"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;
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."
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.
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 7:51 PM
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