"Power of Encouragement"

All right, you may have a seat.

Hopefully you're able to greet someone that maybe you didn't know their name or are somewhat new.

Once again, as Jessica shared up here this morning, if you have come the past few weeks or months, even year, and have not been part of a welcome brunch, we want to personally warmly invite you to that. It's a chance to grab a brunch together and get to know you a little bit and for you to get to know us. And we'll share a little bit about our vision of our church and a little bit about our leaders and some very helpful things like that. So we want to invite you to that. Also.

At the end of this month, can you believe we're already in February? We will be having a volunteer appreciation lunch and many of you have already signed up. We're going to be doing this a little bit differently this year. I think in the past we tried to squeeze in too much in terms of almost making like a ministry report annual meeting. And we felt for this year we just want to make it a simple lunch just to thank all of you who make things happen and serve.

So please do be encouraged to sign up and come out to that and enjoy a nice lunch following service. And we'll share just a few things, but a little bit different than how we've done it in the past and quite simply just a celebration lunch. Come and eat and let us bless you as we are so grateful for all of you that dedicate so much of your time and resources to help things happen here at Trinity. Will you join me in word of prayer? We'll jump right in to our message for today during our family service here in February.

We're so grateful, Father, seeing our precious children up here and seeing how your story continues to the next generation. And we think about Pastor Theo and the leaders who are with our students up at Pilgrim Pines as they come back. Let them have a powerful conclusion to this weekend that the seeds of the gospel were deeply embedded and implanted and growing in their lives, bringing them back safely through this cold weather. We look forward to their safe arrival. Later today, we pause as a congregation to remember some of the grievous loss of the air tragedy over D.C.

from the plane and the helicopter. And we grieve of families lost and loved ones gone, both those in the helicopter as well as in the flight. So we pause, Lord, to remember them, to honor them, to pray for your spirit of comfort to all the grieving families. This weekend we think about even the air tragedy there and Philadelphia. And our hearts are broken, Lord, as we think about this, the treatment that was done and just how it ended.

We don't have answers, Lord, but we lament and we grieve over tragedy and loss, Lord. There's a lot of us going through a lot as we enter in the month of February. We just really pray for your spirit of comfort and strength and power, Lord, as we reflect on different aspects of the gospel, even today, Lord. So thank you, thank you that as a community, we can come out and we can be together and we can grieve together, we can pray together, we can worship together together, we can celebrate together, Lord. We're very thankful for that.

So bless our time together today, Lord. Help us have the scriptures opened up to us as we look at this first public miracle of Jesus and his ministry here in John, chapter two. We commit all things to you, Father, in Jesus name. Amen. Also, please do continue to pray for Tim White.

Some of you know that he had a heart surgery and had a chance to be with him the night before his surgery. And we're glad it went well and just continue to pray for him that he will continue to recover and for Patty as well. So we'll keep their family in prayer. The power of hospitality. John, chapter two, verses one through 11.

Let's go ahead and I'll read that for. For us. On the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited to the wedding with his disciples.

When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. And Jesus said to her, woman, what does that? What does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come. His mother said to the servants, do whatever he tells you.

Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, fill the jars with water. And they fill them up to the brim. And he said to them, now draw some out. Take it to the master of the feast.

So they took it. And the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. The master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, everyone serves the good wine first. And when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.

This is the first of his signs. Jesus did at Cana in Galilee and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. This is God's Word hospitality is a great power. We have been reflecting on different aspects and truths of the Christian faith in the early part of this year and a series we've titled Transforming Power for a New Year.

And we've talked about the power of ownership, when God looks at us and says, you are mine, and we become recipients of his love and grace. And last Sunday we talked about the power of trusting faith as we took a look at a scene from Peter's life of walking on water and just how much God wants us to continue to grow in our trust, trusting faith in him and the things that can happen in our lives when we give ourselves to him. It's not just about accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior as doing something intellectually, but it is trusting him, especially through often the things that we cannot control in our lives. We're going to talk about the power of hospitality today and as we think about that, put a little scene from an artistic depiction of what this was like. As we reflect together on this first public miracle, and similar to what we've done with the past two themes, we take some time to reflect on our understanding of not just religion, but of the Christian faith.

And I think, and probably a lot of us have typically understood the Christian life as a transactional or a formula. If you believe these things and accept this, then this will happen to you. And certainly that is helpful and we're not out here to bash for a lot of us, statements that often sum up our understanding. Receive Jesus Christ, trust in him, get saved, find eternal life, have him cleanse you of your sin. And those things certainly we hold onto.

But as we take a dive even today into the life of Jesus and his disciples, we ask ourselves, do we merely understand our faith in life as just a transaction, just a flesh formula, even last Sunday, just something we intellectually assent to? And if we do, we are really missing out. And as we take a fresh look once again at our understanding of Jesus and our faith, we will begin to see that there is so much more than just a formulaic understanding that a lot of us hold onto in our lives and I believe, miss out on all that God has for us. It is about a new story unfolding in our lives. Christian faith is an invitation to an entire new reality, a new relationship.

We use terms that best are captured by this, by a new kingdom under the rule and reign of a righteous, good and perfect king. And at the heart of what we don't talk about today, and especially chapter two, we can't help but to scratch our heads a Little bit of why Jesus would go to a party overflowing with wine and celebration as the first public demonstration of his identity, his power and what he has come to do in our lives. And at the heart of it, and we can't miss this and we can't be dismissive of it or minimize it, is the heart of celebration, of generosity and of hospitality. Of all the situations that Jesus could have began his public ministry, here we find ourselves at the celebration of all celebrations, a party, a wedding, here in John chapter two. And for the first time for myself, looking through the lens of hospitality as a way to understand who Jesus is and what he came to do.

And this is what we want to look at for a few minutes this morning. I believe hospitality is one of the most powerful aspects of the gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that often we don't really think about.

And once you get a taste of this good, gracious, heartwarming, heart changing hospitality that flows from the heart of God, you will never be the same again. And you come back wanting more and more of it and wanting to share it with others. To me, that has such a beautiful, stronger appeal than a formulaic understanding of the Christian faith. Just believe these things, repeat these things and that's it. No, that's perhaps only just the beginning.

Hospitality, I believe, is something that all of us are wired to long for, to want to experience, and often to give to others.

We all know that this is hardwired in us when we experience poor hospitality. Our family couldn't get away for Thanksgiving, so we ventured off to the great city of Boston and spent a few days there with a great time. And at one restaurant that we had high hopes and expectations. The hostess looked at us kind of up and down and sat us in an obscure corner near the bathrooms. Dark, maybe a little stinky, I'm not sure.

Maybe I was imagining. And I say, excuse me, can we receive a little bit closer to the windows where the other people are, other human beings are, and they moved us and it's not very warm. I said, did I not shower? Do I not look appropriate? Why are we being treated like this?

And as we finished our meal and as we're exiting, she was right there by the door. Not even eye contact, not even a word, not even a thank you for dining with us. Wow, I was pretty upset. And I don't think I'm alone in. When you experience a lack of hospitality, especially when you're paying good money for a meal or a service, you know what this is like.

It stays with you.

And then, in contrast, even this past week, stopping by a local breakfast joint where I was supposed to meet with one of our leaders, but I mischeduled it, so I ended up being by myself. It's actually next week, but I said, oh, I get to have a little breakfast by myself. The server, she came out smiling, refilling my coffee multiple times. Make sure I always drink a lot of ice water with my pancakes and sandwiches and filling it to the brim each time, checking back, how are you doing? Is everything okay?

There's something about that kind of service and hospitality. You feel almost like a king. This is awesome. And I left feeling renewed, appreciated, seen when you experience hospitality, even in a dining establishment, a restaurant, at a hotel, wherever you might visit, you know what it's like to receive good service and hospitality. And when you don't, and the times in your life that you could reflect back on your travels, your vacations, your local explorations here in the Hartford area in New England, you can understand and you remember when you were not treated with good hospitality and when you were, it stays with you.

The kingdom of God is far more than being wined and dined place. Please don't misunderstand me. But there's something about hospitality that is transformative when you experience it in a beautiful personal way. Jesus, our Lord, loved banquets. He loved to party, he loved celebrations because people were there, and he loves people.

He went to so many of these kinds of events that people began to accuse him of being in cahoots with those kind of people out there. How many of us can people point fingers to say that guy spends too much time with people and those kind of people, if we could even be accused of that? If you think about what God has called us to be and do as light and salt in the world. And I believe that the banquet displays the measure of a host's hospitality, generosity and love.

But as we reflect on this, and we'll take a little deeper dive in John chapter two, we realize that our hospitality has its limits.

Our ability to have a good time, to enjoy life, to offer it to others, as beautiful as it may be, has its limits when we try to do it apart from God. Look at verse three. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine. Uh oh, big problem. But to understand the background of Jewish culture and the engagement Rules of Hospitality, D.A.

carson, New Testament teacher, says this, you can just listen to run out of supplies would be a dreadful embarrassment in a shame culture. There is some evidence that it could also lay the groom open to a lawsuit from aggrieved relatives of the bride. Did you know that this is much more than, oh man, they ran out of the good stuff. This would potentially bring a kind of condemning shame that even legal action could take place. Doesn't that help as we begin to understand why Jesus did what he did?

Thinking about the others, thinking about this. Hosting family wine wasn't just to get drunk, but it was a symbol of joy, of love, of exhilaration, of celebration. And to run out of it could lead to a legal and social nightmare for the host and his family. And it really speaks to us as we think about us trying to have a good time, to find that joy, to experience celebration, but do it apart from God. James Boice, pastor in Philadelphia, who is now with the Lord, commented, the joy of which men are capable is limited, and that good times that are nothing more than good times will run out.

Some people, and some of us here this morning spend our whole lives in pursuit of the party. That party could look different for each and every one of us. It's the escape, it's the fun, it's the high.

But one day it will always come to an end, and it doesn't fully satisfy. Pastor Zechariah says that pleasure is a means, not an end. Joy should be the greater end. And often when the party is over, the feelings of loneliness and sadness and emptiness and pain come rising back up as soon as our hospitality, our own efforts to have a good time come to an end. And it reminds us that we were created for more.

We were created for a celebration that indeed will never end. But in our own efforts, we try our very best to experience that even as followers of Christ, many times apart from the one who is the true joy giver.

And so simply as we reflect on this, the gospel is an invitation to the hospitality of God. Have ever where we put those things together, that the gospel is our connection. It's a amazing invitation for us to experience the hospitality of God. That's a different way to understand what it means to be saved. And we see this in our passage, verse 6.

Now there were six stone jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding 20 or 30 gallons. And Jesus said to the servants, fill the jars with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast. So they took it.

Just imagine, even in this Renaissance era painting of this, obviously it didn't look like this when Jesus was There in biblical times. But as we reflect together, Jesus could have intervened in this impending social disaster that could have brought legal consequences to the host in a variety of ways. He could have created a wine fountain in the center of the party room, running with your cups, filling it that way. Could you imagine? Amazing, amazing wine.

Or he could have said, boom, boom, boom, just put the wine directly into their stomachs. Could you imagine? Imagine not having to lift it up, just miraculously filling the stomachs with wine. That would have been really bizarre and weird. I don't know why I said that, but I'm just trying to help us think here.

Yeah, that would be really weird.

But he takes the water that the Jews would use to ceremonial wash their hands before eating so that they could be clean before God. And that is the water that would be transformed into this new delicious wine. For centuries, the Jews living by the law, their ceremonial rules, trying to be right with God. But in the end, in and of itself, it was empty, it was void, it was joyless. The law could only point to the way, but could not give true relief from the burden of a broken relationship with God and with men because of sin, no matter how much they washed their hands to be clean, it was an external ceremonial washing.

Something was missing. It was their hearts that needed a true deep cleansing. And Jesus would come to provide that that we can truly begin to celebrate. Aw Pink. Some of you are familiar with his reflections and thoughts on Scripture says that Judaism still existed as a religious system but administered no comfort to the heart.

It had degenerated into a cold, mechanical routine. Utterly destitute of joy in God, Israel had lost the joy of their marriage. And so here at this fantastic joyful event, Jesus comes to give us and show us a new kind of wine, a new kind of hospitality and generosity.

In contrast with the old wine of law, ceremony and religion. It was a bold declaration that reminds us of who he is. It truly is only the gospel and the person of Jesus that allows us to begin to truly celebrate and experience a kind of hospitality from a host that will never end. That is a gospel we can hold onto. You see, unless sin is dealt with, there can be no true freedom and celebration, because our brokenness, our sin, is the ultimate party pooper.

We try in our own ways to try to forget about it, but it is still there. And unless that is dealt with, we will continue to be left unsatisfied in our lives. I love what psychologist Frank Minrith and Paul Meyer wrote in their book Happiness is a Choice. Many people do choose Happiness, but they do not obtain it. The reason for this is that even though they chose to be happy, they seek joy in the wrong places.

They seek it in materialism, do not find it. They seek it in sexual pleasure, but ends in disappointment. They seek positions of power, but are unfulfilled. Millionaire businessmen share. They've had their mansions, their yachts, their nice kids, a beautiful mistress, an unsuspecting wife, secure corporate positions, yet suicidal tendencies.

They have everything this world has to offer except one inner peace and true joy.

The water has been changed to wine. Jesus has come into our world to give us a hope that we can celebrate as we taste of a hospitality of a host that is wanting and longing to invite us into an experience unlike any other. That is the gospel. That is God's generosity being offered to you and I. People are longing.

They're starving for true celebration in their lives, but they're looking for it in the wrong places. And it's not just the people out there, but you and I also do the same. Isaiah 55:1 and 2 reminds us, Come all who are thirsty. Come to the waters. You who have no money.

Come buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on that which is not bread and your labor that does not satisfy? Listen. Listen to me.

Eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Reflect with me on this theme of hospitality and generosity and celebration. Throughout the story of Jesus, think about the prodigal son returning home and the Father's quick command to his servants. Bring quickly the best robe, put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, shoes on his feet.

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And they began to celebrate.

Isn't it fascinating when Jesus talks about himself in John, chapter 10, verse 10, the thief comes only to steal, kill and desert. But I've come that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd lays his life for the sheep. Gordon Smith in reflecting on this, let me share this with you. I thought this was spot on.

The very heart of the gospel is that God has acted with stunning generosity toward the world, toward those who have rejected God. God was magnanimous. God welcomed us in Christ, and now we are called to in like manner be hospitable towards one another and towards the world as Christ has welcomed us. When we are hospitable, then we are not Only speaking the Gospel, we are enacting the good news of God's generosity towards the world in Christ Jesus. Thus, our hospitality is a living expression or embodiment of the gospel.

If we truly believe and feel that God has shown us hospitality, generous hospitality, isn't that a fascinating, refreshing way to begin to understand who Jesus is and his kingdom and his Gospel through the lens of hospitality? And so, three things in terms of what does this look like as we apply it? And we'll wrap up our time looking at God's Word and moving on to celebrating the feast. In observing the Lord's Supper, three areas I want us just to reflect on together our community, our homes and our church. First of all, our community.

What would it look like to really be reminded again of the hospitality of God and begin to open up our lives to the very people we find ourselves in proximity to in our neighborhoods, in our homes and our workplaces, where you spend more time there than probably anywhere else. We get you for an hour or two on Sunday, but think about the other six days of the week. Hospitality is beginning to treat strangers like family, people who are different than us that we may not know that well. To welcome them into our lives, our families, our friendships, into a space that God might surprise us, turn them into friends.

There are those that we may not even like that much or are even in conflict with. But when we are reminded of the conflict we had with God and how he poured Himself out for us, a Christ follower will be in to look and naturally give hospitality to those they find themselves living in community with.

Hebrews 13:2. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Even Abraham in Genesis 18 was showing hospitality to strangers. Little did he know it was the angels of God and God himself to which he was serving in hospitality. I'm so grateful that we are a church that is trying to do this and do it well.

And as we begin to think about the communities in which we live, how do we show the hospitality of God to those around us? Secondly, our homes. Our homes. John Procabar says this in Christian hospitality, our homes are outposts of God's kingdom, spaces and places where God tugs and our hearts toward his glory. I love how he puts this.

We are pilgrims on a journey to enjoy Jesus more deeply. Our homes are not kingdoms we build merely for our comfort. They are stations of rest and refuge in Christ for weary sojourners.

Whether you live near church, far, small, large home, an apartment, it doesn't matter. We have tremendous opportunities to use the spaces and places in our lives to share the hospitality of God with others. I don't know how many times throughout my journey and my life, being invited into people's homes and their spaces and receiving love and care and especially good food, that's pretty awesome. It is transformative when we open up our lives in this kind of way. And thirdly, and finally, hospitality in God's house, his home, the church.

When we begin to think of it as this is God's house and we want to make it a place that people can experience the hospitality heart of God, it changes everything when we begin to understand it that way. I never forget this prayer that Solomon prayed as he knelt down before the Lord and he prayed a prayer during the temple dedication that even his father David was not allowed to build. But he did, and he specifically prayed likewise. When a foreigner who is not of your people, Israel, comes from a far country for your name sake, here in heaven, when he comes to pray towards this house here in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and feel fear you as do your people Israel, that they may know that this house that I have built is called by your name. What a missional vision to have a place of worship not just for him and his people, but for all nations, all peoples to come and experience the hospitality of God.

And when we begin to think about our vision to pursue God and his passion for people and to think about the little things that make a difference, to keep things clean and tidy and inviting. For those of us that are involved in facilities and often unsung heroes, we thank you for helping us keep this place up to speed and beautiful and clean and in repair, so that we can continually be a place where we can welcome the outcast, the stranger, those who are looking for the celebration in their lives as we invite them to God's big house. And all of us, if we take that sense of ownership, can begin to see that it's not just about me coming and hearing a good message, getting blessed. But how can I be a part of welcoming and hosting the greatest party of all to anyone that comes my way here at the house of God? As we greet, as we shake hands, as we welcome, as we engage in conversations, as we give generously over time, talents and treasures, we want to be a place where God's hospitable immortality can be experienced by all.

Romans 15:7. Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God, Jesus showed us ultimate hospitality voluntarily leaving his home and the family of the Trinity so that you and I could experience the hospitality of God and find our true home and family. I leave with this final phrase that came to me that I believe that Jesus is the incarnation of the hospitality of God. And if we begin to have the shift in our understanding of what we are inviting our family members and our neighbors and our community and those in Manchester and the surrounding communities to, I believe that can change everything. Do you know the power of hospitality that God has given to you?

And how are we extending that even to those we might be in conflict with or don't like too much or know too much, or are different than us? But this is our calling. And the better we can do this, I believe the greater impact will be upon our own lives and how God will use us here in Manchester and beyond. Let's pray together Father, we pause and we're so grateful for this important reminder of what we have been invited into when we decided to follow Jesus. I pray that as we approach the table to celebrate the greatest celebration of all, an invitation to the banquet of all banquets.

Thank you that you have shown your generosity and extended hospitality to all of us here. I pray that as we're reminded of the goodness and the richness of your hospitality, of being invited into your own family, I pray that you would begin to once again renew us and reshape us and help us to be a community that offers the greatest invitation of hospitality to the world in which we live, beginning here in Manchester and beyond. And so, Father, as we approach your table in just these few moments, we pray that you would warm our hearts again with this feast, with this celebration and with a fresh reminder of your hospitality. Bless us. We pray as we invite you to meet with us.

Lord, we beg of your presence and that reminder of your gracious hospitality in the person of Jesus. Turn our homes, our friendships and our church into places and space where people can experience the overflowing generosity of God in your hospitality. We thank you Father, for this reminder. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

And what an appropriate way to end our time. As we approach the Lord's table in Holy Sacrament and as the children rush in to join us for this great party, it is our sacred privilege to to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper together, as Jesus reminds us as we hearken back to John Chapter two, the Wedding feast to the feast celebrated in the upper room and that now has been offered to you and I to Be part of the greatest celebration of all. Because of God's hospitality towards you and I. Let us together honor all rise as we together recite the Lord's the Apostles Creed that our Lord has reminded us of. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born under the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.

He descended into Hades. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, life everlasting.

Amen. You may be seated in just a few moments. We will be inviting you forward here at Trinity. We invite you forward to our different communion service. They will place a piece of bread and offer you juice, and you can take it there.

Return back to your seats. If you could help dispose of things afterwards, that'll be very helpful. Please raise your hand if you're unable to come forward and they will be brought to you. We will always have prayer available both sides of the front stage. Myself and members of prayer team to pray with you, talk with you, listen to anything that you would like for us to pray with you about.

And so now hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as they are delivered by the Apostle Paul on the night on which Jesus was betrayed. And after he had given thanks, broke the bread and said, this is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. The same way after supper he took the cup, saying, this cup is a new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it.

For whenever you eat this bread, whenever you drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he returns. And as we have just heard about the hospitality of God who invites us, though not worthy, have been made worthy because of Jesus to come and be reminded of God's generosity, hospitality and continual invitation to experience the greatest celebration of all. Our sins have been paid for once and for all. We are not only forgiven, but we have been made righteous part of God's plan to redeem the world. And so we invite you forward at this time to be reminded of this and celebrate this by faith.

Thanks be to God. If we can invite our service forward at this time and once again, you'll be invited in rows from the front to the back, not boast in anything. No gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I, I will boast in Jesus Christ his death and resurrection. Should I gain from his reward.

I cannot give an answer, but this I know with all my heart. His wounds have paid my ransom. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer, but this I know with all my heart. His wound have paid my ransom.

His wounds have paid my ransom.

As we go from this place, I pray that you have experienced some of the hospitality of God being with his people. May we in turn pour out ourselves, open up our lives, our homes, our relationships, our time, talent and treasure to create places oasis of hospitality for a hungry world that so longs to experience that kind of joy. Let's pray. Jesus, we thank you that you poured out your hospitality on us to invite us into your home, into your family, to be called my people. And in turn, Lord, I pray that you would so fill our hearts with that kind of love and generosity that we can't help but to open up our lives to share the hospitality of God to a world that is so hungry for that kind of experience.

Bless us as we leave this place and even this week help us to be hospitable men, women and children. For the glory of God and for the sake of the gospel, we pray these things in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. God bless you all. Thank you so much.