Teacher and Student / Based on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 / Delivered on October 20, 2019 to UMC Hudson

Teacher and Student / Based on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 / Delivered on October 20, 2019 to UMC Hudson

Hymns: Lord Speak to Me That I May Speak, Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet, We Are Called

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

14 Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. 15 Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved. 16 Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. 17 The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

4 When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you 2 to preach God’s message. Do it willingly, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient. 3 The time is coming when people won’t listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. 4 They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories. 5 But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard to tell the good news and to do your job well.

Children’s Message:

Have you ever played Hide-and-Seek?  Can you tell me what some of the instructions are for how to play the game? Closing your eyes without peaking, counting to a certain number, calling out something like “ready or not here I come” are examples.  When we’re playing games which do you think is more important – winning, or having fun together?  I would hope having fun together is the most important!  Cheating by peaking or not counting the full amount might let you win but it would make the game a lot less fun for everyone.  Some games are easy, and some are harder.  I know how to play chess; sort of.  I know how each of the pieces move and I know the goal is to trap the king piece so it can’t move without being taken.  But I’m a very bad chess player because there are more little things that take place beyond those simple instructions.  If I wanted to get better, I’d need to have someone that was a good chess player teach me some of these details and practice with me until I got better.  Here’s a Bible.  One song I like says the letters of the word Bible stand for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”.  The main message I think is that God loves us, and we are instructed to love God back and love everyone else too, because God first loved us.  It is more complicated than that once you start living your life and it is important to have someone that has studied the Bible help you understand.  That can be a person like Reverend Dawn or Deacon Susan, or a Sunday School teacher, or maybe an older family member that has studied the Bible.  Reading it yourself is important too, and you can help each other understand better by talking about it together.  Living together happily is easier when we learn these special instructions.

Main Message:

The passage from 2 Timothy is my main scripture but I’m pulling in a few more.  I’m also pulling in some Methodist specific tradition; the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. 

The passage in 2 Timothy is meant to encourage Timothy as a teacher.  It starts with pointing out the subject Timothy is to teach then moves into how to be a good teacher and finally gives an example of poor students.  I’m going to touch on each of those topics and throw in a tutorial on Bible study in the end.

Timothy’s focus for teaching is scripture and what he has learned from other leaders in the faith. 

3:14 Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things. 15 Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved.

His teaching is based on a mix of scripture, lessons from mentors, and his own experience since he’s been a good Jew since childhood so has some wisdom himself.  That combination made me think of John Wesley’s Quadrilateral. 

Picture in your mind a large circle.  Label that large circle “Scripture”.  Inside that circle imagine three circles interconnected with each other.  Label them “Tradition”, “Experience”, and “Reason”.  Scripture is the bedrock.  The other three are how to wrestle with the meaning and application of scripture.

Timothy had mentors as well as his Jewish traditions.  Going back to the first chapter we see family listed.

2 Timothy 1:5 I also remember the genuine faith of your mother Eunice. Your grandmother Lois had the same sort of faith, and I am sure that you have it as well.

My study Bible says this is the final letter Paul wrote before he was executed.  He would have been one of Timothy’s major influences, his first Christian pastor.

Personal experience is a strong proof.  Paul often recounted his experience of meeting Christ on the way to Damascus as his turning point.  Methodism was founded because of a personal experience of John Wesley.  We celebrate his personal experience within the church on Aldersgate Day.  In Wesley's words: ' while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.'

When I think of the third aspect, Reason, I think that is the point when the Holy Spirit goes one on one with us.  Does the interpretation we’re wrestling with feel true or make sense when we ponder it thoughtfully?  We are not alone while we are ponding.  The spirit is with us.

John 14: 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.

Reading other spiritual writings is not a bad thing, but as Christians the Bible is our main resource.  Paul was writing to Timothy at a time when scripture was the first five books of the Old Testament as well as a few of the scrolls of the prophets.  The Bible has grown to include more books, and though Paul wasn’t talking about his simple letter at the time I believe God’s breath is there.

Using tradition, experience, and reason is a way to wrestle meaning out of it.

2 Timothy

3:16 Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. 17 The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

4 When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you 2 to preach God’s message. Do it willingly, even if it isn’t the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient.

Before you sit back and think I’m now getting to the point of talking to teachers and preachers and not you, please think again.  We are all called to be disciples and to make disciples.  We are called to teach each other.

Matthew 28: 18 Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! 19 Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

This week the email from our Wisconsin Conference just happened to have an article on how John Wesley empowered lay people.  Here is an excerpt from that article.

“Nearly all the leaders of the early Methodist societies were lay people. John Wesley established a system to develop and empower them by organizing them in small groups for accountability and support for living the Christian life. The intent was to help people become disciples who live out their love of God and neighbor.

Each week, the small groups — or “classes” — of 12-15 members of a Methodist society met weekly with their leader to give an account of how they were living their faith as they answered the question: “How is it with your soul?” guided by the Methodist rule of life, the General Rules.

Class leaders, appointed by Wesley, were lay women and men who could be trusted with the spiritual formation and care of others. They served as role models, mentors and discipleship coaches for the Methodists in their pursuit of holiness of heart and life. Class leaders shared in the pastoral work that needed to be done when the appointed clergy, or circuit rider, was absent. They were the disciples who made disciples.

The General Rules are simple and straightforward practices intended to help people live out the teachings of Jesus as summarized in Matthew 22:37-40 (NRSV):

“'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

The class members formed habits of (1) doing no harm by avoiding evil of every kind; (2) doing good to all people; and (3) attending upon all the ordinances of God, like participating in worship, receiving communion, reading the Bible, praying and fasting.”

You don’t need to be ordained to be a role model, mentor, and coach, but you do first need to be a student yourself.

The final thoughts in 2 Timothy brings up a problem with students.

3 The time is coming when people won’t listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear. 4 They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories.

I bought us all into the role of teacher.  Now I’m taking us into the role of student. 

What kind of students are you and me?  How often do we let our minds wander?  Are your thoughts currently on lunch or the ballgame coming in the afternoon?  Do you pay less attention to lay speakers because they aren’t “real” preachers?  Do I pay less attention to lay speakers?  Do I think I know enough to stop listening?  Or, like the students in our scripture, do we have the desire to find a speaker that tells us what we want to hear?  Do we have itchy ears?

God can use any willing human as His mouthpiece, so we’d be wise to listen.  In the Old Testament He even used a talking mule.  God’s word combines with the Holy Spirit within us to get His message across even if the speaker isn’t trained or has decades of experience. 

A good student listens.  The purpose of study isn’t so we’re better able to act as judge and jury.  We study to become proficient and equipped for every good work!

It’s easy to applaud when we see fingers pointed in correction at others, but it doesn’t feel very good when the finger is pointed at us.  We can feel like good Christians when pointing out how somebody else has failed to live up to a verse of scripture we feel good at following, while ignoring other scriptures like:

Luke 6:37 Don’t judge others, and God won’t judge you. Don’t be hard on others, and God won’t be hard on you. Forgive others, and God will forgive you.

Our scripture from 2 Timothy lists Jesus as the judge not us.  Notice the small group session I described earlier asked the members for self-reflection on the question “How is it with your soul?”  A good teacher may need to correct but it is done with encouragement not in judgement.  The goal is to give understanding that following the instructions found in scripture brings joy.

Here are verse 101-104 from the Psalm 119 passage assigned for today.

101 I obey your word

    instead of following a way

    that leads to trouble.

102 You have been my teacher,

    and I won’t reject

    your instructions.

103 Your teachings are sweeter

    than honey.

104     They give me understanding

    and make me hate all lies.

To go back to my children’s message; following these “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth” allows us to feel joyful when we are in community.  Relationships are more important than “winning” whatever that word “winning” means.  God’s instruction isn’t limiting us.  It is providing a path to a wonderful sweet life lived in community.

God loves us, and we are instructed to love God back and love everyone else too, because God first loved us.  How simple that sounds, but how hard to follow!  We need teachers and mentors and more than a little patience from our fellow travelers on this journey as we struggle to get life figured out.

Peter called new Christians similar to infants to whom milk was a matter of life or death.

1 Peter 2:2 Be like newborn babies who are thirsty for the pure spiritual milk that will help you grow and be saved.

We are to drink it in.

Galatians tells students how to treat teachers.

Galatians 6:6 Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said.

That verse made me smile as we’re currently doing our pledging.  Support the teachers of God’s word.

I know Bible study might be new to some of you so decided to add in a beginner’s class.  Never be afraid to join a study because you think others will judge you for knowing so little.  We aren’t born knowing this stuff.  Some learn it younger and some learn it older, but the real tragedy is that some don’t learn it at all.

The Bible is a collection of many books.  Some are in narrative format, some are poetry, some are nearly like journals, and some like the scripture today are letters.  Here’s how to find your way through this book of books. 

Turn to the front of your bulletin.  Kathy put our scripture passage there in nice large font.

2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

If there’s a number before the name, that number is part of the title of the book.  That means there is more than one “Timothy” and the one we’re reading out of today is the second one in the Bible.  We don’t call it “Two Timothy” we call it “Second Timothy” since that first number is indicating the order.  A “1” and then “Peter” would be called “First Peter”.  When you look it up in the table of contents most likely it will be the number in the front of the title, but I’m throwing in how you’d say it, just so you know.  To look up our book today in the table of contents you would look for the number 2 followed by Timothy.

The table of contents is divided into two sections.  One called Old Testament and the other called New Testament.  After some practice you might be able to remember what books go into which section but in the beginning just scan down each until you find the book you’re looking for.  Old Testament is a collection of books from before Jesus was on the Earth and New Testament is after Jesus lived among us.  Both are important to our Christian faith.  I recommend starting with the New Testament and feel compelled to add that I believe the Old Testament should have an “R” rating due to violence and sexual situations.  Be warned.

Turn back to the way the scripture is typed on your bulletin.  The next numbers are grouped with a colon in the middle.  The number before the colon is the chapter of the book.  The books of the Bible don’t separate out chapters at the top of a page like most other books because that would cause way too much white space and create a very thick book.  Instead the chapter is bolded and tends to be in a larger font.  Looking within Second Timothy we’d look for a big bold 3 to indicate the start of chapter 3.  The number after the colon is the verse number.  Verse numbers are smaller than chapter numbers and commonly are applied to a sentence or two.  Bold number 3 and then a smaller number 14 partway down that chapter is where our lesson started today.

If the focus is on a single verse then there would be no other characters.  If it’s on the whole chapter sometimes they skip the colon and just have the 3.  If it is multiple verses within the same chapter there is a dash and a second verse number to indicate where it stops.  In our case today we get a second colon which means we finish the third chapter and get five verses into chapter 4 before we finish reading.

The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and the New Testament was written in Greek.  That means we need it translated into English for most of us to read it.  That is why we have multiple translations and versions of translations.

The hymn we will sing after the message is from Psalm 119:105.

The version in our hymnal is based on American Standard Version: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.

We don’t normally speak like we’re in a Shakespeare play today.  Our church uses the Contemporary English Version of the Bible which was published in 1995 after completing research in common speech patterns.  It translates the verse as: Your word is a lamp, that gives light wherever I walk.

Here are a few versions of 2 Timothy 3:16.

Contemporary English Version

16 Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.

New International Version

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

King James Bible

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

The Amplified Bible attempts to give more details of meanings but is tougher to read.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];

Each of these versions are a little different but all are attempting to tell us reading the Bible would be a very good thing. 

The old phrase “ignorance is bliss” is not applicable here.  You are not safer when your cruse ship sinks because you skipped lifeboat training.  You are more likely to stumble on a path that doesn’t have light.

Personal time reading is beneficial.  Hearing someone who’s farther along in their faith journey share how they interpret the scripture gives you more help figuring things out than you have by yourself.  That’s why attending worship is so important.  I agree you can praise God by focusing on Him while you’re walking through the woods, but that doesn’t increase your knowledge of His word.  For that you need time with a mentor. 

Studying with others has been very useful to me.  We live life in community so learning together and practicing what we’re learning as we interact in community is powerful. 

After my divorce in the early 90’s I went into depression deep enough to contemplate ending my life.  Pastor Tom helped me through that time and one direction he gave was for me to attend Disciple Bible Study.  It was a four-year study and it changed my life.  It was my personal story of transformation.  My Aldersgate experience; to liken it to John Wesley’s experience of grace.  It wouldn’t have happened had I not had mentors and fellow students with me in the journey.  It impacted me enough to cause me to lead three sessions of that four-year study.

My life is complex currently, but I hope to lead Bible studies again in the future.  Rev Dawn is going to be leading a book study based on a current day shepherd giving his thoughts on Psalm 23 – that’s the one that begins, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.”  Watch the Musings newsletter or bulletin for studies that come up and sign up!

Our scripture from Jeremiah 31 assigned for today says eventually we humans will have the lessons learned.

33 No, this is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my Instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 They will no longer need to teach each other to say, “Know the Lord!” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord; for I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sins.

Until that day comes, we need to respond to the call to first to be students and then to be teachers so we can understand how to live together. 

Micah 6:8 inspired my selection of our final hymn today.

He has told you, human one, what is good and

        what the Lord requires from you:

            to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.

It tells us to come and live in the light.  We have a lifetime to work toward understanding how to do that, but I strongly encourage you to start now.

Amen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesleyan_Quadrilateral

http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/what-is-aldersgate-day

http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/ask-the-umc-how-did-john-wesley-empower-lay-people

Contentment / Based on 1 Timothy 6:6-19 / Delivered on September 29, 2019 to CCH

Contentment / Based on 1 Timothy 6:6-19 / Delivered on September 29, 2019 to CCH

Hymns: As the Deer, ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, I Then Shall Live

1 Timothy 6:6-19

6:6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;

6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it;

6:8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

6:9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

6:11 But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.

6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

6:13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you

6:14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

6:15 which he will bring about at the right time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

6:16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

6:17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,

6:19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

Good morning and Happy Sunday to you.  I am Darci Strutt McQuiston, a Lay Servant of the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  It is my honor to be with you this morning.  Some of you may know that each Sunday many churches follow the same scriptural recommendations called the lectionary.  The scriptures from this week’s lectionary fit together very well so I’m going to pull in from a few as well as the one I picked as my focus which is 1 Timothy.

The three ideas I’m attempting to bring out today are:

Importance of focus

Importance of trust

Contentment combined with service

Importance of focus

The lectionary is quite filled with examples of how we use our money this week.  The Luke scripture (Luke 16:19-31) shares a parable from Jesus about a rich man and the poor man at his gate.  They both die and the rich man finds himself in an unpleasant afterlife and sees the poor man, Lazarus, being comforted by Abraham.  The rich man isn’t condemned because of his wealth.  He put his trust in money instead of mercy.  He showed no mercy to Lazarus and in the parable, he received no mercy as a result.

In Amos 6:1a, 4-7 – The prophet says the wealthy will be the first to go into exile.  Their crime isn’t wealth but the failure to be “grieved over the ruin of Joseph!” which represents the northern kingdom.

In both of those scripture passages the rich focused on their wealth and didn’t respond with compassion to those around them.

The letter puts it to Timothy in this way:

 6:9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

That last phrase is often misquoted as “money is the root of all evil.”  That’s not what it is saying at all.  It isn’t the money that’s the problem it is the senseless and harmful desires.  When money becomes the object of devotion then there’s a problem.

It’s not easy.  In Matthew 19:21-24 Jesus told his disciples it wasn’t easy.  A wealthy, law abiding, man asked Jesus to tell him what he lacked.

Mat 19:21-24

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Importance of trust

I think it comes down to trust.  We must trust Jesus at his word.  Giving to others doesn’t mean we will have lack. 

1 Timothy

6:13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you

6:14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

6:15 which he will bring about at the right time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

6:16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

God gives life.  Jesus can be trusted as the King and kings and Lord of lords.

The selection from Jeremiah for today demonstrated a trust like that.

Jeremiah, an Old Testament prophet, has no children and is currently in prison.  His future doesn’t look the most hopeful.  Babylon was about to take over Jerusalem.  In comes his uncle asking him to buy his field.  The price of land wasn’t negotiable like it is in our time.  The next of kin was the first to be offered land if the owner needed to sell, so it would stay in the family.  Jeremiah, who had been preaching gloom and doom, suddenly took an action of hope.  He trusted God would be true to his word.  He parted with his money and gave the people hope for the future.

Jeremiah 32:14-15 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time.  For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in the land.

The Psalm for today, 146, puts it this way:

146:3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

146:4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

146:5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,

Trust God above mortals and certainly above wealth.  It also said we would be happy.

Contentment combined with service

1 Timothy

6:6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;

6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it;

6:8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

I looked up contentment and some synonyms listed were fulfillment, gratification, pleasure, satisfaction, serenity.

Timothy is not told to just get along with what he has; to grin and bear it.  He is being told to feel satisfied, and grateful for all he has.  There’s a difference in tone to those two feelings.  The first is you bear it like a burden.  The second is you feel pleasure in what you have.

The contentment is to be combined with godliness.  The letter to Timothy ends with verses of instruction to the wealthy.

6:17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,

6:19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

God provides.  Real life is the life of love and interrelationship.  It is focused on love of neighbor and love of God.  The Greek word translated as “take hold of” has a full translation of “take hold of, grasp, catch, sometimes with violence.”  Eternal life and true life are to be seized. 

I was raised to be a good steward of my money.  I was taught to always keep three months of income in savings so if you lost your job or had a major home repair you wouldn’t be caught off guard.  Keep your spending below your earning.  These are all words of wisdom still.

I have also gone through lean years.  During those times the help from family and neighbors bridged me over until I could get back on my feet.  There are times now I worry about my financial future, and I need to remember those past times I already lived through and trust I will be OK.

Money can be a god or a demon in that way; by causing you to race after “more” or by causing worry.  Be a good steward of your money but don’t let it control your life.  That is not true life.  We are to turn our attention to things that are lasting beyond the material. 

Last weekend I went to my childhood church in McGregor Iowa.  My brother happened to be filling the pulpit last Sunday.  Part of his message included teaching that we can use our time and money in this life to feel a special welcome when we enter our afterlife.  My brother had us imagine with joy the people that we had helped or led to Christ greeting us as we entered heaven.  Those are lasting things.  That is Heavenly treasure!

We know this world is not our end.  We have been promised access to true life.  This final chapter of First Timothy is advising us to live like we are already there.  Live as if you are before God already.  Don’t wait.  Seize it. 

Amen

To Be Seen / Based on Luke 13:10-17 and Isaiah 58:9b-14 / Delivered to CCH on August 25, 2019

To Be Seen / Based on Luke 13:10-17 and Isaiah 58:9b-14 / Delivered to CCH on August 25, 2019

Hymns: What a Friend We Have in Jesus, He Touched me, Come and Find the Quiet Center

Luke 13:10-17

13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.

13:11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."

13:13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

13:14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."

13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

13:16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"

13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

Isaiah 58:9b-14

58:9b If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

58:11 The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

58:12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

58:13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

58:14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Good morning and Happy Sunday to you!  I am Darci Strutt McQuiston, a Lay Leader from the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  I’ve missed seeing you, and I’m happy to be back worshiping with you again this morning.

I’ve chosen two of the lectionary scriptures for this morning because they both touch on caring for each other and keeping the sabbath.  I’ve also picked a hymn that isn’t in your normal songbook because it kept running though my head as I worked on this message.  I hope it is familiar to most of you.

The topics I am speaking through today are:

The joy of being seen

Touch and healing

Practicing sabbath

The joy of being seen

There is great love in being seen.  That experience was the first gift Jesus gave the woman in Luke.  The gospel of Luke does not mention the woman calling out to Jesus for help.  She doesn’t ask for help directly at all.  Yet Jesus sees her and recognizes her need.

13:11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.

13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."

In some readings I studied this week the author called out the language that Jesus used as being in the past tense.  The interpretation is that God had already freed her, and Jesus was just letting her know.  Jesus was revealing God’s power was already in action for the woman.

Touch and healing

In some recorded healings the only action by Jesus was His proclamation of it being so, but in many others, He reached out to provide a healing touch.  Sometimes it’s the person who sneaks a touch, like the woman who had been bleeding for years touching His robe.  In this case Jesus laid hands on the woman personally.

13:13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

Her response was not praising Jesus, but because she saw the true healing came from God her response was praising God.  Jesus was the channel for God’s healing power.  Her recognition was immediate.

Practicing Sabbath

The first half of our Gospel reading focuses on healing.  The second half focuses on dealing with interpretation of law pertaining to sabbath.

13:14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day."

Notice he did not address Jesus directly.  He addressed his chastisement to the crowd, and no doubt focused on the woman.

We were told in the beginning of the passage that the woman had suffered 18 years with her condition.  That meant 18 years times 52 weeks times 6 non-sabbath days per week, or 5,616 days she had her condition ignored at the temple.  This history didn’t give her very good odds of being healed on a different day.

Reading from Isaiah we get a different definition of what “work” meant.

58:13 If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs;

58:14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Sabbath was a time to stop making money for yourself and instead remember that God provides.  On this sabbath day what God provided was healing.

The beginning of the reading for today out of Isaiah made clear what the leader had neglected to do.

58:9b If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

Jesus called the leader out directly.

13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?

13:16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"

13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

The law of sabbath was being misinterpreted by the authorities.  Jesus was attempting to set them straight.

I can imagine the woman’s experience in my own way.  There is great joy in being seen.  This past weekend was the Village of North Hudson’s Pepper Fest.  I throw a large yard party on Thursday, the Eve of Pepper Fest.  This year was my 15^th annual party.  The guests are a mix of people I know well, and people I invite in because they are active in community service either for Pepper Fest or in their own community.

I enjoy all the guests during the night and love the gathering because it brings friends together.  However, there were a few special moments when I felt seen.  My husband has Alzheimer’s and I recently moved him into a memory care facility.  During the party and celebration, there were people that reached out to me because they knew the struggles within my heart.  They truly saw into my life and ministered to my emotional need even during the busy party.  They asked how I was feeling and how my husband was doing.  They didn’t sidestep or ignore the issues in my life.

I felt the healing touch of loving hugs throughout the weekend.  Science has shown there are endorphins released during such loving touch that provide a calming effect.  It didn’t remove life’s troubles, but it was healing and encouraging to experience their love.

Thinking of sabbath brings a true confession time.  Keeping a day of rest set apart has been very hard for me.  The authorities in our passage today got it wrong, but that doesn’t mean the idea of sabbath rest is wrong.  The passage from Isaiah spoke to me.  Perhaps I could take one day a week and remember that God provides.  I’m not 100% sure of what that will look like.  I’m thinking it means to stop struggling to survive for a moment and trust His care.  Focus on gratitude and enjoying what my life already has instead of focusing on how to make it better.

I have experienced the feeling of being seen.  That motivates me to try to see others more fully.  Sitting with a friend who is experiencing pain isn’t always comfortable, but it is comforting.  It is sharing a burden, and even if it doesn’t expel it, it makes it easier to handle because it is shared.  It is shared by being seen and acknowledged.  People that ministered to me this weekend didn’t fully know what I was going through.  They weren’t living it with me.  They were loving me as I live it and that gave me strength.

We can do that for each other.  We can help each other feel seen and less alone.  Perhaps we can help each other recognize God’s healing love active in our lives.  That may have been what Jesus did that day for the woman.  It starts with being willing to fully see each other.  If the other person is a hugger and you are too, then hugs help!

Maybe you are already good at keeping sabbath, but I challenge us both to consider it from this scripture from Isaiah.  It isn’t required that we sit and do nothing.  It is pausing in our striving for self-care and recognizing God’s care.  Sometimes that means helping another recognize God’s care by reaching out to them in love and service.  That isn’t violating the sabbath.  It is loving like God desires us to love each other.

Take time to share this truth with each other.  We are not alone.  We are seen by God and we can be seen by each other.  We are loved.  We can rest knowing we are in God’s care.

Amen

One Thing Leads to Another / Based on Romans 5:1-5 / Delivered on June 16, 2019 to UMC-Hudson

One Thing Leads to Another / Based on Romans 5:1-5 / Delivered on June 16, 2019 to UMC-Hudson
Hymns: His Eye is on the Sparrow, Christ the Lord is Risen Today (vs 2,4,6), Standing on the Promises
Solo:  “Be Still My Soul” written by Russ and Tori Taff

Romans 5:1-5 (Contemporary English Version)
5:1 Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:2 We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.
5:3 But not only that!  We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,
5:4 endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
5:5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Good morning.  My name is Darci Strutt McQuiston.  I am a Lay Servant of this church and am standing in for Rev Dawn who is attending annual conference.  It is my honor to fill the pulpit today.  This Sunday is designated as Trinity Sunday and Peace with Justice Sunday from our United Methodist calendar, and also Father’s Day.  All that plus some good scripture! 

Children’s Sermon: 
Have any of you broken a bone?  Can you imagine what that would be like?  You wouldn’t be able to play as fully as your other friends.  School work would be harder to do.  It might hurt or at least the cast might itch.  A broken bone is not fun.  But, does it mean your parents don’t love you?  Of course not!  If you go through the broken arm and keep a good attitude with your friends and complete all your schoolwork, even though you have to work harder, how would you feel about yourself?  I’m betting you’d feel like you accomplished something and maybe feel a little proud.  You’d have every right to feel that way because you grew more confident in yourself during that hard time.  I’m betting your parents helped you out a lot during the hard time, so you also became more confident in their love.  Breaking a bone isn’t a good thing, but can you see how something good can come out of it? 

Main Message:
I’m not going to dive deep into the meaning of the Trinity on this Trinity Sunday.  God loves us.  Jesus told us that.  The Holy Spirit reminds us of all Jesus shared.  How that translates into three in one is a mystery of God.  I listened to a podcast that said one title for a pastor is “Keeper of the mysteries of God.”  That made me smile.  You’ll see the Spirit’s work in the scripture I’m using, but I’ll point you toward an Elder to explain the mysterious parts.

I’ve woven Peace with Justice into my message because it fit into my thoughts.  I’m glad it fell on this Sunday.

This scripture was a letter written to the Christians in Rome.  I’m first going to explore what was going on in their world and ponder what it would have meant to them.  After that I’m going to explore how it can apply to our lives.  There’s a lot to cover so here we go!

At first glance this passage of scripture can feel like a downer.  It seems to be telling us when faced with problems we’re supposed to grin and bear it.  Or even worse, see suffering as a positive thing! 

When I was asked to take the pulpit for this Sunday and saw this as one of the lectionary scriptures it felt like God was being mischievous and possibility a little insensitive given my life circumstances.  I’ve had a period of “troubles” recently and finding the positives takes work.  God must have known this scripture would be good for me.  After study I found this is a strong passage of hope.  It is a passage I needed and just maybe you do too.

In the Old Testament the people believed when bad things happened it was a sign that God was angry with you.  To the people in the pre-Christ world, suffering was caused by sin.  If you know the story of Job, this is why his three friends kept asking him what he had done against God to cause his present suffering.  This is also why the people asked Jesus whose sin caused a child’s blindness, the child’s or his parent’s sin.  Job had not sinned, and Jesus said the child’s blindness was not caused by sin either, but this was the common belief.

The church at Rome was under persecution.  They were suffering greatly.  The Greek word translated as “problems” in our text can also be translated as “suffering” or “persecution”.  The political powers above them wanted that suffering to cause them shame.  They knew the Jewish people associated suffering with sinfulness.

The Roman church was being persecuted because of their belief in Jesus Christ.  The political powers felt their faith was a threat that needed to be pushed down because it was so well known.

Paul’s greeting tells us this.
Romans 1:8 First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because the news about your faithfulness is being spread throughout the whole world.

They are not to suffer in a “why me” state of mind.  Paul encourages them to let that persecution be faced with endurance.  The word translated as “endurance” can also be translated as “perseverance” which to me is a more active verb.  They are persevering in their faith despite their difficulties. 

Holding on to faith in the middle of troubles creates a stronger person.  It adds to their character.  Continuing to persevere and survive, despite suffering, also leads to hope.  The longer you survive the more confidence you have in your future.  Paul was telling them God was with them in their suffering and His love was pouring out to them.

Paul’s opening words of this chapter gave them hope because of their faith. 

5:1 Therefore, since we have been made righteous through his faithfulness combined with our faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
5:2 We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand through him, and we boast in the hope of God’s glory.

The NIV of the Bible uses the word “justified” instead of the phrase “made righteous”.  Justified can also mean alignment.  Think about a printed text on the page.  When you have all the letters in a row along an edge, we call that text justified to the right or left or maybe even both sides.  Sin caused us to go every which way.  Jesus Christ made us aligned to God once more. 

Jesus brought peace with God, not just a cease-fire.  Jesus fought the fight and was victorious.  I chose verses from the Easter hymn ‘Christ the Lord is Risen Today’ to try and hit this home.  This isn’t a temporary condition.  It is ours for all eternity.  We can claim that hope of future glory by standing in the grace Jesus paid his life to bring us.

5:5 This hope doesn’t put us to shame, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

There is no shame in their suffering.  Their current problems were not caused by sin.  The suffering of the church at Rome was caused by faithfulness.  That is why they could boast.  The Greek word translated “boast” can also be translated as “glory”, “exult”, or even “we rejoice”.  They could rejoice that their faith was so evident to the powers in Rome that they were persecuted to knock it down.

That’s the scripture as focused on the church at Rome.  However, this letter was included in our Bible because the words of Paul weren’t only applicable to those Roman Christians but also to us.    

The first verse of our reading begins with the word “Therefore.”  That told me there was something before this passage that the first verses were based on.  That made me look at the chapters leading up to this one.  Chapter 4 was filled with a discussion of Abraham being called righteous based on his faith instead of his works or obedience to the law.  The law didn’t exist yet!  If you have your Bible open flip back a chapter.  I’m grabbing verse 3 and then verses 20-25.

Romans
4:3 What does the scripture say?  Abraham had faith in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.
4:20 He didn’t hesitate with a lack of faith in God’s promise, but he grew strong in faith and gave glory to God.
4:21 He was fully convinced that God was able to do what he promised.
4:22 Therefore, it was credited to him as righteousness.
4:23 But the scripture that says it was credited to him wasn’t written only for Abraham’s sake.
4:24 It was written also for our sake, because it is going to be credited to us too.  It will be credited to those of us who have faith in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.
4:25 He was handed over because of our mistakes, and he was raised to meet the requirements of righteousness for us.

That is the information he gave before the “Therefore.”  Trusting God’s promises and having faith in Jesus sacrifice means we can claim that peace Jesus won for us, and the grace that continues to pour into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  It is by faith.

Then we come to the center of this passage; the part about trouble, or suffering, or persecution.  We know from the example of the Roman Christians that their suffering was caused by them doing what was right in the eyes of God.  They weren’t suffering because of bad decisions.  They were suffering because this world isn’t aligned to God’s will.

I am confident that pain of any sort can be our teacher if we chose to see it that way.  Sometimes those lessons are simple and sometimes they are more complex.  If you burn yourself on the stove, you learn to check the burner.  If you break your arm climbing trees you learn to respect heights.  If you feel the pain of losing a friend, you learn lessons of how to maintain healthy relationships.

Those are examples of poor decisions that lead to troubles or suffering.  This scripture is pointed at suffering from a different cause.

Suffering born from doing what God would call us to do is a different sort of lesson.  In the Old Testament I immediately think of Daniel whose faithfulness to God landed him in the lion’s den.  He was not saved from the lion’s den but was saved within it.  Then there’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who were thrown into a fiery furnace by the king of Babylon when they refused to bow down to his image.  They weren’t saved from being thrown into the flames, but God’s angel was with them in the furnace.  This suffering wasn’t God’s punishment.  It was the world’s response to their faithfulness.  In these examples their suffering leads to a stronger faith and hope in God because they saw God supporting them within their suffering.

In more modern times when I consider people who suffered for doing good I think of Mohandas Gandhi peacefully working for the freedom of India, Martin Luther King speaking out for equality, or more recently Malala Yousafzai who as a teenage girl advocated for the education of women and children in Pakistan.  They suffered, they persevered, they gained character, and they had hopes for the future.  Because of their perseverance, many others gained hope.

Their work was being faithful to God’s call to do justice.  That brings me to my link into Peace with Justice Sunday.

Micah 6:8 tells us of God; He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God. 

Jesus told a parable pointing to the power of continued prayer, but it also comments on God’s feelings on social justice.

Luke 18:2-8a He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice quickly.

Jesus challenged unjust behavior.  He was an advocate for the poor and for those suffering from prejudice.  His ministry gave hope to those that felt hopeless and lost.  He helped the outcast feel loved again.

These were actions that caused Jesus to get in hot water.  They can cause us to get in hot water still today. 

Earlier this year Rev Dawn preached on the three rules John Wesley lived by.  They are: Do no harm, Do good, Stay in love with God.

We are called to act from an attitude of love.  “Do no harm” is a powerful rule to live by.  Remember, that person that may be acting unjustly is also a child of God and God loves them.  Bringing justice is a different action than condemning the unjust.

The words “Peace” and “Justice” are focused on the positive.  Mother Theresa gave an example of the difference when she said, “I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there.”

If we feel pain in our lives or experience suffering it doesn’t mean God is angry with us.  It doesn’t mean we have sinned and deserve to be punished.  Bad things really do happen to good people.  Our task is to determine if our suffering is the sort caused by bad decisions, or if it is the result of doing the “right thing” in the eyes of God.  In the first case we need to learn from our mistakes and make better decisions, and in the case of being aligned to God’s will we need to persevere. 

Checking in with John Wesley’s three rules is a good start.  Remembering what Jesus did provides us examples.  The Holy Spirit can help us remember.  Here’s part of the passage from the Gospel of John that was assigned this Sunday.  It is part of Jesus farewell discourse.

John 16:13-15
13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you in all truth. He won’t speak on his own, but will say whatever he hears and will proclaim to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and proclaim it to you.15 Everything that the Father has is mine. That’s why I said that the Spirit takes what is mine and will proclaim it to you.”

The same Holy Spirit that is pouring out God’s love to us in the passage from Romans is our reminder of the words of God spoken through Christ.  If I feel like I’m acting in God’s will I can use Jesus as the example as I consider my actions.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit will guide me in that truth.

This doesn’t mean suffering won’t happen, remember Daniel in the lion’s den, but it puts me on the path described in Romans which ends in hope that doesn’t disappoint.  As the song I offered earlier says, we can “be still” and know that He is God.  God is pouring love into our hearts.  God is with us in our troubles.  We can stand in his grace.  We can stand in His promises.

Here’s my cliff notes version.
We’re commanded to love God and each other.  That love includes caring about justice issues for those without social power.  Doing the right thing, even when we’re careful to do no harm, can still cause us suffering.

Learn from suffering that is the result of poor decisions and stop and change.  But if you have examined your motives, and with the Holy Spirit’s guidance believe you are acting according to Jesus teachings, then persevere in your faithfulness.  Suffering in this way puts you in good company.  Peace and grace are ours because of Jesus sacrifice.  Living in that faith we can live in hope; a hope that doesn’t disappoint.

Amen


Solo before the sermon: “Be Still My Soul” written by Russ and Tori Taff
https://www.facebook.com/darci.strutt/videos/10216668083027004/?t=0

Calls / Based on John 21:1-19 and Acts 9:1-20 / Delivered on May 5, 2019 to CCH

Calls / Based on John 21:1-19 and Acts 9:1-20 / Delivered on May 5, 2019 to CCH
Hymns: Softly and Tenderly, O How I Love Jesus, Hymn of Promise

John 21:1-19
21:1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.
21:2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.
21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
21:4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
21:5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No."
21:6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.
21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.
21:8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
21:9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.
21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."
21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.
21:12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.
21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
21:14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
21:16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."
21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
21:18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go."
21:19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."


Good morning and happy third Sunday of Easter to you.   I am Darci Strutt McQuiston, one of the Lay Servants from the UMC up the hill from here.  I had so much fun last Sunday with you that I couldn’t wait to come back!  The speaker for today had a conflict come up so I volunteered to cover.

I’m going to let most of the lesson today be from scripture since there are two wonderful selections in the lectionary.  Both are examples of God’s call.  The first is from John, which I’ve read, and the second is from Acts.  I’ll read that one soon!

I’m going to look at these two passages and see what they tell us how God may view:
The past
Human mistakes
The future

Peter’s example
Peter’s recent history demonstrated poor choices.  Some of his antics, according to scripture, include cutting off a soldier’s ear, which Jesus healed, and denying he even knew Jesus three times.  He was told to be a fisher of men and to spread the Good News, but here we see him today naked on a boat back to his pre-Jesus life of fishing in the lake.

You and I may look at his behavior and think he was a lost cause.  He abandoned his relationship with Jesus when the going got rough and he abandoned his call.  Yet God had a different plan for him.  Jesus saw his past mistakes as something to correct not condemn.  Jesus asked him three times if he would care for his flock to match each one of Peter’s three denials.  In this way he called Peter to ministry a second time. 

Jesus told him his future included suffering.
21:18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go."
21:19 (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."

Jesus didn’t abandon Peter even though we might of.  He dealt with his past mistakes by giving him a chance to reconfirm his commitment to follow him.  Jesus didn’t promise a life of ease if Peter accepted his call this second time, yet Peter accepted his call. 

Here’s Saul, who we know as the Apostle Paul, receiving his call.

Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
9:1 Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
9:2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
9:3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
9:5 He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
9:6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."
9:7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.
9:8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
9:9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
9:10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord."
9:11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,
9:12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
9:13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;
9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name."
9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;
9:16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."
9:17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
9:18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized,
9:19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,
9:20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."

Saul’s example
Saul’s recent history included breathing threats and murder against the Disciples.  Earlier in scripture we learned he held the coats of those stoning Stephen and approved of the stoning.  His reputation was so bad that Ananias had to argue with the Lord before he obeyed.  Saul saw following Jesus as a threat to the Jewish people and something he needed to stop.

I would have agreed with Ananias!  This guy is trouble!  Yet Jesus had other plans.

Since Saul was having trouble seeing Jesus was a good thing for the world, Jesus caused him to go blind.  Then Jesus provided the Holy Spirit as well as mentors in Damascus to help him correct his misperceptions and learn the truth.  Soon his error was behind him and he was proclaiming, “He is the Son of God.”

Like Peter, his future contained suffering.
9:16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.

These two scriptures had a similar theme running through them.  I’m assuming that’s why the creators of the lectionary put them together for this third Sunday of Easter.  Together, let’s try and understand what God may have wanted to teach us with these lessons.

We can see our human condition reflected in Peter and Saul.  Sometimes like Peter we start out with a passion for God and then fail in epic ways.  I can imagine how I would have felt in Peter’s shoes.  I may have thought myself unworthy of continuing to follow my original call.  Saul was filled with passion for what he thought was true only to find out he had been passionately wrong!  He had treated his Lord as an enemy.  That would have been hard to reconcile.   

These two examples tell us our past does not limit our future.  You still can start again.  Our God is a God of second chances.  Take it one step removed and realize that is true even of the person in your life you have a hard time forgiving.  Ananias was told, gently by God, ‘leave the calling to me.’  We should not judge the worthiness of who God calls.  The act of calling belongs to God.

We are children.  We will make mistakes.  We will require correction.  I reminded us last week that our sin has been removed.  It doesn’t stand in the way of our future.  God’s love provides correction.  We can repent, which means to change one’s mind.  Like Saul, we can see our old thoughts were wrong and experience God’s truth.

Finally, these two lessons teach us that suffering doesn’t mean God has abandoned us.  Suffering is part of each of these calls.  Following Jesus doesn’t promise and end to suffering.  It offers peace during suffering.  To follow Jesus in life means we follow Jesus in resurrection.  He is risen.  We will rise.

Amen