There are many stories that get passed around in preaching circles. Stories that are heartwarming or have a fine lesson to teach. Here's an old one...
It is a "true" story about a nine year old boy who lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the community.
A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor.
The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to take care of his little brother. The bus pastor couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it. The youngster gave the same answer and the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him.
They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the foam and springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the kid, "Where do you go to church?" The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been to church in my whole life."
The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house. "Are you sure you have never been to church?" he asked again.
"I sure haven't", came his answer. Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son, more important than going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old boy.
The boy listened as the bus pastor talked about Jesus and his teachings. He was attentive as he heard about the man who loved everyone, cared for everyone, but had been killed and raised back to life by God his Father. He was in awe when the bus pastor told him that Jesus was his friend and would walk with him, love him, guide him and strengthen him if he opened up his heart to Jesus and made the simple way of Jesus the choice for his life.
They prayed together and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the boys up for church the next morning. "Sure", the nine-year-old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and picked both boys up.
Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before.
The church was a big one. The little kid just sat there, clueless of what was going on. A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates. One of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched them walk up and down the aisles.
He still didn't know what was going on.
All of a sudden, it was like a bolt of lightning hit the kid to what was taking place. “These people must be giving money to Jesus.” He then reflected on the free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus. By this time the offering plate was being
passed down his aisle and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle.
He turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one more time.
Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of. He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped into the center of it.
As he stood there, he lifted his little head up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give you today, but just me. I Give You Me!”
I have suspicions this is not a “true” story in the sense that it happened in Tennessee one weekend. I am confident that it expresses a deep truth about how we are to live as followers of Jesus Christ.
True worship is us coming here determined to give ourselves, our lives and our loves to God. True worship is coming together to please God.
I’d like to take just a minute and think this one through. True worship is coming together to please God.
As I’ve participated in worship for a lifetime and observed the winds of change blowing through worship the last thrity years, I’ve come to the conclusion most of us don’t come to worship with the primary purpose of gathering together in order to please God.
As I walk into a church I begin a critical survey: do I like the way the building and grounds look? When I had young children and went into a new church I wanted to know where the nursery was and how to find the sanctuary. You’d be surprised how hard it is to find the sanctuary in some churches.
I’d walk into the sanctuary and continue checking off my list.
Now, before you start thinking, “Man, that Julia is one tough customer!” Ask yourself this: how many Sundays do you sit through worship checking off your own list?
From the minute you get the bulletin in your hand: do I like the songs we’re going to sing? Is the temperature the way I like it? Are there too many squirmy children in here? Not enough children in here? Those parents don’t seem to be strict enough? Those parents could loosen up a bit. Wow, there’s too many old people?
There’s a drumset! There’s a drumset? There’s an organ? There’s an organ!
What does Janet have on today? Do I like the way Julia’s hair is? Did we start at 10:30 or 10:32? Were the announcements too long? Were the prayers too long? Was the sermon too long? Were the songs too long? Am I going to be stuck here too long?
Perhaps this is just human nature: the constant pulse-checking to see if everything is pleasing to me. If I am satisfied. If I am happy.
And really, when we’re shopping for a car or shampoo or a shirt, it should be about what I like what is pleasing to me. But isn’t worship something different than yet another consumer experience?
What if along with all the self-assessment and checking to see if we were pleased, we looked with the eyes of God upon this gathering...and asked ourselves from time to time: is God pleased with our offering of worship this morning? God is pleased if we have come to sacrifice ourselves. To lay ourselves at God’s feet. To offer our whole selves in service to God and the Kingdom of God.
SO...Have we walked into this place with hearts that are full of thanksgiving? Thanksgiving that we are able to be here one more Sunday. Thanksgiving that in this place we are safe and loved and people know us. Thanksgiving that God has fed us one more week, put clothes on our backs, a roof over our head?
Are we full of praise and joy that our musicians, with love for God in their hearts, have brought their gift here to share with us. Are we full of praise that there are children and parents here, who hassle through getting everybody ready to go one more day each week because GOD matters to them. Even if all the parenting isn’t figured out and all the self-control the children will one day have isn’t yet present. Have we come with respect and interest in the lives of the older folks who have made this place their weekly pilgrimage for 50 years?
Are we here with hearts full of gratitude for the strength we have in Christ Jesus? Are we filled with the power of Jesus to overcome evil and oppression? Are we the embodiment of love and generosity?
Are we here to fulfill a one-hour obligation? Or to enjoy being together in this beautiful space with people we care about preparing our hearts for one more week of faithful living.
Are we here looking to please ourselves? Or are we here looking for all the ways we can and do please God in this time of worship?
Our Scripture lesson for today tells us what is holy and pleasing to God: the sacrifice of ourselves.
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Your sight, your ears, your mouth, your hands, your feet, your mind, your bodies: given as your offering...a living sacrifice...holy and pleasing to God.
So far we have only talked about the worship that takes place in here on Sunday morning...but surely our living sacrifice, the true and pleasing worship Paul is talking about has to take place in the streets and office buildings and schools and homes outside our doors. What might living sacrifice as worship look like out there?
I’d like to share with you one more story: it is from a book called Irresistible Revolution by a young man named Shane Claiborne.
When we was in college he and his friends heard about 40 homeless families who were living in an abandoned cathedral, St. Edwards, in North Philadelphia. These families were on waiting lists for housing, but the housing never came. They had lived in tent cities, but the flooding and rats made that an impossible options. They moved into the abandoned cathedral in an attempt to be more visible to the community and safer for their families.
The Catholic archdiocese which owned the property gave them 48 hours to get out or face arrest.
The college students who read about this situation had been trying to combine their faith with their lives, to be living sacrifices. And while they didn’t know what to do, they sensed they needed to go the cathedral and meet the people living there.
When they got to the cathedral they discovered a huge complex that took up an entire block with sanctuary, educational building, rectory and convent...all empty. The homeless had set up their shantytown in the massive sanctuary. When the college students arrived at the huge wooden doors they read this banner: “How can we worship a homeless man on Sunday and ignore one on Monday?” They were talking about Jesus.
After knocking on the door, the students were let in, embraced, and given a tour. That evening when they returned to their dorms, they put up posters calling for a meeting. The poster read: jesus is getting kicked out of church in north Philly.” They expected a handful of friends to show up and strategize...they got over a hundred.
The decision was made that the students would be there at St. Edwards with the homeless families until the eviction hour came. If the homeless families got arrested, the police would have to take the students too. The story shifted and became one of interest to the media.
As the forty-eight hour approached, the students gathered with the homeless, the crowds who had read or heard the story were gathered outside. The officials from the archdiocese pulled up, saw the crowds, got back in their cars and left.
Well. One hurdle had been cleared, but the struggle was far from over. In the days and weeks ahead, the students took turns staying at St. Ed’s. At one point, the edict was issued that the fire marshall would be coming to do an inspection, knowing that any fire inspection would fail and give the city the “right” to evict the homeless for their own safety.
The night before the fire marshall was to arrive, there was a knock at the door: two firemen were standing there. Terrified the fire inspection was going to start in the middle of the night, the students let the firemen in and started talking defensively in circles around them. The firemen interrupted and said, “we are here against orders. We know what they will be looking for and we’ve come to help you bring this space up to code, so that you will pass the inspection tomorrow.”
They gave them smoke detection systems, exit signs and fire extinguishers. When the marshall came the next day, St. Ed’s passed its inspection. The homeless people could make their home there for a while longer.
The students and homeless started having worship each Sunday. Because of the media attention, gospel choirs came and sang, catholic priests came in to celebrate the liturgy, homeless kids and their mothers preached...and they became a church.
The adventure of St. Ed’s ended with families holding a press conference. Many of them had received housing as people saw it on the news and donated homes, as city agencies were persuaded to provide housing and as friends pulled together to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Homelessness was not eradicated in Philadelphia...but hundreds of hearts were set on fire with love for God and love for neighbor.
People made living sacrifices of their lives...and in so doing were utterly pleasing to God.
That was their call. Andy they responded.
What is our call? And how will we respond?
Monday, August 29, 2011
Gina Morris and Vernon Stiltz: The Wedding Message (August 27, 2011/Douglas Avenue UMC)
Gina, I’ve know you for six years, and you are one of the funniest people I have ever met. Your wit is quick and sharp and funny! And I love watching Vern watch you...you make this man smile and laugh!
We can’t get too far into this message before I state the obvious: Gina, you are an important part of this church family and we are so pleased to share this day with you. I probably ought to warn Vern: you aren’t just gaining a mother-in-law who is called “the Church Lady.” (Frankly, just gaining Carol would be trouble enough!) But, you are inheriting a whole church full of church ladies, and as every pastor will tell you: don’t mess with the church ladies! They will love you fiercely and claim you as their own. Here’s my solemn promise to you: As long as Gina’s happy, they’ll be happy and everything will be fine!
Vern, you are a gifted mechanic...in fact, both you and Gina are amazing to me. Your ability to take what is broken, evaluate the problem and then solve it is a gift. I’m guessing that in the course of your years of fixing things, large and small, you’ve discovered that the best form of prevention is regular maintenance. An engine without regular oil changes or that runs out of oil is in danger.
Marriage is kind of like that. Just as a car or a lawn mower won’t run without being tended and maintained, so, too, a marriage.
Maintenance in marriage takes the form of frequent conversation, regular dates for fun, eye contact and long kisses. It can be working together on a project, playing with friends and just hanging out. Maintenance is making sure that the dreams and desires of your partner are remembered and discussed as you build a life together and reach for those goals.
But even a well-maintained motor sometimes needs more than a quart of oil. When you hit those times, do what you do now: examine and find where the relationship has broken down, evaluate the problem, and proceed with the repair. If you get to a place where you don’t how to move forward, ask a friend for advice or break out the manual.
For Christians, our “manual” is the Word of God, the Bible. The passage I just read is from the Bible and it tells us how to love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
When you’ve hit a rough spot, as every marriage does, re-read that passage of Scripture and ask yourself: Have I been patient? Have I been kind? Have I been rude? (Note: this is not, Ask yourself, “Has he been patient? Has she been kind?) The only person you have control over is you. So, examine your behavior: Have I been easily-angered? Have I been remembering past hurts and throwing them into the conversation? Am I delighting in Gina? Am I protecting Vern? Am I trustworthy? Am I placing my trust in my husband? In my wife? Am I keeping the hope we have to be married forever alive? Am I determined to let love win?
It seems wherever I go these days I see the following little poem stitched into pillows and sent in emails and posted on facebook. It reads:
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching.
I love that! The problem, of course, is that we do need money, we have been hurt, and someone is always watching.
Would any of us work if we didn’t need money? And dancing? I hope at least for today you have a great time dancing even with everyone watching!
But love and hurt? Who can forget the hurts that have shaped our hearts? I can't tell you how to love; I celebrate that it is love that has brought you here today. But I will say that the best lovers and most compassionate people are those who have been hurt, who are sensitive to danger, who
have known the power of cruel words and actions, and because of that sorrow, as those who have been hurt, act in such a way as to spare those whom they love.
All the events of your lives, good, bad and otherwise, work together to make each of us the person we are today. My prayer for you is that life’s lessons have given you wisdom, softened your hearts, taught you humility, made you vulnerable to one another and drawn you closer to God. It is my hope that you will have a strong love like that. One that tenderly protects, gently speaks, deeply listens and laughs every day. (I’m not too worried about the laughter!)
Vern and Gina... From this day forward, you will no longer be two individuals in a relationship. You will become each other's family. Today you proclaim that you have chosen each other. Your first allegiance, after loving God, is to one another. The bond you enter into is an expression of your love and your will. Not just your feelings, but also the choices you make.
Today, each of you are stating to the world, that you are putting your partner's needs before you own. That you are committing to the growth and well-being of your partner. That you are pledging your love and support for each other at all times. That under all circumstances, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, you will put each other's needs before your own.
These are not things that can be mandated by the state. Signing the marriage certificate after the service won’t make it so. These are not things that can be dictated by legal contract.... These are pledges you make in your hearts, with your hearts. My best wisdom for you is this: A heart in tune with God is best prepared to love, to forgive, to heal and to grow. My hope for you is that you will love God, be loved by God and from that endless source of love you will continue to fall in love with each through the years ahead. Amen.
We can’t get too far into this message before I state the obvious: Gina, you are an important part of this church family and we are so pleased to share this day with you. I probably ought to warn Vern: you aren’t just gaining a mother-in-law who is called “the Church Lady.” (Frankly, just gaining Carol would be trouble enough!) But, you are inheriting a whole church full of church ladies, and as every pastor will tell you: don’t mess with the church ladies! They will love you fiercely and claim you as their own. Here’s my solemn promise to you: As long as Gina’s happy, they’ll be happy and everything will be fine!
Vern, you are a gifted mechanic...in fact, both you and Gina are amazing to me. Your ability to take what is broken, evaluate the problem and then solve it is a gift. I’m guessing that in the course of your years of fixing things, large and small, you’ve discovered that the best form of prevention is regular maintenance. An engine without regular oil changes or that runs out of oil is in danger.
Marriage is kind of like that. Just as a car or a lawn mower won’t run without being tended and maintained, so, too, a marriage.
Maintenance in marriage takes the form of frequent conversation, regular dates for fun, eye contact and long kisses. It can be working together on a project, playing with friends and just hanging out. Maintenance is making sure that the dreams and desires of your partner are remembered and discussed as you build a life together and reach for those goals.
But even a well-maintained motor sometimes needs more than a quart of oil. When you hit those times, do what you do now: examine and find where the relationship has broken down, evaluate the problem, and proceed with the repair. If you get to a place where you don’t how to move forward, ask a friend for advice or break out the manual.
For Christians, our “manual” is the Word of God, the Bible. The passage I just read is from the Bible and it tells us how to love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
When you’ve hit a rough spot, as every marriage does, re-read that passage of Scripture and ask yourself: Have I been patient? Have I been kind? Have I been rude? (Note: this is not, Ask yourself, “Has he been patient? Has she been kind?) The only person you have control over is you. So, examine your behavior: Have I been easily-angered? Have I been remembering past hurts and throwing them into the conversation? Am I delighting in Gina? Am I protecting Vern? Am I trustworthy? Am I placing my trust in my husband? In my wife? Am I keeping the hope we have to be married forever alive? Am I determined to let love win?
It seems wherever I go these days I see the following little poem stitched into pillows and sent in emails and posted on facebook. It reads:
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching.
I love that! The problem, of course, is that we do need money, we have been hurt, and someone is always watching.
Would any of us work if we didn’t need money? And dancing? I hope at least for today you have a great time dancing even with everyone watching!
But love and hurt? Who can forget the hurts that have shaped our hearts? I can't tell you how to love; I celebrate that it is love that has brought you here today. But I will say that the best lovers and most compassionate people are those who have been hurt, who are sensitive to danger, who
have known the power of cruel words and actions, and because of that sorrow, as those who have been hurt, act in such a way as to spare those whom they love.
All the events of your lives, good, bad and otherwise, work together to make each of us the person we are today. My prayer for you is that life’s lessons have given you wisdom, softened your hearts, taught you humility, made you vulnerable to one another and drawn you closer to God. It is my hope that you will have a strong love like that. One that tenderly protects, gently speaks, deeply listens and laughs every day. (I’m not too worried about the laughter!)
Vern and Gina... From this day forward, you will no longer be two individuals in a relationship. You will become each other's family. Today you proclaim that you have chosen each other. Your first allegiance, after loving God, is to one another. The bond you enter into is an expression of your love and your will. Not just your feelings, but also the choices you make.
Today, each of you are stating to the world, that you are putting your partner's needs before you own. That you are committing to the growth and well-being of your partner. That you are pledging your love and support for each other at all times. That under all circumstances, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, you will put each other's needs before your own.
These are not things that can be mandated by the state. Signing the marriage certificate after the service won’t make it so. These are not things that can be dictated by legal contract.... These are pledges you make in your hearts, with your hearts. My best wisdom for you is this: A heart in tune with God is best prepared to love, to forgive, to heal and to grow. My hope for you is that you will love God, be loved by God and from that endless source of love you will continue to fall in love with each through the years ahead. Amen.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Ministry in the Trenches
Yesterday was hard.
It wasn't worship or preaching that was hard. Preaching just makes me tired. It wasn't being the target for water balloons to raise money to help Chad go to Mali with the Peace Corps that was difficult. That made me happy. It wasn't even missing lunch. That made me hungry.
Being helpless. That's what was hard.
Ministry is a call to DO SOMETHING for God's sake.
It is great to do something. Very rewarding. Action and service. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Love is a verb!
Failing to protect and provide for a couple kids I know is painful. Leaving them in a situation that isn't quite criminal, but that is far from nurturing and whole is migraine inducing. Watching them do the best they can with so few resources and so few advocates is simply heart-wrenching.
So where's the gospel in this story? Where is the One who came to set the prisoner free? To give release to the captives?
Banging Head Against Wall. That doesn't feel so much like ministry. Choosing the better of two bad options. That doesn't feel like victory. Hands Tied. That doesn't feel like freedom.
I don't know how social workers do this every day. Child after child. Desperate situation after desperate situation. How did Mother Theresa keep stepping into the abyss of death and never lose her faith in new life?
How does God bear this world's brokenness?
Maybe I am only capable of suburban, middle-class, civic Christianity...in which feeling good is god* enough? (*yes. god.) A Christianity in which poverty is held at bay and real suffering is kept at a distance? A Christianity in which I am a tourist into those dark places where humanity reeks of body odor and broken spirits?
It's my helplessness that is so hard to handle. Or is it my fear that God is the helpless One?
What would it mean to worship a God who is all-loving, but, in honor of human freedom, has abdicated omnipotence?
Prayer: In our helplessness, let us weep together, God. Into my profound impotence, remind me of your power. In the middle of this hopelessness, give me a hand to hold onto. Amen.
It wasn't worship or preaching that was hard. Preaching just makes me tired. It wasn't being the target for water balloons to raise money to help Chad go to Mali with the Peace Corps that was difficult. That made me happy. It wasn't even missing lunch. That made me hungry.
Being helpless. That's what was hard.
Ministry is a call to DO SOMETHING for God's sake.
It is great to do something. Very rewarding. Action and service. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. Love is a verb!
Failing to protect and provide for a couple kids I know is painful. Leaving them in a situation that isn't quite criminal, but that is far from nurturing and whole is migraine inducing. Watching them do the best they can with so few resources and so few advocates is simply heart-wrenching.
So where's the gospel in this story? Where is the One who came to set the prisoner free? To give release to the captives?
Banging Head Against Wall. That doesn't feel so much like ministry. Choosing the better of two bad options. That doesn't feel like victory. Hands Tied. That doesn't feel like freedom.
I don't know how social workers do this every day. Child after child. Desperate situation after desperate situation. How did Mother Theresa keep stepping into the abyss of death and never lose her faith in new life?
How does God bear this world's brokenness?
Maybe I am only capable of suburban, middle-class, civic Christianity...in which feeling good is god* enough? (*yes. god.) A Christianity in which poverty is held at bay and real suffering is kept at a distance? A Christianity in which I am a tourist into those dark places where humanity reeks of body odor and broken spirits?
It's my helplessness that is so hard to handle. Or is it my fear that God is the helpless One?
What would it mean to worship a God who is all-loving, but, in honor of human freedom, has abdicated omnipotence?
Prayer: In our helplessness, let us weep together, God. Into my profound impotence, remind me of your power. In the middle of this hopelessness, give me a hand to hold onto. Amen.
Sermon, August 21, 2011/Matthew 16:13-20
There is a popular tv show called “Who Do You Think You Are?” It is a geneology show. It has taken celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Ashley Judd, Spike Lee, Tim McGraw. They start rooting around to find out who their ancestors are. Frequently there are discoveries made that are very interesting.
TAGLINE: “To know who you are, you have to know where you came from.”
In my own family tree I know which town in Germany some of my ancestors came from. I know some of them were musicians and weavers. Basic information. Normal lives. But it is interesting to imagine. I have photos of family members from around the civil war era.
How many of you have done family trees? Researched your own heritage? Did you find out anything of interest?
Well, truth is...if it’s about us in some way...it’s interesting. Every little thing we know about ourselves forms our identity, shapes our understanding of who we are.
Tim McGraw, as an 11-year old boy, saw his birth certificate and in the place where the father’s name is written, he discovered that his father’s surname, as typed in by the hospital, was McGraw. Someone had put a line through that name and handwritten “Smith” above it. Tim McGraw went on to learn that his father was Tug McGraw, a professional baseball player, a major league pitcher.
Knowing that his father was a successful ball player opened up a degree of possibility for Tim’s own life. Knowing that his father was someone, helped him imagine bigger dreams for himself.
How about you? Does what you know about your family tree shape you? Where have you come from? Where are you going? Who will you be? What is your identity?
WHO ARE YOU?
In our Scripture passage for today the questions swirling around are Identity questions.
Jesus asks his disciples this question: Who do people say that I am?
He is looking for his identity within his community. Apparently this was and is typical of middle-eastern communities...Identity comes from who your people say you are. Identity isn’t something you discover or forge, it is found in relationship to the people around you. Reputation matters. What people say and think about you is important.
Well, we are a highly individualistic society, but, really, that mediterranean perspective is not so very different from our take on things. As children in school, we name people: jocks, geeks, preps, stoners, mean kids...we place an identity on them, we find our identity with them.
I was proudly a band nerd in high school. I got my identity from hanging out in the band room, hanging out with the band kids, doing band things. I knew who I was. I was also the good girl...strongly christian, strongly active in my church. That was part of my identity. I was also part of my family...the Atkinsons. My dad was an engineer, my mom was a beautician. My dad made signs for people, my mom led the youth group. My identity was wrapped up to some degree with my family’s identity.
As we get older, the questions about who we are are a little different, but we are still desperately interested in knowing what people think about us, how we are perceived.
“what did he say about me?” what did they say about me? What does she think of me?
TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY: If you asked your friends to describe you, what three words might they use?
I didn’t have an answer for that. I don’t know what three words people would use to describe me, but I was very interested in knowing.
I have probably lost some of you for the rest of the sermon...as you ponder what your friends think about you...who you are.
So Jesus, in human fashion, asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
The disciples blurt out their answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or another prophet.
Jesus doesn’t get sidetracked by this information that reveals people have not caught on to his true and eternal identity. He dismisses that answer and presses on:
Who do you say that I am?
It would be so great to have heard some of the other disciples answer this question, but Peter impulsively replies: you are the Messiah, son of the Living God.
That’s a big answer. Matthew...writing to the Jewish community. Trying to persuade them that Jesus is the Messiah, the one mentioned by prophets, longed for by the faithful...Jesus is the Messiah. First time this description is used in the book of Matthew. Actually only used three times in the whole book.
You are the Messiah: the one who will bring peace. the one who will sit on the throne of David. The one who restore the Kingdom and the land given to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jospeh. You are the MESSIAH>
JESUS doesn’t linger here. Or explain or strut. He turns this proclamation around on Peter.
But then the most interesting thing occurs: Jesus turns that answer around and tells Peter who he is.
You are the ROCK. Peter? Really?
Jesus tells Peter who he is.
Have you ever experienced that? Someone telling you who you are? A teacher who saw something in you that you didn’t know was there?
THE HELP: Aibilene, Mae Mobley, “You are Smart, You are Pretty. You are Important.”
Isn’t that kind of what Jesus does for Peter?
You are a Rock. You are a Leader. You are Able.
Isn’t our best identity, our best self-awareness going to come from God? Isn’t God, the one who created us in God’s image, breathed into us the breath of life, set creation in motion with a word, isn’t God the best one to tell us who we are?
How long have you listened to lesser voices than God telling you who you are, how you’re supposed to live, what you’re supposed to do?
What if we, like Peter, listened for God to tell us who our best self is? What if we saw our clearest reflection of self in the reflection of Jesus?
Lowney, Chris. Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World.
It is a book about the management style of the Jesuits, an organization within the Roman Catholic church. The author, trained as a Jesuit before leaving for a career as an investment banker, makes the case that the thing which has allowed the Jesuits to be a successful 450 year old company, is their focus first of all not on what they do, but on who they are.
Their core strength as an organization originates not in their mission, but in developing self-awareness. Every Jesuit goes through a long period of formation including spiritual exercises which help them understand their strengths, weaknesses, values and worldview.
The Jesuits use a daily prayer of self-examination, which asks things like:
· [God,] When did I sense your presence the most in my day?
· When did your presence seem farthest away from me in my day?
· How were you loving me in my day?
· How were you loving me even when your presence seemed far away?
· How did I respond to your love in my day?
Our identity is a reflection of Jesus: Who was Jesus?
Peacemaker
Kingdom builder
Healer
Sufferer (following scripture reveals how unclear Peter is …
On the side of the poor, outcast, sinner
Pray-er
Who did Jesus say we were? Light, Salt, Friend, Sheep
CHRISTIAN TAGLINE:
“To know who you are, you have to know who God is calling you to become.”
Our identity is in our future selves, more than in our past selves. And if you aren’t quite there yet...no worries. God is able.
You are faithful. You are compassionate. Your are generous. You Peacemakers. You are Kingdom builders. You are Pray-ers. You are Sons and Daughters of the Living God. You are important.
TAGLINE: “To know who you are, you have to know where you came from.”
In my own family tree I know which town in Germany some of my ancestors came from. I know some of them were musicians and weavers. Basic information. Normal lives. But it is interesting to imagine. I have photos of family members from around the civil war era.
How many of you have done family trees? Researched your own heritage? Did you find out anything of interest?
Well, truth is...if it’s about us in some way...it’s interesting. Every little thing we know about ourselves forms our identity, shapes our understanding of who we are.
Tim McGraw, as an 11-year old boy, saw his birth certificate and in the place where the father’s name is written, he discovered that his father’s surname, as typed in by the hospital, was McGraw. Someone had put a line through that name and handwritten “Smith” above it. Tim McGraw went on to learn that his father was Tug McGraw, a professional baseball player, a major league pitcher.
Knowing that his father was a successful ball player opened up a degree of possibility for Tim’s own life. Knowing that his father was someone, helped him imagine bigger dreams for himself.
How about you? Does what you know about your family tree shape you? Where have you come from? Where are you going? Who will you be? What is your identity?
WHO ARE YOU?
In our Scripture passage for today the questions swirling around are Identity questions.
Jesus asks his disciples this question: Who do people say that I am?
He is looking for his identity within his community. Apparently this was and is typical of middle-eastern communities...Identity comes from who your people say you are. Identity isn’t something you discover or forge, it is found in relationship to the people around you. Reputation matters. What people say and think about you is important.
Well, we are a highly individualistic society, but, really, that mediterranean perspective is not so very different from our take on things. As children in school, we name people: jocks, geeks, preps, stoners, mean kids...we place an identity on them, we find our identity with them.
I was proudly a band nerd in high school. I got my identity from hanging out in the band room, hanging out with the band kids, doing band things. I knew who I was. I was also the good girl...strongly christian, strongly active in my church. That was part of my identity. I was also part of my family...the Atkinsons. My dad was an engineer, my mom was a beautician. My dad made signs for people, my mom led the youth group. My identity was wrapped up to some degree with my family’s identity.
As we get older, the questions about who we are are a little different, but we are still desperately interested in knowing what people think about us, how we are perceived.
“what did he say about me?” what did they say about me? What does she think of me?
TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY: If you asked your friends to describe you, what three words might they use?
I didn’t have an answer for that. I don’t know what three words people would use to describe me, but I was very interested in knowing.
I have probably lost some of you for the rest of the sermon...as you ponder what your friends think about you...who you are.
So Jesus, in human fashion, asks the disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”
The disciples blurt out their answers: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or another prophet.
Jesus doesn’t get sidetracked by this information that reveals people have not caught on to his true and eternal identity. He dismisses that answer and presses on:
Who do you say that I am?
It would be so great to have heard some of the other disciples answer this question, but Peter impulsively replies: you are the Messiah, son of the Living God.
That’s a big answer. Matthew...writing to the Jewish community. Trying to persuade them that Jesus is the Messiah, the one mentioned by prophets, longed for by the faithful...Jesus is the Messiah. First time this description is used in the book of Matthew. Actually only used three times in the whole book.
You are the Messiah: the one who will bring peace. the one who will sit on the throne of David. The one who restore the Kingdom and the land given to our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jospeh. You are the MESSIAH>
JESUS doesn’t linger here. Or explain or strut. He turns this proclamation around on Peter.
But then the most interesting thing occurs: Jesus turns that answer around and tells Peter who he is.
You are the ROCK. Peter? Really?
Jesus tells Peter who he is.
Have you ever experienced that? Someone telling you who you are? A teacher who saw something in you that you didn’t know was there?
THE HELP: Aibilene, Mae Mobley, “You are Smart, You are Pretty. You are Important.”
Isn’t that kind of what Jesus does for Peter?
You are a Rock. You are a Leader. You are Able.
Isn’t our best identity, our best self-awareness going to come from God? Isn’t God, the one who created us in God’s image, breathed into us the breath of life, set creation in motion with a word, isn’t God the best one to tell us who we are?
How long have you listened to lesser voices than God telling you who you are, how you’re supposed to live, what you’re supposed to do?
What if we, like Peter, listened for God to tell us who our best self is? What if we saw our clearest reflection of self in the reflection of Jesus?
Lowney, Chris. Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World.
It is a book about the management style of the Jesuits, an organization within the Roman Catholic church. The author, trained as a Jesuit before leaving for a career as an investment banker, makes the case that the thing which has allowed the Jesuits to be a successful 450 year old company, is their focus first of all not on what they do, but on who they are.
Their core strength as an organization originates not in their mission, but in developing self-awareness. Every Jesuit goes through a long period of formation including spiritual exercises which help them understand their strengths, weaknesses, values and worldview.
The Jesuits use a daily prayer of self-examination, which asks things like:
· [God,] When did I sense your presence the most in my day?
· When did your presence seem farthest away from me in my day?
· How were you loving me in my day?
· How were you loving me even when your presence seemed far away?
· How did I respond to your love in my day?
Our identity is a reflection of Jesus: Who was Jesus?
Peacemaker
Kingdom builder
Healer
Sufferer (following scripture reveals how unclear Peter is …
On the side of the poor, outcast, sinner
Pray-er
Who did Jesus say we were? Light, Salt, Friend, Sheep
CHRISTIAN TAGLINE:
“To know who you are, you have to know who God is calling you to become.”
Our identity is in our future selves, more than in our past selves. And if you aren’t quite there yet...no worries. God is able.
You are faithful. You are compassionate. Your are generous. You Peacemakers. You are Kingdom builders. You are Pray-ers. You are Sons and Daughters of the Living God. You are important.
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