Jesus, Not Jesús: Finding The Divine In The Space Between Us.
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact

A Gathered People: In My Backyard...And Yours Too.

5/29/2017

 

Today our gathered community may look different than that one in 1st Century Jerusalem, but the mission and the Spirit are still the same.  ​

The Last of a small series of sermons on how to "church" by looking at Acts 2:42-47

On Thursday, the Christian church celebrated Ascension Day and I think it’s safe to say that you probably didn’t even notice. Ascension Day is just one of those events the early church considered to be every bit as holy as Easter, for it marks the day Jesus officially leaves us to return to God. Today, it’s about as novel as any other Thursday.
 
I imagine as Jesus ascends towards the heavens, his Apostles look up and wonder, “Now what?”  This is a feeling I get at the end of an episode of 24 or Game of Thrones. The drama of Jesus’ incarnation does not end here with the Apostles scratching heir heads, although there will be more of that to come. But this episode does conclude with a classic cliffhanger. Jesus sending his followers onto the world stage to perform acts of God’s love to an audience clapping and clambering for more. As Jesus moves upward, we move onward.  
 
Whether you are here in person or watching online, we come together for a reason. I believe it’s because we desire to worship God and get our fill of some spiritual nourishment. However, I like to think we naturally gravitate to each other simply because we belong to something greater than ourselves. We belong to a universal power that draws us together by the very Spirit Jesus Christ. I call this powerful life source God, who made us in God’s image, and calls us to be one with him. In doing so we will never be truly alone or left out of life’s blessings.  
 
There are hints of this in verse 44. It reads, “All who believed were together, and they had all things in common.”  We’ve spent a few weeks now looking at six verses, and for the first time, this particular verse spoke to me. As I read, and reread it, one particular word lit up: “Together.”  They gather together; in one house, in one city, and for one purpose. Together, they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
 
Just as God sent the Son to be with us, God sent the Spirit to be within us. It’s this Spirit that draws us to one another and moves us away from where we are. Like a personal trainer or coach, the Spirit strengthens and empowers us; it pushes us and stretches us; takes us out of comfort zone, kicks on the grass, and basically carries us onward to advance God’s love out into the world.  
 
Today our gathered community may look different than that one in 1st Century Jerusalem, but the mission and the Spirit are still the same. 

What is it about being “Together.” And more importantly, “How can we be together as a faith community, if we are located from different places?” This is a question New Church has been struggling to define, especially as our online worship continues to grow.  
 
It wasn’t until last week, when I preached in Greenville, MI that the folks here in Sherman Oaks got to see how different (and perhaps difficult) this new form of worshiping could be. There are challenges for sure. But there are also blessings. So we are learning how to deal with both. We’ve discovered there is so much more we can do.
 
Just as we invite you to practice your faith with us, we invite you to also participate with us. Clicking the “Like” button is an easy step in the right direction. But more importantly, we really need your feedback, suggestions, and input to help us shape what this could be. Basically, we need your Spirit to guide us.
 
These early Christians have already given us some wonderful insights. In these six verses alone, we learn that they did fellowship (a verb) at the same time they were a fellowship (a noun) …sharing with one another both the joys and pains of a common life together. Worshiping, eating, praying, confessing their sins, forgiving one another, working side-by-side, and supporting each other physically, spiritually, and financially. They faithfully followed the teachings of Jesus passed on by the very Apostles who were there when Jesus vowed, “where two or three are gathered in my name I will be there with you.”  
 
Does this same promise ring true today if we are gathered here, and there, and everywhere? What if we are not watching live with us on Sunday, but watching a recording of it on Tuesday, alone when you finally have some quiet time?
 
I’d like to think the Spirit of God is there always. After all, I haven’t known God to be anything less than honest and true to his word. And that Word, which became flesh, sent his Spirit so that we might be enlightened and understand…and do God’s will. 
 
I take Jesus at his word when he tells us the Spirit “blows where it pleases.” Just like wind or breath, the ru-ach of God transcends time and, no matter how hard we try, God cannot be restrained by human limits (The Resurrection is a great example). God’s Spirit moves freely, penetrating hearts however, wherever, and whenever it wants. No matter where or how we gather, God is with us because God is within us.
 
So how can we do it? How can the Spirit move through us in fellowship?
 
Stemming from many conversations I had last week when I gathered with beloved friends in Greenville, I realized what we do here at our house can be done in any house, or park, or restaurant or bar. It’s pretty simple (although there are times I beg to differ). Just invite a small group of people to participate in worship with you. It could be your immediate family or a few friends. But remember, participation takes practice.
 
Dedicate a specific time to watch the service, whether live or a time that is more convenient. And stick to it. Work your other events around it. Make it a priority to practice church like the first Christians. Hear a lesson, read scripture, pray. And if you’re so inclined, share a wonderful meal and discuss how the week’s message is relevant to you.
 
This isn’t the only way, but it’s a start. A way to help you feed one another the spiritual food and receive the fuel you need to get you through the week.  
 
If you are to remember anything about Ascension Day it’s this: Christ is not dead or absent in some far away cosmic realm.  He is alive and universalized through you and me, and by what we do here, there, and everywhere.  We are his body, and within us is his Spirit. As such we have endless opportunities to define and redefine it for ourselves.
 
Jesus leaves us with a “sky’s the limit” ministry that allows us to: reach those who are homebound; be there for those who hate the church but love of Jesus; to be there and share our resources for a common good, be it our personal possessions, like time and money, or our private possessions, like our sins and burdens.  We’ve been filled with the Spirit of love, mercy, and forgiveness, which God has given to us all. Now we must go and give it away.
 
To quote Pope John-Paul II, "Nobody is so poor that he/she has nothing to give, and nobody is so rich that he/she has nothing to receive." These words offer a powerful reminder of who Jesus is and what he did, as well as what he has called us to be and do; both receivers of his love, and givers of his love, everywhere we go. And anywhere we gather.  
 
By this simple action the threads of our separate private lives be woven together into a fabric of true fellowship in which Christ makes all things new.  As the first Christian’s understood, such a blessing is worth everything we have and are.
 
This is the good news. Take it out into the world, using words if necessary. Amen.
 
 
 
Bible. Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV).
Byassee, Jason. "Living in the Word: To all the world" Sojourners, May 2017: 44.
Moore, Charles. Called To Community. Walden: Plough Publishing House, 2016.
 

​​

Comments are closed.

    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Be Kind

About this blog

About The Author

Contact

Copyright © 2011