Body-building

When was the last time you were really encouraged? Was it something someone said? Was it a gift someone gave you, or feedback on an evaluation? Was it seeing seeds you planted blossom into a delightful bloom (literally or metaphorically)? Was it working really hard at something and succeeding – passing that test, getting that raise? How did it feel to be encouraged? Did you pass that encouragement on?

Read Matthew 25:14-30 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

For my last sermon to Trinity, I couldn’t have said it better than Paul did in his letter to the 1 Thessalonians. It is a letter not to condemn other groups but to reassure and encourage the Thessalonians that they are living out their lives as Christian community. Paul wants the Thessalonians to know that they are living in the light – as children of the light. What if the last servant in Matthew’s parable had Christian community in his life, where they encouraged him to use the talent he had been given? How would that had turned out different for him?

In his Church Dogmatics, theologian Karl Barth said that “The first thing we have to say is that Christians …are those who waken up.” As Christians, we live in the light of the resurrection, awakened to God’s love. Yet we are in constant need of having a reawakening – a constant conversion, reformed and always being reformed. We need to help each other stay awake – that constant turning toward the light, waking up once more, is our life of discipleship.

In my time at Trinity, I have witnessed this encouragement, given and received. I have witnessed people building each other up, in the good and the bad. What if all our Christian communities were known more for who they loved and encouraged, instead of who they hate and exclude? What if our members of our Christian communities built each other up instead of tearing each other down or judging each other? What would these children of the light be able to do in our world today?!

 Have you seen our members acting as children of the light? Have you seen someone behind the scenes reach out and support another? If not, I invite you to start it – find someone to encourage, build them up in confidence and in faith. For I have found by encouraging others and body-building, God will transform our hearts and build us up so that we can continue Christ’s work right here in Topeka. As Rev. Dr. John E. Cole puts it, “The best evidence believers have of the assurance of God’s forgiveness and salvation is each other.”

My prayer for Trinity is that even as pastors come and go, you can continue to build up the church, to encourage each other in your faith journeys. That Trinity is continued to be known for who we welcome, not who we exclude. That Trinity continues to body-build as we glorify God, share Christ’s love, and make new disciples.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate

The Holy Spirit of Pentecost

"God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh..." (Acts 2:1)  Jesus has arisen and Pentecost is his promise to all Christ followers that they/we will be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Pentecost (50 days following our Easter Resurrection) is the birth of the church as the primary place (although not the only place) where Jesus will be present to us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  Read Acts 2: 1-21 for an account of the fiery tongues of flames, roaring winds, and the languages across the nations as God pours out the Spirit for ALL peoples.  This is the power of God given to the church empowering it to be the Body of Christ.
The power of the Holy Spirit, represented by wind and flames, can be perceived as a life-threatening force when we think of wildfires wiping out wilderness or tornadoes tearing through the towns of Joplin or Harveyville.  But the real power of the Spirit is a spirit of love and goodness.  At the same time it's a power of transformation - both mundane and miraculous.  Because real transformation can be difficult to perceive within a short timeline or because of the often personal nature of transformation, we have trouble recognizing the Holy Spirit blowing through our lives and our church.  The Holy Spirit is always on the move and any Body of Christ that becomes stagnant or self satisfied cuts themselves off from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is about the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5: 22): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Or as Paul writes in Galatians 4:18:  "It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good."
The challenge for the church is to continue looking and asking, "Where is the Holy Spirit moving, breathing, working, pushing, pulling, nudging, whispering to me and throughout my church?"  When we can discern answers to this question, we will have the direction and challenge to which we must respond.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley