********************************************************************
SERMON NOTES
Saturday/Sunday, October 19/20, 2024 – Pastor Kischnick
THEME: “Content and Thankful” TEXT: Ecclesiastes 5:10-20
INTRO. “Bargain Mansions” – couple w/ beautiful house, 8 years old. “It’s a little dated.” Unhappy w/ floors, landscaping, counters, laundry room, etc. $550k budget. 8 yrs. old! Unhappy, dissatisfied, discontented!
TEXT: The Preacher (Solomon) sees an evil on display/experienced: if one loves wealth, one is never satisfied. Only one path to contentment: a relationship with God through Christ Jesus.
I. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEEDS AND WANTS
ILLUST. Pioneers could fit all the needed into one wagon: clothes, tools, pot & pans, plow. Becky and I would need a whole moving truck to move.
A. Most of us have all we physically need.
1. God has provided. 2. Most needs are affordable, even if used.
3. In addition, God in Christ has seen to our spiritual needs.
B. We also have wants – large and small.
1. God provides many of these as well.
2. Many are “short-term”, soon unused, forgotten, stock-piled.
C. There is no sin in either of these UNLESS:
II. WE FALL IN LOVE WITH WEALTH
A. The Preacher see a Great Evil:
1. “…wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners…”
2. “hoarded” – selfishness, embrace it, “feast their eyes on it”
3. “the harm” = hardened hearts, self-sufficiency, “What God?”
4. Idea: “I must deserve this – God must be happy with me!”
B. A Second Evil: We cannot take it with us!
1. People pile it up – to what end?
ILLUST. Article: baby-boomers have so much stuff, they leave it all to children/grandchildren who have no use for most of it. Then what?
2. “A loose hold on physical things enables a firmer hold on Christ
and his kingdom.”
III. ONE PATH TO CONTENTMENT: JESUS
A. The eye of a needle: impossible without God.
B. Formula for contentment: God + the Basics
1. Hold on to Jesus and his righteousness. 2. Needs met.
3. Family, friends, church. 4. Generosity and Compassion.
C. THANKSGIVING: credit where credit is due for phys. & spiritual
CLOSE: Christian financier dies, one request = 2 suitcases, Peter-OK. In heaven, angel guides to abode, asks: “What’s in cases?” Opens > gold! “Pavement?” Wealth can do good, but “loved” it does evil. JESUS only!
PRINTABLE PDF: SNOCT20.PDF
*************************************
WATCH THE ENTIRE ROAST! CHECK IT OUT HERE. https://www.facebook.com/GraceLutheranChurchNA/videos/331850621504079/
*************************************
My Dear Friends in Christ,
A heartfelt word of appreciation to you for your love, your gifts, your kind words, the luncheon, the video, the barrel of monkeys, the ape-filled chocolate kiss, the flowers, the “Tiny Bruce” song, the Tiny Bruce that’s in my office and creeps me out, and 30 years of your partnership in the Gospel. There’s nowhere else I’d rather have been and no people I’d rather serve. I am privileged to be your pastor, and I love you all!
I thank God every time I remember you in my prayers…” and I pray for your continued health in faith and in life.
Pastor K. – Psalm 16:8