Sermon Tone Analysis

September 30, 2001                                                                                                                             Pentecost 17

 

/I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.

Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

// The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.

Amen. 1 Timothy 1:12-17/

 

 

!

Chief of Sinners Though I Be

* *

            Do you like eavesdropping?  That’s what we’re doing this morning.

We’re eavesdropping on a private conversation between two close friends, Paul and Timothy.

And what we hear may surprise us a little bit, because Paul sounds a lot like us.

What says this morning echoes a conversation I had this week with my confirmation class.

I know that I’ve mentioned those kids the last couple of weeks in sermons, and I hope that won’t cause them to clam up.

But we’ve been talking about our consciences.

And every one of those young people understands what Paul is talking about here.

They’ve called their consciences “a terrible feeling” that just won’t let them rest.

I’ve enjoyed their honesty and openness.

And I think in them, I have a window into all of our hearts.

Don’t we all struggle with that “terrible feeling” that won’t give us any peace?

Paul did.

But he knew what the answer was.

You could paraphrase what Paul says and apply to everyone one of us:

*I.

Chief of sinners though I be, God has a place for me to serve.*

*II.

Chief of sinners though I be, God has a mercy that overcomes my guilt.*

*I.*

            Paul thanked God for his ministry.

He had been a gifted young man on the fast track in his society.

But he gave it all up to become a missionary, and I’m sure that people who knew him when he was young felt like he had thrown it all away.

But Paul didn’t look at it that way.

He could confess, *chief of sinners though I be, God has a place for me to serve.*

Do we share Paul’s attitude about serving our church?

How many of us have encouraged our children to become a pastor or a Lutheran school teacher?

Some of us have, but I’m sure many of us haven’t – I’m sure because my parents were never very excited about the idea.

Why not?

Because we know that the ministry is hard.

We know that it doesn’t pay very well.

But you know what?

Compared to Paul’s day, ministry today is a breeze.

Paul was repeatedly imprisoned and tortured because he preached the gospel.

People tried to kill him for it.

It reminds me of a scene from the Indiana Jones movie, /The Last Crusade./

Sean Connery says, “They’re trying kill us!  It’s a new experience for me!”

And Harrison Ford answers, “It happens to me all the time!”

It happened to Paul all the time!

Still, he was grateful for the chance to serve.

Are we?  That’s not just a question for us pastors.

God calls all of us to seek out our role in our congregation.

But what is our attitude when the congregation asks for volunteers?

Do we hit the back door running, lest someone tap us on the shoulder and ask us to pass out invitations to church?

When a member of the nominating committee asks us to serve, do we say “no” without even considering giving a “yes” to God’s call?

Do we consider coming in on our day off a privilege and a blessing – even a gift from God?  Or is stripping the floors or attending a voters meeting or teaching our congregation’s children a burden we would just as soon avoid?

Paul rejoiced in the ministry.

And not because he was better than we are.

Paul was a sinner, just like us.

He said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.”

Paul didn’t keep going after being whipped and stoned and left for dead because he was such a strong person.

He didn’t reach down deep into himself and find some hidden, inner strength.

Christ gave him strength.

Paul did the extraordinary things he did because he didn’t look at himself as being God’s gift to the church.

He knew that Christ was God’s gift to the church, and he trusted in the God who redeemed and saved him to make him a blessing to the people of God.

And God considered him to be faithful.

He considered him to a believer, who answered the call.

Paul understood that “success” is something only God can define.

God doesn’t give us numerical targets to hit.

He doesn’t give us a minimum number of converts that we have to bring in each year or a minimum amount of money that has to come in.

God tells us to be faithful – to preach the gospel, in season and out of season.

And leave the success, the impact that it has on the hearts of our members and our neighbors, in his hands.

Do we share that attitude?

Or are we guilty of relying on ourselves, on our gifts and talents, on our expertise?

Do we look at our pastors, and say, “This one’s a good pastor, because he’s easy to listen to, but this one is a poor pastor because he’s boring”?

Do we apply a business standard to our pastor’s compensation: “The church is growing, so let’s give him a raise?”

Do we look at ourselves and say, “I could never do as good a job as so and so, so I couldn’t serve in that way”?

That’s just as wrong – because God never asks you to be good at anything.

God never asks you to be more successful – or even as successful – as the person who had the job before you.

God asks you to be faithful.

To use the gifts that he has given you to the best of your ability to support the preaching of the gospel.

Any other attitude is sinful.

Are we guilty of all these sinful attitudes?

Of course we are.

Maybe not all the time.

But I know we all are at least some of the time.

I know it because we are a congregation of 300 souls, but we rarely have even 50 people volunteer for anything.

I know it because we have to beg people to fill positions in our congregation.

I know it because sign up sheets go half or three quarters empty week after week.

Either we don’t consider service to be a joy or we don’t believe we could do as good a job as someone else, so we don’t sign up.

Now, maybe some of you are thinking, “I just don’t have time.”

Maybe we don’t all have time to be the president of the congregation, but can we really say that we don’t have time to usher one month out of the year?

We don’t have time to devote one Saturday to inviting people to come and hear the gospel?

If we considered serving the Lord a joy, we’d make the time, just like we do for deer hunting, or shopping, or watching TV.

If we trusted absolutely in God working in us, we’d have no fear of serving.

And the fact that we don’t want to serve shows how sinful our hearts really are.

Sin makes us afraid of other people’s opinions.

Sinful pride leans on our gifts.

Sin makes us think we have more important things to do.

What if God had taken that attitude with us?

We would all be on the road straight to hell, because he would have found no joy in saving us and no time to do it.

But instead, God showed us mercy.