Sermon 03-18-12 :: A Generous God

New sermon posted at reliantchurch.org covering Luke 12:13-34

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Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds?

Several years ago it suddenly struck me how very rare it is to hear adults say the name of Jesus or Jesus Christ in normal conversation, that is, of course, outside of Christian worship, Bible study or use in profanity. The more I think about this the more incredibly odd it seems, since Jesus is the central figure in the Christian faith. In Saint Louis, Missouri, we are much more likely to hear the name or invoke the name of Albert Pujols, our hometown baseball star.

I recall the Presidential debates leading up to the 2000 election in which the moderator asked each of the participants to share the name of the person they most admired. When George W. Bush’s turn came, he answered “Jesus Christ”. How odd this felt, even to me, I hate to say. In other faiths which have a central prophet-figure, adherents frequently recite the very words of their leader, be it Mohammed or Buddha. Perhaps most of us, Christians included, may not know Jesus Christ well enough to use His name in conversation. Or there may be other reasons.

It seems like we are more comfortable referring to “God” in conversation where “Jesus” may be perfectly suitable. Again how very odd this now seems to me. And, I should add, it is completely true with reference to me personally. I don’t think there is anything wrong with choosing “God” phrases instead of “Jesus” references. But I truly believe it is worth our individual search to find out why “Jesus” is somewhat foreign to our conversation. One reason may be our own fear of what others think.

C. S. Lewis tackled this issue under his critique of what is sometimes called “pantheism” (Miracles, Harper, 1947, p129, cf.)

We who defend Christianity find ourselves constantly opposed not to the irreligion of our hearers but by their real religion. Speak about beauty, truth and goodness, or about God who is simply the indwelling principle of these three, speak about great spiritual force pervading all things, a common mind of which we are all parts, a pool of generalized spirituality to which we can all flow, and you will command friendly interest. But the temperature drops as soon as you mention a God who has purposes and performs particular actions, who does one thing and not another, a concrete, choosing, commanding, prohibiting God with determinate character. People become embarrassed or angry. … This popular religion may be called Pantheism.

There is some security is leaving it go as general “God” talk. It can encompass a wide variety of faiths without insulting anyone or creating awkward moments. This is often true for me when I am conversing with anyone not in my very closest circles.

So why else is it easier to say “God” than “Jesus”? If we use Jesus’ name we attach ourselves to a real person, a person we also believe is God, who lived on earth at a particular time, said certain things over a period of three years sometimes to thousands at a time sometimes to just to a handful –words that were written down and shared with us in the Scriptures-- who intervened in nature (did miracles), who was executed and was bodily resurrected.

What about you? Do you feel you know Jesus? Here is a suggestion If you wish to know Him better so that you can say His name easily, with a kind of convincing familiarity. Take a few months or a year to read about Him. Start with the Gospels. Pick one. Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Read one, end to end. I also recommend a book by Philip Yancey, The Jesus I Never Knew, (Zondervan, 1995). As the title suggests, Yancey shares his own Scriptural search for understanding who Jesus was, and is. Then read the Book of Acts in the New Testament. In Acts we observe how Jesus’ ministry revolutionized and infected His followers. They changed the world forever. Let’s get to know this Jesus and speak His name when we have the chance.

In Jesus Name,

Ken Bickel