Sermon on Pentecost 2020 -- Acts 2:1-13

The Pentecost text is Acts 2:1-13.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1-2 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  Jesus didn't have to be on the cross.  He could have hopped off at any moment, leaving behind stunned guards and crowds.  He could have skipped town beforehand, catching the next bus to Joppa, following Jonah's example.  He could have disappeared in the midst of a crowd looking for him -- he'd slipped through a crowd before.

  But he had such a vision and passion for saving the people from their sins that he was willing to endure the pain and agony and humiliation of the cross.  He knew what the reward was, and so he endured the hardship.

  We, too, are called to endure.  We likely won't have to endure anything as horrific as the cross, but God sets before us a vision of the heavily kingdom, and as I mentioned yesterday, that should draw us forward.  In stepping towards God's Kingdom, there will be some potholes along the way.  We see the brokenness of humanity  on full display in events that lay bare the racism that still exists in American society.  We know the Kingdom of God is for all people of every nation and race and gender, but we're not there yet.  We're moving towards it, and so we try to lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely.  As Christians, we're called to lead society away from sins like racism, to be a part of the mending of society, to display selfless love for all people.  We can endure because there is joy set within us, and that should give us the courage to speak truth where it needs to be spoken and to display love and grace where that is needed.  Let us run with endurance, not giving up when the challenge seems too great, but staying the course, continuing to proclaim the truth of God's Kingdom for all people.

Books of the Bible in Five Minutes: Matthew

Hebrews 11:32-40

Hebrews 11:32-40

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  What's so extraordinary about the promises of Scripture is that no matter how good this life is, no matter how beautiful and captivating and striking life is, there is something better waiting for us.  

  We spend so much time longing for better things in this life -- some of these are material longings, while others are often relational longings.  We long to be closer with parents and friends and spouses and children.  We long for courage to live our faith and wisdom to discern the next best thing.  We see images of ideal lives that some people seem to live, often heavily filtered on social media or in magazines, and we long for the lives that other people live.  But no matter how good we have it here, no matter how much humility or peace we gain, there is something better that awaits.

  If I could snap my fingers and change one thing about myself, I'd wish for greater understanding of how wondrous the world that awaits truly is.  I'd want to catch a glimpse of God's Kingdom, that the allure of it might draw me forward, might transform the way I see this life and my time here.  The saints of the church that the writer of Hebrews is referencing -- these individuals had their faith fixed on the promise that was to come, and because of that, they were able to endure the destitution and affliction and mockery -- they knew that what was to come would contain such glory that the sufferings of this world would be so trivial, so minuscule, in comparison so as not even to be considered. As it was said by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.” The saints of the church had this yearning for what God had in store, and so their ship, their faith, carried them forward, into whatever the seas of life held.  

  Some of my favorite passages from Scripture are found in the pages of Revelation.  In Chapter 4, John is given a vision of the heavenly throne, but it is clearly greater than the words we have been given to describe things.  John's language is failing him, so he uses metaphors: And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald (Rev. 4:3, ESV).  It's like a rainbow that's like an emerald, but it's not -- it's so much greater!  It's beyond what we can grasp, and John is searching for words but falling short, so he leaves us with a glimpse of how much greater that world is.

  The saints of the church did the same, albeit in their own flawed way.  They weren't perfect, but they demonstrated selfless love and a peace in the midst of adversity that is possible only in the confidence that the greatest sufferings in the world cannot take your greatest treasure from you.  How else could someone allow themselves to be sawn in two?  I remember in church history class when we read some of the accounts of the early church martyrs -- they were joyfully going to their deaths, because their hearts were beating for one purpose, for the glory of God, and the world's fiercest soldiers and the sharpest swords could never put a stop to what was coursing through their veins.  Eternal life grabbed hold of them, and they pursued it with everything they had, with a single-minded purpose that transformed  the way they acted in this world.  Their lives were demonstrations of God's grace, snapshots of what the Kingdom of God looks like.  Like the illustrations in a children's Bible, they didn't tell the whole story, but they showed us a part of it through their faith.

  That's the faith I long for.  We're all striving for it, growing towards it, praying for the Holy Spirit to give us the direction, the passion, the wisdom to live a live of faith that joins with the saints from every time and place.  A faith that knows that what is to come is worth sacrificing for, because the treasure that awaits is so much greater than any treasure on earth that it's an easy decision about where to invest your time and talent.

  And what's great is that this faith doesn't focus so much on heaven that it loses it's usefulness on earth.  Jesus uses this type of faith to encourage believers and proclaim the truth to non-believers.  Just as there's a place for all of us around the table in the Kingdom of God, there's a place for all of us in the church, sharing our stories while pointing to the greatest story of them all.  We can share our vulnerabilities and weaknesses, because as the writer of Hebrews says, we are made strong through our weakness.  

  Life beyond death.  Peace beyond affliction.  Freely given.  For all.

Hebrews 11:29-31

Hebrews 11:29-31

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  God can do amazing things.  The Israelites can escape slavery and an onrushing army.  Joshua can conquer an impenetrable city.  Rahab can become a Biblical hero, her story still told thousands of years later, due to her bravery and courage.

  I'll freely admit that I don't know what God is going to do next.  The world certainly seems like it is in need of a miracle -- we need peace and we need love and we need healing.  There is economic and physical pain.  We're all a little scared and a bit uncertain.  

  Granted, the Israelites, standing on the shores of the sea, were also a little scared, wondering why Moses had dragged them out of Egypt to face death.  Rahab and Joshua weren't certain what came next either.  But God was at work then, and God is still at work.  I trust in God and that the ultimate future is in God's hands.  I don't know what future miracles will look like, but I'll be praying for them.

A Sermon on Romans 5:1-11 for May 24, 2020

  Today's sermon focuses on Paul's idea in Romans 5 of Christ dying for us while we were still sinners.  

Hebrews 11:23-28

Hebrews 11:23-28 

English Standard Version (ESV)

  What's the greatest wealth to you?

  I saw a note the other day that Jeff Bezos may one day be a trillionaire.  I don't think most of us can really fathom how much a billion dollars could buy, but the answer to what a trillionaire could buy is easy:  everything.  

  To hear or read about such wealth easily stirs something in most people.  It's desirable.  It makes much of life easier -- it certainly makes enduring a pandemic easier.  

  There's a huge divide between working for wealth and desiring wealth.  When we work for wealth, it's something we obtain to use.  It's a tool that helps us pay rent and buy food.  When we desire it, wealth owns us and it captures our heartstrings and our attention.  When we desire it, we no longer use it, but it owns us.

  It takes great faith to desire the wealth Christ offers with all our hearts.  Christ's wealth isn't measured by bank statements, but rather by the peace that runs through the rivers of the soul and the love that passes between Christian hearts.  Christ's wealth isn't measured by purchasing power but rather by a willingness to serve that is borne out of a heart filled with gratitude.  Christ's wealth doesn't  expire, cannot be stolen, and will not be destroyed by moth or political empires -- it is eternal, always growing, and worthy of our pursuits, whatever it costs.

Hebrews 11:17-22

Hebrews 11:17-22 

English Standard Version (ESV)

  I am part of a much larger family.  When I was in school, I had a genealogy assignment that was fascinating -- I delved into the family archives, discovering some very interesting people that I was related to, including the first governor-general of Jamaica.  It's a helpful reminder that I stand in a long line of tradition, and there will (hopefully!) be a long line that comes after me -- it's not just all about me.  

  As Christians, we're also part of a much larger family of faith.  Many have come before us and paved the way, establishing church communities and building traditions that are still in place.  Whatever turbulence we experience now has likely been experienced before, and we are part of something that will stand the test of time.  Many will come after you, and by choosing to worship Jesus Christ, you are joining a family of faith that stretches across geographies and ages, adding your name to the long list of faithful servants.  This is why it's so important to invest in those older and younger than you -- for we all serve together and are one family of faith.

  If you ever get overwhelmed by the pressures of life, remember that you are part of something eternal.  The church's mission isn't only in the here and now -- it carries forward for generations to come, and our efforts are part of something much larger.  You are valued, individually and uniquely, and your life contributes to something wondrous that transcends this time and space.  Your faith, your life, points beyond you and joins a mighty chorus!

Hebrews 11:13-16

Hebrews 11:13-16 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  What's your greatest desire?

  I think it's very easy in this life to grow comfortable.  Even if you don't have everything you've ever wanted, over time we slowly put down roots.  I was talking with someone today who asked me how long I expected to be in my house.  I didn't buy it with the expectation that I'd necessarily live here for decades, but the longer I stay here, the more comfortable I am, and it's easier to imagine being here for a long time.  (Also, I hate moving).  Plus, staying in one place allows us to build relationships over the years, to build trust and learn the people around us.  I think there's a strong case for consistency.  I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it -- just differences.

  What's important is that we keep the most important desire in front of us.  The more comfortable we grow, the less we stop yearning for what is to come.  Spiritually, we're called to always be growing, always stretching towards a better country, a heavenly one.  When our vision shifts downward, we forget to lift our eyes to the heavenly city, and our souls can easily become easily satisfied with what the world offers, much of which is wonderful, but it's not going to fill the ultimate desire of the human heart.  Ultimately, only God can do that, and as Christians, we should always be leaning forward, never completely comfortable, always knowing the best is yet to come.

Hebrews 11:8-12

Hebrews 11:8-12 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  I sometimes forget how miraculous Abraham's story really is.  Perhaps it is too familiar, too close.  Think of the risk that Abraham took in the beginning -- leaving behind what he knew to seek out something new, following a call that relied on faith to believe he would be supported.  He fixed his eyes on the promise, but it was a long way off, and his feet had many troublesome steps before he reached the fulfillment of the promise.  Sarah, too, had to believe, had to trust, had to have faith.  The two of them bore a child well past when they thought they might, and suddenly there was life in place of what had been barren.

  To look back on this, we can see the steps Abraham took, the affirmations along the way, and how his faithfulness led to descendants more numerous than the stars.

  In the midst of it, I'm sure it wasn't that easy.  Abraham on day 10 and day 110 probably had a lot of uncertainty as he waited, as he traveled, as he wondered.  Faith isn't easy, and Abraham's journey, though more public, was no easier than yours or mine.  He had to make an active choice every day to follow, to believe, to risk.  The promise was there, though sometimes seen at a distance through a haze.  The promise is there for us, too.  The same promise, offered by the same faithful God, is extended to us, and we can choose to follow, letting the Holy Spirit lead us.

Hebrews 11:4-7

Hebrews 11:4-7 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  By Abel's faith, he still speaks.  Now, Abel didn't do a lot in the Bible.  He didn't lead the people for decades like Moses or strike out boldly like Abraham or stand up to hostility like Elijah.  Abel was killed by his brother, the first victim of the first murder.  But his faith left a legacy, just as Enoch's and Noah's.  

  The Bible is filled with characters who lead boldly with integrity, and there are also a lot of individuals who, em, could have done better.  And there's a sea of people who pass briefly through the frame without leaving heavy footprints.  Each one, however, still speaks.

  Our faith leaves a legacy.  You interact with countless people (well, less these days, I suppose) throughout the days, weeks, and months, and you leave a legacy with each one.  Some will remember us better than others, and the question for us is this:  how does our faith lead us to leave a positive legacy?  What kind of impact will you have on the lives of those around you?  How will your life point to God's grace?  What words will you choose to convey grace and peace?

  We can choose every day how to conduct our lives.  How we interact with the people around us is the choice we make that will craft our legacies.  Even with those in our past, our lives still speak.  What will you say?

Sermon for May 17, 2020 -- Romans 3:21-26

Today's sermon is focused on some of the key terms Paul uses in Romans 3:21-26:  redemption, justification, righteousness, and propitiation.  

Books of the Bible in Five Minutes: Deuteronomy

Hebrews 11:1-3

Hebrews 11:1-3 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  One of the greatest chapters in the Bible, the Hebrews Hall of Fame!!  

  What I love about this chapter is it lists out the real examples of Biblical individuals who lived out their faith, and the point isn't that life was easy and clear sailing after they opted for a life of faith -- the very first example given (Abel) dies a violent death.  They're described as not having received the fulfillment of the promise, and it's quite the diversity of characters listed -- Rahab the prostitute is included.  But their faith is lifted up!  Faith is for everyone -- and there are no barriers to entry.  You don't have to have the right background or qualifications or popularity or resources -- and chapter 11 highlights that.  Faith is an equalizer, where Moses and David and Samson lived their lives based on the conviction of things not seen.  

  You and I are in the same boat.  We have hope, but no certainty.  We're building our lives, making our choices, with the same faith David had.  While we know more than Abraham, we don't have the full story, so we have to actively choose every day to worship, serve, and follow God wherever that path may lead.  You are called, no matter your position or background, and faith is a gift.  

  May you and I join hands in the long line of believers, stretching back thousands of years, basing our lives on the same faith and worshiping the same God.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Hebrews 10:19-25 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  This passage always makes me think of Indiana Jones, walking with trepidation into some undiscovered place, uncertain as to whether he's going to be able to walk back out.  He doesn't know what awaits, so there is fear upon entering, hoping he can escape with his life.

  In Jesus, we can approach the holiest place with confidence, because we are counted as worthy.  We don't have to be afraid that we're not good enough, or that there might be some surprise.  No, we are accepted as perfect because we have been sprinkled clean, washed through the love and grace of Christ.  

  Therefore, the writer says, we should stir one another up to love and good works, not simply saving up the grace for ourselves.  Our task is to spread the good news.  We who can approach God with confidence should then go to those around us with confidence and live out how the Gospel has transformed our lives.

Hebrews 9:15-22

Hebrews 9:15-22 

English Standard Version (ESV)

   There has been a great price paid to redeem you.  Following the Old Testament tradition, a sacrifice was required to atone for human sin.  There was a cost to pay the price -- and God was willing to pay whatever it took to buy you back from sin.  The Old Testament sacrifices of animals served to atone for certain, specific sins, but to atone for all of human sin was going to be a much greater cost.  Fortunately, in Jesus Christ, God came up with a solution to the problem we had created.  

  Thanks be to God for finding a way forward out of our mess!  God descends into our world, into our darkness, to show us the path back home, back into the light.  May we rejoice and not dwell in the darkness, rather focusing on the light, and sharing the hope we have in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 6:13-20

Hebrews 6:13-20 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  We know the promises of God -- they're written throughout Scripture, and the promises Jesus makes for us about going ahead of us and preparing a place for us and always being with us and not allowing anything to separate us from his love, these promises are foundational.  As the writer of Hebrews says, they are anchors for us.  In turbulent and uncertain times, they prevent us from being destroyed on the rocks.  

  Now, an anchor doesn't prevent you from experiencing the tossing of the waves.  Anchors don't keep ships stationary  in a storm -- anchors allow boats to sway with the wind and to bounce with the motion of the sea.  We will still experience trouble in life.  Anchors prevent us from going too far, from straying too close to danger.  But as the currents shift and swirl, anchors allow movement and freedom, tethering us to a spot that keeps the rocks at bay.  So just because we experience grief and stress doesn't mean the anchor has let go.  The promises of God are still certain and reliable and trustworthy.  God is still on the throne, still in control, still holding you in the palm of his hand.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews 4:14-16 

English Standard Version (ESV) 

  It's been interesting to read some of the push back against celebrities complaining of quarantine.  Some live in houses three times the size of mine and have an entirely different experience than most of us -- while they're in the same storm, their boat is so much bigger and their financial cushion so much larger that they experience the waves in a very different manner.  I don't trust many of them to be able to relate to my experience, just as I can't relate to the experience of many others who are in more desperate circumstances.

 The great thing about Jesus is that his human experience enables him to be able to relate to all of us.  Born poor, he experienced a humble lifestyle.  He was tempted just like we are, and went through great suffering and embarrassment in his final moments.  Jesus knows what you are going through because Jesus endured similar circumstances.  When your boat is tossed in the waves of life's chaotic storms, Jesus can relate.  Not only does he promise to abide with you through everything in life, Jesus understand the emotions you are experiencing.  We can turn to Jesus as someone who knows us and our circumstances completely, and he is trustworthy.

  May we cast our cares upon him, in search of the mercy and grace that is always present.

Sermon for May 10, 2020 on Romans 2

Today's sermon is from Romans 2:1-4, 13-16.

Psalm 139:23-24

Psalm 139:23-24 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  When we have people over for dinner, there's always a random room in which a number of things get placed, in the effort to make the house look tidier than perhaps it usually is.  The hope is that the guests will never discover this room.
  Here, the Psalmist is expressing a tremendous amount of trust in God -- he's inviting God to explore all the extra rooms where the hidden things are placed, in the hopes of finding all those wayward thoughts so that they can be covered with grace, all because the Psalmist's goal is to be led in the way everlasting.
  Friends, we can trust God with all the secrets of our lives, even the darkest ones we try to hide.  May they be uncovered before the light of God's love, bathed in his mercy, and healed, that they may no longer hinder our progress on the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:17-22

Psalm 139:17-22 
English Standard Version (ESV)

 Most things reduce in importance as you zoom out.  That scratch on the car door?  As you back up from the car, you can barely notice it eventually.  That mistake you made in high school?  As you zoom out in time, and it gets farther away, it becomes less and less important.  The money you spent on something frivolous?  As you compare it to all the money you spend over months and years, it becomes less impactful.
  However, when you think about individual people, it doesn't translate to how God views us.  Augustine tells us that God loves us as if there was only one to love.  When you zoom out from one person to one million people to seven billion people, each of us is still uniquely known and loved by God.  God's love doesn't shrink as you zoom out -- it remains as large as can be.  As God's thoughts are as vast as the universe, God is still able to concentrate such love upon you. 

Books of the Bible in 5 Minutes: Numbers

Psalm 139:13-16

Psalm 139:13-16 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  I've always loved the idea of God knitting us together in the womb.  I've never knitted anything, but it's an investment in time and love.  Just as knitting a large blanket takes months, a child takes 40 weeks in the womb, a process during which God is crafting us with love -- you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  God knows you completely -- God is the only one who knows you this well.  Before you live out your days, God knows them.
  Again, as I've mentioned, it's a remarkable reminder of grace that God knows everything about you and loves you enough to die for you.  God knows every mistake and poor choice and still ascends the cross in Calvary, because God is invested in you, is willing to die for you, and wants to spend eternity with you.  God yearns for relationship with you.  God looks at you as a beloved child, holding you in God's hand while knowing every detail, every flaw and every highlight.  God will never leave nor forsake you, for God has never given up the claim on you that the artist has. 
  May you hold your head high today as a beloved creation of God.

Psalm 139:7-12

Psalm 139:7-12 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Here, we find one of the most comforting passages in all of Scripture.  In this section of the Psalm, David acknowledges that there is nowhere he can go where God is not already there.  In the heavens, where we expect to find God, God is there.  But then, David goes on -- in Sheol, the darkness of death, God is there.  In the depths of the sea, God is there.  In utter darkness, God is there, for in the darkest places of our lives, the light of God still shines, and John tells us that the darkness cannot overcome the light.
 David was a man who knew the darkness.  He had plenty of things in his life of which to be ashamed, and yet he developed an awareness that God met him in those dark places.  We cannot flee from God, and we need not flee from God -- even the darkest moments of our lives can be redeemed by the incredible grace and love of God, which is demonstrated by Christ on the cross.  We do not need to turn away from God, ashamed of who we are or what we've done -- if we try, we find that God is there, too, arms open wide in love. 
  So may we run to God, with the expectation of forgiveness, allowing us to have hope beyond measure, even in the worst of our moments, with the confidence that comes from Christ alone.

Psalm 139:1-6

Psalm 139:1-6
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's easy to forget how intimately the Lord knows us -- we get wrapped up in what we are doing and easily overlook God's desire to be part of our lives.  God made us, crafted us, and has total knowledge of us. 
  For the moments when we redden with shame at the thought of God knowing our worst moments completely, we can rejoice in the knowledge that God sent Jesus Christ to die for humanity despite our failings and flaws -- a path forward was provided while we were still enemies of God due to sin. 
  For the moments when we turn away in guilt, knowing that we haven't glorified God as we ought, remember that Jesus Christ died for you before you were born.  God knew you, chose to make you despite your flaws, and seeks out a relationship with you.  You are treasured.
  To understand the depth of God's love is too wonderful -- we cannot grasp the fullness of such love.  What we can do is bask in what we do know -- that God made you and loves you and has redeemed you, willing to pay any price in order to prevent you from suffering eternally.  Like a parent who delights in their child, God delights in you.

Sermon for May 3, 2020 -- Romans 1:1-12

  Today's sermon is based on Romans 1:1-12.

Jonah 4:7-11

Jonah 4:7-11 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Speaking for myself, I can sometimes be very casual with the earth.  Maybe it's coming of age in an era of information overload -- it's hard to process all the tragedies around the world we've witnessed in the last twenty years.  When I was a kid, I remember watching the evening news at 6 and the world news at 6.30.  Even that had limited information -- much of the evening news was local, sports, and weather, and the world news, which we didn't always watch, could only cover so much.  We simply didn't know about many things going on around the world.  Now, a click of a mouse can bring you news from Africa or Asia.  Violence in a Brazil slum or rural India can be on your computer screen within hours of it occurring.  Natural  destruction or abuse of the planet is a constant background sound.  It's overwhelming and impossible to react emotionally to each event.
  But God made all of the people, and God made the world, so there's a sense of loss with all of it.  It all matters to God.  Each person who dies, be it from violence or illness or old age, is handcrafted by God.  They matter.  God made every tree in the rainforest that is cut down, and God made every species that we lose to extinction.  They matter.
 So how do we balance a sense stewardship of the earth and its people with the reality of our limited attention?  That's a great question.  I don't have all the answers, but I know that we don't have to fix the whole world.  God can handle that.   What we learn from Jonah is that we have a responsibility to care more for others than we do for ourselves, and that whenever we interact with the outside world and other people, our first responsibility is to remember that they are a beloved child of God.  As I read about the debates and interactions between people on different sides of debates (be it gun control/coronavirus lockdowns/politics/etc.), we would do well to think of those with whom we differ as handcrafted treasures made by the living God.
  We matter to God.  You matter to God.  'They' (whomever that might be to you) matter to God.  We're all in this together, walking each other home.  May we treat one another as made in the image of God, and embrace one another as people who are beloved by their Creator.