Sunday, February 26, 2012

Reflections on "Is It Worth the Promise?" Mark 1: 9-20; Genesis 12: 1-9


I wandered quite a bit from where I started on this sermon.  I wanted to begin Lent with the invitation/challenge to step out in faith based on God's promise to bless us and be with us.  As the week progressed, I kept being pulled back to what is so great about the God's promise that would make Abram and Sarai agree to pack up and move.   I'm not sure I answered the question in a specific way, but I was fascinated with the idea that God's promise to be our God gives us the foundation to move forward in faith.  When I finished the sermon, it still felt like I had missed the mark a bit, but I was in the area!

I have been intentional about trying to find concrete examples from people's daily living, which led to the promotion and scholarship analogy.  not sure they hit the point directly, but again, I think they were in the area.


"Is It Worth the Promise?" Genesis 12: 4-9; Mark 1: 9-22; 1st Lent; Faith journey series 2012

Introduction: The purple reminds us that we are beginning Lent, the time of preparation for Holy Week and ultimately the discovery that Christ has been resurrected.

During this Lenten season, we will explore the Abraham and Sarah story from Genesis, looking at different challenges or special moments they encountered as they lived out their faith.

Part of our study will be to invite each of us to reflect on our faith journeys – see what significant moments we have had that might be similar to what Abraham and Sarah encountered.

But, it will include more than just reflecting on what has happened – it will invite each of us to see how God is at work in the present and future of our lives.

We begin with the call of Abram and Sarai.

Move 1: What great news it must have been for Abram and Sarai

a. God will make them a great nation.
  1. Of all the people or families of the world, God has chosen them.
  2. they will receive God's blessing.
    1. We know from Genesis (think Jacob and Esau's story) that to receive a blessing was a big deal, and this was God's blessing.
    1. They will be given a land where their descendants can live
b. Imagine getting a promotion at work or some other great opportunity.
  1. your boss comes to you and tells you that of all the employees in the company, you have been chosen for this wonderful job.
  1. or of all the high school students, you have been chosen for this terrific scholarship.
  1. but, Abram and sarai have to move.
  1. Leave their home. Hit the road. Head off to the land of Canaan.
  2. Or your boss tells you to send for the moving van because the great promotion will take you somewhere else.
    1. or the scholarship offer is from a school on the West coast.
3. the sky is the limit in that moment, but you have to step forward in a new direction.
  1. What we learn again and again in the biblical story is that to accept to call to discipleship means change.
1. The disciples -- they immediately drop what they are doing to follow Jesus.

2. Even Jesus -- as Mark (the other gospels tell it a bit differently) tells the story, one verse the voice from the heavens confirms that he is the Son of God; the next verse the Spirit drives him into the desert to be tempted by the devil and joined with the wild beasts. Maybe being the Son of God isn't that great a gig after all.

e. The excitement of the promise leads to the reality of life being radically changed.

Are you in?
Move 2: So what was it that made the Abram and Sarai, or the disciples make the move?

a. Maybe Abram and Sarai were enticed by the promise of land to call their own. They were nomadic people, so perhaps that had some value for them.

b. The disciples? We have the sense they were looking for the Messiah, so maybe that was enough to compel them to drop their nets and follow Jesus.
or the disciples or the even Jesus committing?
  1. what about you?

    1. when you look back over your faith journey and spot one of those significant moments when you leaped, what made you do it?
    2. Or better yet, what would make you do it now?

    d. At the heart of why we commit to following God is God's promise: I will by your God and you will be my people.
  1. Abram and Sarai pack up their belongings and gather their families to leave the land they are in for an unknown land because God has promised to bless them and be their God.
  1. the disciples have dropped their nets because Jesus had invited them to join with him in his work. To be in relationship with the Son of God.

  2. You hear God's call, even as you hold fast to God's promise to be your God and know that God has chosen you.
    4. It is not a promise that life will be easy. Look at Jesus, who was whisked into the wilderness to be with the wild beasts and confronted by the devil.

      4. It is not a promise that God will make you the queen of the world.

      5. It is not promise for earthly riches.

    6. It is a promise to be our God and to bless us. Again, remember Jesus that Jesus goes into the wilderness. When we find ourselves in the wilderness, we discover Jesus in our midst.
Is it worth it?

Conclusion: I was talking this week with my sister, who lives in Spokane, WA, way up in the NW.

We both have Srs. In high school, so we were talking about looking at colleges with our kids and helping them make that decision.

She was telling me about my nephew's big happenings this week-end. He had a regional Knowledge bowl competition Friday, which meant that he had to take a red-eye from Spokane to NC through the night so that he could be at Chapel Hill to interview for some scholarship at the University of NC.

The university was bringing in Srs. From around the country to participate in activities and have interviews from Saturday until Monday, which means he won't be flying home until Tuesday.

As she lamented how tired he was going to be and so on, I noted, “Well, I'm assuming the scholarship must be worth all this trouble.”

To which she quickly replied, “Oh yes. It's a full ride with special activities for these scholars throughout the academic year and even in the summers. If he gets this scholarship, it will be life-changing. It will be worth all the effort.”

We spend our lives trying to figure out how to figure out how much something is worth and if that make it worth our effort.

We begin our Lenten journey with the affirmation – God has chosen to be your God – and the assertion – God is calling you, or will be calling you soon.

And you get to figure out your answer? Does God's promise to be your God make it worth answering the call?





Friday, February 24, 2012

"Is It Worth the Promise?" Genesis 12: 4-9; Mark 1: 9-20

Both of our Scripture lessons are call stories to begin Lent.  the Mark passage begins with confirmation of who Jesus is at his baptism, then his time in the desert, and finally the calling of the first disciples.

What great news it must have been for Abram and Sarai (they will have to change their names eventually, too)to hear that God would make of them a great nation and bless them.  We know from Genesis (think Jacob and Esau's story) that to receive a blessing was a big deal, and this was God's blessing.  Maybe a parallel might be to get news of a great job promotion.  the sky is the limit in that moment.

But, the promise leads to a journey.  They have to go to the land of Canaan.  sort of like the great promotion that brings with it news that you have to move somewhere else.  The excitement of the promise leads to the reality of life being radically changed.

Think about Jesus -- as Mark tells the story, one verse the voice from the heavens confirms that he is the Son of God; the next verse the Spirit drives him into the desert to be tempted by the devil and joined with the wild beasts.  Maybe being the Son of God isn't that great a gig after all.

The disciples  -- they immediately drop what they are doing to follow Jesus.  Is the promise of being with Jesus so irresistible that they could not help themselves?  I wonder how many times they looked back at that moment to reassess if the promise was worth the cost?

Not sure where this sermons ends, but I keep reflecting on how great the promise must be to command such a response.  Or is it something else?

Why have you chosen to follow Christ?

Peace,

Richard



Monday, February 20, 2012

Reflections on “The Journey Begins” February 26, 2012; Mark 9: 2-9 2 Kings 2: 1-12


I was very dissatisfied with the sermon in the chapel service, so I adjusted it on the fly for the sanctuary service.  The original Move 1 shifted to become part of Move 4.  I also added in the new Move 1 the bit about what it would be like if Peter, James and John were telling their faith story.  both changes made it a better sermon, but I probably needed more time to tinker some more.

It was a short sermon due to having a baptism, and I never found a good rhythm for the sermon.  The Conroy quote spoke in a powerful way to me, but I think it was kind of long for a preached sermon (it probably works better in the written form).  It made me wonder about how to effectively use selections from books.  If I have to assume that many of the people gathering for worship are unfamiliar with the Biblical story, I might also assume that there is not a lot of reading going on, which means the quoting from books may be less effective than other ways of communicating.  On the other hand, I had a couple of people really enjoy the reference to The Great Santini [As an aside, I do not know how to footnote the reference.  I read the book on my Kindle, which seems to have location numbers, rather than page numbers.  If you are looking up the reference, it is in the last chapter].

After the bit about the disciples telling about their faith journey, I am wondering if that would be a good toll to sue during the Lenten series.  Maybe Abraham and Sarah could share some thoughts from their faith journey.  not sure how to do that, but it might be interesting.

The Journey Begins” February 26, 2012; Mark 9: 2-9 2 Kings 2: 1-12
During Lent this year, we are going to be reflecting on our faith journeys.
The daily devotional guide everyone should be getting this week in the mail will have stories people connected with this church will share from their faith journeys.
In worship, I we will be exploring Abraham and Sarah's story as we reflect on what we encounter as we live out our faith journeys.
This morning, as we look toward Lent on the transfiguration Sunday, I invite you to consider some different things to notice as you begin thinking about your faith journey.

Move 1: look for holy moments.
a. Imagine if Peter or James or John were telling their faith story.
  1. Remember that day Jesus took up up on the mountaintop?
  2. Oh, yeah, I knew something big was going to happen. Every time someone goes up on a mountain its big.
  3. And it was big that day. Jesus dazzling white; and then Moses and Elijah right there with him. Wow. That was an incredible day when I knew God was with us.
b. They knew they were in the midst of the holy that day.
  1. peter wants to stay in the moment.
  2. He suggests they build booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.
  3. You know, keep the holy thing going for awhile.
b. Look for those holy moments.
  1. those times when you can on exclaim “wow.”
  2. When the world seems to stop at the intersection of Holy road and you life.
Move 2: But, do not get so focused on finding the holy moments that you miss the holy one in your midst in everyday life.
a. the disciples had to come back down off the mountaintop
  1. They was work to be done.
  2. People to see.
  3. Places to go.
b. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, God is at work in the everyday routines of our lives.Move 3. Sharing the journey
a. Invitation to reflect on your own faith journey.
  1. Pat Conroy, the great Santini. Ben Meecham describes trying to pray to God despite the hatred he has for his father after his father's death. He decides that he has to re-imagine the God. “And what would this God be like, this God of Ben Meecham,...and in his mind Ben began to assemble the God he would speak to about his father...Ben would give him the sweetness of Lillian [his mother], the dark, honest eyes of Arrabelle (Negro house cleaner], the soft virility of Mr. Dacus [principal], the birthmark of Pinkie [friend] on his throat, and Ogden Loring's upcountry drawl. Ben would give him the shoulders of Virgil Hedgepath [his father's best friend], the innocence of Karen [younger sister], the spoon and tears of Mary Ann [sensitive sister], the high-pitched laugh of Sammy [his best friend], Matt's [his younger brother] intensity, and the loyalty of Gray [Toomer's dog]. And Ben would put this God on a street like River Street and he would have this God lift his voice in the holy song of Toomer. The hands of God would be bright with flowers that would never die and this God would sing and stutter and limp along an alleyway and pass judgment in the land beside the river...”
  2. Ben rehearses his life and discovers God in the people and events of his life.
b. Share with others.
  1. Baptism.
  2. Who will point out the holy moments to Georgie [the baby being baptized]?
  3. Who will tell her about Jesus' claim on her?
  4. We need people to help us recognize how God is at work in our lives.
  5. We need to be people who help others as we share our stories.
Move 4: Remember, it is God's journey
Is the story in 2 Kings the a story about the ending of Elijah's journey as he gets swept up in a whirlwind? Or is it a story about the beginning of Elisha's faith journey as he accepts the mantle of prophetic leadership.
Or is it God's story, and Elijah and Elisha play a part in it?


Friday, February 17, 2012

"The Journey Begins" Mark 9: 2-9 2 Kings 2: 1-12

During Lent, we will be exploring faith journey through the journey of Abram and Sarai.  This Sunday, Transfiguration Sunday, precedes Lent and gives me a chance to preach a prelude to the Lenten series.  The transfiguration has some of the disciples on a mountaintop watching Jesus turn dazzling white as Moses and Elijah join him there.  then, the disciples come off the mountain.  The story includes a mountaintop experience and the realization that they have to go back into the world.

The 2 Kings story has Elijah being swept up in a whirlwind and Elisha assuming the mantle of prophetic leadership.  If the story is about Elijah, it's the final step of his journey; if the story is about Elisha, it is the beginning of his journey as the lead prophet.

Faith journeys have beginnings and endings, new beginnings and then new endings.  There are mountaintop experiences followed by the need to go back to work.

with the 2 Kings passage, I've been playing with the question, "whose story is it?"  Is it Elijah's story of ending or Elisha's story of beginning?  Or is it simply God's story and Elijah and Elisha get to play a part in it.

We are also having an infant baptism, which speaks to journey in some ways.

I recently read The Great Santini, and was pondering Ben Meecham's (Santini's son) reflections as he ponders how he can pray to God in the face of his father's death and his anger at his father.  Ben decides that he can only do so when he envisions God differently.  he then describes the God he could pray to and notes the characteristics he has discovered in others that seem fitting of God.  it reminded me of the power of reflecting on our faith journeys to discover where we have uncovered God in the midst of our lives.

Not sure the point of the sermon exactly, but it feels like there is a sermon in here somewhere!

peace,

Richard

Monday, February 13, 2012

Youth Sunday Mark 1: 40-45

The youth did a terrific job yesterday leading worship. As I listened to the sermon on the leper, I was struck by several thoughts.

1.  As diverse as we may think we are when we look around the congregation and see people who have different interests and viewpoints, we are still much for demographically the same than diverse.  One of our youth preaching noted that we look pretty similar and asked how we can change that.  I think that's an important challenge for us to hear.

2.  One of our youth preaching made the point that the leper asked Jesus and that Jesus did not have to say yes.  I don't recall focusing on those points when I've read the passage previously.  It reminded me of the vulnerability of stepping out in faith and risking to trust in Jesus.  I am going to play with the idea of why Jesus said "yes" or what it would mean for Jesus to say "no."

3. As I heard them preach, I quickly scribbled notes for a series on "insiders" and "outsiders" in the Bible.  I think that could be an informative and meaningful sermon series in a time when our world seems to be getting more and more polarized and the points of separation seem to be growing.

4. Their prayer of confession also had me thinking about why it was important for the priest to declare the leper clean.

5. Listening to the text also made me want to preach on how compelled the leper was to tell everyone, even though Jesus asked him not to tell anyone.

A fruitful day for me as I heard our youth preach and lead us in worship.

Peace,

Richard

Monday, February 6, 2012

Reflections on "Following Jesus" I Corinthians 9: 19-23; Matthew 4: 18-22

The texts and topic were chosen before I attended lectures at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  the idea was to emphasize for the officers being ordained and installed that they have chosen to give up their freedom to serve in leadership and take on responsibility for the congregation.  While at the lectures, however, I heard a powerful comment on "Trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior..."  Since that is the first ordination question, I began to want to preach that on Sunday.  As I looked over the ordination questions, I was reminded that the new Form of Government in the Presbyterian Church (USA) adds "pray for" in the question about serving the people with energy, intelligence, creativity and love.  When I thought about the implications of that being asked, I realized that one of the ways the officers give up freedom is to commit to pray for the people of the congregation.  In my mind, that binds the officers to the members and forces responsibility.  Thus, the sermon shifted to what you read below..  Probably could/should have made it into two sermons, but instead I combined the compelling nature of Jesus' call and the responsibility that we take on in responding to God's call.   It also added to the sermon when I realized that the congregation also answers the "trust" question when they join and that they pledge to "pray" for the officers as part of the installation service.

Wish I had played with Paul's comment about doing it all for the "sake of the gospel," but will have to mine that phrase later.

Following Jesus” February 5, 2012; FPC, Troy

Introduction: There I was, at the first Session meeting I would moderate, ready to the work of the Church of Jesus Christ. Ready to lead the Session as we tackled the important issues of the church as we sought to proclaim the Gospel.

We spent more time talking about a piano that someone wanted to move than on anything else. The compromise that evening was that if the woman who wanted the piano moved could get it moved (it was a baby grand) then it was okay with the Session. The piano was moved the next week.

Next Session meeting. Someone wanted to donate a piano. Now we were discussing the critical issue of when a church should accept a donation, where the piano should go, and so on. The piano was received and it arrived the next week.

Next Session meeting. The woman wants the piano moved again for another program. Another lengthy discussion about the role of pianos and why we moved them. Finally, it was decided the woman could move the piano. It was moved the next week.

Next Session meeting. Another person wants to donate a piano. Another lengthy discussion. This time, the piano was not accepted.

Next Session meeting. The baby grand that has been moved twice; now there is a request to move it again. Another discussion about moving pianos. Another decision to allow the piano to be moved. Again, within a day or two of the Session meeting the piano is moved.

I now am beginning to think that if we do not quite having piano issues, I may not survive my first call. I'm beginning to wonder I'm thinking how many pianos to be donated can possibly exist in Mt. Sterling, KY. And how often do pianos need to be moved.
Things on the piano front settled down, helped in part by the decision to let the baby grand be moved any time it was needed to be moved, as long as the church did not spend any money on moving the piano.

Actually, I think the Session got tired of dealing with the piano because the woman who kept wanting the piano moved had a secret weapon. Anyone else who wanted to move a piano had the daunting task of finding people to move the piano.

But not her. She had a son who loved her very much. He had a farm with several employees who loved being employed. If she wanted the piano moved, she would pick up the phone and call her son. “David, “ 'yes, Mom.” “I need the piano at church moved.” “Again?” “Yes, David.” 'okay.”

and within the day, he would arrive with with workers and move the piano.

Who has the power to compel you to drop everything you are doing and go move a piano?

Or for that matter, who has the power the power to make you drop your nets, give up your livelihood and follow the guy calling you to go fish for people?

Move 1; Jesus calls the disciples and they drop their things and follow him.

a. I've always been fascinated by the calling of the twelve disciples.

    1. maybe they were looking for the Messiah.
    2. Maybe they were bored with their jobs.
    3. Maybe they had heard stories about Jesus.
    4. But imagine – he asks them to come with him and they drop everything and go.
      b. they take on discipleship.
              1. Discipleship brings with it an interesting paradox.
              2. Christ frees us from our sin, from the things that hold us back, even from death.
              3. And then he calls us to give ourselves over to the Him.
              4. To take on his ministry.
              5. We are freed; but then called to bind ourselves to Christ and his work.

Move 2: Do you trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior...?

a. Not do you believe that Jesus is the messiah.
    1. or do you believe that Jesus has performed miracles.
    2. Jesus did not ask the disciples who were fishing inf they believed in him.
    3. He asked them to follow.

      b. do you trust.
    1. Are you willing to commit?
    2. Are you willing to not just acknowledge who I am, but are you willing to act on it.
    3. Are you willing to follow me.

      By the way, you answer that question when you join the church as well.

      Move 3: My favorite question we ask our officers is "Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?"
a. In our previous form of government, this question read energy, intelligence, imagination and love.
    1. Still my favorite question.
    2. Asks a lot.
    3. Gets to the heart of things.  Reminder that we are asking our officers to give their all, to the core of who they are.

      b. “Pray for” is added
    1. Not just lead, not just be recognized as someone with responsibility, bind yourselves to the people of this congregation.
    1. Pray for them.
    1. When you hear someone complaining that their deacon didn't visit them, pray for them.
    1. When someone disagrees with what the Session did, pray for them.
      1. When you know someone is having a difficult medical battle, pray for them.
      1. let your leadership of the people be guided and undergirded by your prayers for them.
7. Oh, by the way, the congregation takes vows to pray for the officers as well!

Conclusion: Why did David move the piano for his mother? What else could he do. He loved her and wanted to please her.

Why follow Jesus? Because Jesus loves you and you want to please and serve him for the sake of the gospel.