Revisiting The Past: Children’s Stories Today (Part XII)

Sermon Title: Revisiting the Past: Children’s Stories Today—Is It Worth It?

Good News Statement: Jesus designs our faith, and we live out our faith for Jesus

Summary: The Bible has always been honest with us about the potential dangers of discipleship. It speaks of the real possibilities of abuse, prison and even death. Is there ever a time when it’s NOT worth it to be a Christian?

Preached: Sunday, September. 1^st, 2024, at Dogwood Prairie and Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Hebrews 11:32-40, Today’s scripture reading comes from the “Chapter of Faith” found in the Book of Hebrews. This specific text calls attention to the others in Scripture who had a great faith and did extreme things to show their faith. Could our name be added to this list because of our faith? Let’s read Hebrews, Chapter Eleven, Verse Thirty-Two thru Forty. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

Book of Faith:

³² And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. ³⁵ Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

 

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

Do you remember the first Bible story you were taught as a child? Were you taught about Adam and Eve? Did you read the accounts of Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood? Were you in fascination of Daniel in the Lion’s Den? Were you caught up in the love story of Samson and Delilah? Did you ever find yourself wanting a technicolor coat like Joseph? Did you want to march around Jericho or use a sling-shot to take down giants? Did you want to build a basket and float down a river like Moses? Maybe you were curious about a tower that went by the name “Tower of Babel”? Perhaps, it was the story of Jonah and a whale that inspired you to dive into the Word of God? Or was it the story of Jesus feeding five-thousand people on the shores of Galilee with only two little fish and five loaves of bread? If you can’t remember the first Bible story you were taught as a child, maybe you have a favorite Bible Story that has helped you deepen your faith and strengthen your trust in God.

If you are trying to remember some of those famous Bible Stories you may have learned or heard about as a child, let me jog your memory of a few. According to Dr. Oliver Tearle of Loughborough University, here are the top twelve stories of the Bible that many people have been raised on: “Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark and the Flood, The Tower of Babel, Moses in a basket, Moses parting the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, Jonah and the Whale, The Nativity Scene, The Raising of Lazarus, and the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus.” There are many, many, more stories that probably come to mind, but these are the twelve most popular Bible stories that most of us can remember learning as a child. But, what do the stories of back then teach us today? When was the last time you revisited the first stories of your faith?

Over the span of the next few months—June, July, and August—we are going to explore some of these early childhood Bible Stories. As we explore these stories, each of you will be encouraged to think about the first time you heard that story and what that story means to you today. Dr. Tearle notes, in his article titled 12 of the Best Stories from the Bible Everyone Should Know, “The Bible contains many well-known stories, but how much do we know about them? And what are the best Bible stories everyone should know? Many people, even those raised in countries where Sunday school and religious assemblies are a mainstay of many children’s education, may find they’ve misremembered, or got the wrong impression about, some of the iconic tales from the Bible.”

So, what do you remember about some of those “iconic tales” from the Bible; and what about them today can help deepen your faith and strengthen your trust in God as you strive to be the disciple and church Jesus needs you and us to be? We continue the journey by examining the worthiness of faith…

 

Body:

The other day, as I was reading Heather Wilber’s book Never Will I Leave Thee, Never Will I Forsake Thee[1], a story about a mother’s testimony of hope and miracles surrounding the life of her daughter, Katelyn, who was born with a heart disease called complete heart block, I found myself asking “Is it worth it?” Is it worth it to put ourselves through so much pain and uncertainty for something we don’t have control over? Is it worth it putting our faith—asking for healing of a loved one, praying for a new job, a fresh start in life—in someone who we will never fully know or understand while we are here on this earth? Is it worth it? At some point, Heather would have said “No”; but she never committed to that answer because her faith told her it was worth it—that something glorious would come out of this situation. Is your faith telling you it is worth it to follow Christ?

Thinking about this question of “Is it worth it?”, I found myself lead to revisit the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Daniel’s three famous friends who were thrown into a fiery furnace because following God and opposing the laws of the Babylonians was worth it to them even though they knew that death was knocking on their door. Let me remind us of this famous story found in Daniel chapter 3:

“When the Israelites were exiles in Babylon, they had to figure out how to serve God as strangers in a strange land. Back in Judah, they had their own king, their own religion, and their own rules. Now they had to figure out how to be faithful to God while still being friendly in their new home. Sometimes living as an exile was hard but not too complicated. The king might give them freedom to worship their own God in their own way. Or he might appreciate the Israelites for their hard work. The Jews could get along with the Babylonians as long as the Babylonians didn’t mind the Jews believing and acting like Jews! But that wasn’t the case. Sometimes, serving God and serving the Babylonians just didn’t go together. And when that happened, there was only one thing to do: put God first.

“One time King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold almost one hundred feet high and commanded everyone to worship the image. And ‘everyone’ included the Jews. Nebuchadnezzar was asking them to break a whole bunch of the Ten Commandments. Actually, he wasn’t asking anyone. The king issued a decree that whoever refused to worship the image would be thrown into a burning fiery furnace.

“There were three Jews who worked for the king who refused to bow to the golden image. Their Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, but you might know them by their Babylonian names: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ‘Our God can save us from the fire,’ they said, ‘but even if he doesn’t, we will not worship your gods or bow down to your golden image.’

“Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter, and he had the men thrown into the flames. But when the king looked in the furnace, he didn’t see the three men burning up…. In fact, he didn’t see three men at all. He saw four! And the fourth one was real shiny. So the king called them out and blessed the God who sent his angel to save Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then he promoted them to even greater authority in Babylon.”[2]

We’d like to think that nothing bad will happen to us if we do the right thing, except we know that’s not the way things always work. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t know what God would do, but they knew right from wrong. They knew that what they decided to do, stand up for their faith, was worth it. But is your faith as strong as theirs? Is your faith telling you that it is worth it to stand in the fiery furnace? Is it worth it going through pain and suffering to care for those who will never be one hundred percent  healthy? Is it worth it taking risks every year, not knowing the yield of your harvest, to plant fields of beans, corn, and wheat? Is it worth it following Christ knowing that the path is not and will not be easy? Is it worth it belonging to a church that seeks a future in the present? Is it worth it?

Today, we finish reading Hebrews chapter eleven. In this chapter we have examined numerous people who exemplified great faith: Enoch, Abraham, Noah, Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and Rahab. We explored people who were not perfect, who committed sinful acts, who laughed in the presence of God, who experienced and expressed great doubt, and who had a past not worthy of God’s doing. We explored their stories and at the same time we witnessed how God never forsake them, how He never left their side. Why? Because He saw the great and miraculous faith instilled within their heart. They, at first, said “This is not worth it”; but by the end they all proclaimed together, “This is worth it!” Today, we see others of great faith who risked everything to follow God because they knew it was worth it. Do you think following God, to find the footprints of Jesus, is worth it? Is there ever a time when being a Christian is NOT worth it?

 

Movement One: Noticing What Comes With Being A Christian…

All through Hebrews 11, we read about the great men and women of faith. The writer has been building toward this climax for several verses and then we read: “And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection” (Hebrews 11:32-35a).

Through their faith they demonstrated justice, kept promises, extinguished harmful fire, escaped the sword of destruction, cared for the weak, the powerless, and the outcast, and stood up against those who opposed their God. These faithful people did so much for so many people because they found the worthiness of their faith. That’s the kind of Christianity I signed up for! I picture myself like a knight riding into battle: conquering kingdoms; stopping the mouths of lions; quenching the power of fire; being made mighty in war… and putting foreign armies to flight. That’s the kind of Christianity I can sink my teeth into. That’s that kind of Christianity, belief, trust, that Jesus saw in his disciples when he told them to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). It is certainly worth it to follow Jesus if the outcome of our actions is what is needed. But it’s not easy.

Hebrews turns from focusing on victory and power, and turns to sorrow and loss: “Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground” (Hebrews 11:35a-38). Those of deep faith underwent unimaginable torture to spread the faith and to keep it alive. Is it worth it knowing that it is not easy, that it is dangerous at times, to be a Christian? It is easy to walk away and give up: it is easy to throw in the towel and not give people, situations, circumstances, a chance; but it is so worth it if we stay focused on God and the mission of Christ, knowing that there is a great reward in heaven waiting for each of us.

You see, the Bible has always been honest with us about the potential costs of discipleship. Paul wrote, “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27). Paul, the one who persecuted Christians, the who was not part of the original twelve disciples, and the one who took to heart what Jesus told Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), publically proclaimed that even though all that he went through was torture, his faith remained strong because all that he endured was worth it. It was worth it because it got him closer to Jesus Christ.

The disciple Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:12-16, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.”

And Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross (an instrument of torture and death) and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). And so, here in Hebrews 11, God is telling us that truth again. He’s saying: there have been many great people of faith who’ve been mistreated, tortured, imprisoned… and even put to death because they held true to their faith. And that has always been true for God’s people. Let me tell, you may not think that it is worth it being a Christian because of what others have said to you or done to you, but if you believe in and have faith in Jesus Christ, following him is worth it because you will not perish but have everlasting life. Is it worth it?

 

Movement Two: The Struggle and Toughness…God Notices…

What makes it tough to commit to being faithful to Christ, is the enemy we encounter every day. He’s called Satan, and Satan’s desire is to destroy anything that belongs to God—which includes you and me.

Did you ever stop to think that Jesus and all of His disciples (except John) were martyred—meaning they died for their faith? Peter was crucified upside down; Andrew was crucified; James was killed by the sword,; Phillip was either crucified, stoned, beheaded, or died of old age; Bartholomew was either flayed, crucified, or drowned; Thomas was speared; Matthew was either burned, stoned, beheaded, or slain; James was clubbed and stoned; Jude died by an axe; Simon was crucified or sawed; and Judas hung himself.[3] The disciples suffered greatly and they knew what to expect when Jesus sent them out into the world. They knew the dangers and perils, but doing the work of Christ made the journey worthwhile.

Satan’s intent has always been to destroy God’s people… and yet every government that has ever tried to destroy the church has ultimately failed. Whether it be Rome, or the leaders of the French Revolution, or Nazi Germany, or the nations of Islam, or any Communist country that has ever existed. They’ve all tried and failed to wipe out or silence Christianity. The stories of Christians who’ve been persecuted or killed for their faith have made many of those Martyrs an inspiration for others who have risen to take their place.[4] Why would people be willing to risk everything to follow Christ? Well, two reasons…

First, they know God is paying attention. Right in the midst of this section of Hebrews 11 (where we’re told of all the pain and suffering and death the great people of faith endured) we find this statement telling us that these people were those: “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). Notice, God used that phrase for the ones who endured hardship, and persecution. These were the ones that God praised, the ones who were found not to be worthy by the world! There is a church sign driving to Robinson that reads, “What the world rejects, God accepts.” What the world deems not worthy, God says is worthy. Do you remember what Jesus proclaimed on the Mount? He said, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). GOD PAYS ATTENTION when you suffer. God notices, and He blesses you because He accepts you.

And this is especially true for those who have died for their faith. Acts tells us that when Jesus ascended to heaven that He SAT DOWN at the right hand of the Father. But then, in Acts 7 we read of a Christian named Stephen who preached such a powerful sermon that it angered the Jews and they stoned him to death. As he was dying, Stephen “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and JESUS STANDING at the right hand of God.” Jesus stood up for Stephen. It was as if He was giving this man a standing ovation. It was like Jesus was standing in honor of a man who had gladly given his life in Christ’s service. If you’d asked Stephen if it was “worth it” he’d have said, “YES”. Jesus noticed him…

So, first, those who suffer for their faith, God notices. And secondly– those who are willing to suffer for Christ, know this world is NOT all there is. Hebrews tells us: “Some (of the Old Testament greats) were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life” (Hebrews 11:35). A man named Randy Smith once wrote: “Death for the Christian is the greatest event possible because only death has the ability to break the seal and usher you into inexpressible glory. So the worst the enemy can do is send me to paradise!” As an early Christian named Justyn Martyr once said “You can kill us, but you cannot harm us.” Justin Martyr said these words because he knew that we serve a risen Savior. And even if we die for Him we will RISE to be with Him!

After hearing about the struggles and horrendous deaths of those faithful disciples and followers, you may be thinking, “Hey now, I didn’t sign up for this. I didn’t sign up to take risks. I didn’t sign up to be challenged, to worship with people unlike me, to sit with people of differing opinions, to have to work to maintain my faith, to put my life on the line. I didn’t sign up to put my faith in action. I signed up because I wanted an easy life: a life that was simply blessed.” I’m sorry to tell you this, but if those are the reasons you “signed up” to be a Christian, then you haven’t learned what Jesus did for you and what he calls all of us to do: follow him, take up our cross, and deny ourselves. You’ve given into the enemy. If we want this journey, this calling, to be worthy, then we will experience pain, sorrow, doubt, and moments of being challenged. We will have to fight the enemy. We will be in valleys and not want to climb mountains. We will remain the sound of a rusting gate. But at the same time, we will experience joy, salvation, forgiveness, love, and mercy. Why? Because God notices us. God notices you. If God is willing to notice us, to accept  just as we are, then I believe it is worth it to live a life that honors Him and follows Jesus Christ, no matter what may placed upon our path.

 

Movement Three: Worth It, But We Aren’t Perfect…

At the end of Hebrews 11 is almost an obscure comment: “And all these (the great men and women of faith in the Old Testament), though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40).

WHOA!!! What do you mean they didn’t receive what was promised? What was it that was promised that they didn’t get? Well, we find out in Hebrews 9:15, “Therefore (Jesus) is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the PROMISED eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

In other words, until Jesus died for THEIR SIN, all those great men and women of faith in the Old Testament didn’t receive the promise—the promise of forgiveness of sins. If Jesus had not died on the cross THEY (and WE) would have no hope of heaven. There would be no “eternal inheritance.”

So what is the author of Hebrews trying to tell us? He’s trying to tell us that IF THEY (who had not received that promise yet) were willing to die for that which they hadn’t yet received, how much more should WE who have received that promise be willing to suffer and die for He’s dying for us. Hebrews 12:1-3 continue this thought, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (those Old Testament heroes who didn’t have what you have), let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Those great people of great faith in the Old Testament didn’t have what we have today: we have eternal salvation and forgiveness because Jesus died for our sins, for our transgressions. Jesus paid our debt so that we could be set free, so that we would know every day that it is worth being a follower of him. But yet, not having what Jesus gave us didn’t stop them from living out their faith and making a difference for the people that God placed in their life. Saving those around them—although putting themselves in harm’s way—was worth it to them because they experienced God’s presence when their race was done. They understood that the life they were given was worth giving up because it meant keeping the faith alive.

They say that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead he became a changed man (obviously). And after the resurrection of Christ, Lazarus became a Christian and a major leader in the early church. The story is told that when Lazarus grew older he stood before a ruler, and that ruler demanded that Lazarus renounce his faith or face death. And Lazarus began to laugh. The Governor became outraged and demanded that Lazarus quit laughing and to take this seriously – “Don’t you realize I have the power to have you executed.” But Lazarus laughed all the harder. Finally, the Governor exploded in a rage demanding to know why Lazarus was laughing. Lazarus looked up at the ruler and replied: “I’ve already died once. I no longer fear death. I have faith.”

 

Conclusion:

The question I want you to think about is this, “Is it worth living a life by faith knowing that the journey will not be easy?” Hebrews mentions people of great faith—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, Enoch, Abraham, Noah, Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, and Rahab—and these people were not perfect, didn’t always know what God needed them to do, what to say, or where to go, and they at times doubted what God was seeking from them; but even in all that, they kept their faith. They understood that at some point, all that they would go through would be worth it in the end. Their faith is what made living a life under God worth it. Our faith is what makes following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ worth it.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t have to enter the fiery furnace; they could have chosen to follow Nebuchadnezzar, but they chose to enter that furnace because it was worth risking their life to prove their faith. Enoch, Abraham, Noah, Sarah, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Rahab, and the disciples could have said, “No” and walked away, but they knew that by saying “Yes” their life would be giving worth and meaning. Heather Wilber could have given up on her family and walked away, but she remained faithful even during times of struggle and lack of answers because she witnessed the worth of the situation.

My point is, as a disciple, as a follower, as a Christian, you have to ask yourself, “Is all this worth it? Is my faith strong enough to make being a disciple worth it?” As a church, we have to continually ask ourselves, “Is it worth it? Is it worth it making changes? Is it worth it thinking about the future? Is it worth it taking risks? Is it worth it worshipping and praying with others? Is being a church worth it to me fully becoming who Jesus needs me to be?” I hope your answer is “Yes!” Because in this worth is a faith that gets you closer to Jesus Christ, that allows your sins to be forgiven, that grants you salvation, that blesses you with everlasting life, and a Savior who will never forsake you.

One of the greatest obstacles to becoming a committed Christian is the fact that Christianity is not easy. The task of living a fully God-centered life is no walk in the park, as the lives of the greatest and most fully-converted Christians who have ever lived—the saints—will attest. Indeed, Christianity lived to the fullest involves struggle. But is the struggle worth it? That’s up to you.

Living a God-centered, Jesus-focused, Spirit-guided, life will not be easy. It will be frustrating. It will be struggling at times. It will be demanding at times. But it will also be rewarding, blessed, and miraculous if you continually tell yourself, “This is all worth it.” Is living a Christian life worth it to you? I hope the answer is “Yes.” There’s a lot of faith in you and in this place. It’s time to make our faith a symbol of our worth. Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, instill in our heart and mind the willingness to commit our life to your ways. Feed our spirits with the determination to be faithful to a life worthy of your doing. It is worthy to be a Christian; and it is worthy to be your hands and feet on this earth. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

So, is it worth being a Christian, a disciple, a follower, a participant of God’s faith knowing that it will not be easy? The journey to the end of the race will not be easy, but it will be rewarding. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth knowing that your faith is making all of this worth it. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] Heather Wilber, Never Will I Leave Thee, Never Will I Forsake Thee: A Mother’s Testimony of Hope and Miracles, 2023, Trilogy Christian Publishers: Michell Drive Tustin, CA.

[2] Kevin DeYoung, The Biggest Story Bible Storybook, 2021, Crossway Publishing: Wheaton, IL. pp. 232-237.

[3] Ryan Nelson, “How Did the Apostles Die? What We Actually Know?, https://overviewbible.com/how-did-the-apostles-die. December 17, 2019.

[4] An early church leader named Tertullian noted, “The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.”