Sermon #17 @ St. Paris UMC (10.18.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: 2 Cor. 8:1-12 and Mark 14:3-4

Title: “Cultivating Fruitfulness – Part 5: Extravagant Generosity”

Date: Oct. 18, 2009 (20th Sunday after Pentecost)

Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Cor.%208:1-12&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2014:3-4&version=NIV

This past week, Rev. Dan R. Dick told a story on his blog that gives an interesting example of what we might call “extravagant generosity.”
Dick, a United Methodist minister now serving in Wisconsin, wrote about a time years ago he attended worship in a small New England church in the fall of the year during the annual “stewardship” campaign. Listen to the story in his own words:
“The pastor was a quiet gentle man who obviously cared for his congregation, which is a good thing because he was a poor preacher. He read his sermon from a manuscript in a soft monotone voice, uhm-ing and uh-ing every few words, and rarely looking up at the congregation. Approximately 50 people sat in the pews, and shortly after worship began many developed ‘the nods’ and drifted into sleep.
“Drowsiness spread like a virus, affecting just about everyone but one young boy – maybe 3 or 4 years old – attending church with his dad. While the preacher droned on and on, and the congregation battled sleep, the little boy climbed up and down on the pew, waved to people, flipped through the Bible and Hymnal – just as chipper and alert as he could be.
“The young boy’s dad, however, lost his fight with sleep and fell into a deep, bracing unconsciousness. The pastor was speaking of the importance of “giving all to Jesus,” and tied this concept to the weekly offering. He wrapped up his comments and called the ushers forward to pass the plates.
“The little boy looked at his sleeping father, then snaked his hand into his father’s jacket and came out with his dad’s wallet. As the plate came by, the boy took the entire wad of cash out of dad’s wallet, and he didn’t just place it in the offering plate, he slam-dunked it with both hands, making the metal plate clang.
“Dad came to with a start, just in time to see his worldly wealth pass away down the pew – and from where I was, it looked to be a sizeable amount, with twenties, fifties, and hundreds in evidence. He looked at his son, then at the plate, then at his son, then at the plate – undecided what to do. It was obvious he wanted to dive down the pew and tackle the usher and retrieve his cash, but his son was watching him closely – beaming with smiles and laughter. Truly, if God loves a cheerful giver, at that moment he must have loved that little boy best of all.”
Dick then comments: “The little boy knew what the offering was – he was ready to give. But being young as he was, he didn’t for a moment debate how much to give. He didn’t think about what he could afford. He didn’t worry about what would be left over. He wasn’t thinking of all he couldn’t buy if he gave too much away. No, when the opportunity came, he gave it all, with a laugh, and a smile, and an unreserved joy.” (1) . . .
OK, I could be wrong, but I have a hunch no one here is going to fall sleep during today’s sermon!
I’ve preached a few sermons on stewardship from time to time – especially in the fall of the year. But I’m now in my 11th year as a fulltime pastor, and you know what? I’ve decided I don’t want to preach on stewardship anymore.
On the other hand, I’ll be happy to preach about generosity. And when I preach on generosity – extravagant generosity -- it won’t be as a means of stoking your contributions to the church coffers, desirable though that may be. But rather, I will strive to joyfully preach the message of extravagant generosity as a lifestyle – a way of life. It is the Jesus Way, and with God in control, anyone can do it.
I thought this was well-illustrated by the story told Friday in the “Cultivating Fruitfulness” books we’ve been reading as a congregation. The author tells of a downtown church in a moderately-sized community where they often had transients and homeless persons come to seek handouts. I think the story bears repeating.
Here’s how Bishop Robert Schnase tells it:
“As the pastor was leaving the church one afternoon, he noticed the part-time custodian carrying out the garbage to the large trash bin in the alley. There was a homeless person sprawled out beside the bin, looking barely conscious. As the custodian approached the trash bin, he set down the garbage bag he was carrying, pulled out his wallet, and removed a few dollar bills.
“Without having been asked, he walked over to the homeless person and gave him the money, said something, then continued his work and returned to the church. The pastor was amazed and humbled by this extraordinary display of generosity. The part-time janitor who earned less than anyone else on staff gave generously without even being asked, while the staff had spent hours trying to figure out policies and procedures.
“The pastor asked the custodian why he gave the money without even being asked and also pressed him about whether he thought the homeless person might misuse the money for alcohol or drugs.
“ ‘I always do that when I can,’ the janitor answered. ‘I give them a little money and say, God bless you, because I figure they are some mother’s son, some father’s child, and so I give them something. What they do with the money – well, they have to answer to God about that. I just have to answer to God about what I do with mine.” (2)
There are many examples of extravagant generosity in the Bible, a couple of which we just read for you. One of the most wonderful is the passage Gene shared from the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church.
The subject matter is a special offering being collected for the "mother church" back in Jerusalem, which has become destitute. The Church in Jerusalem and its people are in desperate financial straits -- they are clinging to survival. So Paul and others have been working on a special collection as they visit the developing Christian communities, in the Gentile regions of Turkey and Greece.
And this special fundraising project has been going on for a while. Indeed, when writing his first letter to the Corinthian Church some time before, Paul already made reference to this unique offering, in I Cor. 16:1-4.
But a year or so has passed since that time. Paul is now on his third missionary journey, and he continues to collect donations, to send this special gift on to Jerusalem. Paul has become concerned about the Corinthians and their commitment. For as dedicated as they are to God, it seems those in Corinth may have lost heart for meeting this special need.
Ah, but what a different story Paul has found in the Macedonian churches -- including those in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea. Paul can hardly believe what he's seeing unfold among these Macedonian believers, who are facing severe trials and their own "extreme poverty."
Listen to how Eugene Peterson puts Paul's words, in Peterson's biblical paraphrase, The Message:
"Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could -- far more than they could afford! -- pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard."
What explains this astounding desire to share from what little they had?
The Apostle Paul continues: "What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God . . . the other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives."
Oswald Chambers, the great Bible teacher who authored “My Utmost for His Highest,” wrote that if we believe in Jesus, “it is not what we gain but what he pours through us that really counts.” Then Chambers noted something that fits rather nicely with our “Cultivating Fruitfulness” theme: “God’s purpose,” he wrote, “is not simply to make us beautiful, plump grapes, but to make us grapes so that he may squeeze the sweetness out of us.” (3)
In one of his devotionals, Chambers alludes to the extravagant generosity of Mary of Bethany, who broke a flask of very expensive perfume – made of pure nard – and used it to anoint Jesus.
“It was an act for which no one else saw any special occasion; in fact, there were some who said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil wasted?’ But Jesus commended Mary for her extravagant act of devotion, and said, ‘Wherever this gospel is preached, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.’
Chambers added: “Our Lord is filled with overflowing joy whenever he sees any of us doing what Mary did – not being bound by a particular set of rules, but being totally surrendered to Him . . . Now is the time for us to break ‘the flask’ of our lives, to stop seeking our own satisfaction, and to pour out our lives before Him.” (4)
Take a look at this envelope I’m holding in my hand. I know it’s hard to see, but let me tell you about it. It’s addressed simply to God, and it has a number of stickers attached to it. In fact, the word “God” is surrounded on all four sides by pictures of flowers. There are also a couple scripture passages on the envelope, like this one in the corner from Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Last Sunday morning, I spent some time in Sunday School with our older group of children, who were being led by Mary Tron. Mary asked the youth to write thank-you notes to God – thanking Him for His forgiveness and for any blessings that they may have.
Mary told the kids to place the notes somewhere as a reminder of what God has done for them.
Kelly Bailey placed his note on the altar, which is where I found it.
You know, it is a good thing – a very good thing – to say thank you to the Most High God, the most extravagant Giver of them all. I’ve heard people say “it’s impossible to outgive God,” and I believe it.
After all, as we read in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
No one is more generous than God, who gave his beloved Son for each of us – indeed for the whole world.
Maybe one of the ways we can thank the Lord is through our response – by living lives of extravagant generosity. Remember, it’s a lifestyle we can adopt – it’s a way of life we can embrace – when Jesus comes into our hearts.
There’s a great old hymn I was thinking of the other day, called “How Can I Keep From Singing?” – written by a fellow named Robert Lowry.
Listen to the last lines of the song:

“The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing:
All things are mine since I am His –
How can I keep from singing?”

To which I might add:

Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth,
How can I keep from giving?
How can we keep from giving?

Let us pray . . .

_______________________

1. Dan R. Dick, “The Joy of Giving,” United Methodeviations blog, Oct. 12, 2009, http://doroteos2.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/the-joy-of-giving/
2. Robert Schnase, “Cultivating Fruitfulness: Five Weeks of Prayer and Practice for Congregations,” pp. 91-92, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2008.
3. Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, “The Sacrament of Sacrifice,” p. 246, Barbour & Company. Inc., Uhrichsville, OH, 1963.
4. Ibid.

Sermon #16 @ St. Paris UMC (10.11.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Title: “Cultivating Fruitfulness, Part 4: Risk-Taking Mission & Service”

Date: Oct. 11, 2009 (19th Sunday after Pentecost)

Internet Link for primary scripture texts used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Matt.%2025:31-46&version=NIV&interface=print

I don’t know about you, but I like safety, I like comfort, and I like convenience.
But there have been times when I stepped out of my comfort zone for the sake of the gospel, and I bet you have, too.
In fact, if we haven’t taken a risk or two because of our faith in Christ, we may be missing out on some of the most joyful experiences life has to offer.
Living for Jesus – seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness – has always been a risky business. It also is the only true pathway to peace and freedom in this world.
And as the Lord suggests in the parable of the sheep and goats, how we respond to opportunities for mission and service also can have eternal consequences, for good or ill.
Indeed, there’s something downright “judgmental” about this story Jesus tells in Matthew 25. That’s a little shocking, perhaps, to our 21st century mindset, where judging others sometimes is seen as the greatest sin of all. But there’s no getting around it, for in this parable Jesus is talking about his eventual return to this earth and along with it, a final judgment of our lives.
It sounds like Jesus wants us to make a difference in this world. It sounds like He really cares about the least, the last and the lost.
Which leads to the topic of “Risk-Taking Mission and Service,” the theme for our worship today as we continue our sermon series on “Cultivating Fruitfulness.”
When I began reading the devotions about “Risk-Taking Mission and Service” from the Cultivating Fruitfulness book, I was pleasantly surprised to find a reference to Kairos prison ministry and to a gentleman who has served in that program.
It’s been a while since I’ve thought much about my own experiences with Kairos at the Lebanon Correctional Institution.
If you’re not familiar with Kairos, let me explain. It is an ecumenical Christian ministry, which operates to help grow and nurture strong Christian communities within state and federal prisons. With God’s help, Kairos volunteers provide prison residents the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – or to renew that relationship – starting with a three-day “short course on Christianity.”
During the Kairos weekend and follow-up activities, residents are challenged to accept God’s call to a life of Christian witness and service to one another and the prison staff during their stay in the institution – and beyond.
Notice we call them residents – not prisoners or inmates. That’s just a way of keeping the dignity of these men in the forefront, reminding ourselves that Jesus died for every one of them, too. As a matter of fact, one of our firm rules in Kairos is that we don’t ask the residents what crime led to their incarceration, or how long their sentence might be.
I remember my very first Kairos weekend back in 2003. How nervous I was that first afternoon inside the gymnasium at Lebanon Correctional, waiting for the arrival of the 42 residents taking part. Maybe it was something about the security waivers we had all been asked to sign, or some of the stern cautions we had received from the prison chaplain about being inside the walls.
Most of the 50 or so lay and clergy volunteers on the Kairos team had been asked to “sponsor” one of the 42 residents. This involved writing them a note which they received prior to the weekend, and also greeting them on that first afternoon, to give them a welcome and help break the ice.
The fellow I sponsored went by the nickname “Alabama,” and he was a short, stocky, bearded fellow – very cheerful – and he appeared to be about my age. He quickly volunteered that he had been convicted of murder, a disturbing fact I couldn’t entirely put out of my mind. Alabama was one of many violent offenders in our midst for those three days.
Nevertheless, as the weekend proceeded, those 42 men in prison garb became our “brothers in blue,” as we shared from our journeys, sang praises and gave testimonies, ate together, laughed together, cried together, prayed together. It didn’t take long at all for the nervousness of that first afternoon to melt away.
In its place came a sense of joy and peace as I watched a unique fellowship blossom -- reminding me of the miracle of the Church that was born in Acts 2. Remember, we read about it last week, how “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done.” (Acts 2:42-43)
A few years later, by the time I took part in my fourth Kairos weekend, I could even laugh when one of the corrections officers joked about pulling me aside for a strip search as we awaited entry to the prison. OK, it might have been nervous laughter, but still . . .
In this adventure of “Risk-Taking Mission and Service,” I experienced the reality of these words from 1 John 4:18 – “Perfect loves casts out fear.”
I have concluded that risk-taking mission and service can bring all of us to know the joy and peace of the perfect love of Jesus Christ, and I believe it is part of God’s call upon all who follow Jesus. Indeed, our Lord made it clear from the start that mission and service to the least, the last and the lost are central to his Kingdom.
In the gospel of Luke, you may recall, Jesus began his ministry at his hometown of Nazareth. On the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue. He must have been the liturgist that day, because someone handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah to read. “Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ ”
And then, Luke tells us, “He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’ ” (Luke 4:16-21)

Rev. Allen R. Bevere, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Ohio, warns that the future of churches everywhere depends upon Risk-Taking Mission and Service.
In his message “Risky Business,” Bevere says: “A congregation that loses the profound reason for its existence will slowly wither and die. The church of Jesus Christ exists for others; it exists for the world.
“What can happen (and Bevere says happens all too often) is that congregations move from existing for the world to existing for their own sake. They see their mission not as reaching those outside the church for Jesus Christ, but as catering to the current constituency.
“As important as it is for the church to care for its membership,” Bevere adds, “focusing inward on those who are members instead of outward on those who need to know and embrace God’s saving love is a recipe for eventual stagnation and decline.
“After 24 years as a pastor,” Bevere concludes, “I have become convinced that the primary reason the church turns inward is because we are afraid. We are not afraid to be in mission and service; we afraid to be in Risk-Taking Mission and Service.

What about us and our church? What about you and me?
I know this church has a heart for mission and service. It has been evident to us from the time of our arrival a few months back. I believe there is a strong desire to share the love of Jesus Christ in the community. And what’s more, I trust we know in our hearts the “community” extends well beyond the boundaries of the Graham School District, indeed, beyond Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
But are we truly risk-taking in our mission and service? Or is there room for growth in our lives as we trust in the Lord at a deeper level?
Are we ready to take the leap – a leap of faith – into the risky business of being vulnerable, of stepping outside our comfort zones, for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom?

Bishop Robert Schnase, author of our “Cultivating Fruitfulness” devotional books, notes that the stories, teachings and parables of Jesus consistently point toward God’s love for the poor, the sick, the outcast – those who have often been beaten down by life.
Schnase writes: “Against the resistance of the religious elite and contrary to the advice of his disciples, Jesus lifts up the bent-over woman on the Sabbath, touches the unclean with healing power, releases the paralyzed from his bed, eats with tax collectors in their homes, and risks the violence of the mob to (help) … the woman caught in adultery.
“In teaching and in action,” Schnase goes on, Jesus “shows that God’s way includes costly demonstrations of God’s love to the least likely.”
And finally, as we see in today’s gospel lesson from Matthew, Jesus tells that in every act of compassion, people touch Christ:
“I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me; I was naked and you gave me clothing; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.” (Matt. 25:35-37)

I want to close with a story I received by e-mail the other day. I don’t normally use this kind of stuff in a sermon, but somehow it seems like I’m meant to share this one with you today. It’s about a woman named Ruth.
The story goes that Ruth went to her mailbox one day and found a single letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again. There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter.

Dear Ruth,

I’m going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I’d like to stop by for a visit.

Love Always,

Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table.
‘Why would the Lord want to visit me? I’m nobody special. I don’t have anything to offer.’
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. ‘Oh my goodness – I really don’t have anything to offer. I’ll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner.’ She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and 40 cents.
‘Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least.’
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door. A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk, leaving Ruth with a grand total of 12 cents to last her until Monday. Nevertheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
‘Hey lady, can you help us?’
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans she hadn’t even noticed the two figures huddled in the alley – a man and a woman – both of them dressed in little more than rags.
‘Look lady, I ain’t got a job, you know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it’s getting cold and we’re getting kind of hungry and, well, if you could help us … Lady, we’d really appreciate it.’
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.
‘Sir, I’d like to help you, but I’m a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I’m having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him.’
‘Yeah, well, OK lady, I understand. Thanks anyway.’
The man put his arm around the woman’s shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley. As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.
‘Sir, wait!’ The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them.
‘Look, why don’t you take this food. I’ll figure out something else to serve my guest.’ She handed the man her grocery bag.
‘Thank you lady. Thank you very much!’
‘Yes, thank you!’ It was the man’s wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering.
‘You know, I’ve got another coat at home. Here, why don’t you take this one.’
Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman’s shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street – without her coat, and with nothing to serve her guest.
‘Thank you lady! Thank you so much!’
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried, too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn’t have anything to offer Him. She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox.
‘That’s odd. The mailman doesn’t usually come twice in one day.’

Dear Ruth,

It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.

Love Always,

Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed. . . .

. . . Whenever we do anything for these, the least of our brothers and sisters, we do it for the Risen Christ. Thanks be to God!

Sermon #15 @ St. Paris UMC (10.04.09)

Pastor Dave Kepple

Text: Acts 2:41-47

Title: “Cultivating Fruitfulness, Part 3 – Intentional Faith Development”

Date: Oct. 4, 2009 (World Communion Sunday)

Internet Link for primary scripture text used in this sermon:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:41-47&version=NIV


For those of you who missed Bible Study last week, you can get extra-credit by paying close attention to this message. :-)
As it happens, we studied the 2nd chapter of Acts at our new Bible Study Tuesday night. Perhaps as no other segment of the Bible, Acts 2 demonstrates what the Church of Jesus Christ is all about.
This chapter records with electrifying clarity how this miracle called the Church – the Body of Christ on this earth – came to be formed. It happened on a Jewish feast day in old Jerusalem, when the city was packed with religious pilgrims from every corner of the world.
When the day of Pentecost came, those who believed in the resurrection of Christ were all together in one place. All told, they numbered about 120 – not that many more than we have gathered here today. It was then that the miracle happened.
Just as the prophet Joel had foretold, and just as the Lord Jesus had promised, the power of the Holy Spirit was poured out from Heaven in dramatic fashion. The transforming power of God filled those who believed in Christ, and bubbled over to touch the lives of others.
Less than two months earlier, Simon Peter had grossly failed the Master by three times denying that he even knew Jesus. Sick with guilt and shame, Peter then joined the other disciples in hiding – fearful for their lives because of their association with Jesus.
But now, filled with a holy boldness made possible by the Spirit of Christ bursting alive within the believers, Peter courageously proclaimed the Truth of God’s saving grace in the streets of the holy city – surrounded by a throng of eyewitnesses. It was the first Christian sermon, and it hit the mark. “Those who accepted his message were baptized,” and the fledgling Church added about 3,000 people in a single day.
Acts 2 is an ideal chapter to focus on as we continue our series on “Cultivating Fruitfulness,” because it’s all there – Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. We see:
* People of all nations and races being added to and included in the faith community.
* People receiving the Good News and being saved.
* People being cared for as they had need.
* People demonstrating wonders and signs of God’s Kingdom power.
There they are in glad and passionate worship that praises and magnifies God’s presence, and in devotion to the teaching of the apostles, as they fellowship and pray together – growing as believers -- drawing strength from one another, and from the Lord.
Isn’t it amazing what God can do when His people come together as one in the Spirit?
Some people think they can practice the Christian faith without being part of a community of believers – but they’re just fooling themselves. As John Wesley put it, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.”
Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles and the earliest disciples of Jesus bore much fruit for the Kingdom of God. As members of the very same Church – the Body of Christ on this earth – we, too, are called to bear fruit, and plenty of it.
If you’ve been keeping up with your daily devotions in the “Cultivating Fruitfulness” books, you know we’re concentrating on “Intentional Faith Development” in today’s worship.
Of all these five practices of fruit-bearing congregations, this is the one with the clunkiest name. Intentional Faith Development – what the heck is that? Well, what does the book say?
The author, Bishop Robert Schnase, defines Intentional Faith Development as being “all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship: Bible studies, Sunday School, small groups, and retreats where we learn in the community of other Christians. By these practices we mature in faith; we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of God.”
Schnase add that Intentional “refers to deliberate effort, purposeful action, and high priority. Growing in grace does not come without purposeful commitment to learning the faith and cultivating our love for God.”
You know some people think all they need to do is believe in Jesus, maybe join a church, and then they can kick back and relax. Friends, it doesn‘t work that way.
Being saved is just the beginning of the journey. It’s not about getting our ticket punched for heaven. It’s about living for Jesus Christ here on earth, and knowing that come eternity, He’ll hold us in the everlasting arms of grace.
Following Jesus Christ isn’t the golden path to an easy life. He never said it would be. But it is the path that brings abundant life here on this earth – life filled with meaning and purpose. And it is the path that ultimately leads us home to our King.
There are many opportunities for Intentional Faith Development here at our church, or related to our church. We have Sunday School classes for all ages, and a regular Bible Study, too. There’s Vacation Bible School, and the School of Christian Mission. There’s the Friendship Class, and the great ministry of United Methodist Women, not to mention our various choirs, and the potential for youth activities.
Each of these groups, in some way, contribute to and strengthen our life as disciples – helping us to grow in grace.
But there’s always room for improvement, always new ideas and possibilities to explore, with the Holy Spirit as our guide.
For example, I am thinking about offering a Confirmation Class next year for some of our older children, to help them prepare for a deeper level of commitment to Christ.
Now I’m tempted to run through a bunch of other suggestions off the top of my head. But you know what? I’d rather see what the Holy Spirit brews in your hearts and minds over the coming weeks and months. I bet some of you will have ideas for wonderful new ministries that could be led by anyone here with God’s help, and with the backing of this congregation.
You know prayer can be a really dangerous thing, especially if we pray for knowledge of God’s will, and the power to carry it out. In the same vein, Bible Study can really mess with your life. Because when we learn together in small groups, it helps us explore possibilities that God may have for us that we never would have considered on our own.
Intentional Faith Development isn’t for the faint of heart – but then if we’re serious about it, neither is being a Christian. Like Simon Peter, we may find that being a disciple will lead us into places and situations where we might not normally go. And that’s a good thing. Remember, Jesus doesn’t call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful.
Rev. Allen Bevere, pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cambridge, Ohio, told an interesting story about Intentional Faith Development in one of his recent sermons. He writes:
“Many years ago in a previous church I served, I had a parishioner who, though very faithful in his weekly worship attendance, never attended Sunday School or one of the several weekly evening studies being offered. Over time I managed to strong-arm him (in a pastorally loving way, of course!) into taking DISCIPLE Bible Study. He came the first night reluctantly, saying boldly to all the other participants that he was far too busy to do all the reading required, and that he received all the Bible he needed in the sermons each week.
Rev. Bevere continues:
“I asked him in front of the group if he would agree to attend the study for a month, do all the assigned reading during that time, and complete the lesson each week. In other words, if he promised to be intentional in giving his best to the group and to the experience, I promised him that I would not protest if he wanted to quit after a month.
“After four weeks of DISCIPLE he not only chose to continue for the entire 34 weeks, but he also readily signed up the following autumn for DISCIPLE II and then, the year after, for DISCIPLE III; and he eventually moved forward in his faith development to . . . (be a leader for) future DISCIPLE groups.
Bevere concludes:
“Intentional Faith Development had opened up the world of discipleship in a way this man had never experienced before. He went from being content in his faith to being hungry for God. He truly exhibited what the psalmist said so many centuries ago: ‘As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.’ ” (Ps. 42:1) (1)
What about you? Are you hungry for God? Do you have all the faith you need? Or is the Holy Spirit stirring within you a desire for more faith? Stirring a desire to experience more of who God is?
Rev. Gary Bullock of Florida notes that if worship lights our fire, “being in a small group with others keeps the fire burning and makes it stronger.” (2) That is what Intentional Faith Development is all about.

Would you like to go a deeper level in your walk with Jesus Christ? Or perhaps, if you’re new to the church, offer your life to Him for the first time, putting it all in His hands?
It can begin right here, right now – this morning – as we come to His table, share in this holy meal, and make a commitment to be a disciple of Jesus.
That same Holy Spirit that gave birth to the Church all those years ago is here with us. With great power – wonder-working power – the Spirit stands ready to give us new life.
Thanks be to God!

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1. Allen R. Bevere, Five Practices Leader Manual, p. 117, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2008.
2. Gary D. Bullock, Five Practices Leader Manual, p. 120, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 2008.