CHRISTIANITY 101: I Believe in God the Father Almighty - Hebrews 11:1-6 and Isaiah 40:28-31

Introduction
Today we are going to continue our preaching series entitled Christianity 101, as we explore our faith using the Apostles' Creed as our guide. Last week we began with an overview of the importance of this creed, specifically why the Apostles' Creed even matters. This morning we are going to look at the first affirmation, “I Believe in God the Father Almighty” as we seek to understand the nature of God and the relationship that God seeks to have with each and every one of us.

Abba! Abba!
These first seven words, “I Believe in God the Father Almighty”. What are they saying to us about God? What are they revealing to us about the nature of the God we worship? In a word, plenty.

For centuries, people have tried to understand and learn all there is to know about God. What God feels, what God demands of his disciples, what God likes and dislikes. Information is something we crave, it helps us cope, it helps us process, it helps us feel safe.

This morning as we look to the Apostles' Creed as a guide map to our faith, right here in the very beginning of this creed we are given an insight into the nature of God. A learning that reveals to us one of God's most foundational aspects. God is a father. Now think about that for a minute. God is a father.

In January 2009, Debbie and I were blessed with the opportunity to be able to take a two week trip to the Holy Land. We began our trip in Cairo, Egypt and followed the trek of the Israelites from Egypt, through the Sinai Peninsula, through Jordan, and on up to Jerusalem. We saw many of the places mentioned in Scripture, we saw the historical artifacts and monuments in Egypt, and the high places in the city of Jerusalem itself. Those places and things were absolutely amazing and in fact life altering for me. But there was one single event, one single moment, that amazingly tied all of what I felt and witnessed together. You need to understand that as part of this tour group we had chartered buses that provided our transportation on this trip. Each bus had a driver and a tour guide and while one would describe what were seeing or about to see, the other would....well drive. Well one day, we were in Jerusalem and we were getting back from a day of sight seeing and were in the middle of unloading from the bus at our hotel. As everyone is piling off and going in to get ready for dinner, I lingered a bit in the parking lot. It was a nice day out and I just wanted to soak a bit more of Jerusalem in before going inside. As I was standing there I noticed our driver had gotten off the bus and was heading for a car parked in the corner of the lot. Just as he got about half way to the car, one of the doors burst open and this little girl got out and started running toward our driver screaming, “Abba! Abba!” He started running towards her and when they met she jumped up into his arms and they hugged and spun and kissed. You could see the pure, absolute joy that both of them had at seeing one another. You could witness the awesome power of love that they both felt for one another. This was her father and she was elated beyond words to see him, to feel his embrace, and the security of his presence.

Now as a father, at the most elemental level, this means you are not a solitary figure. “God is a father and, therefore, He cannot be fully understood as a solitary figure, but as One who is in relationship.”¹

The Power of Relationship
This entire creed is setup in the form of a relationship. We affirm each member of the Trinity, God, then Jesus, followed by the Holy Spirit. And as a Triune God, that means each member of the Godhead is related. As United Methodists we believe that, “there is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”² God the Father, in relationship within Himself, eternal Father of Jesus Christ, is our Father as well.

Now we all have our own definition and experience of Father. For me, it is one as a disciplinarian. My dad was firm and strict. I knew what was expected from me and I knew what would happen to me each and every time I missed those expectations. There was consistency, there was authority, there was respect. But there was also love, devotion, sincerity. My dad, my daddy, is a man I can turn to for advice, for unconditional love, and for an ear to listen. I can count on his strong embrace, his love for the people I love, and his wisdom. There is a real and intimate relationship between me and Wayne Allen, between me and my Abba. And I am very grateful for both aspects of the relationship between me and my dad.

That is the same with God. There is discipline, there are expectations, there is consistency, there is acceptance, and there is the intimacy of an unconditional love. Dr. Timothy Tennent once wrote, “How fitting that when we, as the children of God, are first learning to speak as Christians, we begin with our first “Christian” words, affirming God as father. He is the embodiment of holiness, love, and justice”.³

...and the Almighty!
Then based in that holiness, love, and justice, we find power. Power to create, power to restore, power to redeem. Power to change lives, to bring about miracles. Folks, light was created because he spoke it. Our God is God Almighty! So it is right and appropriate for us to not only affirm God as Father, but as Almighty as well. And the beauty of this lies in its symmetry. The love, reconciliation, and acceptance works within the authority, power, and protection. One informs the other.

Both of our Scripture lessons today explain how rewards come to those that seek him (Hebrews 11:6) and how we will soar on wings like eagles; run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). Because of the love of God we will be cared for. Because of the reconciliation God offers us, we will not grow weary. Because of the acceptance that we can all find in God the Father, we will all soar on wings like eagles.

Conclusion
I believe in God the Father Almighty. The Father that loves without merit and shows compassion to all humanity. The Father that redeems this title for all those who have failed it. The Father whose love knows no bounds regardless of appearance, ethnicity, or social background.

The Almighty that has the power to speak light into existence by his very words. The Almighty that can bring peace to tumultuous situations. The Almighty that has the power to save us from all things, especially from ourselves.

Our God, the One True Living God, is an awesome God. I pray that each of you are consistently growing closer to God as you progress down your path of faith. That you are always being transformed. That you are finding it easier to look beyond the outward appearance or background of others to truly love your neighbor as God loves you. That your relationship with God the Father Almighty is renewed and refreshed every day.

As you read Scripture, like our Bible Challenge, spend time in prayer, here at the altar rail, and give of yourself to the growth of this church family, look for God. Seek God out. And I can promise you will be glad you did.

_________________________________
1. Tennet, Timothy. This We Believe!. Published by Seedbed, 2012.
2. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 2008. p.59.
3. Tennet, Timothy. This We Believe!. Published by Seedbed, 2012.

Bible Challenge 04/29 - 05/05

Greetings All!

This week we finish up our study of the history of Israel in Judges. The highlight of these last several chapters is the story of Samson as found in chapters 13-16. His is a tale of romance, intrigue and what happens when we put what we want above what God wants for us.

Next up is one of the shorter books of the Bible and the first named after a woman - Ruth. Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law is endearing and touching and how she is rewarded for her faithfulness is nothing short of amazing (listed in Jesus' genealogy!).

Finally, we move on to the book of I Samuel. It details the history of the Israelites as it details the life of one of their famous leaders, Samuel, who was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. The first seven chapters deal mainly with his birth, calling and ministry, before turning attention to Israel's request for a king, fulfilled in the person of Saul.

Here is the schedule:

29, Sunday: Judges 2-5

30, Monday: Judges 6-9

1, Tuesday: Judges 10-13

2, Wednesday: Judges 14-17

3, Thursday: Judges 18-21

4, Friday: Ruth 1-4

5, Saturday: I Samuel 1-4

 May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, the understanding and the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.

Friday Fives

1. Preaching Series - Do you know the Apostles' Creed? Can you say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This week we are continuing our preaching series based upon the Apostles' Creed,entitled Christianity 101. This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists. During this nine week series, we will take this creed, piece by piece, and examine what it is we are truly saying when we recite it. This week we will look at the affirmation, "I believe in God the Father Almighty". My prayer is that this will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well. Bring a friend and come join us, as we all learn together!




2. New Member Class - On Sunday, May 20th at 12:45 P.M., I will host a new member class in my office. If you have been attending Druid Hills for at least three months and would like to take that next step in becoming a member of this church this class is for you! To register for this class, either call the church office at 629-5688, or email me at daryl.allen@flumc.org. This is a one session get together where we will discuss what it means to be a United Methodist, what it means to be a member of Druid Hills, and offer you a little background on the history of this church. If this is of interest to you I hope you will make plans to attend.




3. 2012 General Conference - This week, Tuesday, April 24th, General Conference began in Tampa. This body is the decision making body of our denomination. Hundreds of people, our elected delegates, have gathered to determine the direction of our church for the next four years. Please be in prayer for the people involved that they would be guided by the Holy Spirit, open to the will of God, and faithful to our Lord's leadings.





4. National Day of Prayer - This Thursday, May 6th, is the National Day of Prayer. Starting back in 1952, when President Harry S. Truman declared a National Day of prayer, this day has been set aside to pray for guidance and our national leadership. I encourage you to find a way to mark this day with intentional prayer for our leaders and for each other. When we as believers band together in prayer and call on the name of God, we are teaching a new generation the importance of prayer, and making room in our lives for God to do what only God can.




5. Librarian and Historian Needed - If you are interested in helping us maintain the fantastic library here at Druid Hills or you are passionate about recording the important events in the life our church, we have an opportunity for you! We are in need of a church librarian to help keep our library organized and a church historian to help chronicle the important events in our history. Neither one requires significant time, just a passion for the job. If you are interested in either position please see me and we will talk.




Have a great weekend and see you Sunday!

Midweek Moment

For those of you participating in our congregational Bible Challenge, our reading over the last several weeks has been, in a word, uncomfortable. There has been significant violence, more rules given than one cares to count, and rituals laid out that were very different than anything any of us have experienced. It is this part of Scripture that turns many people off to the idea of reading through it.

There are many reasons for this tendency. One reason is that we have moved away from a narrative style to a historical style. Another, is the violence. The blood being spilled on altars, being shed in battle, the number of battles that were undertaken, can at times make us uncomfortable or turn us off. Another reason I have heard, is the rules. So many rules.

I was in that boat this week. I had stopped reading the Challenge and was drudging through it. So I took a break, just a minute or two. I prayed for God to help me get through this, to restore my joy for reading Scripture. Immediately that prayer was answered. I was given a new perspective in which to read this part of Scripture. Love. I know that sounds simplistic, but bear with me.

Prior to their trek into the wilderness, the only life these people knew was as a slave. There were told when to sleep, when to eat, what to eat, and when to work. There was no freedom in their life whatsoever. They had control over nothing. Everything they did came from the wishes of another person. Up to this point, they never had to govern themselves, rule over themselves, or live together as a free people.

Now they are set free. Have you ever seen what sometimes happens to young adults that taste freedom those first years after they move away from home? It is almost too much. They make poor decisions, they waste their resources, and sometimes have to come home, embarrassed and hurt. Those feelings of safety, those rules of protection that they had at home are gone and when left to their own devices, cannot handle themselves.

I think that is a reason God laid out all of these laws and specific directives that we have been reading about in our Bible Challenge. God understood the danger and despair that may have come the Israelites way, had they suddenly been forced to live with unconditional freedom. God loved them so much, that he took care of all of that for them. We read in Joshua 1:8-9, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” He told how to act so they could learn how to live free, how to live together, how to be the people God wanted them to be.

Love. God took care of everything for these people so they could have a chance. All they needed to do was trust. How many times have we looked at what God has setup for us, only to go in a different direction...our direction. Trusting God is hard, but is always worth it.

So, next time you read a passage of Scripture that at first seems tedious, try looking for the love of God in that passage. Hopefully, that new perspective will bring some joy back to your endeavor.

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!

A Thought to Share...

As many of you know, I have been reading through our General Conference devotional, 50 Days of Prayer. Each day a new author has been chosen to share with its readers. Today's devotional, titled The Call, really spoke to me about perspective.

The author, Bishop Larry Goodpastor, speaks to us about our tolerance for the status quo and while at times that can be good, but at others, when the status quo is not good enough, it can be devastating. Here is what he wrote:


Read MARK 1:14-20

Now is the time!” (Mark 1:15, ceb). With those words, Jesus initiates his mission and calls all to respond with a life-changing perspective and a life-engaging involvement in that mission. “Now is the time!” The in-breaking reign of God invites us to leave behind everything that ties us to the status quo and to move boldly into God’s missional future.

“Now is the time!” With those words, we gather today in Tampa to begin General Conference. “Now is the time!” Will we hear the call of Jesus to catch a glimpse of and join what God is already up to in the world, or will we refuse to hear and be content with the status quo?

On this day, we too have come to the edge of a body of water and to the edge of our future. From that first call issued along the waters of the Sea of Galilee to the renewed call by the waters of Tampa Bay, we are invited to turn our attention and energy toward the vision of a transformed world. When God’s reign of love, mercy, and grace arrives, everything about our life, our world, and our church must be reconfigured because at that point our business cannot go on as usual.

The Greeks distinguished time with two words: chronos, which is time that can be measured and controlled; and kairos, which is time that is filled with possibility and signifies more about quality than quantity. Will General Conference 2012 be a kairos moment, and will the “now-is-the-time” call become an invitation to move faithfully into God’s future with hope? Or will we find ourselves locked into the chronos of agenda and deadlines?

Meditate on “time”: this time, our time, the next ten days of time; in silence, listen for the call of Jesus and respond to this kairos moment.

—Larry Goodpaster

General Conference begins today. Please be in prayer that the church's status quo, where it is unacceptable, be changed so the glory of God may shine in its place.

Have a great week!

CHRISTIANITY 101: Why the Apostles' Creed Matters II Timothy 4:1-5 and Romans 1:16-17

Introduction

Today we are beginning a new preaching series entitled Christianity 101. For some of us we have been in the church our whole lives. For others, maybe it has been the majority of your life, and yet for others, just a brief while. Regardless of where you find yourself on that spectrum, it is important that we are consistently examining what it is that we believe. After all, if one is to grow in their faith, one needs to know what that faith encompasses.

Therefore, over the next nine weeks we are going to explore our faith using the Apostles' Creed as our guide. We will take each affirmation one by one, break it apart, and see what it is we are professing when we recite this creed in worship. Today we are going to begin with an overview of the importance of this creed, specifically why the Apostles' Creed even matters.

History of the Creed

Let us begin with a few basics about this creed. The word “creed” comes from the Latin credo, which means, “I believe.” Originally, the Apostles’ Creed was not a formal written statement of faith like we have today. In the earliest days of the Christian church, it started as a baptismal formula used for new believers on Easter. The early church asked questions like: “Do you believe in God the Father Almighty? “Do you believe that he is the maker of Heaven and Earth?”, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord?”, and continued through all twelve of the affirmations. From those questions the Creed developed into its current form over many generations. It’s not called the Apostles’ Creed because Jesus’ disciples wrote it, but rather because it reflects the teachings of those first disciples. Some traditions go as far as to say each Apostle contributed one affirmation that were then brought together to form the Apostles' Creed.

However, what we do know for sure, is that it is the oldest and most widely accepted creed and is recognized, in some form, by all branches of Christianity; Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox.

The Need for a Creed

Let's begin with a few simple questions. How many of you know the Apostles' Creed? How many of you can say the Apostles' Creed from memory? More importantly, do you know what each phrase of the Apostles' Creed means? This creed is full of meaning, steeped in theology, and foundational for who we are not only as Protestants, but as United Methodists.

One of the most important questions we all need to be able to answer is what we believe. If we are going to be effective disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, if we are going to strive to be dangerous for Jesus Christ, we need to know what we believe. Knowing what you believe and why you believe it, and being able to articulate that, is what takes your faith from intellectual to personal. And it is a personal faith that will change not only your life, but the life of others.

But to simply be able to recite this creed is not enough. I have a friend that was interviewing before the Board of Ordained Ministry, and they asked her to explain her faith. She thought for a moment, and then replied to a room full of ordained elders, “you know the Apostles' Creed, that is what I believe.” While technically correct, that was not good enough.

From Words to Foundation

John Wesley understood the importance of being able to make your faith personal and being able to articulate it. In fact, the reason we are called Methodists is because people were ridiculing Wesley for the strict “methods” he followed as part of his faith practice. Wesley knew the power of Scripture, the strength of the Apostles' Creed, would all be lost if they are remained words on a paper. And just words on a paper would not help in times of trial. The need for us to transition this creed from words on paper to a foundation for our faith is best outlined in our first Scripture lesson this morning.

Listen again, “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (II Timothy 4:1-5, NIV). Paul was calling Timothy to build his life upon a firm foundation and he goes on then to predict what will happen when people forget biblical correctives and follow their own whims.

Without a foundation, a solid foundation, we place ourselves at risk. We make ourselves vulnerable to deception and temptation. We make ourselves a target of fads and whims. Without this as a part of our foundation, we could and might fall for anything.

Creedal Foundation

Now before we go any further, before you draw any more observations and conclusions from my message today, I want to make one thing clear. Everything we do as a body of believers, everything you count as truth in this life, needs to be judged in light of this. Scripture is the basis for all we do, it is the light for all we see, it is the foundation for how we live. Everything we do should be done in light of this.

This creed, our Apostles' Creed, is a statement of faith, a piece of a larger method we should all employ in our personal walk of faith.

Conclusion

This life of faith is something. It calls us to believe in things unseen, have faith in things uncommon, and tells us there is strength found in community with other believers. But this all boils down to us as individuals. You as an individual person, I as an individual person, have to believe. I cannot believe for you and you cannot believe for me. But we have to believe. We have to trust.

This creed is a start. This creed helps us to remember the basics of our faith, puts words to our faith, light to our journey, and hopefully comfort to our walk. It is my prayer that this series will not only deepen your knowledge, but strengthen your faith as well.

This creed is twelve statements that all begin with “I believe”. As we progress through this series, I encourage you to listen with open hearts, hear new insights as the Holy Spirit reveals them to you, and to allow yourself to be moved by what God reveals to us along this journey.

We all, as individuals and as a community, have potential. And our potential as change agents for the transformation of this world will be enhanced by the strength of our faith, the conviction of our beliefs. Therefore, we need to know what we believe so that we can be about our mission, our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Bible Challenge 04/22 - 04/28

Greetings All!

This week we move into a study of the book of Joshua. Some very famous stories are found here including the fall of Jericho which features one of Jesus' ancestors (Rahab). Personally my favorite moment from Joshua comes when he leads the people in thinking about who they will serve: "Choose you this day whom you will serve....but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15).

Following Joshua we will move into the book of Judges which picks up the history of Israel after Joshua's death as God begins a new work in the leadership of the people through a series of leaders called judges.

I pray you enjoy this journey as we begin to get back into a more narrative style of writing.

Here is the schedule:

22, Sunday: Deuteronomy 32 - Joshua 1

23, Monday: Joshua 2-5

24, Tuesday: Joshua 6-9

25, Wednesday: Joshua 10-13

26, Thursday: Joshua 14-17

27, Friday: Joshua 18-21

28, Saturday: Joshua 22 - Judges 1

May God add His richest blessings to the reading, the hearing, and the living out of His Holy Word. Amen.