One of the most important things in writing  is to know the voice of your audience so you can write to it. This is true in screenwriting, copywriting, and of course, sermon writing. The difficulty I struggle with here in Greenville is the fact that I did not grow up on a farm or work on an assembly line. I have no idea what its like to be a C & C operator or to win first place at a 4H fair. Even though I was raised in a town smaller than Carson City, I would come of age in a city with a population larger than the state of Michigan. Our worlds sometimes seem worlds apart.
 
If I am going to speak your language, I have to keep my eyes and ears open, and observe the world around me. I now know when people talk about the “sax” (D.E.) wears I know they aren’t talking about the musical instrument. As much as I have learned so far, it’s hard to speak of these observations with confidence or authority without some fear that I might offend the cultural norms of rural Michigan.
 
As I looked at this week’s scriptures, I couldn’t shake the feeling that God has called us, in a sense, to be offensive. That is to say, we have been called to offend the status quo, and do so by defending what God intended. As the prophetic voices of their generation. Both Jeremiah and Jesus did this very well.
 
This summer, Hollywood released a movie called  “Straight Outta Compton” that gives us a biographical look at the rise of a different kind of prophecy: Gangsta Rap.

With it’s gritty and violent lyrics, gangsta rap is often seen as a threat to our decency and morality. As such, politicians and parental groups fought hard to censor it. But failed to do so.

The film opens with these prophetic and poetic words, “You are about to witness the strength of street knowledge.”   
 Looking through the lens of five young black teenagers, we see the story of the rise and fall of the band N.W.A. come to life. Five street poets, whose prophetic voices and profound prose would created the most lucrative commercial music in American history. They did this simply by speaking truth to the various emotions that were boiling over in the ghettos and barrios of the world. 
 
With a tough and righteous attitude, the band comes of age in the gang-infested streets of Compton, where poverty and drug violence live in tension with racial profiling and police brutality. At a press conference one of the members, Dr. Dre, tells the reporters, “Our art is a reflection of our reality.” Then he asks, “What do you see when you walk out your door?”
 
Poetry was their weapon to survive life. By connecting the raw language of the streets to hip hop music N.W.A. became the prophetic voice that empowered a new generation to stand up against the socio-political status quo that had literally imprisoned them their entire life.
 
There is something to be said about poets and prophets being one in the same.
 
Through the use of powerful and imaginative words, they can disrupt a seemingly secure economic system simply by calling it out, and making it public. While they can put the words to music, or pen to a page, it’s up to us to see and hear...and react accordingly. God has called each of us by name to stand against every violation of God’s righteousness and love, even if we have to speak words that offend others.
 
Perhaps that's the reason why calls from God are scary. Jeremiah was just a kid when God calls him to do something really big. Grown up big. In fact, it is so big that it takes the guts of a young child with…little understanding of the ramifications...of what God is calling him to do...to get it done. Jeremiah was singled out by God to cast judgment upon those who were exploiting their political power in the name of God.
 
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that God chose a child to do an adult’s job. After all, justice is one of the first things we learn as children. Kids have no problem throwing a fit when it’s out of balance. But something happens when we come of age. We change. We no longer throw temper-tantrums. Instead, we become afraid, or complacent. We make excuses when we should be making a difference. 
 
This is nothing new. Making excuses goes back all the way to Adam and Eve. Jeremiah tried to wriggle out of what God was calling him to do by using Moses’ famous excuse, “I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.”
 
It’s easy to shrug off our responsibility to God by stating, “I can’t do that because I didn’t go to seminary.” Or “I don’t have the time or anything worth giving.” Or “I’m too new to the church to be of any help.” Jeremiah speaks to us, in our language, to show us that fear, anxiety, resistance, inadequacy, and even resentment is an understandable reaction to doing what God has called us to do. Still it’s no excuse.
 
It’s true that most of us are not trained for these tasks. Or if we are trained we feel ill prepared. Yet if God’s call is about experience or skills, God does not tell this to Jeremiah. God doesn’t tell him, “Don’t worry because I have a trade school for prophets." Instead he hears God utter that wonderful and angelic phrase, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
 
Through these words, God gives us all an offer of salvation and a promise of protection. No matter how far we may go from the call of God, no matter how many reasonable excuses we may offer, God is there watching out for us, and giving us the words to say.  
 
Think about it. The Holy Scriptures, if read correctly, is an offensive book, purposely and purposefully. It is offensive because its very message stands in opposition to the power of culture and politics. It’s a dynamic force that's impossible to silence. This is why it is imperative that we read it daily. And get to know it intimately. We might not always understand the words written in it but remember, God gives us the words. And so God will give us a way to hear it and understand it so it may touch our heart and transform our life.
 
The Word of God cannot be silence.
 Jesus discovers this when he is invited to preach at his home church. Luke tells us that the people who had watched him come of age were amazed by his gracious words, and yet sought to throw him off a cliff for proclaiming them.
 
Jesus brought them hope; an end to oppression, injustice and exploitation. They tried to censor him. He told them their faith was no longer wishful thinking, but now realized and fulfilled.  And so they killed him. But not even death could silence God's power. 
 
Jesus offended his own religious system, because he challenged their old and familiar routine, an imbalance of power that dominated the worship of the God of Israel. In essence, they feared the truth because they feared change.
 
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to change the world. Christ transforms us, empowers us by the Spirit and commissions us to offend...with great purpose...any system that violates the steadfast love and righteousness of God.  
“God anointed us to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, and to recover of sight to the blind, and let the oppressed go free.” If we love our neighbors as God intended, then we have no need for any enterprise that exploits such love.
 
God has given us the voice to use poetic words to speak of judgment and of good news. We may feel too young, too stupid, too afraid, or too whatever to do what God has called us to do. But if we are to be mature in our faith, we must give over these fears and feelings to God. We can no longer ignore the music, the words, and the feelings we have.
 
Our call to serve God demands that we speak God’s words of truth in daily life, in a language that wakes people up. And with actions that get their attention. God’s word teaches us how to live in a way that respects the dignity of every human being, balances the distribution of justice, and lets the face of Christ emerge in the love of our neighbors.
 
Each of us has a poetic voice, and a prophetic call to mature our faith in our Creator God, who like a child, longs to see the world set right.  
 
Works CitedBible, NRSV. Jeremiah 1:4-9; Luke 4:16-30.
Bartlett, David L, Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word, Year C, . Vol. 1. 4 vols. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009.
Brueggemann, Walter. "The Earth Awakens." Sojourners, January 2016: 17-19.
 

Marian Wright Edelman writes, "We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee."

Our work is a daily journey of discovering who we are and meeting people where they are. Not every day will be remarkable, but if lived properly, every life can be amazing.

Let us not forget those around us, for they are the mirrors of who we are. Reflections of what to be and what not to be. This does not give us liberty to judge others, but to find ways to accept them for who they are. In doing so, we find ourselves. 

Let me begin by saying what a joy it is to welcome my mom and dad to our worship service this morning. There’s something to be said about a son preaching and proclaiming to his parents. This isn’t anything new to them. They have sat through many of my sermons before. And as I youngster, I certainly preached and proclaimed all sorts of stuff to them…most of which were demands for things I wanted. 
 
I’m sure if you asked they would be more than happy to share some embarrassing stories about me.  And I’m sure I would be even happier if they didn’t. The way I see it, there are just some things you don’t need to know about your pastor. Sort of like how there are some things (JH) doesn't want me to know about him. Which is proof that we don't have to know everything about a person in order to like them, do we?
 
Take Jesus for example. Today we celebrate the epiphany of his baptism. It is here God reveals Jesus' divinity to the world. And yet I can help but wonder why it took so long to reveal this information. Here in the wilderness, in the Jordan River we meet Jesus, the man. The living Messiah, our Lord and Savior.
 
The Bible seems to skip over most of his childhood. It's funny how there are no tales of weird emotional mood swings; no records of him dealing with pimples or peer pressure; nothing about him being totally embarrassed by his parents. There’s not one single account of Jesus sulking in his bedroom wishing that “someone would just understand him.”  
 
Maybe if we knew about those awkward years during puberty, Jesus might seem…well…too human for us? Luke gives us one quick snapshot of a precocious 12 year old who is holding an intense Q&A session with the Rabbis in the Temple. But that's all we get.
 
Jesus, the boy, is like you and me. He has a story. But from birth to baptism, we don't know much about it. Yet for some reason God rips open up the heavens and declare, “You are my Son, the Beloved. In you I am well pleased.” Have you ever wondered what he did to please God?
 
I will never forget the day my father and I were hiking in the Hollywood Hills. It was during a time when my...personal life was in turmoil. It seemed like everything I had created was falling apart. I was living in a cloud of darkness, where everything seemed hopeless.
 
It was on this walk my father confessed he didn’t know how to help me because he had never experienced what I was going through. Then he added, “But you are my son, and I will walk with you through it. No matter what.” This was an epiphany moment for me. Those words would change the course of our relationship forever. They would mark the beginning of something new and wonderful.
 
Here I was... lost in a wilderness of despair...only to discover the Hollywood Hills was my Jordan River. The tears that flowed down my face were the waters of my baptism. And echoing across the canyon, I heard my father’s voice calling out to me. "You are my beloved." My new life began to take shape. I had a purpose.
 
Perhaps the gospel writers jumped over the early years to teach us how baptism marks the beginning of our faith journey, not in the middle or the end of it. It's a reminder that we don’t need to have everything in order, to benefit from it. In fact, the less perfect it is the better. All we need to do is grasp the concept of God’s grace. In other words, no matter what your story is, God wants to be a part of it. God is the parent who stands with us and walks with us.
 
While our heavenly parent might not approve of everything we do, God still loves us...no matter what. God’s grace tells me this, that even though I am flawed, I am loved and cherished. Christ burst through creation to proclaim the good news of this amazing grace, and to teach us how to live it out by being faithful to the One who gives it to us in abundance. Did Jesus need God's redemption like we do? I don’t know. Maybe all humans need it. After all, why would a sinless person need to be baptized?
 
In Matthew, John the Baptist actually tries to talk Jesus out of it. And in the Gospel of John, the writer bears witness to the Spirit descending like a dove upon Jesus, but it does not mention the actual baptism at all. However different they might be, each of the four gospels end the same; with the Father's divine blessing being placed upon his Son in whom he is well pleased.
 
So what had Jesus done up to that point that made God so proud?
 
Luke gives us a clue in the previous chapter when Jesus, the boy, is in the Temple. In chapter 2, verse 51, the author writes, “Then he went down with (his parents) and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them.” Jesus was obedient. Even in his teenage years, he did what he was told! This would be the defining mark of Christ throughout his entire ministry…A mark which seems to begin at this baptism.
 
William Willimon writes, “How wise of the church, after the sappy sentimentality that inundates Christmas, to turn us towards talk of obedience in Epiphany. Before we meet Jesus the compassionate healer, the wise teacher, the fierce prophet, we meet him as fully obedient to God rather than to the whims of the carping crowd.”
 
Luke tells us Jesus was obedient to his earthly family...as well as to the Jewish laws and customs. More importantly, he was obedient to his heavenly parent; doing the will of God, even when it meant sacrificing his life to do so.
 
What does this mean for us? The entire Bible...is a story...that calls us into obedience to God’s will. And there is an important reason for it: God looks to you and me to be the faithful presence of truth and love in the world. Jesus’ baptism is an epiphany moment in that it gives witness to the world that he belongs to God. After the waters are upon him, Jesus gives his life to do the work of God in the world.
 
At our own baptisms, we too are sealed into the body of Christ, confirming within ourselves who we are called to be God’s beloved Sons and Daughters. Each one of us is given the same relationship with the Father, each of us... the same power of the Spirit that Jesus himself knew. Therefore, each one of us bears the same responsibility. Our baptismal water is an outward sign of an inward promise we make with God, and the church, to walk as Christ walked.
 
And so as we think about our baptism, or our desire to be baptized, let us turn to the words of Bishop, Desmond TuTu, who reminds us so poetically, the very water in our baptismal fonts, is the same of that in the largest oceans...Each is made up of single drops of water. 
 
We all have a different story, yet we all share the same grace. So let us take that grace out into the world as the true expression of Jesus Christ, longing for the day we can hear our holy Father say, "When I was hungry you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me drink. When I was a stranger you let me in. When I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick you comforted me, and when I was in prison you visited me. For doing that in my name, my beloved child, I am well pleased.”

Works CitedBible, NRSV.  Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22.
Willlimon, William. "Preaching Epiphanys." ChristianCentury, January 2014.
​

God constantly draws our attention to the great revelations of his wonderful works.

While it strays from the traditional lectionary readings I believe Noah’s story is fitting for today’s celebration of Epiphany. If you are unfamiliar with this traditional Christian holiday the best way to describe it is to say it commemorates the Magi arriving in Bethlehem.
 
By definition, the word epiphany means “manifestation” or “revelation.” It comes from the Greek word Epiphania, which means, “to show, make known, or reveal.” With the bright star in the night sky God drew the attention of the Magi who would discover God's divine revelation lying in a manger.
 
God also reveal something in the sky to Noah. To show his covenant promise to us, God bends the colors of the heavens into a rainbow. Through this beautiful and colorful sign, God reveals a profound promise that he will no longer cleanse the sins of world by destroying every human life. Be it from a rainbow in the day or a bright star at night God constantly draws our attention to the great revelations of his wonderful works.
 
I believe we've all had an epiphany...at least once in life. Perhaps it was in church, or at a retreat. Maybe in a therapist's office, or in the first step of a 12-step meeting. You might be the kind of person who had yours in a bar. Or behind bars in the county jail. Epiphanies have come in examination rooms, hospital rooms... and, yes, even in the bathroom at my parent’s house.
 
Just off their kitchen, my parents have a small half bathroom. It's adorned with all sorts of art work....or should I say "ark" work. There are drawings, paintings and watercolors of Noah's ark. And all sorts of statues with animals walking two-by-two towards a wooden ship perched atop a mountain. Then there are the soap dispensers, towels, bathmats, numerous knick-knacks, and of course a Christmas tree... all depicting, in one form or another, the giant ark, the animals, and the great flood. Present in each one is a rainbow.
 
Years ago, a small child exited this very bathroom and asked my mom if she had lived on Noah’s Ark. In her lovely southern voice she replied, “Oh heavens, no.”  Without missing a beat, the boy shot back, “Then how did you survive the flood?”
 
Now I have been in this bathroom hundreds of times. But it wasn’t until this recent trip that I  noticed the two words weaved into a gigantic tapestry that hangs on the wall...like the holy centerpiece in this Noah shrine.

Those two words are:  “Promises kept.”
 
This was my great epiphany! God spoke this wonderful truth years ago, but it would take this particular trip to my parents house, and to this particular throne...for me to realize it. Promises kept! What this reveals to me is that God keeps his word, even if we fail to notice. His promises are true.
 
I don't know about you, but I can't recall another great flood that has killed off the human race to rid the world of sin. Instead, God kept his promise by sending his Son, whose blood has cleansed us all. In short, Jesus’ blood is new covenant of our salvation. He is the great promise God made with the world, thousands of years before the Magi rolled up to his Bethlehem crib.
 
Making covenants is nothing new to God. In fact, there are three distinct covenants God made with humans, which are so important to the story of Christ that they are the first three great stories in the bible. In Genesis 1-4, God makes his first covenant with Adam; entrusting dominion over all the earth to the care of human beings. Next, in Genesis 5-11, God makes the Noah covenant. And then from Genesis 12 - onward, God reveals a covenant with Abraham through whom a great and holy nation is created from an aging and barren old couple. Covenants with Moses and David would follow.
 
The bible goes on to tell story after story of how Israel would both test and betray God's covenants. Yet time and time again God remained faithful to them, steadfast in his love and righteous in his judgment and mercy. In spite of their personal problems, Israel's ancestors knew they could call on God, and rely on his strength. Why? Because God’s promises are never broken.
 
We too can rely on God because of the covenant God made with us in Jesus. No matter how much we put God to the test grace and mercy abounds. We can always rely on God, even if God cannot always rely on us. God's covenant grace is the distinguishing mark we receive for following Christ. And it's also the mark of covenant people like us who belong to the Congregational Way. Both tie us to God. But one is conditional...and the other is unconditional.
 
A conditional covenant is an agreement in which two parties agree to fulfill certain conditions, and if either fails to meet their responsibilities, the covenant is broken. For example, as members of this church each of us has promised support through worship, tithes, prayer and sharing the workload of church governance. If one of us should fail to uphold these conditions, then the covenant is broken and our church community becomes weaker. We have conditions that bind us together.
 
An unconditional covenant is different in that it is an agreement between two parties, but only one of the two parties has to do something. Nothing is required of the other party. The covenant of grace God makes with us through Christ requires nothing from us but our desire to be a recipient of this blessed gift of grace and salvation. Since God’s love is unconditional, there is nothing we can do to earn it or to cause God to break it. This is why we can always rely on God even when God can't always rely on us.
 
As the psalmist wrote, because God keeps his promise made to our ancestors, we are able to cry out in our pain and suffering, knowing God will hear our cries. When it feels like the world is ganging up us, we can turn to God knowing we will find refuge. When we find ourselves on shaky ground, we can stand on God, the rock of our foundation.
 
God will never deny us, never turn away, reject or hurt us all because of God’s love is unconditional, whether we know it or not. All we have to do is accept God’s love with an open and willing heart. Promises kept. This is the new covenant, made for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Rachel Held Evens reminds us that Adam taught, “we cannot become like God." But through a small and helpless baby "God became one of us.” Through Christ, God entered our brokenness, and showed us “how to heal instead of how to kill, how to mend instead of destroy, how to love instead of hate, how to live fully instead of longing for more. Even when we nailed God to a cross, God forgave us. Or when we buried God in the ground, God simply got up” and came back to us, to eat and to walk with us, and to lead us towards our salvation. God keeps his promises, even if we don’t.
 
So when God says, “Come follow me” we must follow without hesitation. When God says, “Do not fear for I am with you” we must be brave and remember God’s word is true. When God says eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we come and gather at God’s table of blessing with great certainty knowing we are God’s beloved, washed clean in the everlasting grace of Jesus Christ.
 
(Move towards communion table)
 
 
 
 Works Cited:
The Bible, NRSV. Gen 9:8-15; Psalm 61.
Evens, Rachel Held. Searching for Sunday: loving, leaving, and finding the church. Nelson Books: Nashville, 2015. pp. 45-46.