High Noon In Mayberry

What are some things that you generally worry about or fear?

How do you usually deal with feelings of worry or fear?

When someone does something to you, do you usually forgive them, or seek revenge?

Well, as we take a look at tonight’s episode of Andy Griffith, we see Andy have a run in with one of the criminals that he stopped years ago.  If is a time of fear, worry, forgiveness, and much more.  Tonight’s episode is titled, High Noon In Mayberry.

I’ll have a word of prayer, and then we will watch tonight’s episode.  Let’s Pray!

(PLAY HIGH NOON IN MAYBERRY DVD)

So, after watching that episode, what can we learn about Andy’s encounter?

Well, in case you have forgotten any of that, here is a quick recap of what we just watched in tonight’s episode.  Luke Comstock, an ex-con, returns to Mayberry to see Andy about shooting him in the leg during a robbery years ago, which crippled him and sent him to prison.  Barney is convinced that Comstock is seeking revenge, so he overreacts just a little.

Barney’s paranoia then spreads to Gomer, Otis, Aunt Bee, and Opie.  Along with faith and courage, tonight’s episode also shows us a lesson in repentance and forgiveness.  So, what can we learn from all of that?  Well let’s see:

First, we learn about worry or faith:

As we talk about worrying and having faith, we nee to remember the words to Psalm 23:1-6.  In that passage, it says, “1”

Also, in Matthew 6:27 it says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life or a single cubit to his height?”  Later, in Matthew 17:20 it says, “He replied, “Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there” and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”

So, what are some things that we fear?  The list is endless, but to narrow it down a bit, all of these fears are supported in scripture.  We fear problems, failure, change, uncertainty, the future, the past, pain, death, grief, crime, separation, lost chances, and the list goes on and on.

So, with all of those fears in our lives, how do we turn those over and not worry about them any longer?

What can we do to trade our worry for protection?

In our episode, people were worried about what was going to happen, and they allowed their worries to cause them to do things that they normally wouldn’t do.

Well, in Psalm 27:1 it says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”

God is going to protect us, if we will put our trust in Him.  If we will hand over our worries to Him, He will watch out for us.  Things may not always go the way we plan or the way that we want, but we do read that, “God causes all things to work for the good of those who obey Him.”

Now, as we talk about handing our worries over to God, when should you turn over your worries to God?

Well, it is always bets to turn our worries over to God first.  A lot of times in life, we try to handle things on our own.  If that fails, then we reluctantly try and get help from other people.  After that, we even go as far as to hope that it just goes away.  Then, as a final resort, after things are way beyond our control, we go to God and ask for help.

Do you ever wander how much easier things would be in life if we would just take our worries and our fears to God before we do all the rest of the things we do?  Anyway, we learn about worry, and how we need to have faith in God, hand things over to Him, if we want to get away from our worries, and truly have a lived out faith in God.

Next, we learn about fear or courage:

In Joshua 1:7-9 it tells us to, “Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the laws my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.  Then you will be prosperous and successful.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So that passage tells us to not fear, but to have courage.  Now, let me ask you a couple of questions as we talk about fear and courage.

First, can fear ever be a good thing?

Well, in John 10:10 it tells us that, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

And then in Luke 12:4-5 it says, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

Secondly, when is fear a bad thing?

We read in II Chronicles 32:7-8 it says, ““Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him.  With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”  And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.”

Later, in Genesis 3:8-10 it tells us that, “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.””

Does being afraid mean that you are a coward?

So after watching this episode, we have learned about fear verses courage.

And finally, we learn about revenge or forgiveness:

In I Corinthians 16:13-14 it says, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  Do everything in love.”

Which should you choose, revenge or forgiveness?

Well, I don’t know how often a person can seek revenge and still do everything in love.

In your personal life, do you get mad, or do you get even?

Do you forgive, but never rally forget?

Romans 12:17-20 “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.  On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.””

Now, as we look at Jesus’ example, we learn that we need to turn the other cheek:

In Matthew 5:38-41 it says, “You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.”  But I tell you, “Do not resist an evil person.  If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.  If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

So, when it comes to choosing revenge or choosing to forgive, just keep in mind that Jesus said that we need to turn the other cheek.  And remember the words to I John 4:8 when it said, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Well, at this time, we are going to go into a time of discussion to see what we can learn as we try and take a deeper look into tonight’s story.

Andy was concerned when he read Luke Comstock’s letter, but Barney immediately chose to believe that Luke had revenge on his mind.  Why would Barney jump to that conclusion?

Last week, we saw Andy give Barney some advice, so why did Andy refuse Barney’s advice this week?

Why did Andy start to load his revolver, and then put it away instead?

For whom was Otis actually afraid?

Were his fears justified?

Was Barney just as scared as Otis?

Was Andy just as scared as Barney?

Why did Barney, Otis, and Andy react in the ways they did?

Aunt Bee surely understood that there were dangers involved with Andy’s occupation, even if it is in Mayberry.  But why did she begin to worry this time?

Why did Opie become concerned?

How did Andy answer Opie’s questions about fear?

Was it good for Opie to know his father was ever frightened?

How can you be fearful and courageous at the same time?

Luke Comstock had made a mistake, and he had to pay a price for it.  Do you think, at that time in his life, that he was fearful or courageous?

What about coming back to Mayberry?

Why do you suppose that Luke didn’t just call Andy and thank him or mail the shotgun to Andy?

Does anyone have anything that they would like to add before we close this evening?

Well, if there is nothing else, here is your final thought for this evening.  Opie said, “Are you scared, Pa?”  Then Andy responded by saying, “Well, I am a little nervous.”  Opie goes on to say, “Is this your first time?”  To which Andy says, “No, I’ve been scared a whole lot of times.”  Then Opie ends by saying, “Really, Pa?  Gosh, you sure couldn’t tell it.”

Luke Comstock, said, “I had a chance to review my whole life, when I was a boy to where I was lying with my leg game for life.  All I could think was “what a waste.”  So I made up my mind then and there.  I was going to make something out of myself, Sheriff.  I began reading and studying while I was in the hospital.  If you hadn’t laid me up, who knows where I’d be today?”

Let’s Pray!