New sermons on their way- tech issues to be solved.

My apologies for the lack of sermons. We've having issues with our audio hosting service. As soon as I can get the problem resolved, I will be posting the sermons from the past two Sundays.

For those in need of some preaching, here is a provocative clip from mega-church pastor and author Erwin McManus explaining why he thinks a loving God would create a place like Hell. I think his ideas resonates with the Wesleyan/Arminian theological assumption that God gives human beings a choice. Enjoy! (And feel free to posts questions or reactions in the comments section!)

Lectionary Blogging- Preparing for Sunday, November 23, 2008: Christ the King Sunday

The end of the year is upon us.

No, I haven't lost my mind. I know that December 31 is a ways away.

But in the Christian calendar, this Sunday is the last Sunday of the year. The following Sunday will begin the Advent cycle, which, liturgically speaking, begins a brand new year of worship.

Like most Protestant congregations, we here at Tyler Street don't do much if anything with Christ the King Sunday. It is, after all, a very new holy day instituted by the Roman Catholic Church in the 1920s. Even the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox traditions have been slow to adopt this relatively new celebration, let alone Methodists and Baptists and other groups.

But just for something different, I thought I'd blog about it.

You see, by beginning our worship year on Advent, we begin by waiting upon the birth of Christ. We focus on the human need for redemption and all the hope and glory which Christmas represents. From Advent and Christmas, we take a pit stop with the Wise Men at Epiphany, visit the Mount of Transfiguration, spend weeks of introspection through Lent, experience the drama and passion of Holy Week, triumphantly celebrate Easter, and seek church renewal at Pentecost. From summer on, we live in "ordinary time," a long season in which we try our level best to live out those high Christians virtues and hopes in the midst of every day life.

And then, before we begin the whole cycle again, we stop to contemplate not the coming of the baby Jesus, but the eventual return of Christ the Risen Lord and King.

This is a time to ponder things to come. Now is a chance to dream of the new heavens and the new earth.

It is also time to really ask ourselves: if He came today, how ready would we really be?

Below I have posted this week's Gospel story. (As I write, I don't know if Chris is preaching on this passage or if he is preaching something else.) As you read, I challenge you to really contemplate Jesus' words. Consider what it means to see Jesus in the least, the lonely, and the lost.

Matthew 25:31-46 (English Standard Version)

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

May our King come swiftly. And may we be ready!

Music Fridays- Miles Davis "So What?"

No real message for this one. Just something mellow for a cool and foggy Friday morning.




For those looking for something more theologically meaty, I'm working on a post for later today or early Monday. Stay tuned.

You could also check out this post about Biblical archeology Asbury Seminary professor and noted New Testament scholar Dr. Ben Witherington's excellent blog.

Faith Building: Martin Luther's Small Catechism, pt. 1

This is the first in a new series on the Tyler Street Blog aimed at growing our basic understanding of the faith. We'll be looking at essential Christian beliefs as explained by great Christian thinkers through the ages.

To begin, I thought we could look at the Apostle's Creed as explained in Martin Luther's Small Catechism With Explination, a book used to instruct Lutheran children (and adult converts) in the basics of the faith. The text quoted below is from Augustana Press' 1957 edition. It is designed to be taught in the home. Perhaps your family might talk about it at the dinner table tonight.

The Creed

In the plan form by which it is to be taught by the head of the family.

The First Article
Of Creation

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that He has given and still preserves to me my body and soul, with all my limbs and senses, my reason and all my faculties of my mind, together with my raiment, food, home, and family, and with all my property; that He daily provides me abundantly with all the necessaries of life; protects me from all danger, and preserves me and guards me against all evil; all of which He does out of pure, paternal, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty bound to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.

The Second Article
Of Redemption

I believe in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord; who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, secured and delivered me from all sins and death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold but with His holy and precious blood, and with His innocent sufferings and death; in order that I might be His own, live under Him and His Kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

The Third Article
Of Sanctification

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the Resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

What is meant by this article?

I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me by His gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith; in like manner as He calls, gathers, enlightens, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and preserves it in union with Jesus Christ in the true faith; in which Christian Church He daily forgives abundantly all my sins, and the sins of all believers, and will raise me up and all the dead at the last day, and will grant everlasting life to me and all who believe in Christ. This is most certainly true.

Tyler Street Pulpit- November 9, 2008

The following sermon was delivered by Rev. Chris Allen during our 10:50 am service on November 9, 2008. Our Student Ministries Director Jon Farrer read the Scriptures. To God be the glory.



More sermons from Tyler Street United Methodist Church can be found here.

Music Fridays- Les Paul and Chet Atkins play the Blues.

The Blues is a wonderful genre because any one can play them. The sound came from the Mississippi Delta, but was quickly adopted by the whole world. Black, white, yellow, or brown, there is someone in this world who looks like you and plays the Blues. This is everyone's music.

The Blues can soothe a hurting soul or making a soaring heart laugh at itself. In other words, the blues are good for what ails you, and good when you ain't ailing at all.

So if your week has been uplifting or depressing, if your candidate won or lost, if your finances are up or down, here are two guitar masters to make you feel better. Enjoy!



See you Sunday, when we loose the Blues and sing the praises of God!

Grace and peace,
John

Tyler Street Pulpit- November 2, 2008

The following sermon was delivered by Rev. Chris Allen during our 10:50 am service on November 2, 2008. Our Student Ministries Director Jon Farrer read the Scriptures. To God be the glory.



More sermons from Tyler Street United Methodist Church can be found here.