Chosen For Ministry
(Part 2 of Hopewell series on “Who Are We?”)
January 7, 2007
(Officer Installation and Communion)
We’re going to be focusing for the next month or so on different aspects of 2 questions – the first being:
Who are we?
Who are we as Christians?
Who are we as a Church?
Who are we?
And the second being:
What are we supposed to be doing?
What are we supposed to be doing as Christians?
What are we supposed to be doing as a Church?
Who are we?
What are we supposed to be doing?
As we observed last week, we can’t really answer these question by pooling our ideas on who we are and what we are to be doing as individuals Christians and as a Church and expecting to get an answer that way. To really find answers to these questions we have to look to God – to God’s word – and see what God’s idea is.
In 1 Peter 2:9 we read:
you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
We’re going to use this passage for the next month or so as a “springboard” — so to speak — to look at various aspects of who we are as God’s people – and how we can be the Christians – the people – the Church God has called us to be.
Remember last week we discovered how 1 Peter 2:9 gives us an answer to the questions:
Who are we?
What are we supposed to be doing?
We condensed the answer Peter provides for us into 2 statements:
We are the glorious people of God – Peter says we are chosen, royal, and holy —
We are chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
We are:
The glorious people of God –
Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
That’s who we are – and what we are to be doing.
But – what does that mean?
For the next month or so we’re going to look at different aspects of what it might mean that we are the glorious people of God – called to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Last week we looked at the first chapter of John and saw that it meant that we are chosen to walk in the light of God – the light of Christ – instead of the darkness of sin. Before we do anything else as Christians – before we can do anything else as a Church – each of us are going to have to decide to walk in the light of Christ – and not the darkness of sin.
That’s the first step.
Today we are going to take it a step further as we look at the Baptism of Jesus as Luke records it – and see that another thing that being the glorious people of God – chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – means is that we are chosen for ministry.
Chosen for ministry.
Listen to God’s word from Luke 3:15-17, 21-22:
Read Passage
The Presbyterian minister and poet Ann Weems writes – in her poem “New Shoots”:
Born in the light of the bright morning star,
we are new.
Not patched, not mended … but new
like a newborn …
like the morning …
The guilt-blotched yesterdays are gone;
the soul stains are no more!
There is no looking back;
there are no regrets.
In our newness, we are free.
In the power of God’s continuing creation,
we are:
new shoots from the root of Jesse,
new branches from the one true Vine,
new songs breaking through the world’s deafness.
This then is a new day.
New shoots, new branches,
new songs, new day …
Bathed in the promise of God’s New Creation,
we begin.
Ann Weems. “New Shoots” Searching for Shalom, p. 56
Today is The Baptism of the Lord Sunday — the day when the church has historically reflected upon the baptism of Christ.
Today is also the first Sunday in the new year – that new year that – as we reflected on last Sunday – is one that can be filled with new possibilities – new potential – new opportunities for us here at Hopewell.
We have already celebrated some of those new possibilities – new potential – and new opportunities this morning as we have installed Elders back into “active duty” so to speak in installing the Session’s class of 2009. I firmly believe these have not just been elected by this congregation — but they have also been called by God to lead us into this new year and into the future – with all the new possibilities – new potential – new opportunities God lays before us.
On this Baptism of the Lord Sunday – and also this day we have installed the Sessions class of 2009 — I want to suggest that one thing being:
the glorious people of God –
chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
means is that we are chosen – for ministry.
We are chosen for ministry
Baptism is that powerful sacrament we celebrate as a church when an unbaptised adult joins the church or when parents present their child to be brought into the family of God. We celebrated it a few weeks ago when Lance, Laura, and Coty joined the Church – and Laura and Coty were baptized.
It is indeed a powerful sacrament.
A power – filled sacrament.
But — what does Baptism really mean?
Ann Weems in her poem “New Shoots” seems to understand Baptism as an opportunity to somehow become a new person — to somehow become something or someone that you are not already now.
The guilt-blotched yesterdays are gone;
the soul stains are no more!
There is no looking back;
there are no regrets.
In our newness, we are free.
she writes — concluding that
In the power of God’s continuing creation,
we are:
new shoots from the root of Jesse,
new branches from the one true Vine,
new songs breaking through the world’s deafness.
This then is a new day.
New shoots, new branches,
new songs, new day …
Bathed in the promise of God’s New Creation,
we begin.
Newness
That is indeed one way to understand Baptism.
An opportunity to be someone different – to do things differently – to be different, new people.
Baptism is not merely an initiation rite into the church — sprinkling water over someone’s head or immersing someone in water — whichever method is used — and saying some words and praying some prayers –
It is not merely words — merely promises made — with no requirement of response or responsibility expected.
It is an opportunity.
It’s an opportunity to be someone different – to do things differently – to be different, new people.
Luke’s record of the Baptism of Jesus gives us an opportunity to consider the newness – the new opportunities – Baptism offers us.
To truly understand the nature of Baptism, maybe we should look at Jesus’ Baptism. That may help us understand what His baptism may have meant for Him – the new opportunities for ministry it laid before Him – and the new opportunities baptism lays before us.
Here is Jesus — born of Mary in a miraculous way – now an adult.
Probably in his early 30’s.
An adult.
Ready to assume His place in the world.
But — what place is that?
Will He be a carpenter all His life?
No — there is more in store for Him – and He knows it.
But — what?
Maybe He is not quite sure.
Surely Mary has told Him about how special He is.
Surely He has divine yearnings within His soul.
But — what does it all mean?
He comes to John — a cousin who was also born in a miraculous way — and is baptized.
And the heavens are opened.
And the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.
And God says:
“You are my Son, the Beloved,
With You I am well pleased.”
Surely all this meant something to Jesus — but what?
Could it be that — for Jesus — His Baptism was the beginning of His ministry — the beginning of His understanding of who He is and what He is to do — and the beginning of God’s strength for doing God’s will?
Could it be that Baptism was a time for Jesus to realize God’s amazing love — and respond to it?
At Jesus’ Baptism, God acted in a powerful way — and called Jesus into a powerful ministry. Jesus began a 3 – year journey of healing, teaching, and working miracles that ended on the cross — but continued at the resurrection — and by the work of the Holy Spirit — still continues today.
At His Baptism Jesus was called by God — reminded of who He was and what He was to do — and He began doing it.
He realized God’s plan for His life — and responded to it.
He realized God’s amazing love — and responded in commitment.
He realized that He was chosen – for ministry.
He was chosen for ministry.
Maybe that’s what His Baptism was all about for Him.
Maybe that’s what this Baptism of the Lord Sunday – this day we have installed a class of Elders — can be all about for us!
Baptism is a sign and seal — a reminder — of who we are and what we are to do as God’s people. It is a reminder of God’s amazing love for us — and a call to respond to God’s love by letting it change our lives and make us new people. It’s a reminder for us that:
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
This Baptism of the Lord Sunday can be a reminder to us that we are God’s people — created by God — called by God — loved by God – chosen by God — but created — called — – loved – and chosen for a purpose — that purpose being to show God to the world.
This Baptism of the Lord Sunday can be for us a reminder of who we are — and that we are not free to find our identity in anything else but God.
1 Peter 2:9 tells us that we are:
The glorious people of God –
Chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Luke’s story of the Baptism of Christ can remind us that we are God’s people and are to live in His ways — loving God and loving others — showing our love for God and the love of God as we reach out into the world doing God’s work.
In other words –
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
Jesus understood the strength the Holy Spirit gave Him at His baptism and the audible call of God He heard as an invitation to do something new. He took the strength of the Holy Spirit – the definite, audible call of God – and did something new with it.
He did ministry.
He understood that He was
Chosen for ministry.
Friends – we are all
Chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
Earlier in service today we heard the questions our Denomination requires of Elders as they are installed. A few weeks ago as Lance, Laura, and Cotie joined the Church and Laura and Cotie were Baptized we heard the questions the Denomination requires of those wishing to be Baptized – – whether it be of parents bringing their children for infant baptism or of adults coming for Believer baptism.
I ask that you now listen to the questions the Denomination requires at Baptism — and consider your response:
1. Do you renounce all evil, and powers in the world which defy God’s righteousness and love?
Do you?
2. Do you renounce the ways of sin that separate you from the love of God?
Do you?
3. Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior?
Do you?
4. Will you be Christ’s faithful disciple, obeying His word and showing His love, to your life’s end?
Will you?
5. Will you be a faithful member of this congregation, share in its worship and ministry, through your prayers and gifts, your study and service, and so fulfill your calling to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Will you?
You know — maybe your Baptism was years ago.
Maybe it was so long ago you have forgotten the promises you made as you were Baptized. Maybe you haven’t thought about them in a long time.
Maybe you were Baptized as an infant — and your parents made promises to raise you in ways so you could later on decide to repent and follow Christ — but you have failed to do this — or it has lost its importance for you.
Maybe you are not Baptized.
Whatever — on this day when we celebrate Jesus’ Baptism – let God speak to you of the newness – the new possibilities – the new opportunities that God offers each of us.
We installed a new class of Elders today – but the work of the Church – the ministry of the Church – is not just for these 3 – or just for rest of the Session members – it’s for all of us.
We can’t just sit here.
This is a new day – there are new opportunities – possibilities – potential that lie before us.
Like Jesus at His Baptism, we can respond by going into the world with the strength – the courage – the power God gives us for doing His work and will in the world.
Like Jesus – we all are chosen — for ministry.
That’s part of what it means to be:
the glorious people of God –
chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
It means that we are each chosen for ministry.
It is up to each of us to take the ministry of God into the world.
Ministries of healing –
Ministries of service —
Ministries that show people who are in need that God cares for them – and is with them in their need —
Ministries that show those with addictions that the love of God is more powerful than any drug imaginable —
Ministries that attempt to bring Christ to those who do not know Christ
We are chosen for – and strengthened for – ministry
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
As we consider who we are as a Church and what God might be calling us to be doing – one thing we need to remember is that – -
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for doing new things – being new people – showing God’s love to the world in new ways.
Indeed – as Weems writes:
This then is a new day.
New shoots, new braches,
new songs, new day …
Bathed in the promise of God’s New Creation,
we begin.
Indeed –
We are chosen for ministry
We are chosen for ministry
Walking in the light of Christ.
Realizing we are chosen for ministry.
These are 2 things that being
the glorious people of God –
chosen to show to the world the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
means.
So – to paraphrase Anne Weems a bit –
as we are bathed with the promises of the new possibilities – new opportunities – and new potential that God lays before us –
Let’s begin!
Amen
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