Sermon - 2014-03-26 - Invite and Give

When Jesus called the disciples to follow him.  They were looking for someone to be the Messiah to lead them, but they were not ready for what happened to them.  They were not even considering the possibility that God would be calling them or using them in the world. Jesus calls them away from their family and the way of life that their ancestors had lived for probably a long time. Jesus is calling them to do something new, something radical.  They were going to study and learn from a teacher.  However, there was no mention of the debates or struggles in understanding that they would face, if they should go.  Still, the disciples were willing to leave all that they knew to follow this teacher.  

They were called by name to begin this journey.  As they began this journey with Jesus who seemed to be an ordinary man.  They followed him around and asked him to teach them.  When he taught in the synagogues, or when large crowds gathered he would be teaching the disciples.  The  disciples would  join in helping Jesus with the people but would be learning from the teachings.  They were given the opportunity to ask questions, dive in deeper to the understanding and meaning of the teaching.  They could ask questions of the exact one who was teaching it.  They are hearing it, they are also able to bear witness to the teaching being lived out.  They were able to witness Jesus actually healing, forgiving sins, and performing miracles in their daily life.  The disciples found a comfort in being led and guided by the Messiah.  

Through this time the disciples were able to grow in their own faith and life.   They were able to grow in their relationship with God more deeper, stronger, and be able shared with others.  As the disciples were able to encounter others, and help Jesus with the crowds of people. They could help those who wanted to hear and learn from Jesus.  The disciples were able to have a better and firmer understanding of their own faith.  Being in the presence of Jesus impacted their lives.  They were taught how it could be shared.  They took  this faith given to them, and did the harder work of sharing it with others. The disciples could helping others wrestled with their own questions, fears and doubts.  They were taking this faith that was in their head and hearts and actually using it to help others.  

In a very short time of three years being together as disciples of Jesus Christ, they entered into Jerusalem with an entire crowd shouting praise and honor to Jesus.  The news had spread of what Jesus had done, and the sharing of the faith had reach a great many people.  Still the people had their own thoughts and hopes for what the Messiah would do for them just as the disciple had.  The people had listened to hear what others were thinking about this messiah. Some even witnessed the miracles Jesus had done to friends or others in the community.   However, the people do not see Jesus doing what they hope would happen.  They do not hear of their own dreams being fulfilled for them.

Jesus gathered them in a room to share this meal with them.  He wanted them to know they could trust and support one another,  They could help others through the good times and the bad.  He wanted them to know that he would always be with them.  Jesus gave them a community to which they could belong.  No matter what happened to them,  they could return to this community.  In this community they could be reminded of the truth of God’s Word and love for them always.  As Jesus faced the crowds that turned against him and when he was facing death, he was teaching his disciples that they could depend on God’s Word and love for them.  Yet Jesus death is not end, for Jesus gives them the promise that he will return but he will send the advocate, the Holy Spirit to live and be with them.  Reminding them of the community, love, and faith which they were to receive by a relationship with God and one another.  Now it becomes their work to share this message in the world.  The are being called to help others.  They will grow in faith through this process of growing as disciples of Jesus Christ and have this relationship with God.  

This brings us to the various parts of discipleship.  The Calling, Growing, and Community, it is these three aspects of faith which we are called to live out, and invite others to live out also.  The Calling is a time when God calls you by name.  You are called by God your Creator and Sustainer to be in relationship with God.  This is followed by a time of Growing, in which a person is learning, praying,, growing in faith and life.  As this takes place, the disciple is able to understand that it is not simply about themselves and their own relationship with God, but it is more than that.  It is about helping others on their faith journey by helping them learn, sharing in experiences, and serving one another in worship and life. In this working together to help one another, both people are enriched in their lives.  It becomes a worship of God that encompasses not just Sunday morning, but truly whole lives, every single day and every single breath.  

Yes, God calls not just part of you but ALL OF YOU.  All that you are and all that you shall be within the world.  God calls you to follow his Son in this world.  God calls  you in your planning on doing in the world.  Because God is the one who created you and all that exists, God understands that he has created you do more than just serve the church.  You have been created to build, create, care for others, and ensure that the communities in which we live in are safe.  Which, if we are honest, we spend most of our time on our job and caring for ourselves than in caring for the community around us.  God knows this about his creation, so God set one day set apart from our busy schedules.  God did this so that we take time for that very important relationship with God and don’t forget our God.  We spend time with God, our Creator and Sustainer in life.  In order to help us, God gave us one day a week to be set aside for our relationship with God, our family, and our faith.  To ensure that this would help us continue to grow, develop, and be a focus in our lives living with God.  In the church, we have a practice of helping everyone achieve this focus on God. When we Tithe, 10% of all that God has given to us, our time, our abilities, and our wealth to God so that others may hear and see what we are doing.  That others may live out their faith in this way as well.  This Community is a place where all are welcome.  Where all can continue to grow.  Where they are on their own faith journeys. We as disciples of Jesus Christ give back this first 10%, trusting and knowing that God will give us all that we need in our life.  

So, go into the world, hearing that you are called as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Go into the world, growing in your faith and relationship with God.  Go into the world and into the community of believers to care and support one another every step of the way.  Amen.