TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • About
    • What To Expect
    • What We Believe
    • OUR TEAM
    • History >
      • Archives
      • Stained Glass Restoration
    • Find Us >
      • Map of the Church
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Trinity
  • Engage
    • Trinity Connect
    • Worship >
      • Music
      • Sermons
    • Children's Ministry
    • Learn >
      • Adult Ministry
      • Youth Ministry
    • Serve >
      • Older Adult Ministries
      • Missions We Support
    • Directory
  • Fusion
  • Community
    • Young Adult Outreach
    • Caring Ministry
    • Garden
    • Miller
  • GIVE
    • Endowment
    • STEWARDSHIP
  • Job Openings
  • Weddings
  • About
    • What To Expect
    • What We Believe
    • OUR TEAM
    • History >
      • Archives
      • Stained Glass Restoration
    • Find Us >
      • Map of the Church
    • Newsletter
    • Contact Trinity
  • Engage
    • Trinity Connect
    • Worship >
      • Music
      • Sermons
    • Children's Ministry
    • Learn >
      • Adult Ministry
      • Youth Ministry
    • Serve >
      • Older Adult Ministries
      • Missions We Support
    • Directory
  • Fusion
  • Community
    • Young Adult Outreach
    • Caring Ministry
    • Garden
    • Miller
  • GIVE
    • Endowment
    • STEWARDSHIP
  • Job Openings
  • Weddings

Love in Action

2/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Matthew 5:13-18

​In the book Craddock Stories, renowned preacher Fred Craddock tells delightful stories about his many decades of experience as a pastor and preacher.  He writes of the first church he ever served:
 
I remember the first church I served as a student.  They had a fund called the Emergency Fund and it had about $100 in it.  They told me I could use it at my discretion, provided I dispensed the money according to the conditions.  So I said, “What are the conditions?”

The chairman of the committee said, “You are not to give the money to anybody who is in need as a result of laziness, drunkenness or poor management.”

I said, “Well, what else is there?”  As far as I know, they still have that money.

 
What are the criteria Christians should use to determine and understand the practice of “doing good?”  Jesus did a great deal of good and was often criticized for it.  Jesus seemed to do a lot of good for some pretty unsavory characters:  prostitutes, tax collectors, a wide assortment of sinners.  According to the thinking of the day, many of the people for whom Jesus performed miracles were hardly deserving of the mercy Jesus showed.  Quite the contrary, according to the religious thinking of the day, many of the folks Jesus helped had “made their own bed” and, thus, should have been expected to “lie in it.”
 
Yet Jesus, quite indiscriminately, is in the business of doing good; of dispensing unimagined mercy and unmerited grace.  And he expects exactly the same from those who consider him their Lord.  Disciples of Jesus, according to Matthew, are not simply those who hang out with Jesus hoping to absorb his holiness like an airborne virus.  Disciples of Jesus are those called to share with him in the work of ministry.  In Matthew, chapter 4, Jesus calls his first disciples, fishermen by trade, with this very appropriate invitation:  “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
Yet, immediately before the story of Jesus calling the first disciples, our gospel narrator announces the launch of Jesus’ ministry with these words from the prophet Isaiah: “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.”[i]  The coming of Jesus means the coming of light into the world and if disciples are those who learn from Jesus and imitate the lifestyle of Jesus; then our being in the world – our day to day living – must also be a source of light powerful enough to overcome the world’s darkness.  Sharing in the ministry of Jesus clearly involves the bringing of light into places of deep darkness and the hopelessness and fear that dwell there.
 
In this morning’s gospel passage from chapter five, Jesus defines the role of his followers with two powerful metaphors.  Disciples of Jesus are to be “salt for the earth” and “light for the world.”  Now, what’s interesting about these two things is that neither of them draws attention for the sake of themselves, but rather, is important because of the way they impact the objects or substances in their midst.  One does not, generally, eat salt all by itself.  Salt, served alone, is not a very satisfying meal.  But it is the way in which salt alters or changes the flavor, the quality, even the texture of other foods that makes salt so invaluable, so essential.  Likewise, we do not buy a light bulb so that we may sit in a room and stare at the bulb.  We purchase a light bulb for the benefit of everything else in the room.  Or, as bible scholar Eugene Boring puts it, “The primary function of light is not to be seen, but to let [other] things be seen as they are.”  And so, it is quite fitting that Jesus tells his followers:  “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  As followers of Christ, we do not do good for others in order to draw attention to ourselves, anymore than a light bulb draws attention to itself.  Furthermore, our “doing good” is not something that we add to our life’s “to do” list. 
 
These verses follow immediately on the heels of Jesus’ beatitudes.  And in those beatitudes (like this morning’s verses), it’s critical for us to notice that – these are not Jesus’ wishes or hopes for the future.  Jesus is not saying to his followers:  “I hope you’ll try out being gentle or righteous or peaceful.  I hope you’ll give ‘shining light’ a try sometime.  If you do, here’s what might happen.”  No; that’s not what Jesus is saying at all.  These verses are not Jesus’ wishes or hopes or even invitations to those who have made the commitment to follow him.  These are Jesus’ pronouncements of a reality that already exists.  Jesus pronounces that – if we are truly his followers – this is who we already are; this is, already, our lifestyle.  Our “doing good” is not an item we add to our moral checklist.  If we are truly followers of Jesus; then we are shining light in the world; a light that takes the shape of good works that honor God because they reveal the nature of God.  Jesus will later say in this Sermon on the Mount that God makes the sun rise not only on the good people, but even on the evil people.  God is the source of good; God is the giver of good gifts.    
 
We do good for others so that God can be seen through the good things we do.  In other words, so that people can know and experience that our God is a God of mercy who cares deeply for them… whether they deserve it or not.  Whether we think they deserve it or not.
 
Friends; right now our world needs some light.  It doesn’t just need volunteerism – as good and noble as that is.  Our world doesn’t just need activism – although that also is an important thing.  But what our world needs more than anything else is light to shine into the darkness; light that honors God by revealing the nature of God; the one who is the origin of any and all “good works.”  As followers of Jesus, the light within us is not something we conjure up for ourselves; rather, the light within us is the light that has been kindled by Christ.  And that light overpowers the darkness and fear and despair that may, at times, appear to be enveloping the world.  But it is not; it cannot for Jesus reminds us that we bring light into the world.  We are those whose lives reveal that our God is good and generous. 
 
People of God, as Methodists, we come from a long history of shining light in the world and that light does bring change to the world.  The work of John Wesley and the early Methodists changed the social and political map of 18th century England as they led the charge in reforming the treatment of prisoners, children, coal miners and other laborers and even the treatment of animals.  Wesley was bold and outspoken in his admonishment of those who believed that holiness was defined only by our times of prayer, worship and study of scripture.  In fact, Wesley went so far as to declare that the absence of good works within our lives is an indication that our spirits are not right with God; that we have inwardly withered, so to speak. 
 
Friends and fellow light bulbs, we cannot fix all the world’s problems.  But we can shed some light on the world and, through our good works, point the way to a God of goodness and generosity and grace.

[i] See Isaiah 9:2
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Sermon videos are currently available on our homepage.

    Pastor Tracey

    On a lifelong journey of seeking to live out God's call on my life and to reflect His grace.

    10 Minute Sermons

    Categories

    All
    150th Homecoming Celebration
    20/20 Vision
    6 C's Of Leadership
    A Cast Of Characters
    All Saints Day
    A Longing For Belonging
    A Traveler's Reflections
    Building
    Building Growing Connecting
    Call Me Christian
    Connecting
    Covenant Renewal
    Earn Save Give
    Easter Sunday
    Famous Last Words
    Giving In Gratitude
    God Bless Us Everyone
    Good Will To All
    Growing
    Heart 2 Heart
    Honest To God
    Let Me Tell You A Story
    Morris DuBose
    Once Upon A Time In A Land Far Away
    Palm Sunday
    Passion: Lent 2018
    Pastor Amber
    Pastor Dave Schmidt
    Pastor Jack Hartman
    Pastor Linda Dolby
    Pastor Suzanne Clemenz
    Peace On Earth
    Response Ability
    Returning Thanks
    Setting The Table For Trinity
    Something Old Something New
    Table Talk
    Tell Me A Secret
    Thanksgiving
    The Cup Of Our Lives
    The Gifts That Matter Most
    The Look Of Love
    The Power Of Words
    Trinity Fusion
    Unwrap Your Gift
    What Do You See?
    Wisdom For The New Year

    Sermon Archives

    September 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

    RSS Feed

Trinity United Methodist Church
Growing in love and service through relationships with God and community

Picture

Connect with Us:

Contact Us: 
509 North Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
(765) 742-1288
info@trinitylafayette.org
Office Hours:
Mon., Tues., Thurs. 9 am - 3 pm
Closed Wed. and Fri.
Give Now
Worship Times:
Trinity Connect (Zoom): Sunday, 9:15 a.m.
Im-Person Worship: Sunday, 10:30 a.m.