Sermon
When the seventy disciples set out on their journey, do you think they were clear about their mission?
Was it evident to them exactly what they were supposed to do?
They knew how they were to travel: in pairs, no baggage, but what of the mission?
They were simply told to offer peace to those households they visited and to stay as long as they felt welcome.
They were to heal the sick and announce that ‘the kingdom of God has come near’ but then what?
We know, from reading ahead a bit, that the disciples returned with joy at having discovered their power of conveying Jesus’ teachings and participating in the healing and confrontation of demons among the people they encountered.
After they returned Jesus offered this prayer:
Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
This account of the disciples experience serves as an invitation to us to go out into the world spreading the good news of the gospel and announcing that the kingdom of God has come near.
So what do we need to do the work of disciples?
I read two books this month on this topic and I want to recommend we read them together as a congregation.
In Vital Vintage Churches Michael Piazza makes the case for being mission driven:
“We must discern who we are called to be (vision), what we are called to do (mission), and what our guiding core values are. Then we must find our voice and articulate what we have discerned, and we must do it clearly, passionately, creatively, and relentlessly.”
He goes on to say, “We are not required to have all the answers, but, as community leaders, we must at least give voice to the questions and reveal that we are struggling with people to find a way.”
His point is that “a vital church is energetic and passionate about who it has been called to be and what it has been called to do.” He acknowledges, “No church can do all things well, but every thriving church has a ministry or two that defines it and that it wants to share with everyone.”
This is the work that we must do.
The second book is Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World by UCC General Minister and President, John Dorhauer.
Reverend Dorhauer urges the development of a “new narrative built around the centrality of mission, subjecting everything else to it.”
He contends that every decision made within the life of the church must be filtered through the mission.
He goes beyond ministries of the church and includes building use, hiring practices, budgeting priorities, worship development, and outreach.
The mission must be clear and everything must be in service to that mission.
Our mission statement, which is printed on the front of your bulletin says:
CREATED BY GOD
CALLED BY JESUS CHRIST
GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
DEDICATED TO LOVING AND SERVING GOD AND NEIGHBOR
With this as our guide we ought to be filtering every decision made in the life of the church through the lens of ‘how does this demonstrate love and service to God and neighbor?’
This does not seem particularly difficult and I think that most of what we do would be characterized as loving and serving God and our neighbors.
The point is in asking the questions, grounding our life together in this mission, drawing attention to why we do this.
When we fail to frame our work theologically, we lose our way and become simply another community agency.
But when we shift our thinking and carry out all of the tasks that make up the life of the church as loving and serving God and neighbor, it feels different.
Jesus told the disciples to offer what they had and to give willingly to those who wanted to partake, but to turn away from those who weren’t interested. ‘Whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this, the kingdom of God has come near.’
I always struggled with this instruction. It seemed dismissive.
But this week, I heard it anew.
What I heard Jesus saying is ‘offer the gifts that you have to those who want to receive them and don’t worry about the people who do not want what you offer.
You know what joy comes from loving and serving God and neighbor and you can offer that to others.
For those who are not interested in experiencing that joy – shake the dust from your feet and move on.’
So… what does this mean for our ministry?
Last week I asked you what we ought to be doing to build a just world for all and many of your responses focused on creating a refuge or sanctuary for ourselves.
Today I want to push you on what we could be doing for others because I sincerely believe that there is joy to be found in looking outside ourselves and serving God and neighbor.
Let us pray.
Gracious and holy God we bring ourselves to you this morning seeking your love and grace.
Help us, we pray to discern your call for us and empower us to follow that call.
We want to be your servants, following the model of your disciples.
We know, God, that the best way to know you is to be still and listen for your voice and then to carry your message out into the world.
Grant us ears to hear you, eyes to see our neighbors and hearts to love one another as you have loved us.
Hear now our prayers for those whom we love.
For those who are sick, we pray for healing.
For those who mourn, we pray for comfort.
For those who live with poverty, hunger, violence and fear, we pray that our ministries might bring them peace.
O God, we need you. Be with us in the silence as we offer the prayers of our hearts….