Bearing Fruit Colossians 1: 1-14 July 14, 2013

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1 Bearing Fruit Colossians 1: 1-14 July 14, 2013 It is a joy to be back in New Jersey after eight adventurous years in the wild west of Arizona. Rich and I are so appreciative of the terrific welcome we ve received, from the team that helped us unload our moving van to the gifts that awaited us, and the warm hospitality that has graced our arrival. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Many of you have asked about the recent loss of 19 firefighters from the Prescott area and offered prayers. I didn t personally know any of them or their families, but Prescott is the center of a rural area where everyone knows someone who knows someone connected with that tragedy. Wild fires are a constant threat in the Prescott area, and throughout that region of the United States especially when they ve experienced thirteen years of drought. The Hot Shots are an elite team of firefighters, and everyone will be forever grateful to their dedication because their lives depend upon their courageous acts. In watching some of the celebration of life from Tuesday, I was reminded that each of those Hot Shots could only do what they did because they were called by a Higher Power to share their gifts for serving in this unique way. Each of us, you and I and every one out there, have special gifts to offer in service to others. With faith we don t need all the answers. With God, all things are possible. Whether we speak in terms of individuals or this congregation or the entire body of Christ, It is our charge to understand what gifts we have and to discover ways to share those gifts with the world. In the words of the scripture, it s about Bearing Fruit. WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME 1

2 I like to begin exploring scripture with a little background to help us understand the context in which the passage was written. For example, this letter was written to a church in the town of Colossae near Ephesus, a small town that seems to have disappeared probably from an earthquake that is known to have occurred sometime between CE. Scholars disagree about the authorship because of certain phrases and what we would call anachronisms. It s very likely that followers of Paul, including Timothy, wrote this letter to celebrate what was happening in the area churches and also to give them a heads up about various other philosophies that were becoming popular and might threaten the focus of Christianity. Like the church in every era, there are cultural norms and various teachings that seem to conflict with our Christian faith and traditions. We have been and probably always will face those challenges from the world in which we live, and this letter reminds us to stay the course and keep the main thing the Main Thing. The letter begins in the traditional form of the Pauline letters: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. The writer establishes his authority, offers his credentials and his role as a member of the same family, the family of God. Paul did not start this church, but a missionary named Epaphras created this new church start along the busy road from Antioch to Ephesus. Most likely Epaphras would have reported to Paul or Timothy how things were going and maybe to ask for some help and advice, like Joe or I might contact the District Superintendent or the Conference office. Our reading this morning tells us the writer loves this congregation and has been holding this faith community in prayer and speaks of holding this faith community in prayer even before stepping foot in it. I know just how that writer felt! I, too have been praying for you even before I arrived! Two months ago I looked at the four lectionary readings that were suggested for this weekend and I was drawn to this passage because of the image of Bearing Fruit. After all, I 2

3 was preparing to return to the Garden State, and I am well acquainted with the reputation of blueberries, tomatoes and Jersey Sweet Corn! I also knew of the fruits of Medford United Methodist Church from my time on the Conference staff, although I didn t know you personally. Like the church in Colossae, I had heard that Medford UMC was a strong and faithful congregation, with terrific leadership and full of the Spirit. I am so happy to have been sent now to work with Joe and with all of you to continue to grow and bear fruit. This passage offers us some words of advice to being a successful church, and to being successful individuals. First: HAVE HOPE Second: RECEIVE STRENGTH Third: GIVE THANKS TO HAVE HOPE: What is this hope that is unique to we who call ourselves Christians? It is not simply wishful thinking, or something like a child s wish when he or she blows out a birthday candle. The hope of a Christian is deeply felt, in our heart and mind; it is part of our faith. Our very being is connected to hopefulness that grows out of the love story we call the Gospel. Our hope is based on love, the love that God has for each of us and for all of creation. Love is the basis of the whole gospel message: God so loved the world that God gave God s son. Love one another. Love your neighbor as yourself. This letter says the Colossians had love for all the saints, and that is what gave them hope for salvation. The hope of being with Christ is assured through our faith in the gospel. Hope entails some expectation about the FUTURE. But as Christians we are caught in a kind of IN-BETWEEN PLACE. We are with Christ in the here and now, as well as for all eternity. Knowing that God loves us and has forgiven us, we are called to continue to work at becoming more like Christ every day. In our Wesleyan understanding, we continue growing and going on to perfection. We can understand this kind of hope whenever we have a vision of the future and then put all our energy into moving toward it. Whether we are seeking to accomplish something as a congregation, as a denomination, or as an individual, everything we do begins with a vision. 3

4 Proverbs 29:18 says, without a vision, the people perish. Without a God-inspired vision, we falter right where we are. If we can imagine it, if we can dream it, we can create it. Think about the mission experience our youth just had. It began as a vision of a single person, who shared it with a group of people that developed a plan and began to act on that plan. The week of work was the result of months of preparation for this team, but also months of dreaming and preparing on the part of the folks in Roanoke. The families whose lives were changed by this team had a vision of a home that was safer and more livable. SHOW MISSION TRIP VIDEO It took HAVING HOPE for all of this to come together and to be accomplished. We are called to HAVE HOPE in the fulfillment of God s vision of Shalom in the here and now, not only in some heavenly realm. If we are going to bear fruit, as Christians in the 21 st century, we are called to dream dreams and share visions, and discover ways to bring them into reality. Everything that ever was and ever will be begins with a thought an INSPIRED thought that begins to take form as we ask for God s strength and guidance and patience to help us bring it into being. Which brings us to the second piece of advice in our reading this morning: RECEIVE STRENGTH. Verse 11 says May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from God s glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience In order for a farmer to have a successful harvest, he needs to plant the seeds for the crop he s hoping to produce and then do the work to bring that vision into reality. It takes strength and patience and endurance for whatever nature throws at the farmer during the growing season. And where does the farmer receive the strength for the long growing season? There are some who may think they need only rely on themselves, but those of us gathered here today know that our personal strength comes from a Higher Power. Whether we are farmers or lawyers, teachers or students, entrepreneurs or homemakers; no matter what our vocation we need to look beyond ourselves for strength for the long haul. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for and to receive support from friends, family or other resources. That s what being family and community is all about. But when you sink to 4

5 the bottom of that pit, and friends and family have no more answers to lift you up and keep you going, God is still there all we need to do is receive God s power. Nelson Mandela has been in the news in recent weeks because of his declining health, but his 95 th birthday is coming up this week on July 18 th. I had the privilege of visiting Robben Island where he was imprisoned for 10 of this 27 year prison term, and I also met with Peter Storey who served as chaplain to the prison during that time. What I heard then and what I ve read is an amazing witness to God s strength to bear whatever came Mr. Mandela s way during the struggle to end apartheid. Nelson Mandela stands as testimony to those who feel hopeless and need strength in the midst of incredible challenges. And he used that God-given endurance to keep himself and the other prisoners focused on the future. How many of us have experienced a sense of total abandonment and hopelessness, only to be renewed by the loving grace of Spirit? How many have experienced, or know someone who has experienced a new life of recovery from addiction by turning control for their life over to God? It happens over and over and over again all we need to do is RECEIVE THAT STRENGTH. It s hard to ask for help and it s hard to receive help, but that s a sermon for another day.. And finally, in order to bear fruit successfully, after having hope and receiving strength, we need to GIVE THANKS. That s what this worship service is all about giving thanks. The Old Testament is filled with references to people stopping where they are and building altars to worship and give thanks. There are over 400 references in the Old Testament to altars and there are ancient Levitical laws about the proper use of them. While their original use was for burnt offerings, which became unnecessary with Christ, there are also about 25 references to altars in the New Testament. Altars and our Worship Table here are symbols of THANKSGIVING. Everything we do here on Sunday morning revolves around giving praise and thanks to our God. But what about the rest of the week? Successfully BEARING OF FRUIT requires a constant cycle of HAVING HOPE, RECEIVING STRENGTH, and GIVING THANKS. It s not a once a week or once a year activity. 5

6 When we are resting in the arms of the Lord; like little children, we are in a constant state of Hoping, Receiving and Thanking. That s what growing in wisdom and bearing fruit is all about. The prayer offered by the writer of this letter to the Colossians is a prayer for every church: Verse 9-10 that you may be filled with the knowledge of God s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. As we move into the future together, this is my prayer for our congregation also: May we be filled with Spiritual Wisdom and Understanding, and Bear Fruit as we Grow. Amen! 6