Pastor

Hello Family and Friends,
I'm Brother Bill Ferguson.
I'm the new pastor for Plummerville United Methodist Church.
My e-mail is: Bro.Bill@att.net

Hello Family and Friends,

Here are my sermon notes from this last Sunday, July 26, 2015

Title of Sermon – “Messiah is Returning”

Alternate title could be: “Watchfulness.”

Theme is: Being Accountable and Being Prepared for the End times. The scripture message is not so much about the signs of the times and what to look for, but what we should be doing in the meantime. You could also say the Theme is about Accountability & Reliability – you could also add Creditability and Responsibility. These are words that have become somewhat foreign to our society.

The scripture message Answers the question “Will believers be reprimanded for doing nothing?” The answer is, “Yes.”

The lesson reminds us that: Good stewardship should grow out of a person's relationship with Christ Jesus, a fervent desire to obey him, and the knowledge that God will hold all people accountable.

Waiting for the Lord has requirements: Action, Faith and Vigilance. Waiting does not mean sitting around but serving the Lord (that means work).

The scripture message says: Be prepared for Jesus' return. 

Was presented July 26, 2015

Written by: Bill Ferguson

Scripture Reading …................................ Luke 12: 35 - 48

Referring Scripture...... Revelation 16: 10 - 15

Responsive Reading Psalm 93 …..813

The Words of God for the people of God, thanks be to God! 

     The teaching about the end times in Luke does not entail a detailed description of what will occur but a secure conviction that the Son of Man will return in judgment. This knowledge should motivate Christians to be faithful servants and stewards, to do what God has commanded them to do, and to use their talents and resources effectively. Thus Luke placed Jesus' teachings about the end times near his teachings about the wise use of possessions (see Luke 16:1). Listen. Good stewardship should grow out of a person's relationship with Christ Jesus, a fervent desire to obey him, and the knowledge that God will hold all people accountable. The scripture message is saying: Don't let the various theories and debates about the end times distract you (us) from the ultimate significance of the Messiah's return. Listen, Jesus will return and will hold everyone accountable. We can be ready for his return by living in obedience to his commands. Christians are to be more concerned about their character than they are with their authority and reputation. Accountability, creditability, responsibility and reliability are words that we all should be very familiar with. Unfortunately these ingredients are often missing from society. As humans we have a tendency, when things go horribly wrong, to place the blame on anything but our selves. For instance we blame the shooting of innocent people in church on a flag. When someone commits a violent crime we blame the environment or the weapon used.

     In verse 35-36, Jesus warns; “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.” Because of the certainty of Jesus' return, and because he will be coming in the future, waiting for Jesus' return requires three important ingredients, you want to write them down. They are: action, faith and vigilance. Listen. God's people must be dressed for action, and be working with their lamps lit. “Dressed for action,” depicts a person ready to do whatever the master may call them to do at any time, whether it be run, travel, fight, or work.

     Listen to Jesus’ words in verse 37-38: “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.”  Listen, Servants who are watching for their master's arrival will be rewarded. Even more commendable is the fact that they were ready even in the second or third watch of night (anytime between 9:00 P.M. and 3:00 A.M.). The master will be so pleased upon his arrival that, for those servants, he will dress to serve them. Such a welcome will await those who are ready.

     Look at verse 39-40; “But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have not let his house be broken into.” This parable describes the need for constant vigilance as believers await the kingdom. A homeowner does not know when a burglar is coming to break in, if he did he would have been ready. Likewise, God's people must be ready all of the time. Look around at what’s happening in the world – our society - today.

     The Messiah's return at an unexpected time is not a trick by which God hopes to catch his people off guard. In fact, God is delaying his return so that more people will have the opportunity to welcome Christ Jesus into their lives and to follow him. Christians have time to live out their faith and to reflect Jesus' love as they relate to others. The question is: Are you and I sharing the Gospel message? Are we serving the Lord (waiting)?

     Today's message is clearly about being ready and waiting - vigilance. To be ready for Messiah's return means living in two worlds at the same time. How’s that Brother Bill?  One, the world of time and space where God's people care for God's creation – the here and now; the other, is a world made new at Jesus' coming for which the preparation includes prayer, worship, witnessing and Bible study. Listen. Preparation for our Lord's return is one of the main purposes for Sunday school, Worship and Bible study. Some of us might ask: How can we be ready for Messiah's return?  Scripture tells us how to be ready. (in Luke 12:1) People who are ready are not hypocritical, but sincere; (in Luke 12:4-9) not fearful, but ready to witness; (in Luke 12:25-26) not worried, but trusting; (in Luke 12:33-34) not greedy, but generous “where your treasure is there will be your heart”; (in Luke 12:37-38) not lazy, but diligent. Beloved, may our lives be more like Jesus' so that when he comes, we will be ready to meet him joyfully.

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us when we stumble, and forgive us for not using the talents you have given us. Guide us Father to do thy will and walk closer to thee. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

 

Hello family and friends.

Here are my sermon notes from this last Sunday,

July 19, 2015

 

Sermon title:

“Beginning of the Kingdom”

 

(Jesus Teaches About the beginning of the Kingdom of God)

 

Alternate Title: “The Kingdom has come” or “The Kingdom is Like”

Today's message is more of a lesson than a sermon.

Theme is:

The slow but steady growth of God’s Kingdom in the hearts and minds of humankind.

 

The scripture asks a couple of questions:

Do you know who the farmer is in the parable of the mustard seed?

Do you know who the woman is in the parable of the yeast?

Is the kingdom of God growing in your heart? Since you accepted Jesus as Savior, what changes in your life have you noticed? Is your faith growing?

What activities or lifestyles in your life do you need to weed out that stunt your spiritual growth?

 

Some Lessons:

The kingdom has already been established now we are waiting for Jesus' return.

To be presented July 19. 2015

Written by: Bill Ferguson on 07-01-15

 

Page 1 of 5  

Scripture Reading …......................................... Luke 13: 18 – 21

& .............. Luke 11:17-20 (pay close attention to verse 20)

Referring Scripture.................  Ezekiel 17:22-24 & Ezekiel 31:6

Responsive Reading …...... Psalm 124…..... UMH page 846

 

The Words of God for the people of God, thanks be to God!

 

     First-century Jews expected the kingdom of God to come all at once. (Indeed it did with Jesus’ arrival. And indeed it will, but that is the future description found in both the old and new testaments.) Jesus corrected their perception, by the illustration of the mustard seed and yeast. Both are small; but one grows into a huge shrub (or tree) and the other eventually permeates an entire loaf of bread (much like Christianity has spread throughout the world). 

 

     Jesus did not want his listeners to be deceived by appearances. His ministry began small – healing the sick only in Israel – but the ministry of the gospel would eventually grow to cover the entire globe (a story Dr. Luke began to tell in in the book of Acts). The kingdom of God had come upon them whether they realized it or not. Jesus said in Luke 11:20; “But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”  Listen. Two thousand years later, God's kingdom has continued to grow, spreading to every nation on earth. I am not talking about churches (buildings) but God's truth. Christians all over the world are awaiting Jesus' second coming, when he will come in glory and power, compelling everyone to bow before him. The question is: Will you and I be ready? 

 

     Listen to Jesus' words in verse 18-19. “He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” Jesus used a variety of parables to describe what the kingdom of God is like. Friends nothing on earth can completely explain the kingdom or give us an adequate picture of it, for the kingdom will be far beyond anything we could ever imagine. Jesus used this parable to explain that his kingdom would have a small beginning. The general expectation among Jesus listeners was that the Messiah would come as a great political king and leader, freeing the nation from Rome and restoring Israel's former glory. But Jesus said his kingdom was beginning quietly and it did. The mustard seed was so small that it would take almost twenty thousand seeds to make one ounce.

 

     From one tiny seed would grow a large shrub – the largest shrub among all the herbs that the farmer would plant in his garden. A mustard shrub could grow six to nine feet in just a few weeks. No other seed so small produced such a large plant. While this is not technically a “tree,” Jesus used its rapid growth to stress both the insignificance (small start) and magnificence of the kingdom. Like the tiny seed that becomes a large plant, the kingdom of God would eventually push outward until the whole world would be changed.

 

     The birds in this parable have had at least three of interpretations. Jesus' mention of the birds of the air added color and showed how large the shrub could become, but it probably had no allegorical meaning here. Some scholars, however, think the birds may represent the Gentiles becoming part of God's kingdom. The Hebrew Bible referring scripture in Ezekiel 17:21-24 and Ezekiel 31:6 (which we read earlier) describes this prophecy. 

 

     We should take note that this parable of the Mustard seed is also recorded in Matthew 13:31. Here's a third interpretation. Some scholars have linked the parable of the Farmer Scattering Seeds, also know as the Parable of the Sower with this parable about the mustard seeds (recorded in Matthew 13:1-23). Listen closely. Their interpretation provides a somewhat more sinister thought. In Matthew 13:4 the birds represent Satan who snatches the gospel truth from those who do not want to hear the truth or to understand. Many of these scholars believe that the birds are the same in both parables. In other words, when the tree (mustard seed) reaches maturity, birds come and live in the tree. Scholars in this third interpretation say that these birds represent demons who invade the church. The demons build their nest and bring doctrines that serve to mislead the church. This third interpretation raises a question:

Could this parable also be prophetic? Quite possibly, this third interpretation might serve to explain why so many denominations are accepting some secular/worldly doctrines which are dividing the church causing many people to fall away. In any case it gives us something to think about.

 

     Speaking to his disciples, in Matthew 13:13, Jesus echoed Isaiah 6:9-11saying, “This is why I speak to them in parables: Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” In other words, Jesus was saying: “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.” We might ask, why?

 

     Like this generation, these unbelievers had already rejected Jesus. Their hearts were callous and no amount of explaining or talking would make any difference. The soil of their hearts was hard; the seed of the Word would not grow; the parables would be nothing more than strange stories to them. Jesus was not hiding truth from sincere seekers because those who were receptive to spiritual truth understood the illustrations. To the “path,” “thorn patch,” or “rocky soil” people, the parables were only stories, without meaning. The parables allowed Jesus to give spiritual food to those who hungered for it; but for the others, Isaiah’s prophecy explained their situation.

 

     Now look at verse 20-21. “What else is the kingdom of God like?  It is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour; the yeast permeated every part of the dough.” Another symbol of something small producing something much larger occurs with yeast added to flour in making dough. It is important that we know, that in the other Bible passages, “yeast” is used as a symbol of evil or uncleanness. An example of yeast as evil can be found in Luke 12:1 where Jesus warns his disciples about hypocrisy, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” But here, in today's

scripture, yeast pictures positive growth. While the mustard seed grows, the yeast permeates and transforms, providing another picture of the kingdom of God. Although yeast looks like a minor ingredient (only a small amount is used), it is responsible for the dough's rising. Although God's kingdom had small beginnings, it would grow to have great impact on the world. I might add that this parable about the yeast is also recorded in Matthew 13:33.

 

     Jesus made it clear that his kingdom would not be a political coup overthrowing Roman oppression. Instead, the kingdom would steadily grow in people's hearts, making a difference in people's lives and preparing them for life in that eternal kingdom.

 

     Another title for this message could be Plant Life. Chances are you have never planted a mustard seed, never watched mustard grow, never measured the mass of a full-grown plant against its original seed. No matter. Here's a challenge.

 

     Next spring, take a seed – any seed – most are small. It represents your life in relationship with God and the growth of your faith. Plant it. Care for it. Each time you check it, praise God for your growing faith. It may be slow and quiet, but it is sprouting and bearing (blossoms or fruit) and reaching for the sun. When you water the plant, water your life with God's Word. When you weed around the plant, eliminate activities, habits and lifestyles that stunt your spiritual growth. As you watch the plant grow and blossom, thank God for his personal love and care for you.    

 

     If you have never made a profession of faith or perhaps you feel you need to make a new commitment, please come forward during our closing hym.

    

Dear Heavenly Father, we praise Your Name. Forgive us of our sins and give us strength to do thy will. Lead us into thy Kingdom. Lead us that we will grow as you desire, and share your message with others. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen. 

 

Sermon notes for Sunday, July 12, 2015

 By Reverend Bill Ferguson

Sermon title:

“Choose Your God”

Alternate: “There is No God”

First Sermon for Plummerville UMC.

This scripture message speaks to this generation.

Joshua and Jesus is the same name. In Hebrew Joshua and Jesus is Yeshua

In today’s message Joshua challenges the children of Israel to “Choose their God.”

His words echo down through the ages and challenges this generation.

Sunday, July 12, 2015 – We also had Communion this day.

 

Written by: Bill Ferguson

Scripture Reading............  Joshua 24:14-18 & Mark 12:28-34

Referring Scripture..................................... Exodus 20: 1 – 7

 

(Optional reading …............ Psalm 53)

 

Responsive Reading..................... Psalm 14 (UMH 746-747)

 

The Words of God for the people of God, Thanks be to God!

 

     A little while back a television commercial for an online game ran on television caught my attention. The game was based on Greek Mythology. The announcer talked about ancient armies, mythological gods, battles, heroes, and quests. What stood out most, in my mind, was not only the description of how to get the game started, but the title.  To get the game started, you go on line to register. Once you’re on line you choose your god, and then build your empire. I found it both amusing and somewhat disturbing. You see the title of the game is “Choose your god.” It reminded me of our society.

 

     Wow! Think about that. “Choose your god.” Those words, though spoken so casually in a television ad, struck me as being characteristic of one of the most dangerous things about our world and our society. Isn't that what some people do? Choose their own god. In a game, it may be insignificant what “god” you choose; but in the real world that choice has eternal

consequences. In the real world, choosing no god means you

play by your own rules and that, my friend, has consequences as

well. Often not only do we choose our god, we also try to re-write his laws when they make us feel uncomfortable. We try to mold God into our image and that doesn’t work.

 

     You might ask:  How does this story/situation apply to today's scripture? Let me address that. To a generation of Israelites surrounded by the gods of their day, Joshua declared that they must choose their god – but it must not be done in a casual way, like so many of us do. Listen, Joshua knew God's commandments and he lived by them. He knew who to trust.  Joshua was bold in his faith. He set the example for the nation of Israel and his family, as he said, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  - Joshua 24:15. Joshua was bold in his conviction and strong in his faith. Oh, that we might be that bold in our faith and our convictions that strong. This world and our country is in trouble. Listen. The scripture message is asking: “will we serve God Jehovah or will we serve the god of secular society?” Perhaps if Christians were as bold as Joshua our leaders would not have made some of the decisions they have.

 

     Today's scripture lesson touched my heart and called me to another passage – the words of God through Moses found in Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you

walk along the road, when you lie down ad when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates.” Listen. Jesus echoed these words spoken in

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 centuries later in Mark 12:28-34 (which we read earlier). Beloved, if American Judeo-Christian believers would take to heart these words much of the violence and many of our social problems would end. Yes, not only in America but throughout the World. We would be living witnesses for God. Isn’t that what Born Again Christians are supposed to be? – Living witnesses for Jehovah.

 

     Listen. In Matthew 5:13, Jesus called us to be salt of the earth. What is salt? Salt is a seasoning. Salt is flavor. We are meant to flavor society with the Word of God. No matter what world does, we are to remain “Salt.” If you can’t recognize us from the rest of the world, that means we have lost our flavor and we are no longer effective as witnesses for God. Good for nothing.

 

     Today, as in the days of Joshua, there are many options. But there is only one wise choice - the True God. Joshua made the right choice. Joshua said: “We will serve the Lord.” The scripture message is asking: What is your choice? Who will you serve?

 

     Will you and I serve the law of this secular land or will you and I serve the Lord God Jehovah.? If you have not made a decision to welcome Jesus into your life, I welcome you to do so now, today, during our closing hymn or during communiuon.

 

     Dear Heavenly Father we praise Your Name. Forgive us for straying so far way. We recognize our sinful nature and we repent of our sins. Forgive us and bring us back into thy fold. Dwell in us O Lord and give us a new heart. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

 

Communion ………………………………… #15 - 16

    

 

You are invited

Hello family and friends,
I'm Brother Bill Ferguson, the new pastor for Plummerville United Methodist Church.
My wife, Marilyn, and I are looking forward to seeing you Sunday, July 12, 2015
Worship begins at 11:00 A.M. and Sunday School begins 10:00 A.M. The title of my Sunday message is "Choose your God" The main scripture will be Joshua 24:14 - 18 The referring scripture is Mark 12:28-34 & Exodus 20:1-7
We are looking forward to seeing you.