The Gospel of God Enacted (Sermon Notes)

Below are sermon notes from that Gospel Meeting, the third of five that I will post: The Gospel of God Enacted

Isa 56:1-8; Acts 10:23b-43
Recall the story of a 4th Grade election. I was the only one in my class who lost—rejection, left out in the cold, excluded, humiliated. There are incidents when all of us can recall feeling excluded. A simple Google search reveals multiple experiences of exclusion:

everyone is asked to lunch but you

you are not copied on the email sent to all your colleagues

you are not recognized for your service

your child is not invited to any outside of class functions

Some are not included because of their social situation like being single, being unemployed, having a disability, or a thousand other possibilities.

Throughout my life, I have been a member of 10 congregations and associated with many more. From my perspective, all of them have practiced an open door policy, hospitality, and inclusivity. That perspective comes from an insider and my not being aware of how outsiders feel. I grew up in a middle class family. My parents were highly involved in various leadership roles. I’m Caucasian. I’m male. I attended men’s business meetings. For 5 of those congregations, I was the pulpit preacher. Being on the inside creates a feeling of warmth and acceptance. When I look down the pew, I assume everyone else feels as I do. When I look across the aisle, I believe we all feel accepted.

But for others, attending church can be the loneliest hour of their week. It is not that they are being excluded, but they are not being included. They do not believe they belong. Insiders do not intend to overlook them; they are simply unaware or assume that others are doing just fine. The bigger the church; the greater to problem. Here is a letter posted in a Christian blog:

There was an appreciation program this past Friday at our church banquet. When the nursing home ministry volunteers were honored, the pastor named off everyone that was involved with that, even mentioning some of those that weren’t there that night. But didn’t mention me being involved with that ministry. Nobody mentioned me when they brought up cleaning the building either, even though everyone on the staff knows that I help with that. It’s not that I want recognition or attention for anything that I do, but I feel so unappreciated by not being recognized in all that I do at my church. It makes you not want to do things if you feel unappreciated.

Are we an inclusive community; a place where no one is excluded? Do we set boundaries, or are we extending the borders so that everyone is welcomed, honored, and loved?

1. Isaiah 56 presents God’s vision for an open and hospitable community. “Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.”

• For all who do justice and righteousness and hold fast to the divine covenant are God’s servants. Whether you are inside or outside, highbrow or outcast, politically acceptable or socially taboo, God casts arms wide open. God’s vision for an open and inclusive community calls God’s people saying, Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and deliverance revealed (56:1).

2. However, It was not always so in Israel. Israel has a long history of excluding others.

• The outcast within community…
• The outcast outside of community…
• God’s openness expressed in Isa 56 was rarely seen in Israel.

3. But just because that is the way it was always done in Israel, does not mean that is the way it always will be among God’s people. Judah returned to Jerusalem after a long and dreary night in exile.

• God’s covenant redefines boundaries. [56:2-3].
  • But now, Isaiah tells us that a person’s heart is the new criteria for protecting the purity of the whole community.
  • But now God gives all those who are undocumented in the land an assured place in the meeting house of God because they bind themselves to God and worship him.
  • But the question remained for them—Would they be the people that prided themselves in being God’s chosen people while engaging in idolatrous practices, while neglecting the needs of widows and fatherless, while fostering a legal and economic system that disadvantaged the poor, while following a corrupt religious and political leadership? Or would they be true children of Abraham who would become a blessing to the nations and light unto the Gentiles?

• Judah returned to the land, but now they would be defined differently. Now, God’s covenant community will be defined by a person’s faith commitment and not according to their pedigree, genetics, official papers, or portfolio. God’s vision of justice called them to live as God intended.

Peter addressed Isaiah’s concern in his sermon addressed to Cornelius’ house. The same story could be told about any sin… This story is about hate.

• World Cup report on HDNet’s “Dan Rather Reports” addressed racism in European soccer. Such hatred is socially ingrained, deeply rooted, woven into the fiber of their being. And many of these groups claim Christianity as their faith. But for them, racism is greater than baptism. A similar report on the tribalism in Africa reviewed the causes of the genocide in Rwanda. The waters of baptism did not overcome hate. In Rwanda back then, politics and tribalism are greater than baptism
• So too in Israel … the hatred for the Gentile was known. These hatreds have carried forward into the Middle East today. And the 12 are not immune. Jesus’ interactions with Gentiles in the Gospels do not paint the 12 in a good light. …
• Yet, Peter proclaims the central points of our faith at the house of Cornelius. “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ” (vs 36). This is God’s sermon to the world. It is upon these historical realities that all human hopes are founded and all human needs are met.
  • The Identity of Jesus (One Anointed) (vs 38a); The Ministry of Jesus (vs 38b-39a); The Cross—Central Event of God’s Peace Plan (vs 39b); The Resurrection (the death of death) (vs 40)
  • God appointed Jesus as judge of the living and the dead (v. 42);
  • And everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name (v. 43). It truly is good news. The one who will judge us is also the one who saves us.
  • And that is the GOSPEL: What God does on your behalf that you cannot do for yourself that brings about a hopeful and redemptive future.

• Here is a story about the sin of hatred, favoritism, and racism. And this story is real; it is a common story, your story, and my story. The Gospel of God gives us a new story to tell. The Gospel of God makes a difference in our relationship with the two greatest force we face as humans: sin.
  • Whether the sin is hate or something else, the gospel of God is greater. There is no sin more powerful than the blood of Jesus. Hatred, racism, and favoritism… the list is longer: adultery, greed, consumerism, etc. The gospel of God in Jesus Christ provides you freedom and grace to forgive you of your sin.
  • Tell me the story of your life… As a Christian, you tell that story differently, don’t you? That is the Gospel of God Enacted. The Gospel of God changes lives.

To interact more with my musings about homiletics see http://blogs.acu.edu/sensingt/