Not sure how well the sermon worked, but it went like I had it planned. I had a very different approach to Trinity Sunday than I have tried in the past.
“What a God” May 30, 2021; Trinity Sunday; SAPC, Denton; Dr. Richard B. Culp; Psalm 29; John 3: 1-17
John 3: 1-17: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”[b] 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born from above.’[e] 8 The wind[f] blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you[g] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[h] 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[i]
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Introduction: On this Trinity Sunday, i am not going to try and explain or make sense of the Trinity, God in three persons. Some years, maybe even once or twice here, I have stood in the pulpit and announced that I had an idea of how to understand the Trinity. Not this year!
I’m not going to not explain the Trinity! I’ve done that before, too. Explain that we cannot explain the Trinity and the shift to the mystery of God.
No explanation; no mystery; just two passages from the lectionary that we heard read, and now I
Instead, I want us to look at the two passages we read and follow their lead in what I hope is Trinitarian fashion.
Move 1: Psalm 29 shows us how to ascribe.
a. Ascribe - no a word we use very often (or at least I do not)
1. Ascribe is to lift up our praises.
2. Distinction between ascription and description.
3. We can describe something without being invested in it, giving a disinterested, objective account.
4. To “ascribe to the Lord,” however, as Psalm 29 does is to offer to God “praises and thanksgiving because the Lord is worthy of such honor “
b. To understand the high praise the psalmist offers, we look to the illustration of the cedar trees
1. The cedar tree in the ancient Near East was both a source of pride for the tribes in the region as well as a symbol of wealth and power.
2. It would not be uncommon to refer to kings and other powerful people in that time as “cedar trees.”
3. the psalmist uses the image of the cedar trees in singing praise to God by noting that God can break the cedar trees.
4. “The ascription is a declaration that the human sources of power and wealth are mere kindling and splinters before God.” By Michael Fitzpatrick. Posted 23 May 2021. JOURNEY WITH JESUS
A WEEKLY WEBZINE FOR THE GLOBAL CHURCH, SINCE 2004; https://www.journeywithjesus.net/lectionary-essays/current-essay
5. We might also note that this praise not only describe God’s glories, but points out the relationship between humanity and God.
7. We are the ones who are claimed by God almighty and praise God in response.
b. This is the time of year when praise is lifted
1. Memorial day - stories are told; tributes are paid to those who have died in the service to our country.
2. Graduation time - not just describing the things the graduate has done over the last 12 years, but giving voice to our praises about the graduate.
3. Wedding time - best men and maids (or matrons) of honor are lifting a glass as they sing the praises (maybe a funny story too) about the bride and groom.
part of what we are doing today is ascribing to God’s glory.
Move 2: Move to the story of Nicodemus we encounter in the Gsopel of John and the way it describes God.
a. do not get lost in Nicodemus’ questions, or even Jesus’ cryptic answer, but back and forth banter Jesus has with Nicodemus, but instead notice how Jesus describes God at work.
b. . God is the one whom we meet as the Spirit of God.
1. How can a person be born from above? or born again as our evangelical friends translate that passage?
2. Only by the power of Holy Spirit.
3. Unless Nicodemus allows God to change his whole way of being in the world, he will not be able to perceive God at work. (The Word Disclosed, [St. Louis, Missouri: CBP Press, 1987], p. 27). [https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/the-holy-trinity-2/commentary-on-john-31-17-8;
Judith Jones, Vicar, St. Stephen & St. Luke by the Sea Episcopal Churches Waldport, Ore., United States; May 27, 2018]
4. The power to make us into the new creations God calls us to be comes by the Holy Spirit.
5. God the Holy Spirit at work in our lives and our world..
c. Nicodemus already knows Jesus, who is standing there before him.
1. But he does not fully understand that Jesus is God’s very own flesh who has come into the world.
2. The God who chooses to comes again us, does so in Christ. If it were not so, Jesus would not be standing there having this conversation with Nicodemus.
3. Jesus also points out that he will be lifted up and ascend to heaven - living for and dying for all of humanity, and being resurrected to bring an end to sin and death’s reign in the world.
4. We may not be able to determine completely who Jesus is, but who we are is determined by Jesus. (Gail O’Day, as quoted by (The Word Disclosed, [St. Louis, Missouri: CBP Press, 1987], p. 27). [https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/the-holy-trinity-2/commentary-on-john-31-17-8;
Judith Jones, Vicar, St. Stephen & St. Luke by the Sea Episcopal Churches Waldport, Ore., United States; May 27, 2018]
4. God the Son at work in our lives and our world.
d. Jesus also speaks of God as the Father, the one who sent his son to save the world.
1. That not only speaks to the relatinoship between God and Jesus, but points out God’s desire - to save.
3. We remember John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
4. but do not forget what follows in 3:17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
5. God the creator intends to redeem and save the world.
God Almighty at work in our lives and our world.
move 3: Now we tie the two readings together - ascribe, or sing praises to the God we know in Trinitarian fashion - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
a. What praises might you sing out for how you known God the Almighty?
1. Look back over your life, when have you felt God’s love and grace?
2. what does it mean to you that you are in relationship with the one who created you?
3. if you were the psalmist, how would you give voice to that praise?
b. What praises would you lift up for the way you have experienced Jesus Christ in your life?
1. In what ways has being invited into a relationship with Christ impacted your life?
2. Christ has called you to follow him - how has that changed how you live your life.
3. What praises would you sing?
c. Holy Spirit
1. How have you been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit?
2. What examples of being new creations can you see in your life?
3. Sing praises to God for how God’s power to transform has been experienced in your life.
Conclusion: Finish with a homework assignment - go and share with others this afternoon,
or go off and reflect on your own
and lift your praises to God the Father,
God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit.
The Trinitarian God who called you into being, who offers you and all the world salvation, who continues to transform your life.
What a God! Amen.
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