Good morning. Want to off I want to issue a warm welcome to all who have
joined us either in person or online. We’re so happy you’re here with us. Um,
in front of you in the pews there are some cards and if you’re a first-time
visitor, we’d love for you to fill one of those out and let us know who you are. And then also through these doors
here, there is a uh table. It’s a welcome area and you can find some more
information about First Baptist Church and uh hopefully get to know us a little
bit little bit better. Um, there are a couple announcements in the bulletin.
one is not correct. Um, Charlie told me that the fruit pe
people, and I don’t know what that acronym is for, but the fruit people do. So, the fruit people will not be meeting
in September, but we’ll be meeting in October instead. So, please make note of that. Um, and then also a reminder, the
youth group will be meeting today. And this is something that I’ve not heard
before, but they’re going to be involved in some design ma making. So what is it?
Zining. Zining. You’re going to be zining. So come and find out what that is. All the all the youth of the church. Um and now
please uh join us in further worship. Please stand for
[Music]
king. Help us thy name to sing.
Help us to praise. So all of glorious
for all victorious, come and reign over us, ancient of days.
Come holy comforter, thy sacred witness
in this hour. Thou alm mighty art. Thou ru in every
heart and depart spirit of power
to the great one.
Eternal praisees be hence ever more.
Thy sovereign majesty may we in glory sing and to eternity
love come and adore.
Speak Lord as we come to you to receive
the food of your holy word.
Test your truth. Plant it deep in us.
shape and cover in your likeness.
That the light of Christ might be seen
today in our acts of love and our deeds
of faith. Be Lord and fulfill in us all your
purposes for your glory.
Teach us Lord all obedience
all irre true humility
test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of your purity.
Cause our faith to rise. Cause our eyes
to see your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never prevail.
Let the truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, oh Lord, and renew our minds.
Help us grasp the heights of your plans
for us. Truth unchanged from the dawn of time that will echo
down through eternity. And by grace we’ll stand on your
promises. And by faith will walk as you walk with
us. Speak, oh Lord, till your church is
built and the earth is filled with your
glory. [Music]
Won’t you please join me in prayer? Lord, our Lord, creator of all, King of
Kings, you humbled yourself to participate in our humanity. You
understand injustice and suffering. We, your followers, live in a world that
frightens us in so many ways. Wind and lashing storms menace us. Rising oceans
and greenhouse gases alarm us. A whole world of bacteria and viruses threaten
us. You entered our world as a helpless infant. This morning we lift to you the children
of the world who cannot do for themselves and the elderly who can now do so much less for themselves than
before. We lift to you the impoverished, the
unlettered, the unheard, the unmentioned, the unemployed, the
unemployable. You are the God who sees us, who weeps with us, who enters into our struggles,
even as you invite us to enter into each other’s struggles. Look with mercy on the exiled peoples of
the world. Look with mercy on the men, women, and
children in refugee camps. But don’t let us pass off the problems we ourselves
should address. Shine everlasting light on us. Blow lifegiving love on us. Settle your
spirit on us. Empower us to love as you love us.
And now let us pray as you’ve taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father, who art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth
as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the power, the power, and
the glory forever. Amen.
Today’s scripture is Psalm 121:es 1-8. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
will my help come? My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved. He who
keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper. The Lord is the
shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all
evil. He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever
more. The word of God for the people of God.
Please remain seated as we sing ancient words.
Holy words are preserved for our walk
in this world. They resound with God’s heart. Oh, let the ancient
words import.
Words of life, words of hope. Give us strength.
Help us go in this world wherever we are.
Ancient words will guide us all.
Ancient words ever true. Changing me and changing you.
We have come with all the hearts. Let the ancient words.
Holy words of our faith handed down
to the saint came to us through sacrifice.
Oh, he the angel words of Christ.
Holy words are preserved for our
in this world. They resound with love of heart. Oh, let the ancient
words. Ancient words
ever true. Changing me and changing you.
We have come with open heart eyes. Oh, let the ancient words impart.
Ancient words are true. Changing me and changing you.
We have come with all the lights. Let the ancient words.
I now invite the ushers to come forward to take up our weekly offering.
[Music]
Heat. Heat.
Let us pray. Holy God, our refuge and strength. You
have redeemed your scattered children, gathering them from all the corners of the earth through your firstborn, the
Christ, in whom all things are held together. Make of us a just and righteous people
worthy by grace to inherit with Christ the kingdom of light and peace.
We ask that you bless this offering, bless it for use in your kingdom and
towards your light and peace for all peoples. Amen.
Please be seated. Well, good morning church.
It’s good to see you on this day. Our pastoral reading continues with the book
of Isaiah from the 49th chapter verses 8 through13. We heard from the psalmist of
121 and now we go to Isaiah 49. says this, “Thus says the Lord, in a time of
favor, I have answered you on a day of salvation. I have helped you.
I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people to establish the
land to aortion the desolate heritages,
saying to the prisoners, “Come out.” To those who are in darkness, show yourselves.
They shall feed along the ways, and on all the bare heights shall be their
pasture. They shall not hunger or thirst.
Neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down.
For God has pity on them and will lead them, and by springs of water will guide
them. And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be
raised up. Look, some shall come from far away, some from the north and from
the west, some from the land of Sin. Sing for joy, O heavens. Exalt, O earth.
Break forth, O mountains, into singing. For the Lord has comforted the people
and will have compassion on all who suffer.
The word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Let us pray.
God of mercy and compassion, we give thanks that you are a God who hears us, who helps us, knows our
hearts. You’re the one who calls prisoners to freedom
and brings light to those in darkness. You are the shepherd who leads us to
green pastures and living waters. Where our lives are empty, you bring
purpose. Where our paths are broken, you create a
highway of hope. Gather us into the comfort of your love
and your grace. For we pray these things in your name. Amen.
[Music]
I love you, Lord. Oh, your mercy never fails me.
All my days I’ve been held in your hands.
From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head.
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.
[Music] And all my life you have been faithful.
And all my life you have been so so
good. With every breath that I am able.
[Music] Oh, I will sing of the goodness
of God. I love your voice.
You have led me through the fire. And in darkest nights,
you are close like no other.
I’ve known you as a father. I’ve known you as a friend.
And I have lived in the goodness of God.
[Music] And all my life you have been faithful.
And all my life you have been so so
good. With every breath that I am able.
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.
Cuz your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me. Your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me. With my life laid down, I surrender now. I give you
everything. Cuz your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me. Cuz your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me. Your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me. With my life laid down, I surrender now. I’ll give you
everything cuz your goodness is running after. It’s
running after me.
[Music]
And all my life you have been faithful.
And all my life you have been so so
good. With every breath that I am able.
Oh, I’m going to sing of the goodness of God.
[Music]
Cuz all my life you have been faithful.
And all my life you have been so so good.
With every breath that I am able.
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.
Oh, I’m going to sing of the goodness of God.
[Music]
During the uh offeratory song that Brian was playing for us, I texted
my administrative assistant Cindy and said, “Hey, um, will you check my office because I’m
missing the last page of my sermon?”
Now, some of you are like, “Yay!” And I guess I had put in some recycled
paper that I had printed for my son because this is u
you probably don’t know what that is, but this is what we call an Among Us character that happens to be dressed as
Spider-Man. And if you know anything about my seven-year-old Miles, you know that this is perfectly accurate. So
there’s the last page of the sermon, but I’ve I’ve got it. We’re all good. We’re all good.
Lordy, lordy. I thought Cindy was going to die of laughter handing me that.
Lord of comfort and compassion. Isaiah tells us to sing for joy
because the Lord comforts and because the Lord has compassion.
Who does the Lord comfort? Who receives this compassion?
Well, according to Isaiah, that would be all who suffer.
Well, there is no shortage of suffering.
I suppose you’d think we would have figured it out
by now. It’s been a long, long time since the
words of Isaiah were written down. And yet here we are. There is still plenty
of suffering. Almost every day we are bombarded
by news of disaster. When I stop to pray for others, to pray
for the world in which I live, I am never without an entire people
group that needs God’s care, comfort, protection, and compassion.
hunger, violence, the loss of life, the taking of life,
the stealing of humanity. All of it makes me want to change the tone of
Isaiah’s praise to a song of lament and
frustration to call out and cry for deliverance.
I want to change it so that instead of being a song of praise, instead it reads, “Please God,
please God, I need to hear the heavens sing for joy again.
To feel the earth exalt again, to join the mountains as they sing. We
need the Lord of comfort and compassion to deliver the people.
That’s the way I want to read it. The words of the psalmist ring so true
for me on this day. The psalmist wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From
where will my help come?” And we know their answer because they
say, “My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.”
But I’ll be honest. Can I do that? In seasons like this, I connect a lot
more with the question than I do the answer. Yeah. I’m also looking to the hills and
wondering where will my help come from?
How will we make this world better? How does the violence stop? Where does
our grief go? Where does our anger go? Is there any
way for all of us to see the world with hope again? Or have we just gone too far?
Have all the bridges been torn down? All the pathways to peace been lost. God, I
am looking to the hills. Where will my help come from?
It’s not coming from the hills. I know that much.
One of the ways that Jesus talks about protecting us, about bringing us help is
in the metaphor of a shepherd. In the 10th chapter of John, Jesus says, “I am
the good shepherd.” Which is great because it would be a really stinky
verse if Jesus said, “I am the bad shepherd.” It wouldn’t be as fun to read, would it?
He tells us what makes him a good shepherd. He says that the good shepherd will lay
down their life for their sheep, will protect them at all cost
in a way that a stranger or a hired worker just wouldn’t do.
Talks about how others will run away when the wolf shows up. The wolf attacks
and scatters the sheep and the hired worker, they run away because they’re afraid and their fear is what drives
them. But not the good shepherd.
The good shepherd stays, faces the danger head on, even if it means laying
down their life for the sheep. Help is not coming from the hills. Help
is right here. The shepherd is near, close by, which is
good because it seems like the wolves are a little close as well.
I have never encountered a wolf in the wild. I’m certain that I don’t want to,
at least not alone. I went to Wildlife Prairie Park last
week with a family. I saw a wolf there. Been there many times, seen the wolves
many times. The family was off looking at reptiles, so I was by myself, just me
and Wolfie. Wolfie was sleeping, just sleeping, taking a big old nap. Naturally, I
wanted to howl at the wolf because I am an annoying person.
But apparently I am not alone in my desire to annoy because posted all along
the habitat all the way around are signs saying, “Do not howl at the wolves.”
I felt very targeted, very called out. Capital letters, do not
howl at the wolves. It said also under there, they become
anxious and confused by humans howling.
Got it. So, I did not howl. I wanted to, but I
didn’t. It was tough, but I didn’t. I had no
clue that I could flumx a wolf so easily with my howling. They never show that in
the movies, do they? Old movies, hunters or westerns, cowboys, and all around the
fire and the wolves show up. Never once do they say, “Just howl at them and they’ll run away.”
Oh, they swing fire and they shout and they clap. But apparently, apparently
you can start howling, I guess. Anyways, the point is I did not howl. I didn’t.
I sat down on this little park bench and I got out my binoculars and I zoomed in
on the dozing kynesis lupus. Looked like a dog to me to be honest. A
big dog, but a doggy dog. And I sat there watching it sleep. And then I did
not howl because that’s against the rules. It’s posted. But I did slightly softly quietly
whistle. I’m not even a very good whistler.
Something like that. Just a little Just a little,
right? He didn’t move a muscle.
Not a muscle, but I was like zoomed in and his eyes shot up and stared right at
me. We have a video to recreate this. If if uh we could get our camera. Oh, yeah.
This camera. This right here. All right. This is a live reenactment of the moment.
So, the wolves just sleeping. Can you see my face? No.
Are we good now? Hey, listen. Wildlife photography is tough. It’s tough job.
All right, just sleeping. Someone whistle for me.
That was it. [Applause]
That was it. True story, though. This is That’s
silly, but for real. Didn’t move a muscle, but his eyes shot open and
stared at me. Didn’t move his head. didn’t move his ears. Locked on me, my soul.
It’s funny when a dog does it. You know, but this felt different.
Felt like it was saying to me, “I dare you to come say hi.”
Yeah, that’s a wolf. I did not take him up on his challenge.
Not sure I’d be able to protect sheep from that guy. Not really. Which is okay
because I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not a shepherd. After all, Jesus was using the shepherd
as a metaphor anyways. Those who are good shepherds do not run
from injustice. They do not run from hatred. They do not
run from need. No, instead they stand against injustice,
stand against hatred, stand for mercy for all. And I know I know that it can
feel impossible sometimes, that the obstacles are too big, that the
world is too messed up. But Jesus said that if we would just have the faith of
a mustard seed that we would be able to look at a mountain and say move from here to there
and it would move and that nothing would be impossible. And that’s really good because some of
the things that need to change are mountains. Mountains that need to be moved.
When Isaiah describes the world as it should be in chapter 49, he says, “Food
will be plentiful, land will be abundant, hunger and thirst will be no
more, and the sun will no longer scorch our backs. That people’s lives will be
as if they are living by a fresh spring. And the mountains will a passageway will
be made. And the people, they’ll come from everywhere. From the north and the
west, from the south and the east, from all directions they’ll come. And why are they coming? Because the water is
flowing and the food is plentiful and the sun is healing once again.
That’s the way Isaiah describes it. For the last couple years in college,
back when I was still in Texas, I attended this church called Little Zion
Baptist Church. I’d chosen it randomly, I think.
I was driving around one Sunday morning just kind of randomly looking for a
church. I was by myself and just didn’t want to go to one of the
churches I had seen before. I wanted to find something else, just a place where I could sit and worship and rest. And I
found this little bitty church and I could hear the music all the way outside
and I liked it. I liked it. So, I went inside to hear it better.
The piano was jumping. The hymn was lively. And I didn’t recognize the song, but I
knew that the congregation was singing it with purpose and joy and hope.
There were probably around 30 or so people in the pews, a half dozen on stage. And I was already nearing the
pews coming in from the back. I was already coming up to the back pew when I finally noticed that it was an all black
church. I was the only white person there. And it surprised me. And I’d be lying if I
didn’t admit that I considered turning around just if for the feeling of of feeling like I was going to stick out
too much. But of course, the ushers were incredibly kind and they led me to a
seat and they gave me a bulletin and they showed me where we were in the service.
The music was awesome and I sang so loud in a way that I hadn’t in a long time.
And the preaching, well, the the preaching rose to meet the the the energy of the worship
that I can say. And the whole service was wonderful and challenging. And afterwards, a a bunch of the church
members came up and introduced themselves and were so kind to me and and I told them I’d come back. And I
did. I did. Not every Sunday. I wasn’t there every Sunday, but more Sundays
than not, I found a pew at Little Zion Baptist Church.
Usually, I’d show up about 45 minutes into the service because the services were really long,
like two hours long. And I just didn’t love Jesus that much,
I guess. No. Over time, I went there a couple years, uh, friends of mine
started going with me, and so we had our own pew of college kids from Howard Payne that would go to Lil Zion Baptist
Church. It was fun. one of my favorite Sundays and it
happened every month. We called it feast Sunday because there was lunch after
church. Incidentally, the uh two things were always true on feast Sunday. Um all
the college kids showed up, every one of them. You could you could expect 100%
attendance from college students on feast Sunday. And the sermon was always
long. He’s like he had us there and he was just going to give us that Jesus.
My favorite Sunday food would pile up
and there’d be enough sweet tea to fill the baptistry. Oh, the South.
I don’t know nothing about that. Those
are the days I think of when I’m reading Isaiah and the Psalms.
That’s what comes to mind when I read about the end of hunger and thirst and pain and loss.
I think about families sitting together and sharing a meal. And
I remember the laughter and the smiling faces. And I feel the warmth of a church loving
on a bunch of college kids that would not be there after they graduated.
But they loved them all the same. And I see people coming from every direction because the world is better in
this place. It’s not perfect, but it’s better and more hopeful and it has a lot
more grace. That’s the world I want.
That’s the world that I pray for. That’s what I ask God for.
The Lord of comfort and compassion. I pray for comfort
and I pray for compassion. I pray for all kinds of things.
Full bellies and overflowing cups. Safe streets.
Celebrations with only laughter for noise. No more lockdown drills for my kids.
No more stories about AR-15s or self-inflicted wounds or reunification
sites. I want to tell campfire stories as an old man about the end of war and the
birth of peace. I’m looking to the hills. God,
where will my help come from? It’s not in the hills.
It’s here. It’s here, friends. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in
heaven. We build the kingdom here. We build it now.
If I want my children to be kind, I have to teach them kindness.
If I want them to be brave, I have to show them bravery. If I want them to be just, then I have
to care and and defend justice. If I want them to care for others, then
I have to care for others. If I want them to choose grace, then I better be choosing grace. Are you with me, church?
Jesus says, “When I was hungry, you came and gave me food to eat. When I was thirsty, you brought me a drink. When I
was a stranger and I was alone, you welcomed me into your home. When I was naked and vulnerable and forgotten, you
did not forget me. You gave me clothes to wear. When I was
sick, you didn’t abandon me. You took care of me. And when I was in prison, not even there did you forget me.
Instead, you showed up and you visited me. And Jesus said all of this. And the
people were confused and they didn’t remember doing any of it at the time. And so Jesus clarified, “I assure you
that when you do these things for even the least of the brothers and sisters of mine,
you do it for me.” I know that it feels overwhelming, but
our God is not asleep. I know that it feels like it’s too much, but our God is still our keeper.
The Lord of comfort and compassion is ever watchful and calls on us to march
forward, to serve well and with conviction, to love others with fierce
abandon, to give without reserve, and to live with a hope that surpasses all
darkness. I know that it feels overwhelming, so meet it with overwhelming grace and love and faith. I
know that it feels like it’s too much. So meet it with too much justice and too
much tenacity and too much courage.
I’m not looking to the hills anymore for my help because my help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth. And this God
is the Lord of all comfort and the giver of all compassion.
Let us pray. Hear our prayers. Lord,
know our hearts. Teach us to be kind and brave,
to be just and merciful, to be courageous and humble.
Show us the way forward. Lord, we beg of you. Hear us.
Know us. See us, God. It’s in your name that we pray these
things. Amen.
I invite you to stand with me as we respond in worship with one another. Would you stand with me and sing?
[Music]
Be thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart.
Not be all else to me. Say that thou
art. How am I miss
by day or by night? Waking or sleeping, thy presence my
light. Riches I heed not, nor vain empty space.
Now my inherititance and always
first in my heart. High king of heaven, my treasure
the world. My king of heaven, my victory
won. May I reach heaven’s choice
bright and sun. [Music] Lord of my own heart. Whatever
fall, still be my vision.
Oh ruler of all.
[Music]
It is good to see you on this day. I’m glad that you were able to be with us in worship. I remind you to look at your
bulletin. A lot of stuff going on in the life of the church. Got youth events happening today and next week. We got
the music festival happening at the end of the month. Good chances to be
together to love one another in Christ. Serve well on this day. Let me pray for you as
we go. Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,
have mercy on us, your children. Amen. Go in peace. Go in love, my friends.
[Music]
Hey, [Music]
hey, hey. [Music]
Thank you again. See you in a couple weeks.