July 11, 2021 Hope in the Savannah Community and Beyond; Matthew 25: 31-40 (NIV)

Don Ritchie, who died aged 85, lived opposite an area of eastern Sydney called The Gap, which is also revered for its spectacular beauty and huge cliffs.

What made Ritchie unique was that he used conversation, the offer of a cup of tea or beer, or sometimes even physical restraint to stop people from jumping into the sea.

Officially he is believed to have saved some 160 people but his family claim the number is nearer to 500.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, Mr Ritchie would approach people who were often on the brink of stepping over the edge of the cliff.

Don once said, “"I have spoken to many, many people...just that way of saying 'what are you doing over here? Please come and talk to me, come over and have a cup of tea, come and have a beer. A big percentage of them came and talked to me."

Senior politicians are among those who have paid tribute to Mr Ritche, and one called him a "great Australian".

One written tribute from a reader on a local news website read: "Don Ritchie made a difference in this world. He will never be forgotten and always remembered for his kindness and care for other human beings."

In 2006 Mr Ritchie was awarded the Order of Australian for his services to the community. Many said of him that he was the “Angel of the Gap”.

Matthew 25:31-40 (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

And may glory be to God for the reading and the hearing of His word today, THANKS BE TO GOD!

I’d like to ask you an important question today as we consider how the Angel of the Gap narrative interacts with today’s Scripture. We’ve been talking a lot about hope in our first three Sundays together. We’ve said that hope that never ends is found in Jesus Christ alone. So the question is this: How do we bring hope to the the Savannah Community and beyond? The answer might be easier and more complex than we think.

Don Ritchie was on to something. He simply invited people for a cup and tea or a beer and asked them to come over to his house and tell him their story. We know he saved 160, but his believes it closer to 500… simply because he was willing to take the time to ask someone else how they were doing and then to listen.

If we want to reach the people in the Savannah Community, we’ve got to place ourselves in their path and then listen to them.

Bishop Bryan says often that if we take the time to listen to people, often we are going to learn a whole bunch about them, and we’ll eventually be able to address any issues they may face.... simply by taking the effort to listen to them. Whether or not we can address their life’s problems, we always direct them to the only one who can solve their problems in Jesus.

How different would the world be if we began to treat everyone like Jesus?

Conversely, what happens when we don’t treat everyone like Jesus? Maybe we can be the conduits through which Jesus is revealed simply by granting someone else the benefit of the doubt or looking for the best in them.

I believe that for White Bluff to grow, it is going to need to embrace an outward focus in the surrounding community, especially within five miles of our church. We cannot do everything, but we should start by meeting people where they are and listening to their needs. In today’s Scripture, that’s what it meant to separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep were the ones who were the hands and feet of Jesus, going where he asked them to go and doing what he asked them to do. The goats were the ones who, like the guy who was given the talent and buried it so that he wouldn’t lose it, feel that they must keep to themselves so that they do not lose what precious little bit that they have left.

As an old slogan from a mission trip I once went on says, “Love isn’t love until we give it away.” If we believe the Holy Scriptures to be true, which I believe we do, then as 1 John 4:16 says, “God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” It is true that the Savannah Community is big, but we are very fortunate that the love of God with which to love Savannah with is even bigger!

There is a practical, hands on element to showing God’s love.

Many churches do very good at this. Today’s Scripture says in v. 35, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

We do pretty well at addressing hands on needs. For some churches, the difficulty lies in connecting it back to the one for whom we do it. Glide Memorial, a United Methodist Church in San Francisco, was struggling to keep its doors open. Finally, a new pastor was appointed there who said that they literally opened the front doors of the church to those that surrounded them in the community. You may have seen the Will Smith movie called “The Pursuit of Happiness.” To this day, Glide has an expectation that they will provide financial assistance, shelter, and food, but it comes with the expectation that those who are helped will be active in the church. You see, they have an expectation that they want to help people’s physical needs, yes. But, they also want to connect people to the bread of life and living water found in Jesus as well. Jesus is why we do what we do, and we should always connect people back to the source of life.

Don Ritchie made an invaluable discovery early on and was able to save a ton of people from death.

The people may be physically healthy, but if they are emotionally or spiritually bankrupt, they may be just as close to the end of their lives as if they were physically hungry. He embraced the concept of helping people find the emotional and spiritual support that they needed simply by welcoming in strangers. They may have been in their own metaphorical prisons, and listening became the first step to helping them find healing and wholeness again. Maybe we can be so bold as to ask someone this week how they are doing and wait for them to answer.... without thought of giving them anything more than an ear that is willing to listen.

One of the best and worst chapters of John Wesley’s life was when he was kicked out of the Anglican Church.

The Anglican Church no longer wanted him to preach there, and so he stood on the only place he could and preached to whoever would listen. As he stood on his father’s grave, he preached to poor people. It turns out that he and his contemporaries started a revival in England that spread throughout the country. As a result, two great things happened. The revival is credited with helping England avoid the bloody revolutions that eventually embraced France and other countries. As stewardship principles were preached, the poor started to save their money and eventually were not so poor anymore. It happened because Wesley got out of the church and into the surrounding neighborhoods. He decided that while there was a lot he could not do, he should focus on what he could.

This brings me to a question for us to pray about.... What is going to be the bold, audacious goal that White Bluff can embrace in the Savannah community? In other words, what will White Bluff be known for by those who barely know us?

For example, some churches are known for their special needs ministries. They work hard to create a space in which those with special needs can feel safe worshipping.

Some churches are known for their preschool and children’s ministries. They work hard to provide care for children throughout the week and then have vibrant ministries on Sundays.

Some churches are known for the arts.

Other churches are known for their styles of worship. They may be multicultural or contemporary, but the church works hard to create a space where people can come worship God in a style that speaks to them.

It may be all of those things, some, or none, but I believe that God has a blessing waiting for us as we embrace his calling in the Savannah community. Please put White Bluff on your daily prayer lists as we strive to individually and corporately discover God’s outward vision for our church and then go where He leads.

When we discover God’s will, not only will it be life giving, but it will also bring Hope to the Savannah Community and Beyond.

Accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Savior

Admit your need and turn from your sin. We are all sinners in need of repentance. - Acts 3:19

Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave. - John 3:36

Confess your sins to God. - 1 John 1:9

Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit who comes into your heart. In this step, we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. - 1 John 1:12

Let me know so that as your Pastor, I can rejoice with you and shepherd you in your newfound faith! Email: [e-mail]

Phone: [phone]

Let us pray...The Grass Withers, The Flower Fades, but the Word of Our Lord Endures Forever! In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN.