Isaiah 49:8-16

Isaiah 49:8-16

God Never Forgets!

May 25, 2008

Read Scripture

What is your deepest human need?

What is it that — more than anything else — you just can’t live without?

Is it food or water or shelter?

Food and water and shelter are basic biological needs, essential to survival. You cannot live long without them. And yet, while you live, you can live without them, for a time. And you are about more than your biology. Life is about more than mere survival. You are spirit as well as body.

What is your deepest human need?

Is it usefulness?

Is it the need to feel useful?

Is it the need to feel that that the time and effort you spend on things matters and makes a difference?

Is it the knowledge that your life serves some higher purpose than just taking up space and using up oxygen?

What is your deepest human need?

What is that one thing you just can’t live without?

Is it dignity?

Is it the need to feel respected and acknowledged – the need to feel that your life is recognized as having value – the feeling that you matter – the feeling that you are not trivial — base — or expendable?

Or is it love?

Is the need for love — the need to matter to somebody – the need to know that you are cared about – the need to be cared for – the need to be remembered — is that your deepest human need?

Is love the one thing you just can’t live without?

Here’s what I think — I think that love is our deepest human need.

When we are loved, we come alive.

Body and spirit alike are animated and energized.

Love can help us deal with the effects of the worst of circumstances of our lives.

Love can drive out fear.

Love can cover a multitude of sins. I am particularly glad of that – for come Wednesday Sally and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage – and I am certain that – in 25 years – Sally’s love for me has helped her deal with the multitude of my sins!

Love can make the deepest pain bearable.

Love can make a poor man rich and a weak man strong, a timid woman brave and a humble woman proud.

Love transcends even death — love’s memory keeps the one who is loved alive in heart and mind.

Yea – I believe that love is our deepest human need.

To feel remembered and loved can make your life wonderful – no matter what else is happening.

To be forgotten and ignored can make your life miserable – no matter what else is happening and whatever else you might have.

A poor person who knows they are loved and make a difference can feel that life is better than a rich person who never feels loved.

Important questions for us are questions such as:

Does anyone love me?

Does anyone remember me?

Does anyone know my name?

Does anyone even care that I exist?

The person who can answer “yes” to these questions is on the road to feeling that their basic needs are being met.

The person who can not answer “yes” to these questions is not.

I once had someone share with me that they could remembered a Thanksgiving they spent alone. They could not get to their family – and had no one with whom to share the holiday. They said that as they sat alone at a table in a

restaurant, eating turkey and gravy, they didn’t feel sad or sorry for themselves – they just felt empty.

Empty and forgotten.

Feeling loved and feeling that you are remembered is indeed one of the basic needs of people.

If you don’t feel loved – and don’t feel that anyone remembers you – you feel miserable.

If you feel forgotten – you feel miserable.

The people of Pearlington, Mississippi knew what it felt like to feel forgotten not long after Hurricane Katrina.

A young photojournalist in Pearlington wrote in his blog about how many people in Pearlington felt a month after Katrina:

I know what it looks like now to watch people fight for their lives, sinking in quicksand. And I’m shouting, help, look, and yet there’s no cavalry to save the day, and the sheriff’s fat and content and sleeping off his binge while people sink and die.

This disaster is huge, and getting bigger by the day. Like the mold that’s slowly eating all their lowly possessions, neglect and incompetence and cronyism are slowly eating these poor people alive.

My mom’s little trailer was in Pearlington. After the storm, Pearlington started off ignored and has slowly devolved into forgotten. When I talked to the one FEMA inspector handling the whole town, he could barely look me in the eye. Not because he was a shady man, but I sensed, because he had been abandoned, too, and he knew the futility and impotence of his mission. Polishing brass on the Titanic would be too charitable a way to describe his task. More like, standing next to the brass, telling you he’s going to be polishing it very soon, as soon as some cloth arrives.

Between you and me, the only help is going to come from you and me. Forget about FEMA. Forget about the Red Cross. We were hopeful when, after three weeks, a Red Cross truck showed up and started serving hot lunches. About the same time they began prepping the local school … as a shelter for the people who were living in tents in their front yards next to the rubble of their homes. The locals were shocked and frustrated with all the demands Red Cross had for the space before they’d use it.

“We need dehumidifiers.” Says Red Cross.

We need air conditioning.” Says Red Cross.

“We need a 100k generator.” Says Red Cross.

“We need to power wash the walls, maybe even repaint.” Says Red Cross.

“We’re afraid of being sued.” Says Red Cross.

After waiting eight days (three weeks after the disaster) Red Cross left, and even took their hot lunch van with them.

The people of Pearlington, Mississippi needed socks and underwear and coffee and sugar and towels and ice chests and boots, but, most of all, they needed to be remembered.

They felt unloved – and forgotten.

Forgotten — like the people of Jerusalem — those few Jews who remained in Jerusalem in the time of Isaiah after the city had been ravaged and most of its population had been deported.

They felt forgotten and abandoned — abandoned by everyone – and abandoned by God.

And – when you think about it – they had good reason to feel abandoned by God.

They had no life – or at least nothing that would resemble a life.

They had no culture — no economy — no government – no Temple –

they felt that they had no hope – and no future.

They probably felt that they were just doing their best to survive as refugees in their own hometown.

Yea — they probably felt forgotten by God, just as many in our day may feel

forgotten by God.

Without feeling loved or remembered –

Without feeling that they made a difference to anyone –

they probably felt that even God had forgotten them.

There are too many people in this world who feel this way.

Too many people like the residents of Pearlington, Mississippi.

Too many who feel unloved – unimportant – not remembered – and who feel that there is no meaning to their lives because of this.

Maybe you feel this way.

Maybe things have happened in your life to make you feel that no one cares – no one loves you – no one remembers you.

Yea – feeling loved and remembered – like your life makes a difference – can be the greatest of feelings – and feeling unloved and not remembered – like no one cares – can be the worst.

But – listen again to what God says to the bereaved in Jerusalem:

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget,
I will not forget you!

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands

Even though they may have felt forgotten and unloved –

even though they may have felt that their lives did not make a difference to anyone –

the truth was that their lives did make a difference – to God

the truth was that they were loved – by God

the truth was that they were not forgotten – by God

The truth was that God still loved them – still remembered them – still cared about them – and still had a future in store for them that was better – far better – than their present situation.

The truth was that — even when they felt that everyone else had forgotten –

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

That was God’s message to the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem.

That is God’s message to us today.

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

There may be times when you feel that no one loves you.

There may be times when you feel that no one cares about you.

There may be times when you feel that your life is devoid of all meaning –

But – here is the bottom line:

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

God loves you –

God remembers you –

God does not forget you –

You are important to God –

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

And – because God never forgets – God promises us a future that is far better than your present might be.

God promised the captives in Jerusalem that those who had been taken away from them would return – and that life would be restored.

God promised the captives in Jerusalem that He still card for them – still loved them – still remembered them – and would restore them.

God makes these promises to us also.

God promises that – even when no one seems to love us – He loves us.

God promises that – even when no one else seems to care – He cares.

God promises that – even when no one else seems to feel that we are important – He thinks we are important.

And – God promises that – those times we feel that no one else loves us – cares about us – or feel that we are important – do not have to be the norm for us – but we can look to Him and discover His love – His care – and the value He places upon us.

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

When you feel unloved – look to God and discover His love!

When you feel that no one cares – look to God and discover that He cares!

When you feel that no one feels you are important – - look to God and discover how important He feels you are!

When you feel forgotten – look to God and discover that:

God never forgets!

God never forgets!

God reminded the captives in Jerusalem that they were loved – and remembered.

The residents of Pearlington, Mississippi remembered that they were not forgotten.

On August 29, 2006, the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the same photojournalist who had written of the devastation a year before wrote:

Today is silence for me. Breathe in, breathe out. Respect for all that we’ve

endured, thankfulness for all the help we received. Jaw set tight. It’s still too enormous for me to get my head around, so I won’t try. Words are often useless for me, and today, more so.

So instead, a simple photograph of my mom’s Eden, one year on. She’s sitting on the front porch of what will be her new home soon. It’s risen on the foundation of the home Katrina destroyed, only steps away from her FEMA trailer, and every day she looks out the trailer window a thousand times at it, and her gold smile lights up, and she whispers “Thank you, Jesus.” It’s been built by the sweat and love of volunteers from all over the country. From all walks of life they’ve come into the Gulf to help their brothers and sisters. Normal, average Americans, disgusted by their government’s inaction, they’ve picked up hammers and done it themselves. One day there’s a moldering heap of rubble, the next day hippie volunteers from Burning Man bulldoze it and take it away. One day it’s a flat slab of concrete, the next day a pre-fab home kit is delivered by One House At A Time and New Hope Construction. One day there’s a jumble of materials, the next day a church group from Oregon shows up and builds the frame and shell. A little later a group from Pennsylvania shows up and paints it my mom’s favorite shade of green, and puts a tin roof on so she can hear the rain fall at night. And not to be outdone, a group from Alabama comes over and sheet rocks the interior, then comes back and builds her a deck for good measure.

So today I want to just sit and rest, and enjoy the look of pride and place in my mom’s eyes. We may have far to go, but we’ve come a long way.

We do have far to go, but we will get there, because God will not forget us, and because God will not let us forget each other, because God’s love endures forever, the love that comes alive through our hearts and our words and our hands.

You see – God does not forget!

God never forgets – you!

And – because God never forgets you – you can share that never forgetting – always loving – always making others feel important – love of God with others.

God never forgets!

God never forgets – you!

And – because God never forgets you – you don’t have to forget others – but you can share God’s love with those who may feel forgotten – those who may feel that no one cares – that no one loves them – that no one remembers them.

Here’s the challenge for this week –

Look for someone who might be in a situation in their lives where they might feel that no one loves them or cares about them – that they are forgotten about and do not make a difference to anyone – and show them that you care – that you love them – that you have not forgotten them – because God has not forgotten them – God still loves them – God still cares for them.

Let them know that you have not forgotten them – and that

God does not forget!

God does not forget!

You can find these folks in almost any place – almost any time.

In fact, just make it a habit – every day – to find ways to make people feel important – loved – and not forgotten!

One of my favorite poems is by Emily Dickinson.

Dickinson wrote:

                       
                               If I can stop one heart from breaking,
                               I shall not live in vain;
                               If I can ease one life the aching,
                               Or cool one pain,
                               Or help one fainting robin
                               Unto his nest again,
                               I shall not live in vain. 
               What a great philosophy to have! 
               What a great philosophy on which to build a life! 
               Look for ways – every day – to help those with hearts that are breaking – or lives that are aching – to see that someone cares and loves them – to see that they are not forgotten – but that you remember them – and love them. 
               This is how you will let others know the truth that you know – the truth that God loves us – cares for us – and – that: 

God never forgets!

               God never forgets! 
               Amen. 

Genesis 1:1-2:4(a), 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, Matthew 28:16-20

Genesis 1:1-2:4(A)

II Corinthians 13:11-13

Matthew 28:16-20

“What Can We Know About God?”

Trinity Sunday May 18, 2008

Today is Trinity Sunday — the day that we focus on God –

The day we focus on how God is Father – Son – and Holy Spirit –

The day we focus on what it means to us that God is Father – Son – and Holy Spirit – and how we can live our lives – because God is one – Farther – Son – and Holy Spirit.

The Seasons of Advent – Christmas – Lent – and Easter — where we focus on God’s work through Jesus Christ – are now over. The day we focus on God’s work through the Holy Sprit – the day of Pentecost – is now over.

Before we move into rest of year, we need to stop and focus on the Triune nature of God – God as Father – Son – and God the Holy Spirit.

We have 3 passages before us today – Geneses 1:1-24(a) – II Corinthians 13:11-13 – and Matthew 28:16-20.

Each of these passages give us a way to focus on – and celebrate – the work of God – Father – Son – and Holy Spirit.

Read Scripture

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here below

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

The beautiful words of The Doxology that we sing every Sunday are not only beautiful — they are filled with praise — and are filled with power. They are filled with the power of God as we sing our praises to God — one God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Shirley Guthrie died a few years ago — but for many years he was one of the Theology professors at Columbia Theological Seminary — my Alma Matter. He taught many students through the years – myself included. He also wrote many books that were helpful to ministers and lay folk alike.

In his book Christian Doctrine he began the chapter on the doctrine of the Trinity with a make – believe conversation has probably taken place in many Sunday School classes or study groups — or if the specific conversation has not occurred then one like it probably has – - or at least the question posed by this conversation has probably been raised by almost all serious Christians at one time or another.

The conversation Guthrie gives goes something like this:

A student asks:

“Do we have to believe in all this business of three – in – one and one – in – three to be Christians?”

“Yes” – the teacher replies. “The church has always held that the doctrine of the Trinity is essential.”

“Well” - - the student than asks – -

“what does it mean?

How can you put three persons together and get one – or divide one person into three and still have one?”

The teacher then blunders through some fuzzy explanation then concludes hopelessly:

“It’s a mystery no one can understand. You just have to accept it in faith.”

Some will then respond:

“Well – if you’re supposed to believe it – I guess I do – whatever it is.”

But more honest people may think to themselves:

“If no one knows what it means, and no one can explain it, it must not be all that important.”

Today is Trinity Sunday – the day when the Church celebrates God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We actually celebrate this every Sunday as we sing The Doxology – but today is a time to actually think about what it is we profess as we sing these words — what it really means that we worship one God — who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What does the doctrine of the Trinity mean?

The doctrine of the Trinity is vital - - not because it is something to merely know and accept - - even if we do not understand - - but the doctrine of the Trinity is vital for us because of what it can tell us about God. When we look at the doctrine of the Trinity, we begin to learn some things about God – and how to live as God’s people.

What can we know about God?

The doctrine of the Trinity helps us understand – - and not only understand – - but experience – - God as the

Creating

Strengthening

Guiding

God that God is.

It helps us experience God’s work in our lives – and helps us see how God wants us to live as His people.

What can we know about God?

Imagine for a moment that you are God.

What would you want your creation to know about you?

What things would you think it important for your people to know about you?

I have thought about this question this week – and the answer – - for me – seems to fall in three areas.

I would want them to know:

That I am their creator and provider

That I loved them

That I was with them

That I wanted them to tell others about me.

Maybe you could come up with some different things you would want your creation to know about you – but these are the three basic things I would want my creation to know.

What can we know about God?

Our passages for today tell us 4 basic things about God:

God is always creating

God is always loving and redeeming

God is always strengthening and guiding

God is always sending and commissioning.

Through the Father – Son – and Holy Spirit – the Triune God – God is always at work in our lives – always creating and re-creating us – always loving us – always working for peace among us – and always strengthening and guiding us.

Friends – this is not just dry doctrine – this is not just dry facts – but this is exciting.

This is how God the Father – Son – and Holy Spirit works in our lives.

God is always creating – giving us new opportunities to live as God’s people – renewing us so we can indeed be God’s people.

God is always loving – always showing us God’s love and always offering a relationship with God.

God is always strengthening and guiding us – God is “with us always” as Jesus promised – always offering guidance into God’s ways and God’s will for us.

God is always sending us into the world to do His work.

This is an intimate relationship with God – Father – Son – and Holy Spirit we are dealing with here – not just facts and dry doctrine.

What can we know about God?

We can know the intimacy of the relationship our creating – loving – guiding sustaining – and commissioning God offers us.

The creating – loving – guiding – and sustaining work of God in the world is not history – but God is still at work – still creating – still loving – still strengthening – still guiding – and still commissioning.

What can we know about God?

Our Old Testament lesson gives us a vision of God who created all things — and created all things good. God created all things — and sustained and provided for all things. And — as the author of Genesis so eloquently puts it — all things are good. Indeed — they are very good. At the beginning — and — by God’s renewing — loving — and life-giving power — all things have the potential for goodness.

The creating – loving – guiding – and sustaining work of God in the world that Genesis 1 so beautifully portrays for us is not just history – but God is still at work – still creating – still loving – still strengthening – still guiding — still offering to all the potential to truly be the good creation they were created to be.

That’s what we can know about God!

That’s what we can know about God!

When we think things have gotten as bad as they can get – there is God – Father – Son – and Holy Spirit — the one who created all things good — creating new possibilities for us – giving us new ways to relate to each other in goodness and peace – strengthening us to do His work and will in the world.

That’s not just dry facts – that’s more than just doctrine – that’s good news for us – for our lives – here and now.

What can we know about God?

Our Epistle and Gospel lessons give us examples of the renewing – strengthening — love of God — Father – Son — and Hoy Spirit — all the power of God to make us new and bless us — that we can experience for ourselves and that we are commissioned to share with others.

We can know that

God is always creating – giving us new opportunities to live as God’s people – renewing us so we can indeed be God’s people.

God is always loving – always showing us God’s love and always offering a relationship with God — always offering us ways to be more and more like Him — ways we were indeed created for.

God is always strengthening and guiding us – renewing us. God is “with us always” as Jesus promised – always offering guidance into God’s ways and God’s will for us and others.

God is always commissioning us to share His love with the world.

That is what we can know about God

That is what we can know about God

What a wonderful truth that is!

This is an intimate relationship with God – Father – Son – and Holy Spirit we are dealing with here – not just facts and dry doctrine.

So — what can we know about God?

We can know the intimacy of the relationship our creating – loving – guiding and sustaining God offers us.

We can know the forgiving and renewing work of God in our lives.

The Holy — yet loving – - guiding – - and sustaining work of God in the world is not just history – -

but God is still at work – - still loving – - still strengthening — still creating still making all things good – still guiding.

No — friends — the Doctrine of the Trinity — God as Father — Son — and Holy Spirit — isn’t just “head stuff” — it’s not just dry doctrine —

it’s “heart stuff”

it’s relational —

it’s good news for us - - for our lives – - here and now.

The good news is that because we know that God is Father – Son – and Holy Spirit —

because we know that God is always creating and re-creating us – always making all things good — forgiving us and yet challenging us –

we can open ourselves to God’s creating and recreating work – and always be open to the new creation God wants to make of us.

We can always be open to the new directions God leads us – and the new life God breathes into us.

We can relate to God in certain ways – - always remembering God’s power and love — and always open to God’s loving creating – - renewing — challenging — and strengthening work among us.

Then — we can relate to others in ways that are open to sharing God’s creating – - loving – - challenging — and strengthening work with each other and with the world as we experience it in our lives.

We can be God’s instruments of creating and recreating – of loving and challenging – the world as we share His love and His call for new life and love with each other and the world in our words and actions.

The doctrine of the Trinity is not just intellectual gymnastics – it is the very mystery of our relationship with God – and it guides us as we relate to God – to each other – and to others.

It tells us what we can know about God.

It’s not just dry doctrinal “head stuff” – it is truly ‘heart stuff” – it is truly relational – as God offers us a relationship with Him.

But – it’s not just “head stuff” and “heart stuff” either – it is also “feet stuff” – it’s also “hands stuff” – and it’s also “mouth stuff”.

Jesus commissions us to tell the world about the loving, caring, renewing, re-creating, forgiving relationship God offers –

“Go”

Jesus says.

Go – and spread the Good News – the Good News that God is at work in the world — loving – - strengthening – renewing – and saving all who will believe in Him.

Go

Go – and use your feet.

Use your feet to take you to places – nearby and far away – where people need to hear the Good News that God is at work in the world — loving – - strengthening – renewing – and saving all who will believe in Him.

Go – and use your hands.

Use your hands to do the work of God – in the community and in places far away from here – wherever you may be lead.

Go – and use your mouth.

Use your mouth to tell others in this community and far away – wherever God may lead you – that God is at work in the world — loving – - strengthening – renewing – and saving all who will believe in Him.

Go – and use your feet – your hands – and your mouth.

Go –

Jesus still says to us –

Go –

and let others know about this loving – renewing – strengthening – life changing – and saving God that we serve.

You see – this doctrine of the Trinity is “head stuff” – it is something to know – but it is also “heart stuff”– because it leads us into a loving relationship with God – who loves us – saves us – renews us – strengthens us – and commissions us – and it is also “feet stuff” – “hands stuff” – and “mouth stuff” as we share go and share the good news that God is at work in the world — loving – - strengthening – renewing – and saving all who will believe in Him with all who need to hear and experience it.

So —

What can we know about God?

We can know that – - even now – - God is creating and renewing — making all things good – giving us new life - - forgiving us — giving us new strength and yet new challenges – giving us new ways to relate to each other and to Him – - and giving us new ways to go and share His love with others.

We can know that — even now – - God is loving and forgiving us — and giving us new ways to be His people – -

We can know that — even now – - God is giving us new strength to do His will.

The Trinity:

God the creating Father

God the loving Son

God the strengthening and guiding Holy Spirit

is really one – creating – loving – - strengthening – forgiving — renewing — challenging — guiding – - commissioning God that invites us to not only understand doctrines – - but invites us into an exciting — creating — loving — forgiving – challenging — relationship with Him – and commissions us to share His exciting — creating — loving – and forgiving love with the world.

The Doctrine of the Trinity is much more than “head stuff” – much more than trying to understand about how God is three in one –

It’s “heart stuff” as God invites us into a relationship with Him –

It’s “feet stuff” as God calls us to take His love into the world –

It’s “hands stuff” and “mouth stuff” as God calls us to share His love in actions and words.

I challenge you today to get past the “head stuff” of the Doctrine of the Trinity – and into the “heart stuff” – the intimate relationship God offers to us –

the exciting — creating — loving — forgiving – challenging — relationship God offers us to enter into with Him – and into the “feet stuff” – the “hands stuff” – and the “mouth stuff” as you find ways to go to places near and far and share the love of God with others.

Indeed:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Him all creatures here blow

Praise Him above the Heavenly Host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 31:10-31

“Thanks, Mom! ”

May 11, 2008

Mother’s Day/Pentecost

Today is one of those “mixed bag” days that ministers just love! It’s 2 important days in 1 – Mother’s Day – and Pentecost.

Ministers – myself included – find it difficult to decide which emphasis for this day is the most important – Pentecost – with the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the beginning of what we know as the Christian Church – or Mother’s Day – the day we honor and give special recognition to our mothers. At one point in my ministry – when I was younger and not as wise – I might have opted for the emphasis of Pentecost – believing that the “birth of the Church” that we celebrate on Pentecost to be more important than Mother’s Day.

Well – I am older now – and while I am just a tad wiser I am wise enough to know that there will be Pentecost next year – and I can emphasize it then – and – while there will also be Mother’s Day next year – they won’t fall on the same Sunday. This year, I need to emphasize Mother’s Day. The fact that Mom is here today has nothing to do with that decision. If you believe that, I have some great ocean front property you might be interested in!

But – maybe as I emphasize Mother’s Day I can slip a little of the Spirit in there somewhere.

Our passage for today comes from Proverbs 31: 10-31. Listen to the world of God.

Read Scripture

I heard about a woman – who obviously was of keen mind and understanding heart – who gazed at Whistler’s portrait of his mother.

“It is a remarkable painting of a very lovely lady,” murmured the viewer, “but there is too much peace and calm to be the likeness of a real mother.”

To be sure, serenity and tranquility are desirable qualities of motherhood, yet some may feel that there is also too much work – too much discord – and too much of the character of a referee for there to be the quality of peaceful sweetness offered in the famous painting known we know as “Whistler’s Mother.”

Sure – some mothers have it easy. Just ask Mom – she’ll tell you what an easy job it was to raise her children – that is until I came along! Then things got difficult!

Pearl S. Buck’s novel The Good Earth gives a dramatic portrayal of the birth pangs of China emerging from feudalism into a more modern nation. The key figure in the book is a lowly village woman — O-lan. O-lan is a plain, unassuming kitchen slave, who becomes the wife of Wang Lung, a peasant farmer. In faithfulness, patience, and absolute devotion, she follows the rising star of her husband. During the changing experiences of poverty and wealth, starvation and prosperity, O-lan is the anchor of the home. She is the skillful one who keeps everything together. She is the stabilizing factor in family.

Perhaps nowhere do we get a more vivid and realistic picture of the true status of womanhood than in the Old Testament. The woman in Proverbs represents the ideal. The idealized picture we have in our text, Proverbs 31:10-31, may not represent the average wife and mother in Israel at the time, but it does capture the imagination and remind us of what all a mother can do – and many times needs to do – to keep her family together.

Perhaps you can recognize your own mother in the picture given to us of this woman. I know that I can mine. The woman Proverbs describes here is a remarkable person – and presents an ideal of motherhood that we have never outgrown.

In studying this passage this week I have come to realize that it is written in the form of an acrostic poem — in which each of the twenty-two verses begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet, in alphabetical order. I think the writer may be using this device to indicate that that he is dealing exhaustively with the subject in an orderly fashion — in other words, he thinks he is trying to say everything he can think of to say about the virtues of a worthy woman.

Let us take a moment to recall some of her characteristics.

First, she is a faithful and supportive wife to her husband:

” Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value. ” (vs. 11)

That’s where the tribute begins, and obviously that is her first priority. But, she is also a career woman also — and the mother of children. However her career and her children do not come before the obligations of her marriage – but they are actually a part of it. Her career – and her raising of her children – actually complement her relationship to her husband. These are some of the things that cause her husband to have confidence in her – and are some of the reasons her husband lacks nothing of value.

I believe that this woman Proverbs describes for us here has learned that a stable and loving marriage is basic to success and happiness in those other areas. She knows that marriage fulfills her as a person and that the first essential of motherhood is to create for the children the environment of a loyal and loving home.

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

Yet — even so, the marriage does not claim all of her time.

She is too gifted for that.

She is certainly a picture of what we might call – in many ways – a modern woman.

Secondly — she is a businesswoman. She has an interest in real estate and is also a dress designer and manufacturer.

“She considers a field and buys it…. She makes linen garments and sells them.”

There is nothing old-fashioned about this mother in ancient Israel! She is a person in her own right. Her life has significance quite apart from her relationship to her husband and children. And her family respects her for it.

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

She is a business woman.

Thirdly — she is a teacher. Much of the teaching activity in that time took place in the home. The mother supervised the upbringing of the children. In this ideal little classroom:

She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (vs. 26)

She is faithful and supportive to her husband.

She is a business woman.

She is a teacher

Fourth — she has interests that take her into the community — where her influence is felt for good. She functions as a member of society with a keen sense of responsibility. She is sensitive, outgoing, and generous, not a selfish woman with no thought of people less fortunate than her own family.

She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy (vs. 20)

One needs only to place this poem against the background of many other sayings about women in the collection of Proverbs to discover that such a woman shines forth with exceptional splendor. The writer paints a picture of the woman as the leading character in her family drama, the focus of the family, the strength of her household. Her husband is a strong person too—a public figure and a leader in society.

It is a full-time job for this woman to keep up with all of her activities as she holds the home together. She manages all of the practical affairs with industry and efficiency.

For all of these reasons, therefore, she is a person greatly admired and beloved by all. Her husband praises her. The writer of Proverbs declares her to be of surpassing excellence, more precious than jewels. Her children,

“rise up and call her blessed.”

Indeed, the picture the author of Proverbs gives us here comes very close to a woman in toady’s world – who is able to balance family, job, and so many other responsibilities. It is this woman who can make a distinctive contribution to society, while at the same time giving her family the love and support that they need.

But if Proverbs does not rise completely to the standard of our modern era in which women are playing a major role in families and in the world of business – and yes – of politics — we should remember that in the interval between the writing of Proverbs and our own time, the world has been profoundly affected by the teaching of Jesus.

We might ask ourselves where Jesus got his respect for women, which is evident throughout the gospel narratives. Of course, it came from God – for God holds all people equal – but I think it also came from His own earthly family, and his own mother!

Those of you who have been to the Holy Land may have visited the Grotto of the Annunciation in Nazareth, where, tradition says, Mary received the news that she was to be Christ’s mother. When you see the caves that the people of those times called home, you sense that the real miracle is that God chose this humble village maiden for such an awesome responsibility, and that she accepted and fulfilled the exalted role of mother of our Savior with perfect obedience and love. When you visit these surroundings, you realize that the Holy Family lived in the most crude and perilous conditions. Mary brought Jesus up in the tiny village of Nazareth (then not more than three hundred to five hundred folk), guided him through childhood, and loved him, even when she could feel him growing away from her.

It must have hurt Mary when Jesus left home and the family business, but her love followed him in his new career. She appears from time to time in the Gospels during Jesus’ active ministry. She was there at the end, even when his friends deserted him, suffering as only a mother can suffer in the tragedy of her child.

Mary gives the Christian community a good example of motherhood.

There is no substitute for a loving, caring, Christian mother.

There is no substitute for a mother loving, Christian mother. She can be an angel of God to her children and husband, and the instrument of God’s purpose and guidance and love and support.

The truth is that nobody can take a mother’s place in the life of her family. She bears children in her body, ushers them into the world, feeds them at her breast, makes a home for them, rears them, gives them goals, teaches them ideals, fires their ambitions, loves them, helps them, suffers with them, and stands by them. They have every reason to rise up and call her blessed. She is still the focal point of the family drama.

But – how does a mother do it all?

That’s where to Spirit of God comes in. (I said I would slip the Spirit in here somewhere!) When a person gives their life to following God, they also give their life to living in the ways of God – and when a person gives their life to living in God’s ways, they are strengthened by God to living in His ways. They begin to show what Paul calls “the fruit of the Spirit” – those things Paul lists in Galations 5:22-23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control

These are qualities of a Christian mother.

Loving – joyous – patient – kind – good – faithful – gentle

Sure – there are other qualities at times – and these Spirit – filled qualities are not the only ones you’ll find in a Christian mother – for even the most spiritual mother has times when she will feel exasperated – overwhelmed – overworked – and will show qualities that are not quite from the Spirit of God! But – when you look at all they do and all that’s expected – who can blame them? God understands – and God forgives. We need to understand and forgive also.

So, dear mothers – on this your designated day — we salute you and thank you.

But – we are not trying to repay your love — but let me suggest that we try to pass it on – share some of the burden – and take on some of the qualities this wife and mother in Proverbs exemplifies for us.

You see — if in Christ there is no male or female, then, spiritually speaking, motherhood is not confined to biological mothers, or even to women alone. The ideal of fulfilling oneself in service to others is a fine ideal for everyone.

Mothers feed hungry children. Why shouldn’t we all?

Mothers conserve human life. Mothers humanize a forbidding world. Why should we all not do that?

A loving, caring, Christian mother is indeed an example for us all.

A mother’s love is indeed a gift from God.

Thanks Mom.

Amen.

John 17:1-11

John 17:1-11

An “Easter Church” Is Evangelical

Easter 7

May 4, 2008

Christ has risen! He has risen indeed!

As Christians, we confess that Christ has risen.

We believe that He has risen and lives in our hearts — but we also believe that we has truly and physically risen. We believe that the tomb of Christ is empty. We believe that the power of death has been broken – broken for Jesus and broken for us. We can’t begin to understand the divine power that rose Jesus from the dead. The more we try to understand it, the more astounded by it we become.

But — here is a truth that is even more astounding:

The same power that shattered the prison of death sets us free from all that binds us.

The very Spirit of God that rose Jesus from the dead can live in us to empowers us for the ministry God calls us to be doing in the world.

You see — resurrection power is for us, in us, and at work through us.

We can live as “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church”.

This means that we not only live in gratitude for our salvation and hope for the future, but we can also live lives that are filled with the power of God for His work in the world. We can be filled with His power and let His power touch every aspect of our lives.

We can be filled with His power – and let His power touch every aspect of our Church.

Christ has risen – and we can be “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of the risen Christ and doing the work of the risen Christ.

During this season of Easter we are looking at different aspects of what it means to be an “Easter Church” – filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly doing the work of Christ in the world.

We began 5 weeks ago by looking at John 20:19-31 – the story of Jesus and Thomas – and saw that an “Easter Church” believes.

4 weeks ago we added another aspect of what it means to be an “Ester Church” as we looked at Luke 24:13-35 – the story of Jesus – Cleopas – and another follower on the road to Emmaus – and saw that an “Easter Church” is on fire.

3 weeks ago we added a third aspect of what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 10:1-10 – and saw that an “Easter Church” follows the leader.

2 weeks ago we looked at a fourth aspect of what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 14:1-14 – and saw that an “Easter Church” takes comfort in Christ.

Last week we added yet another aspect to what it means to be an “Easter Church” as we looked at John 14:15-21 – and saw that an “Easter Church” makes a difference.

Today we conclude the Easter Season and conclude our look at what it might mean to be an “Easter Church” as we look at John 17:1-11 – and see that an “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

Listen to God’s word in John 17:1-11

Read scripture

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

What do you think of when you hear the word: Evangelism?

What about the word: Evangelical?

Well — what about the word: Evangelist?

Or the words: Share your faith?

Do these words conjure up positive images for you?

Do you feel some ownership to these words – like they describe you – or what you feel you should be?

Do you feel that you are supposed to be doing evangelism – that you are to be an evangelist – and that you are supposed to be sharing your faith?

Or do you feel that these are things for “someone else” to do – but not you?

Several years ago I attended an Evangelism Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary – and learned that the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism.

Christ has risen – and we can be “Easter Christians” – we can be an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of the risen Christ and doing the work of the risen Christ.

One thing that means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

So – what do you think of when you hear the word evangelical?

What do you think of when you hear the word evangelism?

Going out and bringing people to Christ?

Going door to door and witnessing?

These have been images of evangelism for many people. And it is not something that many people want to be a part of.

What about the word evangelist?

What do you think of when you hear the word evangelist?

Someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet?

Someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond?

I heard a joke not long ago about a Revival Preacher who ended his message on the final night of meetings with the usual invitation. The pianist played and played – but no one came forward.

Finally a young boy came down the aisle –

the preacher praised God and said

“And a little child shall lead them!” –

and

“Who else is God speaking to – right now?”

and the boy went straight to the front of the Church – then turned right to go out the exit door to the rest rooms.

Not exactly the response the preacher wanted!

This is the image that many have of an evangelist – and for many it is not a very positive one!

What about sharing your faith?

What do you think of when you hear these words?

Passing out tracks of pamphlets?

Going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying:

“If you were to die do you know where you would go?”

This is the image that many have of sharing your faith – and again — for many it is not a very positive one!

Many people do not have a very positive image of evangelism – or of evangelists – or of sharing their faith. And since they do not have a positive image of it, they do not take part in it – leaving it to someone else – feeling that there is no

way they are going to take part in evangelism – or being an evangelist – or sharing their faith.

And yet — one thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

But – as I have already noted — the way we think about evangelism has a lot to do with the way we do evangelism.

The image we have of being evangelical has a lot to do with whether or not we are going to be evangelicals!

The negative ideas we have about evangelism have a lot to do with why we do not do evangelism.

Presbyterians have not done a very good job at evangelism in the past few years – and we have lost many members and not gained many more because of it. A recent study of the major denominations showed that the Presbyterian Church (USA) lost thousands of members every year – leading the way in membership loss of the 25 top denominations.

Yea – We’re Number One!

But membership loss is not something you want to be number 1 in!

Maybe we need to take another look at evangelism – evangelists – being evangelical — and sharing your story!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

But – what does it really mean to be evangelical?

What is evangelism?

What is an evangelist?

What does it mean to share your story?

And – is it something everyone should be doing?

The original meaning of them word evangelism – in the original Greek – means sharing the good news!

So – an evangelist is someone who shares good news.

And sharing your story means sharing how the good news has affected your life.

What if we were to think about evangelism as sharing the good news of God’s love?

What if we were to think about an evangelist as being someone who shares the good news of God’s love?

What if we were to think about of evangelical as being someone who shares the good news of God’s love?

What if we were to think of sharing your story as sharing how God has touched your life and changed your life?

And – what if we were to think that this work of evangelism – this commitment to being evangelicals – this sharing the good news of God’s love – was everyone’s job?

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

What if we all took the role of evangelism – sharing the good news of God’s love – personally – seriously — and became involved in it—passionate about it – excited about it?

We may lose our number 1 ranking of being the top denomination as far are losing members.

Our churches may grow – and more and more people come to know about Christ.

But first we need to let it sink in that

evangelism does not have to be going out and bringing people to Christ

evangelism does not have to be going door to door and witnessing

evangelism is simply sharing the good news of the love of God in the best way you can do it.

An evangelists do not have to be someone with a floppy, well – thumped Bible who stands and yells at you until you finally give up and make a decision for Christ – just to get them to be quiet —

evangelists do not have to be someone who will get the pianist to play “Just As I Am” 100 times if necessary until people respond.

evangelists are simply people who try to share the good news of God’s love in every way they can.

No — sharing your faith does not have to be passing out tracks of pamphlets — sharing your faith does not have to be going up to someone and starting a conversation by saying:

“If you were to die do you know where you would go?”

sharing your faith is using any method you can to tell others about the good things God is doing in your life.

Evangelism is sharing the good news of God’s love!

Being an evangelist is being someone committed to sharing the good news of God’s love!

Being an evangelical is being someone committed to sharing the good news of God’s love!

Sharing your story is using any method you can to share the good news of God’s love!

And we are all called to do evangelism – to be evangelists – to be evangelicals — and to share the good news of God’s love!

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

Our scripture passage before us today – John 17:1-26 – is a prayer Jesus prayed for His followers – and those who would come after them – at the Last Supper. A beautiful prayer for those who – with the strength of the Holy Spirit – would be doing the work of Jesus in the world – sharing the good news of God’s love with others in words and actions.

It is a prayer for evangelists – a prayer for evangelicals — a prayer for those involved in evangelism – a prayer for those involved in sharing the good news of God’s love with the world.

It’s a prayer for each of us.

Churches need to be “evangelizing communities” — or communities that are committed to spreading the good news of God’s love!

Christians need to be busy telling how God has shown them love — and can show love to others!
We all have a story to tell — the story of God’s love.

That’s what evangelism is!

That’s what being an evangelist is!

That’s what being an evangelical is!

That’s what sharing your story is all about!

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

Dr. Leighton Ford, the brother in law of Billy Graham and at one time one who would preach along with Dr. Graham at many of the crusades they held around the world, was one of the main speakers at the conference referred to earlier. The point he kept driving home was the need to do evangelism. We all can not do it like Billy Graham or Leighton Ford – but we all can do it some way.

We all can share the love of God with the world.

We all can tell our story of God’s love.

We all can be evangelicals!

We all can do evangelism!

Dr. Ford asked each of us to think about the first person who shared the love of God with us. He said that for most of us it was probably not a “Bible thumping” preacher – the Evangelist who conjures up negative images in our minds – but a loving friend – or parent – or grandparent – who simply told us that God loved us in a way that made that love real for us.

That’s what evangelism is!

That’s what being an evangelist is!

That’s what an evangelical does!

That’s what sharing your story is all about!

And – that ‘s what we need to be committed to doing!

Not just as a denomination that is losing thousands of members a year.

Not just as a Church.

But also as individual Christians – called to be evangelists – called to be evangelicals – called to be people of faith with a story to tell!

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

So – how can we be evangelists – people committed to sharing the good news of God’s love with the world?

Well – first of all it takes prayer.

We need to be in prayer that God will excite us – and give us a way to share the good news with others.

If we are going to be evangelicals – if we are going to be people who are committed to being evangelicals – if we are going to be people committed to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world and with the community – the first thing we are going to have to be is be people who are committed to prayer.

We need to pray that God will give us a vision for how He would have us to share His love with those around us.

George Bullard is a nationally known church consultant who heads us The Columbia Partnership — a group of Church leaders who help churches learn how to grow – and is the author of one of the books I’m currently reading — Pursuing The Full Kingdom Potential Of Your Congregation.

In it he discusses steps a congregation can take to reach the potential God has in store for it.

Can you guess what the first step might be?

The first step towards reaching the full Kingdom potential of the congregation – the full potential God has in store for a congregation — is for the congregation to engage in a time of prayer.

The first step Bullard suggests for the members of a congregation who want their church to reach their full potential for God’s glory is for them to pray for God to give them a vision for exactly how God wants it to “evangelize” their community – exactly what steps God wants it to take to tell those around it about God and God’s love.

God has a lot of ways for His people to tell about His love – the members of a church just have to pray and discuss and study and see what options God is calling them to be doing as they go about the business of being an evangelical church – a church committed to sharing the love of God with those around them.

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

So – what is our first step to being the evangelical Church God wants us to be?

It is prayer.

We need to pray for God to give us a vision for exactly how God wants us to “evangelize” this community – exactly what steps God wants us to take to tell those around us about God and God’s love.

God has a lot of ways for us to tell about His love – we just have to pray and discuss and study and see what options God is calling us to be doing as we go about the business of being an evangelical church – a church committed to sharing the love of God with those around us.

So – what is your first step to being the evangelical Christian – the evangelist – God wants us to be?

It is prayer.

You need to pray for God to give you a vision for exactly how God wants you to “evangelize” this community – exactly what steps God wants you to take to tell those around you about God and God’s love.

God has a lot of ways for you to tell about His love – you just have to pray and see what options God is calling you to be doing as you go about the business of being an evangelical Christian – a Christians committed to sharing the love of God with those around you.

There is a second step also.

Second – we have to have tell our story.

We all have a story to tell.

Has God changed your life?

Has God made a difference in your life?

If so – tell the story!

If not – listen to someone else’s story – so you can learn what God can do for you!

So – we have 2 things to work on to become the excited – powerful – evangelical — Easter Church God calls us to be.

You have 2 things to work on to become the excited – powerful – evangelical Easter Christian God calls you to be.

We have to pray.

We have to tell our story.

You have to pray.

You have to tell your story.

But – there is a third thing.

Thirdly – we have to be willing to go out into the world – into the community — and tell that story of how God has changed our lives.

In the past we could just sit back and wait for folks to come to the Church – but things are different now. Now the Church – and that means each of us – particularly that means you — have to be willing to go out and take the message of God’s love into the community.

Times have changed.

The world is a different place than it used to be.

The church is not as important to people as it used to be – but the message of the church – the good news of God’s love – still needs to be proclaimed – more so now than ever before. But we have to take it to the people instead of expecting the people to come to us to hear it.

There are 3 ways we can respond to the changes in the world – in the culture – in the community —

We can fight it.

We can change with it.

Or – we can see how God is still working in the world – how God is at work in the community — identify the places God is working – and be a part of that work.

The third option is the option of Christ – who prayed to God to bless His followers as they take His message into the world – just as He had done.

Unless we are willing to take the message of God’s love into the world – unless we are willing to be evangelicals – unless we are willing to be evangelists — every day – the message of God’s love will not change or make a difference in our community – and we are failing in our call to be the Church – the Christians – God calls us to be.

One thing that being an “Easter Church” means is that we can be evangelists – that we can do the work of evangelism – that we can be Evangelicals.

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

We are honoring our graduates today.

Tyler – Davey – and Kim – you have all accomplished many things – and – I am sure – will accomplish many more things in your lives.

As you begin a new phase of your lives – I want to encourage you to be evangelists – to be evangelicals – to take the steps that will help you share God’s love with those you come into contact with every day.

Pray

Tell your story.

Go out into the world sharing God’s love.

And – know that Jesus’ prayer for the Spirit to be with His followers has been answered. As you pray – tell you story – and share God’s love – the Spirit will strengthen you.

If we are going to be the “evangelical” Church God has called us to be —

We will all have to pray.

We will all have tell our story. .

We will all have to go out into the community.

But – as we do these things – we will all have the Holy Spirit with us!

That’s what evangelism is!

That’s what being an evangelist is!

That’s what being an evangelical is all about!

That’s what sharing your story is all about!

That’s what being an “Easter Christian” – filled with the power of Christ – is all about!

That’s what being an “Easter Church” – filled with the power of Christ – is all about!

That’s what reaching our potential for the glory of God is all about!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

An “Easter Church” is Evangelical!

Amen.