Sermon for 7/31/11 "Jesus' Unannounced Potluck"

SERMON “Jesus’ Unannounced Potluck” Audio Link http://dl.dropbox.com/u/23575548/110731Matthew14.mp3

(Psalm 19.14) May the words of my lips and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

I think we all know how a potluck dinner works. You bring something, I bring something, and so do most of the people who are coming. By the time it’s all laid out, since most people bring a little more than they would eat, everyone has a lot. We gather around the tables, we probably eat too much of foods that are not very good for us, and we can spend some time talking, laughing, catching up with one another. It’s a good time.

What happens, though, when we have a potluck dinner and don’t announce it to anyone? Do you normally bring something to eat after the divine service? I think most of us don’t. What we usually do is come to church, gather together, then disappear to our homes or maybe a restaurant, maybe someone else’s home if we have an invitation, and eat there. Our family had a routine for several years that we called a “halfway market” meal. We went to a church some distance from our home and we would often stop at a little store on the way home to pick up some cheese, crackers, and fruit. Because it was a little expensive, more often we’d have a “halfway market” meal that came from the grocery store close to our home but which we carried with us on Sunday.

But let’s look at this situation Jesus and his disciples find themselves in. Jesus had received some bad news. His friend, his cousin, John the baptizer, had been imprisoned and beheaded. It seems our Lord wanted to get away from the crowds for a little while, so he went to a rural area where there wouldn’t be many people. However, Jesus’ reputation was greater than his need or desire for privacy. He was flocked by people, a large crowd of people, more people than we have in this town.

What does our Lord do when his people come to him? He heals us. He teaches us. He provides us with what we need. And at the end of a long day’s work, the disciples start to realize what Jesus knew all along. The crowd doesn’t have food. These are people who set out without provisions. They may not have means to buy food. And the market won’t have what they need. Picture yourself walking into the grocery store. Maybe not a grocery store here. They are in a rural area. Yes, I know, Watseka seems to be a pretty rural area. But this is the big town. Let’s take this crowd to Gilman, just down the road. It’s more like a village. Actually, it’s a little big to be a village. Now, we take this crowd, some five thousand men plus women and children, and we go into the convenience store in Gilman. Everybody needs supper. Do you see something wrong with that picture? Yes, the store can get enough food for that number of people. No, it doesn’t have the food in stock. It simply isn’t going to work. After a few hundred people come in the store will have a full cash register and empty shelves.

What does Jesus do? He does a parable. I know we’re used to the idea of Jesus saying parables, but here he does a parable. Sometimes our actions speak much louder than our words. Jesus’ actions here speak much more than his words could. So what happens in this parable? Jesus, the one who heals and provides for his people, puts the people in order, gives thanks to God, and starts handing bread and fish to the people. Jesus Christ, the one who sometimes refers to himself as the true bread of heaven, distributes a supernatural banquet to all who believe him enough to sit down and wait there. And his provision for them is abundant. They have plenty to eat and there are left overs, more than the food Jesus started with. What did the people bring? They didn’t bring food. No, we bring nothing to the table of God, nothing but our need, nothing but our hunger. But Jesus takes a bit of normal sustenance and multiplies it, providing what his people need, food and drink which nourishes our faith, which delivers forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Yes, our deeds speak louder than words. Jesus gives himself for his people, that they may receive him and live.

Next Sunday we are going to celebrate together as we receive the body and blood of our Lord, given and shed for us. How do we prepare? What do we bring? As our teens acted out earlier in the service, we don’t bring anything of any use to God. What we offer to God is a broken heart, a contrite spirit. We confess that we cannot earn any merit, that we are ultimately bent in upon ourselves in sin. No, we bring nothing but our repentance. It’s Jesus who gives us what we need, his forgiveness, his life, his salvation.

Does the goodness of God move us to repentance? Do we start to see times when we have claimed credit for good which belongs to our Lord and Savior? Do we see ourselves as those who can overcome our sin and present ourselves to the Lord as pure and worthy of being in fellowship with him? Let us remember again how our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the true bread of heaven, has broken the bread and distributed it to his people, that all who believe may receive the nourishment they need. Salvation is of the Lord. It is not anything we can provide. It is nothing we can earn. It is purely from our God.

Let us rise and give thanks to our Lord, the one who is able to have an unannounced potluck dinner and provide for us all, every one of us, all we need, and much more.

Our Lord, Bread of Heaven, we confess that we try to depend on our own ability. We think we can bring something to your table, though we know we can’t. Grant us repentance and remind us yet again of your forgiveness. Give us hope and nourish our faith, for you, the author and finisher of our salvation, live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 80.14-19, 1 Samuel 16.1-23, Acts 25.13-27 - Lectionary for 7/31/11 - Commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea

Today is the commemoration of Joseph of Arimathea.

Today's readings are Psalm 80.14-19, 1 Samuel 16.1-23, and Acts 25.13-27.

There's a controversy surrounding today's reading from 1 Samuel. Observe that Samuel anoints David king but then David seems to go a long time before he takes up kingly duties. The controversy among scholars has to do with why David would be anointed as king but not make any attempt to be king until much later. He also doesn't seem to be recognized as king by the general public for some time. But this does not need to surprise us. David recognized Saul as the king anointed by God. It is consistent with his personality that he would wait for Saul to leave his position as king.

When God has given us gifts, how are we at waiting until we have the right opportunity to use them? Do we rush ahead? Are we overly hesitant? May the Lord give us wisdom and confidence either to wait or go ahead at the right time.

Psalm 50.1-6, 1 Samuel 15.10-35, Acts 24.24-25.12 - Lectionary for 7/30/11 - Commemoration of Robert Barnes, Confessor & Martyr

Today is the commemoration of Robert Barnes, Confessor and Martyr.

Today's readings are Psalm 50.1-6, 1 Samuel 15.10-35, and Acts 24.24-25.12.

We read today of a confrontation between Samuel and Saul. In this conflict, some people find warrant to rebuke others openly, even to deny forgiveness to people who express repentance. While this is entirely possible based on the passage, we do well to bear in mind Samuel's attitude about it.

As we read, Samuel was grieved about the situation for the rest of his life. He somehow knew that Saul's repentance was not genuine. As a prophet of God, he understood the kingdom was being removed from Saul. This was a serious and grievous situation.

Are we often ready to proclaim God's judgment on sin - more ready than our Lord is? How do we react when we are to forgive an offense but we aren't too certain of genuine repentance? Does it truly grieve us when we do not see repentance? It grieves the Heavenly Father. May the Lord work genuine repentance, faith, and forgiveness in this world.

Psalm 119.41-48, 1 Samuel 14.47-15.9, Acts 24.1-23 - Lectionary for 7/29/11 - Commemoration of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus

Today is the commemoration of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Today's readings are Psalm 119.41-48, 1 Samuel 14.47-15.9, and Acts 24.1-23.

As we continue to look at the reign of Saul and the trial of Paul, we continue to see that governing is far from easy. How does Paul make it easier on the officials God has placed over him? Though he is absolutely clear and forthright in his testimony of Christ, Paul avoids making accusations against those empowered to make a legal decision. Rather, he treats his judges with respect. It is their duty to judge, and to judge well. They don't need to have that judgment clouded by angry accusations.

Do we confess God is sovereign? Then he is sovereignly able to guide the judges of this world into all truth. May he grant even unbelievers wisdom and ability to do right.

Psalm 59.1-5, 1 Samuel 13.1-18, Acts 23.12-35 - Lectionary for 7/28/11 - Commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach

Today is the commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach.

Today's readings are Psalm 59.1-5, 1 Samuel 13.1-18, and Acts 23.12-35.

Government is a tricky business. It seems that everything you do has some sort of consequence. Usually a plan made in one area has an influence on others as well. Who knows whether a regulation to protect one group of people may incidentally harm others?

In today's readings we see King Saul beginning to organize his power. No matter the counselors and captains he has, life will be challenging. We also see the political authorities in Acts wondering what to do with Paul. They are not experts in the kind of dispute surrounding him. Yet it is their God-given responsibility to deal with it correctly.

May we always be praying for our leaders. They are in a difficult position. They need the wisdom of God.

Psalm 119.17-24, 1 Samuel 12.1-25, Acts 22.30-23.11 - Lectionary for 7/27/11

Today's readings are Psalm 119.17-24, 1 Samuel 12.1-25, and Acts 22.30-23.11.

A prophet's life is often lonely. As we read today, Samuel, who has largely been rejected by Israel, reviews the history of the period of the judges. As a culmination of Samuel's history survey, he points out that Israel's selection of a human king represented a rejection of God as king. With God giving a sign of thunder and rain during the harvest time, the people were moved to repentance - at least partially.

In the same way, when Paul explained his stand for Christ, some believed and some didn't. The result was that he was taken into protective custody by the pagan governmental officials.

It's difficult to stand for the truth. Sometimes it seems like we're standing all alone. But we aren't. Our Lord has promised to be with us whenever we are trusting in and standing for him as he is revealed in Scripture. There is never a need to fear.

Psalm 69.30-35, 1 Samuel 10.1-27, Acts 22.17-29 - Lectionary for 7/26/11

Today's readings are Psalm 69.30-35, 1 Samuel 10.1-27, and Acts 22.17-29.

In our readings today we see that God uses his people in complicated ways. He does give us new hearts, minds, and gifts to accomplish his purposes. Yet he also uses us within the bounds of our own backgrounds.

Saul appears to be shy about the fact he was anointed king. He keeps it a secret then is difficult to find when publicly chosen by lot. He may have dealt with some struggles throughout his reign which could be tied to a desire to avoid publicity.

When Paul is sent to the Gentiles he doubtless finds it a challenge. But he has shown himself to be someone who can face controversy. When the controversy causes a riot he is also comfortable calling on his status as a freeborn citizen to escape harm.

How has God called us? How can he use our station in life? Let us look to him and not fear the way he has created us and used us in the past. He is the one who knows how to conduct our lives.