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May 22, 2008

OK...What Next?

There are times when the question comes up as to where we get the ideas to preach the sermons we present each week. The sermons from Mt. Zion Christian come as a result of God speaking through situations, prayers and His people. The series we began this past Sunday was the result of J.D. & I talking about what we felt God wanted us to share with His people and how.

Without special people like Julie and Mark Baumgardner painting the picture of the Ark, the sermons wouldn’t have the impact they do. Thanks go out to them for their work on our visual effect which added much to the story. This Sunday’s sermon is about the landing of the ark, releasing of the animals and Noah and his family seeing changes in the new world.

Also, I wish to thank my "Noah Family Members" for helping with the dramatization. They appeared as Noah’s Wife being Heather Newsome Sinclair, Noah’s sons as Doug & Tommy Bradley and David Lane & Noah’s Daughters as Allison Chism, Sara Gayheart & Avecia Rogers as Noah’s Daughter-in-laws.
THANKKKKKKK YOUUUUUUUUU!!!

While hearing and seeing this sermon play out, please do not miss a few facts:

Noah’s family was not spared because of their righteousness but rather because of Noah’s. Please do not get the notion that we could be saved due to our own parents good living for the Apostle Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans, chapter 3, verse 10 "As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;" Our salvation will be determined by our relationship to Jesus the Christ and that alone.

Another fact: While reading the account of the flood from the book of Genesis, which means "Beginnings" look to see where the waters came from which flooded the earth. Also, can you decide whether this flood covered the entire earth or just the earth Noah knew about and if you can come to a conclusion concerning this, can you give a good reason for your answer? We need to be able to back up our answers for there is a world wanting answers...not just our thoughts.

Another amazing fact surrounding the life of Noah is what is said about him through the Apostle Peter in his 1st epistle , chapter three, verses 18-22 "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him."

Did I read that right? Did the Apostle Peter say that baptism saves us? Surely not! Yes, that is exactly what he was saying while addressing the topic of submission. Baptism is the Holy Sacrament of submission...our submitting to the authority of God. The Kings James version Bible says it is the "answer" of a good conscience which begs the question "Have we truly answered God when He asks whether we believe in His only begotten son?"If we refuse to be immersed into the name of the Lord Jesus, for whatever reason, we are standing in direct resistance to the request of God that we offer ourselves as living sacrifices according to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 12, verses 1 & 2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."

This too is how we determine what sermon is needed each week. Come this Sunday and maybe you will be able to help with the praise & Worship time. Uh Oh!.....Wonder what’s meant by that?

For the Cause of Christ,

Kenny