Hope in Humility

Worship Service for August 16, 2020

WELCOME

I have a riddle for you that introduces the topic for today:
Why is the solitary lion humble?
It has no pride. Lol!

I pray that your time spent here on CrossPointe’s website will rejuvenate and reinvigorate your faith in the Risen Lord Jesus to more confidently and hopefully face the difficult days in which we are presently living.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

August 30th is a fifth Sunday and you know what that means. That’s when we not only gather for worship but we also Gather to Scatter in order to accomplish our purpose of “Sharing God’s Grace with Our Community.” We have learned that the Food Pantry at the Church-at-the Lake is running dangerously low. Therefore; be encouraged to bring in any of the food items listed below.

Shampoo
Toilet Paper
Canned Ravioli
Canned Beef Stew
Canned Chili
Canned Soup with Beef
(folks pour it over noodles or rice to make a meal)
Small packages of white Rice
Spaghetti Sauce (jar ready to use)
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables (other than green beans)
Boxed Cereal
Pancake Mix
Peanut butter
Jelly

You may drop these off at the church today by noon, and/or either of the next two Sundays by noon.

For those who come Sunday the 30th and are willing and able, we hope to do a little clean up around the pavilion. More on this next week.

I already have 5 persons who will start the new Disciple class this September. If you are interested or know someone who is, let me know about it.

Since we changed our worship time to 9:30 am, I will remain after worship until 12 noon for those of you who wish to drop off your offering. You may place it in the box that is located in the lobby.

If you prefer to send your offering in the mail, the address is

CrossPointe Community Church
P. O. Box 126
Chippewa Lake, OH 44215-0126

I would like to take a moment to give a shout out to Sandy Barnes. Joan Long sent me a note that reads:

Sandy is the Co-lead for the Abilities Advocate Network for Westfield Companies. She and her group were going to come to Camp Paradise with games and to interact with individuals with developmental disabilities. However, because camp was canceled for 2020, she stepped up and organized her AAN volunteers to donate crafts, games, yarn, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, etc; all manner of items to be used to keep our adult individuals engaged while in lockdown. This donation amounts to thousands of dollars! Overwhelming generosity! Sandy spent hours and hours getting all this organized and the Society is so grateful for her dedication and kindness. She is a very special person who has truly blessed us.

Thanks Sandy for your kindness.

Once again, let us open our hearts to praising and hearing the Word of the Lord by reading through the worship service. Please take advantage of the opportunity to read, pause, reflect, and pray when you feel led. I hope you also noticed that most of this service is also available in video format on the same page where you accessed this.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?
Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
Who makes the rain fall on barren land in a desert where no one lives?
Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?
Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.
Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
Can you direct the constellations through the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Job 38:1-7, 22-33

HYMNS OF PRAISE

Indescribable

Story, Laura

From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea
Creation’s revealing Your majesty
From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring
Every creature unique in the song that it sings
All exclaiming
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Who has told every lightning bolt
Where it should go
Or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light
Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night
None can fathom
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God…You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untamable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees
As we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God
Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky
And You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God…You are amazing God…
©2004 worshiptogether.com
CCLI License No. 1843349

All Creation Worships You

Dearman, Kirk/Mills, Jim

You are God and we praise You.
(And we praise You).
You are Lord, we acclaim You.
(We acclaim You).
You are eternal Father,
All creation worships You.
All creation worships You.
Amen.
©1988 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music (c/o Integrity Music, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 1843349)

OPENING PRAYER

Our Eternal Father in heaven, as did Job millennia ago, so we too confess that You are God; the grand designer, the creator and the sustainer of the entire universe. And like the Psalmist, who looked at the moon and stars in awe and wonder, we too ask, “What are we that You would think of us?” So when come to understand You love us so much that You Yourself came to live among us for the purpose of dying for us, what more can we do than join all creation to worship and acclaim You Lord of the universe and Lord of our lives, through Jesus, amen.

THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

(see announcement above)

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
Matthew 6:24

PRAYER SONG

More Love to Thee

Prentiss, Elizabeth/Doane, William H.

More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
Hear Thou the prayer, I make on bended knee.
This is my earnest plea: more love O Christ to Thee.
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest.
Now Thee alone I seek; give what is best.
This all my prayer shall be:
More love, O Christ, to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Then shall my latest breath, whisper Thy praise.
This be the parting cry, my heart shall raise;
This still my prayer shall be:
More love O Christ to Thee;
More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Public Domain
CCLI License No. 1843349

MORNING PRAYER

Brad Winter

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for this beautiful day and bringing us all together safely and securely to hear your word our pastor has prepared for us.
More Love to Thee……..Let these words sink in and help us to come back to you when we drift away and be close to you God…..Your blessing and wisdom spill upon us when we forget about worldly things and problems when we chose to share our Love through prayer and intimacy with you.
Please bless those who are unable to be with us today.
We pray for calmness and peace through your steady and righteous hand upon this world and to those suffering from sickness, anxiety and depression brought upon by the coronavirus pandemic.
We pray for strength and safety for our leaders, first responders and military.
Please keep us safe on our return home and help us to be a bright shining light in someone else’s life!
In Jesus name…..Amen

SCRIPTURE

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’
I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Luke 18:9-14

Before we read 1 Peter I want to remind you that last week, we talked about the importance of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. We used Dallas Willard’s broad definition: “As Jesus’ disciple, I am learning from Him how to lead my life in the kingdom of God as He would lead my life if He were I. As a disciple, I am being transformed in all dimensions of my personality toward the goal of loving God with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind and all my strength and my neighbor as myself.” ¹

I also mentioned last week that Peter has seven sections in this letter that call us to discipleship. He spells it out broadly in 1:15; “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.” We’ve seen that a key word in this missive is ‘submit.’ Submit to government, husbands and wives and submit to one another. He has admonished us to serve one another (4:10). And three times in this letter he has called upon the recipients to love one another:

And now in the last chapter of this letter of hope, Peter gives us one of the keys that will enable us to live in these ways as a disciple of Christ . . . humility.

By the way, why are Short People so humble? Because they are very Down to Earth

So my sermon today will address the topic of ‘humility.’ And in my opinion, it will be one of the finest sermons ever preached! Ha!

And, appropriately enough, Peter begins with pastors.

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in His glory when He is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor.
I Peter 5:1-6

THE MESSAGE

Randy K’Meyer

Hope in Humility

The key verse from Peter is, “And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for (and then Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34) ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”

Yet, how easy we get caught up in the opposite of humility; that is pride.

Some of you remember that great CBS newscaster from yesteryear, Walter Cronkite. He tells a story on himself about sailing down the Mystic River in Connecticut.

“A boatload of young people sped past us shouting and waving their arms. I rather full of myself waved back a cheery greeting.

My wife said, ‘Walter, do you know what they were shouting?’

I said, ‘Sure, they were shouting, hello Walter, hello Walter.’

‘No,’ she said, ‘they were shouting, low water, low water.’” About that time we hit and became stuck on a sandbar.” ²

Chan Gailey, who was head football coach for three college teams and an assistant coach for seven NFL teams told how he learned a lesson in humility.

In 1984, Gailey led Alabama’s Troy State to a 12-1 record and a berth in the Division II National Championship. The week before the big game, he was headed to the practice field when a secretary called him back to take a phone call. Somewhat irritated, Gailey told her to take a message.

She responded, “But it’s Sports Illustrated.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said.

As he made his way to the building, he began to think about the upcoming article. It would be great for a small school like Troy State to be in Sports Illustrated. Then he started thinking that he might be on the cover.
“Should I pose or go with an action shot,” he wondered. His head was spinning with all of the possibilities.

When he picked up the phone, the person asked, “Is this Chan Gailey?”

“Yes, it is,” he replied confidently.

“This is Sports Illustrated, and we’re calling to let you know that your subscription is running out and it’s time to renew”

Coach Gailey concluded the story by saying, “You are either humble or you will be humbled.” ³

And Jesus said, “Amen” to that, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

The word translated ‘humble,’ used 34 times in the NT, as an adjective means ‘low-lying’ and as a verb, ‘to make low’ or, ‘to bow down.’ 4 Perhaps it can best be defined as freedom from pride. That’s how Jesus sees it: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

How can we cultivate an attitude of humility?

One way to cultivate humility is to ponder the greatness of God in comparison to us.

If you’d like to eat a little humble pie, I challenge you to do what David did. Go out on a clear night and ponder the universe. The average human can see about 6,000 stars. The closest is 4.3 light-years away; that’s 26 trillion miles. Or pick out the brightest; that would be Sirius, 8.6 light-years away. That would be 52 trillion miles away.

The farthest away star we can see with the unaided eye is 4,000 light years or 240 quadrillion miles distant. The cool thing about it, I should say the hot thing about it, is even though it is almost too faint to see, it is a supergiant star that gives off 100,000 times more energy than our sun.

Or I could take you out to Letha House Park and show you how to spot just the center of the Andromeda Galaxy shining 2.5 million light-years away. And yet, if we could see the entire galaxy it would be 6 times the width of the full moon!

David wrote, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place, what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

“Indescribable, uncontainable, You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name. You are amazing God!”

President Theodore Roosevelt’s love of the outdoors is well documented. He was responsible for the creation of several national parks and monuments. In his first inaugural address, he spoke of the blessings of God upon our nation, “I reverently invoke for my guidance the direction and favor of Almighty God.”

When President Roosevelt entertained diplomatic guests at the White House he was fond of taking them out to the back lawn at the end of the day. As the president stood gazing at the night sky, all eyes would eventually be cast heavenward, as his were. In his day, the vast array of stars was not dimmed by the city lights, and the magnificent display of God’s brilliant creation would overcome the party. Then after a long moment, Mr. Roosevelt would say, “Gentlemen, I believe we are small enough now; let’s go to bed.” ⁵

Humble people get that way by comparing themselves to who God is and what He has done. They agree with David’s assessment in Psalm 103, “We are only dust” (14). And they take Peter’s advice: “humble yourselves under the mighty power of God” (5:6).

Second, humble people learn to ascribe everything we are and have to God.

Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains, the world and the those who dwell in it.”

Although Denzel Washington is a great actor, he is becoming more respected for his public speaking; especially as a college commencement speaker, where he displays much humility. In fact, he now credits God for all his success.

But he is the first to admit, it’s not always been that way for him. In a graduation speech titled, Put God First, Washington said,

When I was young and started really making it as an actor, I came and talked to my mother and said, ‘Mom, did you think this was going to happen? That I’d be so big and I’d be able to take care of everybody and I can do this and I can do that.’”
Mama Washington replied, ‘Boy, stop it right there, stop it right there, stop it right there!’ She asked, ‘Oh, you did it all by yourself? I’ll tell you what you can do by yourself: Go outside and get a mop and bucket and clean these windows—you can do that by yourself, superstar.’
She said, ‘If you only knew how many people been praying for you.’ How many prayer groups I put together for you, how many times I splashed you with holy water to save your sorry behind. ⁶

Denzel Washington would agree with Christian author Frederica Green, “Ego builds a cardboard fortress that humility must, every day, tear down.” ⁷

In his book, Making Today Count for Eternity, Kent Crockett relates a story about famed author Alex Haley, who wrote ROOTS, and who had on his office wall a unique picture of a turtle sitting atop a fence post. When people asked him about it, Haley would say,

If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know that he had some help. Any time I start thinking ‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done?’ I look at that picture and remember how this turtle; that is me, got up on that post. A turtle can’t get on top of a fence post unless a hand picks it up and puts it there. Nor can we receive promotion without the hand of God. He puts us were He chooses, whether in a higher or lower position. ⁸

Noted 20th century monk and poet, Thomas Merton once said, “Give me humility, in which alone is rest, and deliver me from pride, which is the heaviest of burdens.” ⁹

Third, to cultivate humility, we should learn to revel in the accomplishment of others.

Paul to the Philippians: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (2:2-4).

In 1994 Thurman Thomas sat on the Buffalo bench following his team’s fourth straight Super Bowl loss with his head bowed and his hands covering his face. His three fumbles had helped seal the awful fate of his Buffalo Bills. Suddenly, standing before him was the Cowboys’ star running back, Emmitt Smith. Just named MVP for Super Bowl XXVIII, Smith was carrying his small god-daughter. Emmitt Smith looked down at her and said, “I want you to meet the greatest running back in the NFL, Mr. Thurman Thomas.” ¹⁰

“In humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

For many years Sir Walter Scott was the leading literary figure in the British Empire. No one could write as well as he. Then the works of Lord Byron began to appear, and their greatness was immediately evident. Soon an anonymous critic praised his poems in a London paper. He declared that in the presence of these brilliant works of poetic genius, Scott could no longer be considered the leading poet of England. It was later discovered that the unnamed reviewer had been none other than Sir Walter Scott himself! ¹¹

That’s what Joan Long did for Sandy Barnes. When I mentioned to Sandy that I planned on sharing this today, she told me that Joan was the one who actually organized the project.

Humility check? When was the last time you lifted up someone in your sphere of influence for a job well done?

Fourth, humble people engage in tasks of servanthood for even more humility.

Jesus said, “The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves (be serving) will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

That last part sounds familiar because that was in today’s reading from Luke. In fact, this must have been a favorite saying of Jesus for he used it on several occasions. But in this one He links it with serving. Those who serve are the humble ones.

Nik Wallenda, has become the most-watched high wire artist and daredevil
in the world. His two most recent feats were seen by a billion people across the world. In 2012 Wallenda walked a tightrope across Niagara Falls. In 2013 Wallenda became the first person to high-wire the Grand Canyon.

Wallenda knows that he will be tempted by pride, so after the huge crowds and the media fade away he engages in a simple spiritual discipline: he walks where the crowds have just stood and quietly picks up trash. Wallenda recently wrote,

My purpose is simply to help clean up after myself. The crowds leave a great deal of trash behind, and I feel compelled to pitch in. Besides, after the inordinate amount of attention I sought and received, I need to keep myself grounded. Three hours of cleaning up debris is good for my soul. Humility does not come naturally to me. So I have to force myself into situations that are humbling. I know that I need to get down on my hands and knees like everyone else. I do it because it’s a way to keep from tripping. As a follower of Jesus, I see him washing the feet of others. I do it because if I don’t serve others I’ll be serving nothing but my ego. ¹²

Wallenda reminds us that Jesus, of course, is our model for this.

It is the last night on earth for Jesus prior to His arrest, trial and crucifixion. He has invited His disciples to an upper room to celebrate the Passover. It the custom for a servant to greet them at the door to wash their feet. But there is no servant there. Someone has to take on that lowly role, but His disciples are arguing about which one of them is not the least, but the greatest. And the Lord of the universe removes His outer clothing, takes up the servant’s towel and in a most remarkable act of humility kneels down to wash their feet.

What an object lesson in humility!

And Paul says, you ain’t seen nothing yet! “And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8).

Paul reminds us that humility begins when we humble ourselves to God in Christ and receive His gift of forgiveness and grace.

Matthew 18:1-4 says

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Have you ever come to the time in your life when you humbled yourself before God and admitted you were a sinner in need of forgiveness? That for the most part you serve self?

Former QB for the Philadelphia Eagles, Nick Foles, has a great testimony that will pull all of this together and so I close with it.

He got to play late in the 2017 season when the starter, Carson Wentz, was injured. Foles led the Eagles to the Super Bowl title and won the MVP that year. But when Wentz was ready to play again in week 3 of the 2018 season, Foles was once again relegated to backup. Many people were surprised that Foles to sitting on the bench so well.

In his 2018 book Believe It, Foles writes:

What they saw as a riches-to-rags sports story, I see as part of God’s divine plan. I’ve said all along that my desire is to play for God’s glory, not mine, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. My unique path from backup to Super Bowl MVP to backup again is a powerful message to share with people, and God has given me an ideal platform to do that from. To cheerfully return to a backup role after reaching the pinnacle of the sport contradicts everything the world tells us about success, fame, money and self-worth. To me, it’s a tangible reminder that we are called to humility and to a life of service. Some people might think I deserve a better deal, but it’s not about what I deserve. It’s never been about that. The truth is, I’ve already been given far more than I deserve–a wonderful family; a job I love; grace and forgiveness; great friends, coaches and teammates. Everything I have is a gift from God, and I’m thankful for all of it. I am where I am now because of God’s grace, and I’ll continue to follow wherever he leads. ¹³

May the same be said of us!

CLOSING PRAYER

(I encourage all of you to pray as you feel led).

CLOSING SONG

All I Once Held Dear

Kendrick, Graham

All I once held dear,
Built my life upon,
All this world reveres,
And wars to own,
All I once thought gain,
I have counted loss;
Spent and worthless now,
Compared to this.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing.
You’re my all, You’re the best,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.
Now my heart’s desire,
Is to know You more,
To be found in You,
And known as Yours,
To possess by faith,
What I could not earn;
All surpassing gift of righteousness.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing.
You’re my all, You’re the best,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.
Oh to know the power
Of Your risen life,
And to know You in
Your sufferings,
To become like You,
In Your death, my Lord;
So with You to live,
And never die.
Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You,
There is no greater thing.
You’re my all, You’re the best,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
You’re my all, You’re the best,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
You’re my all, You’re the best,
You’re my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You, Lord.
And I love You, Lord.
And I love You, Lord.
©1993 Make Way Music
CCLI License Number 1843349

SCRIPTURAL BENEDICTION

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom. 15:5-6

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBh8Kz9uqG8

2 Ray Ellis and Walter Cronkite, North by Northeast
https://bible.org/illustration/pitfalls-fame%E2%80%99s-egotism

3 Alan Price, Chatsworth, Georgia; source: Chan Gailey speaking at a dinner in Dalton, Georgia (4-20-04)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2004/may/15356.html

5 E-mail from the Presidential Prayer Team (6-21-02); submitted by Larry Trotter
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2002/december/14018.html

6 Michael W. Chapman, Denzel Washington to College Grads: ‘Put God First,’ CSNNEWS.Com (5-11-15)
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2015/june/6061515.html

7 Frederica Mathewes-Green, The Jesus Prayer (Paraclete Press, 2009), p. 9; submitted by Kevin Miller, Wheaton, Illinois
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2011/october/1101711.html

8 Kent Crockett, Making Today Count for Eternity, [Sisters Oregon: Multnomah Publishing © 2011]
https://illustrationexchange.com/illustrations?category=604

9 Thomas Merton, monk and poet
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2000/may/12416.html

10 Allen Mann, Remington, Virginia. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 4. Thomas
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1998/february/4212.html

11 http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/humility.htm

12 Nik Wallenda with David Ritz, Balance (Faith Words, 2013), page 207; submitted by Jerry De Luca, Montreal West, Quebec, Canada
https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2013/august/7080513.html