God's Message From A Ball Of String

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Psalm 8 :3-9 (New Living Translation)

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers--the moon and the stars you have set in place-- 4 what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us?

5 For you made us only a little lower than God, and you crowned us with glory and honor. 6 You put us in charge of everything you made, giving us authority over all things-- 7 the sheep and the cattle and all the wild animals, 8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O LORD, our Lord, the majesty of your name fills the earth!

NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE Matt 10:29-32 (RSV)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

GOD’S MESSAGE FROM A BALL OF STRING

A "Visual" Sermon to Place our Life in Proper Perspective

Hope Christian Church

November 2, 2003

Dr. David L. Haun

INTRODUCTION We use string for most everything. Our clothes are held together with string. We play with string, wrap with string, tie our shoes with string, walk on string, weave string into cloth, twist string into rope. String is one of those things we seldom think about but would have difficulty doing without. Well today I want to look at a string to consider a message God has for us, as we consider God’s eternity and God’s eternal plan.

(At this point, fasten one end of a ball of string to one wall to the right side of the chancel. Then untoll the ball moving across the sanctuary and fasten it on the opposite wall. Note: This sermon uses a ball of string that is stretched across the front of the sanctuary. The string represents eternity. Stress that it keeps going through the walls in each direction for miles and miles. Perhaps mention towns . Imagine the finally shooting out from earth through space for ever and ever. However, today we will allow this string to symbolize eternity. Then, paper cllips are placed on the string during the sermon at the points where they might fit in eternity. A paper clip for Moses. Then, an inch further, a paper clip for Joshua. A couple of inches, a paper clip for Jesus. Then down another couple of inches, a paper clip with a 2" square piece of paper. This paper is our country. Take a black ink pen and put a dot on the paper. This is our church. Wow. Not very big. You might look intently at the dot, saying "I think I can see you and me."

What does this string say to us today as we live our daily lives? There are some things we sometimes say. Let’s look at them.

I. I’m too little to matter.

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers -- the moon and the stars you have set in place--what are mortals that you should think of us, mere humans that you should care for us? Psalm 8 :3-9 (NLT

(I mentioned the insert in the bulletin - printed at the end of the sermon - how humanity has searched for a concept of God that they can worship in understanding. I told them that the insert might be taken home for later study.)

But God does see us. Think of that. In all of the countless years of history, God sees this little dot. (point to the dot on the piece of paper.) In fact, we are promised that God sees every bit of us..

I ndeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows Luke 12:7 (NIV)

II. My sin is too big to forgive.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Rom 7:24 (Niv)

Look at yourself in light of all eternity. God sees you (point to the dot on the paper - compare it to the entire length of string). How eternally seriious is your sin? Can you see that what to you and me is so big, God sees in its true perspective... There’s no sin is too big for God to forgive.

As Paul went on to say in this same verse, there is one who will rescue me. Thank God, it’s Jesus!

III. My hurt is too big to forget.

As David and his party passed Bahurim, a man came out of the village cursing them. ... He threw stones at the king.... David and his men continued on, and Shimei kept pace with them on a nearby hillside, cursing as he went and throwing stones at David and tossing dust into the air. 2 Sam 16:5-6,13 (NLT)