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

To See / Based on John 20:19-31 / Delivered on April 28, 2019 at CCH

To See / Based on John 20:19-31 / Delivered on April 28, 2019 at CCH in Hudson WI
Hymns: Trust and Obey, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, Because He Lives
  

John 20:19-31
19 It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”
24 Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”
26 After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”
28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”
30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll.
31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.




Good morning.  I am Darci Strutt McQuiston, one of the Lay Servants of the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  It is my joy to be with you all on this second Sunday of Easter.  There are six Sundays of Easter so we’re continuing to celebrate.

The scripture for today gives us the term, “Doubting Thomas”, as in “Don’t be a Doubting Thomas, believe me!”  I’m going to be exploring the scripture with these three ideas:

What it means to see
What it means to believe
What actions should result


What it means to see
We use the word “see” in many ways in conversation.  One way is to describe something coming into our brains through our eyes.  I can see you sitting in front of me.  Another way is to imply suspending judgement until something is proven.  A person that doesn’t quite believe something may say, “We’ll just wait and see about that.”  Yet another way it is used is as a statement of understanding or knowing, as in a person finally understanding what someone is talking about and saying, “Oh, now I see what you mean!”

Our passage today could have used all three ways of using the word “see”.

25 The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”
But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.”

Thomas just wanted to have what the other ten Disciples had.  He wanted to experience Jesus coming into the room with his own eyes.  For all he knew the other Disciples in their grief had just experienced a mass hallucination!  He desired what any scientist would – proof.  The other ten were shown Jesus hands and side.

20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.

Notice is said, “when”, which to me says they didn’t fully believe until they saw.

Thomas didn’t say they were crazy.  He took a wait and see attitude.  He needed more proof.  Jesus brought that proof just a week later.

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!”
28 Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

The scripture didn’t say Thomas took a moment to touch Jesus.  Seeing was enough for him to know it was true.

Yet did they fully understand?  Did they “see” what Jesus was asking?


What it means to believe
29 Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.”

As I was researching the scripture for today a pastor referenced a passage from John Irving’s novel “A Prayer for Owen Meany.”    Owen had been asked about the meaning of belief.  He pointed to a granite statue of Mary Magdalene as the sun set.  After it was fully dark, and the statue was no longer visible, he asked his friend if the statue is still there.  The conversation goes back and forth with Owen pushing for proof he had no doubts.  “You absolutely know she’s there even though you can’t see her?  His friend finally screams “Yes!”  Then Owen replies “Well, now you know how I feel about God.  I can’t see him but I absolutely know he is there.”

Both Owen and his friend had seen the statue before it got dark, but I think the point was the level of knowing without being able to currently see.  To be considered “blessed” or “happy” you would need to trust those eye witnesses testimony about the statue being there without seeing it yourself.  It requires you to trust the messenger and believe through hearing instead of seeing.

We’re on this planet about two thousand years late to be able to talk to the disciples personally, but we can still experience their words through scripture.


30 Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll.
31 But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

We have the words of eye witnesses within the scriptures.  These are men that died for their unwavering belief.  We also have the Holy Spirit to guide and bring things to mind.  We are called to believe like we had seen him ourselves that day.


What actions should result
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.”
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.”

I personally don’t think this was asking the disciples to be judges over others.  Rather, it was a directive to spread the good news that peoples sins had already been forgiven.  If the people weren’t told they were forgiven, then they would continue to live with their sin keeping them from God.

Jesus death and resurrection unlocked the chains of sin, but people need to be told their chain is unlocked before they know to take it off.  Jesus was sent to tell us God loves and forgives us.  Now that job is being passed down officially to His followers.


Years ago, our church would hold a four-hour Good Friday service in which each of Jesus final words were given a 30-minute segment of reflection.  One year I delivered the segment on Jesus asking his disciple John to care for his mother Mary.  I researched each of the disciples to learn why John was the one chosen to care for Mary.  It turned out that every other disciple was martyred.  John was the only one that would live and be able to care for Mary.

I don’t know if John was spared from martyrdom because he took responsibility for Mary, or if Jesus gave him the responsibility because he knew John would live.  All I know is that every other disciple died still proclaiming the message Jesus asked them to spread.  Their belief was absolute even when facing death.

We have their words.  The purpose of these words is so we can come to believe.  We can’t see with our eyes, but we can see with our understanding.  Jesus died for us and lives for us, and we have life in His name.

Now our task is to respond to Jesus call to go into the world just as He was sent.  We are called to share the good news that God has adopted us as children and loves us beyond measure.  We are called to share the good news that God has already forgiven our sin, so we don’t need to feel separated from Him anymore.

Psalm 103:11-12
11     because as high as heaven is above the earth,
    that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him.
12 As far as east is from west—
    that’s how far God has removed our sin from us.

Our brothers and sisters won’t know this good news until we tell them.  God did the forgiving.  Our job is to tell each other that it is true.  We save each other by telling each other that God already saved us.  We are in this together.

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.”

This isn't a solo journey!  The prayer of confession in the Methodist tradition ends with the minister saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven” and then the congregation responds back to the leader, “In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.”  In that way both the leader and the congregation receive the word of forgiveness from each other.

So, on this second Sunday of Easter I pray we can have our faith strengthened by the wittiness of the first disciples.  Receive the peace that Jesus proclaimed as well as his direction, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  His message is one of love and forgiveness, and we need to share it.

Amen

Which Character Am I / Based on Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 / Delivered on March 31 to CCH in Hudson, WI 
Hymns: Amazing Grace, May the Mind of Christ My Savior, What Wondrous Love Is This


Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.
15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."
15:3 So he told them this parable:
15:11b "There was a man who had two sons.
15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.
15:13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
15:14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.
15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.
15:16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
15:17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!
15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."'
15:20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.
15:21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;
15:24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.
15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
15:26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.
15:27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'
15:28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.
15:29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'
15:31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.
15:32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"


Good morning.  My name is Darci Strutt McQuiston and I am one of the Lay Servants of the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  It is my honor to be with you this special day.  I missed you last month because of the February blizzard.  I’m glad the weather is settling down!

The Gospel reading for this Sunday is a long one but don’t worry; I measure my sermons by word count including the scripture, so you’ll make it to lunch in time.

This scripture lesson is most likely familiar to many of you.  Because of this familiarity I’m not going to repeat as much of the scripture during my message as I normally do.

I’m going to look at this parable from three perspectives:
The younger son
The older son
The father

The younger son
The beginning of the story is one of insulting the father.  Dad, I’m tired of waiting for you to die so give me what’s in your last will and testament now.  Crazy insulting as that sounds the father does it.  The older son gets his share early too.  Verse 12 says “he divided his property between them.”

The younger son sells the land which would have also been insulting.  Jews did not sell family land.

The son has a good time spending the money but comes on hard times when a famine hits and he has no savings to fall back on.  He sinks as low as he can go by feeding pigs, which is an animal considered unclean by the Jewish people.  He’s hit bottom.

The only thing he can think to do is humble himself and pray his father accepts him as a servant.

The older son
The eldest would have received the larger share of the estate.  He continued working the family land.  He hears the party and finds out from a servant it’s to honor his lazy no good brother.  Now he’s angry.  The father appears to be picking favorites and it’s not him.   It’s obvious he still respected his father from his response, though he still comes across as ungrateful.
Verse 29: “listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.”

I find it interesting the younger son is coming home saying he’s willing to be a servant, and here the older son says he feels like he’s been working like a slave.  His father reminds him in verse 31, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.”  The eldest son could have thrown his own party.

The father
My first thought is that the father failed at parenting 101.  Both sons are disrespectful.  The first made a mess of his life with his poor choices and brought embarrassment to the family name.  Then the father acts in ways which make no sense within the Jewish culture of the time.  The response should have been, “Sorry kid you’ll have to wait until I die to get an inheritance.”  If a child acted in the way the younger son did, he more likely would have been disowned.  Then you have the way he acts during their reunion.  The leader of the family would not have run to anyone.  The father acted inferior to his son by falling on his neck.  That was something a servant did to his master.  The father hosts a huge party, then he leaves his responsibilities as host and goes outside to talk to his older son.  That was not a normal thing.  You didn’t leave your guests.  His willingness to focus on reconciliation was acting crazy.

I can imagine the reaction of the Pharisees; that’s crazy, inconceivable, ludicrous.  They would have been outraged at the father’s behavior.  Kind of like they were outraged at Jesus’ behavior.

There are many great lessons in this parable.  If you look at the younger son, you can take away the lesson that if you recognize you’ve chosen the wrong path in life it is best to acknowledge it humbly and face your consequences.  He demonstrated repentance. 

If you look at the older son, the lesson might be that it is important to recognize what you have and not be jealous of what others have.  The parable ends before we see him repenting, but that’s the happy ending of the story I make up.

However, I don’t believe those two characters are the focus of the story.  The story was prompted by the Pharisees judging who Jesus was showing love to.
15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."

The example Jesus was giving us to follow in response to their statement was that of the father’s love.  You think tax collectors are bad, just imagine a son that asks for his inheritance before you’re dead and then sells the family property!  Yet the father showed him not only mercy but outrageous grace. 

His other son refuses to come inside, and the father leaves his role as host to go reach out to him.  That’s outrageous love.

In past readings of this passage I’ve sought to find myself in the brothers and saw the father as God.  Studying it this month I’ve come to believe that the father is the character of the story that Jesus is asking us to identify with.

Love completely.  Offer forgiveness freely.  Focus on reconciliation. 

The father is an example of God’s grace.  I believe Jesus was reminding the Pharisees and us that we are to offer grace to each other.  Love each other like God first loved us.  Jesus was demonstrating that love for us to follow.

We are halfway through Lent.  It is a time of self-reflection and repentance.  I believe it is also a time to meditate on the kind of love we have been shown.  Love that is outrageous.  Forgiveness that is not earned.  Reconciliation to God once more.  That is the gift at the end of these 40 days.  It is also our example of how to love.  We are to show amazing grace to each other because of his wondrous love.


Amen


Here’s my ukulele song based on this scripture.

https://soundcloud.com/darci-strutt/what-kind-of-child

What Kind of Child
By Darci Strutt
Based on Luke 15:11b-32

The younger son couldn’t wait for his Daddy to die
He demanded what would be his then he said good-bye
Before long life turned tough, he feared that he would die
Then I had to ask myself what kind of child am I

Am I like the young son
Wishing I was free
Am I like the older one
Filled with jealousy
Neither son’s the character Jesus dreamt for me
The father full of love is who he’d wish I’d be

The older son resented working in the field
His disrespectful language was anger he concealed 
His unloving nature needed to be healed
Am I sometimes like him, would it be revealed

Chorus

The Pharisees asked Jesus how he could love a sinner
He seemed to hang around them and even go to dinner
So Jesus taught a lesson about outrageous grace
Love like God the Father sends to the human race

Chorus

Love is Not Fair / Based on Luke 6:27-38 / Not delivered because of a blizzard

Love is Not Fair / Based on Luke 6:27-38 / Not delivered because of a blizzard

Hymns: His Eye Is on the Sparrow, I Then Shall See, We Are Called

Luke 6:27-38

6:27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

6:29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.

6:30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.

6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

6:32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

6:34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

6:38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

Good morning and Happy Sunday to you.  My name is Darci Strutt McQuiston.  I am one of the Lay Servants of the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  It is my joy to be with you here today.

The scripture for today is a continuation of Jesus message which is sometimes called the Beatitudes and sometimes called his message on the plain.  The first section told us all how blessed we were if we were poor, hungry, weeping, hated, and insulted. 

Now in the section for today we are told we need to love our enemies.  Not easy scripture to deal with, but the passage from 1 Corinthians today was on explaining the details of resurrection so I leaned toward Luke.

The three ideas I want to pull out from this passage are:

Love isn’t fair

Love doesn’t worry about equality

We don’t want love to be fair

Love isn’t fair

What ever happened to “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”?  Instead Jesus said we’re supposed to return mistreatment with love.

6:27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

6:29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.

6:30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.

This is a hard scripture to me.  It feels unfair.  I like to think that karma is real and if someone makes me feel bad they will get pain in their life as payback.  That isn’t how God treats us and that isn’t how God wants us to treat his children, whether they be friend or foe.

Instead this is describing how a child of God should act.  It is defining what God wants our relationships to look like.

6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Our relationship with our fellow humans should mirror God’s relationship with us.  God doesn’t treat us as we deserve.  He doesn’t write us off as we make mistakes.  He patently instructs us in ways that are better and brings us to him to continue to correct our errors.

Love doesn’t worry about equality

We feel good about ourselves when we do good to others.  We expect to be treated nicely and then we’ll be nice back.  Jesus says there’s nothing special about that.

6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

6:32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

6:33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

6:34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

So much of our interaction is with people who will honor the saying “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.”  Sometimes it is simple things.  We send out a birthday card and expect one on our birthday.  Sometimes it’s picking up the tab when we eat out knowing the friend will pick up the next time.  Over time if the friend doesn’t reciprocate our willingness to put ourselves out there for them decreases.  To be fair the scales need to stay even.  Jesus says – then don’t feel like you should be honored for that behavior.  Keeping things even is not giving.

We don’t want love to be fair

6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;

6:38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."

This part of the passage makes it a little more equal but still quite hard to do.  It’s hard to remember that we are not so great ourselves.  The saying “people living in glass houses should not throw stones” was used a lot when I was young.  It was a reminder that my behavior needs forgiveness because it at times is condemnable. 

As I read and studied the lesson today one preacher reminded his listeners that there is a big difference between justice and judging someone.  God is very pro justice.  We are called to come to the aide of those that are being mistreated. 

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Judging is holding a negative opinion of someone for who they are or what they do.  Maybe they are making different mistakes that we think are worse than the mistakes that we are making.  This sort of judging is more like prejudice.  We feel the person is unworthy because of who they are.

It isn’t in our lesson for today but Luke goes on with these two verses.

6:39 He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?

6:40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

6:41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

6:42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

We are reminded that we all have much to learn before we can love the way God loves, which is our calling.  We are all students here.  We are all struggling to reach the level of love Jesus demonstrated.  We all fail in different ways.  Comparing how well we’re doing between each other is like the old joke asking what’s the difference between murder and stealing in hell?  The answer is 60 degrees.  It is dark humor but a reminder that without God’s mercy and compassion we are all in trouble.  It doesn’t matter how little or much we fail.  We fail.  We depend on God’s grace.  Our brother and our enemy depend on God’s grace along side of us.

Love is unfairly given to us.  We get much more than we deserve.  Jesus asks us to not expect equality as we give it away.  Love extravagantly without thought of return from the individual you share it with.  The relationship between you and your brother isn’t the measure.  It is really the relationship between you and God that is shown in what you give away.  Can we trust God will keep us safe or do we think we need to take care of ourselves?

Matthew reminds us:

10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

10:31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Yes we can trust God.  We can learn to love unfairly in response to that trust.  We love because He first loved us.  Remember this lesson as we go into lent next month.  Love isn’t fair.  Let go of the tit for tat and work to love like God.  Just maybe the lesson here has less to do with our enemy getting away with bad behavior, and more about us being taught how to love.

Amen

  

Song – Love Like the One You Serve

By Darci Strutt 2019
https://soundcloud.com/darci-strutt/love-like-the-one-you-serve

Dear Lord did you see

Just how poor he’s treated me
You want me to love
I just want to push and shove

Pre-chorus
My child you’re looking the wrong way
When you focus on your enemy
The relationship to care about
Is the one between you and me

Chorus
Give without thought of receiving
Love though that’s not what they deserve
Remember how I first loved you
And love like the one you serve

Dear Lord did you see

All the things he stole from me
You want me to ignore
And when he asks to give him more

Pre-chorus
Chorus

It’s not easy to love

Like my Father from above
But because he first loved me
A loving child I’ll try to be

Chorus

Being the Body / Based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a / Delivered on January 27, 2019 to CCH

Being the Body / Based on 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a / Delivered on January 27, 2019 to CCH

Hymns: Here I Am Lord, The Church’s One Foundation, They’ll Know We Are Christians

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

12:12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

12:13 For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

12:14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

12:15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

12:16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

12:19 If all were a single member, where would the body be?

12:20 As it is, there are many members, yet one body.

12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

12:22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

12:23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;

12:24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member,

12:25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

12:30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

12:31 But strive for the greater gifts.

Good morning and happy Sunday to you.  My name is Darci Strutt McQuiston and I’m one of the Lay Servants of the United Methodist Church up on the hill from here.  It is my joy to be with you this morning.

This is a wonderful illustration of how an organization should operate.  I’m going to explore our role in the body of Christ in these three ways:

Being Unique

Being Valued

Being Interdependent

Being Unique

12:14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

12:15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

12:16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

12:18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

I believe Paul is telling this early church to embrace their differences.  Don’t all try to be an “eye”. 

I love the quote, “Be Yourself.  Everyone else is already taken”, by Oscar Wilde.  Don’t wish you were someone else.  I can assure you the world doesn’t need two of me.  I’m betting you feel the same way about yourself.  The mix of talents and experience you carry within you are your gift to the world.  Nobody else can give that gift.

In Esther there is a moment when Mordecai responds to Esther’s fear for her life in approaching the king to save the Jewish people from a plot to kill them.

Esther 4:14

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

God’s will is not prevented by us not offering our gifts, but it may be that we are where we are for a reason.  Mordecai’s comment was a reminder of the consequences of not acting when it is within your skills to do so.

You are important just by being you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t work to be the best “you” possible.  As verse 31 says:

12:31 But strive for the greater gifts.

These verses are a reminder that your unique qualities are what God wants to work with.  Having role models is fine but embracing who you are and what your own gifts are is what this passage speaks to me.  We are chosen to be where we are, because the gift we have to offer is what is needed.  So, develop and continue growing as a person and at the same time embrace the person that is uniquely you.

Being Valued

12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

12:22 On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

12:23 and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;

12:24a whereas our more respectable members do not need this.

The church needed diverse talents just as the human body needs diverse body parts.  Being a cookie-cutter congregation meant you didn’t function as highly.  Strength was in embracing your differences and seeing them as assets.

These verses don’t go into more detail but I’m thinking of sporting gear protecting the heads and more sensitive parts of the body in rough activities.  When it comes to our bodies, we care about what happens to every little part.  We need all parts of our body to function fully.  We need all parts of our community to function fully as the body of Christ too.

While I was working in the Corporate world in a large bank, we often had working sessions where they attempted to pull in as diverse a group as possible when doing problem solving.  There was strength in diversity.  Problem solving needed many unique points of view to see a problem fully from every angle.

Diversity was also greatly valued when doing product development.  The customer was a diverse population and to reach them we needed a diverse team working on design.  Jesus told us to go into all the world.  That means the people the church is trying to reach is as diverse as it can be.  Following from my lessons in corporate life, that means the body of Christ needs to be diverse to reach them.

Being Interdependent

12:24b But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member,

12:25 that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

12:26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

While I was reading about the scripture for this Sunday one writer mentioned that there was a controversy when our country was born.  The controversy was whether to use the word “is” or “are when referring to our country.  Should it be “the United States are…” which indicates the separate unique nature of the states that make up our country.  Or should it be “the United States is...” which puts us as a single unified country.  It was determined the unity was more important to highlight.  We are a group of diverse people and states, but this country “is” the United States of America.

We, as a set of unique individuals, form the body of Christ.  Our hands “are” used, but the body “is” God’s hands in our world.  We must work together and support each other for the body to remain healthy.  We need to find the balance between being an individual and being connected to each other.  Recognize that we are united as a single body.  The failure of one part means the entire body is weakened.  Strength and healing of an individual part means the entire body is stronger.

This service itself, brings the ideas within this passage into action.  Gayle helps schedule a speaker and a pianist each week.  The scheduler, the speaker, and the pianist are important roles, yet you can have a service if someone passes out your bulletins and song books so that role is important. There’s also the person who sets up the microphones so you can hear the speaker.  We’ve sung without the piano before.  You’ve had a leader step up from the chairs to the podium when the speaker couldn’t come.  That says those two roles, while important, aren’t showstoppers.  Then there is the role you play.  The service couldn’t continue without you attending.  Your attention and reaction to what the leader says gives them feedback and encouragement to continue.  We each bring something to this time together.  It has lots of little parts that cause it to become worship.  Many members bringing different skills becomes one body of worship.

This scripture is a reminder to honor the gifts you bring to any situation.  Always work to be the best “you” you can be.   You have been gifted with different talents and can develop them and then share them as your act of service. Nobody else brings what you have to the table.  I’m in a group of songwriters and we say it this way.  Other people may be more talented in aspects of songwriting but nobody else can sing your song but you.

There is great value in diversity.  Every gift is woven into the whole of the body of Christ like a giant mosaic that becomes beautiful in its complexity.  It can be a challenge to recognize that differences are a strength and not something that should be expelled.  Sometimes we struggle with the unfamiliar.

Honor our differences.  Learn to rejoice in the success of another and care for the other that is suffering.  We are interdependent.  You strengthen the whole when you strengthen the individual parts so they can be their best.  It takes all of us bringing our best unique selves to this work to succeed in being the body of Christ. 

Amen