Sermon From August 23rd / Stumbling Blocks

This week's sermon was about 'Stumbling Blocks'.  The scripture which it was predicated upon was Chapter 8 of 1st Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 8 - New International Version (NIV)

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. 2 Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know. 3 But whoever loves God is known by God.[a]

4 So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

Far too often in life we ourselves are stumbling blocks to other Christians as well as to individuals who are unbelievers who might under the right approach become followers of Christ.  I'll confess and admit that at times I think Christians are their own worst enemy, we all too often appear to be unforgiving and entrenched on either the left or the right theologically.  One of the things that I very much like about the Disciples of Christ denomination, especially here in the Upper Midwest Region is the great diversity within the denomination.  There is room for everyone no matter where they fall left to right.  For me as one who has theological positions on both sides, this is the perfect home.  I am all for remaining in dialogue with others with whom I might disagree, all the while making no effort to cause their personal beliefs in God and His grace and love to be threatened.  It would be my constant prayer that I should never  be a 'stumbling block' to another.  One of my personal mantras is that "it's not my job to take you along with me on my spiritual journey, it's my job to help you along on your own path."

I've attached the video for the sermon, I pray that it finds all who have 'stumbled' through this blog post well and blessed.

In His Constant Love & Care,

Roy

Sermon delivered August 23, 2015 -  Woodlawn Christ Church, Lake City, Iowa.

Pastor Wm Roy Karlen

Video of Sermon from August 2nd and 9th

I apologize for not getting the sermon up last week, it's been busy and I just didn't get around to it like I had hoped to do.  I've gone ahead and included two weeks worth of sermons for you this week so if you're so inclined there's plenty to watch and/or listen to.

Below you will first find two videos of the August 2nd Sermon.  Unfortunately, there was a bit of a camera issue and just a tiny bit of the sermon was cut out in between the two videos.  Part of the time was utilized as commentary about several issues in the news cycle right now.  The most important of which is the issue of the videos and Planned Parenthood.  I am a staunch opponent of abortion and am appalled at the manner and the tone which the managers of these 'clinics' exhibit in these videos.

I have ordered a book written by Abby Johnson who was a director of a Planned Parenthood clinic down in Texas.  She has stated that over 90% of the women that came to them with pregnancies ended up undergoing an abortion.  This is an abomination, abortion should always be the last alternative and the goal should always be to render them to being exceedingly rare in occurrence.

For those who have suffered through the regret and anguish of an abortion, this link provides a source for counseling and healing.

Counseling and Support Network for Women concerning Abortion

Next up is a video of the sermon given here on August 9th.  At the end of the sermon, I read the letter that I've prepared for the 'Time Capsule' that we will be burying as part of the Sesquicentennial celebration in September.  The very end of the reading was missed as Ryan thought I was done before I got to the end of the reading.  As a result, I've attached a copy of the letter to the end of this blog post.

 In the morning today Evelyn Johnson and I went out to Shady Oaks to conduct a worship service for the residents.  It's always a joy to go out and worship with all of them as they're all so happy and glad to see us there.  

This afternoon I had a meeting with a young couple about possibly performing a wedding for them here in November.  I will be putting together a series of counseling sessions for them to finish prior to the wedding.  They are only 23, but I'm pretty comfortable with them as they've known each other since 5th grade and have remained friends all this time.  I'm very much looking forward to getting to know them and to helping them understand fully the commitment that they are about to undertake.  Praise God for His work in their lives.

I pray that this blog post finds everyone who wanders through very well and richly blessed.

In His Constant Love & Grace
Roy

Letter to Woodlawn Christian Church in 2040:

To the Pastor and the Congregation of Woodlawn Christian Church in the fall of 2040.

Hello and greetings from Woodlawn Christian Church in the fall of 2015. The occasion we are celebrating today is the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Woodlawn Christian Church here in Lake City, Iowa. The Church has had a long and wonderful history here in this place and as a part of our celebration we have decided to reach across time to you at the Church's 175th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations, and well wishes to you all for your long and tireless service.

My name is Roy Karlen, but I prefer to just be called either Pastor Roy or just plain Roy. I've only just recently come here to Woodlawn Christian Church as your Pastor after a lengthy search process for both the church and myself. Ultimately, God has led us together and we all pray that it's for the best for all concerned.

No doubt among you there today are a number who are here with us now as we bury this time capsule in September of 2015. Perhaps I'm even there with you all, but if I am, I'm now even older than Jim Bruce is today, so please.... keep an eye on me.

Possibly among you are Ryan or Kimberly Daisy, Emily Winker, Spencer Moon or Kolten, Noah, Holden or Hayden Hildreth, if they're not I'm positive each has gone on in the meanwhile to have good productive and Christ led lives, spreading the love of Christ and the lessons they've learned here in Lake City far and wide. As to who else might still be here, well the rest of us I'm afraid to say are a bit more of a long shot, but certainly many of us are still here working to continue the legacy of Woodlawn Christian Church in the Lake City Community. For all those that are gathered who remember me, hello to you once again my old friends and fellow Disciples. To all of you there whether you remember me or not, I give to you all God's Love, Blessing, Grace, and Peace. Thank you all for continuing to do God's work in this wonderful community. May God lead you along the path of service and devotion to His creation.

My time here at Woodlawn is just now beginning. Together with all the wonderful souls here we are working as one to try and determine how best to serve this community as times continue to change for small towns in the Midwest. By the time you're reading this, you'll know how successful we all were in discerning God's directions and guidance. Whatever it is that we have done, I pray earnestly that it has been through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the Father's blessing. Our goal is to honor the past by working to serve the present and to prepare the Church and it's people for the future. Hopefully, as you look back upon our efforts they have been successful. No matter or not, our commission to you is the same as our fore-bearers here at Woodlawn Christian have left to us; to honor that great history of this Church organization (for you now 175 years), and to continue to serve, build and prepare.

To the people of the congregation at Woodlawn in 2040, I want to thank you for the time that I had here as your Pastor. This place, Lake City, Iowa is a wonderful town filled with wonderful souls. Both Gail and I are so very grateful for the time we will have had to spend here worshiping and serving with you all. God's very best to you all.

To the current Pastor at Woodlawn Christian, I have no idea how many years God granted me to be here in Lake City. I have no way of knowing if it was a very long or a very short ministry. The only thing that I can pray is that no matter the length, that it was a meaningful time for both myself and the good people at Woodlawn Christian. At times like these one wants to state words that sound profound and grandiose, to impart some past and long forgotten wisdom onto those that are to come after us... I have no such words.

I have no idea if you are new here in ministry or if you've already been here for years, perhaps more years than I was here. Only our Father knows what lies ahead for each and any of us, we just live our lives as He guides us and as long as we remain faithful to His leadings all will work out well in the end. No... I have no profound words to leave you with, for ultimately I'm a simple person living a simple life, simply trying to do what I'm directed to do. But God's people don't really need nor do they especially want words that bewilder or perplex, what God's people need is for you to love them. God's love extended through you will have a far, far greater impact on the lives of the people that He has sent you to serve than any words you or I could ever muster.

Again to the people here at Woodlawn Christian, it has been my great pleasure to speak to you all once again in the form of this letter. May this short note find you all well and blessed, and if you remember nothing else from my time with you, remember this:

Be A Blessing To Someone Today,
Pastor Roy