"A Spirited Path;" Sermon for June 26th, 2016 by: Rev. Nicole A.M. Collins, FODM

Today’s Gospel has us contemplate the task of discipleship as a spirited walk commissioned by Christ to not only “talk the talk” as they say but truly “walk” onto that spirited path. This is our discipleship journey’s path that the Lord has laid forth for us through the victory of the Cross.  As we have come to know especially where we are currently in this day and age—“walking and talking” the Way of Christ is met with many challenges not just for ourselves but in who truly leads us…

This past week I had an epiphany of considering expanding upon my skills as a pastor.  This was partly due to spending a good chunk of the week composing two syllabi for the Faith Points Lutheran Bible Institute to which I will be teaching eventually a few theology classes online.  It wasn’t so much the art of composing what books to put on the required list and what not… It was more looking back into where my theology is and what I have to offer. This goes beyond denominations and truly becomes more of a matter of faith and commitment.  Which is what today’s texts are all about.

Here’s where the epiphany was, my heart is dedicated and consecrated to truly “BE” a pastor.  What does that mean?  It does seems redundant but the greatest task of the pastor is to care for others.  How I have been doing that, became an interesting journey of reflection in itself. Which lead me in part to contemplate seeking very slowly, a doctorate in pastoral care and parish ministry.  A lot of pastors do engage in higher or continuing education, but is it done following what Jesus is saying in today’s Gospel?  Am I truly striving with a dedicated heart to proclaim the Kingdom of God through ministering to others?

The caregiving I have been doing essentially for “an income” around my many wonderful varied pastoral activities confirmed that in order to truly make disciples and spread the Good News of the Gospel—it requires “walking the Talk,” “Living the Talk” as an open, authentic, intentionally loving individual.  The pastor at the beginning of my journey into ministry exampled that kind of beautiful behavior that St. Paul wishes for the Galatians to spiritually infuse into everything they do and say. This pastor’s early mentoring taught and inspired me to initially move forward in the journey to becoming a pastor.

It is that larger umbrella of the Christian faith that we need to take seriously as an identity and calling to be and become a freely responsible servant of Christ Jesus and His beautiful Gospel of Grace and Love the world NEEDS to Hear! The Gospel the world NEEDS to hear—here and now in a time of many trials and spiritual turmoil across the globe.

What we do and say as Jesus’ Disciples must be willingly shaped by the Spirit.  When it is willfully shaped to another spirit is where we fall away.  We fall away from understanding as well as to commitment—why do we need to be and live into being a child of Grace and promise, if we have now seemingly made it irrelevant to our own gospel?  Our lives shouldn’t create a gospel but DELIVER the one, true Gospel of Jesus Christ the Lord! This is what Jesus meant by insisting those questioning Him in today’s Gospel. In order to truly follow Him, we must live—disciple by His Gospel, not ours.

Staying on that Spirited Path is the task and cost of discipleship.  The Galatians were still struggling with reinventing the Law into a works righteousness of expressing their commitment to Christ. Which is a very human thing to do.  It’s a very human thing to DO things with an expectation of getting something…  When it comes to the Spirit however, we must look, learn and live through a lens of faith shaped by that beautiful Grace Christ Jesus imparted upon us at that Cross. There’s the real “feel good” theology the world is not even realizing they truly are hungering and thirsting for!

Why are we not desiring this very spiritually demanding Gospel? Is it because we are seeking but finding and forming our own lens of faith that purely justifies itself and has no real need for God?  I thought about this a lot this past week in not only completing these syllabi for “systematic theology,” but in the purpose and pursuit of a possible doctorate alongside of serving.  Who is at the center of my faith? Christ.  Who is at the center of my ministry?  Is it Lutheranism or some other perspective of Christianity?  No, it is Christ.  Who do I pastor, why do I Pastor?  I pastor on behalf of the gifts of the Spirit Christ Jesus taught my heart to live for as FAITH.

In order to love God and neighbor, the Holy Spirit keeps my heart aligned to serve through His Word.  Serving through His Word is staying on that Spirited Path.  It is a life time’s journey but one which each one of us is called to.  Those who profess Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father, IS called and commissioned to come and follow.  The task of ministry is all around us people! But it is not a task about us, more than it is a task beyond us. When we live through and by faith alone is when all our agendas, politicking, and worldly goals are left behind and we truly FOLLOW!

If I were to look at my future in a worldly way, the pursuit of higher education is merely a notch on the pastoral belt of “success…”  What success is it if I not thinking and truly incorporating my gifts to care? As I once heard a colleague jokingly remark, “Climbing DMin mountain is a good ego trip for some pastors…”  How much is it dedicated to the future progress of ministry and truly ministering to others, though?

The face and nature of ministry is changing in the world, not necessarily for the better…  One of the most powerful concluding scenes in the 1973 musical movie, ‘GodSpell,’ shows all of Jesus’ disciples returning to their everyday world.  The dancer, the waitress, the cab driver, the student… all of them return to their lives BUT singing “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord.”  All of them were touched and centered by the Holy Spirit to continue in following Christ into their everyday lives!

This is what “success” should truly look like.  If we really did live into the fruits of the Spirit which St. Paul has listed as: “^22b…. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control.”  Just think where the world would be?  Perhaps that is the reality of the Kingdom we need to truly strive for with commitment, willingness and intentionality to learn, grow and go with the Gospel!

Having and living faith is to struggle with not knowing at times, where your priorities should be.  The Evil One and the world can at times be quite successful at tempting you to look at your life with despair and disappointment.  Other may add to this in making you definitely feel unwelcome.  They did this to Jesus in today’s Gospel—the Samaritans didn’t welcome Him but Jesus kept moving forward with His efforts focused on Jerusalem—the place we know where He would embrace that cross to save us in more ways than we could ever realize… But MUST, if we are to survive!

“Survival of the fittest,” through Satan’s eyes and our own gospel produce merely the works of the world or as St. Paul says of the flesh: “^19b… fornication, impurity, licentiousness, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, ²¹envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.”  Aren’t we seeing a lot of the headlines in the local and global news to be nothing but strife, conflict, violence and other self-oriented battles that leave the heart grieving?

Just this past week, a couple quarreling on the Red Line EL train in Chicago in Hyde Park ended with the man stabbing the woman death in broad daylight in front of everyone. World news has the European Union being slowly divided as the UK decides to leave over financial irresponsibility and instability on behalf of other contributing nations.  State budgets, programs and people are becoming more and more divided, falling away into despair and graceless behavior… Desperation is the last act to come to fruition.

Yes, we are of the flesh but we are also of the Spirit. We cannot and should not continue down a self-justifying path of destruction… but we are! Instead of being overwhelmed by this “bad news” and its unholy gospel…  We need to come together and refocus.  Who is at the center and purpose of our being?  Who gave us New Life through His Living Word?  Christ Jesus the Lord, that's who!  You and I have this one earthly, fleshy life to live. Let’s live it to the fullest and give our hearts to follow in Grace through a profoundly bright HOPE that we can change—for it is the Spirit which is watching, waiting and speaking to us to DO so!

Let us Pray,

Gracious and Loving God,

We thank you for Your loving, guiding a willing Spirit

To have patience with us

As You instruct our hearts to be shaped by Your Gospel’s Path

May we open to the truth in all we Do and Say as faith-filled disciples

AMEN

June 26th 2016; Sixth Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 8; Year C; SOLA Lectionary

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

Psalm 16; 1 Kings 19:9b-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62

The link below is to this sermon's delivery at the Grace Hub house church service at 8am:
https://youtu.be/eiKe5vhJIfk