LEARN TO DO WELL

SCRIPTURE TEXT: Isaiah: 1

RESPONSIVE READING: 557

HYMNS: 20, 267, 154

CALL TO WORSHIP: "If with all your hearts ye truly seek me, ye shall surely find me"; thus saith our God. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

COLLECT--OR PRAYER: O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgement, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou shouldst have us to do, that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light and in thy straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

SERMON:

This being Higher Education Sunday, I was asked by our Pastor to speak to you this morning on the subject of education. In a small sense I feel qualified to speak on the subject, having served Nottingham Church for almost 20 years in a teaching capacity in the Church School. And I am presently engaged as teacher of the Adult Class and serve as Chairman of the Commission on Education.

My talk this morning will not be in the form of the usual three point sermon. There are many "small" points that I would like to touch on and leave with your consideration instead.

First I would like to say positively and emphatically so that we might understand from the start the overall tone of this message, that the learning process begins at the birth and continues to the grave.

The new born babe begins it's learning process almost at once, and by the time you take that little bundle of joy home from the hospital he has learned how to manipulate his parents. When he becomes hungry or is uncomfortable he discovers that if he cries he gets the attention he needs. So he cries and he either gets fed or a retread in the diaper department.

This learning process started at so tender an age continues on thru childhood, youth, adulthood, and on to the grave. To many people however when they reach adulthood and have completed the necessary formal education required of them, feel that the learning process has now ended as far as they are concerned. Let me try to explain my reasons for making this statement. In my position as Chairman of the Commission on Education I am continually challenging people to study, yes if you will study the Bible, and to seek out with other people the moral and spiritual lessons and guides to life that can be found in study and discussion. This is so necessary if we are going to apply these guides to our lives and therby be assured in our hearts that our lives have meaning and purpose.

But what is the answer to this challenge to study that is fed back to me by a great majority of the adults that I speak to concerning this business of study? Can you guess? Let me tell you---it goes something like this---I went to Sunday School when I was a kid---Sunday School is a good thing---I make sure that my kids go--but I had my share of it when I was a kid growing up. Most of you here this morning have either heard or used this excuse.

If I was to ask for a show of hands this morning, for all those who have attended schools beyond high school and college level, for the purpose of increasing their knowledge and skills for the work that they are engaged in daily, I think you would be amazed at the response that we would have.

Would those of you that have been engaged in this type of study within the last year please raise your hands---thank you--20 people with an average of 3 hours of study a week, that's 1200 hours spent by the people of this congregation in study only in the last year.

Now I want to make it clear that I think this is wonderful and I would encourage this entire congregation to participate in some educational program. And don't be afraid that you will overtax your brain. Medical science tells us that the most brilliant men we have known die having used only 1/3 of their capacity to store and use knowledge.

Many of the people that feel that church school is for kids and not for adults, are also in many instances people who feel it is necessary to continually school themselves for the world of business. I ask you can it be right to neglect the study of the Bible and it's related studies and expect to have joy in our lives. I believe that if we limit our learning activities to the purely material things of life, by putting all our efforts into personal advancement our joy will be a hollow joy. There can be no real joy, no real purpose in life, if that life is not properly divided between the material and spiritual aspects of life.

Administrators of the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren schools and colleges were told at a meeting in Los Angeles in January that the "only defensible reason for the church to be directly involved in higher education is to add the dimension of meaning to knowledge." Yes, the total of education is more knowledge. The truly educated man must possess knowledge--but he must also be a man of wisdom and of understanding.

Question---how can the adult come to an understanding of the meaning of life with the wisdom and understanding of his youth?

It would seem to me that if he is going to be educated man who possesses knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that his learning process must be of an ever continuing nature. This then is my answer to those who say I went when I was a kid growing up, that's enough for me.

I would like now to speak to the young people who are contemplating college, and to the parents who with fear and trembling face the high cost of college education.

Recently I had a very interesting and enlightening talk while lunching with a salesman friend. He makes the point to avoid talking business during lunch. This day we talked about his hobby--he devotes a great deal of his leisure time interviewing young people for college entrance. He told me that he has noticed a big change the last few years in the amount of money that colleges have to aid young people with their finances, especially in private colleges. He said he advises all young people to seek enrollment in the best colleges they can qualify for scholastically, without concern about tuition cost.

He tells me that young people who need help with tuition costs can ask for and file a confidential family situation report at the same time that the make application to a college. These reports are considered and aid is given where needed.

Now I know that so called middle class people are a proud group and don't easily accept aid. But consider a family situation with me. Let's say that the family income is $15,000 and there are two children, one in senior high school and one ready for college, this kind of a family situation could qualify the applicant for partial aid. Sickness in the family causing a heavy drain on funds would be another qualifying situation and there are many more reasons for receiving help with tuition. My friend told me to advise all young persons and parents of children considering college not to lower their sights when selecting a college because of cost because aid money is there to help. Just a few weeks ago the Press carried an article listing some of the colleges in this area and the funds that they have available for tuition aid. Case had $180,000, Reserve had $150,000, Baldwin Wallace $100,000 to mention a few.

Now let's listen to what the Bible has to say about learning and instruction. Psalm 32:8 says--"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shall go. Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth mus be held in with bit and bridle."

Proverbs say---"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instructions." It also says, "Take hold of instructions, let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life."

"Hear instruction and be wise and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whosoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord."

This Bible is the gate the Lord has given us--that he asks us to wait at.

Proverbs 1:5 says, "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels."

Proverbs 9:10--"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and knowledge of the holy is understanding."

There it is wisdom--Knowledge and understanding.

Let's now look briefly at the first chapter of Isaiah which I read as our Scripture text this morning.

Isaiah is justly accounted the chief of the writing prophets. What did Isaiah have to say to people in this chapter? Does it apply to us today?

He speaks of the chastisement they have gone thru---the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the nearness of the time when they shall be expelled from the land, he talked to them about the Palestinian covenant of future restoration and exaltation, he whispers warnings and promises to them.

What did he say concerning their worship and sacrifices? He said that the Lord was full of burnt offerings, and delighted not in the blood of bullocks or lambs or of goats. He said why do you tread his courts and bring vain oblations, it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting it is iniquity.

Isn't he saying attendance with out love of God, which is demonstrated in service is not acceptable to God?

Yes, we must study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of God.

Isaiah goes on to tell the people "to wash themselves to make themselves clean." He's saying to them and to us make a fresh start. "Learn to do well" yes, after you have made yourself clean "Learn to do well"--"seek judgement" that's it--learn what is right, then act upon it--"Look after the poor and fatherless and downtrodden."

He gave to them, and to us, the command "Brotherly Love".

He said to the people no matter how evil, how indifferent you have been in the past, if you are willing and obedient, "you shall eat the good of the land."

The gospel writers show us Jesus, the Son of God, as preacher, teacher and healer. In every story or incident that we see Him in the Bible we find Him teaching a Lesson. He came to proclaim God's love for us, He provided a way of salvation for us, He died that we might live, he overcame the grave to show forth God's sovereignty, because He lives we live.

Jesus said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father; and no man knowth the Son, but the father, neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

"For my Yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Yes friends, he says, "Learn of me." "Learn to do well". Let us Pray.

Our dear heavenly Father we pray that thou wouldst truly grant us thee grace to ask what thou wouldst have us to do, that the spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that we may walk in thy light and not stumble, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nottingham Methodist Church 196?

The Laity, Who are they?

I wanted to title my sermon for this morning "Laymen, who are they?" but in today's world, liberated as our society is, it sounded sexist, and laymen and laywoman didn't make it either, so I settled on "The Laity, who are they".

I want also to add a sub title which is the theme of the Methodist Church this year, "Catch the Spirit".

The Laity is all of us gathered together here this morning, who have come to worship together here this morning, who have come to worship together, to listen to the spoken word, to be comforted by the music, and to fellowship together after service. The Laity is also those persons who by circumstance of life cannot be in fellowship with us this morning. All of us together are the Laity.

The question is often asked of us, 'Why do we come to church?' Let me try to explain why I think we come and why we should come.

This being the football season, Let's see if we can find similarity to football and the church service.

A football team, as we all know, has many signals that are used to successfully execute it's plays on the field. The members of the team huddle together to receive the signals from the quarter back who in most cases receives it from the side lines. They then go to the line of scrimmage and carry out the play. The successful final outcome of the play depends upon all the players carrying out the signals properly. If any of them fail the play most likely will fail.

So it is with the Church. We come together, as we have today to huddle, to get the signal for the coming week. We get that signal in many ways, in Church School classes, and there are classes for all ages, in the formal Church worship, in the many meetings that can occur in Church and in the homes of the members, in prayer groups and through the music both as we listen to the message in song that the choir brings, and as we lift our voices together in praise.

How well we understand and carry out that signal determines how successfully we carry the message of love and salvation to the world around us, until we meet together again and huddle. It takes each of us doing our part to execute the plays that Jesus has set before us.

In the beginning, God dealt with his people through the Prophets. He made covenants with the people, giving them direction for living. He gave them the ten commandments through Moses. This was their signal for the living of each day.

In the New Testament, we find God sending His Son in the form of a man to live among his people, to bring the message of God's great love for us. Jesus gave us a new commandment, that we should love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbors as ourself. What stands out for me in this commandment is , that we must love ourselves in order to love our neighbor, Love and self as we are-

After the crucification, When Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room, where the disciples were trying to decide what they would do now that Jesus was no longer with them ( to give them the signals). He told them that when he went to be with th Father, he would not leave them comfortless, but that they should tarry until the Holy Spirit came upon them. We read in the scriptures what great things happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit empowered them. They had "Caught the Spirit".

In our Old Testament reading we find Moses trying to avoid God's call to go and set his people free, but God removed all of Moses' arguments, and we find Moses "Catching the Spirit", and great things happened, Moses indeed led God's people out of bondage into the promised land, Moses had carried out the signal that God set before him.

In the story of Zachaeus, we see that when Jesus identified with Zachaeus in a loving and positive way and went with him to his home and shared a meal with Zachaeus, Zachaeus' heart was warmed and he became a changed person. He said he would return all the monies he had cheated people out of even returning it fourfold. Zachaeus had "Caught the Spirit". Just as Zachaeus' life was changed by Jesus so can mine and yours.

We at Nottingham Church have levels of needs that we need to consider. I would like to briefly lift out three levels.

At the first level are the needs of this building we worship in. We need to faithfully take care of our meeting place. We have salaries for the Church staff. We have utilities to pay for, we have operating bills to consider. We have many functions in the Church's life that require funds and there are office expenses. We have a pressing need for funding a janitorial service. We have not had this service in over a year.

At the second level...we as a connectional church have District and Conference askings to meet in order for the workings of Methodism to go forward. These askings are a major part of our budget.

I know that to a degree the Laity of Nottingham is functioning in all three of these levels, in some areas to a greater degree than others, and I commend you for all the good things that you are making happen here. But if we sit where we are like a frog on a lily pad, basking in the warm sun, who is equipped with a very fast tongue that allows him to catch his food without moving, we will be like the frog who says to himself, 'this is a great world I really have it made.' If we are like that frog, satisfied with what we have done, we will not do a good or effective job at any of the levels I briefly spoke of.

If we the Laity "Catch the Spirit" we can do all things together for good.

I ask you today with all sincerity to Catch the Spirit and be about the task of doing the work of the universal Church of Jesus Christ. Catch the spirit of carrying, catch the spirit of giving of your time, your talents and your tithe, Give of yourself.

Let Us pray.....

Lord we pray just now that the sunshine of Thy love will shine upon us, and that our lives may be as mirrors that will reflect that love into the world. Around us, that all people may know the Love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nottingham UMC

The Fifth Word

Opening Hymn 140 There is a fountain

Call to Worship: Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to God.

Responsive Reading: Pg. 588

The 22nd Sunday Second Reading "Trusting in God"

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Reading of Scripture--John 19:25-29

Closing Hymn No 144--Beneath the cross of Jesus

Sermon: The fifth word--The word of suffering--John 19:28 "Jesus said I thirst."

When we speak of the seven last words of Jesus from the cross the number seven is accidental for only one of the sayings appears in as many as two Gospels, and no Gospel gives more than three of the last words.

The first word "Father forgive them for they know not what they do", is found in Like 23:34. It was spoken early during the crucifixion, perhaps while Jesus prone on the ground, His hands being nailed to the cross.

The second word "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise", is also found in Luke chapter 23, verse 43. This word was spoken directly to one of the felons who was being crucified with Jesus on a cross, the one who had said in repentance, "Remember me when you come into kingly power." If Jesus is speaking of the immortality of the soul apart from the body in this instance then it is the first and only time he spoke of the soul thusly.

The third word "Woman behold thy Son," and to the disciple he loved, "behold thy mother". This word is found in John 19:26-27. It is very noticeable that Jesus never referred to his mother by name, but in commending her to the care of the disciple whom he loved Jesus refers to Mary as "woman."

The fourth word is found in Matthew 27:46 and in Mark 15:34. When Jesus is reported to have cried out "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me". These words are a quotation from Ps. 22:1, this psalm describes the agony of a man innocent of sin. This thought of innocence would naturally be in Jesus mind as he was dying there on the cross.

The theological implications of this statement presents a difficult problem. T.R. Glover in his book, The Jesus History has finely observed that there never was an utterance that reveals more amazingly the distance between actual feeling and fact. Jesus felt the horror of sin so deeply that for a short space of time the closeness of his communion with the Father was obscured.

In the first three words from the cross we have pictured before us Jesus, the Son of God, being crucified, Jesus who is innocent of any sin, showing concern for those about him. First in a general act of forgiveness, "Father forgive them they know not what they do." Concern for the penitant dying thief, Concern for the welfare and care of his mother.

The Fifth word found in John 19:28 is the word we are going to think about together this evening. The word of Suffering. "I Thirst."

This saying of Jesus may conflict with Luke 22:18 where Jesus vows to "Drink nothing until the kingdom comes".

It was characteristic of our Lord that only after he had arranged matters for his mother could a thought of his own desperate needs find entrance to his mind. That was his nature. Always he was thinking about others, and always in his own life he came last. This is the essence of Christlikeness, this is what Christianity is all about. If we are ever to be Christlike we will also have to aquire a like attitude of mind.

Each of us today--, think too much about "self". We work for self, we save for self. If we could push this self out of place it has usurped in human minds, and take other people and not self as the center around which our life turns. If we would think of them, work for them, spend ourself for them, would not most of the problems that perplex the world today be solved. Jesus has shown us the way that this is to be done, and it is he who gives us the power, if we choose, to do it.

At the same time, this saying of our Lord, "I Thirst", makes plain that the body has it's rights. However Christ teaches that these needs of the body must be restrained, and subordinated and held firmly in check. None the less in their own place and in due season they are legitimate.

"I Thirst", he cried, and thereby asked for some relief from his suffering. It is truly a moving cry to come from someone who claimed, "He who believes in me shall never thirst", but that the living water which he shall give will be a perpetual ever flowing fountain that can never run dry.

That living water he does give. But to secure it for us he himself had to pass through a dry and thirsty land.

When Jesus cried out "I Thirst", one of the soldiers put a sponge upon a reed and dipping it in vinegar or sour wine placed it to the parched lips of Jesus. Apparently such wine was supplied for the use of the crucified to help them bear their agony. The soldier then was kind to Jesus Christ the Son of God when he was dying on the cross.

Each of us if we would think about it would covet to have this chance to be of service in this way to our Lord, but really we don't need to envy this soldier his act of kindness. For so touched is Jesus with the needs of his people that he accounts anything done to aid the most insignificant of them as done unto him, and feels the same gratitude to those who so help as he does to all eternity to that rough soldier.

For he has said-----"In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethern ye have done it unto me."

Nottingham 1967