First Lesson: 2 Samuel 11: 1-15
Responsive Reading: Psalm 14
Second Lesson: Ephesians 3: 14-21
​Gospel Lesson: John 6: 1-21

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
This summer we’ve been having a good deal of Road Construction upon the North Shore.  I’ve had trips from Two Harbors that have taken 1 ½ hours.  We all can understand this frustration.  Now picture a bigger city like Minneapolis where the cars aren’t just in the hundreds but the hundreds of thousands on the road at any given time. 

With road construction in mind, let me begin by telling a children’s story as told by Alice Schertle[1].  Once upon a time, there was a little, blue truck[2].  The truck was small.  The truck was slow.  The truck looked like it didn’t belong on the road with the other cars.  One day the little blue truck dared to venture into the big city.  As the little, blue truck drove around, everyone couldn’t help but see all the ways that it didn’t measure up to the other vehicles on the road.  Other vehicles would shout out at the little, blue truck “Shove on, Shorty,” honk their horns, or yell “Get out of the way[3].”

Finally, the little blue truck encounters the biggest limousine around.  The limousine was the prettiest car around.  It was obvious that someone important is inside.  That person turned out to be the big city’s mayor.  Pretty soon a traffic jam came to the big city.  Cars were stuck with nowhere to go. Drivers were yelling and honking at each other.  The little blue truck though had a realization; a little patience will help things move a lot faster.  “One at a time is the way to go[4].”

As the little blue truck encountered the limo once again, the limo started to go attempting to cut off the little blue truck, only to have its engine give out right in the middle of the city.  The little blue truck then offered the mayor a ride.  Everyone was shocked when the mayor took the little blue truck up on its offer.  The mayor encourages all the cars to follow the little blue truck’s advice.  Pretty soon, all the cars in line.  Soon everyone around begins to cheer the little, blue truck for ultimately leading the way out of the traffic jam once and for all[5]. 

Now the little, blue truck showed something important about leadership how it's not always the biggest trucks on the road that are needed to get the job the done[6]. 

Sometimes all that’s needed to change the world is a simple servant who sees a much bigger purpose. 

Let me tell a second story; Once upon a time, there was a seminary professor on vacation[7].  He and his wife were having dinner when an old man they hadn’t seen before in their lives began to approach them.  The old man asks what do you the professor “What do you do.”  To which the professor replies “I work as a preacher.”  Normally announcing he was a preacher would put a quick end to a lot of conversations, but the old man grew more excited.

He said, let me tell you a story.  The old man began to explain his life as a child[8].  He never knew who his father was.  His mother was ostracized by nearly everyone around in their town in Tennessee. The young boy had never gone to church because of this.  One day though a new preacher came to town.  The young boy to the amazement of everyone showed up at the church.  The boy left the service early before anyone could talk to him.  He would keep coming back week after week.  He would be the last one in and the first one out. He was skilled at never talking to anyone.  One Sunday though the boy got caught up in the sermon and didn’t leave.  As soon as the service was over, the aisles started to fill.  The boy started scurrying for a side door, embarrassed that he had been caught at church.  Pretty soon though he feels a giant hand come down upon his shoulder.  The boy turns around sees the preacher staring right at him.  “What’s your name, boy? Whose son are you?”  The little boy was ashamed at the question; he didn’t want to dare tell this preacher the truth that he had no idea who his father was.  He thought he’d be told to never come back to the church ever again.  The preacher begins looking the boy up and down.  Before the boy could answer, the preacher began to speak “know who you are. I know who your family is. There’s a distinct family resemblance. Why you’re the son, you’re the son; you’re the son of God!”.  The old man described this encounter in the midst of a church traffic jam as forever changing his life, even years after it had taken place.  The old man got up and left the preacher’s table then finally the restaurant.

The waitress comes up to deliver the bill “Do you know who that was?” The preacher got confused, only to hear the waitress answer “That was Ben Hooper, the two-term governor of Tennessee.[9]”

On that day the preacher was merely a simple servant who saw a much bigger purpose at work in the life of this fatherless child. 

These two stories lead us into our lesson for Today from Ephesians 3[10].  In this chapter, Paul begins to pray for the Ephesian church.  Ephesians was one of Paul’s last letters.  Paul probably wrote Ephesians while sitting in prison[11].  Paul though in these days saw a much bigger purpose for the Ephesian church. 
Paul’s prayer goes as such: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God[12].”

Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian church is that they comprehend the vastness of God’s love.  The vastness of God’s grace in all kinds of life’s situations.  The reality that this grace does not end even when you’re an outcast child trying to escape a church in Tennessee. 

Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles sums this passage up best when he says[13]: ‘ Thankfully, as Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Christians reminds us, we don’t have a small and distant god.  The real God revealed to us in the history of Israel and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is magnificent, mysterious, and mighty.”

The type of God that Paul prays can take the smallest of acts and use them for much, much bigger purposes.

Let me close with one final story; Once upon a time in Romania, there was a pastor named Laszlo Tokes[14] who was continually harassed by the secret police of the communist government.  Pastor Tokes refused to back down, so the government set out to arrest him and deported to his native Hungary.  Yet all the members of his church gathered to protect him and form a blockade around him[15].  Just like the little blue truck or the small boy in the church, the communist forces were flummoxed.  Pretty soon people from all over the Romanian countryside came out to join Pastor Tokes cause.  Nine days later, the Romanian government fell.  The reign of the Iron Curtain over Eastern Europe was soon to come to an end.  All these things took place because one Pastor saw a much bigger purpose that his current oppression.   In the wake of Pastor Tokes’ victory and the fall of the Communists, a sign went up declaring “The Lamb Wins[16].”  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Paul’s prayer to the Ephesians had come true.  God’s spirit filled the land, and the church was assured of their eventual, final victory in Christ Jesus.  God’s purposes are often bigger their own.  The following reality is why we often struggle to see God’s purposes on any given day.  Within the Kingdom of God eventually, the tiny, little blue truck becomes the most admired car in the city. The little-ashamed boy in the back of the church becomes the Governor of Tennessee, or the simple country Pastor changes the whole wide world.   The one theme all these stories have in common is they all took place in the midst of various traffic jams.  Remember this the next time you encounter a little bit of road construction. Amen
 
 
 
 
 


[1] Landes, Elizabeth Boulware. “Little Blue Truck: Leads the Way.” Storypath. William Smith Morton Library, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 19.Jun.2015. Web. July.12.2018. 
[2] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube. 12. May.2017. Web. July.12.2018. 
[3] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube
[4] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube.
[5] Miss Becky. “Little Blue Truck Leads the Way by Alice Schertle.” You Tube
[6] Landes, Elizabeth Boulware. “Little Blue Truck: Leads the Way.” Storypath.
[7] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching. Web. July.12.2018 taken from Tony Campolo’s It’s Friday but Sunday’s Comin. Word Books. 1985.
[8] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching.
[9] Higgins, Scott. “You’re the Son of God.” Stories of Preaching.
[10] Ephesians 3:14-21. 
[11] Markquardt, Edward. “Fill Er’ Up: Books of the Bible: Ephesians.” Sermons from Seattle. Web. July.12.2018. 
[12] Ephesians 3:16-19. 
[13] Sayles, Rev.Dr. Guy. “Our Vast and Loving God.” Day 1. 29. July.2012. Web. July.12.2018. 
[14] “László Tőkés.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 25.June.2018. Web. July.12.2018. 
[15] Buchanan, Rodney. “I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church.” Sermon Central. 10.Jun.2012. Web. July.12.2018. 
[16] Buchanan, Rodney. “I Believe In The Holy Catholic Church.” Sermon Central.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 7: 1-14
Responsive Reading: Psalm 89: 20-37
Second Lesson: Ephesians 2: 11-22
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Once upon a time, there was a young man in India[1].  The man was raised Hindu.  He struggled with Hinduism as he was part of a lower caste[2].  Therefore, he always treated as a second-class citizen wherever he went.  The young man became acquainted with Christianity through the British Rule of India at the time.  While the young man wasn’t the biggest fan of the British, he began to study Christianity.  The young man grew greatly intrigued.  So the young man one Sunday decides to seek out a church in Calcutta.  Afterward, he wished to talk to the minister about converting.  Young man approaches the sanctuary.  An usher stops him at the door, refuses to give him a seat, and then suggests he go worship with his own people.  The young man would later declare: “I’d be a Christian if it were not for the Christians.”  The young man’s name was Mohandas Gandhi[3].  Gandhi would go on to help lead the India Independence movement against the British while employing principals of non-violent resistance.  Gandhi would become one of the most admired men of the 20th century. 

As Christians like this usher proved we always struggle with who is exactly kind of believer, Nadia Bolz-Weber was a seminary classmate of mine.  She’s a former stand-up comedian and a recovering alcoholic and drug user.  She’s heavily tattooed and often known for using colorful language.  Nadia started a church in Denver, Colorado for those who didn’t seem to fit in with any church: recovered addicts, the depressed, those who had previously been burned by the Christian faith[4].  Nadia’s a gifted speaker, and the church quickly grew.  She gets invited to speak before 10,000 people at Red Rocks for an Easter Sunday service.  Nadia’s fame spreads further.  Her church quickly grows.  Larry then shows up on Sunday[5].  Larry was not the type of guy that Nadia had in mind starting her church.  Larry’s presence at her church makes Nadia uncomfortable for all sorts of reasons: age, gender, zip code, breath, and waistband.  Larry seemingly didn’t fit in at Nadia’s church in any way.  He was totally uncool in a church that appeared to be cool.  Larry was the guy who rambles on inanely about boring stuff during coffee hour.  Nadia soon begins not to include Larry in emails for church activities[6].  Nadia comes up with an excuse to not perform Larry’s wedding.  Nadia soon comes to realize that even Christian pastors can be nothing but narrow-minded jerks when it comes to dealing with others.  What happens with Larry and Nadia, we’ll get back to, that story in just a little bit.

Today, we’re looking further into the Letters of the Apostle Paul.  We start a new book Today in Ephesians.  The main theme for Ephesians is “Who exactly does make up the Body of Christ?”  The background is Paul early in his ministry had traveled to Ephesus.  He had two visits.  One went on for three months[7].  The second visit took place for three years[8].  The church got firmly established on Paul’s second missionary journey.  Paul’s work in the Ephesus church had helped spread the Gospel through Asia or modern-day Turkey.  Yet the Ephesian church had tensions.  Most of these tensions centered on the controversial divisions of the early church between Jews and Gentiles.  The Gentiles would be the newest converts to Christianity were often treated much like Nadia treated Larry or the Usher treated Gandhi.

For example, as described by Pastor Mickey Anders[9].  If a Gentile woman were giving birth to a child, a Jewish person would not be allowed to provide aid.  If a Gentile invited a Jew over for coffee, the Jew could not enter lest they be declared “unclean.”  Marrying a Gentile would have been considered the equivalent of death and you would have been excommunicated from the family.  So consider all this background, once you put Jews and Gentiles into the same church, you’re going to have problems. 

The most controversial issue between Jew and Gentile Christians was circumcision.  The Jews thought it needed to be practiced as ritual, whereas the Gentiles saw it as unnecessary.  So within our lesson for Today[10], Paul seeks to give the source of peace between both Jew and Gentile.  Paul seeks to break down the walls of hostility and turn divided people into the Body of Christ.  Earlier in Ephesians 2, Paul lays out the whole point of the book:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast[11].”

What Paul is saying is that the divisions between Jew and Gentile that seem so significant Today will be done away with through the Cross of Christ.

Let me tell a story.  Once upon a time, there was a beautiful castle along the English Coast with no one currently living there[12].  Vandals would frequently come by and pillage the place.  The owner decided that he needed to find a permanent solution.  So he hired a contractor to build a giant wall around the castle.  The contractor quickly ran into problems though; he couldn’t find rocks for the wall.  So the contractor called the owner to complain.  The owner was furious “I paid you good money, and I don’t care where you find the rocks, just build the wall.”  The owner eventually comes to check on his castle; it is now surrounded by a beautiful high wall just like he wanted.  He was thrilled with the contractor’s work.  The vandals could no longer pillage the castle.  The owner then went through the wall only to see there was no castle there.    The contractor begins to explain “You told me to build the wall by any means necessary, and there were all these wonderful rocks in that run-down castle, so I used them[13].”

The owner thought he was protecting himself; the owner thought he was protecting something of a great tradition and great value.  Often all we do is build a wall to God’s grace working in new ways such as in the case of bringing together both Jew and Gentile with the Church.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”- Galatians 3:28. 

Early, I told you the story of Larry and Nadia[14].  Larry being socially awkward around the young female pastor.  Nadia not knowing what to do in response.  Larry contracts a brain tumor and dies as a relatively young man.  Nadia gives a sermon at his funeral.  Afterward, a woman that Nadia had never seen before comes up to her.  She says “I wanted to thank you for having a church where Larry felt so welcome.  He spoke highly of you and your congregation, and I know that having you as his pastor meant a lot to him in his final months[15].”

This story reminds us how even the best of us remain imperfect.  We justify our jerkiness in all sorts of ways yet through this all we receive Grace.  It is our various imperfections that ultimately make up the Body of Christ. 

Robert E. Lee is best known as the commander of the Army for the Confederate States of America[16].  Lee before this had served his country as a hero in the Mexican-American War and as a commander at the United States Military Academy.  As Civil War loomed in this country, Robert E.Lee saw slavery as a great evil.  Lee was skeptical that political methods such as war would be after hearing of great bloodshed in Kansas over whether to make it a free or a slave state.  Lee’s loyalties were conflicted.  He was opposed to southern secession, while upset at those who thought slavery could end through bloodshed.  While Lee was recruited to join the Union cause, Lee initially wished to stay neutral as he ultimately could not turn his sword against his native Virginia.  Lee was then encouraged to resign from the Union army.  Most of Lee’s family sided with the Union cause.  Lee though became a soldier in the Confederate army.

America would endure four years of Civil War.  When we think of the nastiness of our politics Today, they are nothing compared to how strongly pronounced allegiances were in the wake of America’s Civil War.  Here’s what you should also know about Robert E. Lee he was a man of devout faith.  Shortly after the Civil War ended, he attended a church service in Washington .D.C[17].  Lee during this service goes up to Communion where kneeling alongside him is an African-American man.  Both Lee and this gentleman receive the sacrament.  An onlooker then goes up to Robert E. Lee and says “How could you do that?”  To which Lee replied. “My friend, all ground is level beneath the cross.[18]”

Amen
 


[1] Stanford, Lama Chuck. “Voices of Faith: Why did Gandhi say, ‘If it weren’t for Christians, I’d be a Christian?’ Kansas City Star. 17. Apr.2015. Web. July.3.2018. 
[2] Our Daily Bread “Prejuicide.” 6. Mar.1994. Web. July.3.2018 taken from Sermon Illustrations.com
[3] “Mahatma Gandhi.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 3.July.2018. Web. July.3.2018. 
[4] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 5.July.2018. Web. July.7.2018. 
[5] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Convergent Publishing. New York. 2015. Pg.14.
[6] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.15
[7] Acts 18:19-21
[8] Acts 20:31
[9] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central. 2003. Web. July.3.2018. 
[10] Ephesians 2:11-12
[11] Epheisans 2:8-9
[12] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central. Taken from 1988 sermon by Joel Gregory at Southern Baptist Convention. 
[13] Anders, Pastor Mickey. “Breaking Down the Dividing Wall.” Sermon Central.
[14] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.19
[15] Bolz-Weber, Nadia. “Accidential Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People.” Pg.19
[16] “Robert E. Lee”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.  2.July.2018. Web. July.3.2018. 
[17] Source Unknown. “Prejuicide.” Sermon Illustrations. Web. July.3.2018 
[18] Source Unknown. “Prejuicide.” Sermon Illustrations.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10
Responsive Reading: Psalm 48
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10
​Gospel Lesson: Mark 6: 1-13

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn in 1963[1].  Jordan perhaps is the most gifted person on the planet ever to pick up a Basketball.  As a freshman in college at North Carolina, he hit the game-winning jump shot to bring the Tarheels a National Championship.

Jordan, when he becomes a professional, joins the Chicago Bulls.  Jordan was an immediate sensation.  Jordan was the NBA’s leading scorer in 1987 and would proceed to win ten consecutive scoring titles in seasons that he qualified[2].  Jordan’s last six full seasons with the Chicago Bulls led to world titles every year. Jordan’s success led to him being perhaps the most sought-after celebrity endorser on the planet.  Jordan’s contract with Nike turned them from a small running shoe company to perhaps the most well-known shoe company in the world.  In 1991, Gatorade had a series of commercials with the slogan “Be Like Mike[3].”  These commercials had a group of school children singing how they dreamed of being just like Mike.  Michael Jordan seems to be the type of person every school child should inspire to be: successful and wealthy beyond people’s wildest imaginations. 

Now I want to tell you the story of another Basketball player of whom you probably haven’t heard. Bryon Russell was a good basketball player.  He played college ball at the little-known Long Beach State[4].  There was little interest in him playing in the NBA. Russell was gritty though.  He ends up playing in the NBA for thirteen seasons despite never being any team’s best player. 

In 1994, Jordan went into a brief retirement, only to be told by Bryon Russell: “Why did you quit? You know I could guard you[5].” Russell’s semi-serious trash talk which wasn’t unheard of for a Basketball player set off Jordan as few people have ever been set off.

In 1998, Jordan’s last game with the Bulls he hits a shot to win a World Championship over Bryon Russell.  When Jordan got inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 , he continued attacking Bryon Russell’s foolish mouth and weak game in his speech[6].   Michael Jordan wanted to point out his great superiority over every Bryon Russell that had ever been put before him. 

Now I want to tell you Today about another similar situation that took place within the Corinthian Church.  The Corinthian Church had a group of super-apostles[7].  These were the types of Christians who like Michael Jordan when they talked of all they did, the rest of the Corinthians couldn’t help but feel inferior.  The super-apostles had begun taking control of the Corinthian Church; they would shame the other believer's faults at every opportunity.  No different than Michael Jordan would do so to Bryon Russell. 

So as Paul writes the Corinthian Church, he speaks of his authority coming from elsewhere rather than his achievement.  Paul saw things differently from the super-apostles.  Paul saw his weakness as a sign of strength.  Paul speaks of a great thorn in his flesh[8].  Paul speaks of praying that this thorn is removed.  Paul eventually comes to terms with his limitation and realizes that his weakness was, in fact, a source of his authority:

Paul declares: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong[9].”

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Harry Day[10]. Harry was set to enroll at Stanford University.  Harry’s dad suddenly died.  Harry then inherits the family ranch in New Mexico.  The family ranch was remote.  It had no running water or electricity.  It was nine miles from the nearest paved road.  The family had to hunt jackrabbits to survive[11].  Harry eventually gets married to Ada Mae.  They give birth to a baby girl named Sandra.  As Sandra grows up, Ada Mae would read to her for one hour a day.  Sandra has to be sent away for school in El Paso over two-hundred miles away as Harry hoped Sandra would have the education that he never could get.  Sandra eventually enrolls at Stanford. Sandra gets accepted into law school.  Sandra then hits the job market.  At first, she only received job offers to be a legal secretary.  Sandra’s first job is as an assistant county attorney; she only gets the job after agreeing to work for no money.  Sandra eventually builds her own law practice in Arizona.  Twenty-nine years after graduating law school, Sandra gets a phone call from President Ronald Reagan.   The poor ranch girl from New Mexico now known as Sandra Day O Connor had just been named the first female justice of the United States Supreme Court. 

The story of Sandra Day O’Connor reminds how there is power in weakness.   She seemingly had every disadvantage imaginable growing up: poor, lack of educational opportunities, wrong gender to enter the legal fields in the 1950’s, yet all these things lead her to the United States Supreme Court. Paul makes the case that his weakness, his “thorns in the flesh” are what gives him the authority to proclaim God’s grace in his own life.  Paul’s reminder is the church doesn’t have its Micheal Jordans, true spiritual power comes to us only through Christ Alone. 

Once upon a time, there was a young woman who was growing through a rough time in her life[12].  The woman storms into her mother’s kitchen.  She wanted to give up on life, every time one problem was solved another new one arose. 

Mom then walks over to the stove without saying a word[13].  She fills three pots with water.  She then turns the stove over each of the three pots.  Pretty soon the water turns to a boil. Mom takes out some carrots, eggs, and coffee.  She puts the three items in each pot. 

The Mother after twenty minutes takes the carrots, eggs, and coffee out of their respective pots.    Mom opens her mouth for the first time in twenty minutes to ask her daughter what she sees.  The daughter is confused only to reply “carrots, eggs, and coffee[14].”

Mom asks daughter to feel the carrots which she notices are soft as cooked carrots can be.  Mom then pulls the shell off the hard-boiled egg while her daughter watches.  Finally, Mom asks daughter to drink the coffee; the coffee was some of the best tasting coffee she ever had drunk.

Daughter is confused at this point: “What does this mean Mother?”

Mom replied “You see each of these items faced the same adversity in boiling water. "

“The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting.  However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water[15]”.

The Apostle Paul realized it was his hardship, his adversity, his thorns are what made him into a preacher of the Gospel. Paul had seen the water change around him.  Paul had seen resurrection come from death within his own life.  Paul’s thorn was a reminder that the greatest examples of God’s grace come from the greatest of human weaknesses[16]. 

Let me close with what finally story told by Keith Wagner[17].  This story could take place in a church just like this one.  Once upon a time, a man joined the church choir.  The man couldn’t sing at all. The choir director worked with him, but it did no good.  The man was so off-key that the other choir members couldn’t hit their notes[18].  The rest of the choir asked the choir director to do something.  The choir director then decided to go to the pastor to hopefully address the issue. 

The pastor goes to the man’s house.  The pastor explains how the man’s talents would be better used elsewhere other than the choir.  The man responds “But I like singing; it gives me great joy[19].”  The pastor gets frustrated “But you sing off-key, and the choir doesn’t sound that good.” The man shakes his head at the pastor. “You know you aren’t the world’s greatest preacher, but I listen every Sunday.”  And because you are my pastor I listen even though it is rare when I get anything good from your sermons.” The pastor was speechless at such a response.  The pastor then finally says “We’re lucky to have people like you singing in the choir[20].” The pastor then went home reflecting on the meaning of Paul’s words for us Today:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me[21].”

Michael Jordan for the last thirty years has been considered one of the great role models within our nation.  Jordan could jump and shoot a basketball in ways that nearly every kid at every tiny gym in our nation could only imagine.  The Corinthian Church had a group of believers who seemed to be the same way.  The Apostle Paul said the perfect Christian is not what we should aspire to be.  We should instead seek to “Be like Bryon.” Cling to our handicaps like Sandra Day, The Coffee Mother, or the awful choir singer.  Remember our strength comes not from our achievement, but rather an old beaten down wooden cross which ultimately brings eternal life.  Amen
 
 
 
 
[1] “Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[2] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[3] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation.
[4] “Bryon Russell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 8.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[5] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop. 3.Dec.2009. Web. June.13.2018. 
[6] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop.
[7] Malcolm, Lois. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10”. Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 5.July.2015. Web. June.13.2018. 
[8] 2 Corinthians 12:7. 
[9] 2 Corinthians 12:10. 
[10] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. June.13.2018. 
[11] “Sandra Day O’Connor”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[12] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Me
diatations. 1. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. 
[13] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[15] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations.
[16] Kegel, Rev.Dr.James. “Strength in Weakness.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. June.12.2018. 
[17] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[18] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[19] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[20] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer.
[21] 2 Corinthians 12:9.  

First Lesson: 2 Samuel 1: 1, 17-27
Responsive Reading: Psalm 130
Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 8: 7-15
Gospel Lesson: Mark 5: 21-43

Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
​
Once upon a time in a town such as this one lived a very rich man[1].  Everyone in the surrounding area knew this gentleman as the richest man around.  In the same small town was a tiny charity struggling to pay their bills and keep their doors open week after week.  As the charity’s situation kept worsening getting to the point where they feared imminently closing down, their Executive Director decided to appeal to the richest man around.  The Executive Director cobbled together her best outfit and spent hours going over the best reasons to give to the charity that meant so much to her.  The rich man sitting in a suit that cost thousands of dollars listened to her case.  Finally, after ten minutes, he proceeds to interrupt her. 

“I can understand why you approached me. Yes, I do have a lot of money, and yours is an important cause. But are you aware that I have a lot of calls for my money? Did you know my mother needs 24-hour nursing care[2].”

The Executive Director meekly shares her head. 

The rich man then asks “Did you know my sister is struggling to raise a family of eight on her own[3]?”

The Executive Director shakes her head once again.

The rich man keeps going “Did you know I have one son in a drug rehab clinic and another doing volunteer work overseas[4]?”

The Executive Director softly says “No, I didn’t know any of this.”

To which the rich man looks her in the eye and says “Well if I don’t give them a cent, what makes you think I’ll give it to you[5]?!”

Now the rich man in our story had worked hard for every cent he had ever made.  It was certainly true that he was entitled to every last cent, yet perhaps there can be different ways to think about the money that we have.

Let me tell you another story, towards the end of the 19th Century two young men were working their way through what was known at the time as Leland Stanford University[6].  These young men being college students barely had a penny to their name.  They then thought of what seemed to be a brilliant fundraiser scheme; Ignacy Paderewski was arguably the most popular musician in the world in the 1890’s[7].  The students wished to put on a piano concert performed by Paderewski at what would come to be known as Stanford University.  The students figured the profits from the concert could help pay for their room and board.  They get a hold of Paderewski’s manager who asked the students to guarantee 2,000 dollars for a Paderewski appearance.  The students agreed and the concert was planned.  Paderewski plays at Stanford, yet a problem remained.  The students had only raised $1600 of the 2000 dollars they had promised Paderewski.  They talk to Paderewski after the concert; they give him a promissory note and declare that they will send the missing $400 bucks to Paderewski as soon as possible.  Paderewski refused any additional money; he tore their promissory note to shreds, he then unexpectedly handed back to them 10% shares each of the sixteen dollars that he had been given to thank them for their work and effort[8].  Paderewski had given away hundreds of dollars that rightfully belonged to him putting it back in the pockets of broke college students.  The story of Paderewski and these college students would not be over; we will return to their story in just a little bit. 

Today’s lesson comes to us from the Book of 2 Corinthians[9].  The new Bible study we’re doing at church is about the letters written by the Apostle Paul to the various 1st generation Christian Churches.  Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians deals with the theme of Christian Stewardship. 

A “steward” is considered one who manages the financial business of another[10].  The concept of Christian stewardship is laid out in Psalm 24 which declares: “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it[11].”
So Christian Stewardship is how we manage the very resources that God has given us such as the Rich Man from the first story managed his money or Paderewski played his piano.  Stewardship is a reminder that everything that we own no matter whose name is on the bank account, credit card, or mortgage statement is a gift from God[12].

This notion of stewardship is on display throughout the scriptures.  In the life of Moses as the Israelites prepare to enter the “promised land.” Moses reminds them of all God has done to bring them to that place: release from Egyptian slavery, journey through the wilderness while being sustained by manna falling from the sky. God had provided for the people of Israel in awesome and direct ways.  But now as they journeyed forward, God’s role would not be so dramatic, but God’s activity would come in more indirect ways of sun, rain, and growth from the Earth[13].   The land ahead will be a “land of plenty,” where the Israelites will truly lack nothing if even this doesn’t appear to be so.   Moses had a very important reason for addressing the concept of stewardship so directly to the people of Israel.  He knew the more prosperous the people of Israel got, the more likely they were to forget from whom their blessings truly came.  Moses’ struggle with stewardship would soon become Paul’s struggle upon the birth of the Christian church[14]. 

So in our lesson Today, Paul seeks to address an issue of Stewardship directly.  The Christian church in Jerusalem has a lot of saints/members in need (Romans 15:25-26.[15])  The Corinthian Church has their share of well-off members[16].

Now the Corinthian Church given to the Jerusalem church was not to going to be easy.  These two churches illustrated in many ways the great divide of Paul’s day.  The Jerusalem church was predominantly Jewish Christian who would often treat Gentile Christians or new-believers which were dominant in Corinth as Second Class-Christians. In fact, many Jewish Christians would even refuse to dine with Gentile Christians.  Now Paul was boldly asking the Gentile Christians to open up their wallets to support those Jewish Christians with whom they’ve had tension. 

Paul instead encourages the Corinthians to give because whether Jew or Gentile they are truly one family in Christ Jesus.  Paul explains the situation as such:

“At present, your plenty will supply what they need so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little[17].”

Paul’s wants Stewardship to ultimately be thought of as the great equalizer of the Christian faith.  How the Cross took place so that both Jew and Gentile might praise together Christ’s mighty deeds of which stewardship is one part in the years ahead (Romans 15:1-13)[18].  We might struggle with stewardship because we notice our wallet getting smaller everytime we give up a dollar, it’s hard to see stewardship’s value immediately because of this.

Earlier I told you the story of the “piano-man,” Ignacy Paderewski who gave of his concert fee to help a couple struggling Leland Stanford college students.  Paderewski would go on to live a remarkable life.  He became wealthy due to his piano-playing and became a well-known philanthropist.  Paderewski was one of the most widely admired citizens in his native Poland[19].  Paderewski like the Apostle Paul would appeal to higher ideals in times of great internal strife.  World War I breaks out over Europe; Paderewski’s Poland is devastated in its wake.  Paderewski then gets appointed Poland’s Prime Minister.  Thousands of people are starving throughout his native land[20].  Paderewski needed to appeal to American allies to assist in the midst of this crisis. The Americans help Poland out.  Paderewski then travels to Paris to meet with the American official in charge of European relief efforts.  Paderewski hoped to thank the man in person.  The man graciously received Paderewski’s thanks.  He then pointed out “You don’t remember it, but you helped me once when I was a student at college at Stanford and I was in a hole[21]” of my own.  The college student who Paderewski helped out and eventually thanked went by the name of Herbert Hoover.

Paul in our lesson wants Stewardship to be the great equalizer of the Christian faith much as it eventually equalized Paderewski and Hoover.  Paul’s whole stewardship philosophy is based on the newfound realities of Christ’s death and resurrection.  “How Christ gave up his own extraordinary riches so that others might receive the abundant wealth of God’s Grace[22].”   

Let me close with one final story to illustrate this[23]; Little Ralphie belonged to a family of five.  One morning, Ralphie brought home five stones that he thought would make perfect tombstones for his family. 
“Look here,” Ralphie said to his mother.  Mother counted the five tombstones.  Mother points out Ralphie’s problem “There isn’t a tombstone for Deliah, the maid[24].” 

Ralphie was stumped for a moment; then he finally figured out the solution.

“Oh, well, never mind, Deliah can have mine, and I’ll just keep on living[25].”

I began today by telling you the story of a very rich man, who clung to his money like life itself, whereas Ralphie realized that there are things more important than money such as unoccupied tombstones.  Amen
 


[1] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching. Web. June.6.2018. Taken from unknown source. 
[2] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[3] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[4] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching
[5] Higgins, Scott. “Why Would I Give It to You?” Stories for Preaching.
[6] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am. Web. June.6.2018. Taken from Sermon Illustrations.com
[7] “Ignacy Jan Paderewski.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 4.June.2018. Web. June.6.2018. 
[8] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[9] 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. 
[10] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations. 5.June.2018. Web. June.6.2018. 
[11] Psalm 24:1. 
[12] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[13] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[14] Stier, Leon. “Christian Stewardship(part one of two).” Email Mediatations.
[15] Works, Carla. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.” Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 1.July.2012. Web. June.6.2018. 
[16] Adams, Edward. “Church at Corinth.” Bible Odyssey. Web. June.6.2018. 
[17] 2 Corinthians 8:14-15. 
[18] Works, Carla. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8:7-15.” Working Preacher.
[19] Ignacy Jan Paderewski.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
[20] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[21] Bok, Edward. A. “Generosity.” Perhaps I Am.
[22] 2 Corinthians 8:9. 
[23] “Generosity”. More Illustrations. Web. June.6.2018. 
[24] Generosity”. More Illustrations.
[25] Generosity”. More Illustrations.