Sermon 31st August 2022 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 12:13-21 – Lord, teach us to share

 Sermon 31^st August 2022 – 8^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 12:13-21 – Lord, teach us to share

 

Our Gospel reading about hording possessions would have been very appropriate at the beginning of Covid when certain items became in short supply. We saw people rushing out and buying stocks of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other essentials, more than they would ever need but wanted to feel secure. We were told on many occasions that there was no shortage of these items but when people panic buy then the suppliers couldn’t keep up with demand. It was a worldwide phenomenon not just Australia. And it didn’t end there. When Rapid Antigen Tests (or RATs) became available we saw the same panic buying meaning that many people missed out. And again it continues. Every time the media comes out and highlights a certain product like eggs and potatoes being in short supply people rush out and make sure they have enough for themselves.

Notice the adjective that goes with this sort of buying. It’s called “panic” buying.

 

When we panic we become irrational and a self-preservation sets in. To avoid panic St Paul urges us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Jesus taught similar focus when he said do not worry about ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

 

So Jesus has taught us the two great commandments to follow which achieves this; to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When people were panic buying they ignored those 2 commandments – and that is what caused problems. They didn’t put their trust in God to provide. And they didn’t worry about their neighbour missing out on essentials. And that seems to be human nature that is fueled by fear and greed. And again, Jesus warns against this: “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

 

What brought this on for Jesus? Two brothers are in dispute of the family inheritance.  Jesus reminds them that life is not about owning or possessing things abundantly because we are never satisfied. I could cite many examples over the years of millionaires if not billionaires who have left their children an absolute fortune – more than they would ever need – but one would think “I deserve more”. And as a result of money – something more valuable than money can buy is lost – family and friends. But that’s what greed does. As King Solomon writes about in Ecclesiastes – everything is meaningless – everything is vanity.

 

And that’s why St Paul directs our thinking away from earthly things where, as Jesus says - where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Instead, Paul directs us to things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. In heaven is where true riches are found where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

We know this as Christians. We know the treasures in heaven that await us. But because of our human nature we panic and when we panic it attacks our faith. Peter was a perfect example when he was walking on the water because of his faith in Jesus. But once he panicked when he saw the wind and the waves he began to sink in the water. That’s the example we learn from Adam and Eve who had everything possible available to them. But they were led to believe there was more. So this becomes the foundation of our lives inherent in each of us. Which is what Luther highlights in his Large Catechism explaining the First Commandment to love God with all our heart and to have no other gods. He says that whatever you run to in time of danger – in times of panic - that is your god.

 

But what we need to be careful of is that we don’t demonize wealth and possessions. God gives gifts to us to enjoy. In fact in his Small Catechism explanation of the First Commandment Luther gives thanks to God for – food and clothing, home and family, daily work and all I need from day to day. There is nothing wrong with planning for the future by paying off our house, adding to our superannuation. Prepareing for rainy days is not living in fear or doubt. But it’s the selfish and excessive desire for oneself that becomes greed which Jesus warns against because it shifts our focus from heavenly treasures to earthly worries. And it is the way we treat our abundance and our wealth that concerns Jesus when we become like the rich fool in the parable who said–

I will pull down MY barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all MY grain and MY goods. And I will say to MY soul, `Soul, YOU have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

 

He was rich for himself but not rich toward God or his neighbour in need.

 

Our human nature will always be a challenge for us particularly when it comes to things like uncertainty and money issues. And even the most faithful Christian can succumb to the impact of fear and greed. It’s a matter of recognizing when these have taken hold of our life and the damage that it can do. Look what it did to Judas who was prepared to betray his Lord for 30 pieces of silver.

 

As we journey into the future there are going to be challenges. Shortages of food items because of international situations and natural disasters. Continued interest rate rises putting pressure on people with mortgages. Continued exposure to Covid, flu, monkeypox or whatever the next health crisis is going to be. All of these and more can have the effect of taking our eyes of Jesus who is in control of everything. Christ who is all in all. Christ to whom the wind and the waves and all the elements must obey. Christ in whom you are a new creation. He is the one whom we keep our eyes focused on – sitting at the right hand of God and to whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given.

 

 

 

Sermon 24th July 2022 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost Text: - Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 Sermon 24^th July 2022 – 7^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: - Luke 11:1-13 – Lord teach us to pray

 

When there is a tragedy you often hear people respond to the victim saying our thoughts and prayers are with you. While there’s nothing wrong with that and I’m sure people appreciate the sentiment it’s concerning if that is all that we see prayer as – a sentiment reduced to something like our positive thoughts. In fact you may even hear a person say – I’m sending you positive energy. That’s NOT prayer.

 

Prayer is entering into the presence of God to seek his help and counsel. So many underestimate the power of prayer with a sort of defeatist attitude believing that if fate has decided something how can we possibly change it. But just look at our Old Testament reading today. God had decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. Could Abraham really have changed God’s mind? If God has decided something then who are we to change his mind. Some believe in what is known as predestination. That the future is written by God and we cannot change it. In fact it would be blasphemous to think that we, mere mortals, could change God’s mind. But the people of Nineveh did it. God told them that in 40 days he would destroy them. But when they heard about that from Jonah the people and animals of Nineveh all repented and it says that God repented from his anger to destroy them and forgave them.

 

And, so too, here in our Old Testament reading Abraham has entered into God’s counsel to plead on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah. And so Abraham bargains with God. Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?  And the Lord said, "If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake."  So Abraham continues, Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?"  And God again said: "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there."  And so Adam, like being at an auction, goes down and down in increments.  What about forty – what about thirty – what about twenty. And finally, suppose ten are found there. And God answered, For the sake of ten I will not destroy it. Sadly, God couldn’t even find 10 righteous people there. But if he could, because of Abraham’s prayer, God was prepared to change his mind.

 

So we need to be bold with our prayers. But, you might ask, has prayer actually ever achieved anything. Each week we pray to God, but has it worked? We still see catastrophic events in the world. We see fire, flood, earthquakes, wars. Didn’t we pray for God to cease them? Well, yes we did. But what we don’t know is what has been averted because of our prayers. We don’t know if World War 3 was averted because we prayed for peace. We don’t know if more devastating floods were averted because we prayed about it. So we are called to pray faithfully trusting God that he hears our prayers and answers them according to his grace and mercy. But we have to match that with living in a fallen world with a free will where things happen because of the sinful circumstances our world lives in.

 

Prayer is often misunderstood as wishing for something. So when something that we pray for doesn’t happen we presume that God has not heard our prayer or has declined our prayer. Prayer is often a realignment of our lives with God’s. Like when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane as he prepared to go to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Earlier Jesus had told his disciples that “with God all things are possible”. So, yes, it was possible to take the cup of suffering from Jesus but what was God’s will?

 

So often, after exhausting times, Jesus would retreat to a solitary place where he would pray to his Father in Heaven.

So quite often the answer to our prayer is not so much our will being done but a realigning of our life with God’s. But, having said that, sometimes God does intervene, like he did with Nineveh, but other times it is trusting in God’s knowledge of a situation which we cannot understand at times. As the Book of Hebrews, chapter 11 says - faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And just because we don’t see a change when we’ve prayed about a situation doesn’t mean it is wrong to pray again about the same situation, like Abraham did – several times pushing God to save Sodom and Gomorrah – and in the end Abraham having to trust God’s judgement.

 

But on the contrary we have Jesus example of prayer to show persistence in prayer: Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

We saw that persistence in the Canaanite woman: Initially Jesus rejected her request to heal her daughter. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” But she didn’t give up: The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. Again, Jesus refused: He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” And, yet again, she persisted

 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

 

So prayer has several parts: First of all, ASK. Don’t presume God will say no. Don’t be afraid to ask God for help. Not as a last resort but speaking to him as your Heavenly Father as you would speak to your earthly parent. That’s why the Lord’s Prayer begins – Our Father in Heaven. It’s very personal.

 

Secondly, we are asked to trust. Just as Jesus trusted – not my will be done but yours. Sometimes we don’t understand why God allows things to happen or doesn’t prevent things from happening. And that’s what trust is all about. God is our heavenly Father. He created us in his own image. He loves us so much that he sent his Son to die for us. Why would he not continue to act in a loving way towards us. Remember that our perfect life is waiting for us in Heaven. Until then we live in an imperfect, fallen world with free-will.

 

What prayer helps us with in that time is to know that our Heavenly Father is with us. And that he strengthens us to cope with those situations. But there will be times when God will intervene, like the persistent widow in our Gospel reading – like the persistent Canaanite mother, like Nineveh. But there will be times like Sodom and Gomorrah where we have to trust in God. But the important thing is that we keep praying. And when we just don’t know what to pray then Jesus has given us his own prayer to pray. When you just don’t have the strength to pray then God himself, though the Holy Spirit will pray for us, as Paul says 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 us through wordless groans.

 

We don’t always understand God’s will or ways but St Paul encourages us, in his letter to the Philippians – to not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Sermon 17th July 2022 – 6th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Listen to Jesus

 Sermon 17^th July 2022 – 6^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Luke 10:38-42 – Listen to Jesus

O for the life of Mary. To be able to have the freedom and luxury of sitting at Jesus’ feet free of the busyness of life that has captured Martha. Martha is like so many of our church families. They scramble to keep their family’s heads above financial waters with both parents working, juggling school pickups – whose turn is it to take them to Auskick – in between you have to take another child to dancing or netball.  Wouldn’t we all love the “luxury” of sitting at Jesus’ feet while everyone else is running around? Or what about the parents who work 5 days a week and Saturday is sports and house work – Sunday is our only day off.

As a Pastor I feel for them and would never make anyone feel guilty and hope that they know that being a member of our church is not just about coming to church on Sunday but about maintaining a relationship with God. Something that Martha has slipping away from her through her busyness and distractions.

Our issue is that we are tied heavily to our budget and offerings which have traditionally been received on Sunday. So there has been this mission outreach motivated by what many churches refer to as “giving units”. I really dislike that term referring to a member of the body of Christ as a “giving unit”. What we need to do and hopefully our review is going to lead us on that path is to rediscover our mission and ministry focus to our wider community which includes all of our church family.

What is sad about the Martha situation is that she is the example we are to follow when it comes to mission outreach. That might sound strange especially considering Jesus says she has become distracted. But notice that Jesus didn’t tell her to stop what she is doing and come and sit at my feet. Listen again to the start of the Gospel reading:

As Jesus and his disciples went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

That’s the crux of mission – welcoming; welcoming the stranger. We want Martha in our congregation – not for the work she does – although that’s great too – but we want the welcoming nature of Martha who welcomed Jesus into her home. Mary experiences the blessings of Martha’s invitation and hospitality sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him. If Martha had not welcomed Jesus into her home then Mary would not have had the privilege of sitting at Jesus’ feet.

But what’s interesting about this reading, particularly as we pair it with our Old Testament reading, is the welcoming of God into our midst. Remember, this was no ordinary guest she invited in.  This was Jesus. The was God.

In our Old Testament reading Abraham and Sarah are visited by 3 strangers who turn out to be 3 angels – perhaps the Holy Trinity? When Abraham sees them he doesn’t ask what they want but extends hospitality by rushing and getting food and drink for them. I wonder whether this is a lesson to us as church.

In our busyness of getting everything done – in our efforts to evangelise – have we begun by inviting God into our midst? In our meeting with Pastor Brett Kennett recently regarding our review, he said we are so used to the phrase “don’t just sit there, do something” which is often how churches evangelise. We have to do the latest mission program that everyone else is doing. Pastor Brett suggested that in church as we focus on mission and evangelism we need to turn that around. Don’t just do something – sit there. He wasn’t suggesting that we just sit on our hands – but like Mary, we need to sit at the feet of Jesus again as the foundation of our mission and ministry.

Martha’s biggest issue is that her hospitality has been distracted by her anger at her sister. Her hospitality is important. Her hospitality invited Jesus into her home.

And as the Book of Hebrews reminds us - Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. But in her anger Martha now tells Jesus what he has to do and it has nothing to do with mission or evangelism – tell my sister to help me. That’s not mission when we tell God what he should be doing in his church.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say to Martha – just stop all your fussing and come and sit down. No. He tries to let her know that in her distraction she has shifted her focus from welcoming Jesus into her home and heart and in her anger has now sinned – she has given Satan a foothold into her life as St Paul warns against.

She now wants to tell Jesus how he should act – Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me. She is now directing Jesus’ mission. What was once a welcoming hostess has now decided how Jesus should act. Her mission began well – welcoming Jesus into her heart and home. And perhaps that’s the lesson for us as we seek to do God’s mission.

First – invite Jesus in as our guest.Allow Jesus to speak to us as we sit at his feet. Wasn’t that what God said about Jesus at his Baptism and Transfiguration – this is my Son whom I love – “listen to him”.

Secondly, as a welcoming church, perhaps that’s where we can begin our mission and ministry – by inviting. I know that inviting strangers is not that easy but we have a whole congregation of members who have not worshipped in a long time particularly since Covid. And Sunday morning church is not always the first place they have to receive an invitation.

Perhaps, like Martha, an invitation to our homes to rebuild connections or even to begin a connection. Just look at the example that Jesus left us. His invitation to have a meal with Zacchaeus. His visit to Simon the Pharisee. The constant complaint against him – he eats with sinners. Jesus didn’t say “go to the synagogue” as his mission and evangelism but lived out hospitality in his life. Even after his resurrection when he met the disciples on the beach he had breakfast waiting for them.

Let us revisit our membership directory and have a look at the names in there and how many there are that we have not seen or whom you do not know. And remember that as we invite the stranger into our homes we are inviting Jesus. As much as you did this for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did unto me. As Martha invited Jesus into her home – and as Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to listen to him – in the words of Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan, let us go and do likewise.

Sermon 10th July 2022 – 5th Sunday after Pentecost Text - Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

 Sermon 10^th July 2022 – 5^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text - Luke 10:25-37 – Go and do likewise

 

I’m a fairly practical person and when I have to do something I like to have instructions. So when I’m confronted with a problem or a new situation I like to ask. What do I have to do? I like to follow instructions and I like to follow procedures. Not everyone’s like that. Some are very good at just looking at the situation and getting on with it. I’m like the lawyer in the Gospel reading today. He goes up to Jesus and asks him for the instructions and procedures. What must I do to inherit eternal life? He wants the instructions.

 

Now, Jesus knows that he is trying to test him. Jesus knows he’s a lawyer so he sends him off to the Law book with all the instructions and procedures. "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" And so he recites it: He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus affirms him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." That’s very straightforward for the Lawyer. But now the lawyer wants further clarification and instruction: Who is my neighbor?

 

Now it gets challenging. Now it moves from instruction and procedure to the practice of it. It goes from theory to practice.

I remember my own experience. Five years studying at the Seminary with all that theory and then your first placement and it’s nothing like what you learnt. In fact many Pastors find themselves in deep water when they get to their first Parish and start to apply what they learnt. They begin to change everything because that’s what they learnt but soon discover that life in the real world is nothing like the theory they learnt. And so today, the Lawyer, is given a life lesson. Yes, he knows the written law but does he know the life application. What it truly means to love God with all his heart and his neighbour as himself. To go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan did who looked past his personal likes and dislikes and saw a neighbour in need. Who did not discriminate against those who discriminated against him. The Priest and the Levite did not do that. Even though it was one of their own people – the rule book said they could not touch a dead body and serve in the temple because they would become unclean. So they crossed to the other side because they didn’t know if the traveller was alive or dead. And Jesus life application – go and do likewise as the Good Samaritan did.

 

We too are asked, like the Good Samaritan, to go and do likewise. To look for opportunities to help those in need. To not turn a blind eye or cross over to the other side when we see someone in need because it might inconvenience us. This is the Law of Love at work which is not followed by the letter of the law as the Lawyer sought to do but as we read in Jeremiah: The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant. It will not be like the covenant made with their ancestors declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.

 

In the parable that Jesus told, the priest and Levite, according to their written law, were not allowed to touch a dead body. 

They thought the traveler was dead and chose to observe the written law of Moses and ignored the heart law of loving God.

And since the traveler is created in the image of God they ignored love of God with all their heart by ignoring love of neighbour. Jesus intentionally used a Samaritan as the example of love to pierce their hearts. And remember, the traveler he helped was not a Samaritan but a fellow Jew to the priest and Levite. The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges our excuses to justify why we might sometimes turn away. Or sometimes we might not turn away but intentionally ensure we don’t go to places where we might encounter the need to help someone. Sometimes we ‘cross the road’ very early before we even see the problem. We don’t have to travel too far from our home to see an opportunity and sometimes we might not even know those opportunities have presented themselves like another parable Jesus told: The righteous will say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

 

And, as we know, it’s easy to turn that blind eye and make ourselves feel quite comfortable about it: Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. As Christians we have an opportunity to make a great difference in the world by reaching out to our neighbour in need. Who is our neighbour – anyone that God presents into our life that needs help – even our enemies.

That help can be physical help – if your enemy is hungry feed them, Jesus says. That help can be spiritual – as Jesus says – pray for those who persecute you.

 

In the business world there is a principal known as the 80/20 rule. That is that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.

In the latest census it was revealed that Christians make up 43.9% of the Australian population. Don’t despair. That’s double the 20% that do 80% of the work. That’s a big difference we can make in the world. But not if we turn a blind eye when we are needed. We live in a world where there are needy neighbors at our very doorstep.

 

It’s very easy to adopt an attitude of – there’s nothing I can do so I’ll do nothing. The Good Samaritan provides us with an example to follow. First, we must see the hurting neighbour.  We cannot dismiss this person or rationalize the suffering – for example – they deserved what they got – it’s all their own fault.  We must recognise the suffering. This is not easy,  especially in today’s world, where we are bombarded by so many images of all types of suffering, including our own.

 

Sadly we have become desensitized to all the suffering because there is so much of it.  We don’t cross the road literally but we – change the channel – delete the emails as Junk Mail, we throw out the letters from charities without even opening them because we know they will just be asking for money. But sometimes it’s not money but prayer that they need. Like Jesus and the Good Samaritan we need to feel the compassion again.  We are truly to see somebody in need. Certainly we can’t help every needy person on the planet which is often the reason we don’t help. But there will be somebody with whom we have contact with that we can help. And we will discover that we are the right person in the right place at the right time because God has led us there. And as we help, our hearts become even more aware of the person in need before us.

 

“Who is my neighbor? will be there before us, as plain as day in the one whom God has put in our path. The question, who is my neighbour, is a question we do not ask. Just as Jesus didn’t ask, whose sins am I dying for. We are all children of God. We are all created in the image of God. We are all neighbours of each other. So in as much as we ignore the needs of anyone then we are ignoring the needs of God in whose image they are created.