Good News About Sparrows And Us Weekend of June 21 st & 22 nd, 2014.

Good News About SparrowsAnd Us

Weekend of June 21st & 22nd, 2014

Good News About Sparrows And Us1. Pastor Robin Clark tells a story about a sparrow

that somehow got into the rafter of his church in Brant Broughton, England.

2. At the time, there was a music recital going on, which was being broadcast on the radio.

3. The chirping of the bird didn’t exactly keep time with the music.

4. 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.

Good News About Sparrows And Us5. Well, the killing that sparrow became front page

news in Great Britain.6. The London Daily Telegraph ran the headline:

7. 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.”

Good News About Sparrows And Us8. There is another passage of Scripture that is even

more reassuring than this one, and it comes from our Gospel Lesson today.

9. “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.”

Good News About Sparrows And Us10. 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.”

11. 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?”

Good News About Sparrows And Us1. Joni Eareckson Tada continues to

praise God even after her diving accident, leaving her a quadriplegic.A. She writes, “When I watch my bird

feeder, I could understand if God noticed an eagle or falcon fall to the ground.”

B. “But an ugly sparrow? They’re a dime a dozen.”

C. Jesus, Himself, even said so, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?”

Good News About Sparrows And Us2. Bird watches want to see the

majestic flight of an eagle.3. Or maybe the swooping and

diving flight of a beautiful swallow.

4. But a sparrow? You’re kidding, right?

Good News About Sparrows And Us5. And yet from the thousands of bird species, our

Lord chose the most insignificant, least-watched and scruffiest bird of all.

6. Why does Jesus do this?A. To calm our fears and worries in life;B. If God keeps tabs on humble sparrows, who they are,

where they are and what they are doing?C. Be assured, God keeps tabs on us!

Good News About Sparrows And Us7. In Biblical times, sparrows were quite useful:

A. Often time, sparrows were considered food for the poor. It wouldn’t be much but it was something;

B. Sparrows could be offered by the poor as a sacrifice, if they could not afford a lamb or goat;

C. And the going rate was “two sparrows for a penny” so even the poor could afford that;

Good News About Sparrows And Us7. What do you know about sparrows?

A. Sparrows are about the most worthless bird you can get;

B. They are dirty and often have fleas;C. They reproduce abundantly, as we all can see;D. They have no song but only an annoying chirp;E. They are not colorful or pretty;

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us1. What an amazing teaching of Jesus: “God sees

when a sparrow falls.”2. 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?

3. Jesus answers that question plainly: “you are worth more than many sparrows.”

4. How much more are we worth?5. Jesus shed His blood on the cross and died there

for us, NOT sparrows.

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us6. 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?A. I usually try to pass it off as being a responsible

person and wanting things to work out well;B. Or, I call it “Concern” rather than “Worry,” but we all

know what we are really doing.C. You know the story about the nervous airline

passenger, who was walking to his gate and saw one of those machines for flight insurance.

D. Well, he went ahead and bought a $100,000 policy.

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & UsE. As he was waiting on his flight, he decided to order

some Chinese food.F. After the meal, of course, he had to open his fortune

cookie – who doesn’t? It read:

7. What makes us worry so much about things that more than likely will never happen?

8. Jesus Christ wants to set us free from our fears and worries.

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us9. 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.A. God has such a clear picture of our needs, that Jesus

says, “God counts the hairs on our heads.”B. We may think we are alone in our struggle, but there

is one who is closer to us than the air we breath.C. God knows our needs and cares deeply about us.D. We are His Children through faith in Jesus Christ.E. God would never abandon His children.

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & Us10. 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.

11. This ultimate freedom in our lives comes from trusting your life to God.

A. One author said it this way, “There are only two things to worry about in life:i. Either you are well or you are sick?ii. If you are well, then…

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & UsA. But if you are sick, there are only two things to worry

about:i. Either you get well again, or you die?ii. If you get well, then…

B. But if you die, there are only two things to worry about:i. Either you will go to heaven or to hell?ii. If you go to heaven, then…

Jesus’ Teaching About Sparrows & UsC. But if you go to hell, then you got something to worry

about! But then it will be TOO late, so…

D. But, before that happens, give Pastor Jim a call and we will make sure you are on the road to heaven and then…

Good News About Faith1. Claude M. Bristol, in his book “The Magic of

Believing” wrote:A. “I have studied the Christian

religions of the world.”B. “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.”

C. “That golden thread I call

Good News About Faith2. Long ago, Jesus said it this way: “Everything is

possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).A. Belief in an all-powerful God;B. Belief in an all-loving God;C. Belief the size of mustard seed, with which you could

move mountains, Jesus said.

D. How big a faith is that?

Good News About Faith2. Such a faith, we cannot earn! It is a free gift from

our loving heavenly Father.A. An old proverb says: “The Best Things in Life Are

Free.”B. To be sure we cannot put a price on love, health or

friendship, but in a sense we do kind of earn them;i. Health will not come by being a couch potato;ii. To have friends we must be a friend;

C. But not so with faith. It is a free gift from God. All we have to do is open ourselves up to it.

Good News About Faith3. Remember what happened as Jesus and His three

disciples came down from the Mount of Transfiguration?

4. They met a father, whose son was possessed by a demon, but the other disciples could not remove the demon and free the boy.

5. Jesus asked, “How long has your boy been like this?”

6. The Father replied, “Since childhood. The demon will throw him into fire or water to try to kill him.”

Good News About Faith7. “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)

8. Jesus goes on to heal the boy and returns him to his father.

9. Maybe, the father’s prayer needs to be our prayer:

Good News About Faith10. You lay awake at night, anxiously turning that

worry over and over in your mind.11. Give it to the Lord and pray, “I believe; help my

unbelief.”12. Are you familiar with

San Juan Capistrano?A. The swallows return

there every year.B. Do you know where

San Juan Capistrano is?

Good News About FaithC. They always arrive on March 19th and leave again on

October 23rd and have never missed those dates for the last 150 years;

D. Even during leap years, their arrival has not changed;E. Now, how would you explain this very unusual

phenomenon?i. Nature’s guidance?ii. Luck?iii. Coincidence?

F. The swallow’s Creator put that instinct within those little creatures with an uncanny accuracy;

Good News About Faith13. See the meticulous care God

provides these little birds of the air;

14. Now consider, how much more valuable you are to God than these tiny birds?

15. 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?

Good News About Faith

“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.”

Good News About Faith