Thursday, February 9, 2012

All to All - Loving God

Kelsey Harmon
5th After the Epiphany, Year B
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Emmanuel, Houston
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

1 Corinthians 9:16-23
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.
For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

    I have never given a sermon before, so bear with me, and I hope you all enjoy it. I am basing my sermon after a reading from first Corinthians, in which Paul is writing a letter to the church he created in Corinth.
Paul was told by God to go out and spread the gospel, and Paul had no problem in doing so. I believe he felt honored to do as God told him. Paul is now an apostle, who is writing a letter to his church to instruct them on how he was successful in creating the church there, partly because they’re having concerns of whether he is an apostle or not.      Paul doesn’t ask for a reward after preaching the gospel. Which, to me at first didn’t sound so surprising, I mean why would he? but that’s what  made people question Paul’s actually being an apostle. Preaching and not to getting a reward, people thought that was suspicious. But he was an apostle, because God came to him and sent him to share and spread the gospel. I think rather than a physical, monetary reward, Paul felt incredible inside with self-assurance.  He had a good feeling inside for doing as God told him.
God will not love us any more than anyone else if we proclaim the gospel, but he will not neglect us either.  Being a Christian, a follower of God, It’s not a pyramid where we’re trying to get to the top and then become God’s favorite.  There’s no game of favorites with God. Following God consists of what we think of ourselves and how we feel inside. Sucking up to a teacher may get a student a good grade, but God is not that teacher.  He is a teacher, but not that teacher. The reward Paul receives is knowing he did the right thing by obeying God. 
We do things our family or friends ask of us because we love our family.  I care what they think of me, I don’t want to disappoint them, for their sake.  God cares for us. So I think of how Paul responds to God’s request as how we relate to our families, it’s similar, we and Paul do as God would do asks us to do because it is the right thing. 
The other thing Paul said in his letter is that he became all things to all people.  I like to think of it as not just being a part of one clique at school, but all cliques, thus, making the barriers not in existence. Numerous people are friendly towards everyone. Therefore, they are liked by most, similar to Paul. Paul didn’t become like a Jew to make fun of the Jewish culture, not to be hypocritical, but rather to embrace other people and show his respect to them. He wasn’t disguising himself by surrounding himself with so many different kinds of people.
If my friends like country music, I’ll listen to it and like it if I wish to do so. I won’t pretend to like it.  A high school student who is all to all (traverses cliques) might do so to have more friends, to be on friendly terms with more people, to have more unity among the people of the school.
Paul too, changed how he was with different people. Paul was gifted with the fact that he was open-minded enough to approach so many different kinds of people.  Paul shared the Gospel’s blessings.  He thought he’d be closer to the people of God by sharing the Gospel.  He’d be a happier person and so share more in the blessings of the Gospel.  He’s not doing it for the money or for the attention. He’s doing it for God and the Gospel. 
Paul asked for no reward because he didn’t feel like it’d be the right thing to do. Paul lived be two rules…LOVE God and LOVE your neighbor. and that’s why he went out to share the gospel with all his neighbors. I am not saying we must all go out and force God’s word onto everyone we encounter with bullhorns in our hands, but just to love God and our neighbors. 
Knowing God, the Gospel, God’s love and redemption of the world, and coming into relationship with God through the gospel was salvation for Paul.  That was Paul’s reward.  That’s all he wanted. That’s why he was all to all, to help bring the gospel to people in order to bring them to God.  Amen.







Monday, February 6, 2012

Sabbath - Drawing Near to God

Brad Sullivan
5th After the Epiphany, Year B
Sunday, February 5th, 2012
Emmanuel, Houston
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39     

    Did you notice how little healing Jesus did on the sabbath?  I realize there was a bit of controversy through Jesus’ ministry about his healing on the sabbath, but at least on this particular sabbath, he only healed two people.  There was the man in the synagogue we heard about last week who had the unclean spirit, and Jesus healed him.  Then, today, there was Simon’s mother-in-law.  Jesus didn’t heal anyone else until after sundown, until after the sabbath was over. 
            What was he doing the rest of the sabbath?  We know from last week that he taught in the synagogue, and from today, we know he went home with Simon and Andrew.  Presumably, he spent the rest of the time resting, keeping God’s law and observing the Sabbath. 
            The point I’m making is, Jesus would break the Sabbath if there was a need right there in front of him.  He’d heal on the Sabbath, but he didn’t go out looking to do so.  His Sabbath goal was Sabbath rest to honor God.  Drawing near to God was primary for Jesus, in his own life and in his teaching.
            Teaching this message of drawing near to God was Jesus’ primary ministry.  The morning after Jesus healed many in Capernaum, hid disciples wanted him to heal others, but Jesus said, “"Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do."  Jesus came out to proclaim the message, "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news," which we heard earlier in Mark’s gospel. (Mark 1:15)
            In last week’s lesson, the people were astounded at Jesus’ teaching...even casting out the demon they called a new teaching, with authority.  Jesus’ message, “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news,” was Jesus’ main focus.  He healed as well, out of love, but he didn’t let that get him side tracked, away from proclaiming the message.  He didn’t let the fame and adoration of the people stop him from proclaiming his message.  “Draw near to God,” Jesus said.  Not, “love me,” in an egocentric, cult of personality kind of way. 
            Draw near to God was also how Jesus lived.  First thing in the morning, after teaching and doing all these healings in Capernaum, Jesus went off by himself to have some time alone with God.  More important than being healed, more important than fame or glory, at least in Jesus’ mind, is drawing near to God. 
            As we heard in Isaiah, fame and power and glory are nothing.  “[God] brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.  Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.”  In other words, the great and powerful are still just people, and they will grow old weary and die, just like everyone else.  “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)
            “Even youths will faint and be weary...” Sorry to bring that up on youth service Sunday, but, as Isaiah points out, “Even youths will faint and be weary and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength.” 
            I was at a church conference some years back and heard tell of a pastor who never took a day off.  He worked 7 days a week, every week.  When asked about this, he said, “Satan doesn’t take a day off, so neither will I.”  Really, so you want Satan to be the model for you life?  Jesus took a day off.  Heck, even God took a day off. 
            So, following God’s command, God’s way of life, Jesus knew he needed time to reconnect to God.  Jesus knew he needed Sabbath rest.  Jesus knew that being with God was the deepest desire of his heart.  Jesus longed for God.  He hungered and thirsted for God.  This was not just because Jesus was God.  Jesus longed for God because he was human.
            “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4)  “For God alone my soul in silence waits; truly my hope is in him.” (Psalm 62:6)  Jesus knew and lived and taught the truth of these words.  The truth of these words took primacy even to his healings and miracles.  The healings and miracles showed his power and love, and they may wow us, but his message was primary. 
            Repent and draw near to God, for the kingdom of God has come near.  How near?  The kingdom of God is among us and within us.  All we must do is turn around, over and over again, and draw near to God.  Slow down.  Stop.  Take Sabbath time and draw near to God.  First thing in the morning.  Last thing in the evening.  Throughout the day.  Pray.  Rest.  Renew your strength.  That’s Jesus’ primary message.  Find your true self as you reconnect to God, and then live out the life you have found.  Amen.