"Half Truths: Adam Hamilton and Matt Rawle"
by Adam Hamilton 
Matt RawleAdam Hamilton
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"Rethinking the offering plate" by Donna Schaper
Bigstock/Denys Prykhodov
The offering plate became obsolete years ago but most congregations have yet to notice. We still pass the plate and observe that fewer and fewer dollars go into it. I am still kicking myself for passing the plate this last Easter instead of announcing how to give online in the bulletin. What was I thinking?
The offertory is a moment of extreme embarrassment for many because they either didn’t bring cash, don’t have a checkbook or forgot to bring either because they were going out later and didn’t want to be bothered carrying cash “around.” They can pay for Sunday dinner or brunch with a credit card. Why can’t they give to God the same way?
Money is just old-fashioned. Some old-fashioned things are great; I think of buttermilk biscuits or writing thank-you notes. Other old-fashioned things are just not useful and keep us from meeting the goal of getting money to the church. That goal is not just utilitarian—it is also holy. It allows us to be the body of Christ, the hands and feet of God, the world-wide webbing of the Holy Spirit.
Check books and cash are old fashioned in a dysfunctional way. More and more people pay for everything online and don’t need a checkbook to do so. Why should church be the only place left for cash or checks? Doesn’t that sideline God to a certain demographic or to the 20th century where cash and checks were more than welcome in offering plates? Why do that?
Like shoulder pads or penny loafers, those long handled baskets or wooden plates with felt potholders at the center are a kind of interesting relic of a time when banking and money wore different clothes. We announce our last century belongings by only passing a plate. We say we are still back there rather than in here. There is nothing wrong with “back there” as long as we are also “here, now.”
One of the key issues facing most congregations today is dedowdying. By that I mean needing to decorate as though we were in this century and not the last one. I know we all had a better time in the 20th century. But while banks still make a lot of money off of so-called services, churches make less money out of so-called services. One of the reasons is that our props — like offering plates or Grandma’s old couch — ally us with the past and not the present.
More forward-looking and younger churches have transitioned to a credit card receiving device that allows people the sacrament of paying their offerings. Or they take members’ tithes and pledges and offerings online regularly, sometimes by direct deposit. Online giving, when implemented by the former main line congregations, often triples the size of the gift over a few years. People like giving that way.
Certainly the old offering plates and baskets need a decommissioning. Maybe those offering receptacles also need a desacralizing. They did their job well; those plates have been carried with great piety and sincerity for a long time. We can still use them, but we can’t expect all our congregants to want them. Like the two or three members who don’t have email, we remember to call them with important information; we can also pass the plate in that same spirit.
We can then sacralize and bless the kiosk and the church’s computer. They do our work for us, and it is holy work. We can still have a moment in the service when there is an offering, but it should include reminding people to give electronically.
Change is normal, even around matters as holy as how we get money for our work. Dedowdying is a form of dusting, of decluttering, of living more in the “now” than in the “then.” Offering plates are a great place to start on this large and important project.
"7 signs of a weak leader" by Ron Edmondson
Bigstock/John D Williams
A youth pastor emailed me. He’s frustrated his pastor continually caves into pressures of a few leaders in the church. They are not supportive of the youth ministry, even though it’s the fastest growing area of the church.
The complaint they have? The ministry is costing far more than it brings into the church. Young people are coming to the church in growing numbers, but without their parents. Young people don’t usually contribute to the church, so it’s causing an issue with some of the deacons.
The pastor was involved and supportive in the expansion of youth ministries and the church is financially sound, but a few deacons consider it an “unprofitable” ministry.
The pastor’s solution? Cut back on the youth ministry expenditures to keep the deacons happy.
I’d love to tell you this is an isolated issue, but I’ve written about these types of situations before. Obviously, I don’t have all the facts, but based on what I do know, it sounds like the pastor is a weak leader.
I hate labeling a pastor weak on anything. Certainly I’ve been weak on many things. Preaching. Shepherding. Staff development. And yes, leading. You name it, I’ve been weak.
But we have to label the problem before we can hope to find solutions.
Have you ever known a weak leader? They’re usually easy to spot.
Here are seven signs:
Runs from conflict. They avoid it at any cost. They usually say what you want to hear. They are passive-aggressive. They cave to the loudest voices. They disappear when trouble develops. You’ll never see them in the crowd when there’s a controversy looming. They hide better than they engage when people are upset about something or things aren’t going so well.
Hides all flaws. They have a lot of excuses, and they often pretend to know it all. They don’t want you to know the “real” them — the them which may be lacking in some area. They will try to make you think they have it together more than they really do — and, you might believe it — for a while. These leaders are often afraid that if they appear to be weak (how ironic) you may not respect them, or they might even lose their job.
(Of course, wise leaders learn to build a team which can bring strength around their weaknesses.)
Can’t accept criticism. They don’t take well to correction. They pout. Get angry, perhaps — they may even seek revenge.
Quick to pass blame. They can never admit a personal mistake. They are consummate fault-finders. It’s always someone else’s error. It’s the economy, or the culture, or the lack of volunteers. They keep people under their authority by labeling others with the faults of the organization. In fact, according to a weak leader, you probably couldn’t do “it” without them.
Leads by control. They want you to believe they’ve “got this”. They don’t, but it feels better to them than the alternative. They keep people under their authority, never empower, and seldom delegate, because they are afraid of losing their power position.
Shies away from difficult decisions. They can’t make the hard calls. They can’t lead in a new direction because the opposition will be too strong for them. They stay in the safe zone; sameness is their friend.
Appeases critics and complainers. The louder you are the more likely a weak leader will cave to your demands. They don’t want you to be unhappy, especially with them.
I sound rather harsh toward a weak leader, don’t I? But, as I said, I’ve been — and sometimes can be — that leader. I share this as a check for our own leadership. We need strong, capable leadership, especially among our people of faith. Let’s lead. Let’s lead well. Let’s “stand firm” and “let nothing move us.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
What would you suggest this youth leader do?
Ron Edmondson blogs at RonEdmondson.com.
"Even Superman has limits: On being servants, not saviors"
by Drew McIntyreHenry Cavill in " Batman v Superman." Image courtesy of DC Entertainment/Warner Bros.
Are pastors servants or saviors? Lately the quote below has been floating around, and it has irked me to no end.
Of course the sentiment is sweet, and God knows (literally) how much pastors and other caregivers need prayer, support, and a kind word on occasion. The intent is beautiful. But something about this particular quote has stuck in my craw ever since I first saw it posted.
I couldn’t name it until Batman v. Superman came out.
As you might have heard, BvS received mixed reviews. Fans sort of liked it; critics largely did not. In its third week at the box office, it was beaten by a Melissa McCarthy movie that had little hype behind it and received even worse reviews!
[Warning: big spoilers follow!]
In lieu of this, BvS director Zack Snyder has already started to talk up the R-rated Director’s Cut that will be released, arguing that scenes cut for time and content will flesh out the characters and fill in some of the narrative gaps, both of which were complaints by many critics and fans alike. In response to a specific question, about why Superman doesn’t save Martha himself at the end, he details one of those deleted scenes:
We had a scene that we cut from the movie where he tries to look for her when he finds out that Lex has got her … It was a slightly dark scene that we cut out because it sort of represented this dark side. Because when he was looking for his mom he heard all the cries of all the potential crimes going on in the city, you know when you look.
I kind of like the idea that he’s taught himself not to look because if he looks it’s just neverending, right? You have to know when, as Superman, when to intervene and when not to. Or not when not to, you can’t be everywhere at once, literally you can’t be everywhere at once, so he has to be really selective in a weird way about where he chooses to interfere.
Even Superman can’t be everywhere at once. Even Superman can’t be on duty all the time. Even Superman needs a nap every now and then.
This pervasive mythology about pastors and other caring professions — that we are “on” all the time, that we never get to take time off, that we are “never off duty” — is not only wrong, it is sinful.
Sabbath is not a command for all of those who are not professional religious types.
We do not cease to be creatures dependent on the Creator because part our vocation includes care for others.
This lie has much to do with issues see related to clergy (and let’s also add counselors, nurses, and other caregivers). It is a recipe for burnout and frustration. Moreover, it is functionally agnostic, because it tells us we don’t really need time with God if we are doing stuff for God.
“Never” get to be off duty? “Never” get to have a normal schedule or punch out at 5?
This is evil. And it is evil for us to live into these inhumane expectations and not challenge them among those we serve. We are not Superman. Even Superman has a Fortress of Solitude where he is “off duty” and takes time away.
We are servants, not saviors. Or, as a prayer attributed to the martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero says, we are ministers and not messiahs:
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.
Drew blogs at Plowshares into Swords and co-hosts the WesleyCast.
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"A 'tip' for Christian tippers"
by David PersonBigstock/AndreyPopov
Last week, a television station in Charlotte, N.C., reported that a group of patrons left their waitress a Bible verse in lieu of a tip. The verse was Lev. 20:13: “If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.”
According to WBTV in Charlotte, Alexandra Judd, the waitress, is gay. And she was offended.
"I never expected a hateful gesture like this," Judd said, according to WBTV. "I've had a guest leave me a pamphlet to their church as a tip one time, but I didn't feel as if they were being hateful towards me. The ladies that came in were very rude, and would hardly talk to me – but I never expected this."
If Judd’s patrons simply were trying to preach at her, their mission was accomplished. But if they were trying to get her to change her sexual identity or lifestyle, their biblical “tip” was an epic fail — despite their “praying for you” message at the bottom of the receipt.
“I don't care what anyone says, this is the most disrespectful thing you can do,” Judd wrote in the Facebook post that accompanies a photo of the receipt with the “tip.”
“Don't pray for me, darling,” Judd concluded. “I have everything I could possibly want and need in my life.”
First, the obvious stuff: Judd is a woman. The Leviticus text is about male-to-male sex acts.
Next, leaving an accusatory Bible text in lieu of a tip is rude, condescending and totally lacking in charity, which is supposed to be a Christian virtue.
Another waitress, who posted a receipt from a customer in another location who complained about the suggested 18 percent tip by comparing it to the 10 percent tithe, said that her salary was $3.50 per hour and that her work days were 12 hours-plus. So far, the message the world is getting is that Christians are judgmental and cheap.
In reality, who a waitress is or isn’t sleeping with is no one’s business but hers. But if we are going to go there, perhaps we should at least stop being so selective in the way we apply Biblical directives. It makes us look hypocritical to do otherwise.
Leviticus 11, for example, gives very specific instructions for which animals the Israelites could eat. Pigs were not on that long list, along with certain fish and sea creatures that are featured on menus across the nation.
Did any of those ladies have a ham sandwich for lunch? Maybe some juicy pork roast? How about a good old fashioned BLT, with crunchy slices of bacon?
Did they have fried catfish or sautéed shrimp? Lobster or crab? All are prohibited in Leviticus. Would they criticize someone eating any of that at a nearby table? Would they refuse it themselves?
Some believe it is their Christian duty to engage in confrontational evangelism. They believe, as does author Ray Comfort, that not confronting “sinners” is a “soft-selling” of the gospel and that believers need to “tell sinners like it is.”
One problem: All of us, believers included, are sinners. That is what the Bible teaches. So if we’re really going to tell sinners like it is, maybe we should start with each other. And maybe, to be as effective in our criticisms as possible, we should target the groups listed in Proverbs 6:16-19.
If we did, we’d have to criticize the arrogant, liars, those who kill the innocent, evil schemers, those eager to do harm to others and people who create dissension. I suspect that if we did that, we’d be so busy confronting those in the church that we might not even have time to tell strangers how they need to be living their lives.
And maybe, by then, we would realize that we do more harm than good to our faith when the best we have to offer falls short of love and compassion.
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Proverbs 6:16 There are six things Adonai hates,
seven which he detests:
17 a haughty look, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that plots wicked schemes,
feet swift in running to do evil,
19 a false witness who lies with every breath,
and him who sows strife among brothers.
"The church needs more Hippos"
by Zack Hunt"Tiffany Window of St Augustine — Lightner Museum" via Wikimedia Commons
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but the first time I ever heard the name Augustine of Hippo, I thought he was some sort of religious cartoon character.
Granted, I was a wee lad at the time, but it definitely took me a bit of time to come to grips with the fact that St. Augustine was, in fact, not a talking hippo created to teach Bible stories to children.
As I would eventually come to learn, St. Augustine of Hippo was (and remains) one of the towering figures in Church history. His influence on Christian theology in the West can’t be overstated as works like "City of God" and "Confessions" are still in print some sixteen centuries after his death.
But it’s a lesser-known theological contribution that I love most about St. Augustine. It appears in a work entitled "De Doctrina Christiana" (On Christian Doctrine) and is, without question, the best and most Christ-centered rule for reading and interpreting scripture that I’ve ever seen. And in the age of “religious freedom,” wherein context-less Bible verses have become a sanctified arsenal for excluding, condemning and silencing anyone and everyone who makes us uncomfortable, I can’t think of a more critically important tool for the Church to rediscover and reorient our reading of scripture around. Not just because St. Augustine was a theological giant (though he was), but also because his hermeneutical approach was derived straight from the lips of Jesus himself.
Recall, if you will, the story of the Pharisees testing Jesus in Matthew 22.
As they were so often want to do, the Pharisees were looking for yet another opportunity to have their decisive theological “gotcha” moment with Jesus and thereby expose him as the heretical rabble-rouser he obviously was. According to Matthew, the Sadducees had just missed their opportunity, but the Pharisees were confident that, unlike their ideological counterparts, they would not be “silenced” by this young upstart who held such a clear disdain for scripture.
One of them, an expert in the law, tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Now, this wasn’t exactly a strange question to ask. Religious leaders in Jesus’ day would often debate such matters, even though you kind of had to agree they were all important and great because they all came from God. But trick question or not, the question of which law was the greatest was still important because whatever answer was given would reveal the theological foundation of the teacher being questioned.
As I’m sure you remember, Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Other Jewish preachers also pointed out the greatness of the command to love God and neighbor, but what makes Jesus’ response so important today (and back then, too) is that last little bit at the end — “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
For Jesus (and therefore for his followers as well), the intent, meaning, interpretation and application of every single divine law and prophetic command was and is shaped and wholly dependent upon the call to love God and neighbor. Try as you might, those laws and commands couldn’t really even be followed or fulfilled if one wasn’t first fully loving God and neighbor. The early Church understood this and would go on to build its foundation on this call to total love as can be seen clearly in their willingness to share everything in common, selling their property and possessions in order to give to anyone who had need.
Anthropomorphic cartoon character or not, St. Augustine of Hippo also recognized the obvious importance of Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and made it both the foundation and guide for how he believed the Church should go about reading and interpreting scripture. According to Augustine, “the fulfillment and the end of the Law, and of all Holy Scripture” is love of God and love of neighbor. Therefore, “Whoever, then, thinks that he understands the Holy Scriptures, or any part of them, but puts such an interpretation upon them as does not tend to build up this twofold love of God and our neighbor, does not yet understand them as he ought.”
To put it in somewhat more modern language, no matter how great you think your exegesis is or how confident you are in your proof-text, if your reading, interpretation and application of a biblical passage doesn’t lead you towards loving God and neighbor, you’re wrong.
Period.
Of course, this rule for reading scripture isn’t some sort of hermeneutical OxiClean. It doesn’t make all of those difficult passages in scripture magically disappear. But in a time when so many of us are so sure that the Bible is clear that those people are sinners, that those people should be treated differently, and that those people aren’t worthy of the kingdom of God, St. Augustine’s call to read the Bible through the lens of the Greatest Commandment should challenge all of us to pause and reconsider some, if not many, of our long held conclusions about what the Bible “clearly” says.
We shouldn't reconsider these because the culture we live in is changing, but because all those verses we love to quote so confidently hang on our love for God and neighbor. And without that love incarnated in our lives, everything else we say and do in the name of Jesus falls apart no matter how many Bible verse we have to “prove it.”
Which is why, now more than ever, we desperately need more Hippos in the Church, more people who are deeply and completely committed to the way of Jesus, even if it means sometimes having to admit we were wrong about what the Bible “clearly” has to say.
"Five fit practices for clergy"
by Todd OutcaltBigstock/Maridav
In the past decade there have been several initiatives and studies centered on clergy health and wellness. Among these, a ten-year study was undertaken in North Carolina beginning in 2007 (The Clergy Health Initiative) that revealed higher than national averages of obesity, stress and diabetes among clergy. The National Clergy Renewal Program, offered through the Lilly Endowment, continues to provide up to twelve weeks of sabbatical/renewal for selected clergy across the country. These programs, and others, are also lifting up the need for clergy care — which would certainly include better practices of fitness, diet and management of stress.
The United Methodist Church some years ago also instituted a nationwide Health Ministry Network (managed through the General Board of Pensions) and has established wellness programs to assist clergy in their health questions and practices. However, as all of these initiatives point out, clergy first need to have a self-awareness and a desire to live a healthy lifestyle. And lifestyle is about practices and disciplines that lead to healthy living.
Here are five that can help clergy begin, and maintain, a healthy lifestyle.
Exercise
For many clergy, exercise may be a frightening word. Images of world-class athletes may spring to mind, or piles of sweat-stained clothing. Others may be frightened away by the prospect of beginning an exercise program or may feel that they are too far “out of shape” to begin. Our sports-crazed culture does not help to alleviate our fears about exercise, and often we clergy live vicariously through other athletes (or favorite sports teams) to satisfy our own sense of activity and accomplishment.
But exercise can be many things; just as there are many stages of ministry and life, so it is with exercise. When I was a younger man (still in my twenties) I continued to play basketball, racquetball and even contact sports with some regularity. But as I grew older, I learned that I needed to adapt and spare my body from injury. Spending 20-30 minutes in a gym (4-5 times a week) became my go-to routine. And now that I am older yet, I have found that walking and hiking provides enough aerobic work to burn those calories and strengthen the body.
Clergy, especially, have certain flexibilities of schedule that many other occupations do not have. Finding a time to exercise — in the morning, at lunch break, or even at night — is essential. Consistent walking, time on a treadmill or lifting weights can have an enormous impact on one’s health. Scheduling these self-directed exercises is just as important as scheduling a time for Bible study, sermon prep or family time.
And for those clergy who feel that they lack the necessary self-discipline to oversee their own exercise routines, don’t despair. There are now thousands of health coaches and trainers across the country who can design routines for anyone at any age or station of life. These experts are not that expensive (especially when one considers the higher financial cost of chronic pain, medication or stress-related symptoms that might be relieved through consistent exercise).
Clergy looking for a fit practice should first and foremost begin with exercise. Other options here could include walking, jogging, bicycling, kayaking or any number of aerobic programs that one can find in the community or on DVDs.
Diet
Diet is another of those scary words. But in essence, we are always dieting (either gaining weight or losing weight through our eating habits). What we eat (and how and when we eat it) are part and parcel of our healthy practices.
Of course, most people can remember learning about a healthy diet in school. Having a balanced diet with emphasis on fresh vegetables, whole grains and fresh fruits is paramount to health. But in the new era when there are so many allergies and special dietary needs, there is now an emphasis on learning about additives and how processed foods impact our overall health. Think fresh when it comes to diet.
One woman in my congregation (now ninety-eight years old) has made a lifestyle from her gardening expertise. She sees gardening as not only her path to a healthy diet, but it has also been her exercise. She has taught me much about organic gardening and the refreshment and renewal that can come from growing a portion of one’s own food. Gardening is not that time consuming, and being outside, even tending a small garden space, offers momentary relief from other worries and stresses, too.
Again, like exercise, there are many expert sources that can help. There are thousands of dietary books, recipe books for healthy cooking and many options for those looking to improve their diet as a healthy practice.
Use Technology
This may seem like a contradiction of terms — especially when so much of our technology leads to sedentary practices (sitting, bending, lying on the couch in front of a TV or computer screen). However, there are now many ways for clergy to use technology to a healthy advantage.
Consider, for example, the new line of Fitbit® products and other types of gadgets and gizmos that can help us to monitor our steps, our heart rates and even our blood sugar levels. Many clergy are finding these bracelets and devices to be a fun and energetic way to create routine. I know some clergy who are now walking to the church office instead of driving, and others who are creating support groups designed to cheer each other on to greater levels of success. Wearing one of these monitor devices can not only be motivating, but fun.
Likewise, there are now whole exercise routines that one can follow online. These videos offer energetic and creative ways to keep exercise fresh and combat boredom. New routines can be found daily online, and clergy can complete an exercise routine at home in just a few minutes. Again, even 20-30 minutes a day of vigorous activity makes a difference.
Restful Sleep
Some years ago I researched and wrote an article for a fitness magazine about the importance of sleeping on a good mattress. My research also revealed that many people simply don’t get enough sleep. This lack of restful sleep can lead to other problems — among them, certain types of heart problems, stress, chronic pain and fatigue. These issues, and more, can be linked to a lack of sleep. Resting well helps clergy to work well and think well.
Likewise, there is certainly a correlation between proper rest and our abilities to recuperate from exercise. For example, one needs proper rest after weight training in order for the muscles to recuperate and strengthen. The same holds true for work proper. The human body (and the mind) cannot operate at an optimal level without proper rest.
Clergy looking to work harder (and smarter) would do well to monitor their sleep habits. Keep a chart. Make sure that rest is figured into the equation of healthy and fit habits.
Play
Play is different than exercise. As Dr. Leonard Sweet has pointed out in his excellent book on “re-creation,” (The Well-Played Life) we were created to participate in God’s work, not work to create God’s outcomes. Maintaining a well-played life is vital to one’s overall health and well-being. This sense of play should include family, friends and encompass the church as well.
Where are we finding renewal? How are we best able to let go of the demands of work in order to experience ministry as “re-creation” and revival? In our work-saturated culture, others will be drawn into the abundant life that we proclaim through our witness and our testimony of God’s goodness. Clergy should always keep in mind that our efforts alone will never be good enough. God’s strength and goodness, and the grace provided through God’s love and the gifts of creation, are gospel.
Healthy practices here can include regular and intentional time with family and friends, vacations, retreats, and, of course, the daily practices of laughter and appreciation of God’s good gifts. Emphasizing recreation in ministry can be a vital practice in our overall health and well-being.
Todd Outcalt is lead pastor at Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana and author of more than thirty books in six languages. He also writes for health and fitness magazines, including regular columns for Midwest Outdoors andYouthWorker Journal. He enjoys kayaking and painting, and in May of 2016 will be travelling to Spain to make pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago.
"What is spiritual direction?" by Jill M. Johnson
Bogstock/justinkendra
My first encounter with spiritual direction was unintentional. After engaging in a spiritual conversation with the owner of the Texas Hill Country bed and breakfast where I was staying, she gave me a copy of a poem by Rumi, a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic. “Don’t go away, come near. Don’t be faithless, be faithful,” the poem said. Titled “The Root of the Root of Your Self,” the poem invites the reader to discover his or her truest and deepest self as a being made in the image of God’s majesty by letting go of selfishness and fear. I later found out this owner was a trained spiritual director, and 16 years later I still have and treasure the copy of the poem she gave me. Another had discerned a new spiritual path for me and had given me permission to look inside my soul, discovering the vast treasure that awaits us all when we start a divine adventure.
What is spiritual direction? A number of definitions exist, but a common one is that spiritual direction offers a way to attend to God’s presence in one’s life in the context of a trusted relationship. Spiritual Directors International states, “Spiritual direction explores a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Simply put, spiritual direction is helping people tell their sacred stories everyday.” Leslie A. Hay holds a master of divinity degree and is a spiritual director, teacher and author of Hospitality: The Heart of Spiritual Direction. According to her, “The role of the spiritual director is to be a welcoming presence, as directees listen to God with the ‘ear of their hearts’ and become aware of how God is being revealed in the mystery of their lives.” According to Hay, the concept of spiritual direction isn’t new, but rather an ancient ministry that fell out of practice after the Reformation but reemerged in the early 20th century.
Spiritual direction practices can be found in almost all faith traditions and denominations. Other terms used for spiritual direction include spiritual companionship, tending the holy and holy listening or sacred listening. Sometimes misunderstood, spiritual direction isn’t counseling, therapy or financial advice. Most spiritual directors have training and spiritual formation experience, but formal credentialing isn’t required to be a spiritual director. Hay believes that spiritual direction isn’t in competition with religion but is rather a deepening of it. “Spiritual direction involves an inner work, focusing on one’s relationship with God. I believe that all of the material of one’s life is contained in prayer, and that spiritual direction is prayer lived,” said Hay. “For someone who has never tried it, I would tell that person that the time spent in spiritual direction is entirely focused on you and your spiritual life, which is a reflection of God’s love for you.”
What happens during spiritual direction?
Usually, spiritual direction involves a series of conversations where directors and directees meet for about an hour every month or so. Directees share stories about what is happening in their lives or where they might be struggling in their faith. Trust and getting to know each other might take time, so directees are encouraged to try several sessions. Directors act as a sounding board, offering feedback in a caring manner, not judgment or advice. Many spiritual directors will incorporate prayer or other practices into the meeting and might suggest “homework” assignments such as journaling, reading Scripture, reading books or poetry and worshipping with your faith community. Spiritual director and author Thomas Hart tells interested directees, “I will not tell you what you ought to do. I do not know what you should do. And it is not my role to lead to that extent. Your real spiritual director is the Holy Spirit.”
Spiritual direction can benefit anyone on his or her spiritual journey, whether a lay person or a clergy member. United Methodist bishop William Hutchinson believes that pastors can benefit not only from being trained in spiritual direction as they work with congregants, but also from being directees themselves. He believes these clergy tend to be “less reactionary, less judgmental, more centered, more reflective. They search for deeper answers.”
Hay believes that spiritual directors should be grounded in the practice of hospitality, welcoming all as Christ. They should also make sure they’re taking care of their own spiritual lives to be effective. “The calling to be a spiritual director is a humbling path to follow because it requires intentionality about our own prayer life, so we can offer deep listening, unconditional love and acceptance,” she says.
Because of her positive experience with spiritual direction, Cherri Johnson started the Spiritual Direction Training Program for Spiritual Leadership, a part of the Louisiana Conference of The United Methodist Church. She then sought to inject practices of spiritual direction into the life of the local church. She found that most churchgoers were familiar with the language of discipleship and practices of stewardship and Bible study, but the language of spiritual direction was foreign to them. Johnson believes that many of these spiritual practices are lost elements of early Methodism. “The inner journey of faith was superseded by a commitment to doctrinal certainties. The practice of spiritual direction offers a means to recapture a lost dimension of Christian life,” she said.
“How Is It With Your Soul?”
Spiritual direction can also happen in groups where people gather on a regular basis to support one another’s spiritual growth and awareness of God’s activity in their lives and in their communities. In the early stages of Methodism, small group meetings (referred to as “class meetings”) were a vital part of this Christian community. In his book The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small Group Experience, Kevin M. Watson makes it clear that these groups weren’t information-driven but rather transformation-driven. Rather than being a gathering focused on curriculum or study, class meetings involved committed participants who discussed the state of their current relationship with God and how they were living out their faith. Participants actively participated in examining their own spirituality rather than just being passive recipients of information.
Started in England in 1742 by a group of Methodists, this practice was listed as a requirement of membership when Methodism became a formal denomination in 1784. So as The Methodist Episcopal Church grew in America, church members were very accustomed to meeting every week to talk about their lives as followers of Christ, where they were to “watch over one another in love.” Classes had between seven to twelve members, and men and women often met together, with both genders having leader roles. Content of the meetings focused on (1) holding people accountable to keeping the General Rules (do no harm, do good, and attend upon the ordinances of God), (2) giving to the poor, and (3) answering the question, “How is it with your soul?” (a modern-day rephrasing could be “How is your life with God?”). Watson makes it clear that class meetings were not accountability groups, where people confessed their deepest sins.
The decline of the class meeting is attributed to both the rise of the Sunday school movement and the rise of affluence among Methodists, who were then less comfortable sharing the details of their spiritual lives. Watson proposes a return to these transformative, life-changing groups that should be characterized by consistent attendance, active listening, interpersonal skills, confidentiality, humility and a willingness to be vulnerable. Regardless of the form spiritual direction takes, the goal, as the 18th-century preacher Peter Cartwright stated, is to have souls “made alive to God.”
Be sure to check out FaithLink, a weekly downloadable discussion guide for classes and small groups.
"It's all about money"
by Gary EalyBigstock/BillionPhotos
"All you have done lately is preach about giving."
"We had a ‘Vision Campaign,’ but it all came down to wanting us to give more."
"If it’s going to cost more money, we are against it!"
These are just a few of the comments I have heard while working with churches in generosity development. I might agree, if I was not thoroughly convinced that living generously is both a reflection of our generous creator and inextricably tied to advancing God’s kingdom on earth. The following modern adaptation of one of Jesus’ parables (Luke 19:11-27) helps illustrate my point.
The owner of “Let’s Play Sports” called his three division managers in for an important meeting. He was going on an overseas business trip for six months. He gave each of them $1,000,000 and told them to invest it for company growth. When the owner returned, he called each manager into his office to get a report. The first came in and said, “I made an agreement with Nixie Sports to promote their new Lion Golf Club line. As a result, the $1M investment has returned $10M in sales.” The owner was thrilled and promoted the man to Vice President over ten states. He had used the owner’s money to substantially advance his business. The second man reported he made a deal with the Catfish Pro Shop. He had recommended an adaptation to fishing rods that brought tremendous excitement. As a result, the $1M grew into $5M. Again the owner was totally impressed and promoted the manager to Vice President over five states. Finally, the third manager reported, “I didn’t want to make a mistake so I put your $1M into my lockbox to keep it safe. Here it is for you to use as you wish.” The owner was furious. He told the manager, “My money was placed into your care to GROW my business, not keep it where it is. You’re fired! Get your possessions out of your office and don’t expect a recommendation from me for your next job.” The fired manager went away sorrowfully. The $1M he returned was given to the first manager to use to invest in the company. Some employees complained that the owner gave the $1M to the one who had the most already. The owner replied, “The one who best invests my money will have more, but the one who does not invest in my company will lose what he has.”
An important truth found here is that God has already entrusted our churches with the resources to do the work of the church. Spiritual development is the challenge as many members fail to embrace the idea that God has placed these resources in our hands not for our benefit, but for the purpose of expanding God’s work here on earth. Kingdom building requires disciples courageous enough to purposefully invest God’s money in God’s work.
Basic takeaway:
My stuff is not really mine, but belongs to God. – Psalm 24:1
My use of God’s resources shows who owns my heart. – Matthew 6:19-24; 2 Corinthians 8:24
Those whose hearts are fully committed to God’s plans will seek to use the resources entrusted into their care to further God’s purposes. Kingdom growth comes first in the Christian’s heart. Matthew 6:33
Sure, some people are going to complain about the sermon whenever you preach about the use of God’s money, but being a Jesus follower and a Kingdom expander requires conversations about money and other things which we tend to love more than God.
This post first appeared on the Horizons Stewardship blog.
This Sunday, April 24, 2016
Fifth Sunday of Easter: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Lectionary Readings:
Sunday, 24 April 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Text:
Sunday, 24 April 2016
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Text:
Acts 11:1 The emissaries and the brothers throughout Y’hudah heard that the Goyim had received the word of God; 2 but when Kefa went up to Yerushalayim, the members of the Circumcision faction criticized him, 3 saying, “You went into the homes of uncircumcised men and even ate with them!”
4 In reply, Kefa began explaining in detail what had actually happened: 5 “I was in the city of Yafo, praying; and in a trance I had a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being lowered by its four corners from heaven, and it came down to me. 6 I looked inside and saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, crawling creatures and wild birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Kefa, slaughter and eat!’ 8 I said, ‘No, sir! Absolutely not! Nothing unclean or treif has ever entered my mouth!’ 9 But the voice spoke again from heaven: ‘Stop treating as unclean what God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then everything was pulled back up into heaven.
11 “At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where I was staying; 12 and the Spirit told me to have no misgivings about going back with them. These six brothers also came with me, and we went into the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Yafo and bring back Shim‘on, known as Kefa. 14 He has a message for you which will enable you and your whole household to be saved.’
15 “But I had hardly begun speaking when the Ruach HaKodesh fell on them, just as on us at the beginning! 16 And I remembered that the Lord had said, ‘Yochanan used to immerse people in water, but you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh.’ 17 Therefore, if God gave them the same gift as he gave us after we had come to put our trust in the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
18 On hearing these things, they stopped objecting and began to praise God, saying, “This means that God has enabled the Goyim as well to do t’shuvah and have life!”
Psalm 148:1 Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels!
Praise him, all his armies!
3 Praise him, sun and moon!
Praise him, all shining stars!
4 Praise him, highest heaven,
and waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of Adonai;
for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He established them forever and ever;
he has given a law to which they must conform.
7 Praise Adonai from the earth,
sea monsters and watery depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and mist,
storm-winds that obey his word,
9 mountains and every hill,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all livestock,
creeping reptiles, flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women alike,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of Adonai,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above both earth and heaven.
14 He has increased the power of his people,
granted praise to all his faithful,
to the descendants of Isra’el,
a people close to him.
Halleluyah!
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,[Revelation 21:1 Isaiah 65:17, 66:22] for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer there. 2 Also I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “See! God’s Sh’khinah is with mankind, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and he himself, God-with-them, will be their God.[Revelation 21:3 Leviticus 26:11–12; Isaiah 7:14; 8:8, 10; Jeremiah 31:33(34); Ezekiel 37:27; 2 Chronicles 6:18] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will no longer be any death; and there will no longer be any mourning, crying or pain; because the old order has passed away.”
5 Then the One sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Also he said, “Write, ‘These words are true and trustworthy!’” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the ‘A’ and the ‘Z,’ the Beginning and the End. To anyone who is thirsty I myself will give water free of charge from the Fountain of Life.
John 13:31 After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If the Son has glorified God, God will himself glorify the Son, and will do so without delay. 33 Little children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and, as I said to the Judeans, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ now I say it to you as well.
34 “I am giving you a new command: that you keep on loving each other. In the same way that I have loved you, you are also to keep on loving each other. 35 Everyone will know that you are my talmidim by the fact that you have love for each other.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for: Acts 11:1-18
Verse 5
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The Upper Room Ministries
[5] I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
Being in a trance — Which suspends the use of the outward senses.
Verse 14
[14] Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
Saved — With the full Christian salvation, in this world and the world to come.
Verse 17
[17] Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
To us, when we believed — The sense is, because we believed, not because we were circumcised, was the Holy Ghost given to us.
What was I — A mere instrument in God's hand. They had inquired only concerning his eating with the Gentiles. He satisfies them likewise concerning his baptizing them, and shows that he had done right in going to Cornelius, not only by the command of God, but also by the event, the descent of the Holy Ghost. And who are we that we should withstand God? Particularly by laying down rules of Christian communion which exclude any whom he has admitted into the Church of the first born, from worshipping God together. O that all Church governors would consider how bold an usurpation this is on the authority of the supreme Lord of the Church! O that the sin of thus withstanding God may not be laid to the charge of those, who perhaps with a good intention, but in an over fondness for their own forms, have done it, and are continually doing it.
Verse 18
[18] When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
They glorified God — Being thoroughly satisfied.
Repentance unto life — True repentance is a change from spiritual death to spiritual life, and leads to life everlasting.
Psalm 148
Verse 4
[4] Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
Heavens of heavens — Ye highest heavens, the place of God's throne.
Waters — Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
Verse 6
[6] He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
Established — He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world.
A decree — Concerning their continuance.
Verse 7
[7] Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
Dragons — Either serpents, which hide in the deep caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea-monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea.
Verse 8
[8] Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
Fire — Lightnings and other fireworks of the air.
Vapour — Or, fumes: hot exhalations.
Fulfilling his word — Executing his commands, either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
Verse 13
[13] Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
Above — Above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
Verse 14
[14] He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.
The horn — In scripture commonly denotes strength, victory, glory, and felicity.
Revelation 21:1-6
Verse 1
[1] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I saw — So it runs, Revelation 19:11; 20:1,4,11, in a succession. All these several representations follow one another in order: so the vision reaches into eternity.
A new heaven and a new earth — After the resurrection and general judgment. St. John is not now describing a flourishing state of the church, but a new and eternal state of all things.
For the first heaven and the first earth — Not only the lowest part of heaven, not only the solar system, but the whole ethereal heaven, with all its host, whether of planets or fixed stars, Isaiah 34:4; Matthew 24:29. All the former things will be done away, that all may become new, verses 4,5; 2 Peter 3:10,12.
Are passed away — But in the fourth verse it is said, "are gone away." There the stronger word is used; for death, mourning, and sorrow go away all together: the former heaven and earth only pass away, giving place to the new heaven and the new earth.
Verse 2
[2] And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I saw the holy city — The new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, are closely connected. This city is wholly new, belonging not to this world, not to the millennium, but to eternity. This appears from the series of the vision, the magnificence of the description, and the opposition of this city to the second death, Revelation 20:11,12; 21:1; 2,5,8,9; 22:5.
Coming down — In the very act of descending.
Verse 3
[3] And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
They shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God — So shall the covenant between God and his people be executed in the most glorious manner.
Verse 4
[4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And death shall be no more — This is a full proof that this whole description belongs not to time, but eternity.
Neither shall sorrow, or crying, or pain, be any more: for the former things are gone away — Under the former heaven, and upon the former earth, there was death and sorrow, crying and pain; all which occasioned many tears: but now pain and sorrow are fled away, and the saints have everlasting life and joy.
Verse 5
[5] And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he that sat upon the throne said — Not to St. John only. From the first mention of "him that sat upon the throne," Revelation 4:2, this is the first speech which is expressly ascribed to him.
And he — The angel.
Saith to me Write — As follows.
These sayings are faithful and true — This includes all that went before. The apostle seems again to have ceased writing, being overcome with ecstasy at the voice of him that spake.
Verse 6
[6] And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
And he — That sat upon the throne.
Said to me, It is done — All that the prophets had spoken; all that was spoken, Revelation 4:1. We read this expression twice in this prophecy: first, Revelation 16:17, at the fulfilling of the wrath of God; and here, at the making all things new.
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end — The latter explains the former: the Everlasting.
I will give to him that thirsteth — The Lamb saith the same, Revelation 22:17.
John 13:31-35
Verse 31
[31] Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
Jesus saith — Namely, the next day; on Thursday, in the morning. Here the scene, as it were, is opened, for the discourse which is continued in the following chapters.
Now — While I speak this, the Son of man is glorified - Being fully entered into his glorious work of redemption. This evidently relates to the glory which belongs to his suffering in so holy and victorious a manner.
Verse 33
[33] Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
Ye cannot come — Not yet; being not yet ripe for it. John 7:34.
Verse 34
[34] A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
A new commandment — Not new in itself; but new in the school of Christ: for he had never before taught it them expressly. Likewise new, as to the degree of it, as I have loved you.
The Upper Room Ministries
PO Box 340004
Nashville, Tennessee 37203-0004, United States
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Acts 11:1-18
In my first year of seminary, I was required to take a course affectionately referred to as “Super Bible.” On the academic quarter system of this seminary, all the way from August to May, I would be in this course, taught by two professors, studying the Bible from cover to cover. One of the most difficult aspects of this course, or so I thought, would be the “interview” with these two professors where we reviewed an assigned passage from Scripture. I was assigned chapter 10 of Acts. The interview was not the terrifying experiment in torture and excruciating pain I expected but, instead, a delightful experience forever etched into my heart and mind. These two gifted Bible scholars shared with and coaxed from me the image of a God who is the God of all. I will say that again, God who is the God of all. Say that with me: God who is the God of all. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Let’s see if we are at that point in our lives today.
In today’s passage Peter, the “prince of the disciples,” a Jew among Jews, returns from a visit to those non-Jews who had accepted the word of God. When he arrives in Jerusalem, Peter is called upon to relate his experiences. The Jews in Jerusalem respond negatively, and take a stance that perhaps God does not intend for the message of salvation through Jesus to extend beyond Jewish racial/religious borders. Peter asserts that the visit confirmed for him what all Jews should have known and lived in the first place; God is the Creator of all. God’s question becomes Peter’s question as well: “How can we, as humans, judge any creation of God’s as being ‘profane or unclean’?” While the images on the sheet in Peter’s dream, depicted in Acts 10, were primarily animals, Peter was quick to realize that God used the animals to represent humans, and no human should ever judge another as being “profane or unclean.” Dietary laws, used by the Jews for centuries, had limited their social interaction with others and now threatened relations among Christian believers. The barriers between people had to come down, and God used Peter to begin the destruction of those walls.
As we continue our Easter journey of new life, there can be no greater rebirth than our acceptance of all. We must certainly embrace the view that all human beings are made in the awesome image of God. Here it is, the Easter season of 2016, and we wish we could declare the end of all “isms,” especially racism, but we know this is not yet true. I invite you to look around this room and see all of God’s people present with us. Do we, on this Sunday morning, reflect the whole spectrum of society today? Have we broken down the walls and barriers of race as we know we should? Have we allowed God to open our hearts to lovingly welcome all who come to join us in worship?
Peter shared what he received from God. Peter came to understand that God works in mysterious ways to help change our attitudes and perceptions of others. We cannot do it alone. Peter had been taught that Gentiles were unclean; that to interact with them was unclean. To sit down and eat at the same table with Gentiles was one of the worst things imaginable. It took a visit from God in a vision to change Peter’s perception of the Gentiles. This same God visited the Gentile Cornelius with a vision, calling him to send for Peter. Perhaps both men were frightened; change of habits and customs is frightening. But the obedience of both brought great blessing to the Christian church. Peter called it the blessing of the Holy Spirit coming down as they met together in fellowship; the Holy Spirit coming as God’s gift of strength and comfort for those living the new life in Christ.
On this Sunday, then, we should ask ourselves some questions about our lives. First, are we praying on a regular basis? Peter modeled a life of obedient and willing prayer to God every day, using the model taught him as a child and by the Lord. Second, are we praying in such a way that allows God to speak to us? I don’t need to remind us that prayer is not a dictation to God of our “To Do” lists. It is a regular and integral part of worship. If we are praying on a regular basis, are we obedient when we hear God’s leading or do we stay mired in our destructive ways? Our journey is more fruitful when we are obedient to God. In a couple of Sundays our journey of faith will lead us to the celebration of Pentecost. It is not too early to ask ourselves if we are yet aware of the power of the great gift from God that can still change attitudes, perceptions, and yes, even lives. Let our rejoicing in the God who is the God of all be like the psalmist’s in today’s Psalm 148: “Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven” (vv. 10-13). It is my prayer that your presence in worship today has brought new wisdom, peace, and, as the psalmist says, “joy, the joy that endures”—the joy that helps spread God’s love to those who need it most! Amen.
In my first year of seminary, I was required to take a course affectionately referred to as “Super Bible.” On the academic quarter system of this seminary, all the way from August to May, I would be in this course, taught by two professors, studying the Bible from cover to cover. One of the most difficult aspects of this course, or so I thought, would be the “interview” with these two professors where we reviewed an assigned passage from Scripture. I was assigned chapter 10 of Acts. The interview was not the terrifying experiment in torture and excruciating pain I expected but, instead, a delightful experience forever etched into my heart and mind. These two gifted Bible scholars shared with and coaxed from me the image of a God who is the God of all. I will say that again, God who is the God of all. Say that with me: God who is the God of all. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Let’s see if we are at that point in our lives today.
In today’s passage Peter, the “prince of the disciples,” a Jew among Jews, returns from a visit to those non-Jews who had accepted the word of God. When he arrives in Jerusalem, Peter is called upon to relate his experiences. The Jews in Jerusalem respond negatively, and take a stance that perhaps God does not intend for the message of salvation through Jesus to extend beyond Jewish racial/religious borders. Peter asserts that the visit confirmed for him what all Jews should have known and lived in the first place; God is the Creator of all. God’s question becomes Peter’s question as well: “How can we, as humans, judge any creation of God’s as being ‘profane or unclean’?” While the images on the sheet in Peter’s dream, depicted in Acts 10, were primarily animals, Peter was quick to realize that God used the animals to represent humans, and no human should ever judge another as being “profane or unclean.” Dietary laws, used by the Jews for centuries, had limited their social interaction with others and now threatened relations among Christian believers. The barriers between people had to come down, and God used Peter to begin the destruction of those walls.
As we continue our Easter journey of new life, there can be no greater rebirth than our acceptance of all. We must certainly embrace the view that all human beings are made in the awesome image of God. Here it is, the Easter season of 2016, and we wish we could declare the end of all “isms,” especially racism, but we know this is not yet true. I invite you to look around this room and see all of God’s people present with us. Do we, on this Sunday morning, reflect the whole spectrum of society today? Have we broken down the walls and barriers of race as we know we should? Have we allowed God to open our hearts to lovingly welcome all who come to join us in worship?
Peter shared what he received from God. Peter came to understand that God works in mysterious ways to help change our attitudes and perceptions of others. We cannot do it alone. Peter had been taught that Gentiles were unclean; that to interact with them was unclean. To sit down and eat at the same table with Gentiles was one of the worst things imaginable. It took a visit from God in a vision to change Peter’s perception of the Gentiles. This same God visited the Gentile Cornelius with a vision, calling him to send for Peter. Perhaps both men were frightened; change of habits and customs is frightening. But the obedience of both brought great blessing to the Christian church. Peter called it the blessing of the Holy Spirit coming down as they met together in fellowship; the Holy Spirit coming as God’s gift of strength and comfort for those living the new life in Christ.
On this Sunday, then, we should ask ourselves some questions about our lives. First, are we praying on a regular basis? Peter modeled a life of obedient and willing prayer to God every day, using the model taught him as a child and by the Lord. Second, are we praying in such a way that allows God to speak to us? I don’t need to remind us that prayer is not a dictation to God of our “To Do” lists. It is a regular and integral part of worship. If we are praying on a regular basis, are we obedient when we hear God’s leading or do we stay mired in our destructive ways? Our journey is more fruitful when we are obedient to God. In a couple of Sundays our journey of faith will lead us to the celebration of Pentecost. It is not too early to ask ourselves if we are yet aware of the power of the great gift from God that can still change attitudes, perceptions, and yes, even lives. Let our rejoicing in the God who is the God of all be like the psalmist’s in today’s Psalm 148: “Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven” (vv. 10-13). It is my prayer that your presence in worship today has brought new wisdom, peace, and, as the psalmist says, “joy, the joy that endures”—the joy that helps spread God’s love to those who need it most! Amen.
Fifth Sunday of Easter
COLOR: White
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
THEME IDEAS
These scriptures proclaim both the power of God, who creates all that is, and the love of God for all people. Through a vision, God shows Peter that the Gentiles are to be included in the promises of Jesus Christ. The psalmist calls all creation to praise its creator. In Revelation, we hear that God’s home is among people and we receive the promise that grief will be no more. In John’s Gospel, Jesus
gives his disciples the commandment to love one another.
INVITATION AND GATHERING
Call to Worship (Psalm 148)
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens.
Praise God from the heights!
Praise the Lord, you angels.
Sing praise, you heavenly host!
Praise the Lord, O sun and moon.
Join in song, O shining stars!
Praise the Lord, snow and rain.
Blow loud, wind and storm!
Praise the Lord, O trees.
Dance with joy, O birds!
Praise the Lord, women and men.
Rejoice, children and rulers!
Praise the Lord, weak and strong.
Sing for joy, timid and bold!
Praise the Lord, mothers and aunts.
Give praise, grandfathers and cousins!
Let all creation praise God’s name!
Praise the Lord!
Opening Prayer (Revelation 22, John 13)
Alpha and Omega,
you make your home with us,
you dry our tears and quench our thirst,
you are the tender love
that welcomes all people.
Like a mother,
you nurture your children,
giving them life,
teaching them to love.
Come and dwell among us,
and make all things new. Amen.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Prayer of Confession (Acts 11, John 13)
God of all people,
our hearts are too narrow,
our perspectives are too small.
We reject those who are not like us—
those with different political opinions,
those who struggle with mental illness,
those who disagree with us.
We forget that all are your beloved children,
and neglect your call to love one another.
Forgive us, O God,
for the many ways we have failed
to be a people known by our love.
Show us how to be more caring.
Teach us how to love one another,
and make us faithful disciples. Amen.
Words of Assurance (Acts 11, Revelation 21)
God dwells among us,
giving to all who believe
the repentance that leads to life.
Rejoice in the Lord,
for we are a forgiven people.
Passing the Peace of Christ (Acts 11)
Peter discovered that all are included in God’s welcome. Share this welcome with those around you. May Christ’s peace be with us all.
Response to the Word (Acts 11)
Loving God,
we are often upset
by people who are not like us—
those who think differently,
those who act differently,
those who speak differently.
Our parched hearts are thirsty for your love.
Our dry spirits are thirsty for your waters of life.
Pour your love over us and transform us,
that we may embrace all people as your own. Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Invitation to the Offering (Acts 11, John 13)
God has given us the gift of faith. Through this gift we see all people as God’s children. Respond to God’s generous love, that we may love one another as God has loved us. Let us share this love as we bring our tithes and offerings.
Offering Prayer (John 13)
Loving God,
you have given us the task
to love one another.
May the gifts we offer
bring love and life to others.
May the love we share
bring hope to a world
that has forgotten how to love. Amen.
Invitation to Communion (Acts 11, Revelation 21)
As God revealed to Peter, the table is open to all. Jesus offers gifts of bread and wine to all who believe. When we gather here, we have a glimpse of the holy city, where God is at work making all things new. The one who is the Alpha and the Omega invites us to the banquet.
SENDING FORTH
Benediction (John 13)
Jesus gave a new commandment:
to love one another.
Because Jesus loves us,
we should love one another.
Go forth to serve.
Go forth to love.
We go with God’s love and blessing.
CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS
Contemporary Gathering Words (Psalm 99)
Praise the Lord, all you people!
Praise the Lord, all you men,
women, and children!
Praise the Lord, all you citizens of God!
Praise the Lord, all you young
and old alike!
Praise the Lord, all you creatures!
Praise the Lord, all you sea monsters
and fish of the deep!
Praise the Lord, all you lands!
Praise the Lord, all you mountains,
forests, and meadows!
Let everything that is praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Praise Sentences (Revelation 21)
God is the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end!
God revives us with water from the spring of life.
God makes all things new.
God dwells with us.
Death is no more.
Praise be to God!
COLOR: White
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
THEME IDEAS
These scriptures proclaim both the power of God, who creates all that is, and the love of God for all people. Through a vision, God shows Peter that the Gentiles are to be included in the promises of Jesus Christ. The psalmist calls all creation to praise its creator. In Revelation, we hear that God’s home is among people and we receive the promise that grief will be no more. In John’s Gospel, Jesus
gives his disciples the commandment to love one another.
INVITATION AND GATHERING
Call to Worship (Psalm 148)
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens.
Praise God from the heights!
Praise the Lord, you angels.
Sing praise, you heavenly host!
Praise the Lord, O sun and moon.
Join in song, O shining stars!
Praise the Lord, snow and rain.
Blow loud, wind and storm!
Praise the Lord, O trees.
Dance with joy, O birds!
Praise the Lord, women and men.
Rejoice, children and rulers!
Praise the Lord, weak and strong.
Sing for joy, timid and bold!
Praise the Lord, mothers and aunts.
Give praise, grandfathers and cousins!
Let all creation praise God’s name!
Praise the Lord!
Opening Prayer (Revelation 22, John 13)
Alpha and Omega,
you make your home with us,
you dry our tears and quench our thirst,
you are the tender love
that welcomes all people.
Like a mother,
you nurture your children,
giving them life,
teaching them to love.
Come and dwell among us,
and make all things new. Amen.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Prayer of Confession (Acts 11, John 13)
God of all people,
our hearts are too narrow,
our perspectives are too small.
We reject those who are not like us—
those with different political opinions,
those who struggle with mental illness,
those who disagree with us.
We forget that all are your beloved children,
and neglect your call to love one another.
Forgive us, O God,
for the many ways we have failed
to be a people known by our love.
Show us how to be more caring.
Teach us how to love one another,
and make us faithful disciples. Amen.
Words of Assurance (Acts 11, Revelation 21)
God dwells among us,
giving to all who believe
the repentance that leads to life.
Rejoice in the Lord,
for we are a forgiven people.
Passing the Peace of Christ (Acts 11)
Peter discovered that all are included in God’s welcome. Share this welcome with those around you. May Christ’s peace be with us all.
Response to the Word (Acts 11)
Loving God,
we are often upset
by people who are not like us—
those who think differently,
those who act differently,
those who speak differently.
Our parched hearts are thirsty for your love.
Our dry spirits are thirsty for your waters of life.
Pour your love over us and transform us,
that we may embrace all people as your own. Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Invitation to the Offering (Acts 11, John 13)
God has given us the gift of faith. Through this gift we see all people as God’s children. Respond to God’s generous love, that we may love one another as God has loved us. Let us share this love as we bring our tithes and offerings.
Offering Prayer (John 13)
Loving God,
you have given us the task
to love one another.
May the gifts we offer
bring love and life to others.
May the love we share
bring hope to a world
that has forgotten how to love. Amen.
Invitation to Communion (Acts 11, Revelation 21)
As God revealed to Peter, the table is open to all. Jesus offers gifts of bread and wine to all who believe. When we gather here, we have a glimpse of the holy city, where God is at work making all things new. The one who is the Alpha and the Omega invites us to the banquet.
SENDING FORTH
Benediction (John 13)
Jesus gave a new commandment:
to love one another.
Because Jesus loves us,
we should love one another.
Go forth to serve.
Go forth to love.
We go with God’s love and blessing.
CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS
Contemporary Gathering Words (Psalm 99)
Praise the Lord, all you people!
Praise the Lord, all you men,
women, and children!
Praise the Lord, all you citizens of God!
Praise the Lord, all you young
and old alike!
Praise the Lord, all you creatures!
Praise the Lord, all you sea monsters
and fish of the deep!
Praise the Lord, all you lands!
Praise the Lord, all you mountains,
forests, and meadows!
Let everything that is praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!
Praise Sentences (Revelation 21)
God is the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end!
God revives us with water from the spring of life.
God makes all things new.
God dwells with us.
Death is no more.
Praise be to God!
WORSHIP CONNECTION: APRIL 24, 2016 by Nancy C. Townley
Fifth Sunday of Easter
COLOR: White
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
CALLS TO WORSHIP
Call to Worship #1:
L: Let praise to God resound in the heavens!
P: Let praise to God fill the earth!
L: Let all God’s angels offer praise and rejoicing!
P: Let all God’s creatures sing praise and joy!
L: Open your hearts and spirits today.
P: Let us praise the Lord today and always! AMEN.
Call to Worship #2:
L: How wondrous! A new heaven and a new earth!
P: The old, bruised and angered, fearful and alienated, will pass away
L: In its place God will offer new hope and peace
P: God will dwell with God’s people forevermore.
L: Worship the Lord who is about to do a new thing.
P: Praise God who establishes God’s reign in the heart of God’s people. AMEN.
Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2284, “Joy in the Morning”, offer the following call to worship as directed]
[Note: this is a fun song, and should be sung with an rousing beat. Don’t drag it. Use percussion instruments, notably tambourines, if you have them. Make sure this is sung enthusiastically!]
Choir and instrumentalists: begin by playing the song through once; then choir sing verse one, soloist or small ensemble sing verse two, choir sing verse three]
L: When the new day of the Lord is established, what a joyful day that will be!
P: God shall wipe away every tear!
L: Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.
P: For God will bring new life and hope to all on the day of God’s coming.
L: God will give water to the thirsting soul.
P: God will pour God’s abundant blessings on all the people. AMEN.
Call to Worship #4:
L: Jesus reminded the disciples
P: Love one another as I have loved you.
L: Jesus taught and witnessed to God’s love
P: Love one another as I have loved you.
L: Jesus encourages us to love each other with tenderness, compassion, and hope.
P: Let us love one another as Christ loved us. AMEN.
PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION
Opening Prayer:
Gracious and Loving God, we are grateful that you have called us together this day, drawing us from darkness to the glory of your light. May our spirits rejoice at the good news you have for us today. Open our hearts to your healing love, for we ask this in Christ’s Name. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession:
Patient God, sometimes we are just too busy for our own good. We pledge ourselves to hectic schedules, demands on time, energy, and resources that erode all too quickly. We seem to be rushing through life. The cries of those in need often go unheeded in our blur of activities which sap our energy, our resources, our spirits. Slow us down a bit, Lord. Remind us again that we are responsible for the care of this world, for reaching out and offering your healing love. Help us to hear the words of patient love that you have for us. Remind us again of Jesus’ words to his disciples when he told them that they should love one another as he loved them. May we take time to bear witness to that love in all that we do. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
Words of Assurance:
Wherever you are, Christ is with you. You are beloved of God and God’s care will always surround you. Be at peace and rejoice! AMEN.
Pastoral Prayer:
When the news is loudly proclaiming anger, hostility, hatred, we are called by Christ to love one another. How hard that is, O Lord! Prejudice abounds in our land, and it is our shame, as we proclaim our faith in you. You call us to love one another, but we put conditions on that love: some of these conditions regard race, economic status, gender, age, nationality. It is easy to love people with whom we feel comfortable. It is more difficult to love those who are different from us. And that, O Lord, is our dilemma. Teach us how to love and accept the diversity in our land. Help us to treasure each other for the wondrous gifts and talents each person has. Sharpen our ears to hear words of love when whispered and shouted. Tune our hearts to your healing message of acceptance and compassion for all. Help us to be the people of the Resurrection - who have been freed from the bonds of death. We place our lives in your care, merciful Lord. AMEN.
Litany/Reading:
Reader 1: (to Reader 2) Look at all these people!
Reader 2: I’m looking (glances around the room)
Reader 1: What do you see?
Reader 2: People. All kinds of people.
Reader 1: What else do you see?
Reader 2: Some people are smiling. Hey, somebody just yawned! Looks like someone else is dozing off. Somebody’s got something else on their mind.
Reader 1: What else do you see?
Reader 2: Well, I see people who have come here to worship.
Reader 1: And…
Reader 2: I see people who seem to be waiting for something
Reader 1: All of us are waiting for something. Sometimes waiting is lonely; sometimes we wait in groups. These people are here waiting for God’s word for them. Some of them will hear it clearly; but for others it won’t be quite so evident.
Reader 2: Jesus’ disciples were always waiting for a word, weren’t they!
Reader 1: Yes. The word of the Resurrection came as a surprise; the words about discipleship, you know “feed my sheep”, came as a challenge; now Jesus offers the word of love as a commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.
Reader 2: That’s true, but it’s not easy.
Reader 1: You’re right. It is not easy. That’s why we are here: to discover how to love one another with compassion, peace, and forgiveness. That’s what God wants us to do…to take care of each other; to listen, to be present, to help where we can.
Reader 2: Sounds good to me. I’m glad I’m here today, with this group of seekers. I’m not so alone. Thanks.
Benediction:
May the love of God which was lavished upon you by Jesus Christ be in your hearts, your minds, and your spirits as you go forth into God’s world. Be bearers of peace and hope to all you meet, and may God’s peace be with you always.AMEN.
ARTISTIC ELEMENTS
The suggested color for this Sunday is WHITE or GOLD. However, I recommend using a medium green color as foundation for the worship setting.
Author's note:
The focus I have chosen for this day is love for others as demonstrated in the grouping of candles, representing other people, and the ethnic fabrics which remind us that we are a global community of faith. If you are using ethnic fabric, put a note in your weekly bulletin describing the origin of the fabric. You may want to make a statement about loving people all over the world, not just those near and dear to us.
Surface:
Place several risers on the main worship center. The tallest riser should be at the center back. You may use this either for a cross or a pillar candle. Other risers may be scattered around the worship center. Place a riser in front of the worship center.
Fabric:
Cover the entire worship center in the green fabric, making sure that it covers the riser in front of the worship center. On the top of each riser, place a piece of fabric about 16” square - this fabric should be brightly colored and some of the pieces may be Kente cloth, or other ethnic cloth pieces, such as sari material.
Candles:
Using votive candles, place a group of five candles on each riser. These candles will represent the world’s people whom we are called to love.
Flowers/Foliage:
Use a minimum of green plants, such as ivy or other leafy plants, on either side of the cross/candle riser in the center of the worship center. You may use potted plants near the base of the worship center to soften the look.
Rocks/Wood:
Some small rocks may be used near the candles to create texture.
WORSHIP FOR KIDS: APRIL 24, 2016 by Carolyn C. Brown
COLOR: White
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
CALLS TO WORSHIP
Call to Worship #1:
L: Let praise to God resound in the heavens!
P: Let praise to God fill the earth!
L: Let all God’s angels offer praise and rejoicing!
P: Let all God’s creatures sing praise and joy!
L: Open your hearts and spirits today.
P: Let us praise the Lord today and always! AMEN.
Call to Worship #2:
L: How wondrous! A new heaven and a new earth!
P: The old, bruised and angered, fearful and alienated, will pass away
L: In its place God will offer new hope and peace
P: God will dwell with God’s people forevermore.
L: Worship the Lord who is about to do a new thing.
P: Praise God who establishes God’s reign in the heart of God’s people. AMEN.
Call to Worship #3:
[Using THE FAITH WE SING, p. 2284, “Joy in the Morning”, offer the following call to worship as directed]
[Note: this is a fun song, and should be sung with an rousing beat. Don’t drag it. Use percussion instruments, notably tambourines, if you have them. Make sure this is sung enthusiastically!]
Choir and instrumentalists: begin by playing the song through once; then choir sing verse one, soloist or small ensemble sing verse two, choir sing verse three]
L: When the new day of the Lord is established, what a joyful day that will be!
P: God shall wipe away every tear!
L: Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.
P: For God will bring new life and hope to all on the day of God’s coming.
L: God will give water to the thirsting soul.
P: God will pour God’s abundant blessings on all the people. AMEN.
Call to Worship #4:
L: Jesus reminded the disciples
P: Love one another as I have loved you.
L: Jesus taught and witnessed to God’s love
P: Love one another as I have loved you.
L: Jesus encourages us to love each other with tenderness, compassion, and hope.
P: Let us love one another as Christ loved us. AMEN.
PRAYERS, LITANY/READING, BENEDICTION
Opening Prayer:
Gracious and Loving God, we are grateful that you have called us together this day, drawing us from darkness to the glory of your light. May our spirits rejoice at the good news you have for us today. Open our hearts to your healing love, for we ask this in Christ’s Name. AMEN.
Prayer of Confession:
Patient God, sometimes we are just too busy for our own good. We pledge ourselves to hectic schedules, demands on time, energy, and resources that erode all too quickly. We seem to be rushing through life. The cries of those in need often go unheeded in our blur of activities which sap our energy, our resources, our spirits. Slow us down a bit, Lord. Remind us again that we are responsible for the care of this world, for reaching out and offering your healing love. Help us to hear the words of patient love that you have for us. Remind us again of Jesus’ words to his disciples when he told them that they should love one another as he loved them. May we take time to bear witness to that love in all that we do. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN
Words of Assurance:
Wherever you are, Christ is with you. You are beloved of God and God’s care will always surround you. Be at peace and rejoice! AMEN.
Pastoral Prayer:
When the news is loudly proclaiming anger, hostility, hatred, we are called by Christ to love one another. How hard that is, O Lord! Prejudice abounds in our land, and it is our shame, as we proclaim our faith in you. You call us to love one another, but we put conditions on that love: some of these conditions regard race, economic status, gender, age, nationality. It is easy to love people with whom we feel comfortable. It is more difficult to love those who are different from us. And that, O Lord, is our dilemma. Teach us how to love and accept the diversity in our land. Help us to treasure each other for the wondrous gifts and talents each person has. Sharpen our ears to hear words of love when whispered and shouted. Tune our hearts to your healing message of acceptance and compassion for all. Help us to be the people of the Resurrection - who have been freed from the bonds of death. We place our lives in your care, merciful Lord. AMEN.
Litany/Reading:
Reader 1: (to Reader 2) Look at all these people!
Reader 2: I’m looking (glances around the room)
Reader 1: What do you see?
Reader 2: People. All kinds of people.
Reader 1: What else do you see?
Reader 2: Some people are smiling. Hey, somebody just yawned! Looks like someone else is dozing off. Somebody’s got something else on their mind.
Reader 1: What else do you see?
Reader 2: Well, I see people who have come here to worship.
Reader 1: And…
Reader 2: I see people who seem to be waiting for something
Reader 1: All of us are waiting for something. Sometimes waiting is lonely; sometimes we wait in groups. These people are here waiting for God’s word for them. Some of them will hear it clearly; but for others it won’t be quite so evident.
Reader 2: Jesus’ disciples were always waiting for a word, weren’t they!
Reader 1: Yes. The word of the Resurrection came as a surprise; the words about discipleship, you know “feed my sheep”, came as a challenge; now Jesus offers the word of love as a commandment. Love one another as I have loved you.
Reader 2: That’s true, but it’s not easy.
Reader 1: You’re right. It is not easy. That’s why we are here: to discover how to love one another with compassion, peace, and forgiveness. That’s what God wants us to do…to take care of each other; to listen, to be present, to help where we can.
Reader 2: Sounds good to me. I’m glad I’m here today, with this group of seekers. I’m not so alone. Thanks.
Benediction:
May the love of God which was lavished upon you by Jesus Christ be in your hearts, your minds, and your spirits as you go forth into God’s world. Be bearers of peace and hope to all you meet, and may God’s peace be with you always.AMEN.
ARTISTIC ELEMENTS
The suggested color for this Sunday is WHITE or GOLD. However, I recommend using a medium green color as foundation for the worship setting.
Author's note:
The focus I have chosen for this day is love for others as demonstrated in the grouping of candles, representing other people, and the ethnic fabrics which remind us that we are a global community of faith. If you are using ethnic fabric, put a note in your weekly bulletin describing the origin of the fabric. You may want to make a statement about loving people all over the world, not just those near and dear to us.
Surface:
Place several risers on the main worship center. The tallest riser should be at the center back. You may use this either for a cross or a pillar candle. Other risers may be scattered around the worship center. Place a riser in front of the worship center.
Fabric:
Cover the entire worship center in the green fabric, making sure that it covers the riser in front of the worship center. On the top of each riser, place a piece of fabric about 16” square - this fabric should be brightly colored and some of the pieces may be Kente cloth, or other ethnic cloth pieces, such as sari material.
Candles:
Using votive candles, place a group of five candles on each riser. These candles will represent the world’s people whom we are called to love.
Flowers/Foliage:
Use a minimum of green plants, such as ivy or other leafy plants, on either side of the cross/candle riser in the center of the worship center. You may use potted plants near the base of the worship center to soften the look.
Rocks/Wood:
Some small rocks may be used near the candles to create texture.
WORSHIP FOR KIDS: APRIL 24, 2016 by Carolyn C. Brown
From a Child's Point of View
Gospel: John 13:31-35. Knowledge of the context is key to appreciating this text fully. The disciples and Jesus were gathered in the upper room to celebrate Passover. Judas had just left to betray Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus announced his death and gave the remaining disciples a new commandment. They were to love one another as God/Jesus had loved them (all the way to the cross).
John's intricate, abstract words in verses 31-33 will make little sense to children. But the new command in verses 34-35 is plain. And when it is set in context, children can understand that the kind of love Jesus is talking about is not a happy feeling, but a way of treating people. Loving as Jesus loved means putting ourselves on the line for others. Jesus insists that Christians will be recognized by the loving way they treat others.
Acts 11:1-18. The story of Peter and Cornelius is an example of the love Jesus commanded. Children need to be told before the story is read that Peter's people, the Jews, hated Cornelius' people, the Gentiles. They would not eat with them and claimed that God did not intend for people to eat some of the foods the Gentiles ate. It helps to compare Peter's feelings about the Gentiles with feelings held against some groups today (maybe migrant workers, homeless people, or certain kids at school). Children then appreciate how hard it was for Peter to visit (and presumably eat) in Cornelius' home, and then to baptize him and his Gentile friends. The point of the story on the Fifth Sunday of Easter is that Easter people are called to treat with love all the people they meet (even the ones they do not like or want to be around).
Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6. The Revelation code images in this text, such as "a city dressed as a bride coming down from heaven" and "water from the fountain of life" are too much for children to translate. However, the message from "the one who sits on the throne" is simple. A time is coming when God will live with people and take such care of them that there will be no more tears, and every need will be met.
Psalm: Psalm 148. This happy praise psalm is read also on the First Sunday After Christmas each year. Find comments on children's understanding of Psalm 148 in the section for those Sunday.
Watch Words
In speaking of God's loving care, avoid providence. Those children who recognize the word probably would identify it as the capital of Rhode Island. So talk in specific terms about God's loving care.
For children, Gentiles are a group of people Jews and the first Christians, who were Jewish, did not like. Jews did not want to live near the Gentiles, would not eat with them, and would not let them come into the main worship room of a synagogue.
Let the Children Sing
To commit yourself to keeping Jesus' new command, sing "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love" or "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian."
"All Creatures of Our God and King" parallels the praises of Psalm 148 and invites worshipers to keep the Easter Alleluias going. "Come, Christians, Join to Sing" is another Easter season hymn with lots of Alleluias.
The Liturgical Child
1. In introducing Revelation 21:1-6, remind worshipers of the identity of "the one who sits on the throne" in the Revelation code, and alert them to listen carefully to everything "the one who sits on the throne" says. Raise one hand, with your index finger pointed up (the teaching pose in early Christian art), while reading each of the messages. This will help children hear the straightforward message of the passage without tripping on all the poetic images that surround the message from "the one who sits on the throne."
2. To create a litany prayer of confession, one person or group recites, "Jesus commanded `Love one another even as I have loved you,' " to which a second person or group replies with prayers that confess the ways we fail to love as Jesus commanded. Include confessions of our failures to love within families, among friends, and especially in relating to people we do not like. Confess communal as well as personal failures to love. In the assurance of pardon, remind worshipers that Jesus loves and forgives us always.
3. If you celebrate communion today, point out that Jesus invites all people to eat and drink together at this table. As part of the "Invitation to the Table," name some of the groups that even children know are looked down on in your community as brothers and sisters who are welcome at this table.
Sermon Resources
1. Begin to explore God's promises in Revelation 21 by listing things that make us cry. Babies cry when they are wet, hungry, lonely, hurt, angry, and any other time they do not have what they want or need. Young children cry less frequently than babies: when they are hurt (but they can be brave about small hurts); when they become really angry (throw a temper tantrum); and when they see something sad. Teenagers are more likely to cry because of hurt feelings. Grown-ups cry when very sad things happen to them or to people they love. We all tend to cry at funerals and when good friends move away. Teenagers and grown-ups cry at movies. Some people even cry when they are very, very happy (but these are not the tears we are thinking about today). Describing all these tear-producing situations can set the stage for thinking about ways to love those who are in tears and for recalling God's promise that one day there will be no more tears.
2. Ask how many people still have their Easter tokens. Recall previously made points about what it means to be Easter People. Then present Jesus' new command as the identifying mark of the Easter People. Scouts, sports teams, and even schools have badges and uniforms that identify their members. Christians do not have a badge or uniform. They are to act with such love that people around them will recognize them as Christians. Suggest that the worshipers carry their tokens with them this week as a hidden reminder that their actions should be so loving that others will know they are Easter People.
3. Michele Maria Surat's book Angel Child, Dragon Child is both a children's modern parallel of the story of Peter and Cornlius and an example of the love Jesus commanded. It describes the misery of a young Vietnamese refugee girl, Ut, who tries to adapt to her new country while missing her mother who had to stay behind. When the school principal insists that she and Rymond, who has been bullying her, together write the story of her life, the door to understanding opens. Raymond is then instrumental in starting a carnival to raise money for Ut's mother. The book, available in most children's libraries, can be read by an adult in five minutes. Retell it as a sermon illustration.
As children leave the sanctuary, take time to read and talk briefly about the calls to praise they have written on their Worship Worksheets. When you pay attention to their work, it tells children you value their presence in worship and that a Worship Worksheet is one way they participate in worship.
Gospel: John 13:31-35. Knowledge of the context is key to appreciating this text fully. The disciples and Jesus were gathered in the upper room to celebrate Passover. Judas had just left to betray Jesus. Knowing this, Jesus announced his death and gave the remaining disciples a new commandment. They were to love one another as God/Jesus had loved them (all the way to the cross).
John's intricate, abstract words in verses 31-33 will make little sense to children. But the new command in verses 34-35 is plain. And when it is set in context, children can understand that the kind of love Jesus is talking about is not a happy feeling, but a way of treating people. Loving as Jesus loved means putting ourselves on the line for others. Jesus insists that Christians will be recognized by the loving way they treat others.
Acts 11:1-18. The story of Peter and Cornelius is an example of the love Jesus commanded. Children need to be told before the story is read that Peter's people, the Jews, hated Cornelius' people, the Gentiles. They would not eat with them and claimed that God did not intend for people to eat some of the foods the Gentiles ate. It helps to compare Peter's feelings about the Gentiles with feelings held against some groups today (maybe migrant workers, homeless people, or certain kids at school). Children then appreciate how hard it was for Peter to visit (and presumably eat) in Cornelius' home, and then to baptize him and his Gentile friends. The point of the story on the Fifth Sunday of Easter is that Easter people are called to treat with love all the people they meet (even the ones they do not like or want to be around).
Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6. The Revelation code images in this text, such as "a city dressed as a bride coming down from heaven" and "water from the fountain of life" are too much for children to translate. However, the message from "the one who sits on the throne" is simple. A time is coming when God will live with people and take such care of them that there will be no more tears, and every need will be met.
Psalm: Psalm 148. This happy praise psalm is read also on the First Sunday After Christmas each year. Find comments on children's understanding of Psalm 148 in the section for those Sunday.
Watch Words
In speaking of God's loving care, avoid providence. Those children who recognize the word probably would identify it as the capital of Rhode Island. So talk in specific terms about God's loving care.
For children, Gentiles are a group of people Jews and the first Christians, who were Jewish, did not like. Jews did not want to live near the Gentiles, would not eat with them, and would not let them come into the main worship room of a synagogue.
Let the Children Sing
To commit yourself to keeping Jesus' new command, sing "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love" or "Lord, I Want to Be a Christian."
"All Creatures of Our God and King" parallels the praises of Psalm 148 and invites worshipers to keep the Easter Alleluias going. "Come, Christians, Join to Sing" is another Easter season hymn with lots of Alleluias.
The Liturgical Child
1. In introducing Revelation 21:1-6, remind worshipers of the identity of "the one who sits on the throne" in the Revelation code, and alert them to listen carefully to everything "the one who sits on the throne" says. Raise one hand, with your index finger pointed up (the teaching pose in early Christian art), while reading each of the messages. This will help children hear the straightforward message of the passage without tripping on all the poetic images that surround the message from "the one who sits on the throne."
2. To create a litany prayer of confession, one person or group recites, "Jesus commanded `Love one another even as I have loved you,' " to which a second person or group replies with prayers that confess the ways we fail to love as Jesus commanded. Include confessions of our failures to love within families, among friends, and especially in relating to people we do not like. Confess communal as well as personal failures to love. In the assurance of pardon, remind worshipers that Jesus loves and forgives us always.
3. If you celebrate communion today, point out that Jesus invites all people to eat and drink together at this table. As part of the "Invitation to the Table," name some of the groups that even children know are looked down on in your community as brothers and sisters who are welcome at this table.
Sermon Resources
1. Begin to explore God's promises in Revelation 21 by listing things that make us cry. Babies cry when they are wet, hungry, lonely, hurt, angry, and any other time they do not have what they want or need. Young children cry less frequently than babies: when they are hurt (but they can be brave about small hurts); when they become really angry (throw a temper tantrum); and when they see something sad. Teenagers are more likely to cry because of hurt feelings. Grown-ups cry when very sad things happen to them or to people they love. We all tend to cry at funerals and when good friends move away. Teenagers and grown-ups cry at movies. Some people even cry when they are very, very happy (but these are not the tears we are thinking about today). Describing all these tear-producing situations can set the stage for thinking about ways to love those who are in tears and for recalling God's promise that one day there will be no more tears.
2. Ask how many people still have their Easter tokens. Recall previously made points about what it means to be Easter People. Then present Jesus' new command as the identifying mark of the Easter People. Scouts, sports teams, and even schools have badges and uniforms that identify their members. Christians do not have a badge or uniform. They are to act with such love that people around them will recognize them as Christians. Suggest that the worshipers carry their tokens with them this week as a hidden reminder that their actions should be so loving that others will know they are Easter People.
3. Michele Maria Surat's book Angel Child, Dragon Child is both a children's modern parallel of the story of Peter and Cornlius and an example of the love Jesus commanded. It describes the misery of a young Vietnamese refugee girl, Ut, who tries to adapt to her new country while missing her mother who had to stay behind. When the school principal insists that she and Rymond, who has been bullying her, together write the story of her life, the door to understanding opens. Raymond is then instrumental in starting a carnival to raise money for Ut's mother. The book, available in most children's libraries, can be read by an adult in five minutes. Retell it as a sermon illustration.
As children leave the sanctuary, take time to read and talk briefly about the calls to praise they have written on their Worship Worksheets. When you pay attention to their work, it tells children you value their presence in worship and that a Worship Worksheet is one way they participate in worship.
SERMON OPTIONS: APRIL 24, 2016
OVERCOMING BARRIERS
ACTS 11:1-18
Part of the gospel's resurrection message is the breaking down of human prejudices and barriers that separate humanity. All have sinned according to God's Word, and all who receive the grace of God are assured the hope of eternal life promised through the resurrection of Christ. Some would be willing to give salvation to any and all people, but hold back certain privileges in the kingdom to those they do not deem worthy to receive them. This text is another example of Scripture confronting our Christian or religious bigotry.
I. Caught in the Tradition
The brothers were angry at Peter because he broke the tradition of not associating with the Gentiles. Peter's own prejudice in this area would be tested later, but here he had to defend his actions as being directed from God. Here is the hard part of this story. Many times God's desires have little to do with our traditions. We work to preserve traditions out of respect for our ancestry and to firmly establish our identity.
Meanwhile, God is working to do a new thing in our midst. He desires to break the previously held notions and humanly imposed limitations. Although we resist the very concept of change, God is moving to change our identity, to make us look different in comparison to previous generations and more like him. In short, when we work to preserve our identity and history, we could be working against what God is doing in our lives.
II. Choosing to Move God's Way
As usual, God uses things we can understand to explain things we cannot grasp. Peter is given a vision of impure food and directed by God to eat it. The issue was not food, it was the preservation of a tradition that excluded some from kingdom privileges. Peter is confident of his righteousness in this regard, for nothing unclean ever entered his mouth (forgetting that his Lord taught that it was what came out of a man's mouth that defiled him).
God will clean whatever vessel he chooses. Not only can God use Gentiles, he can and will also clean Peter up spiritually to be used for the kingdom. Peter must be cleansed of this bigotry that makes him choose his way over God's command. It seems God has this notion that he is God and can expect obedience from his servants, even to step over their tradition. God corrects Peter's self-justification and makes it clear that obedience is better than following the routine of religion.
Moreover, Peter is not left to simply agree with the proposition that human-imposed barriers in the kingdom are wrong and must be destroyed. No, Peter is confronted with his personal prejudice and must apply the principle to his actions. His speech alone will not suffice here, he must be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. God places a task in front of him that he can handle. Peter can choose obedience in this instance.
God has not changed. He is looking to destroy the humanly imposed barriers that segment the body of Christ. He will challenge us where we live, to move past our human traditions, and to be transformed into what he has created us to be. His body operates with Christ at the head and all parts are to conform in obedience without fragmentation. (Joseph Byrd )
A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN
REVELATION 21:1-6
Every now and then you hear some well-meaning soul say something like this: "Even if there were no life after death, even if God doesn't exist, living the Christian life on earth would still be worth it all." This seemingly noble sentiment is a feeble effort to remind us that the Christian life does make a difference here and now. But it is precisely because of our eternal hope that the sufferings of the present life pale by comparison to the full manifestation of God that shall be revealed in us. Easter was only a month ago and already we need to be reminded.
I. God Is Doing a New Thing
That phrase comes from the lyrics of the Christian rap group, dc Talk. John's vision of the a new heaven and a new earth is a reminder of God's new thing agenda. The temporal order of the first heaven and earth is transitory. Mere physical existence is but a vapor. And it is a poor substitute for life. Jesus said that he came that we might have a full life—not mere subsistence existence.
In the Hebrew mind the sea was to be feared. It was the insurmountable boundary. John's vision is of a new order where there are no longer any boundaries. In that new order we shall know with the same depth and clarity by which we are known by God.
II. Heaven Is a Place
Looking toward the cross Jesus told his disciples, "I am going to prepare a place for you." Heaven is that prepared place for a prepared people. The people of God are called the bride of Christ. Our eternal abode is a fantastic union of humankind in the power and presence of God. Heaven is a wonderful place of no more—the list of human ills and the pangs and pathos of existence is seemingly endless. Yet heaven is a place where God says "no more" to death, mourning, crying, or pain. The old cycle of birth, life, and death is displaced by God's new order. Heaven is a place where the new has come.
III. The New Has Come
How many new year's resolutions do you remember? How many have you kept? You may be thinking, "Preacher, you are crazy. We just had Easter, not Christmas!" The sad reality is that it takes more than good intentions and the turning of the pages of the calendar to make a new start. We enter a new year with the old self and soon fall back into our familiar rut. But, as Paul Harvey says, "Now, for the rest of the story."
I saw a button some years ago with the letters "P B P G I N F W M Y" which stood for the phrase, "Please be patient God is not finished with me yet." I hope all of us are a work in progress, a Christian under construction. There is coming a day when God's construction project will be complete and the new will stand fulfilled. John says in that day the old order has ceased to be and the new has now come to fruition.
In the meantime, we live in the light of our ultimate destiny. Free from the fear of death we can now embrace life to the fullest. A new Christian once began reading his Bible but like many, became impatient with the gradual unfolding of redemption's story. So he turned to the last chapters of Revelation and said, with a sigh, "In the end, God wins." This is why Christians face death differently from non-Christians. We do grieve but not with the hopeless and helpless grief of the world. We know that our good-byes are not final, they are only "until then."
It was the doctrine of the resurrection and the eternal hope it gives that enlivened the early church. Paul said, "if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" ( 1 Cor. 15:13 NIV). However, because of his confidence in the resurrection power of God, he concluded this wonderful chapter of hope with "Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58) . (L. Joseph Rosas, III)
THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT
JOHN 13:31-35
It is the last night before Jesus goes to Calvary. One of his disciples, Judas, has just left to put the wheels of betrayal in motion and Jesus remains with the other eleven. It will be his last night with them. What does he want to say to them during these last few precious moments?
First, he tells them that he has glorified God and is about to be glorified by God. Then he tells them that he must go on a journey and that they will not be able to go with him. He must make this journey alone. But before he leaves them, he must give them something that will serve to guide them on their own subsequent journeys—a new commandment!
That's right. Jesus, on the last night of his life, gave the disciples a new commandment to be honored and kept. The giving of this commandment was made even more important by the fact that it is one of the last teachings Jesus gave them. And what is that new commandment? Three simple words: Love one another (John 13:34) .
I. The Significance of the New Commandment
What is the significance of Jesus giving a new commandment? The significance is found in Jewish history. For it was at the very beginning of the Jewish nation that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments were to serve as the foundation for all the other laws and regulations given to Israel. And Moses was given one of the highest places in Jewish history because he became known as "the lawgiver." When Jesus, then, proceeds to give a "new commandment," he is placing himself above Moses, as the new lawgiver. In effect, his new commandment becomes the Eleventh Commandment!
In a comparison of the events surrounding the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exod. 19–20; Deut. 5) and the Eleventh Commandment (John 13:31-35), a few interesting things should be noticed. First, the Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses (Israel's leader). The Eleventh Commandment was given by Jesus (God in the flesh) to the disciples (the movement's soon-to-be leaders).
Second, God's promise to the nation of Israel was that if they faithfully kept these commandments God would treasure them as his nation and they would become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:5-6). Jesus' promise to the disciples was that if they faithfully kept this commandment, all people would know that they were his disciples ( John 13:35) .
Third, the Israelites' response was to become impatient and frustrated and to make another god (Exod. 32). The disciples' response was to get sidetracked and miss the point. Peter focused, not on the giving of the new commandment, but on the earlier statement about Jesus going on a journey that they could not follow (John 13:36-37).
II. The Church Has Become Sidetracked Through the Ages
This same response, that of getting sidetracked, has become a recurring pattern for the Christian Church throughout the ages. How many times have Christians fought Christians down through history? Killed Christians? Burned, starved, hunted, tortured, and mutilated Christians? What do people in the community think of our church as a family of God? Do they see us, as a congregation and as individuals, living out the Eleventh Commandment?
The Jews lived and died by the Ten Commandments. Why don't Christians live and die by the Eleventh Commandment? Is it any less binding? Is it any less important? Remember, it was given by God through Christ and it was to be the sign to the world that Christians were God's people and the people of his kingdom.
III. We Can Live the Eleventh Commandment
"Love one another." These are the simple and brief words of Jesus that make up the Eleventh Commandment. And just as simple and brief are Jesus' instructions on how to carry it out in our lives. Jesus said: "As I have loved you, you also should love one another" ( John 13:34) . In other words, Jesus tells the disciples, "Just do as I did to you."
But note that the focus is on disciples loving disciples, on Christians loving Christians, not Christians loving the world in general. This is not a general call to love everyone but a more basic step. After all, a church cannot effectively reach out with the gospel for very long if its members don't love one another first.
How did Jesus love the disciples? Jesus loved the disciples in at least three ways.
Sacrifice: Jesus loved the disciples by making sacrifices for them. He sacrificed his time, his energy, his emotions, his schedule, his family, his privacy, even his life. If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to make sacrifices for one another.
In order to love one another we will have to sacrifice our time, energy, emotions, schedules, families, privacy, maybe even our lives for one another. These sacrifices may need to be made in order to visit the sick or hurting, help others with a problem, or responding when called on in an emergency. Remember, this call to love one another and therefore call to sacrifice for one another is for all disciples, not just the ministers.
Share: Jesus loved the disciples by sharing himself with them. He listened to their fears, he cried in their pain, he laughed in their joy. He prayed with them and for them. He gently showed them their sin and helped them onto the right path. Jesus shared who he was with them. He opened himself up to them.
If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to share ourselves with one another. In order to love one another, we will have to share others' pain and laughter, gently point out faults and then forgive, seek forgiveness when wrong, and open up ourselves to others. In other words, we need to be genuine and real with others, not phony.
This sharing may be required when comforting the bereaved, celebrating another's achievement, confessing a specific sin and asking for forgiveness, or privately going to another to express concerns about the way they are living.
Serve: Jesus loved the disciples by serving them. He called them to follow him, became their master and teacher, and then proceeded to serve them. Earlier in chapter 13 the Son of God was washing the disciples' feet!
If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to serve one another. That means no matter who you are in the church, you are never too good or too mighty, too important or too wealthy or too educated, too old or too young to serve anyone else in the church. If the Son of God can serve men and women of all kinds then so can you.
How do we love one another as Jesus loved? We sacrifice for one another, share ourselves with one another, and serve one another. Are the situations different in our times? Maybe in the details and the names, but not in general. Are there disciples who need to be sacrificed for? Are there disciples who need someone to share their burden? Are there disciples who need to be served? If yes, then there are opportunities for you and me to love one another. Trust yourselves and your instincts to do the right thing. God has been with you: teaching, guiding, loving, encouraging—now go and love one another. (Michael M. Jones)
Ministry Matters
2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
ACTS 11:1-18
Part of the gospel's resurrection message is the breaking down of human prejudices and barriers that separate humanity. All have sinned according to God's Word, and all who receive the grace of God are assured the hope of eternal life promised through the resurrection of Christ. Some would be willing to give salvation to any and all people, but hold back certain privileges in the kingdom to those they do not deem worthy to receive them. This text is another example of Scripture confronting our Christian or religious bigotry.
I. Caught in the Tradition
The brothers were angry at Peter because he broke the tradition of not associating with the Gentiles. Peter's own prejudice in this area would be tested later, but here he had to defend his actions as being directed from God. Here is the hard part of this story. Many times God's desires have little to do with our traditions. We work to preserve traditions out of respect for our ancestry and to firmly establish our identity.
Meanwhile, God is working to do a new thing in our midst. He desires to break the previously held notions and humanly imposed limitations. Although we resist the very concept of change, God is moving to change our identity, to make us look different in comparison to previous generations and more like him. In short, when we work to preserve our identity and history, we could be working against what God is doing in our lives.
II. Choosing to Move God's Way
As usual, God uses things we can understand to explain things we cannot grasp. Peter is given a vision of impure food and directed by God to eat it. The issue was not food, it was the preservation of a tradition that excluded some from kingdom privileges. Peter is confident of his righteousness in this regard, for nothing unclean ever entered his mouth (forgetting that his Lord taught that it was what came out of a man's mouth that defiled him).
God will clean whatever vessel he chooses. Not only can God use Gentiles, he can and will also clean Peter up spiritually to be used for the kingdom. Peter must be cleansed of this bigotry that makes him choose his way over God's command. It seems God has this notion that he is God and can expect obedience from his servants, even to step over their tradition. God corrects Peter's self-justification and makes it clear that obedience is better than following the routine of religion.
Moreover, Peter is not left to simply agree with the proposition that human-imposed barriers in the kingdom are wrong and must be destroyed. No, Peter is confronted with his personal prejudice and must apply the principle to his actions. His speech alone will not suffice here, he must be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. God places a task in front of him that he can handle. Peter can choose obedience in this instance.
God has not changed. He is looking to destroy the humanly imposed barriers that segment the body of Christ. He will challenge us where we live, to move past our human traditions, and to be transformed into what he has created us to be. His body operates with Christ at the head and all parts are to conform in obedience without fragmentation. (Joseph Byrd )
A BRIEF GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN
REVELATION 21:1-6
Every now and then you hear some well-meaning soul say something like this: "Even if there were no life after death, even if God doesn't exist, living the Christian life on earth would still be worth it all." This seemingly noble sentiment is a feeble effort to remind us that the Christian life does make a difference here and now. But it is precisely because of our eternal hope that the sufferings of the present life pale by comparison to the full manifestation of God that shall be revealed in us. Easter was only a month ago and already we need to be reminded.
I. God Is Doing a New Thing
That phrase comes from the lyrics of the Christian rap group, dc Talk. John's vision of the a new heaven and a new earth is a reminder of God's new thing agenda. The temporal order of the first heaven and earth is transitory. Mere physical existence is but a vapor. And it is a poor substitute for life. Jesus said that he came that we might have a full life—not mere subsistence existence.
In the Hebrew mind the sea was to be feared. It was the insurmountable boundary. John's vision is of a new order where there are no longer any boundaries. In that new order we shall know with the same depth and clarity by which we are known by God.
II. Heaven Is a Place
Looking toward the cross Jesus told his disciples, "I am going to prepare a place for you." Heaven is that prepared place for a prepared people. The people of God are called the bride of Christ. Our eternal abode is a fantastic union of humankind in the power and presence of God. Heaven is a wonderful place of no more—the list of human ills and the pangs and pathos of existence is seemingly endless. Yet heaven is a place where God says "no more" to death, mourning, crying, or pain. The old cycle of birth, life, and death is displaced by God's new order. Heaven is a place where the new has come.
III. The New Has Come
How many new year's resolutions do you remember? How many have you kept? You may be thinking, "Preacher, you are crazy. We just had Easter, not Christmas!" The sad reality is that it takes more than good intentions and the turning of the pages of the calendar to make a new start. We enter a new year with the old self and soon fall back into our familiar rut. But, as Paul Harvey says, "Now, for the rest of the story."
I saw a button some years ago with the letters "P B P G I N F W M Y" which stood for the phrase, "Please be patient God is not finished with me yet." I hope all of us are a work in progress, a Christian under construction. There is coming a day when God's construction project will be complete and the new will stand fulfilled. John says in that day the old order has ceased to be and the new has now come to fruition.
In the meantime, we live in the light of our ultimate destiny. Free from the fear of death we can now embrace life to the fullest. A new Christian once began reading his Bible but like many, became impatient with the gradual unfolding of redemption's story. So he turned to the last chapters of Revelation and said, with a sigh, "In the end, God wins." This is why Christians face death differently from non-Christians. We do grieve but not with the hopeless and helpless grief of the world. We know that our good-byes are not final, they are only "until then."
It was the doctrine of the resurrection and the eternal hope it gives that enlivened the early church. Paul said, "if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" ( 1 Cor. 15:13 NIV). However, because of his confidence in the resurrection power of God, he concluded this wonderful chapter of hope with "Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58) . (L. Joseph Rosas, III)
THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT
JOHN 13:31-35
It is the last night before Jesus goes to Calvary. One of his disciples, Judas, has just left to put the wheels of betrayal in motion and Jesus remains with the other eleven. It will be his last night with them. What does he want to say to them during these last few precious moments?
First, he tells them that he has glorified God and is about to be glorified by God. Then he tells them that he must go on a journey and that they will not be able to go with him. He must make this journey alone. But before he leaves them, he must give them something that will serve to guide them on their own subsequent journeys—a new commandment!
That's right. Jesus, on the last night of his life, gave the disciples a new commandment to be honored and kept. The giving of this commandment was made even more important by the fact that it is one of the last teachings Jesus gave them. And what is that new commandment? Three simple words: Love one another (John 13:34) .
I. The Significance of the New Commandment
What is the significance of Jesus giving a new commandment? The significance is found in Jewish history. For it was at the very beginning of the Jewish nation that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments were to serve as the foundation for all the other laws and regulations given to Israel. And Moses was given one of the highest places in Jewish history because he became known as "the lawgiver." When Jesus, then, proceeds to give a "new commandment," he is placing himself above Moses, as the new lawgiver. In effect, his new commandment becomes the Eleventh Commandment!
In a comparison of the events surrounding the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exod. 19–20; Deut. 5) and the Eleventh Commandment (John 13:31-35), a few interesting things should be noticed. First, the Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses (Israel's leader). The Eleventh Commandment was given by Jesus (God in the flesh) to the disciples (the movement's soon-to-be leaders).
Second, God's promise to the nation of Israel was that if they faithfully kept these commandments God would treasure them as his nation and they would become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exod. 19:5-6). Jesus' promise to the disciples was that if they faithfully kept this commandment, all people would know that they were his disciples ( John 13:35) .
Third, the Israelites' response was to become impatient and frustrated and to make another god (Exod. 32). The disciples' response was to get sidetracked and miss the point. Peter focused, not on the giving of the new commandment, but on the earlier statement about Jesus going on a journey that they could not follow (John 13:36-37).
II. The Church Has Become Sidetracked Through the Ages
This same response, that of getting sidetracked, has become a recurring pattern for the Christian Church throughout the ages. How many times have Christians fought Christians down through history? Killed Christians? Burned, starved, hunted, tortured, and mutilated Christians? What do people in the community think of our church as a family of God? Do they see us, as a congregation and as individuals, living out the Eleventh Commandment?
The Jews lived and died by the Ten Commandments. Why don't Christians live and die by the Eleventh Commandment? Is it any less binding? Is it any less important? Remember, it was given by God through Christ and it was to be the sign to the world that Christians were God's people and the people of his kingdom.
III. We Can Live the Eleventh Commandment
"Love one another." These are the simple and brief words of Jesus that make up the Eleventh Commandment. And just as simple and brief are Jesus' instructions on how to carry it out in our lives. Jesus said: "As I have loved you, you also should love one another" ( John 13:34) . In other words, Jesus tells the disciples, "Just do as I did to you."
But note that the focus is on disciples loving disciples, on Christians loving Christians, not Christians loving the world in general. This is not a general call to love everyone but a more basic step. After all, a church cannot effectively reach out with the gospel for very long if its members don't love one another first.
How did Jesus love the disciples? Jesus loved the disciples in at least three ways.
Sacrifice: Jesus loved the disciples by making sacrifices for them. He sacrificed his time, his energy, his emotions, his schedule, his family, his privacy, even his life. If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to make sacrifices for one another.
In order to love one another we will have to sacrifice our time, energy, emotions, schedules, families, privacy, maybe even our lives for one another. These sacrifices may need to be made in order to visit the sick or hurting, help others with a problem, or responding when called on in an emergency. Remember, this call to love one another and therefore call to sacrifice for one another is for all disciples, not just the ministers.
Share: Jesus loved the disciples by sharing himself with them. He listened to their fears, he cried in their pain, he laughed in their joy. He prayed with them and for them. He gently showed them their sin and helped them onto the right path. Jesus shared who he was with them. He opened himself up to them.
If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to share ourselves with one another. In order to love one another, we will have to share others' pain and laughter, gently point out faults and then forgive, seek forgiveness when wrong, and open up ourselves to others. In other words, we need to be genuine and real with others, not phony.
This sharing may be required when comforting the bereaved, celebrating another's achievement, confessing a specific sin and asking for forgiveness, or privately going to another to express concerns about the way they are living.
Serve: Jesus loved the disciples by serving them. He called them to follow him, became their master and teacher, and then proceeded to serve them. Earlier in chapter 13 the Son of God was washing the disciples' feet!
If we are to live out the Eleventh Commandment and love one another, then we will also have to serve one another. That means no matter who you are in the church, you are never too good or too mighty, too important or too wealthy or too educated, too old or too young to serve anyone else in the church. If the Son of God can serve men and women of all kinds then so can you.
How do we love one another as Jesus loved? We sacrifice for one another, share ourselves with one another, and serve one another. Are the situations different in our times? Maybe in the details and the names, but not in general. Are there disciples who need to be sacrificed for? Are there disciples who need someone to share their burden? Are there disciples who need to be served? If yes, then there are opportunities for you and me to love one another. Trust yourselves and your instincts to do the right thing. God has been with you: teaching, guiding, loving, encouraging—now go and love one another. (Michael M. Jones)
Ministry Matters
2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37228, United States
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