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