How the Holy Spirit helps us to work together

May 24, 2026 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 How the Holy Spirt helps us to work together Pentecost Sunday Year A Prelude Greeting Call to Worship One: We’re gathered to celebrate Pentecost JOY, grateful God still pours out the Spirit on all flesh! Many: We celebrate, for our sons and our daughters shall prophesy! One: Some will see visions, and others, dream dreams. Many: In that day, all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved! One: Let the wind blow free, let God’s Spirit fill us all! (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer Ever-breathing God, like a mighty wind bringing fresh air and new life to each and to all! Fill us with your Spirit this day! Renew in us a passion for you, for your all-encompassing love, and for this congregation. Inspire us! Help us breathe in the power you offer. Set us on fire to do the mighty works you’ve prepared for us, even as we’re energized in this time of worship. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song In Christ there is no East or West UMH 548 A Sermon for all Ages Have a colorful kite with you if possible. “Wow! Look at this kite! What does a kite need to fly?” (Wait for answers: wind, string, someone to hold it, open space.) “You can’t always see the wind, can you? But you can see what the wind does. The wind lifts the kite, moves it, and helps it soar high in the sky. Pentecost is the day we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is kind of like the wind. We cannot see the Holy Spirit with our eyes, but we can see what the Holy Spirit does in people’s lives. In our Bible reading today from 1 Corinthians, Paul says that everyone has different spiritual gifts. Some people are good at teaching. Some are good at helping. Some are kind encouragers. Some are singers. Some are leaders. Some are good listeners. God gives every person special gifts through the Holy Spirit. This kite reminds me of the church. Look at all the different parts: the sticks, the fabric, the tail, the string. Every part matters. If one part is missing, the kite will not fly very well. That is how the church works too. We all have different gifts, but the same Holy Spirit helps us work together. And just like the wind lifts the kite, the Holy Spirit lifts us up to do amazing things for God. Maybe your gift is making people smile. Maybe your gift is helping someone who is sad. Maybe your gift is praying, singing, sharing, or showing kindness. You do not have to be grown-up to have a spiritual gift. God’s Spirit works in children too! So whenever you see a kite flying in the wind, remember: even though we cannot see the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit is always moving, helping, and lifting us up.” The kite teaches us three lessons – it needs the wind to fly, it’s foundation is a cross – and the only way it can fly free in the wind, is if it is tied to a steady foundation. Prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for giving each of us special gifts to share. Help us use our gifts to love others and serve you. Lift us up like a kite in the wind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” A litany for those who would fly kites Leader: Those who fly kites know that kites are earthbound and cannot lift and soar until they are caught by the wind. People: People and churches are earthbound and cannot be themselves until the wind of God’s Spirit lifts them to fly. Leader: Kites are not free to thrust and move until they are let go to explore the skies. People: People and churches are not free to love and care until they can let go and catch the Spirit which is love. Leader: Kites have no power and direction unless they are caught and controlled by the wind. People: People and churches have no power and direction unless they allow the Spirit of God to move within them. Leader: Let us pray… Together: O God, may your Spirit lift us from being earthbound and free us to soar, to explore, to have direction and purpose. O God, help us to fly as people freed by your Spirit, to live and to love. (theBillabong.com) Scripture 1 Corinthians 12:3-13 Sermon How the Holy Spirit helps us work together There are symbols of Pentecost all around us today. There is the red to symbolize fire, the air conditioner is running representing the wind, there are doves up above the chancel area, and the breath of God is inside of us all. This is the day when we remember that the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and launched the church into the world. And today Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 what Pentecost really means for the church. Pentecost is the birthday of the church- it is just like any other birthday. The day we are born is important, but we continue to celebrate that day every year of our life. Every year – we receive gifts, and the gifts become bigger as we grow older. At three you would be excited to get a tricycle. As we get older we are excited by a bicycle, and eventually we are expecting a car. Pentecost gifts are the same, the closer we are to God, the more we realize our gifts. Pentecost is not just about what happened long ago in Jerusalem. Pentecost is about who we are right now. We are Pentecost people. The mission is in our hands. And perhaps one of the best symbols for Pentecost is a kite. There is something beautiful about watching a kite fly. A kite dancing in the wind captures our attention immediately. Children stop and stare. Adults look upward. A kite reminds us there is something larger than ourselves moving around us. But a kite teaches us something important. A kite cannot fly by itself. You can buy the most beautiful kite in the world. Bright colors. Long tail. Strong frame. But if there is no wind, it simply lies flat on the ground. The church is the same way. Without the Holy Spirit, the church becomes nothing more than a building, a committee, or a social club. We can organize meetings. We can print bulletins. We can maintain traditions. But without the Spirit, we never truly rise. Paul says, “No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” That is where Pentecost begins. The Holy Spirit enables us to confess Christ as Lord. That confession may sound simple, but it changes everything. To say “Jesus is Lord” means Caesar is not lord. Politics is not lord. Wealth is not lord. Fear is not lord. My ego is not lord. Jesus is Lord. The Holy Spirit lifts our hearts and points us toward Christ the way the wind lifts a kite into the sky. A kite was never meant to stay on the ground. And the church was never meant to stay grounded either. Too often the church becomes comfortable sitting still. We become focused only on survival. We worry about budgets, buildings, attendance, and preferences. We hold tightly to the kite and forget the wind. But Pentecost reminds us that God’s mission is always larger than our fears. The disciples were hiding behind locked doors before Pentecost. After the Spirit came, they moved into the streets. They preached. They served. They crossed boundaries. They carried the gospel into the world. The Spirit took frightened followers and turned them into the church. And that same Spirit still moves today. Paul says there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. Every kite looks a little different. Some are large. Some are small. Some move quickly in the wind while others glide slowly and steadily. Yet they all depend upon the same wind. So it is with the church. Not everyone has the same gift. Some teach. Some sing. Some pray quietly. Some organize. Some visit the sick. Some cook meals. Some lead missions. Some encourage others. Some work with children. Some give generously. Some offer wisdom and compassion in difficult moments. The church needs every gift. A kite needs every part too. Remove the frame and it collapses. Remove the tail and it spins out of control. Cut the string and it drifts away. Sometimes people think their gifts are too small to matter. But Paul reminds us that we are all part of one body. Pentecost means that the Spirit has given every believer a role in God’s mission. Not just pastors. Not just leaders. Not just the loudest voices. Everyone. The mission is in our hands. And perhaps that is the hardest part of Pentecost for us to accept. We often pray for God to do something while forgetting that God has already sent the Spirit upon the church. We are waiting for someone else to change the world while God is waiting for us to use the gifts we already have. The kite does not create the wind, but it must respond to it. The church does not control the Spirit, but we are called to respond when the Spirit moves. And sometimes the Spirit pushes us into uncomfortable places. The wind can pull hard on a kite string. Anyone who has flown a kite knows that sometimes the wind changes direction unexpectedly. Sometimes it lifts higher than we planned. In a prayer letter about her ministry, a friend of mine described her angst as a teenager. Her sister knew that she wanted to be a teacher, but my friend wasn’t clear on what she wanted to be and do, and she felt shame that her ambitions weren’t clear to her. Toward the end of her college years, God spoke to her in a picture: “First I saw an arrow and felt God say, ‘See, this is like your sister, keenly focused on a single target that she’ll hit right on the mark.’ Next, I saw a kite swaying in the wind and felt God say, ‘I made you like this kite. Your life will go in many directions, but you’ll always be anchored in my hands. I need your sister to be focused, but I need you to be available. Are you willing?’” The Holy Spirit does that too. The Spirit calls churches to welcome new people. The Spirit calls us to serve beyond our comfort zones. The Spirit calls us to forgive when we would rather stay angry. The Spirit calls us to speak hope into a divided world. Pentecost is not safe. But it is holy. Paul also reminds us that “in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” Baptism ties all of this together. In baptism, we are connected to Christ and to one another. We become part of the body of Christ. We are no longer isolated kites scattered across the ground. We are joined together in God’s mission. And notice what Paul says: Jews and Greeks, slaves and free, all were made to drink of one Spirit. The Spirit breaks barriers. The church at its best is not divided by race, wealth, politics, nationality, age, or status. Pentecost creates a new community where all belong because all are united in Christ. That is the miracle of Pentecost. Not just speaking in different languages. Not just wind and fire. But people becoming one body through the Holy Spirit. And the world desperately needs that witness today. We live in a world pulling apart at the seams. Division is everywhere. Loneliness is everywhere. Cynicism is everywhere. But the church is called to be a Pentecost people. A people lifted by the Spirit. A people united in Christ. A people sent on mission. And maybe that is why a kite is such a fitting image for the church. A kite always points upward. That is what the Spirit does for us. The Spirit lifts our eyes beyond ourselves. Beyond fear. Beyond despair. Beyond earthly divisions. The Spirit reminds us that we belong to God and that God is not finished with the world yet. But a kite also remains connected by a string. That matters too. Because Pentecost is not about escaping the world. It is about being sent into it. The Spirit lifts us toward God while keeping us connected to the people around us. The church is called to soar spiritually while remaining grounded in mission. Feeding the hungry. Serving the poor. Welcoming the stranger. Teaching children. Caring for the lonely. Sharing the gospel. Living as the body of Christ. The mission is in our hands. The End Is the Beginning The end of the gospel of John always sends us back to the beginning. Every ending always implies the beginning of something new. On December 31st, the last day of the year, we celebrate the beginning of the New Year. Pregnancy ends with the delivery of a baby, and a new life begins—for both the parents and the baby. When you finish High School, you enter a new world of college or work. Jesus’ death on the cross was an ending, but it was also a beginning. Pentecost is the last day of the Easter season, and it is also celebrated as the beginning of the church. Carla Gorrell, Looks Like a Conspiracy ___________________________ The Holy Gust The Keys to the Car There are transitional moments in life that confirm something tremendous has taken place. One of those moments occurs in a teenager's life and in lives of the parents of that particular teenager, when a mom or a dad gives to him or her the keys to the car for the first time for a solo run. What a transitional moment this is! Many of us have already experienced this. Some of you still have to experience it in life, but, I guarantee you, it's going to happen. It's going to be a step of growth for you. It's a time when you release to your child into an adult world. It's a change in your son or daughter's life from which they are never going to turn back. It's a moment in which you are giving your child an adult responsibility. It is a transitional moment for the child also because the teenager recognizes that he has been given a great responsibility. It's an adult responsibility. He also realizes that this is something that he needs to take care with because great trust has been put in him. Teenagers need to prove to their parents that the validity of their faith in them is correct. In the Scripture for today, Jesus does something very similar for His followers. Jesus said, "As the Father has sent Me, so send I you." Jesus is tossing the keys to the kingdom to His disciples. He is demonstrating that He is accepting them as His followers but He is also demonstrating to them that He is entrusting to them the message of the gospel. He gives to them a great privilege. He is showing them that He believes in them. Don Walker, Commissioned to a New Ministry _________________________ So on this Pentecost Sunday, perhaps we should ask ourselves: Are we resisting the wind of the Spirit? Have we settled for lying flat on the ground? Have we forgotten the gifts God has already given us? Because the Spirit is still blowing. The question is whether we are willing to rise. The church does not belong only to the past. Pentecost was not the ending of the story. It was the beginning. The Holy Spirit still empowers us to confess Christ as Lord. The Holy Spirit still gives gifts to the church. The Holy Spirit still unites us through baptism into one body. And the Holy Spirit still sends us into the world. We are Pentecost people. The mission is in our hands. So let us catch the wind of the Spirit once more and soar for the glory of God. Amen. Song I’m going to sing when the spirit says sing UMH 333 Prayers of the People (You don’t have to print) God of the gathering wind, as we celebrate Pentecost and feel summer’s first warm breath, plant in us the quiet courage of seeds beneath soil — small but determined, destined to rise. Align our seasons with your divine rhythms. Let us unfurl in righteousness like morning glories p2 opening to dawn light, like wheat fields bending golden under your gaze. Spirit of Peace, in these days when violence seems to engulf us – when weapons thunder across borders, when classrooms become places of terror, when families walk endless miles seeking shelter – deliver us from the darkness we have allowed to flourish. Guide the long journey of human history toward your promised justice. Grant us the strength to stand against hatred’s divisions, to speak your love that knows no boundaries, to transform systems that perpetuate suffering, to be steadfast in our pursuit of peace. Wind of wisdom, Breath of understanding, You who once drew scattered people together at Pentecost — kindle in us a hospitality that mirrors Christ’s open arms. Unseal our hearts to truly see the journeys others walk. Fill us with that love which defies boundaries, which heals what seems beyond repair. Let us become your unified voice rising from many throats, your single body formed of countless limbs, offering gratitude for the redemption you have promised and continue to unfold among us. Merciful One, attend to these whispered hopes we offer. Together now, as Christ’s living presence, we turn to the ancient words that Jesus gave us praying… “Our Father…” Charge and benediction May the spark of God ignite you. May the love of Christ renew you. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Over many years, Christians have marked Pentecost Day as the birthday of the church. Today, we’re celebrating this birthday with ________________ (Describe what you’re doing: Birthday cake after worship? Balloons? A kitchen shower with gifts to help the kitchen be more usable? Canned food for your food pantry?) Of course, birthdays often mean presents too! You’re invited to share a birthday gift today, as part of our morning offering. Will you give an extra dollar for each year you’ve been part of this congregation? How about a financial gift in thanksgiving for the number of years since this congregation began ministry? Perhaps you will give a penny, nickel, dime, or dollar for each year since our calendar marks time since Jesus was born? ($20.26, $101.30, $202.60, $2026.00!) Happy birthday to the church! Let’s receive our morning offering, including any and all birthday gifts today. Prayer of Thanksgiving Holy God, By your hand, creation came out of chaos. Through your love, Jesus came to teach, heal and share Good News. With your Spirit, we are empowered to share what we now offer, to build up your church, share Good News, and rejoice as new life emerges out of chaos. So touch this offering and help it be used wisely and well. Breathe your Spirit into each one present today, so together we eagerly act out your love for the world, AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for those on Facebook Having been quenched and ignited by Spirit And united in the waters of the baptized life Let us go from this gathering as members of the Body of Christ— Together even when distant Understanding and understood across difference Resolved beyond fear and empowered by the Spirit Joyful in amazement and in mystery Visioning, prophesying, dreaming As on the Day of Pentecost (United Church of Christ, Cheryl Lindsay) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Charge and Benediction May the spark of God ignite you. May the love of Christ renew you. May the Holy Spirit fill you on this Pentecost Sunday and the days to come. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Additional Illustrations You Are in the Spirit It's like the story of the shark and the whale. Both were swimming in the sea when the shark swam up to the whale to engage in conversation. As they swam along, the shark said to the whale, "You are so much older than I, and wiser too. Could you tell me where the ocean is?" The whale responded, "The ocean is what you are in now." The shark would not believe it. "Come on, tell me where the ocean is so I may find it!" The whale repeated, "The ocean is here, now; you are in it." Unbelieving, the shark swam away searching for the ocean. The moral of the story, I believe, is this: don't spend too much time looking for God because the Spirit of God is here in the now of your life, dwelling within you, within me, within this community. And that truth is nurtured in prayer. Susan M. Fleenor, The Indwelling Spirit of Pentecost Peace The peace Jesus gives to us through the Holy Spirit is more than we can ever imagine: Peace means the cessation of all warfare, but it also means much more. Peace means a feeling of inner well-being, but it also means much more. Peace means an end to psychological tensions, but it also means much more. Peace means halting interpersonal conflicts, but it also means much more. Peace means the settling of silence on the soul, but it also means much more. In Valyermo, California , the Benedictines converted a 400-acre ranch into a religious community called St. Andrew's Priory. As you enter the grounds, you find that the land is posted: "No Hunting Except for Peace." The world is hunting for peace. What will we give it? Leonard Sweet, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com They All Come Together John Ortberg tells the story of a friend who made his first trip south of the Mason-Dixon Line from Chicago to Georgia. On his first morning in the South he went into a restaurant to order breakfast, and it seemed that every dish included something called grits...which, as my Tennessee friends tell me, is exactly the way God intended it. Not being familiar with this southern delicacy, he asked the waitress, "Could you tell me, exactly what is a grit?" Looking down on him with a mixture of compassion and condescension, she said, "Sugar, you can't get just one grit. They always come together." John Wesley knew there was no personal holiness without social holiness, and Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Dillard says, "You can no more go to God alone than you can go to the North Pole alone." We're just like grits...you can't get just one. They come together. John E. Harnish, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com _______________________________________________ Lost and Found Picture a little girl lost in a big city. There she sits, crying on the curb. A policeman finds her, puts her in his cruiser and drives her up and down the streets, hoping she'll recognize something familiar. Which, at last, she does. She sees a steeple with a cross on it. Tears vanish. Speech returns. "That's my church," she says. "I can find my way from here." You're not the only one, little girl. William A. Ritter, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com Wrong! – Acts 2:1-13 by Leonard Sweet Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the church. The symbols of the Pentecost gift are wind and fire. Every birthday is accompanied by a cake over which there is the ritual of wind and fire. But in the course of blowing out candles in your lifetime, have you ever missed one? Ever miscalculate the amount of wind needed to get it 100% right? [To make your sermon more EPIC, you might want to showcase a birthday cake, and blow out some candles. You could even have some fun and include some gag (magic re-lighting) candles that you can’t blow out.] In 1972 veteran journalist Ross Gelbsan attended an environmental conference discussing “The Limits of Growth.” The entire conference had a “doom-and-gloom” feel to it, as the projections of scientists and economists foresaw the end of the world as we know it based on population growth, the destruction of natural resources, etc. Their conclusions were dire. The world would exhaust almost all its resources in about thirty years. But as Gelbsan absorbed all these dreadful predictions he noticed that one of the primary spokespersons for doom and gloom, environmental scientist Donella Meadows, was pregnant. Gelbson interpreted her pregnancy as a note of “personal hopefulness” amidst all this bad news. When his article on this event was finally published by The Village Voice, he used Meadows’ pregnancy as a call for optimism. Even when events appear unremittingly grim, pregnancy shows that there is still cause for hope in our children. It was a wonderful article and a great image. Only one problem: Donella Meadows wasn’t pregnant. Oops!! Wrong!!! Kathryn Schultz tells this story on her friend Ross Gelbson in her remarkable book Being Wrong (HarperCollins Publishers, 2010). Schultz wants to convince her readers that “being wrong” is not something we can avoid, and it isn’t even something we should actively TRY to avoid. Schultz finds that our “wrongs” are sometimes the most creative, imaginative, extravagant, and courageous expressions of our humanity. “The capacity to err,” Schultz contends, “is crucial to human cognition” (p.5). If Schultz is right about being wrong, then we in the church are in deep trouble. Increasingly, church people can’t see others as simply being wrong but evil. Why must we always demonize the other side? What can’t people just be wrong without being demonic or evil? In fact, isn’t the ultimate in evil the notion that you’re always right and never wrong?.... _________________________ Scribbling With Their Tongues Reader’s Digest once carried a wonderful story of a mother who was describing her family’s visit as tourists to Wales. She was describing her six-year-old son’s reaction the first time he heard the Welsh language being spoken. “Mom,” he said, “it sounds like they’re scribbling with their tongues.” That is how the disciples may have sounded when the Spirit came upon them, like they were scribbling with their tongues but they were not speaking gibberish. They were speaking known languages that people who overheard them could understand. Some of those present that first Pentecost made fun of the disciples and accused them of being intoxicated. If the police had happened by, they might have issued warrants reading “drunk and disorderly.” But the apostle Peter stood up and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Then Peter proceeded to tell them about Jesus. Peter’s preaching made an impression. About three thousand were added to the church on that one day. King Duncan, ChristianGlobe Illustrations ________________________ She Knew What to Say The manager of a stock brokerage firm had heard his pastor, Sarah Magnuson, lead a congregation retreat, and he was impressed by her incisive style. A few days after the retreat he came to Sarah's office with what seemed like an unusual invitation. "I've got a couple dozen stock brokers working for me," he told his pastor as he sipped a cup of coffee. "I hold a weekly meeting of these people, and every so often I like to bring in someone to talk to them, someone who comes from an entirely different set of circumstances." "So?" Sarah said, not knowing quite what her parishioner wanted. But she was suspicious. "So," he said, "I liked the way you handled the material on the retreat last weekend. I'd like to set up a time when you would talk to my brokers. And by the way, attendance at these meetings is mandatory; this is a permanent appointment on their weekly calendar." Sarah was nonplussed. "Don't make that kind of suggestion while I have coffee in my mouth," she kidded. "Besides, I can't appear before those people. I don't know zip about stoc_esermonsks and investments. What am I supposed to do, bone up on the brokerage business?" "No," her friend said. "These people are experts in their field. You don't need to know anything about the technicalities of their business." He let that sink in for a few seconds. "But you know something they don't know -- you know the Gospel. That's where you excel." "But I can't speak their language," Sarah lamely complained. "You don't have to speak their language," he replied. "You just speak your language, the language that comes from your knowledge of the Gospel and what it says to us. If I know you, my guess is they'll understand what you have to say." A few weeks later Sarah finished addressing the group on the subject of ethics in the business world, firmly and unabashedly based on Scriptures. And she topped it off with a question and answer period that took the group past the normal closing time for these meetings. As the brokers moved back to their offices, a variety of positive comments could be heard in the hallways. "The boss picked a ringer this time," one broker said. "She didn't pull any punches," another chimed in. The following day the manager called his pastor to thank her. "You made a very positive impact on them," he said, "and I appreciate what you told us." "Even though I couldn't speak their jargon?" Sarah asked, somewhat pleased that she had scored so well. "You said exactly what they needed to hear," her grateful parishioner assured her, "and don't worry -- they understood you." Merle G. Franke, Lectionary Tales from the Pulpit, Cycle A Shaken from Our Sanctuaries A few years ago, AT&T had a major snafu in New York City. They had an agreement with the city that, when electrical demand peaked, AT&T would switch to their backup generators. One day they did that, and something went wrong. When they switched over, the resulting power surge blew a number of rectifiers. Not only did that knock out phone service in the area, it also disrupted communications for air controllers at Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark airports. Over a thousand flights were affected. Usually, technicians would fix that kind of blackout quickly. However, they didn't respond quickly on that particular occasion. While alarm bells rang unheard, the technicians were--believe it or not--attending a training session on how to handle an emergency. I worry that something like that often happens in the church. Christ has called us to serve the world for which he died. Worship is that time when we strengthen our spirits for service to the world. When worship becomes an end in itself, we are not being what Christ has called us to be. We need to be shaken from our sanctuaries and into the streets. King Duncan, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com What if Jesus Were Really Boss? Some years ago Charles Sheldon wrote a book titled, In His Steps. In that book he told about the revolution which occurred in the lives of a church and a congregation when the people decide to put every moral issue to the test of one question—“What would Jesus do?”. Perhaps his book was a bit naive. We are not always sure of what Jesus would do in every situation. Many of the moral issues which we must face as we come to the end of the Twentieth century were never part of His First-century world. Perhaps a better form of the question is: “Given what I know of the mind and spirit of Jesus Christ, what would Christ have me do?” I am confident that a revolution would follow if we were to ever really take that question seriously. But that is what we mean when we confess our faith that “Jesus Christ is Lord.” “Lord,” in the vernacular, means “Boss.” What if Jesus Christ really were Boss around here? Donald B. Strobe, Collected Works, www.Sermons.com _________________________ The Wild Goose Celtic Christians chose, not the dove, but the wild goose as a symbol representing the Holy Spirit. It sounds strange to us, but it has a long tradition in Ireland. While the Roman Church imagined the Holy Spirit in the form of a peaceful, graceful dove, the Ancient Celts understood the Holy Spirit to be like a wild goose. When you hear of the Spirit descending like a heavenly dove on you, you hear harps and strings softly playing and get a peaceful feeling. The image of the Holy Spirit as dove has become so familiar and domesticated an image we pay little attention. The image of a wild goose descending upon you is a different matter altogether. A wild goose is one noisy, bothersome bird. I like this image of the Holy Spirit as a wild goose because it jars us out of our complacency. We need such an image to correct our overly safe and overly sweet image of the Spirit. One preacher friend asked, "How many times can you sing 'There's a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place' without your blood sugar reaching diabetic levels?" When the Spirit comes in the Bible, it never seems to be sweet or safe. God's Spirit called the prophets to speak to Israel in words that were bold and sometimes dangerous. Ezekiel saw a vision of God's Spirit blowing through a valley of dry bones and bringing them to life. John the Baptist dressed in camel's hair and eating wild locusts proclaimed, "I baptize you with water but he who comes after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Paul gave this advice to young Timothy, "For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:6-7). Neither safe nor tame, the Spirit inspired Paul to proclaim, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28). It was this wild Goose that Jesus referred to when he preached his first sermon and quoted Isaiah, saying, "For the Spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of God's favor"(Luke 4:18) Mickey Anders, Pentecost The Irresistible Influence of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit warms us and melts our cold, cold hearts. Recently I ran across a parable that makes the point: Once upon a time there was a piece of iron, which was very strong and very hard. Many attempts had been made to break it, but all had failed. “I’ll master it,” said the axe… and his blows fell heavily upon the piece of iron, but every blow only made the axe’s edge more blunt, until it finally ceased to strike and gave up in frustration. “Leave it to me,” said the saw… and it worked back and forth on the iron’s surface until its jagged teeth were all worn and broken. Then in despair, the saw quit trying and fell to the side. “Ah!” said the hammer, “I knew you two wouldn’t succeed. I’ll show you how to do this!” But at the first fierce blow, off flew its head and the piece of iron remained just as before, proud and hard and unchanged. “Shall I try?” asked the small soft flame. “Forget it,” everyone else said. “What can you do? You’re too small and you have no strength.” But the small soft flame curled around the piece of iron, embraced it… and never left it until it melted under its warm irresistible influence. There’s a sermon there somewhere. Perhaps it means that God’s way is not the way of force but love. God’s way is not to break hearts but to melt them. Perhaps it means that that is our calling – to melt hearts… under the irresistible warmth of God’s gracious love. James W. Moore, What Do You Do With Such A Gift? _______________________ Christianity Outside the Church D.L. Moody once called on a leading citizen in Chicago to persuade him to accept Christ. They were seated in the man’s parlor. It was winter and coal was burning in the fireplace. The man objected that he could be just as good a Christian outside the church as in it. Moody said nothing, but stepped to the fireplace, took the tongs, picked a blazing coal from the fire and set it off by itself. In silence the two watched it smolder and go out. “I see,” said the man. The Interpreter’s Bible _________________________ Some Pentecost Thoughts As I see it, the Holy Spirit is graciously and unobtrusively busy all over the place. The quiet Helper. The unpretentious Friend. The Helper is quietly at work: in the sincere concern of a friend for our health, in those who take a stand against injustice, in the grace of folk who go the second mile, in the inner resources we discover in times of crisis, in those who dare to go against the tide of popular opinion, in the grace that enables us to admit when we are wrong, in the resilience of people who fight for the rights of others, in those who surrender some of their rights for the larger good, in times when we share the Gospel in spite of our inadequacy, in finding joy in unexpected places, in taking on responsibilities that we once thought beyond us, in refusing to let the greed of society take over our soul, in giving thanks always, even through the hard times of life, in rising above past failures and putting past hurts behind us. in finding a central core of peace in the midst of turmoil, in daring to laugh in situations where some would curse, in knowing ourselves to be children of God, in knowing ourselves loved, even when we have been very unlovable. Bruce D. Prewer, Some Pentecost Thoughts _______________________ He Lives In Me Right Now! Norman Neaves some years ago told about a teacher asking the students in her fourth grade class to name the person they considered the greatest person alive in the world today. Their responses were varied and interesting. One little boy said, “I think it’s Joe Montana because he led the 49ers to all those Super Bowl wins.” A little girl said, George Bush… and still another named Oprah… and on and on it went with the students mentioning a wide variety or celebrities. But then it was little Donnie’s turn. Without hesitation Donnie said, “I think it’s Jesus Christ because He loves everybody and is always ready to help them.” Mrs. Thompson smiled and said, “Well, I certainly like your answer, Donnie, because I’m a Christian too… and I also admire Jesus very much. But there’s one slight problem. I said the greatest living person… and of course, Jesus lived and died almost two thousand years ago. Do you have another name in mind?” I love the simple, innocent, confident, wide-eyed response of little Donnie. He said, “Oh no, Mrs. Thompson, that’s not right at all. Jesus Christ is alive! He lives in me right now!” That’s the good news of our faith and the message of Pentecost… God is with us right now working from the inside out, giving us the Breath of Life, the Fire Power of Commitment… and the Peace That Passes All Understanding. James W. Moore, What Do You Do With Such A Gift? ____________________________ Why Do Things Hold Together? The late Harvard mathematician and philosopher, Alfred North Whitehead, maintained that the whole scientific enterprise of the western world rested upon the belief that at the bottom of things science would find order rather than chaos. If animists were afraid to probe a world enchanted with demons and spirits, western scientists dissected, investigated, explored and probed into the depths of the atom believing order and organization would be found rather than disorder and disarray. "What was at the bottom of this conviction?" asked Whitehead. It was the theological concept of the Logos, the Word or Reason or Mind of God, which held everything together. Why do things cohere and hold together? It is because the Mind or Logos, or the Spirit of God, holds them together. Maurice A. Fetty, The Divine Advocacy, CSS Publishing Company _________________________ Consecrate that Trumpet to God While preaching a revival in Florida, a man told me that, as a young man, he had played with Artie Shaw's band. His father had been a concert pianist, but neither of them knew the first thing about Christian music. One day the young man was invited by a friend to play his trumpet at a huge Billy Sunday evangelistic crusade. He did it, and then, at the close of the service, as he stood there watching Billy Sunday pray with those who had responded to the call, the great evangelist looked up, saw him, came over to him, and said, "Young man, have you consecrated that trumpet to God?" "I had no idea what he was talking about -- consecrate. So when I shook my head, Billy Sunday took me to an old wooden folding chair, laid my trumpet on it, put his hands -- one on the horn and the other on my shoulder -- and prayed and gave us both to God." Then the man continued, "And you know, Barbara, it made a difference. It made a difference the way I played that trumpet and it made a difference in me!" The Holy Spirit does make a difference. He makes a big difference! Let him fill you today. Drink deeply of this Divine New Wine. There is no telling what he will do for you, with you, and through you!" Grapes of Wrath Or Grace, Barbara Brokhoff, CSS Publishing Company _________________________ The Ability to Hear Communication, an ability to hear, to know what other people "are getting at" and "where they're coming from," has got to be one of the chief characteristics of the effective pastor. I want to be a good communicator, a skillful preacher. Yet before that, I know that I must be a good listener. As someone has said, "A preacher must listen for six days a week -- listening to God and to the hopes, fears, and aspirations of the congregation -- for the right to speak one day a week." I agree. Yet our modern world has also shown us how difficult, how very, very difficult, it is to hear. A number of years ago, Deborah Tannen, wrote, Why I Can't Hear You. It was a book about the difficulty of communication between women and men. Men and women speak different languages, says Tannen. When men are trying to say, "I need you to help me," they say it in ways which women can't hear. Likewise, when women say, "Give me some space; I need to be more independent for awhile," men get the message all messed up and hear something else. Add to this gender-gap, the gaps in our communication due to differences in economics, education, race and class, what hope is there for us ever to understand one another? The story we have read today, the story of Pentecost, is a story about hearing. Remember the Genesis story of the Tower of Babel, that time when the original "one language and few words" of humanity was disrupted forever by the profusion of languages and speech? Some believe that this Pentecost story is meant to signify a gracious reversal of Babel. William Willimon, How Can I Hear You? _________________________ In Touch with the Spirit Those who say that meditation is an escape from reality obviously have no experience of it. Because if they had this experience they would know that meditation makes us face honestly the reality that is at our own core and it gives us insight into the core of that reality. This, I think, is another way of saying that it puts us in touch with the Spirit. In a sense, then, each time we put on our spiritual snorkels and set out to meditate we are celebrating Pentecost, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Fr. Gerry Pierse _________________________ What's Our Purpose? If we are to reach people for Christ we need people with passion and power. But we also need people with a purpose. In the late 1800’s, no business matched the financial and political dominance of the railroad. Trains dominated the transportation industry of the United States, moving both people and goods throughout the country. Then a new discovery came along—the car—and incredibly, the leaders of the railroad industry did not take advantage of their unique position to participate in this transportation development. The automotive revolution was happening all around them, and they did not use their industry dominance to take hold of the opportunity. In his video tape The Search for Excellence, Tom Peters points out the reason: The railroad barons did not understand what business they were in. Peter observes that "they thought they were in the train business. But, they were in fact in the transportation business. Time passed them by, as did opportunity. They couldn’t see what their real purpose was." If the railroad barons at the turn of the century had understood that they were in the transportation business and not the train business we would all be driving a Gould and not a Ford. The same thing happened in the watch and clock industry. The Swiss had dominated time keeping. They controlled 90% of all revenues made in their industry. They made the most precise gears and springs in the world. Their watches and clocks were perfect. Then something new happened called the Quartz movement—LCD readout. Guess who invented it. A Swiss man. But because it had no gears or knobs or springs it was rejected. They failed to recognize that they were in the business of helping people tell time not making precision gears. They lost their dominance in the industry. They now control 20% of all revenue. Seiko is the dominant leader. "If Sports Illustrated magazine understood it was in the sports information business, not the publishing business, we would have the Sports Illustrated Channel, not ESPN." And folks, if we in the Methodist Church, forget that our purpose is making disciples for Jesus Christ we will also become obsolete. If we loose our focus and get distracted by tradition, habit, custom, ritual, routine, we will go the way of the trains, the Swiss, and Sports Illustrated. We must remember our basic identity. We must—whenever, however, wherever—fulfill our basic purpose. I want to be part of a church whose soul purpose is to win people to Jesus Christ. I want to be part of a church that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. A church that is going out into the streets with spiritual power and the authority. The Holy Spirit compels us to go. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com _________________________ Living Unaware of Our Vast Fortune Come with me into West Texas during the Depression. Mr. Ira Yates was like many other ranchers and farmers. He had a lot of land, and a lot of debt. Mr. Yates wasn't able to make enough on his ranching operation to pay the principal and interest on the mortgage, so he was in danger of losing his ranch. With little money for clothes or food, his family (like many others) had to live on a government subsidy. Day after day, as he grazed his sheep over those rolling West Texas hills, he was no doubt greatly troubled about how he would pay his bills. Then a seismographic crew from an oil company came into the area and told him there might be oil on his land. They asked permission to drill a wildcat well, and he signed a lease contract. At 1,115 feet they struck a huge oil reserve. The first well came in at 80,000 barrels a day. Many subsequent wells were more than twice as large. In fact, 30 years after the discovery, a government test of one of the wells showed it still had the potential flow of 125,000 barrels of oil a day. And Mr. Yates owned it all. The day he purchased the land he had received the oil and mineral rights. Yet, he'd been living on relief. A multimillionaire living in poverty. The problem? He didn't know the oil was there even though he owned it. It is fair to say that you and I are a lot like Mr. Yates at times. We are heirs of a vast treasure and yet we live in spiritual poverty. We are entitled to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and his energizing power, and yet we live unaware of our birthright. We gather today to remember how rich we are. Dan Rondeau, Come, Holy Spirit KITES FOR PENTECOST by Marcus Benjamin It certainly had taken a lot of activity to get the service off the ground. For the two Sundays before, fifteen adults and some fifty children had spent several hours making kites. The kites, which were of thick white paper, had painted on them the symbols of Pentecost- the dove, the wind and the flames of fire. These indeed made the kites very colourful. The pre-schoolers’ kites were made from cardboard with colourful plastic tails. Imagine everyone’s surprise when they found after the service that all the kites in fact flew very well!Why kites? We felt that, apart from the visual symbols of Pentecost which were painted on them, the kites also gave us an excellent theme. Gwen Benjamin drew from the children the thought that a kite was earthbound until it was lifted by the wind. We realised that kites can’t fly unless they are let free to roam in the sky We learned also that kites have no direction and no power except that of the wind. Another interesting feature of our kites was that the wooden base which forms the frame was in the form of a cross. Here then was ample symbolism for a memorable service. Kites symbolize freedom, ambition, and a spiritual connection between heaven and earth. Because they soar upward, they represent the human desire to reach new heights and transcend earthly limitations. gravitybali.com +3 Universal Meanings • Freedom & Liberation: The ability to float untethered (or controlled from the ground) represents boundless freedom and the carefree nature of childhood. • Spiritual Bridge: Their upward flight serves as a metaphor for sending prayers to the divine, communicating with ancestors, and holding onto spiritual hope. • Ambition & Success: The rising of a kite is an arrow pointing upward, symbolizing career progress, rising above adversity, and chasing dreams. gravitybali.com +4 Cultural Significance • China: The birthplace of kites views them as symbols of good luck and longevity. In traditional practices, such as the Qingming Festival, people fly kites and deliberately cut the string to let the kite drift away, symbolizing the release of the previous year's unhappiness. • Bali: Kite flying is a sacred, religious custom meant to thank the gods for bountiful harvests and maintain cosmic balance. • Bermuda: Flying kites on Good Friday is a cultural tradition meant to represent the Ascension of Christ. • Philosophy/Metaphor: A kite teaches the value of patience and "reading the wind"—knowing when to push forward and when to let things unfold naturally. For Christians, Pentecost is the celebration where we remember the day the Holy Spirit was sent to the disciples. These were some of the last words Jesus spoke to his disciples, just before he ascended to heaven. He leaves them with this promise, "you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit". And that is exactly what happened at Pentecost. The disciples were gathered together when suddenly a powerful wind, like nothing they had seen or heard before, came rushing through the room. Then, even stranger than that, fire suddenly appeared in the room and separated so that a tongue of fire came to rest on each persons head. To remind us of the Holy Spirit moving around us, create the Pentecost Kite. My friend has held numerous jobs and ministries, all of them fruitful and interesting, and she is clearly energized by her current position as communications director for a ministry that raises awareness of people groups around the world, often called “unreached,” who have no exposure to the Gospel. I’ve been evaluating my own life in the light of the contrast between arrow and kite. In some areas of my life, I was like an arrow. In other areas, like a kite. With so many unknowns at present, the kite picture is really helpful. All of us need to nurture the confidence that Jesus has the kite string well in hand. And all of us need to flex with the wind of the Holy Spirit. Verbal pictures and images are metaphors, a Greek word meaning transport, where the meaning from one word is transported onto another word or concept. In the Bible, many pictures, or metaphors, are used to describe God. In the Psalms, God is compared to a shepherd, rock, refuge, sun, shield, and many other concrete, real-life items. In the Gospels, Jesus calls himself the bread of life, the light of the world, the door of the sheep, the good shepherd, and the true vine. Each of these pictures sketched in words has brought comfort, joy and challenge to believers for centuries. I’m also interested in metaphors that describe us, the people of God. My new favorite metaphor for Christians is a kite anchored in Jesus’ hands and shifting in the wind of the Holy Spirit.

Hope Enough for all of us

Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington December 7, 2025 Romans 15:4-23 2nd Sunday of Advent Hope Enough for all of Us Year A Prelude Greeting Lighting of the Advent Candle Call to Worship One: We’re waiting for One who is coming. Many: Why wait for someone when we don’t know how long to wait? One: We wait in anticipation, for the Coming One is filled with God’s Spirit. Many: A spirit of wisdom and understanding in a confusing world. One: A spirit of counsel and knowledge; Many: we stand on tip-toe, eager to welcome the One who is coming, ALL: for the whole earth will be brimming, knowing God as ALIVE with us. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer God, your servant John the Baptist cries out to us: “Repent; turn and be restored”. Can we hear? Will we respond? Holy God, open the ears of our souls to hear your word of salvation. Holy and Peace-Inspiring God, on this second Sunday of Advent, Open wide our hearts and our minds To see, feel, hear, and know the salvation of our God. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Amen. Song Come Thou Long Expected Jesus UMH 196 A Sermon for all Ages Children’s Sermon: “Overflowing With Hope” Supplies (optional but helpful): • A clear cup • A pitcher or bottle of water • One small LED candle or picture of a candle 1. Opening Question (Engage) Good morning, friends! Can you tell me—what season are we in at church right now? (Let them answer: Advent!) That’s right! Advent is the time when we get ready for Christmas—for the birth of Jesus! And during Advent, we talk about something very important called hope. Does anyone know what hope means? (Let a few children answer. Affirm all attempts.) Hope means trusting that something good is coming—even when we’re still waiting. 2. Candle of Hope (Hold up the candle or point to the Advent wreath.) This first Advent candle is called the Candle of Hope. It reminds us that God keeps promises, even when it takes a long time. The Bible tells us: “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace.” That means God doesn’t just give us a little hope—God wants to fill us up with hope! 3. Object Lesson – The Overflowing Cup (Hold up the empty cup.) This cup is like our hearts sometimes. Sometimes our hearts feel: • Sad • Worried • Tired • Or even scared Now watch what happens when God gives us hope. (Slowly pour water into the cup until it overflows.) When God fills us with hope, love, joy, and peace—it doesn’t stop at the top! It overflows! And when hope overflows out of us, it helps: • Our friends • Our families • Our school • And even people we don’t know very well 4. Good News of Advent The best reason we have hope at Advent is this: Jesus is coming. God is keeping a big promise. A Savior is being born. The light is coming into the world! Responsive Reading Psalm 72 UMH 795 Prayer for Illumination “O come, thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily: To us the path of knowledge show; … Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.” (Presbyterian Outlook, Ginna Bairby) Scripture Romans 15:4-13 Sermon Hope Enough for all of Us Our Advent study this year is called for the common good. It is a study about spiritual gifts. Everyone is welcome to join our study. This week, we are all taking our test to see what our spiritual gifts are. Spiritual gifts are listed in Paul’s writings in Romans, Corinthians and Ephesians. We also had a chance to take a spiritual gifts test in the visioning session. When I took it, I scored the highest in healing, apostleship and teaching. Apostleship is the willingness to spread the gospel in different areas. But I was surprised because I also scored high in speaking in tongues and in interpreting tongues. Speaking in tongues is popular in some churches, not the united methodist church. The united methodist spiritual gifts study always emphasizes that if God sends a message in tongues that no one understands, that if it is from God that God will also send someone who clearly understands what is being said for the rest of the congregation. Some gifts go hand in hand. But when methodist use the term speaking in tongues, it is not talking about spiritual languages, but earthly languages. The ability to understand a diverse group of people, and to be able to speak in their listening. Another person who would have scored high in this gift, is Paul. Paul was clear that he was a Jew, but he was also clear that he was called to tell lands about the gift of Jesus. Paul’s mission was to go throughout different lands and to tell them about a savior who gave then love, peace, and acceptance. After many challenges, Paul was successful. Many people wanted to know more about this Jesus. They wanted to be a part of the Lord’s table. But he found that as more and more people came, there was no place at God’s table for them. Many Jewish communities were exclusive and not open to new people. So in Romans 15, Paul explains that Christ brings a hope, and a love and a peace which overcomes our boundaries. And unites our differences. It has the power to even bring together enemies in love. A Vietnam veteran recalls an experience he had on Christmas Eve in 1972. His squad was ambushed by the enemy, everyone was killed except him. Following a struggle and with great force he was captured. “I was thinking how much I did not want to spend Christmas, let alone the remaining six months of my tour of duty, in a POW camp,” he explains. They kept traveling through the night. When they finally stopped the Vietnamese lieutenant gave him food to eat. “Merry Christmas” he said in perfect English. His captor told him it would be an honor to celebrate Christmas with him. His name was Nugent. He explained that he had been educated in Canada and that his family had been killed. “Silent Night” was Nugent’s favorite Christmas Carol. The two men began singing it together. Early the next morning shots rang out. “Bullets were flying all around,” the American soldier recalls. Nugent was shot in the chest. He held him in his arms. “Thanking me for the Christmas songfest.” He started singing “Silent Night” knowing that it was Nugent’s favorite carol. “Nugent put his bloody hand to my lips, ‘the voice of angel, I go in peace.’ Thank you were his last words. At that moment I did not see an enemy, but a friend and a brother. Here was a man who started as an enemy, showed compassion, became a friend, died as a brother.”[2] God loves and cares for all people and we should do the same. The message of Advent is to continue to break down the barriers that divide people today. As modern-day disciples of Jesus we strive for harmony and unity. Instead of seeing only the obvious differences, Paul urged the believers to celebrate their unity in Christ. The Apostle Paul writes to the Romans in a time when their world feels divided, uncertain, and anxious—sound familiar? And into that tension, he offers not criticism, not panic, but a promise: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Advent is not just about preparing for Christmas. It is about learning how to live as people who overflow with hope in a world starving for it. 1. Hope Is Learned Through the Story of God Paul begins by saying: “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures, we might have hope.” In other words, we learn hope by remembering what God has already done. Illustration – The Scrapbook of Faith Some families keep scrapbooks—birthdays, weddings, vacations, hard times, and good times. When someone feels discouraged, they flip through and remember: We survived that. We found joy here. We were loved then, and we are loved now. Scripture is the scrapbook of God’s faithfulness: • A slave people delivered from Egypt • A shepherd boy defeating a giant • A nation restored from exile • A Savior born in a barn Advent reminds us that hope is not wishful thinking—it is memory turned toward the future. If God has been faithful before, God will be faithful again. 3. Hope Is Meant to Be Shared in Unity Paul says: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another… so that together you may with one voice glorify God.” Advent hope is not private. It is communal. Not “my hope,” but our hope. Paul speaks into a divided church of Jews and Gentiles and says, in essence: If Christ welcomed you, you must welcome one another. Illustration – The Choir Lesson A choir warming up sounds chaotic. Sopranos here, basses there, everyone finding their own note. But once the conductor lifts the hands and the song begins, something beautiful happens: Different voices form one sound. The church is God’s choir. • Different stories • Different struggles • Different personalities But one Savior. One hope. One mission. Advent invites us to sing together again. 4. Hope Reaches Beyond Our Boundaries Romans 15 reminds us again and again that God’s promise was always meant for the whole world: “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.” Jesus did not come only for people who already knew how to be religious. He came for: • the outsider • the doubter • the overlooked • the weary • the sinner • the seeker Illustration – The Extra Chair Picture a family setting the table for a holiday meal. Plates are set, chairs are arranged—then someone notices one more place is added. “Who’s that for?” “Oh, just in case someone needs a seat.” That is the heart of Advent. God always sets out one more chair. 5. Hope Overflows When We Trust God’s Spirit Paul ends with this powerful blessing: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Notice the movement: 1. We believe 2. God fills 3. The Spirit makes it overflow Illustration – The Overflowing Cup You can fill a glass to the brim, but only when it overflows does it refresh the table around it. Advent hope is not just enough for you—it is meant to spill over into your workplace, your family, your friendships, your community. The world doesn’t need more opinions. It needs more people who overflow with steady, Spirit-born hope. We as Chrstians are called to Multiply The Welcome that we received from Christ. Paul tells us to welcome others the way Christ welcomes us In the Christmas story,There were shepherds seated on the hillside keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an angel of the Lord came to them and the Glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. The angel said, "Be not afraid for today I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord." And there was with the angel a multiplication of voices singing Glory to God in the highest and peace among men with whom he is pleased. And the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to the place and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us." And they saw there our welcoming Christ: a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And they saw all these things as it had been told them. Then the shepherds returned to their flocks praising God for the things they had heard and seen. When Christ comes, we offer to him our humble welcome, and we can welcome him because he first welcomes us. It is he who provides welcoming grace. It is he, by his lack of reserve in welcoming us who are undeserving, who sets celestial voices singing ... And it is he who welcomes us and those we would be slow to welcome. It is our welcoming Christ who comes, welcoming a child, a leper, a thief, a shepherd, a king, and welcoming you, welcoming me. For Paul, the ultimate wonder of Christ, the deepest marvel of the coming of Jesus, was not the virgin birth, or angels in the skies, but the gracious, inclusion even of Gentiles into the promises of God to Israel. The glory of God, he says in today's scripture, is that God has welcomed you! The father has welcomed home the younger prodigal. The door has been opened at midnight to the beseeching outsider. Those who have entered the vineyard at the close of the day are given How do you make strangers feel welcome, by giving them a place to feel God’s hope. This sermon is a little late – we lit the hope candle last week. This week our focus in on peace. We never know what the right order of the candles. Paul’s last words in this lesson say 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope, peace, love, joy they are all related. All the gifts that we are called to bring to a world lacking. Our actions of peace and love give the world hope Closing Prayer God of hope, fill us with joy and peace as we wait for your coming. Teach us patience. Unite us in love. Open our hearts to all your children. And by the power of your Spirit, make us people who overflow with hope— today, tomorrow, and until Christ comes again. Amen. Song Hail to the Lord’s Anointed UMH 203 Prayer Christ who is coming into the world, we give you thanks and praise for the goodness in our lives: For the beauty of your creation that sustains us — may we honor it. For the church that nourishes us and teaches discipleship — may we stay true to the gospel. For the leaders of the nations — may they govern with wisdom and compassion. For our own communities — may they be places of flourishing and delight, foretastes of the Peaceable Kingdom. Christ-beside-us, we pray for the places in your world where your children are suffering: For the sick in body, mind or spirit — may they know your healing hand. For those suffering under war, violence or unjust systems — may they know the comfort of your peace. For people experiencing hunger, poverty or homelessness — may they be nourished by human kindness. For those whose consciences are troubled — may they experience the transformation of repentance and taste the sweetness of grace. Christ, Love Incarnate, come to us again this Advent season, even as the pray the prayer you taught us, saying: “Our Father…”. (Presbyterian Outlook, Ginna Bairby) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Yes! Today is a day to prepare for the Coming One! Chapter 3 of Matthew’s Gospel leaps to the adult John the Baptist. When we hear this text, we may think, “What a strange duck!” (After all, he’s dressed in animal skin and forages for bugs to eat!) But John demands listeners repent (turn back!) because God’s Realm is coming near. John clearly declares we have work to do before Jesus comes, practicing ways to bear fruitworthy of repentance. This is one time for us to show with our actions what our hearts and minds have claimed. If we seek to be followers of Jesus, we help feed the hungry, care for the widow, visit the imprisoned… Our offering today provides each of us with one way to let our wallets help proclaim Good News. Have you spent money this week to prepare for gift-giving for your family and friends? Can you…will you spend an equal amount to (name one or two ways your congregation responds to hunger, imprisonment, or the needs of the poor)? How does that help YOU prepare to welcome Jesus once more? (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Prayer of Thanksgiving Holy God, we so often get sidetracked from our intention to be faith-filled followers of Jesus. This time of the year makes that even more likely to happen. Please accept the gifts we’ve offered. Help us repent from our selfish ways and turn back to you. Push us to use these funds in ways that truly honor you. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Beyond these walls, the world needs peace. Go out taking with you the exquisite peace of Christ. Carry it boldly and spread it to all those you meet, knowing that God is within you, strengthening the light of the world. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Maria Mankin) Communion This is the time for Decembered mercies – a baby born (instead of the boots of the tramping warrior); a new light of peace (when all was thought to be forsaken); fresh furrows (for any who had quit their cultivation). This is the season for Decembered mercies – forgiveness for what was seen as unredeemed; the taste of fresh bread and new wine; a sprig of hope on a stump left for dead. (“December Mercies,” written by Dr. Robert Lee Hill to be published in All the Time in the World,forthcoming in February 2026. Published by Caroline Street Press.) All are welcome to share in this communion feast. May it be for ALL of us a Decembered mercy helping us become sprigs of hope on a stump left for dead. (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction As God has welcomed us in these moments, let us go to embrace each person we meet. As Jesus has been our servant of hope and grace, let us go to serve the most vulnerable around us. As the Spirit of hope has filled us, let us go to empty ourselves of joy and peace for all. © Thom M. Shuman

The House where God lives

Rev. Harriette Cross First United Methodist Church of Wilmington July 18, 2021 Ephesians 2:11-22 8th Sunday after Pentecost Year B Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship (from Ephesians 2) One: We gather, eager to worship the God who brings us together. Many: We once were strangers to God’s covenant. One: Remember: once we had no hope. Many: Yet now, in Christ, we’re brought together. One: Here, there’s no room for rancor or hostility. Many: Here, we join with the whole household of God! All: Let us worship the Lord, our God! Song It is Well with my soul UMH 377 Stewardship Moment In countless surveys, we are asked “how many people live in your household?” For most of us, that’s a pretty easy question to answer. We’d find it difficult, however, to come up with a number if someone asked “how many members are in the household of God?” Yet that’s the way we’re described by the author of Ephesians. Since Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, all believers are no longer “strangers and aliens”, but are members of God’s household. And, as such, we have certain privileges and certain responsibilities. (use this, or tell your own: While I wouldn’t want this to happen, I’m confident if I were driving out of state and my car broke down, I could call on a minister or elder in that place to ask for a recommendation of a mechanic or repair shop.) Just as each of us contribute for our home, so we recognize the expectation we will contribute here. Our morning offering is one place where ALL can participate. Whether you brought a check, will give on-line, or will dip into your wallet, you live into your identity as part of God’s household when you offer back a portion of your finances. If your giving were posted on the screen (or in the bulletin) week by week, how would those numbers indicate your identity as a member of God’s household? Let us receive our morning tithes, gifts and offerings. Prayer of Thanksgiving Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, with cords that cannot be broken, for you have brought us all near in Jesus Christ. Now, receive these gifts as our offering of resources, talents and treasure, to build up your household. Use them, and use us, to continue breaking down dividing walls of hostility. In the Spirit, we pray, AMEN Scripture Ephesians 2:11-22 Ephesians 2:11-22 Common English Bible The reconciliation of God’s people 11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. 13 But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. 15 He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. 16 He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God. 17 When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. 18 We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. 19 So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. 20 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. Sermon The House where God lives You know I was particularly encouraged by annual conference yesterday. As I told Debbie, the lay leader to annual conference, a virtual conferencing event only mimics the real thing of the whole conference getting together under one roof to worship and to make decisions. But I left yesterday much more hopeful than usual. The Bishop from the Indiana annual conference, Julius Trimble gave the Bible study. Bishop Trimble and I served a common appointment. My first Church in North Chicago. The church invited him to come back for a homecoming to be the preacher, so we have been friends since. He gave a message on what seemed to be the theme of the conference – Jesus is a waymaker. The conference site is down, so I couldn’t review his message. But basically he talked about how Jesus throughout the life of the church, opens doors that we weren’t expecting. Makes difficult situations more doable. Basically, Jesus is the source of all of our faith, and the bible demonstrates that fact time and again. That is the theme of our scripture today. Jesus is the source of our faith Jesus is the reason of our faith. That is actually the theme of our scripture today. The book of Ephesians explains to communities that Jesus is the source of everything in our faith. Jesus is a waymaker and so much more. I actually was also encouraged by the sermon of our current bishop, Bishop John Hopkins. The theme of his message was unity, power and mission. Once again all things that Jesus us for us. He talked about how the conference has some challenges ahead. But I was impressed, because I was left feeling hopeful. That all churches have some work to do ahead. He talked about the financial difficulties of the church not being able to pay our apportionment to the national church. Most conference pay at least 85% of their apportionment, the northern Illinois conference only paid 69% - and that we have to have a plan to pay more. He talked about how across the conference morale is low between churches an clergy, which results in decreased giving. His message – to remember our unity, power and mission lie in Jesus Christ. The writer of Ephesians gives that same message. Who we are as a church lies in Jesus Christ. In chapter two he says that not only is jesus a way maker – Jesus is also a wall breaker. Have you heard about the young man who was an All-American football player in college? He went on to play professional football for a few years and then came back to his alma mater as an assistant coach. One of his main responsibilities in his new job would be to go out and scout and recruit players for his college team. Before he made his first recruiting trip, he went in to visit with the head coach, the same coach for whom he had played when he was there in college some years before. The head coach was a crusty old veteran. He had held that position as head coach for many years, was widely known and highly respected all across the country. The new young coach said to him, “Coach, I’m about to head out on my first recruiting trip, but before I go I want to be sure that we are on the same page. Tell me, Coach, what kind of player do you want me to recruit?” The crusty old head coach leaned back in his chair. He looked the young coach straight in the eyes and said: “Son, I’ve been at this job a long time and over the years I have noticed that there are several different kinds of players. For example,” he said, “you will find some players who get knocked down and they stay down. That’s not the kind we want!” And he said, “You will find some players who get knocked down and they will get right back up and get knocked down again and then they stay down. That’s not the kind we want!” And then the old coach said, “But you will also find some other players who get knocked down and knocked down and knocked down, and every time they get knocked down, they get right back up!” At this point, the young coach got excited and he said, “Now, that’s the kind of player we want, isn’t it, Coach?” “No!” said the old head coach. “We want the one doing all that knocking down!!” That’s what we need on our church team: Players who will do some knocking down Players who will knock down not other people, but walls! Players who will knock down walls of hostility! Players who will knock down walls that divide and estrange… walls that separate or alienate. We in the church are called to knock down walls of hate and hostility and to build bridges of love and reconciliation. That is what this powerful passage in Ephesians 2 is all about. It is one of the greatest statements in all of the Bible. Listen to this: “For (Christ Jesus) he is our peace, who has made us both one, and had broken down the dividing walls of hostility.” [[The following may be added for a longer sermon—or skip down to the two brackets below to shorten: There is a gospel song that has these words: “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus There is something about that name.” Indeed there is. The name “Jesus” of course means “Savior” or “The Lord’s helper,” but also notice (don’t miss this now)… that the name “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua.” And we remember, of course, who Joshua was… he was the one who caused “the walls to come tumbling down!” Remember how the spiritual sings it: “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho… And the walls come a-tumblin’ down.” So Jesus is well named, because He also is a wall-breaker. He breaks down the dividing walls of hostility. This passage in Ephesians 2 can be better understood when we see it against the backdrop of the physical make-up of the Temple in the time of Jesus. The Temple was a parable in stone, exposing the prejudices… the walls that existed in society during Bible times; walls that included a few privileged people, but excluded and shut out most. As you moved through the Temple toward the High Altar (the Holy of Holies), there was a series of walls designed to hold people back from God. The first wall held back foreigners…people of other races and nations. They could go inside the Temple but only to this first wall. The point of Ephesians is that sometimes the walls that need to be knocked down are in our own understanding of life. All of us naturally build walls of exclusion for other people – not because we are mean, but because we are human – we want to be safe, we want to be comfortable, we want to make sure that we understand what it going on, so we tend to limit ourselves and our environment. But the point of the church is to be a place were we come together not just in what we agree and understand, but also in what we don’t. It is the place where all people have a seat at the table, where all people are welcome. Jesus is a wall breaker because he makes sure that we are open. In order to do that, Jesus breaks down walls, but Jesus is also the glue to hold us together. One of the major themes of the book of ephesians is the household of God. The church is the house that God built. Not just the walls around us, but also the people in the church. Each of us come from a family -and every family has some organizing principle. Usually there is someone who kind of calls us together, and even though we may not like each other, or we may not agree with one another- when that person calls us together we come and participate. For the church that person is Jesus Christ. Christ is the meeting place for a divided family of all people. And it is our unity that gets rid of the walls of hostility that sometimes keep us apart otherwise. One of my favorite stories of what the church should be comes from a television documentary about a kindergarten teacher, she was concerned because on the playground groups of kids would get together and if someone new came along and want to play – the would say no you cant play with us. So she made a rule that no group could shut out anyone. If someone came and wanted to play with your group, you automatically let them in. at first the kindergarteners were stunned by the new rule. They were upset, but it started to catch on. Eventually the kindergarteners in her class passed it on to all of the other classes as they grew older. But that first year it was hard. The did not want to change. But all of them remembered a time when they were excluded from a game and decided to try it. And it worked. Many years later- the kids still played that game wherever they went in life. and they practiced it whereever they went. That is what jesus calls us to do in the church. We learn about us and them very early in life, but we are called to unlearn everything we knew and to be different. Different in the name of Christ. Years ago, beloved actor Dick Van Dyke wrote a little book titled Faith, Hope, and Hilarity. In it he told about a Sunday School teacher who asked her class, “What do you think about when you see the church doors open to everyone who wants to worship God here?” An African-American student answered, “It’s like walking into the heart of God.” (6) Both sad and happy experiences have been shared with my brothers and sisters of Christ Church. Welcome to the family." As we remember who Jesus is and who Jesus calls us to be in the ritual of baptism Baby …..As you come to this holy table, I bid you welcome to this family reunion! THIRD AND FINALLY, THERE IS VENGEANCE. Vengeance… the angry, bitter spirit that will not forgive, that nurses its wrath to keep it warm, that broods and festers and looks for a chance to get ‘em back… what a dividing wall of hostility that is! There was a sign in a business window that read like this: “To err is human. To forgive is not our policy.” Some people live by that policy and it is so sad. Vengeance is a dividing wall and a spiritual poison. Think about it like this. If you put a plastic covering over a plant, the rain and sun can’t get to it and the plant will wither and wilt and ultimately die. Vengeance is like that plastic covering. We can’t be spiritually healthy until that plastic covering is removed. Let me ask you something: Has someone hurt you? Do you feel estranged or alienated or crossways with anybody? Do you have bitterness in your heart toward any other person? If so, go fix that! Don’t wait around any more. Don’t put it off any longer. For your sake, for their sake, for God’s sake – go fix it! Ask God to go with you… and with his help… go set it right, go break down that dividing wall of hostility! Harry Emerson Fosdick once said, “Christianity is like beautiful music. It doesn’t require defense or explanation. It requires rendition.” If we want to serve Christ, if we want to do his work, if we want to live in his spirit, then our calling is to join forces with him in knocking sown the dividing walls of pride and prejudice and vengeance, and in building bridges of love and forgiveness. Writer Frederick Buechner was driving in Manhattan. He saw a building covered with graffiti. Scratched in the middle of that graffiti was the familiar phrase, “Jesus Saves!” Buechner was embarrassed. It offended him. It made him angry. But the more he thought of it, Buechner said, the more he realized what bothered him the most was the whole point of the gospel: having to admit he needed saving, and that some guy named “Jesus” was the only one who could do it . . . (6) It does make us uncomfortable talking about our need for Christ. This is more the language of the tent evangelist hitting the sawdust trail calling people to give their hearts to Jesus. But without the tent and without the sawdust, I need to say to you, we do need Jesus. We will never be reconciled to one another until first we are reconciled to God. In an article in the Yale Alumni magazine, Professor Robert Sternberg points out that IQs are rising worldwide, as much as three points per decade on average. “We’re getting smarter,” he says in the article, “but that doesn’t mean we’re becoming better people.” Unfortunately a rise in IQs is not linked to a rise in our capacity to love one another. In the 20th century alone, between 100 million and 160 million civilians lost their lives in massacres of some kind. That’s an average of more than 3,000 innocent deaths per day, and the pace has not slackened in the 21st century. Statistically speaking, the fact is the world is full of hate. Sternberg argues, “No problem facing us today is of more importance.” (7) With the advent of global terrorism hanging over us, no problem is of greater importance. But how shall we be reconciled to one another without first being reconciled to God? And how are we reconciled with God? St. Paul says it is by the cross of Jesus Christ. [I understand] there is an amazing video clip on You Tube by an evangelist named Louie Giglio. Some of our young people might want to look it up online. Go to Google and simply type in laminin l-a-m-i-n-i-n. What is laminin? Here is the scientific explanation: “Laminins are a family of proteins that are an integral part of the structural scaffolding of basement membranes in almost every animal tissue.” Did you get that? In plain language, laminins are what hold us together . . . literally. They are cell adhesion molecules. They are what hold one cell of our bodies to the next cell. Without them, we would literally fall apart. For the peacemakers there is one reward and one title. God calls the peacemakers his own children. And that is their reward. Peacemakers seldom have statues and tributes and parades in their honor. The reward is being called God's child. To be called a child of God means we bear God's very nature. The nature of God, as we know that through Jesus, is love, forgiveness and reconciliation. It is our God who is the creator of this peace. When the great Swiss theologian Karl Barth visited the United Nations, he said, "The international organization could be an earthly parable of the heavenly kingdom, but real peace will not be made here although it might seem as an approach. Peace will be made by God himself." To go out making peace we go out bearing the nature of God and living as members of God's kingdom. While war may seem to be the most terrible reality, for the children of God, the kingdom of God is the ultimate reality. Ebbie Smith tells the story about his two sons, one born into their family and the other adopted. They were about the same age, and in the same grade in school. They were introducing themselves in the first grade. One said, "He and I are brothers. One of us is adopted, but I can't remember which one." In order to fully appreciate how connected we are, we need two things: a class or other small group and a ministry task. If you don't have either of these, I give you permission to use one of the offering envelopes as a note. Write your name and phone number on it, and this message: I need a small group, or I need a ministry task. Then as you leave today, give it to an usher or a pastor. We can help you feel more connected, more a part of the Body of Christ. My immediate invitation to you today is to savor the joy of being connected to Christ and all these other wonderfully diverse children of God. Feel the unity! Rejoice in the fact that you have a family that will stand with you in good times and bad. When we were preparing to move to Memphis, we received many gracious letters of welcome from you. I can never adequately thank you for giving us the benefit of the doubt, for reaching out and welcoming people you knew so little about. One of those letters came from a lady I have grown to love. With her permission I read it to you: "Dear Bill, as you probably already know, Christ Church is a praying, loving, and caring church. It stands as a beacon of spiritual growth not only for us, its members, but for the entire city as well. During the six years since I became a member, I lost my beloved husband of fifty-four years and a precious grandson, age 25, in a tragic automobile accident. The love and concern shown me during this tragic period was completely overwhelming. We are still in the season of Pentecost, and this is a story of Pentecost. At Babel, everyone stood divided by their single focused arrogance, their selfishness, their desire to be independent from God, to be incommunicado from God, to be out of relationship with God, to be “as” God. But at Pentecost….. people of all races, tongues, cultures spoke with one another and understood one another. The lines of communication –and relationship—were opened and enabled, and new relationships were forged that day –with Jesus …and with each other! Now listen, the scripture doesn’t say, they all became alike! It doesn’t say, they all melded into a Stepford Disciple, who talks the same, walks the same, thinks the same, worships the same, or even likes the same music! Gasp! It doesn’t even say, they liked each other! But they understood each other, they communicated with each other, and they found a common Creator in the breath of the Holy Spirit! Prayer of the Day God of aliens and strangers: make the doors of this church wide enough so that all find a welcome, a home, a haven, a heart. Christ of the near and those who are far off: make our hearts wide enough so that all might find a place in this household of faith. Welcoming Spirit of saints and sinners: open our arms wide enough so that all - the guest, the neighbor, the child, the widow, the politician, the homeless, the brother, the sister - may be embraced by your love and grace. God in Community, Holy in One, open your arms wide enough to enfold us in your heart, as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying, (The Lord's Prayer) Song Just a Closer Walk with Thee TFWS 2158 Announcements Benediction Now go, to greet stranger and dear friend equally. We will share God’s steadfast love as we seek to live in faithfulness. Now go, to share Christ’s compassion with everyone. We will tear down dividing walls and build bridges of hope. Now go, to live as one as the Spirit gathers you with others. We will build communities that welcome all, especially the outsiders. Children’s Sermon Additional Illustrations

Stewardship as a way of Life

April 11, 2021 Stewardship Sunday Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 113 A Celebration of our Gifts Opening Song Lighting the Christ Candle Welcome Opening Prayer One: Welcome to this hour of worship, one week after our Easter celebration! Many: Tho’ the flowers have faded and the balloons are deflated, we’re here to rejoice, for Christ is RISEN! One: Christ is risen, indeed! Many: Together, we welcome the peace of Christ in our lives and in the world. One: May the peace of Christ be with you! Many: And with you, also Stewardship Moment The second Sunday of Easter is usually low Sunday. Usually the pastor takes off, and there is nothing happening to top the energy of Easter. But this year that is not so, this yr we will have pledge Sunday the day after Easter. And the fun continues as we do things to get in touch with our mission as a church. You can turn in your pledges in the offering plate with your offering. If you have not filled out the pledge card – there are some outside to fill out. If you are not able to turn it in today, there are envelopes in the narthex so you can send it back into the church. After the sermon we will have say a prayer over our pledges to the ministry of the church. We will talk about the mission of the church over the 50 days of Easter. Moment for Stewardship Although the emotional “high” of Easter has ebbed for many of us, the joy of being a disciple of the Resurrected One continues! Have you heard this description of joy from Katharine Hepburn, adapted from her own words? “Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. There was one other family between us and the ticket counter, with eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn’t have a lot of money. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about all they would see that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. Their mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking up at him as if to say, “You’re my knight in shining armor.” The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, “I’d like eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus.” The ticket lady stated the price. The man’s wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man’s lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, “How much?” The ticket lady again stated the price. The man didn’t have enough money. Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and dropped it. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) Then, he bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.” The man understood what was going on. He looked straight into my dad’s eyes, took my dad’s hand, squeezed the $20 bill, and replied; “Thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.” The $20 my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with. Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide. Followers of the risen Christ know a deep joy which comes from reaching out with acts of compassionate care for others. Today, with our offering, we have opportunity to tap into that joy as we not only care for the regular needs in our congregation, but as we ________________ (name what outreach, mission or special need this offering can help meet). The definition of Joy - Jesus first, others then you. Your gift may be precisely what gives others the opportunity to experience more abundant resurrection life! Prayer of Thanksgiving With hearts filled with gratitude, God, we offer these tithes and gifts. Thank you for the amazing gift you provide each of us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We rejoice in the ways we can make a difference in lives of those near by and those on the far side of the earth. AMEN Special music Scripture Acts 4:32-35 Sharing among the believers 32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at work among them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. Those who owned properties or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and place them in the care and under the authority of the apostles. Then it was distributed to anyone who was in need. Sermon Stewardship as a way of life When asked what makes your church special – most churches would respond – our church is like a family. We love each other, we stick together, we take care of one another. At our clergy meeting this week our district superintendent gave us an article to read which suggests that it is not a good idea to describe your congregation as a family. I have not had a chance to read the article yet, but I do know that families don’t choose one another, they don’t always get along, they are no always on the same page. And you can love a family member, and yet intentionally keep your distance from that person. Usually people that we call family are those who think like us, or live near us, that we get along with. We are all willing to expand our definition of family – but we all have our boundaries – there are always people who are still outside our circle that we are not willing to reach out to. Jesus came to encourage people to reach beyond their boundaries to understand, work with, to include in church. Yes, church is like a family – but it is so much more. We are not held together by blood, or commonality – but by the mission of Christ to help others. So during the Easter season, instead of looking at the Hebrew bible – we look at the book of acts. Luke wrote the book of acts as a continuation of his gospel. The gospel of Luke tells of the life of Jesus, the book of acts is the story of the disciples after the resurrections. This is the story of the birth of the church as we know it today. This is such an amazing story of the power of conviction. The disciples were able to overcome the persecution to get the message out to the public. The holy spirit was so powerful that over 3000 people joined the church in one day. The church became a community that was so united that they owned everything in common and shared everything. It is easy to read the book of Acts and to feel that our modern day church is so far behind – we are lucky if we reach 5 people in a year. There have been times when even I have been tempted to preach a bible study on acts and to say this is what we should be doing. But that does not take into account the fact that the church in our scripture today proved not to be sustainable. The scripture today talks about how the church was so united they shared everything in common. That did not last long. It is sort of like the book of Deuteronomy talks about the year of jubilee. The year of Jubilee comes every 50 years – it is a year where you let servants go, you forgive the debts of your family, and financially you start all over again. You read about it in the bible, but no one tells you that the year of jubilee has never ever ever happened in reality. The year of jubilee has never been economically feasible. A church where there is no personal property and everything belongs to the church – just was never economically feasible. The point of these stories is first – they are a model for us to strive towards in our lives, they teach us a valuable lesson in stewardship and the economic concepts are part of a bigger picture on what it means to give the Lord our whole mind, body and spirit. These stories help us to understand that stewardship involves money, but they are not about money. Stewardship is about our relationship with God, and how that relationship influences our relationship with those around us. It is a cross shapes faith – vertical with God, horizontal with others. Our story in Acts is a story of two different responses to God. In chapter 4 we hear of the story of Barnabas. Barnabas was so inspired by the mission of the disciples that he sold a field and gave all of the money to the disciples to use to help others. We don’t get into chapter 5, but it tells the story of two other followers, Ananias and Sapphira who wanted what Barnabas got by giving. They wanted the recognition and acknowledgement of their peers. They too gave money to the disciples mission – but it was obvious that they were giving, but they had also put aside some money for themselves. Soon after giving to the church half heartedly – they were killed. That is the end of their story. However, Barnabas story is told throughout the book of acts as an example. Barnabas remained just a faithful lay person all of his life. But he goes on to not only give to the mission, but he encouraged Paul to become a disciple, he took Paul to Jerusalem to meet the other disciples, he and Paul were partners in spreading the gospel, and he nurtured a young man John Mark to tell his story by writing the gospel of Mark. Barnabas was a foreigner in the Hebrew community. His real name was Jospeh, but the disciples called him Barbabas – which means son of encouragement. For barnabas, encouragement become more than a single act, it became a lifestyle. That one decision to sell his farm and give the money to the church led to stewardship as a way of life. What would happen if our economic decisions led us to a deeper place in the mission of Christ? What can we do to become sons and daughters of encouragement. A man complained to his pastor, "I've been listening to your sermons and to our leaders at church and what you are asking us to do here and in our community is getting to be just one continuous 'give, give, give.' " To which the pastor replied, "Say, that's one of the best descriptions of Christianity I've ever heard!" Giving is our response to God. As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about ten years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. The owner talked with the boy for a while explaining to him details about this particular model and style. After a little while, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied, "Nothing. My brother gave it to me." The boy responded, "I wish ..." but stopped without finishing. The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'" "No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that.' You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him." So, that leads us back to the notion of a church being a family, but a family grounded in the mission and purpose of the gospel. The scripture in acts says that the community of believers were one in heart and mind – they loved the lord with all of their mind heart and soul – and they lived together as one body. Their strength as a community deeper than family was in their unity. Perhaps you have been out to California and seen these gigantic huge redwood trees. They are some of the most amazing trees in all of the world. As a matter of fact, they are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees on this planet. Some of them are 300 ft. high and over 2,500 years old. The inside of some of the trunks are so huge that two or three people can stand inside of them. Now you would think that trees this large must have a tremendous root system that reaches down hundreds of feet into the earth; but not so! The redwoods have a very shallow root system unlike the palm tree, whose taproot goes down into the ground as deep as the tree is tall. In other words, a 30 ft. palm tree has a 30 ft. root. The redwood has no taproot at all. That's why you will never see a redwood standing alone—never. They are always in clusters, groups, and groves. Do you know why the might of the redwood tree is not in itself? The secret of its strength is this: For every foot in height, the redwood tree sends its roots not down, but three times that distance…out! In other words, if a tree is 300 ft. tall, its roots go 900 ft. out. If you could look underground you would find all of the roots of all of those trees intertwined and intertwist so that one tree is not holding up itself, but every tree is holding up the other. These trees are literally locked to each other so there is no way that one tree can fall down; it is held up by the strength of the other trees. Psalm 133 begins by saying how good it is when families live as one. It is in our unity that we find the blessing of Eternal life. What makes the church community different from other communities? The Christian community is the place where resources and gifts are shared. "No one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common" (v. 32). Furthermore, they sold their lands and houses and "laid (the proceeds) at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need" (v. 35). Somebody said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; but working together is success." Well, why should we come together? Why should we work together? How can we stay together? The community model embedded in Acts 4 stood on the two pillars of proclamation and loving one another. There is a small congregation in eastern Arizona in a mining town that saw its glory days pass about a half-century ago. The parish has about 125 members and there are usually at least 125 people at Sunday services. When the pastor announces that the choir will sing, about half of the congregation stands up and approaches the altar. When the offering looks a little meager, the president of the congregation stands up and tells the ushers to pass the plate again. Closing prayers are long and detailed and cover those facing surgery to those who are worried about the kids to those who are about to go on a trip. The "refreshments" after the service include cakes, sandwiches, hot dishes, meatballs, gelatin dishes, and several kinds of beverages. In other words, it's a Sunday lunch and it's time to visit with one another and catch up on the latest happenings within the community. If someone should mention that they resemble the community described in Acts 4, they would be embarrassed. What if a stranger would confront the people? "What is the meaning of this city? Do you huddle close together because you love each other? Or do you dwell together to make money from each other?" The people in that community would say, "There's not much money to make from each other. We just enjoy each other's company. We share our mutual woes and joys. And by the way ... we meet up there on the ridge at 5 a.m. to greet the Son on Easter morning." That community is an Easter community. It is a sharing community. Enough said. Amen. Prayer Pastoral Prayer: Lord of mercy, it has been a week since the Easter celebration. Our church was beautified with flowers, lovely decorations, banners, lots of people, beautiful music. It was the kind of Easter in which we could celebrate. But during this week we have slumped back to our old ways. The world, which seems to be too much with us, has claimed our souls. Our resurrection faith has become dim. Let the story of Thomas who wanted more than anything else to see the risen Lord, pour into our hearts, reviving our spirits, giving assurance to our souls. Let fear subside! Replace our doubts with certainty in your love and healing mercies. As we have brought names before you this day, asking for your healing touch, be with us as we also receive that same healing love. Give us joy and courage for all the times ahead; for we offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord. AMEN. We have been inside the sanctuary for 4 weeks now. Things are slowly returning back to normal. But we all know that this is a new normal. There are a lot of things that we lost during pandemic, there are some people who were important to our gathering who are not with us anymore. As we move forward into purpose, next week our service will be a memorial service where we take a moment to acknowledge our loss. Song for Reflection We are Called TFWS 2172 Stewardship may look a little different this year. But this is not the end of our conversation, but the beginning. Stewardship starts with us giving an offering, but it like the story of barnabas it continues and spreads to all of our life, where we are living it everyday. As you turn in our pledges this is the beginning of the story of our future as a church. Our opportunity to be in ministry to God. That opportunity is open to all of us to live our lives with the mission of Jesus at the center of all that we do. Prayer over pledges One: Creator of all, the earth is yours, the world and all who live in it. All: You have entrusted us with gifts— time, talent, energy, money— and asked us to use them to build your kingdom. With thanks and praise we respond to your call. One: We bring these gifts you have given, returning your generosity, paying it forward. All: We offer ourselves, our lives, our hopes and fears, our dollars and our hours. We commit ourselves to work for your world, to love and serve wherever you call. One: We ask your blessing on this, your church, as we seek to follow you with heart, mind, and soul. All: Bless also these gifts, our investment in your future, that they may multiply in faith, hope, and love. Amen. Announcements Benediction Lord Jesus, I give you my hands to do your work. I give you my feet to go your way. I give you my eyes to see as you see. I give you my tongue to speak your words. I give you my mind to think as you think. I give you my spirit so that you may pray in me. I give you my self so that you may grow in me. So that it is you, Lord Jesus, who lives and works and prays in me. Amen. Children’s Sermon Additional Illustrations A sermon on giving at Easter time? I thought that was an emphasis for fall. Why not now? Giving should be our response to Jesus' life, death, and life again. Not just replanting lilies in the garden, dry-cleaning your suit to store for next year, or finding places to store egg baskets and that elusive green and pink grass. The grave is open; so also are our hearts and hands! There's an old story, familiar, perhaps, but it illustrates what the church is all about. It concerns a newly ordained minister who arrived in a country parish somewhere in a mountainous state. After his first service, an older lady approached him and said, "My husband is a good man, but he refuses to attend church. Would you pay him a visit?" Now experienced pastors know how useless such an effort nearly always proves to be. But this young fellow didn't know about such failure. He agreed, and the next day drove up the mountain to a small home and knocked on the door. A middle-aged man greeted him and wordlessly invited the new pastor in. The gentleman was not much of a talker. "Sit a spell," he said, apparently knowing who his visitor was. It had all been tried before. The two of them sat staring into a blazing fire in the fireplace for some time. At last, the older man said, "Reverend, I know my wife asked you to come. But I don't need no church. I think I'm as good as most of those people who go there. I'm a Christian." Finally, the young pastor wordlessly picked up a pair of tongs and removed a blazing coal from the fire, placing it aside. After a bit, the coal grew dim, then turned to brown ash as it grew cold. Only then, the pastor picked the dead coal up and thrust it into the fire. Soon it was bright and blazing once more. With that, the pastor started for the door. The older man followed him and, as the young man headed for his car, the man called out, "I see what you mean, Reverend. I'll see you in church." This is the root of authentic Christian stewardship—to realize that I am, in fact, a "steward," a caretaker of the bounty God has entrusted to me. And in that light, "things" become more important than ever since, in fact, they come from God. 2. Barnabas found the way to generosity. You see, the problem is that troubling times, difficult economic realities, or upheavals in our industries can sometimes push us in exactly the opposite direction. Instead of teaching us new appreciation for material things, they can drive us to selfishness and greed, hoarding and holding, narrowing our lives to the point that "things" take on even less value. The antidote is a spirit of generosity. Barnabas found the way—the way to generous living. He found the way to use what he had received from God to encourage, to console, to refresh. If you track the journey of Barnabas through the book of Acts, he always shows up in the same frame: - Following the conversion of Saul into Paul, he is the one who makes the way of welcome, who introduces him to the community of the faithful. (Acts 9:26-27) - In Judea, he is the one who carries the relief offering to the suffering Christians…a symbol of the open hearts of the disciples. (Acts 11:29-30) - In Antioch he serves with Paul, assisting others in their ministry, opening minds to the Gospel. (Acts 11:22-26) - In Jerusalem, he is there at the first conference, arguing for the inclusion of the Gentiles in the community…opening the doors for the outsiders. (Acts 15:1-31) So Barnabas sells a field and brings the proceeds for the ministry of Christ. And when Ananias and Sapphira see it, they think they will try it, too. But instead, they hold something back for themselves—deceptive, greedy, clutching, lining their own pockets. Call them the Jack Abramoff of the first century church, I suppose—wanting to look good rather than do good; doing for others, but doing for themselves first. They wanted, like Barnabas, to be known for their generosity, but didn't want to pay the price. And when the truth comes out, they are so shocked, they drop down dead! Because, you see, when you grab and clutch and hold, your life shrivels and your soul dies. A bully in a small town resented the man everyone looked up to as the wisest man in town. He decided to teach the wise man a lesson. He held a chicken behind his back and asked the wise man, "Is this chicken dead or alive?" Of course, if the wise man said, "Dead" the bully would show him a live chicken. If the wise man said, "Alive" the bully would strangle the chicken and show up the wise man by producing a dead chicken. "Well," said the impatient bully, "Is the chicken dead or alive? Let's hear your answer." At a much deeper level, that same question is asked of each of us on this first Sunday after Easter. "Is Christ alive or dead? Let's hear your answer." Last Sunday, Easter Day, with an enthusiastic crowd in church, we heard a sermon about Christ's resurrection. In prayers and songs we asserted that Jesus is alive. Today, a week later, we need to ask the question, "For us, is Jesus alive or dead?" The truth, of course, is that whether we believe it or not, Jesus is alive. Whether the living Christ makes a difference to us today is the question behind the question of the truth of the resurrection. These early followers had the right idea, namely that our purpose in life is not to gain possessions for self, but to glorify Christ by giving sacrificially. The apparent failure was in fact a monumental example of one of the basic principles of the Lord to put others before ourselves. The early Christians bore witness to the principle: Jesus first; others second; and yourself third. That creed spells j-o-y. That creed means joy. A. His name was really Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname given to him by the Apostles and the Christian community. In the passage we learn that Barnabas means "Son of encouragement." He was a blessing wherever he went. And everyone recognized that. And it held true in all of his life and ministry. As we read further in Acts, we see Barnabas was the one who introduced Paul to the Apostles in Jerusalem when they didn't want to have anything to do with him. Paul was the great persecutor. But Barnabas had heard Paul preach Jesus with great power while in Damascus. Barnabas used his status and influence to tell Paul's story and tear down the walls of suspicion, so Paul could be accepted. And so the early church could hear and be touched by the power of Paul's preaching. And if any introduction ever paid off. It was this one. We all know how incredibly successful Paul was in spreading the Gospel and starting churches. Barnabas also accompanied Paul on several Missionary journeys. Acts 11 recounts how people in Antioch began to believe and Barnabas was sent to help them get a church started. Verses 23-24 read: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. B. So, what can we learn from Barnabas. We have to remember that Evangelism isn't about us. It isn't about how we feel. It isn't about our comfort. It's about Good News that God has for people who don't know God's love. It's Good News. That means it's encouraging news. And if anything, what we learn from Barnabas is that we can all be Sons and Daughters of encouragement. A. His name was really Joseph. Barnabas was a nickname given to him by the Apostles and the Christian community. In the passage we learn that Barnabas means "Son of encouragement." He was a blessing wherever he went. And everyone recognized that. And it held true in all of his life and ministry. As we read further in Acts, we see Barnabas was the one who introduced Paul to the Apostles in Jerusalem when they didn't want to have anything to do with him. Paul was the great persecutor. But Barnabas had heard Paul preach Jesus with great power while in Damascus. Barnabas used his status and influence to tell Paul's story and tear down the walls of suspicion, so Paul could be accepted. And so the early church could hear and be touched by the power of Paul's preaching. And if any introduction ever paid off. It was this one. We all know how incredibly successful Paul was in spreading the Gospel and starting churches. Barnabas also accompanied Paul on several Missionary journeys. Acts 11 recounts how people in Antioch began to believe and Barnabas was sent to help them get a church started. Verses 23-24 read: "When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Being a Barnabas is also about living an inviting lifestyle. I may have already told this story before, I don't remember. But the story was told by the wife. It illustrates the spirit of being a Barnabas. That's how we're supposed to live. We're called to be like Barnabas and be Sons and Daughters of Encouragement. And that encouragement is needed. There are so many people whose outlook on life is negative. They've been wounded or alienated. There are folks who think no one cares, not even God. There are folks who are consumed with guilt and they don't know where to turn. You and I have great news. We have the Good News of a God who is loving and forgiving. We have the Good News of Savior who can give us meaning and purpose in life. We have the Good News. But how will others hear it if we don't share it and be encouragers. Be a Barnabas. Be a Son of Daughter of Encouragement. What I want to talk to you about today is something that God desperately desires for his people. It is one thing that Satan fears and works day and night to undo. It is something for which Jesus himself prayed for just before He went to the cross. It is the one thing the bible says that will convince people that the church has something the world does not. It is the one thing that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to accomplish. What is it that I am talking about?—UNITY. sallust once said, "By unity the smallest states thrive; by discord the greatest are destroyed." Our national motto is e pluribus unum, which means "out of the many, one." Again, our founding fathers knew that we must forever be "The United States of America." I read about a man one time who went out on a boat deep-sea fishing who couldn't swim. He caught an enormous fish, and in his excitement to pull it into the boat, he fell overboard. He cried out, "Save me, I cannot swim!" Well, the captain of the boat very calmly reached out, grabbed the man by the arm, and gave a big pull; but he didn't know it was an artificial arm, and the arm came off! Well, the man continued to kick and splash around crying for help. The captain reached out again; this time he grabbed his leg and gave a tremendous pull, but the leg came off because it was a wooden leg. The man in the water went under again and he came up yelling for help. The captain, still calm, this time grabbed the man by the hair of his head and gave a gigantic pull. But the man was wearing a toupee and it came off. At that point the captain looked at the man in the water and said, "Mister, if you won't stick together, I can't help you!" Even God cannot help a church that is not going to stick together. I want to tell you if we are going to be victorious as a church and accomplish all that God wants us to accomplish, and be all that God wants us to be, we must come together, we must work together, we must stay together. So I want to talk to you today about the vastly important subject of unity. Somebody said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; but working together is success." Well, why should we come together? Why should we work together? How can we stay together? What is the basis of unity in the church? May I suggest three things that should form the basis of our unity. That is the real secret of the strength of a country, of a state, of a community, of a church. The reason why we are to be so united is, as Jesus said in v.21, "that the world may believe that You sent Me." The greatest advertisement for the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a billboard, a newspaper advertisement, or even a television program; the greatest advertisement for the gospel of Jesus Christ is a church that is unified in the Holy Spirit. In his book Telling Secrets author Frederick Buechner tells about sharing a pleasant dinner with his mother one evening when they were interrupted by a telephone call from a friend of his. This friend’s family had been visiting another part of the country and had been in an awful accident. The friend asked Buechner if he would come wait with him at the airport where he was to catch a plane to where the accident had happened. Buechner said he would. Buechner’s mother was furious. She said Buechner was a fool to think of ruining their evening together for such a ridiculous reason. For a moment, he says, he was horrified to find himself thinking that maybe she was right. Then the next moment, says Buechner, he saw more clearly than he ever had before that it is on just such outwardly trivial decisions as this should I go or should I stay that human souls are saved or lost. He also saw for what was maybe the first time in his life that we are called to love our neighbors not just for our neighbors’ sake but for our own sake. (4) Sharing with one another was how these early Christians testified to the resurrection of the Lord. In his book Telling Secrets author Frederick Buechner tells about sharing a pleasant dinner with his mother one evening when they were interrupted by a telephone call from a friend of his. This friend’s family had been visiting another part of the country and had been in an awful accident. The friend asked Buechner if he would come wait with him at the airport where he was to catch a plane to where the accident had happened. Buechner said he would. Buechner’s mother was furious. She said Buechner was a fool to think of ruining their evening together for such a ridiculous reason. For a moment, he says, he was horrified to find himself thinking that maybe she was right. Then the next moment, says Buechner, he saw more clearly than he ever had before that it is on just such outwardly trivial decisions as this should I go or should I stay that human souls are saved or lost. He also saw for what was maybe the first time in his life that we are called to love our neighbors not just for our neighbors’ sake but for our own sake. (4) Sharing with one another was how these early Christians testified to the resurrection of the Lord. We need to be converted to the reality that we need each other. Simply because autonomy and independence rule today should not mean that these concepts are the ideal. Maybe we can learn something about teamwork from the Four Horsemen and Seven Mules, the understanding of the ancient Greeks, and especially those first followers of Jesus. The common good of all believers must be the ideal we strive to reach in our lives. Our work is the work of Christ for we are his body, as Saint Paul reminds us (1 Corinthians 12). We act most strongly as teammates when we become the Christ to others. Saint Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic and church reformer, expressed this idea powerfully in a famous prayer: "Christ has no hands but yours, no hands no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Christ has no hands but yours." My friends, may we believe, act, and profess the same! A New Testament scholar describes it in this fashion: No one before Luke and no one after him took this daring step and told the story of the church as the continuation of the story of Jesus ... we are justified in calling his work a History of Salvation, with the subtitles "From Jesus to Paul," "From Jerusalem to Rome," and "From Jews only to Gentiles Also."2 Luke is not only a physician but a historian. For him history is the story of the living God guiding the histories of all people and nations to their fulfillment in Christ. Here we have the story of a giving, sharing congregation, living under and by the power of God’s grace ... a congregation united together because God had brought them together, and because of that they had obligations toward one another. This was a radical change. In this congregation they looked at things differently. A new relationship between possessions and people developed. They saw hurting people. They saw peopie who were beaten down. They didn’t say, "that’s your tough luck!" No, they responded in love; and love says, "when you hurt, I hurt." Love shares what it has with those who have even less. Some biblical scholars see this event as an unrealistic idealized picture, or as an unsuccessful experiment in communism. We could reason that if all the houses had been sold, then the congregation would not have had any homes to meet in. It is also hard to understand how a community could live indefinitely by using up their capital. So perhaps the picture is somewhat idealized, but the challenge remains nevertheless. Christians are to look at their wealth in a new way. In 1 John we read, "Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." In the book of James we read this stern warning: If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. (2:15-17) In the Bible there is no divorce between spirituality and social responsibility. The vertical dimension of the community of believers - that is, our prayer life, worship and study, produces a horizontal expression. This sharing is not forced, nor is it a condition of entrance into a congregation. Sharing our resources is not to be looked upon as the result of some law, but as a consequence of our faith. We Christians in our giving are not preaching a certain economic philosophy, but we are expressing our Christian love. Due to the spirit of God, a new social unity becomes visible among the members of God’s congregation.