First United Methodist Church - Fort Collins, CO

The sermon is taking a direction I had not anticipated. In looking at Bach’s life and the way in which he was discredited and poorly treated, we see a man who was so inspired by the music he was writing he didn’t get put down by the things that happened to him.

He wrote “the the Glory of God”, and “In the Name of Jesus”, and what other people thought of his work or how he was appreciated for his work was of no concern to him. He continued to work on his music in spite of the treatment he received and his music was written for the ages.

One of the texts for the service comes from Hebrews 4:14-16:

“Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Life has a way of putting us down. We have a possitility to reach out to something grasp something bigger than ourselves.

If you have thoughts to share publicly, please leave a comment with this post. For personal thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net

I look forward to your ideas.

Charles

One of the texts we will hear Sunday comes from Hebrews 4:14-16

“Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested, as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

 How do we move from feeling put down by life to the point that we are able to feel that we have received abundandly from life? With Jesus as our example (high priest), we see a man who was disrespected in every way; who was able to reach beyond his place in time to grasp something higher to hold onto. He was able to identify his life with a higher purpose and he was more than a victim; he was a victor.

The greatness of our faith is the way in which we are inspired to look to the unknown when we are swamped by the things we know; to look to the strength beyond us when we have understood ourselves overwhelmed by what is within us.

What can we grasp that is higher?

 Is it a cause we can give ourselves to?

 Is it a loved one who needs us?

 Is it work that we believe is an expression of our faith?

If you have thoughts to share publicly, please leave your comment with this post. For personal thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net

 I look forward to your ideas.

Charles