Sermon Easter 6A 2017: Talking About God in Our Daily Lives Introduction: Living Like Jesus Includes Talking About God Over this past year, we ve been living into our mission and growing in the Christin life; By focusing on what it means to Live Like Jesus. We ve spent a lot of time looking at Jesus pattern of life: A pattern that involves daily prayer to maintain a close connection to God; As God renews and refreshes and empowers Jesus; And then directs Jesus into living into God s will; Rather than His own or the will of those around Him. And after those times of prayer and refreshment and listening for God s leading; Jesus goes out among the people; Healing them, forgiving them, feeding them physically and spiritually; And telling them about God and God s limitless love for them. Jesus talked about God a lot. Jesus talked a good deal about the quality of our lives and what right living looks like; But He wasn t only a moral leader, sharing good values and rules for living; He talked much more about God, through stories and in clear words About who God is; That God is a creative, loving, forgiving, healing, empowering God; The God who desires to be in a living relationship with all of us; And calls us and gives us a new life in Him. And as people who are learning and working on what it means to live like Jesus In our own lives; We, too, are called and empowered to talk about God; 1
To talk about God in our conversations with other people; And by the way we re living our lives; Because when we do, others will come to know the love and life with God; That we know and are coming to know. Talking About God Now almost all of us are comfortable talking about God; Or doing Christian acts in and through church; I mean if it s not safe to talk about God and to be forgiving and charitable here; We re in really bad shape as a community trying to live like Jesus; It s expected and welcomed; And though we may not talk about some of our weirder or out there experiences of God; That we re not too sure about ourselves; We usually feel comfortable using God talk with one another here. But there s more to talking (or singing) about God than St. David s Church; Granted, Jesus spent time talking about God in the synagogues and in the Temple; But most of the time he was out in the world; And out into the world, we are called to go talking about God. In my weekly message this week, I mentioned the kind of edges about our talking about God; One edge or boundary is literally talking and talking a lot; And the other is talking through our actions. I recounted the story of the man with the bullhorn, calling people to repentance; And quoting all kinds of scripture, as people filed into a stadium; Before a spring training game this past March when we were in Florida; But that s not the first time I encountered a street evangelist. 2
My first introduction to this kind of talking about God happened in my second year in college; Duke has two campuses an East campus and a West campus; And from early in the morning until late at night; Buses carry students and professors and workers and visitors; Back and forth between the two campuses. One early fall day, as I made my way to the bus stop to go over to East campus for classes; I heard a voice; I heard a voice calling people to a new life with God; Calling people to change the way they re living and to turn to God; Telling them about God s love and God s judgment; And quoting Jesus and the prophets. When I got to the bus stop, I saw a man in his early thirties, standing on one of the benches; Talking, calling out, engaging onlookers, haranguing everyone to listen up; I tucked my head down and got on the bus. When I returned a couple of hours later he was still on that bench in heated debate; With some students and a professor about God as creator and Christ s atoning sacrifice; I walked on, slightly disturbed by his approach to talking about God; And discomforted that he was doing something we re all called to do; Knowing that I couldn t talk about God in the way he was talking; But knowing I probably should be doing more of that myself among my friends. Late that afternoon on my way to the library, yes I did go to the library; I passed the bus stop again and there he was, sitting with about twenty people; Drinking ice water and talking in much more gentle tones About God and his ministry; 3
I learned later that he was and is a lawyer in his daily life; And he had this very public ministry that he felt called to That led him to about twenty campuses every year for just a day. Well, if public evangelism is one edge of our call to Live Like Jesus and talk about God; The other edge may be the good works, the acts of kindness we perform; St. Francis of Assisi is purported to have once said, Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if you must. And perhaps here is the part of living like Jesus that most of us are more comfortable with In talking about God by the way we love and by our actions; It s helping someone on the side of the road; It s letting someone into your lane in heavy traffic; It s sharing our lunch or dessert at school; Helping someone find the right page in the prayer book or hymnal or anthem; Moving over in the pew to make room; Writing a check or giving money to some charity; Or simply acknowledging the person and people next to you. These are all ways that we can talk about God, but one day it s going to be more; One day, you and I will be asked the question about our kindness; Our generosity, our actions; And we re going to have to be ready to explain our unselfish, giving acts. It may come at church (that s easy) or at school or at work (a little harder); Surprisingly it most often comes in our own families as we re raising our children; Or offering help or forgiveness or a listening ear to someone we know all too well; As they respond to our actions, our kindness and ask us why we re this way. 4
Take People Where They Are If you re like me, when I don t have my collar on, your Living Like Jesus and talking about God; Probably won t be in a public place among strangers, who aren t really expecting God talk; Though don t be too comfortable, God has quite a sense of humor. No, it s much more likely to come with someone close to you, a family member or friend; Or with someone you ve helped and talk about God we must; Because if we won t, then who will tell them about the delight; The comfort, the healing, the forgiveness, the hope; That we ve known and are coming to know. All of us are called and will be called to talk about God and, thankfully, God and the scriptures; Give us some insights for how we can be ready, empower, adept, And willing to share our faith. First and foremost, God gives us the Holy Spirit. It s not all on us. In today s Gospel reading, Jesus is telling His first followers and us; That another Advocate, the Spirit of Truth is coming after His resurrection; The Holy Spirit, who will be with us forever. In another passage, Jesus tells His followers, Don t worry about what you will say. The Holy Spirit will give you the words. Second, God has given us brains; Think about what God has done for you, the gifts God has showered on your life; Ponder the mystery of the God who created all that is; And is personally as interested in your life and my life and everybody s life. 5
Your experience and your knowledge of God is what others want to hear about; And it s something you already know - so tell them. Finally, take people where they are and not where you want them to be; Today s passage from Acts is one of my favorites in the entire Bible; St. Paul, the evangelist, the master of the Biblical law; Has come to Athens, to a place called the Areopagus; The place in Athens that has altars to multiple Gods. And you d think St. Paul would be outraged at all these false idols they re worshiping; And berate them as idol worshipers who are going to hell; But Paul notices an altar to an unknown God and says instead, I can see that you are a very religious people; Let me tell you about this unknown God so that you will know. He takes them where they are, takes them where their experience or ignorance of God lies; And begins talking to them about the living God; The God who creates and redeems, the God who is with us every moment of every day; The God who loves and desires all people and is ready and able; To welcome them into a life that is truly life. So, as we come to the end of this year of focusing on Living Like Jesus; And by the way, that s the life we re called to live every year, with God s help; Remember to talk about God; It may be uncomfortable at first; you may get a few blank stares; You may stumble at first; You may be the person planting seeds that someone else will harvest; But you can do it. 6
And when you do talk about God, God will bless you for honoring Him; And most importantly, God will bless those who hear you and come into their lives; Use your words they re so important; And when you do, you will be Living Like Jesus. Amen. 7