Sweden Church - The Layman's Pen

Don't Miss the Good News

9/19/2021

  The first time it happened Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked him for saying it.  It’s in Matthew 16:22.  Jesus told the disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and raised the third day.  The second time Jesus told the disciples they were in Galilee.  He said that he would be betrayed, turned over to authorities, killed and raised the third day (Matthew 17:22-23)  The third time Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem.  He takes them aside and tells them again that he is going to be betrayed, killed and be raised the third day. (Matthew 20:17-19)
          Three times they were told and three times they didn’t make it past the ‘going to be killed’ part.  The disciples couldn’t get past the bad part to hear the good news that followed it.  Human nature on full display.  The focus was on losing Jesus.
          “Every time something bad happens, God takes it and turns it around.  God uses it to make a blessing of it.” said Pastor Josh.  “Why do things have to happen like this?  Too often we focus on the wrong part.  On the first day of the week Jesus arose for us.  That’s the good part.” he concluded.
          There’s an old saying that goes something like, “sometimes you have to pass through the fire to get to the other side.”  He hung on a Cross, the best among us being hung by the worst.  The Son of God who knew no sin made to die a criminal’s death.  His prayer of anguish sent to his Father, “My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
          For a short time he felt alone, distraught, disconnected.  He felt like we feel.  The revelation comes on the third day.  Jesus overcomes the grave and death.  God did give his only Son.  He did it for us.  So that we can be with him in paradise.  That's the good part.

The Elephant in the Room

9/12/2021

   There’s an elephant in the room.  No one really comes right out and talks about the elephant.  But, God did.  He looked up and said, “Where did you come from?” (Job 1:7) Satan, the elephant in the room, said, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.(same verse)  It’s obvious by the next verse that God is aware that Satan is on the prowl to see who he can destroy (I Peter 5:8).
          Satan is proud enough to think that he can destroy Job if God will just quit protecting him (verse 10).  God says, “Go ahead, take everything he has.  You just can’t kill him.”  Away old Satan goes to steal Job from God.  But it doesn’t work.  At the end of all the suffering Satan inflicts on Job, Job says, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
          Satan was treacherous.  He agitated the Sabeans who attacked and stole Job’s oxen and donkeys and killed some of his servants.  He caused fire to fall from the sky and burn up the sheep and more of his servants.  He planted in the minds of the Chaldeans to attack and steal Job’s camels and kill even more servants.  He caused a mighty wind to sweep in from the desert destroying the house and killing all his children.  The final agony was afflicting Job with sores from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head.
          Yet, Job did not waver.  Yes, terrible tragedies fell on him, and he was a broken man.  But in his brokenness, he turned to God.  God is the healer of the heart.  “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3) “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
          Yes, there is an elephant in the room.  He’s proud (I Timothy 3:6), fierce (I Peter 5:8), powerful (Jude 9), deceitful (Ephesians 6:11), and subtle (II Corinthians 11:3).  But there is a true and just God who is merciful.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)  And then there is us.  “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Grace Station

9/10/2021

  Jesus was alone on the land and he sees the disciples toiling in rowing.  About the fourth watch (3 a.m.) he gets up and walks toward them on the sea.  The very next thing says “and would have passed them by”.  That’s important to know.  Jesus would have kept on walking except the disciples cried out.
          Pastor Josh talked about a fellow who was in the hospital, thought he had a heart attack and was dying.  His family called the pastor and said he wanted to see the preacher.  When Josh arrived, the man was getting dressed and ready to leave.  It was a false alarm.  Josh stood in the doorway and said, “Look we’re both salesmen.  You sell to get people to buy, and I sell to get people to take what is being offered, abundant life.  Why is it no one takes up my offer?”  The man said, “I don’t know” put on his coat and left.
          Several years later the same man was sick.  Pastor Josh knew he was sick, and the Lord put it on his heart to go see him.  He figured he would go to church first and finish recording for his radio program and then go.  It wasn’t very long until the phone rang.  The man had died.
          There’s a verse that says “…now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2) Our beloved pastor said, “Take the opportunity you have.  Don’t get busy doing other things.  You can put God off doing good things but you’re still putting God off.”
          It is easy to put things off.  Josh recently returned to work.  He drives to and from Seymour.  The other day his fuel light flashed and he punched the button to see how low he was.  The gauge said he had 100 miles left.  That was enough to get him there and back.  He had a couple cans of gas he could add the next morning.  There just wasn’t time to stop and get gas that day.
          The next morning, he completely forgot about it, got in the truck and left.  A little ways down the road the light came back on.  Now it was 50 miles.  He’d stop in Mansfield and get gas.  Pulled up to the 4-way stop there and forgot again.  By the time he go to work, it dinged ‘E’ (empty).  “Life is like that.” he said.
          “Don’t pass up the ‘grace station’.  On the cross, one was saved and one wasn’t.  Remember that.  Don’t have regrets in life.  Mine are when I put off having something to do for God.” said our pastor.
          The Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:7-10 listened to Jesus tell about living water.  She asked for the water in verse 15 and in verse 25 she realized he was the Messiah.  She left, went into the city and spread the good news.  Because of her many were saved.  Let her example be your example.

The Greatest Miracle

8/29/2021

  John Chapter 6 begins innocuously enough.  Jesus leaves where he is and is followed by a great multitude.  The suspense builds a little.  The multitude follows him because they have seen him perform miracles on the diseased.  Jesus doesn’t appear to take any special notice of them.  He goes up a mountain and sits down with his disciples.
          Jesus looks up and sees all these people.  We learn two things.  One, Passover is near and two, Jesus asks Philip where they’ll get enough food to feed all these folks.  Philip, being practical, sums up the situation and says that eight months’ worth of wages wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone.
          Another disciple, Andrew, offers a suggestion.  He says he has a lad that has five loaves of bread and two fishes but how would that do any good.  So, there it is, too many people and too little food to divide.  But it says in verse six that Jesus already knew what he was going to do.
          Next thing, Jesus tells the disciples to go out and make the men sit down, all five thousand of them.  That’s a lot of people to feed.  Jesus gives thanks and sends the disciples out to feed the multitude.  After they finished eating, the leftovers were gathered up which was twelve baskets’ worth.
          It’s quite a miracle.  But like Pastor Josh pointed out, “Which is the bigger miracle—that Jesus can heal the sick and feel the multitude or that he can save a soul?  Think about that, saved by grace through faith.  The miracle he does in our hearts and souls really is greater when he forgives us of our sin.  As the Hinson song goes He ‘takes that black heart washes it in red blood and makes it whiter than snow’.”  The song is Two Winning Hands and the only two winning hands were nailed to a tree.  It’s a beautiful song and brings tears to the eyes.

No More Apostles

8/22/2021

  Sermon text was from Mark 3:13-19.  It begins simply enough.  Jesus goes up a mountain and calls certain ones to go with him.  Verse fourteen says that he ordained twelve to be with him that he might send them to preach.  He also gives them power to heal and cast out demons and then he names the twelve he ordained including Judas which betrayed him.  The text is something familiar to anyone who has been in church any length of time, studied the Bible, or attended a Bible study group.  Everyone knows who the apostles were.
          This is the description of the apostles.  The Bible backs it up with accounts of them following Jesus, going out and preaching both before and after the crucifixion and resurrection, and healing and casting out demons.  After Judas betrays Christ and hangs himself, the eleven get together and vote to choose one to take his place.  They are very careful to choose from the ones who have been with them the whole time they were with the Lord.  They pray and then vote.  Matthias is chosen.  This is in Acts 1:21-26.
          Another event soon presents itself.  Christ has chosen someone to go to the Gentiles.  He meets Saul on the road to Damascus.  Saul becomes Paul the apostle, one whom Christ sent.  First Corinthians 9:1 bears this out.  And these are the known apostles according to the Bible.   The canonization of the Bible, which includes the New Testament, was completed by the fourth century (397 A.D.).  Since it is complete, it is finished and all that is needed.  All that God planned has been done.  Everything needed for salvation of mankind is now available.
          The sermon was one of clarification.  There are those who think that there are still apostles in the world today.  In order to be an apostle, one has to have been ordained by Jesus himself.  And, he would have been given powers to heal and cast out demons.  The apostles were the ones that brought the legacy of Jesus Christ to the world through preaching and writings made possible through the inspiration of God.  God warns us not to add to his words.  It’s in Proverbs 30:5-6.

They Sought to Destroy Him

8/15/2021

   “Sometimes we do things and maybe our motives are good.  But, you can do the wrong thing even with good intentions.” said Pastor Josh.  He relates the story of a man who went up to the city on business.  While there he noticed a man and woman fighting and the man got pretty rough with her.  It was more than the businessman could take.  Determined not to just stand by, he jumped in and hit the old boy and got him away from the woman.  He had him down on the ground and was talking hard to him when, all of a sudden, something hit him in the back of the head.  He got up and turned around and the woman was hitting him.
          “The moral is: If you don’t know what’s going on, it’s better to find out first before taking action.  It might be you that takes the beating.” continued the pastor.  The text of the sermon was Mark 3:1-6, the story of Jesus healing a man’s withered hand.  Our pastor was making the point about the Pharisees who were spying on Jesus to catch him healing on the sabbath (verse 2).  It’s clear that Jesus was carrying out God’s will—healing the man’s hand.  However, the Pharisees didn’t see it that way.  They saw it as bad.  Why else would they report it to the Herodians?  They reported it so they might “destroy him.”
          “This is where the Pharisees would have been better off if they would have stayed back and to themselves.  Sometimes we do things and maybe our motives are good.  But you can do the wrong thing even with good intentions.  The road to hell is paved with good intentions. You can be sincere, but you can be sincerely wrong.” noted our pastor.
          Jesus went to the synagogue the same as he always did on the sabbath.  The Pharisees knew he would be there.  Jesus is not surprised.  He turned straight to them and spoke, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?”  But they held their peace.  Their hearts were hardened to the point that they no longer gave weight to his questions.  Rather, their only cause was to find fault and seek a way to destroy him.

Believe

8/11/2021

         “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)  What a verse!  Jesus is saying that you believe reading the scriptures will lead you to eternal life yet, you don’t believe in the very one they are talking about.  Some would have you think that only people of ancient times could make that mistake.  Or, rather, we would like to think that.
          It’s like getting the cart before the horse.  It would make more sense to believe in the One the scriptures are about and then read the scriptures.  What’s really disheartening is they believed that studying the scriptures led to eternal life.  Just how many of today’s church-goers immerse themselves in Bible study and have no real encounter with Jesus?  Going through the motions and hoping this this will be enough.
          Sad to say but somehow, they believe the same as these earlier folks did.  Reading further in the same text, verse 45, Jesus states that even Moses will accuse them of not believing.  There’s a reference for that, Deuteronomy 18:18,19.  Moses himself spoke of a Prophet (Jesus) being raised up to speak God’s Word.  It goes on to say that those who will not hearken (listen) to his words will be called to account.
          Really.  Think about it.  It’s easier to just study the Bible and live in this world.  No real commitment there.  Live like a good person and congratulate each other for being such a good guy, a good neighbor.  Give each other all the accolades and just skip the praise God part.  The only thing is eternal life goes with believing.  John 3:16 says that “…whosoever believeth in him (Jesus, his only begotten Son) should not perish but have everlasting life.”
          People are missing the boat.  Just like in Noah’s day.  People go about their daily lives thinking that they have everything covered.  Pay the bills, check, go to work, check, take care of the family, check, go to church, check, read the Bible, check.  Reach out to God, pray for salvation, implore God to make you a member of his family.  Like John 5:47 says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”

Trusting in Christ

8/3/2021

  In this world accomplishments count.  Go for an interview and the question is, “What have you done that makes you stand out from the other applicants?”  It’s a mindset.  So much so that people are judged by what they have done.  Education, medals, trophies, income, personal achievements such as house and property, who you know and the list goes on.  The world hasn’t changed much over the ages.  It was so even in the first century of Christianity.
          Paul, in II Corinthians 3:1, was asked to show his credentials at the church in Corinth.  What a surprise especially since he had founded the church there and built it up.  A little studying reveals that there were false apostles preaching who carried letters of introduction and recommendation from several churches.  Interesting.  If Paul were ever called to match his credentials with others, he was heads above the rest of them.  His credentials are found in Philippians 3:4-6.
          A quick look at verse 4 he says, “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more.” He calls this confidence of the flesh.  He also says that these things are counted as loss for Christ.  You might wonder why he would say this.
          After all, we work years to get established in this world and make a place for ourselves.  Pastor Josh answered this.  “The thing that we are counting on, the thing that we need most of all; more than the letter of recommendation, more than the references, more than the resume, more than human buildup or accolades, more than that: we need God. God is sufficient.  Christ is sufficient.”
          “We need Christians today who stand up and say we are trusting in what God says.  Not trusting in what Facebook says, not trusting in likes and comments and shares.  Not trusting in retweets and quotes, not trusting in thumbs up and smiley faces on Instagram.  We need Christians who are truly dependent on God.”
          Paul turns around, squares his shoulders and looks straight at them, the Corinthians and says, “Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”  He was saying, “You are our recommendation.”  Paul’s presence as a minister to them with his confidence in the sufficiency of Christ was able to lead them to the Holy Spirit.  And that Spirit of the living God wrote on their hearts.

The Shepherd's Voice

7/25/2021

  “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.” (John 9:1) Then the discussion starts.  Questions about what his sin was.  Jesus said there was no sin.  He, Jesus, spits on the ground, makes a clay, puts it on the man’s eyes and tells him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.  He does and comes back seeing.  Hallelujah!
          Well, this just kicks up a firestorm and everyone gets in on the act.  The neighbors take him, the man who was blind, to the Pharisees.  After all, no one regains their sight on the sabbath.  It had to be someone who was not of God that performed this ‘miracle’.  The plot grows.  The Pharisees take issue with Jesus’s response in verse 39.”
          Jesus has their attention and he tells them why he has come.  John 10:10 says, “…I am come that they (the sheep) might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Same verse he also says that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy.  Here he’s referring to those who came before him.  They could not give the sheep an abundant life.  Jesus is the giver, the only giver.
          This abundant life is spelled out in Psalm 23.  Green pastures, still waters, restored soul, walk in paths of righteousness; only the Lord is the shepherd.  And those who follow him know his voice.
          “Listen for the voice of God.” said Pastor Josh.  The sheep know his voice (verse 4 and 16 of John 10).  Both the ones in the fold and the others not of the fold.  “The abundant life is what God does on the inside of us.”  continued our pastor.  It’s a new meaning, a new purpose, a new vitality.  Those who know Jesus and what he is all about experience an abundant life.  It’s a new life.
           “The world can take a lot from us but it cannot take an abundant life.” said Pastor Josh.  The chapter that follows the story of the good shepherd is the one that Jesus brings Lazarus back to life (John 11:43).  “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (verse 25).
            “One day there will be a call from God and it will be universally answered.  Life is short, make the most of it.  Eternity is a long time, prepare for it.”  said Pastor Josh.

Stand by God

7/11/2021

The ship wrecked (Acts 27:41).  Paul told them it would (same chapter, verse 10).  A hurricane force wind, Euroclydon, came up (verse 14).  According to research, this is a northeast wind that blows in the Mediterranean mostly in the winter and the fall.  Research calls it a cyclone.
The men of the ship were probably regular joes. Paul, unlike them, was guided by the will of God. Ephesians 1:1 tells us as much. Christ, himself, in Acts 9:15 says that Paul is a chosen vessel unto him (Christ). Paul was guided by his spiritual eyes. The men of the ship were guided by their natural eyes.

     Before they (all 276 of them, verse 37) left port they had been told this could (actually would) happen if they set sail.  The helmsman and the owner of the ship, the experts, disagreed with Paul, the man of God.  Being impatient, they chose not to heed what a man like Paul would say. As a child, mothers warn their children, “Burn, burn.  You’ll burn yourself if you keep trying to touch that stove.”  Some children pay attention and others don’t.    They get burned.  It’s much the same story here.  Paul, guided by God, gave the warning.  They got burned.
          Paul knew he was going to reach Rome regardless.  God told him he was going to Rome (Acts 19:21, 23:11).  However, in verse 10, Paul said their would be much damage to the ship, the cargo and their lives.  By verse 22 which was many days later, Paul stands and says, “Sirs, you should have hearkened unto  me…now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life…”
          Then he explained how he knew that.  “For there stood by me this night the angel of God whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.” (verse 22, 23)  Then he repeats it again, “Be of good cheer…”
          Here Paul was in a dire situation.  Countless times he could have panicked and been driven by fear like the crew.  Here he was facing the possibility that this trip could be the last one.  But, he believes God.  He knew, because God told him, he was going to Rome.  And he shared the confidence he had with the crew.  It must have been quite a revelation for them when all that Paul said came to pass.
          So it should be with us.  Stand by God and he’ll stand by you.

Linda Johnson

Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church. She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald.

Andrea Strong

Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

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