one of her chapters, she writes, “At last count, there are nearly as many denominations in Christianity as there are trees growing in a forest. Each one looks different – beautiful and broken in its own way – but we all share the same DNA.”

     “We tend to lament this seemingly endless parceling of Christianity (which, let’s face it,” she writes, “can indeed get out of hand,) but I’m not convinced the pursuit of greater unity means rejecting denominationalism altogether.”

     “A worldwide movement of more than two billion people reaching every continent and spanning thousands of cultures for over two thousand years can’t expect to agree on everything. And the notion that a single tradition owns the lockbox on truth is laughable, especially when the truth we’re talking is God.”

     “We might instead think of the various Christian traditions as different facets of a diamond refracting the same light, or as workers tending to a shared garden but with unique tasks, or as a single body made of many interconnected parts.”

     “Our differences can be cause for celebration when we believe the same Spirit that sings through a pipe organ can sing through an electric guitar, a Gregorian chant, or a gospel choir – though perhaps not at the same time! – and that we each hear the Spirit best at a different pitch.”

     Rachel goes on to write, “In other words, unity does not require uniformity. Jesus said his Father’s house has many rooms.”

     “In this metaphor, I like to imagine the Presbyterians hanging out in the library, the Baptists running the kitchen, the Anglicans setting the table, the Anabaptists washing feet with the those in the backyard, the Lutherans making liturgy for the laundry, the Methodists stoking the fire in the hearth, the Catholics keeping the family history, the Pentecostals throwing open all the windows and doors to let more people in.”

     I like what Rachel is conveying in her book. She’s saying that Christian denominations may have their unique approaches to the faith, but the main thing to remember is that even with all of our differences, we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

      In one of the churches where I served as pastor, I became friends with a non-denominational pastor.  He was the founding pastor of a new church in town and they were getting ready to celebrate their fifth birthday anniversary as a congregation.

     He invited me to preach for their special Sunday morning worship celebration that I gladly accepted.  While I was honored that he chose me, this mainline denomination pastor to speak at their special ceremony, I was also a little intimidated because I knew that our churches were very different with our worship styles.

     I don’t think that I have ever experienced a louder worship service than the one I attended that day when I spoke at his church.  I mean, it was really loud.  Drums, guitars, and lots of singing. Lots of singing.  Their worship service that day lasted two and a half hours.

     About an hour into the service and knowing that I still had another twenty or so minutes before I was to preach, I needed to go to the restroom. Even while I was in the restroom, the music was incredibly loud.  It’s the kind of worship that even if you’re in the restroom, you won’t miss a thing.

     So, I go back into the worship auditorium…notice that I didn’t say sanctuary, and finally it’s time for me to preach.  I began by congratulating them on their five-year birthday celebration. 

     This was an incredible church because they were reaching a lot of people through their recovery ministries and helping people who were struggling with addictions.  They were doing a lot of really wonderful ministry in our community.

     And then I said, “Our two churches are very different, though.” I said that by this time I would already had lunch because our worship services are only an hour long.  And they laughed.

     And then I said, “Your church is celebrating five years and next year, my church will be celebrating our 200th anniversary.” And the people applauded which was really nice of them.

     And then I said, “But, the biggest difference between our two churches is that the music here at your church is a lot louder than at my church and I mean a lot louder.” I said, “For example, before worship, you hand out ear plugs because the music is so loud.  At my church, we hand out hearing aids.”

      After the worship service, so many people came up to me to thank me for sharing with them on their special anniversary. They were so supportive and loving. I could see why they were a growing church.

     They saw themselves as a family, as brothers and sisters in Christ. I became one of their brothers that day, even though I had to get my hearing checked later that week.

     No, it wasn’t a church I would prefer to attend, but thank God they were part of our community.

     Each church and denomination offer a unique history and approach to the Christian faith. We’re not all meant to be exactly the same. Some churches are able to reach people that other churches are not as equipped to reach.

     On this World Communion Sunday, we are reminded to pray for churches all around the world who are seeking to live out their faith. We are reminded that the church is bigger than one church or one denomination. We are part of one great big world-wide communion.

     The author of Hebrews is right. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Sunday (October 6/World Communion Sunday

October 6, 2024 (World Communion Sunday)

Beulah UMC & Oak Grove UMC

Lord, thank you for reminding us on this World Communion Sunday in which churches all around the world are celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, that as different as we are, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

And Lord, I noticed when we sang verse 2 of our prayer hymn, that there are many churches that do not drink wine together on their knees, they drink grape juice instead, like our denomination. But we do all break bread together, and as we will sing in a little bit, we do also praise God together.

 

As brothers and sisters and as one big Christian family, we join together on this day to celebrate our unity in Christ. Only you can bring together such a diverse group of people from different countries, nationalities, cultures, and denominational names to proclaim the good news of our faith with one unifying voice, “Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”

 

As we take this time to pray for the people on our church’s prayer list, we also lift up to you the several other thousands and thousands of prayer lists throughout the world. We join the 45,000 Christian denominations in praying for people who are on our hearts and minds this day. May your healing, guiding, loving, and comforting presence be with all who have particular needs this day.

 

Thank you for the power of prayer and especially for the prayer that you taught your disciples that is being prayed throughout the world, not only on this World Communion Sunday, but every Sunday when we gather for worship. As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray 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.