Greatness

[Note: this is the written version, when I preach it usually changes]

Once again, Jesus tells the disciples he will be handed over and killed; and once again the disciples don’t understand what Jesus is talking about.

Do any of you remember not understanding something, but being too afraid to ask? It happened at times when I was at University. There was lots in Physics I struggled with, I didn’t understand enough to even ask a question, and I didn’t want to look stupid, so I sat there hoping I could avoid the embarrassment, and hoping I didn’t get asked a question.

Sometimes when we don’t understand something, it is because we need more time, or more explanation,

But there is another kind if not understanding. I think that is what is happening here with the disciples. They had reckoned that Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would save the people of Israel, and to the people that meant overthrowing the Romans. Jesus being arrested and killed was not part of being a new leader in place of the Romans.

So what could Jesus possibly mean by all this talk of being arrested and killed, and not just arrested, but betrayed. That meant someone close to him was going to be part of his death.

It didn’t make sense.

It didn’t fit with the picture the disciples had of the place of the Messiah.

Instead of asking questions, they didn’t say anything.

Then on the road they talk about who is going to be the greatest in the new kingdom – the one where Jesus is boss – see, it isn’t just that the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus had said, they already had an image of how the future will be, and they couldn’t imagine anything different. When they arrive at Capernaum, and are in the house – code for take notice, here comes a Jesus teaching moment - Jesus asks them what they have been discussing as they walked along. From the disciples we hear … silence!

 

I do feel sorry for the disciples, they give up everything to travel with Jesus, to learn and follow, and yet so much of what Jesus is talking about they don’t understand, but they continue on the journey with Jesus, and they look like fools at times.  There is plenty about life and faith that I don’t understand, and times when I put my foot in it and say something stupid; but at least no one is writing it all down for people to read in 2,000 years’ time.

 

We will look at the rest of the Mark reading shortly, but from this section, I wonder what you notice?

What happens when we have a pre-set idea about a person, or the future?

What happens when we allow fear to control our thinking?

In Mark’s gospel, fear is the opposite of faith.

 

And what happens when we think we deserve to be more important than anyone else?

Who is the greatest?

Well here are some examples from how this question plays out in real life.

• The change in leadership of the Liberal Party this week – the members of the party room had to decide who would make a better leader; which brings to my mind the question of what makes a good leader?
• On TV there are lots of examples of where people need to compete against each other – the Bachelor; My Kitchen Rules, X factor…..
• And then there is the world situation – people fighting over religion, doctrine, culture; people who want to rule, to have their own way and make everyone else live with their choice.  This has been going on for centuries. Remember, many of the victims of ISIS are other Muslims who have a different understanding of that faith. Wars are fought over land, but also ideas.
• We also see this when new compete with another congregation or denomination, or faith group.
• And we see it in the sporting arena.
• Closer to home, what happens when we think we deserve cheaper food or clothing, when that means the farmer or person making the clothes doesn’t earn enough to live on?
• What happens when we think we deserve more space, more water, quicker service; who lives without or gets left behind?

 

Sometimes we struggle to comprehend what is happening in our lives, because our view of reality is set, and conflicts with what is happening in our lives.

Well, Jesus goes on to tell the disciples about greatness. Not the greatness the disciples had been thinking about. Not the typical greatness of wealth, power and status.

“Jesus overturns the prevailing assumptions about power and security by inviting the disciples to imagine that abundant life comes not through gathering power but through displaying vulnerability, not through accomplishments but through service, and not by collecting powerful friends but by welcoming children.

These are small things when you think about it. Serving others, opening yourself to another’s need, being honest about your own needs and fears, showing kindness to a child, welcoming a stranger. But they are available to each and all of us every single day. And each time we make even the smallest of these gestures in faith – that is, find the strength and courage to reach out to another in compassion even when we are afraid – we will find our fear lessened, replaced by an increasingly resolute confidence that fear and death do not have the last word.” [David Lose]

good news!

Proclamation

 

 

^“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

I have told you before that I think I have the best job in the world, that is telling people that God loves them, and that each of you also has this job.  We may use words to let people know they are loved by God, but more often it will be our presence, our listening, our praying, our support, that shows the love of God to people around us. We will bring the good news with a casserole or the washing, or flowers, or picking children up from school.  And this congregation is good at those practical ways of showing Gods love in action.

 

But I wonder if we downplay the story we have to tell.

Because it is a great story that we can tell.

The ‘big’ story

of the interplay of God and creation,

of God’s presence with people throughout time,

of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus,

of the spread of the message of Jesus throughout the known world in the early church.

 

There is also the personal story that each one of us has of the difference Jesus has made in our lives.

In freeing us from guilt and the fears that hold us back

In healing us from hurt and shame

In liberating us to be the person God created us to be

The stories of

the times when we have been aware of the presence of God or Jesus or the Spirit in a special way

the times we have sensed a deep inner peace in the midst of difficulty

 

as well as the ongoing story of God and creation and history

as well as our own personal story

there is the story of this congregation.

….

 

In the Gospel reading this morning, we heard about the two followers of Jesus who were discussing the events of the past week, trying to make sense of death and resurrection

Wondering if it was true

Wondering if the time spent following Jesus around, was a waste of time.

 

Talking with each other

about what we are experiencing,

about our struggles and joys

discussing bible readings and other material

all this builds up community, and  also encourages in our life as faithful followers of Jesus.

 

Hearing other people experiences and telling our own, can help us to understand, or at least acknowledge, the presence of God in our lives, and sometimes in ways that are startling.

 

I remember a time when I was on retreat, and I had an experience during a time of prayer and communion, that was new for me. It felt like someone was pouring warm oil over me – it felt wonderful and soothing, but I couldn’t understand what was happening. And I didn’t mention it to anyone in case they thought I was stupid or weird!

On the way home, the person who was travelling with me, told me of her experience a few years earlier,  and it was quite similar to what I had experienced the previous day. I was then comfortable to talk with her about it. Her words were good news to me.

 

^“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

We can be bearers of good news to each other within this faith community, within small groups that meet for Bible study, discussion, craft and travel.  

But we can also be bearers of good news in the community.

By being involved in the community

By valuing all people

By being a place and a people who forgive

By offering space for people to talk about their doubts without judgement

 

We have a story to tell,

a story of peace and hope and joy and love and grace

we have a story to tell,

a story about a God who creates and recreates

a story of a God who was born and lived and healed and taught and forgave

a story of a God who dwells within us, who sanctifies and inspires

 

a story of how this community, Engadine Uniting Church,

has strengthened our faith,

has valued and loved us

has taught and encouraged

 

we have a story to tell of this community and the way its life is inspired by the love of God in Jesus.

in collecting food for Shire Youth, because people are important and food is a necessity

in operating the OOSH to help local families with quality child care.

In having social activities that all people are invited to participate in, that help ease social isolation.

 

We have a story to tell

Yet I have rarely heard those stories

Maybe that is because I am a scary person

Or you have other people to talk to

Or maybe like me, it can all be a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing, because someone might ask a question we can’t answer.

 

popcorn [maybe earlier or here?]

popping a single kernel over the Christ candle, thinking about story

  

“ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation,”

 

In what ways do we announce good news, salvation and peace in our community?

we hunger for...?

This morning we are thinking about one of my favourite topics,  food.

In case you haven’t heard, I like food,

chocolate,

ice cream,

roast chicken,

BBQ steak,

my friend’s special fruit cake  …..

 

What is your favourite food?

How does it make you feel?

 

A bit of background to the reading:

Jesus and the disciples have just crossed the Lake, climbed a hill, Jesus is teaching the disciples, and … along comes a crowd.

Jesus asks one of  the disciples “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” [NASB]

Then there is story of the feeding more than five thousand people.

The crowd got excited.

Jesus went off on his own

The disciples start to cross the lake

There is a storm

Jesus walks towards them on the water

He gets into the boat

And they are at the shore.

 

Then the section we heard read this morning – Jesus the bread of life.

 

There are three aspects of this reading I will explore this morning.

 

Firstly, When and Why do we look for Jesus?

The crowd were looking for Jesus to give them more bread. As now, people get hungry, and there was no roadhouse to buy food from. Someone who can feed that many people must be amazing.

Reminds me of the cult of celebrity.

 

But I wonder what we are seeking at a deeper level.

If I don’t eat chocolate, I would miss it, but life would still go on as normal.

I wonder what else do we hunger for, other than food?

 

Acceptance?

Love?

Forgiveness?

Freedom?

 

You might be surprised to know that many people feel they are not accepted for who they are.  Various people will try and fit us into their expectations, and we can feel like a failure because we don’t fit that box. Some people feel like they are never good enough.

 

Other people will begin by telling me that they have done something so bad that God couldn’t forgive them,

which means they haven’t allowed God’s forgiveness to flood into their lives so that they can accept forgiveness for themselves.

 

What do you hunger for, deep down?

 

While we are busy thinking about chocolate and steak, I wonder what deeper hunger are we ignoring?  

 

…………….

 

The Message paraphrase has the crowd asking: “Well, what do we do then to get in on God’s works?”

 Jesus said, “Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent. That kind of a commitment gets you in on God’s works.”

“Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent.”

 

I wonder what that might look like. Then I came across a prayer by Sir Francis Drake, her is part of that prayer:

Disturb us, Lord, when
We are too well pleased with ourselves,
When our dreams have come true
Because we have dreamed too little,
When we arrived safely
Because we sailed too close to the shore.

…..

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,
To venture on wider seas
Where storms will show your mastery;
Where losing sight of land,
We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back
The horizons of our hopes;
And to push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.

 

“Throw your lot in with the One that God has sent.”

Do we give all of ourselves to Jesus?

Are our dreams big enough?

Do we stay close to shore or allow ourselves space to see the stars?

 

…….

 

After the conversation about manna and bread, Jesus tells the crowd: The Bread of God came down out of heaven and is giving life to the world.”

They jumped at that: “Master, give us this bread, now and forever!”

 

 

“Jesus is the bread that fulfils all our hunger and thirst.

Jesus frees us to follow him not to achieve self-satisfaction,

not to get anything that is in it for us,

not even to attain or maintain peace of mind.

Jesus frees us to embrace God’s redeeming will

to restore the cosmos to what God created

and humanity to what God intends.

Such faith does not mean separating the spiritual out of the social.

 It means putting God

rather than us

at the centre of both.

When we do,

we can and will expect more.”

 

[Working preacher: Commentary on John 6:24-35 Craig A. Satterlee]

 

 

The bread of God is giving life to the world – in what way does the bread of God, Jesus, bring life to the world?

Where are places you see this life?

Who are the people you seeing bearing this life to the world?

 

This morning we celebrate communion,

we will eat bread and drink juice together,

we remember the love of God for the world,

the life of Jesus, his death, resurrection and the gift of the spirit.

 

Just as to really enjoy food, we need to be aware of our hunger;

To feast on the bread of life, we need to be aware of our need.

 

Gospel reflection

 (inspired by John 6:24-35)

 

Our bellies are full

We are refreshed

Our minds are no longer dulled

By that gnawing ache of hunger

And yet

We long

There was more that took place on that day

Than just the loaves

…and fishes

what happened was good

…in the way creation was pronounced good

and yet

…we hunger for more

not just the food

that eased our hunger

but there was power in the words that were spoken

power that opened our minds

power that challenged us

and made us see

…a hunger

 we had not known

…(Jesus Said)

a hunger from deep within

which now that it has become loosed

will not be bound again

until it is fed

…(I am)

and nourished

as only God

…(the Bread)

as the Creator of all

…(of life)

can do

 

~ written by Dan Bollerud, and posted on Pastor Dan’s Grace Notes. http://coslcgrace.blogspot.ca/

 

[reflection time]

Trust God Psalm 27

When I look around me, I see fear  -

I see fear and anxiety at church meetings because of

lower attendance figures,

smaller Sunday schools,

reduced budgets

less influence in society.

        I see fear of people who are different – especially

                Muslims – 2.2 % of the Australian population in 2011 http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/lookup/2071.0main+features902012-2013

                The biggest increase in religious affiliation in the census is the people with ‘no religion’  22% . This group is almost as big as the Catholic Church 25%, and larger than the Anglican church 17%. 5% name themselves as  Uniting Church.

        I see fear of change

        And fear of death, disease, contamination.

 

What do we fear?

What do you fear?

 

The psalmist writes

‘I will fear no one …

I will never be afraid ….

I will still trust in God…

I will praise the Lord.’

 

 

This week we saw what happens when fear and its accomplice hate come together –

Cynthia Hurd,

Susie Jackson,

Ethel Lance,

DePayne Middleton,

Clementa Pinckney,

Tywanza Sanders,

Daniel Simmons,

Sharonda Coleman-Singleton,

Myra Jackson.

These people were at a prayer meeting at a church,

They are Christian people,

our brothers and sisters in Christ,

but they are black people

and they were killed.

 

Now we might think that such racism doesn’t happen in Australia, but Ian and I were at a meeting this weekend with about 40 people from across NSW and ACT.

One of the people at that meeting is an aboriginal woman – she was travelling with a few aboriginal people who are in Sydney for other meetings.  She was contacted by the others, because the hotel they were booked into would not let them into the room without a large bond. One of the staff of the church and the woman at the meeting went to the hotel, and keys were handed over with no bond being asked for. And yes the staff person was white. This was in a major centre in the Sydney region.

 

Each of us will have fears, each of us will worry – and as we heard in the gospel reading ‘Can any of you live a bit longer by worrying about it?’

If it means going to the doctor a little sooner, maybe.

But most things we worry about, we cannot do anything about, so where does worrying get us – older, tireder ?

 

And in  1 John 4:18  (GNT)

There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment.

Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society

 

At times I have been asked what is going to happen to the Uniting Church – in the sense that the church is dying and what will happen if the UCA as a whole closes down.

Well, on one hand I think that this is an unlikely scenario, for a while range of reasons.  But what if the UCA does close. For over 2000 years , people whose lives have been touched by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus have met together to worship, to tell and retell the stories of our faith, to encourage faithful living, to support one another and to spread the message of God’s grace, forgiveness and love.

So what if the UCA closes –

do you think God will not continue to work in the lives of people?  

Do you believe that people will no longer respond to God’s grace,

Are you concerned that people will no longer seek out others to act together to work with God in bringing the kingdom into being?

 

Yes, there is a crisis in the UCA –

and I think it is a crisis that comes from fear,  

fear of speaking a gospel message of love and grace

fear of trying something new

fear of looking  at our own brokenness

fear that we, and God,  are not enough

 

My hope is that this crisis of confidence will lead us to take hold of the opportunities we have, to take the risk of following the way of Jesus.

 

The psalmist writes

‘I will fear no one …

I will never be afraid ….

I will still trust in God…

I will praise the Lord.’

 

I have been wondering this week – what does it mean to trust God?

 

Looking at the psalm and the gospel reading, it looks to me like not worrying, not being fearful,

it looks like accepting that sometimes life will be difficult,

But in the midst of the difficult times

In the midst of the challenges of life

        times of depression

times of being overwhelmed

times of unemployment

times  of crisis

when people attack us

when tomorrow takes the joy from today

 

trusting God does not take away the challenges of life

but trusting God means having a sense of calm amidst the storm.

 

This may not be easy to do, and I am a natural worrier, but I have learnt, and still am learning, that worrying about how I will get through next week, or how will I handle moving from here to a new place – none of that worrying achieves anything other than for me to be tired and stressed.

Trusting God, is trusting that God is present, that nothing can separate me from the love of God, and that God is faithful.

 

 

What does it mean for you to Trust God?

 

Hymn: The Lord is my light [I am planning on this starting with one person and people joining in as they choose to]

Hope Paul style

 Those who have been part of the congregation for a few years will know I don’t do Mother’s Day in church.  In the online discussion groups for Ministers this week, lots of comments about what, or what not, to do with Mother’s Day as far as worship is concerned.

Then I saw the reading from Romans – Paul is one of my least favourite writers to preach on. So I did wonder about finding a cute video of kittens playing – every Ministers go to for getting out of preaching J  - and ignore both Paul and Mother’s Day.

 

We’ll start with Paul.

Paul is writing to a  group of Christians he has not met, he has heard about them, but hasn’t met them.  And he writes of how suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character and character produces hope.

 

Creative reading:[from Spill the Beans]

 

……………….

 

Paul writes of Hope – hope that comes from suffering and endurance, this isn’t hoping for a fine day to get the washing dry, or hoping to lose a few kilos to fit into an outfit; this is hope in Jesus, assurance that we are Gods precious people.   This isn’t wishful thinking, this is certainty in the face of persecution,  faith in the face of death. This is hope based on our knowing that we are reconciled to God. The language of Paul can be difficult for our modern ears, but one thing to remember with Paul is that he is not writing about justification from a judicial perspective, but from a  relational viewpoint.

Paul writes of reconciliation, not retribution or revenge.

 

we will now see a video, it starts with an outline of the beginnings of Mother’s day, then tells some stories of women.

 

Video 7 minutes

  [Mother's Day proclamation and stories from women such as Sojourner Truth]

 

I am amazed at the stories of these women, and their willingness to suffer, to endure, and to live in hope – not hoping for a fine day, but hoping to a world transformed.

For me that is one of the great messages of Christianity, that life can be different, that we can be transformed. Again not an individually focused I want to be 20 kilos lighter, but a transforming the world to make it a better place for all people, in spite of the personal cost.

During Lent we looked at some readings about the Kingdom of God, and what it might be like – a kingdom of hope, peace, joy and love, a kingdom without poverty and oppression. A Kingdom where all are loved, cared for, fed and clothed, where everyone has the opportunity for a healthy life and appropriate work.

 

While this video focuses on mothers, it is a reminder of what one person can do, with some passion and hope – hope that is lived out of a strength that comes from outside ourselves – we would call it the Spirit.

 

I am sure we could think of other examples of people who have placed there hope in something greater than themselves, who have faced hardship, persecution even, not for themselves, or even their own family, but for the sake of the world for which Christ died.

 

PPT image : “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
― Mary Oliver

 

Romans week 1

This week we start reading sections from the letter to the Romans.  Romans differs from the rest of Paul’s letters, in that he hasn’t been to the Church in Rome. The rest of the letters are written to churches where Paul has been, and often churches that Paul began. So Paul begins by introducing himself -  not with a physical description, but setting out his credentials, a servant of Jesus Christ, an apostle; and also sets that in the bigger picture of  the prophets and David.

Did you ever have a pen pal? What did you tell them about yourself?

I wonder how you would introduce yourself to a group of people who hadn’t met you yet?

A group of people you wanted to visit?

The church in Rome is likely to be a mixture of people from both Jewish and gentile backgrounds.

Paul is wanting to visit the church in Rome, one reason is to use Rome as a staging point to spread the gospel into Spain. For that he needs support and money, so it is important that he lets the people know that he is trustworthy, and of the shared foundations of the Christian faith.  [i]

Listen as we hear a slightly different version of the reading. Jan is Paul writing his letter, Dick is saying what Paul may be thinking as he writes.  

       Creative reading [Spill the Beans]

 

Rather than trying to cover the whole section this morning, I will reflect on a few words and phrases, hopefully this will help as we read more of Romans in the next few weeks.

Righteousness of God – often we think of people who are righteous as some people who are respectable and with high morals. But here Paul writes of the righteousness of God – and that isn’t about morals or respectability. The righteousness of God is about God’s faithfulness, that is God keeps God’s promises.

Another word that Paul uses a lot is faith.  Faith that witnesses to the good news, faith that encourages, faith that isn’t a belief system, but a response to God’s faithfulness.

And Gospel or Good news:

The gospel is not a doctrine or a creed, but a living message with power to change lives.[ii] The living message of Jesus Christ himself. The gospel is Jesus, not words about Jesus, but Jesus. And the Gospel is founded on the righteousness of God – God’s faithfulness.

 We live in a time when we are the centre of our own little universe – things like selfies and  technology that allows you to see only that which you agree with.

But the gospel is not  ‘me’ centred – it is God centred. The Christian life has God’s faithfulness as a foundation, and the transforming power of Jesus Christ transforming and challenging and living in us.  

The righteousness and faithfulness of God call for a response in our lives, as does the good news of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. But the gospel is not our response.

Our response is to live out Gods calling – for Paul that was to be an evangelist to the Gentiles; what is your calling?

That is serious question: God calls each of us – not only ministers and evangelists and missionaries, but all of us.

And we need each other to encourage us in our calling.

“For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.”

Mutually encouraged by each other’s faith?

How might we do this?

Christianity is a God-centred, Christ powered faith – with a foundation of God’s righteousness –

how do we respond to God’s faithfulness?

How do we respond to the living good news of Jesus?

---

[i] RevGalBlogPals Narrative Lectionary: Something to Write Home About (Romans 1:1-17)

 

[ii] Spill the Beans