Called To This Place

Introduction

You are in this place. Three congregations have been established, settled in this place. You have a history, a tradition, in this place. And now my wife Jan and I have stepped into your history. We are happy, blessed to be called to join your family.

When I looked up what the Gospel reading for this Sunday would be I was amazed that it was the Great Commissioning. In Matthew on the heals of the resurrection Jesus told His disciples to go to Galilee where He would meat them. In that meeting Jesus told them about a new beginning. After weeks of physical distancing being together today feels like Easter Sunday. The day when we have been resurrected to worship together again. It is like coming out of the darkness into the light of eternal life. It is a joy to be together in this place.

Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16–20 CEB

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”

This is the Word of God, let us pray:

Holy, Almighty God,

You have called us to this place to worship together in Your presence. We pray that in this place You will speak to us. That You will open our hearts and minds. That You will write Your Word on our hearts and set our hearts on fire with the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Disciples of all Nations

All nations is an interesting translation. When we read our english translation we think of nations like United States of America, England, or France. Our definition includes the concept of sovereign territories with borders and so forth. But in Matthew’s time the concept of sovereign nations did not exist yet. There were “people groups” that occupied certain land masses with boundaries that were not fixed. So in the Great Commission, Jesus was sending His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all peoples.

However, people groups were linked to the land they lived on and occupied. Israel had the Promised Land and their identity as “God’s Chosen” was linked to the land that God settled them in.

Our vision as a church includes these components: church building, the congregation that worships in that church building, and the land where the church has been settled and established by God. Each one of our three churches is unique because its identity is its members, its building, and the land God has called it to serve. What is the reach of each of our churches?

In The Beginning

In the 2nd Chapter of Genesis the Scripture says:

Genesis 2:8 CEB

8 The Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east and put there the human he had formed.

To “put” the human in the garden means that God “settled” or “established” the human in that place and the 15th verse provides the human’s mission statement:

Genesis 2:15 CEB

15 The Lord God took the human and settled him in the garden of Eden to farm it and to take care of it.

The human became one with the land because he became part of it, he was to cultivate it and take care of it. The human was made from the land animated by the breath of God to nurture and care for the land. But land is never land by itself it has people settled on the land.

When Jesus calls His disciples to go therefore and make disciples of peoples of all lands and to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is reestablishing God intention and vision for humanity as it was established in Creation.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a new world. It is where Jesus has established and settled His disciples.

Our Commission

Northern Clark County is our place. God has settled and established here. You have a history in this place. You have baptized in the place. We have been planted in a garden to cultivate it and to take care of it. Our place is this land and the people who live on this land our children of God where they know it or not. Our commission is to cultivate the love that God has for His children, our sisters and brothers of the land.

Life Long Learners

A wise person is one who is always open to learning because their wisdom has taught them how much they do not know. Disciples of Christ are life long learners. So in my tenure as Pastor I will be cultivating the land. We all will be encouraged to participate in Bible Study. Why would you want to be involved in Bible Study, because you have a lot to teach me. And I am open to learning.

We are going to encourage each other to pray together. Why would we want to pray together, so that God can challenge us. Let me tell you God is a life long learner.

When God gave Adam the responsibility of naming the animals in the garden, God found delight in seeing what names Adam came up with. God loves the interaction with us and that includes prayer which delight God. Want to make God smile, pray with Him.

We worship together. And worship does not mean an hour on Sunday morning. Worship is and Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote is “Life Together”. Worship is Sunday morning worship but it include laughing together, crying together, being silent together, and making noise together, it means mourning together and celebrating together. We will worship together.

We will go into the land, this land, this place and make disciples of all peoples and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.

And all of God’s children said: Amen.

Let us pray.