April 22 Sermon Christ’s unexpected intrusions
After Easter, the tomb is empty and the disciples’ world is filled with
surprising encounters with the risen Christ.
Two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus and encounter a
stranger, who they finally realize is the risen Christ. Then he shows up behind locked doors in the
upper room at dinner time – and not just once.
His unexpected intrusions into their lives are both surprising and
upsetting - For he would redirect them and transform them.
Simon Peter says to the other disciples “I’m going fishing”. They’ll go back to what they know, the world from which they were drawn by Jesus when
they were called to be a disciple. But
they’ll soon learn they can not go back to their old familiar, pre-Easter
world.
At dawn, the risen Christ intrudes among them. They fail to recognize him – a problem in
many of His appearances. He’s been
mistaken for a stranger, or even the gardener.
Do we fail to recognize his voice speaking to us?
From the shore, this stranger gives these fishermen some advice on how
to fish – and when they obey him, there is a huge catch. Peter then recognizes Jesus. He has been surprised by the risen Lord.
In a way this is a parable of our world after Easter. We are going about our business, assuming the
old, familiar world is intact, when the suddenly risen Christ intrudes – and
brings wonder and extravagance.
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Maybe it’s natural to want to achieve a sort of balance in our
lives. “Balance is the illusion that
you are actually in control of your life.”
If we can get ourselves that sort of balance – control – then life seems
easier. We can have the illusion that
our fate is in our hands, and that the direction of our lives is firmly in our
control. Tomorrow is up to us.
Like Peter and his mates in their fishing boats. This is something they know well – it’s
familiar and in their control – it feels good – and then surprise, the risen
Christ intrudes. Jesus throws everything
out of kilter – upsets the balance in our lives.
There is no defense against Jesus.
No way to secure yourself against his intrusions. The tomb is empty – and Christ is on the move
– you never know where
he will
meet you. Even in His disciples’
lost-ness, even in their betrayal, the first thing he does at Easter is to come
out to get them.
This strange encounter on the beach ends with Jesus saying “follow
me”. Follow where?
Into a new world where everything has been overturned by the powerful
work of God in the resurrection of Jesus – into a world of new possibilities,
for Christ and His power are on the loose.
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Maybe you haven’t experienced the Lord dramatically intruding into your
life. But most of you have seen how an
intrusion of another sort can completely change your life.
I’m thinking of the birth of your first baby. The change in the lives of the parents is
dramatic. That little baby intrudes –
and you’re refocused, redirected. Your
world changes in a moment – your priorities are altered. It’s an intrusion that changes your life.
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Our second lesson (Acts 9:1-19) moves ahead in time to years after the
resurrection, and reports a life-changing intrusion.
The man we know as
Paul was both a bible scholar and a Pharisee. Apparently he was well connected with the
religious leaders – the same ones who had crucified Jesus – and worked for them
in attempting to stamp out the new Jesus-movement.
Paul felt that he was doing God’s work by eliminating this challenge to
the traditional faith. And he was
zealous about it – seeking out followers of Jesus so they could be brought
before Jewish courts.
But on the road to
“Who are you Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
Paul must have experienced a
tremendous, sinking feeling. I’m on the
wrong side. How will the Lord punish me
for this?
“Get up and go to the city”, Jesus says, “and there you will be told what to
do.”
Paul gets up from the ground, but he can’t see a thing. His companions lead him into the city.
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This story has always bothered me.
Paul was a sincere believer, a student of the Bible and prayed several
times a day. He wanted to do God’s work
– and he thought he was.
But he was wrong. He was
violently persecuting the followers of Jesus, instead of joining them. How could he have been so wrong?
Paul was not the only one to think he was doing God’s will, when in fact, he was doing just the opposite.
So, could that ever happen to us?
As a church, and as individuals, can we be sure that our idea of God’s
will – what we think he wants us to do – is really His will? Or is it just our idea?
Reading this passage always give me a sudden attack of humility. If Paul was wrong, what makes me so sure I’m
right? Could I have misinterpreted the
Lord’s plan? Don’t be so stubborn and
arrogant.
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The risen Christ suddenly
intruded into Paul’s life and let him know he was headed in the wrong direction
– but didn’t tell him what he should be doing.
Just go into the city and wait for further instructions.
And when the risen Jesus surprised the disciples while fishing, they
probably realized something more was expected, but what? But instead of immediately redirecting them,
they have breakfast.
So you may be challenged by God’s word – or called to greater
commitment and involvement in the Lord’s work – but what?
It seems we’re called to wait on the Lord – to listen for his voice.
In Paul’s case, the Lord decided that voice would come through the
Christian community – that little church in
Yes, Paul had that vision – heard a voice – but his assignment – his
specific ministry – would come not as a dramatic revelation, but through the
members of
a local
church.
Is that a message for us?
Don’t gaze into heaven to figure out what the Lord wants you to do, but
rather listen for His voice speaking to you through the words of your brothers
and sisters. The guidance for Paul would
begin through a church member named Ananias.
There was only one problem.
Ananias wanted no part of that assignment, for he has heard about Paul’s
reputation.
Reluctance to accept the Lord’s assignment seems to come
naturally. When God called Moses, he
offered six different reasons why he should not proceed as asked. Before Jesus and John were born, both of
their respective parents object that a birth is impossible. I’m too old - too young
When you’re asked to do something for your church, you’ll probably
think of reasons why you can’t do it.
You’re in good company, for many heroes of the Bible raised the same
kind of objections – “Not me Lord”.
Having said that, you also should remember that the
Lord doesn’t take “no’ for an answer. He uses various ways to persuade, not all of
them pleasant. Ananias wisely agrees to
do as the Lord asks – to approach Paul and bring him into the church
fellowship. Paul will be God’s chosen
instrument to bring Christ’s name before Gentiles and the people of
When the Lord intrudes into a life to redirect it, often it involves a
new goal but one that allows the person to use their talents and abilities in a
new way.
Paul’s strength and intelligence, commitment and eloquence from before
his conversion is put to new use.
And think about Peter. Just as
when he was in the fishing business, he had supervised a crew to fish, now
he’ll organize his mates to fish for people.
The Lord can take our abilities and experiences and refashion them into
something new and better. Like Peter and
Paul, we can grow and be more with His guidance.
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Paul got in tune with God’s purpose for him after he began a part of
that little church in
April
29 Sermon - The
Good Shepherd John 10:22-30
On these Sundays after Easter we are exploring the significance of
Christ’s resurrection. The tomb is empty
and Jesus is on the move - no longer constrained by human limitations. He can come to us in different, even
unexpected ways. In many of the accounts
of His post-resurrection appearances, even His closest disciples don’t
immediately recognize Him. It’s almost a
warning – You never know when the Lord will intrude into your life.
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Today we ponder the meaning of Christ’s resurrection – His abiding
presence – by going back to a time in Jesus’ ministry when he compared himself
to a shepherd. It’s a lesson on
listening for his voice today.
A woman was telling a friend about the new pastor at her church. “He’s really a great preacher. I love his sermons. Of course, I haven’t understood most of what
he’s said in his sermons.”
Would any of you say that about my sermons?
In today’s gospel, that’s what
Christ’s critics say. They complain that
Jesus’ teaching is ambiguous and hard to understand. “How long will you keep us in suspense? If
you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."
John 10:24
But Jesus is fed up with his critics.
"I have told you, and you do not believe.” 10:25. He says he’s been teaching them, but they’ve got a
problem. They really haven’t been
listening – not listening in a way that leads to understanding. The problem, Jesus says, is,
“You do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 10:26,27
You do not believe, because you do not belong
Jesus says first you
belong to his sheep, his flock, his band of followers - and then you
will come to really believe and begin to understand - to know Him.
Belong so that you might really believe.
Follow so that you might have faith.
I think the reverse seems more logical - figure out what you believe
and then join up.
Come to faith, make your decision for Christ, and then join a
church.
But that’s not what Jesus says. You do not believe, because you do
not belong
First you answer his call and become a part of His flock. Then, My sheep hear my voice. I
know them, and they follow me.
We listen with a purpose - for Jesus says “I know them, and they
follow me.”
We listen so that we may know and follow Jesus’ teaching in our
everyday lives - so that his word may be our guide to a better, more
abundant life.
One of the purposes of our gathering each Sunday is to come to school -
the school of life, where Jesus is the teacher.
The church is the primary
reality of the Christian faith. Jesus
did not write a book, but founded a community of followers.
So faith in Jesus
involves
belonging to his flock, his church
and
listening to His voice - His words in scripture
and then
following His teaching in our daily lives
Only then Jesus says, we will come to really
believe, to have faith.
Because by joining with other followers of Jesus, listening to his
teaching and applying them in our daily lives, we will discover for ourselves
that they are true - not just true in a general sense, but
true for us
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The word “pastor’ literally means “shepherd”
Before he became Pope Benedict, Joe Ratzinger
liked to tell this story about himself.
As Cardinal Ratzinger he ate about once a week
at a German restaurant a short walk from the
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Another pastor was explaining the 23rd psalm to some
children. He told them about sheep, and
how they needed the guidance of a shepherd.
Finally, he pointed to the children and said they were the sheep who
needed guidance. “If
you are the sheep, who is the shepherd?”
After some silence, a little girl said, “Jesus. Jesus is the shepherd.”
Disappointed, the pastor and would-be shepherd said; “Well then, who am
I?”
The girl thought for a moment, then shrugged,
“I guess you must be the sheep dog.”
Isn’t that a picture of a
pastor: a sheep dog, running in circles and barking, rather than leading - for
it is the good shepherd, who is leading.
The shepherd doesn’t
tell the sheep dog his plans - where
he is leading the sheep, or why.
The sheep dog is simply supposed to do his job
- keeping the
flock together and moving, following where ever the good shepherd leads.
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The good shepherd tells his sheep, us, “I am the shepherd. I know the right path. Follow me.”
Christ is the way, as well as the truth and the life. When we don’t do it His way, we mess up the
truth, and miss out on the life. We
can’t have a life more like Jesus by embracing a life less like Jesus.
Sheep regularly hear the voice of their shepherd - they trust his word,
and they follow.
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How does one hear the voice of the good shepherd?
It’s probably not like Moses, who heard God speak audibly. It could be like Elijah, who simply listened
to the sheer silence – and in the silence received assurance and direction.
A pastor spoke of his call to ministry in this way: “I heard a voice – not a
audible, human kind of voice – but inner words spoken somewhere in my
soul.’ It was more of a growing conviction.
Scholar N. T. Wright writes about “echoes of Christ’s voice”. He is referring to yearnings or
longings. Non verbal
feelings deep within us that perhaps we can’t put into words. It could be a longing for justice or beauty,
for relationships or even love. Desires
that draw us to the Author of justice and beauty. These incomplete hopes may be echoes of the
voice of Christ who would draw us into relationship and reveal true love.
His voice can speak to you through the Words of the Bible, in your silent
prayers –even
through the voices of your brothers and sisters
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How do you know if it’s Jesus voice?
My sheep hear my voice… and they follow.
Are you following? That’s the
test.
So maybe you do know what Jesus is talking about.
Why are you here this morning?
Why are you, despite the fact you don’t fully understand, here
following Jesus?
I think it’s because you have heard his voice. You may not know everything about Jesus, may
not know a lot about the bible. But you
do know Jesus. In some way or another,
you know Him. Maybe
not as clearly as you might like, but clearly enough to follow him. Somehow he revealed himself to you in a way
that has led you to follow. That you are
here in church is evidence that he has spoken to you in some way. You are following because you have heard His
voice.
In the gospel Jesus says: I and the Father are one. In other words, when you listen to Jesus, you
have heard God. And that’s why you’re
here. The Spirit of God – the voice of
Jesus – has somehow called you. Perhaps in spoke through a relative or friend. Maybe it was just something within you that
prompted you – maybe even something you can’t verbalize – just a feeling – but
you’re here because he has called you to follow – and you are answering his
call.
My sheep know me.
The world may not know him. His
critics don’t know him. But by the grace
of God you are coming to know him, because you listen to his voice – listen for
his voice speaking to you through the Word of the Gospel, through the hymns –
and even through the voices of our brothers and sisters
The risen Christ has come out to us – out to our doubts and misgivings
– to our misunderstandings and unanswered questions – and called us, we have
heard – and we are striving to follow.
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Belonging
leads to really believing.
Following leads to faith
We belong to his
flock, His church, that
we might
we
grow in faith and trust His promise.
“I give them eternal life, and they will never
perish.
No one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28
This is a dangerous world.
We may feel weak and vulnerable.
But nothing can separate us from
the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus. If we
stumble and fall, we will simply fall into His hands, where we will be
eternally safe.
His love surrounds us, and
he holds us in a mighty hand
For the Lamb will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs
of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes. Revelation
7;17