Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday 25, September 2005
Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32, Phillipians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32
Sermon(Pastor Eberhart): Through faith, a Christian is called to act. A lot of people rewrite their wedding rites so the word `obey' is omitted. Teenagers don't want to obey. Obedience is described like a four letter word. But obedience makes us Christians. The trinity shows us the obedience relationship between Father Son and Holy Spirit. God told Jesus to give up his glory to become human. To show love for people. He would not be married or have kids, but be crucified. He humbled himself instead of exalting himself. Jesus obeyed. We like obedience in other people. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." "Talk is cheap." There are a lot of statements like this. Sometimes you call a roofer or a plumber and they're a no show. You wait all day and they don't come. You call them ten times a day, and it's always a recording. Finally at 6pm, you get through and find out they can only do it 2 and 1/2 weeks from then. They lied.
"How great is his talk, how little his gains, great is his thunder..."
The boy in the parable said what he thought they wanted to hear. People do this all the time. There was a painting in the coffee room. Pastor asked a man what he thought of it. "It's pretty," he said. "Really?" said the pastor. "No, it's ugly."
A lot of people say they'll do something "when they get around to it."
The word hypocrite means an ancient greek actor who puts on masks of various facial expressions and puts on a show.
The other boy in the parable changed his mind. People like this show the love of Christ, but don't put up a show of being a Christian. While Jesus was preaching, a woman stood up and said "blessed are the breasts that nursed you." Jesus replied that rather a person is blessed if they do God's will. "Your mother and brothers are here, Jesus" someone else said. "My mother, sister and brothers are those who do God's will." The boy in the parable repented of his arrogance and did what was asked. Repentence means to turn around. To begin again. We have a chance to take on a new life. Obedience is not a bad word.