Sunday Shorts: A Wee Word

Mark 4:31 The kingdom of God is similar to a mustard seed, which, when sown into the ground, is one of the smallest the seeds on earth.

            Recently, I was traveling back from a church committee meeting with two other pastors. As we drove home, we talked about how a word preached at the right time to the right person can have a profound effect on the lives of others. A short phrase, sentence, or illustration could impact someone in the pew and change their lives forever. The Word of God, no matter how insignificant to other folks, never returns to Him empty.

            I remember many years ago preaching in the Scottish country church that I served. I thought my sermon was mediocre, a wee bit long-winded, and perhaps even boring. In the congregation that day was a visitor from Northern Ireland whom I had never met. Something I said clicked with him and when he went home, he gave up his successful job and business because he decided that his talents would better be used to help other people in places where war and famine occurred. Within a couple of months, he used his skills to prepare, organize, and build 250,000 temporary shelters for refugees in Africa. Almost a million people were physically saved through his work and all because some wee word of hope and challenge had been given in an unexceptional sermon. A mustard seed of faith had been planted in his heart and it blossomed into an amazing work of deliverance given by God.

            Whenever we sincerely share God’s Word in preaching or conversation, with words of comfort or challenge, the potential to change things for the better is always present. Perhaps something that you share today – an exchange of ideas, a social media post, a phone conversation, or even a text – will have a profound effect on someone else’s life. A mustard seed of faith may be included in your message and God knows that it will not return to Him empty.

Point to ponder: With whom can I share God’s Word today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words of life have won our hearts and changed our lives. You have implanted seeds of faith within each of us. May we now sow those same seeds in the lives of others who need them, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Two Points - Luke 20:1-2

Luke 20:1-2 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders 2 and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” (NRSV)

I like today’s passage from the Gospel because it reveals to us the respect that Jesus had for the Jewish faith He grew up in. That may seem strange because He experiences a fierce confrontation with the religious authorities, but if we focus on the conflict and ponder over the parable Christ tells, we miss the first couple of points that Luke makes in his description of this event.

You see Jesus was teaching in the Temple. He was at the very center of His Jewish faith and He chose to teach the people and pilgrims, bystanders and passers-by there. In other words, Christ embraced the idea of a structured religious center where people could assemble to worship God, say their prayers, and bring their gifts. If Jesus was totally against any of that, He would never have taught there. Instead, He teaches us the importance of religious places as being centers of discipleship and worship, wisdom and knowledge for spiritual people.

The second point is that He preached the good news – the gospel – inside the temple courts, too. If this was a sacred and holy house where God’s presence resided, then what better place to preach about God’s grace and love, mercy and forgiveness? Christ could have rejected all of this and taken His ministry back into the hills where He came from, but instead, He treats the temple – after clearing out the money-changers – as a place of blessing, teaching, and faith; a spiritual oasis for weary pilgrims and a house of learning for seekers.

All over the world, people still gather in churches to praise God, say their prayers, and bring their gifts. The churches are also learning centers for the Christian faith we now embrace. In other words, we follow in Christ’s footsteps by being part of a religious process that He initiated – to be among His people in a sacred house of God – teaching the truth and preaching the Gospel.

Point to ponder

How is Christ’s ministry continued in the church I attend?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You teach the Gospel through Your words and deeds. You show us how to respect and revere God. You also offer us grace and mercy, hope and love. Encourage us to be with Your people and receive the blessings of Your teaching in the sacred places called church. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s new Holy Week drawings called ‘Passion.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Passion.

A Tax Break - Luke 18:13

Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ (NRSV)

Do you ever have one of those days when you feel as though you’ve taken a wrong turn, done something stupid, or been very selfish? Me, too. I don’t know how you personally cope with those kinds of days, but they sometimes make me feel as though I can’t approach God for any help, hope, or healing. My foolish mistake or sinful act separates me from God, and so my pride or shame won’t let me immediately turn to Him for pardon, grace, or restoration. It’s as if I’m angry with myself or feel as though I’m wasting God’s precious time. However, at some crucial point, I reluctantly traipse back to Him like the tax collector in today’s verse, hang my head in shame, and mumble a plea for forgiveness.

Almost immediately, I experience a sense of relief and of being reconnected to God. I know I don’t deserve His gracious love, but I am very glad to receive it. By forgiving my sin, God restores me to His delight; by pardoning my mistake, I not only feel better, but I want to do things better for God and His Kingdom. To be forgiven is a precious gift that I hope I will never take for granted; to be restored to God’s favor is a wonderful way to begin my life again.

Perhaps you are feeling burdened by past mistakes, sinful deeds, or personal failures. Maybe you’ve been carrying a whole boatload of guilt that is keeping you back from reconnecting with God. Or perhaps you just feel as though you’ve disappointed God and can’t approach Him for mercy or restoration. Please do not despair: God’s grace is far bigger than any or all of our sins; God’s love is far greater than any mistakes we have made. He allows us to ask for forgiveness, not because He wants to shame us, but because He wants to restore us and reconnect with our hearts and spirits. In other words, we may be great sinners, but Christ is an even greater Savior than all of our sins combined.

Point to ponder

What is my deepest regret or costliest mistake? Am I willing to bring this to God in prayer and ask for forgiveness?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely and are aware of everything we have foolishly or sinfully done. You ask us to come to You for mercy to give us the gift of God’s grace. We are truly thankful and totally humbled by Your merciful ways. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s worship drawings for Transfiguration Sunday. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Transfiguration.

Listening to Jesus - Mark 4:9

Mark 4:9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” (NIV)

            As a child, I often got into trouble for doing the wrong things, despite being pre-warned by my parents. I can still hear them saying to me, “This would never have happened if you had listened in the first place.” As a teenager, I promised to follow their instructions, but I still ended up making foolish choices which put me in reckless situations that I was lucky to survive. And then as a young man, instead of heeding the words of my family and friends, I almost destroyed my life completely through alcohol. In all of those circumstances, I just didn’t listen to the advice I was given. I wanted to make my own decisions and only ended up learning things the hard way.

            In the Gospel passage (Mark 4:1-20) where Jesus tells and explains the parable of the sower, I can hear some of His frustration with His own people. He has come among them to bring the good news of their salvation through the gracious Word of God. He is attempting to tell them, by means of this parable, about the consequences of listening to and applying God’s Word. Some of them get it and bear a fruitful faith, but most of them either discard His words or take them for granted and end up being fruitless. He is giving them the opportunity of a lifetime to get reconnected to God, but they just don’t listen and become separated from God forever.

            Christ’s words still challenge us across the centuries and His parable is highly relevant in today’s world. Sadly, some folks who consider themselves to be Christians are taking Jesus for granted and tossing away their opportunity of being saved. Instead of listening to His words, they make up their own beliefs and end up falling away. What little faith they have is fruitless, so whatever life they make for themselves is eternally pointless. They are choked with the cares of the world instead of cherishing the Word of God. In the end, they leave Jesus no choice but to say, “If only they had listened.”

Point to ponder

Is my faith fruitful or empty? Am I hearing what Christ has to say or just listening to my own voice?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, speak to our spirits and guide us to Your godliness. Open our ears to hear Your word and let our hearts embrace Your teaching so that we may bear a fruitful faith. Keep us from taking Your for granted and remind us of our dependence on You alone to restore us to God. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can visit the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Good Friday drawings called ‘Powerless.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Powerless.

Meaningful Multiplication - Matthew 25:21

Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (NIV)

            As a pastor, I have seen a lot of people do wonderful things for God and others that are remarkable, as well as effective. Their faith is both enthusiastic and energetic, as well as considerate and compassionate. Some people think that churches are full of self-righteous hypocrites who look down on everyone else. I must say that I have not found that to be the case, in any of the congregations I served in Scotland or the United States. Christians may be imperfect and sinful like everyone else, but they are also moved by love to support those in need, comfort those who are grieving and befriend those who are lonely.

            Today’s parable is about a rich person giving his servants fiscal opportunities and responsibilities while he is away from home on a long journey. The gold, however, represents the gift of faith that Christ gives to each of us on Earth. What we are meant to do with that precious gift is to share it with others in ways that will attract them to Jesus, too. No matter what the world tries to tell us, faith is not a private and personal thing, it is a potentially powerful present from God which can be multiplied when we honestly, sincerely, positively, and compassionately share it with our families, friends, and other people.

            One day, we will be ushered into God’s presence to show Him what we have done with our faith. When God expresses those beautiful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” we will instantly know that the gift He gave us has not been hidden, diminished, or wasted, but that through our loving acts, faithful service, and compassionate deeds, we have multiplied our faith, pleasing both God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Point to ponder

What faith-sharing opportunities has God given me this week?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of faith which keeps us connected to You. Help us to share the love we feel for and from You with others around us. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s faith drawings called ‘The Promise.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Promise.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterianchurch.org. We would be delighted to see you there at any time. The Sunday worship service is at 11:00 AM.

Short devotion - Presbyterian Patches - Luke 5:36

Luke 5:36       Jesus told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.”

I love being a Presbyterian because of the deep roots and time honored traditions in the Presbyterian Church. It appeals to my Scottish way of thinking and embraces my need for a Reformed Celtic Christianity. I admire the heroes of the past who devoted their lives to ensuring that the Presbyterian faith would blossom and grow in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and all over the world.

I love Presbyterian missionary zeal which was built upon the great ministries of people like Mungo Park, David Livingstone, and Mary Slessor. I read their biographical histories and I connect with their fiery faith and courageous confrontation of the communities they served.

I love Presbyterian thinking and its commitment to social justice. When I look back across the centuries, I see the dedication of the Covenanters, American revolutionaries, Advocates of the Poor, and Civil Rights marchers who changed the industrial revolution and shaped the modern world.

In the midst of all these movements, revolutions, and issues, a Christ-centered Presbyterian Christian faith was at the heart of them. People protested because Jesus advocated justice. Presbyterians rallied to reform because Christ redeemed the world. The Church challenged the world to change its ways so that more people could turn to Christ and be saved. Faith was revived; society was reformed; and the Church glorified Christ above all things.

Because I love being a Presbyterian and because I love all things Presbyterian, I am sad that we appear to have taken the wrong turn and are going down a path which may rend, tear apart, and divide the church into many pieces. New patches of post-modernism seem to be ripping apart the faith fabric of Protestant Presbyterianism. Instead of growing in Christ by doing what God wants, we’re giving the world what it wants, and surrendering who we are as Reformed Presbyterians. The new patches are creating a larger hole in the churches and congregations across the land; unless we do something soon, we may see the end of Reformed Christianity this century.

It takes courage to confront the waywardness of society and to challenge the characteristics of a civilization that is spinning out of control. But then again, that’s when Presbyterians in the past have boldly stepped up to the plate and revived the Church. Maybe it’s time to do the same again in order to not just repair the godly garment that has been ripped apart, but to restore it to the glorious goodness of God, the candid constancy of Christ, and the uncompromising honesty of the Holy Spirit.

Questions for personal reflection

Is the post-modern Church headed in the right direction? How can we ensure that we are following Christ’s path and not our own way?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You have watched the path of the Church since its very beginning. You know the outcome of the paths that we are presently following. Grant us the gift of discernment in order to recognize Your Way of Truth and Life that we should be journeying on. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess pop art drawings called ‘Three’s a Crowd.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7586308216_7d7d189ebc_b.jpg