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.
