The Job description of a disciple

Sermon Preached at St. Columba's Parish Church 18th October 2009 - Morning Prayer 10:30

Text: Mark 10: 35-45

About this time last year in college, we sat down and started to plan our CV's, descriptions of ourselves which would be sent out to rectors who were looking curates, it reminded me of many times before when I was replying to adverts for casual work in various organisations.

Before coming to St Columba's I have worked in various places … my first job was as a shop assistant in Shop Electric where the Job was about ensuring customers were satisfied, making sure the store was clean and safe but the biggest part of that Job was meeting the sales targets, making sure I sold enough TV's, fridges and the like with guarantees and service cover. Unfortunately that business closed down

I also applied for a job in TK Maxx where I worked for a year or so whilst at Uni, It was OK, although having to match shoes especially at the end of the day ladies section was a nightmare.

I also applied to other places and got various other posts, each had a job decription, roles and responsibilities. I am sure many people here in church are familiar with such a document.

I wonder if we were to ponder the question … is there a Job description for a disciple, for a christian?

This mornings Gospel reading comes close to something like a job description. It certainly does have the Job Title and what the Job is not about.

Jesus explains this at a moment of conflict – James and John come to him and ask …
We want to sit at your right and left which of course got the others extremely annoyed … who do they think they are … you could hear it couldn't you?

Jesus then uses this to set out what sort of Job they have been called to

The Job title is .. “Slave of all” or servant of all

Anyone fancy applying for that Job?

Let us unpack it a bit further

We are called to do exactly what Jesus did … we are called to be little Christ's (thats what the word Christian literally means!). We are all called to serve Christ where we are and in whatever we do.

In our OT reading which Helen read for us, we see some of the role which Jesus came to fulfill
This text is often quoted at Easter time – It is the text of the suffering servant.
Jesus the righteous one came to suffer and to be servant for all, he bore our sins.


In June I was ordained Deacon, in Hillsborough, and many of you were there at the service - at the beginning of the service I was reminded what my Job Description was


In the service …
“Deacons in the Church of God serve in the name of Christ and so remind the whole church that serving others is at the heart of all ministry.”


We are all called to be servants, … we are all called to serve.

We are not called to the serve in the same way but we are all called to serve, there are some core qualities we all are called to have.

What is great about being a disciple is that we don't have to have any of these things to pass the interview, they will be developed as we get on with the Job, we are allowed to make mistakes as well but when we accept the called to follow Jesus, to serve him he will place us in situations where we will flourish, where we will be challenged

In Galatians 5 those are outlined, as the fruit of the spirit – these are the qualities he wants to see in his servants – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, faithfulness, Gentleness , Self-control – but they are fruit … they are produced over time

In 1 Corinthians, Romans and Ephesians, we are assured that each one of us has a part to play in the overall household of faith that is the church, each is a part of the body. You will not serve in the way I am serving, but you serve in your way and I serve in my way, what is important is that we serve, that we find out what we can do and do it to the best of our abilities.

There are many, many people who serve God in this parish in many ways, who give up their time, their talents, their money to serve the people of this parish.

From the Glebe wardens who put in hours of work each month to ensure that the buildings are safe, that they are comfortable and ready to be used at any time, The counters who count and log all the money collected, Flower arrangers, choir, organisation leaders, church wardens, secretary, treasurer … I am going to leave people out so I will stop there … but there are countless people who make sure this parish runs smoothly and who take an active part in the workings of this parish. And that is exactly how it should be.

In the gospel reading, the type of authority we are called to exercise is different in the church, we are called to servant leadership, we are called to serve, we are called to make ourselves slaves of all. Wether we are an archbishop, or a child in a sunday school class, wether we are 8 or 80 whoever we are we are called to act with humility, with grace and with love. Simply because we are called to be imitators of Christ

within workplaces & education today there is great attention paid to self evaluation, to asking youself how are you doing and what you should be working on. I wonder if we were to ask ourselves are we living up to our Job title as a disciple of Christ, as a servant of His – not as a stick to beat ourselves up with but as an exercise in growing, and developing.

As I have said before, service, disipleship, the christian life is a learning experience, its about growing, becoming closer to Jesus - we need to take responsibility for our own learning. James and John got it wrong in what they asked but Jesus was able to turn the situation around for them, he was able to take their mistake and teach them something about the true nature of what it means to be a servant, disciple.

If we are wanting to grow as a disciple




Some questions which might be useful include:

• What have I learnt over the last 12 months in my walk with God
• What have I done that has challenged my faith and helped me grow
• What would I like to do over the next 12 months to serve God

We are all called to serve God – when we do, I can guarantee, when we do live for him there is nothing more fulfilling, life-giving and rewarding.

The good news is that we can do this where he has placed us – if we are working, we can do what we do to our full potential – acknowledging God in that

if we are retired, we can share our faith with those around us, not by preaching in the streets but by kind words, by serving others, acknowledging God in our conversations.

We can always find ways to serve God. How will you do it this week? This month?

Amen

Recharge and Work ... A Sermon on Mark 6

A sermon preached on Sunday 19th at 9:30 Family Communion

Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Let us pray
Heavenly father,
I pray that my words would be acceptable in your sight, and that the mediations of our hearts would be to your honour and your glory
In Jesus Name
Amen.




Looking Back
A couple of weeks ago – we read that Jesus had sent the disciples out with their L plates up to go around and do what he had been doing – today is the follow up session – The time when Jesus asked them – what had they achieved and how it had all gone. They were able to report back on all that they had said and all that they had done. What had had witnessed God doing in the lives of those whom they had touched.

From intense activity they now move into a time of relaxation, A time of re-couperation, a time re-creation. A time to simply be with Jesus, a time when they can re-charge the batteries.

Let us pause here for a moment – Being in Holiday season here – let us take a moment and ask a couple of questions.

Evaluation

In the workplace today there is a lot of emphasis on review, of looking back and asking
what did you do,
how well do you think you are doing it,
what can you do better,
what strategies are you going to put into place in the future?

I wonder if we were to look at our learning, our discipleship and what we had done over the last few months - were to come to Jesus as the disciples did that day – what could we report back. Not as an examination but as a chat to see where we go from here.

This is not a exercise to be critical and beating yourself up about but one in which we can learn from.

The disciples, those 12 were not people who were high flyers, Jesus didn't appoint them because they were the best – they were very ordinary people – people with ordinary jobs but who made themselves available to Jesus. Today, we need to be asking ourselves – what is Jesus calling me to do and how can I be faithful in fulfilling that calling.

We all are called to be discples wherever we find ourselves – be that bankers, carers, doctors, housewives, people who pray, parents … wherever we are we are called to be faithful with what God has called us to. In Jesus' Community there are none unemployed – each one of us are part of the body.

We are called to be disciples. We need to sit under the teacher, we need to be listening and learning from Jesus. The way we can do this is to leave time daily to pray, to read scripture, to have it explained if we don't know what it means. We also need to set aside time to be alone with God – whether that be away for a walk, or simply time to pray at home.

Time out with God.

Can you survive without that time in Bible Study and prayer … well many people do try.

But it is a bit like two mums chatting over coffee – one has a child who enjoys a very varied and healthy diet of all sorts of food. The other has a child who will only eat potato waffles, supernoodles, ice-cream and carrots. Perhaps the second child will survive but imagine what she is missing out on.

There are amazing riches which come from being with Jesus, from having the relationship with him, from allowing him to ask you difficult questions. From studying his word not simply for knowledge but for food / daily bread.

Jesus then took his disciples away from the crowds pressing in them to a desserted place – a place to be alone with them. Jesus was a people person, he loved being with people but he knew there was a time and place to withdraw to a solidarty place where he could be alone and draw upon the resources of the father. The offer is open to us as well, that we can do the same.

One of the Major points to note from this reading is Jesus feeling of compassion towards the crowds … it is noted that he had compassion on them … I am by no means a greek scholar but those who are tell me that the word which is used is not a simple compassion but a deep desire – right down in the guts – a compassion which moves us to action.

The whole of Jesus' ministry was a mix between what is seen of doing the work of God and also resting in the father's presence. In Church it is very easy to get caught up in always doing things. And of course we need to be doing things – but we also need times when we sit, be still and take time out in God's presence.

It is in his presence where we can find healing and where lives find fulfilment. This morning as we come to communion, as we remember what God has done for each one of us.

Let us remember that we not only can come and spend time with him but that we can run to him as abba, as daddy. As the shepherd, the one who when we are feeling harassed and helpless as sheep without a shepherd.

A few weeks ago, I was at an event where I was a member of team, where we were praying for people. At the team meeting the leader always started by saying - “Relax” really “relax” God is in control. He'll get us through today.

There are so many people who are worrying about so many things - there are so many issues, so many problems in all of our families but as Christians we have hope – We have victory.

Is any of you sick – Call the elders and they will pray for you?

As Christians we are called to pray for each other, we are called to help each other out.

In this parish family we have a team of people who would love to pray for your concerns – if there are people on your heart who needs prayer there is a box down at the back of church and we will pray for that person.

The clergy are always very happy to pray with you through your concerns and be a listening ear – simply give us a ring and we will call round.

Jesus ministry is a ministry of the whole person – We all need Time for reflection, time for action and time for meditation of God's word.

Let us remember that we are all simply learners and we need to take that time to learn.

Before I finish let us re- read the passage...




30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
What have we been doing?, what have we been learning about God?

 31He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Do we need to get away to a place where we can be alone with Jesus. Where would that place be?
 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

What harrasses us – what do we need to put into place to stop that harrassing, do we need to know the compassion of the good shepherd?

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
What healing do we need in our lives?
Let us pray.
Heavenly father, we pray that what we read in your word this day would take root in our hearts and show forth as fruit in our daily lives. This we pray in the name of your son
Amen.

Sermon Preached in Exegesis class

A reading from Mark 7 : 14-21

14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.' "^[a]

17After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.")

20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

Let us pray,

Heavenly father I pray that as we come to your word this day, you would teach us, mould us and challenge us through Jesus Christ our Lord amen.

From the outset of this sermon I would like to apologise for using a geeky computer term but here it is GIGO – Garbage in Garbage out. Basically it means that if you put rubbish into a computer you will get rubbish out at the other end.

This passage is all about purity, cleanness of the individual which affects their relationship with God and does, I believe has something to teach us as individuals and also as a church in our life and mission.

Let us take a step back from this individual passage and look at it in context.

Marks gospel is a journey towards the full revelation of Christ as Messiah and concludes with the centurion at the foot of the cross saying “truly this man is the son of God.” This passage occurs right at the heart of the gospel. Prior to this we have had immense demonstration of Jesus’ power – Baptism, calling of the disciples, healings, teachings, teaching on the Sabbath, driving out demons, raising the dead girl, sending out the 12, walking on water. With all of these amazing acts Jesus is gaining in popularity – feed 5,000 people and you will gain a name for yourself!

Just before we get into chapter 7 we have a summary of what Jesus is up to

“As soon as they got out of the boat people recognised Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. …It is not a problem to say that “Jesus mania” was sweeping the countryside.

As we come to the passage we are looking at this morning – the scene is set – Jesus is in one of these towns and some of the Jewish authorities are out to catch him out. The place is public, a market place, stalls, fruit, veg, and noisy lots of people buzzing about. They have got him now! – The disciples are eating without washing their hands - this is not a hygiene issue – its another 1800 years before our Louis Pasteur gives the health benefits of washing hands – it is all about ritual tradition. In this tradition it was a widespread custom of washing after the market as they may be defiled by touching a gentile in the crowd and so become ritually unclean.

The shadow of a Gentile falling across a dish or plate made it unclean.

These traditions were found in the “law of the elders” that halakah – the oral law which claimed to interpret and complete the Mosaic Law.

Jesus responds by trying to show them how far these traditions have fallen from the law. By quoting text from the 10 commandments – “honour your father and mother” but then your case you can nullify that by doing certain things. This is only one example.

It is then Jesus calls the crowd and says that nothing outside a person can defile him – this was radical teaching – it went directly against the rabbinic teachings of the day. That statement in itself would have been completely stark to Jews of the day listening in.

Then after leaving that public declaration we see the disciples entering the house and his disciples asking him what he meant.

ARE YOU SO DULL! – The disciples don’t get the significance of what he said

Food doesn’t enter the heart – therefore it can’t defile it –

It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. He goes on to describe examples of this uncleanness.

So what was Jesus trying to say from this passage?

1. He was not trying to overturn the laws of Moses – in Matthew we read that he came fulfil the law and the prophets.
2. He was not trying to say that you can eat / drink or use substances which would harm you.

Instead what he was speaking against the hypocrisy of ritual cleanliness but the impurity of hearts

It is what comes out of a man that defiles him – it is the heart that is unclean – the thing that needs cleaned not the hands. It’s all about the heart

The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart.

I have a story which I think illustrates this

Ray Stedman shares a letter in one of his books from a sharp-minded, Christian business man friend of his. I'd like to share it with you along with Steadman's comments about it.

DON'T TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL, PLEASE!

This scene didn't make sense, There he lay in the street, bleeding -- the hit-and-run driver gone. He needed medical help immediately! Yet he kept pleading, "Don't take me to the hospital, please!" Surprised, everyone asked why. Pleadingly, he answered, "Because I'm on the staff at the hospital. It would be embarrassing for them to see me like this. They've never seen me bleeding and dirty. They always see me clean and healthy; now I'm a mess."

"But the hospital is for people like you! Can't we call an ambulance?" "No, please don't. I took a Pedestrian Safety Course, and the instructor would criticize me for getting hit."

"But who cares what the instructor thinks? You need attention." "But there are other reasons, too. The Admissions Clerk would be upset." "Well, why?" "Because she always gets upset if anyone for admittance doesn't have all the details she needs to fill out her records. I didn't see who hit me, and I don't even know the make of the car or the license number. She wouldn't understand. She's a real stickler for records. Worse than that, I haven't got my Medical card with me."

"What real difference would that make?" "Well, if they didn't recognize me in this mess, they wouldn't let me in. They won't admit anyone in my shape without a Medical card. They must be sure it isn't going to cost the institution. They protect the institution. Just pull me over to the curb. I'll make it some way. It's my fault that I got hit."

With this, he tried to crawl to the gutter while everyone left, leaving him alone. Maybe he made it, maybe he didn't. Maybe he's still trying to stop his own bleeding.

A strange story you might think but unfortunately it is quite close to home. If we think of the man on the pavement as someone we know who has been hit not by a car but by some sin or another. Where should he find somewhere to be helped, somewhere to be accepted somewhere where relationships can be sorted, wounds cleaned, restored.

If we believe that each one’s purity comes not from tradition nor from the outward appearance but from a heart which is made clean from repentance and relationship with Jesus then

I suppose there is a challenge here for us

Firstly as individuals – in looking at ourselves in the mirror – what is there inside us that need changed, values, feelings, sins? How is our heart?

Then again in the mirror as a member of the church – when someone comes in – what prejudices do we have?

And as a body of believers how can we present ourselves not as the museum of saints with all the outward signs of purity and having life sorted but a hospital for sinners.

People who are open about what they struggle with, what they need.

In conclusion I do believe that it is not about garbage in garbage out

The garbage produced is systematic of what garbage is in the heart

Garbage out, garbage inside

And the garbage needs dealt with.

Before we pray let us take a moment of quiet as we listen to a song