A shorter sermon this week, becasue I will allow time for people to reflect as we go.
This week at retreat, we looked at the theme of Grace. We thought about times we had experienced Grace, we thought about images that remind us of grace – and some of us made symbols. We thought about Bible passages that speak to us of grace. We heard the story known as the prodigal son, and thought about how to speak of grace to the older brother. We thought about people who had mediated grace to us. We reflected on the places in our lives where we are wounded, and how for some the wounds are infected and making us ill, and for others the wounds are now scars, we continue to be shaped by them, but they do not make us sick any more. And then we were invited to write a letter to God about grace, and listen for God’s response. It seems like a lot, putting it all together like this, but this was over three days.
Jesus tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will come, and they will be his witnesses. Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth; this is like saying, Engadine, Sutherland Shire, Australia, and all over the earth. We are to be witnesses.
A witness can stand back and watch something happening without getting involved. A witness can be someone who is specifically called to be present to see that something happens as it should. A witness can be someone who countersigns documents. A witness can be someone who tells what they have seen or experienced.
Thinking about being a witness, I wondered how we witness to God’s presence in our lives, as individuals and as a community of faith.
As we reflect this morning, you may like to get comfortable and close your eyes.
- I invite you to think about one person who told you, with words or actions, about God, the gospel, about God’s love, grace, and forgiveness?
- Hold that person in your mind and Thank God for that person, ask God to bless them.
- I invite you to think about a time you seen someone living out the gospel.
- Hold that person in your mind and Thank God for that person, ask God to bless them.
- Now I invite you to think of the work of this congregation – worship, OOSH, meetings, social activities – what does our life together say about God?
- What else would you like your life to say about God?
- Ask God to help you make that a reality.
……………………
Our lives touch others’ lives; our lives can be a positive or a negative influence in the lives of those around us.
When we witness, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the presence and activity of God in the world, we change the world around us. Listen again to his verse form the reading this morning:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Jesus didn’t say, you might, or there is a raffle or lucky dip, or just a chosen few – in speaking with the disciples, Jesus said ‘you will’. You will receive power from the Holy Spirit, and you will be my witnesses.
Our lives are witnesses to Jesus. What kind of witnesses are we, Engadine Uniting Church; what does our life say about Jesus, about God, about grace.
Our life as a church does speak about God.
Is our witness to God one of inclusion or exclusion; is our witness one that tells of God’s love; is our witness one that shows the love and faithfulness of Jesus; is our witness one that tells of the power and presence of God.
Next week is Pentecost, when we again celebrate the Holy Spirit in our lives. In what area of our life together, do we seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that we might be able to fulfil Christ’s call to be witnesses?
In what area of your life, do you seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, so that you might be able to fulfil Christ’s call to be a witness?
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