12th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15)

the Rev. Ken Kroohs

August 19, 2007

(Jeremiah 23:23-29; Ps. 82 Hebrews 12:1-14; Luke 12:49-56)

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, High Point, NC

The Rev. Ken Kroohs

MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH ... AND THE MEDITATIONS OF ALL OUR HEARTS ... BE ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU --- OUR STRENGTH AND OUR REDEEMER AMEN

Welcome back ! ... In some ways I feel as if it has been a very long time ... other times it feels as if it was just a long weekend!

A sabbatical is intended to benefit both the clergy and the congregation by allowing time for the clergy to refresh and renew ... to get back in touch with our spiritual lives – that is surprisingly difficult day to day when you work at a church! ... to do some form of study and reflection ... and to rest, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. ... I very much appreciate the opportunity and believe the objectives have been met – both for you and for me.

If you have not been following the journey via my “blog”, we have printed copies in the narthex. I never got the chance this week to add a new entry.

Whenever you begin something like this you do so with certain expectations. And most of the time something else happens! I was surprised to discover that the last three weeks before I left I had preached on what became my basic theme for this summer. .... No! I don’t expect you to remember those sermons!

I preached around a general theme of “this stuff matters” .... “Christianity is important”. Over the summer I realized that we tend to be fairly laid back in our approach to Christianity and to God. We tend to take God for granted. ... No? How many times a day do you think about God? ... That question is not a pleasant one for me!

We tend to take God for granted. We tend to be dismissive of and even insulting of people who talk about praying for a parking space or shouting alleluia during a service. Neither action is in my habits — but MAYBE, just MAYBE we can learn something about being more serious about our relationship with God.

That relationship can start several places. It can grow from several different directions. But worship is always a major part of that process.

As I went to a variety of churches and styles this summer I watched the process – the style. But I also asked about “worship” – What does that mean?

I have concluded that there is a great deal of overlap between “worship” and “praise”. Again, we can easily let our mind run only to praise music ... to which some peoplek – wild, not very dignified, some of it is not very good. Most of that is not true but that is the impression some people have. We need to remember that the STYLE is not the point. The INTENTION is the point right now.

Notice that in our prayer book it says we usually begin with a song of praise. Most of the year we use the Glory to God although at the 5 pm we use other selections.

The connection between worship and praise may not be immediately evident. But the more I think about it the more similar they are. Let’s begin by understanding that neither worship nor praise is for God’s benefit. God does not gain anything when we worship or praise. Unlike some mythological gods who grew in strength if worshiped ... our God does not change.

No, worship and praise are for OUR benefit. The style does not matter. Loud and boisterous or quiet and reflective – doesn’t matter. What matters is if the worship service helps us grow closer to God.

That’s why I say praise is important and the largest part of worship. When we praise God we learn about God. If we truly praise God we focus on the things God did and does.

Understand — our “theology” .. Our beliefs can vary. We can praise God for the glorious day, believing God carefully created this day exactly as it is. Or we can praise God for the creation that results in glorious days.

We can praise God for the creation of the universe without focusing on six days or six billion years.

We can praise God for the safe airplane journey, believing God specifically protected us from danger. Or we can praise God for the safe airplane journey through the technology God made possible and the gifts God gave people to use.

The point is not to “get it right” theologically – if that is even possible — the point is to connect with God so we recognize the glory and magnificence. When we begin to see our airplane trip as made possible because of the gifts God gave to human beings .... the brains, the determination, the inspiration then we are growing closer to God.

The athlete who prays before or after the game or play — we may think is ostentatious or worse ... but they just might be connecting with God in a way we don’t. They just may be praising God ... thanking God for the gifts God gave them.

To praise and thank God requires us to become aware of and recognize God’s role in our lives. We tend ... and if I am not speaking to you that’s great! ... We tend to think of God when we are sick or in trouble. How often we pray for healing. But how often do we thank God for health?

This is not a new situation. Consider our Jeremiah reading: “Am I a God at hand – nearby – active — and not a God far off?”

And the Hebrews reading where Paul tells us that if God did not care for us God would not discipline us. .. I think that passage is mis-read a lot but for today the point is that God cares about us enough to be involved in our lives. I think God is involved more as a coach and mentor than as a puppeteer, but that is something we can discuss.

The Gospel takes the same basic point and extends it from the individual to society at large. Again, I think this passage is mis-read a lot but the basic point is that Jesus will change things in our lives and God is active in our world.

Look in your bulletin and among the little handouts there is a white sheet with the days of the week listed. I encourage you to take this out, right now, and put it in your pocket or purse so it will not be left with the bulletin. Put it at home somewhere very visible – maybe on the refrigerator or your mirror. Each day write down something you praise God for — find something you have NOT generally praised God for before.

Of course worship has other components, although I am thinking they are sub-sets to praise. We confess our failures. But would we confess to anyone we did not respect? Is not our willingness to confess an admission that God is worthy to receive our confession? ... Sounds like praise to me.

And we ask God for things. We have prayers of intercession. Again, would we bother to ask someone for something they could not deliver? Asking God to help us is recognition that God is mighty enough to help us. Sounds like praise to me.

Praise, and worship, ultimately have a single purpose ---- to change US. Not to influence or affect God but to change US. If we are not changing than something is wrong.

That’s why I said we tend to take Christianity and God for granted. We tend to get to a place in our lives and decide to sit comfortably. If we take God seriously, I am not sure it is possible to sit comfortably. If we are not a different person today than we were last year, really last month ... I am not sure we can claim to be taking God seriously.

...... Please know I am preaching to myself even more than to anyone else! .... One of the advantages of being a preacher is you can talk to yourself and no one thinks it strange!

OK — you may be asking – WHAT change? Ultimately the change is for us to be closer to God than we were a month ago. That’s the last section of that homework – because of this praise I will respond by growing closer to God by: ---- you fill in the blank for yourself.

This might help ---- Imagine for a moment you are re-connecting with a relative or friend – really want to reconnect. What would that involve? Most likely you would communicate more often. Most likely you would consider them when thinking about future actions.

With God we need to make similar changes. Certainly try to be more focused in worship. ALL of us go through the motions some of the time! We say the words because we know the words as we wonder who picked that last hymn or what is that person’s name?

Staying focused in public worship is a big step especially if we do so, not out of obligation but out of an understanding of the benefits WE will receive.

Keeping our prayer life focused is another step. Try this — I find it almost impossible but it is worth a try — try praying only praise for 15 minutes. OK 5 minutes! Praise, sincere, honest praise only.

Learning about God is important. The Bible is critical to our relationship with God. I don’t believe we can grow closer to God without being more knowledgeable of the Bible. .... commercial ... for those of you thinking “I don’t have time for a Bible study” ... I am currently learning how to offer the Bible study online. If things go reasonably well, then in about a month we will announce the first such class. You don’t have to set aside a time every week. All the materials will be provided. You can be traveling or working or whatever. You don’t even have to say a lot – you can just “listen” to others discuss.

Doing what God wants is important. God wants us to praise, worship, pray, learn ... but over and over again God says to serve God’s children ... the weak and the poor. Over and over again God tells us there really is not much we can do directly for God — probably nothing — so we serve God by serving God’s children. ... Sounds like praise to me. ... There are several opportunities in the bulletin and the sign-up sheet in the narthex. I can tell you right now – like worship, serving others gives more than it takes.

This God ... this Christianity stuff is important for our sake. This stuff is important because of what we gain through it. Our lives are only a shadow of what they could be. What a shame.

AMEN

We have previous sermons on our website. To read an earlier sermon just enter: www.st-christopher.org/sermon.

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND: I would enjoy reading your comments about this sermon. Please feel free to discuss content or presentation. (If you wish to use another email system send your comments to: ken@st-christopher.com)