There are two entirely different sermons that have been written for each congregation for Sunday August 11th. Both sermons are specific to specific moments in the history of each congregation. One was written as a dialogue and this one is not.
Luke 12: 32-40:
100
years ago Pastor Reese Poffenbarger and the congregation embarked on a calling
that was bold. They began a building project. This building was primarily wood
when it was first built. Pastor and people prayed and decided to make this
structure predominantly brick. It was a bold move because they moved into
uncharted waters. They had to make sure that they could get the funding and the
resources to make sure this happened. We all know how it ended because we are
sitting in this beautiful building that they have made for themselves and for
us.
All this week, this one phrase from
the Gospel kept coming into my mind. “Do not fear little flock.” Jesus words to
his disciples. I don’t know about you but when those are words that start off a
sentence, I start to get nervous and anxious. I start to wonder what is going
to be next. I start running scenarios in my head; good ones and bad ones. Then
I start wondering what alternative plans are there to fix whatever is going to
happen.
In our Gospel of Luke, we hear the
words “do not fear…” Jesus words mean that something big is about to happen.
How do we know this? We know it because we have experienced those words several
months ago when we heard the angel Gabriel say those words to Mary. “Do not
fear, for I am an angel of the lord…” Those words were uttered again when an
angel appeared to shepherds in their fields. They heard the words and I bet at
some point there was some initial fear. It makes sense, because it is a human
reaction. I cannot say that if an angel appeared, I wouldn’t or none of us
wouldn’t be afraid.
Jesus tells us that something BIG is
about to happen. Yet he does not come right out and say it. He says “for it is
your Father’s Good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” What does that mean? How
are we going get something like that? It sounds Good, sounds like we just hit
the jackpot! Woohoo! We are getting THE kingdom! That is something to celebrate
isn’t it? Alright, so next, Jesus tells us to sell our possessions and give
alms…wait…what did he just say (checking back in the Gospel)? Sell all your
possessions and give alms.
What is Jesus telling us about this
kingdom? I know it sounds like a repeat of last week. Are we not allowed to
have nice things? What is this all about? This does reinforce what we heard
last week in that we are not to let our possessions rule our lives. What
matters is that God wants us to remember who enabled us to have jobs,
paychecks, friends, and family. God wants us to remember that all good gifts
come from God. God wants us to know the importance that all this comes from God
and that God wants only the best for us.
This message…do not fear little
flock…is telling us something BIG! Jesus tells us that God wants to give us the
kingdom because it brings the Father pleasure. He is telling us that God wants
Good things for us; to work together and take care of what God created, to be
in relationship with one another, to support one another, and help each other
in times when there is suffering and pain. God wants us to know that we are
valued…that each one of us is important. It is not just our bodies but it is
who are, one of God’s creation and children of God that makes us important.
You see, when Jesus tells us do not
fear, the BIG thing about to happen is more than just the statement that
follows…”it is your Father’s pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” The BIG thing
is that Jesus is the one that is going to make that happen. Jesus is going to
go to the cross; Jesus, God’s Son, is going to be handed over and suffer death
for us. Jesus’ death on the cross is for our sin and for our mistakes; for
those times when we are not acting in a way that lifts up the glory and
compassion that Jesus has taught us. The Big thing that happens is Jesus body
and blood poured out for you and me…offered for you and me. So that we can seek
forgiveness and offer forgiveness whenever possible. so we can live in the
light of God’s gracious and merciful love, despite our brokenness and despite
those times when evil creeps into our lives. With all this, we still DO fear
when Jesus tells us not to fear because it is hard to put our trust and faith
in something we cannot plainly see.
But I assure you, this love and
sacrifice of God’s only Son is something we have witnessed. Through our faith
in God, we witness the pouring out of God’s body and blood when we share Holy
Communion. We witness Jesus on the cross with all the saints that have gone
before us; through the Word and through our participation in the life of Christ
and this church. We witness the gifts of forgiveness, hospitality, and God’s
grace whenever we welcome the stranger.
I am confident that the families and
the pastor did have some fear 100 years ago when they began construction on
this building. However, they did not let fears overcome their calling to build
this house of worship; to give back to God the fruits and blessings of what
they received from God. I am also confident that they heard these same words of
not fearing. God was in their hearts to want to worship in this sanctuary. They
put their fears aside and let God guide them on
this adventure that continues today as we worship in this place.
Now it is our turn. It is our turn
to hear the words “do not fear.” We are in a time when there are more people
who have not heard the word of God or even care. On Saturday, August 3rd,
we had a representative from the synod meet with the joint council. One of the
things that we discovered was that there are roughly, 80% of the population in
this nation that are unchurched; never been to church. We are in a time where
so much of our time is being demanded of us that we cannot make it ALL work. We
are stretched to the point of saying “something has got to give.” We see it in
the declining numbers of people who attend church on Sunday mornings. We see it
in the busy schedules of trying to do
more with less. We see it in the turmoil and wars, and all the suffering that
is going on in the world.
Now it is our time to pray for God’s
guidance. What does God call us to do in this world? What do you want us to do
God? It is our time to be God’s hands and feet in this community like the
saints who have gone before us. How do we tell the Good News of Jesus Christ in
our community and in the world? God does
call us to be the voice proclaiming the Good News of Jesus through our faith
experiences of God in our own lives. Through our relationships with one another
and our experiences in our church and in the community.
In those words “do not fear” there
is hope. There is hope in the ministry of gathering on Sunday morning to give
thanks to God for the gift of Jesus Christ. There is hope in the ministries
that we are a part of through Glade Valley, the Woodsboro/New Midway School
partnership, and the Thrift Store. There is hope in building relationships with
the people of this community. Several months ago we tried an experiment to tell
our faith story with one word on a card. We told our stories and that is a sign
of hope and faith. Hope is in the words that we use to tell our story in our
own words and share who we are. Hope is in that form of taking time out for
ourselves to gather in worship, sing praises to God. I believe that Jesus tells
us not to fear because he knows that we will never be abandoned. God is with us
all the time.
So it is a great time
to be church. God is doing amazing things and we get to be a part of God’s work
in the kingdom. Let us look to the future with the confidence in the words of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, “do not fear little flock, for it is the
Father’s pleasure to give you the kingdom;” AMEN!
No comments:
Post a Comment