May 18 - The Holy Trinity - Matthew 28:16-20

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

That one phrase summarizes the Christian understanding of God: the doctrine of the Trinity.

Martin Luther said: "To try to deny the Trinity endangers your salvation, to try to comprehend the Trinity endangers your sanity."

The word “Trinity” is the church’s mumbling attempt to communicate what we can learn about God from the Bible. It certainly does not capture all of the inscrutable characteristics of God. Rather, it is a way of summarizing what God has done and what God continues to do. At the same time, the Trinity explains how we can relate to an all powerful, mysterious deity, who ultimately is beyond human understanding.

Thus we affirm that God is the all-powerful creator of heaven and earth. Yet we also say that this mighty deity may simply be addressed in prayer as “our Father” – that we can relate to the Almighty as a child relates to a parent.

Second, we claim that Jesus, a man who walked this earth and taught about the kingdom, who died and was raised from the dead, was somehow also God. If we want to know what God is like, we say look at Jesus. If you want to hear God, listen to Jesus, for He is the Word of God. And this same Jesus, the Son of God, invites us to follow Him, and discover life in abundance.

Third, the Holy Spirit, poured out on the church and its members, is also God. This is the Spirit who can move our hearts and enlighten our minds. The Spirit might be described as God up-close-and-personal. Listen for the still, small voice of the Spirit

Finally, having described God as creator-Father, and also as Jesus human and divine, and also as Spirit within us, we conclude that there is only one God. Somehow those are just our human ways of summarizing the revelation of the one God of the Bible.

A native American, who was a Christian, visited a church one Sunday. The preacher’s message didn’t have much content, but he did a lot of shouting and pulpit pounding. Afterwards, one member commented, “Pastor preached up a storm.”

Someone asked the visitor what he thought of the preacher’s sermon. He summed up his opinion in just six words.

High wind. Big thunder. No rain.

Our lesson from the first chapter of Genesis says:

God created humankind in his image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

We were made in the image of God – we have something in common with the creator of the universe – we were designed not just for ourselves but for a purpose. Our tendencies toward sin diminish that divine image within us – cover it up – yet it is still there. Later in that same lesson, we read God said

Fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

Humans have a special role in creation. We have some responsibility for its all been entrusted to us. We are stewards of God’s creation – and part of God’s on-going plan and purpose.

The divine plan for humanity becomes a little clearer as we study the teachings of Jesus. He would show us how to live in accordance with God’s purpose – and it doesn’t come naturally.

But more than just showing us how to live abundantly by His example and teaching, Jesus promises something more. He will give us a share of His Spirit to guide and energize us. And one of the things His Spirit does is to call and gather us into communities of nurture and support – the fellowship of the Holy Spirit – the church.

Today’s gospel shows us how that happens, and links us to God’s plan and purpose. The scene is near the end of that time between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension. His resurrection confirmed the truth of everything Jesus had taught them – that he was from God and is the Son of God.

When they saw Jesus, they worshipped him;

but some doubted. 28:17

It was a mixed reaction. They worshipped Christ, for he was the Son of God. At the same time they doubted. How could this man Jesus whom we’ve known for years really be God?

Just seeing the risen Jesus did not remove all the uncertainties or answer all their questions. But disciples are not excluded because of their doubts or questions. Maybe Jesus would tell us that our doubts are only overcome as we put our faith into action. Our questions need not diminish our faith, but rather are steps toward greater understanding.

To these worshipping and doubting disciples, with their unanswered questions, the risen Lord says.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. 26:19,20

Their weakness – and our weakness as disciples today – does not jeopardize the mission Christ has for all His followers. His power is not limited by our uncertainties. He has a purpose for us.

What do those familiar words tell us about our individual Christian lives?

Perhaps when you heard those words Baptizing them… You thought that’s someone else’s job. Yet it reminds us of a key feature of the Christian life.

Baptism is initiation into the community of Christians. So when Jesus speaks of making disciples – new followers of Jesus – the first thing is to get them into a community of Christians.

One of the ways God would shape you and form you as a follower of Christ is to ask you to be a part of a church community – to be in fellowship with other believers. That means getting together with people whom you did not even know before you joined this church – people with whom you have nothing in common, except that you are all striving to follow Jesus teaching.

The Spirit of God keeps putting you in contact with others, keeps enabling others to get through to you, and you to them. The Spirit challenges that call to love others by placing next to some folks, whom once you get to know them, you don’t particularly care for. You may not need God’s help to love the people you like, but how about loving those you don’t like?

Really there is no way for you to grow in Christ – to mature in following His way – when you are alone. You need relationships with other would-be followers of Jesus to grow in your faith. Christianity can never be a solo experience. We were wired for community and connection.

Teaching them…

You don’t have to know everything to teach something; all you have to have is some insight to share. So on most Sundays, you’ll see some teenagers go to children’s chapel with the kids. And they become teachers of the children. And young adults mentor our teenagers in confirmation class. Older adults can serve as teachers for younger adults. Parents are the first teachers of their children. Christianity is an inherited faith. It is passed on from generation to generation.

Teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded.

When Jesus spoke of teaching, he wasn’t talking about passing on academic knowledge. Rather, teaching others about His way of living.

To obey – to live under the rule of God as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven now.

During the next few weeks, in my adult Sunday School class and in the Sundays sermons, I’ll review some of those basic teachings from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus gives a lot of practical advice on living a better life by following His way.

A little girl returning home from Sunday School expressed disappointment with the days lesson.

We were taught to go into the world and make disciples, but all we did was sit - and sit.

Go and make disciples, baptizing - Baptism communicates belonging. People are wired for community and connection.

- Lead someone to Christ’s church and help them connect to community.

- Welcome new-comers into this fellowship of faith and help them become a part of the family.

Teach - Show others Christ and His way by your words and actions.

Are the members of your family more like Jesus because of you? Can your friends and co-workers tell you are a Christian by the way you treat them?

Lord you call us to your service,

“In my Name baptize and teach”

That the world may trust your promise,

life abundant mean for each,

Give us all new fever, draw us closer in community

With the Spirit’s gifts empower us,

for the work of ministry