Acts 2:37-47
The staff, the Session and I are preparing for the arrival of our New Beginnings Assessor. Linda Loptisch will be with us on Wednesday, July 16th for most of the day. Her time with us will conclude with an all-church gathering in fellowship hall that evening which she will facilitate (more to come soon). In the midst of all the preparation and anticipation of starting our New Beginnings journey, I began to think about what I could do to prepare all of you for the New Beginning assessment on the Sunday’s leading up to July 16th and beyond. So I developed a short sermon series entitled, “The Buzzing Church: Thrivin’ and Kickin’” with the goal of preparing us in some, small way for the road that lies ahead.
One of the main reasons, if not the main reason, we are participating in the New Beginnings assessment is because we believe God wants to do something new in our midst. God wants to build up our community, build up our congregation, to be buzzing with ministry led and driven by the Spirit of God.
What does it mean to be a church buzzing with ministry? What process for discernment do we follow to get there?
I believe God desires for his body, the church, to be buzzing with joy, enthusiasm, and excitement as it shares the Good News with the whole world. But sometimes the church gets stuck in its ways doing things the way they’ve always done them before. The church must be reminded that God wants to do a new thing in the church, a new thing in the world, so he gives us the necessary tools of the trade, to be truth-tellers in the world, sharing our calling and purpose with others, demonstrating through word and actions that Christ is gain, everything else is loss. The church also must welcome God’s desire for it to be alive, boisterous, and courageous; always seeking God’s guidance and instruction to be the church reformed, always reforming.
How do you make something new out of something old? I looked around my house to see what I could find. I noticed shoe boxes in the kids rooms used to store some of their toys and other keepsakes. In the garage I use those small Gerber baby food jars to store nails and screws of all shapes and sizes. I went online and checked out the website pinterest.com and I discovered masterpieces where something new was made out of something old. I learned how to make a “to go” cup out of a mason jar. I saw how to construct a couch from some old wooden doors. I also discovered thirty-eight amazing things you can do with an empty Altoids tin box. There were bottle cap key chains, blue jean pot holders, beer and soda can lanterns: the list goes on and on.
The Apostle Peter has become something new out of something old since the morning of Pentecost. Because of the Holy Spirit, he is more confident in himself and in what he believes. He speaks with confidence and a boldness we’ve never heard from him before. He proclaims to the Israelites about Jesus as the Son of God and we crucified him many times over. Through Peter and the other apostles’, a new thing is springing forth; an offshoot is beginning to grow. There is a movement from traditional Hebrew worship to worship of Jesus in “house churches” based on communal sharing and fellowship. They held everything in common, using the collective wealth of the group to care for others. They sold their stuff and the money went to all according to ones needs.
Why do we love new born babies and academic graduations so much? We witness great potential there for amazing things to happen. The possibilities are endless. In verses 39, Peter says, “The promise is for you, for your children, and all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” (vv. 38-39)
How do we prepare for doing a new thing? To what should we focus our time and energy?
Luke lists four key practices that characterize the lives of the first Christians. These believers made these practices a matter of the highest priority “devoting themselves” fully to their practice.
1. Instruction in God’s Word – The twelve apostles had a significant role in the beginnings of the church. They passed on to these new Jewish believers a full account of Jesus’ life and teaching. Much of this is recorded in the four Gospels. They provided a new perspective on the Old Testament, explaining how Jesus was the fulfillment of many prophecies. Throughout the early history of the church, grounding new believers’ in the apostles’ teaching was a top priority. And we still do this today. We teach through worship, in church school classes for all ages, Vacation Bible School and other learning opportunities that present themselves throughout the year.
2. Fellowship – It was important to these early believers to spend as much time together as they could. These hours would have been spent discussing the apostles’ teaching as well as encouraging and challenging each other in their faith journeys. This is one of the great practices of the church and it is one way it sets the church apart from the rest of the world. Everyone is welcome to join with us. Our arms and hands are always spread wide and ready to embrace. The message we strive to convey is you are accepted, you are received, you are known, you belong.
3. Worship: the Breaking of the Bread – it refers both to the sharing of ordinary meals together and to remembering the significance of the death of the Messiah by celebrating what came to be known as, “the Lord’s Supper”. At this time, the Lord’s Supper was held in conjunction with a common meal in homes throughout the city. This remembrance would have been a time of quiet reflection, an occasion for expressing thanks to the risen Jesus and praising him for what he had accomplished. As a sacrament, the breaking of the bread continues to be a powerful witness to saving grace of Jesus Christ. We do so to remind us of who we are and to whom we belong. In life and in death, we belong to God. We participate in the feast Jesus prepared for his disciples so many millennia ago.
4. Prayer – As we do today, the first Christians spent much time before the Lord in prayer. They prayed privately, but they often prayed together in groups. They maintained the Jewish pattern of setting aside three times a day for focusing on prayer. Some continued to go to the temple and pray at the customary Jewish hours of prayer. Their prayers probably centered on blessing and praising God as well as asking God for guidance and for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel. Many others prayed together in their “house churches” as a community of believers. Prayer continues to be a central spiritual practice of our faith to this day. Along with the sacraments, prayer unites us with the saints of the church, with one another in our present age and carries forward into the future. Prayer has power when blessed by the Holy Spirit. Prayer doesn’t change God, it changes the one who prays. That’s the power of prayer.
Members of the buzzing church are committed to these four practices to build a new community; a community where its members love one another, share themselves and things with one another and demonstrate good will toward all people not just ones own group.
And so what happens to Peter and the Apostles gathered there?
Their buzzing church shares the Good News with all were ready and willing to hear. When we are firing on all four cylinders: study, fellowship, worship and prayer, the result is an enthusiasm and joy that spreads like a wildfire. The Bible says, “Every day the Lord added to their number.” In fact, it was around 3000 who professed belief in Jesus Christ. The early church was not a stagnant church, but a growing, vibrant fellowship of believers. They were on fire for the Lord. They weren’t embarrassed to share their faith. They didn’t see their faith as a private affair. They couldn’t help themselves. They were so joyful and excited that all they could do was share what God had done for them. Their lives and their church were buzzing with excitement and enthusiasm because through study, fellowship, worship and prayer, they had come to love one another and the Lord.
Let us not lose our joy. Let us not lose our hope. It’s easy to do so. Let us study together with clear minds and open hearts. Let us fellowship together sharing the love of Christ with one another and the world around us. Let us worship together with a renewed vigor, anticipation and joy so that we the body of Christ may be strengthened and enhanced buzzing with excitement and life. And let us pray together with attentive ears and a compassionate heart so we may witness to the power of God in Christ in our lives.
Let the early church of our text today serve as a model for our church today. I pray that we will be buzzing with joy and love as we study, fellowship, worship and pray together. Amen.
Monday, June 23, 2014
Monday, June 9, 2014
Why Are We Here?
Acts 2:1-21
One Sunday morning nine-year-old Joshua decided to skip church and go for a long walk. His mother frequently told him that if he skipped church, he would miss a chance to see Jesus. But Joshua had been going to church his whole life and had never seen Jesus there before, so he didn’t think he’d be missing much. Besides, his church was an old, small, run-down building—just a little too confining for his desire to run and play.
Joshua’s walk took him across the railroad tracks in town for the first time in his life. He noticed that the houses on the other side of the tracks were much bigger and much nicer than any in the poor neighborhood where he lived.
A few blocks later Joshua found himself in front of the biggest, most beautiful church he had ever seen. The steeple alone appeared as tall as a mountain. As he got closer, the big church bells stopped ringing and the last people filed in from the parking lot. They all had nice cars and wore nice clothes. He didn’t see any people from his side of the tracks going to this church.
“This must be the church where Jesus goes,” Joshua told himself. “It’s so big and nice.” As he walked closer, he could hear the music coming from inside. He remembered hearing his mother talk about how angels sing to Jesus in heaven. “Wow!” said Joshua as he listened to the choir. “I’ll bet those are angels singing to Jesus!”
He walked up the steps, through the big front doors, and into the spacious narthex. He continued through another set of doors and entered the sanctuary. It was the biggest room he had ever seen. “This must be where Jesus is!” Joshua whispered to himself.
He noticed an empty seat a few rows from the back, so he sat down to scan the crowd, so he could find Jesus. The choir stopped singing and a large man in a black suit tapped Joshua on the shoulder. The man leaned down and asked Joshua if he could speak with him outside.
In the lobby, the man asked, “Son, where do you live?”
Joshua answered, “Down the street and across the railroad tracks.”
“And where are your parents?” the man asked.
“They’re probably at church right now,” Joshua replied.
“Well, son, don’t you think it would be better for you to go to your parents’ church today?”
“But I saw this church, and I knew Jesus was here,” Joshua said. “So I came to see him!”
“Well, son, I think it would be best if you were to run along home and go see Jesus in your own church in your own neighborhood,” the man said. “You really can’t stay here.”
Realizing what the man was trying to do, Joshua got upset. “You just don’t want me to see Jesus!” he yelled as he turned and ran out the big doors leading to the street.
Sobbing as he returned home, Joshua shouted, “God, it isn’t fair! All I wanted to do was see Jesus, and they wouldn’t let me in!”
Joshua shuffled along, staring at the sidewalk through his tears. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, wiped his eyes, and stared in amazement.
It was Jesus!
The Lord smiled at Joshua, gave him a big hug, and said, “Don’t be too upset, my son. They wouldn’t let me in there either.”
It has been said that 11:00 to 12:00 every Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week. In John 17, Jesus prayed that his church would be “one,” but we all know that it’s anything but. Few things have hurt the spread of the gospel more than Christians’ lack of unity.
It’s time for Christians to think in terms of "We" rather than "I." The Holy Spirit is not just for a few individuals or certain groups, but for everyone. The Spirit shows no partiality. The most astounding miracle found in the New Testament is the emergence of the solid foundations of the Christian church out of a scattered, disheartened, confused, and weak collection of a few hesitant believers. How did this happen? What enabled this tattered remnant to weave itself into the "seamless robe of Christ"? Their secret was no secret. Beginning with the event of Pentecost the early Christian believers devoted themselves wholeheartedly to building a distinctive community of faith, unique to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost is the miraculous explosion of new life. It is a foundational story written to explain the present day in light of the past. It’s a story about us and how it became possible for us to hear of and embrace the new life given by the Holy Spirit. It enables us to create a new community; to start a new family, where everyone is included and nobody is excluded; one that is based on love, not hate; peacefulness, not violence; forgiveness, not scapegoating.
In Acts the post-resurrection, post-ascension band of believers is shown trying to build this new community; to discern the glue that will establish, hold and maintain their identity. Yet until the event of Pentecost the disciples were incapable of carrying this out. They were the cast-out ones, the community's scapegoats, and the violence of Jesus' crucifixion had effectively served to rally their persecutors against them.
At Pentecost the inclusive, rather than exclusive nature of Christian community was revealed and we are called to do the same today. Reversing the Tower of Babel narrative, the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost makes communication between people of all languages once again possible giving us the means to practice what it means to be a part of the new inclusive community Jesus calls us to create with the Holy Spirit. And judging from Peter's new posture of poise and power before the crowd, the gift of the Spirit also gave the disciples the ability to stand together in peace in spite of their violent ostracism from the rest of the old community.
And while we create and build a new community and demonstrate to the world what this new community is like, we must go and extend the community to all peoples and all places. “The single twig,” the proverb says, “breaks more easily than the bundle.” To do so is to invite others we know to join us and become a part of our community. We are better off, both stronger and healthier when we stand together, rather than stand apart. We are better off when we worship together. We are better off when we serve together. We are better off when we proclaim the good news together.
From the time of Pentecost on, the story of the Church is the story of its struggle to maintain this unique nature of "kingdom" community. In Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32 ff. Luke articulates one method the early Christian communities used to break the traditional chain of competitive rivalries whose presence disrupts and divides people. Here in Acts community is nurtured and strengthened by a commitment to pooled resources. Eliminating one of the most divisive, exclusive elements in society, these Christians illustrate the new operative rules of economic association. No scapegoats separate the haves from the have nots. The entire group is dependent upon the contributions of each individual member. The story of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5 demonstrates how utterly Christians may "fall apart" when they fail to honor their promise to stand together.
In Acts the theme of inclusiveness is replayed again and again. The inclusive experience at Pentecost opened the ears of all diaspora Judaism, inviting them to listen to the Christian witness in their own tongues. In Acts 10 the door is opened still wider when the Gentile Cornelius is invited to join the community of faithful. In chapter 15 a rule that potentially could exclude others is abandoned and all Gentiles, even the uncircumcised, are welcomed into the bonds of community.
This new type of community endured beyond the first generation of Christians. Paul found himself reminding the church at Corinth that its very foundation was Christ. With Christ as the bedrock of the community there is no room for any violent or exclusionary tests for communal membership. When the gift of the Spirit itself threatens to become a cause for rivalry, Paul lectures the Corinthians, reasserting that the very nature of the Holy Spirit is to unify, not to divide. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 ff. Paul uses the analogy of the body to ridicule the existence of this bickering over "gifts" so that the Christian community could survive and thrive as one.
As Christian communities continue to struggle to remain faithful to the image of community as ordained by Jesus and practiced with varying degrees of success by the early church, there is one more model we may turn to for guidance. So obvious that it may be overlooked, the uniquely Christian notion of a triune God, the doctrine of the Trinity itself, serves as an illustration of how we must remain united in community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit stand together in a unified relationship, untainted by any struggles for superiority. The power and comfort we find in a Godhead which is "three in one" must be reflected in our church communities where we are many united as one in Christ Jesus.
One Sunday morning nine-year-old Joshua decided to skip church and go for a long walk. His mother frequently told him that if he skipped church, he would miss a chance to see Jesus. But Joshua had been going to church his whole life and had never seen Jesus there before, so he didn’t think he’d be missing much. Besides, his church was an old, small, run-down building—just a little too confining for his desire to run and play.
Joshua’s walk took him across the railroad tracks in town for the first time in his life. He noticed that the houses on the other side of the tracks were much bigger and much nicer than any in the poor neighborhood where he lived.
A few blocks later Joshua found himself in front of the biggest, most beautiful church he had ever seen. The steeple alone appeared as tall as a mountain. As he got closer, the big church bells stopped ringing and the last people filed in from the parking lot. They all had nice cars and wore nice clothes. He didn’t see any people from his side of the tracks going to this church.
“This must be the church where Jesus goes,” Joshua told himself. “It’s so big and nice.” As he walked closer, he could hear the music coming from inside. He remembered hearing his mother talk about how angels sing to Jesus in heaven. “Wow!” said Joshua as he listened to the choir. “I’ll bet those are angels singing to Jesus!”
He walked up the steps, through the big front doors, and into the spacious narthex. He continued through another set of doors and entered the sanctuary. It was the biggest room he had ever seen. “This must be where Jesus is!” Joshua whispered to himself.
He noticed an empty seat a few rows from the back, so he sat down to scan the crowd, so he could find Jesus. The choir stopped singing and a large man in a black suit tapped Joshua on the shoulder. The man leaned down and asked Joshua if he could speak with him outside.
In the lobby, the man asked, “Son, where do you live?”
Joshua answered, “Down the street and across the railroad tracks.”
“And where are your parents?” the man asked.
“They’re probably at church right now,” Joshua replied.
“Well, son, don’t you think it would be better for you to go to your parents’ church today?”
“But I saw this church, and I knew Jesus was here,” Joshua said. “So I came to see him!”
“Well, son, I think it would be best if you were to run along home and go see Jesus in your own church in your own neighborhood,” the man said. “You really can’t stay here.”
Realizing what the man was trying to do, Joshua got upset. “You just don’t want me to see Jesus!” he yelled as he turned and ran out the big doors leading to the street.
Sobbing as he returned home, Joshua shouted, “God, it isn’t fair! All I wanted to do was see Jesus, and they wouldn’t let me in!”
Joshua shuffled along, staring at the sidewalk through his tears. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him and felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around, wiped his eyes, and stared in amazement.
It was Jesus!
The Lord smiled at Joshua, gave him a big hug, and said, “Don’t be too upset, my son. They wouldn’t let me in there either.”
It has been said that 11:00 to 12:00 every Sunday morning is the most segregated hour of the week. In John 17, Jesus prayed that his church would be “one,” but we all know that it’s anything but. Few things have hurt the spread of the gospel more than Christians’ lack of unity.
It’s time for Christians to think in terms of "We" rather than "I." The Holy Spirit is not just for a few individuals or certain groups, but for everyone. The Spirit shows no partiality. The most astounding miracle found in the New Testament is the emergence of the solid foundations of the Christian church out of a scattered, disheartened, confused, and weak collection of a few hesitant believers. How did this happen? What enabled this tattered remnant to weave itself into the "seamless robe of Christ"? Their secret was no secret. Beginning with the event of Pentecost the early Christian believers devoted themselves wholeheartedly to building a distinctive community of faith, unique to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost is the miraculous explosion of new life. It is a foundational story written to explain the present day in light of the past. It’s a story about us and how it became possible for us to hear of and embrace the new life given by the Holy Spirit. It enables us to create a new community; to start a new family, where everyone is included and nobody is excluded; one that is based on love, not hate; peacefulness, not violence; forgiveness, not scapegoating.
In Acts the post-resurrection, post-ascension band of believers is shown trying to build this new community; to discern the glue that will establish, hold and maintain their identity. Yet until the event of Pentecost the disciples were incapable of carrying this out. They were the cast-out ones, the community's scapegoats, and the violence of Jesus' crucifixion had effectively served to rally their persecutors against them.
At Pentecost the inclusive, rather than exclusive nature of Christian community was revealed and we are called to do the same today. Reversing the Tower of Babel narrative, the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost makes communication between people of all languages once again possible giving us the means to practice what it means to be a part of the new inclusive community Jesus calls us to create with the Holy Spirit. And judging from Peter's new posture of poise and power before the crowd, the gift of the Spirit also gave the disciples the ability to stand together in peace in spite of their violent ostracism from the rest of the old community.
And while we create and build a new community and demonstrate to the world what this new community is like, we must go and extend the community to all peoples and all places. “The single twig,” the proverb says, “breaks more easily than the bundle.” To do so is to invite others we know to join us and become a part of our community. We are better off, both stronger and healthier when we stand together, rather than stand apart. We are better off when we worship together. We are better off when we serve together. We are better off when we proclaim the good news together.
From the time of Pentecost on, the story of the Church is the story of its struggle to maintain this unique nature of "kingdom" community. In Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32 ff. Luke articulates one method the early Christian communities used to break the traditional chain of competitive rivalries whose presence disrupts and divides people. Here in Acts community is nurtured and strengthened by a commitment to pooled resources. Eliminating one of the most divisive, exclusive elements in society, these Christians illustrate the new operative rules of economic association. No scapegoats separate the haves from the have nots. The entire group is dependent upon the contributions of each individual member. The story of Ananias and Saphira in Acts 5 demonstrates how utterly Christians may "fall apart" when they fail to honor their promise to stand together.
In Acts the theme of inclusiveness is replayed again and again. The inclusive experience at Pentecost opened the ears of all diaspora Judaism, inviting them to listen to the Christian witness in their own tongues. In Acts 10 the door is opened still wider when the Gentile Cornelius is invited to join the community of faithful. In chapter 15 a rule that potentially could exclude others is abandoned and all Gentiles, even the uncircumcised, are welcomed into the bonds of community.
This new type of community endured beyond the first generation of Christians. Paul found himself reminding the church at Corinth that its very foundation was Christ. With Christ as the bedrock of the community there is no room for any violent or exclusionary tests for communal membership. When the gift of the Spirit itself threatens to become a cause for rivalry, Paul lectures the Corinthians, reasserting that the very nature of the Holy Spirit is to unify, not to divide. In 1 Corinthians 12:12 ff. Paul uses the analogy of the body to ridicule the existence of this bickering over "gifts" so that the Christian community could survive and thrive as one.
As Christian communities continue to struggle to remain faithful to the image of community as ordained by Jesus and practiced with varying degrees of success by the early church, there is one more model we may turn to for guidance. So obvious that it may be overlooked, the uniquely Christian notion of a triune God, the doctrine of the Trinity itself, serves as an illustration of how we must remain united in community. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit stand together in a unified relationship, untainted by any struggles for superiority. The power and comfort we find in a Godhead which is "three in one" must be reflected in our church communities where we are many united as one in Christ Jesus.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Back to Reality
Acts 1:6-14
Back in the day when I was a youth pastor, I led youth groups each year on summer trip to Montreat or on a short term mission trips to places in the United States. One year we went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We were there with the Pittsburgh Project helping repair the homes of vulnerable homeowners throughout the city. At the end of each day, we had some free time. One particular afternoon a group of the guys and I wandered over to the park located across the street from where we stayed to play some basketball. There were some young guys from the neighborhood already playing, so we joined in the action. At the time, we were experiencing a major heat wave with afternoon temperatures getting above 90 degrees!
So there I am, standing on the basketball court already sweating from the extreme heat and a long day of work, but nevertheless ready to play. As play began, I quickly realized that I was not as young and in shape as I thought I was; nor as fast, or as strong. I found myself four steps behind everybody struggling to keep up. All the running back and forth was exhausting. My chest was pounding, I couldn’t catch my breath. By the time the game was over, I had had enough. I was through. Completely kaput.
It was a reality check! I overestimated my ability to play basketball with younger guys who were stronger and faster than me. Once upon a time I could keep up and play well, once upon a time I WAS one of those guys, but those good old days were long gone. I wasn’t that young man anymore. But I was a new man; not old, just older. I had to adjust my attitude and expectations to fit my new reality.
I wish I could go back to those days when I could play ball for hours at a time and feel great afterwards. Those were good times, joyful times. I wish I could stay on the mountain top, but I can’t. Time marches on. I had to come back to the valley of reality.
As Jesus was ascending into the cloud in heaven, the disciples gazed upon him from below experiencing his final moments on earth. They had experienced Jesus throughout the past few weeks as the resurrected Jesus. Jesus came back to show his disciples and others the resurrection was real just as he had promised. But Jesus can’t stay on earth forever. This time together will end. The days when Jesus walked and talked with the disciples and taught them about the Kingdom of God are complete. Those days are in the past. It’s back to reality, a new reality without the resurrected Christ in their midst; a new reality rising like the morning sun on a new day.
Our passage this morning begins with Luke’s account of the ascension of Christ and concludes with the immediate response of the disciples. Through Christ’s resurrection he appears over and over again to his disciples. But that time is over. The ascension marks a fresh break with the past. So what now? What does the future hold? This is the motivation behind their question to Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” The restoration of the kingdom of Israel refers to the time to come when the Israelites would throw off the yoke of their oppressors and the throne of David would be restored as taught by the prophets of old. They want to know what’s next.
Jesus’ reply is clear, especially in regards to any political expectations the disciples may have. When Jesus speaks of the personal empowerment of the disciples he does so in a manner that does not satisfy their curiosity completely. The emphasis here is on the coming presence of the Spirit as the reality of the new age to come. The Spirit is the reality to come that will transform them into new creations. And when the Spirit comes and makes a home in the disciples, nothing will ever be the same again.
The Holy Spirit can do amazing stuff, if we stay out of its way and surrender ourselves to its leading; it will take us back to reality, to what is real and life-giving. Reality check: nobody is here in the sanctuary (or chapel) today by accident. I believe the Spirit has been at work in each one of our lives and has brought each one of us to this time and place for reasons both known and yet to be discovered. It’s no accident you are here today. The Spirit of God is active in your life and leads you to right where we’re supposed to be. We don’t understand it all. We don’t know exactly what will come next. It was the same for the disciples. They are not told exactly when this will happen and the effect is to hold them and we the reader in suspension, a suspension that will not be resolved until later. Stay tuned.
The disciples are not told everything, but they are not left completely in the dark. Jesus gives them an assignment: he instructs them to be witnesses. To be a witness was to be one who, because of experience and observation, was in a unique position to tell the truth in some very important matter or event. It was part of the Hebrew legal tradition as it is part of our legal system today. Certain obligations were placed on witnesses, as well as sanctions in the event they failed their obligations (Deut. 19:15-21). The disciples’ participation in the coming new age was to voice the truth of the most significant event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We will hear about it very soon when we hear Peter preach to the Pentecost assembly.
This is the final act of the earthly Jesus, the ultimate act that began long before the Annunciation to Elizabeth and then Mary. The disciples watch, lost in the moment, wondering about the significance of it all. “Two men in white robes” bring them back to reality, jarring them out of their gaze and wonderment promising that the Jesus who has left them in such an amazing way will return in a similar fashion.
The second part of the text describes what the disciples did after the awesome sight they just witnessed. They come back down from that mountain top experience to the valley of reality where they retreat and reflect on everything that has taken place. The disciples return to Jerusalem and enter into a season of prayer with other followers of Jesus, including his family. What I see happening here is a time of personal renewal before the wonderfully shocking events that will rock their world in the miracle of Pentecost. They haven’t begun to witness as Christ commanded, but they are keeping their faith in Christ and with one another “constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (1:14).
As we remember today God’s awesome wonders in Jesus, specifically his resurrection and ascension, we as the people of God are to keep our eye on the future, for just ahead of us we are confronted with the same challenge of bearing the truth of what God has done in the world. We are instructed to be witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. We are witnesses to the continued presence of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of our community. We stand here on the corner of Main and Lawrence in Kilgore, Texas to witness to the resurrection of Christ and bear witness to the transforming power of this event on our own lives and life of our community. We are an outpost of the kingdom of God on earth. This is what we are called to do and who we are called to be.
We witness to a world that responds to this good news sometimes with joy, other times anger, but rarely responds in indifference. Where will the church find the strength to fulfill its calling?
The reality we face today is a new beginning taking shape on the horizon, one that is not far off. A new beginning that will call for the best of our strengths and skills; that will require the courage of our convictions; and the hope and faith of those who gifted us with this amazing worship space on whose shoulders we stand today. We will receive power when the Spirit comes upon us. But for now, let us pause, in prayer, share this meal together and gather our strength for the awesome days soon to come.
“Breathe on us, breath of God. Fill us with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.”[1] God rests, but God is never out of breath. Amen.
Back in the day when I was a youth pastor, I led youth groups each year on summer trip to Montreat or on a short term mission trips to places in the United States. One year we went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We were there with the Pittsburgh Project helping repair the homes of vulnerable homeowners throughout the city. At the end of each day, we had some free time. One particular afternoon a group of the guys and I wandered over to the park located across the street from where we stayed to play some basketball. There were some young guys from the neighborhood already playing, so we joined in the action. At the time, we were experiencing a major heat wave with afternoon temperatures getting above 90 degrees!
So there I am, standing on the basketball court already sweating from the extreme heat and a long day of work, but nevertheless ready to play. As play began, I quickly realized that I was not as young and in shape as I thought I was; nor as fast, or as strong. I found myself four steps behind everybody struggling to keep up. All the running back and forth was exhausting. My chest was pounding, I couldn’t catch my breath. By the time the game was over, I had had enough. I was through. Completely kaput.
It was a reality check! I overestimated my ability to play basketball with younger guys who were stronger and faster than me. Once upon a time I could keep up and play well, once upon a time I WAS one of those guys, but those good old days were long gone. I wasn’t that young man anymore. But I was a new man; not old, just older. I had to adjust my attitude and expectations to fit my new reality.
I wish I could go back to those days when I could play ball for hours at a time and feel great afterwards. Those were good times, joyful times. I wish I could stay on the mountain top, but I can’t. Time marches on. I had to come back to the valley of reality.
As Jesus was ascending into the cloud in heaven, the disciples gazed upon him from below experiencing his final moments on earth. They had experienced Jesus throughout the past few weeks as the resurrected Jesus. Jesus came back to show his disciples and others the resurrection was real just as he had promised. But Jesus can’t stay on earth forever. This time together will end. The days when Jesus walked and talked with the disciples and taught them about the Kingdom of God are complete. Those days are in the past. It’s back to reality, a new reality without the resurrected Christ in their midst; a new reality rising like the morning sun on a new day.
Our passage this morning begins with Luke’s account of the ascension of Christ and concludes with the immediate response of the disciples. Through Christ’s resurrection he appears over and over again to his disciples. But that time is over. The ascension marks a fresh break with the past. So what now? What does the future hold? This is the motivation behind their question to Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” The restoration of the kingdom of Israel refers to the time to come when the Israelites would throw off the yoke of their oppressors and the throne of David would be restored as taught by the prophets of old. They want to know what’s next.
Jesus’ reply is clear, especially in regards to any political expectations the disciples may have. When Jesus speaks of the personal empowerment of the disciples he does so in a manner that does not satisfy their curiosity completely. The emphasis here is on the coming presence of the Spirit as the reality of the new age to come. The Spirit is the reality to come that will transform them into new creations. And when the Spirit comes and makes a home in the disciples, nothing will ever be the same again.
The Holy Spirit can do amazing stuff, if we stay out of its way and surrender ourselves to its leading; it will take us back to reality, to what is real and life-giving. Reality check: nobody is here in the sanctuary (or chapel) today by accident. I believe the Spirit has been at work in each one of our lives and has brought each one of us to this time and place for reasons both known and yet to be discovered. It’s no accident you are here today. The Spirit of God is active in your life and leads you to right where we’re supposed to be. We don’t understand it all. We don’t know exactly what will come next. It was the same for the disciples. They are not told exactly when this will happen and the effect is to hold them and we the reader in suspension, a suspension that will not be resolved until later. Stay tuned.
The disciples are not told everything, but they are not left completely in the dark. Jesus gives them an assignment: he instructs them to be witnesses. To be a witness was to be one who, because of experience and observation, was in a unique position to tell the truth in some very important matter or event. It was part of the Hebrew legal tradition as it is part of our legal system today. Certain obligations were placed on witnesses, as well as sanctions in the event they failed their obligations (Deut. 19:15-21). The disciples’ participation in the coming new age was to voice the truth of the most significant event in human history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We will hear about it very soon when we hear Peter preach to the Pentecost assembly.
This is the final act of the earthly Jesus, the ultimate act that began long before the Annunciation to Elizabeth and then Mary. The disciples watch, lost in the moment, wondering about the significance of it all. “Two men in white robes” bring them back to reality, jarring them out of their gaze and wonderment promising that the Jesus who has left them in such an amazing way will return in a similar fashion.
The second part of the text describes what the disciples did after the awesome sight they just witnessed. They come back down from that mountain top experience to the valley of reality where they retreat and reflect on everything that has taken place. The disciples return to Jerusalem and enter into a season of prayer with other followers of Jesus, including his family. What I see happening here is a time of personal renewal before the wonderfully shocking events that will rock their world in the miracle of Pentecost. They haven’t begun to witness as Christ commanded, but they are keeping their faith in Christ and with one another “constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (1:14).
As we remember today God’s awesome wonders in Jesus, specifically his resurrection and ascension, we as the people of God are to keep our eye on the future, for just ahead of us we are confronted with the same challenge of bearing the truth of what God has done in the world. We are instructed to be witnesses of the resurrection of Christ. We are witnesses to the continued presence of God through the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the life of our community. We stand here on the corner of Main and Lawrence in Kilgore, Texas to witness to the resurrection of Christ and bear witness to the transforming power of this event on our own lives and life of our community. We are an outpost of the kingdom of God on earth. This is what we are called to do and who we are called to be.
We witness to a world that responds to this good news sometimes with joy, other times anger, but rarely responds in indifference. Where will the church find the strength to fulfill its calling?
The reality we face today is a new beginning taking shape on the horizon, one that is not far off. A new beginning that will call for the best of our strengths and skills; that will require the courage of our convictions; and the hope and faith of those who gifted us with this amazing worship space on whose shoulders we stand today. We will receive power when the Spirit comes upon us. But for now, let us pause, in prayer, share this meal together and gather our strength for the awesome days soon to come.
“Breathe on us, breath of God. Fill us with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.”[1] God rests, but God is never out of breath. Amen.
[1] Breathe on Me, Breath of God. Written by
Edwin Hatch, 1886, arrangement by Robert Jackson, 1894. The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press,
1990) hymn #316.
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