John 1:43-51

1 John 1:3-10

“Hope in our Calling” is the theme of the 222 General Assembly of the PCUSA Church.  It is an 8 day event that wrapped up yesterday.   Representatives, lay and clergy, from around the country gathered in Portland to consider what it means to be the church and faithfully follow Jesus Christ.    In an effort to support new ministries, the General Assembly is sponsoring 1,001 New Worshiping communities.    We have 2 or 3 right in our presbytery.  Be it Sweaty Sheep or creative outreach in the community it got me wondering what it means to be a church.  So we are embarking on a Summer Sermon Series on exactly that.  What it means to be the church, what are our joys, responsibilities as a faith community.  To do this, we will be studying the Six Great Ends (or purposes) of the Church. I’m hoping that my newsletter article got you thinking about this.

So I ask you, and this is not a rhetorical question, “What do you think the purpose is of the Church?”  State them loudly…

Here are six as they were formulated over a century ago and adopted by the PCUSA.

            “The proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind”

            “The shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship of the children of God”

            “The maintenance of divine worship”

            “The preservation of the truth”

            “The promotion of social righteousness”

            “The exhibition of the Kingdom of Heaven to the world”

These are intended as a holistic vision for Church life, even though we will be taking them one at a time, except I will combine the last two.  Now some of your answers fit right in with these purposes.  Others might feel daunting or the task belongs to someone else.  Like the first one, the proclamation of the gospel for the salvation of humankind.  You might think this is only my job as preacher.  But I would like to challenge that.  How can a primary goal of the church only be the job of a select few?  I get to proclaim God’s word each week. You and I are in this together.    Proclaiming the good news can happen at large gathering like a Billy Graham revival or at church. But it can also happen like it did with Philip and Nathaniel- one on one and personal, tailored to the individual.

So if this is our job can we break it down?  Simply put, we are telling the good news that saves. We get to tell people we care about what God through Christ has done. We tell our family and friends the good news that saves.    Philip told the good news that saved Nathaniel. Philip encountered Jesus and decided to follow him.  What a powerful moment!  Meeting Jesus face to face, changing his life forever.  Philip found salvation because the Savior found him.   The very next thing he does is tell his brother Nathaniel about Jesus.  And he makes it personal.   Nathaniel was waiting for the Messiah- we know this because the phrase Jesus used; “under the fig tree” is a euphemism for meditating on the things of God- God’s ways, God’s will, God’s word. Nathaniel is a true Israelite, one waiting for the Messiah. So Philip tells the story within this context, declaring Jesus is the one Moses and the prophets foretold.   Encountering Jesus and then telling the good news that saves.

Someone told you the good news.  Someone had the courage to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to you, so that Jesus became real. The word of God became flesh and dwelt within you, because someone loved you enough to tell the story.

  • Maybe you sat at your grandmother’s feet as she read you Bible stories.
  • Maybe you followed a girl you liked to church and message grabbed you without you realizing it.
  • Maybe you were drawn to a person of faith and said I want what that person has- the light, the grace.
  • Maybe you were down on your luck and someone told you of Jesus’ love and you found hope. Now imagine your life without ever hearing the good news of the gospel.  How would your life be different?

How can you rob someone else from experiencing your most precious gift?   How can you be silent about the love of Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord?

So you want to share, but you don’t know what to say.  Listen to John, “We declare to you what we have seen and heard.”  Share what you know, share your experience; share the story of the good news that saves.  You don’t have to have a perfect pitch to bring someone to faith.  You share your truth, your story of faith, your God moment.

The day Marian had her heart attack; I raced over to Dominican to see her.  She was just getting out of surgery, resting in CCU.  I called to be let in and they told me I would need to wait they were doing some follow up care.  I checked the waiting room right outside those doors for Jess and the girls, but it was filled with another family, maybe 20 people –kids to matriarchs.  So I sat in the lone chair outside the waiting room. Their casual conversation ensued, and I certainly did not mean to eavesdrop, as they waited for news of their loved one.  To my delight, three women started sharing their miracles- stories of God working in their lives.  How good God is, how a friend was healed after prayers were lifted, a marriage saved, each testimony better than the last.  It was a revival meeting right there in the waiting room. In that moment of crisis, they proclaimed their faith in God and the power of being saved in God’s grace.  Maybe one of those 20 people heard the gospel preached for the very first time!

Proclamation of the gospel is telling God’s story, showing Christ’s love.  But we can never save a soul like some try to do with hell fire and brimstone.  Our salvation happened over 2,000 years ago.  It has all been accomplished through Christ on the cross.  All we can do is tell story of God’s love and introduce a friend to Jesus.  Philip did not save Nathaniel, Jesus did.

But Philip opened the door which led to the saving conversation between Jesus and Nathaniel.

You can open the door.  You can tell your story to a friend.

  • Tell her how God became real in your life when you felt God’s presence while caring for your dying mother.
  • Tell the story of how your faith sustained you in a crisis.
  • Tell your story of praising Christ in worship and leaving not so sad.
  • Tell the story of grace being set free from sin and finding joy in Christ’s presence.
  • Tell the story of leaning on Jesus when you were all alone.

But you wonder what if that is not enough?  Then be like Philip who shared his convictions about Jesus and simply and beautifully said to Nathaniel, “Come and see.”

Share God’s presence in dying and then say “Come and See!”

Share the hope you felt in a crisis and then say, “Come and See.”

Share how your spirits were lifted in praise and say “Come and See.”

Share the power of forgiveness and say “Come and See.”

Share the love of God and say to your friend, “Come and See.”

Invite the Nathaniel’s in your life to church, first by stating your conviction about your Savior, and then graciously inviting them to church to “Come and see!”   AMEN.