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<p><font size=3 color="#666666" face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Resources
for Proper 22</span></font> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Matthew 21:33-46 - <strong><b><font face=Verdana><span
style='font-family:Verdana'>"Rebellion in the Vineyard"</span></font></b></strong></span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Philippians 3:4b-14 - <strong><b><font face=Verdana><span
style='font-family:Verdana'>"The Bridge Over Every Troubled Waters"</span></font></b></strong>
by Leonard Sweet</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Matthew 21, the sermon title “Rebellion in the
Vineyard" </span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>A friend of journalist David Halberstam was planning a
visit to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
It would be his first visit, and he was a little anxious because he
couldn’t speak Japanese. How would he communicate with the people he came
in contact with?<br>
<br>
Since most taxi drivers do not speak English, someone suggested that it might
be a good idea to carry with him something bearing the name of the hotel at
which he would be staying written in Japanese. That was exactly what he did. As
soon as he arrived in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>
he picked up a box of matches bearing the name and address of his hotel. Then
he went sight-seeing.<br>
<br>
Afterwards he got into a taxi and did as the friend suggested, he took the box
of matches out of his pocket to show the driver where he wanted to go. There
were a few awkward moments before the driver understood. Finally his face lit
up. Quickly they sped away. Half an hour later, the taxi came to a screeching
halt. The driver turned and beamed at his passenger, pointing out the window.
There was only one problem. They had stopped, not in front of a hotel, but a
match factory! </span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><br>
Have you ever had an experience like that? Someone will say something and for
whatever reason you do not understand. It’s as if they were speaking a
foreign language. You want to go back to the hotel and instead find yourself in
front of a match factory. <br>
<br>
There were times when Jesus tried to communicate profound truths to those
around him and they acted as if he were from Mars. He would say something and
he could watch their eyes glaze over. Particularly he had difficulty getting
through to the religious officials of his day. They wanted nothing to do with
him or his teachings. They condemned him without even listening to him. They
were so sure of themselves and their standing in the community that they were
impervious to everything he did or said.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>What would you do in that situation? You are trying to
communicate something important, but they just don’t get it. You’re
not getting through. That was the situation Jesus found himself in. So he did
what he often did, he told a story. He told a story of rebellion that communicates
some key information about our role in His kingdom. </span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>We are to remember that, though it is His kingdom, we have
a responsibility. Because…<br>
<br>
1. There Is Rebellion in the Vineyard.</span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>2. We Are the Tenants.</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>3. And He Calls Us to Good Stewardship.</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The rest of this sermon following the outline above can be
obtained by joining <a
href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8PCgMLCgBQRAMNA0sDAABWWg%3D%3D"
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title="blocked::http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8PCgMLCgBQRAMNA0sDAABWWg=="><span
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size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>_______________________</span></font><font size=1
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Philippians 3 the sermon titled "The Bridge Over
Every Troubled Waters" by Leonard Sweet <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>In every cliffhanger action movie, at some point in the
chase scene an enormous chasm suddenly appears before the hero as he flees the
bad guys. The only way across is an incredibly narrow, rickety, mostly-rotten
bridge. The way forward looks terrible. But the way back is certain death. So,
of course, our hero bravely steps or drives forward and steels himself to cross
the abyss on the frail and shaky bridge. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>“Cliffhangers” being appropriately named, the
results are pretty predictable. Although the hero always manages to make it,
the bridge itself collapses or is cut down by the bad guys, and the way across
is lost for all time.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>There is a reason bridges strike such fear into us at the
thought of crossing over on them. </span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>I have no problem driving a car across a bridge going
50-60-70 mph. Have you ever had a problem? When I’m going across I know
there are huge drop-offs on either side of the bridge, but I never once have
hugged the guard-rails or bumped into an iron barrier one on the way across.
I’m never tempted to get close to the edge, and when a car edges me to
the side, I negotiate the side of the bridge as if there were no safety rails.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>But take away the scaffolding --- take away the guard
rails, the concrete and steel side girders, the bumper-barricades on the bridge
— and I’m now a different driver. I’m crawling across that
bridge 5 or 10 mph at best. Without any protection to keep my car from driving
right off the bridge, I’m not sure I could even make it 100 yards across
any bridge. </span></font><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>We all need guard rails and barriers. They help us get
across the chasms and abysms of life. But the guard rails and barriers work
best when they aren’t noticed, or celebrated, or even acknowledged. If
they’re there, you don’t need them. If they’re not there, you
and I can’t move, frozen in fear, or we risk going off the deep end. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Paul wrote his week’s words to the Philippian
Christians to warn them that they were worshiping the guardrails and safety
guards rather than the bridge that was carrying them across….</span></font><font
size=1 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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