“Walking the Way”  (Return to Sermon Page)

April 6, 2008

Luke 24: 28-31                                                            

Acts 2: 14a; 36-47

          For these next several Sundays I want to talk about the path of discipleship.  If you read the newsletter carefully, you saw that this is one of a series titled: “Walking the Way”.  Probably most of my sermons are about discipleship.

Like those first disciples who struggled with how to continue Jesus’ work;

how to continue to be the people he called them to be;

how not to lose their way, but to hold fast to what they had been taught.

how to communicate the good news that they themselves had received,

witnessed and were called to share,

We too, 2008 disciples face all those same issues in a changing world.

The scriptures today remind us of their transition

from a people who were scared, hidden away, not sure whom to trust,

to confident preaching, having communion together, sharing everything:

the risk and the blessings, the work and responsibility,

and the growth of the movement.

And the witness to a very important experience affirmed over and over:

Jesus is known to them in the breaking of the bread;

in a time of community and hospitality;

                   in sharing his message with others.

Jesus’ forgiving, loving, guiding grace is demonstrated and experienced

through their life together. 

People being what they are, living and working together is also the location

of the greatest challenge to forgiveness, loving ways, enduring grace.

Some things have not changed in 2008 years of discipleship.

Jesus began his ministry with a group;

the group continued not only to build and to work together,

but to be the location of learning, passing on experience,

continuing to teach and experience the intersection of life and faith.

As this movement grew, the church was born.  What was the church needed for?

To be the place where disciples are made. 

God brought people together in community to form disciples.

Sometimes we forget that that is why we are a church and not a club.

Sometimes we forget that our giving is not dues, but a gift returned for God’s work.

Sometimes we forget that the work of forming disciples is life-long work.

Just because we come to a certain age doesn’t mean we have no more growth to do

          I am belaboring this point for 2 purposes: 

1)     we need to refocus on what Bishop R. Schnase in his book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: calls the core processes of the church. 

These are the reasons the church exists. 

If we don’t do them and do them well, the church will decline and die.

2)     There is a deeper purpose:  We need to see Jesus.

There is a deep thirsting among us for:

          A hospitality that goes deeper than, hello, how are you?  I’m fine.

There is a hunger in us for:

worship that connects us to God, and changes our minds,

That sends us out centered to face the week.

Our spirits search for learning that connects spiritual growth and

ancient and modern wisdom to our reality.

There is a need in us to have:

a safe place to pour out our generosity, a place to give ourselves to;

          a place that can channel our desire to make a difference in the world.

These are the core processes of the church;

if we aren’t about these then what are we here for?

If we aren’t about these then the world will find some one or somewhere else

that knows who it is and offers a pathway to belonging, meaning and service.

In the coming weeks, not every Sunday,

I will be bringing you more ideas about addressing these processes in our church.

But today---we come today, as disciples have done for millennia to greet our Lord.

          The Risen Christ is the core of our core; the reason for faith;

the One whom we serve; the One to whom we belong.

The Risen Christ reveals for us the next steps we must take in church or in life.

          The Risen Christ teaches us how to do and be and live.

The Risen Christ offers his very self to us and for us

that we might have life abundant.

As a congregation we face the future unafraid for our Lord guides and leads us.

As persons we wake up tomorrow confident that the One who has abided with us

          will abide with us yet, so we are not alone as we face our day or week.

We come to communion knowing that the Risen Lord will be revealed

in this moment, today, or in our future. 

Christ has promised it.