Sidney UMC - Fifth Sunday of Easter - 05/02/21 - Sermon - “Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God"

Sunday 05/02/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:      “Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 22:25-31                                       

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Gospel Lesson: John 15:1-8

          One of my favorite movies of all time is called “The Green Mile”. I do not know if any of you have ever seen the movie “The Green Mile,” so let me give you the movie plot, just in case.

“The Green Mile is a 1999 American fantasy drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont and based on Stephen King's 1996 novel of the same name. It stars Tom Hanks as a death row corrections officer during the Great Depression who witnesses supernatural events that occur after an enigmatic inmate (Michael Clarke Duncan) is brought to his facility. David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Doug Hutchison and James Cromwell appear in supporting roles”

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Mile_(film).

          This inmate played by Michael Clarke Duncan, was called “John Coffey”. John Coffey was falsely accused of assaulting and killing two little girls. Eventually he gets the death penalty. Yet, the character played by Tom Hanks, notices that this John Coffey is gentle, kind, and that he is literally performing miracles. This John Coffey is like an angel from heaven, and God had put him here on earth to help, serve, and love others.

          Shortly before John Coffey gets the death penalty in the movie, he tells the character played by Tom Hanks that was ready to leave this world. Not because he did not care, but because of how people treated each other. In fact, the character John Coffey told the character played by Tom Hanks:

“I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having me a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to or coming from, or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it - it's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time. Can you understand?” (https://www.quotes.net/mquote/115101).

          Again, this quote is:

“I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having me a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to or coming from, or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it - it's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time. Can you understand?” (https://www.quotes.net/mquote/115101).

          I am sure that at different times in our lives, we could relate exactly to what the character from the Green Mile, John Coffey was saying. Even though “The Green Mile” was based on a Stephen King novel, and even though it is a made-up story, was John Coffey wrong? Or are we tired sometimes of people being so ugly to each other? Are we sometimes also tired of all the pain that we feel and hear in the world every day? If so, then what do we do about it?

          You might ask, “Pastor Paul can we fix all the pain and all the suffering in Sidney and in the world?” Well, I do not believe humanity and this world will be perfected until Jesus Christ returns to this earth to reign, and I have 6,000 years of recorded human history to back this up.

          Yet, I do believe that we can make this community and this world so much better. Did you know that Syracuse University was founded by Methodist lay person? Did you know that the YMCA is the “Young Men’s Christian Association”? Did you know that hospitals, schools, orphanages, etc. were started by Christians? Did you know that people of this church have done more this community and the world than we could probably ever imagine? I do not think that most of these Christians and folks from this church thought that they would create a perfect world, but like John Coffey in “The Green Mile” they were tired of seeing the world as it was. Jesus has called us to something better, to love.

          So, what is core of our faith in Christ that truly drives us to transform Sidney and world? Further, how has God called you to transform Sidney and the World? Maybe the way God is called you is different than how God is calling me to transform Sidney and the World. All of this though, needs to be rooted in love. God can be described as the source light, life, and yes love. The core of God is love.

          In fact, the Apostle Paul tells us this morning in our reading from 1 John 4:7-8 once again that:

“⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 Jn. 4:7-8, NRSV).

          My sermon title for this morning, as you can see, comes right from this scripture. “Whoever Does Not Love Does Not Know God”. This reality is what made me think of the John Coffey quote from the movie “The Green Mile”. Once again this quote is:

“I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having me a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to or coming from, or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world every day. There's too much of it - it's like pieces of glass in my head, all the time. Can you understand?” (https://www.quotes.net/mquote/115101).

          To repent of your sin, to turn from your guilt and shame, and to turn to Christ, I believe, often, is a sign that we to are tired. We are tired of trying to do everyone on our own, tired of trying to a live a life that we know that we should not be living, and tired of not really doing anything about the brokenness is this world.

          Scripture tells us that when repent and turn to Christ, we are through the power of the Holy Spirit, a new creation. If we then turn from those things that are harmful, dark, sinful, and destructive, Jesus gives us a new way of seeing the world. Instead of just being focused on ourselves, we see the brokenness, the ugliness, and the wickedness. Yet, through Christ in a variety of ways, we want to be part of the solution. We want people to know Christ, to be born anew, and to spread love, grace, mercy, healing, and holiness across this community and this world. When we work together as brothers and sisters in Christ, we can accomplish great things. We can bring people to saving grace of Christ and equip these people to do amazing things in the world.

          We are reminded once again in our reading for this morning form Psalm 22, regarding God that:

“²⁵ From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. ²⁶ The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live forever!”                     (Ps. 22:25-26, NRSV).

          Faith is not always just us sitting around and waiting for God, it is also us engaging the community and the world. If God has called you love, to feed, to serve, you do not need my permission to do this. Further, what are you waiting for? If not us, then who? If not now, then when?

          To know God, is to know love. If you are strongly connected to God in this moment, then you know love. This connection is really emphasized by Jesus in our gospel of John 15 reading for this morning. In fact, Jesus says once again:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³ You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. (Jn. 15:1-5a, NRSV).

          Grapes grow on a grape vine. To make the grapes grow better, the vines are pruned, fertilized, and cared for, so that they can bear more fruit. Jesus is telling us that he is the grape vine, and we are the branches. If we are going to know life, light, and love, we must be connected to God the Father, through his son Jesus Christ. Staying connected to Christ, keeps us connected to love. Being connected to Christ and being connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ keeps us connected to the love of God.

          Jesus concludes our gospel of John lesson for this morning once again, saying:

“Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples” (Jn. 15:5a-8, NRSV).

          So, knowing God through Jesus Christ is to know the love of God. What more do we need to know? Let us look again at our reading for this morning from 1 John. It says:

“⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 Jn. 4:7-12, NRSV).

          We are called to love, because God through Christ loves us, and died for us. Do not get me wrong, we are not supposed to be ok with sin, wickedness, and darkness, but we are called to love. Sometimes we practice tough love. Yet, we are called to love, and this does not mean that we have to approve of someone murdering someone else, for example. We are called to the love that person, but we are also called to call people to social holiness and righteousness.

          When we are loving, but at the same time not saying that every terrible thing in the world is ok, but loving, the scripture continues saying once again:

“¹³ By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. ¹⁶ So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. ¹⁷ Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 Jn. 4:13, NRSV).

          We are called to love, and to see a broken and a hurting world as it actually is. We are called to bring people to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to transform this community and the world. God has called us all in different ways. This scripture from 1 John for this morning once again ends saying:

“¹⁸There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. ²¹ The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also”                        (1 Jn. 4:18-21, NRSV).

          You will notice that we do not have to like everyone, but we do have to love everyone. When we love others, we are connected to God through Jesus Christ. We should never approve of sin, darkness, and wickedness, but we are called to love.

          So, if you can identify with the quote from the character John Coffey from the movie “The Green Mile,” then maybe God is calling you to love, to serve, and to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to others. How we are all called to do this may vary, but we are all called to love. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Sidney UMC - Fourth Sunday of Easter - 04/25/21 - Sermon - “Standing Firm In The Faith"

Sunday 04/25/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:                 “Standing Firm In The Faith”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 23                             

New Testament Scripture: Acts 4:5-12

Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18

          Sometimes in this life that we live, some of us struggle to stand up for what we believe in. Sometimes in this life that we live, we sometimes also struggle to stand up for what is right, what is fair, and what is true. One of my favorite quotes is from Sir Edmund Burke. Sir Edmund Burke said:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edmund_burke_377528). 

          Once again, Sir Edmund Burke said:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing” (https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/edmund_burke_377528).

          There are times in our lives when bad things happen. There have probably been times in our lives, as well, when we have acted, and times where we have sat by and done nothing. One of the benefits of living in a representative democracy with freedom of speech, is we are supposed to be able to have a voice. We are supposed to be able to think, to reason, and to share our ideas with each other.

          I remember when I was in high school down in Orange County, New York in 1990s. During our lunch time in our high school of about 2,000 students, the double or two roomed cafeteria that we had, had a lot of students eating lunch. I think that each lunch period had about 400 students. Sure, we had some teachers on duty, and we even had some security guards on staff, and on duty. Yet, they did not catch everything. They did not catch all the bullying, and all the other things that would happen. Some students would get away with things, as they knew just how to do it.

          I remember there was one student, who had some sort of disability, or a set of disabilities. Often about 5-10 minutes before the lunch period ended, this student would just stand pensively by the glass doors that exit the cafeteria. He acted a little odd and did not make good eye contact.

          After seeing this for a few days, this student, who I never got the name of, became a sort of case study for me. I noticed that when the student came into the cafeteria, he would nervously get in the lunch line. Often, he would look at the  floor and not make much eye contact. He would nervously grab his plastic tray and silverware, get his food, and quickly exit the line. As I watched this for a few days, I noticed a couple of boys flick is ear with their fingers or mock him.

          As he would exit the lunch with his food tray, it was plainly obvious that many of the lunchroom tables had invisible “you are unwelcomed here” signs on them. He would usually find a table where there few if any people in the corner of the cafeteria. He ate quietly, and then he quickly brought his dirty lunch tray up, only to be mocked and mistreated like when he first came in and picked up his lunch tray. Then he would stand by those glass exit doors.

Sometimes, I also noticed that the mocking continued, even as he waited by those glass exit doors. In fact, I watched this for a few days, as one student through a couple of pieces of food at this student when the adults were not looking. After a few days of this, I could not take it anymore.

          I am not going to tell you that in high school I was one of the cool kids, because I was really not. I was rather high ranking though among the nerds and I was the vice-president of the chess club. I was no street fighter or brawler, but I was sick of seeing this happen to this kid. So, I finished lunch early the next day and I then went and stood next to this student. I only said hi to him, as to not embarrass him. No food was thrown that day. I did this a couple more days, and my friends were curious as to why I was doing this. They asked why I was doing this, and I told them. One the stars of the football team, and some I knew, also overheard this.

          Some of my friends began to make fun of me as I was standing next to this student, but some of them started to understand. After this went for about another week, one day this student stood by the door before I got there. The security guard was then radiod to another part of the school building. One of the teachers on duty went to the other side of the cafeteria for a few minutes. When this happened two kids got up and went to this kid by the door. They were mocking him names, and the kid starting crying. So, they mocked him more, and called him a baby.

          I looked at my friends and they looked at me. I was about to get up to stand next to him, when suddenly that big time extremely popular football player stood up. He angrily went over as the two kids harassing this student were getting progressively getting worse and worse. Then he grabbed the two bullies by the neck and put them against the wall. They looked terrified. The football player said, if you ever pick on this kid or give him a hard time again. Well, I cannot tell you in church what he said. I will tell you this though, I never saw this student get picked on in the cafeteria ever again.

          I did something, but I could have done more. As I have gotten older, I now more and more stand up for truth, grace, and for treating people like I want to be treated. I grew up going to church and hearing how Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. I did not connect the dots in my head or in my heart fully in high school though, but I still knew what was happening to this student being bullied in the cafeteria was wrong. I now know, that I stand with and for Jesus Christ. I stand with Jesus because he stands with us. I stand with Jesus, because he loves us all, and because died for us. I stand with Jesus, because if he were here now, he would stand with us. Jesus took a stand for us, but will we ever take a stand for him? For we have the great United Methodist Church Hymnal hymn, “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus” (UMC Hymnal, 514).

          With this said, imagine we were in a room with some of the most powerful religious and societal leaders in our country. In this room, these people are demanding that we renounce Jesus, and that we say that he is not the savior. We are told that we are to never to speak the name of Jesus again, and that we can never tell people again how he changed our lives and died for us. What would you say in this moment? What if your loyalty to Jesus could lead to your earthly death? What would you do?

          My sermon title for this morning is called, “Standing Firm In The Faith”. In hearing Psalm 23 for this morning once again, we are reminded that even through the biggest and hardest struggles in our lives, that God is with us. We can have joy and peace, as we have Jesus and his love. Further, if we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, why can’t we walk with each other?

          When comes to standing up for faith, truth, and what is right, Jesus says in our gospel of John reading for this morning, once again:

“¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd”                          (Jn. 10:11-14, NRSV).

          So, standing up for the kid in the cafeteria is modeling the way that Jesus taught us to love each other. Jesus died for us, and we are supposed to live sacrificially for each other. Jesus died for our sins, so that we can fully know him, fully follow him, and then live like him every day. If today was the scene in the cafeteria, I would have done more. I would have Stood “Firm In The Faith”.

          My sermon title for this morning though largely centers around our reading for this morning from Book of Acts 4:5-12, or the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. The Book of Acts is basically the story of the very beginnings of the Christian Church.

          In the beginning of the Book of Acts chapter 4 leading to our scripture reading for this morning, Peter and John have been arrested. Why have the been arrested? They have been arrested for preaching the gospel, for telling people about Jesus, and for preaching the resurrection of Jesus. The next day, the Apostle Peter and the Apostle John go before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. Well, what was the Sanhedrin? The Sanhedrin:

“comprised seventy-one elders, and among those present were Anna, the ex-high priest, who had been deposed by the Romans but was still supported by the Jewish people, and Caiaphas, his son-in-law, whom the Romans had now installed as high priest” (Africa Bible Commentary, page 1332).

          Remember that Peter and John were ex-fisherman, not people of great wealth, education, or social standing. You could see how in this situation, how in this room, how in this “cafeteria” Peter could lose his nerve, but he does not. Let us look once again at what our Book Acts 4:5-12 reading says for this morning. It says of Peter and John coming before the Sanhedrin:

“⁵ The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:5-7, NRSV). 

Now John is in this scene with Peter, but Peter does all the talking. They are asking Peter and John, whose name are you preaching, healing, and transforming in? The scripture than says once again:

“⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹ This Jesus is

‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
    it has become the cornerstone.’” (Act 4:8-11, NRSV).

          Peter stands up for the faith, for Jesus. Peter defends who Jesus was, what he did, and his resurrection. Further, Peter knows that consequences for him and John could be there very lives. Peter in fact, according to church tradition, was crucified up-side down in Rome. After saying all of this, Peter continues to “Stand Firm In The Faith,” and says to this group of seventy-one powerful and influential men about Jesus that:

“¹² There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NRSV).

          Peter and John are arrested. Remember this is the same Peter that denied Jesus three times on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. This Peter, however, is convinced, and he will “Stand Firm In the Faith,” regardless of what happens to him. When people attack him, and attack the faith of church, he will stand strong and defend and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Peter will stand up for the kid in the cafeteria, because it is right, truthful, and just.

          Do we have faith in Christ like that? Are willing to put all the cards on the table, so that people will know Jesus, be transformed by him, and thereby transform others and the world? I believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of this world, and I believe that Jesus is our savior. I cannot deny this, because Jesus gave everything for me, and has transformed my life.

          This morning, as the Book of Acts 4 continues, Peter again defends the faith, and John and Peter are released, well at least for now. May we all in our Christian faith, and in the cafeterias of this world “Stand Firm In The Faith”. For we are called to be bearers of life, light, love, truth, and hope. May we all “Stand Firm In The Faith”. Amen.

Sidney UMC - Third Sunday of Easter/Native American Ministries Sunday - 04/18/21 - Sermon - “Peace Be With You"

Sunday 04/18/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:               “Peace Be With You”

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 4                                        

New Testament Scripture: 1 John 3:1-7

Gospel Lesson: Luke 24:36b-48

          Last Sunday, I talked about how building a perfect and a flawless world is something that we can all aspire to do, but that we will never be able to fully build ourselves. While we can make this world much better, it will never perfect until Jesus returns to earth in glory and restores it. This is true, because we are all broken, and all in need of God’s grace though Jesus Christ. We need to turn from sin and guilt towards Christ and follow him daily. We then through the power of the Holy Spirit serve Christ, and work to bring people to him and make the world better.

          Last Sunday, I also spoke briefly about Jesus appearing after his resurrection to the disciples in John 20:19-31. As the scripture lesson said last Sunday, Jesus appeared to his disciples and said, “Peace be with you” (Jn. 20:21, NRSV). In this post-resurrection scene from last week, Jesus appears in his resurrected body, and shows the disciples his pierced hands and side. Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on them and empowers them. In our lives, who empowers us?

          Yet, as I said last Sunday, the Apostle Thomas was not in attendance for Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to the other disciples. Thomas doubted what the other disciples told him, and this is where we get the idea of a “Doubting Thomas”. Jesus appears to Thomas and the others. Jesus first says again “Peace be with you” (Jn. 20:26, NRSV). Jesus then shows Thomas his crucifixion wounds and tells Thomas that he can touch the wounds if he wants. Thomas then believes, and Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples (Jn. 20:19-31, NRSV).

          I tell you all of this, because my sermon title for this morning is called, “Peace Be With You”. I chose this sermon title, because we have our reading from Luke 24 for this morning, where Jesus is accounted, post-resurrection, appearing before his disciples. Of course, Jesus says when he sees the disciples, “Peace be with you” (Lk. 24:36b, NRSV). I want to therefore dive a little deeper into this idea of “Peace be with you” (Lk. 24:36b, NRSV).

          Since Jesus returned to this his disciples and many others after his resurrection and said, “Peace be with you,” the Christian Church for nearly 2,000 years has adopted this as a practice (Lk. 24:36b, NRSV). Whether formal or informal, we “pass the peace,” as many churches and denominations call it. We share love, hope, encouragement, and joy with one another, when we “pass the peace”. It is interesting that after Jesus rose from the dead, that the disciples still did not fully understand who he was. They still needed encouragement and convincing. They still needed peace, and Jesus came to them specifically, to say, I am with you, until the end of the age.

          I meet so many people that tell me, “Pastor Paul I believe in Jesus, but I do not need to go to church to believe in Jesus”. This is true, but what if the church looked like Jesus, acted like Jesus, and drew people to Jesus? What if you came to church to worship God, to praise Jesus, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and had a great community of faith that encouraged each other? Do we need encouragement? Yes, we do! How do I know this? Jesus came back to his disciples after he was resurrected, and he presented to them his crucified body, so that they would believe. Not so that they would believe only because they would go to heaven someday, so that God’s will would be fulfilled through them. The lives we live on this earth are short. We can make them count, and we can live for and like Jesus. God can use us to transform lives, and to make the world better.

          For example, before Jesus walked in, in our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning, the disciples were broken and disheartened, even with the empty tomb. Why? They still did not understand everything, and they won’t until the day of Pentecost next month. They are still not sold yet on who Jesus was and is. Jesus this morning is revealing, encouraging, pursuing, and not giving up on his disciples or us. So why be part of a loving church that is focused on Jesus? Simple, we need you, and you need us. We are stronger together, we can grow as a family, we can love each other, and yes, we can say to each other, “Peace Be With You”. In a crazy and a broken world, Jesus in our light, our hope, and our love. We gather to worship to bring praise to him, to fill our hearts, and to love and encourage each other.

The church does not exist therefore, just for us, and just for own needs. The church exists primarily to bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ, and we worship, learn, train, and prepare here, to transform Sidney and the world. We can accomplish this mission in a variety of ways that God lays on our hearts. So, it is good that when gather we say to each other “Peace Be With You”. Imagine what we could do together?

          As a pastor I draw my hope from Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet sometimes Jesus makes himself known through you, or someone else. The church exists to keep the fire of faith and action alive. The church exists to preach God’s word, to bring people to Christ, and to equip us for Bible Studies, small groups, mission projects, visiting the elderly, loving your neighbor, etc. The churches that grow are focused on Christ, are focused on loving and serving each other, and are active in the community. We are a growing church, but we all need encouragement.

          We see this reality in our Psalm 4 reading for this morning, once again. Once again, Psalm 4:1 says:

“Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer (Ps. 4:1, NRSV).

          There so many people out there that are suffering, but they do not need the church they say. I would submit to you that we need you, and you need us. We need the peace of Christ, and we need to share it with each other. A community that loves each other, a community where you matter, and where your wellbeing is important to us all. An extended family united in Christ that grows together, loves together, and says “Peace Be With You” together.

          In our reading for this morning from 1 John 3:1-7, we are encouraged again, as the scripture says:

¹ See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are (1 Jn. 3:1, NRSV).

          Since the Christian Church has gathered over the centuries to worship, to fellowship, and to grow in faith together, we built physical structures over the years. Our church buildings were built as worship centers, places where we all gather, place where we baptize, confirm, marry, and eulogize. This place that was physically built to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ into us, and into the world. This place that is open to us all, and we are all invited grow closer to Christ and to each other together.

          The good news is, is that Jesus will never leave us or abandon us, and he will go to any length so that we may know him, be changed by him, and live like him. This takes me to our gospel lesson for this morning from Luke 24:36b-48, where it says once again:

³⁶ While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”³⁷ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet (Lk. 24:36-40, NRSV).

          Jesus shows us to encourage and to reassure his disciples, and to say, “Peace Be With You”. The Christian Church is modeled and built upon Jesus, what he taught and did, and we are called to live like that. Our gospel of Luke reading continues saying of the disciples after they say Jesus:

 ⁴¹ While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate in their presence. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things (Lk. 24:41-48, NRSV).

          I find it funny that Jesus asks the disciples for something to eat in this scene, but a man has got to eat right? Jesus then reminds his disciples who he is, why came, and what he has done for us all.

          There have been so many times in my life, when I needed encouragement, and some of you here have encouraged me. Maybe I have also encouraged some of you. We can probably think of times in our lives, when someone gave us advice or encouraged us, and offered us peace.

          Jesus goes to his disciples after his resurrection to offer them peace and hope, and in doing so he was modeling how they were supposed to live. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his disciples and his early followers were then in charge of building the church here on earth. In doing so, they taught each other what it meant to say, “Peace Be With You,” and they taught many about Jesus. They taught many about his love, his hope, and how he died for us all.

          They broke bread together, they shared the cup together, they washed each other’s feet, they prayed together, and the transformed the world together. Nothing has been more transformative on this earth that Jesus Christ, and his gospel. So much so that almost two-thousand years later, this church and many like it, still have a practice on Sunday morning of saying “Peace Be With You”. Friends, God is moving in this church and in us. We have the opportunity with God’s help to continue to build this church into something transforms lives, connects people, restored broken hearts and souls, and transforms Sidney and the world. So as Christ said, and as we said earlier in the service, “Peace Be With You”. Amen.