"God's Eternal Garden"

This is based on a study that I am doing during the Season of Lent on the "Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross." This is derived from our Lord's Second Saying on the Cross; "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).

As I pointed out earlier, the number seven was considered sacred among the ancient Hebrew people, and even to the Judea-Christians. It was considered a divine number - drawn from the inspiration and revelation of God. Thus, when considering the Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross one could say that they sum up Christ "complete" or "whole" ministry. As you will see, these sayings definitely outline the gospel message. Through the sayings on the cross we learn the lessons of forgiveness, acceptance, honesty, love, care, service and trust.
The second lesson from our Lord on the cross deals with acceptance. Jesus said to the repentant thief, "Today, you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). Instantly, when we think of a paradise, we automatically think of a place of utter rest, beauty and peace. For my wife and I that place which we consider "paradise" is the Mayan Rivera, in Mexico. That is where we spent our honeymoon and, we even loved it so much that we decided to go back on our fifth anniversary.
The word "paradise" is derived from the Persian word pairidaeza. In the Greek the word is paradeisos. The word literally means, "an enclosed park" or "garden." I find it interesting that this same Greek word (paradeisos) is used for the "garden of Eden" in the Septuagint - the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. However, in the New Testament this word carries a deeper and more profound meaning. It signifies an "eternal garden" - one, in which our Lord went to prepare for us. You may recall in the 14th chapter of John’s gospel Jesus said to his disciples while gathered in the upper room, prior to his death, "I am going to prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be also" (John 14:2). This "abode" that our Lord prepared for us is a paradeisos - an eternal garden.
We find this same word (paradeisos) used only two other times in the New Testament. In II Corinthians 12:4, where we read of Paul being caught up to "paradise" - heaven; and then in Revelation 2:7, as the promised destination of those who remain true and faithful to Christ.
When considering this word "paradise" it denotes several ideas. First of all, a place of exceptional blessedness, happiness and delight. And secondly, it was used by Jews and Judea-Christians as a descriptive name for heaven - the place where the righteous go at death and was borrowed from its reference to the "garden of Eden" in the Septuagint. Through this Greek word for "paradise" one equates it to the "garden of Eden" - the place where there was fellowship and communion with God - a place of exceptional blessedness, happiness and delight.
There is one other concept that we must not overlook when considering this word "paradise" and it is derived from the original Persian word for "paradise" (pairidaeza). The original readers would have picked right up on the implication. In ancient times when a Persian king wanted to bestow honor upon someone he deemed as "special," he would make that person a "companion of his garden" (pairidaeza). The king would literally walk in the garden with this "special" person, which was said to be the highest honor a king could bestow upon a person. Thus, the spiritual implications are clear. It is Christ who bestows this same honor upon the thief on the cross, and upon all who believe in him as Lord and Savior. Jesus promised the thief that he would be a companion of the King of kings - walking with Christ in paradise - the garden of heaven.
Through this saying on the cross we learn the true essence and meaning of evangelism. Even on the cross, Jesus offers the gospel to a repentant sinner. Even with his dying breath he is willing to offer forgiveness and accept this child into his kingdom. This should say so much to us; we, who are willing to cause the distractions of life, our busy schedules and many other obligations or fears to keep us from being good evangelist. And too, this should say something to us that Jesus was willing to extent the invitation of forgiveness and acceptance to a person who was considered a criminal. We must be willing to share the gospel - the good news to everyone we meet. Our lives should be testimonies to the good news which has set us free.
I often hear the argument being made that it seems unfair that someone who has wasted or swindled their life away, is allowed forgiveness and entrance into the garden of heaven on their death bed. If we believe this, then we are missing a vital point. Yes, while the repentant thief followed Jesus into paradise at death; you and I have the opportunity to follow and serve Christ now. This shouldn’t be considered a chore or a burden, but a privilege. As we are reminded through Scripture "we should count it worthy..." Thus, let us allow this lesson from the cross to encourage us to present our lives daily as an offering and sacrifice to God - bearing the fruit of works in gratitude for his gift so freely given. May we take every advantage of the opportunity awarded us, with however long we are allotted on earth, to follow Jesus now and tell others about him in word and deed. So that when the time comes, we too might enjoy the blessings of paradise - God’s eternal garden prepared especially for his children.

A Lesson on Forgiveness"

This is based on a study that I am doing during the Season of Lent on the "Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross." This is derived from our Lord's First Saying on the Cross; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

One of the hardest things to do from experience is to forgive and forget! I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, and even said myself, "I can forgive; but I just can’t forget." But, as Henry Ward Beecher reminds us this is not forgiveness. He writes; "‘I can forgive, but I cannot forget,’ is another way of saying, ‘I will not forgive.’ A forgiveness ought to be like a canceled note, torn in two and burned up, so that it can never [be brought up again]."
This is exactly what God has done for us. The first saying from the cross offers us a powerful lesson on forgiveness. Jesus said; "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Jesus was interceding for those who were carrying out and involved in his crucifixion and pleading on their behalf for the Father to forgive them. In this very instance Jesus assumes his role as our Great Mediator and Intercessor. He is not only the sacrifice for the sins of the world, but also the High Priest - the one who makes intercessions to God the Father on our behalf.
This prayer was not only meant for those who had a literal hand in the crucifixion of Christ, but also for those whose sins Christ bore on that first Good Friday. For it was our sins which, as a scapegoat, he carried to the cross. Thus, we had a hand in his crucifixion.
The story is told that when the great painter, Rembrandt was painting the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion, along with the crowd of onlookers he painted his own self in the crowd. He did this as a way of expressing his hand - sin, that was responsible for Jesus’ death. The old hymn asks; "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" the answer is yes, you were there - standing in the crowd. And, what a comfort it is know that Jesus looked down from the cross and said; "Father, forgive them..."
The Hebrew word nasa’ is a word "to forgive." This powerful words suggests "to bear" or "to forgive." This word quickly called to mind the idea or concept of the scapegoat to the Hebrew people. In Leviticus chapter 18 we read of Aaron confessing all of the sins of the people of Israel over the head of a live goat. After placing the sins of the people onto the goat, the goat was then escorted into the wilderness on the Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement, to symbolize taking away their sins. The term, "scapegoat" was used to refer to one of the two goats that served as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement. One of the goats was sacrificed as part of the sin offering and the other was kept alive so it could be taken into the wilderness by an escort. These two goats or, better yet, their roles were a foreshadowing of Christ’s role as both our Sacrifice and Scapegoat. Upon Christ were placed all our sins, he was led out of the city to Golgotha where he died for our sins.
The word for "forgive" that our Lord spoke from the cross, when asking the Father to "forgive" those who had taken part in his crucifixion, is the Greek word aphiemi, which literally means; "to omit". It denotes the idea of not only omitting or forgiving one’s sins, but also forgetting them. The Psalmist wrote; "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12). What a profound thought! The Holy God, not only forgives our sins but also forgets them. The One who offers forgiveness, receives our repentance, our confessions and expressions of being sorry for having offended him and grants us forgiveness - to the point he promises to forget them.
Such a thought brings light the prayer our Lord gave us; "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (The Lord’s Prayer).
Forgiveness is vital! How can we expect to be benefactors of God’s forgiveness, if we are not willing to forgive others? We can’t! That is what Jesus meant when he said; "so when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sisters, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Forgiveness means giving up the right to react to the injustice done to you. When we are not willing to forgive we contribute to the problem rather than the solution. Forgiveness allows new beginnings.
There is a story that is told of a woman in Rwanda, a country torn apart by civil war and strife, whose son was killed by another soldier. Despite this, she refused to become bitter like so many others had during the ethnic war. Instead, she prayed for her killer to repent. One day the killer came to her and handed her his gun and told her to take him to the authorities to be punished, which would likely result in execution. Instead, the punishment she inflicted was to take this young soldier into her home in place of her son and care for him. She said; "The only way to God is through the house of your enemy. If you cannot forgive, you cannot expect forgiveness in return. The way to the cross always passes through your neighbor’s house." This is the forgiveness that Jesus both taught and expressed on the cross that day.
When forgiveness is expressed it becomes a testimony and witness to God’s love, grace and forgiveness. That is why forgiveness is so important! That is why it is one of God’s greatest gifts and he wants us to not only experience it, but also to share it. "Father, forgive them..." can you offer such a prayer? I hope so, because Jesus did for you!

"Your Dying Words"

This is based on a study that I am doing during the Season of Lent on the "Seven Last Sayings of Christ on the Cross." This is the Introduction.

One of my biggest fears when it comes to dying is feeling as though I have not said all that I would like to have said. I fear that I will not have told my wife, daughter and family how much I truly love them. I fear that I will not have expressed enough words of gratitude or generosity to those who I know and meet day in and day out. I fear that I will not have offered enough sympathetic words or preached enough sermons to the listening ear. There is no arguing the fact that words are powerful! The more we realize that, the more we think about the words we speak and we choose those words wisely and cautiously. How often do we take for granted the ability to express our thoughts and our emotions verbally?
I find it interesting that prior to an execution, the executioners will ask; "Do you have any last words?" Now, unless our death is set by the judicial system, very few of us know the exact moment of our death. Thus, no one is guaranteed that they will have the opportunity to express verbally any final words. And, what’s more, it is very unlikely that those words will be recorded.
I remember hearing a story of a conversation between two children. One of the kids was bragging to his friend that his father knew the exact day, hour and moment he was going to die. The other kid said; "Wow! Was your father a psychic?" "No," replied the kid, "the judge told him!"
I remember reading about the final days of Adrian Rogers life. So powerful were the sermons he delivered throughout the course of his ministry, that no less can be said of the message he delivered in the final days of his life. Prior to being placed on a ventilator, which would prevent him from speaking, he told his family and friends; "I am at perfect peace." His last days spent in the hospital were marked by an unusual sense of spiritual strength and serenity. Although, unable to communicate verbally, he wrote a note containing the words "I love you," and the names of his four children and their spouses, his nine grandchildren, and his first great-grandchild. A second note expressed his love for his wife, Joyce, who later commented: "In all our life together, there was never a day that passed that he did not say ‘I love you.’" He was "at perfect peace."
It is said that the most frequently recorded last word of pilots about to crash is, sadly, is the "S" word. Pretend for just a moment that you’re given such an opportunity, what would be your final word or words? What things would you say to your family, to your friends, to complete strangers, to God? Williams Shakespeare once said; "When words are scarce they are seldom spent in vain." Isaac Asimov, once wrote; "If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn't brood. I’d type a little faster."
Words are not only powerful, but influential. In fact, all of us think that what we have to say is of great importance. My wife claims that I enjoy listening to myself talk too much. But, the truth be known, we all enjoy listening to ourselves talk. Because we think what we have to say is vital.
The writer of Proverbs wrote; "The tongue has the power of life and death..." (Proverbs 18:21). The Apostle James reminds us of the tongues importance. He writes; "the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts... with the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing" (James 3:5, 9 and 10).
Someone once defined "words" as "verbal expressions of our inner thoughts." No wonder Jesus said, "it is not what goes into a person’s mouth that makes them unclean, but what comes out," for what comes out reflects the soul and true character of a person.
Probably, no words of Jesus’ are more dramatic, profound and mysterious than the seven last words or sayings he uttered from the cross. So powerful are these seven sayings that they have been studied, preached on, and meditated upon for centuries. They have become the source of devotions for the season of Lent, Holy Week and especially Good Friday. These words sum up the message of Christ’s ministry. They are, in many ways, the greatest sermon he preached.
The very fact that there are seven, I believe, is not coincidental or ironic. Numbers play an important role in the Bible. Not only are they to be understood literally, but also metaphorically or spiritually. To the ancient Hebrews, as well as to many other ancient cultures, the number seven was considered sacred and holy. Oftentimes referred to as "God’s number." It symbolized ultimate perfection, completion, fullness, rest and abundance.
Thus, these seven last sayings of Christ on the cross offer a complete or perfect message for us. They are filled with instruction and inspiration. They are words that should be studied and meditated upon by all Christians for they teach us powerful lessons of forgiveness, acceptance, love, care, need, service and trust.
These seven sayings are a collection from the four canonized gospels of Jesus’ last words on the cross. His seven last sayings teach us so much and become a model on how we should live our lives so that, when we die, we will be "at perfect peace."
It is said that John Wesley use to ask those he met, "How is it with your soul?" Certainly, that is a question that we must consider. "How is it with [my] soul?" Horatio Spafford penned the words to the infamous hymn; "It Is Well With My Soul," after several traumatic events in his life. The breaking point though, came in 1873 while all four of his daughters died in a collision with another ship while crossing the Atlantic. Spafford’s wife, Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, the Holy Spirit inspired him to write the words of that powerful hymn which speaks of the eternal hope that all believers have, no matter the pain or grief they experience. By applying these seven lessons, taught to us by our Lord from the cross, we can proclaim; "It is well with my soul!"

"The Musts of Lent"

A sermon preached on The Third Sunday of Lent, March 11, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on John 3:1-6, 14-17 and 25-30.

Scholars have called John’s gospel the "Re-Genesis" or "Genesis Revisited," and one can see why that is when reading the very opening chapter of these two books. Probably all of here us have memorized part, if not all of those infamous words that begin the Old Testament book of Genesis; "In the beginning, God created..." Certainly, one can’t help but notice the similarity between the book of Genesis and John’s gospel. John opens his gospel in much the same way as the book of Genesis opens, John writes; "In the beginning was the Word..." But there is a drastic difference. While Genesis is about the creation of the physical world and the beginning of life, John’s focus is on re-creation and the beginning of eternal life.
In Genesis we are told that in the beginning the earth was dark, void and formless, and the Spirit of God hovered and moved. Then, we are told, that God spoke creation into existence; "Let there be light..." and from light God moved to the other elements that make up our world from water, to land, to sky, to vegetation, to the sun, and the moon and the stars, to the birds of the air, to the creatures of the sea and land, and then ultimately to humans. It is a beautiful litany that tells of the creation of the physical order and in the end, God saw all that he had made and declared that it was good.
But then, something happened, the lights went out, if you will. And again, there was darkness - but this time it wasn’t physical darkness, but spiritual darkness. A catastrophe had occurred. The created had willingly rebelled. Free people had preferred darkness over light.
But again God, who is love, moved. Again he said, "Let there be light," and there was light, but this time the light came from a different source - the Son of God and re-creation or, better yet, redemption was made possible. And here, in the 3rd chapter of John’s Gospel we have before us the promise and hope of the light of the Son and the re-creation or redemption he brings to our lives.
All our lives we are told what we should or shouldn’t do! Sometimes we heed to the advice. While other times we dismiss it, claiming that we know what is best for us. In a popular children’s poem we find these words;

"Listen to the MUSTN’TS, child,
Listen to the DON’TS
Listen to the SHOULDN’TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WON’TS
Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me -
Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be."

It is said that Christianity is a religion of imperatives. It is not a religion or a gospel of "maybe," or "I hope so" or "if you can." Rather, it’s a gospel of "you must!" In fact the foundation upon which faith is built is a solid rock, not shifting sand. And what’s more, the truths of God are clear-cut, and dynamic and imperative. They are never ambiguous.
Certainly that is evident in our Gospel Lesson this morning. Here in the 3rd chapter of John we discover three imperatives - three "musts" that capture the attention of our hearts. The first is in verse 7, where Jesus said; "You must be born again." This is the must of conversion. The second is found in verse 14; "Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." This is the must of the cross. And then the third and final is found in verse 30 where John said; "He must increase and I must decrease." This is the must of consecration. And my friends, these three musts are essential to the Christian faith, and they are certainly a part of our Lenten journey.
The first imperative or must John points out is the imperative of conversion. And with that imperative he uses the story of Nicodemus. Now, keep in mind, Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. It is believed that he became a disciple of Christ after his conversion. He was described by Jesus as "the teacher of Israel," implying that he was well trained in the Jewish law and traditions. Nicodemus was a wealthy, educated and powerful man. He was well respected by his people and was a descendant of the patriarch, Abraham. Yet, Jesus said to him; "You must be born again." The Greek adverb translated "again" can also mean "from the beginning" suggesting a new creation and it could also mean "from above" meaning from God.
But notice Nicodemus’ response. He had it all wrong. He wasn’t thinking spiritually. Nicodemus wondered if it might be a second physical birth and with that he said, "I’m an old man... how am I to re-enter my mother’s womb?" But Jesus said no, the being "born again" that I’m talking about is not of physical origin; rather, it is a new life that comes from the Spirit of God. It is an act of God. In other words, Jesus told Nicodemus that physical generation was not enough, nor would his descent from the line of Abraham enable him to be saved, which was a common belief among the Jews. They believed that because they were descendants of Abraham then they automatically were given merit or credit - that Abraham’s righteousness was, somehow, imputed to them.
And so, Jesus said to him, "YOU must be born again." Now, if Jesus would have said this to a Samaritan or to some other Gentile, Nicodemus would have been shaking his head in agreement. Because, after all, a Samaritan - a Gentile was not a Jew and could not expect anything on those grounds. But Nicodemus was a Jew by birth and he had a right to expect something on that basis. After all, he was of the "chosen people." But Jesus said; "You must be born again" in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Like the Jewish people of his day, Nicodemus knew God’s law - he was well versed in the torah, but he knew nothing of God’s love. He was a moral man. He recognized Jesus as a Rabbi - a Teacher, but he did not know him as the Messiah - God’s Son - the Savior, and many Christians are like Nicodemus today!
Here, Jesus reminds us that it doesn’t matter who our descendants are, if Jesus isn’t our descendant, if he isn’t our Savior, if we are not born anew in his Spirit then we are spiritually dead - for only those who are born again spiritually will be able to see the kingdom of God, Jesus said.
The second imperative we see here in our Gospel Lesson is the imperative or the must of the cross. Jesus was considered perfect. He was without sin, he had no blemishes or defects and that was essential. Going back to the Old Covenant, the animals - the lambs used in the sacrifices had to be perfect, they could not have any blemishes or defects, and so Jesus – the Lamb of God – the True Passover Sacrifice was also pure, sinless. But still yet, we can’t help but ask, must there also be a cross? Must our Lord suffer and die? Oh, how we want to avoid the cross at all cost. How we want to by-pass Good Friday and jump right to Easter morning.
Jesus’ life was a perfect example of prayer, obedience and sacrifice; yet, he had to die. Jesus said; "The Son of Man must be lifted up." I think it is important to point out that John does an interesting thing here. He links this chapter with the words of chapter 21 in the book of Numbers. Where, you may recall, the children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land and, as was often the case, they began to get impatient and they started murmuring and complaining against God and Moses, so God allowed serpents to come into the camp. The serpents bit the people and many of them died. Then God commanded Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole in the midst of the camp, and whoever believed the promise and looked on the serpent of brass was healed and lived. And so, with that in mind, Jesus says, "Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." In other words, Jesus is saying, in like manner, I must be lifted up on the cross that whoever believes and looks upon me shall be healed and live. The cross is one of God’s great imperatives. There was no other way to provide salvation without the cross. As the author of Hebrews reminds us; for "without the shedding of blood there is no remission" of sins. The cross - the crucifixion was a must in order for there to be redemption.
But there is one more imperative that we must not overlook and that is the imperative or the must of consecration. And John drives this point home with John the Baptist’ words; "I must decrease and he," that is to say Jesus "must increase." I can only imagine that wasn’t easy for John to say, especially since the limelight had been turned from him to another. In fact, we are told that some of John’s disciples had just reported how the people were turning to Jesus. Where once the multitudes followed John, now they were following Christ. Once they came from all the cities of Judah to hear John, now they were listening to Jesus. In fact, poor John was about to be thrown into prison and forgotten about. Yet John said; "I must decrease and he must increase." This is a must of consecration. This is our prayer for Lent, isn’t it? We allow the opportunities of Lent - the opportunities of worship and prayer, Bible study and fasting, sacrifice and almsgiving to be opportunities in which Christ increases and we decrease. The season of Lent is a constant reminder that the Christian life is one in which we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Jesus – in other words, we must become totally obedient to Christ!
C. William Nichols tells the story of the novelist A. J. Cronin who was a medical doctor before becoming a writing. As a staff doctor in a hospital in Australia, he admired the competence and dedication of a nurse who worked closely with him. One night, after an exhausting series of emergencies, the doctor asked the nurse how much she was paid. When she reported the small amount of her wage, he exploded, "You ought to get twice that much. God knows you’re worth it." She replied humbly, "Doctor, if God knows I’m worth it, that’s all that matters."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote; "All service ranks the same with God," no matter what your divine assignment, if you fulfill it to the best of your ability it is your glory.
It is a fact, some things in life are a must, they cannot be avoided. And it’s no different when it comes to our Christian lives. As John reminds us; conversion is a must, the cross is a must and consecration is a must. For only God can use us if we are willing to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow him. Only if we are willing to say; "Take my life and let me be consecrated, Lord, to thee!"

"Is The Resurrection of Christ a Myth?"

A sermon preached on The Second Sunday of Lent, March 4, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on I Corinthians 15:1-8 and 12-20.

Have you ever considered what happens to us when we die? Do we live on as disembodied souls, as the ancient Greeks thought? Do we go through countless cycles of reincarnation, as the Hindus believe? Or, does both body and soul cease to exist as the Sadducees taught?

Because of their Greek heritage, the Corinthians questioned the reality of the resurrection and rightfully so. In our Scripture Lesson this morning, we see that Paul challenges their thinking by pointing out the absurd conclusions to which it leads. He reminds us that the resurrection is the crucial aspect of our hope in Christ.
Someone once said; "If something seems too good to be true, it usually is!" And a lot of times that is true! It doesn’t necessarily mean you are skeptical or a cynic, it is natural to want to examine and weigh the facts before drawing a conclusion. There are many who believe that, that is true of Christianity. They have difficulty accepting some of the doctrines and beliefs of the Christian faith and teachings - especially when it comes to the resurrection of Christ. There are many who claim; "It is impossible for a dead person to come back to life." Such was the difficulty Paul faced when he sought to teach the Greeks about Christ’s resurrection, in Acts chapter 17. Many of the Greeks, were well trained in philosophy and they had no trouble or difficulty accepting many of the ideas, teachings and beliefs of the Christian faith; but they just could not accept the doctrine of the resurrection. For them, dead people just do not come back to life - when you’re dead - you’re dead!
However, it’s the resurrection of Christ which is the basis or foundation of our faith! The novelist, John Updike in his poem; "Seven Stanzas at Easter," describes the doubt that seems to infect many, including Christians, when contemplating Christ’s resurrection. So "fuddled," he writes, are they by "the flowers, each soft Spring recurrent" that they arrive at views of the Resurrection that destroy its entire significance.
In fact, I want to share with you a few stanzas of his poem, he writes:

"Make no mistake: if [Jesus] rose at all it was as His body;
If the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, and the amino acids rekindle,
[Then surely] the Church will fall.
It was not as the flowers, each soft Spring recurrent;
It was not as His Spirit in the mouths and fuddled eyes of the eleven apostles;
It was as His Flesh.
The same hinged thumbs and toes,
The same valved [pierced] heart that —
Died, withered, paused, and then regathered out of enduring Might new strength to enclose.
Let us not mock God with metaphor, analogy, sidestepping transcendence;
Making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded [gullibility] of earlier ages:
Let us walk through the door.
The stone is rolled back, not papier-mache,
Not a stone in a story, but the vast rock of materiality that in the slow grinding of time
Will eclipse for each of us the wide light of day.
Let us not seek to make it less monstrous,
For our own convenience, our own sense of beauty, lest, awakened in one unthinkable hour,
We are embarrassed by the miracle, and crushed by remonstrance."

Certainly, I think Paul would agree with John Updike’s words. In fact, Paul was never timid or ambiguous when it came to proclaiming and preaching the central miracle upon which the gospel rests - the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To Paul, it was no once-a-year seasonal greeting, either! Rather, it was the validating evidence of the Lordship of Jesus Christ; upon which Paul based his theology, his ministry, his faith and even his life. And no less should be expected of us, as Christians - followers of Christ. "If there is no resurrection of the dead," Paul proclaimed, "then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain" (I Corinthians 15:13-14).
Recently, a discovery made in 1980 has received a lot of attention and controversy. Such a discovery was said to cause an uproar among the Christian faith and community. That discovery is the "alleged" burial tomb of Jesus and his family. Its popularity is mainly due to a documentary that was done and is set to air tonight on the Discovery Channel; as well as some DNA testing on some fragments from two of the ossuaries. The DNA testing concluded that the DNA of the Jesus - Son of Joseph ossuary and the ossuary belonging to Mariamne (alleged to be Mary Magdalene) are not linked, thus causing some to believe that perhaps they were married - a theory that was made popular by the recent book and movie; The Da Vinci Code. I want to encourage you to watch the documentary and draw your own conclusions. I also think it is also vital that you watch the critical view of this documentary that is set to air following the documentary. That way, you are able to see both sides of the issue and form your own opinion.
But, I find it interesting how such discoveries seem to always surface during this time of the year. When many in the Christian community are celebrating Lent - a time when Christians focus on Christ’s Passion and Death, and spiritually prepare to celebrate Easter - Christ’s Resurrection. There are many distractions in life. And certainly, this is another attempt to divert our attention - to question our faith and belief in Christ. This is what Jesus faced in our Gospel Lesson last week. Satan came and sought to divert his attention from his true responsibility and calling to carry out God’s plan of salvation. And, undoubtedly, our attention is being diverted and distracted, especially now, during this holy season when our hearts and minds are fixed on Christ our Redeemer and Savior.
But, I must say that this has definitely caused some to reexamine or question their faith and belief in the resurrection of Christ. Keep in mind, the resurrection - both Christ’s and ours - is not a matter to be understood biologically or scientifically, but theologically.
C. William Nichols writes; "Sifting through the ashes of an ancient event just outside the city walls of Jerusalem two millennia ago will not yield the key to our quest. Nor can logic build a case that will make the [miraculous] even [credible] to the cautious cynic. The resurrection is not so much discovered in the test tubes of our intelligence as [it is] celebrated in the lyrical excesses of an ecstatic discovery. It is not in the scientific textbooks that we find the literature that proves the resurrection, but in the [rooftop] shoutings of those who have discovered that there are some things ‘too good not to be true.’ It is the final, undeniable verdict within our human experience that God is true, and will always be true."
Such a theory doesn’t cause me to question my faith in Christ’s Resurrection; rather, I continue to hold true to the testimony of those who witnessed it and based their lives upon it!
Let us consider Paul’s witness and testimony. Where did Paul find the evidence that convinced him of the unarguable truth of the resurrection? It was his own experience. And the same is true for us! You may recall, that it was Paul who was once Saul - a persecutor of the Christians, an enemy of the church, a bigot and hater who "breathed threats and murder against the followers of Christ." But it was in his meeting with the real presence of the resurrected Lord on his way to Damascus that his life suddenly and dramatically changed. He became a new man - a resurrected man, if you will.
This same resurrection occurred in each of the disciples’ lives. After the death of their Master, the disciples unraveled - they fell apart! Fear caused some to go into hiding. Others went back to their trade as fishermen. But over time as our risen Lord appeared to them, their lives were forever changed. No longer were they the fearful disciples, but they became fearless! So true was the resurrection to them and countless others that they were willing to give their lives for its truth.
Historically, we are told that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after his resurrection. And, if the resurrection were not true, I believe that the whole idea of Christianity would have never evolved. The beliefs and teachings of Jesus Christ would have died that day when he was nailed to the cross. But, so true was the resurrection that a small crowd of followers virtually changed the whole world. So true was the resurrection that it has and continues to influence and impact the hearts and lives of millions.
C. Williams Nichols also writes of the resurrection: "This is how the resurrection is always proved: not in someone else’s life, but in our own." I can’t force you to believe in the resurrection! But the fact is, you’re not going to believe in it until you have first experienced it! That was true of Paul’s life! Once you experience the resurrecting power of Christ you experience transformation - a resurrection, yourself.
I always find it rather amusing when asking for directions how some people, instead of using routes and street names or exit numbers to direct me, they instead use landmarks, or certain buildings and restaurants to pave the way. My mother is one who does just that. She can’t tell you the name of a street, but she can tell you everything that is around that street. In fact, that reminds me of a story that I want to close with this morning.
It was beginning to get dark on the streets of London, the lights in the lampposts were just coming on, most children, by that time, were safe at home preparing to eat dinner, except a little girl who had lost her way. She stood crying on a street corner, she couldn’t find her way back home. She was sobbing her heart out when a policeman found her. Trying to help her, he asked, "Where do you live?" She couldn’t tell him, she didn’t know, she had gotten side tracked and just couldn’t remember the way back to her home. The policeman thought he would try another method, so he asked her, "Do you live near a big building of any kind – perhaps a school, a fire house, a police station?" "No," she replied, she didn’t. "Do you live near a park? A playground?" "No," she didn’t live by a park or a playground either. "Well," the policeman went on, "do you live near a church?" Suddenly, her tear-streaked face lighted up. "Yes, I live by the church with the cross. Show me the church with the cross, and I’ll know my way home."
How true that is! We can only discover our way home - home to God’s amazing love and grace by the way of the cross and the empty tomb. It is the cross, which exemplifies God’s love and it is empty tomb, which validates it.
That is why the Apostle Paul was always and forever pointing his converts to the cross of the Savior whom he preached. To the Galatians he wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20). Paul had experienced the resurrection! It was real to him, because he had died and rose with Christ and was a new man - a changed man - a resurrected man! But what about you?
The Christian faith is not a blind faith; it is grounded in fact. There are so many historical facts to prove the biblical account of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection! But, my friends, the resurrection means nothing to you or to me, unless we have experienced it! Let’s go beyond A. H. Ackley’s words in that infamous Easter hymn; "You ask me how I know he lives? He lives within my heart," and let us instead, proclaim that Jesus lives in our hearts because he first of all rose in the very history in which we are embedded. This isn’t some fairy tale; rather, this is the gospel - the good news! And once we realize it, our lives will truly be changed like Paul and those early apostles and followers!

"The Wilderness of Temptation"

A sermon preached on The First Sunday of Lent, February 25, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Matthew 4:1-11.

In our Gospel Lesson this morning we see that it is sort of Jesus’ first day on the job, if you will, and immediately he is confronted with three major temptations. This is, without a doubt, a passage that a lot of Christians find both challenging and difficult to understand. First of all, we are told that it was "the Spirit" which drove Jesus into the wilderness. Prior to this, we have Jesus’ baptism and confirmation, where we are told that the Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove along with God’s affirmation; "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." But then, we are told that the Spirit leds Jesus into the wilderness - that barren, desolate and lonely place, where our Lord was tempted - the Spirit led him there!
Now some claim that perhaps the gospel writers were speaking of another spirit, and not referring to the Spirit of God. But we must remember that the Greek word for "tempted" here is peirazo, which literally means; " to try" or "to make proof of." Now, in Scripture, when we come across the word "tempted" in most cases it is used in a negative sense and means "to entice" or "to solicit" or even "to provoke to sin." Thus, Satan is referred to as "the Tempter." But the Spirit, we are told in the gospels, leads Jesus into the wilderness to peirazo - to try and prove his faith, if you will. Further, affirm that he is the sinless, perfect and unblemished sacrifice for the sins of the world. Now, undoubtedly, it was the agent of Satan - the Tempter whose goal it was to seduce Jesus. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to confirm his calling as the Messiah - the Christ.
One commentator has written; "Too often we see our high moments - those good and joyous moments as being God-given or God-filled; but then we consider the wilderness experiences - those times when we are alone and surrounded by temptation as bad moments, which are not God-given or God-filled." And how true that is! This is the way we often view the ups and downs of life. But perhaps we shouldn’t see things that way! We should see all circumstances and situations as opportunities to grow spiritually! Without those wilderness experiences - those trials and temptations we cannot possibly grow in our faith and in our relationship with Christ.
With that being said, the fact remains, none of us can avoid the wilderness - we will all walk through the wilderness from time to time. In fact, wilderness experiences are a part of life’s journey, just as they are a part of our spiritual journey.
You know what is so comforting and strengthening about our faith? It is the fact that God does not only teach us, but God also has given us an example - God, himself has walked in our very shoes; God has confronted the temptation and sin, trials and obstacles, pain and uncertainties of life. God can sympathize and relate to us, because he himself has journeyed in the wilderness. In fact, the writer of Hebrews reminds us; "For we do not have a High Priest," referring to Jesus, "who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
And so, I think it is well that as we begin our Lenten journey we focus on this story of Jesus’ temptation. As we consider the sin in our lives and our need to repent - to turn from that sin, that we look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith - the one who leads, not solely by word, but also by example!
Conflict is generally at the heart of most stories. In fact, most stories contain an antagonist. Some times that antagonistic force can be the character who is in conflict with him or herself. Or, the antagonist may be a supernatural force, as we see in the movies such as Star Wars and Superman. Or, perhaps the antagonist could be nature, as we see in Hemingway’s; The Old Man and the Sea. Or even, the antagonist could be another individual or society. Most stories, however, contain some type of conflict. And the story of Jesus, whether told by Matthew, Mark, Luke or John is no exception. In fact, conflict was at the very center of Jesus’ life. In all four of the gospels we see that Jesus was constantly engaged in conflict. He battled with unclean spirits and Satan; he overcame threatening forces of nature; he confronted the Jewish and Roman authorities; he struggled with the disciples; and he agonized within himself about his own passion and death.

All four gospels tells the story of Jesus’ temptation, however, Mark’s is the shortest account - consisting of only 2 verses. Matthew and Luke begin with the same temptation, turning stones into bread, but they have a different order for the last two temptations. One writer suggests that Luke’s order has a more natural and geographical sequence, while Matthew’s order is more of a logical sequence, moving from the lowest level of temptation to the highest level of temptation. But nonetheless, we find that Jesus was tempted with wealth, and fame and power, trying to deviate him from his true mission and responsibility as the Christ - the Messiah, God’s Son who would bring reconciliation to the world. You know, the fact is, as we see here, Satan uses temptation and sin to try to blind us! He uses these tools as ways to turn our attention from Christ. But we should use these as opportunities to grow stronger in our faith and closer in our walk with Christ.
I love the story of the businessman who was driving home from work one day, when he saw a little league baseball game in progress. He decided to stop and watch. He sat down on the bleachers and asked a kid what the score was. "We’re behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile. "Really," he responded. "I have to say you don’t look very discouraged." "Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven’t been up to bat yet." It’s so easy to give up! It’s so easy to give in to temptation. Oscar Wilde once said; "The best way to get rid of temptation is to give in to it!" Certainly, this isn't the best approach!
There is an interesting comparison between the First Adam’s temptation that we read about in Genesis chapter 3, verse 6; and Christ - the Second Adam’s temptation. You see, what Adam could not do, Jesus did. In the 2nd chapter, verse 16 of John’s first epistle he points out the three temptations that both Adam and Jesus faced: the first, was the temptation of the flesh, Adam gave in to the fact that the tree was good for food, whereas Christ remained strong in Satan’s temptation to turn the stones into bread; the second, was the temptation of the eyes, Adam failed receive the pleasing and enticing fruit, whereas Jesus overcame Satan’s lure to gain the kingdoms of the world without the cross; and the third, was the temptation of pride, where Adam fell to the temptation that the tree would make him wise and like God, Jesus stood strong in the face of Satan’s temptation to throw himself down from the high pinnacle and allow the angels to rescue him.
Temptation has a way of knocking and, especially, all the more when we find ourselves fixed on Christ - our goal. I heard a story not too long ago of little Johnny who desperately wanted a new bike. His plan was to save his nickels, dimes and quarters until he finally had enough money to buy a new bike. Each night he asked God to help him save his money. Kneeling beside his bed, he prayed; "Dear God, please help me save my money for a new bike; and please, Lord, don’t let the ice-cream man come down the street again tomorrow." But, my friends, we have the power and the strength to persevere in the face of temptation - it is Christ’s Spirit in us. Our Lord reminded us; "for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
In Death Valley there is a place known as "Dante’s View." There, you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States, a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called "Bad Water." But from that same spot, you can also look up to the highest peak in the United States, "Mount Whitney," rising to a height of 14,500 feet. How ironic! One way leads to the lowest valley and the other way to the highest mountain. From that point, called Dante’s View, any movement must be in one or the other direction. And, you know, there are many times in life when we stand where the ways part and where choices must be made. Our Lord faced the same choices. He chose first to go downhill, descending into the city of Jerusalem where he would inevitably face betrayal, persecution and death. And he decided to walk uphill which led to a cross where he would die for the sins of the world. And, my friends, thankfully the one who died upon that cross lives and walks with us through all of life - especially in the wilderness of temptation.
I want to close with the words of Claudia Hernaman’s hymn; "Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days," she writes;

"Lord, who throughout these forty days for us did fast and pray,

Teach us with you to mourn our sins and close by you to stay.

As you with Satan did contend, and did the victory win,

O give us strength in you to fight, in you to conquer sin.

And thro’ these days of penitence, and thro’ your passiontide,

Forevermore, in life and death, O Christ with us abide.

Abide with us, that through this life of doubts and hopes and pain,

An Easter of unending joy we may at last attain."

"God's Amazing [Band-Aid] Grace"

Recently, I have been revisiting my childhood memories by reading some of Shel Silverstein’s poetry. I guess I am trying to reconnect with my inner child. One of my favorite poems of his, is titled; "Band-Aids." It reads:

"I have a Band-Aid on my finger,

One on my knee, and one on my nose,

One on my heel, and two on my shoulder,

Three on my elbow, and nine on my toes.

Two on my wrist, and one on my ankle,

One on my chin, and one on my thigh,

Four on my belly, and five on my bottom,

One on my forehead, and one on my eye.

One on my neck, and in case I might need ‘em

I have a box full of thirty-five more.

But oh! I do think it’s sort of a pityI don’t have a single cut or a sore."

Wouldn’t it be nice to never have to worry about "a single cut or a sore" - no aches or pains? Sometimes I imagine all of the falls, cuts, scraps and bruises Miriam will receive throughout the course of her childhood. These things, for the most part, are unpreventable - they are a part of the childhood experience. Just as none of us can prevent aging, along with its wear and tear on our bodies; so, the same is true of our spiritual lives. None of us can prevent sin - we are, by nature, imperfect - sinners. I long for that day when we will achieve total perfection - maturation. Of course, this isn’t achieved in this life nor in this body. This body is subjected to sin, mistakes, and limitations. You and I need those "band-aids" to cover all of our spiritual cuts and sores.

The Apostle John’s words in the 3rd chapter of his first epistle appear to raise eyebrows in disappointment and discouragement. In fact, if the person who sins "has neither seen [Christ] nor known him," then we could easily ask; "What hope is there for believers who sin?"

Here is a case where the English language fails us. In English the word "sins" appears absolute and final: suggesting one sin and you’re cut off from God’s presence forever! However, the form of the Greek verb, harmatanei, used here conveys a sense of continuous action. No one who abides in Christ makes a habit of continually sinning. We try our best to repent - turn from sin! The point is that Christians diminish their old patterns of sin as they grow in Christ, replacing them with new patters of faith and love. We must affirm along with the Apostle Paul; "May I decrease and [Christ] increase."

The situation is similar to losing weight by changing one’s eating habits. No one obtains instant health through dieting, but over time and by sticking to a disciplined diet one can make great strides in that direction. Now, does that mean that the dieter never has a desire or craving for sweets and junk food? No! Does it mean that the dieter will never again give in to those cravings? No! In fact, any one who had ever dieted knows how difficult it is to resist such urgings, cravings and temptations. And, certainly, the same is true for Christians. When we come to Christ we do not stop sinning! As that popular bumper sticker affirms; "Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven." However, in coming to Christ and walking with him, we grow stronger [spiritually]. Just as the dieter must stick to and abide by their dietary plan, so the Christian must stick to and abide in Christ. When we do so, we are given the strength, through Christ’s Spirit in us, to resist temptation and turn from sin. After all, it is sin that disconnects us from God and builds a wall between our hearts and the heart of God. Yet, it is grace which destroys that wall. It is grace which reconnects us to God. "Grace, grace - God’s grace! Grace that is greater than all our sins" the old hymn affirms!

So, needless to say, don’t put away the band-aids just yet. Instead, let us thank God that we have the "band-aid" of his grace to cover our sins and heal us to righteousness. That’s the wonderful reminder of Lent!

These two poems, both written by anonymous writers, demonstrate the reality of who we are and the reality of who God is.

"There is so much good in the worst of us,

And so much bad in the best of us,

It ill behooves any of us

To talk about the rest of us."

"For who can all his errors tell,

Or count the thoughts by which he fell?

Omniscient God, to Thee alone

My sin’s infinity is known!

Do Thou my secret faults efface,

And show forth all Thy cleansing grace."

I hope that you will join me in this Lenten journey and discover ways in which you might grow in your relationship with Christ.

"A Hymn of Love"

A sermon preached on The Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, February 11, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on I Corinthians 13:1-13.

The renowned theologian, Dr. Karl Barth, was spending an evening with a group of close friends and colleagues. Curious to know more about the great theologian’s thinking and theology, one of those present asked him; "Dr. Barth, what is the most profound thought that has ever entered your mind." After a brief moment of reflection Dr. Barth replied very simply; "The most profound thought I have ever known or had is this simple truth: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.’"
Now, to many, this may not seem to be that much of a profound thought. It may seem to be no more than a simple little chorus suitable for a beginner’s Sunday school class. But the glorious fact remains that there is no profounder thought than; "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so."
The Apostle Paul takes time out of his letter to the church in Corinth to explain just what is really important in the life and faith of every believer. It’s not who has the most spiritual gifts, but rather who has love. Certainly, it can be difficult and even challenging to embody and express love. Some of us may feel that some people just are not worthy of our love!
Perhaps you’ve heard Chuch Swindoll’s story of the man who fell madly in love with an opera singer. Although he hardly knew her and his only view of her was through binoculars from high in the balcony of the opera hall; still, he was convinced that he could live "happily ever after" if only he were to be married to a voice like that. He barely noticed that she was considerably older then he was and he didn’t care that she walked with a limp. Her beautiful soprano voice made up for all of that and it was all he needed to love her unconditionally. And so, after a brief romance and a quick wedding ceremony, they were off to their honeymoon. She began to prepare for their first night together in the hotel room. As he watched, his chin dropped in utter shock and amazement as she plucked out her glass eye and plopped it into a container on the nightstand. She pulled off her wig, ripped off her false eyelashes, yanked out her dentures, took out her hearing aids, un-strapped her artificial leg, and smiled at him as she slipped off her glasses that hid her severe eye stigmatism. Stunned and horrified, he covered his eyes and yelled, "For goodness sake, women, just sing!" No doubt, there are things about certain people that we may not like and for that we withhold our love from them.
The renown psychologist, Fromm, once posed the question "Why?" when it comes to love: "Why must we love?" Fromm believed he found the reason in the appalling experience of isolation, of complete separation, that humanity has known since being driven out of Paradise. Fromm went on to claim that is the reason for people’s need to conform. He says, "we cannot solve this problem of separation, no matter how hard we try, by means of work, success, or conformity; all of these offer only temporary satisfaction. The true answer lies solely in love - love completes us, love motivates us, love fulfills us, love satisfies us." And how true that is!
In the 13th chapter of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth he offers what has been called "A Litany or Hymn of Love." Paul reminds us that gifts without love are useless. People talk of love, but they do not always live it. It’s like the story I told you a while back of the husband who was always telling his wife how much he loved her, but very seldom did he show it. He talked it, but never expressed it. And certainly that is true of many Christians. Until the love of Christ is imbedded deep in our hearts, that love will never bring transformation to our lives nor will it ever be manifested in our living. Until we have completely felt and experienced the love of God we will never be able to live that love! Until God’s love has filled our lives to the brim, there will always be hatred, malice, gossip and deceit within us. As Paul reminds us, a life that is full of God’s love cannot do anything else but love! That love spills over and out of our lives!
This chapter is divided into three sections: first, Paul talks about the futility of gifts without love. In fact, in verses 1 through 3 we see that Paul reminds us, that all the spiritual gifts in the world mean nothing if the motivation behind them isn’t love! If the root of our gifts, of our actions, of our words is not love then we might as well be a "noisy gong or a clanging cymbal," Paul tells us. In fact, Paul writes, "If I have all faith... but do not have love, I am nothing" (I Corinthians 13:2).
In the second section of this chapter Paul talks about the nature of love. In verses 4 through 7, Paul speaks of the important traits of love. Paul tells us that "love is patient" or, better yet, puts up with people that it is easy to give up on. Love is "kind," meaning, it treats people well although they may have treated us poorly. This is certainly the love Christ embodied. Love does not "envy" nor it is "boastful" or "proud." Keep in mind, the people of Corinth were notorious for being boastful, and proud and even arrogant and certainly these are challenges we face today. Love "is not rude," "it isn’t selfish," or "easily angered," love doesn’t hold grudges." Rather, Paul reminds us, that love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres." Someone once said; "Love makes the invisible God, visible in our midst," someone else wrote; "Wherever love is – God is present!" and how true that is!
And in the third section, Paul mentions the fact that love is eternal. Paul reminds us that love never fails – it’s permanent! Paul tells us that one day all the gifts will no longer be needed, but "love will continue forever." Why, because God is eternal, and God is love, and when we have the Spirit of God in us, we embody this love - we possess this love, we become this love (incarnate) – in the flesh! Is this true of your life?
The Apostle John reminds us in the 4th chapter of his first epistle; "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us his Spirit. And we have seen and testified that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he is in God" (1 John 4:13-16). You know, love inspires us. A great philosopher once wrote; "Inspiration is simply being touched by the Spirit of God and loving is offering that touch to others." Have you been touched by the Spirit of God; but, more importantly, are you touching others?
In just a couple of days we celebrate Valentine’s Day, and this is a great opportunity for us to think of love – God’s love for us and our love for God and one another. It is a great opportunity for us to consider the ways in which we live out and share that love with one another. And, undoubtedly, we will hear throughout the course of this week those infamous words; "Will you be my Valentine?" Those words warm our hearts and stir our emotions – they remind us that we are loved! But certainly, we can rejoice because we are God’s Valentines. God loves each of us unconditionally! May we experience that love anew and afresh and thus, live that love and share it with one another.
The Duke of Windsor, recalling his childhood discipline by George V, then King of England, said that his father used to daily remind him, "Son, never forget who you are." This is a great opportunity for us, as Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth, "never forget [whose] you are." You are God’s Valentine! Won’t you experience that love anew and afresh; and in experiencing that love, be transformed by it; and in being transformed by it, share it with others?

"'What's Love Got To Do With It?'

Whenever we think of February, almost unbeknownst to us, Valentine’s Day comes to mind. This is a great opportunity for us to think about the importance of love in our own lives and in the life of the church. Without a doubt, love is an essential ingredient in the recipe of the church.
Tina Turner once asked, in that popular song from the 90's; "What’s love got to do with it?" In answer to her question, when it comes to the church, love’s got everything to do with it. In fact, someone once said; "The gospel can be summed up in just two words: ‘Everybody’s Loved!’" Love is the basis of our faith! It is the foundation upon which the gospel is built. It is the motivation behind God’s plan of salvation and the church’s responsibility of evangelizing and stewardship. Without love there is no Christianity! Without love there is no gospel – good news. So, perhaps, we should be singing the lyrics to that famous Beetles song; "All you need is love, love – love is all you need!" When we proclaim this, we are proclaiming something much more profound and theological then we often realize. We are proclaiming, in essence, "All you need is God, God – God is all you need!" "God is love," the apostle John reminds us. God doesn’t define love, he doesn’t represent love – God IS love! One of the most profound thoughts I’ve heard is "wherever love is, God is!" Wherever love is manifested, expressed, shared or lived out - God is there!
As I mentioned in our Bible Study the other week. The English language is sometimes limiting. For instance, the word "love," in the English language is used to describe our feelings for a host of things from food, to music, to television, to the special people in our lives, to the church and God! In fact, the word "love" is perhaps the most overused word in the English language. The Greeks have several words to describe the levels or degrees of their love. For instance, there is the word philia to describe "brotherly love" or "friendships". There is the word eros to describe an intimate relationship. And finally, there is the word agape to describe a supreme love - a sacrificial love.
This highest form of love - agape is a word that was rarely used in Greek literature prior to the New Testament. When it was used, it denoted showing kindness to strangers, giving hospitality, and being charitable. In the New Testament, the word agape took on a special meaning: it was used by the New Testament writers to... love as opposed to the purely emotional kind of love as philia and eros. Agape is a self-sacrificial love, a kind naturally expressed by God but not so easily by men or women.
Love is the most essential quality and one of the major characteristics in the Christian community. It is what sets us apart as God’s people. It is one of the major attributes that labels us a child of God and it is vital that we as God’s people possess this love. It is only through Christ that this love is obtained, for it is when we allow Christ to be manifested in us that his love becomes a spring in us. Do you have this kind of love? Do you possess and share this love? Does it flow from your life?
Jeremy Taylor writes; "Love is the greatest thing that God can give us; for He Himself is love; and it is the greatest thing we can give to God [and one another]."
Let us pray that God’s love will be renewed and lived out in each of us. That we will share that love with those whom we meet - that "by our love they will know we are Christians." I want to encourage you to look for ways in which you can share God’s love perhaps through visiting, calling or even sending a card to someone who might need a word of encouragement. It is important that we allow the love of God the be felt by EVERYONE who walks through the doors of Edgemont and EVERYONE we meet! Love is the most powerful and effective form of evangelism.