7th Sunday after Pentecost 7/03/05 Text: Matthew 11: 16-19 Title: Let's Dance
7/03/2005
7th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30
Title: Let’s Dance
My fellow missionaries, would you please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
Usually when the Gospel reading for this morning comes around in the three year cycle the sermon focus is on last two verses of the reading: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Those two verses contain some wonderful words of comfort. Who of us, has not from time to time, gotten ourselves overloaded with all the stuff we so willingly take on. We, who proclaim ourselves to be followers of Jesus, who should really know better, too often find ourselves getting our priorities backwards, as we put worldly things before Godly things. We get into all kinds of jambs and then when we cannot extract ourselves, usually as a last resort, we call out to God for help.
You would think that we would learn to trust in God, but if you are like me, you probably have not done very well, as you continue to rely on your own or the world’s wisdom, rather than God’s wisdom. Sometimes, I get so frustrated with my inability to trust in God enough to let him carry my burdens of life, that I feel like I could just scream. If only I would learn to trust him more, my life would be much more peaceful.
As much as we all need to hear about his carrying our burdens, I decided not to preach on those two verses, but to instead to use verses 16 and 17 of our Gospel reading instead. “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”
I chose those two verses because this past Monday, as I was driving over to the Hamm home for the Monday afternoon Bible study on Revelation, I heard a song on the radio that really caught my attention. It had a catchy melody, and the longer I listened to it the more I thought of the first two verses of our Gospel reading for today.
The song was the “Lord of the Dance”, the same song we sang just a few moments ago. It was written by Sidney Carter in 1963. He described it as a carol, a dancing kind of song, the life of which is in the dance as much as is the verbal statement of the carol.”
I am not sure if Jesus ever actually danced, but we know that King David danced in celebration, for all that God had done for him and his fellow Israelites. The Bible also tells us of those times when the people broke out in song and dance as they praised God for all he had done for them. I am sure that the angels in heaven dance with joy whenever a person is brought to Christ.
Dancing just comes naturally to human beings; it is an expression of life itself. If you do not believe so, just watch small children at play. If there is music, and sometimes even if there is not, you will quite often find them twirling around and around, as they join hands and dance, if for no other reason than just life itself. The joy of being alive expressed in dance.
It is not until later in life, when they find out that for some one to break into spontaneous dance is just not cool; that society generally frowns on someone spontaneously breaking into a dance when they are happy. It is then that they for the most part, quit dancing. I think that is a shame, for what better way could there be to express happiness, than to twirl around in dance. It just feels good to dance.
Not too long ago, maybe two weeks ago, I found a sum of money that I thought had been lost forever; actually I thought that it had been stolen. When I discovered it, boy was I happy. I was so happy that I threw up my hands in the air, shouting for joy as I danced a little jig. I just had to rejoice, as I praised God for the blessing he gave me.
Earlier I had said that I did not know if Jesus had ever danced, but the more I think about it, he must have danced. How could he not have danced as he rejoiced with those who were lost and then found, those who were blind and now could see, those who were lame and now could walk? When they were healed there must have been a lot of hugging and jumping around, all out of pure joy for life. Yes, I am sure Jesus must have danced.
Jesus had to have danced, for he is the Lord of the dance as the words of song say in stanza 5 say, “They cut me down and I leapt up high; I am the life that'll never, never die; I'll live in you if you'll live in me -I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.”
I ask you this morning, are you dancing with the Lord of the dance? Are you letting him hold you close so that you can follow his every move? I hope so for he is the dance.
Or, are you dancing at arm’s length with Jesus, like people dance that do not want to really get involved in each other’s life? Or, maybe you are dancing apart from Jesus, so that you can dance your way, instead of the way Jesus wants you to dance?
I am afraid that for the most part, too many of us do not dance closely with Jesus. Maybe it is because we find his dance to be embarrassing, or maybe it is because we have been Christians for so long that we have forgotten what it is like to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Or maybe it is because we have not really bought into the Gospel message of forgiveness, thinking that we still must to do something to be saved.
You know though, the more I think of it, the more I believe the real reason why we so often do not join in Jesus’ dance, is that we have become so preoccupied with our own comfort, with what we want, or what we think is right, that we have lost sight of the real purpose of the dance.
And what is the purpose of the dance, you ask? We dance the dance so that others can learn it as we touch and heal, feed and clothe, reach and teach, find and offer Jesus’ redemption to the least, the lost, and the lonely. It is our task, our mission to dance Jesus’ dance as we reach out to those who do not know of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Come celebrate your new life in Christ, as we join our hands together in his dance, the dance of eternal life. Come on; put on your dancing shoes. Join the party. Sing and dance along with me, as we make the journey to that eternal banquet hall where the feast has been prepared.
You say you are not sure how to dance the dance of Jesus, that you are afraid you don’t know the steps. Well, here are a few pointers.
First thing you need to do and the most important is to study the instruction book, the Bible, as it will teach you the fine points of the dance.
Second, you must remember that only one person can lead in the dance, and that person has to be Jesus.
Third, you need to dance with your whole being; body, mind, heart, and soul, anything less does not work well.
Fourth, you need to be attentive as you dance, for Jesus just might have a special move for you, something totally unexpected.
Fifth, you never have to worry that you are learning the wrong steps, or that you will be left to dance alone, for after all, as the response to the song tells us, “Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he”. Let’s dance. Amen.
The quotes from the song, “Lord of the Dance” were Copyrighted in 1963, by Stainer & Bell Ltd. London, England
7th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30
Title: Let’s Dance
My fellow missionaries, would you please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
Usually when the Gospel reading for this morning comes around in the three year cycle the sermon focus is on last two verses of the reading: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Those two verses contain some wonderful words of comfort. Who of us, has not from time to time, gotten ourselves overloaded with all the stuff we so willingly take on. We, who proclaim ourselves to be followers of Jesus, who should really know better, too often find ourselves getting our priorities backwards, as we put worldly things before Godly things. We get into all kinds of jambs and then when we cannot extract ourselves, usually as a last resort, we call out to God for help.
You would think that we would learn to trust in God, but if you are like me, you probably have not done very well, as you continue to rely on your own or the world’s wisdom, rather than God’s wisdom. Sometimes, I get so frustrated with my inability to trust in God enough to let him carry my burdens of life, that I feel like I could just scream. If only I would learn to trust him more, my life would be much more peaceful.
As much as we all need to hear about his carrying our burdens, I decided not to preach on those two verses, but to instead to use verses 16 and 17 of our Gospel reading instead. “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.”
I chose those two verses because this past Monday, as I was driving over to the Hamm home for the Monday afternoon Bible study on Revelation, I heard a song on the radio that really caught my attention. It had a catchy melody, and the longer I listened to it the more I thought of the first two verses of our Gospel reading for today.
The song was the “Lord of the Dance”, the same song we sang just a few moments ago. It was written by Sidney Carter in 1963. He described it as a carol, a dancing kind of song, the life of which is in the dance as much as is the verbal statement of the carol.”
I am not sure if Jesus ever actually danced, but we know that King David danced in celebration, for all that God had done for him and his fellow Israelites. The Bible also tells us of those times when the people broke out in song and dance as they praised God for all he had done for them. I am sure that the angels in heaven dance with joy whenever a person is brought to Christ.
Dancing just comes naturally to human beings; it is an expression of life itself. If you do not believe so, just watch small children at play. If there is music, and sometimes even if there is not, you will quite often find them twirling around and around, as they join hands and dance, if for no other reason than just life itself. The joy of being alive expressed in dance.
It is not until later in life, when they find out that for some one to break into spontaneous dance is just not cool; that society generally frowns on someone spontaneously breaking into a dance when they are happy. It is then that they for the most part, quit dancing. I think that is a shame, for what better way could there be to express happiness, than to twirl around in dance. It just feels good to dance.
Not too long ago, maybe two weeks ago, I found a sum of money that I thought had been lost forever; actually I thought that it had been stolen. When I discovered it, boy was I happy. I was so happy that I threw up my hands in the air, shouting for joy as I danced a little jig. I just had to rejoice, as I praised God for the blessing he gave me.
Earlier I had said that I did not know if Jesus had ever danced, but the more I think about it, he must have danced. How could he not have danced as he rejoiced with those who were lost and then found, those who were blind and now could see, those who were lame and now could walk? When they were healed there must have been a lot of hugging and jumping around, all out of pure joy for life. Yes, I am sure Jesus must have danced.
Jesus had to have danced, for he is the Lord of the dance as the words of song say in stanza 5 say, “They cut me down and I leapt up high; I am the life that'll never, never die; I'll live in you if you'll live in me -I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.”
I ask you this morning, are you dancing with the Lord of the dance? Are you letting him hold you close so that you can follow his every move? I hope so for he is the dance.
Or, are you dancing at arm’s length with Jesus, like people dance that do not want to really get involved in each other’s life? Or, maybe you are dancing apart from Jesus, so that you can dance your way, instead of the way Jesus wants you to dance?
I am afraid that for the most part, too many of us do not dance closely with Jesus. Maybe it is because we find his dance to be embarrassing, or maybe it is because we have been Christians for so long that we have forgotten what it is like to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Or maybe it is because we have not really bought into the Gospel message of forgiveness, thinking that we still must to do something to be saved.
You know though, the more I think of it, the more I believe the real reason why we so often do not join in Jesus’ dance, is that we have become so preoccupied with our own comfort, with what we want, or what we think is right, that we have lost sight of the real purpose of the dance.
And what is the purpose of the dance, you ask? We dance the dance so that others can learn it as we touch and heal, feed and clothe, reach and teach, find and offer Jesus’ redemption to the least, the lost, and the lonely. It is our task, our mission to dance Jesus’ dance as we reach out to those who do not know of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Come celebrate your new life in Christ, as we join our hands together in his dance, the dance of eternal life. Come on; put on your dancing shoes. Join the party. Sing and dance along with me, as we make the journey to that eternal banquet hall where the feast has been prepared.
You say you are not sure how to dance the dance of Jesus, that you are afraid you don’t know the steps. Well, here are a few pointers.
First thing you need to do and the most important is to study the instruction book, the Bible, as it will teach you the fine points of the dance.
Second, you must remember that only one person can lead in the dance, and that person has to be Jesus.
Third, you need to dance with your whole being; body, mind, heart, and soul, anything less does not work well.
Fourth, you need to be attentive as you dance, for Jesus just might have a special move for you, something totally unexpected.
Fifth, you never have to worry that you are learning the wrong steps, or that you will be left to dance alone, for after all, as the response to the song tells us, “Dance, then, wherever you may be, I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, And I'll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I'll lead you all in the Dance, said he”. Let’s dance. Amen.
The quotes from the song, “Lord of the Dance” were Copyrighted in 1963, by Stainer & Bell Ltd. London, England
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 12:29 PM
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