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"Healing the Nation" by Rev. Cody Sandahl - November 19, 2017
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Lay Reader = Jeremiah 29:4-7
4Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Thanksgiving, 1863
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
Introduction
Thank you, Matt, for sharing Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation with us. I have long been a student of history. It helps me in several ways. First, it is comforting to know that many of the challenges we face today have been faced by previous generations. We’re still here, so I guess they figured something out. Second, I am a younger brother. And my older brother was the kind of person you could dare to do anything, and he would do it. That means I incorporated the value of learning from OTHER people’s mistakes early in my life. When I study history, it’s an opportunity to learn from the choices of the past before I make my choices in the present.
On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, I thought it would be wise to take a look at our long history of striving for unity in the midst of our divisions. And this isn’t just an American activity. The early Christians faced divisions of every kind. We’ll be looking at Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. That church faced pressure to be just like everyone else in the capital of Rome. They faced pressure from Jewish leaders in Rome. They faced internal pressure as they tried to figure out the best way to follow Jesus. And so Paul writes to them in Romans 12 to give them a pattern, a way forward, a foundation for unity in the midst of their divisions. Perhaps we need to hear this today, too.
Romans 12
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness. 9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
What Hump?
There are two movies I can quote almost in their entirety, and I can probably pick up the next line no matter where you want to start. Any guesses on the two movies? Star Wars is the obvious one. And another great classic of the English language – Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I’ll even give you the accents if you want, free of charge.
If you are a cultural luddite and don’t know this movie as well as I do, it is a sarcastic and hilarious take on King Arthur’s search for the Holy Grail – the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. And one of the scenes features a sword duel between King Arthur and the fearsome black knight. The black knight blocks King Arthur’s way forward, declaring, “None shall pass!”
As the battle ensues, Arthur strikes first, and the black knight’s arm falls to the ground. The victorious Arthur shouts, “Now stand aside, worthy adversary!”
“Tis but a scratch,” the knight replies.
“A scratch?!? Your arm’s off!”
“No it isn’t!”
“Well what’s that, then?” Arthur demands.
“I’ve had worse! Come on you pansy!”
On it goes until the black knight is left with no arms and no legs. As King Arthur leaves him there and crosses the bridge, the black knight finally relents by saying, “All right…we’ll call it a draw.”
Or if you prefer a less violent example, what about another cultural classic – Young Frankenstein. Dr. Frankenstein, sorry Frank-en-steen, is approached by Egor, sorry I-gor, and the young doctor pats Igor on the back, accidentally touching the extruding hump. And he tells Igor, “I don’t mean to embarrass you, but I’m a rather brilliant surgeon. Perhaps I could help you with that hump.” A startled Igor replies, “What hump?”
In our text today, Paul tells the church in Rome, “do not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but think with sober judgment.” If your arm is sitting on the ground, it’s not just a scratch. If you have a hump the size of a beach ball on your back, don’t say “what hump?” One of the key ways we can find unity in our divisions, Paul says, is to reflect on ourselves with “sober judgment.”
This was one of Abraham Lincoln’s surprising strengths in the proclamation we heard today. He says about the country he’s leading in the midst of a civil war, that people should pray with “humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.” He gives thanks for the “gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.” I haven’t heard too many speeches lately that mention our national disobedience to God or admitting that God is angry with us for our sins while ALSO granting us mercy. That’s some pretty sober judgment to use Paul’s phrase. That’s being willing to admit if your arm’s on the ground. That’s being willing to admit that you have a hump. That’s being willing to admit that you’re not perfect, you don’t have all the answers, you don’t know how it’s all going to turn out, and ultimately the future isn’t in your control. Sober judgment.
One of the ways we can have unity in the midst of our divisions is to have sober judgment about our limitations, and the limitations of our philosophies and ideas. Unless you have a time traveling DeLorean and you have an almanac from the future, you don’t know how any of this is going to turn out. If we can ALL admit that, we will have made some progress.
Unity in Christ
But Paul reminds us that our unity is based on something very specific. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God.” Our unity is found in the surpassing value of our faith in Jesus Christ. A liberal Christian and a conservative Christian and a libertarian Christian and an independent or even politically apathetic Christian all have something in common: they’re Christians! Our unity is found in keeping the most important thing as the most important thing. Our shared faith in Jesus Christ is more important than anything else. And so the person who is more conservative than you isn’t being an idiot who forgot about Jesus’ compassion. They’re expressing their faithfulness to Jesus in a different way. And the person who is more liberal than you isn’t being an idiot who forgot about Jesus’ concern for righteousness. They are expressing their faithfulness to Jesus in a different way.
Our unity is in our shared faith in Jesus Christ. That’s why Paul says not to be conformed to this world. That’s why Paul says we should be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That’s why Paul says we should discern what is the will of God.
Lincoln put it this way after he rattled off the reasons the country had to be thankful: “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God.”
But Paul goes even further. “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.”
Imagine a body that is just composed of a mass of eyeballs. Is that a pleasant thought? Or what about a body that is all hair. Largest cat hairball in the universe. Ready to give that body a kiss? How about two hundred pounds of arms connected to each other? Is that marriage material?
Paul is saying that we are all wired by God, gifted by God, commissioned by God, in different and unique ways. For example, given the rise in violence in our country and after the attack on the church in Texas, several people have asked me about our church’s security. We need people who are thinking about keeping everyone safe. But I have also had people approach me to make sure we’re still going to be open and welcoming to the least and the lost, because Jesus commands us to do that. We need people who are thinking about reaching the hurting people in our community. Our community is worse off – incomplete even – if we don’t have these two groups of people. Session’s going to talk about this today.
And so another way we can have unity in the midst of our divisions is to take a leap of faith and acknowledge that we are better when different body parts are doing their thing. We are better when someone is passionate about preventing government overreach. We are better when someone is passionate about social justice. We are better when someone is passionate about national defense. We are better when someone is passionate about caring for the poor. We are better when someone is passionate about healthcare quality, and we are better when someone is passionate about healthcare costs. If we don’t want to be the world’s largest hairball, we NEED all these different parts of our body.
This is a huge challenge, but Paul is admonishing us to have enough faith to say, “I disagree with almost everything you just said, but we are a better body because you’re passionate about it.” Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5: “if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” Instead of thinking that someone is a fool for seeing things differently than you, be grateful that they are being a different and needed part of our overall body. That’s a huge challenge, but Paul tells us, “If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” That includes living peaceably with the pastor who’s asking you to live peaceably, I should add.
Agape
You know, I love how Lincoln ends his proclamation. He ends it with a plea for people to pray. To “commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.”
He’s asking people to pray for the whole nation – even the half that is rebelling. Even the half that is killing your sons and brothers and fathers. Even the half that is making you a widow, an orphan, a mourner, a sufferer. That’s a bold prayer.
It sounds a bit like what Jesus said, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
It sounds a bit like what Paul wrote in our text today: “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
The final way we can find unity in the midst of our divisions is to pray for the very people you vehemently disagree with. And you’re NOT praying for heaps of burning coals on their heads, Paul says that feeding your enemy and giving your enemy a drink RESULTS in them feeling that burning shame. So no prayers for burning coals! That’s missing the point!
Pray for God’s blessing. Pray for God’s wisdom. Pray for God’s provision. And pray for those things even for the people you disagree with. Because they are dearly loved children of God, just like you. They are God’s sons and daughters, just like you. They are made in God’s image, just like you. Jesus died for their sins, just like you. And since there’s a good chance you’ll be spending eternity with them if they have faith in Jesus, you might as well get used to them now!
Thanksgiving Meal
As Thanksgiving approaches this week, let me tell you about some of the strange Thanksgiving meals I have experienced. I’ve had a Thanksgiving meal where my grandmother was to my right, and one of my brother’s hungover friends was to my left. And he wasn’t aware of it, but he still had a girl’s undergarments hanging around his neck. That was awkward, but we were at the same table together.
I’ve had a Thanksgiving meal where one family member suddenly started vomiting at the table. That wasn’t exactly pleasant, but we were at the same table together.
I’ve had a Thanksgiving meal where the person sitting across from me had just made some decisions that put about five people’s lives into a tailspin. I was seething, but we were at the same table together.
This Thanksgiving, no matter who is at your table. No matter who is making you mad or exasperated or confused. No matter who is in your life right now. Take a moment to be thankful for them. Take a moment to be thankful that you CAN be at the same table, literally or figuratively. Take a moment to be thankful that Jesus invited you AND them to eat at his table.
That’s a deeper level of thanksgiving. That’s a challenging level of thanksgiving. But it’s a thanksgiving that sees our true unity even in the midst of our divisions. That’s my prayer for all of us this week. Amen.
"Joyful Stewards" by Rev. Cody Sandahl - November 12, 2017
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Lay Reader = 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 9As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; 12for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, 14while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Introduction
This week we are looking at a text from Colossians, which is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to a community in great turmoil. They were wrestling with how “Jewish” their faith needed to be, which was a big deal to the non-Jewish converts in the church. If I told you that you needed to switch to a Kosher diet starting tomorrow or your eternal salvation was in question, would you happily throw out your pantry and fridge and restock? Would you joyfully kiss bacon cheeseburgers goodbye for Jesus? I’ll tell you what would actually happen. You’d find a new pastor! Don’t mess with my dinner, Pastor! That’s gone from preaching to meddling.
As Paul helped this church see that Jesus was more important than cultural differences between Jews and Greeks, he also urged them to think about and focus on and put into practice the most important things. And we see a nice summary of those most important things in Colossians 3.
Colossians 3:12-17
12As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Just Be Average
I have to tell you, there is something strange about Denver. Alone among cities I’ve lived in or near, Denver has a peculiar ability to take people who have moved in from all across the United States and convert them to the True Church of the Denver Broncos.
And in my household this has caused a small amount of strife. Because my wife Becca absolutely hates it when she gets into one of our cars and I’ve left it on AM sports talk radio – and that usually means Orange and Blue 760. I think I deserve some kind of sponsorship for this. Maybe they can send me an orange and blue stole or something.
But the local radio hosts have been saying something this season that has absolutely fascinated me. When they were talking about the offense heading into the season, during the early winning streak, and during the recent losing streak, they kept saying the same thing. “Hey offense – all we need you to be is average. Just be average.”
And they’re probably right. With a great defense, an average offense can win a ton of games. But somehow I doubt that’s what the coaching staff is telling the offense. I sincerely doubt the quarterbacks coach is starting their film sessions saying, “Just be average, Brock. Just be average, Trevor. Paxton, you’re almost healthy now, so get ready to be average for us.” Anyone think that’s what the coaches are saying?
Or if football isn’t your thing, it has been that most wonderful time of the year here at First Pres Littleton – time for staff performance evaluations. I can guarantee you that I don’t tell them to “just be average.” When the personnel committee meets with me to review my performance, I doubt they’re going to say, “you were pleasantly average this year, Cody.” That’s not the goal.
Or we’re celebrating Veterans’ Day today. So for the veterans among us, would your basic training drill sergeant accept average? Would average make them stop yelling at you and being generally cantankerous in your general or very specific direction? Somehow I doubt that. Average isn’t the goal. Are you with me?
Do Everything for the Lord
In Paul’s letter, “average” is definitely not the goal. He writes, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Think about that. Do EVERYTHING – whether word or deed – EVERYTHING in the name of Jesus. That means that when I meet with our homeless friend Brian to make him peanut butter sandwiches, I need to make those the best shockingly overladen peanut butter sandwiches this side of the Mississippi. It has to be a peanut butter sandwich worthy of Jesus.
This text haunted me when I had the worst job of my life running the warehouse at a tourist trap shop in Port Aransas, TX. Because I only had enough work for about two hours a day at my normal level of activity and efficiency, but I was paid to be there way more than that. But they also didn’t want me interacting with customers or other employees, either. They had me stuffed away in the Harry Potter closet in the back filled with junk.
So first I endeavored to reorganize the warehouse. I inferred that the previous warehouse-ians weren’t quite as industrious as me, because the warehouse seemed to be organized based on how desirable the item would be to a drunken chimpanzee. So I tried alphabetical organization, but that wasn’t quite right. Then I tried categories, but that’s hard when everything ends up filed in the “junk” category. Finally I landed on a scheme that used the sections of the store, and that worked great. But here’s the problem – reorganizing the warehouse that many times still only put me a couple of weeks into a three month job. Cue the useless boredom again.
Sometimes our task isn’t grand. Sometimes our job today seems like a cruel joke. Sometimes what we need to do is beneath us. Sometimes what needs to be done is pointlessly difficult – typically measured by the number of bureaucrats you need to get around to complete it. But even then, Paul says, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
What’s your task? What’s your next purpose? Whether it’s uplifting or fingernails on a chalkboard annoying, what do you need to do? And how can you honor Jesus in it?
In our first text that we heard earlier, Paul was asking another church to give a substantial offering for the poor. He was asking this church to give deeply from their pockets to a group of Christians in another city whom they would never meet. And he knows this is a hard ask. He tells them, “each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” But he also says, “through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience.” In other words – he tells them they are to decide how much of their personal finances constitutes a gift that honors Jesus. If your task is giving, do it in the name of Jesus.
In our sermon text today, Paul was asking the church to recommit to their faith in Jesus and to reconcile their differences “clothed in love.” If your task is healing relationships or bridging differences, do it in the name of Jesus.
If you are bored at work as I was in the dark dungeon of a warehouse, work in the name of Jesus.
If the Holy Spirit has placed upon you a burning desire to help in a ministry or to start a new ministry, do it in the name of Jesus.
If you are concerned for another person, pray for them and help them in the name of Jesus.
What’s your task? What’s your next purpose? Whether it’s uplifting or fingernails on a chalkboard annoying do it in the name of Jesus.
Word from the Lord
But here’s the hard part: what does that look like? I have to admit, I never really figured out what to do with all that extra time in the warehouse. I taught myself to write my reports left handed because it took longer and I learned a skill on the side. I didn’t wreck the warehouse for the next guy as my predecessor had done. And I kept every shelf in the store stocked at all times. Maybe that was enough. But the hardest part is to figure out what I need to do so that Jesus is proud. It’s not just a question of what I think is good enough, it’s asking Jesus what’s good enough.
So I want to give us some time to ask that question. We’re going to have a minute or two of silence, and I want to give you two different directions for prayer. If you know your purpose, if you know your task, if you know your next challenge, ask the Spirit to help you see how you can honor Jesus in it. Ask for specific actions, specific behaviors, specific attitudes that will help others see the love of Jesus through you. You may get a sense of confirmation that your plan is Jesus-honoring. You may get a sense that Jesus has a different plan in mind. Ask the Spirit for guidance for your next purpose or task or challenge.
But what if you don’t know your task? What if you don’t know your task? Well this is your chance to ask God. Ask God to reveal where you are to go, or what you are to do, or how you are to speak. Ask God to open the door. And ask God to help you to see that open door. Ask God for a Jesus-honoring vision.
What better place to ask these questions than surrounded by other followers of Jesus?
Let’s take the time right now to seek God’s will in our lives. [LONG PAUSE]
Closing Prayer
Will you join me in prayer? Holy God, we seek your vision. We seek your guidance. We seek your holiness. We seek your smiling face, not just the smiling faces of those around us. So open our eyes and hearts. Guide our hands and feet. Shepherd our thoughts and emotions. Clothe us in the love of Jesus Christ. Help us to do our task, our purpose, to do your will JOYFULLY in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
"A Church Like Jesus: Care and Followup" by Rev. Cody Sandahl - November 5, 2017
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Lay Reader = Matthew 25:31-46
31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Introduction
This is the last in our series looking at the key ministries of Jesus and how we can pattern our lives and our church on Jesus. This is the last, and possibly the most important key ministry of Jesus. Care and Follow-Up.
If you read the first two chapters of the book of Acts, you see something frightening happen.
If I told you tomorrow that everyone would leave our church, would you know what to do? Maybe turn out the lights, list the building for sale, say a prayer? Our Presbytery has had to close down a couple of churches – we know how to handle that, as sad as it is.
But if I told you tomorrow that 3000 people would be joining our church, would you know what to do? That’s mind-bogglingly intense! That’s crazy difficult! And that’s what the early church handled. They went from about half our church’s size to 3000 in a single day.
But they had a plan to IMMEDIATELY incorporate those 3000 people. They IMMEDIATELY connected them with those who could teach them in faith. They IMMEDIATELY connected them with those who could help them with their needs. They IMMEDIATELY fostered spiritual practices like prayer and Scripture reading. They followed up and provided care, and because of that, day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
If we don’t have a plan to IMMEDIATELY follow up and provide the love of Jesus to those who come to our church hoping against hope to find something different in their lives…then we aren’t the church for them.
That’s how the early church provided care and follow-up. What did Jesus say?
John 21:15-19
15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Reconnected
College was an interesting time for me. In high school I had sensed that God might be calling me to ministry, but since it was a graduate program I went to college to get a degree in what I already knew – computer science. My thought was that I could breeze my way through my classes, probably find some good-paying work, and then I would have plenty of time and resources to explore this sense of call by volunteering in a church.
And the plan worked to perfection…except I never got involved in a church beyond my freshman year. So I spent the next two years with an easy class load, plenty of free time, and since I was the lead programmer in a mid-sized company I also had plenty of discretionary income. Now for most people, the opportunity to be a college student with time and money sounds like a dream, right? But I woke up every morning and went to sleep every night – OK most days I went to sleep in the early morning, not the night – but I spent every day bored out of my mind!
So I decided to give one more church a try, because that was the last time I felt alive and purposeful. So the next Sunday I went to church, and introduced myself to someone about my age who was sitting next to me. She told me about a group of young adults who met Sunday night, so I came that very night. A guest teacher was leading the group – a man who would become my spiritual mentor for the next several years. And one of the guys in the group became one of my good friends – when we were back in Austin last week I only had time to reconnect with one old friend and he was my choice.
I went from church shopping to connected, alive in my faith, befriended, and cared for in twelve hours.
That…is NOT a typical story.
But it should be.
Every time someone comes to our church, they SHOULD have a connection with someone. They SHOULD have an opportunity to share their prayers and for us to pray for them and maybe even provide the pastoral care they need. They should experience the love of Jesus the very first day they’re here.
I was looking for purpose and meaningful friendships, and I found it in twelve hours.
When you were looking for a church, and you found your way here, why did you stay? What were you looking for, and how did this church meet that need or longing? What’s your story?
Loved Today
In our text today, Jesus is talking with Peter, but did you notice he called him “Simon son of John?” If you remember, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter much earlier. Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am,” and Simon said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” So Jesus changed his name to Peter – “the rock” – because his statement of faith was the rock on which Jesus would build his church.
So why is Jesus calling him Simon again? Well our text today is after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. And remember that Peter denied Jesus three times, saying “I don’t know the man?”
In other words, Peter has gone from “the rock of faith” to just another guy. He’s lost his spiritual mojo. He’s wondering if he belongs anymore. Can you relate? Jesus knows what’s going on. So Jesus meets him where he is – as “Simon son of John.” He knows that Peter is wondering if he’s still worthy of the name Jesus gave him. And to this Jesus says, “follow me.” Come on back. Tend my sheep, Peter.
Have you ever wondered if Jesus still wants to claim you as his own? Have you ever wondered if you had gone too far this time? Have you ever wondered if Jesus had given up on you? Jesus says the same thing to you – come on back. Come on back.
Jesus loves you just as you are. Even if you’ve gone from Peter, the rock of faith, and now you’re just feeling like Simon son of John. Come on back.
If we are to be a church like Jesus, we must be a place where people hear and see and feel the call of Jesus, “Come on back.” Jesus loves you as you are. If you’ve slid backwards in your faith, Jesus loves you as you are. If you’ve made a bad decision, which led to another bad decision, and another and another and another…Jesus loves you as you are. If you’ve struggled with addiction. If you’ve struggled with mental health. If you’ve struggled with a dark past. If you’re putting on a mask or if you’re just letting it all hang out. If you’re clean cut or falling apart. Jesus loves you as you are. That’s what it looks like to be a church like Jesus.
In the videos our church has been watching called 24 to Double, the pastor says that every person who comes to church for the first time is coming as a result of a ton of prayer behind the scenes. Maybe it’s someone’s desperate grandmother pouring her heart to the Lord, pleading for God to break through this time. Maybe it’s the person themselves saying, “I’ve tried everything else, so I guess I’ll give Jesus a shot.” Maybe it’s a friend waiting expectantly to hear how they’ve finally found what’s missing in their lives. When someone comes to our church it is because the Holy Spirit heard some fervent prayers and is giving us a shot to be Jesus’ hands and feet, giving us a shot to be the answer to those prayers.
What an honor! What a privilege! Jesus says, “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” When the Spirit directs someone here, it’s our chance to give heaven a reason to party!
You don’t want the saints in heaven to be bored, do you? Let’s give them a chance to party! Let’s love the guest just as they are, just as Jesus did.
Transformed Tomorrow
But that’s not all Jesus did. What did he tell Peter to do to show his love for Jesus? “Feed my lambs…tend my sheep…feed my sheep…follow me.” He didn’t want Peter to remain as “Simon son of John,” he wanted him to reclaim his identity as Peter, follower of Jesus. He wanted Peter to reclaim his passion for following Jesus. He wanted Peter to take care of others. Jesus loved him just as he was, but Jesus loved him too much to leave him as he was.
Peter needed his faith restored. I needed purpose and connection. And everyone who steps through the doors of this church has a need or a longing as well. To be a church like Jesus we have to be a place where those needs are met, those longings are fulfilled with the love of Jesus Christ.
When I was in youth ministry lo those many years ago, we once had a kid who came essentially because he was a good musician and we had a good youth band, so this was a chance to play. He was often completely silent, stand-off-ish, dressed in all dark clothes. But he found a place with our youth group. And week after week he heard about and experienced the love of Jesus. Week after week his connections grew in number and strength. And week after week his abilities grew as well. And the kid who could have been written off as self-absorbed and pseudo-gothic in his vibe…now he’s on a church staff helping people worship the living God.
That transformation was only possible because he was loved as he was – he was able to find a place – but he was also loved too much to leave him as he was – he was encouraged to entrust his life to Jesus more and more. To be a church like Jesus, we have to offer both – unconditional love just as you are AND an encouragement to show the love of Jesus in your life more and more. To be a church like Jesus we have to be able to meet those needs, to fulfill those longings IMMEDIATELY just as the early church did when they suddenly added 3000 people. That’s what it looks like to be a church like Jesus.
Putting It Into Practice
Let’s put the cookies on the lower shelf. Are you here because you have a need or a longing? Come on back, and let Carol or our Deacons embrace you with the love of Jesus Christ.
Maybe you’ve already had your basic longing fulfilled, you’ve found your place here. You belong. Jesus says, “follow me” – follow Jesus to new life. You’ve already embraced the ways that Jesus loves you as you are, now embrace the ways he wants to love you too much to leave you where you are.
Or maybe you’ve had your basic longing fulfilled, and you’re already following Jesus to new life. Your faith affects your life on a daily basis. Then you have an opportunity to be on the lookout for the person who still has a need or longing and make sure they feel the love of Jesus through you.
When we have the passing of the peace, what happens? People go all over the church greeting each other. In many churches that’s a ten second stiff handshake to the person to your right and left and then you’re sitting back down. That’s not worth doing. That welcoming mentality is already here. If you take the joy with which you greet your old friends across the room and make sure you’re on the lookout for someone you don’t know to greet joyfully, then we’ll be doing even better. It’s a chance to joyfully greet the person the Spirit has sent our way, a chance to be an answer to someone’s prayer, a chance to give heaven a reason to party.
Jesus says to all of us no matter what we’ve said or done, “Come on back.” So if the Spirit brings someone back by bringing them HERE, may we demonstrate the love of Jesus just as they are, and may we encourage them to demonstrate the love of Jesus in their own lives, too. Then we would be a church like Jesus.