Delivered Dec. 31, 2006
by Pastor Eric Henderson
Therefore, since we are justified by faith,
1. we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to his grace in which we stand;
2.and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
3.And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Sprit that has been give to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for the righteous person-though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely than, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view; we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he hade him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
We end 2006 by beginning a series of worship serviced called Pursuing God's Purposes. We'll review the Biblical foundation for relationships with God and others. We'll be open about conflict and hopefully grow in our ability to deal with the inevitable conflicts that are part of life. The bible says, Where two or three are gathered, there will be conflict.
2006 has been a painful year for many of you. Donna and Frank Brubacher were in conflict with the former pastor Werner and his wife Joanne. Both families are now worshiping elsewhere. Various individuals and groups were unsuccessful in resolving the conflict. Things were done and said which were painful. Other families moved for different jobs. Heather died. A couple of Americans come as pastors and needed help moving not once but twice within 3 months and add the need for decisions and adjusting to changes.
Some of us may be ending the year feeling overwhelmed, distracted, discouraged, burdened by conflicts and changes.
Perhaps Paul and the believers in the large port city of Corinth felt the same. Paul and others, formed several small groups of believers in Jesus Christ. Conflicts abounded. When Paul was present trying to deal with various conflicts, apparently someone offended him grievously so Paul wrote, I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. He wrote several letters instead.
The group was ripe with possibilities for conflicts. There were worship wars between Gentiles who formerly worshipped pagan gods and Jews who worshiped One God. There were sexual deviants who were proud of it and former deviants trying to live a new way. Some within the group were Jews who strongly believed in continuing to practice the law, others were Gentiles trying to figure out what to do with the Jews who were trying to force restrictions on them. Both Jews and Gentiles were trying to use their newly acquired spiritual gifts but many apparently got carried away by the wind of the Spirit and created chaotic worship services.
To compound the conflicts, teachers and leaders other than Paul moved among the small house churches teaching various doctrines and practices that differed from what Paul had already taught.
Into the culture of conflicts and pain, struggles in relationships, disagreements about beliefs and practices Paul focuses attention on a foundational purpose of God and the church by stating,
in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, ...
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
Listen to three biblical stories of reconciliation chosen from the multitude of possibilities intended to help us understand God's reconciliation.
II Samuel 9Mephibosheth limped. He limped because his nurse heard the news his father Jonathan and Grandfather Saul had died in battle. Mephibosheth was the only heir left to the throne, but his nurse feared that someone would kill him, especially David. So she grabbed the 5 year old Mephibosheth and fled for safety, but dropped the child and broke a leg that never healed correctly.
Not many noticed the limp, because Mephibosheth lived a secluded lonely life hoping not to attract attention, especially from King David.
But one day David remembered his friend Jonathan and a promise made between them. He discovered the whereabouts of Mephibosheth and forced him into the open.
So the crippled, limping Mephibosheth came before King David bowing down and saying, What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me? (Either he had an extremely low self-image, or he was wisely groveling to save his life.)
Last Sunday everyone was invited to place a cloth in the cradle as a symbol of preparing our hearts for Christ. Perhaps we came reluctantly out of seclusion to Jesus limping in fear, with guilt or shame, thinking like Mephibosheth, who am I, that Jesus should notice a dead dog like me?
From a human point of view it was a good idea for Mephibosheth to grovel. But unknown to Mephibosheth was a promise made between David and Jonathan while teenagers to show the LORD'S unfailing kindness to one another and all family members. David acted like God and said to lame, groveling Mephibosheth, Don't be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness ... I will restore to you all that belongs to you and you will eat at my table. And Mephibosheth always ate at the kings table.
David replaced Mephibosheth's fear and distance to a place at his table daily.
John 4Her limp was social rather than physical. The woman hide from others by going to town and the stores at the oddest times, hoping to do what needed doing and then hiding out again in her car and apartment. During one of her trips, Jesus asked her to join him for lunch at the Cozy Café. In addition to food from the Café He offered her food from God so she would never go hungry again.
The woman replied, I'm not sure what people will say, if they see the two of us together, but I guess I'll give some of that food a try.
Jesus told her, Give your husband a call on the cell phone and invite him to join us for lunch.
She hesitated to act because her mind went into overdrive. Her first thought was, how could you be so stupid as to talk to anyone, especially Jesus, and what were you thinking when you accepted an invitation to lunch? The next thought was that if she was honest about her latest illicit relationship, Jesus, like most other people would shame and reject her. Was the risk of more shame and more rejection worth an honest response, or should she quickly make up an excuse and limp back to her car and apartment?
Last Sunday as the Advent Candles were lit, we sang, The second for the prophets, Who said that Christ would come, With good news for many and angry words for some. Perhaps we limp socially, avoiding closeness and conversation with Jesus and followers of Jesus for fear that there would only be angry words for us.
From a human point of view the woman deserved shame and rejection.
But Jesus listened to the woman tell the truth about her life, proclaimed himself as the promised Son of God-the Messiah. And the woman hurried to the stores and restaurant inviting other people to see Jesus. The woman was changed from a social outcast to one who invited people to gather and hear Jesus.
Luke 15With stereotypical bravado, Sam barged into his father's office unannounced and asked for $100,000 to travel a little and start his own business. Dad had found a good job for Sam's older brother in the family business so he felt justified in asking for the money rather than a job.
Dad hesitated, but reluctantly wrote the check.
Sam did the travel part, but ran out of money before he started the business. Unfortunately, the money ran out in South America where the only job he could find was burning, cutting and loading sugar cane. One night as he tried to catch a cool breeze to alleviate some of the burns on his arms and the soreness of his muscles, Sam thought how nice to be even a janitor in the air conditioned building his father owned in the city.
But Sam hesitated - wondering if he was ready to humble himself and apologize to his father. He also wondered whether his father would be the tough businessman and say, Sorry, no job in my company for irresponsible people. Or, would his father gladly welcome him back to the family and business?
Last Sunday we sang, Oh how joyfully, oh, how peacefully, sleeps the earth on Christmas night! Sins are covered, grace discovered. In our darkness shines the light! Nice joyful song. But we may identify with Sam, knowing full well we've once had a good relationship with God, but are now in a foreign land, alone, empty, in pain, wondering if the song is really true, and having a hunch that if we tried to return to God would hear, Sorry, there's no place for irresponsible ones like you.
From a human point of view, Sam had blown it - He deserved to be poor and miserable.
But he came to his senses, went back ready to confess his sins, but found the father waiting to welcome him back and have a big party because the lost one was found. A self-centered Son, living foolishly, far from home and family, creating shame for self, family, community was changed to a member of the family celebrated by a Father and friends who gladly, willingly, set things right.
in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, ...
Reconciling or reconciliation means a change of relationship, making things right. God wants to make things right in relationship to us and in our relationship with others. Right relationship with God is a life-long journey. Grab hold of Christ through prayer, sharing with others, scripture reading, serving and discover the grace that covers our sins and makes the old new.
and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;
God has given us the ministry of helping others have right relationships. The ministry of reconciliation might include listening to another's life story. Telling the story of the Lost Sons assuring the listener that God is like the Father in the story-waiting for us to come to our senses-our true self, repent and come to relationship with God. Or telling our own story of being reconciled to God.
The ministry of reconciliation might include inviting and welcoming others to be part of our lives - which includes gathered life of congregation.
The ministry of reconciliation is not easy, or a simple three step formula that if followed guarantees great results. It can be messy, risky, and scary. Our predecessor got crucified for it. But we've been given the ministry and will find part of our own reconciliation as we participate in the ministry of reconciliation.
As we anticipate a new year, the beginning of the rest of our lives, let us be reconciled to God in Christ and join in the ministry of reconciliation. To act on our need to be reconciled to God and undertake the ministry of reconciliation, next Sunday we'll be offering the opportunity to renew our covenant with God and one another. The Covenant was in the mailboxes last Sunday. The first paragraph of the covenant states,
We commit ourselves to follow Jesus Christ, Through whom God offers friendship to the peoples of the world, in whom we continue the work of reconciliation.
As we participate in the Covenant Renewal Service, may it be part of being reconciled to God and pursuing the ministry of reconciliation.
Petitcodiac Mennonite Church