{"id":399,"date":"2010-11-12T13:16:20","date_gmt":"2010-11-12T19:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/acugst\/?p=399"},"modified":"2010-11-22T11:39:04","modified_gmt":"2010-11-22T17:39:04","slug":"the-gospel-of-god-enacted-sermon-notes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/acugst\/the-gospel-of-god-enacted-sermon-notes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gospel of God Enacted (Sermon Notes)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Tim Sensing, PhD\u2014Director of Academic Services, Professor of Ministry, Graduate School of Theology<\/p><\/div>\n

Below are sermon notes from that Gospel Meeting, the third of five that I will post: <\/em>The Gospel of God Enacted<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Isa 56:1-8; Acts 10:23b-43
\nRecall the story of a 4th Grade election. I was the only one in my class who lost\u2014rejection, 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:<\/p>\n

  • everyone is asked to lunch but you<\/li>\n
  • you are not copied on the email sent to all your colleagues<\/li>\n
  • you are not recognized for your service<\/li>\n
  • your child is not invited to any outside of class functions<\/li>\n

    Some are not included because of their social situation like being single, being unemployed, having a disability, or a thousand other possibilities.<\/p>\n

    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\u2019m Caucasian. I\u2019m male. I attended men\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    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:<\/p>\n

    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.<\/em><\/p>\n

    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?<\/p>\n

    1.\tIsaiah 56 presents God\u2019s vision for an open and hospitable community. \u201cThus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.\u201d<\/p>\n