<font color='black' size='4' face='Times New Roman, Times, serif'>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">God’s Kingdom Comes through Small Acts of Kindness</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Have
you ever felt like giving up? Have you ever wondered, even in what you
try to do for God, whether it is doing any good? Let God be the judge of
that! I remember reading about a little girl named Annie who in 1876
was ten years of age. She was put into a poor house for
children...called the Tewkesbury Alms House in Massachusetts. Her mother
had died and her father had deserted her. Her aunt and uncle found her
too difficult to handle. She had a bad disposition, a violent
temper...stemming in part from eyes afflicted with painful trachoma. She
had been put in the poorhouse because no one wanted her. She was such a
wild one that at times she had to be tied down. <br>
<br>
But there was another inmate named Maggie who cared for Annie. Maggie
talked to her, fed her, even though Annie would throw her food on the
floor, cursing and rebelling with every ounce of her being. But Maggie
was a Christian and out of her convictions she was determined to love
this dirty, unkempt, spiteful, unloving little girl. It wasn't easy, but
slowly it got through to Annie that she was not the only who was
suffering. Maggie also had been abandoned. And gradually Annie began to
respond. <br>
<br>
Maggie told her about a school for the blind and Annie began to beg to
be sent there, and finally, consent was given and she went to the
Perkins Institute. After a series of operations her sight was partially
restored. She was able to finish her schooling and graduate at age
twenty. Having been blind so long she told the director of Perkins that
she wanted to work with blind and difficult children. They found a
little girl seven years old in Alabama who was blind and deaf from the
age of two. So, Annie Sullivan went to Tuscumbia, Alabama to unlock the
door of Helen Keller's dark prison and to set her free. <br>
<br>
One human being, in the name of Christ, helping another human being!
That's how God's kingdom comes, through small acts of kindness! <br>
<br>
Robert W. Bohl, Reluctant Servants<br>
__________________________________________<br>
<br>
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt">Making a Difference</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">There
is a little story that comes from a book called the Star Fisher.
Picture if you will an early morning along a California beach. An
elderly man is walking along the edge of the water and stops
occasionally, picks up something, and then tosses it into the ocean. He
then walks a few steps more, picks up something, and tosses it into the
ocean. A young jogger is running along and has been watching the man.
Finally his curiosity gets the best of him and he stops and goes over to
the old gentleman and asks: "Excuse me, what are you doing?"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The
man answered: Well, I am saving the life of these star fish. The storm
washed them ashore last night, the sun will be up in thirty minutes, and
then they will all die. I am throwing them back into the water to save
their lives.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The
jogger was a bit astounded. Old man, he said, don't you know that you
have thirty miles of beach ahead of you and that millions of those star
fish were washed ashore last night. What possible difference do you
think that you are going to make. The old man took another step picked
up a star fish, and with all his might hurled it into the ocean, then
turned to the jogger and said: "Well, son, I guess I made a difference
in that one's life."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Traditional, <a target="_blank" __removedlink__2143817564__href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GBAIEAA9bC0kDCQ5KDAtXUVw%3D"><span style="color: purple">www.eSermons.com</span></a> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">______________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Fulfilling Your Calling</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">An
anonymous writer has said, "My small son and I were taking a walk. In
the far corner of the field we found a small patch of beautiful and
fragrant flowers. They were in the middle of weeds, almost completely
hidden and unnoticed, yet these flowers were blooming in full beauty and
we sensed their fresh fragrance. All of us have met persons unnoticed
by many, but who in the middle of struggle and unlikely surroundings far
from the center of attention live lives of beauty and fragrance. And
living lives which seemed obscure they faithfully fulfilled God's
calling for them. God's question on the last day will not be, 'How much
were you noticed?' or even 'How much did you do?' Rather, his question
will be, 'Were you faithful in fulfilling your calling where I placed
you?' " </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Peter J. Blackburn, Using What We Have</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">_______________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Investing in God</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">It
had been a hard winter in the Appalachian area. The snow had piled up
deeper and deeper, the mercury dropped, rivers froze, people suffered.
The Red Cross used helicopters to fly in supplies. One crew had been
working day after day--long hours. They were on their way home late in
the afternoon when they saw a little cabin submerged in the snow. There
was a thin whisper of smoke coming from the chimney. The rescue team
figured they were probably about out of food, fuel, perhaps medicine.
Because of the trees they had to put the helicopter down a mile away.
They put on heavy packs with emergency supplies, trudged through heavy
snow, waist deep, reached the cabin exhausted, panting, perspiring. They
pounded on the door. A thin, gaunt mountain woman opened the door and
the lead man gasped, "We're from the Red Cross." She was silent for a
moment and then she said, "It’s been
a hard
winter, Sonny, I just don't think we can give anything this year."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">You
might think this message is about a plea for money, but it’s not. It’s
not about investing in stocks or bonds or IRA’s. It’s about investing in
God and what God wants to do in the world.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">David Beckett, Spiritual Investment</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">____________________________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Service</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Sir
Michael Costa, the celebrated conductor, was holding a rehearsal. As
the mighty chorus rang out, accompanied by scores of instruments, the
piccolo player--a little pint-sized flute--thinking perhaps that his
contribution would not be missed amid so much music, stopped
playing. Suddenly, the great leader stopped and cried out, “Where is the
piccolo?”</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The
sound of that one small instrument was necessary to the harmony, and
the Master Conductor missed it when it dropped out. The point? To the
Conductor there are no insignificant instruments in an
orchestra. Sometimes the smallest and seemingly least important one can
make the greatest contribution and even if it doesn’t seem to make that
big a difference to the audience at large, THE CONDUCTOR KNOWS IT right
away!</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In
the Church the players and the instruments are diverse—different sizes,
different shapes, different notes, different roles to play. But like
the piccolo player in Sir Michael’s orchestra, we often in our own
sovereignty decide that our contribution is not significant. Our
contribution couldn't possibly make a difference. And so we quit
playing. Stop doing that which we’ve been given to do. We drop out. But
the Conductor immediately notices. From our perspective, our
contribution may be small, but from His, it is crucial.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">I
just have to believe I’m talking to some piccolo players this morning,
who have dropped out of the orchestra, for whatever reasons: pain,
exhaustion, insecurity, criticism, laziness, misbehavior. Convinced that
your contribution doesn’t mean a hill of beans in the bigger scheme of
things. We have buried our talent in the ground.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">For all piccolos who won’t play, or at least aren’t playing, Jesus has something to say.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Adapted from Richard Love, Blowing Your Horn, Sermon Illustrations.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Starting Is the First Step</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Starting
is the first step to succeeding. We cannot be afraid of failure. I am a
baseball junkie so I can bring you this: in 1915 Ty Cobb set the record
for stolen bases, 96. Seven years later, Max Carey of the Pittsburgh
Pirates became second best with 51 stolen bases. Does this mean that
Cobb was twice as good as Carey, his closest rival?<br>
<br>
Look at the facts: Cobb made 134 attempts, Carey, 53. Cobb failed 38
times; Carey only failed twice. Cobb succeeded 96 times, Carey only 51
times. Cobb's average was only 71 percent. Carey's average was 96
percent. Carey's average was much better than Cobb's. Cobb tried 81 more
times than Carey. But here is the key: His 81 additional tries produced
44 more stolen bases. Cobb risked failure 81 more times in one season
than his closest rival and Cobb goes down in history as the greatest
base runner of all time. Why? Because he tried.<br>
<br>
The one in the middle - the faithful servant who does the best he or she
possibly can with what has been given - the one who tries. And the
result is pleasing, perhaps even surprisingly pleasing, to the Master.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">David E. Leininger, <a target="_blank" __removedlink__2143817564__href="http://mail.churchmail.com/lists/lt.php?id=Kk8GBAIEAA9bC0kDCQ5KDAtXUVw%3D"><span style="color: purple">www.eSermons.com</span></a></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">_______________________________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Expanding Our Talents</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">I
read a short article that perhaps the church is too forgiving. We
continue to let poor performers perform. The off-pitch singer we
continue to let ruin the choir anthems. The lector who can't read with
any emotions. Etc. How do we encourage (or demand) that members need to
grow in their abilities? (A case I heard about: When a church organist
refused to schedule lessons that the congregation had paid for, so that
the organist could better learn how to play the new organ the church had
purchased, she was fired.)</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">I
would extend this "improving one's abilities" to also include committee
chairs, who should be reading and/or taking continuing education
classes on conducting meetings and on topics related to their
responsibilities. I once heard a consultant state that he had worked
with a congregation that was run by a bunch of eighth graders. Not one
of the elected leaders had taken any Christian education classes since
8th grade confirmation classes. How could they govern the church by the
Word of God if they weren't studying it?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">__________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Indifference</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In
this passage Jesus, in judging the nations, reveals the importance of
caring for believers. We all consider it proper to share food, and other
things, to others in the church who have needs. We would all
acknowledge that it is important to do so. But Jesus considers it of the
utmost priority. Here He judges people by how much they care. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">In
the book The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis, a devil briefs his
demon nephew, Wormwood, in a series of letters, on the subtleties and
techniques of tempting people. In his writings, the devil says that the
objective is not to make people wicked but to make them indifferent.
This higher devil cautions Wormwood that he must keep the patient
comfortable at all costs. If he should start thinking about anything of
importance, encourage him to think about his luncheon plans and not to
worry so much because it could cause indigestion. And then the devil
gives this instruction to his nephew: "I, the devil, will always see to
it that there are bad people. Your job, my dear Wormwood, is to provide
me with people who do not care."</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Dan Vellinga, What Would You Do?</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">______________________________________________</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">A Little Effort</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">Apathy
is the opposite of Faith: Some years ago in South America, a crew of
Peruvian Sailors, headed up the Amazon river came upon a strange sight.
It was like a scene from "The Twilight Zone." A Spanish ship was
anchored off the coast and all the sailors were stretched out weakly on
the deck of the ship. As the Peruvians drew closer, they saw that the
Spaniards were in terrible physical condition. They looked the picture
of death itself, their lips parched and swollen. They were literally
dying of thirst.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">"Can we help you?" shouted the Peruvians.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Spaniards cried out, "Water! Water! We need fresh water!"</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: 12pt">The Peruvian sailors, surprised at this request, told them to lower their buckets and help themselves…</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="font-size: small"> </span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: black">The
conclusion to this illustration and many additional illustrations and
sermons for Proper 28, Thanksgiving, and Advent can be accessed at <a __removedlink__2143817564__href="http://www.Sermons.com" target="_blank">www.Sermons.com</a>.</span></span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: small"> </span></div>
</font>