Sunday, May 31, 2009 
Scripture Reading: Luke 12:54-56
54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
Sermon Title: "SOMETHING OTHER THAN RAIN" Sunday, May 31, 2009
ASSOCIATE PASTOR STEELE: Have you ever
stopped to think how much time we spend on the
weather? It is usually the last thing I hear on the
news before bed and one of the first things I read in
the newspapers the next morning. Our society has
invested millions of dollars in state-of-the-art
equipment so we can accurately predict the weather.
In the scripture reading Jesus gives a reprimand
of sorts to the religious leaders of the church of
that day for spending too much time and too much
energy focusing on weather at the expense of ignoring
things that are truly important in life. Now isn't it
funny that thousands of years later the church is
still struggling with that same issue?
We will get together with our friends and instead
of talking about complex issues and how to solve
problems, we talk about subjects that don't really
matter in the grand scheme of things.
In Luke chapter 12 Jesus said to the religious
establishment, how is it you are able to spend so much
time talking about the rain and so little time focused
on spiritual or eternal matters, things that truly
make a difference?
Church, let me ask you the same question: How is
it we are able to talk to a complete stranger about
the weather, but can't find a way to talk to our
children, for example, about dangers of premarital
sex? Did you know in Oklahoma there has been a 10
percent increase in the number of births among teenage
girls and that nearly 20 percent of Oklahoma girls
don't even graduate from high school? Also, one in
five children in our state go to bed hungry every
night. Gang activity, STDs, drug and alcohol abuse
are on the rise, and we're discussing the weather.
So what exactly is the church's responsibility in
society and to society? You are called to touch
everything around you and help make it better. You're
called to help bring out the best in others, bring out
the best in our community, that is the calling of
Christians.
We're in a changing world that is confusing and
has a difficult time knowing the difference between
what is right and wrong. The church needs to be
involved in shaping the morals, values, beliefs and
standards of our society and our culture. So why is
it we as Christians and as a church are reluctant to
heed the call and fulfill the responsibility that
Jesus gives us?
Well, I think there are several reasons we have a
hesitancy or reluctancy to really be all God has
called us to be. I think one of those reasons is we
kind of grow accustom to bad situations. We've seen
so much violence and heartbreak we kind of get used to
it. The result is we do nothing to try to change it.
One of Jesus's greater qualities was his
perception. He was able to see what was going on,
what was wrong around him and identify solutions. He
could see through things and people and situations
with new eyes and enthusiasm.
Christianity or Christian love causes us to do
something about who or what we're concerned about.
Real love, Christian love, will not let us grow
accustom to bad situations.
Another obstacle is we take on the attitude it's
none of our business. Have you ever heard someone use
that excuse? Have you ever heard someone say I just
don't want to stick my nose into someone else's
affairs? If helping people means being an interferer,
then I believe Jesus Christ was the greatest
interferer that ever walked the face of the earth.
Christian love also demands we reach out and
touch other people's lives and make their welfare our
business. It will not permit us to say it's none of
my business. Compassion and action go hand in hand
and Christian love means we get involved.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.