(This is an abridged version of the Homecoming sermon preached at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore on 9/11/11)
Luke 15:11-24
In Luke 15, we find the story of a family – a household - that found itself in distress and dysfunction. These two sons and their father found themselves mired in conflict and contempt – unable to resolve their controversy, unable to cope with one another in light of their different visions and hopes for life. One son, older, loyal in his own estimation, and content to stay home and care for family affairs. His younger brother, seemingly less loyal, more impulsive, and selfish. Wanting something different for his life – wanting to step out from behind his brother’s and father’s shadow, and explore the world for himself.
And a father – who had labored and toiled for all that he had. A father who had sweated, scrimped, scraped, sacrificed, saved, and pinched - and now had a modicum of wealth that he could call his own. A father who had hope for the future, plans for his sons, glad that he had put enough money in the bank that one day, his sons would inherit his wealth, and be set for life.
But here comes the youngest son, wanting his piece of his father’s inheritance, and wanting it now. Wanting to strike out on his own. Wanting to see and to know the world. And so this young man takes what his father gives him, and goes to another land.
And here this young man finds himself new to this unknown world. Money in his pocket, and all the temptations of the world in his midst. People and situations more savvy than him, lurking to take what is his, and leave him with nothing.
That’s the way of the world, isn’t it? There is always enough temptation to consume us if we move too far away from home – too far away from our roots too – and far away from God.
And so this young man finds himself at the point of utter despair, desolation, despondency. He finds himself disappointed, discouraged and depressed. He discovers that he is down to his last penny, broke – no hope and no joy.
And then, this young man – comes to his senses - and decides that it’s time to make a comeback and go back home.
The reality is that families today face severe difficulties. It would not be an overstatement to declare that we are living in very trying times. Times when there are wars and rumors of wars. Times when there are plagues and threats of plagues. Times when there is criminal activity the likes of which we have never experienced. Times when there is violence against babies too young to have done any harm. Times when those who have been elected, selected, and appointed to protect us from evil doers have been found doing evil themselves.
These are times when budgets are sufficient to support killing, but somehow insufficient to support literacy, health care, and drug rehabilitation. Times when there is talk of slot machines that will too often take the money of those with the least means - the desperate, the downtrodden and the disinherited. Times when our pulpits are too populated by prosperity preaching.
These are times when many of our children are afraid to go to school. Times when people are living in terror, never knowing when one or more of our growing number of enemies will launch another surprise attack. Times when we are afraid to travel, and afraid to stay home. Yes, we live in times of political unrest, economic instability, and spiritual bankruptcy. It would indeed not be an overstatement to declare that we are living in trying times.
And it is at some point that we are like the prodigal son. At some point, we must come to our senses, and realize that it is time to make a comeback and go back home. It’s time to reconsider our priorities as families, as churches and communities. It’s time to count the costs of living for the world and not for God. It’s time to thank and praise God for the little things of life – the things that we might have take for granted in our strivings for the joys and ways of the world.
This young man made up his mind and said “I’m going to make a comeback and go back home.”
When we think on this parable in Luke, we discover that the story is really not only about a son who squandered all that he once possessed. Nor is this parable only about a father who welcomed his wayward son back home. It’s not really only about loyalty or disloyalty. It’s not even only about sibling rivalry; nor is this story really only about wealth or poverty.
On careful analysis, we discover that what Jesus was really trying to let people know in his day, and let us know today is something about the grace of God. The Grace of God helps us to see that God will supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory. The grace of God helps us to realize that God’s love and mercy is sufficient to cover all of our faults and failures. The Grace of God lets us know that God will look beyond our faults and see our needs.
Just as this young man was welcome home by his father, God will welcome us back. Thank God for grace that is available to each of us who seeks to return to God.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thank God for Storms!
(The following is an excerpt of the sermon preached at Epworth Chapel UMC on 9/4/11.)
Mark 4:35-41
This past week Maryland experienced storms in the form of an earthquake and a hurricane that passed through our state. Storms have a way of wreaking havoc and causing devastation in the areas where they happen to land. Whatever the type and severity of the storm - whether it is a hurricane, or a tornado, or a tropical storm, or an earthquake - storms by their very nature have a way of disrupting lives, and uprooting communities.
Indeed, storms can be destructive and dangerous. That is why, when a meteorological storm is on the horizon, there will often be a news-flash that scrolls across the television set warning us that a storm is on the way.
For those of us who have the occasion to fly on airplanes, we know that when the plane is going through a storm, it’s very apparent. The pilot will usually come on the loud-speaker and let the passengers know that we are in the midst of a storm, and everyone needs to get back to your seats, and put on your seat-belts. But if the truth is told, the pilot really doesn’t have to say anything. You know when you are in a storm, because the turbulence will make the airplane begin to sway from side-to-side, and the ride will become rocky.
The storms of life - the trials and tribulations that we go through - are much like meteorological storms. Storms have a way of entering into our lives, and disrupting our sense of calm and tranquility. Yes, the storms of life have a way of disturbing our lives and wreaking havoc.
Why do we need to talk about the storms of life today? We need to talk about storms because somebody is going through a storm right now. And if you’re not going through a storm, you may have just come out of one…or you may be getting ready to go through.
We need to talk about storms today, because we realize that the storms of life are real - and they are inevitable. It is not a matter of if we will experience the trials and tribulations of life - it’s just a matter of when. And so we need to be ready to deal with the storms that will come into our lives.
Indeed, somebody may be going through a storm in a relationship - whether it’s a storm with a spouse, or a girlfriend or a boyfriend. Somebody may be experiencing a storm with a sibling…and somebody else may be going through something with a parent, or a child.
We need to talk about the storms of life today because somebody may be in the midst of a personal storm - you may be dealing with personal failure or disappointment in your life. As hard as you’ve tried, and as much time and effort as you‘ve invested, you may not be as successful as you think you ought to be in a particular area of your life. We’ve got to talk about storms today because somebody might be dealing with a difficult situation at work - with a co-worker or a boss.
Somebody might be in the midst of a financial storm. You looked at your checkbook, and you realize that you have more month than money. And somebody might be facing a medical storm. You went to the doctor, and the diagnosis and prognosis the doctor has given you does not look good.
I’m glad that Jesus helps us to deal with the storms that will come our way. In scripture we find that the disciples found themselves in a storm one day. They were just out in a boat on the sea, trying to get from one place to another, and all of a sudden, the winds began to blow and a storm came into their lives.
Now one of the interesting things about the storm that the disciples encountered is that there were several experienced fishermen on the boat, and they were obviously familiar with being around water. But they were all still afraid of the storm that came into their midst on that day.
Something that we need to know about storms is that there will be some storms that we can’t handle by ourselves. No matter how much experience we have, or how many times we’ve been through a situation, there will be some storms that we can’t handle on our own.
But the important thing about this episode of the disciples and the storm that they were experiencing is that as they stayed in the boat, and tried to figure out what they were going to do, Jesus came into their situation, and the Lord spoke peace into their turbulent circumstance. Jesus said “Peace be still.”
It’s good to know that if we stay in the boat…if we hang in there with the Lord, Jesus will give step into any of our storms. Whatever we may go through, regardless of how tumultuous and turbulent the situation, Jesus will step in.
Indeed, if we have faith, God is already working in the midst of our storms. While we are often like the disciples - trying to figure things out, the Lord has already worked things out for us.
I’m glad that whatever your storm (and whatever my storm), the Lord will step in. Jesus spoke to this particular storm… and said “peace be still.” And when Jesus spoke, the word declares, that the “winds and the seas obeyed him.”
And so we can even thank God for storms of life. For we know in the midst of our storms, as God brings us out – God won’t bring us to anything that God won’t bring us through. Even in our storms, we come to realize that whatever our test, God is present with us.
Indeed, we can thank God (even) for storms.
One day, a Methodist preacher was going through a storm. We don’t know exactly what his storm was - he didn’t name his storm - but we do know that he was going through… because he wrote a song and talked about his storm. The preacher’s name was Charles Albert Tinley. And in the midst of his storm, Rev. Charles Tinley wrote these words:
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou (you) who rulest wind and water
Stand by me…
Mark 4:35-41
This past week Maryland experienced storms in the form of an earthquake and a hurricane that passed through our state. Storms have a way of wreaking havoc and causing devastation in the areas where they happen to land. Whatever the type and severity of the storm - whether it is a hurricane, or a tornado, or a tropical storm, or an earthquake - storms by their very nature have a way of disrupting lives, and uprooting communities.
Indeed, storms can be destructive and dangerous. That is why, when a meteorological storm is on the horizon, there will often be a news-flash that scrolls across the television set warning us that a storm is on the way.
For those of us who have the occasion to fly on airplanes, we know that when the plane is going through a storm, it’s very apparent. The pilot will usually come on the loud-speaker and let the passengers know that we are in the midst of a storm, and everyone needs to get back to your seats, and put on your seat-belts. But if the truth is told, the pilot really doesn’t have to say anything. You know when you are in a storm, because the turbulence will make the airplane begin to sway from side-to-side, and the ride will become rocky.
The storms of life - the trials and tribulations that we go through - are much like meteorological storms. Storms have a way of entering into our lives, and disrupting our sense of calm and tranquility. Yes, the storms of life have a way of disturbing our lives and wreaking havoc.
Why do we need to talk about the storms of life today? We need to talk about storms because somebody is going through a storm right now. And if you’re not going through a storm, you may have just come out of one…or you may be getting ready to go through.
We need to talk about storms today, because we realize that the storms of life are real - and they are inevitable. It is not a matter of if we will experience the trials and tribulations of life - it’s just a matter of when. And so we need to be ready to deal with the storms that will come into our lives.
Indeed, somebody may be going through a storm in a relationship - whether it’s a storm with a spouse, or a girlfriend or a boyfriend. Somebody may be experiencing a storm with a sibling…and somebody else may be going through something with a parent, or a child.
We need to talk about the storms of life today because somebody may be in the midst of a personal storm - you may be dealing with personal failure or disappointment in your life. As hard as you’ve tried, and as much time and effort as you‘ve invested, you may not be as successful as you think you ought to be in a particular area of your life. We’ve got to talk about storms today because somebody might be dealing with a difficult situation at work - with a co-worker or a boss.
Somebody might be in the midst of a financial storm. You looked at your checkbook, and you realize that you have more month than money. And somebody might be facing a medical storm. You went to the doctor, and the diagnosis and prognosis the doctor has given you does not look good.
I’m glad that Jesus helps us to deal with the storms that will come our way. In scripture we find that the disciples found themselves in a storm one day. They were just out in a boat on the sea, trying to get from one place to another, and all of a sudden, the winds began to blow and a storm came into their lives.
Now one of the interesting things about the storm that the disciples encountered is that there were several experienced fishermen on the boat, and they were obviously familiar with being around water. But they were all still afraid of the storm that came into their midst on that day.
Something that we need to know about storms is that there will be some storms that we can’t handle by ourselves. No matter how much experience we have, or how many times we’ve been through a situation, there will be some storms that we can’t handle on our own.
But the important thing about this episode of the disciples and the storm that they were experiencing is that as they stayed in the boat, and tried to figure out what they were going to do, Jesus came into their situation, and the Lord spoke peace into their turbulent circumstance. Jesus said “Peace be still.”
It’s good to know that if we stay in the boat…if we hang in there with the Lord, Jesus will give step into any of our storms. Whatever we may go through, regardless of how tumultuous and turbulent the situation, Jesus will step in.
Indeed, if we have faith, God is already working in the midst of our storms. While we are often like the disciples - trying to figure things out, the Lord has already worked things out for us.
I’m glad that whatever your storm (and whatever my storm), the Lord will step in. Jesus spoke to this particular storm… and said “peace be still.” And when Jesus spoke, the word declares, that the “winds and the seas obeyed him.”
And so we can even thank God for storms of life. For we know in the midst of our storms, as God brings us out – God won’t bring us to anything that God won’t bring us through. Even in our storms, we come to realize that whatever our test, God is present with us.
Indeed, we can thank God (even) for storms.
One day, a Methodist preacher was going through a storm. We don’t know exactly what his storm was - he didn’t name his storm - but we do know that he was going through… because he wrote a song and talked about his storm. The preacher’s name was Charles Albert Tinley. And in the midst of his storm, Rev. Charles Tinley wrote these words:
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me
When the storms of life are raging, stand by me
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea
Thou (you) who rulest wind and water
Stand by me…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
