Knox (Westport) Presbyterian Church

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Hello Everybody!

Welcome to Knox (Westport) Presbyterian Church on this Sunday, August 29, 2021.

The guidelines for in-person gatherings are continuing to evolve as more and more people receive two shots of the Covid-19 vaccine and complete their incubation period.  We ask you to be patient and respectful with the rules that prevent us from being a more friendly people.

I misspoke last Sunday when I told you if you are double vaccinated, masks or face coverings are now no longer required for indoor gatherings, but you can continue to wear one if you prefer the added safety of this measure.  According to current guidelines regarding indoor gatherings, masks or face coverings are still required.  They are no longer required for outdoor gatherings if you are fully vaccinated.  Please be aware that not everyone may be fully vaccinated and wearing a mask or face covering may still be advisable to protect everyone.

We will continue the practice of no greeting one another with a hug, no coffee hour, no passing of Offering plates or using hymn books or pew Bibles.  When you join us in singing hymns and praise songs, we encourage you to reduce the volume of your voices or just hum along. - no coffee hours or passing of the Offering plates or using hymn books.

Following our worship service, people can feel free to linger and visit with each other outdoors when the weather is good as long as you are careful to maintain at least six feet of separation from each other.  As more and more people get vaccinated and the cases of infections continue to decline, we will be able to resume a more friendly approach to each other.

Thank you for being here.  Let’s stay safe and stay well.

Announcements

• Any Further Announcements

Are there any further announcements that we need to make people aware of?

Greeting One Another

We are delighted that you chose to join us this morning as we come together in fellowship to celebrate our shared faith in Jesus, the Messiah.  Let’s stand and greet one another by applause instead of the customary hearty handshake or caring embrace.

A Moment for Reflection

Take a moment now to prepare for worship.

Let the many things that have occupied your attention this morning, even as you were planning to come for worship with us, fade into the background to give space for thoughts about God, about life and about faith.

I’m going to ask Ruth to play a brief musical selection as we come into the presence of God.

Call to Worship – Song of Solomon 2

The Call to Worship is from the Song of Solomon, chapter 2.  It may seem strange to take this passage as a Call to Worship.  It is part of that great love Song that Solomon wrote in a discourse between two lovers.  I am using this passage as a delightful metaphor for the love between our creator God and his people.  Feel the passion and exult in its beauty as we ponder our relationship with God and with each other.

2  (She) ¹I am a rose of Sharon,

    a lily of the valleys.

(He)

² Like a lily among thorns

    is my darling among the young

women

(She)

³ Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest

    is my beloved among the young

    men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

    and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

⁴ Let him lead me to the banquet hall,

    and let his banner over me be love.

⁵ Strengthen me with raisins,

    refresh me with apples,

    for I am faint with love.

⁶ His left arm is under my head,

    and his right arm embraces me.

⁷ Daughters of Jerusalem,

    I charge you

by the gazelles and by the

    does of the field:

Do not arouse or awaken love

    until it so desires.

⁸ Listen! My beloved!

    Look! Here he comes,

leaping across the mountains,

    bounding over the hills.

⁹ My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

    Look! There he stands behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

    peering through the lattice.

¹⁰ My beloved spoke and said to me,

    “Arise, my darling,

    my beautiful one, come with me.

¹¹ See! The winter is past;

    the rains are over and gone.

¹² Flowers appear on the earth;

    the season of singing has come,

the cooing of doves

    is heard in our land.

¹³ The fig tree forms its early fruit;

    the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.

Arise, come, my darling;

    my beautiful one, come with me.”

(He)

¹⁴ My dove in the clefts of the rock,

    in the hiding places on the mountainside,

show me your face,

    let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet,

    and your face is lovely.

¹⁵ Catch for us the foxes,

    the little foxes

that ruin the vineyards,

    our vineyards that are in bloom.

(She)

¹⁶ My beloved is mine and I am his;

    he browses among the lilies.

¹⁷ Until the day breaks

    and the shadows flee,

turn, my beloved,

    and be like a gazelle

or like a young stag

    on the rugged hills

Praise and Worship

Ruth and I will lead us into the presence of God in praise and worship.  Please sing along where lyrics are provided.

#746 - What a Friend We Have in Jesus

#371 - Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

#425 - We Praise You, O God

Prayers of Adoration and Confession

Faithful God,

In the world of your creation, you made the seasons to change, the sun to shine and the rain to fall, the vines to bear fruit and the fields to produce good things.

You alone are our strength and security; you alone bring us rest and comfort.

We turn to you as the source of all life, marvelling at your wisdom, seeking to learn your purpose for our lives.

We offer you our praise and thanksgiving, for you are the God who made us, the Christ who mends us, and the Spirit who brings us life.

Faithful God,

even though we know you are the Source of our lives, we confess we often turn our backs on you.

We speak and think in ways that deny our loyalty and love for you; we ignore our own needs and the needs of others.

We harbour anger and say things that cause others pain.

In your mercy, restore us to right relationships with you and with one another.

While it is true that we have all sinned, it is a greater truth that we are forgiven through God’s love in Jesus Christ.

To all who humbly seek the mercy of God, in Jesus Christ our sin is forgiven.  Be at peace with God, with yourself, and with one another.

God whose Word created life,

we give you thanks for the abundance we enjoy from earth’s goodness.

Make us wise caretakers of the earth’s fragile balance, so vulnerable to drought and disaster.

May your world become a place of abundance for all your creatures, for we know all our lives depend on you.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of transforming love,

we are grateful to live in a land which is mostly peaceful, with leaders accountable for their decisions.

We pray for those who suffer from the burdens of racism, violence and greed in our communities and in many other nations.

Open hearts and minds to recognize abuse and exploitation, and help us build a common life where all people find dignity in their work, are rewarded fairly and respected fully.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of vigilant care,

thank you for the strength and comfort you offer us in times of sorrow and stress.

We pray for those who do not know security in their lives day by day, for those facing violence at home or on the streets, for the vulnerable who must depend on others for their care, and for those who experience unpredictable acts of hate or manipulation.

Guide us to shape a society where violence is not tolerated, where the weak are protected, where the elderly are honoured for their experience, and children are cherished for their gifts.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God of all times and places,

as the summer moves toward autumn, and activities must reorganize while the coronavirus is still present, we pray for families who face decisions about schooling, and churches and organizations trying to make wise choices.

Equip us all with the wisdom we need to plan well, and act with understanding for those eager to get things going and for those anxious or reluctant to move too quickly.

Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

God who hears our desires even in the silence of our hearts,

listen now as we name before you the people and situations on our minds today:

Receive all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to pray together, saying:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive sinners.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  AMEN.

The Offering

Offering plates have been placed at the entrance into the main auditorium for you to leave your offering as you enter or leave this morning.  Thank you.

Sharing Our Thoughts on Life and Faith

When I read the passage from Song of Solomon as the call to worship for this morning’s service, I did something I don’t usually do.  I inserted pictures in each of the power point slides alongside the reading.  I hope you took notice of them.

The reading from the Song of Solomon is part of a dialogue between two lovers and it is full of imagery and metaphor intended to invoke passions and feelings between them.

When we worship God, I wonder how often we engage our emotions and think about how we feel in relation to our marvelous creator God.

To get you thinking about the subject we are going to look at this morning, let me ask this question:

What feelings did this reading, and these pictures generate in your mind as you thought about your relationship with God? 

Transition from Sharing Question

The Book of Proverbs has quite a lot to say about thoughts and our feelings and how they both significantly shape the course of our lives: what we think and what we feel determines not only the path we take but whether or not that path is joyful and fulfilling or filled with sadness and disappointment.

Desire without knowledge is not good — how much more will hasty feet miss the way! (Proverbs 19:2)

• God created us as thinking and feeling creatures, and therefore both are part of our being made in his image.
• That is why both thoughts and feelings are vital component of true faith.
• A grasp of God and the gospel that is solely intellectual is barren of the relational joys the God desires us to have with him and with each other.
• On the other hand, if our faith is informed primarily by what we feel without careful study of Scripture, we will wind up being tossed about and swayed by every wind of fancy that attracts our attention.
• It is clear from Scripture that feeling are meant to be subservient to thoughts rather than the reverse.

Before we turn our attention to the human heart and our emotions, let me preface this with some Proverbs that address the role of sound thinking in dealing with our feelings.

The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways. (Proverbs 21:29)

• Proverbs makes a connection between righteous living and careful thinking.

The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. (Proverbs 14:15)

• It is also clear the harmful naivete is overcome by using our minds.

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. (Proverbs 28:26)

• This seems to contradict the very things we’ve just looked at.

What is the writer of the Proverbs trying to say here?  Is too much thinking unwise?  NO!  Thinking is wise, and giving careful thought to our ways is godly.

What is foolish is relying on our thoughts as if they are authoritative and the final word.  We are to submit all our thoughts and actions and plans to the lordship of Christ.  A wise person pursues with single-mindedness the truth and wisdom of God.

The apostle Paul explains what is involved in thinking biblically or walking by faith in his letter to the Christians in Rome:

I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

With this as the backdrop for our study of the human heart and the role that our emotions and feelings play in shaping the course of our lives, let’s turn our attention to what the book of Proverbs has to say about emotions and feelings.

Today’s Message

On the Human Heart

(Our Emotions)

1. Our Emotions and Feelings are REAL!

Just consider the roller-coaster ride of emotions we can experience in the course of a single week – or for some of us, a single day:  anger, love, frustration, joy, sorrow annoyance, irritation, fear, anxiety, peace, satisfaction, exultation, discouragement, happiness, fulfillment, dissatisfaction, anticipation, hopefulness . . . . the list could go on almost endlessly.

1. Circumstantial causes

We are quick to blame or attributes of feelings or emotions on our circumstances and there is no doubt that the stresses of life have a significant impact on how we feel.  Nevertheless, we don’t have to be – nor should we allow ourselves to be – victimized by our feelings.  At certain times our circumstances may challenge our tolerance of others or depress our outlook, but nowhere does the Bible give us a pass on the call to kindness, patience, and love.

These circumstances that elicit emotional responses vary in their impact and duration.  Sometimes it is a momentary and minor crisis, and the feeling passes quickly – a criticism made in passing that was disturbing but quickly set aside in the context of the positive nature of the relationship or conversation.  On the other hand, the issue may be long-term or repetitive and of significant importance that our emotions are riled up for along time – a repeated judgement against one’s character, intellect, ability, or appearance that burns within every time an encounter takes place.  I have known many people whose anger or bitterness or frustration or sadness has been allowed to fester for an entire lifetime.

1. Negative sense of loss

Whether the feelings we are experiencing are the result of the circumstances we find ourselves in or come from other sources, the negative emotions we experience are almost always the result of sensing some kind of loss.

Again, the emotion may be a powerful and enduring one of it may be a slight feeling that is of little consequence.  But make no mistake, negative feelings and emotions can have a significant impact on the path we take in life, in relationships, and in faith.

For instance, anger is always a response to a perceived loss.  We will address this emotion more extensively when we look at it as an example of how we are to deal with our emotions.  But here, let me give you some common examples:  we are angry when someone gets ahead of us in a line at the grocery store, a bank teller, on a highway, in a promotion at work.  The degree of our anger may vary depending on how important that place in the line was for you.  If you were in a hurry and needed to get served quickly, your anger may be more elevated than if you didn’t have anything else to do.

But here is where our emotions can get the better of us.  Liz told me of an incident last week in the grocery store parking lot.  Two people were backing out of their respective parking spaces at the same time and refused to let the other driver go first.  Apparently, it resulted in a shouting match, abusive language and gestures and almost physical harm.  Observers watched with some amusement, but it was NOT a pretty sight.

A close partner to or consequence of anger is bitterness.  The perceived loss of position is left unresolved and grows over time.  It might be in the workplace where resentment and bitterness poison the whole environment.  Tragically, we have seen workplace violence result.  It can also happen in the home and family where resentment over a failing marriage or a sibling rivalry leads to vengeance.  The story of Cain and Abel in the Bible is a tragic example.

If you look at this list of negative emotions and feelings and add others to that list that you have experienced, we can all see how a loss in life can impact the course of one’s life.

1. Exaggerated optimistic expectations.

In contrast to the negative emotions and feelings that we experience, we are also significantly impacted by positive emotions and feelings.  These feelings tend to be deeper than just circumstantial – they are the result of repeated blessings that enrich, inspire, and ennoble our lives.

We are fortunate people if we have these things in abundance.  But there are two dangers we need to be aware of in these emotions.  We can become unaware of or insensitive to people who are not experiencing such positive feelings.  In the afterglow of a successful venture, a joyful celebration can increase the distress of someone who is struggling with life and their feelings of inadequacy of failure.

The second danger is that we may expect these positive feelings to always be present in spite of our own changing circumstances.  Into every life come moments of discouragement when we will need to adapt and respond to life’s changes.

1. We are not robots

None of us is ever going to master our emotions and feeling completely.  For one thing, God did not create us to be robots.  He designed us to feel the ups and downs of life – our own ups and downs and those of others.  Furthermore, it is often the down times when we wrestle with difficult circumstances and relationships that they produce the most character and spiritual fruit.

2. How to handle our emotions and feelings – anger for example

We are going to explore how to handle our emotions and feelings wisely by looking in particular at anger.  In doing so, we will get an idea of how the wisdom of Proverbs can be harness for the whole spectrum of our emotions – both positive and negative.

1. Anger is an emotion that motivates a person to action

First of all, not all anger is bad.  In fact, some anger is good.  We look to the New Testament for guidance on anger:

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:12-13)

Let’s be clear about this – we are not Jesus.  Unlike Him, we will never fully experience righteous anger.  We are just not capable of it since everything we do is coloured by our own wrongdoing.

A lot of the most vehement anger in many churches comes from a self-righteous judgement that ignore other wrongs that are far more grievous.  When it comes to judging other, we need to heed Jesus’ warning:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

But that doesn’t mean that we should never get angry?

Paul wrote:

Each of you must speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.  “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.  (Ephesians 4:25,26)

There are just causes for anger.  Injustice, cruelty, and insensitivity to others stir God’s wrath and ought to cause anger in those who are made in his image.  The neglect of widows and orphans and the poor are causes for God’s anger and ought to stir up the same emotion and passion as it did in Jesus.  We can properly, directly, and biblically experience anger as an emotion that motivates a person to action in setting right something that is wrong.

1. Be slow to anger

What Proverbs teaches us about anger is that we should be slow to anger and guided by wisdom and understanding:

Better a patient person than a warrior,     one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

Even with understanding and patience, Proverbs cautions us about reacting in anger:

1. Dangerous reactions to anger

• Venting one’s anger

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Prov. 29:11)

Fools show their annoyance at once,     but the prudent overlook an insult. (Prov. 12:16

A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated. (Proverbs 14:17)

It may make you “FEEL” good to blow off steam, but if the wrong is not addressed and appropriately resolved, the anger will still fester and blow up again.

More seriously, venting one’s anger will lead to further problems:

• speaks foolish words

Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 29:20)

Venting one’s anger will frequently involve foolish talk that makes no sense.  An angry person who argues one’s case will raise all kinds or additional grievances that will be dismissed as foolish.

• Stirs up strife

Rather than resolving the problem and bringing about a resolution, venting one’s anger will simply serve to stir up strife.

I like this Proverb for its interesting metaphors:

For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.” (Proverbs 30:33)

And one more problem with venting one’s anger:

no solution to dissatisfaction

Keep in mind the wisdom principle with which we started: Anger is an emotion that motivates action.

If our anger does not motivate action and lead to a desired resolution to the problem, then it accomplished nothing and is wrong at the outset.

There is another dangerous reaction to anger.

• Internalizing one’s anger

The writer of Proverbs wrote in the Book of Ecclesiastes, another book attributed to Solomon:

Do not be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the heart of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Here he not only reinforces what he wrote in Proverbs, but he adds this piece about anger that fester.  This is the sort of anger that get stuck in our hearts.  We can’t stop thinking about it; we toss and turn at night, rehearsing the cause of our anger over and over in our minds.  We can’t stop talking about it with anyone who will listen and agree.

This anger that takes up residence in our hearts is the very definition of anger WITH sin rather that angry WITHOUT sin.

Getting a handle on our emotions can be very difficult, especially when our anger seems justified. So how do we do it?

Before we look at the specifics of handling our anger, I want to articulate an overarching principle that Proverbs provides.  We don’t become wise by employing anger management techniques – even those provided by Proverbs or by modern human resource training.  Managing our anger isn’t something we do; its something we become.  It’s actually a fruit of wisdom:

Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)

We see that there is something commendable about overlooking a wrong – giving it a free pass and letting it go.  When your spouse or friend or colleague said something insensitive or misjudged your motive, that may be a good time to let it go.  It may be more important to not overlook a wrong when the slight or injustice is done to someone else.  How often do we let that go?  It is even more important when the slight or injustice has been done to God’s word and truth.  Confrontation is unpleasant, and we often fear its outcome.  But when God name is dishonoured or when someone demonstrates repeated disregard for the welfare of other, overlooking the offense is simply not an option.

Let me sum up how to handle anger properly.

3. How to handle anger properly in you.

First of all:

1. Be willing to overlook some transgressions

Remember that the objective in handling anger is to resolve the issue that has caused the angry response.  Consider the response you are having and decide if it is worth getting angry over.

1. Be slow to anger

Taking a moment to pause and think about your angry response may be all that is needed to set your anger aside for the sake of things that are more important – like the relationship or common cause.

1. Don’t allow anger to fester or build grudges

Paul’s advice is good:

Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

Make things right before they grow into bigger problems

1. Be motivated to take action

The goal is to deal with the cause of anger – your anger and the anger or injustice of the other person.  Take action

1. Be part of the solution and not just a critic

It’s much easier to complain than it is to remedy a wrong.  Be part of the solution.

1. Direct your anger to the problem and not the people

Although people may have caused the problem that has stirred up anger, focus on the problem and not the people

1. Be wise

Managing our anger isn’t something we do; it’s something we become.  Seek the wisdom of God provided by the Proverb:

Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense. (Prov. 19:11)

There are invariably at least two parties involved in an angry response.  What is your responsibility in dealing with anger in others?

4. How to handle anger properly in others

The starting place is still the same:

1. Be willing to overlook some transgressions

Consider the response they are having and decide if it is worth getting angry over.  If it is, admit your wrongdoing and deal with it.

1. Respond gently, NOT in kind

The angry response of the other person may be harsh and judgemental.  Do not respond in kind.  Instead:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  (Proverbs 15:1)

The aim is to calm the very real feelings and resolve the anger.

1. Bring a peace offering

The final step may be an unexpected one.

A gift given in secret soothes anger, and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath. (Proverbs 21:14)

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matt. 5:23,24)

Just think for a moment about how powerful this final step is.  Think about what would happen to your sense of anger if the person or persons who caused the problem accepted responsibility and gave you a gift to demonstrate their desire to make peace with you.  I know that I would be delighted and grateful and reconciled.

That is a powerful step that you can take as well.

As you know, there are many emotions and feelings on our lists today.  They are real and have a significant impact on the path we take.  We could do an entire series on how to handle every one of these emotions – positive ones and negative ones.  The wisdom drawn from the Proverbs and the steps we need to take can be applied with minor adjustments to all of them.

Prayer of Response

Let’s pray:

Gracious God, our heavenly Father, you created us in your image so we could have deep, emotional, and spiritual relationships with you and with each other.  We confess that we are too often guilty of building up barriers to those relationship by handling our emotions and feeling unwisely.  We allow ourselves to be angry over things that should be set aside while we fail to act against things that should cause us to make things right.

Grant us your wisdom to know and apply your truth so that the path we take in life will be right and good to the glory of God.

This we ask in Jesus’ name.  AMEN

Closing Hymn – “Help Us to help each other, Lord” - 489

Ruth and I are going to lead us in our closing hymn.  Please sign along.

Benediction – Romans 15:5-6

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Choral Blessing

Go now in peace. Never be afraid.

God will go with you each hour of every day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.

Know He will guide you in all you do.

Go now in love, and show you believe.

Reach out to others so all the world can see.

God will be there watching from above.

Go now in peace, in faith and in love.