“TRUSTING IN MUGGS”
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NOTE TO READER: Sundays (at least for a while) I will be posting a one hour video in two parts: Part One will be a worship service, and Part Two will be something else. The video is directly below this text. Below the video on this page is the Order of Service for the worship. And below that is the text of this video (but not the music), in case you would rather read than watch.
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ORDER OF SERVICE
Title: Sunday Worship # 9: “Trusting in Muggs”
Bell/Call to Worship/Invocation
Confession of Sin and Forgiveness
Kyrie / Hymn of Praise /Gospel Acclamation
Opening Prayer
Hymn “All Creatures of Our God and King”
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 3:1-8
Gospel: Matthew 7:24-27
Sermon
Hymn “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
Offering
Creed
Prayer of the Church / Lord’s Prayer
Benediction/Bell/Prayer
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BELL/INVOCATION:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
THE CONFESSION OF SIN AND ABSOLUTION:
We confess our sins unto the Lord:
Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo.
Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed;
and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God forgives you all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. Amen.
KYRIE/HYMN OF PRAISE/GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (video only)
OPENING PRAYER:
Let us pray: Bless us, O God, with a reverent sense of your presence, so that we may be at peace and may worship you with all our mind and spirit. Give us a hunger for your Word, and grant that the Word you speak to us this day may take root in our hearts, and bear fruit to your honor and glory.
Grant unto us, O Lord, the fullness of your promises.
Where we have been weak, grant us your strength;
Where we have been confused, grant us your guidance;
Where we have been in despair, grant us your comfort;
Where we have been dead, grant us your life.
Apart from you we are nothing, but in and with you we can do all things.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. –Psalm 106:48 (KJV)
SONG #1: “All Creatures of Our God and King”
1.
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and let us sing;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Bright burning sun with golden beam,
Pale silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2.
Great rushing winds that are so strong,
White clouds above that sail along,
O praise him! Alleluia!
Fair rising morn, in praise rejoice;
O stars of evening, find a voice!
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3.
Swift flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for your Lord to hear,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Fierce fire so masterful and bright,
Providing us both warmth and light,
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
4.
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfolds rich blessings on our way,
O praise him! Alleluia!
The flow’rs and fruits that in you grow,
Let them his glory also show!
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
5.
All you that are of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part.
Sing his praises! Alleluia!
All you that pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God, and on him cast your care!
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
6.
And you, most kind and gentle death,
Waiting to hush our final breath,
O praise him! Alleluia!
You lead back home the child of God,
Where Christ our Lord the way has trod:
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
7.
Let all things their Creator bless
And worship him in humbleness!
O praise him! Alleluia!
Praise God the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three-in-One:
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
SCRIPTURE READING:
Proverbs 3:1-8: My child, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
2 for length of days and years of life
and abundant welfare they will give you.
3 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
in the sight of God and of people.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
Here ends the reading.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 7:24-27: (Jesus said), “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
SERMON:
Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of each heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
Following this worship service, there will be a Teddy Bear Picnic for children ages 3-6 and their families. There will be Teddy Bear themed activities, games, and a picnic. And there will be (a Ted Talk, I mean) a Teddy Bear Talk about “Hiding God’s Word in our Hearts.” I will say something about that later, but first I want to talk about Teddy Bears.
Teddy Bears have been around since 1903. They were named after one of our most colorful presidents, Theodore Roosevelt. He was quite a hunter, and there was a story about him having a clear shot at a bear on a hunt in 1902, but he refused to take it, and the bear lived. Somehow that led to a political cartoon that was in all the papers, and somehow that led to the name Teddy Bear being attached to a whole line of stuffed animals.
And children have been loving their Teddy Bears and taking comfort in their companionship ever since.
The children were asked to bring their favorite Teddy Bear or other stuffed animal this morning, so I would imagine there are quite a few here today. I am glad it said “or other favorite stuffy,” because we do want to be inclusive here, and not everyone has a bear. Some have a favorite doll, or stuffed lion, or big bird, or something else. I had a chimpanzee… and I still have him… and I did bring him along today. My mother, like many in her generation, saved everything, and my old friend “Muggs” is still around—and here he is… meet Muggs.
Now, there is a story behind this particular stuffed animal, just like there is a story behind the teddy bear. And I never knew this story until just this week when I did a google photo search of old Muggs. I always just took for granted I gave Muggs his name, but actually in the 1950’s there was a whole line of stuffed animals based on a real chimpanzee who was a television celebrity. His full name was J. Fred Muggs, he was born in 1952, and in the middle 1950’s he was the co-host of the Today Show.
That’s a long and crazy story, but this is not the time for it. Anyway, Muggs turned the struggling Today Show around, improved ratings, became a huge celebrity, inspired a line of merchandise (like this), and even went on a world-wide tour to promote NBC (in some countries, Muggs was second only to Marilyn Monroe in name recognition and popularity)…
Proverbs 3:5, which was in this morning’s reading, says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” TRUST, it says, TRUST in the LORD. Well, I used to trust in Muggs. I have had Muggs for as long as I can remember. In fact, one of my earliest memories is of dragging Muggs along wherever I went—around the house, outside playing, in the car, and to bed. In the crazy way little kids get attached to certain things, I was attached to Muggs.
This was a long time ago for me, and I don’t remember much about it; but apparently, I felt better when Muggs was with me. I would guess that at least some of the children who brought their stuffed animals this morning might have a similar attachment. Muggs was my security; something for me to hold on to. That is what is behind the phrase ‘security blanket’—a child feels more secure with the item in hand, be it a blanket, or a Teddy Bear, or favorite doll, or Muggs. And that’s irrational, isn’t it? How can anyone trust in, or rely on, something like that? Really, what did Muggs ever do for me? Nothing. He can’t even stand up on his own.
We all quickly grow out of depending on such silly little things as that for our security, but we all then, do go on to put our trust in other things, some almost as silly. These other things can perhaps do a bit more for us than a teddy bear or a stuffed chimpanzee. But they are still not worthy of our complete trust, and will still not give us the ultimate security that we really want and so desperately need.
Teenagers, for example, well trained by the advertising industry, learn to put their trust in outward appearances. Therefore, some will spend all kinds of time and money on clothes, makeup, tattoos, or their hair, so they can look just right, in order to fit in with whatever group they want to fit into. Others will focus on their athletic ability, and they trust in sports to make themselves feel important and special and make life happen for them. And of course, everyone wants money. But it is usually later in life, in adulthood when you are paying your own bills, that money becomes that which is most craved and trusted in for security. That can happen when one gets a little older and has more money; along with having a decline in one’s athletic or appearance attributes. Appearances, athletics, money, along with other things like jobs, popularity, position and authority, travel, entertainment, health, houses, and hobbies are all fine in themselves. But any of those things can become an all-consuming passion that we begin to focus on, trust in, and rely on more than anything else in life for our meaning and self-worth and direction and security—and that can become a problem. What do you trust in, rely on, depend on, and focus on most of all, in your life?
The Bible says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ The verse doesn’t say anything about all that other stuff.
So, what does that mean, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart?’ How can we do that? As you well know, we DO need to work, to make money, to pay our bills. You can’t trust God to put the checks in the mail. And, the very nature of some jobs is to, by necessity, have a certain amount of power over people, perhaps even over a whole company. And sports and hobbies can be a lot of fun, and there is nothing wrong with that. And personal appearance and grooming, though way over emphasized these days, should not be neglected either. And we certainly need houses, and we should do our best to stay healthy. All of those things are good and necessary aspects of life.
But trusting in and relying on God means to see and approach all those other things in light of our relationship with God.
In the very first of the Ten Commandments, God says, “You shall have no other Gods before me.” And that means, says the catechism, that we are to “fear, love, and trust in God above all things.”
So, for example, we must not neglect God in our pursuit of those other things. And we must not disobey God by lying or cheating other people in our pursuit of money or position or happiness or any of those other things. And we must be grateful to God, and not live our lives in resentment because someone else has something more or something better. Rather we should see all of life as a gift and everything that we are or have as coming to us by God’s grace.
And so, trusting in God means, as the verse says, to not rely on our own insight or resources or strength, but to trust in God’s direction and guiding in telling us what is most important in life, and then, how to best handle all the rest.
God’s Word also reminds us that we live not only for a few years on this earth, but we will live for an eternity. With or without God, we will live for all eternity—and you are going to want that to be with God. This life, then, becomes NOT the time where we need to desperately do it all and have it all, but a time to prepare and to be ready for what will inevitably come next. Believing in that will change our approach to and understanding of everything else. Although we have been blessed with great freedom, we are not totally free. We have a duty and an obligation to obey God, and to know and understand what God expects of us in our brief time on earth.
Only God is worthy of our complete and total trust. Only God can provide us with a security that lasts for all eternity, and which can give comfort even in death. All other things that we trust is, be it good looks, talents, athletic ability, or money—all of that will give us a security that will last only slightly longer than the security I found for a while in Muggs. Nothing, other than God, can give lasting security, or, is worthy of our complete trust. Everything else will get you only so far.
Holding on to Muggs got me through a year or two of childhood. Sports and good looks might get you a few good years in high school, maybe college, and for a very few, maybe even a bit more. After that, you better have something else to depend on. And even money, which we all need, will get you only so far—all through your life, maybe, if the money lasts, but then, not one bit farther. All of these other things will, in the end, let you down.
Speaking of security, I am now retired, and that means no more paycheck, so guess what I pay attention to these days? —Social Security, and the stock market, which has an impact on my pension fund. And just like holding on to Muggs used to make me feel a little more secure, it makes me feel good and somewhat secure that I can put a certain amount of trust in those resources. Now Social Security and IRAs and pensions will be able to help with the bills a lot more than Muggs ever did; but they are just like Muggs in that they are short term securities, and can be trusted in only for the time being—only as long as this life lasts.
Thirty years ago there was a woman in my congregation who had a brother that was a Lutheran minister. He was a few years older than me. Norman and his wife would show up at our church every once in a while, when he was visiting his sister, and we would always have a good chat. Then I moved; but, a few years later Norman got a call to a church in the same area where I was then serving. We renewed our friendship as we would meet each other at conference meetings. Then I moved again and we lost touch, as often happens with friends in the ministry. I did not hear from Norman and he did not hear from me for about 20 years. Then one day I saw his name in the newspaper. He and his wife were killed in a car accident not far from the congregation I was then serving. Norman had just retired. The financial security he had built up over a lifetime of work was there for him for only three months.
But that is not all Norman and his wife were trusting in. They also believed in and trusted in and found their best security in Jesus, who had promised them He was going on ahead to prepare a place for them; a place that would be secure and safe, even after fatal car accidents. And so, they are still okay.
That is what you call “building your house on a rock,” as Jesus once described it in the parable in our Gospel for today. Jesus told about two men– one who built his house on sand and one who built his house on a rock. And then the rains came, and the streams rose, and the wind blew; and one house stood firm and the other house came crashing down.
We can put our trust in many different things in life, but eventually the storms will come. I don’t remember for sure, but I suppose one of the first storms came for me when some of the older kids in the neighborhood started asking me, “How come you are always dragging around that ugly monkey, you big baby?” So, I decided if I wanted to have any friends, I would have to venture out on my own without Muggs. Then, I always liked sports, but I wasn’t much of an athlete, so I knew that wouldn’t get me very far. But I could get good grades, and so I trusted in my intelligence to get some scholarship money for college. How else was I going to afford to further my education with college costing $1,850 dollars a year, plus books? I did get the scholarships, and I did all right in college and seminary. But then, working as a pastor taught me I had a lot more to learn yet, and much of what I needed to know wasn’t in the books. That is another kind of situation that taught me to trust in someone bigger than myself. Raising kids, serious illnesses, death of loved ones, difficult and painful relationships, etc., — those are the kinds of things that keep us looking upward for that more solid foundation for our lives.
Such storms challenge us all to look at what we are trusting in and where it is that we seek our security. I heard of a man who was in his 50’s and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Chemotherapy was going to get him a little more time, but would not cure the disease. He would perhaps get another year or two. A friend asked him how he was doing with all that. The dying man said, “Cancer changes your perspective on a lot of things. I have not been paying as much attention to the stock market these days, and I have been paying a lot more attention to Jesus.”
The Teddy Bear Talk later will be about ‘hiding God’s Word in your heart.” That is one way of paying attention to Jesus. Know what he has said, keep in mind what he has promised you, remember his life, death, and resurrection for you, and find your most solid and eternal security there. Listen again to these words from the third chapter of Proverbs that were read earlier: “My child, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will bring you peace. Let love and faithfulness never leave you… write them on the tablet of your heart… Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” These are not intended to be only words on a page, but to be hidden and kept in our hearts and in our minds.
And this business of trusting in the Lord ‘with all your heart and in all your ways,’ that the Proverbs speak of, is certainly not something that applies only at the end of your life. It is a great blessing to be able to trust in God every day, looking to Him for help and guidance in every aspect of our lives. This is illustrated nicely in a story about Martin Luther, who, for much of his life, seemed to be carrying the whole world on his shoulders. His days were full, his responsibilities were great, his heartache was unending, and many people depended on him for a wide variety of needs. In the midst of all this turmoil, Martin Luther got in the habit of going to the window each night before bed, looking up, and praying: “God, is this my world or Yours? Is this my church or Yours? These people I worry about are in Your world and in Your church– please take care of them. I am tired. I am going to bed. Good night, God.”
Romans 14:8 says, “Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” That’s far better than anything we can manage on our own. As is says in Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure.” Amen.
Let us pray: Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who depend on You and your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. —Book of Common Prayer
SONG #2: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a sword and shield victorious;
he breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod
and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe
has sworn to work us woe!
With craft and dreadful might
he arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
- No strength of ours can match his might!
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
whom God himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is he!
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious. - Though hordes of devils fill the land
all threat’ning to devour us,
we tremble not, unmoved we stand;
they cannot over-pow’r us.
Let this world’s tyrant rage;
in battle we’ll engage!
His might is doomed to fail;
God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him. - God’s Word forever shall abide,
no thanks to foes, who fear it;
for God himself fight by our side
with weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
goods, honor, child, or spouse,
though life be wrenched away,
they cannot win the day.
The kingdom’s ours forever!
OFFERING:
At this time, if you have not already done so, make a decision about what you will give to the Lord’s work this week.
Reading from God’s Word, as written in Deuteronomy 16:17;
Each of you shall give as you are able, bringing a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” Therefore, with gladness, we present the offerings of our life and labor to the Lord.
As you think about that, consider these two brief quotes. The first by Christian pastor and author A. W. Tozer, who said:
Some of us put our offering in the plate with a kind of triumphant pride, as if to say: “There– now God will feel better!”… But I must tell you that God does not need anything you have. He does not need a dime of your money. It is your own spiritual welfare at stake in such matters as these… You have a right to keep what you have all to yourself– but it will rust and decay; you will have to let go of it someday anyway, and it could ultimately ruin you.
The second quote is by Richard Foster, from his book The Challenge of a Disciplined Life, where he writes: “When we let go of our money we are letting go of part of ourselves, and, part of our security. But this is precisely why it is important to do it. It is one way to obey Jesus’ command to deny ourselves.”
Let us pray: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of Him who offered Himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CREED:
God promises in Romans chapter 10, “that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Therefore, let us confess our faith in the words of the Apostle’s Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH:
O Lord, we pray this morning for Your church around the world. For all church leaders and ministers of the Word, as they work to serve you, and for all Your children as we worship You and serve You. Comfort our souls, ease the burdens of our bodies, forgive us our sins, and convert our hearts to love of Christ and true worship of the Father. Provide for us in our physical needs – in food, shelter, employment, health, security and rest. Increase our faith and may we grow in grace. Lead us to depend not so much on the so-called realities of our daily life and surroundings, but on the external and eternal promises, as You have revealed them in Your Word and Gospel.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage, and we give you thanks for the freedoms we enjoy here. May it ever be understood that our liberty is under God, and may our freedom be seen, not as the right to do as we want, but as the opportunity to want to do what is right. Help us always remember your generosity and constantly do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honorable way of life.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Lord Jesus, make us who came from many nations with many different languages a united people; a people of wisdom, understanding, and good will. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil course of action. Defend our liberties and give those whom we have entrusted with the authority of government the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land. When times are prosperous, let our hearts be thankful; and, in troubled times, do not let our trust in you fail. And Lord, we pray that you grant that the liberty given unto us may be continued to our children and our children’s children, and that the Gospel may here abound, to the blessing of all nations of the earth, and to your eternal glory.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Grant a spirit of humility and wisdom to the leaders of nations; to owners and managers of businesses; to the shapers of our culture; to the legislators and judges; and to the researchers, teachers, and scientists who influence our world. Remind them all that everything they have is from you, given in trust for the benefit of all people. And give to each of us the desire and ability to live peaceably and kindly with each other, despite our differences.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
Almighty God, be the shield and defender of all who risk their lives in service of country and in defense of innocent lives. Fill them with honor, courage, and wisdom; bring them home safely when their task is done; and heal and strengthen all who have been wounded, in body, mind, or soul. Comfort and strengthen their loved ones; and bring us all into that glorious day when war will be no more.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
We plead on behalf of all who are in special need of your merciful care, healing, and guidance. Comfort with the grace of your Holy Spirit all who are in sorrow, sickness, or adversity. We pray especially for those we now name in our hearts before you…
Have mercy on the dying, comfort the grieving. and to all, grant a measure of your love, shielding them with your tender care.
Lord, in your mercy… HEAR OUR PRAYER.
O Lord, support us all the daylong of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world lies hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.
And God’s people said… AMEN.
LORD’S PRAYER:
Hear us now, O Lord, as we pray together that prayer you taught us to pray…
Our Father, who 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
BENEDICTION / CLOSING BELL:
Now, may the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, keep you in His light and truth and love, now and forever. Amen.
PART TWO:
Virtual Choir Sings: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
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