Please note: Our church has put up a billboard saying "Search Parties Conducted Weekly" which is one of the themes of the "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" United Methodist September Open House themes. This sermon was an attempt to introduce that theme while connecting it to Scripture.
“Searching for Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
2003 Searching Series
Ephesians 6:5-9 (hearts), Romans 12:1-2 (minds), John 10:7-10 (doors)
Matthew 22:1-14 (read for the congregation)
September 7, 2003
Purpose: The search for open hearts, open minds, and open doors is as much God’s as our own. While God is searching for those who would accept his gracious offer, many are searching for that gracious offer. God’s solution is Jesus Christ. The church’s opportunity is to share the solution with those who are searching.
Introduction
- Mary Ann trying to describe what we have open hearts, open minds, open doors on our pens at
children’s time. Talk to pastor Greg to see what “Open hearts, open minds, open doors
mean.”
- 9/11 Anniversary – California Recall – Koebe Bryant and former N.D. football players on
trial…all of this can be so overwhelming.
- I believe that a search is on.
I. SEARCHING
God is searching…
God is in the great search for people to come to the banquet (Matthew 22)
Luke 15 tells us that 3x things were lost, 3x things were found, 3x there was rejoicing was what was lost was found.
The Bible is “God’s search for man” – who wrote it? how was it written? In it is everything we need to live a righteous – God-pleasing – life.
Humankind is searching …
When asked people will tell you that they are Christian, but when asked about their spiritual life the last person they mention is the Judeo-Christian God.
Most people will buy on a book on searching for God’s Spiritually than looking in the book that God inspired and wrote for us to help us on the search.
And there are many ways for humankind to search… My first impression of new "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" theme for our United Methodist denomination was was not a positive one…
We can have open hearts…and go back to the “free-love” 1960’s
We can have open minds…and except all ideas as the truth, nirvana and enlightenment here I come!
We can have open doors …and put attendance figures ahead of our mission of nurturing, reaching out, and witnessing in our walk with Christ.
Do I really want that for my church? I mean if this was taken to its limits…this could be dangerous.
But then began to think about Jesus…
When the religious establishment began to close their hearts, minds, and doors to the world around them...
It was Jesus who had an open heart (In fact, he loved those that no one else would loved.)
It was Jesus had an open mind (he continually challenged the Pharisees in their close –
mindedness with the message of grace and reconciliation and lived-out faith),
And it was Jesus who was the inventor of the “open door policy”(sinners, prostitutes, thieves, and
the rest were all welcome as he stood out on the hillside sharing God’s message.)
That’s why I believe that when Jesus told the parable of the great banquet, he was doing so to let the people know that while…
“Many people have been called” meaning many want direction, many want clarity, many want some sense that their search is not in vain…
Only a “few are chosen…” not saying that God will turn people away, but that by their own actions, by not accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, by not accepting the free gift of everlasting life, by not searching for the garment of forgiveness and leadership that only God can give, their end is a foregone conclusion.
Jeremiah 29:13 says "And you will seek Me and find ME, when your search for Me with all your heart." The fact is that there are many who are searching, but only a few are doing it with their whole heart.
It’s those who are whole-heartedly searching, that I want to speak to this morning.
Because, in the same vein of that Great Banquet, I believe that everyone is invited to experience the Open Heart, the Open Mind, and the Open Door of Jesus Christ.
God is searching to give it to us.
And I believe that are some in humanity who are whole-heartedly-searching to accept it, to find satisfaction
in their spiritual lives somewhere.
So, let’s look at these three things this morning and see how God’s search and our search comes together.
II. FIRST, SEARCHING FOR OPEN HEARTS
It’s no problem for us to accept the idea of an open heart. Most people would say that an open heart is better than a closed heart. Or that an open heart is better than a pinched or blocked heart.
And our Bibles tell us that God is searching for open hearts…
…I Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do no consider his appearance or
his height…the Lord doesn’t look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” God’s searching for someone with a heart that he can be a part of.
…Ephesians 6:5 says of slaves to their masters, “Obey (your masters) not only to win
their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ doing the will of God from your heart.” God’s not looking for false obedience, he’s looking for a heart that follows willing.
…I believe God is searching for open hearts.
Humankind is also searching for open hearts…in fact, we sang it together this morning...
…Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a clean, heart, O God, and renew a right sprit within me….” We’re searching for a fresh start, for a new heart.
…We may or may not know that we’re in a search, we may or may not know what we’re searching for, but I call then you this morning that it’s Jesus Christ who
satisfies the search…we may be looking for someone to reach out with their open hearts toward us…
...What satisfies the search? Jesus said “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8 Jesus says its the pure heart, the heart that openly loves for the sake of agape love, that will be rewarded.
God’s searching for us….humanity is searching for God…Jesus Christ provides the open heart.
III. SECOND, SEARCHING FOR OPEN MINDS
Most people would agree that open minds are better than closed minds, that open minds are better than prejudice or intolerant minds.
And our Bibles tell us that God is searching for open minds…Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God –this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
Instead of closed, prejudiced, and intolerant minds…God’s searching for open minds to be transformed not by this world, but by his good, pleasing, and perfect will for His creation.
And I believe that humanity is searching for the open, tolerant mind of God…in Psalm 51:6 we hear the Psalmist saying.. “You desire the truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” I believe humanity is searching for the Lord’s penetrating gaze that searches even in innermost parts of our minds…in order to find some answers. Humanity is searching for that open mind.
...What satisfies the search? Well, when Jesus was on the road to Emmaus and he met with those two disciples and he broke bread with them, our Bibles say in Luke 24:45 “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
God’s searching for us….humanity is searching for God…Jesus Christ provides the open mind.
IV. THIRD, SEARCHING FOR OPEN DOORS...
Most people would agree that open doors are better than closed ones. That open doors are better than locked or revolving doors.
And I believe that God is searching for open doors…in a familiar Scripture we hear that he has even sent his Son so that we have the opportunity to open our doors. Rev. 3:20 says “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me.” God’s searching for open doors.
But humanity is also searching for an open door…in Ecclesiastes 12:4,6 we see these words, “When the doors are shut in the streets and the sound of grinding (of work) fades…remember your Creator…” Have you ever been there? When everything around you seems to be shutting down and all the doors you thought were open are now closed.
Even Paul had that dilemma when he told the Colossian church to pray so that “God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4:3)
...What satisfies the search? Jesus said In John 10:7 “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
God’s searching for us….humanity is searching for God…Jesus Christ provides the open door.
V. CONCLUSION USING JOHN 3:16-17
The search for open hearts, open minds, and open doors is as much God’s as our own. While God is searching for those who would accept his gracious offer, some are whole-heartedly searching for that same, gracious offer, but are having difficulty. God’s solution is Jesus Christ. The church’s opportunity is to share the solution with those who are searching.
God loved this world so much (that in the midst of His search for our heart, our mind, and our open door) he gave us his one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him (with their open heart, open mind, and open door) they shall not perish but have everlasting life.
And, we realize, that if taken too far, the "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" theme can lead us down some wrong paths.
But we must never forget...
Jesus did not come into this world to condemn it, but he came to save it. Our job as Christians is to meet each and every pre-Christian at their level of discipleship not ours. Let’s be more quick to save, than to condemn.
God’s searching for humanity….humanity is searching for God…Jesus Christ is the answer to the search as he provides the open heart, the open mind, and the open door of salvation and discipleship.
Let the search continue for those who have yet to find…
Will you join me in prayer?
Gracious God,
We see in your word your extraordinary search to bring us closer to you. But we are also aware that there are many who do not know you, but are still searching.
Help us to bring the Gospel message of Christ to those who need it the most.
And if we sit here this morning, without a relationship with Christ. May your Spirit open their hearts, their minds, and their doors to the forgiveness and leadership that you can only bring through your Son Jesus Christ,
In whose name we pray. Amen.
#98 – To God Be The Glory (note: we’ll sing verses 1 (hearts), then 3 (minds), then 2 (doors))
Benediction
May our hearts remain open to God’s love.
May our minds remain open to God’s will.
May our doors remain open to God’s hospitality.
So that all hearts may feel loved,
All minds may have God’s direction, and
All doors that separate and divide, may be torn down.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…Amen.
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
