"Disciple's DNA;" Sermon for April 17th, 2016 by Rev. Nicole A.M. Collins, FODM

The modern Thomas Moore, a former Roman Catholic Monk makes an interesting statement that will help us to chew on the journey St. Paul presents to us today in the Book of Acts, he says: “ What does it mean to be awake?...  responding honestly and courageously to opportunity… avoiding temptation?  It is following the lead of the deep soul (The Holy Spirit) as we make a life…”  He continues in a sense to begin to paint that picture of the disciple’s struggle in saying: “We all fall asleep and allow life to rush by without reflection and consideration.  When we are shocked into awareness by a tragedy or failure, this is the time not simply to make resolutions for the future, but to choose to live an awakened life.”

Wow, what an amazing thought!  To live an awakened life… it’s not just by starting with an extra large cup of coffee in the morning to start the blood flowing!  It is to begin to understand this as Christ Jesus—the answer and contentment—the heart shaped by the New Nature lives into by everything we do and say for His purposes and mission in the world!

We have this one solitary life on this little rock floating amongst billions in a universe we can’t truly fathom… We have this life to LIVE into the here and now with that faith that can move mountains… once we are aware of it.  The life of the disciple and the genuine fruit born from conversion is seen a farewell pastoral address that St. Paul shares with us today in the Book of Acts reading.  In many ways, he is living into what Jesus was hoping for us to realize in the Gospel, Jesus says: “²⁷My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.”

As we know from this past week’s view of Paul, he did most definitely HEAR God’s call, was converted and became a church-planting, Gospel preaching dynamo! The radical transformation of his whole life moved from merely “being” who he was and living most beautifully into the whole purpose of God.  Verse 27 from Acts rang the loudest for me to contemplate.  You could say that this is where the Living Word truly and truthfully reveals God’s work in your own life.

Here’s the actual verse and what it means from the original Greek, Paul says: “²⁷for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”  Basically Paul is saying that he didn’t back down on the challenges laid before him—he still had to preach and teach and LIVE into God’s commission and calling to his life.  The whole purpose of God literally means, a “resolved plan,” the immutable aspect of God's plan – which purposefully arranges all physical circumstances, guaranteeing every scene of life works to His eternal purpose. This level of God's plan demonstrates that He is indeed the Lord of history, always in charge! It always also includes the Lord's purpose in and through us…

Can we put on Paul’s shoes today? Where we are in the here and now of our lives?  It’s a tall order to wrap our minds around since perhaps we don’t have enough faith in ourselves to aspire to move those mountains often times!  I’m guilt of this, who here as well feels this way?  The Gospel calls us into another sense of “being” to fulfill a much greater purpose. The highlight of my conversion to where I am now was hearing God’s voice literally telling me that He has greater plans for me in a New sense of Purpose!  It’s more than easy to feel purposelessness or uselessness where you are and the challenges that are currently blocking your path. BUT Christ calls us not to be in bondage to the world, but be a willing sacrifice for the sake of others to Share the Good News!

What can this willing sacrifice look like? Could it be cleaning “poop” off an elderly man’s bathroom floor and grumbling to yourself that this doesn’t pay enough to be doing this….?  Could it be being an actively publishing blogger sharing the Good News and NOT CARING if it’s not going to please everyone who reads it or watches the videos?  That’s because maybe there’s something more important you just can’t sacrifice….  You can’t sacrifice nor ever should sacrifice what God is needing you to reveal!  Maybe this is where we’ve really failed as the “church” since we’re all too afraid to share where God is leading us!

I was thinking about this the other day, in observing as a spectator more or less, some very ugly politically charged debates online by a group of “disgruntled Lutherans…” That’s kind of a funny right there, as I’ve been saying for years in jest: “Can’t we all just get along?” Let me tell you there was NOTHING Biblical or Christ-like in the behavior of some of these debaters.  At one point someone to lighten the mood on the page posted a picture of their cat.  So everyone who was more than exhausted by all the ugly talk, joined in and posted pictures and small talk about their pets… 

There was one person however, who was quite livid that the conversation stopped and made their opinion known… Instead of egging or caving into the ugly behavior with an Old Natured response, I posted that I loved them and wished them peace that evening.  The whole tone dramatically changed in their following response.  Granted it was a small gesture but that’s the point!

Everything we DO, BE and SAY that is grounded in Christ Jesus that amazing light, Shepherd to our lives, does produce that fruit when we naturally realize His guiding Hand and Work in our very individual lives!  As Thomas Moore said, we are individuals yes, but as disciples of Jesus we are called to something and shepherded to something that perhaps may seem beyond us but not out of reach—the Kingdom of God!

People may mock and belittle your faith, whether you at times are compelled to pray aloud NOT CARING about the consequences built by the world but CARING for the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness. There is a very dear colleague of mine whom I must say I really admire his tenacity.  On his resume, which we were sharing resumes for opinions and advice, he actually has listed that he drove something like 12,000 miles in attempts to visit nearly every local Lutheran church in his denomination to talk about discipleship and church planting over the past few years. WOW!  I think if I tried that with my car, as nice as it still is, it may just push it over the edge…

He is a man who’s already worn many hats in serving God and neighbor through the various ministries he’s engaged in. And I appreciate how he continues to encourage me even when I feel the Glass ceilings at various points upon the path are too difficult and discouraging to break.  I am carrying my cross and those tears shed upon it do indeed remind me of my Baptismal moment at that conversion some 12 years ago.  Jesus the Good Shepherd, didn’t just say this to those disciples seeking an answer… He said this to us all: “²⁹What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰The Father and I are one.”

We have to be careful in not allowing the world to diminish the role of God in our very lives.  It is happening though, when we show our division through politics, “intellectual-show-boating,” malice, contempt and distain for those who are bound to speaking the truth. The Prophet Isaiah in our past Lenten texts talks about the integrity and stamina of the disciple, when he says: “I gave my cheek to those who would pull out the beard…”

For where St. Paul is coming from in this farewell address, is both to encourage and challenge the disciples to take on the role God’s purposes have defined through Christ. It may seem like a long and lonely road where the cost is too deep and the prayers are not enough of a balm to encourage your moving forward…. But it doesn’t end here.  There’s too much at stake as well as there are many gifts YOU have to share and shepherd others with!

It was Francis of Assisi who said: “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” He also said: “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” Basically he is mirroring some aspects of Paul’s address in saying not to shrink, or back down from the challenge of living into discipleship.  The DNA of the disciple goes back to that very first commandment: “Love God and Neighbor in all ways that you can…”  The New Nature given to us by Christ Jesus through Grace is to be LIVED into by faith realized!  Realized inwardly and outward as a life shaped by, through and for Grace.

Paul was a mercenary Pharisee sent basically to kill all followers of the ‘Way’—disciples of Jesus, his conversion changed his entire life to be and become the greatest evangelist, church planter, theologian the church of Christ has ever known.  He didn’t do it by politics or showmanship but by the blood, sweat and tears of a faith that did move mountains!  I can’t imagine how many times that man must have gotten discouraged… From the wayward Corinthians to the Galatians whom it almost seems as if he’s yelling in some his letters to them to straighten up and fly right… to his last leg of his called ministry to preach, teach and plant in Greece and eventually Rome.

There is no formula to the Christian life except to be LIVED intentionally, prayerfully with Christ Jesus at the center.  It is never to be a worldly chaplaincy to Christ; it is to be and become a dedicated and amazing life led pastorally by and through Christ Jesus, the Lord!

AMEN

Let us pray—

Gracious Lord Jesus

There are so many things, we still need to be encouraged and strengthened in

The devil and his demons may say they know our very core weakness

But we need to say to their face brazenly that we answer and follow You, Alone

At all costs, in everything we do and say

No matter how great the challenges and the pain

We have the capacity and that New Nature DNA

Let us Live it for Your Kingdom come and Your righteousness!

AMEN

April 17th 2016; Fourth Sunday of Easter; SOLA Lectionary

Sermon By: Reverend Nicole A.M. Collins, FODM

Psalm 23; Acts 20:17-35; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30

~Below is a link to this sermon's delivery at the Grace Hub Lutheran Orthodox Church's house service at 8am:
https://youtu.be/vB56rcT4IKc