Scriptures: Luke 14:1,7-14, Hebrews 13:1-8,15-16 and Psalm 112
Message; “Actions and Attitudes”
Luke 14:1, 7-14
Jesus at a Pharisee’s House
(1) One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.
(7) When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: (8) “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. (9) If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. (10) But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. (11) For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(12) Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. (13) But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, (14) and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Concluding Exhortations
(1) Keep on loving each other as brothers.
(2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
(3) Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
(4) Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
(5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
(6) So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
(7) Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
(8) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
(15) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name.
(16) And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Psalm 112
(1) Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.
(2) His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
(3) Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
(4) Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
(5) Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice.
(6) Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever.
(7) He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord .
(8) His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
(9) He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor.
(10) The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
This is the word of God,for the people of God. Thanks be to God.
With so much division and turmoil going on in our world today, it seems only appropriate that we take the time to consider our “Actions and Attitudes”, in our lives,so that by the grace of God, we are worthy of the righteousness we have received through the, “Actions and Attitudes” of Jesus.
In the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of a wedding feast, and tells the guests attending of the risks involved in taking a, “seat of honor”. They risk being humiliated by being asked to move,“to take the least important place.”
We can assume that the guest at this feast, were prominent people of the day, religious leaders and the like. So in this parable he was reminding them of what was taught them to do. To be honored. The “Actions and Attitudes” to be held so that they may become righteous in the eyes of God.
The final chapter of Hebrews begins with a list of expectations of the Christian life, urging and encouraging readers to exhibit both actions and attitudes that will identify them as disciples. “Actions and Attitudes” that are expected of believers, so as to be worthy of righteousness in the eyes of God. To be imitators of Jesus who,“is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
In Psalms 112 we’re also given a list of, “Actions and Attitudes”, so as to be worthy of righteousness in the eyes of God. And also the blessings that we will receive if we are to become imitators of Jesus who is, (as the author of Hebrews puts it), “the same yesterday today and forever.”
Recently Bonne and I were tested in our “Actions and Attitudes”, when a friend drop off some food that was not to our liking. We gratefully excepted it and on proceeding to partake of the food found it to be absolutely horrible.
As anyone who knows Bonne can tell you, her “Actions and Attitudes” often put me to shame. She most definitely should have a seat of honor. As many of you know she makes a wonderful and loving practice of thanking people, by sending them cards. On this occasion, as she was writing one out, she asked me what I thought she should write. What I told her, I don’t recall at this moment, but as I think about it today this story comes to mind.
A new minister’s family was presented with a pie baked by a congregational member who was a rather poor cook. The pie was inedible, so the minister’s wife reluctantly threw it into the garbage. The preacher was faced with the problem of thanking the baker and at the same time being truthful. After much thought, he sent the following note: “Thank you for being so kind and thoughtful. I can assure you that a pie like yours never lasts long at our house.”
As I started to write my sermon today I began by making a list of the actions and attitudes given in both Hebrews 13:1-8 15-16 and Psalm 112. The “Actions and Attitudes” of righteousness in the eyes of God. So that I could better understand and relate to you what actions and attitudes that Jesus was teaching the guests, in His telling the parable of the wedding feast that we read in Luke 14.
I’m almost certain the guests he was speaking to already knew the list of actions and attitudes given in Psalm 112. So also you, who’ve read or listen to my messages these past years and studied the Bible, know the actions and attitudes given in the Psalm 112 and in Hebrews 13:1-8 15-16. Actions and attitudes we need to display as Christians. To be imitators of Jesus who is, “the same yesterday today and forever.”
Jesus reminds the guest and us of the importance of humility in the Christian life. Saying: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus reminds us that no matter what actions we take or attitudes we hold, they need to be with humility. We are not to take the seat of honor but to take the seat of least important.
So, let’s take the time today to intertwine, interjecting humility to the words of Jesus, of Psalm 112 and Hebrews 13:1-8 15-16. “Actions and Attitudes”of righteousness in the eyes of God.
With humility… Praise the Lord. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have. Then you will find…great delight in his commands.
With humility…Keep on loving each other as brothers. Remembering that..
His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Humbly remember…Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. So..Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. So.. when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
With humility…. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. For.. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
Humbly remember….Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice… for God will judge.
Humbly remember… a righteous man will be remembered forever. So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”….. have no fear of bad news; ….trusting in the Lord… righteousness endures forever.
With humility…Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that confess his name.
With Humility… Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Humbly remember…. Your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Be worthy to be consider righteous in the eyes of God. With humility and humbly remembering that all your actions and attitudes are your witness to the world.
In His Service,
Pastor Joe
Listen To Audio: Sermon 20220828
We come to worship today, seeking the abundant things for our souls. May we accept what God offers us today in its entirety, that we might share with others. Come, let us worship God!
Call to Worship:L: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
P: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever, Amen.
L: We praise You, worship You, and adore You, O God.
P: We rejoice in your steadfast and never ending love.
Prayer of Confession: Heavenly Father, we confess that there are times when we are tempted to be dissatisfied with our life and envious of others, leaving us feeling discontented. Forgive us, Lord. May we be reminded today of that most precious blessing that You will never leave us nor forsake us. Remind us today, Lord, that as part of Your Bride we are one of the most blessed people on earth. Help us to keep our priorities in order, not looking to things of the earth for contentment but to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Joe will be available at the church on Thursday afternoons from 2:00 to 4:00. If you need to speak to him, contact Pastor Joe at 570-267-4570 (cell) or Email: joe.s.travis@gmail.com
Sunday School starts at 8:30am
Loose change goes to General Fund.
Newsletter deadline is Tuesday, August 30th.
Social Hour following church on September 4th.
Labor Day, September 5th
Presbyterian Women, Thursday, September 8th at 11 A.M.
Men’s Breakfast, Wednesday September 21th at 8:00 A.M.
Session meeting Saturday, September 24, at 9am in the community building.
Please mark your envelope if you are contributing to the snowblower fund.
We are looking for “Message in Music” for the summer months.
Ladies… You Are invited to our Advancing Watchwomen Retreat on September 16-18 at the Loft. Cost $125.00. Session has agreed to pay $60.00 toward fee for each lady. Your Cost $65.00. If someone doesn’t have the money, we have others who want to help out. See Bonne. Please Come and Be Blessed! Fee includes 5 meals, 2 nights lodging (weather you stay overnight or not) 154 Rock Hill Road, Susquehanna, PA 18847. Bedding and towels not included. Dress Casual. Registration and Payment Due September 9th, 2022.
Choir members and those interested in joining, our first practice will be Thursday, September 1 at 1 o’clock at the church.
