Sermon
26th March 2017
Text:
1 Samuel 16:1-13 – Big isn’t always better
On
the front page of the Knox Leader newspaper there was an article which really
interested me.
And
its opening paragraph read:
RELIGION
is booming in Knox with people flocking to weekend services and the city’s
biggest churches looking at major expansion plans to cope with demand. Knox’s
CityLife Church is creating a new $11 million centre in Wantirna South — paid
for by its congregation. Senior minister Andrew Hill said more than 5000 people
attended services each week.
It
then spoke about another Knox Church:
Hillsong
is proving so popular it is set to move to Knoxfield after outgrowing its
Bayswater home. It plans for a church for up to 900 people at 557 Burwood
Highway,
And
as always I look at myself and ask: what am I doing wrong.
Once
again I fall into the trap of judging God’s work on outward appearances,
something that God time and again went against.
It’s
not saying that big isn’t good but big isn’t the only indicator of where God is
working.
I
think it’s great that these churches are expanding and that they have had the
media coverage but we mustn’t fall into the trap that God is only working there
and not here.
Like
so many people I couldn’t be a part of something that big.
I
like the small and close intimate surroundings when it comes to worship, so
where would I go if that was the only way that God operated.
So
often we see God going against what we perceive he should do to show he is
active and succeeding, like in our Old Testament reading when it came time for
Samuel to find a replacement for Saul as King of Israel.
Samuel
looked on the first-born of Jesse’s sons Eliab and thought – this is him –
first born, handsome, tall:
But
the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his
stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see;
they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
One
by one Jesse’s sons are rejected until he finds out the youngest hasn’t been
presented - he is out looking after the sheep – considered the lowest of
positions in the family.” He would become King David, the most successful and
beloved King of Israel.
So
often we see God intentionally choose the lesser – the 2nd born:
Abel
was chosen over his older brother Cain.
Jacob
was chosen over first born brother Esau
Joseph’s
son Ephraim over his brother Manasseh.
And
even in choosing Israel as his chosen nation and people we hear: "The LORD
did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than
other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! But it was because the
LORD loved you. (Deuteronomy 7:7,8).
It’s
interesting that David’s grandfather, Perez was the 2nd born also but it was
how he was born that is interesting.
Hi
brother Zerah was born first with his hand coming out of the womb.
A
scarlet ribbon was tied around his hand and declared the first born.
But
his hand was pulled back into the womb and Perez came out ahead of him.
(Genesis 38:27-20)
Even
in the New Testament we read that God chose his disciples specifically in mind
what others wouldn’t:
St
Paul says: think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were
wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble
birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God
chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians
1;26,27).
It’s
not saying that God doesn’t choose big or seek worldly success in churches but
it’s not what WE should be looking for as the only signs of God’s work.
But
that’s what we do.
We
see small churches as not as successful when we look at the thriving churches
around us.
God
works in unexpected ways which don’t always seem that glorious or spectacular.
Who
would have thought that spitting on the ground and putting mud on a blind man’s
eyes and telling him to wash in the pool of Siloam would be the way to do such
an amazing miracle?
Surely
he could have done it in front of the 5000 he fed as a huge spectacular act.
Why
didn’t Jesus just say – open your eyes and see – like he did to the crippled
man – get up and walk – or “stretch out your hand” or “get up” as he said to
Jairus’s daughter – an opportunity to amaze the crowds and achieve more
followers.
Just
as Jesus used different ways and means to achieve God’s mission so too as Lord
of the Church Jesus continues to use different ways and means to achieve his
mission in the world.
I
can think of any number of people that would walk away from church if it was
huge and successful in worldly ways because that’s not what they are looking
for.
That’s
not how they connect with God spiritually.
The
Great Commission wasn’t “build it and they will come” but Go into the world and
make disciples.
So
our constant challenge is to keep looking at our mission that God has placed
before us.
And
we have that mission in our mission statement:
At
Ringwood it is: Living the Word: a people formed by God to be his presence to
those around us.
The
focus is in the sending out into the world to be God’s presence in the world.
At
Knox it is: Called to worship; chosen to serve.
Again
the focus is outward – serving.
But
in both cases - being God’s presence and
chosen to serve begin in the church to be equipped.
Formed
by God to be his presence –
Called
to worship –chosen to serve.
The
purpose of the church is not to be built up but to build up.
To
build up the people of God.
And
that’s why at Knox we are called – the house of the church.
The
people are the church.
It
is the people that we are building up.
Sure,
we’d love to see our church building overflowing.
We’d
love to see our children and grandchildren filling the pews.
We’d
love to see visitors coming and staying.
But
we need to be clear that our vision doesn’t become about building up OUR
Kingdom but God’s Kingdom.
And
I’m not saying that is what the bigger churches are doing but recognising that
the church comes in all shapes and sizes and styles.
Just
as Christians come with different strengths and callings.
King
David would go on to be the greatest of Israel’s kings and from his line would
come the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.
But
what made David so great was not the success he had in leading his Kingdom but
in that he let God lead him.
David
would fail the humanity test – committing adultery with his neighbours wife and
covering it up by having him killed in combat.
But
his heart would always follow God and led him to write the most beautiful and
famous of Psalms – Psalm 23:
The
Lord is my shepherd – I shall not want.
And
so too that is where our greatness will come by allowing Jesus to be our Good
Shepherd and leading us to where he would have us go.
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