This sermon has been personalised for our Confirmation Students. It has been modified to suit normal service.
Sermon 24th February 2019
(Confirmation Sunday)
Text: Luke 6:27-38 – Being different
People in society today like to do
things that make them stand out in the crowd.
They might do it by the clothes they
wear.
They might do it by the hairstyle
they wear.
A lot of people in recent times have
done it by having tattoos or piercings.
Many do it because they want to stand
out from the crowd.
They want to be or look different.
Sometimes they do it to be what we
call counter-culture.
They like to be known for being
different to everyone else in society.
The problem is that soon it creates a
fashion and then everyone starts doing it and you’re no longer different to
anyone and you have to look for something else to make a statement that you’re
different.
Jesus stood out in the crowd too – he
was very different.
In fact Jesus made such a difference
that we distinguish dating as “before Christ” and “in the year of our Lord” –
BC and AD.
Jesus liked to rock the boat and do
things that went against the normal culture of his day.
He talked with people everyone else
ignored.
He ate meals with people that nobody
else liked.
He was different and it made him
stand out in the crowd.
As Christians you have
opportunity to stand out in the crowd .
You have the opportunity to be very
different to your peer group.
By honouring your Baptism vows you continue to learn about the Christian faith.
Instead of turning on the TV, spending time on Facebook, Twitter or whatever else they do on the
internet and mobile phones these days – you can continue to learn about the Ten Commandments – the Apostles’ Creed – Baptism, Holy
Communion – the Lord’s Prayer and the Office of the Keys.
Jesus is sending you out into the world and he asks you to be different.
He asks you to live lives that are
going to make you stand out in the crowd.
Lives that are going to make people
even think you’re a little bit weird.
Let’s have a look at what Jesus says
that’s really going to make you different and stand out from the crowd.
He says:
Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Talk about different – Love your
enemies!
That’s not what everyone else is
doing.
That’s not the advice that your
friends and society are telling you.
If they’re your enemy then you should
do everything to make sure they have bad things happen to them.
Gossip about them.
Tell your friends that they have to
be their enemies also.
Laugh when bad things happen to them.
Tell lies about them.
Can you imagine how different you
would be if while all your friends at school are picking on someone that you
point out that what they are doing is wrong!
That’s what Jesus did.
Jesus loved everyone.
He said that anyone can love their
friends – be different – love your enemies.
Or what about when someone hurts you?
What should you do to be different?
Jesus says: If anyone strikes you on
the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat even
give them your shirt.
Jesus is saying, if someone hits you
then don’t hit back, but ask them if they want to hit you again!
Now that’s just silly isn’t it?
Or if someone steals something from
you ask them if they need anything else.
That sounds very different.
Anyone can hit someone back.
That’s the easy thing to do.
Jesus wants you to be different and
not hurt people back.
Even Jesus when they were nailing his
hands to the cross cried out “forgive them Father, they don’t know what they
are doing”.
Could you imagine how different you
would be if you loved someone who hurt you.
When we read the 10 Commandments and Luther's explanation there are 2 parts to them – what you must NOT do – and what you MUST do.
So in the Commandment – you shall not
kill – it said you should NOT hurt your neighbour in any way but you are to
help them in all their physical needs.
Or the eighth commandment – not only
should we not lie about our neighbour but we must speak well about them and
explain their actions in the kindest way.
When we confess The Apostles’
Creed we confess to everyone
that we believe in Jesus.
Do you think believing in Jesus is
going to make you popular?
Probably not – but it will make you
different.
What brave people you are when you don't listen to what we call “peer group pressure”.
It’s not cool to be a Christian today
but it’s not about being cool.
The Apostles’ Creed says why we
believe in Jesus – I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of
the body and the life everlasting.
Being a Christian is not about being
good people – it’s about believing that when I die I will live forever in Heaven
because Jesus died for my sins.
Being a Christian today and believing
in Jesus is being different.
Do not underestimate what you are
doing today as you worship God.
What you are doing today is very
different.
When you were baptised you probably had really
no say.
You were most likely infants and were
brought along by your parents.
This is your choice to keep believing and it is
different to what the world is teaching you to do.
The world today believes it doesn’t
need God in their life.
You’re saying “we do need him in our
life”.
And God encourages you –
don’t stop your involvement and learning.
The church needs you to keep learning
and keep being involved in the church.
If you want to be different – if you
want to stand out in the world – keep doing what you’re doing.
You may get teased – you may get
laughed at – but remember – that’s also what happened to Jesus – so you’re
amongst very special people.
Jesus even said that the world may
hate you because of me – but remember it hated me first.
Don’t let that worry you.
Just remember what believing in Jesus
means.
It means that you don’t have to worry
about anything because God is looking after you especially that your home in
heaven is 100% guaranteed.
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