mySundaySermons

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” [NRSV]

• Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.
  Good News to the Poor
  Release to Captive
  Sight to the Blind
  Freedom to the Oppressed
  To Proclaim, Now is the Lord’s Moment
• The Rest of Isaiah
  Bind up the brokenhearted
  Comfort the mourning
  Provide for the grieving in Zion
  Beauty instead of ashes,
  oil of joy instead of mourning
  garments of praise instead of despair

These will be called mighty oaks of righteousness
The destroyed will be rebuilt
There will be a reversal where the world serves the holy in the holy places.

• To Follow Jesus is to do these types of things for the glory of God.
• To Follow Jesus is to begin doing these things today
• To Follow Jesus is to transform the world

Why Do These?
Good News, freedom, vision, encourage, comfort, beauty, joy, praise.. all to reveal God’s claim on this day.

United Methodist 3 Rules Applied
Practicing our Piety, Doing Good and Silencing Evil.

• Ministry of Sharing Good News and praise
• Ministry of addressing physical needs
• Ministry of addressing emotional needs
• Ministries of showing beauty and joy
• Start with one and move to the next

God lays upon our hearts, opens doors in our lives, gives us opportunities to serve,

What Jesus did not say:

• Take the weekends off, nope.
• Show up when you feel like it, nope.
• Retire when you are tired, nope.
• Don’t start until you get your act together, nope.

Jesus is talking to family, friends, neighbors and hometown folks.

• This is not a message in the wilderness
• This is not a message in the market place
• This is not a message in meadow by the sea
• This is sitting at the kitchen table conversation…

This is a message for homefolks, us!

• If we are tired, let these words charge us up
• If we are afraid, let these examples give us courage
• If we are weak, let these gifts become our strength
• If we are lost, let these paths be our way back to God
• If we are too busy, let these instructions interrupt us.

Affirming our mission to make Disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Year of the LORD’s Favor, Isaiah 61 [NRSV]
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORDfor the display of his splendor. 4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. 5 Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. 8 “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” 10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.