Pastor Scott's Musings

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC... The Last Lessons – Part 5: The Body   What did the food critic say after tasting the Body of Christ? Very savioury.   Jesus prayed for the Church, the Body of Christ to be united. We are the body of Christ. By the Spirit of Christ, we are empowered to continue the ministry of Jesus. Jesus promised that after He returned to God in heaven, He would send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to the Church. It is through the Spirit, that we can experience Jesus. Read the Book of Acts and see examples of the Church continuing the ministry of Jesus, through the power of the Spirit.   Just as Jesus taught hope in the good news about the kingdom of God, the apostles taught hope in the kingdom of Christ. Just as Jesus healed the sick, the Church restored health through prayer, compassion, and the power of God. And just as Jesus freed people of demonic possession and fed the hungry, so also the Church liberates lives with ...

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC... The Last Lessons – Part 4: The Head   A man was interviewing for a job when the interviewer said, “Would you mind explaining this 4-year gap on your resume?   The man said, “I went to Yale.” The interviewer said, “Excellent! You’re hired!” The man exclaimed, “Thank you! I really needed this yob!”   That one takes the mind a bit for the punchline to land!   -----   The other day I saw a man injecting himself with brake fluid. Stunned, I asked him, “Have you lost your mind?   He said, “Don’t worry. I can stop anytime.”     Do not be conformed  to this present world,   but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Romans 12:2a We continue our study of the Upper Room Discourse in John’s gospel chapter 16. Today, we discuss the Head, where our mind is located.   Our minds are what make humans the dominant species on this planet. Our minds carry memo...

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC... The Last Lessons - Pt 3: The Hands ( John 15:1-26 )   I got a new pair of gloves for winter, but they're both 'lefts' which, on the one hand, is great, but on the other, it's just not right.   I can count the number of times I've been to Chernobyl on one hand. It's seven. In case you haven’t guessed, we’re thinking about our hands today! In these Last Lessons, Jesus washed feet, setting an example of humble service. He promised to prepare a place for us in heaven, and to make His home in our hearts. And now Jesus teaches about our mission of fruitfulness.   My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become  my disciples. John 15:8 Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. Father God is the vinedresser. Any of you tend grape vines or visited a wine grove? Then you may know a little about what vinedressers do. They inspect the fruit of the vine. Any branch that isn’t producing good fruit,...

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC... The Last Lessons – Part 2: The Heart ( John 14:1-31 )   On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.  John 14:20 In John 13, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and showed us the example of serving one another in His love. In chapter 14, Jesus addresses the heart. He acknowledges that his disciples are confused, worried, and saddened when He said,   I am with you only a little longer… Where I am going, you cannot come. (John 13:33)   And so Jesus moves to console his friends, to give them hope, to comfort their hearts. He tells them that He is going back to the Father and is preparing a place for them. Which reminds me of a joke!   A lawyer and the pope were both killed in an accident.   The two meet St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. Peter looked them up in the book and then proceeded to show them their eternal dwellings.   They walked along...

 Sermon for Milledgeville and Whitestown UMC... The Last Lessons – Part 1: The Feet (John 13:1-38)   I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.   John 13:15 A waiter at a diner serves Bill Belichick a soda. The famous football coach says, “Listen, I need a quarterback. Think you could do that for me, son?” The waiter was floored! He said, “Wow, really?! You want me to play in the NFL?” Belichick said “No, you moron! This drink costs 75 cents and I gave you a dollar!”   Today we begin our study of the Upper Room Discourse in John 13-17. While other gospel accounts give only a single chapter to the upper room events, John provides 5 chapters of material of what was said and done that last night between Jesus and His disciples.   Holy Communion is missing from John. We know they are celebrating the Passover, but there’s only a mention of the meal. There’s no establishing the bread and cup as symbols of the new covenant. I...