“A Church Like Jesus: Care and Followup” by Rev. Cody Sandahl – November 5, 2017
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.
