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Location: Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States

Sunday, June 12, 2005

06/12/05 4th Sunday after Pentecost Text: Romans 8: 31-39 Title: The Beginning That Is The End

06/12/05
4th Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Romans 8:31-39
Title: The Beginning That Is The End

This sermon followed a chancel drama performed by the youth group. It recaps the drama and then shows those in attendance how much alike we are to the people in the drama

My fellow missionaries please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be faithful always to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
To live today is to live a busy life. We not only think we have to live up to the Jones’s standard of living, but also the Smith’s and the Jackson’s and everyone else that seems to have more than we do. We try to squeeze as much into a 24 hour day as we can, all in the name of living life to the fullest.
We forget that God does not want us to fill up our lives with just things, for he knows they will not ultimately make us happy. He wants us to have a full life, a life that is happy by our being connected with him for all eternity.
Did you realize that when statistics are put together showing possible differences between those proclaim to be Christians and those who do not, that there is hardly any difference between the two groups? Divorce is almost the same, bankruptcies are almost the same. The list could go on and on. Does that bother you? It bothers me. Why is there no perceivable difference?
I think the problem is found in the churches of America and their teachings. I do not think that the average church has done a good enough job presenting God’s Law and his Gospel. I am afraid that too many churches have fallen into the trap of trying to be like society instead of playing a part in forming the moral character of society.
The problem is that too many churches do not think they can grow if you tell it like it is? They believe that you need to give people what they want to hear. But is that what Jesus did when he called people to faith? I don’t think so.
No, when Jesus called people it was pretty much like it was portrayed in our chancel drama this morning, where the pilgrim who was played by Jonathon was told the truth by his guide played by Shelly. She followed Jesus’ example. She told him the truth.
She had to tell him the truth; otherwise he was going to continue down that dark path to destruction, to everlasting torment. Shelly wanted him to turn back and get on the right road, the road to salvation, to true happiness. Shelly did not coddle Jonathon, she told him what he needed to hear, not what he wanted to hear.
Jesus did not coddle people either. He did not beat around the bush. In fact he tells those whom he invited to follow him, “That if you follow me on the path of discipleship you have to leave that stuff behind. My path is going to be a hard path, a narrow path, for when you walk my path you will more than likely be hated. On my path you will serve, not be served. On my path you will give instead of get. On my path you will comfort instead of being comforted.” It is a hard path that Jesus calls his disciples to follow, but it is a path that must be walked if we are to have true happiness.
I am afraid that we all would have to admit that if Jesus’ call to this type of discipleship depended on our ability to hear and respond we would be in deep trouble; because we would never follow Jesus if we were left on our own. If God had to wait until we put down all the goodies we have collected, those things we still want to get. Well lets just say he would still be waiting.
It is a good thing for us that the power of Jesus’ call comes from him. The ability to change from the wide dark path to the narrow white path comes from the Holy Spirit, who is that call. Amazingly, the call is not to just give up. For when we respond to that call from the Holy Spirit we don’t just give up, we turn and give up. And in doing so we gain everything. For we gain eternal life even as we die to the demands of the world and our sinful self. Those goodies we have collected have lost their hold on us.
The end of living for self is the beginning of the abundant life, the true life, a life full of meaning and purpose, a life that cannot be defeated or taken away.
You say, you are just not ready to give up those things that you depend on for happiness. Well, God is not going to give up on you. He will keep calling you through his Word and Sacraments.
Do you realize that when you started attending this church that God had put you here? He did, for he put you here so that you can help others find spiritual enrichment, and in doing so you will be spiritually enriched. He has put you here to love and care for those that need love and care and in doing so you will find love and care.
Oh, what a wonderful God we have, for we have a God who loved us before we even loved him, a God who died and then was raised from the dead, so that we could gain eternal life.
We have a God who has given us a mission to fulfill. We state it well in our Mission Statement. “The mission of Saint John Lutheran Congregation is to proclaim the Gospel, administer the sacraments, and to reach out into the community and world to help people know the love of Jesus.”
Will you help in fulfilling that mission, so that those who are walking down the path to destruction may be turned around and walk the path to glory with us? I pray that you will. Amen