Sermon 6th June 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 3:20-35 – Divided we fall

 Sermon 6^th June 2021 – 2^nd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 3:20-35 – Divided we fall

I believe that our Old Testament reading today is one of the most important readings to understanding the human condition and how our world works. It especially speaks to what we are facing here in Victoria, Australia, and no doubt around the world as we try to get on top of this Covid 19 pandemic. Have you been listening to the politics these days with the 4th lockdown in Victoria?

It’s Scott Morrisons fault because of his failed vaccine roll-out

It’s Scott Morrison’s fault because he should have built a new quarantine facility.

It’s Victorian Labor’s fault for not getting hotel quarantine correct.

It’s the contact tracing’s fault.

It’s South Australia’s fault for not testing the person correctly before releasing him to Victoria.

The woman YOU gave me, it’s her fault  – she made me eat.

It’s the snake’s fault – he tricked me into eating.

Do you see where it’s all connected?

And do you see how in society today the division that is caused by this preference to blame others and vindicate ourselves from any blame? It causes us to go on the defensive – a tactic used since childhood:

You started – no, you did.

Jesus himself stated the very same thing in today’s Gospel reading when he said:

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Is it any wonder that we just can’t get on top of this pandemic?

We have kingdom against kingdom with our international borders. We have houses divided against itself with our domestic borders. How on earth do we expect this to resolve if our primary aim is to vindicate ourselves and blame others?

It becomes the devil’s playground as Paul warned about in Ephesians chapter 4 when he said: In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. The devil looks for the tiniest entry point in to create division. And I don’t have to remind you of the divisions in our own church that threatens the future of our togetherness.

But let us not think that this is new in the church. No, St Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians was written because of division. Paul says to them: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided?

It’s interesting that 1st Corinthians is one of the 2 bible texts on which our own church is divided on the matter of Ordination.

Division takes its toll. Look at what it has done to our churches. And with this pandemic, more and more people I speak to are becoming disillusioned about where we are heading with this as a society.

This is now our 4th lockdown and we have only just begun winter when we normally get hit with the flu and coughs and colds. We have some of our members who have not yet returned to gathered worship from the first lockdown and now we are into our 4th and our anxiety levels are growing. And let us spare a thought for our age care facilities who have locked out all visits which means our elderly who are already frail, vulnerable and lonely cannot have family members visit them. And those who are in hospital cannot have family or even a Pastor visit them unless they are at end of life.

Just when we thought we were about to remove bookings and restrictions we end up having to cancel our very first unrestricted church service because of an outbreak. But we are not to become disillusioned through this but strengthened. And that’s what Paul encourages today when he says:

Do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

There is a heavy burden on our society today because what can be seen is the weight of lockdowns – the weight of restrictions – the weight of the unknown – these are the things we see and if that was all we had then we would be weighed down severely. But, as Christians, we don’t just have what we see but we have our faith – what we do not see but what we know.

What we see is temporary.

What we don’t see is eternal.

That’s what Hebrews chapter 11 says also - faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Did you hear that – our confidence – our hope is in what we do NOT see.

The things we see, these are what cause us to doubt and fear. It can be very disheartening if we base our hopes and future on what we see. If we base our hopes and futures on security that this world offers  - because this world cannot offer us any hope or security for the future. And any hope of the future can be ripped away from us in an instant by announcement of a lockdown.

But what we can put our hope in even if we cannot see it is our faith in God. We might not always understand what is going on but we always know that God is with us and that God is still in control of everything even if we cannot see it with our eyes. We have to believe that – what else is there to believe in? Even with Adam and Eve, despite removing them from the Garden of Eden, God did not abandon them .

Many scholars believe that the final punishment of the serpent, whom we believe to be Satan, is a reference to Christ when God says: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

So let us listen carefully to what Paul said today: Do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

And the eternal we cannot see is our eternal life which is guaranteed by our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is all our faith.

 

Sermon 30th April 2021 – Trinity Sunday Text: Romans 8:12-17 – Protecting God’s Identity

 Sermon 30^th April 2021 – Trinity Sunday

Text: Romans 8:12-17 – Protecting God’s Identity

 

Identity theft is a growing concern in society today.

Every day I receive either a warning of a new scam trying to trick me into handing over my private details or I receive an actual attempt to steal my identity.

Maybe you’ve been a victim of someone trying to steal your personal details which has caused thousands of people to lose fortunes.

Our identity is important and we go to great lengths to protect it.

God’s identity is also important – in fact it is sacred.

It is protected by the 2nd commandment – you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

God gave his identity to Moses in order to free Israel from slavery.

He didn’t give him special powers – or special weapons – he revealed his identity – he gave him his name – Yahweh – I AM.

In fact today strict Jews will not mention the name of God – Yahweh - when they read the Scriptures for fear of disrespecting God’s name and replace Yahweh with the lesser form of word for Lord using Adonai.

In today’s society, sadly, there is great disrespect or rather lack of respect for God’s name as we hear the misuse of God’s name and identity in very poor use.

And I’m hoping you’ll forgive me as I use it simply to explain so we can also become aware as it has even become common place in the language of everyday Christians.

When someone hurts themselves they might use it as a curse word – “Jesus Christ”.

Or as a curse word against another person – Christ you’re an idiot.

Jesus Christ it’s hot today.

For Christ’s sake, would you please be quiet.

Or just simply – Oh My God – or even OMG with sometimes a horrible swear word inserted as well.

There seems to be little fear or respect of God and his name and identity that he cherishes and protects.

Just look at the effect that speaking God’s name has with Isaiah and his response:

The angels said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

And Isaiah said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

And yet today we use God’s name so carelessly and frivolously as if it means nothing.

And let us remember that the name Jesus that is used so disrespectfully today will be the source of great fear and respect when he returns on the last day:

As St Paul says in Philippians chapter 2:

God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Today we are also facing the added challenge in the Christian Church of protecting the fundamental teaching of God’s identity in “The Trinity”.

That God has revealed his identity to us as One God in Three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the Trinity – Unity in Three.

But in doing so it can cause great distress for those who believe in God but believe in a different path to God.

A path that does not acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the one true and only path for the assurance of eternal life in Heaven.

As a result it has made the Christian church seem like an exclusive club.

That you have to believe in Jesus or you’re out as is often seen when quoting John 14:

No comes to the Father except through me.

But Jesus today reassures us that there is no exclusion through him as he tells Nicodemus:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

One of the challenges to proclaiming the Trinity as an essential teaching for the Christian Church is that there are no Bible passages that use the term Trinity when referring to God as three persons.

But there are clear references to the identity of God that is essential to understanding that this is how God has revealed himself as necessary for eternal life in heaven.

In our Gospel reading we see the first connection to assurance of eternal life in Jesus’ comment to Nicodemus:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

So there is the assurance of eternal life that comes through the Son – sent by his Father.

And Jesus also introduces the necessary work of the Holy Spirit when he says:

“Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

And most importantly, it is the working of the Trinity that is central to our forgiveness.

After his resurrection as he greeted the frightened disciples gathered behind locked doors he said:

 “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Probably one of the clearest indications of the Trinity at work:

As the Father sent the Son – so the Son sends you – breathing on you the Holy Spirit and the assurance of your own forgiveness and the authority to forgive others.

The Trinity is not just a name we have given to God it is his identity that has been revealed even from the beginning of creation with God the Father creating through his Word and the Spirit giving life to that Creation.

As much as we do everything to protect our identity we should do even more so to protect God’s identity because this is how he has revealed himself to us and given us the assurance of our eternal life in heaven.

And that’s what Paul said too – that through Jesus being the Son of God we have been adopted through him as children of God.

And as children of God we receive eternal life not as a reward for good deeds but as a right of inheritance.

Paul said: When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-

And so an attack on God’s identity is an attack on our inheritance.

God is not an abstract being but a relational part of our very being whom we call Father.

And just as the Trinity was at work in Jesus’ Baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus to the words – this is my son whom I love – so too our Father in heaven declares you to be his child whom he loves and has brought into his family by receiving the very Spirit of God in you.

 Sermon Pentecost Sunday - 23rd May 2021

Text: Romans 8:22-27 - Groaning with God

We live in a world that is groaning.

We hear it every time we turn on the TV news – every time we pick up the newspaper – every time we hear the hourly news bulletin on the radio.

We hear the rising infection rates of the pandemic.

We hear the warnings that our world is going to quickly reach a point of irreversible destruction if we don’t reduce our emissions.

We hear the turmoil in the Middle East again.

We hear of family breakdowns that go right to the top including the royal family.

No one is immune.

But somehow we have this belief that it hasn’t always been this way.

That our worldly problems are the result of our modern times.

That somehow, in ages past, it was all roses and sunshine.

And when we believe this we then believe that if we can just turn things around then we can, if it’s not too late, clean up our act and leave a better and healthier world for our children, grandchildren and future generations.

But we hear from St Paul, in our 2nd reading from Romans, that this is far from the reality.

Paul wrote this almost 2,000 years ago that things were not that good then for our planet.

He says: We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now;

Our world is groaning – it has always been groaning in pain.

This is not just a modern phenomenon.

This has been going on since the beginning of time.

In fact in the Old Testament, right back in the first book of the Bible, it talks about the groaning of our world.

When Cain killed his brother Abel, God said that it was the earth that groaned from his evil behaviour.

The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you.

St Paul’s answer to this groaning is not in human hands but in God’s hands.

He reminds us that it is not only Creation that is groaning but that we humans are also groaning.

And that’s not surprise because Adam was created from the dust of the earth.

In fact the name Adam comes from the same word for earth – Adamah.

Adam was created from Adamah.

He says; not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved.

Paul points us to putting our hope in God for the world and for us.

He is not saying that there isn’t anything we can do but that our only hope for the world is in God.

And if we want to pass on a better world to our children and grandchildren then there is nothing better that we can do than to pass on our Christian faith in God.

And that’s what we are celebrating today as several of our young members are prepared to receive Holy Communion through the rite of First Communion.

As the creator of our world our only hope is in God for the future of our world.

Our Psalm today says that this is the work of the Holy Spirit which we celebrate today on Pentecost Sunday.

The holy spirit of God is a creative spirit.

It was there at the beginning of creation – hovering over the empty and void world preparing to create life.

It was there on the Day of Pentecost to create the Christian Church.

Our Psalm says: You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth.

The work of God’s Holy Spirit is to create and renew and transform.

Look at the change in the disciples that takes place.

Before the Holy Spirit came upon them they were a group of frightened people.

After Jesus had died we heard that they were locked away in a room fearing for their lives.

But after receive the Holy Spirit they will go out and tell everyone about Jesus even at the risk of being placed in jail, like Peter– even at the risk of being put to death like Stephen.

Our world needs renewing – there is no doubt about that.

But the renewing begins with renewing our relationship with the world’s creator – God.

And he has sent his Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth.

Jesus said – he is sending us a helper in the Holy Spirit because we can’t do this alone.

In the beginning when God created the world it was a world that God declared to be very good.

And because God is the creator he loves this world that he created and does not want to see it groaning in pain.

And it is not only us and creation that is groaning but God is also groaning in pain.

Paul said that the Holy Spirit is groaning in prayer, praying for our world and all that it needs.

He says: The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Friends, none of us likes the state of the world and where it is going and we want future generations – our children, and grandchildren – to have a world passed on to them that is beautiful and free of the condition that it is currently in.

But we can only do that if we allow God to take control and let his Holy Spirit renew us and the face of the earth.

If we don’t allow that then the world will continue to deteriorate.

We heard that in our Psalm also:

You hide your face, and they are terrified; you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

Pentecost is about renewal.

Renewal of creation as the Holy Spirit prays for the world.

Renewal of faith as the Holy Spirit creates the Christian Community we call “the church”.

Renewal of our ongoing faith as we receive the Holy Spirit in our Baptism and as the Holy Spirit creates through Bread and Wine the body and blood of Christ for the renewal of our lives through the forgiveness of our sins.

Our world is a beautiful world – it’s not perfect – it never can be.

That’s why the Book of Revelation talks about God creating a new heaven and a new earth.

But until then God, through his Holy Spirit, prays for the world and offers us hope that despite the turmoil, disruption and chaos in the world that God continues to renew the face of the earth.

God created this world and will never abandon it even though many parts of the world have abandoned him.

Like many people, I get a little depressed when I open the newspaper and read all the doom and gloom.

But then I open my bible and read about how much God loves the world and cares for the world that he would send his one and only son, not to condemn the world but to save the world through him.

God opens his hand, and we are filled with good things.

So may the Holy Spirit continue to reassure you that he is praying for you and that he knows all your needs.

That’s why Jesus sent him to be your advocate to stand with you and be your comforter in your time of need.

Sermon: 16t May 2021 – The Ascension Text: Luke 24:44-53 – Don’t underestimate the Ascension

 

Sermon: 16^t May 2021 – The Ascension

Text: Luke 24:44-53 – Don’t underestimate the Ascension

 

The Ascension of our Lord falls on the 40th day after Jesus’ resurrection. During those 40 days Jesus established eye witnesses who would pass on to future generations proof of his rising from the dead. We don’t hear of any parables or miracles performed by Jesus during those 40 days. They were the purpose of the 3 years of teaching before he was crucified for our sins.

The Ascension is an important event in the mission of Jesus – so important that in parts of Europe it is designated as a Public Holiday. The Ascension is the fulfilment of Jesus mission as he ascends into heaven to the right hand of God to govern the world until he returns to bring about the New Heaven and Earth – as the angels told the disciples who watched him ascend: “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

But one of the casualties of our busyness is that very few churches have church services on Ascension Thursday and hold that celebration until the Sunday. But the Ascension is core to our understanding of what is going on in the world and essential in helping us to navigate through life with all the challenges that face us.

Throughout this pandemic and through other worldwide events and our own personal challenges it is easy to conclude that God is not in control. An in times of personal challenges our response in those times is to take human action first and then pray.

Human response is important – whether it’s responding through Covid safe practices during this pandemic – or by reducing emission in time of Climate Change. Just as our human response in our personal situations is to see a doctor when we’re not feeling well. But, as Christians, we come to these situations first and foremost with faith. Faith that God is aware of our situation and that God is in control.

And one of the other casualties of Ascension moving from Thursday to Sunday is we miss a vital piece in the puzzle of our Easter Season by ignoring the 7th Sunday of Easter and what St John says. So we don’t miss out on this important Gospel let us hear it now:

 

John 17:6-19

Jesus prayed for his disciples, “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

First of all, look how John begins – “Jesus prayed for his disciples”. Have you ever considered that Jesus is praying for you? Our prayer life might not be all that crash hot at times – we don’t find time – we don’t know what to pray – we just can’t be bothered or forget to. But that’s not the case with Jesus. Jesus is praying for you. He never forgets – never neglects – is never too busy to pray for you

In fact St Paul says the same in Romans: The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for.

Have you ever had someone come up to you and tell you that they’ve been praying for you? How did that make you feel? How does that then make you feel that Jesus himself is praying for you? Do you feel lost and helpless – then remember Jesus promise “I am with you always” and remember that he is praying for you.

 And look at part of that prayer:

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me.”

We belong to Jesus. Do you ever feel lost and alone? Remember that you belong to Jesus. And because we belong to Jesus we are protected, as Jesus says in his prayer to the Father for us: “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me.”

Jesus has been given the name that is above all names. And at the name of Jesus EVERY knee shall bow – and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Forget what the world looks like – we are under the protection and care of Jesus Christ. It may not look that way at times as the world looks out of control. It may not look that way as we see the church declining in numbers, authority and relevancy. But, again, Jesus says that this is because we belong to him and not the world:

“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”

Do we think the mission of the church is to make the world love us? No. Our mission is to remain in Christ and to draw others into that relationship. And remaining in Christ means remaining in the world and being the light of Christ in the world. And that’s how we draw others into a relationship with God, as Jesus said: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Ironically we don’t remain in Christ if we take ourselves out of the world which is what the angels said to the disciples who watched Jesus ascend. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." The angel told them to go  into the world: You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. And that witness, Jesus said: that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem

We are sent into the world as eye witness of repentance and forgiveness that we have received from God. And the way we proclaim that is by living out repentance and forgiveness in our own lives:

In Jerusalem – which was their home town – forgiving one another in our homes .If we can’t forgive our loved ones in our family, how will we forgive others

In Judea – our extended home – in our churches. In our workplaces, among our neighbours.

In Samaria – the enemy of Israel – where we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

And to the ends of the world.

When Jesus ascended to Heaven it was to complete his authority as he said before he ascended: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me – go and Baptise. And that authority is given to the church – the body of Christ through Word and Sacrament

But it’s a different authority to worldly authority that is shown through physical strength. It is authority shown through love and forgiveness through what Jesus called the office of the keys when he said to Peter: I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

If the gates of hell cannot overcome us then what chances does the world have against us when we are in Christ?

And that transfer of authority to the church comes through his ascension as Paul said today: “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all”

Friends, do not underestimate the significance of the Ascension. Do not underestimate the power and authority of the church – but a power and authority that comes through love and forgiveness. Do not underestimate your power and authority as you exercise the office of the keys of heaven.

You are sent to be eye witnesses to the very forgiveness that you have received;

A forgiveness that has freed you from fear of anything that is happening in the world. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience these just as everyone does but we have comfort knowing that our eternity is secured by Jesus. Jesus said that in John’s gospel today: I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. So even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil nor the evil one because Jesus is with us.

And Jesus is with us watching over us from the right hand of God praying for us and protecting us until we are safe in heaven with him

May that peace of God that surpasses our understanding keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Sermon 9th May 2021 – 6th Sunday of Easter Text: John 15:9-15 - Family Privileges

 Sermon 9^th May 2021 – 6^th Sunday of Easter

Text: John 15:9-15 - Family Privileges

 

Blood is thicker than water:

It doesn’t matter what you know – it’s who you know that matters.

These and other sayings highlight the reality that there are privileges that are often granted to family members.

Sometimes that’s a positive thing, especially when it’s continuing a family business.

But sometimes it’s not such a positive thing when it excludes people – a job for the boys.

When favouritism means that someone is not chosen because of some form of bias.

In today’s first reading this was one of the first and biggest challenges to face the new church – the followers of Jesus.

That this group of Jewish followers of Jesus who had been waiting for so long for God to send his promised King were now being asked to allow these foreigners in.

This Jewish clan had been waiting for hundreds and hundreds of years for God to fulfil his promise to send a new King to sit on David’s throne.

Their ancestors had been through hell:

400 years in hard slavery in Egypt.

They had fought battle after battle losing thousands upon thousands of gallant men defending their homeland Israel.

Their ancestors had been sent into exile in foreign lands mistreated the Babylonians, Assyrians and Philistines.

And now these outsiders – these “Johnny come lately” known as Gentiles, think they can just be Baptised and receive the Holy Spirit like that!!

What this encounter shows to us is that our mission is always to look for inclusions into our faith community rather than exclusions.

And sadly, sometimes, in order to protect our faith we have made people feel excluded rather than included – like outsiders rather than insiders.

Some of you can probably remember when it was incredibly exclusive to break into our Lutheran church.

When a Lutheran married a Roman Catholic – that was frowned up and some were disowned not just by the church but by family members.

When a Lutheran married someone from “the other Synod”.

Some of you may not be familiar with those exclusions – because the Lutheran Church evolved from a dispute between Martin Luther, previously a Catholic Monk and the Pope.

And as a result there had been an air or suspicion of anything too catholic in the church.

And it’s only been in recent times when the Lutheran Church has come out and rescinded its previous statement of the Pope being the Antichrist.

And prior to 1966 the Lutheran Church was divided between 2 Synods and the hostility was rather fierce.

In our first reading today we see that challenge in the faces of Peter and his companions.

They have been invited to the house of Cornelius – a Gentile – a Roman Centurion – from the same Roman community that sentenced Jesus to death by crucifixion.

And while they are there they see something unbelievable happen.

They see the Holy Spirit of God given to Cornelius and his people.

And not just given – but “poured” out onto them.

And they were astonished that the Holy Spirit was given “even to Gentiles” and they began to speak in tongues and praise THEIR God.

And now Peter wants them to be baptised.

But hang on – what do they know about Jesus – what do they believe?

Shouldn’t we examine them first?

This is mind blowing – are we letting just anyone in?

What next – who will we let in next?

Maybe we should let that person arresting Christians, burning down their churches and approving the killing of Christians  – what’s his name? Saul?

Well, imagine how Ananias felt when God appeared to Ananias and told him exactly that.

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go!

Sometimes we need to do a check on ourselves to see if we have become an exclusive organisation rather than inclusive community.

We might be horrified to feel someone felt they didn’t feel welcomed when they visited our church.

We should be looking for ways to include rather than exclude.

That was Jesus’ mission as he looked to include the outsiders.

When the law commanded the death of the woman caught in adultery, Jesus freed her by the very same commandments that were being used to put her to death.

He didn’t deny that the commandment of Moses justified her death but called on her accusers to examine their own lives first and the one without sin could still cast the first stone.

Or Zacchaeus – the very behaviours that excluded him from friendship of his people – the theft and dishonesty – Jesus was able to overturn by including him rather than excluding him –

Zacchaeus said: Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Again John’s focus is on love – but not just any type of love but a love that is generated by and from our inclusion into the family of God through Jesus Christ.

He says – everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.

By this example John is saying that if we love God then we will love what comes from God.

If we love the parent we will love the child.

And as we confess God as the creator of all people then we love all people.

And this is no ordinary love.

When we show the love of God then John says that we can change the world.

We live in a world that sadly is not a great example of love.

We only have to look at the way people have been treated during this pandemic with border bans not just internationally but even among our own states.

Now I can understand why we have travel bans but the way they are done there is this instant reaction to cut off and protect ourselves first rather than reach out and help.

But look how John speaks about the love of God and the power that exists in it:

Whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Can you imagine a world where we were not divided by anything?

Can you imagine if our first response was like the Good Samaritan who stopped to help a person from a race of people who had excluded while his own people crossed over to the other side of the road to avoid helping?

Jesus said – go and do likewise.

Or think of the Samaritan woman at the well.

She was astonished that Jesus, a Jewish leader would talk to her – a woman and a Samaritan.

And what does she do in response – she goes and tells her entire community who then come out to see Jesus and believe.

This is what Jesus asks of us who know all about God’s love;

That you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What a beautiful image we have of our relationship with Jesus that we are his friends.

That even though it was his own people who cried out for his death, he could put that aside and still call them his friend.

I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.

Can you imagine a world where we treated one another in the same way – as our friend?

That’s what Jesus asks of us.

But he does that because he knows how much joy that brings not only to the world but also to us:

Jesus said: I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Compare the person who has anger and resentment in their heart and a person who has love and joy in their heart.

That’s what God offers you – to know his love and experience complete and fullness of joy.

Yes there are benefits to belonging to a family and we belong to the most privileged family of all – the family of God with the greatest benefits one can imagine – eternal life in heaven.