Good News About Sparrows And Us

2. Good News About SparrowsAnd Us Weekend of June 21st & 22nd, 2014

3. Good News About Sparrows And Us • Pastor Robin Clark tells a story about a sparrow that somehow got into the rafter of his church in Brant Broughton, England. • At the time, there was a music recital going on, which was being broadcast on the radio. • The chirping of the bird didn’t exactly keep time with the music. • So, Pastor Clark asked his congregation to leave and then asked a friend of his to come with his pellet gun and shoot the intruding sparrow.

4. Good News About Sparrows And Us • Well, the killing that sparrow became front page news in Great Britain. • The London Daily Telegraph ran the headline: • Evidently that church had forgotten Psalm 84:3 “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-- a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.” “Rev. Robin Orders Death of Sparrow”

5. Good News About Sparrows And Us • There is another passage of Scripture that is even more reassuring than this one, and it comes from our Gospel Lesson today. • “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

6. Good News About Sparrows And Us • Some unknown author put that verse into a poem: Said the robin to the sparrow: “I’d really like to know; Why these anxious human creatures rush about and worry so.” Said the sparrow to the robin, “I guess that it must be, that they have no Father such as cares for you and me.” • Another unknown poet put it like this: “If God sees the sparrow’s fall, Paints the lilies short and tall; Gives the skies their reddish hue, Will He not then care for you?”

7. Good News About Sparrows And Us • Joni Eareckson Tada continues to praise God even after her diving accident, leaving her a quadriplegic. • She writes, “When I watch my bird feeder, I could understand if God noticed an eagle or falcon fall to the ground.” • “But an ugly sparrow? They’re a dime a dozen.” • Jesus, Himself, even said so, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?”

8. Good News About Sparrows And Us • Bird watches want to see the majestic flight of an eagle. • Or maybe the swooping and diving flight of a beautiful swallow. • But a sparrow? You’re kidding, right?

9. Good News About Sparrows And Us • And yet from the thousands of bird species, our Lord chose the most insignificant, least-watched and scruffiest bird of all. • Why does Jesus do this? • To calm our fears and worries in life; • If God keeps tabs on humble sparrows, who they are, where they are and what they are doing? • Be assured, God keeps tabs on us!

10. Good News About Sparrows And Us • In Biblical times, sparrows were quite useful: • Often time, sparrows were considered food for the poor. It wouldn’t be much but it was something; • Sparrows could be offered by the poor as a sacrifice, if they could not afford a lamb or goat; • And the going rate was “two sparrows for a penny” so even the poor could afford that;

11. Good News About Sparrows And Us • What do you know about sparrows? • Sparrows are about the most worthless bird you can get; • They are dirty and often have fleas; • They reproduce abundantly, as we all can see; • They have no song but only an annoying chirp; • They are not colorful or pretty; Just look closely at this one!

12. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • What an amazing teaching of Jesus: “God sees when a sparrow falls.” • Jesus is trying to illustrate for us that if God watches over the sparrows, as worthless as they are, how closely will God watch us? • Jesus answers that question plainly: “you are worth more than many sparrows.” • How much more are we worth? • Jesus shed His blood on the cross and died there for us, NOT sparrows.

13. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • I don’t know about you, but I have often been afraid about various situations in my life and wonder how they will turn out? • I usually try to pass it off as being a responsible person and wanting things to work out well; • Or, I call it “Concern” rather than “Worry,” but we all know what we are really doing. • You know the story about the nervous airline passenger, who was walking to his gate and saw one of those machines for flight insurance. • Well, he went ahead and bought a $100,000 policy. Right?

14. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • As he was waiting on his flight, he decided to order some Chinese food. • After the meal, of course, he had to open his fortune cookie – who doesn’t? It read: • What makes us worry so much about things that more than likely will never happen? • Jesus Christ wants to set us free from our fears and worries. “Your recent investment will pay big dividends.”

15. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • Jesus reminds us that we have a loving Father, who is always with us, always mindful of our needs and always willing to grant us His grace and peace. • God has such a clear picture of our needs, that Jesus says, “God counts the hairs on our heads.” • We may think we are alone in our struggle, but there is one who is closer to us than the air we breath. • God knows our needs and cares deeply about us. • We are His Children through faith in Jesus Christ. • God would never abandon His children.

16. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • When we are aware of the unconditional love of God our Father, we have the freedom to live at peace, fearlessly taking what each day brings. • This ultimate freedom in our lives comes from trusting your life to God. • One author said it this way, “There are only two things to worry about in life: • Either you are well or you are sick? • If you are well, then… There’s nothing to worry about!

17. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • But if you are sick, there are only two things to worry about: • Either you get well again, or you die? • If you get well, then… • But if you die, there are only two things to worry about: • Either you will go to heaven or to hell? • If you go to heaven, then… There’s nothing to worry about! There’s nothing to worry about!

18. Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us • But if you go to hell, then you got something to worry about! But then it will be TOO late, so… • But, before that happens, give Pastor Jim a call and we will make sure you are on the road to heaven and then… Why Worry? There’s nothing to worry about!

19. Good News About Faith • Claude M. Bristol, in his book “The Magic of Believing” wrote: • “I have studied the Christian religions of the world.” • “I have found a golden thread that runs throughout their teachings and it makes life work for the people who sincerely accept and apply thit it to their lives.” • “That golden thread I call “Belief”

20. Good News About Faith • Long ago, Jesus said it this way: “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23). • Belief in an all-powerful God; • Belief in an all-loving God; • Belief the size of mustard seed, with which you could move mountains, Jesus said. • How big a faith is that?

21. Good News About Faith • Such a faith, we cannot earn! It is a free gift from our loving heavenly Father. • An old proverb says: “The Best Things in Life Are Free.” • To be sure we cannot put a price on love, health or friendship, but in a sense we do kind of earn them; • Health will not come by being a couch potato; • To have friends we must be a friend; • But not so with faith. It is a free gift from God. All we have to do is open ourselves up to it.

22. Good News About Faith • Remember what happened as Jesus and His three disciples came down from the Mount of Transfiguration? • They met a father, whose son was possessed by a demon, but the other disciples could not remove the demon and free the boy. • Jesus asked, “How long has your boy been like this?” • The Father replied, “Since childhood. The demon will throw him into fire or water to try to kill him.”

23. Good News About Faith • “But,” the father continued, “if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 Jesus said, "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" (Mark 9:22-24) • Jesus goes on to heal the boy and returns him to his father. • Maybe, the father’s prayer needs to be our prayer: “Help me overcome my unbelief!”

24. Good News About Faith • You lay awake at night, anxiously turning that worry over and over in your mind. • Give it to the Lord and pray, “I believe; help my unbelief.” • Are you familiar with San Juan Capistrano? • The swallows return there every year. • Do you know where San Juan Capistrano is?

25. Good News About Faith • They always arrive on March 19th and leave again on October 23rd and have never missed those dates for the last 150 years; • Even during leap years, their arrival has not changed; • Now, how would you explain this very unusual phenomenon? • Nature’s guidance? • Luck? • Coincidence? • The swallow’s Creator put that instinct within those little creatures with an uncanny accuracy; No! None of these!

26. Good News About Faith • See the meticulous care God provides these little birds of the air; • Now consider, how much more valuable you are to God than these tiny birds? • Don’t you think that if God cares for these feathered friends so wonderfully, won’t He provide much more care for creatures “made in His own Image?

27. Good News About Faith Jesus said it this way: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” said the Master. “Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

28. Good News About Faith Comments? -or- Questions?