Reflections on "Man of God" I Timothy 6: 11-16; I Kings 17: 8-24

As I mentioned in Thursday's blog, I began the sermon preparation with the idea and then sought out Scripture, which is a dangerous way to approach sermon writing because it can lead to shaping the text to what I want it to say, instead of the text shaping the sermon.  Additionally, I had the challenge of trying to make the sermon personal to Mario (our former youth intern who is about to be ordained), while also making it meaningful and accessible to all who gathered for worship.

I can't address how the second issue resolved itself, but I ended up preaching a sermon that meant a lot to me.  It felt very much like it was Richard preaching to Richard about the claim my call to ministry has on me.  I hope it worked that way for Mario and the others who gathered in worship with us.  In fact, I intended to have a very short sermon due to time constraints, but I could not contain myself and kept preaching!

“Man of God” June 22, 2014; I Timothy 6: 11-17; I Kings 17: 8-24; FPC, Troy; Mario Bolivar; Send-off service

Introduction: When I was growing up, and even when I was first in ministry, I thought "man of God," was about the highest compliment a person could pay another person.

it is not flowery, doesn't go on and on about the accomplishments and successes the person has, but declares that the person has lived a life that reflects their service to God.

I don't hear the term “man of God” much anymore. Maybe because it leaves little room for a woman of God.

Maybe because in our time of pushing everything to the limit, “man of God” seems rather simple.

I don't know. But as I reflected on our gathering this morning when we send two people from our midst, that is Mario, who has served with us for what seems like forever, and Mel, who is a member of this congregation, I thought about that term.

In the Old Testament, “Man of God” was used to describe people like Moses, or Samuel, or as we read this morning, Elijah.

Move 1: Elijah, the great prophet, is called a man of God.

a. Called “of God” because of expectations of others and what they have seen him do to mediate God for them.

1. Mario – as you enter the faith community in Skaneateles, you will discover that people have expectations of their newly ordained Teaching Elder.

2. they may overwhelm you with what they expect from their new Associate Pastor. Forget what the job description says – that's merely a list of tasks – what they want is for you to be someone who reveals to the them the love of Christ.

3. Much like when we call ourselves Christians. In a way, it is just a definition for those who follow Christ; but to a world who is looking for God's presence, those who claim the title Christian take on the responsibility of acting and speaking in ways that reveal Christ.

4. How many times have you heard people share the irony that the cranky driver who just angrily cut them off has a fish symbolizing their Christian faith on their bumper.'

5. perhaps the worst traffic jam I have been in here in Troy was the night of some Christian concern at Hobart. It was clearly the wrong time to be traveling down Market St.. So many honked horns; so much frustration; I had to laugh when I realized that it was a bunch of people who follow Christ acting so angrily toward one another.

6. But recognize that beneath the stories of drivers who actions do not reflect the Christian symbol on their bumper is the expectation that Christians be different as we seek to mediate God's life-saving grace to the world.

b. How did Elijah live out his calling as a “man of God?”

1. sometimes he was very dramatic.

2. he brought fire down from heaven to burn the sacrifice when challenged by the prophets of Baal;

3. Mario – you have a flair for the dramatic – not sure you'll have a sacrifice burning contest with the prophets of Baal, but do not be afraid to boldly proclaim the gospel.

c. Elijah stood up for God in a world of changing alliances and leaders.

1. In the time of Elijah, Israel was going through different leaders and changes.

2.  Into that time of change and confusion, Elijah sought to bring God's word to God's people.

3.  In our world that seems to be full of rapid change, there is a need for people to share God's word and reveal God's grace to the world.

4.  a challenge for each of us as we live out our calling – a challenge that will be in the forefront of Mario's work as an Associate Pastor, articulatory with the youth.

5. The youth who will be trying to figure out who God is in their generation will need leaders to help them in that endeavor.

500. King Ahab addresses Elijah: “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” (I Kings 18: 17)

1. Elijah, the one who pushes and prods God's people.

2. Elijah who calls the leaders of Israel to accountability.

3. Elijah who will get in trouble for reminding people of God's expectations of them.

e. in the passage we read today he brings life-saving grace to the widow.

1. She has invited Elijah into her home and now she needs God's help as her son is in trouble.

2. Elijah offers God's healing powers to her.

2. We may spend our whole lives of discipleship and not have something that incredible happen;
3. Mario may retire from ministry without ever having been involved in something like that.
4. But, you will be invited into people's homes and lives; you will be looked to with the hope that they will discover God's life-saving grace with you.

Move 2: Man of God.

a. Colleague in ministry shopping story (in seminary, I was in a prayer group, and then after seminary we wrote letters – now emails – sharing stories from our ministry).

1. Friends ran into a member of the congregation she served in the aisle at the grocery store.

2. “what are you doing here? I didn't know you went to the grocery store!”
3. As if it never occurred to the member that my friend, her minister, had to buy food, and then cook it to eat dinner. She probably did the dishes as well.

3. A few years ago, one of our young disciples thought of me as God. She would come to church and if she didn't see me would ask, “where is God?”
4. She arrived on Vacation Bible School to find me wearing shorts, sandals, and an Hawaiian shirt. She blurted out in amazement: “Look, God is in shorts!” She has since grown out of that skewed understanding of God!

4. In Skaneateles, kids may grow up in that congregation believing God speaks with a Colombian accent.

b. But none of us is God.

1. Elijah was a “man of God.”

he also pouted on occasion, got frustrated with God and with God's people.

3. Later in the story, he will run away.

3. In the story we read this morning, he is staying with the woman because he has gone into hiding.

5. Even on our best day, we can only hope to mediate God's presence for those around us.

c. Mario – as you serve the community of faith in Skaneateles, they will discover your vulnerabilities and inabilities, even as they will celebrate your gifts.

1. But it is in our humanity that we connect with others.
2. As they learn to laugh with you (at maybe at you); as you make mistakes and achieve your goals; as you share tears with others; in those moments when your humanity is fully revealed, you will be able to invite people to know the God who loves us in the fullness of our humanity.

5. that is what we do as a community of faith – connect with each other in our humanity as we seek God's life-saving grace.

Move 3: Interesting shift in I Timothy.

a. Shift from man of God being someone like the prophet Elijah to a member of the faith community.

1. for Paul, anyone and everyone in the faith community, should seek to be a “man of God.”

2. a person worthy of their calling as disciples of Christ.

b. As Mario leaves our midst, we send gifts with him and the promise to pray for him and support him.

1. But we also send those gifts as a from of blackmail.
2. The reminder to Mario that we who have nurtured him; we who have identified gifts for ordained ministry in him; we who will continue to pray for him; we have expectations of him.
3. Mario, we expect you to work at being a “man of God.”
4. Indeed, that is the expectation Paul has for each of us. That we will be men and women of God.

Amen.