On the tour we entered a huge building where various pulleys and lines carried the fledgling parts of the motorcycle to each assembly station

Transcription

1 Harley s Mustard and Faith!!! Mark 4:30-34 Glendora UMC Father s Day June 19, 2016 Ever wonder how a Harley Davidson is put together? Once on a trip back east, Todd and I visited York, Pennsylvania the home of the Harley Davidson museum and assembly plant. On the tour we entered a huge building where various pulleys and lines carried the fledgling parts of the motorcycle to each assembly station - and piece by piece, a motorcycle appeared before our eyes there in the factory we saw the heart of the cycle being built - we watched them encase the machinery in the signature Harley Davidson body - and at the end of the line - someone was there to make sure the motorcycle performed up to standards It is intriguing to watch how common everyday items are assembled and how they work and do what they do. How many of you have taken apart a watch, a radio,... To operate some appliances and machinery it is important to know how they work so that you can get the most out of them understanding the action of the various parts to a sewing machine - how it weaves together the lead thread and the bobbin thread - means a greater versatility in stitches you can produce the dynamics of the firing of plugs and the circulation of oil through the engine are not esoteric facts 1

2 but fundamentals of car care that prompt us to be sure to get that tune up and oil change as well as provide a sense of wonder about the machines we drive everyday I believe it's the same with people, the more we understand where they're coming from, their perspective, the more we can appreciate others - when we know someone's story, then we know their motivations, their inspirations, their purpose - - then we know what makes them tick as we are let into the inner working of machinery or people, we are drawn in and engaged - we are prompted to respond to what we discover I believe Jesus capitalized on this aspect of human nature when he endeavored to share the workings and make-up of the Kingdom of God Jesus would teach his disciples and the crowds who came to be with him how the Kingdom of God operates, what makes it tick - and he did this by telling parables - each parable story tells us something about the nature and inner workings of the Kingdom of God to help us know how the Kingdom operates so that we can get the most out of it - so that we may have life and have it abundantly to help us in understanding the creative action of the Kingdom - how it weaves together people and experiences to bring God's will and our will more closely in harmony - and how a great versatility in the gifts of the Spirit is needed and in the fruit of the Spirit we can produce 2

3 the dynamics of God's Kingdom and the infusion of the Spirit into our hearts are not esoteric facts but fundamentals of Christianity that prompt us to be sure to discern our Spiritual gifts and talents as well as provide a sense of wonder at the power of God I believe that as with people, it is the same with God, the more we understand where God is coming from, God's perspective, the more we can appreciate God - when we know God's story, then we know God's motivations, inspirations, God's purpose - - then we know more about what makes God tick and so Jesus told short stories, using everyday items and experiences, to let us in on the mysteries of the Kingdom of God in the everyday chemical reaction of the leavening process of yeast in a lump of bread dough, the parable of the yeast in the dough helps us glimpse into the pervasive nature of the Kingdom with an example from the workings of commerce, the employment practices of the vineyard owner give us a glimpse into the generosity found in God's Kingdom drawing upon the fundamentals of gardening and farming, the element of process in the kingdom of God is familiar to us one of the parables for today from the Gospel of Mark uses the growth of a tiny mustard seed to help us discover more about the Kingdom of God Mark 4:

4 you know how tiny a mustard seed is? as tiny as the head of a nail or as the head of a pin It s this little seed, Jesus said, that produce an amazingly large shrub - big enough for a flock of birds to nest who d have thought that such a tiny seed could produce anything as large and as helpful? Jesus says think about that one tiny seed think about how you d compare it to other things and it just wouldn t seem to measure up would you rather have your weight in gold or the weight of a mustard seed in gold? would you rather have a house the size of your own or the size of a mustard seed? when we compare like that Jesus says we can t see the importance and potential of each thing on its own merits a mustard seed on its own merits can make a huge difference it s like that with Harleys too thanks to an owner of a motorcycle shop helped me understand the workings of a motorcycle better than I did that day at the Harley factory see, he told me about one of the smallest components of a Harley it s called the woodruff key think of a nickel - now, in your mind s eye 4

5 cut that nickel down the center in half one half - looking like a half moon that s a woodruff key and that s just how small a component it is and it is this small, modest crescent shaped steel wedge - The woodruff key - that aligns the flywheel with the crankshaft. without this small but important part of the engine, your classy, stylish powerful Harley Davidson motorcycle would soon have your pistons crashing into your valves as with Harleys, or with people, it is the same with God, the more we understand where God is coming from, God's perspective, the more we can appreciate God - then we know more about what makes God tick knowing more about God's actions helps us understand God's motivations, inspirations, God's purposes -- what does God want, what does God will, what does God hope for, dream about? The Kingdom of God is the realization of God's rule in our lives and in the world - looking between the lines of this parable, we can see some characteristics of the Kingdom of God I would like us to consider 3 of those characteristics today we can see in this parable of the mustard seed that the kingdom of God is welcoming the mustard plant grew large large enough to welcome the birds of the air with God as Provider, the Kingdom is a place of provision for all 5

6 -- all are welcome in the Kingdom of God - race, sex, status, handicapping conditions, accent, IQ, age, understanding, social class -- NONE are reasons enough for God to exclude anyone from entrance into the Kingdom all people are celebrated - so there is no reason for one person to posses or to desire more than another has -- as we sing with our children red, brown, yellow, black and white all are precious in God's sight - all are deserving of food, shelter, medicine, literacy, beauty, play, and God provides enough for all - in the Kingdom, all enjoy God's provisions: the Kingdom of God provides for all in this story we have a small mustard seed that grows abundantly the parable tells us, that is what the Kingdom of God is like - God does the growing the Kingdom of God is a process of growth that produces a great harvest from a small little seed God is the primary agent here - God gives growth God values growth - in fact, that is a fundamental characteristic of how God operates - God takes time, energy and process to create, - to establish, to reveal - - we are not born fully developed, - there is change everywhere, - our lives show the process of aging and maturing - it is possible to learn, to synthesize and to strike out in a new direction - - God is not stagnant: God is a God of Process God uses Process 6

7 Jesus would teach his disciples and the crowds who came to be with him how the Kingdom of God operates, what makes it tick and he did this by telling parables - each parable tells us something about the nature and inner workings of the Kingdom of God -- as we are let into the inner working of God's Kingdom, we are drawn in and engaged - we are prompted to respond to what we discover to be in relationship with such a God is both a comfort and challenge comfort what do we think about such a God - a God who gives growth, values life, provides for all - and does it all in the process of time?? < how have we experienced this comfort?> it is a comfort for us to know that God is active - that we are not left on our own it is a relief to know that there is a process - that what we are experiencing is not the final culmination - - that there is growth and a future - and that we are able to be a part of it all it is reassuring to know that when the seed is scattered, and we only see a blade or an ear, that with God's help, it will come to fruition it is also comforting to know, that despite us - the Kingdom of God will grow and flourish! It is also good to know that our little bit of faith 7

8 our mustard seed our woodruff key- sized faith can be used by God to make miraculous things happen to be in relationship with such a God is also a challenge * challenge-- to see these qualities of God is a challenge to us < how have we experienced this challenge?> we are challenged to know that God is active - that God is involved in life and are not left on our own to do as we please it is a challenge to know that there is a process - that we have not yet arrived -that we are not done - that we must work for growth and a future - and that we are called to be a part of it all the challenge issued to us is to use our faith our little bit of faith!! our mustard seed our woodruff key- sized faith to be used by God to make miraculous things happen Jesus says think about that one tiny seed that seed of your faith think about how you d compare it to other things and it just wouldn t seem to measure up when we compare our faith to someone else s like that Jesus says we can t see the importance and potential of each person s on its own merits a mustard seed on its own merits can make a huge difference our faith can make a huge difference 8

9 so, when faced with the demands and comforts of the Kingdom of God, we are called to make a response - - what will you say to God s Kingdom? will you say no? or will you choose YES -- will you choose life, enter into and help build the Kingdom of God? if you answer yes - and our prayer today is that you do -- you will have the opportunity to make a difference in the world God will take the faith you have to offer and will make something out of it gentlemen, we have given you a bottle of mustard today sorry we couldn t hand out a Harley Davidsons to each of you today! this bottle of mustard is to thank you for being men of faith and to encourage you to continue to use your God-given talents and strengths through this congregation so that God s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven and when any of us see a bottle of mustard, dab our hot dogs with mustard, dunk a pretzel in some mustard, or ask someone passing by if they would share their grey poupon remember that this parable of the mustard seed promises that God will bring in a tremendous harvest even from the smallest of beginnings. Faith is coming to trust in, and even count on, God's ability to take the smallest of starts so that it yields tremendous results. The author of the letter to the Hebrews describes faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, 9

10 the conviction of things not seen" (11:1). After reading today's gospel, we might also add that faith is the willingness to be SURPRISED by God's goodness. According to Jesus, God's activity in the world will consistently exceed both our understanding and our expectations, as God works in multiple and mysterious ways --not to mention through various, sundry, and surprising people! --to achieve God's purposes. So, yes, faith is belief in things not seen, but it is also a stalwart confidence in the God who created the world from nothing and recreated that world by raising Christ from the dead. For this God, as Jesus says elsewhere, nothing is impossible. Faith, most simply, is trusting the promise that God is not only good, but SURPRISINGLY good. Today may we see with new eyes the goodness of God may we hear with new ears the promises of God 10

11 and may we respond from our hearts to be involve ourselves in the growth of God s kingdom in this world. AMEN. 11