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Sunday, July 21 worship service

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This week our Summer Worship Experiment brings us to St. Andrew's Hespeler.

Our service for July 7

https://youtu.be/pVoZk6le60k

Knox Crieff, July 7, 2024 © Scott McAndless Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10, Psalm 48, 2 Corinthians 12:2-10, Mark 6:1-13

Jesus said, “Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” And have you noticed that that is not really one of his most famous sayings? It is not up there with “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” or “Turn the other cheek,” but I suspect it might be one of the most important things that he ever said.

It is, on the surface, just his reflection on a bad experience he had when he took his disciples with him and visited his hometown of Nazareth. Apparently, even though they had heard great things about what he had been doing, about how he had been spreading his wisdom and doing great deeds of power in other towns and villages of Galilee, they were not inclined to give him any respect.

They Knew him too well

And it is at least suggested that this was because they knew him too well – that they knew his brothers and sisters and mother because he had grown up among them. They knew that he had made a living as a carpenter which they clearly saw as a rather lowly profession. Maybe we can also read into that that they remembered what he was like as an annoying little kid who, like any other child, must have gotten into trouble and gotten on other people’s nerves.

Hometown Heroes

But that can’t quite be the whole story, can it? Because that is not how people usually behave. When somebody from your hometown makes it big on a larger stage, is your first reaction to disrespect them? Of course not! In a couple of weeks, the whole world will focus on Paris, France and the Olympic Games. Now, as far as I know, there will be no athletes from Puslinch at the games this year. Though, if there is, I’m sure that someone will let me know at the end of the service.

But, if there were, and if they did really well and won some medals, can you imagine people from around here saying, “Oh, that’s no big deal. I don’t respect them because I once saw them in diapers”? Of course, not! We celebrate our hometown heroes. We vicariously take their victories as our own. So, what is up with this reaction in Nazareth?

Jesus as a Prophet

I think that it is not just that they think they know him too well. I think that Jesus is saying something very specific and that we need to pay attention to it. It is because he is a prophet. This incident is the only place in the gospels where Jesus claims to be a prophet, so I think it is very important that we understand what he means by that.

I know that “prophet,” in the popular imagination means somebody who is able to predict the future, but that is not the primary job of a biblical prophet and that is not what Jesus is talking about here.

Biblical Prophets

A biblical prophet was someone who spoke the word of God for the people of his or her own moment in time. They said, “This is what the Lord is saying to God’s people at this moment.” Now, sometimes that included warnings about the future in the sense of, “If you don’t do what God says, this will be the consequence,” but it is actually a misunderstanding of the role of a prophet to think that they went around saying things that wouldn’t make any sense to their audience until years, maybe centuries, in the future when their predictions eventually came to pass.

So, when Jesus says that he is a prophet, what he means is that he is proclaiming what God is saying to the people of his own time and that that is what the people of Nazareth are unable to accept.

Preacher Prophetic Role

Think of it this way. A Christian preacher is supposed to have a similar prophetic role. Are we put in place, to tell people what they want to hear and make them feel good? Not really, though comforting people can be part of the job, it is not what it’s all about. The prophetic job of the preacher is to push and challenge and correct when that is what God is calling for.

And honestly, being prophetic like that is often not a very easy thing in your home church because you know what are the things that are really important to the people in that church. You understand the habits and ways of doing things that they don’t want to let go of. You know what they expect you to be. And I have found that God often challenges us about those very things. And so, the more you know your congregation, the harder it is to be truly prophetic. In some ways, I think that’s what Jesus was saying to the folks at Nazareth.

What was the Prophetic Message?

And so, what was the prophetic message of Jesus that they were having a hard time accepting? Well, I think it may have had something to do with those observations that they were making about Jesus. They had noticed the incredible ministry that he was having elsewhere, the extraordinary teaching and healing that he was doing. But, you see, the very fact that he was doing it elsewhere would have been a sore point for them because they would have had expectations of him.

We often don’t realize this, but there actually were many examples at that time of people doing the kind of thing that Jesus did. There were famous teachers and storytellers. Healers and wonderworkers are also well attested in the historical record. I know we would insist that Jesus did both of those things better than anyone else, but it was not as if other people weren’t engaged in the same kinds of activities.

How You were Supposed to Do It

But there was an expectation about how you were supposed to do it. You were supposed to settle down in one place, usually, of course, in the town that you came from. You were supposed to make the people come to you for what you could offer.

And now can you see why the people in Nazareth might have been a bit upset with Jesus? They were wondering why he hadn’t stayed in Nazareth. If he had, he would be attracting all kinds of people to their little town and they would be selling souvenirs and reaping the economic benefits of having multitudes pass through their village. Jesus wasn’t doing it right! And they felt as if they were missing out on the benefits of his fame.

The prophetic message that he was giving to them was not what he said so much as it was about how he was operating in a way that defied their expectations.

How We Planned this Experiment

As I read this story of Jesus and thought about what I would preach on this, my first opportunity to preach during our grand summer experiment, I’ve got to tell you that these particular words of Jesus really jumped out at me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but we did our best to set this experiment up so that we preachers spent the summer not preaching in our own churches.

The prophets, in other words, are spending the summer away from their home pulpits. And I think there is a challenge in that for me. I think that God might be calling me, might be calling all of us, to be bold in our preaching and to maybe say those things that it might not be safe to say in our home congregations.

What We don’t Want to Hear

So, what is God saying to our churches? What is God saying that maybe we do not want to hear? In particular, what might we be holding onto that is preventing us from seeing the kinds of deeds of power that were associated with the ministry of Jesus? Well, I think it may be the same message that was implicit in the simple fact that Jesus was just paying a visit to Nazareth and not opening up shop there. He was saying that the kingdom of God, this thing that he had come to announce and proclaim, was not tied to your place.

They Loved Nazareth

They loved Nazareth; of course they did. They had probably lived there all of their lives. Every significant spiritual experience in their lives had taken place there. They had encountered God in meaningful ways in the meetings of the synagogue. They loved the buildings and the people that they had shared both good times and bad times there with. But here was Jesus showing them that the kingdom of God was not tied to their place. Is it any wonder that they took offence to him?

And I don’t think that it is any coincidence that that is the very same message that many of our modern-day congregations don’t want to hear from their own prophet or preacher. But, as I said, I am not in my own home pulpit today. So, will I dare to preach the word of the Lord?

That message for today is not, as far as I’m concerned that we’re going to have to all give up our church buildings and sacred spaces. Yes, there may be some major shake-ups coming in terms of how we relate to those spaces. Some of the models that we’ve had that have been so centred on those buildings will probably need to change, but I do believe that God sees the beauty and value of our cherished church buildings as much as we do.

A Shift in Understanding

I think that the shift that Jesus is calling us to is in our understanding of where our ministry takes place. We have fallen into the habit of assuming that these lovely spaces are where ministry occurs. The church has focused its strategy around bringing people in here so that they may minister and be ministered to. But that model hasn’t been working very well for a while now. We need a new understanding of the work that God is calling us to do.

How Jesus Organized His Ministry

I do not think that it is a coincidence that immediately after this whole incident in Nazareth, the Gospel of Mark jumps immediately into an account of the way that Jesus organized his ministry. Far from settling down in one place and expecting that people would come to him to be ministered to, what did Jesus do? He organized his disciples to go out to the various towns and villages of Galilee. They were to go to where the people were. This is the ultimate refutation of the expectations of the people from his hometown of Nazareth. And it may be the key message that prophets should speak to their home churches today.

We rightly cherish these sacred spaces of ours. The wonderful spiritual experiences we have had and continue to have in them are valid. But I do believe that Jesus is calling us to step out of these comfortable and familiar spaces to explore what it means to live out the good news of the kingdom of God in the community and in the wider world. Jesus is sending us out to make the good news of hope and new beginnings real in the lives of the people that we encounter.

Away from the Familiar

That is indeed one of the reasons why I am so excited about what we’ve chosen to do in our summer experiment. We are stepping out of what is familiar and predictable. We’ve chosen to be the church in innovative ways outside of our usual buildings. The very idea of such an approach was what shook up the people in Nazareth. And Jesus seems to have been saying that such a shaking up was prophetic. It may be just what we need.

Now, I’m not trying to suggest that our little summer experiment is the ultimate solution to what is ailing the church today. But I do think that it is symbolic of what Jesus is calling his church to. We need to be willing to conceive of new ways of being the church. We need to be willing to live our faith out in new ways as we meet people where they are with the good news about Jesus, his compassion, care and healing.

If this little experiment helps us to take even a few steps in those directions, then I do believe we will be heeding a prophetic voice. And that is what we need to be doing in these days above all.

Everyone is welcome!

Worship begins at 10:00 am

Join us for our Summer Worship Experiment.

https://youtu.be/ihxutJ52Rwg

Hespeler, June 23, 2024 © Scott McAndless – Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Job 38:1-11, Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Mark 4:35-41

It was a lovely morning when you and Jesus got into the boat and started sailing. The gulls cried overhead, and the herons and egrets waded through the shallows around you. The cormorants swam cheerily alongside as you raised the sail and caught the gentle breeze that would make for an easy crossing to the other side.

And so, you just had a lovely time. You sang some of your favourite songs, had some fine uplifting prayers and Jesus even spoke to you about the scriptures and their application to life in Galilee in your day. It all made being a disciple of Jesus feel so free and easy. Many of you were so comfortable that you began to nod or even doze off in the bottom of the boat.

The Other Boats

There were other boats drifting alongside you as well. There was one nearby that was filled with disciples who were very faithful to Jesus but just had a slightly different way of living out the practice of baptism – insisting that only adults could be baptised. Another boat was full of disciples who were very fond of burning incense, ringing bells and doing things like that to enhance their practice of faith.

And then there were some other boats where their practices were hardly different at all from those in your boat. It was just that they really liked their boat and, even if it was a bit rickety and let a little water seep through, they really wanted to stay in it. So, despite the minor diversity among the boats, everyone just had a wonderful morning of pleasant Christian fellowship and formation.

Why Don’t We Get That Story?

That pleasant crossing must have happened prior to the story that we read from the Gospel of Mark today. But did you notice that we didn’t get the story of that crossing? Such times are very meaningful and are keys to discipleship. Jesus and his friends no doubt had many such times while they were together. The accounts of them just didn’t make their way into the gospels.

In the same way, there have been many eras in the life of the church when we have been able to enjoy together the peacefulness of the voyage of this Christian life, when we can coexist amicably with other Christian groups but don’t worry about them too much because we are all moving in the same general direction.

These have been wonderful and meaningful times that have been fundamental to the formation of our faith, practice and priorities. We cherish them. But are we living in such times? It seems not.

A Promised Destination

And so, despite the fact that I know we love to talk about such times in the life of the church, I don’t want to talk about that morning crossing today. I want to talk about the one that is described in the gospel. And let’s note that the story of that crossing actually starts out pleasant enough. Jesus has just wound up a lovely day preaching to the crowds and he turns to his disciples and says, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” Now, that sounds nice enough, doesn’t it? Jesus seems to be promising just as gentle a crossing as you had this morning.

But, if you pay close attention, you will realize that he doesn’t actually promise anything about the ease of the crossing. He does promise that you are getting to the other side which will turn out to be a very important promise indeed. But you should never mistake God’s promises about your destination for promises about how easy it’s going to be to get there. Nevertheless, when God gives you a promise, you should hold onto it.

The Other Boats Still There

And so, you get back in the boat. Just before you push off from the dock, I want you to notice something. Mark makes a point of saying at this point in the story that, “Other boats were there too.”

I can find no other way to understand that than the way I described those other boats during the morning crossing. Mark seems to be dropping into his story a reference to other Christian groups that existed at the time that this gospel was written.

Of course, that early on, the division between disciples of Jesus would not have been as formal as what we have today. There were no denominations and there were not even church buildings for people to become attached to, but there are all kinds of indications that different groups of Christians had different understandings of how to be faithful disciples almost right from the very beginning. This is the reality that Mark is giving a nod to at the beginning of the story of this crossing. And he refreshingly even seems to be acknowledging that it is okay that different groups have different approaches to Jesus.

So, everything seems to be pretty promising and harmonious as you set out to go back across the lake. But, of course, that is exactly what is about to change.

The Challenge of Stormy Times

It is one thing to be a Christian and live out your faith as a church when the breezes are gentle, the water is calm and the passage is easy. It is quite a different matter when the storm comes. And that is exactly what this story in the gospel is about.

And there have been many storms in the history of the church. The storms have been different in intensity and power. The church has dealt with barbarian invasions, persecutions and reformations. Those were terrifying storms for those caught in them. Other storms have been a little less ferocious and have had more to do with societal change and economic troubles.

A Regular Refrain

But my studies in church history have taught me that, no matter how intense the storm may be, we always seem to respond in the same way – the way that the disciples respond to the storm in this story. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” we cry with them.

Have you noticed that this seems to have become the refrain in many churches these days? Not all, certainly, there are places and congregations where they seem to have found their way through the present storm, but when I was at the General Assembly the other week, that was certainly a very common refrain.

Mark’s Lessons for Us

I feel as if Mark has very intentionally told this story of Jesus in a way that is intended to help the church of his time and down through the ages to navigate such storms and so I would like us to pay close attention to what we can learn from it. The first lesson we need to hear is the most important. The story begins with Jesus saying “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” And it ends with them arriving at the opposite shore.

The meaning of this is, I hope, clear. Jesus does not abandon his church. Jesus will see us over to the other side. That doesn’t mean that the crossing won’t be frightening. That doesn’t mean that we won’t be afraid that we will die. It certainly doesn’t mean that we will not change in some significant ways in the crossing. But we will get there. Hold onto that promise. Never forget it.

When We Forget

When the disciples forget that promise in the middle of the storm, Jesus rebukes them, and rightly so. He wonders why they have no faith. And so, though I certainly understand why we are tempted from time to time to cry out, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” we will be rebuked when we do so.

I do believe that Jesus understands and appreciates it when we express our fears and worries. But do not make the mistake of giving into despair because you have forgotten Jesus’ promises. When you believe them, you will begin to see the new possibilities that Jesus is creating for you in the midst of the storm. It is true that you may not arrive at the far side of the lake in exactly the same condition as when you embarked. The storm will bring change. But Jesus’ promise of arrival is secure.

Where Are the Other Boats?

But, speaking of potential change, we come to the second lesson of this story. As I noted, when the disciples began their journey, Mark made a point of saying that “other boats were there too.” I think I made it clear that I don’t think that is just a random comment. I think that Mark is saying something about the church outside of storm times.

But, if that is the state of things before the storm comes, what happens once it starts? “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.” Yes, it seems as if once the storm starts, we are no longer thinking in terms of our boat and the other boats.

When We’re All in the Same Boat

And that is exactly how it goes, doesn’t it? When all is going well, when the breezes are gentle and the currents are not against you, it is easy to let all those little things matter. The disagreements over theology, the differences in polity, and the particular preferences in pious practice can seem really important and the resources are abundant enough that you can justify each maintaining your own boats.

But once the storm hits what happens? You suddenly realize how much we are all in the same boat. When the water is washing over the gunnels and the waves threaten to capsize you, all of those distinctives and differences just don’t seem to matter anymore.

Downside and Upside

Now, I need to be honest here and admit that there is a downside to this inclement weather realization. When storms have struck at various times throughout the history of the church, those have been times when various traditions or distinctiveness have been lost. It just became too much to maintain all of the different ways of doing and being. And those losses are real and very painful. The present storm the church is facing will see some of those kinds of losses and we must be compassionate in the face of them.

But the “we’re all in the same boat” reality of the storm also brings with it a very large upside. The storm is also a time of great creativity and we particularly experience that in terms of finding ways to work together. All of a sudden, those distinctions that you have between your various groups, even if they are still very meaningful to you, no longer seem to be a big enough reason for you not to get in the same boat together.

When the storm hits, there is often a willingness to suspend and sometimes even ignore those rules and structures that might get in the way of you working together. You would never dream of doing such things in the calm weather, but everything seems possible in the storm.

The Summer Experiment

That is exactly what happened, by the way, with our summer experiment this year. This whole idea of us working together and worshiping together was not something that we asked the Presbytery to make happen, despite the fact that the Presbytery is ultimately responsible for the relationships between its congregations. We worked this out between ourselves, respecting the wisdom of the sessions in each congregation.

Now, if, at the end of this experiment we discern that God is calling some of these congregations to work together in ongoing ways, we may have to go to the Presbytery and figure out how to do that according to our Presbyterian polity, but, in the storm, there is a kind of freedom to experiment. And there is some exciting about that.

Fright and Faith

And yes, I know that it is also frightening. You are afraid that your boat might sink. The terror of the disciples in this story, even though many of them are experienced fishers, is palpable. I don’t expect that we won’t be dealing with fear. But, if you remember Jesus’ promise to the church, that we are going to get to the other side, you do not need to lose faith and that is what matters.

But is not just the promise that Jesus gives you before you start this crossing that gives you reason to hope. It is also what he does for you in the midst of the storm. Jesus stood up and commanded the wind, “Be quiet!” and he said to the waves, “Be still!” The wind died down, and there was a great calm. Never forget that, as we learn to trust in Jesus, he will give that same comfort and peace and calm even though the storm may rage all around us.

We have his promise that we will get to the other side. We have his offer of peace and calm in the midst of the storm. And so let us embark with faith. “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.”