Theological Status: COMPROMISED (Worldly/Sloppy)
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
The Compromised Parallel
Pergamum
Teaching that parallels churches tolerating the "doctrine of Balaam" through cultural accommodation (Rev 2:14), characterized by weak boundaries, sloppy theology, and worldly compromise.
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This ministry's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Theological Verdict & Summary
Sermon Summary: A powerful call to widen the circle of welcome, reminding us that God's kingdom is built on radical inclusion, not social status or religious performance.
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon effectively highlights the heart of Jesus toward the marginalized and challenges the congregation to examine their own exclusionary tendencies. However, it stumbles theologically by framing salvation as a passive invitation that requires human acceptance, thereby shifting the burden of salvation from God's sovereign grace to human will.
Biblical Parallel (Archetype): Pergamum — The sermon blends orthodox truth with minor worldly philosophies, specifically by presenting salvation as dependent on human acceptance rather than divine sovereignty, creating a hybrid theology that compromises the core doctrine of grace.
Big Idea: Belonging in God's kingdom is not earned through status or behavior but is a radical invitation extended by Jesus to the marginalized, requiring us to stop everything to welcome others as He does. [00:36:50 ▶️ 📄]
🎨 The Visual Metaphor
The open gateway and simple vessels represent the Kingdom's radical inclusivity, where a prepared place awaits the marginalized regardless of status or merit. The endless stone road signifies the transformative journey of grace, inviting all to leave their old lives behind and accept the gift of belonging.
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
- Primary Text: Mark 10:13-16
- Usage Classification: Thematic
- Text-to-Talk Ratio: Moderate
- Pulpit Decorum: ✅ PASS - The pastor maintains a respectful and pastoral tone throughout, using personal anecdotes effectively without resorting to pejoratives.
✝️ Christological Focus: Redemptive-Historical
"Jesus is presented as the central figure who breaks down barriers and welcomes the marginalized, pointing to His redemptive work."
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 4 | Referenced: 1 | Alluded: 2
Passages Read Aloud:
-
Mark 10:13-16
[00:39:18 ▶️ 📄]
"People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. And when Jesus saw this, he grew angry. Wait, wait, I missed, skipped the most important part. I'm sorry. Let me try again. Have mercy, mighty mercy, right? Here we go. People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would blessed them, but the disciples scolded them. When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, allow the children to come to me. Don't forbid them because God's kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn't welcome God's kingdom like a child will never enter it. Then he hugged the children and blessed them. This is the word of God for the children of God. Thanks be to God."
Key References: Mark 10:13-16
🎙️ Sermon Content & Delivery
Word Count: 2,549 words
📌 Key Topics Addressed
-
Lent and Spiritual Invitation
[00:36:50 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor defines Lent not as a burden but as a life-changing invitation from Jesus to a journey of belonging, rest, healing, and restoration. -
Belonging and Children in Scripture
[00:38:31 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor analyzes Mark 10, contrasting modern romanticized views of children with the historical reality that children were non-persons/property in ancient society, highlighting Jesus' radical inclusion. -
Mercy and Forgiveness
[00:16:35 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor defines mercy as 'forgiveness when you don't deserve it' and prays for God's mighty mercy to overcome life's challenges. -
Historical Context of Children
[00:43:24 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor explains that in ancient society, children were considered 'non-persons' and property, contrasting this with modern romanticized views of childhood innocence. -
Exclusion and Belonging
[00:48:22 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor connects the biblical narrative to human psychology, noting our tendency to form cliques and exclude others to feel 'in,' and our deep, universal need to belong. -
Grace vs. Merit
[00:50:06 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor argues that God's welcome cannot be earned through a checklist of good behavior; it is an unmerited invitation accepted by faith. -
Congregational Application
[00:54:43 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor transitions from teaching to action, instructing the congregation to distribute physical 'invitations' and verbally affirm to one another that they belong in Jesus' name.
🖼️ Illustrations & Stories
-
Sermon Illustration
[00:34:43 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor uses an analogy of a friend inviting someone on an all-expenses-paid, life-changing 40-day road trip with only two days' notice to illustrate the nature of the Lenten invitation. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:41:19 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor shares a personal family anecdote about his grandmother's house being across from a Baptist church, where the preacher ate fried chicken at her house, and how his mother had to keep her younger brother quiet until the adults finished eating, illustrating the historical shift in how children are prioritized in society. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:44:39 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor uses the analogy of jockeying for position at Chuck E. Cheese to describe the mothers' desperate attempt to get their children to Jesus for a blessing. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:46:37 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his granddaughter being welcomed warmly, contrasting it with the radical nature of Jesus welcoming children in a culture that ignored them. -
Sermon Illustration
[00:51:56 ▶️ 📄]
> The pastor recounts a conversation with a colleague of 18 years who admitted to feeling like she was merely 'tolerated' rather than belonging, illustrating that even long-term community members struggle with the need for belonging.
🚀 Calls to Action (Application)
-
Pastoral Charge
[00:55:01 ▶️ 📄]
> Write 'you're invited' and their name on a piece of paper. -
Pastoral Charge
[00:55:51 ▶️ 📄]
> Pass the invitation down the row and verbally tell someone 'in the name of Jesus, you belong.' -
Pastoral Charge
[00:56:45 ▶️ 📄]
> Look someone in the eye and declare 'in the name of Jesus, you belong.'
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Compromised / Weak
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Gospel Presentation | ❌ FAIL | The Gospel Engine is compromised by a synergistic view of salvation. The sermon presents the gospel as an offer that stands incomplete until human acceptance is granted, failing to articulate the monergistic work of God in granting faith. |
| Soteriology | ⚠️ WEAK | The sermon promotes a classical Arminian view where human free will is the deciding factor in salvation, contradicting the biblical teaching that faith is a gift of God. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | Scripture is used appropriately to support the theme of inclusion, though the hermeneutical application to soteriology is flawed. |
| Hermeneutic | ⚠️ WEAK | The sermon applies the narrative of Jesus welcoming children to the doctrine of salvation in a way that ignores the broader biblical witness on divine sovereignty. |
| Theology Proper | ✅ PASS | The sermon correctly portrays God as loving and welcoming, though it underemphasizes His sovereignty in the act of salvation. |
| Sacramentology | ⚪ N/A | No specific sacramental errors detected. |
| Confessional Depth | ❌ FAIL | The sermon lacks depth in explaining the mechanism of salvation, reducing it to a simple 'acceptance' model. |
⚙️ The Core Gospel Framework
What is this? This section checks if the sermon contains the essential building blocks of the Gospel. We look for explicit, substantive mentions of God's holy standard, human inability, and Christ's finished work on the cross.
Why it matters for the final verdict: A complete Gospel framework protects a sermon from becoming man-centered. If a preacher gives commands for good behavior but leaves out the grace and atonement of the Gospel, it often results in a 🔴 Critical or 🟠 Major error for Moralism (teaching human self-improvement rather than reliance on Christ). However, if these Gospel elements are missing simply because the pastor is preaching a highly focused, practical message to mature believers (e.g., instructions on biblical marriage), our system applies a "Safe Harbor" pardon, graciously reducing the omission to a 🟡 Minor error.
Why it matters for the final verdict: A complete Gospel framework protects a sermon from becoming man-centered. If a preacher gives commands for good behavior but leaves out the grace and atonement of the Gospel, it often results in a 🔴 Critical or 🟠 Major error for Moralism (teaching human self-improvement rather than reliance on Christ). However, if these Gospel elements are missing simply because the pastor is preaching a highly focused, practical message to mature believers (e.g., instructions on biblical marriage), our system applies a "Safe Harbor" pardon, graciously reducing the omission to a 🟡 Minor error.
❌ The Law And Wrath: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Total Depravity And Inability: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ Active Obedience Of Christ: Not observed in the sermon.
❌ The Cross And Atonement: Not observed in the sermon.
✅ Commendations
Pastoral Sensitivity | Highlighting the Pain of Exclusion
The pastor effectively uses the anecdote of the colleague who felt 'tolerated' rather than belonging to connect with the congregation's emotional reality, making the call to inclusion personal and urgent.
Evangelistic Appeal | Radical Welcome
The sermon successfully challenges the congregation to move beyond passive tolerance to active, radical welcome, mirroring Jesus' behavior toward children and outcasts.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🟠 Synergistic Soteriology (The Error of Human Self-Sufficiency)
Root Cause: Classical Arminianism: The belief that human free will cooperates with divine grace in salvation, rather than grace being the sole efficient cause.
"It is offered and just needs to be accepted." [00:50:06 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:00:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:00:01] I don't know why it wouldn't make them spawn a size smaller.
[00:00:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:00:06] Good morning, Central. Welcome to church. It's good to see you. We don't know if it's spring or winter
[00:06:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:06:28] around here. You just come tomorrow, it'll be different, right? Welcome to North Carolina. It is so good to see each of you in worship this morning. If you're joining us online, welcome.
[00:06:39] We're glad that you're here. My name is Anita, and I get to be the pastor of this wonderful community of faith, and it is so good to get to worship together. If it's your first time with
[00:06:48] us. Welcome. We're so glad that you're here. We just pray that this service would bless you and your family and that you would find Jesus here. Please fill out a connect card that is in front
[00:06:58] of you in the pew. Either drop it in the offering or drop it at the desk on your way out and just let us have a chance to connect with you and tell you more about what life has to offer here at
[00:07:10] Central. It is so good to follow Jesus as part of this community of faith. So thank you so much for being here. We had a big week last week. Last Sunday was our cake auction. So far, we are just
[00:07:22] over $6,000 raised. So we'll have a final report next week, but congratulations. That will send a lot of students to summer mission camp, and we just really appreciate all the ways that you helped make that happen. And we had Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent was this past Wednesday.
[00:07:46] That's why you see new colors on the altar. It is the season of Lent where we're making our way toward Easter, turning our hearts and lives to Jesus. And that Ash Wednesday service was really
[00:07:58] special. So thank you to all who participated and helped make that happen as well. Are you ready to worship God this morning? Hallelujah. Would you stand and let's do it. Get those morning calisthenics
[00:08:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:08:09] and let's get up.
[00:08:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:08:57] I will tell of your wonders.
[00:11:14] The Lord is faithful yesterday, now, and always.
[00:11:22] Your mercy is mighty, all generations will bow down.
[00:11:33] The Lord is faithful yesterday, now, and always.
[00:11:43] Your mercy is mighty, age after age.
[00:11:49] And all generations will bow down in praise.
[00:11:55] The Lord is faithful, yesterday, now, and always.
[00:12:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:12:07] All right, let's pray.
[00:12:08] Father God, as we enter your presence with our voices and our hearts and our minds today, just be with us.
[00:12:16] Wrap your arms around each one of us in this place.
[00:12:19] You know the thing is going on.
[00:12:23] Reach down deep inside of us and help us as we go through this crazy roller coaster called life.
[00:12:32] We pray in the name of Jesus.
[00:12:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:12:34] When darkness closes in on every side, when battles rage and when the waters rise, I fear no evil for I know the truth.
[00:13:09] Nothing can separate my heart from you, cause there's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:22] There's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:31] No death can overcome, cause there's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:42] that faith can make the mountain move and nothing is impossible for you i fear no evil for i know the truth nothing can separate my heart from you because there's no weapon stronger than your love. There's no weapon stronger than your love. There's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:15:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:15:49] Please be seated. The word that kept jumping out at me as we were singing, it was in both songs.
[00:16:03] It's mighty. Mighty. And the first song talks about, yeah, kids. If kids need to go to kids worship, sorry, I was on a roll. Forgot, forgot, forgot. The first song talked about God's mercy being mighty. What is mercy anyway? Forgiveness when you don't deserve it. I imagine, you know,
[00:16:35] the old game of mercy. That one. Remember playing that and losing? But somebody just lets go.
[00:16:45] right? Eventually. Or breaks your hand. No. But mercy is forgiveness when you don't deserve it.
[00:16:54] So mercy being mighty, isn't that interesting to think about? As we come before God to pray that God's mercy, God's forgiveness that we don't deserve is mighty in our lives. Not just present, but mighty, has strength to overcome, to give us hope, to call us back. So as we pray together
[00:17:24] this morning, I want you to think about God's mercy in your own life, where it has been mighty for you. And are there people and places that you want to lift up where you ask for God's mercy
[00:17:39] this morning, or you pray praise for God's mercy this morning? Anybody? Woody and Tim, Their dads are not doing well.
[00:18:08] So we need to pray for them.
[00:18:09] Pray for mercy for them.
[00:18:12] Others?
[00:18:20] Pray for everybody.
[00:18:23] Absolutely.
[00:18:24] So Mike's coming home.
[00:18:25] We're going to pray for Mike and Deb.
[00:18:27] For sure.
[00:18:32] You can do it.
[00:18:34] In the power of Jesus' name, you can do it.
[00:18:37] Anybody else?
[00:18:38] Of course.
[00:18:44] Yay!
[00:18:46] Praise God.
[00:18:47] That is fantastic.
[00:18:49] That is wonderful.
[00:18:52] Would you pray with me?
[00:18:53] gracious God we thank you for the gift of your love that there is nothing stronger in this world God we come to you and we give you praise and honor and glory for who you are
[00:19:09] and we lean into that love because our hearts need it so desperately we pray for our world we pray for our families we pray for our communities we pray for those that we've lifted up out loud this morning. We pray for those that we hold close in our hearts and we pray for
[00:19:33] ourselves, oh God. As we start this journey called Lent, we ask that you would bring hope and healing to every life that's been mentioned. We ask that you would draw us in to follow you more faithfully
[00:19:50] every step of each day. May your mercy be mighty in our lives. God, we claim that truth.
[00:20:05] Just help us to recognize it, because a lot of times we go through life and we miss it.
[00:20:11] We miss the blessing of your forgiveness and your healing and your hope, because we're so busy trying to make it work on our own. Forgive us, we pray, and lead us back to you, so that we might
[00:20:27] walk in hope and truth and promise. God, we pray especially for this season in our church, that your spirit might fall in a tangible kind of way and give us the strength and the courage
[00:20:49] to be the people you've called us to be on this corner in Mooresville, North Carolina.
[00:20:59] Remind us that that is all you ask of us and then give us the grace and the strength to do the things that you would have us to do to bring your kingdom here.
[00:21:14] thank you for allowing us to be part of that we ask that you would hear every prayer every cry of every heart for we offer them up to you in the mighty and holy name of Jesus our Savior our Redeemer who taught his followers to
[00:21:36] pray our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
[00:21:58] temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
[00:22:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:22:07] Amen. So we've got a new mission project coming up. Anybody want to be part of a new mission
[00:26:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:26:25] project? Yes, pastor. We can't wait to be part of a new mission project in our community. That sounds fantastic. And here's the best part. You don't have to do it on half a Saturday.
[00:26:41] You don't have to go to any other place. You can do it in your own time, in your own way, around people you meet every single day.
[00:26:53] Doesn't that make it even better?
[00:26:55] Of course.
[00:26:57] You know how you're going to do it?
[00:27:00] With this.
[00:27:03] You're going to be part of an incredible mission opportunity that Central United Methodist Church is about with this little card.
[00:27:13] And these words, I go to the best church in Morrisville because we really love and serve Jesus in that place. And you know what? We'd love for you to come be part of that. Mission project
[00:27:29] complete. Is there anybody in this room that's willing to do that? Hold this card up. If you're not willing, don't hold it up. It's okay. Ain't no judgment here. But if you're willing to take
[00:27:41] this card and give it to somebody before next Sunday, before next Sunday, and tell them you don't have to do a sales pitch for Central. Just tell them the difference that Jesus makes in your
[00:27:59] life and how Central's part of that. That's all that needs to happen. You are part of an incredible mission. You're also a part of an incredible mission when you give. Your giving helps us to
[00:28:15] do the things that help people know Jesus. All kinds of wonderful things. So you can give here at the QR code, here at the, yeah. Thank you. No words. Toolbox, offering plates, please give your offerings there. And I'm going to challenge you to another mission in the season
[00:28:37] of Lent. One dollar a day. Everybody got one extra dollar? You can probably find it in the floor of the car somewhere, right? One dollar a day during the season of Lent for the mission
[00:28:54] and purpose of this congregation in the world.
[00:28:58] If we do that, by Easter, that'll be $4,000 toward the mission and work of Christ in this community for money that most of us have laying around somewhere.
[00:29:15] So I'm gonna ask you, I'm gonna challenge you, a dollar a day from now to Easter in addition to whatever you normally give.
[00:29:22] And if you don't normally give, let this be a beginning for you.
[00:29:25] be part of the mission of changing lives in Jesus' name in this community. Amen.
[00:34:43] So I want you to imagine something with me. I want you to imagine that a friend has invited you out to dinner. And you go out to dinner with your friend. And before you even get your food,
[00:35:01] they say to you, I've got an invitation for you. I've got an invitation for you. Let me tell you all about it. I'm going on a road trip and I want you to go with me. We're going to see some of the
[00:35:19] most amazing places in this country. All expenses are paid. I have already talked to your boss. You can be off from work. Everything is good. This trip is going to change your life. Now there are
[00:35:36] some people going that you know and you love and there's plenty of people going that you probably never even met before. But I'm telling you, it's going to be beautiful. Here's the deal.
[00:35:49] We leave on Tuesday and we'll be back in about 40 days. If you know this information and nothing else, would you go? Would you go? What would it feel like even if you said, oh, I don't know.
[00:36:10] I don't know if I can do 40 days on two days notice. What would it feel like to be invited into something like that. What'd that feel like? Some of you are like, terrifying. What are you
[00:36:25] talking about? Well, okay, that's fair. But wouldn't it feel good that somebody thought of you to invite you into this kind of amazing, life-changing journey? Well, Lent is that kind of journey. Lent is that kind of invitation. It is an invitation to a deeper and richer life
[00:36:50] with Jesus. All expenses paid, and you're invited into this journey where we find belonging, rest, healing, restoration, forgiveness. We're invited to follow and to watch and to worship and to see and to believe. Take a look. Take a look. There it is. Jesus invites us into this
[00:37:32] amazing journey. And each week through the course of Lent, we're going to experience one of these different invitations that will challenge us into a more whole and complete life. Anybody in for a more whole and complete life? Oh yeah, Jesus offers that to us. We began on Wednesday with an invitation
[00:38:00] to pivot, to repent, to turn our lives in the direction of Christ. Today's invitation is right at the top of the cross. Jesus invites us to belong. And we come to Mark's gospel, the 10th chapter. Jesus is teaching, and he teaches us a great deal about belonging
[00:38:31] in these few verses. So I'm going to invite you to join the crowd, the crowd that has gathered around to hear this crazy popular rabbi who is going all over the place teaching and healing
[00:38:47] people. I mean, he's probably got more followers on social media than anybody ever has before, and they're coming from every place just to hear what he's got to say. And you've gathered around and you're pushed in as close as you can, trying to hear, and this happens. People were bringing
[00:39:18] children to Jesus so that he would bless them. And when Jesus saw this, he grew angry. Wait, wait, I missed, skipped the most important part. I'm sorry. Let me try again. Have mercy, mighty mercy, right? Here we go. People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would
[00:39:38] blessed them, but the disciples scolded them. When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, allow the children to come to me. Don't forbid them because God's kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn't welcome God's kingdom like a child
[00:40:00] will never enter it. Then he hugged the children and blessed them. This is the word of God for the children of God. Thanks be to God. Let us pray. Holy One, lead us, guide us, shape our lives in
[00:40:25] the way of your cross. We pray in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. Amen. Would it be fair to say that children in our society today are kind of the center of their parents' worlds? Is that
[00:40:46] fair? Parents of children, is that fair? Okay, yeah, yeah. Did it used to be that way? No. No, it didn't used to be that way. It was definitely that way when my kids were growing up. We would
[00:41:04] move heaven and earth to do whatever the thing is the child needed, right? But even as early as my mom, she talked about Sunday dinner at her house. You see, their house was literally across
[00:41:19] the parking lot from the Baptist church where they went to church. And back then, the preacher, after church on Sunday, went to dinner at somebody's house every week. It's just what they did. Well, it wasn't far from the church down to grandma's house. So the preacher spent lots of
[00:41:39] Sundays at grandma's house eating her fried chicken. And my mama tells the story of when she was a little girl that all the adults got their food. They ate. Her job was to take care of her
[00:41:55] younger brother that was four years younger than she and keep him quiet until the adults were finished with their food. And then the kids got to eat. Anybody else grow up where adults ate first,
[00:42:14] kids ate last? Yeah. So that's only a generation removed. Today, we would not even think of that.
[00:42:25] We'd do just the opposite. We'd feed the kids and get them on out of the way. That way, right?
[00:42:30] There's one way or the other, we're getting those kids out of the way. But kids today have a prominent place in our world, don't they? So it's easy for us to romanticize the scripture a little
[00:42:42] bit. When we hear about Jesus, you know, people bringing children to Jesus and Jesus hugging children, we picture in our minds these Jesus and the children pictures from the old storybooks, don't we? Where Jesus was a little bit too white and the kids were dressed up a little bit too
[00:43:00] much. Remember those Jesus and the children pictures? But they may lead us to think that that Jesus is asking us here to just be sweet and innocent like children, that that's what it means to inherit God's kingdom. Well, that is not the scene in Mark's gospel, friends. That's not what's
[00:43:24] going on here because children in ancient society did not belong. They did not belong. It wasn't just they didn't get to eat first at lunch. They were not even considered people. Children were considered property of their fathers well into adulthood. They were non-persons. So for people
[00:43:56] to be trying to get children to Jesus is first a little bit wild in that culture. But the custom was that mothers would try to get their children to a rabbi after their first birthday so that the
[00:44:12] rabbi could touch them and bless them. So that's what's going on here. These mamas are trying to get their kids to the rabbi so the rabbi can bless them. And the scripture says they kept on bringing
[00:44:28] their children. So just imagine the commotion. The whole crowd has gathered to hear Jesus teach.
[00:44:36] and these mamas are jockeying for position.
[00:44:39] It's kind of like at Chuck E. Cheese, you're trying to get in front of the line, right?
[00:44:44] Trying to get in front of the line to the rabbi.
[00:44:47] They are disturbing the teacher.
[00:44:52] The teacher is teaching.
[00:44:54] So the disciples do what good disciples do.
[00:44:58] They protect the rabbi.
[00:45:01] And they say, get those kids to go sit down.
[00:45:05] We don't need, Jesus is busy.
[00:45:07] You don't have time to deal with children.
[00:45:09] and Jesus goes from zero to hot in two seconds. What do you mean? Let those kids come to me.
[00:45:23] He puts the disciples in their place and he defends the children, going so far as to say, these people have first place in God's kingdom. These people are what it means to be part of the
[00:45:43] kingdom of God. So you see, a place in God's kingdom has nothing to do with childlike innocence or good behavior. It has everything to do with these children's lack of power, their lack of status, and their need for mighty mercy. Because in that culture, they were unseen, completely
[00:46:15] unseen. And Jesus sees them, and not just sees them, but touches them and draws them close.
[00:46:26] So we have to stop and think that what Jesus is doing here, welcoming children, is a radical thing.
[00:46:37] For us, it's natural. I mean, when my granddaughter was in the room last week, everybody's, oh, what a sweet baby, oh, what a sweet baby. They felt so welcome.
[00:46:51] But for Jesus in that day, in that time to welcome children was a radical thing because they were not even considered people.
[00:47:02] And Jesus stops his teaching.
[00:47:07] The rabbi stops his lesson and rebukes his disciples and hugs the non-persons and says, these are what God's kingdom is all about.
[00:47:24] He shows us in just that one simple act that the kingdom of God, the blessing of God, the love of Christ is for everyone.
[00:47:40] And that's a sermon you've heard a billion times, probably.
[00:47:46] But we struggle to live it, don't we?
[00:47:51] We struggle to live it.
[00:47:53] And when we see Jesus embrace these children, it teaches us something.
[00:47:59] It teaches us that we have a deep need to belong, a deep need to belong, a longing so deep that sometimes we lump other people outside the circle just so we can feel in.
[00:48:22] In order for us to be in, surely somebody has to be out, right?
[00:48:30] If you've ever been part of or tried to navigate as a parent, a teenage clique, you know what I'm talking about, right? We want to be in so bad that we do and say things that leave others out.
[00:48:55] And I would venture a guess to say that most of us have trouble getting out of that teenage clique mentality in our whole lives. We are tempted to exclude because it makes us uncomfortable for
[00:49:13] people to not be like us. We're tempted to exclude and not welcome others. And you know what happens?
[00:49:24] How does Jesus respond to that? How does Jesus respond when we do those things? You just read it.
[00:49:31] He goes from zero to hot in two seconds. It makes him mad. So we need to check ourselves and be careful that we're actually doing what the choir sang and drawing the circle wide.
[00:49:57] This lesson from Jesus teaches us also that there is nothing we can do to earn God's welcome.
[00:50:06] There is nothing that children in ancient society could have done to cause Jesus to call them close because ancient society didn't even recognize them. There's no checklist to earning God's welcome. It is offered and just needs to be accepted. Jesus stopped everything
[00:50:37] to hug children. Jesus stops everything to welcome you and me into the fold.
[00:50:54] There's nothing we can do to earn it.
[00:51:00] This few little verses from Mark teach us that belonging really matters.
[00:51:10] We say, oh, I'm good.
[00:51:12] I'm a loner.
[00:51:13] I'm good.
[00:51:14] I don't need all that.
[00:51:16] I'm fine.
[00:51:17] Everybody's fine.
[00:51:18] But we long to belong, don't we?
[00:51:26] We struggle with it.
[00:51:28] We decide if we're going someplace sometimes because we're not sure if we'll belong when we get there. Belonging matters. I was talking about this message with one of my colleagues who we have been in a covenant group together for 18 years, four of us. And she said to me, you know,
[00:51:56] sometimes even after all that time, I feel like y'all just tolerate me and I don't really belong here. And I said, you got to be kidding me because I feel the same way. That group of four women is
[00:52:14] the most belonging place I could ever be in my life besides my family. And I still struggle to belong. But we need it. We need it. We need to belong and to feel worthy. And in these few verses,
[00:52:38] as Jesus teaches us, that he is reaching out for us, stopping everything to embrace us and say, hey, you belong here. You are not pushed aside. You are not invisible. You are mine and you matter.
[00:53:04] come on in. We have this chance to belong, this invitation to belong, not because we've done something right, not because we live in the right neighborhood, not because of anything circumstantial in our lives. We belong because Jesus reached out his arms to us and said,
[00:53:35] you're mine, and that's enough. Would you come? Would you receive this incredible invitation?
[00:53:48] The way we belong is only by the grace and acceptance of God. His love makes us worthy.
[00:53:59] His love gives us a place in God's kingdom, where we go from being cast aside, forgotten, invisible, to held, called, loved, invited into a life-changing journey? Would you go? Would you go? That's the question for this Lent for us. So I'm going to hand out
[00:54:43] these invitations. And if you're at home, wherever you are, find yourself a piece of paper and write on it, you're invited and underneath it, write your name.
[00:55:01] And as you receive these invitations, I want you to pass them down your row and I want you to turn to somebody in your row and say to them, in the name of Jesus, you belong.
[00:55:51] Why is she just handing these out now?
[00:55:53] Why didn't we do this at the beginning of church?
[00:55:56] Everybody's thinking, here's why.
[00:55:58] What did I tell you five minutes ago?
[00:56:00] What did Jesus do?
[00:56:02] He stopped everything.
[00:56:05] So we're stopping everything so that you might know.
[00:56:09] Will you share with Ron as well that you belong?
[00:56:17] Somebody from the choir, meet me at the front.
[00:56:27] There you go.
[00:56:30] Amen, sister.
[00:56:32] So share with your friends.
[00:56:34] Get up and walk around if you want to.
[00:56:36] Say to somebody, look them in the eye with the love of Jesus and say, in the name of Jesus, you belong.
[00:56:45] Go.
[00:56:45] There's something about the fact that Jesus stopped everything to welcome the ones that the world ignored, that preaches deeper than anything I can even think.
[00:57:23] For you, for me, for every person that you will come in contact with this week, for the one that you're going to courageously share that invitation with, they belong not because we did anything but because God is good
[00:57:43] and His love is great thanks be to God let us pray Holy One it is overwhelming that you reach out and draw us in when we feel invisible when we've done things that are wrong
[00:58:10] when you we don't deserve for you to stop everything and see us and yet you do and we are so incredibly grateful for your invitation to belong. Help us to say yes to it.
[00:58:31] We pray in the mighty and holy name of Jesus. Amen. Would you stand and let's sing as we go.
[00:58:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:58:38] Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter. Where is the house of God? Right here.
[01:01:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:01:54] let the house proclaim from floor to rafter that all are welcome in this place in the name of Jesus including you including me and as you go this week to receive and accept God's invitation to belong
[01:02:15] may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious us to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you his peace now and forevermore. Amen.
[01:02:32] Have a great week.
[00:00:01] I don't know why it wouldn't make them spawn a size smaller.
[00:00:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:00:06] Good morning, Central. Welcome to church. It's good to see you. We don't know if it's spring or winter
[00:06:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:06:28] around here. You just come tomorrow, it'll be different, right? Welcome to North Carolina. It is so good to see each of you in worship this morning. If you're joining us online, welcome.
[00:06:39] We're glad that you're here. My name is Anita, and I get to be the pastor of this wonderful community of faith, and it is so good to get to worship together. If it's your first time with
[00:06:48] us. Welcome. We're so glad that you're here. We just pray that this service would bless you and your family and that you would find Jesus here. Please fill out a connect card that is in front
[00:06:58] of you in the pew. Either drop it in the offering or drop it at the desk on your way out and just let us have a chance to connect with you and tell you more about what life has to offer here at
[00:07:10] Central. It is so good to follow Jesus as part of this community of faith. So thank you so much for being here. We had a big week last week. Last Sunday was our cake auction. So far, we are just
[00:07:22] over $6,000 raised. So we'll have a final report next week, but congratulations. That will send a lot of students to summer mission camp, and we just really appreciate all the ways that you helped make that happen. And we had Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent was this past Wednesday.
[00:07:46] That's why you see new colors on the altar. It is the season of Lent where we're making our way toward Easter, turning our hearts and lives to Jesus. And that Ash Wednesday service was really
[00:07:58] special. So thank you to all who participated and helped make that happen as well. Are you ready to worship God this morning? Hallelujah. Would you stand and let's do it. Get those morning calisthenics
[00:08:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:08:09] and let's get up.
[00:08:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:08:57] I will tell of your wonders.
[00:11:14] The Lord is faithful yesterday, now, and always.
[00:11:22] Your mercy is mighty, all generations will bow down.
[00:11:33] The Lord is faithful yesterday, now, and always.
[00:11:43] Your mercy is mighty, age after age.
[00:11:49] And all generations will bow down in praise.
[00:11:55] The Lord is faithful, yesterday, now, and always.
[00:12:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:12:07] All right, let's pray.
[00:12:08] Father God, as we enter your presence with our voices and our hearts and our minds today, just be with us.
[00:12:16] Wrap your arms around each one of us in this place.
[00:12:19] You know the thing is going on.
[00:12:23] Reach down deep inside of us and help us as we go through this crazy roller coaster called life.
[00:12:32] We pray in the name of Jesus.
[00:12:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:12:34] When darkness closes in on every side, when battles rage and when the waters rise, I fear no evil for I know the truth.
[00:13:09] Nothing can separate my heart from you, cause there's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:22] There's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:31] No death can overcome, cause there's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:13:42] that faith can make the mountain move and nothing is impossible for you i fear no evil for i know the truth nothing can separate my heart from you because there's no weapon stronger than your love. There's no weapon stronger than your love. There's no weapon stronger than your love.
[00:15:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:15:49] Please be seated. The word that kept jumping out at me as we were singing, it was in both songs.
[00:16:03] It's mighty. Mighty. And the first song talks about, yeah, kids. If kids need to go to kids worship, sorry, I was on a roll. Forgot, forgot, forgot. The first song talked about God's mercy being mighty. What is mercy anyway? Forgiveness when you don't deserve it. I imagine, you know,
[00:16:35] the old game of mercy. That one. Remember playing that and losing? But somebody just lets go.
[00:16:45] right? Eventually. Or breaks your hand. No. But mercy is forgiveness when you don't deserve it.
[00:16:54] So mercy being mighty, isn't that interesting to think about? As we come before God to pray that God's mercy, God's forgiveness that we don't deserve is mighty in our lives. Not just present, but mighty, has strength to overcome, to give us hope, to call us back. So as we pray together
[00:17:24] this morning, I want you to think about God's mercy in your own life, where it has been mighty for you. And are there people and places that you want to lift up where you ask for God's mercy
[00:17:39] this morning, or you pray praise for God's mercy this morning? Anybody? Woody and Tim, Their dads are not doing well.
[00:18:08] So we need to pray for them.
[00:18:09] Pray for mercy for them.
[00:18:12] Others?
[00:18:20] Pray for everybody.
[00:18:23] Absolutely.
[00:18:24] So Mike's coming home.
[00:18:25] We're going to pray for Mike and Deb.
[00:18:27] For sure.
[00:18:32] You can do it.
[00:18:34] In the power of Jesus' name, you can do it.
[00:18:37] Anybody else?
[00:18:38] Of course.
[00:18:44] Yay!
[00:18:46] Praise God.
[00:18:47] That is fantastic.
[00:18:49] That is wonderful.
[00:18:52] Would you pray with me?
[00:18:53] gracious God we thank you for the gift of your love that there is nothing stronger in this world God we come to you and we give you praise and honor and glory for who you are
[00:19:09] and we lean into that love because our hearts need it so desperately we pray for our world we pray for our families we pray for our communities we pray for those that we've lifted up out loud this morning. We pray for those that we hold close in our hearts and we pray for
[00:19:33] ourselves, oh God. As we start this journey called Lent, we ask that you would bring hope and healing to every life that's been mentioned. We ask that you would draw us in to follow you more faithfully
[00:19:50] every step of each day. May your mercy be mighty in our lives. God, we claim that truth.
[00:20:05] Just help us to recognize it, because a lot of times we go through life and we miss it.
[00:20:11] We miss the blessing of your forgiveness and your healing and your hope, because we're so busy trying to make it work on our own. Forgive us, we pray, and lead us back to you, so that we might
[00:20:27] walk in hope and truth and promise. God, we pray especially for this season in our church, that your spirit might fall in a tangible kind of way and give us the strength and the courage
[00:20:49] to be the people you've called us to be on this corner in Mooresville, North Carolina.
[00:20:59] Remind us that that is all you ask of us and then give us the grace and the strength to do the things that you would have us to do to bring your kingdom here.
[00:21:14] thank you for allowing us to be part of that we ask that you would hear every prayer every cry of every heart for we offer them up to you in the mighty and holy name of Jesus our Savior our Redeemer who taught his followers to
[00:21:36] pray our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into
[00:21:58] temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
[00:22:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:22:07] Amen. So we've got a new mission project coming up. Anybody want to be part of a new mission
[00:26:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:26:25] project? Yes, pastor. We can't wait to be part of a new mission project in our community. That sounds fantastic. And here's the best part. You don't have to do it on half a Saturday.
[00:26:41] You don't have to go to any other place. You can do it in your own time, in your own way, around people you meet every single day.
[00:26:53] Doesn't that make it even better?
[00:26:55] Of course.
[00:26:57] You know how you're going to do it?
[00:27:00] With this.
[00:27:03] You're going to be part of an incredible mission opportunity that Central United Methodist Church is about with this little card.
[00:27:13] And these words, I go to the best church in Morrisville because we really love and serve Jesus in that place. And you know what? We'd love for you to come be part of that. Mission project
[00:27:29] complete. Is there anybody in this room that's willing to do that? Hold this card up. If you're not willing, don't hold it up. It's okay. Ain't no judgment here. But if you're willing to take
[00:27:41] this card and give it to somebody before next Sunday, before next Sunday, and tell them you don't have to do a sales pitch for Central. Just tell them the difference that Jesus makes in your
[00:27:59] life and how Central's part of that. That's all that needs to happen. You are part of an incredible mission. You're also a part of an incredible mission when you give. Your giving helps us to
[00:28:15] do the things that help people know Jesus. All kinds of wonderful things. So you can give here at the QR code, here at the, yeah. Thank you. No words. Toolbox, offering plates, please give your offerings there. And I'm going to challenge you to another mission in the season
[00:28:37] of Lent. One dollar a day. Everybody got one extra dollar? You can probably find it in the floor of the car somewhere, right? One dollar a day during the season of Lent for the mission
[00:28:54] and purpose of this congregation in the world.
[00:28:58] If we do that, by Easter, that'll be $4,000 toward the mission and work of Christ in this community for money that most of us have laying around somewhere.
[00:29:15] So I'm gonna ask you, I'm gonna challenge you, a dollar a day from now to Easter in addition to whatever you normally give.
[00:29:22] And if you don't normally give, let this be a beginning for you.
[00:29:25] be part of the mission of changing lives in Jesus' name in this community. Amen.
[00:34:43] So I want you to imagine something with me. I want you to imagine that a friend has invited you out to dinner. And you go out to dinner with your friend. And before you even get your food,
[00:35:01] they say to you, I've got an invitation for you. I've got an invitation for you. Let me tell you all about it. I'm going on a road trip and I want you to go with me. We're going to see some of the
[00:35:19] most amazing places in this country. All expenses are paid. I have already talked to your boss. You can be off from work. Everything is good. This trip is going to change your life. Now there are
[00:35:36] some people going that you know and you love and there's plenty of people going that you probably never even met before. But I'm telling you, it's going to be beautiful. Here's the deal.
[00:35:49] We leave on Tuesday and we'll be back in about 40 days. If you know this information and nothing else, would you go? Would you go? What would it feel like even if you said, oh, I don't know.
[00:36:10] I don't know if I can do 40 days on two days notice. What would it feel like to be invited into something like that. What'd that feel like? Some of you are like, terrifying. What are you
[00:36:25] talking about? Well, okay, that's fair. But wouldn't it feel good that somebody thought of you to invite you into this kind of amazing, life-changing journey? Well, Lent is that kind of journey. Lent is that kind of invitation. It is an invitation to a deeper and richer life
[00:36:50] with Jesus. All expenses paid, and you're invited into this journey where we find belonging, rest, healing, restoration, forgiveness. We're invited to follow and to watch and to worship and to see and to believe. Take a look. Take a look. There it is. Jesus invites us into this
[00:37:32] amazing journey. And each week through the course of Lent, we're going to experience one of these different invitations that will challenge us into a more whole and complete life. Anybody in for a more whole and complete life? Oh yeah, Jesus offers that to us. We began on Wednesday with an invitation
[00:38:00] to pivot, to repent, to turn our lives in the direction of Christ. Today's invitation is right at the top of the cross. Jesus invites us to belong. And we come to Mark's gospel, the 10th chapter. Jesus is teaching, and he teaches us a great deal about belonging
[00:38:31] in these few verses. So I'm going to invite you to join the crowd, the crowd that has gathered around to hear this crazy popular rabbi who is going all over the place teaching and healing
[00:38:47] people. I mean, he's probably got more followers on social media than anybody ever has before, and they're coming from every place just to hear what he's got to say. And you've gathered around and you're pushed in as close as you can, trying to hear, and this happens. People were bringing
[00:39:18] children to Jesus so that he would bless them. And when Jesus saw this, he grew angry. Wait, wait, I missed, skipped the most important part. I'm sorry. Let me try again. Have mercy, mighty mercy, right? Here we go. People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would
[00:39:38] blessed them, but the disciples scolded them. When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, allow the children to come to me. Don't forbid them because God's kingdom belongs to people like these children. I assure you that whoever doesn't welcome God's kingdom like a child
[00:40:00] will never enter it. Then he hugged the children and blessed them. This is the word of God for the children of God. Thanks be to God. Let us pray. Holy One, lead us, guide us, shape our lives in
[00:40:25] the way of your cross. We pray in the holy and blessed name of Jesus. Amen. Would it be fair to say that children in our society today are kind of the center of their parents' worlds? Is that
[00:40:46] fair? Parents of children, is that fair? Okay, yeah, yeah. Did it used to be that way? No. No, it didn't used to be that way. It was definitely that way when my kids were growing up. We would
[00:41:04] move heaven and earth to do whatever the thing is the child needed, right? But even as early as my mom, she talked about Sunday dinner at her house. You see, their house was literally across
[00:41:19] the parking lot from the Baptist church where they went to church. And back then, the preacher, after church on Sunday, went to dinner at somebody's house every week. It's just what they did. Well, it wasn't far from the church down to grandma's house. So the preacher spent lots of
[00:41:39] Sundays at grandma's house eating her fried chicken. And my mama tells the story of when she was a little girl that all the adults got their food. They ate. Her job was to take care of her
[00:41:55] younger brother that was four years younger than she and keep him quiet until the adults were finished with their food. And then the kids got to eat. Anybody else grow up where adults ate first,
[00:42:14] kids ate last? Yeah. So that's only a generation removed. Today, we would not even think of that.
[00:42:25] We'd do just the opposite. We'd feed the kids and get them on out of the way. That way, right?
[00:42:30] There's one way or the other, we're getting those kids out of the way. But kids today have a prominent place in our world, don't they? So it's easy for us to romanticize the scripture a little
[00:42:42] bit. When we hear about Jesus, you know, people bringing children to Jesus and Jesus hugging children, we picture in our minds these Jesus and the children pictures from the old storybooks, don't we? Where Jesus was a little bit too white and the kids were dressed up a little bit too
[00:43:00] much. Remember those Jesus and the children pictures? But they may lead us to think that that Jesus is asking us here to just be sweet and innocent like children, that that's what it means to inherit God's kingdom. Well, that is not the scene in Mark's gospel, friends. That's not what's
[00:43:24] going on here because children in ancient society did not belong. They did not belong. It wasn't just they didn't get to eat first at lunch. They were not even considered people. Children were considered property of their fathers well into adulthood. They were non-persons. So for people
[00:43:56] to be trying to get children to Jesus is first a little bit wild in that culture. But the custom was that mothers would try to get their children to a rabbi after their first birthday so that the
[00:44:12] rabbi could touch them and bless them. So that's what's going on here. These mamas are trying to get their kids to the rabbi so the rabbi can bless them. And the scripture says they kept on bringing
[00:44:28] their children. So just imagine the commotion. The whole crowd has gathered to hear Jesus teach.
[00:44:36] and these mamas are jockeying for position.
[00:44:39] It's kind of like at Chuck E. Cheese, you're trying to get in front of the line, right?
[00:44:44] Trying to get in front of the line to the rabbi.
[00:44:47] They are disturbing the teacher.
[00:44:52] The teacher is teaching.
[00:44:54] So the disciples do what good disciples do.
[00:44:58] They protect the rabbi.
[00:45:01] And they say, get those kids to go sit down.
[00:45:05] We don't need, Jesus is busy.
[00:45:07] You don't have time to deal with children.
[00:45:09] and Jesus goes from zero to hot in two seconds. What do you mean? Let those kids come to me.
[00:45:23] He puts the disciples in their place and he defends the children, going so far as to say, these people have first place in God's kingdom. These people are what it means to be part of the
[00:45:43] kingdom of God. So you see, a place in God's kingdom has nothing to do with childlike innocence or good behavior. It has everything to do with these children's lack of power, their lack of status, and their need for mighty mercy. Because in that culture, they were unseen, completely
[00:46:15] unseen. And Jesus sees them, and not just sees them, but touches them and draws them close.
[00:46:26] So we have to stop and think that what Jesus is doing here, welcoming children, is a radical thing.
[00:46:37] For us, it's natural. I mean, when my granddaughter was in the room last week, everybody's, oh, what a sweet baby, oh, what a sweet baby. They felt so welcome.
[00:46:51] But for Jesus in that day, in that time to welcome children was a radical thing because they were not even considered people.
[00:47:02] And Jesus stops his teaching.
[00:47:07] The rabbi stops his lesson and rebukes his disciples and hugs the non-persons and says, these are what God's kingdom is all about.
[00:47:24] He shows us in just that one simple act that the kingdom of God, the blessing of God, the love of Christ is for everyone.
[00:47:40] And that's a sermon you've heard a billion times, probably.
[00:47:46] But we struggle to live it, don't we?
[00:47:51] We struggle to live it.
[00:47:53] And when we see Jesus embrace these children, it teaches us something.
[00:47:59] It teaches us that we have a deep need to belong, a deep need to belong, a longing so deep that sometimes we lump other people outside the circle just so we can feel in.
[00:48:22] In order for us to be in, surely somebody has to be out, right?
[00:48:30] If you've ever been part of or tried to navigate as a parent, a teenage clique, you know what I'm talking about, right? We want to be in so bad that we do and say things that leave others out.
[00:48:55] And I would venture a guess to say that most of us have trouble getting out of that teenage clique mentality in our whole lives. We are tempted to exclude because it makes us uncomfortable for
[00:49:13] people to not be like us. We're tempted to exclude and not welcome others. And you know what happens?
[00:49:24] How does Jesus respond to that? How does Jesus respond when we do those things? You just read it.
[00:49:31] He goes from zero to hot in two seconds. It makes him mad. So we need to check ourselves and be careful that we're actually doing what the choir sang and drawing the circle wide.
[00:49:57] This lesson from Jesus teaches us also that there is nothing we can do to earn God's welcome.
[00:50:06] There is nothing that children in ancient society could have done to cause Jesus to call them close because ancient society didn't even recognize them. There's no checklist to earning God's welcome. It is offered and just needs to be accepted. Jesus stopped everything
[00:50:37] to hug children. Jesus stops everything to welcome you and me into the fold.
[00:50:54] There's nothing we can do to earn it.
[00:51:00] This few little verses from Mark teach us that belonging really matters.
[00:51:10] We say, oh, I'm good.
[00:51:12] I'm a loner.
[00:51:13] I'm good.
[00:51:14] I don't need all that.
[00:51:16] I'm fine.
[00:51:17] Everybody's fine.
[00:51:18] But we long to belong, don't we?
[00:51:26] We struggle with it.
[00:51:28] We decide if we're going someplace sometimes because we're not sure if we'll belong when we get there. Belonging matters. I was talking about this message with one of my colleagues who we have been in a covenant group together for 18 years, four of us. And she said to me, you know,
[00:51:56] sometimes even after all that time, I feel like y'all just tolerate me and I don't really belong here. And I said, you got to be kidding me because I feel the same way. That group of four women is
[00:52:14] the most belonging place I could ever be in my life besides my family. And I still struggle to belong. But we need it. We need it. We need to belong and to feel worthy. And in these few verses,
[00:52:38] as Jesus teaches us, that he is reaching out for us, stopping everything to embrace us and say, hey, you belong here. You are not pushed aside. You are not invisible. You are mine and you matter.
[00:53:04] come on in. We have this chance to belong, this invitation to belong, not because we've done something right, not because we live in the right neighborhood, not because of anything circumstantial in our lives. We belong because Jesus reached out his arms to us and said,
[00:53:35] you're mine, and that's enough. Would you come? Would you receive this incredible invitation?
[00:53:48] The way we belong is only by the grace and acceptance of God. His love makes us worthy.
[00:53:59] His love gives us a place in God's kingdom, where we go from being cast aside, forgotten, invisible, to held, called, loved, invited into a life-changing journey? Would you go? Would you go? That's the question for this Lent for us. So I'm going to hand out
[00:54:43] these invitations. And if you're at home, wherever you are, find yourself a piece of paper and write on it, you're invited and underneath it, write your name.
[00:55:01] And as you receive these invitations, I want you to pass them down your row and I want you to turn to somebody in your row and say to them, in the name of Jesus, you belong.
[00:55:51] Why is she just handing these out now?
[00:55:53] Why didn't we do this at the beginning of church?
[00:55:56] Everybody's thinking, here's why.
[00:55:58] What did I tell you five minutes ago?
[00:56:00] What did Jesus do?
[00:56:02] He stopped everything.
[00:56:05] So we're stopping everything so that you might know.
[00:56:09] Will you share with Ron as well that you belong?
[00:56:17] Somebody from the choir, meet me at the front.
[00:56:27] There you go.
[00:56:30] Amen, sister.
[00:56:32] So share with your friends.
[00:56:34] Get up and walk around if you want to.
[00:56:36] Say to somebody, look them in the eye with the love of Jesus and say, in the name of Jesus, you belong.
[00:56:45] Go.
[00:56:45] There's something about the fact that Jesus stopped everything to welcome the ones that the world ignored, that preaches deeper than anything I can even think.
[00:57:23] For you, for me, for every person that you will come in contact with this week, for the one that you're going to courageously share that invitation with, they belong not because we did anything but because God is good
[00:57:43] and His love is great thanks be to God let us pray Holy One it is overwhelming that you reach out and draw us in when we feel invisible when we've done things that are wrong
[00:58:10] when you we don't deserve for you to stop everything and see us and yet you do and we are so incredibly grateful for your invitation to belong. Help us to say yes to it.
[00:58:31] We pray in the mighty and holy name of Jesus. Amen. Would you stand and let's sing as we go.
[00:58:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:58:38] Let this house proclaim from floor to rafter. Where is the house of God? Right here.
[01:01:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:01:54] let the house proclaim from floor to rafter that all are welcome in this place in the name of Jesus including you including me and as you go this week to receive and accept God's invitation to belong
[01:02:15] may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious us to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you his peace now and forevermore. Amen.
[01:02:32] Have a great week.
