Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler

jackgunnPastor's Blog

This is the Pastor’s Blog for the Service on Sunday April 26th. This week we welcome a Guest Speaker, Rev. Dr. Anna Hosemann-Butler. The Title is “Love Makes More”.

Included here is the primary Scripture of this message and the Pastor’s notes. 

Scripture: Acts 2: 42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

43 Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds[a] to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home[b] and ate their food with glad and generous[c] hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Pastor’s Message;

NEW WORLD UMC SERMON  4/26/26  ACTS 2:42-47    LOVE MAKES MORE

  • INTRO – GLAD AND BLESSED TO BE HERE. 
  • I WANT TO SET UP THIS PASSAGE FOR YOU FROM BOOK OF ACTS – OCCURS JUST AFTER PENTECOST – WHICH WE CELEBRATE LATER THIS YEAR ON I THINK MAY 24TH – SO WE JUMP AHEAD A LITTLE BIT – BECAUSE THIS PASSAGE IS IMPORTANT IN SO MANY WAYS –IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH –  IT DESCRIBES THE EARLY CHURCH JUST AFTER ONSET OF COURAGE GIVEN TO THE FIRST DISCIPLES BY GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT – AS PROMISED BY JESUS.  PETER HAS BEEN EMBOLDENED TO GIVE A POWERFUL SERMON IN WHICH HE PROCLAIMS THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH – THE SAVIOR – THE ONE SENT FROM GOD TO HEAL THE WORLD.  IT IS BOLD BECAUSE THIS JESUS HAS JUST BEEN CRUCIFIED AS A CRIMINAL BY THE ROMANS – AND ACCORDING TO HIS FOLLOWERS – ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD.  THINK ABOUT PETER – GOD BLESS HIM – PETER WHO TALKS ALL OVER HIMSELF MOSTLY AND IS BRASH AND NOT ARTICULATE —- NOW GIVING THE WORD OF GOD SO POWERFULLY THAT 3,000 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD – GOOD JEWS ALL THERE IN JERUSALEM FOR THE FESTIVAL OF PENTECOST – ARE CONVERTED.  BAPTIZED AND READY TO RUMBLE IN THIS NEW VERSION OF FAITH GROUNDED IN LOVE, HOPE, COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS. 
  • WE PICK UP THE STORY AS THE DISCIPLES ARE FIGURING OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THESE NEW BELIEVERS – HOW TO FORM A COMMUNITY; WHEN, WHERE AND HOW TO WORSHIP – AND AS WELL ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE JUST EXACTLY WHAT ARE THE BASIC THEOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL TENETS THAT THEY MUST LIVE BY ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS OF JESUS – HIS LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION.  THE DECISIONS THOSE ORIGINAL MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF THE EARLY CHURCH MADE FORMED THE VERY BASIS OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH YOU AND I INHABIT TODAY AND IT IS MORE THAN WORTHWHILE TO REVISIT – AS A REMINDER, AS ENCOURAGEMENT, AND AS A BLUEPRINT TO WHAT EXACTLY WE ARE AS CHURCH – WHOSE WE ARE – AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HOW WE ARE TO BEHAVE.
  • AND IT IS THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST THAT PERMEATES ALL —
  • IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENT – THE KIND OF SPIRITUAL AWAKENING THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE PRIVY TO – THE ATMOSPHERE IS ONE OF HOPE – UNITY AND ENERGY – IT WAS THE LEADERS’ JOB TO HARNESS THAT – DIRECT IT – SO THAT THE WORD OF GOD’S LOVE WAS SPREAD….
  • HEAR NOW THE WORD OF GOD THIS DAY FROM THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THE BOOK OF ACTS –
  • REMEMBER – THEY WERE STILL A PART OF THE JEWISH CULTURE, FAITH AND TRADITIONS – WITH THE RELIGIOUS PRACTICES OF THE ANCIENTS OF THAT FAITH TO GUIDE THEM; THE TEMPLE TO SHELTER THEM, AND THE LAW, THE TORAH TO HONOR —
  • AND THERE WAS – ALL OF A SUDDEN – AN ABUNDANCE OF NEEDY FOLKS – SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY – TO CARE FOR. PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME – ACHING, LONGING TO BELONG TO SOMEONE; YEARNING TO BE ACCEPTED, CHERISHED AND LOVED FOR WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE. 
  •  AND THROUGH THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST, THE LEADERS KNEW WHAT JESUS EXPECTED AND MODELED FOR HIS FOLLOWERS – AND THE FOUR THINGS THEY DID TO ESTABLISH THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY ARE KNOW NOW AS THE ORIGINAL ‘MARKS’ OF THE CHURCH – AND I SUBMIT ARE AS RELEVANT TODAY AS THEY WERE 2,000 YEARS AGO – MAYBE EVEN MORESO:
  • FIRST – A RADICAL (FOR THE TIMES) ECONOMIC CHANGE – NO MORE HAVES AND HAVE NOTS IN THIS LITTLE COMMUNITY – NO MORE WEALTH CONCENTRATED BY A SELECT FEW – RATHER ENOUGH FOR ALL – AND ALL MEANT ALL – THROUGH THE SHARING OF ALL RESOURCES.   IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS DESCRIBED HERE, SHARING GENEROUSLY, SACRIFICIALLY IS THE FIRST EXPRESSION OF LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS – AND THIS PRACTICE HAS SOMEHOW REMAINED AN IMPORTANT PRIORITY IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH – DESPITE THE FACT THAT – AND WE ONLY HAVE TO READ PAUL’S LETTERS AND EVEN THE RESET OF ACTS – THAT THIS BOLD EXPECTATION WAS NOT ALWAYS FOLLOWED, AND THAT THERE WERE DISPUTES AND FIGHTS OVER RESOURCES FROM VERY BEGINNING;
  • YET THE BASIC RULE WAS THERE AND REMAINS THE SAME – WE ARE TO BE GENEROUS AS GOD IS GENEROUS; WE ARE TO SUPPORT AND HELP ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES; PAUL’S FINAL VOYAGE TO ROME WAS FOR JUST THAT PURPOSE – BRINGING RESOUCES FROM THE BURGEONING CHURCH TO HELP ESTABLISH A FUTURE FOR THE CHURCH IN ROME – AND IT WORKED.
  • SACRIFICIAL GIVING FOR COMMUNAL NEEDS REMAINS A CHALLENGE TODAY – ESPECIALLY IN A CULTURE SUCH AS OURS THAT PRIORITIES INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND ACQUSITION OF GOODS AND MONEY; WHEN WE FACE THE EVIL OF THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL WHICH SAYS GOD’S LOVE IS CONDITIONAL AND WE CAN EARN IT;  IT IS DOUBLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS EXAMPLE  GUIDES US AS IT HAS THROUGH THE AGES –
  • THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST COMES FIRST – AND ALL GENEROSITY STEMS FROM THAT LOVE, WHCH WE ARE TO GIVE FREELY AND GRATEFULLY IN WHATEVER WAYS NEEDED;  OR AS JOHN WESLEY SAYS – GIVE IN ALL THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN IN WHATEVER WAY YOU CAN FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN; 
  • AND WE KNOW THAT SHARING HAS A GROWTH EFFECT – GENEROSITY MAKES GENEROSITY – BECAUSE LOVE MAKES MORE LOVE;
  • THE SECOND THING WE LEARN HERE IS THAT THE EARLY CHRISTIANS ‘LISTENED TO THE APOSTLES’ TEACHINGS; — IN OTHER WORDS – THOSE LEADERS DESIGNATED BY CHRIST TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD’S LOVE – WERE TELLING THE STORIES OF CHRIST – WHAT HE DID – HEALED SICK, FED HUNGRY; TURNED THE TABLES TO PROTECT THE DIGNITY OF GOD —
  • REMEMBER – 2,000 YEARS AGO WHEN OUR FAITH JUST BEGINNING – THERE WAS NO DOCTRINE ABOUT WHO CHRIST WAS – NO CREEDS – THAT ALL CAME LATER AFTER A LOT OF ARGUMENT, CONFLICT AND SOMETIMES VIOLENT DISCUSSIONS
  • BUT – ALL THEY HAD ORIGINALLY WERE THE STORIES OF THE FAITH – OF GOD’S LOVE, COMPASSION, INCLUSION, AND THE BOLD HUMILITY OF THE MAN FROM NAZARETH WHO LIVED OUT THOSE THINGS TO SHOW US WHO GOD REALLY IS.
  • IN TRUTH THE EARLY CHURCH MEMBERS WERE GROUNDED IN SCRIPTURE – BUT THAT SCRIPTURE WAS THE HEBREW BIBLE – THE NEW TESTAMENT, PAUL’S LETTERS AND THE OTHERS; EVEN BOOK OF REVELATION HAD YET TO BE WRITTEN; IN ADDITION TO THE GROUNDING OF THE OLD TESTAMENT – WHICH WAS ALSO THE SCRIPTURE OF JESUS – IT WAS THROUGH THE ORAL TRADITION OF TELLING THE STORIES OF CHRIST THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE GUIDANCE IN GOD’S LOVE THAT THE PEOPLE YEARNED FOR. 
  • WE HAVE THE GREAT ADVANTAGE TODAY OF BEING ABLE TO OPEN A BOOK AND THERE IT ALL IS – WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DWELL IN SCRIPTURE AS MUCH AS WE WANT –
  • SO HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES – WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR US?  HEAR WONDERFUL SERMONS EVERY SUNDAY; PERHAPS A BIBLE STUDY OR SMALL GROUP STUDY; PERHAPS IT IS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO READ THE BIBLE – A FEW VERSES DAILY OR WHATEVER;  WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THEIR EXAMPLE IS THAT THE STORIES OF OUR FAITH – ALL OF IT – FROM ADAM AND EVE TO JOHN IN REVELATION – ARE IMPORTANT; 
  • THAT THE BIBLE IS A LIBRARY WORTH EXPLORING – FILLED WITH NOT ONLY NARRATIVES OF BIBLICAL HEROES AND VILLAINS – BUT ALSO POETRY; SONGS; SACRED HISTORY; LETTERS; WISDOM LITERATURE – IT IS AN AMAZING CONGLOMERATION – AND THERE IS PLENTY WE CAN QUESTION BECAUSE WE DON’T UNDERSTAND – WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO – GOD DOESN’T MIND!!!!!
  • THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE SCRIPTURE – OUR SCRIPTURE – IN SUM IS SIMPLY THIS:  GOD’S LOVE LETTER TO HUMANITY SAYING I AM Y0URS, YOU ARE MIND AND I WILL NOT LET YOU GO; AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS OF NAZARETH SHOWED US THAT WAY – THE WAY OF GOD’S LOVE – AND WE ARE CHALLENGED AND OBLIGED TO ENGAGE IT; LEARN IT; LIVE IT.
  • WHEN THERE IS A PORTION OR STORY WE DON’T UNDERSTAND – ASK – ENGAGE – AND ALWAYS TRY TO SEE IT IN THE LIGHT OF THE WIDER STORY – GOD’S LOVE STORY OF US.
  • THE THIRD MARK – FELLOWSHIP – A MARK OF AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS – FULLY INCLUSIVE – WELCOMING OTHERS WHO DON’T LOOK, TALK OR ACT LIKE THEM; NURTURING THE HABITS OF HOSPITALITY;
  • THEY DID IT LIKE GOOD METHODISTS – BY EATING!!!!
  • ACTS TELLS US THEY WERE ‘DEVOTED TO THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD’ — REFERS WE THINK BOTH TO THE LORD’S SUPPER – WHICH ONLY CENTURIES LATER WAS REFERRED TO AS A ‘SACRAMENT — OR MEANS OF GRACE – BUT ALSO MEALS – HUNGRY WERE FED; POTLUCKS WERE ABUNDANT; NOBODY WENT WANTING – BECAUSE…………. RESOURCES WERE SHARED;
  • WORD ABOUT NEW WORLD – PREACHING TO CHOIR HERE – YOU ARE PERHAPS THE FRIENDLIEST CHURCH I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED; I CAME HERE FOR VAL’S FIRST SUNDAY AND I HAD NOT EVEN DARKENED THE DOOR – IN PARKING LOT WHEN SOMEONE CAME UP TO WELCOME ME; MAKE SURE I KNEW WAY TO SANCTUARY AND BATHROOM; AND USHERED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION; IT WAS AMAZING; – YOU ALL REALLY REALLY REALLY NURTURE THE HABITS OF HOSPITALITY AND IT SHOWS —
  • BUT HAVE TO REMEMBER – TAKES WORK; TAKES COMMITMENT; TAKES COURAGE AND INITIATIVE AND CREATIVITY; YOU CAN IMAGINE IN ROMAN EMPIRE – 2,000 YEARS AGO – WHAT ACTIVE HOSPITALITY MUST HAVE ENTAILED – WELCOMING SLAVES AND FREE; POOR AND WEALTHY; POWERFUL AND POWERLESS;  STRANGER AND FRIEND; TAX COLLECTORS AND FISHERMEN; WOMEN……AND SAMARITANS.
  • STILL OUR COMMITMENT – EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TODAY; WHEN ALL WE READ ABOUT IS THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY – AND ALL WE SEE IS PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR IT IN WAYS THAT DO NOT ORIGINATE IN GOD’S UNCONDITIONAL LOVE;  
  • IT TAKES A WILLINGNESS TO SUSPEND JUDGMENT; IT TAKES AN OPENNESS OF HEART AND GENUINE HUMILITY; IT TAKES LOVE —
  • KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK – NONE OF US CAN AFFORD TO FALTER IN THIS DIFFICULT WORLD WE INHABIT TODAY – NOT UNLIKE LONG AGO.
  • THE FINAL MARK THAT THE EARLY FOLKS ESTABLISHED WAS PRAYER – CONSTANT PRAYER – FORMAL PRAYER IN WORSHIP AND GATHERINGS;  WE DON’T KNOW BUT PROBABLY SOME VERSION OF THE LORD’S PRAYER – WHICH JESUS TAUGHT, BASED ON AN ANCIENT JEWISH PRAYER OF PRAISE AND PETITION;  PROBABLY INCLUDED FORMAL SINGING OR RECITATION OF PSALMS;  PROBABLY SOME FORM OF SPONTANEOUS PRAYER AND PUBLIC PRAYER; IMPORTANT THING IS THAT PRAYER – A LIFE OF PRAYER – IS CENTRAL TO FOLLOWING CHRIST;
  • TO KNOW GOD IN CHRIST, THEY KNEW, ONE MUST BE IN RELATIONSHIPI WITH GOD IN CHRIST;  THEY KNEW – AND SET STANDARD TO NOT JUST SET PRAYERS BUT IN ADDITION TO  CULTIVATE A LIFE OF PRAYER – MOMENT BY MOMENT; DAY BY DAY AS PASSAGE SAYS; TO COMMUNE WITH GOD AS PART OF OUR DAILY EXISTENCE; INTENTIONALLY, ENERGETICALLY, FROM THE HEART; AGAIN – THIS KIND OF CONSTANT PRAYER STEMS AS A RESPONSE TO THE LOVE OF GOD WE KNOW IN CHRIST – AND IS NOT TO BE MIMNIMIZED;  DOESN’T MEAN HAVE TO WEAR PRAYER LIFE ON SHIRT SLEEVE – JUST MEANS UNAFRAID TO LEND SELF AND HEART TO GOD ON AND IN ANY OCCASION; AN AWARE NESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND PROVISION; GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY; GOD’S ABIDING FAITHFULNESS – NEVER TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
  • YEARS AGO WHEN VAL AND I WERE IN SEMINARY STUDYING THE BIBLE, ONE OF OUR PROFESSORS DR VICTOR FURNISH – LOVELY MAN, EXPERT ON NEW TESTAMENT – GOT TO LUKE/ACTS — EXPLAINED HOW BOTH TEXTS WRITTEN BY SAME PERSON – LUKE =– AND HOW THOSE BOOKS TOGETHER WERE THE STORY OF THE CHURCH; I REMEMBER HE LIKENED IT TO A BIG LONG HORN – THE KIND THE TRUMPETEERS BLEW WHEN THE KING WAS COMING – LONG SKINNY AND BIG AND LOUD AT THE END;
  • THAT’S US – HE SAID; THE CHURCH – STARTED OUT AFTER JESUS ASCENDED TO HEAVEN, GAVE THE CHARGE TO THE DISCIPLES TO GO OUT AND TELL THE WORLD OF GOD’S LOVE –AND UNMERITED MERCY – WE CALL IT GRACE – START SMALL – NOT MAKE MUCH NOISE – BUT EVENTUALLY THE SOUND OF THE GOOD NEWS WOULD BE PRESENT, AND LOUD AND ABLE TO BE HEARD OVER ALL THE WORLD’S DIN – NOISE, SIN AND SADNESS; 
  • BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD REVEALED IN CHRIST IS HEALING – AND BRINGS HOPE AND THE AMAZING THING – WHEN  LIVED OUT IN REAL AND PRACTICAL TERMS – IT MULTIPLIES!!!!!!!
  • MAKES MORE OF ITSELF – ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LEAN INTO IT – AND MAKE IT OUR OWN.
  • THE CHURCH S STORY IS STILL BEING TOLD – IT HAS BEEN FIRST AN OFFSHOOT OF JUDAISM; THEN A REDICAL SECT, A TENTATIVE MOVEMENT OF MARTYRS, A SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITY, THEN THANKS TO CONSTANTINE A PUBLIC FORUM/NATIONAL CHURCH – IT  HAS GONE OFF THE RAILS MORE TIMES THAN WE CAN COUNT – AND BEEN A BIG COMPLICATED MESS; NEVER TIDY AND ALWAYS NEEDING REFORMATION AFTER REFORMATION AFTER REFORMATION – YET —
  • THE MARKS STILL PERSIST.  STILL WORK.  REAL CHRISTIANITY – LIVING THE LOVE OF GOD – CHANGES HOW WE LIVE FOR THE BETTER; IT CHANGES OUR SENSE OF SELF AND GIVES US OUR TRUE IDENTITY AS GOD’S BELOVED; IT MAKES US ACUTELY AWARE THAT EVERYONE ELSE WE ENCOUNTER – NO MATTER WHO OR HOW – IS GOD’S BELOVED, TOO;  WE ARE CALLED AS SPIRITUAL BEINGS FIRST AND EMPOWERED DAY BY DAY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.   WE ARE BEARERS OF RADICAL HOPE; UNENDING HOSPITALITY; CRITICAL OPENNESS; AND ABIDING GRACE.
  • WE ALSO LEARN FROM OUR SACRED HISTORY – THAT WHEN WE DO LIVE OUT THIS LOVE, IT IS NOT REALLY POPULAR ….. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF OBSTACLES;  THIS KIND OF RADICAL LOVE IN CHRIST IS THREATENING TO THE WORLD’S ORDER – BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR VIOLENCE, NO PLACE FOR OPPRESSION, NO PLACE FOR INJUSTICE; NO PLACE FOR GREED; NO PLACE FOR HATRED;  
  • THE ROMAN GOVENOR PLINY IN THE FIRST CENTURY – WAS OVER SOME PART OF THE EMPIRE IN THE EAST AND WROTE BACK TO HIS SUPERIORS IN ROME ABOUT THESE NEW ‘CHRIST FOLLOWERS’ — WARNING OF THEIR POWER – CAN YOU IMAGINE – THIS MOTLEY MIXTURE OF PEOPLE SCRAMBLING FOR RESOURCES TO PROVIDE FOR ONE ANOTHER – AS A THREAT – BUT THIS IS WHAT HE SAID:
  • “YOU MUST SEE HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER — IT IS DANGEROUS.”
  •    WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE FOUNDERS OF OUR FAITH IS SIMPLY THAT LOVE IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM THERE IS BECAUSE LOVE MAKES MORE LOVE. AND THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST WILL NOT BE OVERCOME.
  • MAY IT BE SO.
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