"Sharing the Vision" Revelation 9: 13-19; Ezra 5: 6-11

This week's sermon brings to mind a couple of thoughts:  1. The challenge of going from topic to text, instead of text to topic.  I was taught to start with the text and go where it goes, but when preaching topical sermons, you try to find a text for the topic.  This is Vision Sunday for the "Shining Our Light" capital campaign, so I started with the topic of vision and then looked for texts.  When searching for texts, I discovered lots of visions, but most had to do with prophets or visions people had in the night (i.e. - Peter and Cornelius having visions in Acts that led to the early church's decision to no longer require that dietary restrictions be maintained by new Christians).  Thus, a challenge to build on the vision motif.

2.  I was reminded of how much I loved my Hebrew exegesis class on Ezra and Nehemiah.  It is such a powerful story. As I recall, I preached a whole series on Ezra and Nehemiah quite a few years ago when we were involved the first building project.  It's a powerful story of God's people encountering lots of challenges and issues as they seek to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

I picked the Revelation passage as a context for having a vision.  The specifics of the vision do not fit our situation, but it serves as a reminder that when we envision what God would have us do, we are making a powerful statement.  I have been thinking this week about the power behind our vision of a renovated sanctuary that is ready for the next century of worship.

The Ezra passage is a portion of a letter from those who do not like what the returning exiles are doing in rebuilding the temple.  It's sort of a tattle-tale letter to the king.  We read the portion where it is reported that when they asked the returning Israelites who decreed they could rebuild and what their name was. The Israelites answer, "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished."  At least that's the first part of their answer.  I am struck by their sense that being servant of God gives them permission to build and is their name.
A rather bold claim.  it also stands as a high responsibility to live out that calling in their rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem.

I do not equate our project with the historical significance of rebuilding the Temple after generations of exile, but I believe we make that same claim -- we are God's people -- and we take on that same responsibility -- to engage in projects that reflect that truth.

I'm not sure what these thoughts will look like when they arrive at the point of being preached, but it's not Sunday morning yet.

Peace,

Richard