Spirit-Direct
Sermon
Christmas Grace
Cycle A Second Lesson Sermons for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
Object:
"Growing up," Valerie recalled, "I was involved in many of my church's activities for children." Recently she returned to her home church and attended an adult Sunday school class with her parents. The class included members who were active in the church while she was growing up. Many of them greeted her and reminisced about her childhood. A man stood up during the announcements and said, "We'd like to welcome Valerie to our class. Remember," he added, "we helped train and teach her."
After this experience Valerie thought of the congregation's response following baptisms: "With God's help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ." This man's words were true. Forty years ago at Valerie's baptism those church members made this promise and they kept it.
"Now that baptism promise has new meaning for me," she says. "Whether I'm helping with Vacation Bible School or teaching a class for children, I do so with more enthusiasm. Something I say or do may contribute to the spiritual growth of a child."1
We are reminded of the importance of our baptism and also our responsibility. When a child is baptized the congregation pledges to do all they can to help raise the child in the Christian faith. When adults are baptized the congregation also pledges their support.
This morning we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember how he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus' baptism was the starting point of his ministry, as it is for all Christians. Jesus would call his twelve disciples and embark on a mission that would forever change the world. We are here because Jesus' mission and ministry have touched us. We are here to continue the ministry that Jesus began long ago. We are Jesus' modern-day disciples.
Peter was changed as a result of his encounter with Jesus. A fisherman turned disciple and later apostle who would take the gospel to all people. We might not readily identify with Peter; however, we are probably more like him than we would care to acknowledge. Peter had moments when he clearly did not understand Jesus or his mission. There were times when he failed Jesus. Once Peter received the Holy Spirit there would be no stopping him and the other apostles as they proclaimed the good news.
Like many of us Peter had a hard time accepting change. He was set in his ways, having a clear sense of what was right and proper as far as his faith and practice were concerned. Jesus instructed his followers to go into the entire world to tell people about him. At first Peter was reluctant to go to Gentile lands. The idea of speaking with a Gentile or entering a Gentile's home made Peter feel quite uncomfortable. It was hard to overcome such strong feelings, especially something that went against everything he had always accepted and believed. Sometimes our faith requires that we stretch in new ways often pushing us out of our comfort zones.
So what did Peter do? One night Peter had a vivid dream, a powerful vision that would forever change the direction of his ministry. "He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners." Further God instructed him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." Peter protests, "By no means, Lord." Peter was not sure what to make of this vision that went against what he believed concerning clean and unclean animals. He was open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It was while he was puzzled that a Gentile man named Cornelius appeared. Isn't it amazing how God can bring people into our lives that impact us in unusual ways at just the right time? Frequently it is people that we do not even know that enter our lives causing us to rethink our position. Was Peter's vision about food or about people?
Peter did something he had never considered doing in his entire life, he entered a Gentile's house. Once inside he discovered that there were other Gentiles present in the house. They were eager to hear what he had to say. "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile," Peter explained to his audience, "but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean." Peter experienced a change of heart toward those outside of Jewish circles. He realized that it was the hand of God leading him to take the gospel to the next level, to the Gentiles and to all people. It is "God working in our hearts that produces change in our lives."
As our lesson from the Acts of the Apostles opens Peter is giving a sermon in Cornelius' house. His audience was eager to hear what he had to say. Peter told them, "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." This was a radical departure for Peter to believe that, "God shows no partiality" but loves all people and that Jesus Christ is "Lord of all." Everyone, no matter what ethnic or cultural background, can call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved. This was a tremendous leap of faith for Peter that went against everything he had previously believed.
Jesus came preaching peace, Peter informed his captive audience. The message spread and now included all people. In his message, Peter made reference to John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, the only time this episode was mentioned outside of the four gospels. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power," Peter explained, "how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." It was at Jesus' baptism when he received power from the Holy Spirit and inaugurated his ministry. God "anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit." Peter and the others were eyewitnesses to Jesus' ministry. Peter retold the story of how sinful humanity put Jesus to death but that was not the end of the story as, "God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear." The weeks following Easter the risen Jesus met with his apostles. Peter continued his message, "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead." And that was exactly what Peter and the others were doing.
When we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and do what Jesus calls us to do God will bless our efforts, in amazing ways that frankly we might not ever have imagined. As Peter was wrapping up his sermon there in Cornelius' house, "the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word." They were baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ." That day those outsiders became believers. For as Peter told them, "God shows no partiality," but welcomes everyone.
Deanna considered herself "skeptical bordering on cynical, an unlikely candidate for organized religion." When she began attending church the congregation welcomed her warmly and invited her into the adult inquirers' process. "I need fellow travelers to teach me," Deanna remembers, "to hold my hand, and to remind me of Jesus' promises." She embarked on a pilgrimage where she would encounter Jesus. Through the class she learned new ways to pray, how to read the Bible, all along enjoying being part of a community of faith. "I found a way to a heavenly father and divine family," was how she describes the process.
Although her parents could not remember, Deanna persisted in her quest to find out if she had ever been baptized. She tracked down distant relatives, made dozens of phone calls, and finally located the church that her grandmother had belonged to when she was a baby. The church secretary told her that the baptismal records had been destroyed in a fire. Deanna was disappointed. However, three weeks later the church secretary called back to say that she had tracked down other records and that Deanne had indeed been baptized. "I was overjoyed," she recalled, "I was a child of God all along and I didn't know it."2
Think for a moment of the people that God has brought into your life. Some might be long-time friends while others you might have just met. What would it take to reach them with the life-saving gospel? What specific things could you do? Sometimes as Peter discovered we might need to change our attitudes before we are able to reach them. But like Peter we must be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit to welcome people into our fellowship who might have different life experiences. The question remains: Is God converting a Gentile into the community of faith or is God converting Peter to seeing new possibilities for mission? Actually the answer is both.
There are people we come in to contact with every day who do not have the slightest understanding of the Christian faith yet feel God's tug on their heart. Cornelius felt God's presence but needed Peter's direction. He and the others needed Peter to welcome them with open arms into the community of faith. Who are the people who will need our guidance as they come to faith?
"Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name," Peter reminds us. Everyone! Amen.
__________
1. Valerie Battle Kienzle, "This Promise" (Upper Room), November 1, 2004.
2. Diana Butler Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2006), p. 64.
After this experience Valerie thought of the congregation's response following baptisms: "With God's help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ." This man's words were true. Forty years ago at Valerie's baptism those church members made this promise and they kept it.
"Now that baptism promise has new meaning for me," she says. "Whether I'm helping with Vacation Bible School or teaching a class for children, I do so with more enthusiasm. Something I say or do may contribute to the spiritual growth of a child."1
We are reminded of the importance of our baptism and also our responsibility. When a child is baptized the congregation pledges to do all they can to help raise the child in the Christian faith. When adults are baptized the congregation also pledges their support.
This morning we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember how he was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Jesus' baptism was the starting point of his ministry, as it is for all Christians. Jesus would call his twelve disciples and embark on a mission that would forever change the world. We are here because Jesus' mission and ministry have touched us. We are here to continue the ministry that Jesus began long ago. We are Jesus' modern-day disciples.
Peter was changed as a result of his encounter with Jesus. A fisherman turned disciple and later apostle who would take the gospel to all people. We might not readily identify with Peter; however, we are probably more like him than we would care to acknowledge. Peter had moments when he clearly did not understand Jesus or his mission. There were times when he failed Jesus. Once Peter received the Holy Spirit there would be no stopping him and the other apostles as they proclaimed the good news.
Like many of us Peter had a hard time accepting change. He was set in his ways, having a clear sense of what was right and proper as far as his faith and practice were concerned. Jesus instructed his followers to go into the entire world to tell people about him. At first Peter was reluctant to go to Gentile lands. The idea of speaking with a Gentile or entering a Gentile's home made Peter feel quite uncomfortable. It was hard to overcome such strong feelings, especially something that went against everything he had always accepted and believed. Sometimes our faith requires that we stretch in new ways often pushing us out of our comfort zones.
So what did Peter do? One night Peter had a vivid dream, a powerful vision that would forever change the direction of his ministry. "He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners." Further God instructed him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." Peter protests, "By no means, Lord." Peter was not sure what to make of this vision that went against what he believed concerning clean and unclean animals. He was open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. It was while he was puzzled that a Gentile man named Cornelius appeared. Isn't it amazing how God can bring people into our lives that impact us in unusual ways at just the right time? Frequently it is people that we do not even know that enter our lives causing us to rethink our position. Was Peter's vision about food or about people?
Peter did something he had never considered doing in his entire life, he entered a Gentile's house. Once inside he discovered that there were other Gentiles present in the house. They were eager to hear what he had to say. "You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile," Peter explained to his audience, "but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean." Peter experienced a change of heart toward those outside of Jewish circles. He realized that it was the hand of God leading him to take the gospel to the next level, to the Gentiles and to all people. It is "God working in our hearts that produces change in our lives."
As our lesson from the Acts of the Apostles opens Peter is giving a sermon in Cornelius' house. His audience was eager to hear what he had to say. Peter told them, "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." This was a radical departure for Peter to believe that, "God shows no partiality" but loves all people and that Jesus Christ is "Lord of all." Everyone, no matter what ethnic or cultural background, can call on the name of the Lord Jesus and be saved. This was a tremendous leap of faith for Peter that went against everything he had previously believed.
Jesus came preaching peace, Peter informed his captive audience. The message spread and now included all people. In his message, Peter made reference to John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, the only time this episode was mentioned outside of the four gospels. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power," Peter explained, "how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him." It was at Jesus' baptism when he received power from the Holy Spirit and inaugurated his ministry. God "anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit." Peter and the others were eyewitnesses to Jesus' ministry. Peter retold the story of how sinful humanity put Jesus to death but that was not the end of the story as, "God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear." The weeks following Easter the risen Jesus met with his apostles. Peter continued his message, "He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead." And that was exactly what Peter and the others were doing.
When we are open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and do what Jesus calls us to do God will bless our efforts, in amazing ways that frankly we might not ever have imagined. As Peter was wrapping up his sermon there in Cornelius' house, "the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word." They were baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ." That day those outsiders became believers. For as Peter told them, "God shows no partiality," but welcomes everyone.
Deanna considered herself "skeptical bordering on cynical, an unlikely candidate for organized religion." When she began attending church the congregation welcomed her warmly and invited her into the adult inquirers' process. "I need fellow travelers to teach me," Deanna remembers, "to hold my hand, and to remind me of Jesus' promises." She embarked on a pilgrimage where she would encounter Jesus. Through the class she learned new ways to pray, how to read the Bible, all along enjoying being part of a community of faith. "I found a way to a heavenly father and divine family," was how she describes the process.
Although her parents could not remember, Deanna persisted in her quest to find out if she had ever been baptized. She tracked down distant relatives, made dozens of phone calls, and finally located the church that her grandmother had belonged to when she was a baby. The church secretary told her that the baptismal records had been destroyed in a fire. Deanna was disappointed. However, three weeks later the church secretary called back to say that she had tracked down other records and that Deanne had indeed been baptized. "I was overjoyed," she recalled, "I was a child of God all along and I didn't know it."2
Think for a moment of the people that God has brought into your life. Some might be long-time friends while others you might have just met. What would it take to reach them with the life-saving gospel? What specific things could you do? Sometimes as Peter discovered we might need to change our attitudes before we are able to reach them. But like Peter we must be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit to welcome people into our fellowship who might have different life experiences. The question remains: Is God converting a Gentile into the community of faith or is God converting Peter to seeing new possibilities for mission? Actually the answer is both.
There are people we come in to contact with every day who do not have the slightest understanding of the Christian faith yet feel God's tug on their heart. Cornelius felt God's presence but needed Peter's direction. He and the others needed Peter to welcome them with open arms into the community of faith. Who are the people who will need our guidance as they come to faith?
"Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name," Peter reminds us. Everyone! Amen.
__________
1. Valerie Battle Kienzle, "This Promise" (Upper Room), November 1, 2004.
2. Diana Butler Bass, Christianity for the Rest of Us (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2006), p. 64.
