| The Shoop, Shoop Sermon |
Love Songs From God: The Shoop, Shoop Sermon
(It’s In His Cross)
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
February 10, 2008
February, the month when we return to our catholic roots to worship the
patron saint of love - Saint Valentine. During this month we are exploring
the concept of love.
Everyone wants.... everyone needs to be loved. It is part of the essence
of being human. It is part of our quest for acceptance. We ask
repeatedly, “Does he or she love me. I want to know.” And at times in the
process, we seek the answer in unhealthy ways, unhealthy because that
is what we have learned and experienced through songs, TV, and
movies. We have engaged in relationships built not on Gods abundant
love... but on the world’s concept that love is limited.
When we build on the idea that love is limited it becomes an act of
grasping... an attempt to possess. In that possessive grasping we begin
to focus not on the other.... but on the self. The more ego-centric... the
more centered on self we become.... the greater our need for
reassurance. We seek love then not at its source.... but in the ways the
world has sold it to us - in things. We buy into what Cher and others have
preached... it’s in his kiss.
What happens when the kiss doesn’t happen?
Let me suggest what many of you already know. When we don’t find love
in a kiss... when we are mired in the midst of the needs of self and our
hero or heroine of love doesn’t come to our rescue... we begin to focus
on the negative... We clutch on to the mistakes we’ve made, rather than
the gifts God has blessed us with. Allow me to suggest that God offers a
better way.
There is a tale told of St. Francis of Assisi and Brother Leo. They were
staying together and found that they had no book to lead them in their
confessions. Francis decided to improvise and so said to Brother Leo,
"I will say like this, `Oh, Brother Francis, you have done so much evil and
sin in the world that you deserve hell.' You, Brother Leo, shall answer: `It
is true that you deserve the depths of hell.' It is very important that you
repeat this phrase without changing a word."
Brother Leo who was as simple and pure as a man could be replied, "All
right, father. Begin in the name of the Lord."
St. Francis began, "Oh, Brother Francis, you have done so many evil
deeds and sins in the world that you deserve hell."
And Brother Leo answered: "God will perform so much good through
you that you will go to paradise."
St. Francis was quite upset. "Don't say that, Brother Leo! Answer exactly
like this, `You certainly deserve to be placed among the damned.'"
"I will do as you say," Brother Leo replied.
Then beating his breast, St. Francis cried, “Oh, my Lord, I have
committed so many evil deeds and sins against you that I deserve to be
utterly damned."
Brother Leo answered: "Oh, Brother Francis, God will make you such
that you will be remarkably blessed among the blessed."
"Why don't you answer as I have told you?" St. Francis scolded. "Under
holy obedience I command you to say, `You are not worthy of finding
mercy.'"
"Go ahead, father," Leo said meekly. "This time I will say just what you
tell me."
Kneeling down and lifting up his head, St. Francis prayed sadly, "Oh,
Brother Francis, do you think God will have mercy on you, for you have
committed so many sins?"
But Brother Leo answered, "God the Father, whose mercy is infinitely
greater than your sins, will be merciful to you and grant you grace."
St. Francis was angry and said to Brother Leo, "Why have you dared to
go against my wishes and to answer the opposite of what I told you?"
Then Brother Leo replied gently and humbly, "God knows, dear father,
that each time I resolved in my heart to answer as you told me, but God
makes me speak as pleases him and not as pleases me. Dear father,
try as I do, the only words that God gives me are ones of grace and
forgiveness. I can't say anything else because God is speaking through
my mouth."
Does God love me? I want to know.
Do you want to see the indisputable proof of God's love for you? Then
you need look no farther than this cross by our altar. It's a symbol of the
love God has shown us through Jesus Christ. The Apostle John says,
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us." I Jn 3:16.
For your sake, Jesus Christ, the King of all creation bowed His head
and accepted a crown...not of jewels, but of thorns. For your sake, His
hands and feet were pierced by nails. His wounded shoulders felt the
rough, wooden surface of the cross for your sake, and for your sake His
blood flowed. All this so that you and I can claim complete innocence in
God's eyes. We are forgiven! We are free from the curse of sin, or as
Paul says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us.”
It’s not in his kiss... It’s in His cross.
God's promise that we are forgiven and accepted by God even when we
have a hard time forgiving and accepting ourselves.... God’s love, is
found in His cross.
The amazing thing, the totally unexpected thing, is that even though we
sometimes spend years searching for the love the world offers and have
walked away from God - separated ourselves from God’s way of love -
God forgives us and empowers us to live new lives. God accepts us as
we are.
God doesn't say, "Become kissable and then I’ll love you." No, God
says, "Right now, just as you are, I accept you. There is no longer a wall
between us. I want to be in as close a relationship to you as you will let
me."
How do we know God works that way? Because that has been the story
since Adam and Eve first separated from God. Because that is what
Isaiah meant when he spoke God’s words. “I have made you and I will
carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Because that is what
the New Testament is all about. It is not merely a statement about
unconditional love, but an enactment of it. Robert McAfee Brown writes:
"Looking at Christ from the point of our need, we see in him the
embodiment of this kind of love. We see in him God's outgoing love
coming to us when we could not get to him, entering into our experience,
refusing to hate people even when people hated him, loving them to the
bitter end, even death upon a cross."
Brown goes on: "So the Christian faith says: That is God's love, coming
to you just as you are, not waiting till you are worthy, but meeting you
precisely at the point of your unworthiness. Simply believe that God is
like that. Simply believe that God has taken the initiative in seeking you;
that you are already forgiven if you will accept the gift of forgiveness
which God offers you."
The new relationship, which the Bible calls "salvation" is a gift. It is not
earned, it is not deserved, and there are no hoops to jump through. I am
brought into a new relationship with God, not because I am perfect
(guess what? I’m not), but because God loves me in spite of the fact that
I am not perfect.
It’s in His cross. Christ died for us while we are yet sinners. God loves
the undeserving.
Paul Tillich clarifies the matter. "You are accepted. All you have to do is
accept the fact that you are accepted."
There is no other god like our God! You are accepted just the way you
are. You don't need to prove yourself, or rush frantically about trying to
achieve God's recognition. You are accepted right now.
And what do you have to do? Merely accept this fact. Merely begin to
live your life as though this is true.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your
sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against
us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:13-15
NIV)
Is it in the world? No, you’re not listening to what I say. It’s in His Cross.
Max Lucado writes this:
"It rests on the timeline of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy
summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all
searchers.
My, what a piece of wood! History has idolized it and despised it, gold-
plated it and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything
to it but ignore it.
That's the one option that the cross does not offer.
No one can ignore it! You can't ignore a piece of lumber that suspends
the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming that he is
God on earth? Divine? Eternal? The death-slayer?"
It’s in His cross.
You are accepted just the way you are. You don't need to prove yourself,
or rush frantically about trying to achieve God's recognition. You are
accepted right now. And what do you have to do? Merely accept this
fact. Merely begin to live your life as though this is true.
Where does it all lead? Transformation: Tillich's wisdom again shines
through, "If you are accepted by God just as you are, then you can
accept yourself just as you are; and if you accept yourself just as you are,
then you can accept other people just as they are."
Does he love me? I want to know.
How can I tell if he loves me so?
It’s in His cross. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God.
AMEN.
If you want to know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Is it in his face?
Oh no, that's just his charms
In his warm embrace?
Oh no, that's just his arms
If you want to know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is
It's there in his kiss
How about the way he acts?
Oh no, that's not the way
And you're not listenin' to all i say
If you wanna know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is it's there in his kiss
How about the way he acts?
Oh no, that's not the way
And you're not listenin' to all i say
If you wanna know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss Does he love me? i want to know
How can i tell, if he loves me so?
Is it in his eyes?
Oh no, you'll be deceived
Is it in his signs?
Oh no, he'll make believe
That's where it is
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
(It’s In His Cross)
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
February 10, 2008
February, the month when we return to our catholic roots to worship the
patron saint of love - Saint Valentine. During this month we are exploring
the concept of love.
Everyone wants.... everyone needs to be loved. It is part of the essence
of being human. It is part of our quest for acceptance. We ask
repeatedly, “Does he or she love me. I want to know.” And at times in the
process, we seek the answer in unhealthy ways, unhealthy because that
is what we have learned and experienced through songs, TV, and
movies. We have engaged in relationships built not on Gods abundant
love... but on the world’s concept that love is limited.
When we build on the idea that love is limited it becomes an act of
grasping... an attempt to possess. In that possessive grasping we begin
to focus not on the other.... but on the self. The more ego-centric... the
more centered on self we become.... the greater our need for
reassurance. We seek love then not at its source.... but in the ways the
world has sold it to us - in things. We buy into what Cher and others have
preached... it’s in his kiss.
What happens when the kiss doesn’t happen?
Let me suggest what many of you already know. When we don’t find love
in a kiss... when we are mired in the midst of the needs of self and our
hero or heroine of love doesn’t come to our rescue... we begin to focus
on the negative... We clutch on to the mistakes we’ve made, rather than
the gifts God has blessed us with. Allow me to suggest that God offers a
better way.
There is a tale told of St. Francis of Assisi and Brother Leo. They were
staying together and found that they had no book to lead them in their
confessions. Francis decided to improvise and so said to Brother Leo,
"I will say like this, `Oh, Brother Francis, you have done so much evil and
sin in the world that you deserve hell.' You, Brother Leo, shall answer: `It
is true that you deserve the depths of hell.' It is very important that you
repeat this phrase without changing a word."
Brother Leo who was as simple and pure as a man could be replied, "All
right, father. Begin in the name of the Lord."
St. Francis began, "Oh, Brother Francis, you have done so many evil
deeds and sins in the world that you deserve hell."
And Brother Leo answered: "God will perform so much good through
you that you will go to paradise."
St. Francis was quite upset. "Don't say that, Brother Leo! Answer exactly
like this, `You certainly deserve to be placed among the damned.'"
"I will do as you say," Brother Leo replied.
Then beating his breast, St. Francis cried, “Oh, my Lord, I have
committed so many evil deeds and sins against you that I deserve to be
utterly damned."
Brother Leo answered: "Oh, Brother Francis, God will make you such
that you will be remarkably blessed among the blessed."
"Why don't you answer as I have told you?" St. Francis scolded. "Under
holy obedience I command you to say, `You are not worthy of finding
mercy.'"
"Go ahead, father," Leo said meekly. "This time I will say just what you
tell me."
Kneeling down and lifting up his head, St. Francis prayed sadly, "Oh,
Brother Francis, do you think God will have mercy on you, for you have
committed so many sins?"
But Brother Leo answered, "God the Father, whose mercy is infinitely
greater than your sins, will be merciful to you and grant you grace."
St. Francis was angry and said to Brother Leo, "Why have you dared to
go against my wishes and to answer the opposite of what I told you?"
Then Brother Leo replied gently and humbly, "God knows, dear father,
that each time I resolved in my heart to answer as you told me, but God
makes me speak as pleases him and not as pleases me. Dear father,
try as I do, the only words that God gives me are ones of grace and
forgiveness. I can't say anything else because God is speaking through
my mouth."
Does God love me? I want to know.
Do you want to see the indisputable proof of God's love for you? Then
you need look no farther than this cross by our altar. It's a symbol of the
love God has shown us through Jesus Christ. The Apostle John says,
"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us." I Jn 3:16.
For your sake, Jesus Christ, the King of all creation bowed His head
and accepted a crown...not of jewels, but of thorns. For your sake, His
hands and feet were pierced by nails. His wounded shoulders felt the
rough, wooden surface of the cross for your sake, and for your sake His
blood flowed. All this so that you and I can claim complete innocence in
God's eyes. We are forgiven! We are free from the curse of sin, or as
Paul says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us.”
It’s not in his kiss... It’s in His cross.
God's promise that we are forgiven and accepted by God even when we
have a hard time forgiving and accepting ourselves.... God’s love, is
found in His cross.
The amazing thing, the totally unexpected thing, is that even though we
sometimes spend years searching for the love the world offers and have
walked away from God - separated ourselves from God’s way of love -
God forgives us and empowers us to live new lives. God accepts us as
we are.
God doesn't say, "Become kissable and then I’ll love you." No, God
says, "Right now, just as you are, I accept you. There is no longer a wall
between us. I want to be in as close a relationship to you as you will let
me."
How do we know God works that way? Because that has been the story
since Adam and Eve first separated from God. Because that is what
Isaiah meant when he spoke God’s words. “I have made you and I will
carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Because that is what
the New Testament is all about. It is not merely a statement about
unconditional love, but an enactment of it. Robert McAfee Brown writes:
"Looking at Christ from the point of our need, we see in him the
embodiment of this kind of love. We see in him God's outgoing love
coming to us when we could not get to him, entering into our experience,
refusing to hate people even when people hated him, loving them to the
bitter end, even death upon a cross."
Brown goes on: "So the Christian faith says: That is God's love, coming
to you just as you are, not waiting till you are worthy, but meeting you
precisely at the point of your unworthiness. Simply believe that God is
like that. Simply believe that God has taken the initiative in seeking you;
that you are already forgiven if you will accept the gift of forgiveness
which God offers you."
The new relationship, which the Bible calls "salvation" is a gift. It is not
earned, it is not deserved, and there are no hoops to jump through. I am
brought into a new relationship with God, not because I am perfect
(guess what? I’m not), but because God loves me in spite of the fact that
I am not perfect.
It’s in His cross. Christ died for us while we are yet sinners. God loves
the undeserving.
Paul Tillich clarifies the matter. "You are accepted. All you have to do is
accept the fact that you are accepted."
There is no other god like our God! You are accepted just the way you
are. You don't need to prove yourself, or rush frantically about trying to
achieve God's recognition. You are accepted right now.
And what do you have to do? Merely accept this fact. Merely begin to
live your life as though this is true.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your
sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against
us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public
spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col 2:13-15
NIV)
Is it in the world? No, you’re not listening to what I say. It’s in His Cross.
Max Lucado writes this:
"It rests on the timeline of history like a compelling diamond. Its tragedy
summons all sufferers. Its absurdity attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all
searchers.
My, what a piece of wood! History has idolized it and despised it, gold-
plated it and burned it, worn and trashed it. History has done everything
to it but ignore it.
That's the one option that the cross does not offer.
No one can ignore it! You can't ignore a piece of lumber that suspends
the greatest claim in history. A crucified carpenter claiming that he is
God on earth? Divine? Eternal? The death-slayer?"
It’s in His cross.
You are accepted just the way you are. You don't need to prove yourself,
or rush frantically about trying to achieve God's recognition. You are
accepted right now. And what do you have to do? Merely accept this
fact. Merely begin to live your life as though this is true.
Where does it all lead? Transformation: Tillich's wisdom again shines
through, "If you are accepted by God just as you are, then you can
accept yourself just as you are; and if you accept yourself just as you are,
then you can accept other people just as they are."
Does he love me? I want to know.
How can I tell if he loves me so?
It’s in His cross. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who
are perishing, but to we who are being saved it is the power of God.
AMEN.
If you want to know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Is it in his face?
Oh no, that's just his charms
In his warm embrace?
Oh no, that's just his arms
If you want to know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is
It's there in his kiss
How about the way he acts?
Oh no, that's not the way
And you're not listenin' to all i say
If you wanna know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
Hug him and squeeze him tight
Find out what you want to know
If it's love, if it really is it's there in his kiss
How about the way he acts?
Oh no, that's not the way
And you're not listenin' to all i say
If you wanna know if he loves you so
It's in his kiss Does he love me? i want to know
How can i tell, if he loves me so?
Is it in his eyes?
Oh no, you'll be deceived
Is it in his signs?
Oh no, he'll make believe
That's where it is
It's in his kiss
That's where it is
DeWitt United Methodist Church
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