Sermon 28th April 2024 – 5th Sunday of Easter Text: John 15:1-8 – connected to the vine

 Sermon 28^th April 2024 – 5^th Sunday of Easter

Text: John 15:1-8 – connected to the vine

 

Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine… abide in me as I abide in you.” Last week Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd”. These readings remind us of the importance of community. They call us into a new and wonderful way of living as part of community with others that is closely bonded to our Heavenly Father. As Christians we are branches in the true vine. Separate a branch from a vine and it will eventually die. We are sheep protected by the Good Shepherd.

If we wander off from the pack we become vulnerable to attack from predators.

 

As branches of the true vine we are called to bear fruit that continues the work of Jesus seen at Easter – the work of love – though this isn’t always easy.  How do we respond with love to some of the horrific events we’ve seen lately?  The stabbings in Bondi killing innocent people including a new mother. How do we love a person who stabs a priest while preaching God’s word? How do we love a gang that uses machetes and axes in a shopping centre while families are innocently shopping. How can we love when the news around us leaves us spiritually and emotionally drained? How do we proclaim the Good News about Jesus when we think there is just too much happening around us and in the world?  Maybe you feel like closing yourself off from the world and others.

 

The answer is never easy and yet as branches of the vine this is what we are called to do – to love our enemies – to pray for them – to ask our Heavenly Father to forgive them for they know not what they are doing – even though we are tempted to respond with – they knew exactly what they were doing. And yet this is the Gospel message - a message spoken to us where we are commission to proclaim forgiveness to all nations as witnesses of these things. We love others because God first loved us – even while WE were yet sinners.  We share the Good News with others because that is the Great Commission..  We speak and act in ways that support this message of love because we are branches of the true vine that loves us and we are witnesses of God’s love. If the vine loves us the branches, how can we not love others?

 

John, in our 2nd reading, reminds us that if we love one another, God lives in us.  As God abides in us the love grows more and more even into those situations that ordinarily we would not be able to love.  But what is love?  As John has been telling us in the past few weeks – love is not an emotion it is an action. To understand true love we look to the One who sent Jesus into the world to die for us to create a clear example of love.  A different kind of love to what we will ever experience in the world we live in.  The vine grower, God, is aware of what each vine needs to bear fruit.  The vine grower loves the branches because they are what produce his fruit. Likewise, God examines our hearts, provides for us, and can also remove those parts of ourselves that bear no fruit or are the cause of no fruit growing – anger, hate, jealousy.

 

The vine grower knows the vines and knows that every branch can bear fruit. When we abide in God, we are commissioned to seek our place in this world, loving others, living into the mission of the Church, restoring people to unity with God and each other in Christ. Going sometimes where we don’t expect to go like Phillip. One moment he is beside an Ethiopian trying to make sense of God’s word and no sooner does he baptise him that he finds himself somewhere totally different. The spirit blows where he wills. The image of Jesus as the true vine is a powerful one. Just as a vine is the source of life and sustenance for the branches that are attached to it, Jesus is the source of our spiritual nourishment and growth as he gives us himself in Holy Communion – as he makes us God’s children through Baptism.

 

The source of that energy is not from ourselves but comes from Jesus, the true vine of which we are branches. Sadly, when we do try to run on our own energy we will begin to burn out and eventually our faith will run out. That’s why Jesus told his disciples after his resurrection to WAIT. Wait until the promised Holy Spirit – the power from on high – comes and clothes you – empowers you. So we are called to remain connected to him, through worship, prayer, study of the Bible, and fellowship with other believers.  When we do this, we are able to grow in our faith and bear fruit that will last for eternity.

 

Jesus also tells us that the Father prunes the branches that do bear fruit, so that they will be even more fruitful. This pruning process can be painful, as it often involves removing things from our lives that are hindering our spiritual growth.

It can be people – it can be the way we spend our time, talents or treasures. They are things we wouldn’t normally volunteer to give up which is why Jesus says the vine grower must prune them. But we can trust that just as a gardener prunes a vine to help it grow stronger and produce more fruit, so too God lovingly prunes us to make us more like Christ.

 

But, just like the Ethiopian eunuch in our first lesson, we will not always understand.  We may ask, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”  The Ethiopian was trying to do it by himself – like a branch that has come away from the vine.

And sometimes we need to be grafted back in. And that can be a hard and painful process too. How many times have we been afraid to ask for help?  Or even embarrassed to ask, “Who can help me?”

 

One of the many things we learnt from the pandemic was that it was not good to be alone. We needed our community back.

As branches we needed to be reconnected to our true vine with one another rather than branches our on a limb.  In fact it was one of the very things God recognised when he created Adam to tend to his garden – it is not good for man to be alone. It’s why Jesus chose 12 disciples rather than being a lone wolf. It’s why Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs. Or as we hear in Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Which shows the importance of those 2 branches being connected to the vine – the 3rd cord.

 

Jesus’ example of love is about being in relationship with people and God. Love God with all your heart – the vine – and love your neighbour – the outpouring of the fruit of love to one another.  We have Philip’s example of love teaching, sharing about God, and baptizing.  We have the disciples’ example of love by following Jesus, even with threat of imprisonment and persecution.  All of these are important examples of what is possible if we remain connected to the vine rather than on our own.

 

As we understand this we can begin to understand why Satan is trying so hard to divide the church – our own Lutheran Church included. It has been Satan’s tactic since the beginning of creation. Separating Adam and Eve from each other – Adam and Eve from God – Cain from Abel. Then throughout history – the divided Kingdom of Israel – God’s people chasing after Baal – Ashtoreth and other gods. Then in the New Testament – Peter separating himself from the other disciples and sinking in the stormy sea – the disciples fleeing at Jesus arrest – the Corinthian Church a church of division – one follows Peter, one follows Apollos – to which Paul reminds them – is Christ divided? Then in church history -the great schism of 1054 when the Eastern and Western Church divided – the Reformation seeing the separation of Lutherans and Roman Catholics – and on we go today with a myriad of denominations. And yet, in all this we confess – I believe in ONE holy, Catholic/Christian and apostolic church – one baptism for the forgiveness of sin.

 

Our world needs a church that examples love and unity.  A church that is able to example restoring our brokenness. As we remain in the vine God transforms us and we transform the world.  When we abide in God, God abides in us. God abides in our relationships with one another and then in our surrounding communities.  God transforms us and will allow us to bear fruit that transforms the world. Amen.

Sermon 25th April 2021 – Good Shepherd Sunday Text: John 10:1-8 – Sheepish behaviour’

 Sermon 25th April 2021 – Good Shepherd Sunday Text: John 10:1-8 – Sheepish behaviour’

 

To be called a sheep is not a very flattering thing. It is a term usually used when referring to a person who doesn’t think for themselves but just blindly follows everyone else. Sadly this is often how people see Christians – as sheep. People who blindly follow a religion without thinking for themselves. People who have been brainwashed to blindly accept teachings from a book written thousands of years ago that has no relevance today.  I’m sure you’ve heard that reference before and maybe have even been called a sheep yourself for believing in God.

 

When you see sheep in a paddock you can understand why they have that image of blindly following. The shepherd just has to get one or two sheep going a certain way and the rest will follow.  You’ll even see that if one sheep jumps an imaginary fence that the rest will also jump that fence which is not there. But is that the image of sheep that Jesus wants us to have of ourselves as he calls himself our Good Shepherd? Is Jesus calling himself our Shepherd because he expects us to blindly follow him without any thought process? Not at all.  That’s not the image that Jesus is wanting to portray by calling himself our Shepherd and we his sheep.

 

The relationship of Shepherd and his sheep is one of trust. Listen to how Jesus interacts with Peter when he restores him as his Apostle after the resurrection. Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

 

Jesus’ concern for us was not that we blindly followed him but that we are cared for and nurtured. Shepherds were often considered to be at the bottom of the rung of success in Jesus’ time – hence the Shepherds being a part of the humble birth when the angels first appear to Shepherds to tell of Jesus’ birth and not to royalty like King Herod. But listen to David when he is begging to be given the opportunity to fight Goliath. He calls on his credentials as a Shepherd when speaking to King Saul:

 

David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; all to protect his sheep.

 

It’s interesting how Peter will refer to Satan being like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. And Jesus too talks about us as sheep and his care and concern for us when he is prepared to walk away from everything to come and find us. Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.

 

Does that sound like a God who just wants us to blindly follow him with no regard at all for us?

 

Or then we have today’s explanation by Jesus of what it means to be our Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Being sheep is nothing about us – it is all about Jesus being our shepherd. He lays down HIS life for us.

That’s what he did on Good Friday – he laid down his life for us in order that we may be raised to new life as he was when we die. This relationship of sheep and shepherd is about the shepherds love and devotion to us and not about any expectation on us to blindly follow and be subservient to him.  And that’s exactly what John said in our 2nd reading: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us.

 

Jesus greatest concern is for those who do not put their faith and trust in him because no one cares for us like God who created us. Jesus calls those false shepherds “the hired hands” – people who have no vested interest in us so they protect only themselves and at the first sign of trouble they leave us for dead: The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. He doesn’t care if one or all of them are lost. He only cares about himself. It’s all about “care”.

 

And our first reading from Acts is very clear what that care is all about – it’s about our eternal life. Jesus came as our Good Shepherd to lead us home to our eternal life in Heaven as he lays down his life for us – as God made him who had no sin to become our sin so that we might become his rightousness. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

 

It reminds me of Peter when asked if he wanted to leave Jesus when many found his teaching too difficult. Peter replied – Lord to whom shall we go – YOU have the words of eternal life. And that is confirmed also by our Psalm today: Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

As we journey through life it is very easy to be led astray by false  shepherds. We follow the almighty dollar. We follow our careers. We follow our possessions – believing these will bring us hope and security. What these do is that they can make us quite selfish – thinking of ourselves – just like the hired hand. In times of trouble, false shepherds are no help – they flee at first chance; Our careers, our money, our possessions – these are useless when we are confronting serious life and death issues. But Jesus laid down his life for us so we can be assured of eternal life through him.

Being a sheep also means being a part of a community, a herd. Community is where we find support and security particularly during those times of concern and insecurity, which we all face. When Peter sank while walking on the water because of his concerns over the wind and the waves – Jesus took his hand and placed him back in the boat with the other disciples. When the Good Shepherd found the lost sheep he carried him home – back to the flock of sheep.

 

Sheep know that they need other sheep, desperately – because their very lives depend on it. That’s why they follow the shepherd because they know that they are safe in his hands. Likewise, God places us within communities of faith to strengthen our faith and also to use us to strengthen one another.  As John said in our 2nd reading: We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.

 

I have no problem being called a sheep. Just like I have no problem when people say that my Christian faith is a crutch. Even though it’s intended as an insult that’s exactly what my faith is. We use a crutch when we are hurt and need support. Your rod and your staff – they comfort me.

We don’t blindly follow a religion as Christians – we follow our Good Shepherd because he has promised to take us home with him to heaven.

 So let us not be ashamed to be called sheep in following Jesus for there is no other name by which we can be saved.

Sermon 14th April 2024 Text 1 John 3:1-7 – We ARE children of God

 

Sermon 14^th April 2024

Text 1 John 3:1-7 – We ARE children of God

I would guess that every Christian knows John 3:16 – for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. It is such good news and encompasses the whole Christmas and Easter season. But I also think that our reading from John’s letter today is something that everyone one of us should know also. Whether or not you memorise it – it is something that you should know. In fact it should be something that you cherish because it is so remarkable – so promising – so comforting: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.

John really hammers it home – THAT IS WHAT WE ARE. Not something we strive for – not something that we try to achieve. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE -  children of God. Do you believe that? There are no ifs or maybes – no question marks – THAT IS WHAT WE ARE. The almighty God – the one who created the heavens and the earth – the one who, as the song goes – flung stars into space – we are his children.

Just think what importance the world puts on children like Prince William – son of King Charles the third. You, a nobody in the eyes of the world, pale that into insignificance as you are a child of God. Not a servant – not a slave- a CHILD of God. So why are we, as Christians, so maligned? Why are we so put down – so disregarded – so ineffective in the world today? Well, John tells us why:

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him – that is – God and his son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The world has a different relationship with God as Jesus once pointed out to his disciples.

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John’s Gospel)

It can become quite disheartening at times being a Christian if we listen to the world’s view of Christianity and the Church. So, what we are to do is to not listen to the world but to listen to what God says: And, as John goes on further, he says: Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when Jesus is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is.

And that’s what we need to keep remembering: We ARE children of God NOW. When Jesus is finally revealed to the world so will we. So we are to remain strong. We are to remain positive. We are not to let the world tell us who we are but let God tell us who we are.

So the challenge for us as Christians is that if people cannot see in us that we are children of God – that we are special in the eyes of the world then we have to live as Children of God.

There is a well know quote that says: Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads. So Jesus today commissions us as to how we are to live as we go out into the world as his Children. Jesus said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

You are witness of these things!

We are commissioned to witness to everything Jesus taught and lived. His unconditional love – his sacrifice – his new commandment – love one another as I have loved you and by this everyone will know that you are my disciples. An amazing challenge to live out what Jesus has done for us so that the world may know.

It is incredible that the world hates Jesus – the one who sacrificed his own life for us is so despised by so many. And the worst thing that we can do as Christians is to return the hate and anger. Because then we are no different to the children of the world. That’s why Jesus has asked us to live differently. Repentance and forgiveness.

Be examples of the one who while experiencing the worst that humankind can do to him musters his strength to plead to his Heavenly Father – Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing. Look at the world today and how it responds with hate and opposition. The protests – the anger – the vile comments – the cancel culture. How are we Children of God if we don’t act in the same way that the Son of God reacted. As John says in one of his other letters – how can we love God whom we have not seen if we cannot love our brother or sister whom we can see.

It is a challenge being a Christian in society today. But no one will be able to attack you for living out what Jesus has asked us to do. To proclaim forgiveness of which we are witnesses. How are we witness? Because we have been forgiven by God as Peter said to the crowd today: Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”

Our human nature finds it very easy to retaliate in times of attack, like James and John who wanted to call down thunder on the Samaritans. But we are called to live to a higher standard that was set by Jesus. To love our enemies. To pray for those who persecute us. To turn the other cheek. Or as Paul says - To repay evil with good. Or as Peter says – treat them with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

People think they know what the Christian faith is about but it’s only by what they have experienced from Christians. As our actions may be the only Bible that some people will ever read let us make it a best seller.

Let us live as children of God for that is what we are.