Sermon: "Fireworks" by  Calvin Thomsen

Pastoral Welcome: Darold Retzer

Child Dedication: Benjamin Reid Utt Rickard - Darold Retzer

Children’s Feature: Jackie Bishop

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:15, 16, TNIV - Glenn and Pat Foster

Note: Child dedications are in the extras section of the DVD

PASTOR'S PAGE What, No Fireworks? On the fourth of July we think about freedom. But we also look forward to fireworks. It’s the biggest question most people ask on Independence Day: “Where can we see the best fireworks show?” The Bible tells two stories of people expecting a good fireworks show who didn’t get it. The first was Jonah. Oh yes, he preached to the people of Nineveh calling for their repentance. But he didn’t expect his preaching to have much effect. He made himself a shelter and waited for a good fireworks show. When he didn’t get it he was not just disappointed but angry. He was like the person who paid for admission to the fireworks show, got the best seat in the stadium, and didn’t even get to see a sparkler. The disciples of Jesus had a similar experience. They went into a Samaritan village expecting the inhabitants to welcome Jesus. When that didn’t happen James and John asked Jesus if they should call fire down from heaven to destroy them. Once again, the expected fireworks show never materialized. Jonah was pretty unhappy with God. But he did understand the reason the fireworks show never happened. “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity” (Jonah 4:2 NIV). A similar thing is affirmed in 2 Peter 3:9. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” A great fireworks show can be a spectacular sight. But a religion of fireworks, calling down judgment on people around us, isn’t God’s way. This morning we will look at God’s alternative to a religion of fireworks.

Calvin Thomsen
Associate Pastor
Family Ministries

MEDITATION Under a pretense of zeal for righteousness, men who are confederated with evil angels sometimes bring suffering upon their fellow men in order to convert them to their ideas of religion; but Christ is ever showing mercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love. – Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 541

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