Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Pentecost Sunday - 06/04/17 Sermon - “Holy Fire in the Early Church" ("The Early Church" Series - Part 3 of 3)

Sunday 06/04/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Holy Fire in the Early Church”

                 (“The Early Church” Series – Part 3 of 3)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Acts 2:1-21

Gospel Lesson: John 7:37-39

          Happy Pentecost, my friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ! Today we celebrate the movement of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church. Today, this movement of the Holy Spirit will be so powerful, that this day is celebrated as the birthday of Christian Church. For this day of Pentecost, this day of Holy Fire, is the day that the Christian Church was born.

          For the past two weeks I have been preaching a series on “The Early Church,” and what some of their experiences might have been like.

          In the first week of this “Early Church” series, I talked about how we as Christians, and how our Jewish brothers and sisters historically have not believed in a God of “graven images”. Like our Jewish brothers and sisters, the early Christians went forth preaching about a God who created heaven and earth, and yet was a spiritual being. This God could not be contained in physical wood carvings, carvings of stone, or castings of metal. The God is Israel, our God, is a God that is a spiritual being, who is infinite, all powerful and all loving, and cannot be contained by anyone or anything.

          Last week, I talked about how “The Early Church,” or those first disciples and the other early followers of Christ, were then on their own. While Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, while he then appeared for 40-days to the disciples and others, Jesus will then ascend to heaven.

          We Jesus ascends into heaven, the early church, which is a very small handful of disciples and believers, were now on their own. This is why last Sunday, I called my sermon, “The Early Church, Take One!,” as if a movie producer was there at the very moment that Jesus left the disciples and his other early followers.

What would that have been like I wonder, to have had your lord and savior get crucified, resurrected, appear for 40-days, and then finally leave and ascend to heaven? This must have been a heavy feeling for the first disciples and the early followers of Christ, as they were now on their own to build the Kingdom of God, and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

          At this point in the biblical narrative, where we were at last Sunday, on Ascension Sunday, the disciples and the other early Christians still lacked the full courage and conviction of faith to fully go forth preaching the gospel and building the Kingdom of God. In fact, last week in our Book of Acts reading, Jesus said in 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8, NRSV).

          At this point in the biblical narrative then, the disciples might be discussing the gospel, perhaps doing some light teaching and evangelism, but nothing significant. Not until the day of Pentecost that we celebrate today, will the disciples really be ready to go forth and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, to the ends of the earth.

          The Book of Acts reading from last week even went as far as to name all of the disciples individually, and others, as they were awaiting this promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

          As a reminder, last week’s scripture from the Book of Acts ended with the disciples and some of the other early followers of Jesus Christ back, likely in the same upper room that they shared the last supper with Jesus. In this upper room, they waited for the Holy Spirit of God that Jesus Christ had promised would come. This scripture from Acts 1:14 says, “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain workers, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers” (Acts 1:14, NRSV).

          This is where we pick up with the biblical narrative this morning, with the day of Pentecost. Well first off, what is Pentecost? Well, “Pentecost comes exactly fifty days after the Sabbath of Passover week (Lev 23:15-16). In the OT it is referred to as the Feast of Weeks (Duet 16:10), the Day of First Fruits (Num 28:26) and the Feast of the Harvest (Exod 23:16) (African Bible Commentary).

The word Pentecost itself was created by the Hellenistic Jews, which translates to “Fiftieth Day,” This day is also a celebration of being 50-days after Moses received the 10-commandments/the Torah from God on Mount Sinai. This day then, this “Shavuot,” or Pentecost, is a feast of harvest, and the remembrance of the giving of the 10-commandments/the Torah to Moses.

          So on this Jewish holiday, feast day, and festival, Jews from all over the Roman Empire would come and celebrate. On this day of this “Shavuot,” or “Pentecost,” the disciples, and other early Christians were in that famous upper room in Jerusalem. There were eleven disciples, as Judas Iscariot had killed himself, but Judas Iscariot was then replaced by “Matthias”.

          There are now twelve disciples again, to minister to the twelve tribes of Israel, and to all the world. All the disciples and the other early Christians are now waiting for Jesus Christ’s promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

          On this day, of this “Shavuot,” or Pentecost, the Holy Spirit shows up in a mighty and a powerful way.

          This is again what our reading from the Book of Acts says this morning,

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability” (Acts 2:1-4, NRSV).

          So brothers and sisters, this is the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus promised the disciples and the other early Christians would come. From this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and speaking in different tongues or languages on this day of Pentecost, we today have an entire branch of Christianity that developed, called Pentecostalism. In many Pentecostal Christian traditions it is common to speak in tongues, and have powerful experiences with the Holy Spirit.

          So as the kids say, that just happened.

          The scripture then says,

“Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deed of power” (Acts 1:11, NRSV).

The scripture then continues to say,

“All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine” (Acts 1:12-13, NRSV)

          So some were accusing the disciples and the others in the upper room of being drunk and ranting and raving.

          What happens next is amazing. At this point the scripture says,

“But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,

“Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning” (Acts 1:14-15, NRSV).

          The Apostle Peters refutes the criticizers who said that he and the others were drunk. He then said, that they were not drunk, as it’s too early in the morning to be drunk. I find this funny that this is actually in scripture.

          The Apostle Peter, the one who denied Jesus Christ three times, the one who cut a man’s ear off in the Garden of Gethsemane, and etc., today is filled with the Holy Spirit, and today has turned into a might preacher indeed. On this day, about three-thousand people repent, are baptized, and become followers of Jesus Christ.

          On this day the “The Early Church” begins, and in its growth is exponential. On this day, the early Christian Church grows by at least 3,000 people, and this is only day one! Today there are many as 2.4-2.5 billion Christians in the world today.

          Jesus Christ had told those first disciples and the early followers that Holy Spirit would show up powerfully, and on this day it did indeed!

          The power of the Holy Spirit, or receiving the spirit of God within us is so powerful that it can change us, it can birth the Christian Church, and it change the world.

          In bringing this sermon to a close, I want to tell you a story about the founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley. I know that I have told you this story before, but it is perfect to tell on Pentecost Sunday.

          You see, John Wesley was a highly educated seminary graduate. John knew the scriptures, he knew the history of the church, he understood the theology, and in general, he knew his stuff. Yet with all of this, young John Wesley had never experienced the power of the Holy Spirit.

          After getting ordained in the Church of England, or the Anglican Church, John Wesley went on a mission to Georgia that was largely a failure. John considered giving up the ministry. He went home to London, England, as he was feeling broken and lost. Then one night on Aldersgate Street in London, England, John Wesley finally encountered the Holy Spirit.

          Here is the story specifically, that I found from www.christianity.com:

“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”.

Today, there are about 60-80 million Christians in the world that are under the umbrella of being Methodist. The ministry of John Wesley was powerful indeed.

So friends, on this Pentecost Sunday, may we receive a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. May this outpouring of the Holy Spirit on and in us change us, embolden us, and empower us to change the world, like the first Christians did, like the founder of the Methodist Movement John Wesley did. God bless and Happy Pentecost! Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Memorial Day Sunday/Ascension of the Lord Sunday - 05/28/17 Sermon - “The Early Church, Take One!" ("The Early Church" Series - Part 2 of 3)

Sunday 05/28/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “The Early Church, Take One!”

                  (“The Early Church” Series – Part 2 of 3)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 68:1-10

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Acts 1:6-14

Gospel Lesson: John 17:1-11

          My friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, welcome again on this our Memorial Day Sunday, and on this our Ascension Sunday. With Memorial Day being tomorrow, part of our worship today focuses on this national holiday. This is the holiday that we honor those men and women who have died in the armed forces, while serving our country. I also use this Sunday as an occasion to honor all of our troops, as well as all men and women who wear a uniform to serve and protect.

          So again, today, and then tomorrow nationally, we honor those men and women who gave their lives for their country, and we honor all men and women who have served, or continue to serve. On behalf of the church, again, I say thank you, and God bless you!

          This Sunday is also Ascension Sunday, which is the Sunday that we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ from earth into heaven. In this being our last Sunday in the Season of Easter, today Jesus’s 40-days of post-resurrection or port-mortem appearances have come to an end. This end is written for us this morning in our reading from the Book of Acts, as this is the scripture that I will primarily be focusing on today.

          As I said last Sunday, the day that the church formally recognizes the Ascension of the Lord, was a few days ago on Thursday. Some Churches every year on Wednesday night that week, or on Thursday, have an Ascension of Lord service. I am open to doing such a service in the future.

          Last week, I started a three week preaching series on “The Early Church, leading up to Pentecost Sunday, which is next Sunday. Last week, in the first week of this preaching series, I discussed how the world that Jesus was born into was largely polytheistic. By polytheistic, I mean that most people, short of the Jews, believed in many gods. Not only this, most people who believed in many gods, would often carve, shape, or forged an image of their god. These idols or “graven images,” would sometimes become the object of worship.

          For the Jews and then us the Christians, we have always believed that our great God is beyond any idol or “graven image”. Historically speaking, we have believed that our God, the God of Israel, is a spiritual being, and because of this, cannot be contained by anything, or anyone. This very Jewish, and then Christian view of faith and religion was a big part of what early church preached.

          In addition to this, the early church preached the “Good News” or the gospel of Jesus Christ. The early church believe that God’s plan, God’s love, and God’s forgiveness was made manifest through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

          So while we as Christians share a lot in common with our Jewish brothers and sisters, we believe that forgiveness is offered through the cross of Christ. AS Christians, we believe in one God in three persons, and that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior.

          I can imagine that being one of the original twelve disciples of Jesus Christ was much easier when Christ was actually there for the three years of his life that he taught, loved, healed, and forgave. What happens though I wonder, when the messiah, there great teacher or “Rabbi” leaves? What happens when the leader goes?

          Well for the disciples, this meant that they were now the pastors, the priests, and those whom God has called through Jesus Christ, to set up the Kingdom of God on earth.

          I can imagine on this Memorial Day Sunday that for some soldiers there is, or was a comfort in being in basic training, or at the academy. For when you are in basic training, or at the academy, you have leaders instructing you and telling you what to do. When you leave the training grounds or the school though, there is often much more that is expected of you. While you will still be under the authority of your superiors, you are then expected more and more to take what you have learned, have seen, and have experienced, and put it into action.

          This morning, in this my second sermon in my three week sermon series on “The Early Church,” we have the Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus will leave this earth after his 40-days of post-resurrection or post-mortem appearances, and now the disciples, the apostles, are running the church. This is why I called this morning’s sermon, “The Early Church, Take One!”

          This title is a little tongue and cheek, as if a film director was reading the title of this sermon the moment that Christ Ascended. In this moment of Christ’s Ascension, I jokingly thought of a film director slapping the clapboard down and saying, “The Early Church, Take One!”

          Remember these are the same disciples that argued over who was the greatest, who doubted, who denied Christ, and all but one who literally abandoned him on the day of his crucifixion. These men and these women that are present on this day, are now in charge of the early Christian Church.

          I liken this experience to some of the depictions that I have seen in movies of a new crop of recruits coming to basic training. Sometimes in these movies the drill sergeant will say something to the recruits like, “you are the sorriest bunch of recruits I have ever seen!”

          The eleven disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, plus Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary Magdalene, and other Christian women, are now in charge of the early church. This is because Jesus ascends to heaven, and he will only return one day again in glory.

          Next Sunday on Pentecost Sunday, the disciples and other early church members will receive the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem, in that Upper Room, on the day of Pentecost. Jesus had told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and fill them, and the day of Pentecost next Sunday is that day. So next Sunday, on the day that we celebrate the birth of Christian Church, please wear red to celebrate the fire of the Holy Spirit.

          In the gospel of John reading from this morning, Jesus is praying after the Last Supper he had with his disciples. The gospel says:

“After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify you Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed” (Jn. 17:1-5, NRSV).

          In this scripture, Jesus Christ is preparing for his crucifixion, then resurrection, and then today his ascension to heaven.

          Towards the ends of the prayer, Jesus then concludes with the foreshadowing of his ascension into heaven. Jesus says:

          “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one” (Jn. 17:11, NRSV).

          As Jesus is preparing for his crucifixion, resurrection, and then ascension, Jesus is praying to prepare the early church for their task ahead.

          In looking at our reading from the Book of Acts for this morning, we have one of the Ascension of Christ accounts. Other accounts of Christ’s Ascension are in the gospels of Mark, Luke, and John, and the ascension is mentioned in various other places in the New Testament.

          This account begins by saying:

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8, NRSV).

In this scripture, Jesus Christ is saying that he is about to leave the earth. He tells the disciples to not worry though, as the Holy Spirit will be coming to fill them very soon. This great out pouring of the Holy Spirit is what we celebrate on Pentecost Sunday next Sunday.

After saying this, the scripture then says:

“When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11, NRSV).

So Jesus has just ascended in heaven, and then the scripture says:

“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Phillip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers” (Acts. 1:12-14, NRSV).

So Jesus ascends into heave, and then the disciples and other early Christian head to Jerusalem. When they arrive, the go back to the Upper Room that they had the last supper in, and they will remain there until the day of Pentecost.

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples and the early church will be filled the power of the Holy Spirit, and they will be so changed, that it will be the birthday of Christian Church.

We have then a Jewish and then an early Christian tradition that believes that God was and is a spiritual being. A God that cannot be contained in idols, graven images, or buildings, and a God came to us in the form of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus was teaching, loving, and healing on this earth, the disciples and the other early Christians saw, heard, and witnessed many amazing things. Today, there basic training, there time at the academy has come to an end.

These first disciples and the other early Christians, will briefly go back to Jerusalem, but soon, very soon, they will receive, like so many soldiers do, there marching orders.

On this day, Jesus is no longer on the earth, and the early church now waits to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When this happens, which will be on the day of Pentecost, the disciples and early church members will be filled with the Holy Spirit. On this, the early church will then set off to build God’s kingdom on earth, and bring all the world to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This my brothers and sisters, is part of the story of “The Early Christian Church,” from which we are part of, and are co-heirs of the glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.

          

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Sixth Sunday of Easter - 05/21/17 Sermon - “Not a God of graven images" ("The Early Church" Series - Part 1 of 3)

Sunday 05/21/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Not a God of graven images”

                         (“The Early Church” Series – Part 1 of 3)

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 66:8-20

                                            

New Testament Scripture: Acts 17:22-31

Gospel Lesson: John 14:15-21

Welcome again, my friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, on this the Sixth Sunday in this the Season of Easter. This Thursday we will celebrate Ascension of the Lord Day, as the church celebrates the day that Christ left his apostles and ascended into heaven.

We will celebrate Ascension Sunday next Sunday May 28th, along with having a special Memorial Day service. The very next Sunday, Sunday June 4^th is Pentecost Sunday. This is the day that we celebrate the birth of Christian Church, through the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit, in that Upper Room in Jerusalem. I would invite you all to wear red on Pentecost Sunday, which once again, is Sunday June 4^th.

In moving towards Pentecost Sunday then, I am starting a three week preaching series this morning on “The Early Church”.

The founder of the Methodist Movement, John Wesley often called the first or early Christian Church, the “primitive church.” I prefer to just call the first church, just that, or “The Early Church,” as that terminology seems to connect with people better.

In the timeline of where we are at in our liturgical or church year then, we are post-resurrection of Christ. Jesus Christ rose on Easter, and is continuing to appear to the disciples and others for 40-days. Jesus will then ascend to heaven to be with God the Father this Thursday, until he returns again one day in glory.

When Jesus ascends to heaven, which is part of the topic of my sermon for next Sunday, the apostles, those first disciples, are then officially on their own. Then on the day of Pentecost, the disciples and perhaps others in an Upper Room in Jerusalem, receive the movement of the Holy Spirit in a powerful way. They will speak in various languages or tongues, and on this day the disciples and other early Christians will formally go forth “making disciples of Jesus Christ, for the transformation of the world”.

Being part of the first church, or “The Early Church” as this sermon series is called was quite a task. On the one hand, the number of people who knew Christ as this point in time were likely less than the population of a very small town, or perhaps even much less than that. Those first disciples, those first saints, were charged with going into the world to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ.

For doing this, they would be heavily persecuted, mocked, and all but the Apostle John would be brutally put to death for their faith in Christ.

Given all of this, and while I could do a sermon series on “The Early Church” for weeks and not possibly cover everything about it, I have picked a few topics on “The Early Church” for the next few weeks.

My sermon title today, as I will be preaching on our reading from Acts 17:22-31, is called “Not a God of graven images”.

You see, the first disciples, the first Christians, and then the Apostle Paul, once he converted from Judaism to Christianity, were charged with preaching about the Kingdom of God, and the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In many places in the world at this time, many people worshipped many gods. Sometimes dozens and dozens of them. These god’s might have had different temples built for them Greece, or Rome, and etc., in their honor. A hallmark of most of these temples of worship was that there were one or more statues of the god be worshipped. This is to say, if a person worshipped the goddess Aphrodite, then they probably would have had one or more statues of this goddess.

What made us the Christians so odd in “The Early Church” years, and perhaps even odd now, is that we don’t know what our God looks like. This is to say, we don’t have a profile of what God the Father, the creator looks like. I mean what does God the creator of the universe look like?

Since Jesus Christ was God in the flesh among us, we have at least some connection to the God that we can see, touch, and experience. We don’t even fully know though what Jesus looked like physically then, as we have created multiple representations of him. Since Jesus was God in the flesh, and “dwelt among us” as scripture says, we have tried to create his likeness over and over again. I would venture to guess that every church that you have been in has one more paintings or images of what Jesus Christ might have looked like.

The question I have us this morning though, is how many of have gone into a church and have seen a painting or an image of God the Father, the creator of the universe? The only one I can think of is the image in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City in Rome, Italy. This is the image where God reaches out his arm and extends his finger. This finger then reaches to touch the tip of Adam’s finger, from the Garden of Eden story.

Other than this image in Vatican City, in Rome, Italy, I cannot think of many any other paintings or images of God the Father, the creator. There are some churches I guess that have such things, but I haven’t seen a ton of them in my experiences.

Why is this? Why don’t we have statues, or images of God the Father, the creator? I mean we don’t know exactly what God the Father or Jesus looked like, yet we still have images and even statues of Jesus. Why don’t we have the same for God the Father, the creator?

Well, our Jewish brothers and sisters also have no images or statues to God, the creator. This reality goes back to the Ten Commandments. In the Book of Exodus, when God gives Moses the Ten Commandments, number two and three are as follows:

“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them;” (Ex. 20:3-4a, NRSV).

This reality that our Jewish brothers and sisters believe in, is very much a reality for us as Christians, as we are also called to follow the Ten-Commandments. This is why we don’t make statues or paintings of God the Father, or creator, as we would called this a “Graven Image”. This is also discussed in the New Testament, as well.

Well what is a “Graven Image?” According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, a “Graven Image” is: “An object of worship carved usually from wood or stone: idol” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graven%20image).

As a result of this, we are called to worship God directly, not pictures, not objects made of wood, stone, or metal, or idols of any kind. So do we worship God, or representations of God? Or do worship other things altogether?

This then gets us back to question of, what does God look like anyway? What sort of being is God? We know that Jesus was the person of God that was among us, but what does God the Father, the creator look like? Some of us might say, well that is easy Pastor Paul, God looks like George Burns, or in more recent years, Morgan Freeman. Yet does God have a body like you and I do? How do we define this God that we believe in, that we are told to not make statues, idols, or images of?

Now if you are new to the Christian faith, these are probably very good questions to be asking. I mean what do you believe, and why do you believe it?

Well let me read to the official definition of God from our United Methodist Church Book of Disciple. This is on page 63, as is entitled “Article 1—Of Faith in the Holy Trinity”. This is what it says:

“There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost” (BOD, pg. 63)

According to this definition then, which I believe in, God the creator, God the Father, is not a physical being like you and I. Instead, God is a spiritual being. If we are “made in God’s image” then, which the Bible tells us that we are, then we are like God in our spiritual aspects, our gifts, and graces, not our physical appearances. We are all “made in God’s image,” and God loves us all equally.

The God we believe in, the creator of the universe, has no physical body like you or I do. This is not a God then that we then carve into wood, stone, or forge into metal. As a result of this, you will see very few images of God the Father, or the creator, as most Christians would agree that God is spiritual being, not a physical being. Some churches might some images of God of the Father, the creator, but I have not seen many.

Now with all of that said, this morning in our reading for today from the Book of Acts, the Apostle Paul is preaching and teaching in the Greek city of Athens. In Athens at this time, most of the people worshipped many gods, and have made likenesses of them out of wood, stone, or metal.

The scripture this morning begins with:

“Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23, NRSV).

So the Apostle Paul is preaching and teaching in front of the “Aeropagus,” which is a massive rock outcropping or formation in Athens, Greece. Instead of calling this rock formation “Aeropagus,” the Romans called it “Mars Hill,” as it was dedicated it to the Roman God of War, Mars. Some of you might also know that there was up until recently a large church on the West Coast called “Mars Hill.”

The Apostle Paul also mentions in this scripture that in the city of Athens there is an altar “To an unknown god” (Acts 17:23b, NRSV). This God is the one in whom that Apostle Paul addresses the people of Athens about.

The Apostle Paul then says of this “unknown god,”:

“The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines make by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:24-25, NRSV).

The Apostle Paul then says:

“From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For “In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring’ (Acts 17:26-28, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul then says:

“Since we are God’s offspring, we out not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man who he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:29-31, NRSV).

The Apostle Paul this morning, is telling the people of Athens, Greece, and is telling us, to worship God directly, not through objects made of wood, stone, or metal. Further let us not make our houses, our cars, or any of our other possessions into idols.

We were created to worship God, through Jesus Christ. A God that is a spiritual being, not a physical being. A God that cannot be contained in a “graven image,” an “idol,” or even in a “building”. God is much bigger than all of this.

Is it wrong then to have statues of saints, or Jesus, or crosses on the wall? Well I guess the best scriptural answer for all of this, is it is only wrong if those things become an object of our worship. We should not be worshipping anything other than the Triune God.

Further, in the Gospel of John reading from this morning, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his soon departure from earth. Yet he is promising his disciples that God the Father is in him, and likewise, he is in God the Father. Jesus is the person of God we could see and touch, but God the father is a spiritual being. Jesus says that if we follow him, if we keep his commandments and serve him, that we will be with him for eternity (Jn. 14:15-21, NRSV). Yet God the Father, God the creator is the God that we can’t see and touch, but yet we believe in.

This is why it is called faith brothers and sisters. Believing that God created the heavens and the earth, and that his son Jesus Christ, who was the fullness of God came among us. That God’s spirit, the Holy Spirit moves among us. This God we love and worship cannot be contained in wood, rock, stone, or buildings. In addition to this, we cannot put this God of ours into our own boxes, as this God is much bigger than anyone or anything. This is the God, the Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that “The Early Church” went forth and preached. Due to this, this is why “The Early Church” and the church today does not believe in “A God of graven images”. God blessings, and amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Mother's Day/Fifth Sunday of Easter - 05/14/17 Sermon - “Why I read this at funerals"

Sunday 05/14/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “Why I read this at funerals”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Peter 2:2-10

Gospel Lesson: John 14:1-14

My friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, welcome again on this day, which is Mother’s Day, and also the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

While today we are still in the Season of Easter, today is also a day to remember, to celebrate, and to praise mothers. Some people have or had great mothers, yet some people might have never met their mothers, and some people might not have had good relationships with their mothers. Today then, is a day to remember mothers, but also a day to remember any women who have taken the time to take on a mothering role. For some us, this could have been grandmothers, an aunt, a neighbor, a teacher, and or etc. Today we honor mothers, but also honor all women who take on mothering roles.

I would encourage you then, to be thinking about today, and if they are still living, contacting those mothers and women in your lives that have made such a big impact on you. Or perhaps you could visit the grave of your mother or other women that have meant so much to you. Whatever we do this day, I hope that we take some time to remember and honor our mothers, and all the women in our lives that have meant so much to us.

With this said, some of you might have looked at my sermon title for this morning. I mean its Mother’s Day, a day to celebrate mothers, grandmothers, and all the women in our lives that have meant so much to us. Given the love and the joy of this day, the pastor’s sermon title is “Why I read this at funerals”.

Some of you might have sarcastically said to yourself, “way to knock it out the park Pastor Paul!” I mean the day that we honor mothers, grandmothers, and all the women who have shaped us, and Pastor Paul’s sermon is called, “Why I read this at funerals”. Well that’s uplifting!

Why would I pick this name for a sermon on Mother’s Day of all days? Well, I am glad that you all asked!

Well for starters, I do in fact, generally speaking, read part of this gospel lesson at all funeral services I do. This part is usually John 14:1-4. Once again, this is it what it says:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going” (Jn. 14:1-14, NRSV).

So why do I generally read this part of this morning’s gospel of John reading at most of the funerals that I do? I read this, because this portion of this gospel reading is a promise from our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is telling us that if we repent, and if we place our trust in him, that when our earthly life is over, we will be with him in glory. These are certainly comforting words for many family members and friends at funerals, as we as Christians believe in eternal life. Hearing the words from Jesus, this promise, our belief in glory, is part of our hope as Christians.

After Jesus says these words, then the Apostle Thomas is concerned that he and the other disciples will not be able to find their way to this eternity, this glory (Jn. 14:5, NRSV).

Jesus then responds to the Apostle Thomas with one of his “I Am” statements. Jesus says is John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6, NRSV). Jesus then says, “If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (Jn. 14:7, NRSV).

The Apostle Philip then questions the meaning of this, and Jesus says to Philip and the other disciples, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9b, NRSV).

Jesus then says in John 14:11, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me” (Jn. 14:11a, NRSV).

Jesus then tells us that through him we will be able to do great things, and that we should ask and receive from God in his name (Jn. 14:11b-14, NRSV).

Now before I get to the connection of this scripture to Mother’s Day, I just wanted to unpack this scripture quick.

We are being told a few things here. First, we are being told again, that Jesus Christ promises us a place in heaven with him, if we have faith in him. Second, Jesus is declaring his Lordship, and that he is truly God in the flesh. Jesus is telling us that he is “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6, NRSV).

Jesus is also telling us that he is God in the flesh, the second person of the Holy Trinity, as he says, “If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (Jn. 14:7, NRSV).

So Jesus Christ is the messiah, was co-eternal with God the Father, is the way to heaven, and is God in flesh.

Well what does that have to do with Mother’s Day?

I will tell you, finally. One of the reasons that I like to read the gospel of John 14:1-4 at funerals, isn’t just because of Jesus’ promise of heaven, but it is also a comfort for many of us. For some of us when someone dies, we still think of them as being alive, even though they are spiritually still are alive, but not physically. The idea of Jesus preparing a place in God’s house for us is a great comfort for many.

In this sense, we are given a promise of a place where we will ultimately go. We have a refuge, a place that we can hang our hat on, as it were.

I wonder brothers and sisters, how many of us here, can say that our mother’s house was or is like that? How many of us can say that our mothers, either now, or when they were alive, always had a place in their house for us?

I know that this is the case for me, as I will always have a place in mother’s house, so long as she is alive on this earth. I will also have a place in glory in God’s house, promised to me by Jesus Christ.

Sometimes in this tough and this hard world that we live in, it can just be good to able to come home again. Sometimes when are adults and life gets overwhelming, for many of us we can, or could have, always gone to mom’s house, right? Where she likely would have coffee and cookies waiting for us. Our beds would be just as we left them, with the same superhero blankets. No matter what life threw at us, we could always go home to mom’s house.

Once again, maybe you didn’t have this experience or this relationship with you mother, but I would encourage you to think about the women that have been there for you in your life. It could have been your mother, or maybe a grandmother, or maybe an aunt, a neighbor, teacher, and or etc. Today is about honoring mothers and all of these women.

For many of us, one or more of the women in our lives offered us safe havens, comfort, and love, or maybe still do. In fact, how many of us here this morning can say that your mother, or another woman in your life always had a place for you to go?

This is significant, as many of us here on earth, can say that we do have a room that is prepared for us, whether it is in our mother’s house, our father’s house, or somewhere else.

We tend to live in a world that seems to have very little certainty and security, but it is good for many us to know that we can or could have always gone home to mom’s house, or to grandma’s, and or etc. Having a place just for us here on this earth is a great thing, and having it is a great feeling.

In addition to all of this, Jesus Christ tells this morning, that beyond this earth, we will have a place to go in glory. That after this life is over, we will have a place that we can go to be with God. We have a room waiting for us in glory, just as many of us do or did have rooms waiting for us at mom’s house, or another house. Further, moms are special, and so are all the women in our lives that have loved us. Today is specifically about them, and honoring them.

In closing this morning, I want to share a story about the love of a mother for her child, called “The Mountain”. This story was taken from (https://storiesforpreaching.com/), and was specifically taken from Jim Stovall’s, You Don’t Have to Be Blind to See. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Here is how it goes:

“There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains. The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day, and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back up into the mountains.”

“The lowlanders didn’t know how to climb the mountain. They didn’t know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn’t know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain. Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home.”

“The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however, they had climbed only several hundred feet. Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided that the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below.”

“As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby’s mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn’t figured out how to climb. And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. How could that be?”

“One man greeted her and said, “We couldn’t climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn’t do it?” She shrugged her shoulders and said, “It wasn’t your baby.”

Friends, sisters and brothers, today is about honoring mothers, and all of those women who have been in our lives, that would climb a mountain for us, that have prepared a place for us, and have done so much for us. This morning Jesus Christ promises an eternal place for us, and as we embrace that, may we also love and embrace mothers and the women that have and still do mean so much us! Happy Mother’s Day. Amen.

Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC's - Fourth Sunday of Easter - 05/07/17 Sermon - “I Am the gate for the sheep"

Sunday 05/07/17 Freeville/Homer Avenue UMC’s

Sermon Title: “I Am the gate for the sheep”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 23

                                            

New Testament Scripture: 1 Peter 2:19-25

Gospel Lesson: John 10:1-10

Welcome again my friends, my sisters and brothers in Christ, on this our Fourth Sunday after Easter. This season of resurrection, of new life, and of hope. This season that reaffirms our faith and trust in the risen Christ. We will remain in this Season of Easter, until Pentecost Sunday, on Sunday June 4^th.

On the past two Sundays, we have been given gospels readings that provide us with two examples of Jesus Christ’s “post-mortem,” or “post-resurrection appearances”. First, we had one of the “Doubting Thomas” narratives, where the risen Christ appeared to Thomas, and then assured him that we was indeed the risen Lord.

Last week, Jesus appeared to, walked with, and talked with Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus. In this narrative, Jesus walked and talked with Cleopas and other disciple, and then revealed himself to them at the end of the narrative.

While we have had two examples in the last two weeks of Jesus’ “post-mortem,” or “post-resurrection” appearances, this morning we have Jesus teaching us in the gospel of John. Specifically, this morning we get into the category of what are commonly called Jesus’ “I Am” statements. Jesus’ “I Am” statements are found in the gospel of John, and in these statements, Jesus Christ makes strong claims about who he is.

Since Jesus Christ was born, since he walked this earth, since he taught, since he loved, since he healed, and since he forgave, there have always been some who have continued to debate over who he was and is. Yet, the “I Am” statements that Jesus Christ made are quite compelling.

So what are the “I Am” statements anyway? Well first off, they are only found, as I said, in the gospel of John, and depending on your list, there are seven or more of these statements.

So what are Jesus’s “I Am” statements in the gospel of John? Here are a list of eight that I have:

1. John 6:35: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (Jn. 6:35, NRSV).

2. John 8:12: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12, NRSV)

3. John 8:58: Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (Jn. 8:58, NRSV).

4. John 10:9, from this morning: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9, NRSV).

5. John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11, NRSV).

6. John 11:25: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live,” (Jn. 10:11, NRSV).

7. John 14:6, for next Sunday: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6, NRSV).

8. John 15:1: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower” (Jn. 15:1, NRSV).

          In hearing this list of “I Am” statements from Jesus Christ in the gospel John, it is very clear that Jesus is making strong claims about who he is. Jesus is saying that he is truly the Messiah, the chosen one, God in the flesh, the savior of the world, and our Lord and redeemer.

          It isn’t my intention this morning though to “unpack” all of these “I Am” statements from Jesus Christ.  From my list of eight statements this morning, I am going to touch on number four and five. Once again, four and five are:

4. John 10:9: “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9, NRSV).

5. John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11, NRSV).

          Next week on Mother’s Day, the gospel of John reading will touch on the seventh “I Am” statement from this list, which is John 14:6. John 14:6 once again says:

7. John 14:6: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn. 14:6, NRSV).

          What we are given this Sunday is powerful imagery of God, of Jesus being a shepherd. In the time period in which Jesus lived in, and even in some places today, there are shepherds that raise and guide flocks of sheep. It is the job of a shepherd to guide, feed, protect, and love their sheep. The shepherd is usually with the sheep at all times, and it is their duty, their job to serve and love their sheep.

          As a pastor, I serve in “pastoral ministry,” and the word pastoral is generally connected to pasture land on a farm. A pasture is where animals graze, and it is protected today by the farmer. In Jesus’ day however, and sometimes even to this day, the shepherd, or the “pastor” shepherds the sheep on the pasture land.

          In being in “pastoral ministry” then, I am called to be a shepherd or a pastor for God’s people here and all over. Our pasture land then, is the whole word.

          This imagery is important, as this morning we heard one of, if not the most famous of all the Psalms. This Psalm, Psalm 23, is read as just about every funeral. Some of us can quote this Psalm with our eyes closed.

          In this Psalm we hear how God is our “shepherd,” and how makes us to “lie down in green pastures” (Ps. 23:1-2, NRSV). We hear how God “restores my soul,” and how “he leads me in right paths for his name’s sake” (Ps. 23:1-3, NRSV).

We then hear how God, our great shepherd, will be with us in the darkest valleys, and this shepherd God, has a rod and staff (Ps. 23:4, NRSV). Real shepherds used and use rods and staffs to corral and keep the sheep where they needed to be going.

          The rest of the Psalm then gets into the promises of God to be with us, and that we will be with him forever, if we believe (Ps. 23:5-6, NRSV).

          In the reading from 1 Peter for this morning, it discusses how Christ suffered for us, so if we suffer injustices for Christ, then God will honor and be with us in our sufferings (1 Pet. 2:19-21, NRSV). While Christ suffered and died for us, sometimes we are called to suffer for being follower of Christ, the great “I Am”.

          This reading from 1 Peter 2:19-25 ends with, “For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25, NRSV). So God is our Shepherd, Jesus the second person of God is our Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit, the third person of God, is also our Shepherd. God is our Shepherd.

          Since the historical Jewish and Christian view of humanity is that we are broken and sinful by nature, we must be reconciled to our brokenness. When God came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, we were offered hope, reconciliation, and newness of life.

          Jesus even went as far in the gospel of John to specifically give us various “I Am” statements about who was and is, and why he came.

          In this morning’s gospel reading from John 10:10, we have the continued theme of God, of Jesus, being our shepherd, leader, savior, and guide.

          As Jesus was speaking with the Pharisees in the reading he said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does enter the sheepfold by the gate climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit” (Jn. 10:1, NRSV). What Jesus is doing here is not only bearing the title shepherd, like God did in Psalm 23, or as Peter referred to this morning, but Jesus is also saying that he is the way for us to follow. Since he is our shepherd, we must follow him to safely live and to live in eternity.

          Not only this, a good shepherd is willing to die to protect his sheep. The gospel lesson this morning gets cut off after John 10:10, as it says one of his “I Am” statements in John 10:11. This statement “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11, NRSV).

          This morning however, Jesus uses this analogy or this imagery of entering a “sheepfold,” with whom he is claiming himself to be (Jn. 10:1, NRSV). Jesus is saying that he is the gate, the entrance to the “sheepfold’ (Jn. 10:1, NRSV). Jesus then tells us that “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He call his own sheep by name and leads them out” (Jn. 10:2-3, NRSV).

          Jesus then tells us that as the sheep, we should follow him and his voice, and not that of strangers (Jn. 10:4-6, NRSV). Next Jesus gives us another “I Am” statement that is connect with the “I Am” statement of Jesus telling us that he is the “good shepherd” (Jn. 10:11, NRSV). Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am they gate” (Jn. 10:7-9a, NRSV).

          Jesus then says, “Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9b, NRSV). Jesus then ends this gospel reading with, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn. 10:10, NRSV).

          Jesus then, in this and in all of his “I Am” statements is telling us about his authority, about his Lordship, and the salvation offered only through him. That being reconciled and forgiven occurs through Jesus, who this day said, “I am the gate for the sheep” (Jn. 10:7b, NRSV).

          Certainly Jesus Christ’s “I Am” statements are powerful and make high claims. Yet if Jesus Christ truly came to die for us, and to transform us, imagine what would happen if we truly did follow Jesus like follow a shepherd? Imagine if we had childlike faith that follow and sought after Christ, believing in his power and his love.

          As a person in pastoral ministry, I am far from Jesus, but I call upon him, so that I might be a shepherd in his name. That in and through him, I might lead people, so that those people might seek the “good shepherd” and live. In doing this, we are changed, the community is changed, and the world is changed. This is all done in name of the great “I Am,” Jesus Christ. Amen.