(Click HERE to see the video of this service – starts at 8:55, sermon at 20:25)
(Click HERE to donate to Lidgerwood Church’s mission and ministries))
1
Mark Wheeler
Luke 8:4-18
04/24/2022
“So, What Comes After Easter?”
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
2-3
#97 . . . He Is Lord!
4
Join in as Vern leads us in our Call to Worship:
5-6
7
Hello everyone! Welcome to worship at Lidgerwood!!
On this Sunday after Easter, we continue to celebrate His victory over death! He is Lord! Right? Xpictoc bockpec! He is risen indeed!
Welcome! We are glad you are here with us today!
We gather in our church sanctuary – a holy place – and it’s also a safe place – where the divine and the human connect together. Welcome to this holy sacred and safe place today.
CAMERA
Let’s take a second to welcome each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, whoever you can see , “The Lord is with you – and also with you!!”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
8-10
Our Opening Song of Devotion and Praise is –– Christ Is Alive – #243!!
11
Open our hearts today, O Lord, to feel the powerful strength and love you have for us. Help us to listen, not only with our ears, but with our spirits for your words of compassion and healing. Enable us to become more faithful disciples for you; for we ask this in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
I want to lead you on a stroll through your life’s memories this morning. As I take you on your journey of reminiscences, I might slip in some of my own life story … but when I do I invite you to replace those memoirs with your own. This is not necessarily a biography, or even a highlights reel. We’re just going to go back to a few life-transition moments and see what we remember.
Do you remember what it was like when you had your 10th birthday? Ah, double-digits, ½ way to 20 and adulthood, long-division and cursive handwriting are a snap by now, and suddenly you start to stand a little taller and walk with a little more confidence. So, what comes after turning 10?
How about 13? A new teenager, starting high school, voice a little deeper, curves a little more shapely, the opposite sex no longer enemies. So, what comes after turning 13?
Oh yeah Baby, 16! Driver’s License, a false sense of freedom and adulthood, start shaving, get your 1st real job, and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. So, what comes after turning 16?
Oh man it just keeps getting better … 18! A legal adult, a bigger sense of real freedom to do stupid things: R-rated movies, buy cigarettes; and to do responsible things: rent a car, vote, pay rent, graduate; and a few things that people will argue over their wisdom and folly: get married, join the military. Real Freedom. Can it get any better? So, what comes after turning 18?
21! A full-fledged legal adult where everything that was legal at 18 is still legal at 21, and now you can go to a bar! So, what comes after turning 21?
Let’s stop at just a few more milestones.
You find the love of your life and get married – I was 22 when I found the love of my life and 23 when I got married; graduated from college, started working in a potential career-job, was diagnosed with a chronic, life threatening condition, and went back to school. All of that was possible because I had Jennifer by my side and had started a whole new phase of life as an adult married male. All my life laid open before me. A HUGE life-transition moment. So, what comes after getting married?
Having babies and growing a family; buying a house; and watching our children go through every one of those same phases we went through when we were children. It’s a different world today than it was when we were children, so nothing matches up exactly the same, but we can watch the similarities. Life-transition moments. So, what comes after raising children?
Empty nesting … and then retirement … and then widowing … and then … what? Life-transition after life-transition.
Doesn’t it seem that we spend most of the 1st part of our lives waiting for the next big day to arrive, preparing for the next life-transition moment, only to realize that it wasn’t as big as we had hoped, and so we then look to the NEXT big day?
And then we start realizing just how big those earlier days really were, and we start trying to hold the next big day off a little longer.
Here’s the deal. Last week we celebrated Easter, the biggest day on the Christian calendar – the most important holiday the church knows! Can there BE a bigger life-transition than Resurrection from the dead? So, what comes after Easter?
Most Christian churches, LPC included, had some guests and visitors worship with us on Easter Sunday, anywhere from just a few more people to a double-attendance! That’s fantastic! But, what comes after Easter?
It’s kind of like asking the reality question about what we do after we become/became a Christian. OK, I walked forward, I raised my hand, I prayed with the speaker, I received Jesus into my heart … what do I do next week? How has my life changed? Has there been a life-transition?
LPC is just about to celebrate its 115th anniversary of ministry in NE Spokane! our 100th anniversary of praise, prayer and service in this sanctuary!! It has been a GREAT 100 years! So, what comes after turning 100? It’s not enough to simply celebrate a triple-digit birthday!
In these weeks between Easter and Pentecost we’re going to look at some of the parables Jesus told, some of the lessons Jesus taught His disciples … and discover how they fit our lives today … how our lives have changed or might change because of Jesus Christ!
Let’s turn, 1st, to Luke 8:4-18 and discover the risks of post-Easter faithfulness…. ----
12
4 As a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some seed fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on the rock; when it grew up, it withered away, since it lacked moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with it and choked it.
13
8 Still other seed fell on good ground; when it grew up, it produced fruit: a hundred times what was sown.” As he said this, he called out, “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen.”
14
9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 10 So he said, “The secrets of the kingdom of God have been given for you to know, but to the rest it is in parables, so that (Isaiah 6:9)
Looking they may not see,
and hearing they may not understand.
15
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the seed on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy. Having no root, these believe for a while and fall away in a time of testing.
16
14 As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit. 15 But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, produce fruit.
17
16 “No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. 17 For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light. 18 Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
18
This is one of those stories that is in three of the four Gospels and it is just about the only parable where Jesus explains what it means. This story is told as an analogy. Most of the details describe real-life possibilities. In the next few weeks we’ll discover other kinds of parables, but this one is the most simple to interpret. And, I think it is a perfect example of what Jesus might teach about what comes after Easter.
As we begin our first Community Garden, perhaps there’s some practical application as well….
This story describes two things … and they both are meant for all of us, long-time Christians and brand-new believers, and everyone in between. And the lessons come in reverse order.
First, let’s talk about the types of soil on which the seed falls. Four types of soil are mentioned, but only one seed. The soils are all identified by Jesus as analogous of people who receive the Good News of salvation through the gift of God’s Son. And the seed is ID’d as that Good News. The farmer who is scattering the seed is never identified.
The first thing that comes after Easter involves the process of acknowledging which type of soil we think we really are. The soil on the path: hearers of God’s Word, but people who never allow it to sink in and take root and therefore refuse salvation. The soil filled with rocks: hearers of God’s Word, maybe they even walk to the altar or pray the prayer of thanksgiving for God’s forgiveness of their sins, but again they lose the joy that accompanies salvation as soon as life becomes hard. The soil that still contains thorns and thistles: hearers of God’s Word who become convinced with worries and fears, and enticed by temporary thrills of temptations to transgression. And lastly, the good soil: people who hear God’s Word and believe it and live like they believe it.
Nobody thinks of themselves as anything other than “good soil”. Well, let me correct that, no good church member thinks of himself as anything other than the “good soil”. That’s why we need to involve ourselves in the process of acknowledging which type of soil we think we really are.
Who here would admit to being shallow or weak or preoccupied with sin? I didn’t think so. That means we all think we’re “good soil”. But Jesus helps us recognize that truth: “hear God’s Word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”! All four types “heard” God’s Word, but only the good soil retains it, holds on to God’s Word no matter what – that’s a few of us; and produces a crop! – when was the last time you/we “produced a crop”, helped someone become a believer?
OK, if you’re a brand-new believer, you have an excuse because you’re new … but you also have the freshest enthusiasm for your faith. Don’t allow anything to take away from the goodness of your soil! Share your faith with someone today; tell them what happened to you. Report to someone the power of Jesus Christ in your life.
And that’s not only meant for new believers, but also for us more seasoned Christians. Find someone who does not know Jesus; tell them how your life has been made different; and invite them to meet Him, too.
That’s the second part of this parable. Who is the farmer? Unidentified, but part of what farmers do is prepare the soil! Nurture the compost! Rototill and provide water and sunshine and proper weeding and pruning and polinating.
This parable closes by describing the real converts, the people who have truly become Christians, by saying that they produce a crop – they scatter the seed! What comes after Easter? Opportunities galore to scatter seed and produce crops! If you invited someone to church with you last week … great job! We were one of those churches that actually increased our regular attendance by 50%! But part of helping other people be “good soil” is the company of other good soil! Invite them again next week! Scatter the seed of God’s Word, and it will not come back void.
And just in case any of His followers were still confused Jesus changed the parable: No one lights a lamp and hides it under his bed! No one becomes a new believer and keeps it a secret! No good soil kills its seed. Rather, good soil produces crops; real believers share their faith; lamps are put on lampstands to give light to the whole room!
At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ last words, what we call the Great Commission, are: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (including making more disciples!”
18
And here’s the clincher: When we believe the Good News and live like we believe the Good News of Jesus Christ, we’ll see those crops bloom and bear fruit and grow. But if we only pretend that we’re the good soil, even what we have will be taken away! Talk about life-transition moments!
That’s what comes after Easter! Happy scattering! Amen.
Great God of Creation, we worship You in spirit and in truth.
Lead us into our 2nd hundred years of scattering seed and producing fruit.
Prepare us for Your coming Kingdom and everything You would have us do and be here at LPC. Prove by our lives that we are, in fact, the good soil persevering and producing good crops for Your Kingdom!
Confirm Your direction with joy and hope.
In Jesus’ authority. Amen.
19
CAMERA
Our Choral Anthem !!! Choir – – “Because He Loves Us So!”
20-22
Lord, we hear the stories in the Bible of Christ’s forgiving love. We look at them from a distance, believing that we could never be forgiven by God. We want to measure our sins on a grand scale, but in truth it is the little ways in which we disown you and run from your presence that form the foundation of our sins. Forgive us, we pray. Help us to be open to the needs of others. We have so much that we can do, and sometimes, O Lord, we are overwhelmed by the needs. We become paralyzed and fearful. Ease our hearts and give us strength and courage to be active witnesses for you. Give us such faith that we may place our whole trust in you.
Today we have bring before you the names of people near and dear to us to be lifted in prayer. Some of these needs are for healing, for comfort, for solace; others are prayers of celebration and joy. All of these things we offer to you. Help us to truly believe in your abiding love in answer to all prayers that we willingly place our lives in your care. Heal and restore us; for we ask this in Jesus’ name.
- what are some praises, thanksgivings, adorations we want to offer?
- Is there a person or a situation you want to lift to our Lord for His answers and grace?
23 We pray this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray: [The Lord’s Prayer]
24
Just like those earliest Christians, we sing praises here in this place because of the commitment and faith and generosity of others who shared the Good News of the Gospel in their time.
So we turn now, in our time, and share our faith and our commitment through generous giving to support the ministry of this church in Christ’s name. Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude and praise.
Receive our tithes and offerings as symbols of our very lives and livelihood, given as response to Your life given for us! Bless it, and by it bless the world around us. In Christ’s name, Amen.
– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE, or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)
Expedition Song #537 – In My Life, Lord –! We began today singing that He is Lord, and we close praying for Lord Jesus to be glorified!!
25-27
28
29
We continue with this benediction: May we Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit.
And give glory to God, today, and forever! Amen.
And as we do that: “May the Lord bless you and protect you;
may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.”
30 Announcements
Resources:
Wheeler, Mark; “So, What Comes After Easter”; Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church; 04/15/2007.
https://www.ministrymatters.com/all/entry/3955/worship-connection-june-23-2019
lidgerwoodpresbychurch 