Sermon 3rd November 2024 – All Saints Day Text Revelation 21:1-6a

 

Sermon 3rd November 2024 – All Saints Day

Text Revelation 21:1-6a

Today we gather together to celebrate All Saints Day. A day set aside to remember the lives of the saints who have gone before us. Those who have fought the good fight – who have run the race and received the crown of glory. As Christians these are much more positive and appropriate terms to use as they reflect our reality. “Died” :death” seems so negative – so final and sterile. Even “passing away” a term used to try and make death feel a bit softer – doesn’t really reflect what we believe. Jesus and Paul even use the term “sleeping” which then suggests that we will one day awaken. The saints are our spiritual ancestors, our brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone before us and have left us a legacy of faith and holiness.  The book of Hebrews refers to that legacy of faith when it says that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. They were ordinary people, just like you and me. They faced trials and tribulations, just as we do, and yet they remained faithful to God through it all.The saints remind us that holiness is the calling of every Christian. 

Each of us is called to be a saint in this lifetime, living a life of holiness and virtue, to imitate Christ in all we do. 

In fact St Paul when writing to the churches writes “to the saints” – these aren’t those who are in heaven but who remain alive on earth: For example, Ephesians begins - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 

As we commemorate the lives of the saints today, the book of Hebrews encourages us by their example and to strive to follow in their footsteps.  With examples like Abraham, Moses, Isaac, andJacob. Like the disciples who underwent great persecution – we are encouraged to look to them as examples of faith under great times of suffering because they knew the great reward waiting for them. And as we reflect we are reminded that whatever difficulties we are going through in this life that our true life is waiting and yet to be revealed. That’s what Paul says in Colossians 3 - 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.

It’s interesting that Paul talks about Christians having already died and that we are simply waiting to be called home to Heaven. Paul sees that death coming to us in our Baptism where our new life begins – Which is why Paul says in Romans 6: Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. And when we are called home to Heaven Paul says our glory will be revealed and understood. We have that glory now but it’s just that our present life with all its suffering and difficulty hides it because of sin. Which is why Paul says in Romans -  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

See with Paul, glory is not something waiting for us in Heaven but something we have now that is hidden and will be revealed. And what will that glory be? What do you think heaven will be like? Some think the main blessing of heaven will be the end of suffering and death. While that is certainly true and something to look forward to – as our bible reading said - there will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 

But there is something even more wonderful about what is waiting for us which John revealed – I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Being in the presence of God is what Heaven and glory is all about. It is what we lost when sin broke that relation. When Adam and Eve broke the command to not eat from the forbidden fruit their immediate reaction was to hide from God when he came to visit them. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and THEY hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Notice that comforting word from God – 

Adam and Eve removed themselves from God but God did not remove himself from them. Where are you.

God is always looking for us.

Our Baptism restores that separation as our old self is put to death and a new self arises. But because sin is still present that restoration is hidden until it is revealed when God calls us home to live with him forever. And Jesus assures us that God is with us now and continually looking for those who have drifted away – where are you? And that’s why Jesus made that solemn promise in our Baptism – I am with you ALWAYS till the end of the age. Notice Jesus doesn’t say I am with you always until you die – because death has been defeated. So for you who are grieving, let us grieve but not as those who have no hope. Our hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord who is the resurrection and life and whoever believes in him shall never die – because we have already died through our baptism, waiting to be called home.

So be encouraged that one day we join all the saints in the heavenly kingdom to dwell in the presence of God where we will be his people forever.

Sermon 27th October 2024 – The Reformation Text: John 8:31-36 – Set free

 Sermon 27th October 2024 – The Reformation

Text: John 8:31-36 – Set free

Today, we gather to reflect upon the great movement in the church known as the Reformation. The Reformation was a period of profound change and transformation within the Church, led by a courageous and visionary monk known as Martin Luther. Luther sought to cleanse the Church of what he called abuses in the church and restore it to its true biblical roots – the Gospel. Salvation by grace through faith for Christ’s sake. 

But Luther couldn’t find that comfort from what his church was teaching. Much like St Paul in Romans 7 where he says - I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! That is THE GOSPEL - Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

And so the Reformation was born out of Luther’s deep desire for spiritual renewal and a return to the authority of Scripture. That would also deliver his body of death through Jesus Christ his Lord.  Luther challenged the practices and teachings of the Church of his day, calling for a more personal relationship with God with Christ at the centre. That salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The cry of the Reformation was sola scriptura – Scripture alone for all faith and doctrine. The reformers believed that the Word of God was the ultimate authority in matters of teaching, doctrine and practice. The Reformers encouraged Christians to read and study the Bible for themselves as Christians had become quite illiterate regarding what the Bible actually said. They relied on their priests and authorities coming from the Pope who exploited the people through fear to give money in exchange for what were known as Indulgences – certificates assuring the fearful people of forgiveness and time out of purgatory – a place that had no biblical teaching. Purgatory was a place where people’s sins were purged after death before entering eternal life in Heaven.

The Reformation also removed many of the unnecessary rituals in worship emphasising in the worship service the importance of preaching the Word and the right administration of the sacraments. Getting back to what was central to salvation and comfort of the soul. But the Reformation was not just a historical event but a continual reflection that continues to shape the Church today as the church easily falls back into error – which is where the Latin term originates - Ecclesia semper reformanda est (Latin for "the Church must always be reformed". It reminds us of the importance of remaining faithful to the truth of God’s Word, and of standing up against false teachings and practices.  It challenges us to be constantly reforming and renewing our faith, seeking to grow closer to God and more fully live out our Christian calling.

Reforming the church doesn’t mean changing the church or modernising the church but returning the church back to the true Gospel – saved by grace through faith for Christ’s sake.

The Reformation is about returning to the Truth and allowing the Truth to set us free. And, as Jesus reminds us, he is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through him. And that’s what the Reformation focused on – coming to God only through Jesus Christ. The church had lost its way like the Jews that Jesus had spoken to.

Their way was “We are descendants of Abraham” which was the way back to slavery even though they felt they had never been slaves to anyone. Likewise, we don’t realise how much of a slave to sin we are until we have tasted the sweet Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The way of the Jews was not the road to freedom. Jesus was - if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. Jesus is the only way because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; But the good news is that we are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, That’s the Good News – that the Reformation focus.

As we reflect on the Reformation, let us be inspired by the courage and conviction of the reformers through the centuries and be reminded of the power of God’s Word to transform lives and bring about renewal and revival of faith through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

And let us commit ourselves to continue the work of reformation in our own faith, our churches, and our communities by returning to God’s Word and what it teaches about God’s grace. May we be faithful stewards of the rich legacy of the Reformation, and be bold and uncompromising in our witness to the truth of the gospel.  And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen.

Sermon 20th October 2024 – 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 10:35-45 – Trusting in God

 Sermon 20^th October 2024 – 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 10:35-45 – Trusting in God

 

I don’t know about you but I get annoyed when I’m asked an open question like – what are you doing tomorrow? Or, are you free on Friday? The problem is, yes I might be free on Friday but I might not want to commit to something you’re going to ask me to do. Yes, I’m free on Friday – “Good, can you drive me to the airport”. It’s hard to say NO if I’ve said I’m free on Friday. It would be better to lead with your request – “Could you drive me to the airport on Friday” which then gives me an opportunity to consider the request.

 

I wonder if Jesus felt that pressure when James and John come up to him and say: Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you. What’s Jesus supposed to say? If it were me I would respond by saying – ‘well, it depends on what you ask”. But Jesus, ever confident of his ability to read the hearts and minds of people isn’t afraid to reply - What is it you want me to do for you? And then their request comes. They want positions of power in Jesus’ kingdom. We want to sit – one on your left and one on your right when you come into your glory. Jesus is so much more patient that I am but I guess that’s what St Paul discovered in 1 Corinthians 13 – love is patient and kind.

 

It was not that long ago when Jesus caught them arguing amongst themselves who was going to be the greatest. On that occasion Jesus instructs them - “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all. And now he has to go through it all again - whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. And this was the problem of the rich young man last week who came up to Jesus with concerns about his salvation and asks: What must I do to inherit eternal life. I’ve tried everything – I’ve kept the commandments since my youth. But notice which commandments he had been keeping:  ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother. These are what we call the 2nd Table of the Commandments. The commandments on how I love my neighbour.

 

Jesus, again, knowing the hearts and minds of those who come to him knew that he had missed the greatest of  commandments- to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, This young man had loved his wealth because it was what he relied on to give him comfort and assurance. And, as Luther explained in the Large Catechism on the First Commandment: Anything you set your heart on and rely on is really your god. As a result the rich young man could find no comfort and assurance when it came to eternal life because it is a gift of God that is received. That’s why his question was wrong – what must I do.

 

But what does trust in God and reliance on him look like? What does “loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength” look like? It looks like Job and his suffering which we have in first reading. Job is a sad story. Job is a person who loves God with all his heart but Satan is convinced that Job only does so because God is good to him. God says to Satan: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”  Satan replied.  “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” When Job loses everything he still loves God with all his heart - Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” So Satan makes it personal - “Skin for skin!”  Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job is afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

His wife even tells him to curse God and die. To which he replies - You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?

 

That’s what it means to trust and rely on God – in the good times and in the difficult times – in times of comfort and times of suffering. Job’s friends try to get to the bottom of his suffering telling him to dig deeper and deeper – surely bad things don’t happen to good people.

And after all their ponderings God answers with today’s reading: Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

 

Trust and relying on God is knowing that God is our creator and that he loves and cares for us. We need never doubt God’s love for us even in times of great suffering, like Job. And that’s because we remember that God’s greatest expression of love has come to us when he sent Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Who came to die for us to remove any doubt of our assurance of eternal life.So there is nothing we DO to inherit eternal life – we receive as children of God. And so it doesn’t matter whether we are sitting at Jesus’ left or right – because God’s love for us is complete in Jesus wherever we are. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

And as we heard last week in our Hebrews reading, Jesus is our great High Priest who empathises with our suffering because he has gone through all that we have but without sin. And as we hear today, it was through his suffering that he learned obedience and by that he received the greatest of honours.  The name above all names at which everyone must confess him as Lord and bow the knee. And that’s what we need to trust – that when we love God with all our heart that we trust him with everything that goes on – even if we don’t understand it. And being a Christian means that we have to drink the cup of suffering which is not easy – even Jesus acknowledged that in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” It will mean being baptised with the Baptism Jesus underwent who was then thrown into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. But, as Hebrews reminds us – he was tempted but did not sin which means we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

 

Whatever your time of need is there is comfort available to you not through what the world might deem as success and achievement but by placing yourself under Christ and trusting him. Peter couldn’t accept that path of suffering and was rebuked by Jesus – get behind me Satan. In the days of his flesh, Jesus 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.

And Jesus continues to offer up prayers and petitions for you. So keep trusting in him whatever your time of need is and know that you are always under his care.

Sermon 13th October 2024 Text Hebrews 4:12-16 – Holding to our confession

 Sermon 13th October 2024

Text Hebrews 4:12-16 – Holding to our confession

Last Saturday was not an easy day for our church. For many on both sides of the question of ordination it felt like a “double edged sword” split us apart. It feels like that sword of Solomon has come down and divided that living baby we know as the LCA and created 2 dead halves. We wonder why? Why can’t the other person accept my position on this issue?

We heard many arguments for inclusion, diversity, acceptance – and none of them were dismissed because they were that person’s confession and conviction. So why did this cause division?

We’ve changed other things in church. Some churches have sold their buildings and moved to new locations. Some churches have had to enter into parish arrangements which sees their pastor’s time divided. Some churches have voted to close. We’ve sold the Australian Lutheran College – and as much as that has caused anger and hurt it did not threaten to divide our church.

But on this one issue which we have been debating for decades – which we have voted on 6 times at Synods – this one decision has to potential to cut our church in two.

Those who were at the Synod worship last Sunday or who watched online would have heard the President of the Canadian Lutheran Church – Timothy Teuscher – a guest of Synod along with the President of the Lutheran Church of PNG, who was asked to bring a word of greeting from his church – a church in which we have been in altar and pulpit fellowship for a very long time – 30 years.

What he said left many, including Bishops with their mouths gaping as he declared that that 2 edged sword had come down and severed a long standing relationship between the LCA and LCC which are now no longer in fellowship because of this decision. Why? Why this one decision?

Because, as we hear the writer to the Hebrews exhort us today – “let us hold fast to our confession”.

So those who are upset, on both sides of the debate, are upset – not because they didn’t get their way – or because they can’t understand why they can’t see our hurts over this – but because they, we, believe that this matter goes to the heart of our confession of faith.

Confession is what forms our beliefs.

That’s why we refer to our articles of faith in the Augsburg Confession and the Book of Concord as “The Lutheran Confessions”. The confession of ordination are for many people of our church no different to our confession on Baptism, or Holy Communion or The Trinity – Confessions we would NEVER consider debating or changing. In the Roman Catholic Church ordination is one of their 7 sacraments.

Confessions of faith are not rules like sport or businesses. People complain about the AFL always changing the rules and umpires being inconsistent in applying the rules of the game. This is our confession of faith and when the confession of your faith is challenged then it challenges the very fabric of what you believe which is why the debate has been so robust.

Our confession of faith is not a tradition but a confession of faith in which we receive the comfort and assurance of our salvation. And that is why for many – this is an article of salvation – on both sides of the debate.

We have heard people say that this is NOT a central article of salvation but for many it is. Why? Because it goes to what they confess as their faith.

When St Paul was explaining to the Corinthians about their understanding of Holy Communion, he didn’t give them his opinion but what the Lord Jesus had taught him. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread – from this we receive the teaching of The Lord’s Supper directly from Jesus himself.

From this we gain our liturgy for Holy Communion and consecration. Words taken directly from St Paul who received them from Jesus. Which is why we take reception of Holy Communion so serious. Paul says - whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

When explaining salvation he also teaches only what Christ taught him: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

So, who can consecrate and preach the Gospel is central to salvation – for both sides of the debate on ordination. And that’s why this has been such a divisive issue.

So where do we go from here?

What we don’t do is “judge”. Because if we judge another person’s position on this then we judge their faith – and no one has the right to do that. No, as Hebrews says – we hold on to OUR confession. But likewise we need to understand that some are going to find this extremely difficult and we may not see them again. We might see people come to worship but refuse to receive Holy Communion. Why? Because as St Paul says in First Corinthians - Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. People see that Holy Communion states that we have a communion of confession.

Some people might leave altogether as many have already done because of the result of the previous 5 voting decisions. We should not judge them but find ways to uphold and support them. Some were critical of the new body – LM-A – Lutheran Mission Australia especially because they did it before Synod. But we must not judge them because they are doing this not like the new gym that just opened up in Ringwood – next to an existing gym to be competition. No, they formed because rather than people leaving and losing communion that they have somewhere to go for comfort and hope. So we should not judge.

So what do we do in this time of hurt – this time of upheaval – this time of discerning? We listen to the writer of Hebrews:

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Dear friends, this is a time of need – a time of upheaval where our only hope is in Jesus, the Son of God. It has affected me personally as I relinquish many of my roles other than serving you as your shepherd – so I can serve you as Shepherd.  You are my first love so I have had to let go of anything that might make me question that including my District appointments. I’m not doing that because I’m spitting the dummy or taking my bat and ball and going home – but because of my love for the sheep of which God has made me overseer – which is my ordination and installation vow which includes my vow to uphold the teaching and practice of the church. I take my vows seriously. I made a vow when I married Sharon 38 years ago. A vow I/we have returned to many times when facing difficulty. And my  ordination and installation vow I will uphold until you or the Bishop tells me I can no longer do so.

But while I am serving you with Word and Sacrament you can be assured that you are approaching the throne of grace with boldness, so that you/we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. I hope you can understand the hurt of many people in our Lutheran Church of Australia just as we/they have understood the hurt in the past decisions of Synod as we remain faithful to and uphold our confession of faith.

It may feel like a two edged sword has divided us but like a surgeon’s scalpel cuts in order to bring healing so too we can find healing as we come to the great physician, our Lord Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest.

Sermon 22nd September 2024 – 18th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 9:30-37 – Welcoming the child

 Sermon 22^nd September 2024 – 18^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 9:30-37 – Welcoming the child

 

We live in a society that places a lot of importance on our position and status in life. And sadly we often compare ourselves to others hoping that they will fail so we can feel better about ourselves. Value can be assigned to various things - an individual’s possessions, career, even the suburb they lived in. In my previous parish you thought twice about wandering through Frankston North but if you lived in Frankston South you were highly respected. The value of one’s social location often determines whether a person is considered acceptable or not. Even today people make judgments when they hear about crimes and violence in “the western suburbs” and take that as something natural. But when it happens in the eastern suburbs we are shocked – that sort of thing doesn’t happen here.

 

St Paul in Philippians urges us as Christians to have a different mindset. Paul says: be like-minded as Christ, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, That’s very different to how value is placed in today’s society.

 

In looking at today’s Gospel lesson from Mark, we are confronted with the story of Jesus’ disciples grappling with the question of greatness.  Having just heard Jesus speak about his upcoming death they now hear Jesus speak about it again – The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.”  That didn’t sound very great. But, like the first time they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. This was not what they were expecting from a leader who was supposed to lead them into their understanding of greatness. They are, no doubt, afraid of the implications of his impending death.  Were they frightened that they too would have to go along this path? Certainly after Jesus’ death this was high on their minds – when they were locked away for fear of the Jews.

 

Had they followed Jesus originally for different reasons – for social acceptance? Was it considered the in thing to do – to follow this new leader who had come onto the scene and was creating waves. So, they begin to talk about greatness among themselves.”  However, Jesus is teaching an alternative standard for measuring greatness.  The Gospel tells us, “He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’” This is similar to what Paul said in Philippians when he said: That Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

 

So this was greatness but not by what they achieved but by what God gave. There are many ways we serve God and the church.  But, what does being a servant of all look like?  How do we embody being “last of all and servant of all?”  Jesus gives us an education. He calls on them to place themselves in the situation of a child. He took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’” This went against how the disciples saw the value of children.

When people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Have you ever heard or used the term – our children are the future of the church? I know what that means but sometime we forget that our children are the present church as much as we are. They might not be able to vote – or sit on committees or receive Holy Communion – but they are not less members of the body of Christ because of that.

 

In defining greatness through this living example of a child, Jesus is providing the disciples with valuable lesson about greatness.  And this is about welcoming a child. This is different to the example of having faith as a child – it is about welcoming a child. The disciples pushed the children away because they didn’t seem important. What value could they add to Jesus’ ministry? And yet, they embody Jesus’ ministry.

 

So many times Jesus welcomed people who seemingly added nothing to his ministry and from the outset could seem to hinder it. Like Zacchaeus whom people despised and yet Jesus welcomed him and went to his house to eat. Jesus welcomed a woman caught in adultery that the Pharisees wanted to be rid of. He welcomed the leper whom society had cast out. He welcomed a woman of ill-repute who washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair, much to the disgust of his host, Simon the Pharisee for welcoming such a woman. If Jesus were a true prophet he would know what sort of woman she was – he is, and he did! He welcomed another woman of questionable morals and from a tribe shunned by Jews – when he drank with the Samaritan woman. None of these added to Jesus’ earthly greatness but allowed him to embody how God receives us.

 

If I were God I would question his decision to welcome me – and yet he does. And he welcomes me because I am a child of God through my Baptism not because of anything I have achieved or contributed. In this example Jesus holds us a young child — powerless, vulnerable, unable to defend themselves. And this is who Jesus tells the disciples to welcome: the powerless, the vulnerable, the ones whose voices are ignored in the world. What does the world say – children should be seen and not heard. Jesus says that by welcoming people like that, the ones who can’t influence society and don’t strive to be in charge, they welcome Jesus. Not only do they welcome him, they welcome God who sent him.  Welcoming the powerless is a far cry from arguing over who is the greatest! Compare that to what James says about human values: Earthly, unspiritual, devilish.  And where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. Human ambition that seeks worldly greatness: You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder.  And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts.

 

Being vulnerable, being a servant, being like a child, is what Jesus tells his disciples he’s come to do when he predicts his death and resurrection for a second time. This humility promotes behaviour that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy, says James.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Jesus did not come to take over the Roman empire and restore the worldly nation of Israel, as they expected. He’s come to do something so revolutionary the disciples can’t imagine it: defeat death itself. Death will not be defeated with a sword. Death will be defeated with a cross, with Jesus’ cross and with unconditional love And it was defeated in his rising again — just like he told the disciples it would be, even if they didn’t understand him.

 

So we too are challenged to example the same humility by submitting to God. And by doing that we don’t need to worry what the world thinks about us. Whether we are successful, rich, have a multitude of possessions. We have something that is priceless. We are children of God welcomed by our heavenly Father and loved by him unconditionally.

Sermon 15th September 2024 – 17th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Mark 8:27-38 – Who do YOU say that I am?

 Sermon 15^th September 2024 – 17^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Mark 8:27-38 – Who do YOU say that I am?

 

Fairly soon VCE students are going to prepare for their final exams.  It will be a stressful time knowing that their year’s work, and in fact the past 12 years work comes to a head. Likewise, the disciples are about to begin an intensive examination on discipleship.  It was time to study up for the final exam. Perhaps Jesus feels a sense of urgency running out of time before he hands over the reins to the twelve disciples.  The students will become the teachers.

 

But before that happens he needs to know what they understood and what they didn’t. Were they able to see what was hidden in the signs that he had performed to see the deeper, richer message?  When he healed the physically blind did they realize he was also healing spiritual blindness?  Did they understand that they are sometimes blind – as we will seen in Peter’s later response to Jesus?  Jesus began by asking a fairly passive question.  “Who do people say that I am?” They answered that some are still a bit confused – their eyes are not quite opened from their spiritual blindness. Some thought he was John the Baptist; others, that he was Elijah. Others thought that he was one of the other prophets of old.

 

But now the examination gets personal. And there are no multiple-choice answers“ Which of these do you think I am – a,b or c. No. It was personal. Who do YOU say that I am?” Peter answered as he has in the past on their behalf - that Jesus is the Messiah. Interestingly Jesus then ordered them to tell no one. Maybe because they would not be able to understand while they were still spiritually immature.

 

Now Jesus takes them to the next level of their learning. Jesus first asks “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered correctly. But what Peter didn’t understand was what being the Messiah of God really meant. He held the common belief that the Messiah would be king over Israel and lead a revolt against their oppressors. But Jesus talked of a whole different understanding of what would be the Messiah’s life and ministry when he spoke of suffering and being killed, and after three days rising from the dead. And this is when Peter’s spiritual blindness crept back in. He took Jesus aside and tried to re-educate Jesus.  But Peter’s mind was not on divine things, heavenly things, kingdom things;  He was instead looking at the meaning of Messiah from a purely human point of view.  Peter meant well. He didn’t want his beloved teacher to suffer and die.  But Peter was putting his own feelings and fears ahead of the mission of God.

 

And this is where Satan enters – which is why Jesus’ rebuke names Satan. Satan was focusing Peter’s mind on the suffering and death and tempting him to divert his thinking away from Jesus – like when he walked on the water and panicked causing him to sink.Satan tried the same temptation on Jesus – focus on your hunger and turn rocks into bread. That’s why Paul says in Colossians 3 – keep your mind focused on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God and not on earthly things. Peter missed the heavenly things – rising on the 3rd day - while focusing on the earthly things – arrested, suffered, died.And now it’s time to educate all the disciples and the crowds following him about what it exactly means to confess Jesus Christ as Lord – as YOUR Lord.

 

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And this is also OUR education: These are hard and challenging words for us to hear. Deny yourself.  Take up your cross. To save your life you must lose it.  And if we are ashamed of him and of his words Jesus will be ashamed of us when he returns. I can see the look on the faces of the disciples and the crowd. And the look is probably not much different to our own.

 

Those wanting to continue following Jesus had some decisions to make.  The people in the crowd had to ask themselves if continuing to follow Jesus was worth it and if they were willing to sacrifice it all to continue on this path. As we heard a few weeks ago, some did find it difficult and made the decision to stop following him.

When the 12 disciples were given the option to leave too, Peter, again, spoke on their behalf. Lord to whom shall we go – you have the words of eternal life. You have heard the words of Jesus just like the disciples and the crowd did. We too are daily faced with that decision – to keep following Jesus or to give up. Satan will tempt us to look at the state of world and question whether God really loves the world – whether God really can save the world. Satan will have you think of yourself – like he did with Peter – like he did with Adam and Eve. But ask yourself, what are you giving up. Jesus is NOT John the Baptist – Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the Prophets. He is the Messiah, the son of the living God.

 

And what does that mean? Well, it’s that last part of his educating that we must take serious: When he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. And when Christ is revealed in his glory so too will you. Jesus himself says that following him is not an easy journey but the reward makes the journey worth it. To be there when Jesus returns and have him proud to bring us home and not ashamed of us. So the question Jesus asked his disciples is the question Jesus continues to ask us today: Who do you say that I am. And the reason he asks that is because that is the question that will be asked of us when Jesus returns in his glory. Who do you say that I am. You are our Lord Jesus – and all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

 

Sermon 8th September 2024 – 16th Sunday after Pentecost Text: James 2:1-17 – Caring for creation through Hope

 Sermon 8^th September 2024 – 16^th Sunday after Pentecost

Text: James 2:1-17 – Caring for creation through Hope

 

The theme of our Creation Sunday service is to hope and to act. Hope is an interesting word depending on the context that we use it. We hope our footy team is going to win the Grand Final. We hope that the weather is going to be fine this weekend. We hope that interest rates will come down soon. In this context Hope is uncertain. It may or may not happen.

 

In the Christian context Hope is different. St Paul talks about hope many times – Christian Hope – and in particular he says: We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. Christian hope, as Paul says, will not disappoint us. And that’s because Christian hope is not uncertain.

 

Yet we live in a world where many look to the first type of hope. We hope that if we do things we will achieve a certain outcome but we can never be sure if it will work. When we act without God, in anything we do, hope becomes uncertain. As we focus on Creation today we see this uncertain hope at play in the world. If we reduce our carbon footprint – if we reduce our pollution – if we cease fossil fuels and switch to renewables – we hope that by a certain year in the future we will reduce our temperature and repair our climate. But we have no assurance of that – we hope to be able to achieve that. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do things to reduce pollution such as recycling as much as we can and reducing waste. But we should not think we don’t need hope in God to achieve our care for the world.

 

So, as Christians, we also include our love and care for the planet in our prayers as we pray to the one whom the wind and the waves must obey. The one who was able to end famine with his Word. But God also ended famine in practical ways when he had Joseph acted by storing food for 7 years to provide for 7 years of famine in Egypt.

So there are practical things we can do with God’s help and guidance. And our motivation is not because we believe WE can save the planet but because of our love for one another. God is the creator so we must always look to him.

The world without hope says there are only certain amount of years left because of humans.

But, remember what Jesus says about the end of the world- no one knows the day nor the hour – it will come as a thief in the night. So our motivation is our love for our neighbour and our hope in God. We see that in James today: If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So, we don’t just hope that our neighbour is able to find the necessities of life but we act. And we know – if we feed him that will attend to his hunger.

 

What James describes is how we see a lot of our world responding to the problems in God’s creation. We see people rallying – they hold up traffic – they disrupt businesses – they vandalise property that they disagree with.

They sit at home on their phones or computer and use social media to attack others. Many of the things they are fighting for – world hunger – homelessness – pollution – could be solved if we could act by loving another as James asks us to. You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

 

Change in the world does not come by pointing out what others are doing wrong but by setting an example of loving one another. As Jesus once said in a parable: For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. And this action came so naturally that the people being thanked had no idea they were doing it.

 

When we love one another it’s not a chore. We will act out of faith as care for one another. The righteous answered, ‘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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 

At present, to many people, the future of our creation looks hopeless. The comforting thing about Christian hope is that it thrives on hopelessness. Remember what Paul said – we rejoice in our suffering which produces hope. Or look at the woman in our Gospel reading. Her situation seemed hopeless. Her daughter was in a terrible situation and the one that she had hoped would be able to heal her said “NO”. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she never gave up hope: She answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

 

Or the man in the next miracle story whose plight seemed hopeless: They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; They were astounded beyond measure, saying about Jesus,  “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

 

Or when Jesus opened the eyes of a blind man. The blind man says to Jesus’ critics:   Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. Jesus brought hope where there was no hope. So where will we put our hope for the future of Creation? In the hands of humans or in the Creator? God purposely created us in his image so we could care for his creation as his representative and he has called on us to act as his representative:

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” And let us remember that ruling means caring – not dominating. Subduing means protecting not oppressing.

 

God loves this world so much that he sent Jesus – not to condemn the but to save the world through him. And it is this act love of God and neighbour that will protect God’s beautiful creation.