Sermon prepared for Messiah Lutheran Church
Auburn WA
by Gregory S. Kaurin, pastor
November 28; 1st Sunday of Advent
Texts: Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Adventurous
“Advent,” the word means going through an opening or doorway, going through it to a new time and place. It’s kind of appropriate; my mind’s been on the ‘new paths’ ahead for us, for Pr. Jon’s family, and the congregation they’ll be joining in a few weeks. The Season of Advent looks forward to the coming of that new time and place: the coming of the Christ child, but also the coming of his Kingdom.
Jesus would speak of that Day, an unpredictable Day that will come when people are at their normal tasks, and the message is to live prepared, because even more often Jesus would talk about how it is nearby, at hand, and that it happens, the Kingdom happens whenever we respond to God's mercy, forgiveness, kindness and generosity by being merciful, forgiving, kind and generous.
It's kind of like this word, adventure. It means going through an opening or pathway to something new, but some people are adventurous, they carry that sense of looking for, or--even better--being that pathway for others. When you're around adventurous people, you can get caught up in their excitement and enthusiasm. “Yeah, take me! I wanna go!”
Paul wrote to the Romans 13:12, to get ready, "The night is far gone; day is near: ...put on the armor of light" ...vs. 14, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ." And then he added, "Make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." When Paul talks about gratifying flesh, he's not just talking about sex or gluttony, but all self-turned, self-centered concerns and actions. Turn outward, he was saying. Be adventurous; make ways for the Kingdom to come.
Thy Kingdom come, we pray, and let it come in and through us, make us pourous to the Kingdom, let it people feel God's love and passion through us, in other words, adventurous. Make us into openings to a new day, a new life, a new kind of living.
Only a week or so ago I was reminded of this. I came to work tired, grumpy, but knew I had a lot to get done in the office. As I approached the doors to the church, I could hear children from Gateway school. Should I walk through, or around? I decided to just duck my head and walk quickly through.
"Pastor Greg!" One little boy called out and ran over to hug my leg. "Look guys, it's Pastor Greg!" Then, a staff member of Gateway School greeted me with a simple smile.
They brought Kingdom, even tho' I didn't deserve it, was even actively avoiding, and potentially working against it. But instead, through them God allowed his welcome, grace and love to flow into me. I was reminded of God's Kingdom: "Whenever you accept a child like this," Jesus said, "you accept me." "Whenever you welcome one of my servants, you've welcomed me."
The rest of that day was full of interruptions, some as good and delightful, others more difficult or sad. Did my work suffer for it? Does it suffer? I'm behind in some things, and have plenty to schedule... I suppose if it's all about a weekly quiz or score, or a product, what I produce probably does suffer to some degree. But hopefully, I am opening up to a more authentic life. It's not about product.
This applies even to worship services. We'll talk about the centrality of worship in a congregation, or a Christian's life, and that's true. We need a regular touchstone, a reminder to worship, to turn ourselves and all we do toward God, and allow God to touch us, to be fed from Jesus' hands.
But, just as important as what we make or give or say or sing right here in this hour of worship, is what we bring to it did, who we were, up to this point, to get to this point. Our worship, at least from Christ's point of view, includes all that. We don't just worship Christ here in church; we bring our worship, we bring ourselves, to him: everything we've done right, and everything we've done wrong. If I've been mean-spirited or hurtful to get my way, if I've been abusing myself or neglecting others, then I am going to feel fake and disconnected here, like I'm wearing my Christian mask, and other people will probably feel it...
Unless. Unless I'm coming today in confession, ready to let go, receive forgiveness and start a new way, a better path. And it’s not about perfection, trying to live perfectly from this point out. That will pull us right back down into the mud. It’s about confession, humility and love, ready to bend and listen, to thank others as Pastor Jon spoke in last Wednesday’s message, to greet them, and make room for them.
God has made us into living pathways through Christ and for Christ. Just as we seek and find God's love and forgiveness for ourselves, we are called to be porous with those gifts to everyone: family members, friends, co-workers, tellers and cashiers, strangers. Otherwise, our worship is plastic and fake as the Santa on my neighbor's lawn.
We might look back on the past weeks and can be tempted to get mired in places where we messed up, where we hurt others to get ahead, or passed by people or charged through others' needs because we had our own things to do. But listen to this, in going forward, our worship includes laying down our sins at his feet, as if they were… gifts. Jesus accepts our praises, but he even accepts our admission of sins, our sense of shame, as worship when we give it to him.
He will work through it all. Along this great venture, I pray that he is making me and all of us into people for his Kingdom to pour through.
Will you pray with me?...[ad lib prayer]
May joy and peace surround you, Contentment latch your door, Happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore. Amen.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Raise an Ebenezer
Sermon
prepared by Pastor Greg Kaurin
for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA, 11/14/10
1 Samuel 7:10-14
Raise an Ebenezer
Some of you know that I spent a little time between calls as a bookseller. So, let’s try an experiment, to see how raising income in a church compares to booksales. Tell me how successful I’d be… Here’s a book. If you look it up on the web, you’ll find that you can buy it new from some sellers for about $22.00, used for as little as $6.00 including shipping. As college textbook, you might have to pay as much as $138.00 for it.
So, let’s say you’ve walked into my bookstore, a preacher’s bookstore, and found this on my shelf. Knowing what I’ve told you about it’s value, how much would you be willing to give me for this book? [Accept an offer or two.] …Are you kidding? Look at this title: Life’s Choices; Problems and Solutions. Wow! This thing will take care of everything for you! …Let me read to you from the back: “…Filled with case studies that show how others have handled career and work issues, relationship and intimacy dilemmas, family concerns, and other personal problems…You’ll learn to apply knowledge from psychological and social research to your own personal issues.” How much would you be willing to give to have solutions to all your problems?
Let’s try a different approach. Come on! This book I am offering to you has all these great answers to life’s question. And meantime, I have to pay for this bookstore, and all these staff. Don’t you care about them? Do you feel how warm and comfy I keep this store? We’ve got indoor bathrooms with running water, and complimentary coffee. Be generous! How about 10% of whatever you made this month? That’s a bargain considering what this book promises you. Come to think of it, considering how you’ll benefit after reading this as long as you live, how about I put you on an automatic withdrawal program for the rest of your life? …How long do you think my bookstore will stay open?
You are not my benefactors, and certainly not my customers. I’m not selling you faith or a slice of heaven. This is not what you have called me to do.
What is it that you have called me here to do? What is the main thing you think God wants me here to do as a pastor? ….Here’s a hint: When I was ordained, I was called into the ministry of “Word and Sacrament.” So, I’m here to… preach and teach, baptize and serve his Table. That is the center of what it means to be a Lutheran Pastor. Any other main tasks you expect from your pastor? [Visit, marry, bury, etc.] How far up on this totem pole of tasks is being a “fundraiser” for the congregation’s expenses?
Here, let me read from Messiah Lutheran Church’s own constitution regarding the duties of a pastor…
Chapter 9.
THE PASTOR
…*C9.03. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
A. Every ordained minister shall:
1. preach the Word;
2. administer the sacraments;
3. conduct public worship;
4. provide pastoral care; and
5. speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.
B. Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1. offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2. supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;
3. install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4. with the council, administer discipline.
C. Every pastor shall:
1. strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2. seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3. impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and
4. endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Southwest Washington Synod of the ELCA.
There you go. What did you not hear in all that? Raising funds. As a member of this congregation, and one of its leaders, it is probably a part of what I need to help us do, but really financial support is what we all do together. Is it possible, though, especially during tougher times for a pastor and a congregation to get sidetracked? Can we sometimes find ourselves serving the budget and finances instead of the mission?
These past six weeks Traci, Jon and I have intentionally preached the wider message of Stewardship. Two weeks ago we heard Dr. Martin Luther talk about all that God has given in this message of the gospel, and our responsibility to pass it on. Last week, Pastor Jon spoke of God’s infinite willingness and ability to forgive, the promise of eternal life. Traci talked about the priceless gift of your church and the people around you, the abilities he has given.
Stewardship is simply all the resources and ways that God has called and given us as individuals and as a congregation to take part in the ministry and spread of his unqualified generosity to the world. Financially speaking, the Bible suggests practical amounts like the 10% tithe and offerings on top of that, or leaving some room and food for the poor. Jesus suggested that even more than that, calling for as much as your whole life, your everything.
However, when life gets hard, we can lose sight of the Kingdom that God has promised. The Israelites in our Old Testament lesson were outmatched, outgunned, and hopelessly outnumbered by the Philistines. They might’ve lost sight of the promises and faith. All reason told them to throw in the towel. Instead, they decided to trust and stake their small army on the promises of God. They decided to have faith and show it, even in the face of scarcity. They told Samuel to pray for them and marched forward. And on that field, after routing the Philistines, Samuel raised up a stone marker and called it Ebenezer, which simply means, “Rock of Help.”
The Ebenezer symbolized the day that they acted in faith, and the day that God didn’t let them down. It was their message of thanksgiving to God and a reminder to each other. It was a kind of spiritual boundary marker that reminded them to keep moving forward from that place in faith, trusting God, trusting their future in his hands, and not to retreat back into fear.
The 2nd stanza of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” sings, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” I always thought it was a weird image to lift poor old Scrooge up on a pole. An Ebenezer, my “stone of help,” can be any prayer or symbol of faith, any reminder of God’s grace that encourages me to move forward. It is also a promise, a boundary line. It’s like writing our signature on God’s promise, accepting his grace and help, and showing our intention—with the strength of his Spirit—to go on trusting our present and our future in his Holy hands.
Through Jesus, God raised himself up on the cross. He is our Rock of Salvation, the Greatest Ebenezer. In response to that symbol, here’s what I suggest, for wherever you might be in your faith-walk. Today, raise a small Ebenezer in your heart and mind as a way of lifting that cross once again into your life and applying it to your life. I’ll give you a few ideas in a minute.
In tough times, when the odds seem against you, it can be easy to give into fear, to back off, not just from the luxuries of life, but also the things that are more important. Sometimes, during these times, we try pour ourselves into those luxuries at the expense of things more important. Don’t do that. Tough times call for firm faith. Raise your Ebenezer in the places, the family, the church, and the relationships where God has called you. You might begin praying in situations you don’t normally pray. Change at least one habit for the better, with the Spirit’s help. More important you might take one fear, one anxiety you have and decide—on this spot—to give it to Christ; let Christ join you there and begin helping you.
One more idea: if you get our weekly emails from church, you may have read what I suggested about these pledge cards. They are only one option, but as a discipline, they are an example of what I’m talking about. Here’s what I wrote:
WHY PLEDGE?
It is a both 1) a tangible prayer to God, and also 2) a signed message to your church leaders.
What are you telling God? You are telling him that you trust him, that you love this local church to which he has led you or in which he has raised you. You are asking God for the means to support it. You are telling God that you trust his providence. You are accepting responsibility as a church-family member. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical statement against doubt, and a message of your trust and faith in God.
What are you telling your church leaders?... you are encouraging your church leaders not to back down [either], not to give into human fear. You are telling them to continue to provide meaningful worship & messages, ministry to our youth & families, and Christian service to our community. You are telling your church leaders to remain faithful, and that you will back them up. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical stance against fear, and a message of...appreciation and commitment...
Are there other ways of doing all this? Yes: involvement through any gift of time or generosity, whether or not it is "documented." In all circumstances, how we live or lives speaks loudly to God and others. However, for many of us, tangible markers like "pledges" can be a discipline to help keep us and our church more honest, motivated, and faithfully active.
Like any other human invention, pledge cards are fallible; they can be misused, even harmful. If done with prayerful intent, though, and kept in right perspective they can be a good discipline, leading to maturity and growth in generosity.
On a wider level, God has gifted us with a congregation and calls us to be a congregation with 1) a strong worship and message, with 2) a powerful ministry for youth and families, and 3) a huge heart for care and social outreach to our community and beyond. These three things are both our treasure and our calling. They define our gifts and ministry in Auburn.
When funds grow scarce do we respond by backing off, cutting back what we offer, our worship or our dedication to our youth or services to the community, our mission and ministry? So long as we remain in faithful prayer to God, doing what he would have us do here on the corner of 4th and H Streets in Auburn, God will resource our ministry. Let this message be my Ebenezer. Against all fear, any doubts, I trust us in the Hands of God Almighty.
Tough times call for firm faith and courageous living. Amen.
prepared by Pastor Greg Kaurin
for Messiah Lutheran Church, Auburn WA, 11/14/10
1 Samuel 7:10-14
Raise an Ebenezer
Some of you know that I spent a little time between calls as a bookseller. So, let’s try an experiment, to see how raising income in a church compares to booksales. Tell me how successful I’d be… Here’s a book. If you look it up on the web, you’ll find that you can buy it new from some sellers for about $22.00, used for as little as $6.00 including shipping. As college textbook, you might have to pay as much as $138.00 for it.
So, let’s say you’ve walked into my bookstore, a preacher’s bookstore, and found this on my shelf. Knowing what I’ve told you about it’s value, how much would you be willing to give me for this book? [Accept an offer or two.] …Are you kidding? Look at this title: Life’s Choices; Problems and Solutions. Wow! This thing will take care of everything for you! …Let me read to you from the back: “…Filled with case studies that show how others have handled career and work issues, relationship and intimacy dilemmas, family concerns, and other personal problems…You’ll learn to apply knowledge from psychological and social research to your own personal issues.” How much would you be willing to give to have solutions to all your problems?
Let’s try a different approach. Come on! This book I am offering to you has all these great answers to life’s question. And meantime, I have to pay for this bookstore, and all these staff. Don’t you care about them? Do you feel how warm and comfy I keep this store? We’ve got indoor bathrooms with running water, and complimentary coffee. Be generous! How about 10% of whatever you made this month? That’s a bargain considering what this book promises you. Come to think of it, considering how you’ll benefit after reading this as long as you live, how about I put you on an automatic withdrawal program for the rest of your life? …How long do you think my bookstore will stay open?
You are not my benefactors, and certainly not my customers. I’m not selling you faith or a slice of heaven. This is not what you have called me to do.
What is it that you have called me here to do? What is the main thing you think God wants me here to do as a pastor? ….Here’s a hint: When I was ordained, I was called into the ministry of “Word and Sacrament.” So, I’m here to… preach and teach, baptize and serve his Table. That is the center of what it means to be a Lutheran Pastor. Any other main tasks you expect from your pastor? [Visit, marry, bury, etc.] How far up on this totem pole of tasks is being a “fundraiser” for the congregation’s expenses?
Here, let me read from Messiah Lutheran Church’s own constitution regarding the duties of a pastor…
Chapter 9.
THE PASTOR
…*C9.03. Consistent with the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
A. Every ordained minister shall:
1. preach the Word;
2. administer the sacraments;
3. conduct public worship;
4. provide pastoral care; and
5. speak publicly to the world in solidarity with the poor and oppressed, calling for justice and proclaiming God’s love for the world.
B. Each ordained minister with a congregational call shall, within the congregation:
1. offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
2. supervise all schools and organizations of this congregation;
3. install regularly elected members of the Congregation Council; and
4. with the council, administer discipline.
C. Every pastor shall:
1. strive to extend the Kingdom of God in the community, in the nation, and abroad;
2. seek out and encourage qualified persons to prepare for the ministry of the Gospel;
3. impart knowledge of this church and its wider ministry through distribution of its periodicals and other publications; and
4. endeavor to increase the support given by the congregation to the work of the churchwide organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and of the Southwest Washington Synod of the ELCA.
There you go. What did you not hear in all that? Raising funds. As a member of this congregation, and one of its leaders, it is probably a part of what I need to help us do, but really financial support is what we all do together. Is it possible, though, especially during tougher times for a pastor and a congregation to get sidetracked? Can we sometimes find ourselves serving the budget and finances instead of the mission?
These past six weeks Traci, Jon and I have intentionally preached the wider message of Stewardship. Two weeks ago we heard Dr. Martin Luther talk about all that God has given in this message of the gospel, and our responsibility to pass it on. Last week, Pastor Jon spoke of God’s infinite willingness and ability to forgive, the promise of eternal life. Traci talked about the priceless gift of your church and the people around you, the abilities he has given.
Stewardship is simply all the resources and ways that God has called and given us as individuals and as a congregation to take part in the ministry and spread of his unqualified generosity to the world. Financially speaking, the Bible suggests practical amounts like the 10% tithe and offerings on top of that, or leaving some room and food for the poor. Jesus suggested that even more than that, calling for as much as your whole life, your everything.
However, when life gets hard, we can lose sight of the Kingdom that God has promised. The Israelites in our Old Testament lesson were outmatched, outgunned, and hopelessly outnumbered by the Philistines. They might’ve lost sight of the promises and faith. All reason told them to throw in the towel. Instead, they decided to trust and stake their small army on the promises of God. They decided to have faith and show it, even in the face of scarcity. They told Samuel to pray for them and marched forward. And on that field, after routing the Philistines, Samuel raised up a stone marker and called it Ebenezer, which simply means, “Rock of Help.”
The Ebenezer symbolized the day that they acted in faith, and the day that God didn’t let them down. It was their message of thanksgiving to God and a reminder to each other. It was a kind of spiritual boundary marker that reminded them to keep moving forward from that place in faith, trusting God, trusting their future in his hands, and not to retreat back into fear.
The 2nd stanza of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” sings, “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” I always thought it was a weird image to lift poor old Scrooge up on a pole. An Ebenezer, my “stone of help,” can be any prayer or symbol of faith, any reminder of God’s grace that encourages me to move forward. It is also a promise, a boundary line. It’s like writing our signature on God’s promise, accepting his grace and help, and showing our intention—with the strength of his Spirit—to go on trusting our present and our future in his Holy hands.
Through Jesus, God raised himself up on the cross. He is our Rock of Salvation, the Greatest Ebenezer. In response to that symbol, here’s what I suggest, for wherever you might be in your faith-walk. Today, raise a small Ebenezer in your heart and mind as a way of lifting that cross once again into your life and applying it to your life. I’ll give you a few ideas in a minute.
In tough times, when the odds seem against you, it can be easy to give into fear, to back off, not just from the luxuries of life, but also the things that are more important. Sometimes, during these times, we try pour ourselves into those luxuries at the expense of things more important. Don’t do that. Tough times call for firm faith. Raise your Ebenezer in the places, the family, the church, and the relationships where God has called you. You might begin praying in situations you don’t normally pray. Change at least one habit for the better, with the Spirit’s help. More important you might take one fear, one anxiety you have and decide—on this spot—to give it to Christ; let Christ join you there and begin helping you.
One more idea: if you get our weekly emails from church, you may have read what I suggested about these pledge cards. They are only one option, but as a discipline, they are an example of what I’m talking about. Here’s what I wrote:
WHY PLEDGE?
It is a both 1) a tangible prayer to God, and also 2) a signed message to your church leaders.
What are you telling God? You are telling him that you trust him, that you love this local church to which he has led you or in which he has raised you. You are asking God for the means to support it. You are telling God that you trust his providence. You are accepting responsibility as a church-family member. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical statement against doubt, and a message of your trust and faith in God.
What are you telling your church leaders?... you are encouraging your church leaders not to back down [either], not to give into human fear. You are telling them to continue to provide meaningful worship & messages, ministry to our youth & families, and Christian service to our community. You are telling your church leaders to remain faithful, and that you will back them up. You are raising an "Ebenezer," a physical stance against fear, and a message of...appreciation and commitment...
Are there other ways of doing all this? Yes: involvement through any gift of time or generosity, whether or not it is "documented." In all circumstances, how we live or lives speaks loudly to God and others. However, for many of us, tangible markers like "pledges" can be a discipline to help keep us and our church more honest, motivated, and faithfully active.
Like any other human invention, pledge cards are fallible; they can be misused, even harmful. If done with prayerful intent, though, and kept in right perspective they can be a good discipline, leading to maturity and growth in generosity.
On a wider level, God has gifted us with a congregation and calls us to be a congregation with 1) a strong worship and message, with 2) a powerful ministry for youth and families, and 3) a huge heart for care and social outreach to our community and beyond. These three things are both our treasure and our calling. They define our gifts and ministry in Auburn.
When funds grow scarce do we respond by backing off, cutting back what we offer, our worship or our dedication to our youth or services to the community, our mission and ministry? So long as we remain in faithful prayer to God, doing what he would have us do here on the corner of 4th and H Streets in Auburn, God will resource our ministry. Let this message be my Ebenezer. Against all fear, any doubts, I trust us in the Hands of God Almighty.
Tough times call for firm faith and courageous living. Amen.
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