Luke 19:28-44 April 5, 2009
PALM SUNDAY - CONFIRMATION
“Eyes To See”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
Last week I read a couple of paragraphs from an article in Sports Illustrated about Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinal’s two-time National League MVP is a strong Christian man. In an article in USA Today this past week he is quoted as saying, “I’ve always had the responsibility to God to be a role model, so it’s not just now. I play to represent God, something bigger than baseball. This is not about me. I leave everything up to God.” In other words, there’s a lot going on in Pujols’ life beyond what we see when we watch him play the game of baseball. Baseball is only one piece of the picture of his life that he believes has been designed by God. In the same way, Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on the back of that donkey was only one piece of what he had come to do. And so, on this Palm Sunday, I want to back up just a little bit, to read about the events that took place just prior to his triumphal entry when so many were shouting “Hosanna! Jesus, save us!” Have you ever had a warning light, or buzzer, or tone on your car, or cell phone, or perhaps a camera or portable phone at home alerting you to a low battery or some other problem? Those noises tell us that we need to do something. We need to pay attention! Well, let’s see if any flashing indicator lights or buzzers go off in your own heart and mind as you hear this Scripture from the Gospel of Mark – knowing as we do, that the Palm Sunday parade is about to pass by. (Mark 10:32ff)
32Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next. 33“Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Romans, 34who will mock and spit on him, give him the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”
35James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.” 36“What is it? I’ll see what I can do.” 37“Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.” 38Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?” 39“Sure,” they said. “Why not?”
Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. 40But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”
41When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. 42Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. 43It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. 44Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. 45That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”
46They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. 47When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” 48Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.”
They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” 50Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. 51Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52“On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
I am continually amazed that the disciples, who spent so much quality time with Jesus, struggled with understanding who he really was and what his identity meant for themselves and for the world. Jesus told them, not once, not twice, but three times what going into Jerusalem would mean for him. Sometimes my husband John and I are having a conversation, and I can tell he has zoned out on me. He’s pretty quick to notice when I do it, too. Usually we’ll stop and say, “Hello? Are you with me, here? Were you listening to me? Did you hear anything I just said?” I wonder how many times Jesus thought that about his ragtag bunch of disciples? I mean, if they had truly heard him say that he was heading into Jerusalem in order to be killed by crucifixion, maybe they would have realized that a triumphant parade, treating Jesus as the Grand Marshall, somehow might not be all that appropriate. But, they obviously didn’t hear him, as evidenced by the fact that all James and John could think about was whether they would get to sit beside him on the float! Jesus again tried to explain that being in the center of God’s activity doesn’t automatically mean you will be held in high honor by others. In fact, he says that if we are in the center of God’s activity, we must be willing to put to death the deep desire we have within us to be honored by anyone other than God - which is tough - really tough in today’s world where reward and recognition is so important.
And then Jesus comes to Jericho and encounters blind Bartimaeus. Now, think with me about this question: Without some kind of Divine intervention, in a time in history when there were no telephones, computers, cars, planes, or trains, what kind of a chance did this blind fellow have of knowing about Jesus, meeting Jesus, and coming to understand who he was and what he came to do? But long-shot chance or not, here Bartimaeus is along the side of the road, calling out to Jesus, being a nuisance to the crowd around him, begging for mercy.
How ironic that Jesus’ main men cannot see the big picture that Jesus has painted for them over their three years with him, and blind Bartimaeus sees it all at the sound of the name of Jesus on the lips of those around him. I’ve heard the research that those with impaired vision have other senses that are heightened to compensate for the loss of sight. They can tell what time it is in the day by the intensity of the sun on their skin, they can tell who has just walked up beside them by the sound of someone’s breathing, or the smell of cologne or perfume. Bartimaeus must have listened with great intensity to the stories about Jesus of Nazareth – hearing about the healings, the miracles, and the trouble he was causing with the religious rulers of the day. In the darkness of his world, I believe the indicator lights began to flash, the buzzers started going off, “Pay attention, Bart! This is important!” and so he listened all the more. Could this be the Messiah, the one promised by God so long ago?
St. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.” When Bartimaeus, by faith, threw off his cloak of unbelief, heeding the call of Jesus to come to him, his reward was to be given eyes to see God himself at work. “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.”
The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops lay wilting from thirst. People were anxious and irritable as they searched the sky for any sign of relief. Days turned into arid weeks. No rain came. The ministers of the local churches called for an hour of prayer on the town square the following Saturday. They requested that everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration. At high noon on the appointed Saturday the townspeople turned out en-masse filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful hearts. The ministers were
touched to see the variety of objects clutched in prayerful hands - holy
books, crosses, and rosaries. When the hour ended, as if on cue, a soft rain began to fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects high in gratitude and praise. From the middle of the crowd one faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others: A small nine-year-old child had brought an umbrella.
How many in the palm-waving crowd that first Palm Sunday, including the disciples of Jesus, brought a nail? How many had faith enough to believe what he had repeatedly shown them of the big picture? How many saw in his obedient humility to God’s will, the triumphant majesty of God’s glorious plan for all of humankind?
I understand how those with Jesus didn’t want to see the cross ahead of them. I understand that they would rather celebrate all they had seen him do with great pageantry. After all, it wasn’t long before this day that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead! I probably would have been right there, shouting with the rest of them! But from our perspective now, looking back at the whole picture of Jesus’ life and ministry as we read it in the Bible, my heart is torn as I see how our Savior gently and courageously allowed himself to be set upon a donkey and paraded through the City of Peace in hopes that none would perish, not even one.
There are five young people here today that I know will not be perishing in eternity – for they have been given eyes to see and receive the gift of salvation given them by Jesus. Jenna, Brittany, Grant, Cam, and Dane have all completed a series of classes called Confirmation classes. Usually for students between sixth and tenth grades, this is a time of confirming whether what you’ve been saying you believe, or what your parents have been saying you believe is really what you believe.
We started out learning about the importance of the Bible as God’s instruction book, God’s love letter to each of us. Then we learned about sin – and how sin looks good (like it did to Adam and Eve), but how when you choose to go against God’s instructions, sin can take you down. We watched a portion of The Two Towers from The Lord of the Rings movie that shows how we must take control over the lies of the devil in our minds and just tell the devil to go away while we cling to what the Bible tells us is real and right. We learned that Jesus paid the price for our sins, and how once we belong to God because God has drawn us to himself, no one can take us out of his hand; and we learned the importance of the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We learned about the purposes of the church, and that membership is a privilege, a responsibility, and a joy. Like marriage is a commitment to love one another in times of joy and sorrow, church membership is a commitment to love one another and serve the reflection of the Body of Christ to the world. And finally last week, we spent time looking at the Scriptures that tell us what Jesus wanted us to do after he went back into heaven. We know he wants us to keep telling others about him – baptizing, teaching, and praying for those who don’t yet know him. The prayer box in front of the cross is full of names these students wrote privately on pieces of paper – the names of people they want to come to faith in Jesus Christ. I have a few names in there, too.
Allow me to share their faith statements with you. May you be blessed as you hear the confirmation of their faith:
I, Jenna Hampson, believe that the Bible is the words that God spoke. It is our guide to life. I believe in God the Father, who created people and the earth in six days, then rested on the seventh. I believe that Satan wants us to sin and be separated from the Lord, and sin is why we go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and then buried to save us from sin. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the empty place inside of you that Christ fills up with power, comfort, and strength when you ask him to come into your life. Then, he will always be with you. I believe that the church is a place to fellowship and learn more about God. I believe that the true reason why God put humans on this earth is so that they can serve others, and that serving is all about love.
I, Brittany Hill, believe God created everything. He created people with brains to think so they could build things for themselves and others. I believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word. I believe everything in the Bible is true. The Bible matters to me because it tells us about life and death, Heaven and Hell, good and evil, and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe prayer is when people talk to God. You can tell him everything, anywhere, at any time. I believe the church is the Body of Christ. It is a place to serve and thank God for all he has given to us. I believe sin is anything that we think, say, or do that makes God sad, or breaks his law. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. He is the only way you can be saved from sin. I believe that if your name is written in the Book of Life, then you’ll go to heaven after you die. I believe the Holy Spirit helps us believe in Jesus, and gives us the power to overcome sin, and comforts us in our times of need, and helps us live like Jesus.
I, Grant McMullen, believe that God is all powerful and that he is the Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I also believe that he created the Heavens and the Earth. I believe that the bible is a way to understand him and how to receive him. I believe that sin is the punishment we get when we do not obey God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was sent to this Earth and died on the cross for our sins so we can live eternally with God. The Church is a place to worship God and show your love towards him. I believe that you should serve others as a way to show your devotion to God. I believe that God loves everyone and shows his love in many ways. I also believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe that if you devote yourself to God you will go to Heaven.
Camden Woodward writes this: My statement of faith is what I believe about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and serving others. What I believe about the Bible is that it is true and all the people in the Bible were real. I believe that God is real and that he sent his Son Jesus to give us eternal life if we believe in him. I believe that sin gets you into trouble. I believe that Jesus Christ is one part of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe that he can do whatever he wants to do. I believe that you go to church to learn about Jesus and how to be a good Christian. I believe you should serve others and teach them about Jesus. I believe that you should show others not to sin so they can have a full life.
I, Dane Woodward, believe that the Bible is true and real and it can help us get through everyday life. I believe that God is real and He will give us eternal life in heaven if we believe in him. I believe that sin is a bad thing, but we can be forgiven if we ask for forgiveness from God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins. I believe the Holy Spirit lives inside of us to guide us and comfort us and teach us, and is a part of God. I believe that the Church is a place that God put on earth to work together to learn his word. I believe that all Christians should serve others lovingly.
The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Which means, after reading those statements of faith of course, that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our midst! By the Holy Spirit, through the witness of fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, Sunday school teachers, Christian teachers and coaches at school, and the people of the church, these 5 students have thrown off the cloak of unbelief and had their eyes opened to see the truth about who Jesus really is! Thanks be to God!
But the reality of the committed Christian life is this: We can’t just stop there in celebration, for there are yet those who haven’t heard about Jesus, or who cannot see him passing by.
There is no greater decision in your life than the decision to call out to Jesus for mercy on your life. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! To him, it matters not whether you come waving palms with great enthusiasm but little understanding, or whether you come clutching nails with a broken heart. All that matters is that you would have enough faith to be willing to call out – that you would be courageous as you seek to live like Jesus – and that you would be bold, wherever God calls you, to tell others (like Pujols) that you’re here to do what Jesus says to do, for God’s glory, and the building of the City of Peace. Amen.
PALM SUNDAY - CONFIRMATION
“Eyes To See”
Rev. Meagan M. Boozer
Last week I read a couple of paragraphs from an article in Sports Illustrated about Albert Pujols. The St. Louis Cardinal’s two-time National League MVP is a strong Christian man. In an article in USA Today this past week he is quoted as saying, “I’ve always had the responsibility to God to be a role model, so it’s not just now. I play to represent God, something bigger than baseball. This is not about me. I leave everything up to God.” In other words, there’s a lot going on in Pujols’ life beyond what we see when we watch him play the game of baseball. Baseball is only one piece of the picture of his life that he believes has been designed by God. In the same way, Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem on the back of that donkey was only one piece of what he had come to do. And so, on this Palm Sunday, I want to back up just a little bit, to read about the events that took place just prior to his triumphal entry when so many were shouting “Hosanna! Jesus, save us!” Have you ever had a warning light, or buzzer, or tone on your car, or cell phone, or perhaps a camera or portable phone at home alerting you to a low battery or some other problem? Those noises tell us that we need to do something. We need to pay attention! Well, let’s see if any flashing indicator lights or buzzers go off in your own heart and mind as you hear this Scripture from the Gospel of Mark – knowing as we do, that the Palm Sunday parade is about to pass by. (Mark 10:32ff)
32Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next. 33“Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Romans, 34who will mock and spit on him, give him the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”
35James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.” 36“What is it? I’ll see what I can do.” 37“Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.” 38Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?” 39“Sure,” they said. “Why not?”
Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. 40But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”
41When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. 42Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. 43It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. 44Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. 45That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”
46They spent some time in Jericho. As Jesus was leaving town, trailed by his disciples and a parade of people, a blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting alongside the road. 47When he heard that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by, he began to cry out, “Son of David, Jesus! Mercy, have mercy on me!” 48Many tried to hush him up, but he yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!” 49Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Call him over.”
They called him. “It’s your lucky day! Get up! He’s calling you to come!” 50Throwing off his coat, he was on his feet at once and came to Jesus. 51Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52“On your way,” said Jesus. “Your faith has saved and healed you.” In that very instant he recovered his sight and followed Jesus down the road.
I am continually amazed that the disciples, who spent so much quality time with Jesus, struggled with understanding who he really was and what his identity meant for themselves and for the world. Jesus told them, not once, not twice, but three times what going into Jerusalem would mean for him. Sometimes my husband John and I are having a conversation, and I can tell he has zoned out on me. He’s pretty quick to notice when I do it, too. Usually we’ll stop and say, “Hello? Are you with me, here? Were you listening to me? Did you hear anything I just said?” I wonder how many times Jesus thought that about his ragtag bunch of disciples? I mean, if they had truly heard him say that he was heading into Jerusalem in order to be killed by crucifixion, maybe they would have realized that a triumphant parade, treating Jesus as the Grand Marshall, somehow might not be all that appropriate. But, they obviously didn’t hear him, as evidenced by the fact that all James and John could think about was whether they would get to sit beside him on the float! Jesus again tried to explain that being in the center of God’s activity doesn’t automatically mean you will be held in high honor by others. In fact, he says that if we are in the center of God’s activity, we must be willing to put to death the deep desire we have within us to be honored by anyone other than God - which is tough - really tough in today’s world where reward and recognition is so important.
And then Jesus comes to Jericho and encounters blind Bartimaeus. Now, think with me about this question: Without some kind of Divine intervention, in a time in history when there were no telephones, computers, cars, planes, or trains, what kind of a chance did this blind fellow have of knowing about Jesus, meeting Jesus, and coming to understand who he was and what he came to do? But long-shot chance or not, here Bartimaeus is along the side of the road, calling out to Jesus, being a nuisance to the crowd around him, begging for mercy.
How ironic that Jesus’ main men cannot see the big picture that Jesus has painted for them over their three years with him, and blind Bartimaeus sees it all at the sound of the name of Jesus on the lips of those around him. I’ve heard the research that those with impaired vision have other senses that are heightened to compensate for the loss of sight. They can tell what time it is in the day by the intensity of the sun on their skin, they can tell who has just walked up beside them by the sound of someone’s breathing, or the smell of cologne or perfume. Bartimaeus must have listened with great intensity to the stories about Jesus of Nazareth – hearing about the healings, the miracles, and the trouble he was causing with the religious rulers of the day. In the darkness of his world, I believe the indicator lights began to flash, the buzzers started going off, “Pay attention, Bart! This is important!” and so he listened all the more. Could this be the Messiah, the one promised by God so long ago?
St. Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.” When Bartimaeus, by faith, threw off his cloak of unbelief, heeding the call of Jesus to come to him, his reward was to be given eyes to see God himself at work. “Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe.”
The fields were parched and brown from lack of rain, and the crops lay wilting from thirst. People were anxious and irritable as they searched the sky for any sign of relief. Days turned into arid weeks. No rain came. The ministers of the local churches called for an hour of prayer on the town square the following Saturday. They requested that everyone bring an object of faith for inspiration. At high noon on the appointed Saturday the townspeople turned out en-masse filling the square with anxious faces and hopeful hearts. The ministers were
touched to see the variety of objects clutched in prayerful hands - holy
books, crosses, and rosaries. When the hour ended, as if on cue, a soft rain began to fall. Cheers swept the crowd as they held their treasured objects high in gratitude and praise. From the middle of the crowd one faith symbol seemed to overshadow all the others: A small nine-year-old child had brought an umbrella.
How many in the palm-waving crowd that first Palm Sunday, including the disciples of Jesus, brought a nail? How many had faith enough to believe what he had repeatedly shown them of the big picture? How many saw in his obedient humility to God’s will, the triumphant majesty of God’s glorious plan for all of humankind?
I understand how those with Jesus didn’t want to see the cross ahead of them. I understand that they would rather celebrate all they had seen him do with great pageantry. After all, it wasn’t long before this day that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead! I probably would have been right there, shouting with the rest of them! But from our perspective now, looking back at the whole picture of Jesus’ life and ministry as we read it in the Bible, my heart is torn as I see how our Savior gently and courageously allowed himself to be set upon a donkey and paraded through the City of Peace in hopes that none would perish, not even one.
There are five young people here today that I know will not be perishing in eternity – for they have been given eyes to see and receive the gift of salvation given them by Jesus. Jenna, Brittany, Grant, Cam, and Dane have all completed a series of classes called Confirmation classes. Usually for students between sixth and tenth grades, this is a time of confirming whether what you’ve been saying you believe, or what your parents have been saying you believe is really what you believe.
We started out learning about the importance of the Bible as God’s instruction book, God’s love letter to each of us. Then we learned about sin – and how sin looks good (like it did to Adam and Eve), but how when you choose to go against God’s instructions, sin can take you down. We watched a portion of The Two Towers from The Lord of the Rings movie that shows how we must take control over the lies of the devil in our minds and just tell the devil to go away while we cling to what the Bible tells us is real and right. We learned that Jesus paid the price for our sins, and how once we belong to God because God has drawn us to himself, no one can take us out of his hand; and we learned the importance of the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We learned about the purposes of the church, and that membership is a privilege, a responsibility, and a joy. Like marriage is a commitment to love one another in times of joy and sorrow, church membership is a commitment to love one another and serve the reflection of the Body of Christ to the world. And finally last week, we spent time looking at the Scriptures that tell us what Jesus wanted us to do after he went back into heaven. We know he wants us to keep telling others about him – baptizing, teaching, and praying for those who don’t yet know him. The prayer box in front of the cross is full of names these students wrote privately on pieces of paper – the names of people they want to come to faith in Jesus Christ. I have a few names in there, too.
Allow me to share their faith statements with you. May you be blessed as you hear the confirmation of their faith:
I, Jenna Hampson, believe that the Bible is the words that God spoke. It is our guide to life. I believe in God the Father, who created people and the earth in six days, then rested on the seventh. I believe that Satan wants us to sin and be separated from the Lord, and sin is why we go to hell. I believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, died, and then buried to save us from sin. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the empty place inside of you that Christ fills up with power, comfort, and strength when you ask him to come into your life. Then, he will always be with you. I believe that the church is a place to fellowship and learn more about God. I believe that the true reason why God put humans on this earth is so that they can serve others, and that serving is all about love.
I, Brittany Hill, believe God created everything. He created people with brains to think so they could build things for themselves and others. I believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word. I believe everything in the Bible is true. The Bible matters to me because it tells us about life and death, Heaven and Hell, good and evil, and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe prayer is when people talk to God. You can tell him everything, anywhere, at any time. I believe the church is the Body of Christ. It is a place to serve and thank God for all he has given to us. I believe sin is anything that we think, say, or do that makes God sad, or breaks his law. I believe Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins. He is the only way you can be saved from sin. I believe that if your name is written in the Book of Life, then you’ll go to heaven after you die. I believe the Holy Spirit helps us believe in Jesus, and gives us the power to overcome sin, and comforts us in our times of need, and helps us live like Jesus.
I, Grant McMullen, believe that God is all powerful and that he is the Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I also believe that he created the Heavens and the Earth. I believe that the bible is a way to understand him and how to receive him. I believe that sin is the punishment we get when we do not obey God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and was sent to this Earth and died on the cross for our sins so we can live eternally with God. The Church is a place to worship God and show your love towards him. I believe that you should serve others as a way to show your devotion to God. I believe that God loves everyone and shows his love in many ways. I also believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe that if you devote yourself to God you will go to Heaven.
Camden Woodward writes this: My statement of faith is what I believe about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and serving others. What I believe about the Bible is that it is true and all the people in the Bible were real. I believe that God is real and that he sent his Son Jesus to give us eternal life if we believe in him. I believe that sin gets you into trouble. I believe that Jesus Christ is one part of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe that he can do whatever he wants to do. I believe that you go to church to learn about Jesus and how to be a good Christian. I believe you should serve others and teach them about Jesus. I believe that you should show others not to sin so they can have a full life.
I, Dane Woodward, believe that the Bible is true and real and it can help us get through everyday life. I believe that God is real and He will give us eternal life in heaven if we believe in him. I believe that sin is a bad thing, but we can be forgiven if we ask for forgiveness from God. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for our sins. I believe the Holy Spirit lives inside of us to guide us and comfort us and teach us, and is a part of God. I believe that the Church is a place that God put on earth to work together to learn his word. I believe that all Christians should serve others lovingly.
The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “No one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Which means, after reading those statements of faith of course, that the Holy Spirit is alive and well in our midst! By the Holy Spirit, through the witness of fathers, mothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, Sunday school teachers, Christian teachers and coaches at school, and the people of the church, these 5 students have thrown off the cloak of unbelief and had their eyes opened to see the truth about who Jesus really is! Thanks be to God!
But the reality of the committed Christian life is this: We can’t just stop there in celebration, for there are yet those who haven’t heard about Jesus, or who cannot see him passing by.
There is no greater decision in your life than the decision to call out to Jesus for mercy on your life. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved! To him, it matters not whether you come waving palms with great enthusiasm but little understanding, or whether you come clutching nails with a broken heart. All that matters is that you would have enough faith to be willing to call out – that you would be courageous as you seek to live like Jesus – and that you would be bold, wherever God calls you, to tell others (like Pujols) that you’re here to do what Jesus says to do, for God’s glory, and the building of the City of Peace. Amen.
