Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Trinity Sunday/Peace with Justice Sunday - 05/31/15 Sermon - “Unless someone is born anew, it's not possible to see God's kingdom"

Sunday 05/31/15 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible

to see God’s kingdom”                      

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 6:1-8

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Romans 8:12-17

Gospel Lesson: John 3:1-17                   

          My brothers and sisters, friends, once again, welcome on this Trinity Sunday, and this Peace with Justice Sunday.

          On this Trinity Sunday, we celebrate in our church calendar, and always, all that God is. For our God is three in one, one in three. God is the creator, the Father. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God, God in the flesh, the second person of God, the Son. The Holy Spirit is the companion, the third person of God, the fire of God, the breath of God, God’s spiritual power, God’s spirit. While God is expressed in three distinct forms, all are one. God comes to us as the creator of all that is. Jesus Christ comes to us as God in the flesh. The love of God made human that has come to love us, change us, and save us. The Holy Spirit comes to us as a companion and a sanctifier that renews us, that connects us to God and Jesus Christ, and that fills us with holy passion and fire.

          Trinity Sunday then, isn’t just a Sunday to celebrate a historic doctrine of the Christian Church called the Trinity. We are not just harkening back to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed from 381 AD, which was the successor to the Nicene Creed from 325 AD, where the church defined the Holy Trinity. More than this, Trinity Sunday is a call and an opportunity to look at the largeness of God. The reality that God is not confined to just one form, but rather that God comes to us in three unique ways. More than just saying that the church believes in a God that is one in three, and three in one, just as our church doctrine says, this Sunday is a call to experience God, the creator, the Father, Jesus Christ, the son, the savior, the redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, the companion, the Holy Fire and Holy breath of God.

Further this reality of the Trinity, of God three in one, one in three goes back to earliest days of the Christian Church, and can be seen in scriptures such as, 1 John 5:7 that says, “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one” (1 John 5:7, NKJV).

          In this sense, we have a God that comes to us in three installments. We connect to the creator, to the redeemer and the healer, and are affirmed and filled by God’s Holy Spirit. Like water that can be ice, liquid, and steam, we have our Triune God of the creator, or the Father, Jesus Christ, or the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

          In addition to this, this Sunday is also “Peace with Justice” Sunday, a Sunday where we take a special offering to fund our “Peace with Justice” ministries. These ministries are ministries that address human trafficking, violence against women, the oppression and harm of innocent people, and etc. and etc. This fund and this collection goes to defend the innocent, the rejected, and the least of these. It goes to people like the ones that Jesus Christ ministered to in the gospels.

          So if you feel led by God this morning, by Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, to contribute to these valuable ministries of the United Methodist Church, then during our normal collection time, just indicate on a check or funds that you designate, for “Peace with Justice” Sunday, and we will make sure that they get to the conference, and then to the people that really need it.

          Will all of this said, on this Trinity Sunday, Jesus this morning offers us a more robust view of God in today’s gospel of John reading. For this morning Jesus says, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom” (John 3:3, CEB). Jesus says this to “a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a Jewish leader” (John 3:1, CEB).

          Now Nicodemus, the Jewish Pharisee was well versed in the Law of Moses and the traditional Jewish understanding of who God was. Yet Nicodemus was intrigued by Jesus Christ. In fact in John 3:2 it says speaking of Nicodemus, “He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could do these miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2, CEB). Nicodemus, the Jewish Pharisee, seems to have believed that Jesus Christ had some sort of divine knowledge, power, or understanding of God that he himself did not have.

          Once again, in response to this statement from Nicodemus, Jesus says, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom” (John 3:3, CEB). An interesting statement to be sure. Nicodemus, as I said, being very steeped in the Jewish Law of Moses, takes this statement from Jesus Christ as a call for a literal bodily rebirth. As to be reborn as a child from the womb.

          In fact, Nicodemus asks Jesus, “How is it possible for an adult to be born? It’s impossible to enter the mother’s womb for a second time and be born, isn’t it? (John 3:4, CEB).”  

          So what is Jesus saying to Nicodemus and to us all with this statement? Is Jesus saying that “if you believe in God, the Father, the creator, that is now not enough?” That in order to really get it, you now have to believe in me to, as God, version 2.0, like a computer program, requiring us to upgrade our spiritual software. That the first version of God wasn’t enough, so we needed an additional representation.

          The reality is though, that many of the Jewish people at this time and today, had and have a depth faith in God, the Father, Yahweh, Elohim, and etc., but this faith was very connected to the laws of the Old Testament. This faith was also connected to certain behavior and certain rituals, to such an extent that these behaviors and rituals could be visually observed as strong faith. Jesus though, as the second person or revelation from God, took on more of an internalized focus, saying we must not just conduct ourselves well, and not just live according to God’s laws, but something else is needed to. We need a transformation. We need a re-birth.

          What we need then, and what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus then, is that we need a literal spiritual and internal change from within. This change will make us different, and we will have the renewal of our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

So it is isn’t just that we believe in the basic sense, and just prescribe to set of behaviors and rituals, but rather that we need to experience a personal and a spiritual transformation and renewal. We need to know God the creator, we need to know his Son the savior, Jesus Christ, and we need to be renewed by the Holy Spirit, to fully get it all. It is sort of like a combo meal at a restaurant, it is package deal. Further, when you get the combo meal, you are feed, you are filled, and you not left thirsty afterwards.

          In the reading from the prophet Isaiah from this morning, Isaiah wrote “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” (Isa. 6:3b, CEB). Isaiah speaks of God, the creator, the Father, and His glory and His power.

          Yet in the gospel of John from this morning, we read that famous and very common scripture from John 3:16 that says, “God so loved the world that he have his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life” (John 3:16, CEB). So we need to know Jesus, then.

          On this Trinity Sunday, we praise the almighty God and creator of us all, but then we hear that God has sent his son for us. That in our brokenness and in our sinfulness, that we can be reconciled to the God of the Universe, through his son, God in the flesh, Jesus the Christ.

          Yet as we read in the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts from last Sunday, the disciples were not really ready to preach and serve until the Holy Spirit showed up, like tongues of fire.

          In this way, I would argue that on this Trinity Sunday, we need the Trinity or God in three persons to be fully complete. For if this was not true, then why did Nicodemus the Pharisee come to Jesus in the gospel of John reading from this morning? If this was not true, why did thousands flock to Christ?

          Jesus was and is the second revelation of the living God, and this is why in Jesus, and through Jesus, with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be made new, abundant, and given new life individually, and together.

          For as the reading from Romans 8:13 says from this morning, “If you live on the basis of selfishness, you are going to die. But if you put to death the actions of the body with the Spirit, you will live” (Romans 8:13, CEB). We need the Holy Spirit.

          The Apostle Paul then continues in Romans 8:16-17 by saying, “The same Spirit agrees with our spirit, that we are God’s children. But if we are children, we are also heirs. We are God’s heirs and fellow heirs with Christ, if we really suffer with him so that we can also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:16-17, CEB).

          Do you notice here that the Apostle Paul’s language here to the church in Rome or the Romans, is language that speaks of the three persons of God. The Apostle Paul talks of the Spirit, of God, of Christ. The reality that a fully and an abundant faith is one that grows in God, in Christ, and is renewed and filled by the power of the Holy Spirit.

          So “born anew,” Jesus says to Nicodemus the Pharisee this morning (John 3:3a, CEB). This concept of a spiritual rebirth is where we get the group in Christianity that identify themselves as “Born Again” Christians. “Born Again” Christians are making the claim that have had a spiritual rebirth, the way that Christ was challenging Nicodemus to do the same.

          Now I am not saying that we must be called “Born Again” Christians, but what I am saying, is that Jesus tells us we must have a powerful and an internal change of heart, mind, and soul. A change that is so profound, that it moves us from hardness of heart to softness of heart. That it moves us from anger to love. From selfishness to generosity. From meanness to great compassion. This is the transformation that Jesus was telling Nicodemus the Pharisee about this morning.

          I would like to share a story with you about this change. This story is called, “The Pan,” by author unknown. Here is how the story goes: “A little girl noticed that every time her mother cooked a roast she chopped a piece off the end of the roast before putting it in the oven.  Intrigued, she asked her mother why she did this. “Well to be honest, I do it because that’s the way my mother always does it” came the reply. “I’m sure she must have some good reason for it.”

“At the next family gathering, the child decided to satisfy her curiosity. “Grandma, why do you always chop the end off the roast before cooking it?” “Well to be honest, I do it because that’s the way my mother always does it” came the reply. “I’m sure she must have some good reason for it.”

“A week or so later the little girl was visiting her 90 year old great grandmother. She explained that mommy and grandma always chop the end off the roast before cooking it, but couldn’t remember why. Did she know? “Struth!” said Great-grandma. “Imagine the two of them doing that! Why, I only cut the piece off because my pan was too small!”

          You see like Nicodemus the Pharisee, the little girl’s mother and grandmother were following rules and rituals that were passed on to them. Sure they believed, sure they did what they thought was right and correct, but it took a little girl, a Nicodemus if you will, to say, “why does this make any sense?”

          For on this day Nicodemus the Pharisee asks Jesus Christ what he must do to really know God more. Jesus Christ tells him, “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom” (John 3:3, CEB). Perhaps Nicodemus was saying to Jesus Christ, “I keep chopping the end of my roast off, but I don’t even know why I do it. Further, it isn’t getting me anywhere.”

          Jesus Christ says, you must be changed, reborn, that “I assure you, unless someone is born anew, it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom” (John 3:3, CEB).

          Trinity Sunday then is about renewal, revitalization, and coming into a fuller understanding of who God is. I bring this message to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Pentecost Sunday/Memorial Day Sunday - 05/24/15 Sermon - “I have much more to say to you, but you can't handle it now” (The "I" series: Part 5 of 5)

Sunday 05/24/15 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t

handle it now”                      

(The “I” series: Part 5 of 5)

New Testament Lesson: Acts 2:1-21

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Romans 8:22-27

Gospel Lesson: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15                   

          Welcome my brothers and sisters, my friends, to this our Pentecost Sunday. To this day where holy wind and holy fire was unleashed on the disciples of Jesus Christ. It says in the Book of Acts 2:2-3 from this morning that, “Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them” (Acts 2:2-3, CEB).

Today, hold wind, holy fire shows up, and the promise that Jesus made last Sunday of “I’m sending to you what my Father promised,” shows up (Luke 24:49a, CEB). Not only does it show up, but the disciples were so loud and were so ruckus, that they were accused of being drunk. The Apostle Peter responded by saying, “These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning!” (Acts 2:15, CEB).

Today then, is the day of Pentecost, the day of holy wind, and holy fire, where the Christian Church is officially born. For on this day, the Apostles finally begin to preach the gospel, and to build the church. Before the day of Pentecost however, the disciples were to wait for what Jesus promised, when he said last week, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised,” (Luke 24:49a, CEB).

Now while today is Pentecost Sunday, tomorrow is also Memorial Day. Memorial Day of course, is the national holiday where we remember and honor those have died while serving in the armed forces of our country. As a result of this, we have some music this morning, and some inclusions to this worship service, to honor those and their families who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. We also want to honor those who have served in the armed forces in general.

While some people don’t always agree with some of the decisions that our government has made regarding our military and wars, we honor the men and women who have died, their families, and all who have served this morning.

 So with this our Pentecost Sunday and with this our Memorial Day Sunday, I am concluding my five-week series on “I” statement that Jesus made in the gospels. Some of these statements were declaratory statements about who he was. In the first week of this series for example, Jesus said to the disciples and to us, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a, CEB). By saying this, Jesus was saying that we can trust him, and that he will never leave us or abandon us.

In the second week of this “I” statement series, Jesus then said to his disciples and us, regarding himself, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). Jesus was saying, that if you believe in me, if you love me, and if you have faith in me, you can do amazing things through me. You can bear spiritual fruit, and you can bring other people to know Jesus Christ.

In the third week of this series, on Mother’s Day, Jesus said to his disciples and us, “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB). While Jesus was telling us who he was, he was also commanding the disciples and us to love each other. To preach his gospel of life and truth, and to bring forth a world of peace, love, and justice.

The fourth week of this “I” statement series was when Jesus promised his disciples, that “I’m sending to you what my Father promised,” (Luke 24:49a, CEB). That he was promising this Pentecost, this movement of the holy wind and holy fire, which we have today.

To complete this five-week “I” statement series, I took an “I” statement that Jesus said from our reading from the gospel according to John, from this morning. This “I” statement is found in John 16:12, when Jesus says, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now” (John 16:12, CEB).

Now in the gospel reading for this morning, like the promise that Jesus made last week of “sending to you what my Father promised,” Jesus also is recorded as saying the same thing in John’s gospel, as well (Luke 24:49a, CEB). Last week, we read the account in Luke’s gospel of Jesus telling the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come, and today we read it in John’s gospel.

Interesting that we have the reading from Acts 2 for this morning, about the Holy Spirit showing up, and a Gospel of John reading about waiting for the Holy Spirit to show up. At first to me, these scriptures didn’t seem like a good match for this morning. I mean why have one scripture that fulfills Jesus’s promise to the disciples from last week, and one gospel reading that talks about the promise of the Holy Spirit coming? This is sort of like watching a movie, and then after the movie is over, watching a preview for the movie that you just watched.

As I was reading the gospel of John reading for this morning over and over though, one verse struck me. That verse once again is John 16:12, where Jesus said to the disciples, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now” (John 16:12, CEB).

Then I thought about it more, and the reality that on this day of Pentecost, on this day that the Christian Church was formally born, the Apostle Peter suddenly turns into a fiery preacher. That he preaches a sermon that blows people away, and thousands come to know Jesus Christ on Pentecost. So why the gospel of John reading for this morning then?

Well when I read the verse from John 16:12 over and over that says, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now,” I came to a realization (John 16:12, CEB). This realization is this, when we first encounter God, when first feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in us, this is not the end, but the beginning.

You see on Pentecost, the disciples and the followers of Christ were reborn. They then knew who Christ was, and they then knew that they had to preach the gospel, and to build God’s kingdom. Yet within all of this, even though there was a great outpouring of God’s love, grace, wisdom, and power on that day, Jesus Christ says, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now” (John 16:12, CEB).

Like Pentecost, if we have a mighty and a powerful experience with God, we still don’t have it all. I would argue that we will continue to grow, continue to struggle, and continue to have many spiritual rebirths. Like an onion, we will continue to shed layer upon layer of sin and confusion, until the core of us is exposed. Until the core of us is like Jesus Christ. This is the continued process of re-birth and coming closer and closer to being like Jesus Christ. 

So Jesus says this morning, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now” (John 16:12, CEB). How many us have grown a lot in faith, but still have a long way to go? Maybe we all here need a few more Pentecost’s of our own. A few more re-births to continue to grow closer to Jesus Christ. This is exactly what the founder of the Methodist Movement John Wesley meant when he said that we should all strive to, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” By doing this, and by continuing to grow strength from God, and each other, we grow. We have more Pentecost’s.

So as I mentioned, in the Book of Acts reading for this morning, we have the Pentecost Story today, where holy wind, holy fire, moves. The disciples speak in tongues, the church is born, and the Apostle Peter delivers a powerful sermon, in which thousands become Christians.

In the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or Letter to the Church in Rome, or Romans, it says in 8:26, “In the same way, the Spirit comes to help our weakness,” as we will never fully ever get it all (Romans, 8:26, CEB). We are in need of the transforming power of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirt, many times, not just once.

In the gospel reading for this morning, Jesus describes the Holy Spirt as the “Companion,” and says, “When the Companion comes, whom I send from the Father—the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me” (John 15:26, CEB). The Spirit will bring us closer to Jesus Christ, to show us where we are broken and what we are missing, but it rarely happens all at once.

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, I really think that he wanted his disciples and followers to realize that they wouldn’t see him again, until his second coming or return to earth. As a result of this realization, Jesus was coaching them and preparing them to trust God, and to follow the Holy Spirit. 

As I said though, we still have Jesus saying in the gospel according to John this morning, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now” (John 16:12, CEB). Pentecost then is powerful, it is life changing, it is when the Holy Spirit moves, but it is not end or our spiritual transformations. No, it is only the beginning. We will be sinners saved by grace until we die, as we are all continuing to work on “going on to perfection” in Jesus Christ, as John Wesley would say. We will have more spiritual re-births, as we move more from sinner to saint. It is a process my brothers and sisters, my friends, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t have all the answers yet, because I don’t either.

I would like to share a story with you, about the conversion of the founder of the Methodist Church John Wesley that I took from, www.Christianity.com. You see John Wesley was an ordained priest or pastor in the Church of England, or what we might call in the United States, the Episcopal or the Anglican Church, yet he never really converted fully to Christianity internally.

After being ordained, he went on a Christian mission in Georgia, which was a miserable failure. John Wesley at that point, even considered giving up being a pastor altogether. This is where this morning’s story picks up. Here it what it says:

“John Wesley was almost in despair. He did not have the faith to continue to preach. When death stared him in the face, he was fearful and found little comfort in his religion. To Peter Böhler, a Moravian friend, he confessed his growing misery and decision to give up the ministry. Böhler counseled otherwise. "Preach faith till you have it," he advised. "And then because you have it, you will preach faith." A wise Catholic once made a similar statement: "Act as if you have faith and it will be granted to you."

“John acted on the advice. He led a prisoner to Christ by preaching faith in Christ alone for forgiveness of sins. The prisoner was immediately converted. John was astonished. He had been struggling for years. Here was a man transformed instantly. John made a study of the New Testament and found to his astonishment that the longest recorded delay in salvation was three days--while the apostle Paul waited for his eyes to open.”

“The Moravians assured him their personal experiences had also been instantaneous. John found himself crying out, "Lord, help my unbelief!" However, he felt dull within and little motivated even to pray for his own salvation. On this day, May 24th, 1738 he opened his Bible at about five in the morning and came across these words, "There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should partakers of the divine nature." He read similar words in other places.”

“That evening he reluctantly attended a meeting in Aldersgate. Someone read from Luther's Preface to the Epistle to Romans. About 8:45 p.m. "while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

“It took him some time to learn how to live the life of faith, for he was not always possessed of joy and thought he had fallen from salvation. It took time for him to see that it is not Christ and good works, but Christ alone who saves, resulting in good works.”

“As time went on, John Wesley was mightily used of the Lord to reform England. His Methodists became a national force. John rode thousands of miles (as many as 20,000 a year) preaching as only a man filled with the Holy Spirit can preach, telling the gospel to all who would listen. He acted "as though he were out of breath in pursuit of souls." Wherever he preached, lives changed and manners and morals altered for the better. It is often conjectured that his preaching helped spare England the kind of revolution that occurred in France.”

My brothers and sisters, this is a Pentecost story, if I ever heard one! This is what the holy wind, the holy fire of Pentecost is all about. It is also the reality that the Holy Spirt grows us, often step-by-step, as we get closer to being like Jesus Christ. It is so important to have the Holy Spirit, that holy fire. For as John Wesley said about the Holy Spirt, “Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn” (www.goodreads.com).

So today then, is about the Pentecost story, the Holy Spirit, and the reality that even the founder of Methodist Church didn’t get it all at once, and most likely we won’t either. Today we also remember those who have died in the armed forces, serving the United States of America.

Be of good cheer then, for while Jesus Christ says on this day, “I have much more to say to you, but you can’t handle it now,” I bet if the Apostle Peter, John Wesley, Martin Luther, and many others were here today, they would likely say to us, “don’t we know it Lord!” (John 16:12, CEB). As our faith in Christ and the changing process of the Holy Spirit is a lifelong process. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Ascension Sunday/Seventh Sunday of Easter - 05/17/15 Sermon - “I'm sending to you what my Father promised” (The "I" series: Part 4 of 5)

Sunday 05/17/15 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “I’m sending to you what my Father promised”                      

(The “I” series: Part 4 of 5)

Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 47

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:44-53                   

Welcome and hello once again, my brothers and sisters, my friends, on this our Ascension Sunday. This Sunday that we celebrate Jesus Christ physically leaving this earth in the flesh, to return to his heavenly home. This day that we celebrate Jesus Christ going to be with God, to sit “at God’s right side in the heavens,” (Eph. 1:20b, CEB).

This day that the Apostles might have felt alone, might have felt worried, might have felt confused, and might have felt cut off from God, but yet still had overwhelming joy, as Jesus Christ had just physically left there presence.

          Now after Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, he appeared to his disciples, and others, for a period of 40-days. These appearances included the appearance with the Apostle Thomas, who wanted to see Christ in the flesh, as to see and believe. These appearances also included the “Walk to Emmaus” story, where Christ walked with some of the disciples, without them knowing who he truly was, until the very end of the visit.

          Today though I would argue, is a day of great faith and celebration on our Christian calendar. You see the actual Ascension Day of Jesus Christ, at least in most of our Western Christian Church Calendars, was this past Thursday 05/14/15. Since we don’t have church on Thursdays here though, we have Ascension Sunday here this morning.

For some Christians in fact, this day is still in fact a great and an important holiday. In fact, a friend of mine sent me a picture with information this week, showing me how this past Thursday in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, how much of the stores and shops of our Amish brothers and sisters were closed, as to celebrate and to be in prayer on Ascension Day.

          Now there certainly is an ongoing scholarly and theological debate around the ascension story of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox or historical view, would be that Christ bodily ascended into the Heavens, to be with God. Some would argue other angles or understandings of this story, as well. Whatever you’re theological view is here though, or your otherwise approach to today’s gospel reading, the conclusive reality is that Jesus was no longer with us in the flesh after this day. He was gone.

          Yet Christ tells his disciples and his followers in the gospel according to Luke from this morning, to not worry, to not fear, as he said to them, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB). In other words, Jesus is saying to his disciples, I know you don’t have it all figured out yet, but fear not, I will send help soon.

          This “I” statement, or in this case, this “I’m” statement, is what I want to focus on this morning. As many of us know, I have been doing a series these past few weeks on some of Jesus Christ’s “I” statements from the gospels. In this being the fourth week of this five week “I” statements series, let me briefly touch on the first three weeks of this series.

          In the first week of this “I” statement series, Jesus made the statement in the gospel according to John, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a, CEB). In referencing how a shepherd cares for their sheep, Jesus was telling his disciples and us, that his love, that his power, that his grace, and that his trustworthiness, is good, never ending, and never failing. That as “the good shepherd,” we can trust him, totally and fully (John 10:11a, CEB).

In the second week of this “I” statement series, Jesus said, also from the gospel according to John, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). Making a farming or an agricultural reference here, Jesus is saying, I am the ultimate plant, the ultimate crop. That if you are connected to me “the true vine,” you can grow all kinds of spiritual fruit (John 15:1a, CEB). Be careful though, as God, as Jesus Christ will prune away from us, whatever is killing our production of spiritual fruit. 

Last week, somewhat in honor of Mother’s Day, I picked Jesus’ “I” statement, also from the gospel according to John, where he said, “I have loved you” to his disciples and followers (John 15:12b, CEB). I connected this statement to how many of the women of our lives have and continue to love us, and how the core of who and what Jesus Christ was and is, was love. That he came in love, that he walked in love, that he taught in love, and that he healed in loved. That he died, rose, and ascended into heaven, in love. That the very core of His message was to love God and to love each other. This was foundation of everything He said.

While we still have tremendous debate over things written in the gospels, and in scriptures in general, there is no debate that in the text of the gospels, that Jesus made many “I” statements. These declaratory statements, where Jesus told his disciples and us, about who he said he was, what he was here on earth to do, and what he wanted us to do, as his followers. There is no question that Jesus Christ said many “I” statements, to communicate many truths.

Well once again, our fourth “I” statement, or this case an “I’m” statement, is “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB).

So imagine this in your minds for a minute, you are in a car, with a bunch of friends, and then suddenly the driver pulls over, and says, “you all need to get out of the car.” Then before the driver speeds off, he says, “don’t worry, I’m sending someone who will help you soon.” The driver then might indicate that you and your friends won’t see that driver again, until he returns. This return could be tomorrow, or it could be years upon years later. Jesus for the sake of this example, is the driver of this car.

Now it is exciting that we celebrate Christ ascending into heaven today, but how many of us like being left all alone? How many of us, like to wait in general? How many of us like to feel abandoned?

How many of us have gone to the DMV, and there was a big line when we got there, and we thought, “Well this is great news!” How many of us like being in hospital waiting rooms or doctor’s waiting rooms, as a surgery or something else is happening to someone we love? Many of know that song by Tom Petty, “Waiting is the hardest part.” Isn’t that the truth?

Another example of today’s “I” statement, would be like one of you sending one of your children to school for the first time, or into the military, or off to college. It would certainly be an exciting and a proud day for you as a parent, yet you would still be filled with some struggle, and some sadness. This I would argue, is like the ascension story. An excitement cake, iced with fear, worry, and trepidation. Yummy!

Yet next week on Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Spirit, that third person of God, that Jesus Christ said, “I’m sending to you,” shows up, and shows up powerfully (Luke 24:49a, CEB)! When this happens, the disciples, and the early followers of Jesus Christ, understand much better who Jesus Christ was and is. They then then understand much more there mission, there instructions.

Sometimes in our own lives, we have days that God seems distant, or far away to us. Sometimes we might have weeks or even months, where we feel like our prayers are not getting answered. Yet for many of us, we have also times where we have abundantly feel God’s presence. Times where we are filled with endless love, hope, and joy.

It is never easy for someone you love to leave, and it can also be just as hard to believe that you will see them again one day. Yet even the darkest nights have a dawn. Even if we feel that we are eternally lost and broken, that we are a lost cause, the God of the universe will continue to pursue us. The God of the universe will show up and be present, but sometimes not where, how, or when we think He will. These “in-between” times, is what we call faith, and hope. These times that we come together as God’s people, to lift each other up, to be like Jesus, to love each other like God loves us.

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism for example, is a precious gift that Jesus Christ gave to the church. A gift, whereby we call upon the Holy Spirit, the power of God, to fill the person being baptized, and us. We call upon that love, that joy, and that power of God, to fill that person. For that person to feel re-born spiritually, and for that person to then be grafted into the family or the body of Christ. Will that newly baptized person then have this thing called faith all figured out on the day of their baptism though? Of course not, but Jesus Christ says this morning, don’t worry, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB).

In our scripture reading from Psalm 47 from this morning, the Psalm speaks prophetically or in a prediction oriented sense about ascension. The Psalm first encourages us to, “Clap your hands, all you people! Shout joyfully to God with a joyous shout!” (Ps. 47:1, CEB). The Psalm then beautifully says in 47:3-5, “He subdues the nations under us, subdues all people beneath our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us: the heights of Jacob, which he loves. [Selah] God has gone up with a joyous shout—the LORD with the blast of the ram’s horn.” (Ps. 47:3-5 CEB). Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ has ascended, and Christ will come again.

In his Epistle or letter to the church in Ephesus or the Ephesians from this morning, the Apostle Paul writes, “I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers.” (Eph. 1:17-19a, CEB).

The Apostle Paul then says of Jesus Christ, that “God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens,” (Eph. 1:20, CEB).

This morning my brothers and sisters, friend Jesus Christ tells his disciples and us, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB).

In the gospel according to Luke reading from this morning, Jesus first tell his disciples that he has fulfilled everything that the Old Testament predicted about him, as he is the Messiah. He tells us to believe in him, and he then according to the gospel reading, “opened their minds to understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45, CEB). After reiterating who he was, why he came, and some more of his truths, Christ then led his disciples and his followers outside of Jerusalem to Bethany, and ascended into the heavens.

Now the gospel then says, Jesus “blessed them,” and then ascended, and that “They worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem overwhelmed with joy. And they were continuously in the temple praising God” (Luke 24:50b-53, CEB). Yet, I would imagine that they would have still had those feelings of fear, worry, abandonment, and trepidation.

So today can be seen as a hard day for the disciples and for us, but Jesus Christ says, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB). Perhaps some of us today, are feeling like God is distant from us, or that we are waiting on God. Jesus says, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB). Maybe God’s answer for you is someone here in church today, but whatever is, keep praying, keep the faith.

I would like to share a story with you about struggle and waiting on God called, “Joni Erikson Tada.” This story was taken from the “Joni and friends website, Joni’s books.” Here is how it goes: “In the summer of 1967, Joni Erickson and her sister rode their horses to the Chesapeake Bay to go for a swim. The result was tragic. Joni dived into shallow water, struck her head on a rock and became a quadriplegic. She is paralyzed from the neck down.”

“During two years of often painful rehabilitation Joni learned how to paint with her mouth, and what this disability meant for her faith. At times Joni was angry with God, demanding to know why he let this happen, even at times wishing she hadn’t survived. But in the years since Joni has learned that it is in her weakness that God’s strength can shine through. She has been a source of enormous blessing to people all over the world as she shares the faith that sustains her.”

“At first Joni found it impossible to reconcile her condition with her belief in a loving God. But one night Joni became convinced God did understand. The catalyst was a good friend who said to her, “Joni, Jesus knows how you feel. He was paralyzed. He couldn’t move or change position on the cross. He was paralyzed by the nails.” The realization was profoundly comforting. “God became incredibly close to me and eventually I understood that He loves me. I had no other identity but God, and gradually He became enough,” stated Joni. “I prayed for healing and truly believed it would come. The Bible speaks of our bodies’ being glorified’. Now I realize I will be healed; I’m just going through a forty or fifty year delay, and God stays with me even through that.”

My brothers and sisters, my friends, there are times where God will seem far away to us. Times where our faiths are like a car running on empty. Yet, as I heard a preacher say once, “God is always on time, and his checks don’t bounce.” While we go through sufferings, trials, and tribulations, God suffers with us, God hears us, and through God, and God working through each one of us, we can be restored. Maybe today, is your spiritual baptism as the God of the universe is calling you to come unto him. Remember then, that while today we might feel broken, that tomorrow we might feel broken, but that Jesus promised that, “I’m sending to you what my Father promised” (Luke 24:49a, CEB). So let us trust Him, stand on His promises, and love each other boldly and radically. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Sixth Sunday of Easter/Mother's Day - 05/10/15 Sermon - “I have loved you” (The "I" series: Part 3 of 5)

Sunday 05/10/15 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “I have loved you”                      

(The “I” series: Part 3 of 5)

New Testament Lesson: Acts 10:44-48

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 5:1-6

Gospel Lesson: John 15:9-17                   

          Friends, brothers and sisters, welcome once again on this our Sixth Sunday of the Easter Season. This season of resurrection, of hope, of newness of life, and of God doing a new and a powerful thing in us, and through us.

          This morning, is also Mother’s Day. This is a special day not only in the life of the church, but all across this country. On this day, we honor mothers and all women, as all women care for someone or for something. Whether you are a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, or if you have no children, you are mother to someone or something, in your way. Due to this, on this day, we take time to thank the women of our lives, for their work, for their sacrifices, and for their great love for us, and for so many.

          In preparing to honor the women of our lives here this morning, I found a great video that I want to show you, which I think sums up well what Mother’s Day is.

~ Show Video Clip ~

          So as I said then, today we honor our mothers, our grandmothers, our great grandmothers, and all women, as all women are mothers in their own ways, even if they don’t have their own children.

          With those things said, I have been preaching a five-week series on five “I” statements that Jesus Christ made. These “I” statements, are statements about who Jesus Christ claimed himself to be, statements about the promises that he made to his disciples and to us, and statements about how Jesus challenges us to live for others and to love others.

In the first week of the “I” statements series, I preached on the first “I” statement of when Jesus said in the gospel according to John, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a, CEB). The reality that Jesus is trustworthy, honest, and faithful, and that he will never deceive us.

Last week I preached on the “I” statement of when Jesus said, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). The reality, that if we stay connected to Jesus Christ, to his love, to God, then and only then, can we bear spiritual fruit for Jesus Christ.

This morning though, I want to talk about the third “I” statement that I chose, which like the first two “I” statements, comes from the gospel according to John. This “I” statement, is when Jesus said in John 15:12b, “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB).

Now on the surface, it seems like a pretty basic statement that Jesus made, “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB). In the same way, many of us that are here this morning can say of our mothers, our grandmothers, our great grandmothers, our aunts, and other women in our lives, that these women have loved us.

Some of us can remember the great love that the women of our lives showed us and that they continue to pour into us. They did this and do this still, because love is the most powerful force there is. You see in the Wesleyan or Methodist view of Christianity, we believe that at heart of the very universe itself, is the heart of God’s love. That the heart of God’s love beckons us all, calls to us all, and desires to have a transformative relationship with us.

For many of us then, we can say that some of or all of the women our lives, showed us great love like this. Perhaps our own faith and spiritual journeys have also been greatly enhanced because of the women that have been in our lives.

So with said, just what did Jesus mean this morning when he tells his disciples and his followers “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB)?

Well, to prepare for my sermons, I always do a lot of research, and I read through some Bible commentaries that offer various perspectives on the scriptures in the Bible. I was particularly struck this week, by what one of my commentaries, the “Africa Bible Commentary,” said on today’s gospel reading.

To provide just a snipped of what this commentary said about this morning’s gospel, it said of what Jesus was telling his disciples, that, “Love is to be the disciples’ way of life. They are to love everyone, at all times. The type of love that Jesus is commanding is the same type of love that the Father has for Jesus (15:9), and that Jesus has for his disciples (15:12-13).”

I suppose for me, I had the pleasure of growing up with a strong and a deeply rooted Christian mother, and other women around me who had deep faith and love. They not only told me about the gospel of Jesus Christ, but in the various ways they acted and lived, and in the various ways they treated me and others, I knew that this gospel, that this Jesus, was far more than mere words on a page.

You see, while the women of my life sometimes debated theology, while they sometimes debated things like should we baptize babies, or wait until the child can make their own profession of faith, while they sometimes debated which church has it “right,” and while they might have debated over having different views of scripture, and different views of Jesus Christ, they all agreed that they loved Jesus. That they loved God’s people, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ was the most transformative thing that they had ever encountered.

When I was in seminary, as I was assembling both the spiritual and the theological tapestry of my Lutheran, Methodist, and Roman Catholic family, I realized how transformative the gospel of Jesus Christ is. How this gospel changed the women in my life, regardless of their Christian denominations. I then realized how these women used the love that they had, by staying connected to “the true vine,” to God, to Jesus Christ, and how they had poured that love into me (John 15:1a, CEB). As I was continuing to discern my call to ministry in seminary, I realized that the women of my life, did often what Jesus did, as Jesus said this morning, “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB).

Once again, I believe that at the heart of the universe, is the heart of God’s love, and for many of us, that love was and is shown to us, by the women in our lives.

You see, as I said last week, the three words that the Bible uses to describe God are, light, love, and life. The women of my life, through the power of God and Jesus Christ, gave me light, love, and life.

The mission of Jesus Christ then, was to radically transform human hearts, from hearts of stone, to hearts of flesh. From hearts of hatred and violence, to hearts of light, love, and life. I believe that there is nothing else on this earth that can so change a human heart like the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that the love, the light, and the life, that I was shown by many of the women in my life, to me, confirmed this reality. That it further confirmed to me the realities of the great God we have, of the great love that Jesus Christ has for us all, and the power we are given every day to transform the world for Jesus Christ.

An example of this transformation can be seen in this morning’s reading from the Book of Acts. For those who have watching the show “AD, the Bible Continues” on NBC, this show is about the Book of Acts, which is the book of the New Testament that talks about the first Christians, or the early Christian Church.

In this reading from the Book of Acts from this morning, it says, “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles” (Acts 10:44-45, CEB). The very first Christian Church, at first, consisted of just converted Jews, but then Greeks and other none Jews became Christians. God’s power, Jesus’s love extended to all people, not just some, as I remember the women of my life teaching me to love all people, not just some people. That God created all persons, that we are all God’s children, and that we are all of sacred worth.

In our reading from the Apostle John’s first epistle or letter from this morning, he says in 5:1, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God. Whoever loves someone who is a parent loves the child born to the parent” (1 John 5:1, CEB). So as Jesus loved, we are to love. Many of us can say that we have and still feel that love from many of the women who are in our lives.

John then goes on to say, “This is how we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep God’s commandments. This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith.” (1 John 5:3-4, CEB).

At the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ then, and the heart of the universe, is the heart of God’s love. When I say then, that Jesus Christ is my Lord and savior, I am saying that in part, because the women of my life showed me what the gospel is, showed me who Jesus is, and showed me how Jesus Christ taught us to love each other. As a result of this, I was changed, I was transformed, and this transformation has led me to you, in part, because some of the women of my life who said yes to the love of Jesus Christ.

To me then, the gospel is not hard. In fact, I couldn’t be any easier if we tried. For when we love and care for each other that radically, the communities that we live in, and the world itself can be changed. This is the gospel of life, light, and love.

When looking more closely at our gospel of John reading from this morning, Jesus begins by saying to his disciples, “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love” (John 15:9-10, CEB).

The women in my life made great sacrifices to show me this love, and if I were to get angry, if I were to reject this love, if I were to do harm to others, then I would lose God. Then I would lose the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I would dishonor the love and the work that the women of my life did to help shepherd me to this point that I am at today. This is why Jesus says, “Remain in my love” (John 15:9b, CEB). This is why Jesus says, “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB).

Jesus then says to the disciples, “I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. This is my commandment: love each other just as I have love you” (John 15:11-12, CEB). My brothers and sisters, friends, the living God who was on earth, commands us, all of us, to love each other, with no exceptions.

Even further than this, Jesus then says, “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:13-14, CEB). How many of you women here this morning would lay down your lives to protect your children, your grandchildren, your great grandchildren? Further how many of your mothers, grandmothers, and great mothers would have done the same exact thing for you? The gospel of Jesus Christ is not hard.

Jesus then tells his disciples and us, to “go and produce fruit,” meaning love each other, make disciples, and transform the world (John 15:16b, CEB). As we know from last week, the way to produce fruit, is to stay connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). To God, to Jesus Christ.

In closing this message this morning, I would like to share with you a story about motherhood. This story is called “In His Mother’s Footsteps,” By: Davida Dalton, as told to Jo-Ellen Johnson. Here is how it goes: “It was a busy day in our Costa Mesa, California, home. But then, with ten children and one on the way, every day was a bit hectic. On this particular day, however, I was having trouble doing even routine chores-all because of one little boy.”

“Len, who was three at the time, was on my heels no matter where I went. Whenever I stopped to do something and turned back around, I would trip over him. Several times I patiently suggested fun activities to keep him occupied.”

“Wouldn’t you like to play on the swing set?” I asked again. But he simply smiled an innocent smile and said, “Oh, that’s all right, Mommy. I’d rather be in here with you.” Then he continued to bounce happily along behind me.”

“After stepping on his toes for the fifth time, I began to lose my patience and insisted that he go outside and play with the other children. When I asked him why he was acting this way, he looked up at me with sweet green eyes and said, “Well, Mommy, in pre-school my teacher told me to walk in Jesus’ footsteps. But I can’t see him, so I I’m walking in yours.”

“I gathered Len in my arms and held him close. Tears of love and humility spilled over from the prayer that grew in my heart, a prayer of thanks for the simple yet beautiful perspective of a three-year-old boy. This experience has served as a reminder to me of the vital role of a mother. While it is sobering to realize that I am a crucial link between my children and the Savior, I need to remember that since a mother is a co-partner with God, I am in a position to receive guidance from one who truly cares and wants all of us to walk in Heavenly footsteps.”

Today Jesus tells us all “I have loved you” (John 15:12b, CEB). Jesus then commands us all to love each other, as he has loved us. I thank God that women in my life, who took this commandment so seriously. For if they had not, I don’t know if would be standing here before you today. For that matter, if the women in your life hadn’t done the same, how many of you might not be here in this church this morning? Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fifth Sunday of Easter - 05/03/15 Sermon - “I am the true vine” (The "I" series: Part 2 of 5)

Sunday 05/03/15 Freeville/Homer Ave UMC’s

Sermon Title: “I am the true vine”                      

(The “I” series: Part 2 of 5)

Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 22:25-31

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Gospel Lesson: John 15:1-8                   

          My brothers and sisters, my friends, welcome once again on this the Fifth Sunday of this our Easter Season. This season where death has been overcome, that Christ has been risen, and this season where we are offered our own spiritual resurrections. This season of new life, of hope, and of God’s power and God’s love.

          Last week I began a five week preaching series called the “I” series. This series focuses on five “I” statements that Jesus Christ made about who he was, about promises that he made to his disciples and to us, and about things we as believers are supposed to do. Last week, I preached on the first “I” statement I chose, of when Jesus said in the gospel according to John, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a, CEB).

          In this sermon, I talked about how Jesus was telling his disciples and us, that he is trustworthy, honest, and faithful. That unlike people and leaders that have lead us astray, that Jesus Christ says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a, CEB). Further, if we can put our trust in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God in the flesh, we can then realize that we are all shepherds of something. That God has entrusted us all with various things, the care others, and etc., making us all shepherds.

          This morning however, I want to talk about the second “I” statement that I chose. I took this “I” statement from the gospel according to John reading from this morning, when Jesus said, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

          Now has anyone here ever been to vineyard? Has anyone here ever been up close to a grape vine? Has any here ever picked grapes? Has anyone here ever drank wine? Has anyone here ever picked other things, like raspberries, or blue berries, or etc.?

          I ask these questions, because there are many plants that produce fruit. Whether the plant is a bush, a tree, a plant that grows a vine, or something else, there are many plants that grow fruit.

How many of you hear this morning like to eat fresh fruit? How many of you like to eat fresh fruit that you have picked from your own garden that grew on the plants that you yourself tended to?

          We hear in the Bible in many places scriptures about “bearing fruit.” That fruit is generally seen as a good thing. That most people like fresh fruit, and that most people love to see fruit hanging on the vine, a bush, or a tree. That the fruit is the thing that we seek. In this way, I have never seen someone who was picking raspberries, tear part of the plant off and eat that, instead of the berries. This is because they wanted the fruit.

          Imagine though if you were to tear off a grape vine, or a raspberry stalk, or a piece of a blueberry bush that had fruit on it. Imagine if you then quickly ate that fruit. After that fruit is gone, can you then regrow more fruit on that same vine or that piece of the plant that you tore off? We know that the answer is no. That the vine or the piece of the plant that you have torn off will wither and die, without being connected to the main plant, tree, or vine.

          When we buy someone fresh cut flowers for example, we put them in water, and sometimes even sprinkle in some of that plant food, but soon, the flowers will wither and die.

          I remember talking to someone once who had gotten a tooth knocked out on accident. They put the tooth in a glass of milk the said, and were able to get the dentist in enough time to get the tooth put back in, and save it. Yet, if they were too late, then that tooth would not reconnect to the root in the person’s mouth. If that were to happen, then the tooth would remain detached from that person’s body.

          I give you all of these examples about plants, fresh flowers, and losing a tooth, because I want to connect these example to what Jesus Christ said this morning, when he said, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

          When Jesus said this, like his shepherd statement from last week, he was once again using language that made sense at the time, to his disciples and his other followers. While we do still have a lot of vineyards today, like shepherds back then, there were many people at the time that Jesus lived in, who worked in vineyards. Growing grapes, pressing them, eating them, and making juice and wine, were very common things for the ancient Israelite people.

          Due to this, it is very likely that Jesus used this imagery of a vine to talk about himself, because his followers would understand it immediately.

In this way, Jesus was telling his disciples, his followers, and us today, that he is like a grape plant, or a raspberry bush, or a blueberry bush. By this, Jesus Christ is saying that He, that God is the very source of life, love, and light itself.

          That God is like a mighty tree trunk and a root system, and we are all the branches of that tree. That our spiritual nutrition flows from the mighty tree trunk and the root system of God. That if we separate ourselves from the source of love, light, and life, we will wither and bear no fruit. That a cut off tree branch will no grow leaves next year, because it’s cut off from its source of life.

          In all of these ways then, Jesus is simply telling us all this morning, to stay connected to Him, to God. That we on our own cannot do what God can. That we cannot make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of world by ourselves, but God can through us. When we are connected to the vine that is Jesus Christ, that is God, then God can use us to change the world for Him.

          It is when we try to do everything on our own, that we cut ourselves off from the vine, from the plant, from the bush, from the tree, from the source, and then our faith grows weak. That our witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ fades, and our ability to bear fruit goes out the door.

          Given all of this, I think that churches in 2015 that are making disciples of Jesus Christ, that are reaching out to the community and to the world, that are loving each other radically, are churches that are connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

          I think that sometimes though we over think many of the simplicities of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That when we love and trust God, love others, care for others, and bear witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, that God uses us the branches to bear fruit. That churches who were once feeling like they had no strong future, find new energy, new excitement, and find that God is using them to bear all kinds of fruit.

          All we have to do, is stay connected to God, to Jesus Christ, and to one another. To follow God, and do all of the things that He has called us to do. When we live like this, when we love radically, and when we care abundantly, God uses us to bear fruit.

          So a good question for us to ask ourselves this morning is, do we trust God, and are we connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). Or do we just go to church, have some spirituality, but are not really and truly connected? For when we are really and truly connected, a church that once looked like withering bush, can grow into a mighty tree, with many branches. I don’t know about you, but I want to see this church, a tree that is already growing, to grow into a mighty tree of faith, of service, of love.

          People have asked me before as young pastor, “Pastor Paul how do we grow and strengthen our church?” Well this morning, Jesus says stay connected to me, to God, and love each other radically, and through this, fruit will grow, the community will change, and the world will be made better. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the gospel of truth.

          For me myself, I know that I cannot do anything on my own. That every day, I surrender my life to Jesus Christ, and do my best to allow God to work through me. That through staying connected to God, I am able to bear the fruit that God has called me to bear. When we do this my brothers and sisters, everything changes. You will see a church that is thriving, growing, and full of life, love, and light. To me then, the gospel of Jesus Christ couldn’t be any easier.

          I really like the reading from this morning from Psalm 22, as it tells us a little bit about worship. It says in 22:25, “I offer praise in the great congregation because of you; I will fulfill my promises in the presence of those who honor God” (Ps. 22:25, CEB). That we come here, not for us, but for Him, for each other, that in Him and through Him, all things are possible, if we stay connect to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

          In the reading from the Apostle John’s first epistle or letter from this morning, John speaks of staying connected to God and to each other. He says, “Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God” (1 John 4:7, CEB). That in Him and through Him, all things are possible, if we stay connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

          John then goes on say in 4:8-9, “The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him” (1 John 4:8-9, CEB). John then goes on to say in 4:15, “If any of us confess that Jesus is God’s Son, God remains in us and we remain in God” (1 John 4:15, CEB) John then says in 4:16b, “God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God remains in them” (1 John 4:16b, CEB). So are we connect to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB)?

          In looking more closely at the gospel according to John reading from this morning, Jesus begins by saying, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims and branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit” (John 15:1-2, CEB). I do know about you, but sometimes I find that God needs to prune me, that God needs to cut away things from me that keep me from bearing fruit.

          In this way, strong churches, healthy church, flourishing church are churches that are connect to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). We are also a church here that is willing to be pruned or sculpted when we need to remove things that keeping us from producing fruit.

          Be encouraged though, as Jesus says in 15:3, “You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:3, CEB). When we are focused on God, on Jesus Christ, and when we loving each other radically, reaching out, and excited about Jesus Christ, it not only transforms the church, but the whole community.

          Jesus does remind us in 15:4b however that, “A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4b, CEB). Jesus then says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. I you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit” (John 15:5, CEB). Jesus then says this simple truth, “Without me, you can’t do anything. If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned” (John 15:5c-6, CEB).

          My brothers and sisters, this is why we have growing churches and dying churches in American today. To be all that God has called to us to be, we must stay connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB).

I would like to close this message with a story called, “Chuck Swindoll,” and the source was listed as being that this story was “heard in a talk by Swindoll.” Here is how it goes: “Chuck Swindoll is a well-known author and preacher. He describes a moment of crisis in his life. He was speaking at a pastor’s conference. By any measure it was successful. Participants begged him to speak longer and were very engaged. But when he was alone in his room at the end of each day he felt an emptiness and frustration.”

“Sensing God was wanting to do something in his life Chuck called four trusted friends. “I want you to listen to my life story and see if anything stands out to you.” And so the four friends and Chuck Swindoll gathered. Beginning with his earliest memory Chuck poured out his life story.”

“When he had finished, one of the friends asked him a few questions and then said, “Chuck, I want you to put your head on the table and close your eyes.” Chuck put his head on the table and closed his eyes.” “Now I want you to imagine your father is holding you in his arms. What do you feel?”

“Almost instantly Chuck began to cry. For thirty minutes he cried his eyes out. You see Chuck’s father had died when Chuck was seven months old. And as he closed his eyes what he felt was pure unconditional love.”

“What Chuck also realized that day was that while he had preached many times about God’s great love he had never made that personal. With his head on the table that day he really felt, for the first time, that Got loved him, that his heavenly father loved him deeply, richly and unconditionally.” “And by his own testimony, he was never the same again.”

My brothers and sisters, when we stay connected to “the true vine,” then and only then can we bear fruit (John 15:1a, CEB). Then and only then, can we be transformed, and can God use us to transform this church, and this community. For the churches all across American right now that don’t get this, that are shrinking, that are worried about the future, they and us would do well to stay connected to “the true vine” (John 15:1a, CEB). Amen.