Let’s Be the Church!
04/22/07
Easter 3
All Lessons-Year C
Dear friends in Christ, Grace to you and peace….
Many years ago when I was a youth director while a student in seminary, I heard a saying that has stuck with me and that I think about often, “Change is inevitable, growth is optional.” Whether we want it or not, change will come. You can’t avoid it. The question is, will you grow from it. Will you use change positively, so that as a result you become a better person and life becomes better.
As a pastor I think about this often because the reality is that the church is changing all the time. We are not the same church we were in 2003, for example. We currently have about 650 baptized members, down from the 800 or so at our peak, as church membership ebbs and flows for many reasons. We’re certainly not the same as in 2000, or when I started here in 1989. When I started we had one service at 9:00AM. In 1989 we had one phone line with call waiting. We did not own a computer. The parking lot was dirt. Things have changed.
I had us read all three lessons today because I found in them some important teachings about being the church. My word to you today is essentially, “Let’s be the Church!” In a world and community that is changing dramatically, in a world that is too often filled with violence and grief, we are called to be the church. So what do these lessons teach us about being the church in today’s world?
Let me begin with the lesson from Revelation. Here we see a vision of heaven. There are angels, living creatures, and elders; myriads and myriads, thousands and thousands, surrounding the throne of heaven. What is taking place? Worship. They are worshipping God and the lamb, Jesus. So we learn from the Book of Revelation that the church worships.
What is particularly clear in this vision is that worship is focused upon God and the lamb, and nothing else. There is no mention of liking or not liking the music, liking or not liking the worship time, being concerned about the length of service, liking or not liking the way the sanctuary is set up, liking or not liking the sermon, things that we concern ourselves with. This is about worshipping God our Creator, and nothing else. Too often today, worship becomes about us. Does it captivate me? Is it pleasing to me? Can I come and be relaxed? Can I bring my coffee in? Is there a service I can come when it’s most convenient for me? Now we’re all human and I understand that. As we plan for worship we have to take that into consideration. But Revelation is a healthy reminder that we need to set some of that aside and come to worship focused on God and not ourselves. The church worships.
Turning to the gospel lesson, I see a second dimension to being the church. The disciples are out in the boat fishing. They fished all night and caught nothing. At daybreak they see a man standing on the beach, who they later learn is the risen Lord, who tells them to try the other side and they’ll catch fish. Sure enough, when they cast their net, they caught so many fish they couldn’t even get them all in the boat.
The lesson here seems to be a stewardship lesson. In stewardship we understand that God provides all that we need, generously and abundantly. If we trust God, there will be more than enough, both for our own needs and the needs of our church.
The disciples fished all night, and caught nothing. They were professionals. They knew what they were doing and yet came up empty. When Jesus entered the picture, everything changed. There was more than enough. They were blessed beyond measure. That’s what happens when we let the Lord in. Our attitude changes. It’s no longer about what we don’t have. It’s about what we do have. It’s about the way we’ve been blessed. It’s believing God provides for our needs.
Our church council is charged with the responsibility of seeing that the financial needs in doing ministry are being met. This includes paying the staff people that provide leadership for ministry, paying all the building needs, paying for the program supplies we need, and sharing a portion of our resources with our synod and other ministries. We plan a budget, approved by the congregation each year. In doing so, we trust that God has provided more than enough within our congregation to meet our needs. But our faith is being tested, as we’ve yet to have a month this year where our giving has met our expenses. It’s hard to step out in faith and make future decisions for ministry in that situation. One area of concern is our plan for a part time children’s ministry director, a position we very much need and want to fill. But we have to have everyone’s support. In year’s past it perhaps was easy to depend on a few to give generously to meet our needs. But things change. There’s no one else to look to, to support our church, than to those of us who make up our community today. We’re headed in a very positive direction with exciting plans already being made for next fall. It will happen, with your generosity. Being the church means being good stewards, believing in God’s abundance and sharing our resources for ministry.
Being the church is also about fellowship, being in community with one another. After Peter swims to shore and recognizes Jesus, and the other disciples join him, what do they do? They have breakfast together. So there’s your scripture proof text to go have breakfast together after worship. It’s good to be in community together. This should not be underestimated.
Next fall, we’re going to build in more opportunity for this community building. We’ll have a Sunday adult class where both community and learning will take place. If the morning topic doesn’t excite you, we’re going to have a place set aside just for fellowship, where you can have coffee and goodies and just visit with one another. For those involved with the children’s education, we’ll find ways for you to bond and care for one another in this important task.
We also have to recognize that the understanding of community is changing. Not all church community takes place in the church building. It happens in coffee shops and restaurants. More and more community takes place on line, as people connect in that way through My Space and Facebook websites, not to mention e-mail. How can we be the church in that community setting as well? To be the church means to be in community, in fellowship with one another.
I’ve left what I really consider to be most important and the key point in the gospel lesson for last. After breakfast, Jesus says to Simon son of John, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.” He asks him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon again says yes. Jesus responds, “Tend my sheep.” Recalling Peter’s previous three-fold denial of him, Jesus asks a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon says yes, with Jesus responding, “Feed my sheep.”
This is Christ’s call to Peter, and to us, to ministry and mission. We are to care for and nourish all the sheep in Christ’s flock, which certainly includes fellow Christians, but I think includes all people. Feed my sheep, tend my flock, says Jesus.
Often this call, this ministry, allows us to do things that are meaningful and fulfilling. Youth mission trips are usually that way. Our Tanzanian trips fall into this category. Bringing a meal to someone in need might bring a warm feeling of satisfaction.
But not all calls, not all ministry, is easy. Jesus went where he did not wish to go, the cross of Calvary. In the first lesson, we read about the conversion of Saul, who became known as Paul. Our church has his name, so it is important that we know his story. After Saul was blinded by the light of the Lord, the Lord goes to another disciple, Ananias, and tells him to go to Saul, to lay hands on him, so he might receive his sight. Now you have to understand, Saul was known to be a kind of Jewish Gestapo, rounding up Christians wherever he went and having them imprisoned. Ananias heard a voice tell him to go to this man, which was really crazy. It could mean the end for Ananias. But Ananias heard the call and went, probably reluctantly and fearfully, but he went.
Last Monday word began to hit the news and internet that a terrible shooting had taken place on the campus of Virginia Tech University. We now know that 33 people died including the shooter, most of them students. Our hearts ache for the victims, their families, the wounded, the campus, the whole community. I’m sure the last thing that anyone wanted to have to do was deal with such a horrific thing. Part of us wants to run away, shield ourselves from such pain. But then we hear the words of Jesus, “Feed my sheep, tend my lambs,” and we offer up our prayers knowing the agony of what people must be going through.
I received an inspiring e-mail about a young college student who was feeling despondent over what had taken place. Her father encouraged her to think about what President Bush had said to the students last Tuesday night when he quoted Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” She decided to e-mail a few leaders on her campus, to see if they could call a prayer meeting for later in the week. Within just a few minutes, the leaders received the message and the meeting was set. Then she e-mailed her idea to 12 friends on other campuses, who in turn set up prayer meetings in their settings. Word continued to spread, and these prayer meetings took place throughout campuses in our country, and many campuses throughout the world. Evil was being overcome with good. It happened because one girl thought to do something, and it today’s electronically connected world it was possible to put in place a worldwide support of prayer. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep, tend my flock.” It is our calling, even when we’re directed to some places we’d rather not go.
The world is changing, whether we want it to or not. We can choose to do nothing and stay in the past, or we can grow with the changes, finding new ways to do ministry. As we move ahead, let’s be the church. Let’s worship, focusing on God first, and not ourselves. Let’s be good stewards, believing God provides the resources we need and sharing accordingly. Let’s enjoy fellowship and community, in the many new ways that is taking place. And let’s follow the call to feed and tend God’s flock, even when the call takes us to difficult places. If we do those things, we will be the church in the world. Amen.
All Lessons-Year C
Dear friends in Christ, Grace to you and peace….
Many years ago when I was a youth director while a student in seminary, I heard a saying that has stuck with me and that I think about often, “Change is inevitable, growth is optional.” Whether we want it or not, change will come. You can’t avoid it. The question is, will you grow from it. Will you use change positively, so that as a result you become a better person and life becomes better.
As a pastor I think about this often because the reality is that the church is changing all the time. We are not the same church we were in 2003, for example. We currently have about 650 baptized members, down from the 800 or so at our peak, as church membership ebbs and flows for many reasons. We’re certainly not the same as in 2000, or when I started here in 1989. When I started we had one service at 9:00AM. In 1989 we had one phone line with call waiting. We did not own a computer. The parking lot was dirt. Things have changed.
I had us read all three lessons today because I found in them some important teachings about being the church. My word to you today is essentially, “Let’s be the Church!” In a world and community that is changing dramatically, in a world that is too often filled with violence and grief, we are called to be the church. So what do these lessons teach us about being the church in today’s world?
Let me begin with the lesson from Revelation. Here we see a vision of heaven. There are angels, living creatures, and elders; myriads and myriads, thousands and thousands, surrounding the throne of heaven. What is taking place? Worship. They are worshipping God and the lamb, Jesus. So we learn from the Book of Revelation that the church worships.
What is particularly clear in this vision is that worship is focused upon God and the lamb, and nothing else. There is no mention of liking or not liking the music, liking or not liking the worship time, being concerned about the length of service, liking or not liking the way the sanctuary is set up, liking or not liking the sermon, things that we concern ourselves with. This is about worshipping God our Creator, and nothing else. Too often today, worship becomes about us. Does it captivate me? Is it pleasing to me? Can I come and be relaxed? Can I bring my coffee in? Is there a service I can come when it’s most convenient for me? Now we’re all human and I understand that. As we plan for worship we have to take that into consideration. But Revelation is a healthy reminder that we need to set some of that aside and come to worship focused on God and not ourselves. The church worships.
Turning to the gospel lesson, I see a second dimension to being the church. The disciples are out in the boat fishing. They fished all night and caught nothing. At daybreak they see a man standing on the beach, who they later learn is the risen Lord, who tells them to try the other side and they’ll catch fish. Sure enough, when they cast their net, they caught so many fish they couldn’t even get them all in the boat.
The lesson here seems to be a stewardship lesson. In stewardship we understand that God provides all that we need, generously and abundantly. If we trust God, there will be more than enough, both for our own needs and the needs of our church.
The disciples fished all night, and caught nothing. They were professionals. They knew what they were doing and yet came up empty. When Jesus entered the picture, everything changed. There was more than enough. They were blessed beyond measure. That’s what happens when we let the Lord in. Our attitude changes. It’s no longer about what we don’t have. It’s about what we do have. It’s about the way we’ve been blessed. It’s believing God provides for our needs.
Our church council is charged with the responsibility of seeing that the financial needs in doing ministry are being met. This includes paying the staff people that provide leadership for ministry, paying all the building needs, paying for the program supplies we need, and sharing a portion of our resources with our synod and other ministries. We plan a budget, approved by the congregation each year. In doing so, we trust that God has provided more than enough within our congregation to meet our needs. But our faith is being tested, as we’ve yet to have a month this year where our giving has met our expenses. It’s hard to step out in faith and make future decisions for ministry in that situation. One area of concern is our plan for a part time children’s ministry director, a position we very much need and want to fill. But we have to have everyone’s support. In year’s past it perhaps was easy to depend on a few to give generously to meet our needs. But things change. There’s no one else to look to, to support our church, than to those of us who make up our community today. We’re headed in a very positive direction with exciting plans already being made for next fall. It will happen, with your generosity. Being the church means being good stewards, believing in God’s abundance and sharing our resources for ministry.
Being the church is also about fellowship, being in community with one another. After Peter swims to shore and recognizes Jesus, and the other disciples join him, what do they do? They have breakfast together. So there’s your scripture proof text to go have breakfast together after worship. It’s good to be in community together. This should not be underestimated.
Next fall, we’re going to build in more opportunity for this community building. We’ll have a Sunday adult class where both community and learning will take place. If the morning topic doesn’t excite you, we’re going to have a place set aside just for fellowship, where you can have coffee and goodies and just visit with one another. For those involved with the children’s education, we’ll find ways for you to bond and care for one another in this important task.
We also have to recognize that the understanding of community is changing. Not all church community takes place in the church building. It happens in coffee shops and restaurants. More and more community takes place on line, as people connect in that way through My Space and Facebook websites, not to mention e-mail. How can we be the church in that community setting as well? To be the church means to be in community, in fellowship with one another.
I’ve left what I really consider to be most important and the key point in the gospel lesson for last. After breakfast, Jesus says to Simon son of John, “Do you love me more than these?” Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.” He asks him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon again says yes. Jesus responds, “Tend my sheep.” Recalling Peter’s previous three-fold denial of him, Jesus asks a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Simon says yes, with Jesus responding, “Feed my sheep.”
This is Christ’s call to Peter, and to us, to ministry and mission. We are to care for and nourish all the sheep in Christ’s flock, which certainly includes fellow Christians, but I think includes all people. Feed my sheep, tend my flock, says Jesus.
Often this call, this ministry, allows us to do things that are meaningful and fulfilling. Youth mission trips are usually that way. Our Tanzanian trips fall into this category. Bringing a meal to someone in need might bring a warm feeling of satisfaction.
But not all calls, not all ministry, is easy. Jesus went where he did not wish to go, the cross of Calvary. In the first lesson, we read about the conversion of Saul, who became known as Paul. Our church has his name, so it is important that we know his story. After Saul was blinded by the light of the Lord, the Lord goes to another disciple, Ananias, and tells him to go to Saul, to lay hands on him, so he might receive his sight. Now you have to understand, Saul was known to be a kind of Jewish Gestapo, rounding up Christians wherever he went and having them imprisoned. Ananias heard a voice tell him to go to this man, which was really crazy. It could mean the end for Ananias. But Ananias heard the call and went, probably reluctantly and fearfully, but he went.
Last Monday word began to hit the news and internet that a terrible shooting had taken place on the campus of Virginia Tech University. We now know that 33 people died including the shooter, most of them students. Our hearts ache for the victims, their families, the wounded, the campus, the whole community. I’m sure the last thing that anyone wanted to have to do was deal with such a horrific thing. Part of us wants to run away, shield ourselves from such pain. But then we hear the words of Jesus, “Feed my sheep, tend my lambs,” and we offer up our prayers knowing the agony of what people must be going through.
I received an inspiring e-mail about a young college student who was feeling despondent over what had taken place. Her father encouraged her to think about what President Bush had said to the students last Tuesday night when he quoted Romans 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” She decided to e-mail a few leaders on her campus, to see if they could call a prayer meeting for later in the week. Within just a few minutes, the leaders received the message and the meeting was set. Then she e-mailed her idea to 12 friends on other campuses, who in turn set up prayer meetings in their settings. Word continued to spread, and these prayer meetings took place throughout campuses in our country, and many campuses throughout the world. Evil was being overcome with good. It happened because one girl thought to do something, and it today’s electronically connected world it was possible to put in place a worldwide support of prayer. Jesus said, “Feed my sheep, tend my flock.” It is our calling, even when we’re directed to some places we’d rather not go.
The world is changing, whether we want it to or not. We can choose to do nothing and stay in the past, or we can grow with the changes, finding new ways to do ministry. As we move ahead, let’s be the church. Let’s worship, focusing on God first, and not ourselves. Let’s be good stewards, believing God provides the resources we need and sharing accordingly. Let’s enjoy fellowship and community, in the many new ways that is taking place. And let’s follow the call to feed and tend God’s flock, even when the call takes us to difficult places. If we do those things, we will be the church in the world. Amen.