Sermon Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46 "The Kingdom of Heaven is like …"

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church 

Sermon Matthew 13:31-33, 44-46  "The Kingdom of Heaven is like …"

July 26, 2020 

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This week I am finishing up my first year with you as your interim pastor.  This past year we have faced many obstacles.   March 13 was the last meeting I had with the Session here at the church.   They decided at that meeting to close the church and remain closed until the threat of the coronavirus had passed.  That was over four months ago.   Since then everything we had done has been over Zoom or email.  Session meets tomorrow night and I pray that we can open the church safely with safe-distancing worship.

There was so much I had hoped to do with this church this past year, but the virus stopped us.   The coronavirus looks like a stumbling block to building up the Kingdom of God.   But is it?   Could the virus actually be a valuable pearl or a small seed sent by God to build His kingdom?   Possibly!  Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we ask that you transform Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church into God’s kingdom.  Lead us in the ways you would have us do ministry here in this neighborhood.  Prepare us to minister to the needs of the people in this community.  And bring us the great joy of participating in your work in our world.  We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Matthew 13:31-33  31 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;  32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."  33 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

Matthew 13:44-46  44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;  46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

  

The Kingdom of God, or as Matthew calls it, the Kingdom of Heaven, was the central message of Jesus’ teachings.  Jesus taught about the Kingdom of Heaven using parables where he compared the unknown Kingdom of Heaven to something that was already known.  So Jesus said that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a tiny little seed that grows up into a big bush.  Or the Kingdom of Heaven is like the invisible gas leavening bread dough.  Or the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure you have found and in great joy.  You sacrifice everything you have to get that one precious pearl. 

God started building the kingdom of heaven at creation, and the work continued with the blessing of Abraham and Sarah and the command to them and their descendants to be a blessing to all families in the world.  God’s kingdom work continued through Isaac and Rebecca and their son Jacob.

Last week we heard about Jacob’s encounter with God.   God promised to extend the blessing of Abraham and Sarah and Isaac and Rebecca.   Today we pick up the story with Jacob on his way to his uncle's house in Genesis 29.

Now, Jacob’s mind must have been swirling around as he walked silently and all alone to Haran.  In his dream, God had told him many things that he had to think through.  It was hard for him to imagine what God had in store.  How could this lone man, whose family hated him and who had the reputation of being a schemer and cheater, become the seed for a family of God’s people that would cover the world like dust to its four corners?  Jacob must have considered himself so small when compared to all that God had in store.  Maybe, like his descendant 2000 years later, Jesus, he thought about himself as a mustard seed so small and yet, somehow, would grow into a bush so large that it would be a blessing even to the birds flying in the heavens.

But even to Jacob, God’s ways were mysterious.  Whatever God was doing or about to do with Jacob it was certainly hidden far from Jacob’s thoughts.  God was working behind the scenes orchestrating Jacob’s life for a greater purpose.  But Jacob had no idea what God was doing.  Maybe, like Jesus, his descendant 2000 years later, Jacob thought of God like yeast working in a ball of dough, hidden, invisible but still working to produce the final leavening.

Like Jacob, we too are part of God’s plan for the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are all characters in a play directed by God.  We can only discern the board outlines of God’s overall plan, but we know that we are in some way a part of that plan and though us God will accomplish far more than we could ever dream.  We are but the tiny mustard seeds that God will use to grow the kingdom.  Although we can see some of the things that God is doing among us, most of what God is doing is hidden from our view.  But God’s work is bubbling up in the dough of this world and his accomplishments will one day rise into the magnificent loaf of the Kingdom of God on earth.

When Jacob arrived at Haran his heart was filled with the feeling of pure joy when his eyes first perceived a pearl, a treasure, the beautiful Rachel.  Jacob would do anything to have Rachel as his wife.  And when he found out that she was his cousin, Uncle Laban’s daughter, Jacob leaped with joy over his good fortunes.  Jacob thought that God had given him just what he needed.  He and the beautiful Rachel would produce the descendants promised to his grandparents.  So Jacob agreed to work hard, very hard, for seven years to gain the beautiful Rachel’s hand in marriage.

When we realize that we are part of God’s work of building up the Kingdom of Heaven we too rejoice.  It is truly joyful to be used by God in this glorious work.  Just ask any Trustee about the great joy they have experienced in maintaining our buildings.  Ask anyone on the Finance Committee about the great joy they have experienced by carefully watching over the financial resources of the church.  Ask anyone on the Christian Education Committee about the great joy they have experienced when teaching the Bible to the children in this church.  Ask anyone on the Mission Committee about the great joy they have supporting the Disciples Pantry, Ranch Hope, Freedom Books, or Cornerstone Women’s Resource Center.  Whenever we realize that what we are doing is part of God’s bigger plan we rejoice with praise and thanksgiving.

But Jacob should have seen it coming.  A schemer and a cheater is the last to realize that someone has launched a scheme to cheat him out of what was rightfully his.  Jacob didn’t know until it was too late that Uncle Laban had no intention of letting Rachel be married until his older daughter Leah had found a husband.  

Poor Leah, the NRSV translation of the Bible calls her eyes “lovely”.  This was a very generous translation.  In reality, Leah suffered by comparison with her younger, prettier sister, Rachel, in just about every way.  

So when Laban substituted Leah for Rachel on Jacob’s wedding night Jacob was understandably very upset.  Yet he knew that this too was somehow in God’s plan.  So Jacob gave Leah her week of a joyous wedding feast and gave her father another seven years to get the other sister, the beautiful Rachel.

Once Jacob was married to both sisters he began to realize the pearl, the great treasure, he had found.  He noticed that the beautiful Rachel was dishonest and a thief, worshiped pagan gods and had real trouble getting pregnant.  But Leah was a good wife and bore him ten sons.  

This made Leah very happy and Rachel, the pretty one, very sad.  So God blessed Rachel with two sons of her own, but her happiness was cut short when she was giving birth to the younger son.  She died and was buried alone alongside the road.  

The pearl that Jacob had found was none other than Leah, who cared for his family making God’s promise of numerous descendants possible.  Jacob and Leah spent their lives together and were buried together in the tomb of Abraham and Sarah and of Isaac and Rebecca.  In Leah, Jacob had found a pearl of great value.  

Blessings from God come in unusual packages.  We may think that God is blessing us with a pretty Rachel, but in the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s blessing often comes to us as a faithful Leah.

Several years ago,  I pastored a small urban church in Los Angeles.  I got together with people from other churches to discuss the issues of homelessness in our community.  There were many people, in North East LA, living on the streets.  They lived in cars, vans, trucks, and recreational vehicles.  Rents for apartments in Los Angeles were way too high for many people.  So many people had to live on the streets.  Most had some form of limited government assistance.  Some had jobs.  But many were hungry and desperate to find a meal.   The Seventh Day Adventist church had dinner on Thursday nights.  St. Dominic’s Catholic Church had dinner for 150 people every Friday. 

My church decided to start a new worship service on Sunday evenings.   We combined this with a fellowship meal.   Suddenly dozens of very poor people started coming into this sanctuary to hear some good news and then join us for dinner.  We became a church for the poorest people in our community.  

We found our Leahs and they turned out to be pearls whose great value in the Kingdom of Heaven brought us great joy.  Those who have very little are the seeds God had sown to grow into the Kingdom of Heaven.

So I urge you to look for the pearls that God has hidden in your community.  Look for the small seeds that God has planted to build his kingdom right here in this part of New Jersey.  Maybe these pearls are picking up food at Disciple’s Pantry.   Maybe there are small seeds of the Kingdom of God at Ranch Hope.   Maybe there is yeast leavening this church as I speak.  What is certain is that God is using this church as he is building the kingdom. 

So look for the pearls in our community.    Find the pearls, like Leah, who may not have looks but are faithful and will help us to build up this church and the Kingdom of Heaven right here.    Pray that your Pastor Nominating committee will find a faithful Leah, who may not be the best preacher in the denomination, but will lead this church into a faithful future.  Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, help us to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in our neighborhood.  Give us the resources to proclaim the good news and demonstrate your kingdom to this community.  Bless us as we minister to the poor in your name.  And use our efforts as the seed which will grow your kingdom in this church.  We pray this in your strong name.  Amen.

Sermon – Genesis 28: 12-19, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 “Weeds and Wheat”

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church

Sermon – Genesis 28: 12-19, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 “Weeds and Wheat”

July 19, 2020

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This month we have been looking at some of Jesus’ teachings through parables.  We should always remember that Jesus was an excellent Old Testament scholar.  Last week we heard Jesus talk about faith planted in our hearts.   Sometimes our heart provides good soil for the seeds of faith to grow.   Sometimes our hearts are not ready for faith to take root.  

Today we will be looking at another of Jesus’ parables.   In this parable, we see a distinction between the good and the wicked.   Jesus calls this the wheat and the weeds.  I believe that this parable was inspired by the story of Jacob and Esau.  So this morning we will be looking at a familiar story in Genesis through the lens of the teachings of Jesus in a parable.  But before we begin, will you pray with me.  

Lord Jesus speak to us now as you did to the crowds so many years ago.  Help us to understand the difference between the wheat and the weeds and what you want us to do about it.  We want to follow you into eternal life in the presence of the glory of God.  So teach us this day what we need to do.  And we pray this in your glorious name.  Amen.

Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.  3 And he told them many things in parables,

Matthew 13:24-30   24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;  25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.  26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.  27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'  28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'  29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.  30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"

Matthew 13:36-43  36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."  37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;  38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,  39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.  40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.  41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,  42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Let’s start by looking at Genesis 28, read earlier.  Rebecca and Isaac had it made.  They had become very wealthy and were retiring to beachfront property on the Mediterranean.  They were living the Late Bronze Age dream, but there was one little problem, their twins.  The two boys fought all the time. Jacob was a schemer who would lie and cheat to get what he wanted.  Esau had all the advantages of being the firstborn but when he was told to visit Uncle Laban and find a wife from among his cousins he refused and married a couple of Hittite girls instead.  Their parents were naturally quite upset over all of this.

The problem was that God had made a promise to Isaac’s father Abraham.  In this promise, God said that Abraham and Sarah’s descendants would form a mighty nation, more numerous than all the grains of sand in the sea.   To fulfill this promise one of the boys, either Esau or Jacob would have to be the father of this great nation.  Given their behavior neither deserved this honor; neither knew of the LORD God of their parents and grandparents.  So who would be chosen,  and by whom?

Rebecca wanted to choose Jacob.  She loved Jacob very much and wanted him to succeed.  So she helped him in all his scheming against his brother.  But the result was that Jacob was now alone in the desert running for his life.  

Isaac wanted to choose his firstborn, Esau, whom he loved very much, but because of his failing eyesight, Isaac was unable to prevent Jacob’s scheme to steal his birthright.  So neither Rebecca nor Isaac was able to choose who would receive God’s blessing and promise because the only one able to choose who will receive the blessing of God is God.  And God chose Jacob.

As Jacob slept in the desert, he saw the angels of God shuttling between heaven and earth.  In this dream, God spoke to him and extended the promise he had made to Isaac and Rebecca and to Abraham and Sarah that he would be the father of a great nation that would spread like the dust to the four corners of the earth.  God was choosing Jacob before Jacob even knew who God was.

Jesus must have remembered this story of the angels moving between heaven and earth when he explained the parable of the weeds to his disciples.  Jesus knew that on that day when the angels descend to the earth their mission will be to gather up everything that causes sin, all the evildoers.  Jacob witnessed this final Day of Judgment in his dream. He saw the angels descending and ascending to heaven, carrying off the damned to the fires of hell.

Jacob had a choice to make.  He could continue in his rebellious ways and in the final days be carried off like weeds to the furnace.  Or he could turn the LORD, the God of his father and mother and grandfather and grandmother and worship him.  Jacob was filled with fear and awe as a result of his vision.  He knew that the LORD had come to him and the ground where he lay was holy.  

God’s justice required that a sinner like Jacob should be carried off by the angels to eternal punishment.  But Jacob was given a second chance and with it an important choice to make for himself.  

Jacob made his choice.  He took the stone he had slept on, anointed it with oil and consecrated it as the House of God.  By this action he indicated his choice.  His rebellion would stop and he would turn to the LORD God and worship him.  By doing this Jacob accepted the promise God had first made to Abraham and Sarah and the responsibility of being the father of a great nation.

Today we have no lack of evildoers.  Our community is plagued by the sale of illegal drugs and gang violence.  Recently we have seen riots in our cities and violence in our streets.  The police, by pulling weeds, have been able to reduce the violence and killings a little.  But now the police are seen as part of the problem.  No amount of weeding out sinners will ever deliver us from sin.  So another strategy is needed.  

In my first call, I served a church in Northeast Los Angeles.   This community had been subject to frequent gang violence.  The churches in North East LA came up with an idea.  Christians from churches all over our neighborhood assembled at the intersection of York and Figueroa to declare God’s intent to bring “Peace in the North East”.   We marched down York to Eagle Rock Blvd asking God to bless our community by removing the weeds of gang violence and drugs.  The members of the gangs in our community were given a choice.  Worship the LORD, as Jacob did, or be pulled up like a weed and burn in a fiery furnace.

None of us can know for sure if we are the wheat or the weeds.  Is our fate to burn in the fires of hell, or will we live for eternity in the glory of God?  The choice is for anyone with ears to listen.  We can turn our backs on God and live lives of sin.  If we choose this route be warned.  The weeds of sin will be gathered up by the angels and cast into the furnace of hell.  But if we turn toward God and worship the LORD then the promise of Jesus is that we will live for eternity in the glory of God. 

So today you have a choice.  Live the way you have been living.  Pridefully assert that you are right and God is wrong.  Refuse to worship God and follow Jesus.  And wait for the day when you will be gathered up like weeds for the fire.  Or, worship the LORD, the God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob.  Turn away from sin and follow Jesus wherever he may lead you.  If you love the Lord your God with your whole heart, then you will be blessed far more abundantly than you have ever imagined.

Years later Jacob returned home to meet his brother.  He left his children with their mothers and went alone to meet Esau.  Jacob came with great gifts, bowed seven times and expected to die for all the scheming he had done.  But when Esau saw his brother returning there were tears in his eyes.  Both he and Jacob wept at the joy of seeing each other after so long.  Esau had every right to kill Jacob on the spot.  But he was filled with the love of the LORD God of his parents and grandparents and knew the importance of forgiveness.

God is waiting for you to return to him.  Turn away from sin right now.   Turn to God in worship, and you will be welcomed home with tears of forgiveness into the loving arms of a forgiving God.  Let’s pray.

Lord, God of Jacob, we have been sinners all our lives.  We do not deserve to be in your presence this day.  But we have confessed our sins and turn to you in worship.  Forgive us we pray and accept us as your children.  Lead us away from the temptation of sin.  And allow us to live in your glory forever.   Amen.

Sermon Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “Seeds of the Kingdom”

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church

Sermon Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “Seeds of the Kingdom”

July 12, 2020

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Let me tell you a story about a small group Bible study.  The pastor of a church wanted to measure the effectiveness of her spiritual development program.  She hoped that through her weekly sermons and the numerous groups and Bible studies at the church that the members of the church would be transformed into the image of Christ.  But was this happening?  Were her programs really effective or was she just wasting time?

A year before she had asked some new members to join with her in a monthly Bible study.  Four people were in this group. 

Donald was a student at the local university.  He had been raised in a large evangelical church.  After coming to New Jersey, to attend college, Donald naturally looked around for a church to join.  

Hannah was an international student who had come to New Jersey from Korea.  She was attending a language school and learning English.  She came to the church for its ESL program and joined the church because it helped her to adjust to American life.  

Tracy and Mark were young parents who came to New Jersey for Mark’s new job.  Mark was a junior executive at a large multinational company and Tracey stayed home with their two young children, Jennifer and Jason.  

Donald, Hannah, Mark, and Tracey all met with the pastor to study and discuss scripture once a month.

Today, they began their study in the usual way. The pastor said a short prayer.  “Lord Jesus Christ be in our presence today as we study your scripture.  Open our hearts and our minds to receive the message you have for us.  Help us to be transformed through your Word.  And we pray this in your strong name. Amen.”

The pastor then asked Donald, the college student, to read the passage that she had selected for today’s study.  Each person was asked to listen carefully to the scripture and pick out a word or phrase that seemed important or in some way stood out.  Donald read the following passage from Matthew.

(Please unmute Karl Simkins)

NRS Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.  3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.  4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.  5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly since they had no depth of soil.  6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.  7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  9 Let anyone with ears listen!"

The pastor then asked the class to respond with the word or phrase that stood out to them during the reading.   

Donald paused for a moment to consider his answer and then said, “sprang up quickly”, and then invited Tracey to share her word or phrase.  Tracey pondered while collecting her thoughts, and said: “choked”.  She then looked at her husband and invited him to speak. Mark said “some a hundredfold”.  Mark then invited the pastor who said “great crowds”.  Hannah, the international student, was invited to speak and said “birds ate them up.”

The pastor then asked Hannah to reread the passage while the group considered the question, “Why did you choose this particular word or phrase?”  Hannah then read:

(Please unmute Linda Smith)

NRS Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.  3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.  4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.  5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.  6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.  7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  9 Let anyone with ears listen!"

Hannah was the first to speak and said, “The reason I selected “the birds ate them up” was because I just don’t find anything here at the church that I am interested in.  I listen to the sermons and just don’t understand what they are about most of the time.  Maybe it is my language skills and limited English.  How can Jesus help me learn English, get a job, and find a place to live?”    I thought that there might be something here at the church when I joined, but now nothing is left, maybe the birds ate it all up.”

Hannah then invited Donald to speak on why he said, “sprang up quickly”.   After a few moments of silence, Donald said, “When I first came to this church everything seemed to go so fast.  I joined the choir the very first week and started attending Sunday school and a Tuesday night class.  Someone in the church would invite me to do something almost every night of the week.  I loved all the activities.   Then my classes at the university started and there were some clubs I wanted to join.  There was a college group at a large church on the other side of town I got involved with.  But then I just didn’t have time to study and write papers so I am now just coming to church just one Sunday a month.  I am too busy to do any more than that.”

Donald then invited Tracey, the young mother, who had been waiting quietly for her turn to speak.  Tracy looked tired.  She said “I feel like a flower that is choked by weeds.  Last year Mark and I moved here from Nebraska.  It was the first time I have lived away from my family and as soon as we arrived my mother got sick.  I was so guilty of being here when she needed me back there.  And I didn’t have her help with Jennifer and Jason like I did when we lived back there.  I am so busy and worry so much I just can’t get involved in church the way I used to.   My mind keeps drifting to all the problems I have.”  Tracey then looked to her husband, Mark, who gently squeezed her hand and gave her a loving smile.  She asked, why did you say “a hundredfold”?  

Mark said, “When I first came to this church I too was feeling overwhelmed with starting a new job and finding a new house.  I didn’t know if I could do everything I had to do.  But during the new members' class last year I found that a feeling of great peace came over me whenever I read scripture.  The Bible was, for me, like an intoxicating drug.  As I read it I felt God’s love for me and my love for Tracey and the kids increased nearly a hundredfold.  I even started a Bible study for some people I work with.”  

Mark then invited the pastor who smiled but passed on the question.  She then invited Mark to read the passage a third time and asked the group to consider what God was calling them to do or to change in their lives after reading this scripture.  Mark read the following words from Matthew.

(Please unmute Mark Robbins)

NRS Matthew 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.  2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.  3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow.  4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.  5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.  6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.  7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.  8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  9 Let anyone with ears listen!"

The pastor reminded them to think about what this scripture is calling them to do.  Mark spoke first and said, “The Word of God when I hear it and understand it generates in me a desire to hear it more and more and share it with others.  I need to keep reading it and studying and learning more about it.”  Then he looked over at his wife Tracey and said, “Maybe if we read a scripture every day at breakfast it will give you a little boost and help you to deal with the kids and your mother’s illness.”

Tracey said, “That might help, the Lord knows I don’t have any other time during the day to read the Bible.  So let’s try reading scripture together at breakfast starting tomorrow and see what happens.

Donald said, “I don’t have time for things like reading the Bible with all of my college work.  I usually sleep through breakfast and with exams coming up I have no time to read scripture.” 

And Hannah,  said, “I don’t see what difference that would make.  But reading the Bible every morning might help me to learn English.   I think I’ll give it a try.”

The pastor then shared with the group Jesus’ interpretation of the story they had been reading.  She read from Matthew.

Matthew 13:18-23  18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.  19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.  20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.  22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.  23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

The pastor then invited Mark to close their time together in prayer.  Mark said, “Father in Heaven, we thank you for this time to be in your presence through your Word.  Turn our hearts into good soil that will receive your word and that it will transform us into your people.  We thank you and praise you that as we are transformed we will become your instruments who will bring your love and your Word to hundreds in our community.  We know that not everyone who hears your gospel will respond, but many will and our church will grow.  Amen.

Later, the pastor thought about each person in the group and how to help each one grow spiritually.   

Hannah was having the most problems with faith.   And all the Bible studies and sermons in the world would have little impact on the soil as poor as this.   Hannah didn't need Christian education.  She needed Christian love.   So the pastor asked some families in the church to invite Hannah for dinner.   That way she could practice English and make friends.  And hopefully, her faith will develop.  Hannah was overjoyed.

 Donald had abundant faith.   But college was demanding and was pulling him away from the church.  The last thing he needed was something more to do.   So the pastor decided to give him a key to the church.  Donald and his friends could come over and do their homework in a quiet place.   All Donald had to do was to make sure that the door was locked when he left, and pray with his friends every time they meet.   Donald thought that he was blessed.

Tracy was feeling overwhelmed with her children and sick mother living far away.  

 Thankfully the church had a mother’s group that met regularly.  They had lunch together and child care was provided.  Here Tracy could be supported by the other mothers in the church while her kid could play with other kids.   Tracy loved this group.

Mark was responding well to the Bible studies.   He was growing spiritually, very good soil.   So the pastor decided to help him form and lead his own small group, which with Mark in the lead did extremely well.   Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, help us, each of us, grow spiritually through worship and Bible study.  Come to us wherever we are and bring us closer to you.   In your Son’s name, who came to us, we say, “amen”.

Sermon – Genesis 24 – A Love Story

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church

Sermon – Genesis 24 – A Love Story

July 5, 2020

Watch a recorded video of this sermon.

This weekend we are celebrating the birth of our country.  On July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, our founding fathers approved the Declaration of Independence which began the process of separation from Great Britain and the creation of a new country, the United States of America.  This weekend is also my birthday, next Tuesday.  So it is a time when I usually reflect on my life, the things I have done well, and my failures.  It is also a time when I think about the future and my hopes and dreams.  As I reflect on where I am today I am amazed at all the God has done in my life since the day I first read this morning’s scripture nearly 25 years ago.  I will tell you an amazing story, but first, let’s pray.

Lord God, we know of your steadfast love for us.  We know that even when we pass through the darkest valleys you are there to lead us.  And when we rise to the mountaintops you are there too.  So be with us today wherever we are and give a bright hope for tomorrow.  We pray all of this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Let me tell you the greatest love story in the Bible.

Genesis 24:34-38   34 So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.  35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.  36 And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old, and he has given him all that he has.  37 My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live;  38 but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'

Genesis 24:42-49   42 "I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going!  43 I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, "Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,"  44 and who will say to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also"-- let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'  45 "Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'  46 She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.  47 Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.  48 Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.  49 Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left."

Genesis 24:58-67  58 And they called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will."  59 So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men.  60 And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, "May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes."  61 Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 

 62 Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb.  63 Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming.  64 And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel,  65 and said to the servant, "Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil and covered herself.  66 And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.  67 Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Isaac had entered middle age.  He was in his forties, unmarried, and spent his evenings wandering in his father’s fields with nothing to do.  And his mother had just died.  I know Isaac very well.  I am a lot like Isaac.  My mother died when I was 27.   As I entered my 30s  I tried to make a business work and deal with being unmarried and living alone.  I would come home each night to a beautiful three-bedroom townhouse near schools where I had hoped one day to bring a wife and raise a family.  But as I approached 40s those goals seemed very elusive.  I did not have many friends or participate in outside activities.  I went to a big church where I could be anonymous; I arrived at 11, left at 12, and spoke to no one unless I had to.  My evenings were spent staring at the TV until I got too tired and went to sleep.

I was not happy with my lifestyle, but I did not know what to do about it.  I started taking piano lessons and hung out at bookstores and coffee shops to look for a wife.  It appeared that I was destined to live alone my whole life and have to deal with the constant loneliness.  

So I turned to the one thing I hoped would work, I started to pray.  And I prayed that God would change my heart, create in me a heart of flesh rather than the heart of stone that was keeping me from building relationships with others.  I prayed over and over that God would bless me with a new life, with new friends, and with a wife.

One day in September of 1995 I was driving to church one Sunday morning.  It took about 40 minutes to drive from my home in Virginia to the National Presbyterian Church in Washington DC.  As I drove I prayed and prayed and prayed.  The more I prayed the angrier I became at our Sovereign God would allow me to suffer in loneliness.  I prayed for my business to do better.  I prayed from a wife.   I continued praying silently as I entered the church and took my seat in the pew.  I have no idea what the pastor said that day because I was in a conversation with God, an angry conversation with God.  God was waiting for me to be seated in the midst of a group of faithful believers before he acted.

I will never forget what God did at that point.  I heard God’s voice.  It was not the voice of the pastor who was speaking at the time.  Nor was it the voice of anyone sitting around me.  I was certain that the voice was that of God and that God was speaking to me.  And what God said to me as I sat there in worship was simply, “It’s in the book.”

“It’s in the book?”  I knew exactly what this meant.  God was calling me to open the book right there in front of me in the pew.  God was saying that the answers to the questions I was asking were contained within the pages of scripture.  All I had to do was to read and study what the Bible had to say and my prayers would be answered.

So I reached down and picked up a Bible in the pews. I opened that Bible and started to turn pages in Genesis until I stopped at Genesis 24 and read, for the first time, this beautiful love story of Isaac finding a wife, Rebecca.  That is when I knew that if I dedicated my life to the study of this book then I could expect to be blessed by God beyond my wildest imagination.

The very next Sunday I joined SOAR, a single’s group at the church, for Bible study.  I started to attend a Bethel Bible Series class, a two-year overview of the Bible, every Wednesday evening.  And I began to make lots of friends.  As a result of my encounter with God, I found myself richly blessed.  Within a couple of years, I was asked to be on the leadership team of the SOAR group.  The church ordained me as a deacon. And I started a two-year intensive teacher training class with the pastor for the Bethel Bible Series which prepared me to teach Bible to the adults at the church.  

I came to love reading, studying, and teaching the Bible more and more.  I knew that this was my calling from God.  God had clearly said, “It’s in the book.”  And I wanted, I needed, to know more and more about what was written in that book.

A few years later, I realized that my appetite for the scripture required that I go beyond the church.  So I started looking for seminaries.  Several of my pastors had come from Fuller Theological Seminary.  That year I was privileged to hear Dr. Richard Mouw, the president of Fuller Seminary, speak at the annual church retreat.  Dr. Mouw and my pastor told me how wonderful southern California is.  My mind was made up.   I applied to Fuller to start in their Master of Divinity program in the Fall of 2004.

But I was still searching for my Rebecca.  That story which I had read years ago still echoed in my ears.  God had blessed me richly with numerous friends and abundant life but there was still one more thing that I wanted, one more thing that I prayed for.  Then I was blessed by God far more than I ever expected.  Ten years after reading this little story about Isaac finding Rebecca, I found and married Grace.

Since then I have served churches in Los Angeles, Pocomoke City MD, Ocean City MD, Middletown DE, and now in Daretown NJ.   In each church, I have watched as the Bible transformed people and gave them new life.   And as we read, listen to and study scripture we too will see the transformation of our lives.

So as you sit in worship today remember to listen for God’s voice.  God is ready to call you to your ministry.  Just follow God wherever he might lead you.  And the promise is that you will be richly blessed more than you could ever expect.  God does listen to your prayers.  God may take years to answer them.   But God will answer your prayers in surprising ways.  Join me on this remarkable journey as we go through the pages of this wonderful book.  Though our study of scripture together, God will bless this church and each of us.  Let’s pray.

Lord, I thank you for all the blessings that you have poured out upon me and upon this church.  We have experienced your steadfast love for us.  Speak to us through our study of scripture.  And guide in your way that leads to a blessed life.  Amen. 

Sermon Matthew - Various Readings “Racism”

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pittsgrove Presbyterian Church

Sermon Matthew - Various Readings  “Racism”

June 28, 2020

Watch a video recording of this sermon.

This morning we will be talking about a subject that the whole nation seems to be talking about right now, racism.   Racism is defined this way by Merriam-Webster, “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.”  So our traditional idea of racism is that it is an attitude of racial superiority.   This is a sin and has no place among Christians.   

        Jesus had the difficult assignment of building a non-racist church in the midst of a racist culture.   We will see how he does this, but first, let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, bless us this day as we look at this most difficult of subjects.   If we hold racists attitudes, we ask that the Holy Spirit come to convict us of our sin and help us to confess it and repent.   We pray all of this in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

In the first century, racism was an important part of the culture of the people in the near east.   Three groups, the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Romans all had to live together in a small area.   They hated each other.   The Romans were vicious occupiers.  The Samaritans worshiped in the wrong way.   And Jews were fighting among themselves.

Jesus’ ministry was in this context.   His goal was to build a church where all people, regardless of race or ethnicity were welcome.  So early in his ministry, he reached out to gentiles, non-Jews, and saw how difficult his task would be.  Early in his ministry, one of these gentiles, a Roman, came to see Jesus and this happened.

Matthew 8:5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him 6 and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” 8 The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 10 When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.” And the servant was healed in that hour.

So Jesus blessed a gentile with the healing of his servant.   Rather than looking at the Roman centurion’s ethnicity and race, Jesus looked at his faith.   Faith is what unites us as Christians.  And Jesus said that the faithful will come from east and west.

But ministry to the gentiles was not easy for Jesus.   Shortly after healing the centurion’s servant Jesus traveled into the gentile territory.  There is no evidence that Jesus took his disciples on this trip, so Jesus may have gone alone.   When he arrived, Jesus encountered a couple of demons.  Here is what happened.

Matthew 8:28 When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 Suddenly they shouted, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them. 31 The demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 32 And he said to them, “Go!” So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. 33 The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs. 34 Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.  

So Jesus saw the racism first hand.   The gentiles living there did not want Jesus, a Jew, to minister in their area.   Even though they had witnessed a great miracle, they asked Jesus to leave, and he did.

After calling his disciples and training them Jesus was ready to send them into the world with good news.   But Jesus knew of their racist attitudes.   They had an attitude of superiority over others.  They didn’t like gentiles and Samaritans.   So Jesus told them to avoid gentile communities.

Matthew 9:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’

Jesus knew that it would be difficult for his disciples to interact with people different from themselves.  So he accommodated their racism and allowed them to do ministry with their own people.  But Jesus continued to teach them that he had come not just for the Jews, but for everyone.   Jesus said this.

Matthew 13:8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!”

And then he explained this saying.

Matthew 13: 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

So Jesus explained to his disciple that the important things are not race and ethnicity, but faith and bearing good fruit.   This is why the mission of the church, that Jesus left behind, is to proclaim the good news to everyone so that all races and ethnic groups who come to faith and receive the fruits of eternal life.

As a result of Jesus’ teaching and healing, things began to change.   Their racist attitudes softened.   They became more loving and accepting of others.    So Jesus went again to the Gadarenes and took his disciples with him.

Matthew 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, 36 and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

What a change!   Before the people had rejected Jesus’ ministry.   Now, they welcome him with open arms.   And Jesus was ready to build a non-racist church.  Let’s see how he did it.

Matthew 15:21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

So the way Jesus built a non-racist church was to take his disciples to gentile territory and, under his supervision, minister directly to gentiles.   Jesus started all this by introducing his disciples to a gentile woman.

Matthew 15:22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 

Despite all of Jesus’ teaching, the disciples are still racists.   They see this Canaanite woman as inferior because of her nationality.   Jesus must move his disciples from their racist attitudes to love.

Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 

Jesus started by reminding the disciples of some of their favorite sayings.   God is only concerned with us.   Everyone else is not even human, they are dogs.   So at this moment, the disciples expect Jesus to send her away.   But then Jesus does something really surprising.   He accepts her because of her faith.

Matthew 15:27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

The disciples had to shocked that Jesus would bless a gentile woman.  But they were now ready to begin assisting Jesus in his ministry to gentiles.  They remained in the gentile territory and did this.

Matthew 15:30 Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31 so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. 

So the disciples experienced something they never expected to experience.   They saw gentiles coming to faith in God.  And they saw God blessing them.   And then, Jesus performed the same miracle for the gentiles that he did for the Jews.

Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33 The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” 34 Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35 Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36 he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 37 And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38 Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.

 

The disciples participated in ministry for the gentiles.  Now the formerly racists disciples were ready to go off on their own and build a church that welcomes everyone regardless of race or ethnicity.   And the resurrected Jesus brought them together and one last time and told them this.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

You have probably seen the video where a white police officer had his knee on the neck of the black man for over eight minutes.   This led to the man’s death and nationwide protests.   The police officer has been charged with murder.  Is this an example of racism?   It looks bad.   And it is likely that racism was a contributing factor.   But until the police officer’s trial, we won’t know if he had an attitude of racial superiority or not.  So we must reserve judgment.

This is one more thing that I must say about racism today.   We hear a lot about structural racism and institutional racism.   Both of these try to call groups of people racists.   Since racism is an attitude a group cannot be racist because a group does not have an attitude, only its members have attitudes.   Thus people say that the police departments are racists, implying that its members are all racists.   Also, people say that whites are racists because of white privilege, implying that all white people are racists.   When you accuse a group of being racist you are creating a stereotype.  You’re saying that all police or all whites are racists.   And clearly, this is not true.   Stereotyping is wrong.  We must judge each individual separately.  If an individual is racist, God will judge him and he must confess and repent to receive God’s forgiveness.   If an individual calls an entire group racist because of a stereotype then God will judge him and he must also confess and repent to receive God’s forgiveness.

There is no place for racism in the church of Jesus Christ.   If we have an attitude that another race is inferior we must confess and repent because racism is a sin.  The church must be a place of welcoming for all people.   We welcome everyone who will put their faith in Jesus Christ.   Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, examine our hearts. If there is any racist attitude purge it.   If there is any idea of racial superiority make it go away.   Help us, Lord, to be accepting of all people of faith.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.