Sunday, January 4, 2009 
Scripture reading: Luke 18: 9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” 13But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Sermon Title: "BE RESOLVED" Sunday, January 4, 2009
PASTOR HUDSON: Welcome to a brand new
year. 2009 is upon us with all of its possibilities
and all of its challenges. We are celebrating the
beginning of a brand new year with a service which has
historically been referred to as the Wesley covenant
service. It's purpose is to allow the church to come
together and renew the covenant that each individual
had with their covenant God.
I believe 2009 has the potential for our church to
be a true water-shed year. We will be confronted with
choices to be made. Decisions will present themselves
which will shape our future for the years to come. We
need to be very clear in our hearts and minds where
the spirit of the Lord is directing and leading us as
to what our mission is to be. Part of what we're
doing within this consultation is, in fact, veered in
the direction of mission. Now some of you will think
we pretty much know that, don't we? Truth of the
matter is we don't.
I think what we need to do first is discover
where God is leading us. We need to figure out if we
are on the same page with God with reference to the
mission and the ministry of Wesley United Methodist
Church in our community and beyond in 2009. The good
part of the equation is in large degree we are. Do we
know what kind of mission out of the future life of
this church would be in keeping with what God wants to
accomplish in Shawnee and beyond?
Part of that is our consultation, but I'll
guarantee you no consultant can simply come in and
say, if you will do this, this and this, you'll be
right where God wants you to be. Expect that what the
consultant will do is give us, to the best of their
ability, all of the resources necessary for us to
answer that question prayerfully within our own
covenant community.
Secondly, I think our mission needs to be broader
than we have allowed it to be. We have done a good
job of mission. I think it's absolutely right the
things that we have done, for example, the Kickapoo
Apartments, Salvation Army and the various other
places. Mission that reaches people in relevant ways
is a part of the answer, but sometimes we have a
problem with the relevancy thing.
We need to step outside our comfort zone. Now
I'm going to step into an area that may not be second
nature to us. In 2009 one of the things we as a
church need to seriously consider as a priority is
part of our mission should be an unabashed desire to
change the allegiance of persons we interact with
throughout our community and beyond through the power
of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I believe if we are to derive the very best
benefit from our consultation in terms of discovering
what our mission is in all of this process and how we
prioritize the directions for our future, if we are to
accomplish those worthy goals, then I think we are
going to have to wrestle both conscientiously and
individually to be resolved to change our personal
perspectives within the church.
We are called to be an intentional people of God
with all of its hazards and all of its exciting
possibilities. Let's make this not just another
Methodist ritual, but a true water-shed spiritual
moment for 2009. In the name of the Father, the Son
and Holy Spirit. Amen.