Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11

This sermon was preached at Prince of Peace on the weekend of December 14-15, 2013.

Expectation is part of our everyday lives. We have expectations in our relationships. We have expectations in our jobs. We have expectations of ourselves. And if you've noticed, we have a lot of expectations that are never met. Sometimes we put a financial investment in something that promises return. We expect to be healed of loneliness by beginning a romantic relationship. We expect the government to change things because we voted for a certain politician. Over and over, we find our expectations unmet. We lose our financial investment because the project failed. We find that the people we've expected to heal our loneliness are just as broken as us, and just as in need of healing. And of course, we find out that no matter the promises, no governor has the power to change the world in a single term. We have a history of unmet expectations. How can we trust the promise of expectation when time and again, our expectations are left unfulfilled?

This Advent season is all about expectation. We are in expectation of the coming Messiah. This expectation is represented by the Christmas day miracle: God made flesh as Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit from the virgin Mary. This was the long expected Messiah of Israel. He is the one to redeem the whole of creation. But, as we continue waiting through this Advent season, even after Christmas day comes and passes by, we are still waiting. We are waiting expectantly for the coming again of Jesus Christ. The season of Advent only lasts about three and a half weeks, but we have been in the true Advent from the day Jesus ascended into heaven. We wait for him to return. We expect him to return.

John the Baptist is not much different from us. He began his ministry as one calling out from the wilderness. He baptized people in the Jordan river for the forgiveness of sins. He called people to repent and be ready for the one coming after him. He knew Jesus was coming. This is what drove his ministry. He called people to repentance because the one who judges the sins of the world was near.

But what happened to him? After he baptized Jesus and Jesus took over the ministry, he slowly faded from the gospel picture. We find out that he was arrested by Herod and put in prison. Things had taken a bad turn in the life of John the Baptist. And that is where we come in on our passage for today,

“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'”

John the Baptist, who preached the coming Messiah, and recognized Jesus as that Messiah was now questioning everything that had happened. This doesn't mean that John doubted Jesus, but perhaps he doubted his method. John probably wasn't expecting to be waiting for death in a prison cell once Jesus came around. Shouldn't the messiah be overthrowing the Roman authorities and re-establishing the nation of Israel as God's chosen people? Jesus was supposed to bring redemption, but instead John found himself at the mercy of sinful Gentiles.

Roughly thirty years after this moment, Paul is writing to the church in Rome about this same kind of experience.

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

And this is still our experience today. The expectation in the last days is like labor pains that come before childbirth. We look around us and we see that things are not right. We are in a world that is not right. We see famine and destruction. People killing each other with no remorse. There are some of us who are having trouble making ends meet. Jobs are hard to come by. Families are being torn apart. Drug abuse is destroying lives. Wars are taking even more. And we inwardly groan with all of creation in these last days. We eagerly wait for our adoption into God's household because it's hard going day-by-day in a fallen world. Jesus came with the promise of salvation, but when we look around, we don't see it. So we ask, “Is this the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

And how does Jesus respond? Our passage reads,

“And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.'”

When we feel like our Advent expectations aren't being met, the problem is not with Jesus. The problem isn't that Jesus is forsaking us. The problem isn't that Jesus was unable to fulfill his promises. The problem is that we aren't seeing Jesus with the right eyes. We have a wrong perspective of what Jesus is doing in the world. John the Baptist, trapped in a prison cell, couldn't see past his own experience. He heard about these miraculous things that Jesus was doing in the world. If I were in John's place, I know my first reaction to hearing this news would be to ask, “but what about me?” In the dark confines of his prison cell, John was unable to see the light that was shining throughout the world. We cannot be prisoners to the darkness around us. We cannot be blinded by the walls of sin and death that surround us. Jesus is doing wonderful things in this world. His good news is spreading throughout all nations.

Our perspective needs to shift. We need to not look at the darkness, but into the light. We need to realize that the darkness isn't so dark because the light of the world has come. Death is temporary for those who have the good news of Jesus Christ. By his love, the works of God are being performed by people throughout the world. “The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” Our expectations are being fulfilled in these things; our expectations of the reign of God on earth. The pains will come because the world is in the pains of childbirth. This world as it is won't meet our expectations, because we are called to heavenly expectation. As we grow in our understanding of Christ, we see how fallen the world is around us. And we see why the reign of God needs to come into the world.

It's not about overthrowing the powers that be, but lifting up the lowly. It's about sharing in the suffering of sin and death. Jesus Christ did not only come to abolish death, but to join in its misery. His cry on the cross was not only “It is finished,” but, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus took part in the suffering of the world. He took on the flesh of a man and the very nature of a human person. He lowered himself from his heavenly place and took part in our suffering. And he did not leave us alone, but gave us the promise of his return through the Holy Spirit.

We groan inwardly, awaiting our adoption into God's household. Paul writes that “in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” We need to be assured that our hope is not in this life. Our hope is not in jobs, money, or relationships. Our hope is in Christ. And we can be assured that our hope will be fulfilled because he rose again from the grave as our promise. Until then, we need to wait patiently. We must stay ready for when that time comes.

As I said earlier, Christ came into the world to suffer along with us and to bring us peace in that suffering. We as Christians must join with Christ in sharing the suffering of the world around us. We aren't called to rule over others, but to serve them. In the world we move forward by moving up. We become successful by stepping over the people below us. Money and power are our gains. But in the kingdom of God, moving deeper into God is lowering ourselves. It's taking the lowest place and valuing others as greater than ourselves. Our belongings are not our own, and so we are called to give and serve. Jesus used John the Baptist as the example,

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’”

Jesus uses John the Baptist to show what a citizen of the Kingdom looks like. Not someone dressed in fine clothing. Not someone shaken by the wind of the social climate. John was a prophet of God who stood firm in his proclamation. But even though, “there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” Jesus teaches that “the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

We need to join in this heavenly call by changing our perspectives to heavenly values. In expectation of our Lord's return, we take part in his work here on earth. Jesus asks, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.”

There is work to be finished here on earth and Jesus has set his servants to care for it. The brokenness of the world is not a sign that Jesus hasn't done his job. It is a sign that Jesus' mission continues.

“As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

As we wait for the Lord in expectation, it means we have the opportunity to share in his work. Jesus says that the signs of his kingdom are that “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” Let's be bringers of the kingdom in this way. Let's take part in his mission to the world. Let's take care of the poor and the oppressed around us. Instead of ignoring the homeless, let's sit and eat with them. Instead of blaming addicts for their problems, let's stand by them and pray with them. And instead of scoffing at those who do not know Christ, let's share the good news and welcome them into the family of God.

This can only happen by faith in the power of the Gospel. We should expect Jesus to work in mighty ways. Even through our poor and broken selves, the glory of God can shine. We need to expect Jesus. It's easy to grow impatient when we are surrounded by darkness. But, darkness has no power over light. And Jesus, the light of the world, will keep his promise to return. We need to stay in expectation of his return. This means we need to remain in daily prayer. We need to meditate on the word he has given us in the Scriptures. We need to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to commune by the Spirit at the Lord's table. And we need to love those whom Christ loves; the last and the least. Because these are the ones who will make up his kingdom.

It's easy to be distracted by the world, but we cannot let that take us away from our hope. Our hope isn't in investing in the right business ventures. It isn't in romances. It isn't in political powers. Our hope is in the one true God who reigns for ever and ever.

We need change our perspective. John the Baptist had trouble looking past his jail cell. We have trouble looking past the problems of this life. Our problems could be finances, relationships, or just staying stable. But you can be sure that the problems of this world will pass away. Jesus Christ has overcome the world.

We need to look to our heavenly promise. Our God is everlasting and he will bring full redemption to all of creation. Our situations may seem hopeless, but so long as God lives, there is always hope. Trust in that. Trust that with God, even the impossible can be done. Even the most hardened sinner can turn to repentance. Even the deepest mourning can turn to joy. There will come a day when he will wipe away every tear. Stay ready for that day. Stay ready by prayer. Stay ready by Scripture meditation. Stay ready by doing the work of the kingdom; serving the poor and sharing the good news. Stay ready by remembering that your expectation is not based on human works, but on the work of God: that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again from the grave. Our expectation is that he will come again and make all things new. But until that day comes, let's share in the work he has given us to do.

Homily on Amos 3:12-4:5

This homily was preached in the Morning Prayer service at the Trinity School for Ministry Chapel on Thursday, December 5th, 2013.

Amos 3:12-4:5 Homily

*the first portion of this homily was cut from the audio due to technical difficulties*

The summer before I came to seminary, I went on a trip to the South Rwenzori Diocese in western Uganda. When I got back, I had already moved all of my belongings out of my old apartment, so I had to stay at a friends place. I took a shower and then unpacked all of my clothes from the trip and threw them into the washer. The washer finished running and I opened the lid, and from it, I removed a drenched, washed-out, shriveled-up United States passport which I had only bought a few weeks earlier for that trip. It had been left in my pants pocket and now it was ruined.

This is probably a less gruesome image than what the Lord had spoken through Amos.

*the following portion of the homily is presented in the audio*

“As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.”

These images of couches and beds, and summer houses and winter houses, are images of wealth. Specifically, these are images of Israel's wealth which they keep for themselves in the land. They “oppress the poor, [and] crush the needy.”

God does not delight in prosperity, but in our giving out of what we have. In Luke, Jesus teaches that “everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” And maybe you weren't given financial wealth. Since we're at a seminary, I'm going assume that's a majority of you. But, we still have the responsibility of caring for others from what we do have. For some it may be, as Bishop Neil mentioned yesterday, our time. For others, perhaps it's a talent or skill that helps another in need, or your car for a person who needs a ride. We all have something to give and it's very tempting for us to want to keep it to ourselves. It's my blessing so I'll make use of it however I want.

And it's not just only ourselves, but also only our friends; only the people we like to be around. This is a problem of identity; that we see our identity on a human level and not a spiritual level. God created all people in his image, not just some. And his desire is that they would come to worship him together. That they know him, as Jeremiah tells us, that he is “the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.” These are the things in which he delights.

But, Israel wanted to believe that Israel's God is only for Israel. The judgment on Israel isn't just for their sin, but for their worship. This goes for our worship too. How can we worship the God who delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, but not learn to show delight in these things ourselves?

Through Amos, the Lord points out the hypocrisy of Israel. He declares to them, “Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!” They put on the show of righteousness in the temple, but the rest of their lives are brushed with the shades of sin. It doesn't matter how much we write on our tithe check, or how much we clap our hands along to the songs, the Lord knows our hearts and where our real treasure is.

I don't say this as a condemnation. But to encourage us to consider those around us. Not just those next to us in the pews or those who sit with us at dinner. Consider those poor and needy. Those who have been crushed and oppressed. Consider those who stand in darkness and don't see the light of Christ. And consider what we have to give them. “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.”

The greatest treasure has been given to us. We are called to share that treasure with the rest of the world. The Gospel screams from our hearts with joy that cannot be contained. Christ has come in the flesh,very God of very God. And although “no one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” He is our God, and our God is for the whole earth and all creation.

Hear the warning of God through Amos this morning. Those who worship at the altar but oppress the poor and crush the needy aren't worshiping God, but idols of their own making. Those who go to the temple and give their tithes but do not pay attention to those in need around them don't pay offerings to God, but only to their own conscience. We can't fall into the same trap as Israel by growing content with a passive and contained worship life.

It's good to tithe, and it's good to worship the Lord in song. It's good, but not all. The Lord delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. Our worship should come out of our delight in these things because to do so is to delight also in the things of the Lord. And our delight in these things is rooted in the Lord's practice of them on our behalf. In his steadfast love, he sent his only Son. Because of his justice, he died for the sins of the world. And because of his righteousness, he rose again from the grave to bring us into his new life as new creations in him. Out of this truth, we worship him and take delight. Our worship reminds us of who he is and what he has done and is doing in, through, and with us. And how good this news is; so good that it should be shared throughout all the world.

Let us give out of what we have and not count our blessings as only our own. The Lord loves the needy and grieves over the wicked. In our worship, let us learn to have hearts like his, to truly worship him in his fullness of being; his steadfast love, his justice, and his righteousness. Let us delight in these things which he has given for the whole world.The summer before I came to seminary, I went on a trip to the South Rwenzori Diocese in western Uganda. When I got back, I had already moved all of my belongings out of my old apartment, so I had to stay at a friends place. I took a shower and then unpacked all of my clothes from the trip and threw them into the washer. The washer finished running and I opened the lid, and from it, I removed a drenched, washed-out, shriveled-up United States passport which I had only bought a few weeks earlier for that trip. It had been left in my pants pocket and now it was ruined.

This is probably a less gruesome image than what the Lord had spoken through Amos. “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.”

These images of couches and beds, and summer houses and winter houses, are images of wealth. Specifically, these are images of Israel's wealth which they keep for themselves in the land. They “oppress the poor, [and] crush the needy.”

God does not delight in prosperity, but in our giving out of what we have. In Luke, Jesus teaches that “everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” And maybe you weren't given financial wealth. Since we're at a seminary, I'm going assume that's a majority of you. But, we still have the responsibility of caring for others from what we do have. For some it may be, as Bishop Neil mentioned yesterday, our time. For others, perhaps it's a talent or skill that helps another in need, or your car for a person who needs a ride. We all have something to give and it's very tempting for us to want to keep it to ourselves. It's my blessing so I'll make use of it however I want.

And it's not just only ourselves, but also only our friends; only the people we like to be around. This is a problem of identity; that we see our identity on a human level and not a spiritual level. God created all people in his image, not just some. And his desire is that they would come to worship him together. That they know him, as Jeremiah tells us, that he is “the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.” These are the things in which he delights.

But, Israel wanted to believe that Israel's God is only for Israel. The judgment on Israel isn't just for their sin, but for their worship. This goes for our worship too. How can we worship the God who delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness, but not learn to show delight in these things ourselves?

Through Amos, the Lord points out the hypocrisy of Israel. He declares to them, “Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel!” They put on the show of righteousness in the temple, but the rest of their lives are brushed with the shades of sin. It doesn't matter how much we write on our tithe check, or how much we clap our hands along to the songs, the Lord knows our hearts and where our real treasure is.

I don't say this as a condemnation. But to encourage us to consider those around us. Not just those next to us in the pews or those who sit with us at dinner. Consider those poor and needy. Those who have been crushed and oppressed. Consider those who stand in darkness and don't see the light of Christ. And consider what we have to give them. “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required.”

The greatest treasure has been given to us. We are called to share that treasure with the rest of the world. The Gospel screams from our hearts with joy that cannot be contained. Christ has come in the flesh,very God of very God. And although “no one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.” He is our God, and our God is for the whole earth and all creation.

Hear the warning of God through Amos this morning. Those who worship at the altar but oppress the poor and crush the needy aren't worshiping God, but idols of their own making. Those who go to the temple and give their tithes but do not pay attention to those in need around them don't pay offerings to God, but only to their own conscience. We can't fall into the same trap as Israel by growing content with a passive and contained worship life.

It's good to tithe, and it's good to worship the Lord in song. It's good, but not all. The Lord delights in steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. Our worship should come out of our delight in these things because to do so is to delight also in the things of the Lord. And our delight in these things is rooted in the Lord's practice of them on our behalf. In his steadfast love, he sent his only Son. Because of his justice, he died for the sins of the world. And because of his righteousness, he rose again from the grave to bring us into his new life as new creations in him. Out of this truth, we worship him and take delight. Our worship reminds us of who he is and what he has done and is doing in, through, and with us. And how good this news is; so good that it should be shared throughout all the world.

Let us give out of what we have and not count our blessings as only our own. The Lord loves the needy and grieves over the wicked. In our worship, let us learn to have hearts like his, to truly worship him in his fullness of being; his steadfast love, his justice, and his righteousness. Let us delight in these things which he has given for the whole world.

Homily on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

This homily was preached in the Morning Prayer service at the Trinity School for Ministry chapel on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

Matthew 6:1-6,16-18 Homily

I think we all know this sermon: Do your good deeds in secret, and the Lord will reward you. We can't boast in our works, but only in the grace of God our Father given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. So, do your good deeds in secret, because you must seek the love of God, and not the approval of others.

But, there's a slight issue here. What about when we do deeds that are meant to be in the public eye?

For those of us involved in ministry, there are times we are meant to show good works in our public lives so that they can be seen and imitated by others. Jesus prayed loudly before Lazarus' tomb, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” Paul writes to the Philippians, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Peter writes in his first epistle, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” So, as ministers or future ministers, how can we apply this teaching to the way we conduct ourselves in our doing good for the Kingdom?

We have to ask ourselves what the purpose is behind this teaching. To introduce this section of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven.” But I've already listed three examples from Jesus, Paul, and Peter, where it is shown that there are times when good deeds are done and seen by others. I think it's clear that Jesus can't mean that he is just concerned with our good deeds being seen. It's not like if someone else happens to walk in on us praying that God will then be like, “Nope. That one doesn't count. You'll have to do it again later when no one's looking.” And imagine what that could mean for the soup kitchen industry.

The conclusion that has to be drawn is that Jesus is saying we shouldn't try to impress others with our righteousness. In each of the three examples above, the point of being seen by others is so that God would be glorified. Jesus prayed so that the people would believe that he was sent by the Father. Paul wants the Philippians to imitate him so that God will be with them. Peter wants the Christians to show their good deeds in order that God will be glorified.

There are now two further questions we need to ask. Why are there two separate teachings on practicing good deeds? And, how do we know which deeds we must do in secret, and which in public?

I think both of these questions have the same answer. It's all about glorifying God in what we do.

So, what's with these two different teachings? On one side, doing good deeds publicly will bring pride and lose us the reward we have from our Father in heaven. On the other side, we have our public deeds being seen by others so that they may be brought into God's grace and so that God would be glorified through their witness. We have to be aware that both of these teachings are in the Scripture for a reason. They are both meant to be followed.

We Christians must learn to glorify God both in secret and public places. There is no time in our Christians lives at which we can give up doing one or the other. We need to glorify God in secret because God desires us to have a personal relationship with him. We praise him even when no one else is around to hear because our praise is meant for him alone. We love him in secret because we were made for his most intimate love. And we serve discreetly because we are confessing our loyalties to him and not to others. The good that we do should not be influenced by how we might appear to others but by our love for God.

On the other hand, we need to glorify God publicly because we are called to share his good news with the world. We praise him with our brothers and sisters because God wants his people to be one. We love him in communion because his love is meant for all. And we serve in the midst of others because we are his representative servants to the world. The good that we do in the midst of others is not meant to magnify ourselves, but magnify the Kingdom here on earth to the glory of God.

Both good things secret and public are important for us. But then we are led into the second question. How do we know which deeds we must do in secret and which in public?

While I probably can't answer this question definitively for each of us—since I think we all have our own contexts we are asking from—I do believe there are some guidelines as to how we can answer this question.

When Jesus goes through the list of good deeds, what he doesn't say is “don't ever let anyone see you do good.” But he says “when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you … when you pray ... [don't] stand in the synagogue and at the street corners, that [you] might be seen by others … and when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.” What we see here is Jesus telling us not to intentionally draw attention to ourselves when we do these things, because then our reward is in our fame. If you are drawing the attention of others to you, then you aren't doing these things for the glory of God, but for the glory of self. The easiest way to tell if you should be doing your deeds publicly is whether you are intentionally trying to draw attention to yourself as you do them.

Our public deeds should come out of the same love as our secret deeds. They should be motivated only by the glory of God out of thanksgiving for salvation. We don't do them for the purpose of lifting ourselves up, but to serve and lift up others. We don't do them to increase ourselves, but to decrease ourselves so that God might increase. “And the greatest among you shall be like the youngest and the leader as one who serves.” Because we are not called into leadership so that we can exercise dominion or gain power, but so that we can serve and give ourselves up for those whom we serve.

For this, we have the greatest example in our Lord and Teacher Jesus Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,” and he said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” And he has not only washed our feet, but our whole bodies by his very blood when, “being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

We must love the Lord our God in secret and not call attention to ourselves when we do good publicly. The good that we do is not to glorify us, but to glorify the one who sends us. And when we do these things in secret, even when we are seen, we will find that the one who sees in secret will reward us. And our reward is found in the joy and peace of his Spirit, and the hope of salvation.

Sermon on 1 Kings 19:19-21

This sermon was preached at Prince of Peace on the weekend of June 29-30, 2013.

One thing I value about being here and at the seminary is that I have been able to form real relationships with people older than me. I've learned a lot about life and what to expect as I grow older, and hopefully wiser. One unfortunate truth I've found is that many of the older men I know have struggled with the same problem. It's almost expected now that when I meet an older man he deals with the same issue as all the others that I know. You've probably heard of it. It's called 'high cholesterol.' Now, I've also found out that the only cure for this seems to be a good diet and exercise. Some of the older men I know have gone on either vegan or nearly-vegan diets in order to help with the problem. Others have made daily trips to the gym before or after work. If they do these things consistently, they can still sneak in a treat now and again.

As Christians, I think we tend to view our relationship with God in the same way we view diet and exercise. Being “Christian” is like going on a spiritual health kick. These health kicks are all a matter of substitution. For every bad food you eat, you make up for it with either exercise or eating good food.

Every time we have spiritual junk food, we try to offset it with some form of spiritual broccoli. You can ignore that guy who is in need over there because you've been going to Bible study on Wednesdays. You don't need to give your time at this outreach event because you've been faithful in your tithes.

The thing is, our spiritual life is not a diet. It's an entire changing of our anatomy. Our bodies reject the things we used to eat. Our old habits now have a warning label on them; beware: will induce vomiting. Going back to what we used to eat, in the spiritual sense, is like trying to be satisfied by a bowl of wax fruit. It just won't work.

The Christian life is not a spiritual diet. It is continuously following God's call in our lives.

When God calls us, it means making a decision. This decision has two parts.

First, it is a decision to step forward into his call.

And second, it is a decision to leave behind the life he is calling us from.

I want us to look at our Scripture passage for today from 1 Kings. It reads that “Elijah passed by [Elisha] and cast his cloak upon him.”

When a rabbi put his cloak around someone, he was calling that person to be his disciple. Elisha would have known this. As Elijah passed him by, he had to make the biggest decision of his life. And there wasn't a lot of time for him to make it. Elijah was on the move, and Elisha probably had about a minute to decide to follow him or not.

Sometimes, when God calls us, we don't have the time to sit and think it out. We must be ready to hear the call of God. When he calls, will you follow or will you question? The work of the Kingdom is not for those with idle hands. It is work. It's giving to those in need. It's showing kindness to those who might hate you. It's encouraging those who are depressed. It's an active life to be a member of the Kingdom of God. And God calls you to this activity.

In our passage, Elisha was not being called to an easy life. Earlier in this very chapter, Elijah had a death sentence called on him because of what he did in the name of God. He was alone and hated by his own people. Elisha would surely be called into this same life. Our decision to follow God when he calls isn't always easy. But it's the most important decision of our lives.

God will not call you to an easy life. If you want to be an imitator of Christ, look at what he went through. He had no place to rest his head. He was despised and beaten. He was constantly harassed by those around him. And he was eventually crucified. I'm not saying everyone here will be crucified. I'm pretty sure the Romans aren't doing that anymore. But how can we expect an easy and comfortable life, when Christ himself had a life of hardship? If we call ourselves Christians and imitators of Christ, how do our lives look in comparison to his?

I am not saying that we are all called to be prophets like Elisha. Elisha was no less in God's favor plowing his field than as the prophet of Israel. But God does have a calling on our lives. A calling which is to be wise with our spending. To be kind to those around us. And to preach his Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ. We will fall short of this calling. Even as the Holy Spirit pushes us. We are still broken creatures. But God is merciful and he continues to call us into his ministry. He has allowed us the honor to participate in his plan for the salvation of the world. As you continue in your faithfulness to God's call, he will continue to call you more to himself. To the one who is trusted with little, will be trusted much.

Jesus told a parable of three servants who were each trusted with a portion of their master's wealth. Two of these servants traded the wealth in the market and made a profit. The third buried his wealth in a field. He buried it because he was afraid losing it would make the master angry. When the master asked each what happened, the two showed their profit. But the third only gave back what was given to him. The master entrusted more to the two and he had the third thrown out.

Sometimes our fear is that we will lose what has been entrusted to us. We will make people hate Jesus because we misrepresent him. We will cause more harm than good when we try to help a neighbor in need. But if we do not put ourselves out there, what good are we doing? God is the one who is in control of all things. We can trust that he will work through even our mistakes. How can we learn if we are afraid to fail? You can't hit a home run if you're afraid of popping the ball into the outfield and getting caught out. If God didn't want to risk failure, he wouldn't have called us.

We must remember whenever we go out to follow God, there is grace. We don't have three strikes and outs. We have unlimited forgiveness and mercy. God is on your side. He will be there to comfort you. If you're afraid of rejection, then remember that even Jesus was rejected. If your worried about your flaws, remember that Jesus called you to himself because of them. Because he knows you need help. He is your strength. During one of my first times passing out flyers for a Christian event in college, I felt God pushing me to talk to a certain student outside the school library. I knew I should, but I was afraid of rejection. I ended up not doing it, and beat myself up about it afterward. But, in the end, God did not love me any less because of my failure. And that experience made me more proactive in seeking others out for Jesus.

Look at the Apostle Paul. The Lord spoke to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So Paul boasts about his weakness because the power of Christ comes out in our weakness. When you are weak, you have the power of God on your side. We need this power because what we are called to is great.

Like Elisha, It could mean leaving behind everything you ever knew. It could mean moving to another country. It could mean giving up the job or lifestyle you once had, or always wanted to have. And it's not guaranteed to be better. It's not guaranteed to be better because our hope is not only for this life. God's call on us isn't to go on a spiritual diet. We can't just watch our carbs and keep everything else relatively the same. We are changing the very foundation of our lives. And you can't change a foundation without taking the whole building down. If the life you have after God's call is the same as the life you had before, there might be something wrong. We must examine our lives and consider the ways our hands are still gripping on the world.

We are afraid to let go because we know following Christ means losing our lives for his sake. We may be forced to find our joy in suffering rather than pleasure. We may be forced to endure poverty rather than abundance. We may find ourselves with people unlike us who hate us rather than friends and family who love us. Or worse, our friends and family may become enemies because of the Gospel we preach. And in the seconds after Elijah placed his coat around him, Elisha had these questions to answer. And like us, he probably didn't have an answer for what may come. But, he did have faith. And he had the Lord to guide him. If the God of all creation is behind your call, you have nothing to fear; not because he won't let you suffer, but because your suffering will be glory, and honor, and power. And that suffering will bring joy and eternal peace in his Kingdom.

Not much time had passed when Elisha “left the oxen and ran after Elijah.” He knew following God's call was greater than the life he had. He asked Elijah if he could kiss his father and mother goodbye, and Elijah allowed him to go. What happened next is unexpected. If you'll remember, Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. That means 24 individual oxen. This means Elisha had a good life going for him. Having 24 oxen means he was doing pretty well for himself.

And what did he do with these 24 oxen and the yokes they were tied to? The passage tells us he “took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people.” He broke up the yokes, made a fire, and boiled the meat of the oxen. That was his livelihood. That field probably generated his whole income. And it was big enough to need twelve yoke of oxen to plow it.

Jesus says “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Jesus is responding to men who have heard the call of God but still have life in this world tugging at them. Our duty to the world cannot come before our duty to God. We cannot long for our past when God's call has been placed on our hearts. You cannot go out to do the Lord's work with your head turned to what you left behind. Elisha made sure that would not be an issue for him.

This isn't a spiritual diet. We can't stash the Oatmeal Cream Pies in the back of the pantry as a treat. Our spiritual genetics have been changed. Those things we used to live on are now death to us. The love of money is no longer a means for success, but a means for damnation. Greed is no longer a way to preserve your life, but to lose it. By keeping mementos of our old life around, we are only presenting openings for the devil to attack. If you're a recovering alcoholic, you don't keep a case of beer in the basement. If God has called you to live simply and serve the poor, going to Sharper Image might be a hindrance. We must rid ourselves of those things which might call us back into the world. That is more than packing them away and stuffing them in a storage locker. It means destroying them. Elisha took the pieces of his old life, sacrificed them to God and then used them to feed his neighbors.

There is a cost to discipleship. It means no longer living for self-indulgence but for service of others. You are not your own. You are Christ's own. And your life should be a reflection of that. Living for Christ means living in sacrifice. His sacrifice redeems us. Living in his sacrifice cleanses us from sin. And taking part in his sacrifice makes us holy people of God. Sacrifice of ourselves on behalf of others is living in Christ-likeness. That means giving out of what we have, even if we only have little.

Do you know what we have? At the very least, what we all have is the message of Christ. We have him and him crucified. And we have the Lord going with us to proclaim this message. Elisha was called to be the prophet of Israel. We are all called into the priesthood of believers. That means we should all be ministers of reconciliation between others and God.  Everyone in this building has been called to this ministry. But it's not a ministry confined to this building. We are to go out into the world. That means where you work. In your neighborhood. Where you shop. Where you eat. And among everyone you know. We are called to be ministers in those places. To bring Jesus Christ into every corner of our lives.

God may not be calling you away from your plow. But he is calling you to work the fields for Christ. How you do your work and how you use your wealth is a testament to Christ in your life. You can't substitute good for bad. God's judgment isn't done on a scale. Good and evil cannot co-exist. Because sin isn't cholesterol. You don't balance your sin out with good spiritual things. Sin is a cancer. It must be removed completely or it will continue to spread. We can't have just a little. God is calling us to change the way we live.

You are Christians. You are called into Christ's sacrifice. If you are not living in that sacrifice, you aren't fulfilling your call. And you don't have to start with something big. God knows you. He knows where you stand. He will walk alongside you. You can start small. Ask a neighbor to come to Bible study. Pay for the meal of a homeless person. If you feel up to it, sit and eat with them. Limit the times you purchase something for yourself each week. Little by little, God will work with you. I can't go out and run a marathon tomorrow morning. But what I can do is go for a jog around my block. I can work myself up. But it requires consistent practice and progress. If I jog around my block and in a year I'm doing the same thing, that isn't progress. Our goal is to make progress. And we won't run out of ways to grow. Perfection is a pretty high calling. It's one I think we'll all still be working on for awhile. Eventually, we may be trusted with a big call. But if we trust in God, we will be ready when that call comes. God is good. He is merciful. He'll help us get there. 

Sermon on John 21:1-19

This sermon was preached at Prince of Peace on the weekend of April 13-14, 2013.

When I was in college, I got involved with a ministry called Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. The leader of this ministry was a man named Taylor. In his job, he served as a missionary to college students on our campus. He was a few years older than I was, so I looked up to him as a mentor. He taught me a lot about what it means to follow Jesus. He taught me prayer and Bible study, and other tools for growing in my faith.

The reason I share this with you is because I want to highlight a very important aspect of this relationship I have with Taylor. More than a mentor or leader, Taylor is my friend. The reason we've stayed close through the years, and the reason I've developed trust in him as a person is because he's my friend. I've grown to love Taylor and his family. He's like a brother to me. If he's in need, I'll do anything I can to help him. His words mean more to me as a friend. I can hear his encouragement and even his rebuke because of the trust between us. If my relationship with Taylor was only as a leader or teacher, I wouldn't listen to him when he has an opinion on my lifestyle. I wouldn't give out of myself when he is in need.

I want us to think about this. How many of the people you know do you call friends? More specifically, what about Jesus? Is Jesus your friend?

In the Gospel of John, we read that Jesus visited the disciples for the third time after his resurrection. When he visited them, they were out fishing in a boat. Does anybody know how many times they went fishing in the three years since the Jesus called them to be disciples? According to the gospels, none! They used to fish all the time. Fishing was their way of life, But none of the disciples had gone fishing since they were called out of their boats by Jesus.

I wonder why they decided to go back to fishing now. Maybe they had given up on following Jesus. Maybe they just wanted their old lives back again. The Bible doesn't say. But what we see is that they aren't exactly hopping out of their seats to go share the good news of Jesus with the world.

Remember, Jesus had already appeared to them two times before this. And one of those times he told them that he's sending them out! But the disciples are still huddled and scared.

So, while they are fishing, they hear a call from the shore, “Do you have any fish?” But they hadn't caught anything all night. The voice says to cast their nets, and they made a catch larger than they could lift into the boat.

This is the same miracle Jesus performed when he calls the disciples in the other gospel accounts. Jesus is reminding them of their call to be fishers of men. He performs the same miracle he did when they first met. He reminds them of their call to follow him.

One of the disciples recognizes Jesus. “It's the Lord!” And Peter jumps overboard and swims to shore!

The rest of the disciples take the boat to shore. They see a charcoal fire burning with some fish over it. Jesus says, “bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” Jesus tells them, “Come and have breakfast.” And he gives them bread and fish.

The disciples had breakfast with Jesus. They spent time together as friends. This is like how my time with with Taylor strengthened our friendship. This moment strengthened the disciples to finally follow Jesus' call. This got them out into the world. Spending time with Jesus. Giving yourself up for someone requires that you love them. Jesus says there's no greater love than laying down your life for your friends.

The miracle of this large catch of fish reminded the disciples of their call. Their call was to be fishers of men! Jesus reminded them of his power to make their works great when alone they can do nothing.

There's also a growth Peter's relationship with Jesus. When he jumps out of the boat, it reflects the time when Jesus walked on the stormy sea. That time, Peter was scared of the waves, and timidly asked Jesus to call him out of the boat. But this time, Peter didn't wait for Jesus to call to him. Out of his excitement of seeing Jesus, he did what any good friend would do. His friend had died, but now was back to see him. He leaped out and rushed over to be at his friend's side. That stormy night was gone. It was a new day. His love for Jesus, and his longing to be with Jesus drew him to the shore for breakfast with his friend.

Jesus feeds the disciples with bread and fish. Do you remember what food Jesus fed the five thousand? It was bread and fish! And now he is passing this same food around to the disciples. Do you think some of them might be remembering this part of Jesus' ministry? And how they didn't have faith that he could feed them? With his actions here, Jesus says, “Remember who feeds you. Remember what great things I can do with very little.”

Look at how well the disciples know Jesus! They've been with him for three years. They know what he's done. This fish and bread breakfast means very much for the friends of Jesus. For those who have a life with Jesus. If you aren't a friend of Jesus, these things may not mean much at all. But because of the disciples' deep friendship with Jesus, and because the disciples know him intimately, this is not lost on them. The disciples are friends of Jesus. They recognize his actions because of their friendship, and the significance behind those actions.

Many of us, if we are asked to impersonate a friend, we mimic their common tendencies and phrases. We can do an impression of our friends because we know their little quirks. We know what makes them unique, we know how they're different from others.

The disciples know what made Jesus unique. And when they're called to imitate him,

they know what that means. We need to know what makes Jesus unique. We need to know what it means to imitate Jesus.

You know those WWJD bracelets that were really popular in the '90's? How many here wore them? If we're friends of Jesus, we should be able to answer the question. What would Jesus do? If we know the ways Jesus acted in the life he lived on earth, we will know how to imitate him in our lives.

The disciples knew Jesus. They knew Jesus because they spent time with him. There are stories about this in John's gospel.

In chapter six, Jesus takes his disciples up on a mountain just to sit with them. They were sitting on a mountainside with Jesus, spending time with him in an intimate and real way. In chapter twelve, we read about Jesus reclining with the disciples at a table. Lazarus and Mary are their, and Mary breaks open a bottle of perfume. The scent fills the room, as they sit there enjoying a meal together.

Sometimes Jesus just spends time with his disciples. He doesn't always work wonders. He doesn't always debate the Pharisees. He isn't always giving a formal teaching. Spending time with the disciples is a major part of Jesus' ministry. It is him enjoying time with those whom he loves.

Do you remember my friend Taylor? I'll help him any time he has need. I know he'll do the same for me. This is also true about our friend Jesus. He cares about you and has gone to the cross for you. He has given his life so you can live. And in his rising again from the dead, we will share in his resurrection life.

I've been talking about this fish breakfast with the disciples, and how Jesus' actions should bring up memories for the disciples from their time with him during his ministry. When the disciples ate that morning, they remembered their friendship with Jesus. They remembered how Jesus called them to cast their nets, to show that he had control over their catch, and that they were called to be fishers of men. They remembered Peter jumping from the boat, and how it reflects the timidness he had walking on the stormy sea, yet his eagerness to be with Jesus now. I talked about the fish and bread. The very little that he used to feed five thousand. But I have one more observation in this scene to talk about. One more instance that doesn't bring the best memory for a certain disciple.

When they reached the shore, it says, “they saw a charcoal fire in place.” The Greek word used here for the fire is used one other time in John's Gospel. It was a fire that others gathered around as Jesus was being condemned. And Peter was asked three times the same question as he stood at that fire, “Are you not also one of this man's disciples?” But Peter couldn't stand up for his friend Jesus. He couldn't admit that he was with the man currently being condemned to death. He denied Jesus three times that night.

This time, after eating with the other disciples, Jesus takes Peter with him, and he asks Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answers him, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love you.” A second time, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” And Peter again answered, “Yes.”

At this point, you would think that Peter may have caught on to what was going on here. He may look over to the fire, and have a memory of that servant girl who first approached him with the question, asking him in the shadows if he was a friend of Jesus. Peter shrunk from that moment, denying his friend because he was afraid.

The third time, Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love me.” And here, we see that Peter was grieved over the question. Our Bibles tell us that he grieved because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” Without reading the Greek, we may just think he is upset because Jesus asks him the same question three times. But the Greek language has many words for love. We miss it because in English, all we see is the word “love.”

In the first two questions, when we read the word “love,” Jesus is actually using the Greek word agapo here. agape is a word which typically means unconditional love. In this case, it probably means, “receiving love” as one would welcome an honored guest.

If Reverend John came over to my apartment, I would receive him with an agape love. Treating him with honor, possibly cooking for him, although maybe the more agape thing to do would be to order out...

But, that's the basic idea of agape love. A very welcoming and honoring type of love.

So then, what's different about the third time Jesus asks the question?

Here, when Jesus says, “Do you love me?” He uses the word, philo. Phile is a different type of love than agape. Phile is love that shows affection toward another. More appropriately, it's to be friends with another person. The reason Peter grieves this last question is because to him, Jesus sounds like he is questioning Peter's friendship.

The first two times, Jesus may sound like he is saying, “Do you respect me? Do you accept me with honor?” But this third question is a personal question to Peter's relationship with Jesus, “Am I your friend? Do you care about me?” What we hear in English is what Jesus is really asking Peter here, “Do you love me.”

Jesus is calling Peter back into a friendship with him. It's Peter's love for Jesus which drives him to help build the first church. It's Peter's love for Jesus which allows him to preach boldly in the Spirit. It's Peter's love for Jesus which ultimately gives him the courage to die for his best friend.

Jesus doesn't only ask us to honor him. He doesn't only ask us to respect him. He doesn't only ask us to follow his commandments. Jesus asks us to love him. And to have a relationship with him.

Just like the disciples, to have a real friendship with Jesus, we need to be with him. We need to spend time with him. We need to get to know him as a friend. The way we do this is by spending time in prayer. We do this by spending time in the Word, both on our own and alongside other brothers and sisters in Christ. Through this, we have access to God's infinite love.

My friend Taylor and I enjoy spending time together. Whether he likes it or not, I will continue to look up to him because our relationship began with him discipling me in following Jesus. But because we have become friends, the time I spend with him is not only for learning or discipline. I spend time with him because I enjoy his company. It should be the same with Jesus.

We call him Lord and teacher, and rightly so. But he doesn't only call us servants and students. He calls us friends. As friends, he calls us to rest in his presence. As friends, he calls us to sit with him and enjoy him. The time we spend with God is not just for learning or discipline. The time we spend with God is for love. To love him and be loved by him.

When he asks you, “Do you love me?” You should be ready to respond like Peter, “Lord, you know know everything; you know that I love you.”

And this love is not a distant love. This love is intimate. When you say “I love Jesus” are you only saying you appreciate what he has done for you, or are you saying that he is someone you would want to be with for an eternity? Is Jesus someone you would sit down with on a mountainside? Or recline with at a table? Is time with Jesus something you long for? Do you love Jesus enough to give up everything and follow him?

Jesus loves you and wants to be with you. He gave up everything to do so. If you want to follow Jesus, it is only right that you feel the same.

Homily on Colossians 1:24-2:7

This homily was preached at the Wednesday Eucharist service at Prince of Peace on April 24, 2013.

Proclaiming Truth

What is truth? Pontius Pilate isn't the only one to ask this question. It's a question we all have to answer. But here's the thing. When you find your answer to this question, does your answer stand up over and against all the other things called “truth” in this world? When you are asked, “What is truth?” Does the truth you have satisfy the hunger of the question?

Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians that his struggles are for the whole church “to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Paul says this so that “no one will delude [them] with plausible arguments.”

Right now, we need to make one thing clear. Truth is found in Jesus Christ. The mystery of the word of God has been made fully known to us through Christ. Paul writes that “through his saints,” that's each one of us who puts our faith in Jesus, through us, “God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

When we proclaim Jesus Christ, we are not proclaiming a truth, we are proclaiming the truth. And the truth of Christ obliterates all arguments, however plausible or rational they might seem. But if we don't understand the truth of Christ, we run the risk of throwing it into the heap with all of the other so-called “truths” of the world.

We live in a society that undervalues truth. We live among people that are tired of seeking truth. Instead, they have decided that either there is no truth, or if there is, it can't be found. All of a sudden we have phrases like “your truth” and “my truth” as if truth could change from person to person. But we cannot fall into this trend. We need to stand up against it and speak boldly that truth is Christ, and in him is all wisdom and knowledge.

But if we do not grow in our understanding of Christ, how can we face off against the Enemy of Truth? How can we dispute the Father of Lies? We must have the Word ready at our lips. We must know the truth that is Christ and know him fully. “Him we proclaim,” the Scripture reads, “warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” We must know the Scriptures so that we might know Christ more fully to answer the attacks of the enemy.

We proclaim Christ with a warning. Caution, “the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Word of God is dangerous and not to be messed with. If you want to embrace it, you must prepare for your life to be shaken. The truth of the Gospel in Jesus Christ will tear down the walls of self. The Gospel will attack those dark places of the soul which you have thought hidden in the furthest and deepest parts of you. The Gospel will point to what you once called truth-- to the idols of your heart; money, sex, fame, self-- and cast them out. They have no place in the Kingdom of God.

And in the place of these things, the Gospel will insert truth. Wisdom is granted to those who seek after the truth of the Gospel. And all the arguments of the world will wither away in its light. Because truth is not an argument. Truth is. When Paul preached the Gospel to the Corinthian church, he “did not come proclaiming to [them] .. with lofty speech or wisdom … [But he] decided to know nothing among [them] except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul's message was presented “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” He did not want the faith of the Corinthians to “rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

You see, any argument can be debated. If I give you a sound argument for faith in Christ, there's bound to be someone out there smarter than me who can present you with an argument against it. After that person, there will be an even more brilliant thinker debunking that argument. But we don't place our faith in arguments. Our faith is based on the power of God, and specifically in his work through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ, by his life, by his death, and by his rising again from the grave, testifies to God's work here on earth. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, which comes and dwells in you who believe, “will teach you all things and bring you to remembrance all that [Jesus has said.]” Nothing can stand against truth of Christ. By knowing Christ and him crucified, lives are won for the Gospel. But we must know what it means to preach this truth.

Remember, Paul wrote that presenting the Gospel includes teaching with all wisdom so we can present ourselves and others as mature in Christ. We cannot only hear the Gospel once and then not look into it more deeply. The Gospel calls for us to dive into the riches of it's mystery. Within its depths, we see glory.

Peter writes in his epistle that “in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, [are] things into which angels long to look.”

God has revealed truth to us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The deeper we look into this truth of the Gospel, the more it satisfies our questions. To know the Gospel more deeply is to see the glory of God more clearly. How can we not long for this?