Whose Economy?
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
Object:
In the lectionary's gospel text this week, Jesus foreshadows his coming death and tries to communicate to his disciples the sacrificial costs that will be demanded of those who follow him. The metaphor he uses seems counterintuitive -- "Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25) -- and demonstrates just how different God's ways are from the ways of the world. It seems to go against every fiber of our being to grasp that we must let go of that which we hold most dear in order to have it in abundance. Yet in this installment of The Immediate Word, team member George Reed notes that this is especially true of our economy. In the midst of tough times, our instinct is to hoard and protect what we have in the face of an uncertain future. But in flush times as well, our economy incentivizes acquisition -- even when that means cutting corners and taking advantage of others, as we were reminded this past week with an incendiary resignation letter published in the New York Times by a Goldman Sachs executive who detailed the giant Wall Street firm's toxic attitude toward its clients. George points out that, in complete contrast to such behavior, God asks us to be willing to act against our self-interest and to be a servant. George also notes that this paradigm isn't just about greed... it also ought to filter down to how we approach our congregations. Unless our people are willing to think more about reaching out to others rather than solving their own problems, many of our churches will continue to dwindle in attendance. It is only when we put giving before getting that we begin to follow the sacrificial path our Lord has laid out for us.
Team member Dean Feldmeyer continues his discussion from last week about light and darkness by highlighting another aspect from this week's gospel passage: that living in the light means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. As Dean notes, that can be a very scary place to be -- but we also know that if we have to courage to step into the spotlight, our Lord will be standing in the wings to support us and help us find the strength we need.
Whose Economy?
by George Reed
John 12:20-33
The economy, in case you hadn't noticed, has been kind of a mess for the past few years. Perhaps you have even heard a few ideas about what is wrong and how to fix it. Well, it is complicated -- and those proffering solutions must be sure they are using the right system to get the results they desire. (And hope they are right.) In addition, we need to remember that some economies run by a whole different set of rules. Jesus reminds us this week that, contrary to the way our economy is structured, sometimes you have to give things away to get them.
THE WORLD
Greece appears to have satisfied the rest of Europe and will get its bailout -- but in a plan that will trigger the default swaps. Spain is shaky and folks are holding their breath that Italy will be able to keep afloat. The U.S. economy is coming around slowly but steadily now, though a recent Federal Reserve report still sounds notes of caution. There does not seem to be a place on earth where the economy has not taken a real hit in the past few years.
When the main economy, especially the United States' economy, was simpler, based so much on manufacturing, fixing it was easier. It wasn't easy by any means -- but we knew what needed to be done to get things back on track. The New Deal worked because the government was able to step in and take the place of employers who couldn't afford to hire folks. Now, the economy is so diverse and complicated that very few of us -- even the economists -- know how it works, let alone how to fix it.
The world doesn't seem to be doing any better with the spiritual economy. The churches of Europe are almost empty, and those in America are losing members much faster than they can bring in new ones.
THE WORD
So Jesus comes along and begins to talk about gaining life by losing it (John 12:25). He tells us that when we try to save ourselves we are truly lost. Everything is turned on its head, and we begin to wonder if we understand God's economy any better than we understand the world's! The words of Jesus may not help us fix the financial mess we are in, but they do give us clear direction for the spiritual mess we are in.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
You probably have never heard this -- but parishioners often say to me, "What we need are more young people, more young families."
They are often shocked when I tell them, "No, we don't. We can run the church on old folks very nicely, thank you. They are easier and cheaper to program for, they have more disposable income, people get older not younger, so we have a steady supply." I let their mouths hang open for a moment and then I continue, "But there are young people, young families who need God and the church. We need to reach out to them because of their needs, not ours. If we only reach out to them to solve our problems, they will smell the stench of self-interest and run away as fast as they can."
Life is not gained or lived by taking, but by giving. The economy of God is a complete reversal of the economy of the world. If you want more baseball cards, you collect more. If you want more money, earn and save more. If you want, you take. But in God's economy of grace and love that forms the basis for true life, you get by giving. You can't even give in order to get -- that's just a sneaky way of taking. You have to want to give. Then God surprises us by giving us what we truly need.
If we are going to be the church, then we have to act like the body of Christ. We must take the words of Jesus seriously and act on them. Following the one who went to the cross means we have to be willing to die so that others can live. Mission and serving have to be what we want most out of the church, instead of being comfortable and having our own pew that no one else sits in.
So I would start a sermon by discussing the world economy and talking about how frustrated we all are that it can't be fixed quickly and easily. Then I would talk about God's economy and what Jesus had to say about that. I would then move to the tragic consequences we suffer when we confuse the two and try to "do church" according to the world's economy. Finally, I would conclude with the wonder of what can happen when we follow God's economy and put giving before getting.
SECOND THOUGHTS
A Different Kind of Glory
by Dean Feldmeyer
John 12:20-33
Last week John juxtaposed light and darkness in a metaphor for disciples. We discussed the rich symbolism of light and dark and how that symbolism informs our theological language, our perspective, and our behavior.
Darkness is John's metaphor for life outside the kingdom. Darkness is where that which is ugly and depraved goes to be hidden from view. It is the place reserved for those who do not want their actions seen.
Light, on the other hand, is always the preferred way of life for Jesus people. Light is where growth occurs. Light reveals reality as it is without fantasy or illusion. Light purifies and disinfects. Light is John's metaphor for life in the kingdom.
One aspect of light we did not explore last week, however, is that of vulnerability. And it is to this aspect that we address ourselves this Sunday: To stand in the light is to be vulnerable.
Those who stand in the light can be seen. Their flaws are out in the open, visible, subject to observation and comment. When we stand in the light we open ourselves to criticism and ridicule. We make ourselves into targets. We risk losing our security and safety.
In this week's gospel lesson some Greek Jews come to Philip -- probably because he was a Greek and spoke the language fluently -- and ask to see Jesus. Philip takes their request to Andrew, and then the two of them take it to Jesus. Jesus' response is unexpected: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23).
Philip and Andrew probably hear this and think to themselves, "Great!" They know that the word "glorified" means to be honored or praised. They are probably aware that it also means "to be lit up brilliantly" or to be bathed in light.
When Jesus says that it is time for him to be glorified, he is not talking about praise and honor but about being placed in the spotlight. And because we know how this story ends, we know that to stand in the spotlight is to be vulnerable.
Jesus knows this too. Look at the next two verses (vv. 24-25). After speaking of his own glorification, Jesus' next words are about his death. And in verse 26 he speaks of the danger that awaits the disciples when they too step into the spotlight: "...where I am, there will my servant be also." The rest of the pericope is given to a meditation on his coming crucifixion and resurrection.
To stand in the light with Jesus is to risk crucifixion -- literally, yes, but figuratively as well. Stand in the light of the gospel and prepare to lose, to be beaten up, to be told you're impractical and, well, stupid. Prepare to be criticized, ridiculed, and rejected.
But know also, as the blows rain down, that this is the real, the true, the authentic life to which Jesus calls us -- the life of glory, the life whose depth is everlasting and breadth is eternal... the life that ends not with death, but with resurrection.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Indicative
One possible beginning for a sermon on this passage would be to share stories of "standing in the spotlight" when it was uncomfortable or scary. We've all had such experiences, right? Or dreamed of them? No actor has gone more than a month, no preacher more than a few weeks without having that dream where we are thrust onto the stage or into the pulpit unprepared and unrehearsed. Being "put on the spot" is a common occurrence with which we can all identify.
Imperative
It is exactly into that spotlight that Jesus is calling us. He stands on the high wire and invites us to join him. He swings from the trapeze and bids us "let go and I'll catch you." He stops the music and invites you to join him on stage for a few verses of a song with which you are only passingly familiar. He says, "Teach the class, I'll help you prepare." He asks you to lead the meeting and promises to make you into a leader. He invites you to sing the solo and promises to teach you the melody.
He invites us to take up our cross -- but he doesn't expect us to go alone to Calvary. He always says, "Follow me."
ILLUSTRATIONS
When I was a young associate pastor, about three years out of seminary, a member of the church who was a wealthy and successful businessman invited the senior pastor and me to bring our wives and join him and his wife for dinner in their home. We accepted the invitation, of course, and were treated to a marvelous dinner, cooked to perfection and served lavishly in a beautifully appointed dining room. The conversation was scintillating, the food was perfect, and the ambiance was glorious.
After the meal we were invited to bring our coffee to the living room of the house, which had been arranged as a sort of music parlor with a Steinway grand piano at the center and several comfortable chairs with end tables next to them arrayed about the room. We settled into our chairs and our host announced that he had arranged some entertainment for us. I looked around, expecting to see a pianist enter the room, but it was our host who sat down on the piano bench, took a deep breath, and proceeded to thrill us with one beautifully rendered piece after another. Jazz, classical, ragtime, pop, gospel -- nothing was outside of his skill set. He played for nearly an hour, mesmerizing and delighting us with his taste and skill.
We were shocked and amazed. The senior pastor and I had known him as a member of our church for five and three years respectively, and we had no idea that he could play the piano. Charlie, my colleague, was flabbergasted. "You have to play for church some Sunday," he said. Then he shook his head and corrected himself. "No, this Sunday."
Our host held up his hands and shook his head. "I can't," he said.
Charlie was not to be put off. "Sure you can. We'll make room for it..."
"No," our host interrupted. "It's not that I don't want to. I can't. I get up on a stage or in front of a large audience and I freeze up with stage fright. I've had it since I was a kid. I just can't do it. I only play the piano here, in my own living room, for very small audiences."
To my knowledge, he has never played in front of the church. He has never stepped into the spotlight.
-- Dean Feldmeyer
* * *
A woman came to her minister and told him she had only one request to make of God -- her life's desire was to actually see Jesus. The minister wisely commented that her request would be more worthy if she would ask for all the world to see Jesus. Then her desire would be fulfilled.
If we do not desire God for others, we cannot keep God in our own minds. We have to give God and Christ away in order to have them. This is the law of life in the spirit: What we give, we have; what we keep to ourselves we lose.
When the Greeks came to see Jesus he told them, "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
* * *
"A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds" (John 12:24). To die is a form of letting go. The apostles had to learn to let go of Jesus' physical presence and their desire to be in control.
Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881, but he lived in France from 1904 until his death in 1973. At one time he employed a young ceramist named Jean Ramier, who baked the plates that Picasso painted. Jean was to marry his fiancée Susanne. The young couple had rented a tiny three-room apartment. Picasso said to Jean, "I must give you a present." So he painted a 15-foot mural on a wall in the living room. In the bedroom, he painted another mural. Two more murals adorned the combination dining room and kitchen. These murals were quite valuable, and Jean and Susanne were delighted with Picasso's unusual present.
But in time, the tiny apartment became cramped as a first and a second child were born. Their nerves were frayed, and they constantly had to stop the children from marking the walls with crayons. The apartment became dark, crowded, and damp. Jean and Susanne held out for a long time, but finally they had to let go. They moved to a large house where they were much happier. They had to die out of that apartment with its precious walls before they could really live as a family.
* * *
The gospel text is a wonderful passage, because it shows us that Jesus himself struggled to understand his mission. In verse 23 he boldly proclaims that the time has come for his mission to be fulfilled. In verse 24 he explains the necessity of his death in order to bring others to the kingdom. In verses 25 and 26 he outlines the necessity of allegiance to him and to the kingdom for salvation. Then, in verse 27 he admits being troubled in heart, and he considers and rejects the possibility of asking God to save him. And in verse 28 he asks for reassurance from God, which was promptly given in a very dramatic fashion. In verses 30-32 Jesus returns confidently to a proclamation of the significance of his death.
In the midst of the certainty there is nevertheless a question, a moment of panic. Some, of course, will not like to hear that Jesus had moments of fear and uncertainty. But it can be a great comfort to us, because it tells us that our own fears and moments of doubt do not place us outside of the faith but are a part of the process of growth in faith. And with each experience of overcoming fear and accepting God's reassurance of grace and love, our faith becomes stronger and more resilient.
The Lenten season ought to be a time of permission to admit doubts and fears within the faith and wrestle with them. Jacob wrestled with the angel and it left a scar -- but it also left him with more power to be a servant of God. Examining our hurts and doubts can bring resolution and strength and open them to God's healing. Hiding them and pretending they do not exist can make us sick.
* * *
Lt. Gov. Ken Ard of South Carolina had to resign his position for he was found guilty of multiple ethics violations, most relating to the misuse of campaign funds. He determined it was important to use these funds to finance family vacations, purchase clothes, dine in exquisite restaurants -- and, well, the list is rather endless.
But the most damaging crime came at the beginning of his campaign for the office of Lieutenant Governor. A wealthy man from a wealthy family, Ard wrote personal checks to individuals who would then contribute that money back into his campaign fund. In addition to this, he forged the figures on his audit account, declaring he received $87,000 in donations that never existed. When he demonstrated that he received so much revenue, Ard publicly declared that he had the support of the people and the big money donors. This meant that more big donors wanted to get on board the Ard bandwagon. It meant that his closet contender, Bill Connor, could not compete. It also meant that others who were considering running for the position decided it would be a frivolous undertaking.
One would like to think the story ends here, but of course it's South Carolina, so it does not. Ard, who was sentenced to one year in prison and 300 hours of community service, is still a contender for public office. Previously, Ard served two terms as a Republican on the Florence County Commission. Bill Pickle, the current Florence County Republican Party chairman said, "I hope this is not the end for Ken Ard. He's still got a lot to offer this county and this state and I hope that when this gets behind him, he jumps back in." [John Sweeney; (Florence, S.C.) Morning News; March 11, 2012; "Opinions mixed on possible comeback"]
Jesus said, "Whoever serves me must follow me." Let us be cautious on who we decide to serve and follow.
* * *
Jim Litke, a sportswriter for the Associated Press, wrote a commentary on Lamar University basketball coach Pat Knight, the son of legendary coach Bob Knight. Litke wondered how long it would take for the son to imitate the behavior of his dad. As the son never wavered from his father's basketball coaching style, the only remaining question was when his father's famous temper would emerge. Well, it emerged recently in an 8-minute public rant directed at his players. It was a planned public display of anger. Prior to the tantrum, Pat Knight told his assistant coaches, "I'm going to call them out to the media, really throw them under the bus and see what the response was." Litke noted, "Few things are more fascinating than watching a son step out of his father's shadow, but for most of his adult life, Pat Knight barely seemed to be trying."
In whose shadow are we going to walk? Let us hope that we are not imitators of autocrats, but walk the path of Jesus.
* * *
Pastor Chris Seay, who serves Ecclesia Church in Houston, believes that during Lent we ought to be able to visualize the Stations of the Cross. He concluded that the best way to visualize the suffering of Christ was to tattoo parishioners with art that depicts the 14 stations. As enduring a tattoo is a painful experience, it would also be a way of entering into the suffering of Christ.
Seay and artist Scott Erickson designed a series of 10 tattoos to represent the 14 stations. Instead of having traditional paintings or wood carvings depict the stations, parishioners would stand with a station tattooed on their arm, leg, back, or torso. Church members doing penance would pray before each tattooed living model. And those who agreed to be tattooed were proudly making a public declaration of their faith.
Prior to the tattooing exercise, church member Cameron Dezen Hammon attended a writing conference where the instructor, author Lauren Winner, noted that some things can never be expressed in words: "There are some things one can only believe singing." Hammon, a tattoo participant, wrote of her experience, "Just like Winner said of singing, there are some things one can only believe tattooed on skin."
God instructed Jeremiah that his word would be written on the hearts of the people of Israel. As expressive as "Jesus Laid in the Tomb" may be tattooed on one's shoulder, it is not as expressive as having it tattooed on one's heart. It is the heart, not the tattoo, that makes one a believer.
* * *
Walter Wangerin tells of an incident from his experience as a parent. The Wangerins were going through a difficult time with their son Matthew, who was on the threshold of adolescence. He seemed to be rebelling against every value the family held dear. On more than one occasion, the boy had been caught stealing comic books from a local store. After the latest incident, Walter was in despair. Feeling he'd run out of every other alternative, he resorted to a technique he'd not used with his son for years: he gave him a spanking.
The father performed the act gravely, deliberately, almost ritualistically. When it was finished, he was so upset that he ran from the room and wept. After pulling himself back together, he went back in to his son and hugged him long and hard. Nothing more was said, by father or son, about the incident -- but Matthew never stole another comic book.
Years later Matthew and his mother were doing some reminiscing, and the subject came round to the comic book incident. "Do you know why I finally stopped?" he asked his mother.
"Of course," she said. "It was because Dad finally spanked you."
"No," replied Matthew, "it wasn't the spanking at all. It was because Dad cried."
This is something like what Jeremiah means, when he predicts the law will be written on our hearts. No longer will it be the threat of punishment that makes the difference. It will be because "they will all know [the Lord], from the least of them to the greatest."
* * *
Thornton Wilder, in his play The Skin of Our Teeth, depicts a World War II soldier who returns home to his wife. He's been away for years, and the experience has broken him. George announces to Maggie that he's decided to leave her for another woman.
Faced with her husband's moral weakness, Maggie mounts a spirited defense: "I married you," she says, "because you gave me a promise.... That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married, and it was the promise that made our marriage."
George objects and says that the war has changed him, but Maggie refuses to let it go: "Oh George," she continues, "you have to get it back again. Think! What else kept us alive all those years? Even now, it's not comfort we want. We can suffer what's necessary; only give us back the promise."
In the play, George and Maggie do reconcile. It's a difficult road, but they find a way to get the promise back.
Jeremiah is also concerned with how to get the promise back: only he's talking not about marriage, but about the relationship between the people, Israel, and their God.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by Mary Austin
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose glory shines in tiny things.
People: We worship the God of covenant and promise.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God who deserves our praise.
People: We worship the God of beginnings and endings.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose grace surrounds us.
People: We worship the God of faithfulness and mercy.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God who is doing a new thing.
People: We worship the God who knows our future and our name.
Prayer of the Day / Collect
O God, who is light, and who sends the light to live with us, draw our troubled souls near to you that we might know your peace. Teach us how to build up the world, in your name, and to bring new things into being, following your creative Spirit. Set us free from the past, so we can follow you into the future. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
O God, you are always more ready to look to the future than the past, and yet we always look back over our shoulders. You send the light to us, but we keep looking into dark corners for truth. You call us to listen, and we choose our own way. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us that you belong to the future more than the past, the light more than the dark, the path of service more than self. Set us free to follow you into new places, make us new people, ready for new service, as you write your covenant in our hearts again. In Jesus' name, Amen.
OR
Prayer of Confession
Leader: God says, "I am doing a new thing."
People: But we like it better the old way.
Leader: God promises us a new covenant.
People: But we like things the way they are.
Leader: God offers us a new way of living.
People: But we cling to the past.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love;
People: according to your abundant mercy, forgive our foolishness and fearfulness, and bring us into your new covenant. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God's promises are written in our lives and marked on our spirits. God has created in each of us a clean heart and a right spirit, for in Jesus Christ we are made free. Go and live so that your life reflects the life of Christ. Amen.
Prayer for the Offering
God of abundant grace, we thank you for all of the gifts entrusted to us, gifts of covenant and sustaining mercy, gifts of talent and energy, and gifts of treasure. Receive our gifts and our praise and bless all of it by your Spirit, we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Hymn Suggestions
"At the Name of Jesus"
"Beneath the Cross of Jesus"
"Bread of the World"
"Forgive Us, Lord"
"Go to Dark Gethsemane"
"Here I Am, Lord"
"In the Bulb There Is a Flower"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
"Our God, to Whom We Turn"
"Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said"
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
"Where He Leads Me"
CHILDREN'S SERMON
A Very Special Seed
John 12:20-33
Object: a seed catalog
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of your parents plant gardens in the spring? (let the children answer) How many of you help your parents plant their gardens? (let them answer) I brought a catalog today that shows many different kinds of things you can grow in a garden. (show the catalog) You can buy seeds for every plant shown in this catalog. So as I plan my garden I'm going to see pictures of what results from the seeds that I plant.
My seed catalog makes me think of this morning's lesson. In the lesson Jesus says that he is like a seed that falls into the earth and dies. Why do you suppose that Jesus told his disciples that he is like a seed? (let them answer) The answer is that Jesus knew that his time on earth was coming to an end. He was trying to tell his disciples that he was soon going to die. But he had something else to tell them too. He wanted them to know that he would rise from death. This was hard to explain. So he said that he was like a seed. If a seed is to become a plant, it must be buried before it can bud forth. After it is buried, a seed grows into a wonderful plant. If it is a flower, it is very beautiful. If it is a vegetable, it provides us with food. What Jesus said about himself came true. Jesus died on the cross. He was buried. Like a seed, he rose from his grave. Jesus had to do this for a reason. He had to die to save us.
The next time you see a catalog like this one, or the next time you help your parents plant a garden, remember Jesus. Jesus is like a seed. For the seed to become a beautiful plant, it must be buried. Jesus died to save us.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, March 25, 2012, issue.
Copyright 2012 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
Team member Dean Feldmeyer continues his discussion from last week about light and darkness by highlighting another aspect from this week's gospel passage: that living in the light means allowing ourselves to be vulnerable. As Dean notes, that can be a very scary place to be -- but we also know that if we have to courage to step into the spotlight, our Lord will be standing in the wings to support us and help us find the strength we need.
Whose Economy?
by George Reed
John 12:20-33
The economy, in case you hadn't noticed, has been kind of a mess for the past few years. Perhaps you have even heard a few ideas about what is wrong and how to fix it. Well, it is complicated -- and those proffering solutions must be sure they are using the right system to get the results they desire. (And hope they are right.) In addition, we need to remember that some economies run by a whole different set of rules. Jesus reminds us this week that, contrary to the way our economy is structured, sometimes you have to give things away to get them.
THE WORLD
Greece appears to have satisfied the rest of Europe and will get its bailout -- but in a plan that will trigger the default swaps. Spain is shaky and folks are holding their breath that Italy will be able to keep afloat. The U.S. economy is coming around slowly but steadily now, though a recent Federal Reserve report still sounds notes of caution. There does not seem to be a place on earth where the economy has not taken a real hit in the past few years.
When the main economy, especially the United States' economy, was simpler, based so much on manufacturing, fixing it was easier. It wasn't easy by any means -- but we knew what needed to be done to get things back on track. The New Deal worked because the government was able to step in and take the place of employers who couldn't afford to hire folks. Now, the economy is so diverse and complicated that very few of us -- even the economists -- know how it works, let alone how to fix it.
The world doesn't seem to be doing any better with the spiritual economy. The churches of Europe are almost empty, and those in America are losing members much faster than they can bring in new ones.
THE WORD
So Jesus comes along and begins to talk about gaining life by losing it (John 12:25). He tells us that when we try to save ourselves we are truly lost. Everything is turned on its head, and we begin to wonder if we understand God's economy any better than we understand the world's! The words of Jesus may not help us fix the financial mess we are in, but they do give us clear direction for the spiritual mess we are in.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
You probably have never heard this -- but parishioners often say to me, "What we need are more young people, more young families."
They are often shocked when I tell them, "No, we don't. We can run the church on old folks very nicely, thank you. They are easier and cheaper to program for, they have more disposable income, people get older not younger, so we have a steady supply." I let their mouths hang open for a moment and then I continue, "But there are young people, young families who need God and the church. We need to reach out to them because of their needs, not ours. If we only reach out to them to solve our problems, they will smell the stench of self-interest and run away as fast as they can."
Life is not gained or lived by taking, but by giving. The economy of God is a complete reversal of the economy of the world. If you want more baseball cards, you collect more. If you want more money, earn and save more. If you want, you take. But in God's economy of grace and love that forms the basis for true life, you get by giving. You can't even give in order to get -- that's just a sneaky way of taking. You have to want to give. Then God surprises us by giving us what we truly need.
If we are going to be the church, then we have to act like the body of Christ. We must take the words of Jesus seriously and act on them. Following the one who went to the cross means we have to be willing to die so that others can live. Mission and serving have to be what we want most out of the church, instead of being comfortable and having our own pew that no one else sits in.
So I would start a sermon by discussing the world economy and talking about how frustrated we all are that it can't be fixed quickly and easily. Then I would talk about God's economy and what Jesus had to say about that. I would then move to the tragic consequences we suffer when we confuse the two and try to "do church" according to the world's economy. Finally, I would conclude with the wonder of what can happen when we follow God's economy and put giving before getting.
SECOND THOUGHTS
A Different Kind of Glory
by Dean Feldmeyer
John 12:20-33
Last week John juxtaposed light and darkness in a metaphor for disciples. We discussed the rich symbolism of light and dark and how that symbolism informs our theological language, our perspective, and our behavior.
Darkness is John's metaphor for life outside the kingdom. Darkness is where that which is ugly and depraved goes to be hidden from view. It is the place reserved for those who do not want their actions seen.
Light, on the other hand, is always the preferred way of life for Jesus people. Light is where growth occurs. Light reveals reality as it is without fantasy or illusion. Light purifies and disinfects. Light is John's metaphor for life in the kingdom.
One aspect of light we did not explore last week, however, is that of vulnerability. And it is to this aspect that we address ourselves this Sunday: To stand in the light is to be vulnerable.
Those who stand in the light can be seen. Their flaws are out in the open, visible, subject to observation and comment. When we stand in the light we open ourselves to criticism and ridicule. We make ourselves into targets. We risk losing our security and safety.
In this week's gospel lesson some Greek Jews come to Philip -- probably because he was a Greek and spoke the language fluently -- and ask to see Jesus. Philip takes their request to Andrew, and then the two of them take it to Jesus. Jesus' response is unexpected: "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" (John 12:23).
Philip and Andrew probably hear this and think to themselves, "Great!" They know that the word "glorified" means to be honored or praised. They are probably aware that it also means "to be lit up brilliantly" or to be bathed in light.
When Jesus says that it is time for him to be glorified, he is not talking about praise and honor but about being placed in the spotlight. And because we know how this story ends, we know that to stand in the spotlight is to be vulnerable.
Jesus knows this too. Look at the next two verses (vv. 24-25). After speaking of his own glorification, Jesus' next words are about his death. And in verse 26 he speaks of the danger that awaits the disciples when they too step into the spotlight: "...where I am, there will my servant be also." The rest of the pericope is given to a meditation on his coming crucifixion and resurrection.
To stand in the light with Jesus is to risk crucifixion -- literally, yes, but figuratively as well. Stand in the light of the gospel and prepare to lose, to be beaten up, to be told you're impractical and, well, stupid. Prepare to be criticized, ridiculed, and rejected.
But know also, as the blows rain down, that this is the real, the true, the authentic life to which Jesus calls us -- the life of glory, the life whose depth is everlasting and breadth is eternal... the life that ends not with death, but with resurrection.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
Indicative
One possible beginning for a sermon on this passage would be to share stories of "standing in the spotlight" when it was uncomfortable or scary. We've all had such experiences, right? Or dreamed of them? No actor has gone more than a month, no preacher more than a few weeks without having that dream where we are thrust onto the stage or into the pulpit unprepared and unrehearsed. Being "put on the spot" is a common occurrence with which we can all identify.
Imperative
It is exactly into that spotlight that Jesus is calling us. He stands on the high wire and invites us to join him. He swings from the trapeze and bids us "let go and I'll catch you." He stops the music and invites you to join him on stage for a few verses of a song with which you are only passingly familiar. He says, "Teach the class, I'll help you prepare." He asks you to lead the meeting and promises to make you into a leader. He invites you to sing the solo and promises to teach you the melody.
He invites us to take up our cross -- but he doesn't expect us to go alone to Calvary. He always says, "Follow me."
ILLUSTRATIONS
When I was a young associate pastor, about three years out of seminary, a member of the church who was a wealthy and successful businessman invited the senior pastor and me to bring our wives and join him and his wife for dinner in their home. We accepted the invitation, of course, and were treated to a marvelous dinner, cooked to perfection and served lavishly in a beautifully appointed dining room. The conversation was scintillating, the food was perfect, and the ambiance was glorious.
After the meal we were invited to bring our coffee to the living room of the house, which had been arranged as a sort of music parlor with a Steinway grand piano at the center and several comfortable chairs with end tables next to them arrayed about the room. We settled into our chairs and our host announced that he had arranged some entertainment for us. I looked around, expecting to see a pianist enter the room, but it was our host who sat down on the piano bench, took a deep breath, and proceeded to thrill us with one beautifully rendered piece after another. Jazz, classical, ragtime, pop, gospel -- nothing was outside of his skill set. He played for nearly an hour, mesmerizing and delighting us with his taste and skill.
We were shocked and amazed. The senior pastor and I had known him as a member of our church for five and three years respectively, and we had no idea that he could play the piano. Charlie, my colleague, was flabbergasted. "You have to play for church some Sunday," he said. Then he shook his head and corrected himself. "No, this Sunday."
Our host held up his hands and shook his head. "I can't," he said.
Charlie was not to be put off. "Sure you can. We'll make room for it..."
"No," our host interrupted. "It's not that I don't want to. I can't. I get up on a stage or in front of a large audience and I freeze up with stage fright. I've had it since I was a kid. I just can't do it. I only play the piano here, in my own living room, for very small audiences."
To my knowledge, he has never played in front of the church. He has never stepped into the spotlight.
-- Dean Feldmeyer
* * *
A woman came to her minister and told him she had only one request to make of God -- her life's desire was to actually see Jesus. The minister wisely commented that her request would be more worthy if she would ask for all the world to see Jesus. Then her desire would be fulfilled.
If we do not desire God for others, we cannot keep God in our own minds. We have to give God and Christ away in order to have them. This is the law of life in the spirit: What we give, we have; what we keep to ourselves we lose.
When the Greeks came to see Jesus he told them, "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
* * *
"A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds" (John 12:24). To die is a form of letting go. The apostles had to learn to let go of Jesus' physical presence and their desire to be in control.
Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881, but he lived in France from 1904 until his death in 1973. At one time he employed a young ceramist named Jean Ramier, who baked the plates that Picasso painted. Jean was to marry his fiancée Susanne. The young couple had rented a tiny three-room apartment. Picasso said to Jean, "I must give you a present." So he painted a 15-foot mural on a wall in the living room. In the bedroom, he painted another mural. Two more murals adorned the combination dining room and kitchen. These murals were quite valuable, and Jean and Susanne were delighted with Picasso's unusual present.
But in time, the tiny apartment became cramped as a first and a second child were born. Their nerves were frayed, and they constantly had to stop the children from marking the walls with crayons. The apartment became dark, crowded, and damp. Jean and Susanne held out for a long time, but finally they had to let go. They moved to a large house where they were much happier. They had to die out of that apartment with its precious walls before they could really live as a family.
* * *
The gospel text is a wonderful passage, because it shows us that Jesus himself struggled to understand his mission. In verse 23 he boldly proclaims that the time has come for his mission to be fulfilled. In verse 24 he explains the necessity of his death in order to bring others to the kingdom. In verses 25 and 26 he outlines the necessity of allegiance to him and to the kingdom for salvation. Then, in verse 27 he admits being troubled in heart, and he considers and rejects the possibility of asking God to save him. And in verse 28 he asks for reassurance from God, which was promptly given in a very dramatic fashion. In verses 30-32 Jesus returns confidently to a proclamation of the significance of his death.
In the midst of the certainty there is nevertheless a question, a moment of panic. Some, of course, will not like to hear that Jesus had moments of fear and uncertainty. But it can be a great comfort to us, because it tells us that our own fears and moments of doubt do not place us outside of the faith but are a part of the process of growth in faith. And with each experience of overcoming fear and accepting God's reassurance of grace and love, our faith becomes stronger and more resilient.
The Lenten season ought to be a time of permission to admit doubts and fears within the faith and wrestle with them. Jacob wrestled with the angel and it left a scar -- but it also left him with more power to be a servant of God. Examining our hurts and doubts can bring resolution and strength and open them to God's healing. Hiding them and pretending they do not exist can make us sick.
* * *
Lt. Gov. Ken Ard of South Carolina had to resign his position for he was found guilty of multiple ethics violations, most relating to the misuse of campaign funds. He determined it was important to use these funds to finance family vacations, purchase clothes, dine in exquisite restaurants -- and, well, the list is rather endless.
But the most damaging crime came at the beginning of his campaign for the office of Lieutenant Governor. A wealthy man from a wealthy family, Ard wrote personal checks to individuals who would then contribute that money back into his campaign fund. In addition to this, he forged the figures on his audit account, declaring he received $87,000 in donations that never existed. When he demonstrated that he received so much revenue, Ard publicly declared that he had the support of the people and the big money donors. This meant that more big donors wanted to get on board the Ard bandwagon. It meant that his closet contender, Bill Connor, could not compete. It also meant that others who were considering running for the position decided it would be a frivolous undertaking.
One would like to think the story ends here, but of course it's South Carolina, so it does not. Ard, who was sentenced to one year in prison and 300 hours of community service, is still a contender for public office. Previously, Ard served two terms as a Republican on the Florence County Commission. Bill Pickle, the current Florence County Republican Party chairman said, "I hope this is not the end for Ken Ard. He's still got a lot to offer this county and this state and I hope that when this gets behind him, he jumps back in." [John Sweeney; (Florence, S.C.) Morning News; March 11, 2012; "Opinions mixed on possible comeback"]
Jesus said, "Whoever serves me must follow me." Let us be cautious on who we decide to serve and follow.
* * *
Jim Litke, a sportswriter for the Associated Press, wrote a commentary on Lamar University basketball coach Pat Knight, the son of legendary coach Bob Knight. Litke wondered how long it would take for the son to imitate the behavior of his dad. As the son never wavered from his father's basketball coaching style, the only remaining question was when his father's famous temper would emerge. Well, it emerged recently in an 8-minute public rant directed at his players. It was a planned public display of anger. Prior to the tantrum, Pat Knight told his assistant coaches, "I'm going to call them out to the media, really throw them under the bus and see what the response was." Litke noted, "Few things are more fascinating than watching a son step out of his father's shadow, but for most of his adult life, Pat Knight barely seemed to be trying."
In whose shadow are we going to walk? Let us hope that we are not imitators of autocrats, but walk the path of Jesus.
* * *
Pastor Chris Seay, who serves Ecclesia Church in Houston, believes that during Lent we ought to be able to visualize the Stations of the Cross. He concluded that the best way to visualize the suffering of Christ was to tattoo parishioners with art that depicts the 14 stations. As enduring a tattoo is a painful experience, it would also be a way of entering into the suffering of Christ.
Seay and artist Scott Erickson designed a series of 10 tattoos to represent the 14 stations. Instead of having traditional paintings or wood carvings depict the stations, parishioners would stand with a station tattooed on their arm, leg, back, or torso. Church members doing penance would pray before each tattooed living model. And those who agreed to be tattooed were proudly making a public declaration of their faith.
Prior to the tattooing exercise, church member Cameron Dezen Hammon attended a writing conference where the instructor, author Lauren Winner, noted that some things can never be expressed in words: "There are some things one can only believe singing." Hammon, a tattoo participant, wrote of her experience, "Just like Winner said of singing, there are some things one can only believe tattooed on skin."
God instructed Jeremiah that his word would be written on the hearts of the people of Israel. As expressive as "Jesus Laid in the Tomb" may be tattooed on one's shoulder, it is not as expressive as having it tattooed on one's heart. It is the heart, not the tattoo, that makes one a believer.
* * *
Walter Wangerin tells of an incident from his experience as a parent. The Wangerins were going through a difficult time with their son Matthew, who was on the threshold of adolescence. He seemed to be rebelling against every value the family held dear. On more than one occasion, the boy had been caught stealing comic books from a local store. After the latest incident, Walter was in despair. Feeling he'd run out of every other alternative, he resorted to a technique he'd not used with his son for years: he gave him a spanking.
The father performed the act gravely, deliberately, almost ritualistically. When it was finished, he was so upset that he ran from the room and wept. After pulling himself back together, he went back in to his son and hugged him long and hard. Nothing more was said, by father or son, about the incident -- but Matthew never stole another comic book.
Years later Matthew and his mother were doing some reminiscing, and the subject came round to the comic book incident. "Do you know why I finally stopped?" he asked his mother.
"Of course," she said. "It was because Dad finally spanked you."
"No," replied Matthew, "it wasn't the spanking at all. It was because Dad cried."
This is something like what Jeremiah means, when he predicts the law will be written on our hearts. No longer will it be the threat of punishment that makes the difference. It will be because "they will all know [the Lord], from the least of them to the greatest."
* * *
Thornton Wilder, in his play The Skin of Our Teeth, depicts a World War II soldier who returns home to his wife. He's been away for years, and the experience has broken him. George announces to Maggie that he's decided to leave her for another woman.
Faced with her husband's moral weakness, Maggie mounts a spirited defense: "I married you," she says, "because you gave me a promise.... That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine. Two imperfect people got married, and it was the promise that made our marriage."
George objects and says that the war has changed him, but Maggie refuses to let it go: "Oh George," she continues, "you have to get it back again. Think! What else kept us alive all those years? Even now, it's not comfort we want. We can suffer what's necessary; only give us back the promise."
In the play, George and Maggie do reconcile. It's a difficult road, but they find a way to get the promise back.
Jeremiah is also concerned with how to get the promise back: only he's talking not about marriage, but about the relationship between the people, Israel, and their God.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by Mary Austin
Call to Worship
Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose glory shines in tiny things.
People: We worship the God of covenant and promise.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God who deserves our praise.
People: We worship the God of beginnings and endings.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God whose grace surrounds us.
People: We worship the God of faithfulness and mercy.
Leader: Come, let us worship the God who is doing a new thing.
People: We worship the God who knows our future and our name.
Prayer of the Day / Collect
O God, who is light, and who sends the light to live with us, draw our troubled souls near to you that we might know your peace. Teach us how to build up the world, in your name, and to bring new things into being, following your creative Spirit. Set us free from the past, so we can follow you into the future. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
O God, you are always more ready to look to the future than the past, and yet we always look back over our shoulders. You send the light to us, but we keep looking into dark corners for truth. You call us to listen, and we choose our own way. Forgive us, we pray, and teach us that you belong to the future more than the past, the light more than the dark, the path of service more than self. Set us free to follow you into new places, make us new people, ready for new service, as you write your covenant in our hearts again. In Jesus' name, Amen.
OR
Prayer of Confession
Leader: God says, "I am doing a new thing."
People: But we like it better the old way.
Leader: God promises us a new covenant.
People: But we like things the way they are.
Leader: God offers us a new way of living.
People: But we cling to the past.
Leader: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your steadfast love;
People: according to your abundant mercy, forgive our foolishness and fearfulness, and bring us into your new covenant. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
God's promises are written in our lives and marked on our spirits. God has created in each of us a clean heart and a right spirit, for in Jesus Christ we are made free. Go and live so that your life reflects the life of Christ. Amen.
Prayer for the Offering
God of abundant grace, we thank you for all of the gifts entrusted to us, gifts of covenant and sustaining mercy, gifts of talent and energy, and gifts of treasure. Receive our gifts and our praise and bless all of it by your Spirit, we pray. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Hymn Suggestions
"At the Name of Jesus"
"Beneath the Cross of Jesus"
"Bread of the World"
"Forgive Us, Lord"
"Go to Dark Gethsemane"
"Here I Am, Lord"
"In the Bulb There Is a Flower"
"O Jesus, I Have Promised"
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
"Our God, to Whom We Turn"
"Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said"
"What a Friend We Have in Jesus"
"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross"
"Where He Leads Me"
CHILDREN'S SERMON
A Very Special Seed
John 12:20-33
Object: a seed catalog
Good morning, boys and girls! How many of your parents plant gardens in the spring? (let the children answer) How many of you help your parents plant their gardens? (let them answer) I brought a catalog today that shows many different kinds of things you can grow in a garden. (show the catalog) You can buy seeds for every plant shown in this catalog. So as I plan my garden I'm going to see pictures of what results from the seeds that I plant.
My seed catalog makes me think of this morning's lesson. In the lesson Jesus says that he is like a seed that falls into the earth and dies. Why do you suppose that Jesus told his disciples that he is like a seed? (let them answer) The answer is that Jesus knew that his time on earth was coming to an end. He was trying to tell his disciples that he was soon going to die. But he had something else to tell them too. He wanted them to know that he would rise from death. This was hard to explain. So he said that he was like a seed. If a seed is to become a plant, it must be buried before it can bud forth. After it is buried, a seed grows into a wonderful plant. If it is a flower, it is very beautiful. If it is a vegetable, it provides us with food. What Jesus said about himself came true. Jesus died on the cross. He was buried. Like a seed, he rose from his grave. Jesus had to do this for a reason. He had to die to save us.
The next time you see a catalog like this one, or the next time you help your parents plant a garden, remember Jesus. Jesus is like a seed. For the seed to become a beautiful plant, it must be buried. Jesus died to save us.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, March 25, 2012, issue.
Copyright 2012 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
