Easter Sunday – 4th April 2021

 Easter Sunday – 4^th April 2021

 

I will never forget last Easter Sunday. There were just 4 of us at Ringwood for that day. We had our organist playing the organ instead of recorded music. We had a member providing real flowers and reading the bible readings. And we had a third person who doubled up filming and reading the prayers  And myself.

 

It was the most difficult service I have ever had to lead – the most joyous day of the church year – singing all those beautiful hymns – and apart from the 4 of us – an empty church. Knox remained closed – completely empty.

Each week I recorded the service to an empty church. It helped me to understand the emotions that must have faced Mary as she went to the tomb and did not find Jesus there. She discovered an empty tomb – in a similar way that I encountered an empty church. But even though the tomb where Jesus body had been careful placed was empty, Jesus was present in a much more personal way.

 

We too have had to understand and experience Jesus in a different way during these past 12 months. It may have been by watching YouTube recordings at home on your TV. You may have participated in a live stream via Zoom You may have watched several different church services from around Victoria – Australia or even around the world – and they may not have all been Lutheran services. But what Mary would discover was that even though the tomb was empty – Jesus was very much present. Likewise, even though our church buildings remained closed and empty – Jesus was very much present with us And Mary’s experience reveals to us that Jesus is always with us and especially in those times when he seems not to be. When he is speaking with Mary she is so sad because she believes that Jesus is missing – and that she is speaking with the gardener. And then he becomes very personal with her and calls her by name – Mary!

 

Do you ever feel that Jesus is missing when you need him? Maybe in a time of suffering. Maybe in a time of confusion or despair. Or maybe in your everyday life where your prayer life or time with God just seems to struggle and it seems like God is just not there for you. Easter Sunday reminds us that God is nearer than we realise – as he was with Mary. Mary thought his body had been taken away to an unknown place only to discover that Jesus is there with her the entire time. Likewise Jesus is with you at all times and he calls your name. You don’t have to look for God – he has come to you.

 

At Christmas time we heard that promise when Mary and Joseph were told he would be called Immanuel which means “God with us”. In 40 day’s time when Jesus ascends to Heaven – it will look like it again that he is leaving, but he will assure his disciples and you – I am with you always till the end of the age. Last Easter Sunday was really difficult for me and I’m sure it was for everyone wondering where is God when our churches are shut. But remember, it was only the church buildings that were shut. God was with you in your lounge rooms – maybe not in your Sunday best but maybe still in your PJs – or maybe you watched the service the next day.

 

Easter Sunday means that Jesus is with us ALWAYS till the end of the age. And he knows your name just as he knew Mary’s name even though she did not recognise him. But the most glorious news of Easter Sunday is that Jesus promised that he is with us always until the end of the age – but when that end of the age comes it doesn’t mean that Jesus won’t be with us – no, Easter Sunday means that when the end of the age comes we will be with Jesus in Heaven – not till the end of the age because in Heaven life is eternal. And that’s what Jesus has won for us as he rose from the dead and just as Jesus rose from the dead so shall we.

 

GOOD FRIDAY 2nd April 2021

 GOOD FRIDAY 2^nd April 2021

 

Today is a day that weighs heavy on the church.  Each year on Good Friday, we hear the account of Jesus’ gruesome death;  Each year we experience those same emotions that accompany Jesus’ death: the anguish and disbelief. We hear the same details – the same bible readings – but each year it seems to fit a little bit differently to the situation we are going through: No doubt, this year, we hear it in the midst of the pandemic. Maybe, even at times, we’ve cried out during the lockdowns, particularly of our church buildings, my God, my God, why have you forsaken us. And therefore, each year it strikes a little differently.

 

This year the death of our Lord is met with the continuing fears of the pandemic even though we have, according to our media “eradicated” it once again –  and even though there is a vaccine rollout, people are still anxious - frightened.  Nevertheless, there is good news here, if we have ears to hear.

But sometimes the good news is hidden in the despair in much the same way that the Good of Good Friday is hid beneath the despair of Jesus humiliation, suffering and death.

 

On the surface there is nothing “GOOD” about Good Friday. It is bleak – it is dark – it is death.

Our church is bare – no flowers – no colourful trimmings of the altar. Even my colourful stole is black.

We don’t gather in celebration around the altar to receive the body and blood of Christ. But Good Friday is a step on the way to Easter Sunday where the Good comes to life – literally. But it’s the bleakness of Good Friday that hides that Good even from Jesus who cried out to his Father wondering why he had abandoned him – who cried out in the Garden of Gethsemane:  “take this cup from me”.

 

But hidden behind Jesus’ death is victory over death as his journey does not end there but begins there. Where on the 3rd day we will gather again – in the same place – but not at a place that is surrounded by death but with new life. Where the women looking for Jesus’ body are asked by the angels - "Why do you look for the living among the dead?

 

As we too journey from Good Friday to Easter Sunday – and I’m not talking about the 3 days but our entire life is lived between the death of Good Friday and the life of Easter Sunday – we can be overcome by the bleakness of life. And even once this pandemic is fully over there will be something to take its place to darken our hopes and dreams. And so we live as Christians not in the bleakness of Good Friday but in the shadow of Easter Sunday – which at present is a shadow because it has not fully arrived for us yet. And that’s what St Paul says in Colossians chapter 3: He says: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

So we continue to live overshadowed by the bleakness of Good Friday but we are drawn by God into the light of Easter Sunday so we do not live in despair but in hope. Hope that the new dawn is coming – as Psalm 30 says: Weeping may endure for a night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. And that shout of joy is the resurrection shout that the grave is empty – that Christ is risen.

Where O death is your victory – thanks be to God because he gives to us the victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Maundy Thursday – 1st April 2021

 Maundy Thursday – 1^st April 2021

A lot of things have changed in the way we do worship in this past 12 months. And Maundy Thursday is no exception. Much in our bible reading tonight would not be allowed under Covid restrictions. First there was the celebration of the very first Holy Communion service together. If we look at artwork depicting that scene then there was no social distancing between Jesus and the 12 disciples. There were no masks. And they were sharing the Common Cup – the Holy Grail as it is often referred to - for the blood of Christ and one loaf of bread passed from one person to another. And then there was Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. Totally unhygienic when we are discouraged to even shake hands.

 

Our present Holy Communion service resembles nothing like that first communion service: Individual cups – masks, gloves, tongs, sanitizer – no sharing of the peace – elbow bumps instead of handshaking. Nevertheless these are not what are central to what Jesus was teaching his disciples and us. Jesus explained to his disciples what was central in all that they do: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

Yes, I would love things to be different – to be the way they were. But let us not forget where we were 12 months ago. We were at home, locked out of our church buildings, and without the sacrament for something like 6 months. I thank God every day that we can be back together even if we have to make some small  sacrifices – even if we have to one day start wearing masks again during worship.

 

I think of a story I heard when I listed to a speaker talk about Christians in some persecuted countries where Christianity is forbidden – where Bibles are banned. If they can get their hands on a bible, they will tear out its pages so they can share even just a page with as many people as they can – even one page per household.

That doesn’t disrespect or lessen its sacredness but shows a deep hunger for God’s word. I’m looking forward to the day we can offer the common cup again – and here at Our Saviour’s the breaking of actual bread rather than wafers.

 

But what is essential in this Sacrament? It is Christ’s true presence – his body and blood for the forgiveness of sins – and that is not compromised by gloves, masks, individual cups. Some argue that the individual cups aren’t what we should be using – but let us be careful that we don’t believe that Christ cannot be present  because of human rules and tradition because that is what Luther fought tooth and nail against when he insisted on the true presence of Christ. There were those he fought against that who said Christ couldn’t not be present in the bread and wine because he is at the right hand of God. Therefore the bread and wine can only “represent” his body and blood.

 

Or think of Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch who wanted to be baptised. Phillip didn’t say – not until we get you to a baptismal font and do it there. Neither did Phillip insist he do a series of Pastor’s Classes before he would consider baptising him. Jesus spelt out clearly to his disciples what he desires: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

If we have love for God and one another, I believe that we can look past the things we would like to have as we gather compared to the things that make our gathering sacred and special – God’s Word and Sacrament even with the restrictions that are presently placed upon us. We’ve even had to accept that not every service will have live music – but again – is that what makes God’s presence in and among us?

I think of Paul and Silas in prison in Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. There was no band or organ for their hymns.

 

Sometimes what is central to our faith and salvation can be lost because of the layers we put on them. Jesus always brought things back to where the central teaching was: Where 2 or 3 are gathered, there I am in the midst of them. Accepting the Kingdom of God with a childlike faith. St Paul was the same in our 2nd reading today when speaking about Holy Communion: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Just like Baptism where we don’t put any instructions on how or where other than the words Jesus commanded – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – we don’t put conditions on “this bread” or “this cup” other than Jesus’ words which we call – the Words of Institution – that consecrate the elements for use in the body and blood of Christ. Otherwise we will place a heavy burden on consciences that there is something that we must contribute which causes doubts as to whether Jesus is truly present – and whether our sins are truly forgiven.

 

Jesus reminds us – it is our love for one another as he has loved us that will proclaim to the world that we are his disciples. And sometimes that love is asked of us as we show that we are prepared to let go of our traditions for the sake of the greater good. I don’t like wearing a mask or gloves or not having the common cup available for Holy Communion – but if these allow us to gather and receive the body and blood of Christ together then I will think of what Paul said – when he was confronted with eating meat sacrificed to idols – which he was very happy to do – but if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

 

So in all that we do, whether it is here in church or out in the public – let us show that same love for one another as Christ has loved us and by this EVERYONE will know that we are Christ’s disciples – if we have love for one another. And no greater love do we see than Christ sacrificing his own life to give us his body and blood in the sacrament.

Sermon 28th March 2021– Palm Sunday Text: Mark 11:1-11 – My rights

 Sermon 28^th March 2021– Palm Sunday Text: Mark 11:1-11 – My rights

 

MY RIGHTS is a phrase we are hearing more and more these days –  It’s my right to do this or not do this. It’s my body, my choice. Palm Sunday is an example of Jesus choosing the greater good rather than his own rights.

 

On Palm Sunday we celebrate what is called Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. But this is the entry that Jesus had been telling his disciples about when he said: that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed. With the crowds shouting their support for him it must have been tempting for Jesus to follow Peter’s suggestion instead when he responded to Jesus - “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” Jesus could have demanded his own rights and gone on to be their earthly leader – but for how long? But Jesus chose not too, as St Paul stated:  though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited,  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

 

Jesus didn’t succumb to temptation but continued towards Jerusalem and ultimately his death.

Let us not think for a moment that this was an easy decision for Jesus simply because he was the Son of God. As well as being God Jesus was also human like you and me and agonised over what Jerusalem would mean: In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus says: My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me.

But Jesus then considered the greater good rather than his own rights and said: Yet not what I will, but your will be done.” Jesus chose the greater good over that of his own rights, a lesson that is sorely missing in today’s “me” generation.

 

So much today is not thought of for the greater good but for my own rights. It’s all about my rights – my opinion – my desires. And when something violates “my” rights we demand action. My way – or we threaten to sue looking for compensation. We choose and keep leaders based on opinion polls rather than how good their policies are. And the trend these days for Governments once they are elected is not what good they can bring to the people but how we can ensure we are elected next time. And these days we are not prepared to go through some period of pain for the greater good but want my rights.

 

There is this “demanding my rights” feel about the way many approach life today. We see it in politics – we see it in the church – we see it on the roads – in schools – in universities – in sport – in our daily routines – we see it in the Covid restrictions which people disagree with (such as mask wearing). Jesus on the other hand led a humble life. He had rights that he did not take up. He did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited. Jesus was truly God but he emptied himself of any right to use it to his advantage.

 

When we was arrested and Peter wanted to defend Jesus honour, Jesus said – Don’t you think I  could call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

But how would that have served the common good? Instead - Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.

 

We are called in Paul’s 2nd reading to let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. And therefore we forgo our rights for the greater good. And that’s okay because you will not miss out.

Instead, Jesus says, a greater reward is reserved when he says - your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Instead of allowing our anger to govern and our thoughts, words and deeds, we allow the peace of God that goes beyond understanding to watch guard over us.

You only have to look at the anger of people when their rights are violated. We see people explode with road rage – or standing there at the shop counter demanding their rights – yelling at the person on the end of the phone. We saw so much of that during our Covid restrictions with people demanding “My Rights”.

 

But look at Jesus and how he kept his composure even to the point of death when he cried out to his father – not to avenge his blood but to forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing. And because of his humility, Paul says, God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name. Sometimes the rights of the greater good exceed the individual rights as we see on Palm Sunday when Jesus goes from hero to outcast because he refused to demand his right to Kingship. True kingship was awaiting him and also you as you claim the crown of glory for yourself.

 

Your life may not always go according to your expected rights but that is what the cross represents. It represents forgoing at times our own rights for the greater good. And the greater good is that all people coming to the knowledge of God and being saved. Whatever it is that you are doing you have an opportunity to show the grace and love of God to others particularly when you refrain from showing anger and instead showing love. Instead of demanding “my rights” we look for ways that we can serve others as Jesus did becoming a servant of all. It’s a sad quality that is missing in today’s society as people will usually respond by saying “I know my rights”.

 

God had the right to turn his back on humanity when we disobeyed him but it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us. And this is the mind that we too should have that sometimes in advancing God’s kingdom we forgo our rights for the greater good of sharing the gospel. But Jesus promises no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

Sermon 21st March 2021 – 5th Sunday in Lent Hebrews 5:5-10 – Suffering’s hidden mystery

 Sermon 21^st March 2021 – 5^th Sunday in Lent

Hebrews 5:5-10 – Suffering’s hidden mystery

 

With the AFL football season starting this week there is a sense of privilege for those who were fortunate enough to have had a ticket to watch their team play. For 2 of the biggest clubs in the AFL, Richmond and Carlton, getting a ticket was never going to be easy. The game usually attracts around 90,000 because of the footy starved public. But with Covid restrictions limiting the MCG to 50,000, Richmond was given 25,000 and Carlton 2,000 of those tickets. It was always going to be impossible to make everyone happy. Sometimes life is unfair and there is nothing we can do about it – it is totally out of our control.

 

In our Gospel reading today we have some spectators who are also wanting to see a major event that is happening. There is a festival happening in Jerusalem for the Passover and a huge crowd was gathering for the event because they heard that Jesus was going to be attending. Some Greeks came to Phillip and said that they would love to be able to see Jesus. Because they were not members of the Jewish race they felt they were not going to be given that opportunity. They had heard of all the great things Jesus had been doing – the miracles and teaching with authority and no doubt wanted to see this first hand. In fact this was just after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead and everyone was talking about it.

 

Phillip went to Andrew and told him about their request and together they went and told Jesus. But we’re not actually told whether or not they got to see Jesus. But it would not be long before everyone would get to see Jesus but not in the way they would have thought. They would see Jesus in a way that would shatter their expectations as they see him in a way that was not very glorious but in absolute shame hanging lifeless on a cross – crucified in humiliation in a most undignified death. They would now walk past shaking their heads in disgust – he saved others but could not even save himself.

 

But what they would not understand in all this is that they were witnessing the most glorious display of love and power by Jesus and his Heavenly Father. And that’s what Jesus explains before this happens:  The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Jesus is about to experience his death on the cross for our sins. One death that would create new life for many. But his concern is that his disciples will not understand what this means and reassures them that death in this situation is not the end of life but the beginning of a new life. And from here on all death will be the path to eternal life as St Paul says in Romans 6:  Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

And Jesus uses the example of a seed that must die in order for not only the new life that will come from it but further seeds that will create even more new life and more seeds.

 

Jesus’ death is not an indication of defeat – which is what it will look like - but a hidden victory. Notice what was said in the Hebrews reading about that death to assure us that Satan had not gotten the upper hand:

Jesus offered up prayers with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. The writer admits that God was able to save his own Son from death – and that he heard Jesus’ cry out to him - but that would mean we would not receive eternal life when we die. So the writer of Hebrews wants to assure each of us that God also hears our prayers – our cries and tears – and we are asked to trust him especially during those times when we feel God has not heard our prayers because of our suffering.

 

As we have journeyed through these 12 months of Covid I’m sure we all cried out at some time to God wondering what was going on. Asking to reopen our churches and for a while we wondered if indeed God was aware of our plight and able to help. In any time of suffering the question can easily arise – where is God in all this? When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon they’re captors taunted them also – where is your God?

If there is a loving God why does he allow us to suffer? These are all valid questions but we can begin to understand through Jesus’ suffering that our suffering is part of the mystery of God that we do not understand. It’s not suggesting in any way that God sends suffering.

 

But who could ever understand what St Paul says in Romans 5 when he says that he rejoices in his suffering:

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. He rejoices in his suffering??? St Paul saw a mysterious closeness to God in times of suffering in 2 Corinthians when he wrote: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Paul, again, delights in suffering.

 

That word “rest on me” is the key word to understanding. The Greek word is sken-o-ow – which is the same word in John 1:14 where John says – the Word became flesh and dwelt with us – rest on me – and dwelt are from the same word used in the Old Testament for the Tabernacle – which was the tent in which God lived with the Israelites and when God was present – the glory cloud or the Shekinah cloud (same word – sken-o-ow) would come an rest on the tabernacle. So what Jesus is teaching us – and what Paul discovered in suffering – is that there is this mystery hidden of God’s glory and presence with us in our suffering. Which is what Paul is referring to in Colossians chapter 3 when he says - For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God – hidden under a cloud of suffering. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. The glory cloud revealing God’s presence that has been hidden in us in our suffering

No one wants to suffer but suffering is not a sign that there is something wrong. Well, let me correct that – there is something wrong in the world – we call that sin.

 

But our suffering is not a punishment – it’s not a sign of God’s displeasure – but in our suffering God draws even closer to us. It’s like a parent who loves their child. But when their child suffers there comes a deeper love of agony watching your child suffer – to the point that if you could – you would take that suffering on yourself if you could free your child from their suffering. And that’s what God did for us. He took on our sin and punishment for sin and took our place on the cross. God made him who had no sin to become sin for us so that we would become the righteousness of God. That’s the mystery of why God, while we were yet sinners, loved us and sent his son to die for us. And that’s the new covenant that Jeremiah spoke of when he said - for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. And now, Jesus, who in the days of his flesh, offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission – now cries out to his heavenly Father for you – to the one who can save you from death and is heard because he is at the right hand of God interceding for you.

 

So may that Good News comfort you in your suffering and now that we know God hears your prayer, let us also cry out for the world – for those that do not yet know the love and mystery of God – let us cry out to God who hears us and is able to save the world from death and ask that his glory is made known to all people that all may come to know God and be saved.

Sermon 14th March 2021 – 4th Sunday in Lent Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 – God’s Masterpieces

 Sermon 14^th March 2021 – 4^th Sunday in Lent

Text: Ephesians 2:1-10 – God’s Masterpieces

 

I don’t consider myself a cultured person at all. Let me just unpack that. I don’t look at artwork and see the nuances and expression of the artist and what message he or she is trying to convey in their pieces of art.

I don’t meditate listening to classical music and get lost in the symphony of great musical masterpieces. I prefer to sit and watch TV in my spare time – quite often sitcoms or crime shows. I don’t sit and read and try to analyse messages that an author is trying to tell his or her readers as they search their soul and put it in writing. No, I prefer going to the footy – yelling at the umpire and being unable to speak the next day from all the cheering and singing I tend to read the Herald Sun rather than the Australian or the Age. Tend to vote conservatively in politics and perhaps shocked a lot of people when I said that I didn’t mind Donald Trump.

I hope that doesn’t make you look at me differently. But this is the beauty of God’s creation.

 

We are all different – and sometimes we don’t understand how a person can be so different. How on earth can they watch and listen to that sort of stuff. Why can’t they see and enjoy the beauty of that composer – that author. And sadly this is when some of our prejudices can make us look at people in a different way – in a less appealing way. This is often where prejudices like racism and sexism have their beginnings. When we look at a person differently – usually negatively – because they’re different. Maybe we don’t verbalise it but we think it or roll our eyes or speak to someone about it who will understand why we feel that way about that person. And as you would be aware from our news coverage this has been a huge issue in the media lately that has even cost some people their careers.

 

St Paul today reminds us that not only does God not discriminate about anyone but rather when he looks at us he sees us as “masterpieces” his handiwork that he is so proud of even if others can’t see what God would be proud of. But sometimes it’s not others who look down on us or others because we are different – and let’s remember there’s nothing wrong with being different. But sometimes it is we who look at ourselves and cannot see anything in us that anyone could possibly find attractive. Or maybe we’ve looked at our lives and wondered – what could God possibly love about us?

 

Well, there are 3 points that come out of our readings today to assure us that God loves us UNCONDITIONALLY.

 

First, we don’t always know or see what value we are contributing to God’s work on earth. Look how Paul explains it: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Some translations say we are God’s “masterpiece”. We are “GOD’S” handiwork – GOD’S masterpiece – no one else’s not even ours. And we have been created to do good works – which GOD prepared – IN ADVANCE for us to do. Please don’t ever devalue yourself because in devaluing yourself you are devaluing God your creator.

 

And this is the second point from our readings. And, as Paul said – we are saved by grace and not by works: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. Yes, we don’t always live lives that would make ourselves proud but God never ever stops loving us or disowning us. No, again Paul says: But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our sins, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved.

 

Notice that Paul can’t get the word “love” out there enough – out of the great love with which he loved us.

Probably not the best English grammar but Paul cannot emphasise enough how much God loves us.

And that draws us to the third point – just how much God loves us.

Jesus himself tells us just how much God loves his handiwork – his masterpiece when he says:

For God oved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. This is what we need to keep reminding ourselves about others and ourselves. That each of us – no matter what our physical appearances are – no matter what our personal likes and dislikes are – that God loves us so much that he not only sent his Son to be with us but allowed him to be sacrificed so that our salvation was not dependant on anything that we do but purely on God’s grace in his love for us. We might not always agree with one another or understand one another but that’s the beauty of God’s creative ability in that he created each and everyone one of us – warts and all – in his own image.

And that’s what we need to understand about each other and just as important to understand about ourselves. When God looks at you he sees himself – he sees his handiwork – even if no one else understands or can see it.

 

As we draw near to the end of our Lenten season, let us again reflect on just how much God loves us and everyone when we see the suffering and death that Jesus underwent for us. And let us remember that that suffering and death was for us and for all people and remember the next time we look down on ourselves or another person let us remember that we are actually looking down on God and discrediting his handiwork.

And if we believe that a person should be of a certain standard to achieve God’s love then we actually bring into question God’s love for us. Because is there is a standard that others must reach then we too must reach that standard. But there is no standard because we are saved by grace and not by works.  And it was out of God’s great love that he loved us – warts and all – in that it was while we were yet sinners that Christ died for us.

 

So let us always and continually give thanks to the Lord, for he is good – and that goodness is described by the Psalm writer – because his mercy endures for ever.

Sermon: 7th March 2021 – 3rd Sunday in Lent Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – The true church

 Sermon: 7^th March 2021 – 3^rd Sunday in Lent

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – The true church

 

The Ten Commandments play a foundational role not just in the life of Christians but in society also. But it depends from which angle you look at them as to whether you truly appreciate them or not. From one angle they might appear restrictive.

You know how it goes – Christians are party poopers and kill joys – you can’t do this, you can’t do that. Always critical and judging of others. But from a different angle they appear as a blessing protecting us from harm. For example – you shall not steal is as much as a commandment that protects us from others stealing our property as it is a direction to us limiting our behaviour. But is that all the Christian Church stands for? Is that the sole purpose for our existence – to ensure that people do the right thing and refrain from the wrong thing? Of course not.

 

The Christian Church is to be where people are able to find a relationship with God. When Jesus comes into the temple today he is furious that the people are misusing the temple for what its purpose was intended. The temple, like the church today, was where people found their relationship with God. Again, as in previous weeks, Mark’s gospel is rather brief in its narrative but from Matthew’s Gospel we hear what Jesus said to the people misusing the Temple: My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers. Prayer is our communication in our relationship with God. Jesus saw the temple as a house of prayer – a place where people come to be with God. A place of peace and serenity but it was anything but that when Jesus arrived. And we also know that the temple, because of Jesus’ death is no longer the physical building where people gather, which is what Jesus meant when he said he would rebuild the temple in 3 days. Likewise the church, in today’s understanding, is not the physical building where Christians gather but rather it is the gathering of Christians together irrespective of where we meet. Remember Paul’s teaching – that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Hence Jesus comment – wherever 2 or 3 are gathered there I am in the midst of them.

 

In the early church Christians would gather in homes – in smaller groups. As the church grew it became necessary to build purpose built buildings to gather Christians together and somewhere along the line the church building became our understanding of the church. And as we saw during the height of the pandemic we had to rethink our understanding of church because our church buildings were closed for public gatherings and we therefore thought our churches were closed.

We discovered ways to connect through zoom and YouTube but that didn’t really help those who didn’t have that technology. We also struggled with the idea of whether consecrating the bread and wine through that technology was valid or not – and we are still trying to understand that and whether that excludes those who don’t have that technology or don’t feel comfortable with it.

 

So, as you can see, we are moving in a direction that is challenging our understanding of church and community especially when we have challenges still ahead of us even though restrictions have been eased. Limits on numbers. Many not comfortable returning. Possibilities of further lockdowns. People whose health is compromised. And when you consider that our church buildings mostly remain empty for the week except for around 2 hours a week we are challenged to perhaps rethink – what is church. Perhaps part of our problem is that we have associated the church building with the church to the point that the bigger the church the more successful and blessed we believe we are. Even to the point that those who do not attend church we have considered as lapsed Christians – simply because they are not in the church building on a Sunday.

 

As a result we have often times been more concerned about building up our numbers rather than building up our faith. And I know that a lot of this has to do with finances. The more we can get into our church buildings the more offerings we can receive. But are we falling into the category of what Jesus encountered today. Their temple had become a place that was focused on money first. The money changers had entered the temple in order to exchange the roman currency which was considered unclean to temple funds. And, as a result, have we focused more on human strength as signs of success in the church rather than God’s strength.

 

When we look at churches side by side – and we see a church that gathers a thousand on a Sunday compared to a church that gathers under a hundred – don’t we start to ask – how come they are so successful – what are we doing wrong. Paul warned against that reminding us that God’s weakness is more powerful that human strength. Remember Jesus’ telling us about the poor widow who put into the temple treasury – the church offering – 2 small copper coins – while the rich put in thousands of dollars – and he proclaimed that she put in more than all the rest because of her faith in God. Is it time for the church to look again at what it means to be church? To look again to what it means to be community?

 

I don’t know what the answer is but I do know that I have been called to serve you with Word and Sacrament and to preach Christ crucified – which is the power of salvation to us who are being saved. That’s not saying at all that our Sunday church gatherings here are not important but if this pandemic has taught us anything it has taught us to think again about where the church is – who the church is and why the church is.

 

Where is the church? Our Lutheran Confessions say that wherever the Gospel is proclaimed and where the Sacraments are administered according to the Gospel – there is church.

 

Who is church? You are the church. You are the body of Christ. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

And the why question of the church. To proclaim Christ crucified, the power of God to save. So let us look to see how we can let Christ rebuild this temple to reflect his image and be the true body of Christ to us and the world.