Induction: abundant life

Thank you for inviting me to be part of this service this afternoon.

It is a privilege to be here today, to celebrate with Rev Sue Scott and the Kincumber Congregation, this formal commitment to being in ministry together, even though you have been in ministry together for some time now. 

One of my favourite phrases from the New testament is in our reading this afternoon. John 10:10

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Or from the Living Bible
My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. [TLB]

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

Amidst a world of violence and theft and terror and destruction, we hear a message of abundant life.

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

If that is the purpose of Jesus, is it not also our purpose?

In the reading from John’s gospel, Jesus compares himself to the gate keeper, and the gate; both keep the sheep safe from predators and thieves.

I know the term gatekeeper tends to have a negative connotation in many churches. I hope this congregation doesn’t have those kind of gatekeepers, you know, one or two people who keep a tight hold on everything that happens, such as who has access to buildings, keys, and nothing happens without their say so, even if they are not in a formal leadership role.

Jesus wasn’t keeping people out, or locking them in. In the analogy, Jesus was the one who kept the sheep safe from thieves and bandits.

I think of Jesus as the Lollipop person at the school crossing, making sure the children, and adults, get across the road safely.

Friday mornings for me is Playgroup, and we have volunteers who open doors for people to come and go, but we keep the door closed to ensure little ones only leave with a parent or caregiver.

A different kind of gatekeeper, one who enables and welcomes, one who offers assistance that allows people to take up opportunities for friendship and support. People who welcome, hold a crying baby, or makes a cup of tea.

That is how I see Jesus the gatekeeper, not building a prison to keep some in and everyone else out, but a gatekeeper who offers us more than we can imagine.

..

When I hear about people being saved, or salvation, generally it is about salvation from sin, or guilt, or the eternal repercussions of sin. But I wonder if salvation is about more than that.

Salvation as forgiveness of sin is wonderful, but Jesus offers us more than that, much more.  Jesus doesn’t just erase our failures. In Jesus we are offered life, abundant, overflowing life.

Not survival,
not mere existence
but flourishing, thriving, joy-filled life.

I wonder what that life looks like for you?

I wonder what abundant life looks like not only for you, but for all people.

Turning to Isaiah for a few moments:

 “Come,
    let’s climb God’s Mountain,
    go to the House of the God of Jacob.
He’ll show us the way he works
    so we can live the way we’re made.” [msg]

We are made in the image of God, part of worship is reminding us that we are made in the image of God; and offering support and encouragement to live the way we are made, in God’s image, with abundant life.

But, there’s more! 😊

We aren’t offered abundant life, this amazing gift, just for ourselves. As we live out the life God has given us, we live in ways, we offer ministry in ways, that offers that life to all people.

When the people worship,

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
    and their spears into pruning-hooks;

Or
They will turn weapons into welcome signs
    and bombs into tools and toys. [laughing bird]

In what ways does your life together break down barriers, hostilities;

In what ways does your life together change words that break people into words that build up;

In what ways does your life together offer hope and peace and joy to people in your local community?

Now I know someone will tell me that you are too old or too small a congregation or too … too something; and it is impossible for you to do anything.

If you truly believe that, if you truly believe that it is impossible for you as a congregation to offer love and grace in the local community; I ask you not to waste my friend’s time. Sue is ordained into the Ministry of Deacon, she has passion and gifts in community development, and a love for the people on the margins.

As Sue is inducted this afternoon,
I remind you that she is not your servant,
at times you will not like what she preaches,
at times you will be disappointed

Sue, as with all of you, is a servant of Jesus.

As servants of Jesus,

as people of God,

the body of Christ,

people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells,

may you always work for the coming kingdom,

where weapons become welcome signs

where words build up

where actions invite

where we live out the words of Jesus:

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

May God continue to bless this congregation and Rev Sue Scott, as together you live the abundant life, and serve in ways that enhances the lives of people in this community. 

Fullness of Life for All

Proclamation of the Word

The section of John’s gospel we heard read this morning is a continuation of Jesus speaking after the healing of a man born blind. 

•          The disciples asked who sinned – the man or his parents – meaning why is he blind, who is being punished?
  ·    Jesus tells the disciples that it doesn’t work like that and heals the man. Then the Pharisees investigate:
  o  Is this really the same man who used to beg?
  o  Was he really born blind?
  o  How can he now see?
  o  Then they talked to the parents, then again to the man; then they drove the man who had been blind out of the temple.
  ·    The man had received his sight, but was excluded by the religious leaders, because Jesus enabled him to see.
  ·    The we hear about shepherd who leads the sheep, who keeps them safe from thieves and robbers. 
  Jesus said: I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.
  What does fullness of life look like for the man born blind? 

What does it look like for us?

I am reminded of the TV show “The Good Life”.  Tom and Barbara decide to give up on the ‘rat-race’ and live a life of simplicity and self-sufficiency. Their neighbours, Margo and Jerry, continue to climb the professional and social ladder.

The reading from Acts gives us some ideas about living life to the full. This section comes at the end of Chapter 2. This chapter starts with the coming of the Holy Spirit, then a long speech by Peter.

People asked what should we do?
Peter responded: repent and be baptised.

“Luke, here, lays out the immediate consequences of the repentance and baptism”[i]

People responded to the message of forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, they responded by repentance and being baptised; but it didn’t end there. Their lives were transformed. Their time was spent praying, praising God, learning, sharing resources, and eating together.

Now I am not going to suggest that we move into a commune or a monastery.

Do we seek the good of the congregation, the community, the world?

One of the complaints we often read about politicians is that they preference one section of the community over another, usually the section of the community they belong to.

Some of you will have seen this T-Shirt: Uniting for the common good.

I think this is what Luke is writing about here in Acts, living in ways that enables everyone to have food and shelter. Living in ways that praise God.

“The Acts community saw God as life-giving, breaking down barriers, including barriers of economics and property, and calling us to new life through the resurrection of Jesus and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.” [ii]

“They believed abundant life was possible for everyone and that God was moving in their lives, giving them power to love, heal, and welcome.

They saw their well-being connected with the well-being of every member of the community.”[iii]

Abundant life, life in its fullness, means not just for me, but for all people.

But this fullness of life does not seem to exist, not for everyone. When we live in a world where some people have so much they worry about protecting what they have, building bigger fences and stronger gates to keep people out; while others have not enough to survive; none of us has fullness of life.

Fullness of life comes from relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It comes from following the voice of the Shepherd, knowing the protection and provision and presence of Jesus.[iv]

What stops us from hearing the voice of Jesus, from following, from living fully alive to God.

How do we nurture our ability to hear the voice of Jesus the Shepherd over the noise of life; demanding that we buy more, that we deserve the more expensive option and that we need the latest technology.

How do we hear the voice of the Shepherd calling us to follow; in ways that mean fullness of life for all people. Including the unemployed, the mentally ill, the refugee and the addicted.

Fullness of life is for all, not just some.

Jesus said: I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.

What does that look like for you?

What does this ask of you?

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[i] Margaret Aymer, https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3237

[ii] Bruce G. Epperly The Adventurous Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 7, 2017

[iii] Bruce G. Epperly The Adventurous Lectionary – Fourth Sunday of Easter – May 7, 2017

[iv] Karoline Lewis, Working Preacher