Sunday, June 25, 2000

In the Bible, we are told that Jesus taught the people by illustrations or parables based on their ability to understand and learn from his teachings. I think he still illustrates to us what he wants us to understand through prayers, songs, sermons and thoughts that pop into our heads. We have moments where Jesus comes to us and speaks to us just like he spoke to his disciples and people in the biblical days. He isn’t physically here like he was on that boat with the disciples but his spirit is here and surrounds us. This happened to us at our worship planning meeting about two weeks ago and we had a wonderful discussion and you could feel the presences of the spirit in that room. That’s what I want to share with you today.

Have you ever questioned the way you are living your life and wondered if it is the way Jesus would want you to live? Well I was sharing one of my guilty moments that evening and found that maybe I’m not the only one that feels that way. It went something like this: "Oh I think I’m doing so well, I work so hard. Yes I give a 100%+ or at least I think I do at work and at church and with my family. For example, I’ve served on council and I shepherded the kids and I’m assisting minister and Altar Guild chair and with the help of Joan I spend hours decorating our church and so I surely must be doing all that the Lord wants me to do. Well, lately, I’ve been thinking that maybe I’m concentrating too hard on the outside of things and forgetting about the inside or really important part. If I believe, if I really believe then some day I’m going to meet my Lord. And, I’m wondering if he isn’t going to say, "Why didn’t you take those opportunities I presented to you and serve me? I came to you in your thoughts and I came to you in the form of those songs running through your head and I answered your prayers and you still didn’t get the message and trust in me. And, I’ll say but Lord I did serve you I made those nice banners and I even took a risk and climbed up on that tall, tall ladder and I hung them just for your glory and I don’t even like ladders and I’m afraid of heights. And, I cleaned this church just so it would shine and be really pretty just for you. And he’s going to say, "Oh sure your church was beautiful and your music was so inspiring and the sermons, I’ll tell you, that Dave he can really preach, but who did you invite to hear him? Who did I invite to hear him? Oh, no, no, that’s not for me. Oh, I can hear some of you agreeing with me out there. You are thinking of the folks that walk up and knock on doors and really irritate the heck out of some people. You probably know a few people in your neighborhood or that you work with that are pretty unapproachable. Or, are they? You may feel that your effort would be lost or that their hearts are too hard to touch. But, are they? Is knocking on doors the only way to reach out to people and share the gospel? No, it isn’t and I think Jesus tries to tell us that. Do you ever go around with songs playing in your head? Maybe like "Just a closer walk with thee, granted Jesus is my plea" or maybe you are driving down the street and an inspirational thought pops right into your head out of nowhere. Then an opportunity presents itself and you pass it right on by. What do you think the Lord is thinking? You ask me to let you walk with me but when I tried to show you the way; you just didn’t see it. I think these are the little messages we are being sent. Our modern day "Jesus" illustrations.

When I was a little girl there were people that came into my life and did the very thing I’m talking about. Grandma and Grandpa Morgan stopped by our house one-day to meet our mother. They were visiting our neighborhood. They wanted to invite us to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and offered to pick us up and take us. I don’t know how it came about but my mom let the three of us children go to church with the Morgan’s. Now if you knew my mom you would realize how unusual this was. She never let us out of her sight. I think she saw a "Jesus" illustration. I’m here today as a direct result of being invited to Calvary Lutheran church by one of my Junior High friends that was a member here at church and that is why I‘m a member today.

I don’t want to push and I’m not going to push people into living the way I live and I’m sure you aren’t going to do that either. But, haven’t you been somewhere when one of those opportunities happened and you wished you had a Calvary "business card" to give to the person. It has happened to me in the grocery store, like when I’m buying communion wine and I have my dozen bottles of Mogen David. Well, may be not when I buy the wine, it usually happens when I’m buying the flowers and it is a perfect opportunity to invite someone to church in a low-key way. They ask you about your church or express that they haven’t been for a while. Boy, if that isn’t a lead- in statement to an "invite" I don’t know what is. Today our Outreach Ministry Team is providing you with flyers. This is a wonderful way to pass on information about our church ministry. The next time you have an opportunity take advantage of it. Use the flyer or give just an old fashion invitation and offer of a ride to someone who may be interested but too intimidated to come alone to a strange church.

I’m shocked every time I hear or see statistics on the number of unchurched in this country alone, somewhere between 64 and 77 million or perhaps even more. One of the pastors in our area says that surveys of Rio Linda show the unchurched level at about 88%. If we don’t reach out to those that are unchurched in our neighborhood and community who is going to? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if what we were noted for at Calvary Lutheran wasn’t just our welcoming, warm and friendly way on Sunday morning but for our strong outreach ministry that traveled way beyond the walls of this church. How can we do that? We can start by expanding our daily life ministry to include our neighbors and co-workers. Here is an idea passed on by Rev Jim Glen, an evangelist who has established the "Heart of God" ministry. He suggests that you walk your neighborhoods, now don’t panic the idea I’m about to give you doesn’t require us "shy" Lutherans to approach anyone. On your morning walk pause a minute in front of each house in your neighborhood and pray for that family. Or, if you are at work as you pass each person on your way into your office or cube, pause and offer up a pray for that person. Over the next few weeks we are going to be emphasizing outreach to the unchurched. We would love to receive your ideas for sharing on ways you think we can reach those that don’t have a relationship with God. Doesn’t it just make your heart hurt to think that some child or adult doesn’t know the "Jesus stories" and more importantly doesn’t know that love that is there for them unconditionally. Think about it it terms of our gospel lesson today. They are out there in that storm tossed boat of life and they don’t have Jesus sitting there with them saying "Why are you afraid, Have you still no faith?". They don’t know what faith is.

I’m not so inspired that I’m going to sell everything and become an evangelist. I’m not there yet, but I’m going to take advantage of those opportunities that God puts in front of me. Somebody out there needs us, the little Gloria’s in this world or the teenage Michael’s or the middle aged Donna’s and Mary’s and elderly David’s and Carol‘s. They need us to tell them about the good news or better yet invite them to our church so they can hear the good news. This might mean a little inconvenience on our part. We may have to go out of our way to include people in our routine. It takes additional planning and sometimes it may even mean we do the Lord’s work in other ways. Maybe someone needs some clothing before they are able to come or maybe you have one more person to include when you go out to dinner after church. Our lives are the parables or bible verses or the songs we sing. Won’t you join me in living out those songs and "Jesus illustrations"? Do you believe that God gives us opportunities? I do. Outreach at Calvary Lutheran is something we all must participate in together. Won’t you come down to that lakeshore with me? I’m ready to accept the challenge and that is very difficult for me. I hope you are, too. Let’s jump in. The water’s fine and we have the best life preserver of all, Jesus our Lord. Amen.