Sermons 08102003 - St. Matthews Anglican Church 

Sermons Notes August 10, 2003

Holy Scripture Condemns Homosexuality

Who Brews the Morning Coffee ?

A husband and wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning.

The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee".

The husband said, " You are in charge of the cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."

Wife replies, "No you should do it, and besides it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, " I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and shows him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says .......

"HE-BREWS"

Well at least she read the scriptures, and understood there is power in knowing them. That’s more than I can say for the Episcopal Church and the decisions it made this week.

Episcopalians approve gay bishop

Opposition vows to seek intervention from Anglican leaders

CNN.COM Wednesday, August 6, 2003 Posted: 4:30 AM EDT (0830 GMT)

MINNEAPOLIS , Minnesota (CNN) -- The House of Bishops voted Tuesday evening to confirm the Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire , making him the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church's history.

Robinson needed a simple majority of the 107 votes to be confirmed. He received 62.

"It's not so much a dream as a calling from God," Robinson said after the vote. "I'm really thrilled to be on my way to being the bishop of New Hampshire .

Episcopal Vote Allows Blessings of Gay Unions

Bishops Group Approves Local Option in Compromise

By Alan Cooperman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, August 7, 2003 ; Page A01

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 6 -- A day after approving the election of an openly gay bishop, Episcopal Church leaders today passed a watered-down resolution giving dioceses the option of blessing same-sex unions.

Episcopal Church Ratifies Compromise on Gay Unions

By Alan Cooperman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, August 8, 2003 ; Page A02

MINNEAPOLIS , Aug. 7 -- Winding up a tumultuous and deeply divided convention, the Episcopal Church today officially recognized the blessing of same-sex unions but stopped short of establishing a liturgy for those ceremonies.

Episcopal Church Confirms Gay Bishop

Last-Minute Charges Rejected Before 62-43 Vote

By Alan Cooperman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, August 6, 2003 ; Page A01

In a news conference after the vote, Robinson said his opponents were right that the decision was contrary to the church's traditional teaching against homosexuality

"Just simply to say that it goes against tradition and the teaching of the church and Scripture does not necessarily make it wrong," he said. "We worship a living God, and that living God leads us into truth."

Christ and the apostles quoted the scriptures and considered them the only true authority on how we can please God and how we should live our lives.

Mt:4:4: But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Mt:4:7: Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Mt: 22:29 : Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Mk: 12:24 : And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

Lk:24:27: And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Acts:17:2: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Acts: 17:11 : These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Rom:15:4: For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1Cor: 10:11 : Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Rv: 22:19 : And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The vote is in, the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A. has departed from the faith and is subscribing itself to heresy. Christianity is defined by the Scriptures and the tradition and the teaching of the church. What ever it is they believe in, it is not Christian and the god they serve is not our God. The scriptures not only teach that homosexuality is wrong but that it is an exceedingly wicked sin in that it goes against the natural order God has established for His creation.

The scriptures support the marriage of a man and woman and condemn homosexuality

The Old Testament supports the marriage of a man to a woman and condemns homosexuality.

Gen. 2:18: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him

19: And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would callthem: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

20: And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

21: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22: And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23: And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Gen. 18:20: And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21: I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know…

Gen. 19:1: And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom : and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

2: And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night. 3: And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

4: But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom , compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5: And they called unto Lot , and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

6: And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7: And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

8: Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

9: And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot , and came near to break the door.

10: But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

11: And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door

12: And the men said unto Lot , Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

13: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it…

24: Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Lev. 20:13: If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Judges 19:22: Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

23: And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.

24: Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

25: But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

The New Testament supports the marriage of a man to a woman and condemns homosexuality.

Christ upheld the law and prophets

Mt: 5:17 : Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Mt: 5:18 : For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Christ upheld the marriage of man and woman only

Mt:19:5: And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

Mt:19:6: Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

The New Testament condemns homosexuality and the effeminate.

Rom. 1:18 : For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28: And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate kind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

1 Cor. 6:9: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God ? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10: Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God .

1 Tim. 1:9: Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10: For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Religious leaders should be the husband of one wife not one man.

1 Tim.3:2: A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Tim.3:12: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

God is true and the wisdom of this world is foolish

Mal:3:6: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Num: 23:19 : God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Rom. 1:22 : Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Rom:3:4: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Keep God’s Commandments

Mt: 5:19 : Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt:15:9: But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Mt: 19:17 : And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Jn: 14:15 : If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Jn: 14:21 : He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Jn: 15:10 : If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

1Thes:4:2: For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

Ti: 1:14 : Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

1Jn:2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1Jn:2:4: He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him

Rv: 14:12 : Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Rv: 22:14 : Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Summary – ECUSA has forsaken the faith and now endorses heresy officially.

Episcopalians approve gay bishop CNN.COM Wednesday, August 6, 2003 Posted: 4:30 AM EDT (0830 GMT)

In comments after the vote, Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , spoke for those opposed to Robinson's approval, saying they were "filled with sorrow" and feel a "grief too deep for words."

"This body has denied the plain teaching of Scripture and the moral consensus of the church throughout the ages," Duncan said. "This body has divided itself from millions of Anglican Christians throughout the world."

Cooperman

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, August 7, 2003 ; Page A01

Opponents said the bishops exercised some restraint but are nonetheless violating the traditional Christian teaching on marriage.

"They passed a local option, and a local option translates into anything goes," said the Rev. David C. Anderson, president of the American Anglican Council, a group devoted to biblical orthodoxy. "Of course yesterday they voted to break 2,000 years of biblical faith and mores, and we're just beginning to grapple with the fallout from that.”

By Caryle Murphy

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, August 7, 2003 ; Page B03

"I just find it very disappointing," said Barbara Sturman, who attends Christ Episcopal Church in Accokeek. "But I can't say I was surprised. It's the way the whole Episcopal Church has been moving in the last decade. It's just moved away from the teachings of scripture and all traditions it's had for the last 2,000 years. And it's non-Christian behavior."

Deputies approve compromise resolution on same-sex unions

Sharon Sheridan and James Thrall

Episcopal News Service

While liturgies blessing same-sex unions are celebrated in some parts of the Episcopal Church, the church is not ready to authorize creating common liturgies for such services, General Convention has decided.

In a vote by orders, with 58 lay deputations and 62 clergy deputations of 108 voting “yes,” the deputies concurred with bishops in adopting an amended resolution recognizing “that local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.”

The resolution also commits the church to “continued prayer, study and discernment on the pastoral care for gay and lesbian persons.” As part of the process, a commission appointed by the presiding bishop will compile and develop resources “to facilitate as wide a conversation of discernment as possible.”…

The Rev. Kendall Harmon of South Carolina, a member of the committee, said that while he agreed that the church spoke with clarity, he disagreed with what it said. “The cavalier treatment of the Scriptures at this convention was astonishing,” he said. “A great deal of momentum has been added to local option” for creating rites for blessing same-sex unions, he said.

During the deputies’ debate, he presented a minority report, calling the resolution “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.” Particularly dangerous, he said, is the clause about “recognizing” that local faith communities “explore and experience” such liturgies.

“If we are experiencing such liturgies, and they are within the bounds of our common life, then the Episcopal Church has already sanctioned and blessed homosexual behavior,” he said. While some people will stress that the church is “recognizing” rather than “authorizing” these blessing, he said, “let’s be honest, this is authorization.” …

The Rev. Daniel Martins of San Joaquin also called the resolution a “Trojan horse.” On the face of it, he said, “it seems like an irenic, peaceful compromise” which gives supporters of same-sex unions “much less than they originally aimed for.” But, he warned, the resolution will be taken as yet another precedent for arguing that “no core doctrine” forbids such unions.

Homosexuals and their supporters will not inherit the kingdom of God

Rom:6:16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Rom: 6:23 : For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Tm: 5:20 : Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Heb: 3:13 : But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Jms: 1:15 : Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

1Jn:3:4: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Rv: 20:12 : And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rv: 20:15 : And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rv: 21:27 : And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.