Sunday Sermon
Rev. Melody Kimbrel, pastor of First United Methodist Church
Friday, August 22, 2008
By the Rev. Melody Kimbrela
First United Methodist Church of Cottonwood Falls The ways we are witnesses for Christ Jesus are many and varied. Some persons are good at introducing others to Christ. All of us should be adept at this skill. But frequently the way we live our lives with integrity is what really makes an impression on others.
A pastor was in a hurry after work. He had to get some items at the mall, pick his daughter up at school, take her home, go to a deacons’ meeting, and then spend the evening in counseling sessions. Once in the mall, he saw an advertisement in a music store that said, “Two CDs for $9.99.” He loved music so much he decided he just had to take advantage of it. He went in and picked up two CD’s and went to the register to pay for them. He threw down his money while talking to everyone around him — as pastors do. Then he picked up his bag and change and went out of the mall.
When he tossed the bag in the front seat of his car, he noticed for the first time that the clerk had charged him $1.99 instead of $9.99 for the CD’s. His first thought was that he didn’t have time to go back. But a small voice kept saying, “You don’t have time not to.”
So he returned, stood in line again and waited for his turn to talk to the clerk. He said, “Look, I’m in a hurry. You made a mistake. The sign says $9.99 and you charged me $1.99. Please correct this so I can get on with what I have to do.”
“Sir,” she said, “I didn’t make a mistake. For 17 years I’ve been out of church. Recently, my life has been falling apart and I needed to get back into church. I looked around at what was closest to me, found a church and went there Sunday. I slipped in and sat on the back row. The pastor that day was speaking on integrity. Sir, it was your church. And when I saw you in my line, I wondered if this was something you preached on Sunday or lived on Monday. And I determined to find out.” Then she said, “Sir, I don’t even know the right questions to ask, but I know that whatever you’ve got I need.” (From Sermon Central)
Do you think she would ever have darkened the doors of a church again if this pastor had not returned? Your witness, even in the everyday events of your life, makes a critical difference in others lives.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends received a note attached to the bottom of the statement from her attorney. My friend was one of those women who did not receive in her divorce even what the family law guidelines recommended. She left her marriage with very little while her husband walked away with over $500,000 in assets. The attorney had very much wanted her to appeal the judge’s ruling, but my friend had felt all along that her former husband would get what he deserved. She refused to appeal. The attorney, a year later, wrote, “Thank you for teaching me about forgiveness and relinquishment.”
We just never know what kind of witness we are making for others by the way we live our lives. But if we say we are Christians on Sunday and live like pagans the rest of the week, we know. We make a witness that is the reason many will not enter a church.
• “Sunday Sermon” is a forum for Emporia area ministers to share their sermons, thoughts and observations. This week’s sermon is from the Rev. Melody Kimbrel, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cottonwood Falls.