What Are You Looking For?

What Are You Looking For?
John 1:29-42
January 20, 2008
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

© 2008 by Christopher D. Drew

Sermon Focus: Testimony. Identification. Discipleship. The three words captures the essence of the action in this text. John the Baptist, having just given his testimony regarding Jesus as the Anointed One, then identifies him as the very “lamb of God” to two of John’s disciples. Having heard John’s pronouncement (and directions?), they follow Jesus. And Jesus, having seen the two former-disciples of John, asks the paramount question of the text: “What are you looking for?” The question is answered with another question, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” And Jesus answers, in almost cryptic fashion, “Come and you will see.”

Sermon Function: To teach listeners that discipleship and evangelist (“come and see”) to hand in hand, and that discipleship isn’t something you can figure out entirely on your own. You just have to obey the injunction, “come and see.”

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Introduction

Last week, at the conclusion of the sermon, I invited all those present to participate in a corporate reaffirmation of baptism. The theme for this week is the exploration of what it means for us to say that we are baptized. What is the nature of our baptismal faith, our covenant, our calling, in Jesus Christ? What is one of the patterns by which Jesus is known, followed, and then shared with others? These are some of the big questions that arise from the reading today from the Gospel of John.

Let’s listen now to God’s word to us.

[Read Scripture - John 1:29-42]

Opening Comments

As a reminder, we’re in the midst of the first of two periods of Ordinary Time. The first period runs from Epiphany, which we have just observed, through the first Sunday of Lent, the Great 40 Days preceding Easter, which is earlier this year than it has been in 32 years. The next period of Ordinary Time runs from the Sunday after Pentecost all the way through to our next Advent. Lent is historically the great time of preparation for Baptism, which would commonly occur during the Easter vigil in the wee hours the night prior to Easter morning. It is my hope that those of you present who are not baptized might prayerfully consider this step of faith in Jesus Christ. And for those of you who are baptized, I hope these weeks and the weeks of Lent instill within you a renewed sense of your baptismal obligations and their associated Joy.

Testimony. Identification. Discipleship. These three words describe the three-fold movement in today’s scripture passage, a passage filled with interesting images that highlight the importance of faith and our baptismal vocation. At the same time, the gospel gives us a good indication of what it means to be obedient to the Anointed One of God, Jesus. Today, I’m going to address each one of these movements and how, together, the form the foundation of our baptismal covenant.

Testimony

Let’s talk about testimony.

Testimony is a word that, in our culture, is most often associated with the courtroom. The courtroom testimony theme is actually a big part of the Old Testament, and it should come as no surprise to us that this theme extends into the New Testament as well. And in fact, that is what is likely the connotation here in our gospel reading.

John quotes John the Baptizer as saying “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This is a bold opening statement. The term “Lamb of God” seems to a loaded one – the early readers of the gospel would have likely thought of the Passover Lamb that was sacrificed for the sins of the people each year during the annual Jewish festival of Atonement known as Yom Kippur. John says that he baptized with water so that “he,” the one who ranks ahead of him, might be revealed to Israel. At first, John didn’t recognize him, but then he received a clear message: “He on whom you see the Sprit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1:33). Jesus was revealed as the one anointed by the Spirit when John baptized him with water. John concludes by saying, “And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God” (John 1:34 NRSV).

Testimony is the starting place for evangelism. Testimony comes to us in a variety of forms. It is given to us in the way commonly seen in courtrooms, but it’s also given in stories we tell each other, the stories we share from Holy Scripture, and the personal stories we share while together in worship and fellowship. In testimony, we commit ourselves to telling the truth. Telling the truth about who God is, and how we have experienced his presence in our lives. Truth-telling is at the heart of evangelism, because we open our hearts to others to let them know about the wonderful things that God has promised in his Son Jesus. We heard such a testimony this past Sunday. And I want you all to know that you, too, are welcome to share your testimony to the people of God. Just see me to make arrangements. Such testimony is a wonderful offering to God of a portion of that bounteous grace he has given to us.

Baptism itself is testimony. And as those who have been claimed by God in our baptisms, we become human vessels of God’s good news in Jesus Christ. The first component of our baptismal vocation, then, is testimony, both given and received.

Identification

The next part of our three-pronged view of our baptismal vocation is identification.

One of the reasons we have the sacrament of baptism is that it marks us, it visibly identifies us, as recipients of God’s amazing grace and members of his body, the Church. Baptism has another function, too. Through baptism, we are given gift that helps us to see Christ, because it is Christ himself who instituted the sacrament, and it is Jesus himself who baptizes us with His Spirit.

So our baptisms are kind of like an ID of sorts, but with along with that ID is an associated responsibility of our vocation, to point out Christ has the Lamb of God, just as John the Baptist does in our text today. We testify to the wonderful things that God has done for us, but then we extend that testimony to the next step: Who is the one that is the fullest revelation of God’s grace and love? The answer is Jesus Christ. And we are charged to spread this terrific news. By ourselves, we are unable to achieve any sort of redemption, but through Christ, we not only have the assurance of pardon for all of our sins, but the promise of being with him in resurrection life when he returns to renew all of creation.

Our baptismal vocation, our calling, as three parts: Testimony, identification, and discipleship.

Discipleship

Discipleship is the trickiest part of our vocation, but it’s at the very heart of Jesus’ call to his disciples.

Let’s look at our text again.

John is with two of his disciples, and then sees Jesus walking by. Having given his testimony that Jesus is the Anointed One, he then exclaims to his disciples the identification of Jesus as the very Lamb of God. The gospel then reads, “The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus” (John 1:37 NRSV). Without any other prompting other than John’s declaration, the two cease to be disciples of John and begin following Jesus. One can imagine the two wondering what exactly it was they were doing, leaving the known quantity John for the largely unknown quantity named Jesus. And Jesus turned around and saw the two following. The Greek verb here translated as “saw” is one of the typical verbs describing the act of seeing. But the gospel here uses the word θεάομαι, which a couple of particular meanings. First, the word describes the action of seeing, but with the implication that what is being observed is something unusual. Might it have seemed a bit unusual for the two disciples of John to suddenly change course and follow Jesus? Yes, one could imagine such a response. The second nuance associated with this verb is “to go see a person on the basis of friendship and with helpful intent.” I like that. Jesus looks at them on the basis of friendship and helpful intent. And the two disciples, one of them Andrew, the other unnamed, are asked by Jesus the same exact question most of us ask we encounter someone who doesn’t seem to know where they are going. That is, they appear lost, and unsure of the way. Perhaps they were getting along okay, but now they’ve taken a wrong turn, and are wandering in the wilderness. I remember the first time my family traveled through the famed desert known as Death Valley National Park. I was freaked out just by the name. “We’re going through Death Valley? Isn’t there another way?” I remember that one of my chief worries about the trip was that somehow we would get lost, and then we would become, tragically, another reason why this particular valley was called “Death Valley.” The fear of getting lost, having been unleashed by one prophet, John, will we now hitch ourselves to this new guy, Jesus?

So, perhaps our two disciples appear lost. And now they are being asked what they are looking for. You can imagine that they might have been unprepared for the question. When they reply to Jesus’ question with their own question, “Rabbi … where are you staying?” it is almost as if they are hedging for time, time to consider what they really might be looking for. But, as it turns out, the place where Jesus is staying, where he abides, is where they need to be. “Come and see,” answers Jesus. And then they came “and saw where he was staying.” And then they “remained,” they “stayed” with him that day. The place where they are staying isn’t identified geographically for us. Instead, we learn simply that the disciples stayed where Jesus was staying. And that is the nature of discipleship. You don’t necessary have a place to stay, but you do have a person to stay with.

This is also, for us, the concern of discipleship. Because discipleship, that third part of our baptismal vocation, may send us places we’re not familiar with, to be with people we’re not familiar with, to participate in worship and sacramental acts we’re not familiar with, to sit in classes with people we’re not familiar with, to take a new job we’re not familiar with, etc. You get the idea. The place isn’t as important as the person who is with us, regardless of where we physically may be, and regardless, even, of our own spiritual condition. Discipleship is about abiding, “staying” with the one about whom we have heard testimony, and the one who as been identified to us as Jesus, the Son of God, and the one with whom we abide no matter where he takes us.

So there is a choice, then, that must be made. Perhaps you’re starting to feel the necessity of that choice in your heart and soul. Perhaps you, too, are lost, and looking for someone who will abide with you no matter where you are right now in your life. You’ve heard the testimony about this great God who has done great things for us. This advent and Epiphany, you have heard that the full revelation, the full identification, of God with us is Jesus the Christ, the Anointed one, the Lamb of God who takes away not just your sins, but the sins of the whole world. Maybe you’ve been baptized, and are now trying to understand where God is leading you next in your own baptismal vocation? Is it to testify to what God has done? Is it to point out and identify Jesus as the savior of the world in some form of evangelism? Or is it do live out your discipleship by taking on a desperately needed mission of the church, which is sometimes an uncertain tasks that can take you to foreign places, but places where Jesus abides, where he is staying.

Or perhaps you are not yet baptized, but through the Word and Sacraments of the church you are wondering what to do. If you happen to be such a person, I pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit you might be able to see Jesus turning, and looking at you with that look of friendship and helpful intent as He asks you the question, “What are you looking for?” And, like the two disciples, you may come up a bit short with the answer. But that’s okay. If you’re simply willing to take the next step to follow Him, just ask Him where he is staying. Jesus will smile, point to the water of the font, and will say these words: “Come, and see!”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, to whom be all glory and honor forever and ever. Amen.

Given at First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Texas.

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Baptized for Service

Baptized for Service
Isaiah 42:1-9
January 13, 2008
Baptism of the Lord (A)

© 2008 by Christopher D. Drew

Sermon Focus: Today is when we acknowledge another action marking the epiphany of Jesus Christ as the anointed Son of God. The prophet Isaiah reveals the essence of what it means to be chosen and claimed by God, the responsibilities of that calling, and the ethical basis upon which to fulfill those responsibilities.

Sermon Function: To illustrate for listeners how they, as those baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ, are also God’s chosen people; and to testify to the significant responsibilities associated with being chosen to serve the cause of justice – opening eyes that are blind and bringing prisoners out of dungeons of despair.

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Introduction

Today is another sort of epiphany Sunday. Today we mark the event of the baptism of Jesus Christ by John, his cousin. The baptism of Jesus is considered such an important event that an account of the baptism occurs in all four of the gospels. In each case, there is a three-part movement in the story. First, Jesus approaches John, and John Baptizes Jesus. Second, there is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus. Third, there is a divine proclamation by God that Jesus is God’s Son, his beloved one, the one with whom God is well pleased. And this statement, which is almost identical in form in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, is tied directly to today’s sermon text in Isaiah.

Today’s reading is the first of four so-called “Servant Songs.” These are written in poetic Hebrew, and each of the songs describes “God’s special agent who will fulfill his purpose for the faithful community. Though innocent, he will suffer for his people.”¹

Let’s listen now to God’s word to us.

[Read Scripture - Isaiah 42:1-9]

Introductory Comments

I love this reading from Isaiah. For the people of Israel, this passage marks the hope of a new beginning, a new beginning in the home country of the capitol, Jerusalem, after having been spread out far afield, across the coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea, living in the darkness of unfamiliar lands. It makes a certain sense, then, that this passage on about new beginnings, with new leadership – servant leadership, be selected together with our reading form the Gospel of Matthew.

In fact, this text from Isaiah seems to be reaching out from the depths of history to the present reality of the baptism of Jesus Christ. For Christians, who cannot read the Old Testament except through the eyeglasses of truth known as the Gospel, this passage clearly alludes to Jesus and his role in the kingdom of God.

Isaiah here is quoting God: “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.” God delights in his servant! When we hear these words today, we’re tempted to hear them in our mind’s ear with the voice of someone deeply serious, perhaps James Earl Jones. But I hear laughter in these words, the laughter of a parent who is thrilled by the wholesome innocence of the child.

Isaiah quotes God as saying, “I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isa 42:1 NRSV). God’s very spirit marks the servant as one who is set aside for a specific job, to bring justice to the nations. Not just the nation of Israel, but all of the nations of the world, including the gentile nations. I like how Eugene Peterson paraphrases this verse, “I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life.”² The bathing image clearly alludes to baptism. The very creative breath of God, the same breath that came over the waters and brought order from chaos at the beginning, that same breath gives life to God’s beloved servant, the same breath that lighted on Jesus like a dove.

Characteristics of the Servant

We know that the servant is the one in whom God’s very soul delights. What are some of the characteristics of servant?

We read that the servant “will not cry or lift up his voice.” He won’t break the reed that is bruised – the soul that is hurting. He won’t snuff out the light of the dimly burning wick, neither will he snuff out the hope of the lost. Instead, “he will faithfully bring forth justice.” The people of Israel under the occupation of Rome expected a Messiah that would fundamentally overthrow the political order. This reading from Isaiah makes it clear, however, that no one should have been overly surprised that Jesus would be born into a humble life, and enter into solidarity with us through the waters of baptism, and then, rather than leading an army to overthrow Rome, instead preached the good news of a loving God who desires mercy, while healing the sick, casting out demons, and giving solace to the poor.

The servant described to us by Isaiah is steadfast in his task until “he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.” The church, through Christ, continues to work to establish justice and to share the good news of the gospel, and it will continue to do so until Christ returns to complete the work he began with his birth and baptism.

Who Is Making the Promise?

In the middle of our reading is a certification, of sorts. Isaiah here makes it clear that the words being written are the very words of God, the Lord. The one who made everything there is, beginning with the heavens, then the earth, and the one who gives life to every creature on the earth, and the spirit to those who walk in it. The picture of the complete human is one who is created, who has a body and a soul, and who is a child of the living God. The living God who is present with all creation through all time, and who gives (note the present tense!) breath and life, to you and to me, and to your friends, and your families, and your neighbors.

The Lord Gives The Servant as a Covenant

By God’s own righteousness, he takes his servant by the hand and keeps him safe. Isaiah writes that God gives the servant as a covenant to the people, and a light to the nations. He is given as a covenant. His body is given as a covenant. His blood is given as a covenant. Just as we are baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, so to do we remember that this servant is himself a new covenant, sealed with the very real sacrifice of his own body and blood on the cross.

And his devotion and dedication to the work of God brings redemption. Eyes that were blind, blind with anger, or fury, frustration, or sadness, are opened to see the joy of the everlasting love of God. Prisoners are brought out from the dungeons and darkness of sin and unrelenting oppression.

For What Reason?

And for what reason does God do this? He does because of his own glory, a glory of One who creates, who takes delight in what he creates, and who gives us a servant to illuminate our lives with his light, so that we might not remain in the darkness of sin and death. He does these things because His love for us is his glory.

Reading Ourselves Into the Text

Isaiah is writing for Israel. Seen through the lens of Jesus Christ, Isaiah is proclaiming the realization of God’s promise to us gentiles as well.

And on this day, the day set aside for the worship of the servant who came as a baby, was baptized in solidarity with us by John, humbly served others in his ministry, and used the power of the cross to save those who were lost, and who through his body and blood reminds us of the new covenant he inaugurated, it definitely pays to remind ourselves of this fact: God claimed for himself a servant to save Israel and the gentiles. And, through baptism, Christ claims US for the work of his ministry in the world – to feed the poor, to strengthen the fainthearted, to support the weak and oppressed, in short, to love our neighbors as ourselves. In baptism, the former things of our life pass away and a new thing takes hold. The temptations of the old life, all of the sin, all of the addictions, all of the destructive behavior, all of the misuse of resources, all the misuse of others, gets tossed in the rubbish bin. But, as you know, these things can sometimes take time. Baptism is frequently and incorrectly, I think, viewed as a discrete, one-time only event. In fact, it marks the beginning of a life of sanctification in Christ. By “sanctification,” I mean like a refining process, one that sifts out the impurities and insecurities and impertinencies of life. It is a process that is renewed sacramentally when we nourish ourselves at the table, when we join together singing praises to God, and when we deliberately reflect on that wonderful fact that we are claimed by God, for, God, before we’re even aware of it.

It is said that Martin Luther, the great reformer who inaugurated the protestant reformation, when suffering from the intense pressures and trials, would rediscover the great peace of God’s grace by simply reciting to himself this reminder, “I am baptized.” And as we continue down the path of this new year, a year that will undoubtedly be filled with its own pressures and anxieties and trials, I think we should take a moment now to remind ourselves that we, too, are claimed by God through baptism. In just a minute, I’m going to head back to the font and ask you all to join me in a reaffirmation of your baptisms. And if you happen not to be baptized, I invite you to watch with an open heart and an attentive ear to see and hear if God might be pulling you through his Word toward the font, claiming you as His own, as a servant of His Son Jesus Christ.

Given at First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Texas.

¹Haslam, Chris. “The Baptism of the Lord – January 13, 2008: Introductions for Readers.” Comments. Accessed on January 11, 2008. Link here. ↩

²Peterson, Eugene. The Message. ↩

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Bacon

It's like Jim Gaffigan read my mind.

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Arise! Shine!

Arise! Shine!
Isaiah 60:1-6
January 6th, 2008
Epiphany (A)

© 2008 by Christopher D. Drew

Sermon Focus: This beautiful passage in Isaiah is eschatological in tone. The light of the glory of God is shining forth across the darkness and illuminating Zion. With the irruption of that light, Zion is called to arise and shine forth. She becomes a beacon to all the nations. Her heart overflows at the return of her sons and daughters. The effect is so profound that it is, in some ways, like winning the jackpot, or a championship. But bigger, and vastly more important is this feeling being expressed by Isaiah.

Sermon Function: To translate this imagery into a call for mission action by the congregation in response to the fulfillment of this prophesy - Jesus Christ. For Christians, the Light of the World has forever penetrated the darkness of our hearts, and now we too are called upon to respond. We must arise and shine!

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Introduction

In this first Sunday of the new calendar year, we celebrate the festival of Epiphany. I’ve been asked to explain what epiphany is, since the word is often used in contemporary English to describe the effect of a sudden discovery. Today, when someone says they had an “epiphany,” what they usually mean is something on the order of “eureka, look what I’ve suddenly discovered.” In the church, however, Epiphany has a specific meaning.

For the church, Epiphany has the meaning of “appearance” or “manifestation.” It is used to describe the appearance or manifestation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. In our story of Jesus’ birth, we learn that the manifestation of Jesus was revealed first to the Jewish shepherds tending their flocks by night, and then subsequently to the gentiles through the “wise men” or magi in our reading from the Gospel of Matthew.

Our reading from the prophet Isaiah has its origins on the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem, a return authorized by King Darius of Persia. The subject of the verses is a personified version of Zion, the great city on the hill, Jerusalem, the place where temple worship took place. The joy of the return expressed by Isaiah is beautifully described in these verses of Hebrew poetry.

Let’s listen now to God’s word.

[Read Scripture - Isaiah 60:1-6]

Opening Comments

The traditional Gospel for Epiphany is Matthew’s account of the vision of the Magi, the wise men, who, upon seeing the Christ, fall down and worship him. This is an acknowledgement, as I mentioned earlier, that even the Gentiles from the East (in this case, the wise men are likely from the region we know now to be Iraq), acknowledge Christ as Lord and God – they fall down on their knees and faces in His presence.

I chose Isaiah for this Sunday, however, because Isaiah speaks more clearly to us in this church today than the story of the Magi. I chose the passage because of the circumstances this church faces as it continues to discover how to best respond to God’s call.

As you read this passage, you’re struck by how it lifts the heart, even as it challenges the mind. The person being addressed here, incidentally, is Zion. The imperatives at the beginning rouse the people of Zion to attention. “Arise!” “Shine!” Isaiah is speaking these words in response to the deliverance of Israel from the bondage of exile. But illuminated the events we just celebrated during Christmas, we read this text through a different lens, the lens of Jesus Christ, who you might remember is referred to as the Light of the World. For us, as for Isaiah and the people of Jerusalem, the light has come, and that light is the full glory, the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ.

Darkness Persists, and Will Be Overcome

His light, his glory, penetrates the darkness of our world. The darkness of a world permeated by sin and distress and death, war and genocide and famine, fear of the future, the loneliness of self-exile, and the uncertainties and anxieties we hold about the future. Exile was a period of darkness and faltering hope for Israel, and in fact even in the midst of the Glory of God, the darkness is still out there. Isaiah simultaneously announces, “Your light has come” even as “darkness shall cover the earth.” Ultimately, however, “the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.” Somehow, this ancient prophet, speaking words of celebration at the resurgence of exiled Israel, is speaking our language. Christ has come, the light of the world has lived and lives among us, the kingdom of God has come near, but more is yet to come. The King of Glory will rise up over us, and even the thick darkness of our despair will be wiped out altogether.

Christ Is the Beacon of Hope

The light of Zion will be such that even Kings and nations will be attracted to it. Here, the reference to nations refer to all the nations of the earth, specifically, the gentile nations. This grand homecoming to the seat of Israel’s life will feature guests from all corners of the globe. You might remember that this was a promise first made to Abraham way back in time in the book of Genesis, when God promises that “Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him” (Gen 18:18 NRSV). Isaiah is recounting the fulfillment of this promise.

Through the lens of Jesus Christ, this passage has special meaning for the church. Jesus is the bright beacon of salvation. To him, all the peoples of the earth, Jew and Gentile, are attracted. As sons and daughters gather together for the glorious homecoming on Mt. Zion, so too will all the nations gather at the foot of the Lamb of God, Jesus, when he comes again to reign in glory.

In the Meantime

But what shall we do in the meantime? Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel. But through the lens of Jesus Christ he is also speaking to us. And through that lens, we see how we the church, the Body of Christ, are challenged to respond to the irruption of the Light of the World.

Israel is charged, right from the outset, to arise and to shine. That is, to actually reflect this piecing light of God’s glory. And we need to ask ourselves if that’s what we are doing. Are we shining forth the light of the Christ, or do we keep it for ourselves? This church stands at a pretty big crossroads here at the beginning of 2008. There are big changes ahead. Potentially, a new pastor will be called. The Christian Education programs of the church will be redesigned and implemented. A new person will have to be hired to help us care for our building and furnishings. These are all necessary for the sustained life of any congregation. But how are we doing when it comes to sharing what we have been given by God? Are we fulfilling our call to share the light of the world with others?

I’m not one to want to seeking bigger numbers in church simply because bigger numbers automatically mean that something good is a happening. That is not a proper criterion for successful mission. What people look for in a church is deep meaning and the manifestation of faith in daily living. If a church lacks those things, then why would anyone bother to show up? Our church does much of what a church should do. I don’t think, for example, that I’ve ever been in church that is more welcoming to a complete stranger than this one is. Providing a warm welcome is a critical part of what we are called to do by Christ, but we are also called to be an invitational people, too – to go out of our way to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others by inviting them to the great reunion and festival banquet promised to us.

And this is a huge challenge for the church in today’s society. Let me give you an example of just how big the challenge is. I was recently reading a story by Stephen Moore in the Wall Street Journal. Moore writes a lament, really, about how Nintendo has turned his 14 and 16-year old sons into video game addicts. Moore’s New Year resolution is “to get my two teenaged sons back.” When not attending to the absolute minimum essentials for living, these two youngsters are sitting in front of the TV, surrounding themselves in the virtual world of games with titles like “The World of Warcraft” and “Counterstrike.”

Moore has learned that he’s not alone, either. He writes:

A parent down the street confided to us that his 12-year-old son was so obsessed with video games that he wouldn't take even a three-minute break from gaming to go to the bathroom--with unfortunate results. The other day we saw a kid at church, in a semi-trance, going down the aisle to Holy Communion while clicking on a hand-held Game Boy. Talk about worshiping a false god.¹

You see, my friends, we must still contend with the darkness. And this is a pretty benign example of what obscures God’s children from seeing the light of Jesus. Think of the other things the church must contend with – addiction, grief, anger, resentment, dislike or outright hatred of the church because of abuse or neglect or ignorance. How do we fight back against a culture that believes that “my way or the highway” might actually be numbered amongst the Ten Commandments?

Three-Fold Response

I think we have to have a three-fold response to the things that turn us away from the light. (1) Worship that is truly worshipful, (2) become more invitational, (3) become more effective in our mission.

The foundation for any Christian community is worship. Our worship must reflect the light of its object, which is Almighty God. Anything that detracts from that is, frankly, idolatry. Worship that is truly worshipful glorifies God and acknowledges Him as the source of all life and the ultimate alleviation of our sin.

Second, we need to be more invitational. If our gratitude for everything that God has done for us in Jesus Christ is truly overflowing, shouldn’t we want others to share it with others? I encourage all of us to earnestly seek out ways of inviting people we know to worship with us on Sunday, so that they too might join us for the big family reunion to come.

Third, we need to become more missional. And by missional I mean two things. First, we need to take note of the explicit needs of our community and world and find ways to answer those needs, not just with money, but also with arms and legs and hands. People who see those things will want to know why it is we do them. The answer to that seeking question is straightforward – it is our response to the wonderful things that Jesus Christ has done for us by emptying himself on the cross, taking on the burden of our sins on our behalf. The second way we become missional is by taking account of how we reflect God’s glory in our day to day living. How does our relationship with our co-workers reflect the love we have in Jesus Christ? How about our friends and neighbors and family members? How do we use the resources for which God has made us responsible? Did you notice how verse six refers to the abundant riches of the earth?

A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD. (Isa 60:6 NRSV)

God finds his home in Zion, with the people of Israel, and then with all of the nations. The riches of the nations that are brought forth should be understood here as supporting the worship of Zion. By the way, this verse if one of the most interesting in scripture. How is it, exactly, that being covered with camels is a blessing? But it is. As are the valuable offerings of gold and frankincense, two items of great value that, you might recall, were part of the gift basket of the magi. You all have already demonstrated an incredible financial commitment to the future of this church and its mission. But I still challenge all of us to ask if we could be doing more, or if we could be using what we’ve been given in a way that more effectively responds to the mission of Jesus Christ, reflecting his light into the darkness of the world.

Brothers and sisters, Isaiah was writing about Zion, but through the lens of Jesus Christ, we see that Jesus himself is our Zion, our home. We are called to be with him, and to bring to the table all that we are an all that we have. We are also called to arise, and to shine, and to share with others the tremendous gift we have received from the light of the world, that light that penetrates all of those things that risk darkening our lives, so that the very heart of Jesus might thrill and rejoice. People of God, arise! Shine! Amen.

Let us pray.

Lord of the nations, we have seen the star of your glory rising in splendor. The radiance of your incarnate Word pierces the night that covers the earth and signals the dawn of justice and peace. May his brightness illumine our lives and beckon all the nations to walk as one in the light. We ask this through Jesus Christ your Word made flesh, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, in the splendor of eternal light, God forever and ever. Amen.²

Given at First Presbyterian Church, Portland, Texas.

¹Moore, Stephen. “Teenage Zombies.” The Wall Street Journal. Jan. 4 2008. Available online here. ↩

²Theology and Worship Ministry Unit. Book of Common Worship. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1993, pp. 191-192. ↩

Technorati Tags: Presbyterian Church USA, PCUSA, Sermon, Isaiah 60:1-6, Year A, Epiphany, Arise, Shine

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Happy New Year!

Technorati Tags: New Year, 2008

Merry Christmas

Sara and I are presently camped out in snowy Denver International Airport, waiting for our connecting flight to my family's home in Salt Lake City, Utah. We hope these coming 12 days of Christmastide are the source of great joy for you.

Christe, Redemptor Omnium

Oh Christ, Savior of humankind,
O Son of God, we call to mind
Your birth eternal and divine;
The Father's image in you enshrine.

You are the Father's light and love,
Sure hope of those who call on you;
Attend in mercy to the prayers
Addressed to you throughout the world.

You took on human form, aware
That we, O Lord, your life must share;
Born of a sinless Virgin pure,
You made our faith in you secure.

All honor and all praise we sing,
O Jesus, Virgin-born to You,
All glory likewise ever be,
To Father and to Paraclete. Amen.

O (VII)

O Antiphon for December 23.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of nations and their Savior: Come, and save us, O Lord and God.

Quoted in: Johnson, Maxwell. Benedictine Daily Prayer. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2005, as quoted on p. 1367.