Immediately - Matthew 4:12-23 - 1-26-20

Sermon podcast from today at St. Paul's UCC in Downers Grove, IL.  Matthew 4:12-23. To follow Jesus is to be on the side of the rejected, the forgotten, the lost, the exploited, and the powerless.

Video sermon preview

"Immediately" podcast

Scarcity and abundance

Today I attended a clergy day away for the Illinois Conference UCC. We heard from Parker Palmer -- a teacher, lecturer, activist and prolific writer who speaks about wholeness and authenticity in our lives. Something that stuck with me (and I know has influenced many over the years -- judging from all the articles and blog posts about it) was the concept of scarcity and abundance. He used the Feeding of the 5000 in a kind of "stone soup" way -- showing how the disciples saw how little was available (scarcity) and how Jesus concentrated on what there was an abundance of (faith, miracles -- or - dare I say it? generosity of people who were gathered)
He challenged me to look past the scarcity (we don't have enough of . . . ) that I hear from everywhere and instead look with faith at the abundance (What Jesus sees and calls us to live) of gifts God gives.
What a great idea.

Personal Relationship

I've been thinking about -- and we talked about last night -- the oft-used describer of being a follower of Jesus. "Having a personal relationship with Jesus." It's bothered me to hear a few people tell me about how that phrase has been used as a weapon to prove to them that they weren't really part of the "Jesus club." (If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, you're not really a Christian.)

My thoughts have surrounded having faith in Jesus and being one who seeks to follow Jesus as a more accurate describer of the relationship I have with Jesus. "Personal Relationship" has such a wide range of ways to understand it (Friend, Parent-Child, Romantic interest, Long-distant friend) and the possibility of it being positive or very negative. (abuser, rapist, murderer)
So why the catch-phrase and the litmus test about Christianity?

I think I'm still going to focus on teaching others about having faith in Jesus, seeking to follow Jesus and Loving God with all we are -- as well as loving one another.

I think that's what being a Christian means.

I found a hilarious and offensive video yesterday about this comedy group's take on the term "Personal Relationship with Jesus"