Matthew 16:13-20
What does Jesus want?
Jesus wants to create a community of faith, grounded in the stories of Israel, equipped to live in its environment – the Roman Empire – cruel, powerful, and pagan.
Jesus came to renew and rebuild the House of Israel.
To include Gentiles on equal footing with the Jews.
The original vision with Abraham, Genesis 12: ALL the nations of the world would be blessed.
Inclusive … no boundaries … everyone welcome …
Paul the Apostle understood this when he wrote his famous words: There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer male or female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then your Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the purpose (Galatians 5:28-29)
A new community!
This is what Jesus wants.
This is what Jesus teaches.
At the Transfiguration, the Father says:
This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him.”
And that’s what we’re going to do for the next several weeks … we’re going to listen to Jesus …
I’ve entitled the series: JesusStategy!
As we think about the future of Covenant … the world in which we live … what’s required of us?
Who do we have to be?
What should Covenant on the Corner look like for the 21st Century?
Now’s the time to return to the source, to the center, to where it all began … with Jesus and 12 disciples … the earliest Christians – the original vision – the New Community created by Jesus.
At the heart of JesusStrategy - Leadership!
Jesus preached to the crowds, but He called and created core leaders.
Jesus fed the multitudes, but he trained a cadre of disciples.
Jesus sent out the 70, but He focused prime attention on the 12.
It’s all about leadership!
Like elders and deacons – the core leaders of the local church.
Right now, our Nominating Committee is in a time of discernment – reading the Bible, reading the Book of Order – praying and meditating … seeking God’s guidance, to find those whom the LORD has called and gifted for leadership.
Keep your Nominating Committee enfolded in prayer:
Stafford Fredericks
Ken and Carol Carlson
Jean Perkins
Sandra Miller-Manzo
Sue Gwinn
Herb Evans
In our Presbyterian form of government, there are three offices: Elders, Deacons and Ministers of Word and Sacrament.
Their work?
Cast a vision … empower God’s people … diligent in spiritual matters … setting the pace; leading the way; arm-in-arm with one another … looking to Jesus for all things.
But we’re all in this together.
Leaders are vital … but everyone who names the name of Jesus is called and gifted … everyone who signs on and says, Jesus my LORD, is invited into a way of life, a way of thinking and acting, grounded in Jesus and lived out in the new community … everyone is responsible for some part of God’s Church!
Our Book of Order says it well:
The existence of these offices in no way diminishes the importance of the commitment of all members to the total ministry of the church. These ordained officers differ from others members in function only.
In the next few weeks, we’ll be thinking about Christian leadership … elders and deacons … and the work to which we ALL are called.
We’ll be thinking about JesusStrategy.
And the promise of Jesus: I will build my church.
His promise … His work!
But we have our work, too: “Love one another” – A new commandment I give to you, says Jesus, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Why is love so important?
It’s all about mission!
It’s the Rock!
It’s Peter … it’s a real live human being … it’s you and me!
And where Jesus says this as just as important as what he said.
There’s more to this “rock” business than meets the eye.
Where were they?
Caesarea Philippi – a Roman capital city in northeastern Palestine – now called the Golan Heights, mountains, rocky – there a spring emerges from the base of rock cliff on which the city of Caesarea Philippi is built – a rock cliff a hundred feet high and 500 feet wide; along its face, shrines to the pagan gods – local legend had it: the spring was a portal to Hades … here in the heart of the Empire, a portal to Hades, Jesus says, “I’ll build my church” and I’ll build it in the middle of the kingdom of death.
I’ll build my church with something the Empire doesn’t understand, and Hades hates … I’ll build my church with love … and all the power of Death, the gates of Hades, will not prevail.
Everyone will know that you are my disciples, says Jesus, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).
Love for one another catches the attention of the world …
Not our theology, though that’s important.
Nor our buildings, though buildings are useful.
Neither our preaching nor our music, though such things have value.
Not even our work for social justice or our proclamation on issues, though such things are vital.
Only one thing catches the attention of the world – our love for one another.
They will know we are Christians by our love.
Love is our part of the bargain.
When we love one another as Jesus loves us, His promise kicks in.
When we love one another, we become trustworthy in God’s sight.
When we love one another, we become a safe place.
A place where God can bring Jane and Bill, Susan and Stanley – a place where folks can be loved and celebrated, where people will find grace and mercy, where folks will discover their gifts and put them to work in a ministry.
What does love look like?
Here’s where we learn from Jesus.
Jesus works with small groups … love on a small scale … love that we can manage.
Open up the Bible and read the Book of Acts – small groups.
They meet in homes.
Eat together.
Pray and study together.
For 300 years - no church buildings, only house churches.
No cathedrals, just small groups.
When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he was writing to 30 or 40 house churches.
And what happened to the early church?
It grew like Topsy.
The loved one another.
And the promise kicked in.
I will build my church!
Love can only be on a small scale.
You and I can’t love the world … only God’s love is big enough for that … and even God’s love for the world is focused in small ways – it’s Abraham and Sarah, it’s Moses and Joshua, it’s Deborah and Lydia … love on the small scale – small enough to have an eye on the sparrow, small enough to number the hairs of our head.
A small group - that’s how Jesus grounds His movement – a small group of men and women who could love one another and show the world.
The reality of love … not sentiment, nor always easy.
But where else can the realities of Christian love come to life but in the dynamics of a small group … here’s where we practice forgiveness and understanding … tolerance and acceptance … where Republicans and Democrats. Liberals and Conservatives, and every other flavor, gather together around God’s Word, supporting one another with prayer – and lots of helping hands.
Love on a small scale.
Where two or three are gathered …
Twelve disciples.
Seventy sent out two by two.
Prayer groups.
House churches.
Love on a small scale – JesusLove – small-scale love.
Jesus said to Peter …
If you love ME, feed my sheep, take care of my lambs.
That’s the kind of church Jesus envisions …
Think for a moment about crucial Biblical imagery:
The one lost sheep, sought and found by the shepherd.
The one lost coin, diligently searched for, until found.
The bruised reed treated gently.
The smoldering wick treated kindly.
There’s a place at the Table for everyone … including Peter and even Judas.
The commandment to care – feed my sheep – belongs to every Christian – to each one of us.
In the past hundred years, the model for care was the pastor caring for the many … a large church, might even hire a pastor of pastoral care; or a retired pastor to call on folks.
Perhaps a few elders … and likely the Deacons ….
The few caring for the many.
It’s a model that didn’t work. Never did and never will.
Pastors never could give all the care needed.
Elders and Deacons couldn’t manage all of it.
Care-givers were exhausted by it.
And care-receivers were often neglected … where’s the pastor when you need him … those elders don’t care … all the deacons do is drink coffee with each other.
I’ve heard it all.
The few caring for the many is a defective model.
It’s not Biblical.
It’s not Jesus.
JesusStrategy: everyone cares for someone.
This a model that works.
It’s Biblical.
It’s Jesus.
Love on a small scale.
New paradigm churches discovered this Biblical model … we look with amazement at the new paradigm churches and their growth.
Let’s face it … we’re all a little envious of what they’ve done. They’re doing what we did in the Fifties.
Yes, we had the Fifties all figured out.
And the new paradigm churches figured out the Nineties.
These days, they’re the first to admit that not all is well … but at the same time, the new paradigm churches have recovered the Biblical model: everyone cares for someone.
We learn from the new paradigm churches …
The power of a small group … a band disciples.
When we love, God adds!
It’s a perfect model for the 21st century … where folks are disconnected and scattered.
It’s the model given to us by Jesus.
It’s how we love one another, so that Jesus can get to work and build His church.
When we love, God adds!
Now let’s think about Covenant for a while.
One of our greatest resources here … our Flock Program directed by our Deacons …
I’ve been thinking a lot about the Flocks … it’s a treasure, a gold mine … and I’ve been dreaming about our Flocks.
I have a dream – as we evolve and grow into Christ all the more, our Flocks will gain strength and gather momentum …
I have a dream – our Flocks will begin meeting once a month for prayer and the study of God’s word.
I have a dream: Flock leaders will create a curriculum – guided by a common theme. We’re all in this together.
I have a dream: every member of Covenant, every friend of Covenant – invited and included in a Flock.
I have a dream – every Flock cares for its members – hospital visitation, home visitation. Everyone caring for someone.
I have a dream – every Flock a little congregation; every Flock, a little church … every flock, a band of sisters and brothers.
I have a dream – our Flocks are powerhouses of love – the kind of love that makes the world sit up and pay attention.
Amen!
