"Reflecting Our Creator"

A sermon preached on The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost, June 24, 2007 at our Outdoor Worship Celebration at Edgemont Chrsitian Church (Disciples of Christ) , by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. The sermon is based on Acts 17:22-28.

Whoever said, "Nature is God’s sanctuary" must have agreed with Emily Dickinson’s poem; Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church. Her poem stresses the fact that God can be experienced not only in a church sanctuary on the Sabbath, but also in God’s natural sanctuary. She focuses on the very creation God spoke into existence as being the sanctuary declaring God’s omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience.
There is a story that is told about a family who, one Sunday morning was on their way to the mountains for a family outing. It was midmorning and along the way they happened to pass by a church. Many worshipers were congregated at the front entrance, preparing to go inside to worship. From the back seat of the car came the voice of 5-year old Karen, who said; "Daddy, aren’t we going to go to church this morning?" In the front seat, her parents exchanged embarrassed glances. But since the question had been directed to her dad, the father felt obligated to answer his daughter. And so, he said, "Honey, we can worship God in the mountains." There was a brief moment of silence as Karen thought about her father’s response, and then she replied; "But Daddy, we won’t, will we?"
"Some keep the Sabbath going to Church - I keep it, staying at Home..." Dickinson writes. She claims that she does not have to sit in the pews on Sunday morning to experience the presence of God; rather, she chooses to keep the Sabbath at home. She writes that she doesn’t have to follow the mundane crowds to church to experience the Holy; rather she experiences God personally and naturally. For her, religion becomes revelation through her experience of God in the very nature around her - from the choral of the "songbird," to her "orchard" cathedral. You see, she has realized the truth that "the God who made the world and all things in it... does not dwell in temples made with hands." But perhaps, her greatest selling point is the fact that God, "her noted clergyman," preaches a sermon that is never too long. Now, I’ve got your attention!
I think we can all relate to Dickinson’s poem. In fact, I am sure we have all said at one time or another; "I don’t need to go to church, I can worship God at home..." Even I have felt like this on Sunday morning - except my sanctuary would be the bed! Oh, there have been quite a few Sunday mornings when my alarm clock went off and I didn’t want to get up. I love the story that is told of a mother who pleaded with her son to get out of bed one Sunday morning and go to church. He said; "I don’t’ want too and you can’t make me." She said; "Son, you need to get up and go to church." To which he responded; "I don’t need to do anything! Besides, they don’t want me there - they don’t even like me and I don't like them either." After a few more minutes of arguing the son finally said; "Okay, mom, if you can give me two good reasons why I should go to church then I will get out of this bed and go!" The mother said; "Okay, son! Number one, you’re 53 years old and number two, you’re their pastor!
Like Karen’s father, in the story that I told you at the beginning of my sermon, many of us seek refuge behind an evasion that is all too popular today. It is true that God can be worshiped anywhere and everywhere. God can be worshiped in the mountains or in the plains. God can be worshiped in the valleys or along a thousand streams – God is omnipresent. But in her 5 short years, young Karen had learned that while God CAN be worshiped anywhere, God usually isn’t - instead, it becomes a convenient excuse.
A rabbi once asked a little boy; "I will give you a [coin] if you can tell me where God lives." The boy didn’t need to think about it very long; he answered; "And I will give you two [coins] if you can me where God doesn’t live." God is omnipresent; God is beyond time or space; beyond our comprehension yet always available and accessible. "For in him," Paul reminds us, "we live and move and have our very being." I believe the greater challenge, as Dickinson points out in her poem is to be open to the many and various ways in which God reveals God-self to us and to experience God's sabbath - God’s rest.
While the heavens may declare the glory of God, and the earth may show his handiwork, seldom do we truly see and recognize God’s glory amid creation. More often than not we see the wonders of creation without giving thanks to the Creator who stands behind it all. We fail to see or hear the sermon creation gives of its Creator. While the majestic mountains may tell us of God’s might; or the surging rush of a waterfall may tell us of God’s power; or the rolling spheres in the vaulted heavens may tell us of God’s wisdom - it is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that can tell us of God’s saving love and grace. All around us creation speaks of its Creator, but it is the gospel, which tells us of our Creator’s love and grace.
But what about you and me? What kind of sermon does our lives, as a part of creation, give or tell? Elton M. Roth has written the beloved hymn; "In My Heart There Rings a Melody." The first stanza reads:

"I have a song that Jesus gave me,
It was sent from heaven above;
There never was a sweeter melody,
'Tis a melody of love.
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody;
There rings a melody of love!"

Is there ringing in your heart a melody of God’s love and grace? Does Jesus ring forth in a melody, which fills your life and declares heaven’s harmony? If not, then you’re not living as God has created you. Paul reminds us, that we are God’s offspring. I came across a story the other week of a little boy who was staring at a big picture of Jesus on the wall in his Sunday school class. Finally, he turned to his teacher and said
to her: "You know, teacher, it seems that if Jesus lives inside of us, he’s going to stick out somewhere." How true that is! Is Jesus "sticking out" in you? Do others know of your faith, and love and good works for Christ? Do others see Jesus in you?

As God’s creation, we often forget about our responsibility to our Creator, to likewise reveal and declare God’s goodness, and beauty and love. You see, friends, God has chosen and elected us to be recipients of the Gospel. And it is when we truly respond to that Gospel that God’s melody fills our hearts and lives and rings forth, in heaven’s harmony. Won’t you join, with all of creation, in reflecting the Creator? But, more importantly, won’t you, like Paul in his beloved Mar’s Hill Speech, tell of this Creator’s love and grace for all his children?
I want to close with the words of a beautiful poem written by Jeffery Rowthorn titled; Creating God, Your Fingers Trace, it read:

"Creating God, your fingers trace
The bold designs of farthest space;
Let sun and moon and stars and light
And what lies hidden praise your might.
Sustaining God, your hands uphold
Earth’s mysteries known or yet untold;
Let water’s fragile blend with air,
Enabling life, proclaim your care.
Redeeming God, your arms embrace
All now despised for creed or race;
Let peace, descending like a dove,
Make known on earth your healing love.
Indwelling God, your gospel claims
One family with a billion names;
Let every life be touched by grace
Until we praise you face to face."

As a part of God’s creation, let us join with all of creation, as reflected in Psalm 148 and proclaim God’s praise.

Greetings:

Below you will find two sermons for Father's Day. I preached "Our Divine Daddy" on Father's Day of this year and "God's Sonogram" on Father's Day of the previous year. I included "God's Sonogram" because of the much anticipated birth of our second child the end of June. This sermon offers my perspective on the birth of our first child, Miriam. I hope you enjoy these sermons.

Grace and Peace;

Rev. Christopher Yopp

"Our Divine Daddy"

A sermon preached on The Third Sunday after Pentecost/Father's Day, June 17, 2007 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Romans 8:12-17.

Dan Jarrell tells the story of when a man approached him one day after a speaking engagement and handed him a letter. The letter told of this man’s lifelong desire to hear his father say, "I love you." You see, this man’s father had died in World War II when his son was only three years old. His mother had often assured him of his father’s love as he was growing up, but that didn’t quite fill the void that his father’s absence left. One day, this man was helping his mother move and she gave him an old Army picture of his father. The picture suddenly slipped from his hands and the frame and glass shattered all over the floor. As he knelt down to pick up the broken pieces of glass and frame, he noticed a piece of paper had been wedged behind the photo that was now visible. It was a letter from his father. His father, knowing that he might die in the war and not have the chance to ever see his son, wrote him a letter and hid it behind the picture of himself in his uniform. In the letter, the father shared his love for his son. Thirty-seven years later this young man finally found what he had spent so many years searching for – he found his father’s love and was made better by that love.
Those of you who are a part of my Sunday school class know that occasionally I like to use some theological terms in my teaching. And one such term is anthropomorphic, which is the theological term that seeks to describe God using human qualities and characteristics, traits and even gender.
The fact is, God is God - God is neither male nor female, but over and beyond those - God is Spirit. However, both man and woman are in God’s image. Now, while it is true that the Bible does, when addressing God in prayer, use the image of Father. But in images used in talking about God, the Bible always addresses God in the feminine - as a mother and rightfully so.
In fact, the greatest anthropomorphic picture of God is God is a parent - a loving mother and a caring father - an image that is used time and time again in Scripture.
I find it interesting when focusing on God, to see how God was perceived in the Old and New Testaments, and while those perceptions may differ, they are not contradicting as some might argue. It is interesting that while the picture we get of God in the Old Testament almost drastically changes by the time we come to the New Testament, we are told in Scripture that God never changes – God’s nature is eternal, and God is the same "yesterday, today and forever." The difference is in the way in which God is perceived or viewed and not in the nature or character of God. The Old Testament saints had a tendency to conceive God’s nature almost solely in the natural sphere - they saw God solely as Creator. And while this more distant view of God appears to be predominate in the Old Testament, it does change from time to time. In fact, the Psalmist offers us a picture of a much more personal and intimate God. And then, of course, in the New Testament, God becomes more real and personal and intimate to us, because now we have a God with flesh - a tangible God in the person of Jesus Christ. And Jesus gives us an understanding of God that far surpasses anything we can imagine or comprehend. He gives the word "Father" a whole new meaning – he gave it new depth, and content and understanding. In fact, Jesus is for us, like that letter was to that young man who desperately wanted to know of his father’s love. Jesus reveals to us that God our divine Father is love and that God loves us unconditionally.
Sometimes it takes us quite a while to learn that fact, to learn that God is a God of love and mercy, a God of compassion and grace. The Israelites, after many generations, finally discovered that God was not a God of wrath, as they had believed, but a God of love. It took Christ to teach the world that God is like our fathers in the finest sense the word can have. God is the supreme example of fatherhood.
Father’s Day is celebrated a little differently in the church, than in the world. In the church all men are fathers and are called to be those who nurture and support, love and tend to the needs of not only their own family, but also the family of God. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility – one, which models God’s attributes and characteristics.
Some months ago I heard a touching story about a Pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The pastor and father wondered how he was going to tell his young son that he soon would die. After wrestling with this for some time and after spending much time of prayer, he went with a heavy heart to his son’s bedside and he gently told him that the doctors could only promise him a few more days to live. "Are you afraid to meet God?" asked his devout father. Blinking away a few tears, the little boy said bravely, "No daddy, not if he’s like you!"
Years ago a newspaper reporter went to interview the great concert artist Roland Hayes. The reporter found him at lunch, not in the eloquent hotel dining room, but in a dingy, little room next to the kitchen – and this, simply because of the color of his skin. The reporter was offended, but Hayes stopped him by saying, "This doesn’t bother me." The reporter said, "How can this not bother you. You are an accomplished artist and here they treat you like this, like you’re ‘a nobody.’" Hayes went on to say; "Before I went away to school to struggle hard for the training I have, my father had a talk with me. He didn’t say much, but he impressed one thing upon me. ‘Roland,’ he said, ‘remember who you are’". He said, "My father kept drumming that into me until I finally asked; ‘Who am I, Dad?’" He replied, "Roland, you are a child of God.!"
"Remember who you are!" My friends, you are child of God – we are children of God. Thomas Wolfe’s poem, "What Are We?" follows strange and winding paths through several stanzas, but his poem ends right on target. I will never forget the first time I read those words; "We are the sons of our father, and we shall follow the print of his foot forever." Certainly, as Christians this is what we must do – follow the footprint of our divine Father.
In our Scripture Lesson this morning, Paul reminds us who we are - we are children of God. The Greek word that Paul uses to speak of our adoption as children of God is huiothesia, which is a reminder that God brought us back into the family of God. Where once we were outside the family because of sin, God has adopted us back into his family and we are now his children. It is quite clear from Paul’s use of the words, "sons," "children," "heirs," "joint heirs," and "Abba, Father" that he is thinking of the life of the believer in terms of the divine family relationship - a relationship that is made possible through Christ and the Spirit of God.
Miriam calls me by many names, oftentimes they reflect her mood or even what she is asking for. But none of these names are more affectionate and meaningful than when she calls me "daddy."
Interestingly enough very few words in the Bible have survived the passage of time and the tender attention of translation and remain today in our language in their original form. For example, the Hebrew word amen, the Greek word anathema, and the Aramaic word maranatha are all found in close proximity in I Corinthians chapter 16. The word Abba is another of these words. It has its roots in the Hebrew ab, meaning father and developed into the Aramaic abba, an affectionate expression that is best translated in modern English as "daddy." Such an expression to God would be unheard up to the strict Jews of Jesus time and of the Old Testament - calling the Holy of Holies, the Creator of the Cosmos - abba, "daddy" - that is appalling! But such is the way Christ taught us to address God our divine Daddy!
In God we see the true meaning of father, and all the wonderful qualities and characteristics that a father possesses. And the Apostle Paul gives us a wonderful picture of this Divine Father or Daddy-child relationship.
Our own families and even our church family is just an expression of the greatest family of all - our divine family. Our parents - our mothers and fathers are only an expression of God our divine parent.
In his book, Disappointment with God, author Philip Yancey relates a touching story from his own life. Once, while visiting with his mother, who had been widowed years earlier, they spent the afternoon together looking through a box of old photos. A certain picture of Philip as an eight-month-old baby caught his eye. The picture was worn, bent and torn, so he asked his mother why, with so many other better pictures of him at the same age, she had kept this one. Yancey writes, "My mother explained to me that the photo was very sentimental, because during my father’s illness it had been clipped to his bed rail." During the last four months of his life, Yancey’s father was totally confined to the bed, he was completely paralyzed by polio at the age of twenty-four. With his two young sons banned from the hospital due to the severity of his illness, he had asked his wife for pictures of his two boys. The last four months of his life were spent looking at the faces he beloved children. Philip Yancey writes, "I have often thought of that old worn photo, for it is one of the few links connecting me to my father whom I never had the opportunity to see. And yet, this person I have no memory of, no sensory knowledge of, spent all day, every day thinking of me, devoting himself to me, loving me." Philip went on to say; "The emotions I felt when my mother showed me that old photo were the very same emotions I felt that February night in a college dorm room when I first believed in a God of love. Someone is there, I realized. Someone is there who loves me," and that someone is our Divine Daddy! May we experience our Divine Daddy’s love anew and afresh on this Father’s Day and may we be made better by that love!

"God's Sonogram"

A sermon preached on Father's Day 2006 at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Mark 4:26-29.

Garrison Keillor, who is no stranger to radio and television, as well as to the big screen, has two radio shows on National Public Radio. One of them is the beloved Prairie Home Companion and the other is his Writer’s Almanac. Recently, Garrison reminded his audience on Writer’s Almanac that Father’s Day goes back "to a Sunday morning in May of 1909, when a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd was sitting in church in Spokane, Washington, listening to a Mother's Day sermon. She thought of her father who had raised her, along with her brothers and sisters after her mother’s death during childbirth, and she thought that fathers should get recognition, too. So she asked her minister if he would deliver a sermon honoring fathers on her father's birthday, which was coming up in June, and the minister did. And the tradition of Father's Day caught on, though rather slowly at first. In fact, Mother's Day became an official holiday in 1914; while Father's Day didn’t reach that status until 1972. Mother's Day is still the busiest day of the year for florists, restaurants and even for long distance phone companies. Father's Day, on the other hand, is the day on which the most collect phone calls are made. Certainly fathers are the subject of much ridicule and criticism - not to mention the brunt of many jokes.
But certainly we understand and know the importance and significance of fathers - especially our own fathers. But I think it is important to point out that the definition of father doesn’t necessarily entail having a biological child. I have met many men, as well as women, who have no children of their own but are definitely fathers and mothers. A father is one who immulates and models, through word and deed, the attributes and characteristics of God - our Heavenly Father. It is one who gives himself - his time, talent, energy, strength, love and support to his family and also to the family of God - the Church. All men, in the church, are fathers - they are church fathers and with that title comes an immense responsibility to tend to the needs and care for the family of faith. What an awesome responsibility and privilege. Yet, sadly, I am aware that just as some biological fathers neglect their children and their role and responsibility to their family; so some neglect their role and responsibility to God and the Church.
While preparing and planning my Father’s Day sermon, I couldn’t help but think back to when I first learned I was going to be a father. In fact, I’ll never forget that day in October of 2004 when Amber said; "I’m pregnant!" My reaction was "Oh my God, are you sure?" That’s probably the first response given by most men when they hear those words. That, and maybe even, depending on the man, "Am I the father?" But I couldn’t have heard any better news. And, it is still so hard to believe that next month Miriam will be 2 years old. Time flies!
But what was so amazing to me was how excited Amber and I were when the day came for Amber to have her first sonogram - we couldn’t hardly wait to see our baby! However, our excitement would soon turn to disappointment when, instead of seeing a baby on the screen, all we saw was a tiny speck. And to make matters worse the doctor said; "Oh, there’s your baby!" I thought to myself are we looking at the same thing here? But then within 4 short weeks, Amber was scheduled for another sonogram and we could hardly believe our eyes! That speck was now a visible baby with arms and legs and, what’s more! Within 4 weeks the difference, to me, was truly amazing; and I continued to be amazed with each new sonogram and doctor’s visit - as our baby grew larger and Amber’s belly grew bigger, and bigger and bigger... I better stop there! And then, their came the miracle of birth! And I was really proud of myself, I didn’t pass out like Hugh Grant in the move 9 months, like I thought I was going to do. I watched the whole thing just utterly amazed and I thank God every moment that I was not born a woman! And despite all the hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and the blood, sweat and tears from both the mother and father, it’s all worth it! And it makes me think of our spiritual responsibilities to birth, nurture and bring to harvest the kingdom of God, and how all of the hard work, dedication, sacrifice is all worth it! In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote; "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).
That seems to be the reaction of the man in our parable this morning of the Growing Seed. What was once a tiny seed - grew to be a full plant! The process of the growth and the development of a seed, much like conception and birth, is fascinating and intriguing. In fact, it is still a process which humans do not fully understand - but further defines the power of God and the miracle of life!
Let’s take a look at this parable! The sower in this parable is the people of God - we are the sowers whom God uses to establish his kingdom within the hearts and lives of people - we are kingdom workers. The seed is none other than the Word of God! The soil is the human heart or the world! For what can pierce the heart of man? What can turn a cold heart into a warm loving heart? The Word of God has that power! The Word of God - Jesus is the "incorruptible seed," Peter tells us, which brings people to spiritual birth and life. And then, the miracle, we sow, and it grows. God does the rest! Isn’t this the way God works in our lives.
Herbert Lockyer explains how this seed is the word - the written word that is, and how it comes to harvest. He writes; "The Bible was first a blade, the Pentateuch, which is the Greek word for the first five books of the Old Testament, or as the Jews refer to it, the Torah; then it grew into the ear, which represents the complete Old Testament itself; then the full corn in the ear, which is the New Testament making the complete revelation of the mind of God to the people of God." And, my friends, it is through his word that God brings to formation and consummation his kingdom whether in our hearts or in our lives.
As Christians, our spiritual journey toward growth and maturity is a constant one. And sure, it is a struggle too, just like parenting. Constantly, the Enemy is coming along sowing weeds in our gardens, in our hearts and in our world. But we must allow the true pruning of God’s Spirit to help us get rid of such weeds and bloom only the perfect fruit of God’s Spirit.
Yes, this parable is speaking about God’s kingdom, but we are the kingdom, and before we can be workers of that kingdom, before we can be sowers, we must first be sown and allow God to create us. And it is then that we become the sowers and reflectors fo God’s Word.
You ask the average father and they will tell you that the inspiration of their father and the lessons their father taught them, gave them the strength and know how to be a father. And so, it is, we honor our fathers - our own fathers and our church fathers who have taught us to so well what it means to be a good father. But above all, we honor and worship our Heavenly Father who teaches us what true fatherhood is all about in the way he fathers us and nurtures us...
Tim Russert, the author of the bestseller books; Big Russ and Me and Wisdom of our Fathers, was being interviewed the other day and was talking about his son, Luke who is 20 years old. He said he had hoped Luke, after reading his books gained some wisdom and insight. And then he told of the time in which he came home to be greeted by his wife, who informed him that their son, Luke had gotten a tattoo. Tim said he was furious! Immediately he went up to his room and demanded Luke to pull the sleeve of his shirt up. After some hesitation, Luke did so and to Tim’s astonishment there was a tattoo with the letters "T J R," which are the initials of Luke’s father, Tim and Tim’s father. Luke immediately explained himself by saying; "Dad, after reading your book, I wanted something to remind me that you and grandpa were always by my side." Tim ended by saying; "And, you know, it was the nicest tattoo I’ve ever seen." Now, friends, we don’t have too, unless you want to, get a tattoo to remind ourselves that our fathers, or parents are by our side, and especially God - our Heavenly Father.
In fact, I love how Max Lucado described God’s fatherly love and care. He said, "God has a photo of you that he looks at every day, and that photo is on his refrigerator..." You know, I think every father and mother can relate to that!
God is always by our side! And what’s more, God has a better vision of us - his vision is complete, it’s not like that sonogram, which, while it is wonderful and exciting, it is still somewhat distorted and really doesn’t show you anything of what our child will look like when he or she is born.
I want to close with this story which Reverend John Wallace, pastor of Sweet Hollow Presbyterian Church in Melville, New York tells, he writes; "Several years ago, my kids gave me a colorful coffee mug for Father’s Day. On the mug were listed some of the likely contributions of fatherhood, such as: ‘provider, chauffeur, coach, peacemaker, mentor, miracle worker, and friend.’" Reverend Wallace went on to say; "Though I drink from that mug each morning, I must confess that I don’t often read or reflect on those words, as I should. And, let’s face it, not all of them represent my particular contributions. I haven’t completely lived up to those standards. However, they serve as a reminder of just how important the position of a good father can be..."
How true it is for God’s word. God’s word, like a seed is planted in our hearts and lives and yes, sometimes we choke it out our humanness, but it serves as a reminder of what we are called to be and do, as fathers, as mothers, and as disciples! So, let us allow God to bring to harvest in our hearts and lives the true fruit of his Spirit, that we might in turn, work for God; planting, sowing, watering and cultivating, knowing that God has the vision, for us, for our church and for our world, and that he will bring that vision to harvest, Amen.

"Do Not Weep? Easier Said Than Done!"

A sermon preached on The Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 10, 2007, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Luke 7:11-17.

Our Gospel Lesson this morning from the Lectionary somewhat troubles me for several reasons. Mainly because, since the beginning of the year we have lost five very special people within our church family and that’s not to mention, the many more who have passed on over the course of my five years as pastor here at Edgmeont. Within such a setting, it is hard, at the most basic level, to hear that Christ was moved to compassion at the widow’s grief over the death of her only son and not ask; "Lord, what about us here at Edgemont?" "What about those who have died in our church family?"
I mean, we learn nothing of this woman’s faith, or even gratitude. She doesn’t even ask Jesus to raise her son, and then after raising him, we are told nothing of her expression of thanks. And yet, we practice and live out our faith daily. We read our Bibles and say our prayers. We assemble each week to be fed by word and sacrament. We confess our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We look forward with a hope to the promise of heaven. We come forward each Sunday with open hands to receive Christ’s body and blood. We offer our tithes and offerings. We confess our sins and trust we are forgiven. We lay hands and anoint with oil and pray for one another. And yet, sickness and suffering, pain and death continue to surround us.
Oh, there is no doubt about it, we have been blessed. The spirit of the church continues to be alive and healthy in many respects; our stewardship, on all levels, has increased and is strong. But, at the same time, we have had our share of difficulties. Attendance is low, not only because some of the saints have been "transferred to the church above", but also because some have been hurt, and others have lost interest, either in the church itself or perhaps in the pastor.
And yes, we believe that our Lord still raises the dead! In fact, we trust in that promise each time we go to the cemetery and hear those words; "In the sure and certain hope of the resurrection unto eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother or our sister, and we commit this his or her earthly body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; confident that the one who has made us shall not leave us in the dust, but shall grant us everlasting life."
We believe that our Lord still raises the dead! We trust that promise each time a person makes their confession of faith and goes down and rises up in the waters of Baptism.
We believe that our Lord still raises the dead! We trust that promise each time we gather around the table of the Lord and celebrate the memorial of God’s love and grace and hear those words; "Take eat and drink..., for this is my body... this is my blood given for you and for your salvation."
William Ritter, a pastor in the United Methodist Church tells the story of when one of his parishioners, Fred Jones, came to him one Sunday morning about fifteen minutes before the service. He said; "Pastor, I’ve got a great idea about how we can bring some new life and energy to the church." He went on to explain his idea or, perhaps I should say, his plan, he said; "About midway through the service, after you’ve already started preaching, I’ll pretend to fall asleep. You stop preaching and come down and rouse me. I’ll leap up - shout ‘Hallelujah!’ and cry that I’ve been raised from the dead. Then you go back and finish your sermon." Ritter said, "Needless to say, Fred didn’t follow through with his plan and neither did I. Instead, the service went on as usual, which is the way most of us expect it and the way most of us like it."
A pastor ended the Prayer of Invocation one Sunday morning by saying; "And Lord, may we do something in our service this morning that isn’t printed in our bulletins." You know, order and structure are great things when it comes to worship, but sometimes we get so boggled down with order, with structure that we miss out on experience. Our order becomes so rigid and strict that there is no opportunity for something new, something different, something spontaneous! That’s why I love it with the children get involved in the service - you never know what is going to happen, nor do you know what to expect. And certainly, the same reaction comes when in the presence of God. We see in the gospels, whenever Jesus was on the scene you never know what is going to happen - you never know what to expect.
From what I've heard, a New Orleans jazz funeral is an experience like no other. The brass band begins its solemn procession at the church, playing hymns like, "Free as a Bird" and "Just a Closer Walk with Thee". But once the procession arrives at the cemetery and after the final words are spoken and the body is lowered into the ground, the mood suddenly changes. Brightly decorative umbrellas burst open, the snare drummer removes his mute, and the funeral procession heads back into town to the strains of "Didn't He Ramble?" and "When the Saints Go Marching In." Folks who heard the somber hymns earlier in the day wait for the procession to return, because they know a celebration’s coming and no one in New Orleans wants to miss the funeral celebration. In much the same way, when the funeral procession left the widow’s home in the town of Nain that day, her son’s body lying atop the funeral bier, she wasn’t planning for a celebration. No one was! I mean, after all, her only child was dead. What appears to be her last living male relative, now gone. Not only was she without the consolation of family, but she was also likely without any means of support. There was no expectation, no hope of celebration for this woman or the entourage that followed her. They mourned, they wept. They made their slow way to the cemetery outside of town. But as this procession emerges from the city gate, they are met by Jesus and his followers entering the city. And Jesus leaves that crowd that he is with and approaches the mother. He looks at her and says, "Do not weep."
And when he bids the dead man rise - he does? Although, the text doesn’t mention it, I am sure more than one or two jaws dropped. And once the initial shock wore off, the umbrellas bursted open, the mutes fell away, the horns started blowing, and the celebration began. "A great prophet has risen among us!" they affirmed. "God has looked favorably on his people!"
But, you know, another reason I have trouble with this story is the fact that in the course of Jesus’ ministry he healed a lot of people and with the exception of a few, all of them were grateful - ecstatic. Also, in the Gospel of Luke we read of three women, in particular, whom Jesus healed, and all of them, Jesus attributes their healing to their faith. But nothing is said about the faith of the woman in our Gospel Lesson this morning. She doesn't ask Jesus to raise her son. She doesn’t fall at his feet of Jesus begging for her son’s life. All she does is cry.
Now, of course, maybe the reason she doesn’t ask Jesus for a resurrection isn’t from a lack of faith. Maybe she just thinks it’s too late, like Mary and Martha when their brother Lazarus died. Her son is dead. But if that’s the case, why doesn’t she at least say "thank you?" Or if she did say "thank you," why doesn't the gospel writer record her response or, that of the woman’s son after he is raised? Maybe it’s because the mother and son joined in the celebration with the rest of the crowd. I am sure they did! But why didn’t the gospel writer clarify that for us? Maybe it is because this story isn’t about faith. Maybe it’s not about gratitude either. Maybe this story is about grace - pure, unadulterated, undiluted, unbidden, unearned, un-asked-for grace! This resurrection doesn't happen because of a mother's faith or her son's worthiness. It happens because Jesus had compassion for her. The mother didn't have to act faithfully. The son didn't have to live gratefully. It could be that both the mother and the son were faithful and were grateful – one can only hope so, but we are not told, so all that we can do is assume. But the point of the story is not the mother or the son. The point of the story is Jesus’ compassion. The point is that when grace comes into our lives, it requires nothing of us but a choice: to receive it or not. The point is to always have our party clothes with us, because with Jesus you never know when a funeral procession just might turn into a street celebration. Too many of us walk around with only our funeral clothes.
I love our Lord’s words to the widow, he said; "do not weep." You see, Jesus knew that there would no longer be a reason to weep. This is kind of what I envision will happen in the New Jerusalem; where God promises, "[I] will wipe away every tear from your eyes."
Our Lord’s words, "do not weep" here in our Gospel Lesson also remind me of the question Jesus asked Mary Magdalene shortly after he rose from the dead. He asked: "why do you weep?" Once again, when Jesus asked this question, he was saying: you don’t have a reason to weep, I have removed the cause for your pain and mourning.
I’ve got to be honest with you, the smarter I get and the more I study, the less I understand. But the longer I minister and the longer I serve God, the more I marvel at the awesome power and majesty of this God who I believe in. I don’t know what miracles are. I can’t explain them. Miracles are beyond my comprehension, beyond my explanation. If we could explain them, then they wouldn’t be miracles. In fact, I like John Claypool’s interpretation of miracles. He writes; "A miracle may best be described as what happens when God chooses to do suddenly what God normally does slowly." I don’t know how water becomes wine in the twinkling of an eye. But I do know how water becomes wine over several months of vineyard planting, and rain falling, and vines sprouting, and grapes fattening, and juice fermenting. I understand that! But in the twinkling of an eye? That, I don’t understand! But that is a miracle and we have take it on faith. One commentator has written of Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine; "When the water came into contact with the holy, it blushed." That’s a great interpretation. Most of the time, God works at one pace. But every now-and-then, God will speed things up. God is gracious! And, while we do not always have answers for life’s questions, we must put our faith and trust in God’s gracious will and plan, and know that God is working for the good of those who love him. For God has promised to turn our mourning into dancing!

"A Look at the Prodigal Son"

Perhaps there is no parable in the Bible more beloved then the story of the Prodigal Son. As George Murray said, "it is the most divinely tender and humanly touching story ever told on earth." Charles Dickens describes it as "the finest short story ever written" and Cosmo Lang wrote, "It is regarded as a mere fragment of human literature, it is an incomparable expression of the patience and generosity with which human love bears with and triumphs over human wilfulness and folly." Therefore, it is little wonder that such a story is included in our textbook. Through this story we see two responses to the youngest son’s repentance; that of jealousy and envy from the eldest son, and that of love and grace from the father.
When reading this story, I couldn’t help but think of William Shakespeare’s words, "The wise man knows himself to be a fool, but the fool thinks he is a wise man." Perhaps, those words could be rephrased to, "The wise man knows when he is lost, understands the source of his homesickness and returns to a father who loves him." These words, without a doubt, define the youngest son. However, the oldest son could be described as a "fool who thinks he is wise" and in his wisdom doesn’t realize he is actually lost. I find it interesting that in this story both sons could be considered "lost." The youngest son came to realize his condition after taking his inheritance, traveling to a far country and wasting it away. On the other hand, the eldest son’s jealousy causes him to be lost; and yet, he doesn’t even realize it.
Many writers tend to focus on the loving, forgiving and gracious character of the father or upon the repentant and penitent youngest son who becomes the recipient of grace. However, we must not overlook the eldest brother, whose jealousy and envy caused him to miss out on the opportunity to express grace and thus experience it himself. Desmond Tutu once wrote, "A jealous person is doubly unhappy - over what he has, which is judged inferior, and over what he has not, which is judged superior. Such a person is doubly removed from knowing the true blessings of grace."
Grace requires a person to be as patient with others as we want others to be with us. It assumes that deep in the heart of every one of us is the desire to be redeemed and for that redemption to bring about a greater good or a transformation. Such was the grace the youngest son hoped to find when returning home, and such was a grace he received. However, we quickly learn in the story that not everyone in the family is willing to offer such a warm and inviting reception, as the father. In fact, in verse 30 we read, "But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf." The fact the oldest son says, "this thy son," to his father, is an indication that he has not receive his brother back as a member of HIS family . He does not refer to him as "my brother."
When jealousy and pride fester, the heart becomes cold and the rewards of grace cannot be experienced. Jesus reminds us of this in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, "So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24).
Several aspects of the story leap from its pages, especially when one considers the love and grace the father administers to his youngest son. First of all, in his return home the father greets him with open arms. The picture is beautiful and heartwarming! The reader can imagine the father sitting by the window day-after-day, awaiting the return of his youngest son, when from a distance, one day, he catches a glimpse of him and comes running out to greet him with a kiss and embrace. Secondly, the father gives the son a robe and a ring. Most scholars agree that this is a reference to a ring bearing the family seal, further emphasizing that the son is still a part of the family. And finally, there is the fatted calf. It was uncommon in those days for families to eat meat, unless it was a significant occasion. This was such an occasion - the father’s son had returned home. One cannot help but draw the connection to the Jewish feast of Yom Kippur or the "Day of Atonement." In much the same way, the best lamb would have been used for the Feast of Atonement. This was considered the youngest son’s Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement and fittingly the best calf was offered. It is evident that it is the nature and character of this father to be gracious, just as it is in God’s nature and character.
Humans have been conditioned to believe that either "you turn or you burn!" Philip Gulley tells the story of when a friend gave him a video of the Christian play Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames, in the book he co-authored titled, If God is Love. He writes, "The title set off warning bells, but my friend assured me I’d enjoy it. She explained that her teenage daughter - a prodigal, had gone to the altar after attending the play." Gulley goes on to write, "The play was appalling. It was a series of vignettes in which persons either accepted or rejected the ‘plan of salvation’ and were then unexpectedly killed in car accidents or in construction-site disasters. They would arrive at heaven’s gates where an angel would look for their names in the Book of Life. Those who were saved were warmly welcomed, while the unsaved were dragged from the gates by cackling demons."
Some would argue that "you reap what you sow." And while, in many ways that may be true, your choices do, oftentimes, determine your circumstances. The idea of grace is, as Philip Yancey explains in his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace?; "There’s nothing we can do that will make God love us more... or less." In the story of the Prodigal Son, the father never stopped loving his youngest son. I can imagine not a day, much less a minute, went by without the father thinking of his son’s well-being. Yet, it was the son who had to discover his father’s love and grace again, and this was done only by knocking down the wall of greed. In his emptiness he realized that his father still loved him. Jesus offers a picture of a God who embraces all of his children, those who stay at home and those who wander off. God’s grace is without limits or boundaries, all inclusive and inviting. However, as we learn through this story, man’s grace is not quite as boundless, inclusive, or unlimited.
The Apostle Paul writes; "Do not seek your own advantage, but that of others" (I Corinthians 10:24). The challenge then, is to emulate such a love. When Jesus called his followers to love their enemies, his gave examples. One can only hope that the father’s example of grace will encourage the eldest son to find his way and in the end embrace his youngest brother as Jacob did his brother, Esau.

"Watering Our Plants"

There’s a cute little children’s rhyme which reads;

"We gave you a chance
To water the plants.
We didn’t mean THAT WAY -
Now zip up your pants!"

I couldn’t help but think of Miriam when reading that poem. Now, I can assure you that she doesn’t attempt to water our plants that way. But lately, she has been helping me water our outdoor plants and garden. It has become a daily routine of ours. Each evening, after dinner, we go outside to play and then water all of the plants before going in to take a bath and get ready for bed. She looks forward to it, as do I.
We take so much time and care of our plants. We make sure they are properly watered, fertilized and pruned. We want them to look beautiful! In many ways they are a reflection of the beauty and wonder of life. But I can’t help but wonder, do we devote as much time, and energy and care to our spiritual lives? Sadly, many of us fail to water, fertilize and prune the spiritual plants of our lives and even the church. The season of Pentecost is a reminder that we are God’s plants. Through baptism God has transplanted us into the rich soil of his love and grace, word and Spirit.
The Bible reminds us, that God is Spirit and we are created spiritual beings. We were created for Spirit-to-spirit union and communication. Our spirit can be infused and empowered by God’s Spirit. Jesus said; "The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him" (John 4:23). The Greek word for "worshipers" here is proskunetai, which comes from proskuneo, meaning "to bow the knee" or "to prostrate oneself in total openness." It is only through this act that we can become the channel through which the Spirit freely flows.
Water is essential for survival and for growth. As we have seen lately, our lawns are becoming dry and brown, our beloved plants and flowers are withering and dying, and the pollen count is extremely high all because of a lack of precipitation. The same applies to our spiritual lives. Without the Living Water of God’s Spirit, we become dry and dead.
I once heard of a teacher in a missionary school for boys in India who was well known for his faith, even in the most trying circumstances. He was often asked where he got his faith. He always replied, somewhat cryptically, "It grows in my garden." One day a group of his students showed up at his house and demanded to see that famous garden where such amazing faith grew. The teacher led them through his house, out the back door, and into a narrow, cheerless enclosure. When the students expressed disappointment in its lack of beauty and character, the teacher replied; "No, it is not very long nor very wide. But," he added as he lifted his eyes heavenward, "it is very, very tall." Such faith comes when we allow our lives to grow heavenward.
I heard a wonderful analogy by Dr. Adrian Rogers this past week. He commented that there are two kinds of Christians - those who are like a cable car and those who are like an automobile. He said, "Cable cars are always connected to the source. Their arms are extended to the cable, which gives them the power to run. They never loose their power, as long as they remain connected to their source of energy - the cable. The automobile, however, has a tank. It must be filled with gas in order for it to run and, in time, the gas will run low and eventually the tank will become empty, and it must be filled again." There are Christians who come to church weekly, or occasionally to get their fill. Oftentimes, running to the point of becoming empty or working off of fumes. But then there are those who remain forever connected to the cable - the source of their power, strength and energy - the Holy Spirit! They spend time daily in fellowship and communion with the Spirit.
I have been reading a devotional written by Carlee Hallman titled; Abide with Me, that Steve Stump gave to me awhile back. I have thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful prayers dealing with various circumstances found in this book. I want to share with you one of the prayers:

"O Lord, I was so busy
getting things done
that I ran out of gas.
Why, do I still need to be reminded
that I can’t run on empty?
You stop me.
Then I remember
that I need to fill up
in your presence
every day to keep going.
Thank you, once again,
for coming to my rescue
by being there."

In John Updike’s novel, A Month of Sundays, there is a reflection from one character about his youthful experience of the church, in which he says; "Churches bore for me the relation to God that billboards did to Coca-Cola; they promoted thirst but did nothing to quench it." The Holy Spirit empowers the church to be thirst quenchers. Just as Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples following his resurrection, so we are to breathe the Holy Spirit on others. But we have been holding our breath for too long. It is time for the CHURCH to exhale! It is time for EDGEMONT to exhale! It is time for YOU and ME to exhale! As the Spirit of God flows into us, it also ought to flow from us. And so, let us allow the season of Pentecost to be a reminder to tap into the source of our energy, strength and growth. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to water, fertilize and prune our lives so that we might produce fruit for God’s kingdom. St. Basil once wrote; "Just as transparent substances, when subjected to light, themselves glitter and give off light, so does the soul, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, give light to others and itself becomes spiritual."

"Becoming A Statue of Liberty"

I don’t know how many of you have had the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island, New York. Found at the base of this huge symbol of freedom and liberty is the inscription:

“Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

Perhaps those words should be printed over the doors of every church. Maybe if such an invitation was given, our churches would be full on Sunday mornings. There are so many people who are physically and spiritually hungry, thirsty, lonely, hurting, forsaken and lost in our world, in our communities, in our families and in our circle of friends. They yearn to hear such an invitation and to find a place where they feel welcome.

We often assume that the un-churched will come to us, but to think so is a mistake. We must go to the un-churched - we must go to the hungry and thirsty, the lonely and hurting, the lost and forsaken.

The Gospel Lectionary Reading a few Sundays ago reminds us of this responsibility. Jesus, following his resurrection, asked Peter three times; “Do you love me?” And each time, Peter responded; “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” The one who had denied his Lord three times, reaffirmed his love three times. But Jesus gave him a challenge following each question; “Feed, my lambs,” “tend to my sheep,” “feed my sheep.” And Jesus gives us this same challenge, as well.

Another historical attraction of New York is Ellis Island. It is estimated that from 1892 to 1954, Ellis Island was a gateway for more than 12 million immigrants coming to the United States. It is also estimated that 40 percent, or over 100 million Americans, can trace their ancestry through at least one man, woman or child who entered the country via Ellis Island. Until the 1920's Ellis Island maintained an open-door policy.

On the Wall of Honor you can see literally hundreds of thousands of names of immigrants who came to this country in search of the American dream. They came searching for the kind of freedom and liberty that Lady Liberty stands high and proud for. Yet, I can’t help but wonder how many of them found what they were looking for and if their dream was all they had hoped it would be. Sure, by them coming to America they allowed their children and children’s children and so forth to be born in a land of freedom and opportunity, but were their hopes and dreams fulfilled? Did the ones who made the risk, left behind friends, family, and their home find the liberty and freedom, the possibilities and opportunities they expected?

Certainly, we can’t help but ask that question when considering the church. Do those who come to the church find what they are looking for? Do they find a place of security, a place of open arms and warm embrace, a place where they are welcome, free to express their beliefs, fed, nourished, challenged, and strengthened? This is what the church is about! Jesus sends out the invitation, “Come unto me…” We, as the church must be willing to say, “Come…”

Shel Silverstein has written a wonderful invitation to his book of children’s poetry titled; Where the Sidewalk Ends. The invitation reads:

“If you are a dreamer, come in,

if you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,

A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer...

If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire

For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.

Come in! Come in!”

In response to the horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech, we held a Candlelight Prayer Vigil. The service proved to be both meaningful and spiritually therapeutic for the pain and the grief we were experiencing. Tammy Tripp, a writer for the DisicplesWorld magazine wrote a beautiful article pertaining to the service. I loved her description of the candlelight vigil we held at the close of the service. She writes: “Each person in the congregation was given a candle that symbolized his or her own life and asked to light it using the Christ candle. As they walked slowly and single-file [down the isle, they lit their candles] and then formed a circle... The light from the candles danced on the wood of the pews, giving an orange tint, and the dark red carpet looked almost maroon. The floor of the church, which was built in the 1800's and has been a place of worship and a place people have expressed anger and sorrow for more than a century, creaked softly. Yopp read a quote by author R. Turnbull: ‘Beautiful light is born of darkness, so the faith that springs forth from conflict is often the strongest and the best.’”

The tragedy at Virginia Tech was one that brought us together. But we have to do more than just hold Prayer Vigils and light candles we need to be a people who are willing to “feed [Christ’s] sheep.” We need to be willing to “tend to [Christ’s] lambs.”

May Edgemont stand tall and proud to be a place where all are welcome. May we be willing to feed and tend to Christ’s sheep. May we be willing to stand up for freedom and justice for all. May we affirm; “In essentials; unity. In non-essentials; liberty. In all things; charity.”

"Experiencing God Through the Trinity!"

A sermon preached on Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on John 16:12-15.

I read of a preacher who proudly boasted that he does not preach doctrinal sermons. He said; "They are boring and people do not understand them nor can they relate to them." He went on to say; "Furthermore, I am a preacher, not a theologian. I get down to the practical issues and simply preach Christ crucified." Now, his thinking is a little faulty for several reasons. First of all, he is wrong in saying that he is not a theologian. The fact is, everyone is a theologian to a certain extent. To understand this, you must first understand what the word "theology" means. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words, theos, meaning "God" and logos meaning "word" or "reason". The Latin form of these words is theolgoia, meaning a "discourse about God." So if you have ever waxed upon anything pertaining to the mystery of God or faith, then you have acted as a theologian - one who thinks about God and faith. I love theology!
Secondly, this preacher believed that theology has no practical use. To argue that theology has not practical implications to our lives is a mistake. Theology gets down to the very core of our existence - who we are!
And finally, I would disagree with that preacher’s claim that we should only preach Christ crucified. Now, I know some of you will argue that that is what Paul said, but this preacher didn’t mean what Paul meant. He is saying that he only preaches about the cross and salvation. I submit to you that the cross is not central in Paul's theology; rather, it is Christ himself. You see, it has always puzzled me why some ministers preach the message of salvation to people who have been sitting in the pews all their life when they need so much more of Christ’s teaching on life’s other issues. There are many strings on a guitar and in order to make beautiful music all of them must be strummed and not just one. That is why in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we honor the lectionary and the seasons of the church year. That insures a witness to the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we go through the season of Advent and not consider the doctrine of the incarnation? How can we go through Lent without contemplating the doctrine of the resurrection? And likewise, how can we embark upon the season of Pentecost, as we did last week, without mentioning the doctrine of the Trinity? And so, here we are - Trinity Sunday!
I find it interesting that the Church has celebrated Trinity Sunday since the 10th century. Perhaps there is no greater mystery than the doctrine of the Trinity - God is one, yet three! It almost seems like a contradiction. God is one, yet three - some would argue that it is an oxymoron. Yet, it is a teaching - a doctrine of the Church!
Let me begin by saying that the doctrine or the idea of the Trinity does not attempt to define God. Defining God is impossible! First of all, words cannot begin to describe something that is beyond words. We cannot begin to define something that is beyond definition, and to do so, is to limit God! And secondly, God is beyond our mere intellectual understanding. That is why God has created us spirit, so that we might have that Spirit-to-spirit communion and communication with God. And so, the doctrine of the Trinity only explains to us in a very elemental way, what God has revealed to us about himself. To describe the tip of the iceberg above the water is not to describe the entire iceberg. And so, in the same way, the Trinity is not an explanation or definition of God, but simply a way of describing what God has chosen to reveal to us.
Tradition has it, that one day, St. Augustine was walking along the seashore in quiet meditation. His thoughts were centered on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. How could God be three and yet one? While wrestling with this baffling thought, his attention was suddenly drawn to a little girl playing in the sand. Back and forth she went, carrying a shell full of water from the ocean waves as they came rolling in to a little hold she had dug. St. Augustine approached her and asked; "What are you doing?" Without hesitation the little girl, with childlike confidence replied; "Oh, I am going to empty the sea into this little hole, which I have dug." The wise theologian smiled and resumed his walk. But as he strolled along the shore, he began to think to himself, "I have been trying to do the same thing as that little girl was doing. I am trying to crowd the infinite God into my finite mind.
Now, while it is true that the word "Trinity" is never found in Scripture; the implication or the idea of the Trinity is found all throughout Scripture. And the early Christians realized that they could not truly speak of God without speaking of the three ways in which God has revealed himself to humanity. This does not mean that there are three Gods. It means that there is one God who has shown himself in three ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, each distinct, yet co-existent and co-equal. What a marvelous and profound thought!
One thing I love about our denomination is, we Disciples have freedom, in the sense that we don’t have to adhere to any specific creedal statement about the nature of God. We simply rely upon the Scriptures and our own experience in our understanding of God. Thus, as Disciples we can emphasize the aspect of God’s nature which most appeals or meets our greater need personally, and spiritually and intellectually.

One of the theologians of the early church, Tertullian, explained the Trinity in a metaphor. He said; "God the Father is like a deep root, the Son is the shoot that breaks forth into the world, and the Spirit is the bloom that spreads beauty and fragrance."

One of the greatest things the Trinity teaches us about God is that God is constantly reaching out to humanity. The Creator yearns for a loving, intimate and personal relationship with his creation. He wants to walk with us daily. He years for communion and fellowship with us. Through Christ, we have a picture of who God is and what God is like. Christ reveals to us God! And the Holy Spirit allows us to experience God’s beauty and fragrance - his presence.
I will never forget reading what C. S. Lewis once wrote. He said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven will be, "Oh." As in, "Oh, now I understand" or "Oh, now I see what your plan was" - "now I know why I went through that trial." In fact, Paul wrote; "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face." Now [we] know only in part; then [we] will know fully, even as [we] have been fully know" (I Corinthians 13:12).

Jesus said in our Gospel Lesson this morning; "When the Spirit of truth comes," which it has - it came to us on the Day of Pentecost and that Spirit resides with believers - with you and me, Jesus goes on to say; "he will guide you into all truth." C. William Nichols writes; "Truth, as Jesus was saying, comes to us through two doors: revelation and experience. The Bible, which is the revealed word of God - communicates divine truth to us. But then there is the door of human experience which comes through the Holy Spirit."

Can we comprehend the great God of the cosmos? Hardly! Impossible! No! But you and I can experience this God? Through the concept of the Trinity.

"Putting Together the Church Puzzle"

A sermon preached on Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2007, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on Acts 2:42-47.

Have you ever tried to put together a puzzle? I’m talking about those really big, complex puzzles with, what seems to be, like a million pieces? Needless to say, I neither have the time nor the patience for such an endeavor. However, I can remember when I was younger, my grandmother would always work a puzzle and she would encourage my brothers and me to help her, although I am sure I wasn’t too much help. About the only puzzles I have enough patience to work are the puzzles Miriam has, consisting of only a few big pieces and require little work, time or patience for someone my age.
Now, like most things, there’s an art to putting together a puzzle. In fact, from what I understand, the best method is to just simply get started; working on the corners and the edges, and then figure out the pattern and, in time, a picture begins to appear. That’s a pretty good way to look at the church and to think of ministry. When we serve as and among God’s people, we begin to get the picture. The pieces are there, like a puzzle, but we have to put it together and then we begin to see God’s plan and picture for our lives and the church appear.
In our Scripture Lesson this morning we have, what could be considered the essential pieces of the puzzle for the Church. They are the borders, if you will. They are how we get started in assembling a picture that makes sense - a ministry that is both effective and influential.
First of all, we are told that the early church committed themselves to the teachings of the apostles. Through the scriptures we have the teachings of the prophets of old, we have the teachings of Jesus, along with the apostles and the early Christians; and as we, Disciples affirm; "Within the universal church we receive... the light of scripture." We receive the illumination, direction and inspiration of the scriptures. Without the scriptures the Church’s puzzle is not complete.
In Sunday school I have been teaching about creeds, which comes from the Latin word; credo meaning, "I believe." And we are currently studying the Nicene Creed - one of the oldest creeds of the Christian Church. Last week we focused on that portion of the Nicene Creed which reads; "I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church..." The word "apostolic" pertains to the twelve apostles or the faith, teachings and practices of those apostles. And as the Church we must adhere to the teachings and practices of the apostles as laid out in the Scriptures.
Someone once wrote; "Apostolic signifies the horizontal cross-connection of the Church through all the ages." You see, the Church is, first of all, fixed to the historical origin of the disciples whom Jesus chose, as well as anchored in the historical events concerned with Christ. We are Christians - followers of Jesus Christ!
Secondly, we read in our Scripture Lesson that the early church was committed to the life together. Not only do we believe in the "apostolic church," but also the "one holy catholic church." Now friends, keep in mind, the word "catholic" literally means; "universal" or "including the whole." As the theologian, Joseph Ratzinger writes; "[The word ‘catholic’] signifies ‘relating to the whole.’ It is a way of expressing the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ must never shrink, but must belong to the whole world, to all cultures and every age. We are to prevent the occurrence of Babel. The Church must exist to prevent the confusion of opposition and contradiction from dominating mankind. The Church should bring the whole wealth of human existence, in all its languages and needs, to the love of God - and should be, therefore, the very power and instrument of reconciliation, peace and unity." How true that is!
We are reminded that the gift of Pentecost, the gift of God’s Spirit overcame the curse of Babel. The Spirit brings unity and understanding among God’s people!
Two of my favorite Greek words are words for "fellowship." They are the words, koinoneo, which literally means, a "partnership" or "communion;" and eirene, which means "harmony" or "a harmonious relationship." These two words are used to describe the fellowship between God and us and, also, between us and one another - they are essential ingredients in the Church.
Can you picture in your mind’s eyes what the Day of Pentecost must have been like for those early Christians? We are told that there were some 3,000 new converts, and they suddenly shared something that had never been shared before – koinonea and eirene, true fellowship. And what was the source? What was the recipe for such fellowship? The Holy Spirit! Being a part of the Church doesn’t mean you conform to me and I conform to you. On the contrary, in order for koinonea or eirene to exist, it means conforming to God and allowing his Spirit to bring about fellowship and unity within the Body of Christ! From the Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery of 1804, we find these words; "[Our] will [is] that this body die, be dissolved, and sink into union with the Body of Christ at large; for there is but one Body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling."
Third, we are told in our Scripture Lesson that the early church was committed to the common meal. Keep in mind, in the ancient world eating together was the way barriers were broken down. Notice in the gospels how many times Jesus shared meals with those whom he met - people from all walks of life.
Pastor and Author, Will Willimon reminds us that eating together was a "mark of unity, solidarity and deep friendship." Two things about the common meal are noteworthy: it is God’s way of bringing people together, and it is a reminder of God’s presence in our fellowship. The early Christians committed themselves to the common meal, to the breaking of bread.
As William Nichols writes; "There is nothing that can replace the refreshment and nurture of the family that faces one another around the dinner table." And the same goes for the church family, as well.
But still yet, the greatest meal we share together as Christians is the one we have the opportunity and privilege to partake in each Sunday morning - the Eucharist or Holy Communion. At the Lord’s Table we find the greatest nourishment and fellowship of all. The nourishment of Christ’s body and blood - the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation, which brings us into fellowship with God and one another.
Fourth, we are told in our Scripture Lesson that the early church was committed to prayer. They were a community of people who prayed together and who prayed for each other. The early Christians were committed to praying. Prayer is the major discipline of the Christian life and faith. As a pastor, I have the privilege of praying with you all in various circumstances and in different settings. We have prayed together as a family, here at the church. I have prayed with you in the hospital, when a loved one has died, or in preparation of surgery. I have prayed with you as you’ve welcomed a new addition to your family. We remember one another in our personal prayers. Prayer is a vital ingredient in the life of the church - an essential piece to the Church puzzle. The early disciples changed the world because they were committed to the life of prayer, and so can we! Someone once wrote; "Prayer aligns our hearts to the heart of God, our minds to the mind of God, our wills to the will of God."
But our puzzle is not complete, it’s not finished just yet! You see, there are other pieces to place in the Church puzzle. God will frame the borders of the picture, but you and I have to complete it.
And so, let us, as we celebrate this wonderful season of Pentecost, discover our spiritual gifts as we reclaim the importance of God’s word, as we experience the gift of fellowship, as we break bread together whether at the tables in our Fellowship Hall or at the Lord’s Table, and as we pray with and for one another.
The picture of the kingdom of God, the picture of the church, and the picture of Edgemont will not be complete without those four essential pieces as described in Acts 2:42, nor will it be complete without your piece - your life, along with your full support and gifts for ministry. I want to close with the words of one of my favorite hymns, which sums it up perfectly;

"The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,
The church is not a resting place, the church is a people.
We’re many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces,
All colors and all ages, too, from all times and places.
I count if I am ninety, or nine or just a baby;
There’s one thing I am sure about and I don’t mean maybe.
And when the people gather, there’s singing and there’s praying,
There’s laughing and there’s crying sometimes, all of it saying:
I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together."

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers..." May this be said of us here at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Amen.

"Busy For the Lord"

A sermon preached on The Ascension Sunday, May 20, 2007, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on

II Thessalonians 3:6-14.

Perhaps some of you have seen that commercial on television that appeared sometime back. It shows a man standing on the side of a bridge with his arms outstretched and attached to his arms are some handmade wings. Gathered all around are the people in the village, watching and waiting to see if the man will be able to fly. Finally, he jumps from the bridge and sure enough, the wind catches his wings and he is lifted into the air. The people watch as he hovers down stream and they begin cheering and shouting; "He can fly! He can fly!" It isn’t too long before the man starts to make his descent, when the camera turns to an unimpressed man who’s walking away from the crowd, who then turns back and hollers; "Yeah, but he can’t swim!"
I’m convince that many Christians can’t swim! We’re so fixated on the idea of flying that we forget about swimming. Today we celebrate Ascension Sunday and some of you may recall that scene painted for us by Luke in the Book of Acts, where Jesus reminded his disciples that they would receive power and strength when the Holy Spirit came and they would be his "witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." And after he said that, as they were watching him, he ascended to heaven. His disciples stood there looking up in awe and amazement, and two angels appeared and said to them; "Why do you stand here looking into the sky?" And, you know, that’s a good question! We have a tendency to stand gazing up into the air, fixed and focused on the kingdom which is to come that we forget about our responsibility now. While we all long and wait for the full manifestation of God’s kingdom, we must not forget nor neglect our responsibility to live out that kingdom here and now.
This was the problem Paul faced when he wrote his second letter to the Christians living in Thessalonica. They originally had some concerns about their brothers and sisters who had died. They wanted to know what happened to them and if they would miss out on Christ’s parouisa -his second coming. And so, Paul reminds them in his first letter that they will in no way miss out on Christ’s coming - in fact, he says that Christ will bring with him those who have fallen asleep - those who have died. Paul also stressed the imminent return of Christ in his first letter, so much so that many of them had quit working because they thought Jesus was coming back at any moment and they didn’t see any reason to exert themselves. Many of them also felt as though they could just simply relax because there were plenty of wealthier members in the church who were always willing and ready to share. And so, they had become laxidasical. They were like the disciples on that first Ascension Day, gaving up into the heavens.
So Paul wrote this second letter, in part, to warn the Christians in Thessalonica that even though Christ is coming again there is still work that must be done and responsibilities that are to be fulfilled while awaiting "his glorious appearing."
And to provide an illustration of this teaching, Paul pointed out that he had not abandoned his work as a tentmaker. Everywhere Paul spent much time, he established his tent-making business and began to take orders.
It has been said that lazy Christians are "so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good." Certainly, that had become the case for many of the Christians living in Thessalonica, they were so heavenly-minded that they were no earthly good.
The word Paul uses in verse 6 as "idle" is the Greek word ataktos, which literally means, "to walk disorderly" or "to walk out of line" or "synch". This Greek word could denote someone who is trying to plow a field and finds themself weaving and getting out of line. It very well could offer a farming image. In contrast, we see in verse 7 that Paul writes; "For you yourself know how you ought to follow our example. For we were not idle..." Paul, in verse 7 adds the Greek word ou, prior to atakteo, which literally means "to not behave disorderly" or "not to walk out of line." And, once again, it could denote the idea of someone who is plowing and sows a straight line of seed.
Pastor and Teacher William Hull tells about the first time he learned to plow as a child while spending the summer on his grandparent’s farm. He said, "My first impulse was to look down, to avoid rocks and roots, to check the depth of the blade, and to watch the earth being broken." He then went on to say; "And my next impulse was to look back over my shoulder to see how far I’d come and how well I’d done." But any good farmer will tell you, as William points out, the best way to look, when plowing, is straight ahead to the end of the row and to head directly for that goal without a glance in any other direction. Pretty good advice - especially for the church, because like anything, the moment you look off, whether looking down or behind you or even up you loose track of the goal - of your responsibility.
A friend of mine who is an interim pastor in Roanoke, also volunteers a lot of his time at the Roanoke Valley Rescue Mission. He was telling me a story the other day of one of the transients who told him that he was tired of his usual sign that he held up on one of the street corners in Roanoke, which read; "I’ll work for food," because he said; "It's a lie - I don't want to work!" So, he decided to just be honest, and he made another sign to hold up which read; "I want money to buy a beer."
We are not called solely to enjoy the Kingdom; but, in this life, we must also plow it, tend to it, work it and make something grow. In fact, this farming imagery is used throughout Scripture when relating to God’s Kingdom. Throughout Jesus’ parables he stresses the importance of sowing, and reaping, and harvesting. These are all traits of Kingdom Workers - of Christ’s disciples, of the Church, of you and me.
As the hymn so well puts it; "Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, let us talk of all his wondrous love and care..."
There are two popular traditions in Africa: drinking tea and playing soccer. However, these traditions are not unique to Africa, but were brought to the continent by the British. Even when it is very hot, each afternoon in many parts of Africa they pause to drink hot tea. Why? Because the British who colonized Africa brought those traditions with them. Even though a person may have never visited the United Kingdom, they can get a glimpse of the U.K. by watching a soccer match and participating in tea time. They are doing in Africa as it is done in England. In the same way, people should get a glimpse of heaven by viewing the lifestyles of Christians as we allow God’s will to be done "on earth as it is in heaven." We are ambassadors of Christ, we are called to point others to the kingdom. We have a responsibility to live as though the kingdom were already here. To share the wonderful message of God’s love and grace. Because it is! the kingdom is within us. But does our lifestyle - does what we say and do reflect that kingdom that is within us?
Martin Luther once said that even if he knew Christ was going to return tomorrow, he would still plant an apple tree. But what about you? Let us not be so fixated on Christ’s coming or so laxidasical that we miss the opportunity to plow and sow for kingdom now, so that we might reap a good harvest when the kingdom fully comes.