John 3:1-3 (The Message)
"There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, 'Rabbi, we all know you're a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren't in on it! Jesus said, 'You're absolutely right. Take it from me: unless a person is born from above, it's not possible to see what I'm pointing to - to God's kingdom."
We all have opportunities in life to hit the 'Reset' button. For students and teachers, it's that first day of summer vacation when three months of 'new life' beckon. For Rick and I, it is the start of our retirement life. For Nicodemus, it is to be 'reborn from above'. Jesus is asking all of us to get out of the ruts of our old ways, not necessarily always bad ways, but ruts that aren't allowing us to feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit calling and leading us in a new direction. We need to reset, to be reborn. What worked in the past may not be the solution for the future.
Is this the purpose of the Baker City Missional Group? Will we serve as 'mid-wives' in the Spirit-led rebirth of our congregation? Will we assist in hitting reset buttons in ourselves and throughout our faith family? Where is the Spirit leading us? And once we discern our destination, are we prepared to follow?
Sermon Notes....
Today the sermon notes will be added to the Missional blog, because everything - devotions this morning, the choir anthem, and sermon - all fit together. It is so awesome when that happens! The choir anthem was "Freedom Train" which made me think that when we hit that reset button, when we are reborn from above, we board the Freedom Train! We are free from our old life and free from old wrongs! The Holy Spirit is our conductor. As John 3:8 reads, "The Wind [Conductor] blows [goes] where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it [Toot! Toot!], but you don't know where it goes." We know the train will lead to the glory of God, but exactly how and when....we don't know! Anymore than we know where the Spirit will lead us when we are born again in Christ.Baptism is pushing the Reset Button - a chance to be washed clean, start over, and get on board! Perhaps the waters of baptism are the fuel for the Freedom Train!
All Aboard! The Spirit is calling!
Yes, yes and YES.
ReplyDeleteAwareness, understanding, examination, experimentation (with imagination) and commitment. Aware of who we are, of our place in creation, who we are called to be in our future, this is the beginnings of discernment for each of us individually and as the "Body of Christ". Understanding the gifts of God in creation, understanding that we are gifts to each other and to creation, that we are God's riches, Understanding not just intellectually but with our heart our call to love. Continually examining ourselves, our desires and asking; are these God's desires, opening ourselves to God's Holy Spirit so we can imagine a new world, one lead by the Spirit with freedom, diversity and love. Experimenting with our discerned callings in all the unimaginable ways we all can live in and through God as individuals and more importantly as a community, as the "Body of Christ".
And so we come to your last two questions. Where is the Spirit leading us? The Spirit is leading us to the "Kingdom of God", I know this sounds trite but what is underlying this statement is the understanding that the Spirit will also open our heart's eyes and ears so we may see and hear the "Kingdom", open our heart to love so we may participate in the "Kingdom", open our heart's mouth to taste this land of honey and to shout our witness to this glorious "Kingdom". And once we discern our destination, are we prepared to follow? What do you think?