Reflections on "Called by Name" Isaiah 43: 1-7; Acts 4: 5-14

When I read the Isaiah text (it's one of the lectionary texts for the day), I was captivated by the phrases "Called by name" and "you are mine."  The sermon ended up going in a bit of a different direction.  Not sure why, but that's how it went.  The first point worked well; second point not so much; third point had an interesting play between "called by name" and "in the name of Jesus Christ." I'm not sure the sermon held together with a consistent theme.

“Called by Name” January 10, 2016; Call Mini-series; Isaiah 43: 1-7; Acts 4: 5-14

Introduction: Lent, and then Easter, come early this year. Ash Wednesday is just a month or so away. AS we have done in recent years, we will spend Lent sharing a Lenten study with small groups and the sermon series.

In the few weeks before Lent, we will reflect on our sense of call.

As the prophet Isaiah reminds us this morning, our sense of call begins with God calling us by name.

No surprise that names play an important role. Names seem to be part of lots of the stories in the biblical record.

Christmas story – “Emmanuel” is the name the Gospel of Matthew gives to baby Jesus, with the powerful reminder that “Emmanuel” means, “God with us.”

Move back in the biblical story and we are discover how Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah when God claims them for a special role.

Or move forward from the Christmas story to when Saul, who had been persecuting Christians, has his conversion experience and becomes Paul, the great leader of Christians.

Move 1: Called by name

a. speaks to God's relationship with us.

1. In fact, biblical scholars note that Isaiah uses the idiom, “called by name” to express God's sovereignty (New Interpreter's Study Bible, notes on Isaiah 40:26)

2. Those whom God names, are connected to God who created them.
3. They (we) they literally owe our lives to God.

3. Called by name identifies the unique relationship that God has with us.
   b. an intimate relationship.
   1. A group of professionals posed the question "What does love mean?" to a group of 4- to 8-year-olds and the answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."

2. God calling us by name expresses God's love and desire to be in a relationship with us.
3. When God calls us by name, it is not the call to be in relationship with a dictator, or a person trying to force us into a slavery, or someone trying to gain power over us for their own selfish purposes.
4. God calls us by name out of love and a desire to bind us together in that love.

c. Comfort

1. Isaiah writes in a difficult time in Israel's life. They are unsure about their future and feel threatened (rightfully so).

2. Isaiah reminds the Israelites that God calls them by name to give them hope.
3. Isaiah ties this relationship to God's commitment to redeem and save Israel.

d. Might also be a bit scary to be called by name by God.

1. I have been Santa's helper a few times through the years. Dressing up like Santa to visit with kids on Santa's behalf.

I dressed up like Santa one year when we lived in KY. My oldest daughter was maybe four years old. I went and played Santa's helper at the local pre-school at their Christmas program.

After the program, I figured since I was dressed up as Santa, I might as well stop by and visit my daughter. I called my wife to let her know I would be coming home dressed up like that, and told her to have my daughter in the front room looking out the bay window.

I parked down the street and walked up to my house. Caitlin was in the front bay window and saw me coming.

She immediately grabbed hold of Leslie's leg and started saying something I could not hear.

Leslie walks to the front door with Caitlin clinging to her leg for dear life. Leslie opens the front door, at which time I try to alleviate my daughter’s fear by calling out “Caitlin, I just wanted to know where you lived so I could bring your presents fro Christmas.”

Now, the whimpering became a scream: “Santa knows my name. Santa knows where I live. Santa knows my name”

I make a hasty retreat with her words full of fear, “Santa knows my name” filling the neighborhood.

Christmas Eve she made us take cookies and orange juice for Santa and put it on the front sidewalk. She wanted no part of the Santa in her house, even if Santa knew her name.

2. It could be a bit terrifying for God to know us by name.
3. Maybe safer to keep a low profile and not be noticed.  
4. Sort of the sit at the back of the classroom with your head down low so the teacher never calls on you approach.
5. If God knows us by name, God might all on us to do something.
6. what expectations might God have for us?

God calls us by name, both a comfort and maybe a bit scary.

Move 2: Accept the call

a. Visiting one of our members in the hospital and the doctor came in later than expected. He apologized and then told us he had been running late.

He'd had to go to his youngest daughter's school to deal with an issue.

Little girl starting at a Catholic school, several older siblings; Third day of school, they won't serve her in the cafeteria because her name and money on her name is not in the computer. Long drawn out ordeal. Finally, they bring over older sister who notes that she is telling them the wrong name.

Apparently, the little sister prefers to ignore her name and use the make-believe name she has for herself.

But that won't get her lunch.

Her doctor father had to go to school to explain to his daughter that she has to use her correct name.

b. I suppose we can ignore the name by which God calls us.

1. and in doing so, turn away from this call God has for us.
2. But to respond to God calling us by name means giving ourselves over to the following where the one who calls us by name sends us.

Move 3: The one who calls us by name, also sends us out in the name of Jesus Christ.

a. That's what Peter is doing.

1. Peter knows the importance of being called by name. In the Gospel of Mark, we are told that when Jesus calls Peter to be one of his disciples, Peter is known as Simon, but Jesus tells him he will be called Peter.
2. Certain irony that Peter dares to speak Christ's name.

3. Remember Peter had gone from the important disciple, the rock on whom the church would be built, to Peter, the one who stays silent about his connection to Christ on the night that Jesus was arrested.
4. Three times the someone makes the connection between Peter and Christ; three times Peter denies and stays silent about his relationship with Christ.
5. But the resurrected Christ has forgiven Peter and sent him out to minister in his name.
   b. Peter does.
   1. he heals and teaches and invites people follow Christ.
   2. All that he does, he does in the name of Christ.
   3. when the authorities bring him up on charges and ask 'By what power or name do you do these things?” Peter's answer the name of Jesus Christ.”
   4. later in the story, the authorities are looking for a way out of this issue, the authorities basically say, “We'll let you go, but quit telling people that you are doing this in Jesus' name.”

5. To which Peter replies, “we cannot keep from speaking about Jesus and what Jesus has done.”
   6. the one who is called by name by God goes out into the world sharing the name of Christ.

Conclusion: The people called by name ministering in the name of the one who calls them.

That is our invitation.