Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words Kill

 “Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words Kill” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on February 12, 2023. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 35:26.

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Scripture Text:
Matthew 5:21-26; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

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Today in Jesus continues his Sermon on the Mount in our Gospel reading for today. 

In this sermon, Jesus starting by sharing with his followers the Beatitudes, or all the ways in which the people are blessed. He continued by telling them that they are the salt of the earth and light of the world, roles that they must commit to in order for the world and the very community the disciples are part of to be a better place. And he ends with what is now referred to as the Antitheses. 

In his same sermon that talks of blessings and community, Jesus also teaches the disciples on several topics that uphold the Law, which Jesus also held in the highest regard. The Sermon on the Mount continues with several teachings: on murder and judgment, adultery, divorce, and vow-making. While we just read from the section on murder and judgement today, we are to understand that in each of these teachings, Jesus is saying to commit any of these infractions: murder or adultery, you sever the trust within a community. He is encouraging his followers to uphold this trust by intentionally upholding the laws given to them as God’s chosen people to their highest standard.

The passage begins with the most outrageous example of severed trust: the ending of another human’s life with murder. By starting with an example at which most members of his audience would not likely take offense, Jesus paves the way for his audience to follow him through a progression of increasingly smaller infractions against others within one’s community. 

In other words, Jesus’ rhetorical technique here is to create agreement with his audience on the easiest points first before moving to those points where it is less likely that there will be widespread agreement.

In each example that Jesus provides, Jesus notes the minimal requirement of the law before articulating an ethic that exceeds that most basic obligation. In each case, this ethic appears to be informed by the values of trust and compassion within community.

As we heard today, Jesus tells us “You shall not murder,” which reminds us and Jesus’ Jewish followers on the mount of the ten commandments. I believe that all of us, like the majority of Jesus original followers, hear Jesus’ words of “You shall not murder” and wholeheartedly agree that our community is so much better without murder in it. 

But that’s the minimal requirement of us. 

Jesus says murder violates trust and compassion within a community, to which we all agree, but when we agree, Jesus pushes the teaching to a deeper, more complex level. 

Jesus boldly states, “But I say to you…” Anger. Judgement. Name-calling. Gossip. All of that is equal to murder. 

Anger. Judgement. Name-calling, and Gossip also violate trust and compassion within a community. Do we still agree? I bet we do. But do we agree that name-calling is the same as murder? I bet we struggle a bit with that teaching. 

Especially if we are fully honest about our own moments of anger, judgement, name-calling, or gossip. We don’t need a show of hands to reveal most of us would be found guilty of at least one of those four at times throughout our lives, or perhaps even just in this last year. I am. I admit I have been guilty of anger and its consequences. 

You know the short children’s rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” We teach it to children as a defense against name-calling and bullying. 

Well Jesus, in his sermon on the mount, would say “Sticks and stones may break your bones… ‘But I say to you’ words kill.”

“But I say to you!” Words kill.

When Jesus is preaching his sermon on his mount, he is asking his disciples to recall and reinvest in their community through their ancient, trustworthy laws and traditions. He is asking them to remember their faith in God, their values in life, and their vision as a community. 

And when he does, he is asking them to follow something they already value, such as the ten commandments, or the Law. He is not replacing any of their values, but rather, Jesus is emphasizing them. He is intensifying them. He is expecting his followers to be better than the bare minimum.

“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’”? 

Yes! We don’t murder! We don’t kill! We’ve never ended another’s life! 

“But I say to you… The simple moral fact is that words kill.” 

Oh… well I may have called my sibling stupid… and well I did call neighbor an idiot… oh, I also called that person evil because I disagreed with them. You’re saying I can’t do that anymore? Oh boy… 

Jesus is expecting his followers to be better than the bare minimum because he knows we can better. The community Jesus calls us to be is better than the bare minimum. Wouldn’t you agree that is true about First Presbyterian? We are better than the bare minimum. Would you even join a community that only does the bare minimum? I mean, I want to surround myself with like-minded people of faith who are also trying to better their lives and the world we are a part of. It’s why I accepted this call in the first-place, because our community values our community and the people in and around it. 

Jesus is always challenging us to dig deeper into our call to righteousness, to align our lives with divine values, and to commit ourselves to the transformative power of God’s law and commandments.

So here, Jesus teaches, it is insufficient to avoid murdering someone. Certain kinds of anger and insult are a bad enough form of violence. If any of us commit this infraction, we collectively have broken the Law. And when God’s law is broken, God calls for reconciliation.

Jesus’ sermon continues by saying reconciliation is a prerequisite before we even come to church and honor God in worship. Broken relationships within a community are not just social obstacles among us but also hurt our relationship with God. So if any of us have committed murder to one’s Spirit with our hurtful words, we must repair that relationship first before we try to continue our relationship with God. Hear that again. It’s that important. We must repair any broken relationship firsts before we try to continue our relationship with God.

The command give to us “not to murder” extends even beyond the taking of life. It is also the command to reject the deterioration of someone’s character. Jesus’ words tell us that name-calling or insulting holds the same abusive power as murder. And with this in mind, what is the opposite of murder? If Jesus tells us to “Do Not Murder” and that “Words Kills”, what must we do as the opposite to not only follow the law but to embrace it? 

If hurting someone’s spirit through insults or gossip is equivalent to murder, raising someone up through genuine affirmations and support is equivalent to life-giving. 

There is love, compassion, and trust within a community when the relationships are life-giving.

And communities will be divided and fall apart when the relationships within them are not. 

Local church division is a recurring theme in the Corinthian correspondence. The Corinthian believers were splitting into factions along the lines of their favorite leaders or preachers. Specifically, the Corinthians tried to place Apollos and Paul in competition with one another, giving preference to their styles of teaching or display of human wisdom.

In opposition to this, Paul corrects their misplaced loyalties for himself and Apollos by reminding them they were both mere servants of the Lord fulfilling their call. Nothing marked either Paul or Apollos as extra special for who they were or what they did. Paul goes on to explain this succinctly by employing a farming metaphor: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth”

With this agricultural insight, Paul diffuses all talk of giving greater prominence to any of the Lord’s servants. Since neither planting nor watering on its own could bring forth fruit, it follows that Paul or Apollos’ continued preaching or teaching is of greater value than the either. Instead, since ultimately God is the one who produces the growth, God is the only one worthy of all admiration, glory, and praise.

And to criticize one leader over another simply only stunts the growth of the individual, because it hurts the relationship between the individual and that leader, therefore it hurts the relationship between the community and God. 

Alternatively, Paul gives the Corinthian church a vision for how leadership should work together in the cultivation of God’s field. As co-laborers, both “the one who plants and the one who waters” participate in the common task of building up God’s church. Instead of quarreling over who is the better leader or who preaches better, Paul invites us to rethink the nature of church ministry as a collaborative effort by all those who are called to be God’s servants. This is the beauty of the farming motif closely followed by Paul in this passage: laboring in the church is a group effort and, in the end, God gets all the credit. But we get all the reward.

Let us reap the reward of our community by emphasizing the very relationships we are gifted within this community. Every leader, every member. Our life-giving relationships draw us nearer to the God we worship.   

In our community, what obligations are Jesus’ sermon calling us to embrace? 

In short, Jesus centers the construction of a particular kind of community, one organized around love and not power. It is also a community that values trust and the deep commitments God’s children make to one another. 

In the end, why did God give us the commandments and why did Jesus intensify them? They are not a checklist of morality but rather a guide to flourishing in life. They are not a baseline to human decency but rather instructions to embodied, relational, transformative encounters with all whom we meet. They are not hurdles to righteousness but rather a path of wholeness for all of us. These are the values for God’s community, and these are the values of our community. 

Sticks and stones may break our bones… or COVID and transitions may tear us down to death, but words and our relationships with one another bring us up; they give us life. And in this Christian community, we know: life always triumphs over death. 

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

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James, Laura. Sermon on the Mount, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57891 [retrieved February 13, 2023]. Original source: Laura James, https://www.laurajamesart.com/collections/religious/.

Be the Light

 “Be the Light” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on January 8, 2023. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 36:34.

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Scripture Text:
Matthew 2:1-12, Matthew 3:13-17

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Today in worship, we celebrate Epiphany, a day for revelation and direction. We celebrate this day to commemorate the Magis’ visit to Jesus by following the star. When they arrived on the scene with Mary and Joseph and that child in their arms, the Magi make an epiphany of who is before them. With great joy, they recognize this child as the King of the Jews, the ruler that had been promised to them. Today we celebrate that revelation; that moment of divine introduction of Christ to the World. 

Today we also celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. With the story of John the Baptism baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River, we remember our own baptisms. We remember the claim that God has over each of us with a seal of ultimate love and grace. We get to witness this sign and seal as we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Today we celebrate new life in Christ. 

And today is one of the first Sundays in 2023. This is the New Year! Today is a day of revelation, direction, newness, celebration – all the good things! Happy New Year, my friends. Today is a good day. 

The word “Epiphany” means “showing” or “shining forth” – which is fitting because on Christmas we celebrated the light of the world being born. Today we recognize that divine light shining forth from the Christ Child. This is the light of all life. It is the Light in which all things come to be and find their purpose. It is the Light at the heart of everything, the heart of me and the heart of you. And as scripture reminds us, “The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” 

The Magi came to study this Light, although at first, they did not know this Light was human, let alone a child. 

But first I need to correct something. The New Revised Standard Version translation of Scripture is the translation I use most. It’s the translation we just heard for Matthew 2 & 3; it’s the translation we use in our pew Bibles. The New Revised Standard Version is accessible for people of all ages, accurate to the original text, and inclusive for most people in the modern world. However, the NRSV translation of Matthew chapter 2, uses an inaccurate translation of the Magi, because today you heard “wise men”. The new updated version of the New Revised Standard Version replaces “wise men” with “Magi” but we don’t have the updated version. 

Here's why this is important. 

The Greek words used, Magoi and Magous, translates to Magi, an indefinite number of astrological-priests. While I’m sure they were wise, I don’t think this is their best descriptor because it’s not precise enough about their identity in the story. And although I like the hymn we will sing in later in this service, the Magi were also not kings nor any high political leaders. These identities miss the mark of the identity of the Magi, so I, and maybe you too, need to know the Magi as Magi, as magicians, as sorcerers, as astronomers. This is who they were.

The Magi were priests who studied the light and stars, but not for the sake of science, but for the sake of prophecy. The Magi studied the stars to interpret the present and to forecast the future. They were ancient horoscope writers. And although actual Kings, such as Herod, occasionally utilized their services—their predictions of what is and what is to come—they weren’t exactly seen in the highest regard, especially in the eyes of a Jewish audience, in which the Gospel of Matthew was written.

But this isn’t too surprising; that they wouldn’t be seen in the highest regard. Jesus, who would one day spend most of his ministry hanging out with tax collectors and prostitutes, was known to spend his time with what was considered the wrong sort of people. And it starts here, at his young age, God choosing to fill important, essential role with the wrong sort of people. It was to the Magi, through a moment of great joy that Christ was revealed as the Son of God and as God incarnate, the Word made flesh. And then through this revelation, the identity of Christ is not revealed only to the Magi, but to all for the first time; the Jews and the Gentiles. Which is why we still celebrate Epiphany today.

See, the reason it’s important to note that the Magi were astronomers and magicians is because they discovered Jesus for the first time by doing what they do. It was God who first came to them. They were practicing magic and studying the stars. Jesus was made known to them when his star rose into the sky, a star that led the Magi to him, a star that was created and guided by God.

By doing what they do—by studying the stars, God made the Christ-child known to them. And when God did this, the Magi could now choose how they would respond. They could now continue to study the stars near their homes or they could follow that rising star to Jesus. The miracle here is they chose to leave what they were doing to follow that star.

Of course, it was also King Herod, after the Magi respond to the rising star, who sends them to Bethlehem, saying that when they find the child, they must return to him with the child’s location. But then it happens again, when the star stops overhead of Christ, after they see the child and are overwhelmed with joy, after they present Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh; God comes to the Magi again. This time, through a dream, the Magi are warned not to return to the king that sent them. Once again, they had options of how they could respond; they could return to the king that had sent them, probably with the guarantee of rewards and riches, or they could return to their homes by another road. The miracle here is the Magi chose to disobey the king and instead they returned to their homes, changed for good by the Light found in the Christ Child.

God reveals Godself to the Magi; twice, once in the rising of a star and once in a dream; and both times the Magi respond with faithfulness to do the right thing.

And I think that each time the Magi chose to act with faith, they did so despite their fear; their fear of leaving their homes and their fear of disobeying the king. 

We can relate to that. It’s always a beautiful thing for Epiphany to occur about the start of the New Year. Perhaps for some it’s a time where we turn our own revelations into resolutions for this upcoming year. To do this, many take the New Year as a time to reflect on all that occurred over the past year. 

One of my reflections that I had, not only as clergy but as a disciple of Christ, was the fear that I carried with me nearly every single week. Fear with what happened the in the week prior, fear of what might happen next, even the fear of what to say to those who were hurting. Perhaps you at one point over this past year have carried this fear as well. Perhaps you carry it now.

I saw a post on social media earlier this week; it was life advice from a group of 90 year olds that they would give to their 32 year old selves. It included things like dance until your feet are sore, travel more; laugh loudly, smile and say good morning, spread love, etc etc. 

One of the pieces of advice said, “Don’t fear sadness, as it tends to sit right next to love.” 

And maybe that is why I’ve carried fear with me every week, as I also carry so much love. As I know all of you too. I know where your fear comes from, even if any of us don’t always like to admit that we are afraid. 

There is so much love in this community; love for each other, love for the world, and love for God. So much love in fact that fear can only come naturally with it. 

So how will we approach our fear this year? Fear and whatever else we may be feeling or experiencing. 

There’s a pretty well-known Epiphany discipline that many churches practice including our own. It’s called “Star Words.” As part of the worship service, each person is given a star with a single word written on it. They then use this word to navigate the new year, to serve as a tool for discernment and prayer, to guide them closer to Christ.  

These Words “shine forth” as a guide to the Light that is Christ. 

Think about it. The Magi were doing what they do, living their lives, when one night, they saw something different—a star that shone so brightly, they were compelled to follow it. 

Just as the Christmas star once shined for all people to see, the light of Christ still shines for all people. For us, we can see this Light even in a Word the Spirit chooses for us. 

May we use these star words as reminders of the Christmas star we invite into our lives so that we might be led toward Jesus Christ.

Whatever Star Word is chosen for you, embrace it. Don’t linger too much on your initial reaction, good or bad. Don’t expect to be instantly changed. Don’t ask for a different word. Sit with whatever you are given. And believe God wants to have that word, whatever it may be, as your guide this year. 

Amanda Gorman, our nation’s first ever youth poet laureate, in her poem The Hill We Climb, concludes with these words: 

     “When day comes we step out of the shade,
     aflame and unafraid
     The new dawn blooms as we free it
     For there is always light,
     if only we’re brave enough to see it
     If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

Be a light! Use your Word to be more Christ-like. Walk like Jesus this year. Be a light for yourself and others. 

Jesus himself used his light to make this world a better place. And that is what we will do. Jesus spent his entire life surrounding himself with the “wrong” sort of people – the Magi, tax collectors, prostitutes – the “sinners” – and yet with every person Jesus encountered, he offered forgiveness and he extended mercy. He sought out a ministry in which he served those who were considered “the least of these,” or those on the margins of society: the poor, the hungry, the sick, and the blind. He would look at them and remember them for who they are: children of God. Christ lifted up their light, so it could shine forth and be brighter for others. Today we are called to shine forth our lights and be a light of Christ in this world. We are called to go out and spread this light of Christ with everyone we encounter; there is enough grace to share. 

Be who God made you to be this year. Live honestly and authentically. But let the Christ light shine forth through you. Make the light of Christ brighter by doing what you do. Somewhere along the way, you might just find yourself heading down a different road, changed and transformed, sharing the light of Christ with those who also need it.  

The Magi modeled themselves after the same Christ-child they went to visit. They took his light and made it brighter. They were Christ-like in their courage. And I trust that is how God will lead me and how God will lead you—lead all of us—into 2023. That’s our revelation; this is our Epiphany.

God will reveal Godself to us. Perhaps as a star or in a dream, perhaps through movements or stories made known, or perhaps here in this church or as we go out in the community, God is present and God is doing something. God is revealing Godself. And you are there in the midst of it, and God is giving you the opportunity to do something. 

Consider the areas of darkness in your own life or in the lives of others, the areas of fear. And then look for that revelation of Christ. A star of light arises; go forth, my friends, and follow. Be transformed. Shine forth. Be a light. Blaze a trail. 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God. Amen.

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Tell of the Hope within You

 “Tell of the Hope within You” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on December 18, 2022. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 52:20.

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Scripture Text:
Jeremiah 32:6-15; Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; 1 Peter 3:15

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A week ago I was at a funeral of a friend’s grandfather, there to support my friend and his family as they grieved the death and celebrated the life of their loved one. I sat next to a family that I know, a young mother and father and their two children, who were there to support their friend and family just as I was.

As part of the service, the priest read Matthew 25:31-46. You know this text. I just preached on it just over a month ago. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

As the priest read the Parable, he read it in its entirety, just like we did just a few weeks ago. But there was a part of the parable the made the woman next to me gasp and grab her husband. Verse 41:

“Then the ruler will say to those at his left hand, ‘You who are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels…”

The moment she heard these words, the young mother let out an unintentional “Oh God…”

Now I know this family enough to know that they are not religious. Although always kind and supportive of me and my calling, they are not Christians. And I could tell she was uncomfortable with these words. Even more than just uncomfortable. She was disgusted with these words. Her body language radiated disdain. And the fact she kept glancing at her children means she was most likely worried about what they just heard; what they would now believe.

And I don’t blame her. They are harsh words found within a parable that can make any of us uncomfortable, especially to someone who is not a Christian.

All I wanted to do was whisper something to this family. But I was at a loss for words; I’m still not fully certain what I would have or even could have said. All I know is I wanted to extend words of comfort to the family who was unfamiliar with the words of scripture that caught them off-guard and made them anxious in their seats.

I could have given them my business card or even directed them to my sermon from a month ago, although that might have insulted them even more. I could tell they didn’t need or want explanation or doctrine or understanding of the words they just heard. They wanted to hear words of hope.

As disciples of Christ, we carry with us the ultimate gift and responsibility. We carry hope.

But why do we carry hope? What would you say to a person, especially a stranger, who is outside of the belief of Christianity?

The writer of 1 Peter, as we heard today, says, “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Always be ready…

What would you say? What would you do? How would you tell of the hope within you?

We read from the prophet Jeremiah this morning. It’s not a standard Advent text; the words do seemingly little to prepare us for the birth of the Christ child. But it is a story of hope. And this Christmas, we will tell others the message of hope. Especially in a world that seems so lost and dark; we need the message of hope.

In Jeremiah chapter 32, Jeremiah the prophet is in jail. He was imprisoned by the king, his own king, for preaching the Word of God that came to him; Jeremiah was preaching that the city of Jerusalem would fall. The Babylonians and Chaldeans will take the city; they will break into Jerusalem, and they will burn it all down. The king didn’t really like that Jeremiah kept saying that he and the people would lose it all.

But Jeremiah also kept saying that although they would lose the city and all that was within it, they needed to believe in the original promise that God made to God’s people. It was God who delivered their ancestors out of Egypt through signs and wonders. It was God who brought their ancestors to this land with the promise of bountiful and fertile fields. And it was God who would follow through with this promise. But they had to have hope, even as the war and the famine surrounded them from every side.

So Jeremiah preached that although Jerusalem would soon fall, God will still redeem this land, just as God has promised.

And to show this hope, while he is in prison and as the enemies raged outside of its city’s walls, Jeremiah buys the land that will soon be destroyed. Through the purchase of legal deeds sealed in clay jays (their version of a bank vault) and in front of as many witnesses as they could gather, Jeremiah proves to the people that he believes in God’s promise so much that is willing to risk it all. He puts his money where his mouth is, and he buys the land. Because as God promised, “Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.” It was a leap of faith, an act of hope.

We think of the hope that was seen through Mary. When God said to her that she would give birth to our Savior, he said it was because she was highly favored. But this meant she would almost be left in the night by Joseph. It means she would be rejected by others as she was an unwed young girl. It meant she would have to travel across the country while extremely pregnant to a town that she didn’t know. It meant she would give birth on a dirt floor in a crowded stable next to smelly animals. She did this because she knew the people needed this. She carried Emmanuel. She carried the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. She carried the light of the world to shine across the people who were walking in darkness. She carried hope.

We carry that same hope today. Not as a pregnancy but as a story. Our story. And we are to carry that story to be shared with others.

At times, it is difficult. I sat next to a family at a funeral, and I didn’t have the right words. Telling someone else about what God has done might be among the hardest aspects of our discipleship. We don’t want to come across as obnoxious, offensive, or harmful. We may think it’s best to keep it to ourselves.

But other times, the story of hope comes so naturally, it fights its way to the top, to stand out and to be ever so clear.

Last week, we asked our community of faith to describe each of our own journeys of faith using a single word. Not an easy task but we did it. We put those words together into an image called a WordCloud. The larger the size of each word represents the number of people who used that particular word.

In a collection of nearly 200 words, this is our story at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown. It is courageous and vulnerable. It is intimate and profound. It is faithful and it is holy. It is us.

Surrounded by words like illuminating and humbled, sustaining and transformative – that is faith.

It also includes words like rocky and shaky, uneven and struggle – that too is faith.

As we move towards the center, we see steadfast and evolving, grace and belief – this is faith.

Faith is wandering and challenging, joyful and blessed.

Faith is full of love and comfort.

But what is in the center, larger than any of the other words? Say it with me.

Hope!

Hope is at our center of our faith. Hope is at our hearts.

That is the story we must tell.

We will share stories about our lives and how we have seen God at work. Sometimes, these are stories of dramatic transformation, in which our lives were healed or turned around. Sometimes, these are stories of confession, in which grace is offered and received. Sometimes, these are quieter, simpler stories of the everyday presence of God. These stories are an opportunity to tell of the hope that is within us.

Hope is contagious. Whether we are sharing the story of what has happened, like Jeremiah buying the soon to be destroyed land to prove he believes in God’s redemption, or Mary carrying the Christ child to shine light unto the people who very likely would be the same ones to reject her or even our stories of God’s love, comfort, joy and grace found in our lives even though it can be challenging, rocky, or a struggle at times, we share the good news by expressing our faith that God is with us and will never leave us alone.

That is hope. Go tell of the hope!

This is the word of God given to us this day. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Responding to God’s Activity in the World through Service to Others

 “Responding to God’s Activity in the World through Service to Others” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on November 13, 2022. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 15:28.

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Scripture Text:
Matthew 25:31-46

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Today I’m going to talk about our mark of membership of “Responding to God’s Activity in the World through Service to Others”. What’s neat is we’ve seen these acts of service recently within our church community. We just finished a week of Family Promise providing food, shelter, and community to those in need. Last Sunday we had information and activities for children, youth, and adults on local food insufficiency. And today, we gave Bibles to our Pre-K, 3rd Grade, and Confirmation students as well as received new members. We are fulfilling the vows we made in baptism to serve others, as we will make those same vows later today. But service to others should also take place outside of the church, especially to those most unlike us. Even if it’s uncomfortable or difficult. This takes courage and community. So today, we are going to talk about that. But first, I want to share something with you. 

I love Halloween! 

For me, it’s not about the candy or the pumpkins, the spooky decorations or the tricks. I love the costumes. For one night of the year… or two or three, I love dressing up as someone else. In the recent years, I’ve been Bane, Stede Bonnet, Buzz Lightyear, David Rose, Cosmo Cosma, Pugsley Addams, Ron Stoppable, a monkey – just to name a few. And if you have any seen one of my costumes, you know that I give it my all. I put a lot of work into my costumes. And not to toot my own horn, but my costumes are so good that it is hard to recognize Taylor and much easier to see the character I’m dressed up as, that is if you know any of the characters that I named earlier. 

On a similar note, when I shaved my head last week, several of you told me after the service that when you first walked into the sanctuary, you thought we had a guest preacher because you didn’t recognize me. Two of you, while greeting me, even asked who I was! Thankfully we laughed when I reintroduced myself as Pastor Taylor. 

Sometimes we put on a mask, and it is more difficult for the outside world to see who we really are. Sometimes it’s a physical mask or costume like one we would wear on Halloween or to a Masquerade Ball. But sometimes it’s a different type of mask. 

Have you ever had an extremely bad morning and day and tried to hold it together? Maybe it felt like the world was crumbling down around you, but the last thing you wanted was for the world itself to know it. In front of your children, partner, or coworkers; you did everything you could to put on a smile for them but internally your spirit was suffering. 

We all know what it feels like to wear a mask; to hide ourselves away from the world. We’ve all had moments of incognito. Maybe it was done to protect them or to protect us, but we put on the mask and we could no longer be recognized. Even by the people who love us most, they couldn’t see us for who we really were or how we were feeling. 

This is also true for the God we worship. Sometimes our God is a hidden God. 

I believe it is pretty easy to search for and find God all around us… and I believe it’s just as easy to overlook God who is all around us. 

Close your eyes for a moment. Now picture where do you see God. Where do you see God. Where do you see God. 

For many of us, we picture this church, this sanctuary and these people. That’s where we see God. For others, we picture nature, we see God in the trees or in the sunset. I’m sure some of us thought of our families, we see God in the faces of our partner or in our children. I bet a few of us when picturing God thought of a memory, a moment of intense feeling, perhaps at a birth or a death. Maybe some of us pictured God on a throne in the clouds and maybe we saw Jesus on the cross. 

But I wonder how many of us pictured God in the hidden places or in the people we tend to avoid? Do we see God in moments of pain and suffering? Do we recognize God in moments or in people that make us uncomfortable? 

In Elie Wiesel’s Night, Wiesel writes about how his faith in God was transformed during World War II and his time in a concentration camp. Before the war, Wiesel is a young Jewish boy whose faith in God could not be shaken or even questioned. His faith in God is tied to his identity. But horrific moment after horrific moment, his faith is tortured. And in one of his lowest moments, as he is witnessing death by hanging before his very eyes, Wiesel wrote these thoughts: 

“Where is God? Where is He?” someone behind me asked. ..

For more than half an hour [the child in the noose] stayed there, struggling between life and death, dying in slow agony under our eyes. And we had to look him full in the face. He was still alive when I passed in front of him. His tongue was still red, his eyes were not yet glazed. Behind me, I heard the same man asking:

“Where is God now?”

And I heard a voice within me answer him:

“Where is He? Here He is—He is hanging here on this gallows. . . .”

I hate this story, but it is in this story that we should approach our Gospel passage today. 

Matthew 25 is one of the famous parables of Jesus. I’m sure the majority of us have heard this one before. I remember it enough to know that I preached on this exact parable about a year ago, although this sermon is much different. Until recently, this parable wasn’t a popular one though. Compared to parables such as the Prodigal Son or the Good Samaritan, I’m not sure if we naturally enjoy this one. The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats is one of ultimate judgement, God’s judgement. And although God’s judgment in the Bible is restorative, which is to make something right, it doesn’t fully dismiss that parable or the consideration of God’s judgement at its foundation can be perceived as uncomfortable, or even painful. 

But yet, judgement is a dominant theme not found only in the Gospel of Matthew but in the whole Bible. And specifically, God’s final judgement of us and humankind is a reoccurring theme throughout the entire Bible in the Old Testament, all of the Gospels, the epistles, and in the final book of Revelation. 

Which means all God’s people, from the beginning of time to even now including us, have the question for God, “What is it going to be like at the end of the world?”

This was Jesus’ answer: 

Jesus replied, “I will tell you a story. It will be like this. There will be a ruler up in heaven and all the people of the earth will gather around him, and this ruler will divide the people into the sheep and the goats.” 

Now, if we were a disciple in those days, we would understand this metaphor immediately. At night, when the shepherds came down from the hills into the valleys, they would divide the sheep for the sheep pen and the goats for the goat pen. From afar, sheared sheep and goats look exactly the same. Like how a sheared Taylor looks like Uncle Fester  (Stephen’s words).   

But yes, from afar, sheared sheep and goats look exactly the same. But up close and upon inspection, it is quite easy to distinguish between the two. And so the shepherd would send the sheep to the right to the sheep pen and the goats to the left to the goat pen. 

As the disciples instantly understood this metaphor, Jesus would continue to explain how the ruler would divide the two, the parameters. 

The sheep would be sent into the heavenly banquet with their ruler because the ruler will say, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.” 

The sheep, in their joy, would question this, “Master, what are you talking about? When did we do any of these things?” And their ruler will answer them once again, “Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.”

In a similar fashion, the goats will be sent away from their ruler because the ruler will say, “I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.” 

The goats, in their anguish, would question this, “Master, what are you talking about? When did we have the opportunity to do any of these things?” And the ruler will answer them once again, “Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.”

And I can’t help but to think, the goats in their final moment might say back to their ruler, “Lord, if we only would have known it was you, we would have treated you differently. If we only had known your true identity, it would have made all the difference. If we had only known it was you hanging in the gallows, if we had only known it was you behind the face of the refugee; if we had only known it was you in the black body shot in the street, if only we had known it was you on the corner experiencing homelessness, if only we had known it was you in the transgender woman assaulted, if only we had known it was you in the child starving, if only we had known it was you silently struggling and suffering; if we had only known it was you, it would have made all the difference.”

But friends, the difference for us, we do know. We must know. 

This parable shouldn’t strike fear in us in the sense that one day we worry whether God will send us to the right or to the left, or rather send us up or down. Rather, this parable motivates us, motivates all of us, to know that God is found in the faces and places of suffering people. After all, God’s judgement is restorative, to make something right, and this parable is an encourager for us to make something right. 

Sometimes, our God is a hidden God, but not to hide Godself from us but rather so that God can continue to dwell among us. Even in Jesus, God put on a mask, God went incognito was the Word was made Flesh. The hidden God walked among us. And even though Jesus did miraculous, loving teachings, preachings, and healings, we sentenced God to death because we did not recognize God in Jesus. Following that death, God was hidden in an empty tomb and an empty cross.

And even today, God is hidden is water and wine and bread. So it makes sense that our God hides Godself in people who are hurting. Because they need love and grace the most, God brings Godself into them. And because we also need love and grace, we are to bring ourselves to them. 

What strikes me in our parable for today is as both the sheep and goats are separated for their deeds, both are surprised. Both question when they did or did not serve their ruler. The sheep were not aware when they were generous. And the goats were not aware when they were selfish. 

I don’t know about the rest of you, but at the end of my life, I don’t want to look back and be surprised. So I’m going to err on the side of generosity to all people, especially those who need it most. It is then, and only then, that we will experience the full love of Christ found in a hidden God and found in a God that reveals Godself to us through others. 

Thanks be God for God’s Word given to us this day. Amen. 

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Lifting One Another up in Prayer, Mutual Concern, and Active Support

“Lifting One Another up in Prayer, Mutual Concern, and Active Support” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on November 6, 2022. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 30:27.

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Scripture Text:
James 5:13-20

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We live in a world where suffering abounds.

It’s sometimes hard to see the light or the hope when faced with this harsh reality, but it is true. We live in a world where suffering abounds.

The pandemic is still raging and its impacts are ongoing. There is war, famine, and forced displacement of citizens. Natural tragedies still rage on all of creation. Across the world and here in Lehigh Valley, children and families do not have access to food, clothing, or shelter. And we can all name someone who is currently experiencing disease, divorce, disaster, disappointment, desperation, or death. Maybe that person is us.

So yeah, we live in a world where suffering abounds.

And if you are anything like me, and I think you are as disciples of Christ, maybe your constant thought… or even prayer… is: Holy God, what am I to do amidst all this suffering?

We are approaching the end of our fall series: Together: Building a Home with God. At this point, we have covered the majority of the marks of memberships as found in our Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order. These are things that are required of us to do as members and disciples of the Church of Jesus Christ.

If anything, this series should have taught us that faith cannot be passive. To be a disciple of Christ, we are called to act and do. Every mark of membership has started with an action verb: demonstrate a new life, study scripture, work in the world, care for creation, support the church, proclaim the good news, live responsibly.

Even today’s theme is a call to action: “Lift One Another up in Prayer, Mutual Concern, and Active Support.”

Faith in and of itself is a call to action. As disciples of Christ, we need an active faith to navigate, heal, and prosper as we live in this world, especially because of all of the suffering.

Our scripture lesson today comes from the Book of James, and James as a Book is all about practical, down to earth, active Christianity. James, who some considered to be the younger brother of Jesus, was one of the first leaders of the early church. What made James unique is he wasn’t so concerned with deep theological truths or complex doctrines. James just wanted the followers of Christ to act; to do something with their faith. Specifically, he looked at what he called the “The Royal Law.” James taught his congregation how to live out Jesus’ words, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Some of James most notable teachings come from chapter two, where he strongly states that faith must be active and it is based on one’s works. James is the one who taught “Faith without works is dead” and one is “justified by works and not by faith alone”.

While some of us like the deep theological truths or complex doctrines – I do! – sometimes all we need is the down to earth, practical, day-to-day wisdom as found in the Book of James. Especially when asking the question: what am I to do amidst all this suffering?

And the end of James’ letter, the passage we heard from today, specifically addresses that question. James chapter 5, the end of his letter, the end of this book, talks to us about caring for the sick and suffering. And not just the strangers on the streets but the sick and suffering right here within our own community of faith. James calls us to care for the neighbors right here next to you. The people who are sitting right next to you in the pews.

Every congregation, including our own, has numerous people who are sick and suffering. I think that number is actually higher than any of us would suspect. We live in a society where even the best-intentioned people feel drawn to be superior over one another. To be honest with our sufferings or to share our vulnerabilities with one another is perceived as an act of weakness. That is true for me, and it is one of my greatest struggles.

But if we cannot name our sufferings with one another, what is even the purpose of being a church? What is the point of calling each other neighbors and friends if we cannot trust each other with the hardships each of us experience? What is the point of belonging to a community of faith if we cannot extend and receive compassion and healing from people who are suffering just like us?

And that’s why we turn to James. He reminds us that every church MUST be a healing community. We must care for the sick and the suffering. We are to pray for them/us. We are to anoint them/us. We are to confess and forgive them/us. We are to bring them/us who have wandered away back to this community to receive compassion and healing once more.

And if we do not care for each other, especially when people are at their lowest and even when they are least deserving of our love, then we have failed the very call to discipleship as a Christian community.

Think of Jesus. He came to live among us to do three great things: to teach, to preach, and to heal. And the three are woven together. Jesus said he was the bread of life because he fed the thousands who were hungry. Jesus said he was the light of the world because he healed the man who was born blind. Jesus said he was the resurrection and the life because he raised Lazarus from the dead. You cannot separate teaching and preaching and healing from one another. And Jesus instructed his disciples – us! – to also be teachers, preachers, and healers. And we can be! We have the power to be!

Because we are all made in the image of God and because God is our ultimate healer, we too ALL have a role as healers. Every one of us has a part to play. And it is the utmost importance that we each be a person of healing toward another in this congregation. Because if I am a healer to you in your suffering, you can be a healer to him in his suffering, and he can be a healer to her in her suffering, and she can be a healer to them in their suffering, and they can be a healer to me in my suffering. The cycle of healing is to be unbroken and infinite.

That is the vision of the Church God has for us.

And healing in a community – in this community – is relational. Healing is the relation of mind, body, and spirit. It in found in our relationships with each other and with God. Healing is connected to prayer.

Some of us have said or done something we regret, and we need to let go and forgive. Through prayer, God calls us to confess.

Some of us are in trouble or are experiencing some kind of difficulty. Through prayer, God calls us to intercede.

Some of us are sick and suffering. Through prayer, God calls us to heal and be healed.

Prayer is used seven times in our passage today. And it is found throughout the entire Bible. Christians are supposed to be people of prayer. That takes time, concentration, focus, and energy. And when prayer becomes an actual spiritual priority, it moves beyond just words and into action.

I’m sure you have noticed my recently shaved head. A few weeks ago, my cousin was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. My cousin is my age, with a newly born baby boy. We have a small family with only 7 of us cousins including me and my two brothers. Growing up, our families were inseparable. While we have gone our own ways in adulthood, that bond will never be broken. His mom, my aunt and Godmother, when she called to tell me of his diagnosis asked for my prayers. Of course, I would add my cousin to my prayers. I would also add his family – my family, our family – to my prayers. My uncle, who is also my cousin’s uncle, organized a fundraiser. $50 would be donated for every person who shaves their head. So that’s what we did. All of us in our family plus many others. And in the last couple of weeks, I have talked with my cousin, my aunt, my uncle, my whole extended family more so than I have this entire year.

Because I’ve learned when you pray for people daily, you also want to chat with them. You find time to check in with them and see how they are doing. At the core of your being, you want to be in relationship with them. To show care and compassion for them. To provide whatever support they may need. And so you do. That is practical, down to earth, Christianity.

So what are we to do amidst all this suffering?

We live an active faith. We pray, we show concern, compassion, and care, and we provide support. We heal and be healed. We trust in a community that receives our own suffering with open arms and loving hearts. We love our neighbors as ourselves.

Will you pray with me?

We confess to you, O God, that our lives are filled with sickness and suffering. We acknowledge that each of us are in need of your healing. Send your Holy Spirit to us and through us. Let us heal and be healed through the presence of Jesus Christ. May we live as your Church, now and forever more. Amen. 

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Supporting the Ministry of the Church through the Giving of Money, Time, and Talents

 “Supporting the Ministry of the Church through the Giving of Money, Time, and Talents” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on October 16, 2022. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 35:34.

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Scripture Text:
Luke 16:19-31

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Aside from the kingdom of God, Jesus talks more about money than just about anything else.

I’m not sure how that makes us feel. While we are well aware our church needs to raise money to do good in the world like we are called to do, let alone even function or exist, we tend to tiptoe around stewardship in the church. Or we make jokes to cover the awkwardness and discomfort of talking about money.

For example, my very first sermon at my previous church, so my very first sermon as a pastor, was about money. I was there just under a month, and that Sunday’s sermon already had an assigned topic: living by faith… with your money. I wasn’t supposed to preach that Sunday, but the Head Pastor at my previous church fell down a flight of stairs, did major damage to his knee, and was out of commission for awhile. So within weeks of starting as a new pastor, I took the scripture texts and topics he assigned himself to preach on as my scripture texts and topics to preach on. In the sermon, I told everyone who would listen, hazing in the church looks like giving the new pastor the sermon on money.

The awkwardness of talking about money in the church has never really went away. Just this week, while talking to a friend about my job as a pastor, he asked, “So do you get paid by whatever is in the offering plate that week?”

The question had both humor and curiosity in it. This friend, who grew up going to church, wanted to know how pastors get paid… and don’t worry, I explained it’s a little more complex than that, but the answer to his question is… essentially yes. I get paid through the donations of others.

And that can be a little uncomfortable to talk about.

But Jesus talked about money a lot. And his ministry as a traveling teacher and prophet along with disciples must have been built upon the generosity of others. Because even Jesus relied on the generosity of others, he approached the topic of money pretty neutrally. Jesus doesn’t really care if we have money; he is more concerned what we do with it if we do. And he did preach over and over again of caring for those who do not have money.

Taking a note out of Jesus’ book, we also talk about money in worship every week. Following the sermon, we are given an opportunity to respond to God’s Word and part of that response time is the consideration of the giving of our money, time, and talents. We urge this every week, and because we are currently asking members to commit to their pledges for next year, there is a special emphasis on the topic of giving and money. Even if it is awkward or uncomfortable or we try to cover it with jokes. But we do this because as one of our marks of membership as found in the Book of Order and the topic of today is “Supporting the Ministry of the Church through the Giving of Money, Time, and Talents.”

And we shouldn’t dismiss the topic of money or the giving of our time and talents within the church because Jesus didn’t dismiss the topic of money, rather it was the focus of several of his parables. Including this one today.

Nestled in between stories of inclusion, mercy, kindness and forgiveness is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. This Parable found in chapter 16 immediately follows parables of radical grace as found in the Parables in chapter 15, which includes the Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Prodigal Son, and the Lost Coin, with the latter of the three being an example that Jesus does in fact often talk about money. So following these parables in which God’s grace is extended to everyone, including the rich, we have a parable that serves as a warning. It’s a healthy reminder, even.

Each of us is given grace. Grace. Grace. Overflowing, abundant grace. But the grace we are given does not mean we can ignore our faults or the faults of the world we live in. The language of this parable is strong and direct, and it offers a glimpse of God’s judgement. But this is good because God’s judgment in the Bible is restorative, making something right. Therefore, God’s judgment, even as found in this parable, is not about condemnation but grace. Grace. Grace. Overflowing, abundant grace.

In the parable, there is a rich man who loves his money. So much in fact, he could see only his wealth, his fine linens and sumptuous feasts. What he couldn’t see was the man in need right outside his gates. He was so blind to this that he couldn’t see even what the dogs could see. He couldn’t see Lazarus. And because he couldn’t see Lazarus, he couldn’t see that Lazarus needed help. And because he couldn’t see that Lazarus needed help, there was no way the rich man could help Lazarus. Distracted by his wealth, the rich man remained ignorant to an opportunity to love his neighbor. And because he could not love his neighbor, the rich man couldn’t see the transformative grace that is found in God when we do love and serve our neighbor.

To be honest, no matter our own economic status, we are more often comparative to the rich man than Lazarus. We are good, honest, generous, faithful people… living in a country that we are so blessed to live in. But as Americans, we enjoy economic comfort, and our culture gives us plenty of ways to indulge ourselves. And we do. Now as I said earlier, Jesus is pretty neutral about money and doesn’t care so much if we have it, and I’m pretty sure Jesus is also neutral about our nationality and doesn’t care so much that we are blessed by economic comfort as Americans. Jesus cares more about what we do with this comfort.

What comforts, or even blessings, in our lives distract us from seeing our neighbors in need? Is it our love for money? Is it entitlement? Is it selfishness? Is it a “serve me first” mentality? Is it “give me what I want and then I will give you my money”? Is it fear, anxiety, inflexibility? Is it a fixation on one particular issue or conflict? Is it politics? Is it disagreement? Is it a refusal to worship because we didn’t like a sermon or two? Is it our past, our history, our image? Is it anything other than Gospel and the Good News of Jesus Christ?

If we only give to this church and this ministry when it benefits us first, we have warped the very concept of grace. If we only give because we like the pastors or the pews or hymns or because the sermon that day made us feel good, if we only give then, then we have created a chasm that refuses God’s grace, healing, and transformation. And that chasm, as we learn from the rich man, is not where we want to be.

God’s grace covers us despite all the ways we have fallen short, despite all the things we have done to upset God, despite all our faults, despite that we constantly miss the mark of what God intended for us when we were created in God’s image. God’s grace crosses over the chasm to transform us from brokenness into wholeness, into redeemed state where our lives strive for generosity, kindness and mercy to be extended onto others.

I have benefitted from your generosity, kindness and mercy. I try to live every day in gratitude, and I have so much to be grateful for. This community of faith is part of the reason I am so grateful. I am grateful for this community because it is marked by fellowship, love, and grace.

So I do feel comfortable talking to all of you about money because there is nothing wrong with having money. And it should be normal talking about money just as Jesus so often did. But if we let our money become our focus, or if we let our own desires become our focus, we have cheapened the very grace God has given to us and we have created a chasm.

But we won’t let that happen, will we? Because we remember this: the grace of God really is sufficient to cover all our faults. The one who will bridge the chasm is not us; it is and always has been God.

We don’t give to this church – money or otherwise – because it benefits us first. We give because we believe in grace. Grace. Grace. Overflowing, abundant grace.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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Koenig, Peter. Lazarus at the Gate, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58503 [retrieved October 28, 2022]. Original source: Peter Winfried (Canisius) Koenig, https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/.

Studying Scripture and the Issues of Christian Faith and Life

“Studying Scripture and the Issues of Christian Faith and Life” was preached at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, PA on September 25, 2022. You can hear/watch this sermon here, starting at 50:50.

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Scripture Texts:
Psalm 119:33-44
Acts 8:26-40

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What will it mean for us for all of us if the Gospel is indeed good news for all people, without exception? 

There are several passages in the Bible that every time I read them, I am filled with so much hope, joy, and gratitude. The baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch as found in Acts 8 is one of them. It’s purposely provocative. 

In the beginning of Acts, Jesus declares his followers will be his Spirit-led “witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When we arrive to chapter 8, Jesus’ follows have served as witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. But not so much to the ends of the earth. That is until the Word of God reaches the Ethiopian Eunuch. Now, we have a lot to cover today, so I’m going to keep the explanation of the Ethiopian Eunuch short. Here’s what we know: He’s Ethiopian, a dark-skinned man considered to be living on the fringes of the inhabited world, especially on the outskirts of the Greco-Roman world where Jesus’ ministry was building. Because he was a Eunuch, his manhood was often questioned. In fact, some would not consider him a man at all. And he was a court official, which means although he did carry some power and wealth, at the end of the day, there was a great possibility that the Ethiopian Eunuch was a slave to the queen he served. 

The Ethiopian Eunuch represented the diversity of the world outside of the norm: he is powerless yet powerful, strange yet impressive, ignorant yet knowledgeable, a person who will have no future family of his own but will be the future of a growing family of followers of Jesus. And as we heard today, the Word of God was for him. The Good News of the Gospel was for him. And through him, the witnesses that Jesus promised that will go to the ends of the earth, was now just starting.

Because the Ethiopian Eunuch, a court official destined for a single purpose without a future, realized the Good News of the Gospel was also for him, it set the course for the Good News of the Gospel to be brought also to us. Because he let the Word of God form and transform him, the Word was carried to others who saw that this Word would also speak to them. 

The Word of God still speaks to us today. Sometimes it is clear, and sometimes it is confusing. Some days we have answers, but most days it seems we have questions. Some days the Good News brings us joy and others it challenges us to a point of frustration. And some days we understand the Word individually, and some days we need a teacher or a community to make sense of God’s story. 

This is true for all of us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. The Good News of the Gospel is indeed for all people, of all ages and stages and identities. And it is our responsibility to make sure this Good News is understood and shared with all people; not just ourselves and our own lives. 

From the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order:

“Membership is the Church of Jesus Christ is a joy and a privilege. It is also a commitment to participate in Christ’s mission. A faithful member bears witness to God’s love and grace and promises to be involved responsibly in the ministry of Christ’s Church. Such involvement includes: … studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life.” 

Such involvement includes: … studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life.”

Here at First Presbyterian Church, we call our educational programs where we study Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life faith formation. 

It’s good we are talking about studying scripture and faith formation today because last Sunday, we launched our Sunday morning faith formation opportunities for all ages. From 9:50 to 10:50 a.m., between our two English-language worship services; our children, youth, and adults gathered throughout our building to study God’s Word and be formed in their faith. As I was listing the different opportunities for faith formation in worship on Sunday and using hand motions to point out where these opportunities could be found, a member said they were reminded of Genesis 28:14: “you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south.” I think this is also included in Jesus’ words when he meant his witnesses would go to the ends of the earth, or at least to the ends of our building. 

And we did. Our three-year-olds to 5th grade children spread out upstairs and downstairs, our middle schoolers and high schoolers went over to the youth wing, and our adults had four options to choose from found in four corners of the building. Plus, the choir was rehearsing in the sanctuary during this time to prepare to sing in the 11:00 a.m. service, which provided an additional opportunity for our youth and adults to be formed in their faith!  

Throughout the week, we had bible studies for women, men, and all genders. Some met in person and some met on ZOOM. And yesterday our confirmation students met here for a full-day retreat. As we were concluding the retreat, one of the students said, “Wow! This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!” which as you might know, is a pretty high compliment from an honest 8th grader. 

As we spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, I found myself giving thanks for life throughout our building. In the midst of a changing church navigating a global pandemic, it has taken faithful, incredibly difficult work to provide these opportunities of faith formation. While volunteers and staff did faithful work during the pandemic to provide faith formation opportunities including many ZOOM classes, daily prayer services, groups social-distancing on the front lawn, dropping off driveway faith formation bags to  families to form faith at home, and even a virtual vacation bible school; it led us to realize that faith formation at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, like many other areas of the church, was in a season of death and resurrection. What once was, was now over, for good, and there was no going back. 

Last year as we were returning to in-person worship, you might remember our Session made several decisions. First, we returned to in-person worship outside either on the front lawn or in the memorial garden. Then, we were holding multiple services on a Sunday with some outside and some inside every Sunday. When we finally discerned God was calling Session to hold just inside worship services, to promote community and connection for a church family that hadn’t physically worshipped together for nearly a year, we held one worship service for all to join. After a season of that, it was finally decided to hold two English-language worship services every Sunday with a designated learning hour between the two. It was the first time in over a decade First Presbyterian Church of Allentown had a designated learning hour not at the same time as worship. There were some growing pains here and there as we navigated this great and good change, especially for families, but here we are, almost a year later after that change was made, and we are now reaping the rewards. There are multiple opportunities for children, youth, and adults of all ages and stages and identities every Sunday morning and throughout the week. There is an opportunity for people who worship in different styles to come together and study God’s Word. Families can and are encouraged to worship together; children and youth are no longer sent away from worship but are now brought front and center to be fully included in it. There is even a Happy Hour parenting group for parents to find rest, fellowship, and snacks as their children are in their classes. And as I said, there is life in our building once again, from east to west and north to south, to the ends of the earth. 

Our fall theme as a church is Together: Building a Home with God. Each word in that title was given much thought. Specifically, the word building focuses on the ongoing work to be done to create and maintain healthy Christian Community. There is direct correlation between this ongoing work and faith formation, as faith formation itself is a lifelong process of transformation. Participating in this ongoing work is not just for our children and youth, but even for us as adults who live out our membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, as we are called to study Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life. Listen to these paraphrased words of the Psalmist: “God, teach me lessons for living, so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me, my whole life one long, obedient response. Give me an appetite for your words of wisdom, invigorate me on the pilgrim way. See how hungry I am for your counsel, preserve my life through your righteous ways.” 

Each of us are called to be formed in our faith because God’s Word is a sacred nourishment to our hunger of Christian discipleship. The Word provides a path of obedience and fulfillment. And the Word gives us the wisdom and courage to respond to issues of Christian faith and life as they arise; things such as justice, hospitality, tragedy, joy, and even politics. Yes, we must study scripture to inform our approach to politics, and we must do it within the Church of Jesus Christ. As we study Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life, we are able to bring the Good news into the greater community across the city, state, country, and world through word and action. 

But studying Scripture cannot be a silo in the church. It is found in our classes for children, youth, and adults but it so much more than that. Listen to how the Book of Order explains Christian Education, AKA faith formation, in the church. It’s lengthy but necessary, so bear with me: 

“God calls the Church to continue the teaching ministry of Jesus Christ, guiding and nurturing one another through all the seasons and transitions of life. In particular, the church offers opportunities for education and formation as members enter the community of faith, discover Christian vocation, and assume responsibility in the world. The church’s primary standard and resource for Christian nurture is the Word of God in Scripture, bearing witness to Christ’s way of truth and life. 

The central occasion for Christian nurture is the Service for the Lord’s Day, where the Word is proclaimed and the Sacraments are celebrated. Beyond the process of Christian formation that takes place in public worship, the words and actions of the service can be a particularly fruitful source of study and reflection. Therefore all members should be encouraged to be present and participate in this assembly. Educational activities should not be scheduled so as to prevent or discourage participation in this service. 

The educational ministries of the church are rooted in the promises of Baptism, in which the congregation pledges responsibility for Christian nurture. The session is responsible for the development and supervision of the church’s educational programs, the instruction of ruling elders and deacons, and the discipleship of all members. The minister of the Word and Sacrament contributes to the nurture of the community through the ministries of Word and Sacrament, church school classes, the gift of prayer, and by example. Trained and certified Christian educators bring special skills and expertise in teaching to the church’s ministries of nurture and formation. The session has a responsibility to identify, encourage, and equip others who have gifts for Christian education. 

The session also has a responsibility to support parents and others who seek to nurture the faith of children. Church school gatherings offer opportunities for worship, including singing, praying, and hearing the Word. These gatherings may also include occasions for self-offering and service. However, worship in the church school is not a substitute for participation with the whole congregation in the Service for the Lord’s Day. 

The church provides other opportunities for Christian nurture, including: seminary instruction and continuing education; workshops on particular themes or topics; music programs and rehearsals; mission and program interpretation; meetings of committees, boards, and councils; and retreats, camps, and conferences.” 

What would it look like if we embraced the Good News of the Gospel for all people, without exception, through all things? 

Faith formation, worship, fellowship, mission, retreats, committee meetings, hallway conversations, and our care for one another – what if every moment here and outside of here was an opportunity to study scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life? 

We are moving in this direction. And I believe as we continue to do this, we will continue to spread the Word to the ends of the earth as we act as witnesses to Jesus’ Good News. If we embraced the study of scripture in all things, we will know the Word of God is indeed Good News, even when it challenges or frustrates. And the Word of God will be spread because we will gladly share it. We will recognize that it speaks to us no matter who we are or how others measure us, and we will want to share the same good news with others. And with guidance, we will help others recognize that the good news is also for them. 

How provocative. 

Thanks be to God. Amen. 

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