Ephesians 4: 1-6
Has someone ever begged you for something? Can you recall that scene in your head when that person was begging in front of you? Usually if someone is begging they are sincere, they have a purpose in mind, and they are earnest and insistent especially in what they are asking for.
Back in the spring, I was taking my oldest daughter to a softball, clinic prior to the season starting. She had never played an organized sport before. We tried upward basketball when she was in kindergarten but it didn’t go well. I digress, we pulled into the parking lot at the softball field and she said she was not going to do it. She even locked the doors of the car. I got out going around to her door in an attempt to assist her out of the car. She locked the door and held her finger on the lock so I could not open the door. I was begging her to get out. I knew she would have fun if she would just make that first step onto the field. She was unwilling to take that step. She was scared and anxious. She did not know what to expect.
In the opening of Ephesians 4: 1 Paul is begging us to live a life “worthy of the calling to which we have been called.” You may say God has not called me, but yes, he has. We have all been called by God to do something as he guides our life. It is up to us to listen to him. He has given each of us fruits and gifts for us to use. “God is like a good gardener, who selects the seeds (our life call) that will blossom in the pristine sunlight of spring (our vocation, ministry, and profession). In our calling God, wants us to live a life “worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”[1]
The story I told you earlier could be analogous to God’s calling on our lives’s. Are you willing to unlock the door and answer God’s call?
John Wesley wrote about this and he referred to this, our life call, as Holiness. Holiness is total dedication to the Lord from all that pollutes, defiles, or draws people away from God. God is love, all encompassing love. This is the character of God, and therefore as John Wesley emphasized it must be the character of Gods people. We are called to live a life of personal and social holiness.
Through love we are united as one in Christ. Unity is the hallmark of the church and all its creation. It is to be maintained by love expressing itself in
lowliness,
meekness,
patience
forbearing.
As Methodist, we read in the Apostles Creed “I believe in the holy catholic church”
(that means universal church not Roman Catholic). When we say this, we are confessing that we believe in one Church of God, not the one true Methodist Church. We want to be conformed to Christ in “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Like John Wesley, “we are eclectic, willing to learn from a wide array of fellow Christians and their traditions.” [2]
In order for us to be truly “United” we have to embrace the fullness of Christian teaching and embrace the concept of inclusivity and ecumenical acceptance. To be ecumenical does not mean we will sacrifice our doctrine or compromise our beliefs, but we focus on the similarities we have with others and love them. To be Methodist, as John Wesley stated, is to be one who has ‘the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him;’ one who ‘loves the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his mind and with all his strength.”
Through love, we can unite, as a church, as a community, as a nation and throughout the world. The scripture today is teaching us that we must put our love into practice in order to maintain Christian unity. We as a church are just like a normal family. We have those people that we love to be around and we have those people who get on our last nerve, but we are called to love, to be “worthy of the calling to which you have been called.”
Aristides, a second-century apologist for the Christian faith, wrote this to the Roman emperor Hadrian about believers in his day:“They love one another. They never fail to help widows; they save orphans from those who would hurt them. If they have something, they give freely to the man who has nothing; if they see a stranger, they take him home, and are happy, as though he were a real brother. They don’t consider themselves brothers in the usual sense, but brothers instead through the Spirit, in God.”As human beings, we all belong to the same family. Even though we are divided by all sorts of barriers and differences, “under the skin” we’re all the same.As believers in Jesus Christ, then, whatever our differences—denominations, preferences, worship styles—we are one spiritual body that acknowledges the same heavenly Father. Let’s do all we can to demonstrate our unity in Christ. Unity in our diversity is the most effective witness to this sin-fractured world. —Vernon C Grounds
I found a poem I want to share with you this morning as it relates to this subject of unity.
Join hands, then, brothers of the faith,Whatever your race may be;Who serves my Father as a sonIs surely kin to me. —OxenhamUnity among Christians comes from their union with Christ.[3]
Earlier I mentioned that we maintain unity in the church through lowliness, meekness, patience and forbearing. I want to walk through each of these concepts with you and explain a little more about what each mean and a context for your life.
Lowliness: We should not be prideful we should not to think of ourselves more highly than we are. We are sons of Adam and have suffered from the results of the fall. We have to be humble and know that our only saving grace is that of God’s grace for our lives and the sacrifice Christ made for us that our sins are washed away. The Crimson Blood of Christ has made us white as snow.
Meekness: In meekness we, with God’s help, must control our anger. As Christian’s we are called to live a peculiar life. When in the workplace or other public areas, we are held to a higher standard. Non believers love to see one of us fall! When we as Christians err in judgment it can sometimes become headline news. We must remember that we are to be “worthy of the calling to which we have been called.”
Patience: When I think of patience I think of my wedding vows, Love is patient, love is kind. I have had to learn patience with my wife over the years, but probably not as much as she has had to learn to deal with me. Just as in a family or in a marriage we are called to be patient with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Forbearing: Bearing with one another in love to me implies being empathetic with our brothers and sisters in Christ as they are carrying their cross. We have to be supportive of our fellow Christians as we support each other. I would say it is analogous to a football team. Each person has a specific role within the church, just as on a football team each player has a different role to fill. Each contributes to the overall success of the church or the team.
John Wesley was quoted as saying "Ye are the light of the world!" Ye are "a city set upon a hill," and "cannot be hid." O "let your light shine before men!" Show them your faith by your works. Let them see, by the whole tenor of your conversation, that your hope is all laid up above! Let all your words and actions evidence the spirit whereby you are animated! Above all things let your love abound. Let it extend to every child of man: Let it overflow to every child of God. By this let all men know whose disciples ye are, because you "love one another."
In his book Great Church Fights, Leslie B. Flynn tells how two porcupines in the freezing north country of Canada huddled together to keep warm. But because they were pricked by each other’s quills, they moved apart. Soon they were shivering again and had to lie side by side once more for their own survival. They needed each other, even though they needled each other!
“How like Christians! Through the centuries the church, instead of majoring in communion, has often muddled in contention. Despite the halo of spirituality imagined over the apostolic church, the dust clouds of sharp collisions were equally visible. There was Paul’s dispute with Barnabas, the clashes of the cliques at Corinth, the contention of the women at Philippi, and several other controversies.” Flynn goes on to show that even though there may be conflicts among Christians, they should not overshadow the greater spiritual warmth received from gathering with the family of God. Because of Jesus’ redemptive work, the Holy Spirit binds us together and gives us the help and strength we need.” [4]
Christ suffered and died for you so that you could be reconciled to God. In Christ, I beg you today; live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Unlock the door and answer God’s call!
[1] Guinness, Os. The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003.
[2] United Methodist Beliefs: A Brief Introduction William Willimon p.49
[3] http://www.preceptaustin.org/ephesians_sermon_illustrations_4.htm
[4] http://bible.org/illustration/ephesians-41
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
United Through Christ
Ephesians 2: 11-22
Have you ever had someone do something for you that changed your life forever? Well, I want to tell you a story about how my wife and I met. My sister and I am sure God had something to do with it as well, knew that if she did not intervene I would probably never get married. I was a police officer at that time in my life, so I was focused on my career and dating was the last thing on my mind. After some prodding and encouragement I gave in. So I was set up on a blind date and 15 years later here I stand today!
Now you may be wondering, what is the purpose of this story? Often times in life and in our relationships we need help. Sometimes it is to bring two people together who have never met, like my wife and I, or some times to bring people back together who may have had some differences or a broken relationship. Either way we often have someone who is working on our behalf. I think most of us probably have friends or family members who fit this bill. I am thinking of someone in particular whose name is Jesus Christ.
In Jesus Christ we have someone, the Messiah who died for each one of us. To fully understand the context of this sacrifice, just imagine before Christ, Gentiles, that is you and me, did not know the God of Israel. Had God not sent Christ to us, we would not be sitting here today! We would be hopeless. But, because he did send Christ we are reconciled to God as well as to the Jews of Israel and therefore to one another.
I have 3 primary points I want to make with you this morning.
1. We are all one in Christ Jesus
2. We have peace in Christ
3. Christ is our foundation
So, as we read in Ephesians 2: 11-12
11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,* called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Paul spent a great deal of time and energy persuading the Ephesians that Gentile believers were spiritually equal to their circumcised Jewish counterparts. His repeated conversations on this subject to reveal problems in the early church that continue to plague present-day would-be worshipers. Namely existing church members making newcomers feel like a stranger in a new sitting, or unwelcome in this environment. We must welcome folks in the Church as new parents welcome an adopted child into their home.
In the context of this scripture vs. 11-12, Christ did not come so that we could be separate from our Jewish brothers and sisters. He came to unite all! Jew and Gentile. For one day Christ will come to unite his church. In Hosea 3:5 Afterwards the Israelites shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; they shall come in awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. This verse references God’s desire to reunite the divided people of God, Jew and Gentile!
I had the pleasure this year of attending a Passover meal the night before Easter. This Passover meal is referred to as a Sedar meal (which is a Jewish ritual feast held at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover to describe the Exodus from Egypt) EXODUS CHAPTER 12/13. Each of you should have received handout this morning with your bulletin that goes into more detail about the Sedar. If you ever get the opportunity to do this, please do it! You will be glad you did. Just a little helpful hint though, do not do like did. I like horseradish, but a teaspoonful on Matza bread is a tad too much!
Seriously though, God is doing amazing things in the Messianic Jewish congregations and Jews are coming to know Christ in all places. I feel we as Christian’s have a duty to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters for we must remember that we were at one time without Christ, but praise God we do have hope with God in the world through the power of Jesus Christ.
You may be setting there wondering why this is important. Before his death, Christ participated in a Sedar; one could refer to it as “The Last Sedar”. Everything that Christ did for us has deep symbolism rooted in the Old Testament. It is imperative that to understand the life of the messiah and why He came to die on our behalf we must understand the Passover in the context of the Old Testament.
In order to fully understand who we are as Christians we must understand the whole story of the bible and in a Jewish context, for if you didn’t know. Jesus was a Jew! Jesus did not have the New Testament. His Bible and his scriptures came from the Torah! This story is about God’s family, both Jew and Gentile, and we are called to be one for Christ himself, for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
John Wesley was quoted as saying “I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field.”
As we read on in Ephesians 2: 13-18
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body* through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
In vs. 13-18, Paul is pointing out two very important concepts. These two concepts may seem contradictory or be seen as contrasting concepts. The first is Peace and the other reconciliation.
1. Christ is our peace who has made us both Jew and Gentile one in the Church. Peace is a very important word in this context especially in the fact it is used 4 times.
John Wesley’s commented on the subject of peace and said “For he is our peace - Not only as he purchased it, but as he is the very bond and centre of union. He who hath made both - Jews and gentiles, one church.”
The Second important concept Paul makes is:
2. Reconciliation- Occurs through the cross
a. Reconciliation with God
b. Reconciliation of the Church
c. Reconciliation of one to another or the unity of mankind. Vs 18 notes one Spirit to the Father
If you do not know this, it is important to know. Listen! Christ did not come to create Christianity. He came to reconcile both Jew and Gentile into one faith. Early Christians were known as “The Way” Christ Disciples were “Followers of The Way” They met in Synagogues early on and were a sect of Judaism, but eventually a struggle for power came into play and the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, at least the majority of them and you know the rest of the story!
Why is this important? How does knowing Jesus was a Jew or the fact he did not come to create Christianity relate to our lives? Being a Christian also requires much. It is not easy, but it is worth the eternal reward.
As St. Clement of Alexandria said, “For the sake of each of us he laid down his life--worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other.”
Just as God reconciled all through Christ you can through prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance reconcile your differences with that family member or friend and mend that broken relationship. Christ demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other.
Just as the Blood of the cross reconciled mankind, Jew and Gentile, to God, don’t allow your own personal broken relationships go un- reconciled. Come to the cross. Lay your burden down and ask Christ for guidance so that you can reconcile those broken relationships in your life, just as Christ did for our relationship with God!
The last part of today’s Scripture is Ephesians 2: 17-22
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
In this last part, we learn Christ came to bring us peace to our world in the merging of Jew and Gentile into one family! In this house of God none of us are strangers for we are one in the spirit and Jesus Christ is the rock of our foundation!
The story of Ephesians which we have just experienced is that the mission of Christ is to tear down walls of division in every place where worshipers gather in God's name. We want to welcome all who come to hear the word. Reach out to those you do not know, welcome strangers with open arms so that we can as the body of Christ, bring them into the family of God. For we are all reconciled in oneness with Christ!
We are not reconciled with one another simply because we decided to "bury the hatchet" and move past our differences. We are reconciled because of something that God has done within each of us. No matter who we were before, we are made members of the household of God only by his saving grace.
Christ is our peace and we have access to God in one Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savoir. It does not matter who we were before, we become one new community unified through the cross. There are no aliens and strangers here we are a community of worshippers here in this Church of God!
I close with a story, Arthur Burns, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve System and Ambassador to West Germany, was a man of considerable gravity. Medium in height, distinguished, with wavy silver hair and his signature pipe, he was economic counselor to numerous presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. When he spoke, his opinion carried weight and Washington listened.
Arthur Burns was also Jewish, so when he began attending an informal White House group for prayer and fellowship in the 70’s he was accorded special respect. No one in fact quite knew how to involve him in the group and week after week when different people took turns to end the meeting in prayer, Burns was always passed by out of a mixture of respect and reticence.
One week, however, the group was led by a newcomer who did not know the unusual status Burns occupied. As the meeting ended, the newcomer turned to Burns and asked him to close the time with a prayer. Some of the old timers glanced at each other in surprise and wondered what would happen. But without missing a beat, Burns reached out, held hands with the others in the circle, and prayed this prayer: “Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ.
Most of us here today are Christians. I leave you with this thought. Don’t be just a Christian, be a follower of Jesus Christ!
Have you ever had someone do something for you that changed your life forever? Well, I want to tell you a story about how my wife and I met. My sister and I am sure God had something to do with it as well, knew that if she did not intervene I would probably never get married. I was a police officer at that time in my life, so I was focused on my career and dating was the last thing on my mind. After some prodding and encouragement I gave in. So I was set up on a blind date and 15 years later here I stand today!
Now you may be wondering, what is the purpose of this story? Often times in life and in our relationships we need help. Sometimes it is to bring two people together who have never met, like my wife and I, or some times to bring people back together who may have had some differences or a broken relationship. Either way we often have someone who is working on our behalf. I think most of us probably have friends or family members who fit this bill. I am thinking of someone in particular whose name is Jesus Christ.
In Jesus Christ we have someone, the Messiah who died for each one of us. To fully understand the context of this sacrifice, just imagine before Christ, Gentiles, that is you and me, did not know the God of Israel. Had God not sent Christ to us, we would not be sitting here today! We would be hopeless. But, because he did send Christ we are reconciled to God as well as to the Jews of Israel and therefore to one another.
I have 3 primary points I want to make with you this morning.
1. We are all one in Christ Jesus
2. We have peace in Christ
3. Christ is our foundation
So, as we read in Ephesians 2: 11-12
11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth,* called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Paul spent a great deal of time and energy persuading the Ephesians that Gentile believers were spiritually equal to their circumcised Jewish counterparts. His repeated conversations on this subject to reveal problems in the early church that continue to plague present-day would-be worshipers. Namely existing church members making newcomers feel like a stranger in a new sitting, or unwelcome in this environment. We must welcome folks in the Church as new parents welcome an adopted child into their home.
In the context of this scripture vs. 11-12, Christ did not come so that we could be separate from our Jewish brothers and sisters. He came to unite all! Jew and Gentile. For one day Christ will come to unite his church. In Hosea 3:5 Afterwards the Israelites shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; they shall come in awe to the Lord and to his goodness in the latter days. This verse references God’s desire to reunite the divided people of God, Jew and Gentile!
I had the pleasure this year of attending a Passover meal the night before Easter. This Passover meal is referred to as a Sedar meal (which is a Jewish ritual feast held at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover to describe the Exodus from Egypt) EXODUS CHAPTER 12/13. Each of you should have received handout this morning with your bulletin that goes into more detail about the Sedar. If you ever get the opportunity to do this, please do it! You will be glad you did. Just a little helpful hint though, do not do like did. I like horseradish, but a teaspoonful on Matza bread is a tad too much!
Seriously though, God is doing amazing things in the Messianic Jewish congregations and Jews are coming to know Christ in all places. I feel we as Christian’s have a duty to pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters for we must remember that we were at one time without Christ, but praise God we do have hope with God in the world through the power of Jesus Christ.
You may be setting there wondering why this is important. Before his death, Christ participated in a Sedar; one could refer to it as “The Last Sedar”. Everything that Christ did for us has deep symbolism rooted in the Old Testament. It is imperative that to understand the life of the messiah and why He came to die on our behalf we must understand the Passover in the context of the Old Testament.
In order to fully understand who we are as Christians we must understand the whole story of the bible and in a Jewish context, for if you didn’t know. Jesus was a Jew! Jesus did not have the New Testament. His Bible and his scriptures came from the Torah! This story is about God’s family, both Jew and Gentile, and we are called to be one for Christ himself, for we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
John Wesley was quoted as saying “I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field.”
As we read on in Ephesians 2: 13-18
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body* through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
In vs. 13-18, Paul is pointing out two very important concepts. These two concepts may seem contradictory or be seen as contrasting concepts. The first is Peace and the other reconciliation.
1. Christ is our peace who has made us both Jew and Gentile one in the Church. Peace is a very important word in this context especially in the fact it is used 4 times.
John Wesley’s commented on the subject of peace and said “For he is our peace - Not only as he purchased it, but as he is the very bond and centre of union. He who hath made both - Jews and gentiles, one church.”
The Second important concept Paul makes is:
2. Reconciliation- Occurs through the cross
a. Reconciliation with God
b. Reconciliation of the Church
c. Reconciliation of one to another or the unity of mankind. Vs 18 notes one Spirit to the Father
If you do not know this, it is important to know. Listen! Christ did not come to create Christianity. He came to reconcile both Jew and Gentile into one faith. Early Christians were known as “The Way” Christ Disciples were “Followers of The Way” They met in Synagogues early on and were a sect of Judaism, but eventually a struggle for power came into play and the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, at least the majority of them and you know the rest of the story!
Why is this important? How does knowing Jesus was a Jew or the fact he did not come to create Christianity relate to our lives? Being a Christian also requires much. It is not easy, but it is worth the eternal reward.
As St. Clement of Alexandria said, “For the sake of each of us he laid down his life--worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other.”
Just as God reconciled all through Christ you can through prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance reconcile your differences with that family member or friend and mend that broken relationship. Christ demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other.
Just as the Blood of the cross reconciled mankind, Jew and Gentile, to God, don’t allow your own personal broken relationships go un- reconciled. Come to the cross. Lay your burden down and ask Christ for guidance so that you can reconcile those broken relationships in your life, just as Christ did for our relationship with God!
The last part of today’s Scripture is Ephesians 2: 17-22
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.
In this last part, we learn Christ came to bring us peace to our world in the merging of Jew and Gentile into one family! In this house of God none of us are strangers for we are one in the spirit and Jesus Christ is the rock of our foundation!
The story of Ephesians which we have just experienced is that the mission of Christ is to tear down walls of division in every place where worshipers gather in God's name. We want to welcome all who come to hear the word. Reach out to those you do not know, welcome strangers with open arms so that we can as the body of Christ, bring them into the family of God. For we are all reconciled in oneness with Christ!
We are not reconciled with one another simply because we decided to "bury the hatchet" and move past our differences. We are reconciled because of something that God has done within each of us. No matter who we were before, we are made members of the household of God only by his saving grace.
Christ is our peace and we have access to God in one Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savoir. It does not matter who we were before, we become one new community unified through the cross. There are no aliens and strangers here we are a community of worshippers here in this Church of God!
I close with a story, Arthur Burns, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve System and Ambassador to West Germany, was a man of considerable gravity. Medium in height, distinguished, with wavy silver hair and his signature pipe, he was economic counselor to numerous presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. When he spoke, his opinion carried weight and Washington listened.
Arthur Burns was also Jewish, so when he began attending an informal White House group for prayer and fellowship in the 70’s he was accorded special respect. No one in fact quite knew how to involve him in the group and week after week when different people took turns to end the meeting in prayer, Burns was always passed by out of a mixture of respect and reticence.
One week, however, the group was led by a newcomer who did not know the unusual status Burns occupied. As the meeting ended, the newcomer turned to Burns and asked him to close the time with a prayer. Some of the old timers glanced at each other in surprise and wondered what would happen. But without missing a beat, Burns reached out, held hands with the others in the circle, and prayed this prayer: “Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ.
Most of us here today are Christians. I leave you with this thought. Don’t be just a Christian, be a follower of Jesus Christ!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Chruch of the Reconciler Sermon for June 7
Below you will find my very first sermon which I will be preaching at the Church of the Reconciler this coming Sunday.
The Sermon is inspired by the word of God found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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Why are you here today? What is God’s purpose for you being here at the Church of the Reconciler? Are you seeking spiritual nourishment or physical nourishment?
We have many people in this room today that are hungry! You may have had something to eat this morning or you may not have. You may have been given a sandwich or a bag lunch as your breakfast. I have seen some of you eat your meal and you are not satisfied, and want more. That is truly understandable knowing that you may or may not know where your next meal is coming from.
I am going to talk to you about a meal, a meal which came out of the Jewish tradition of Passover. You all know the meal I am referring to. This meal is well known across many nations and many people. This meal knows no boundaries and its power does not waiver, nor fail; whether you are poor or rich, black or white, or red or yellow. This meal brings all people to their knees ands calls upon us to recognize our Savoir in the context of this meal.
Many people would argue that this meal is just a remembrance. I think otherwise! Let me tell you a story. There was a young boy in a small Alabama town. He wondered about this meal that came around once every month. This boy one day was so curious he just had to know more. He went to his grandmother and asked her, “Grandma” I was curios, why do we have this meal with bread and wine once a month at church. What is it for? I hear the preacher read about it from the Hymnal and everybody comes up front and eats the bread and drinks the wine, but what is it. Why do we do it? The grandmother replies, “Son it’s just like the table says, it’s a remembrance”
Before we move forward, we must understand the term remembrance in the context of Jewish thought. Remember, Jesus was a Jew, so in a Jewish context and to a Jew remembrance is to acknowledge a vital presence of the past in the present. So this meal, a meal which was a Passover meal, a Covenant meal, and a Gospel meal is to be a meal of a real presence with Christ.
This meal I am referring to has many different names, most of us refer to it as Communion. The Eucharist is another term used for this meal, which is a Greek word for thanksgiving; it reminds us that the sacrament is a thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation. We also refer to it as the Holy Mystery or Holy Sacrament as the word Mystery is derived from the Greek word in the New Testament mysterion. This Holy Mystery is one of the two Sacraments of the Church of which are Baptism and this Holy Mystery, (Communion).
The sacraments were instituted by Christ and given to the church. It, as I mentioned before is a gospel meal, and we should realize that it is to be done in order to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again. But the power is not in his death, the power is in the risen Christ! For we worship a risen Lord! A Lord of power! A Lord of Mercy and of grace! And he is coming again and he will come in a like manner as he departed in the clouds! As in Revelation 1:7 “7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.So it is to be. Amen.”
Jesus Christ is himself the ultimate manifestation of a sacrament. In the coming of Jesus of Nazareth, God’s nature and purpose were revealed and active through a human body. The key word there is active. Active has many different meanings causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; opposed to passive. Communion is active, not passive. In communion, we have the risen Christ, over it; he is with us and brings us his gift of eternal life through his own sacrifice. In Communion, Christ satisfies our hunger and meets our spiritual needs and desires!
The Church is having a reawakening of the power of Communion and its grace and spiritual power. Through Communion Christ comes to us in mercy and in healing. Through communion we demonstrate an outward sign of an inward grace. When you come to the table, this table of remembrance, it is more than a remembrance. It is your opportunity to experience Jesus Christ! He gave of his body and poured out his blood for you and I so that we may not perish in our sins, but have everlasting life!
My most memorable experience in communion was an Ash Wednesday Service in the spring of 2004 at Cave Spring UMC. During this service we took communion using intinction which is the dipping of one’s bread into the wine, just like we do here at the Church of the reconciler. With this in mind, I want to draw a word picture of the communion experience I had on that Ash Wednesday Service and why it was so powerful an experience for me. In this church we would walk forward to receive the sacraments just as Jesus went forth with the cross, just as Christ offered his body on the cross first, so are we given the bread to remember his body first. Then, as he was pierced and the blood poured forth, for the forgiveness of our sins, we take the bread and combine it with the wine just as Christ’ body was saturated with his own blood we saturate our bread and fulfill the commandment “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” How powerful is that?
Now let’s move forward to the actual crucifixion. As Christ, hanging on the cross, took on the sin of this world he cried out “My god, my God why have you forsaken me.” At this very moment, literally the sin of the world fell upon this man and like we do, in our own pain, cried out to God! Christ did not suffer on the cross just so we could remember him? He experienced excruciating pain and suffering on the cross so that we could be redeemed. He took on more pain and suffering than any of us here today ever has encountered no matter our personal situations or tragedies in our life they do not come close to the sacrifice he made for us. Let me repeat this, he took on the sin of the world for you, for me, for us! Jesus Christ did not suffer on a cross, die and come back from the dead so that we can just remember him. Do you recall the earlier part of the sermon where I mentioned that remembrance in a Jewish context is to acknowledge a vital presence of the past in the present? Christ wants us to be able to experience him at the table. He is alive! He is risen! When you partake in Communion, you are communing with Christ himself. I want to go back now and ask you those three questions I asked at the beginning of the sermon. Why are you here today? What is God’s purpose for you being here at the Church of the Reconciler? Are you seeking spiritual nourishment or physical nourishment? I know many of you are hungry here today and seeking physical nourishment. However, my next questions is are you as hungry for Jesus as you are for bread? Jesus said I am the bread of life! (John 6:48)
In 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 v. 8 we read “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel.” To remember a risen Christ you must encounter him, and at his table you can. Lift up your hearts! Look past the sacrament to the one who is giving it to you.
John Wesley participated in communion an average of four to five times a week. You here at the Church of the Reconciler are lucky, not every church grants there congregation the honor of receiving communion on a weekly basis. I have been personally moved and have felt the presence of Christ here at the Church of the Reconciler during the participation of communion. It’s sad that some churches only sporadically share in this Holy Mystery a few times a year. There are many reasons why they sporadically participate in this Holy Mystery, but none really matter when we consider the price Christ paid so that we could partake of this Holy Mystery and meet him here at this table!
In 1 Corinthians 10:16, it says: 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? When we come to the table it is in participation with Christ. You are active in communion; it is truly not just a remembrance as it says on the table.
In Luke, 24 Simon and Cleopas are walking to Emmaus and they encountered a stranger on the road. They are discussing the events of Jesus death and resurrection with this stranger; of course whom we all know was Jesus, whom they were kept from recognizing as they walked. Jesus then ask them what they were talking about as they walked. They of course were talking about the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. They respond to Jesus by asking him “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things which have taken place there in these days? They continued to walk together and the two invited Jesus to dine with them. In verse 30 it says: When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight
This scripture is another example of participation in the Holy Mystery. In the blessing and breaking of the bread, our eyes are opened to the wonders of Jesus Christ just as Simon and Cleopas were. When you come to this table today, please realize that you are not just taking bread and wine as a remembrance of Jesus Christ, you are participating in the Holy Mystery, the semblance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, broken and poured out for us for the forgiveness of our sins.
I hope you can see through the scriptures and through my sermon today, that the Holy Mystery, the Sacrament of our Lord and Savoir, is not just a remembrance; it is a participation in the blood and body of Jesus Christ. He suffered and died and rose again to save us all; and until he comes again each time we come to Communion he is there with us and we can recognize him.
Christ comes and hands us the bread and wine as himself. Let us now open our eyes and recognize him!
Amen!
The Sermon is inspired by the word of God found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 25In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
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Why are you here today? What is God’s purpose for you being here at the Church of the Reconciler? Are you seeking spiritual nourishment or physical nourishment?
We have many people in this room today that are hungry! You may have had something to eat this morning or you may not have. You may have been given a sandwich or a bag lunch as your breakfast. I have seen some of you eat your meal and you are not satisfied, and want more. That is truly understandable knowing that you may or may not know where your next meal is coming from.
I am going to talk to you about a meal, a meal which came out of the Jewish tradition of Passover. You all know the meal I am referring to. This meal is well known across many nations and many people. This meal knows no boundaries and its power does not waiver, nor fail; whether you are poor or rich, black or white, or red or yellow. This meal brings all people to their knees ands calls upon us to recognize our Savoir in the context of this meal.
Many people would argue that this meal is just a remembrance. I think otherwise! Let me tell you a story. There was a young boy in a small Alabama town. He wondered about this meal that came around once every month. This boy one day was so curious he just had to know more. He went to his grandmother and asked her, “Grandma” I was curios, why do we have this meal with bread and wine once a month at church. What is it for? I hear the preacher read about it from the Hymnal and everybody comes up front and eats the bread and drinks the wine, but what is it. Why do we do it? The grandmother replies, “Son it’s just like the table says, it’s a remembrance”
Before we move forward, we must understand the term remembrance in the context of Jewish thought. Remember, Jesus was a Jew, so in a Jewish context and to a Jew remembrance is to acknowledge a vital presence of the past in the present. So this meal, a meal which was a Passover meal, a Covenant meal, and a Gospel meal is to be a meal of a real presence with Christ.
This meal I am referring to has many different names, most of us refer to it as Communion. The Eucharist is another term used for this meal, which is a Greek word for thanksgiving; it reminds us that the sacrament is a thanksgiving to God for the gifts of creation and salvation. We also refer to it as the Holy Mystery or Holy Sacrament as the word Mystery is derived from the Greek word in the New Testament mysterion. This Holy Mystery is one of the two Sacraments of the Church of which are Baptism and this Holy Mystery, (Communion).
The sacraments were instituted by Christ and given to the church. It, as I mentioned before is a gospel meal, and we should realize that it is to be done in order to proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again. But the power is not in his death, the power is in the risen Christ! For we worship a risen Lord! A Lord of power! A Lord of Mercy and of grace! And he is coming again and he will come in a like manner as he departed in the clouds! As in Revelation 1:7 “7Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.So it is to be. Amen.”
Jesus Christ is himself the ultimate manifestation of a sacrament. In the coming of Jesus of Nazareth, God’s nature and purpose were revealed and active through a human body. The key word there is active. Active has many different meanings causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; opposed to passive. Communion is active, not passive. In communion, we have the risen Christ, over it; he is with us and brings us his gift of eternal life through his own sacrifice. In Communion, Christ satisfies our hunger and meets our spiritual needs and desires!
The Church is having a reawakening of the power of Communion and its grace and spiritual power. Through Communion Christ comes to us in mercy and in healing. Through communion we demonstrate an outward sign of an inward grace. When you come to the table, this table of remembrance, it is more than a remembrance. It is your opportunity to experience Jesus Christ! He gave of his body and poured out his blood for you and I so that we may not perish in our sins, but have everlasting life!
My most memorable experience in communion was an Ash Wednesday Service in the spring of 2004 at Cave Spring UMC. During this service we took communion using intinction which is the dipping of one’s bread into the wine, just like we do here at the Church of the reconciler. With this in mind, I want to draw a word picture of the communion experience I had on that Ash Wednesday Service and why it was so powerful an experience for me. In this church we would walk forward to receive the sacraments just as Jesus went forth with the cross, just as Christ offered his body on the cross first, so are we given the bread to remember his body first. Then, as he was pierced and the blood poured forth, for the forgiveness of our sins, we take the bread and combine it with the wine just as Christ’ body was saturated with his own blood we saturate our bread and fulfill the commandment “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” How powerful is that?
Now let’s move forward to the actual crucifixion. As Christ, hanging on the cross, took on the sin of this world he cried out “My god, my God why have you forsaken me.” At this very moment, literally the sin of the world fell upon this man and like we do, in our own pain, cried out to God! Christ did not suffer on the cross just so we could remember him? He experienced excruciating pain and suffering on the cross so that we could be redeemed. He took on more pain and suffering than any of us here today ever has encountered no matter our personal situations or tragedies in our life they do not come close to the sacrifice he made for us. Let me repeat this, he took on the sin of the world for you, for me, for us! Jesus Christ did not suffer on a cross, die and come back from the dead so that we can just remember him. Do you recall the earlier part of the sermon where I mentioned that remembrance in a Jewish context is to acknowledge a vital presence of the past in the present? Christ wants us to be able to experience him at the table. He is alive! He is risen! When you partake in Communion, you are communing with Christ himself. I want to go back now and ask you those three questions I asked at the beginning of the sermon. Why are you here today? What is God’s purpose for you being here at the Church of the Reconciler? Are you seeking spiritual nourishment or physical nourishment? I know many of you are hungry here today and seeking physical nourishment. However, my next questions is are you as hungry for Jesus as you are for bread? Jesus said I am the bread of life! (John 6:48)
In 2nd Timothy Chapter 2 v. 8 we read “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel.” To remember a risen Christ you must encounter him, and at his table you can. Lift up your hearts! Look past the sacrament to the one who is giving it to you.
John Wesley participated in communion an average of four to five times a week. You here at the Church of the Reconciler are lucky, not every church grants there congregation the honor of receiving communion on a weekly basis. I have been personally moved and have felt the presence of Christ here at the Church of the Reconciler during the participation of communion. It’s sad that some churches only sporadically share in this Holy Mystery a few times a year. There are many reasons why they sporadically participate in this Holy Mystery, but none really matter when we consider the price Christ paid so that we could partake of this Holy Mystery and meet him here at this table!
In 1 Corinthians 10:16, it says: 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? When we come to the table it is in participation with Christ. You are active in communion; it is truly not just a remembrance as it says on the table.
In Luke, 24 Simon and Cleopas are walking to Emmaus and they encountered a stranger on the road. They are discussing the events of Jesus death and resurrection with this stranger; of course whom we all know was Jesus, whom they were kept from recognizing as they walked. Jesus then ask them what they were talking about as they walked. They of course were talking about the events of the crucifixion and resurrection. They respond to Jesus by asking him “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things which have taken place there in these days? They continued to walk together and the two invited Jesus to dine with them. In verse 30 it says: When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight
This scripture is another example of participation in the Holy Mystery. In the blessing and breaking of the bread, our eyes are opened to the wonders of Jesus Christ just as Simon and Cleopas were. When you come to this table today, please realize that you are not just taking bread and wine as a remembrance of Jesus Christ, you are participating in the Holy Mystery, the semblance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, broken and poured out for us for the forgiveness of our sins.
I hope you can see through the scriptures and through my sermon today, that the Holy Mystery, the Sacrament of our Lord and Savoir, is not just a remembrance; it is a participation in the blood and body of Jesus Christ. He suffered and died and rose again to save us all; and until he comes again each time we come to Communion he is there with us and we can recognize him.
Christ comes and hands us the bread and wine as himself. Let us now open our eyes and recognize him!
Amen!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend
This weekend, I am alone. My wife and girls have gone back to VA to visit family. When I am alone, like I am this weekend, I get lonely. I know I am not alone per se for the Lord is always with me. I however think that family is so important and being amongst believers and community.
I miss my wife the the following verse is so relevant. I hate being alone and away from my wife for we are one flesh.
Genesis 2:18 God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion."
I hate to admit it but, it is tough for me at times to be social. Most folks may not believe that but it drains me to be me at times. I am actually fairly reserved and not very talkative on the home front and I know my wife wishes I would talk more at times, but I do so much talking at work and at Church that when I am home I want to relax to be non communicative at times. Can you relate to that.?
I believe this weekend it is important for us to remember those military personnel who are away from home and many in harms way for our sake and out freedom. As a Methodist, I should be praying for peace and I do, but I pray for the men and women who secure that peace for us around the world. I pray for a day when the world knows no violence and I believe when our Savior returns that will be the day, but we can in our hearts pray for peace and reconciliation throughout the world.
No matter where we are nor how lonely we are God is with us. It is easy to forget that sometimes. When you are lonely or away from home use that time for prayer. Reconnect with the Father through Christ our Advocate and our Reconciler.
Romans 5:10 (The Message)
9-11Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!
In closing be thankful for those quiet times and those times you are separated from your loved ones. I know you miss the ones you are separated from, but God willing they will return and you can reconnect with them. Though while apart pray for them and reconnect with God. He desires you. Let us not forget our military personnel and keep them in our prayers. Because of them we can worship God without fear, unlike many places that exist in this world today.
I miss my wife the the following verse is so relevant. I hate being alone and away from my wife for we are one flesh.
Genesis 2:18 God said, "It's not good for the Man to be alone; I'll make him a helper, a companion."
I hate to admit it but, it is tough for me at times to be social. Most folks may not believe that but it drains me to be me at times. I am actually fairly reserved and not very talkative on the home front and I know my wife wishes I would talk more at times, but I do so much talking at work and at Church that when I am home I want to relax to be non communicative at times. Can you relate to that.?
I believe this weekend it is important for us to remember those military personnel who are away from home and many in harms way for our sake and out freedom. As a Methodist, I should be praying for peace and I do, but I pray for the men and women who secure that peace for us around the world. I pray for a day when the world knows no violence and I believe when our Savior returns that will be the day, but we can in our hearts pray for peace and reconciliation throughout the world.
No matter where we are nor how lonely we are God is with us. It is easy to forget that sometimes. When you are lonely or away from home use that time for prayer. Reconnect with the Father through Christ our Advocate and our Reconciler.
Romans 5:10 (The Message)
9-11Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!
In closing be thankful for those quiet times and those times you are separated from your loved ones. I know you miss the ones you are separated from, but God willing they will return and you can reconnect with them. Though while apart pray for them and reconnect with God. He desires you. Let us not forget our military personnel and keep them in our prayers. Because of them we can worship God without fear, unlike many places that exist in this world today.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Means Of Grace
Wesley spelled out the "ordinances of God" as the Means of Grace. The Means of Grace are spiritual practices that allow us to experience God’s presence in everyday life. The most important Means of Grace are:
Public worship of God
Hearing the Scriptures read or expounded
Holy Communion
Family and private prayer
Devotional reading of the Scriptures
Fasting or abstinence
Public worship of God
Hearing the Scriptures read or expounded
Holy Communion
Family and private prayer
Devotional reading of the Scriptures
Fasting or abstinence
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Church of the Reconciler
The following is a summary of my experience at the Church of the Reconciler. As part of a seminary class I chose a place to do mission work. I hate to admit, this was my first experience in this setting. I thank God for the experience for it has changed me and allowed me realize how important mission is for the church. Without missions, the Church is just a building where the Body of Christ is doing nothing. Be in action! Be in Mission!
http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
The Kingdom of God! What does the Kingdom of God really mean, is it theory or is reality or is it a personal perception of how the world will be upon the return of Christ. What is our duty as Christians within the context of the Kingdom of God? As I begin to discuss my Kingdom project I thought it was necessary to begin with the aforementioned questions and statements. As they are what came to mind as I thought about this topic. I will not attempt at this point to answer my own self imposed questions, but those questions are imperative to understanding one’s call, whatever that call may be in the making of Disciples for Jesus Christ.
When I first read the assignment, I thought to myself, what I will do. I grew up in a middle class family and went to middle class church and up until this point figured I would pastor a middle class church and deal with people mostly like me. In reality, I was and have been only working and worshiping within my comfort zone. To serve Christ and to do his will, I have to, as well as other persons in vocational ministry, step outside the comfort zone of the Church walls. We can’t go wrong outside the Church as we have Christ on our side for comfort, and guidance no matter the situation. I was still scared to a point of how I would respond to this project and what I would do.
After some thought and checking out options, I chose to work at the Church of the Reconciler (COR). The COR is “a multicultural, multiracial United Methodist congregation” which believes "God shows no partiality." (Acts 10:34.)[1] “Church of the Reconciler's special task is equipping laity for the ministry of reconciliation so that we may be "sent into the world as Jesus was sent" (John 20:21)[2]. Why did I choose this venue for my Kingdom Project, so I could step outside my comfort zone and learn to overcome any personal fears I may have had in order to bring Christ to others and to open my heart and my mind to all of God’s people?
My first day at the COR began around 7:00am on March 29, 2009. I met the Senior Pastor, Kevin Higgs at the entrance to the Church. We greeted each other and went straight to work setting up the musical instruments for the band, which consist of Kevin and homeless members of the church. Each week the equipment has to be packed and unpacked and secured in a metal cage to prevent it from being stolen.
A Sunday school class from my Church (none of them whom I knew but recognized as our church is about 2400 members) showed up around 8:30 am to distribute breakfast to the homeless people who congregate in the fellowship hall to be served breakfast before the service. I assisted the Sunday school class unload their vehicles with the breakfast items and pass them out to the people in attendance. I observed after just a brief period of time the Body of Christ in action and the United Methodist Church connectional system in play.
The worship service was one of a contemporary service was well laid out and organized, yet different from the traditional Methodist Worship service I was so used to and love. The topic of mission permeated the message, even though I was there to help, my faith in the mission of the church and my own calling were positively affected in a way that I had not considered and yet, do not have enough time to discuss in this brief summary of my Kingdom project. Newbigin states that “mission involves learning as well as teaching, receiving as well as giving.”[3] (139) I certainly learned from this experience as I was giving my own time and volunteering to assist the COR I learned of Gods grace and confirmed the need for the church universal to be in mission.
The COR serves communion each and every Sunday as people from many faiths and denominations attend, but the commonality of most Christian faiths is the act of Holy Communion. Leslie Newbigin noted in his book The Open Secret “the nature of the church’s mission, is clearly this: in every situation the church must call all people- oppressors and oppressed alike-to that and continually renewed in the Eucharist.”[4]
The COR gets that and truly understands how Holy Communion is a way to bring all of us together to share in that Holy Mystery.
After the service, I had an opportunity to interact, listen to and talk about Christ with some of the members and listen to their stories. At the end of the day they are people just like me and have aspirations and goals and are in need of God’s saving and abundant Grace. One member actually came up to me and Rachel Martin, the associate pastor and asked us to pray with him. How awesome an experience that was and how moving an experience to know that the Holy Spirit was amongst us as we all are active members of the Kingdom of God.
My second and third Sundays were similar in nature. The majority of the work I did was helping to set up the church for worship service. After arriving at the church around 7:00 am, it took approximately an hour to set up. I then had some limited time to walk around and socialize with the members, before handing out breakfast which is usually brought in by others churches in the community. This socialization of course is unique compared to a traditional church setting. Some people want to talk, others don’t, but you have to be open to what happens.
The COR is truly a mission church filling a need in downtown Birmingham. My experience has touched me in a way I never imagined possible. The reading we have done and all of the class discussions came to life in this missional setting. I truly experienced the “the leaving of one’s comfort zone, sacrifice, hard work, the possibility of persecution, endurance and putting others first” of which was discussed by Frost and Hirsch. [5] Unlike many of my classmates, I have never preached before. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, this class and my experience at the COR has inspired me to write my first sermon. The pastor at the COR has also invited me back to preach. How exciting and unexpected during this Kingdom Project and so early in both seminary and the UMC candidacy process to be asked to preach.
The Kingdom of God from my own contextual perspective, of which I learned not only in class but through the time and efforts of this kingdom project, is that the Kingdom of God is the here and now, the future and the past all working as one to fulfill his will and to bring about the New Jerusalem. We, the church, as the Body of Christ must seek out to do his will, to make Disciples of Jesus Christ while in mission and outside the church walls. We must seek to be incarnational in nature as noted in the book, The Shaping of Things to Come. Our duty as Christians within the context of the Kingdom of God is to fulfill the Great Commission and to break out of the church as we know it and be in mission.
I praise God for this experience and for having a class which required me to step outside my comfort zone. I have a new zeal and understanding now of the needs of people and the need for the church to serve those needs, both physical and spiritual.
[1] http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
[2] http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
[3] Newbigin, Lesslie The Open Secret, Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company
[4]Newbigin, Lesslie The Open Secret, Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company
[5] Frost, Michael and Hirsch, Alan, The Shaping of Thing to Come: Innovation and Mission For the 21st Century Chruch (Peabody Massachusetts, Hendrickson Publishing 2003) 51
http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
The Kingdom of God! What does the Kingdom of God really mean, is it theory or is reality or is it a personal perception of how the world will be upon the return of Christ. What is our duty as Christians within the context of the Kingdom of God? As I begin to discuss my Kingdom project I thought it was necessary to begin with the aforementioned questions and statements. As they are what came to mind as I thought about this topic. I will not attempt at this point to answer my own self imposed questions, but those questions are imperative to understanding one’s call, whatever that call may be in the making of Disciples for Jesus Christ.
When I first read the assignment, I thought to myself, what I will do. I grew up in a middle class family and went to middle class church and up until this point figured I would pastor a middle class church and deal with people mostly like me. In reality, I was and have been only working and worshiping within my comfort zone. To serve Christ and to do his will, I have to, as well as other persons in vocational ministry, step outside the comfort zone of the Church walls. We can’t go wrong outside the Church as we have Christ on our side for comfort, and guidance no matter the situation. I was still scared to a point of how I would respond to this project and what I would do.
After some thought and checking out options, I chose to work at the Church of the Reconciler (COR). The COR is “a multicultural, multiracial United Methodist congregation” which believes "God shows no partiality." (Acts 10:34.)[1] “Church of the Reconciler's special task is equipping laity for the ministry of reconciliation so that we may be "sent into the world as Jesus was sent" (John 20:21)[2]. Why did I choose this venue for my Kingdom Project, so I could step outside my comfort zone and learn to overcome any personal fears I may have had in order to bring Christ to others and to open my heart and my mind to all of God’s people?
My first day at the COR began around 7:00am on March 29, 2009. I met the Senior Pastor, Kevin Higgs at the entrance to the Church. We greeted each other and went straight to work setting up the musical instruments for the band, which consist of Kevin and homeless members of the church. Each week the equipment has to be packed and unpacked and secured in a metal cage to prevent it from being stolen.
A Sunday school class from my Church (none of them whom I knew but recognized as our church is about 2400 members) showed up around 8:30 am to distribute breakfast to the homeless people who congregate in the fellowship hall to be served breakfast before the service. I assisted the Sunday school class unload their vehicles with the breakfast items and pass them out to the people in attendance. I observed after just a brief period of time the Body of Christ in action and the United Methodist Church connectional system in play.
The worship service was one of a contemporary service was well laid out and organized, yet different from the traditional Methodist Worship service I was so used to and love. The topic of mission permeated the message, even though I was there to help, my faith in the mission of the church and my own calling were positively affected in a way that I had not considered and yet, do not have enough time to discuss in this brief summary of my Kingdom project. Newbigin states that “mission involves learning as well as teaching, receiving as well as giving.”[3] (139) I certainly learned from this experience as I was giving my own time and volunteering to assist the COR I learned of Gods grace and confirmed the need for the church universal to be in mission.
The COR serves communion each and every Sunday as people from many faiths and denominations attend, but the commonality of most Christian faiths is the act of Holy Communion. Leslie Newbigin noted in his book The Open Secret “the nature of the church’s mission, is clearly this: in every situation the church must call all people- oppressors and oppressed alike-to that and continually renewed in the Eucharist.”[4]
The COR gets that and truly understands how Holy Communion is a way to bring all of us together to share in that Holy Mystery.
After the service, I had an opportunity to interact, listen to and talk about Christ with some of the members and listen to their stories. At the end of the day they are people just like me and have aspirations and goals and are in need of God’s saving and abundant Grace. One member actually came up to me and Rachel Martin, the associate pastor and asked us to pray with him. How awesome an experience that was and how moving an experience to know that the Holy Spirit was amongst us as we all are active members of the Kingdom of God.
My second and third Sundays were similar in nature. The majority of the work I did was helping to set up the church for worship service. After arriving at the church around 7:00 am, it took approximately an hour to set up. I then had some limited time to walk around and socialize with the members, before handing out breakfast which is usually brought in by others churches in the community. This socialization of course is unique compared to a traditional church setting. Some people want to talk, others don’t, but you have to be open to what happens.
The COR is truly a mission church filling a need in downtown Birmingham. My experience has touched me in a way I never imagined possible. The reading we have done and all of the class discussions came to life in this missional setting. I truly experienced the “the leaving of one’s comfort zone, sacrifice, hard work, the possibility of persecution, endurance and putting others first” of which was discussed by Frost and Hirsch. [5] Unlike many of my classmates, I have never preached before. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, this class and my experience at the COR has inspired me to write my first sermon. The pastor at the COR has also invited me back to preach. How exciting and unexpected during this Kingdom Project and so early in both seminary and the UMC candidacy process to be asked to preach.
The Kingdom of God from my own contextual perspective, of which I learned not only in class but through the time and efforts of this kingdom project, is that the Kingdom of God is the here and now, the future and the past all working as one to fulfill his will and to bring about the New Jerusalem. We, the church, as the Body of Christ must seek out to do his will, to make Disciples of Jesus Christ while in mission and outside the church walls. We must seek to be incarnational in nature as noted in the book, The Shaping of Things to Come. Our duty as Christians within the context of the Kingdom of God is to fulfill the Great Commission and to break out of the church as we know it and be in mission.
I praise God for this experience and for having a class which required me to step outside my comfort zone. I have a new zeal and understanding now of the needs of people and the need for the church to serve those needs, both physical and spiritual.
[1] http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
[2] http://www.churchofthereconciler.org/
[3] Newbigin, Lesslie The Open Secret, Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company
[4]Newbigin, Lesslie The Open Secret, Grand Rapids MI: William B Eerdmans Publishing Company
[5] Frost, Michael and Hirsch, Alan, The Shaping of Thing to Come: Innovation and Mission For the 21st Century Chruch (Peabody Massachusetts, Hendrickson Publishing 2003) 51
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Do you share your faith at work?
I had a friend ask me a question. Please see my response. The questions in blue below.
Brady,
You point out one of the hardest things for us Christians to do. Be a peculiar people! When you state "I wonder what would happen the American church if things turned the other way and it became rough to be a Christian. Many of us embarrassed to share our faith in appropriate ways at the work place because we want to fit in. This wanting to fit in starts when we are young and is something that compels many of us to act in certain ways." I too wonder what would happen, but even more. Why do most, and I have been guilty of this, Christians fail to openly profess their faith in Christ in the workplace? I know there are HR polices etc to prevent us from offending others, but in reality we are allowing those others to go to hell if we do not witness to them. On the flip side, most bible believing Christians want to keep their jobs, and I have been in that position.
Where then do we draw the line. We do not have not be yelling it down the halls and passing out tracts to everyone who will take one. We can witness by our actions, and by what we don't say or what we don't laugh at and just by bowing our heads in silent prayer before we eat. I do not have all the answers, but have been on both side of this topic. I have gotten bolder with age and through grace and knowing that I am not living for an earthly reward but a reward in heaven helps me!
How do we make our congregations understand that it is okay not to fit in on earth, but to want to fit in when the "roll is called up yonder" by being a peculiar person here on earth and professing Jesus Christ as our one and only Lord and Savior.
Brady,
You point out one of the hardest things for us Christians to do. Be a peculiar people! When you state "I wonder what would happen the American church if things turned the other way and it became rough to be a Christian. Many of us embarrassed to share our faith in appropriate ways at the work place because we want to fit in. This wanting to fit in starts when we are young and is something that compels many of us to act in certain ways." I too wonder what would happen, but even more. Why do most, and I have been guilty of this, Christians fail to openly profess their faith in Christ in the workplace? I know there are HR polices etc to prevent us from offending others, but in reality we are allowing those others to go to hell if we do not witness to them. On the flip side, most bible believing Christians want to keep their jobs, and I have been in that position.
Where then do we draw the line. We do not have not be yelling it down the halls and passing out tracts to everyone who will take one. We can witness by our actions, and by what we don't say or what we don't laugh at and just by bowing our heads in silent prayer before we eat. I do not have all the answers, but have been on both side of this topic. I have gotten bolder with age and through grace and knowing that I am not living for an earthly reward but a reward in heaven helps me!
How do we make our congregations understand that it is okay not to fit in on earth, but to want to fit in when the "roll is called up yonder" by being a peculiar person here on earth and professing Jesus Christ as our one and only Lord and Savior.
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