Sermon: In Search of Belonging

In Search of Belonging
Acts 8: 26-40
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
April 29, 2018


Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went.

Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’

So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.

Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.’

The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.

As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. - Acts 8: 26-40

Oliver Davis is six years old and he already senses his calling. He feels drawn to reaching into the community. On certain days he dresses in his police uniform and heads out with his parents to a nursing home he has not yet visited. He rides his motorcycle throughout the hallways and gives all the residents (women and men alike) three things: a rose, a hug, and a ticket violation saying, “STOP! You have received a ticket for being too cute!”

But Oliver actually gives these seniors something much bigger than that. Oliver is giving his elders the gift of belonging. At such a young age, Oliver has sensed that the senior residents in his community need to feel they are still loved, valued, and connected to the larger whole. And Oliver himself is searching to belong to a life of purpose and meaning to serve others. God is definitely doing something amazing in his life.

Phillip knew that calling to serve too. Jesus chose Phillip to follow him as a disciple (Luke 6:14; Matthew 10:8; Mark 3:18; John 1:43). For three years Phillip followed Jesus’ example of being drawn more deeply into communal relationships by serving God and others.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Risen Christ sent the disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit to share the good news starting in their immediate community of Jerusalem and then spreading God’s love to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Phillip took these final words of Jesus Christ to heart. His fellow apostles saw Phillip’s passion to belong to Jesus’ ministry of authentically changing lives in the community. He was chosen as one of the seven to distribute food to those in need (Acts 6: 2-6).

Phillip followed the Spirit’s lead to share the good news in word and deed. And suddenly he felt the Spirit’s nudge. Have you ever had that feeling – like the Spirit is tapping you to go somewhere and you don’t exactly know why? Well that is what Phillip experienced. He followed the Spirit’s lead to get up and go south because God was about to do something amazing.

I love this story of God bringing together these two individuals – Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch - in this particular time and place. Phillip was willing and ready to serve God and neighbor. He ran up to the chariot and heard the text of Isaiah being read aloud – no less the words about the suffering servant – the prophecy of our Savior’s suffering and death to reconcile us to God and one another and with the eternal promise of new life.

Phillip came alongside the eunuch like a brother and friend. In that moment Phillip knew this individual was searching for belonging. The ancient culture and religious traditions had rules which cut off eunuchs from a future of having a family, of belonging to the whole of society or even the community of faith (Leviticus 21:20; Deuteronomy 23:1).

But Phillip remembered Jesus Christ breaks down barriers. Phillip remembered Jesus Christ is the One Isaiah prophesied about. The prophet said:

“Do not let the foreigner joined to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely separate me from his people.’; and do not let the eunuch say, ‘I am just a dry tee.’ For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths [worship and rest in my grace], who choose the things that please me and will hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off” (Isaiah 56: 3-5).

And then God created a space for Phillip and the eunuch to experience something bigger than themselves; they became more deeply connected to the good news and to the kinship God’s household. That moment was a life changing moment for both men.

More than likely, this was the first time the Ethiopian Eunuch had been received in the fullness of his humanity and human dignity. When he invited Phillip to sit with him in the chariot, the two talked as friends sharing their insights with one another. As we sit in the story with these two, I hear the words of the hymn we just sang:

“We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord…
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand…
We will work with each other, we will work side by side…

As the Eunuch felt united with Phillip in the Spirit he had one desire – to respond to God’s faithfulness by being baptized into the household of God.

What a privilege that was for Phillip to go down to the river to pray with his friend as water and Holy Spirit claimed this young man as a beloved child of God; that is the everlasting name that shall not be cut.

I just wish at some point Phillip had asked this man his name! Nevertheless, that newest baptized member of the household of God went on to be the first Christian missionary to Africa. And Phillip became known as an apostle who had unique gifts for sharing his love for Christ in genuine ways.

In our baptism, God claims us and seals his love upon our hearts showing that we belong to God. By water and Holy Spirit, we are united in Jesus’ saving death and resurrection. We are welcomed as a member into God’s great family. And we are joined to Christ’s ministry of love, hope, peace, and justice.

As Carol Johns says at the beginning of worship, “If you are searching to belong to a church home, well you have found it!” And I concur! But I will also add if you have never been baptized and you find a sense of belonging here, please talk with me after the worship service.

The waters of baptism remind us that we are all searching to belong to a greater purpose that brings meaning to our life. That purpose and meaning is not something we can self-generate. As the Ethiopian Eunuch said himself, “How can I understand if I do not have someone to guide me?” (Acts 8:31).

The waters of baptism lead us into something Phillip was helping others to live into: the joy of authentic Christian community. Christian community is not living in a bubble or cutting ourselves off from the rest of the world.

It is to live daily as Jesus did in trusting God is with us. It is to take one step at a time in the communities we live in and get to know the people, the larger faith community, the schools, the businesses, and what is unique about the context we live in. It is to see what God is doing among us and through one another.

The waters of baptism open the spiritual eyes of our hearts to see ourselves and the world around us as God sees. The Lord sees all that separates us from God and one another. The Lord sees Jesus’ saving death on the cross as God’s love poured out to reconcile us to himself. And the Lord sees us as ambassadors for Christ to carry on Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation in our homes, in our community, and in the wider world.

The waters of baptism move us to no longer see one another from a human point of view, that is seeing one another through the lenses of human labels which dictate belonging. Rather we are to see all those we meet as a child of God.

To follow Jesus as a disciple means the Spirit is on the move to give you and me the courage to come alongside those we know and those we meet for the first time with a sense of child-like wonder like six-year old Oliver Davis. To follow in Jesus’s steps of compassion is to remember everyone is struggling with something and everyone longs to know they are loved and are a part of the whole.

This week I want for you to think about your gifts and passions. And each of us has uniquely God-given gifts and passions.

In this space I see those with the gifts of compassion, mercy, and patience; I see gifts of service, prayer warriors, storytelling and creative hearts; I see gifts of justice, financial discernment, and servant leadership; I see gifts of gardening, hospitality, and humor.

How might God’s Spirit be nudging you to use your gifts as you live out your faith at school, at work, or in this season of your life? What space may God be preparing for you to come alongside another in authentic Christian community?

As we follow the Spirit into the community to serve God and others, whether it be through a mission trip, stopping to help someone on the side of the road, or standing up for one who has no voice, God works through us to empower another to find belonging.

Coming alongside another child of God means we are all just walking each other home.

All praise and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who makes us one. Amen.

Sermon: Walking through the Valley

Walking through the Valley
Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34: 11-16a
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
April 22, 2018

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long. - Psalm 23


For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep.

I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God.

I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak. - Ezekiel 34: 11-16a

On any given day our eyes behold the awe and wonder of green pastures and still waters. The sunshine is warm on our faces, the light is dancing on the water, there is a gentle breeze in the air. And in that moment, we sense the mystery of God’s presence. The promise of God’s restoration touches our very soul.

I know I am not alone in wishing every day could be like this. I surely felt that way when I was on spring break with my daughters!

The rhythm of life is filled with gentle graces, side-stitching laughter, and joy way down in our hearts. But that rhythm can suddenly take us into the darkest valleys without notice. More times than not, we silently fear walking through the valley of the shadows.

You might be saying, “Pastor, today I am lying down in the green pastures and listening to the water babble and you are killing my tranquil vibe!” And I hear you.

But today, the Spirit is asking us to look into the valley. Today some of us are walking through the valley and we need to know that we are not alone in it.

When you look into the valley, what do you see? This past week I have been seeing the shadows of depression. The valley is that low place filled with gloom and uncertainty. We need to give ourselves permission to talk about our mental health. We need to shine a light into the darkness.

Depression is more common than we think. Statistics from 2017 reveal the following for adults and youth:

1 in 5 adults have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety; that is over 40 million Americans across the country. That’s also one person in every pew today.

Within the state of South Carolina, 17% or 644,000 adults struggle with a mental health condition. 137,000 adults have seriously considered suicide.

My heart holds many families I have known throughout my life and ministry who grieve a loved one’s death to suicide. This church knows that grief. I know that grief as well; my aunt committed suicide when I was 16 years old.

Our youth are under increasing pressures today and just like the adults, 1 in 5 youth are struggling with a mental health condition. Nearly 11% of South Carolina youth ages 12-17 report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year; that is 40,000 youth in our state. The national average is 11.93% with the highest state percentage at 14.64% (Indiana).

7.9% of South Carolina youth ages 12-17 experienced severe depression; that is 25,000 youth in our state.

Major Depression is marked by significant and pervasive feelings of sadness that are associated with self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

Common signs of depression in youth and adults include:

• Changes in sleep
• Changes in appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Loss of energy
• Lack of interest in activities
• Hopelessness or guilty thoughts
• Changes in movement (less activity or increased agitation)
• Physical aches and pains

Depression, anxiety, and mental health conditions like bipolar depression are not just statistics. Many of our families hold stories of a parent, a child, a family member who has low moments and cases of the blues. We often feel compelled to hide our stories because of the stigma and shame attached. We tell ourselves no one will understand. As a result, we suffer in silence as we walk through the valley.

Mental health conditions are not sins. They can develop among any of us. Sometimes we have a genetic predisposition by way of family history. Sometimes depression and anxiety develop from chemical imbalances within our bodies. Some conditions develop out of situations of conflict, change, and hardship that are hard to bounce back from. And sometimes conditions develop without any known causes.

We do not have to live in silence. Silence harbors even more isolation, helplessness, fear, anger, and even self-hatred.

The psalms have a way of speaking into our silence and pain. I cannot read today’s text about the psalmist walking through the valley without holding up the psalmist’s previous cry for help in Psalm 22:

My God, my God, why have your forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

But you are holy; enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried, and were saved, and in you they trusted, and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22: 1-5).

The psalmist cried out to God in his pain, loneliness, and despair. And as he did the Spirit whispered a word of hope. The psalmist remembered stories of God’s past faithfulness that had been handed down.

The Lord God is our Shepherd and he is acquainted with all our ways. He knows when we are scattered physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The Shepherd’s ultimate concern is our well-being because you and I are part of his flock. Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, is with us in the valleys of life. He knows the pain we carry because he has carried it himself on the cross (John 10: 11-18).

The Good Shepherd knows our needs. He is at work to restore our weary souls. He will rescue us from all the places to which we have been scattered on our darkest days. He promises to seek us when we are lost, bring us home when we are strayed, bind us up when we are injured, and strengthen us when we are weak (Psalm 23: 1-3; Ezekiel 34:12, 16a-c).

The Psalmist felt God’s presence as he walked through the darkest valley. I have no doubt that the Psalmist walked through the valleys of life more than once. And with every step he was strengthened to affirm “I do not fear for You GOD are with me” (Psalm 23:4). He wrote down his story to share with every generation.

The Psalmist’s words bear hope that our valleys are not the end of the road for us. The Psalmist’s words give us courage to share our stories with God and others who will safely hold them with empathy and compassion.

I have personally struggled with depression since I was in my twenties. Personal situations of failure, hardships, and conflict take me back to the darkest valley. There are times when it is hard to find my way back to the green pastures and the still waters. I remember a stretch of years that I prayed over and over, “Lord, if I could just touch the hem of your robe, I would be healed” (Matthew 9:21).

Looking back, I have found support through good counselors, anti-depressant medication, my husband, my family, trustworthy friends who will bring peanut butter pie when the tears won’t stop, and of course faith. I have experienced God’s presence through each of these supports. And I thank God for being faithful to lead me one step at a time towards healing and wholeness.

My sweet husband Doug gave me permission to share that he struggles with depression too. Depression touches both of our families of origin.

Depression and mental health conditions can be hard to talk about. They can be hard to understand.

Just as one person is diagnosed with heart disease, another is diagnosed with a mental illness. Both individuals need to receive medical care and have a support system to receive healing and achieve wellness.

If you struggle with depression, anxiety, or any mental health condition - or if you recognize any of the common signs in your life or in the life of a loved one - I want you to know four things:

(1) Mental illness is not your fault;
(2) You are not alone;
(3) You are loved beyond measure;
(4) It is important for you to find someone to share your story with.

There is a safe space for you to talk about walking through the valley.

Please come talk with me and know that our conversation is held in confidence. I will pray with you and for you.

Talk with your doctor about the changes you notice in yourself or your loved one.

There are also excellent and trustworthy agencies in our surrounding community with resources for support and care. [1]

No matter what age we are - our state of mental health does not ultimately define you or me. God’s love alone is what defines and redefines us.

God says to us, “Do not fear, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name and you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).

Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture (Psalm 100:3).
God is always in our corner.

So cast your all your anxiety on the Lord because God cares for you and your flock and your shepherd care for you too (1 Timothy 5:7).

The Lord is our Shepherd and he will walk with us through the valley. The Good Shepherd will lead us back to green pastures and still waters to restore or soul.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen.

Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
To meet with the pastor call the church office (803) 285-1895

National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Piedmont Tri-County
PO Box 3626
Rock Hill, SC 29732-5626
(Serves Chester, Lancaster & York)
www.namipiedmont.org
email: namiptc@gmail.com

Saluda Counseling Center
2400 W. Main St (main office)
Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 327-6103
www.thesaludacenter.org
Offices also in Lancaster, Fort Mill, and Chester

Rebound Behavioral Health
134 E Rebound Rd
Lancaster, SC 29720
(803) 810-0995
www.reboundbehavioralhealth.com

*if you or a loved one needs immediate medical assistance always dial 911 first.

Sermon: God's Garden

God’s Garden
Psalm 1; John 15: 1-11 by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
April 8, 2018


Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. - Psalm 1

[Jesus said," ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. - John 15: 1-11

The Gospel of John is one of my favorites. I love the way John paints pictures of Jesus’ ministry with the disciples and the growing number of followers.

John has one sole purpose as he draws his readers into God’s great story: “That you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Today, John paints a beautiful landscape of growing grapevines in hopes that we might allow the roots of our faith to sink a little deeper in the source of life.

John tells us that God is the vine grower. Just imagine the Creator’s hands working the soil to loosen the hard places and to prepare the earth for the true vine. John goes on to say that Jesus is the true vine and the Creator’s hands continue the work of pruning the vine’s branches to allow it to bear more and more fruit.

John is particular to say that you and I are the branches. The landscape of this incredible vine has the opportunity to grow exponentially. Jesus says, “Those who abide in me and me in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

I am captivated by that word “abide.” I am not sure if you caught it in the Scripture reading, but John says the word “abide” ten times. It is not a word that is common in our everyday vocabulary. Abide means “to have one’s abode, to reside, to dwell.”

But to abide in something – especially to abide in Jesus Christ – means to remain in Jesus’ teaching, continue to follow Christ’s example, stand in the Lord’s grace, and strive to endure in God’s faithfulness.

We are encouraged to abide in our Savior as our Savior abides in us. And for John there is something at stake. One commentary I trust shares these words:

It is not enough to be with Jesus Christ and to have received his word. The disciples must abide in him and he must abide in them. There must be an ongoing [opportunity to share life because of the relationships between Jesus and the disciples.][1]

We cannot come to a full understanding of who we are in God’s love alone. That understanding is informed by our relationships with God and one another in community. And as we abide in God’s love, we begin to grow into a beautiful landscape that is God’s garden. That garden is where the community of faith begins to thrive and be nourished by God. And in turn, the community of faith becomes a space for others to experience the goodness of God.

One of my colleagues in ministry is Melissa. She serves as pastor of a small rural Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, Virginia. The town of Pulaski is about 7 square miles and is located near the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains in southwestern Virginia.

A few years ago, Melissa, the session and church members were in prayerful discernment about how to abide in the community. The small church felt God leading them to partner with a non-profit project called “Pulaski Grow.”

This relatively new non-profit was founded by Virginia native Lee Spiegel. Lee moved back to the New River Valley area with a vision to “draw upon the region’s long agricultural history and confront one of its most pressing needs.” That need was small town economic growth.

Lee’s vision entailed a community garden and cannery to grow and can produce with the help of local individuals, churches, and youth. Lee hoped to “teach teenagers the leadership, management, and customer-service skills which area employers need” in order to foster economic growth in their small rural town.

Individuals from across the country began hearing about Lee’s vision. Local area churches began reaching out to help make a difference in the community. Together they have been learning to abide in a mutual and life-giving reality to improve the overall quality of life for everyone.

There are just six weeks of school left this year (not counting Spring Break) and my ministry colleagues and I are already planning for August 11, 2018 – our second annual Lancaster Back to School Bash.

A handful of our Indian Land and Lancaster area clergy saw a need in our community to give underprivileged children (k-12) the resources they need to succeed in school. In August of 2017 churches, businesses, and individuals worked together to serve 800 children in need with school supplies, haircuts, new shoes, foot washings and prayer.

Lancaster County School District serves 20 schools and 12,959 students. The county-wide poverty average is 55.8%. Do you know that 11 out of 20 schools have a poverty rate between 65% and 94%?

As more people hear the stories of how our Lancaster children and families were impacted by Back to School Bash, more want to be a part of this ministry that is changing lives.

This week I met with a local business woman to share about Back to School Bash. She was moved to hear about one little boy who chose his back pack and school supplies, had his hair cut, his feet washed, received a prayer and then had a new pair of shoes placed on his feet. He walked out of the doors with his arms raised high and shouted, “Alleluia!”

The local business woman shared with me that she wanted to be a part of that.

And then she shared a similar event that she has helped lead in Kings Mountain called, “Dare to Dream.”

The vision for the event came from a local pastor who says, “For all of us to get together and love one another – it is the only way that I know personally to change my community and the world that we live in.” Dare to Dream focuses on children and youth who are underprivileged but also are at risk to gang influence.

The Dare to Dream planning team not only saw a community need but also saw a shared interest of dirt bike riding among youth and young adults. Therefore, churches, corporate sponsors, individuals and professional dirt bikers came together to give out back packs, school supplies and inspire children and youth to reach for their dreams. I was equally moved to learn of what another community is doing to sow seeds of God’s love and hope to change the world.

These communities are reflections of God’s great garden. God’s garden is filled with so many branches. And as a wise gentleman shared with me last week after Easter worship, “God is definitely bigger than our individual denominations.”

Once these branches begin to grow out of prayer and commitment to abide in the vine of God’s love, they all intertwine with one another. These branches offer support for one another and yield space for all to thrive and grow. These branches abide and bear good fruit.

Just think about all the branches that make up this community of faith here in Van Wyck. How have the branches among us helped you to abide in our Creator’s hands? In what ways have you experienced the truth that abiding in the vine of our Savior’s self-giving love is where you tap into the source of new life?

This week I pray you reflect upon all the different people in your life who have helped you to grow in God’s love. Maybe it is a teacher, a pastor, or a new friend. Maybe it is a colleague at work whose dedication and humble heart inspires you. Maybe it is a family member who tends to so many with a nurturing and selfless love.

Jesus wants the seeds of our faith to reach down and mature with deep roots. Our Teacher and Savior has a vision for our faith to grow into large beautiful branches that yields blooms of hope, reaching out into the community and into the lives of others.

That hope bears the visible fruit of God’s promise that the love of Christ changes the world. Sometimes God alone is the one who begins to see the hidden promise of transformation. And yet as we hold the resurrection promise of Easter as our vision, we too will see God’s love at work in our lives as we keep in step with the Spirit.

This Easter season we have the opportunity to pray about how to abide more deeply in the vine of God’s love and coming kingdom.

May we remain in Jesus’ teaching, continue to follow Christ’s example, stand in the Lord’s grace, and strive to endure in God’s faithfulness.

Let’s go out and be God’s Garden and invite others to come and see how good God is.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Sacra Pagina, “The Gospel of John” (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1998), p. 420.

Sermon: The Defining Moment of Easter

The Defining Moment of Easter
1 Corinthians 15: 1-11
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
Easter Sunday
April 1, 2018

Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe. - 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11


On any given day we encounter defining moments.

A student goes to tutoring in attempts to reframe a difficult concept; the light bulb goes off and she does a fist pump because she finally gets it! “Yes, I can learn hard things!” she says.

After years of struggle, he found the courage to face his addiction and say “I need help.” And then he felt the chains release and tasted the beginning of freedom for the first time.

As the days blurred into months of grieving the loss, she found the strength to rise up to another day with the support and encouragement of her community.

Sidney Evans says, “A defining moment is a point in our life when we are urged to make a pivotal decision, or when we experience something that fundamentally changes us. Not only do these moments define us, but they have a transforming effect on our perceptions and behaviors.”

The Apostle Paul was a man who was deeply acquainted with defining moments. Before he wrote over half of the New Testament he was a Pharisee and a persecutor of the Christian movement. He dragged men and women to prison for their faith in Jesus and breathed threats and murder against the disciples (Acts 8:3; 9:1).

But then he encountered the Risen Lord and his life completely turned 180 degrees. Jesus Christ turned this man’s zeal into a heart burning to proclaim the good news of forgiveness, salvation, and new life.

Soon after, Paul lived among the Corinthians for eighteen months as a tent maker and church planter (Acts 18:11). As he worked making tents he got to know the people of the community. He heard their stories, their joys, and their struggles. And he shared his own with them so that God’s power might come through. Paul met the Corinthians where they were to help them see their defining moments through the lens of faith. He followed God’s purpose in his life to preach, teach and build up the body of Christ so that others may know God’s eternal hope.

His words today are the earliest written words to tell about the Easter story. The good news is always about Jesus’ life, death, and being raised by God to new life.

It is good news because we are freed from the penalty of our sins.
It is good news because our risen Lord appeared to so many people in so many various places.
It is good news because the Easter story has been passed down through every generation.
It is good news because the claim that “He Is Risen” bears eternal hope to face tomorrow.
It is good news because it has a transforming effect on our perceptions, behaviors, and the reality in which we live.

Easter is God’s defining moment for creation and humanity.

Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, author, and professor at Piedmont College and Columbia Theological Seminary; she says: “Christianity is the only world religion that confesses a God who suffers. It is not that popular an idea, even among Christians. We prefer a God who prevents suffering, only that it is not the God we have got. What the cross [and empty tomb] teach us is that God’s power is not the power to force human choices and end human pain. It is, instead, the power to pick up the shattered pieces and make something holy out of them – not from a distance, but right close up.”[1]

Lee and Lisa were seven years into their marriage with a son when something changed. The demands of life began causing great strife. A multigenerational family business dominated Lee’s life. The future which had once looked so bright and full of promise suddenly came crashing down.

The family business broke down. Lee’s parents divorced. His marriage to Lisa broke down too. They went to three marriage counselors and nothing seemed to change. They felt like they were living in a container without oxygen. It all led to the decision to do a trial separation. An agreed six weeks turned into three years. It all felt like a dead end.

Lisa began thinking about her broken life. She thought about faith and church had long been something you do instead of something that is relationship centered. It was in that space that Lisa was invited to her first adult Bible study with women from various backgrounds. She says, “We studied Genesis and I began to learn about the God of the universe and this God of the impossible.”

That Bible study turned into a defining moment. She recommitted her life to Christ. She says, “Because of what Christ was doing in my life along with this community of women, I began to trust the Lord, meet him daily, and ask him for strength and wisdom.

At the same time and in a different place, Lee reflected on his life too. His career was gone. His family of origin was gone. His marriage and son were gone. So he was left to focus on the only thing that was left, which was faith. Lee also happened to come across a non-denominational Bible study with a community of men who counseled and care for him.

The dark side of life showed up and it was there that Jesus Christ began to show Lee who he was. It was a defining moment. He found that when you are feeling like a zero, well that is good news because nothingness is what God works with.

Lee and Lisa found God was at work picking up the shattered pieces of their lives in order to make something holy. It was the work of the cross – they each met God in a very unexpected way.

As the Lord was teaching them to prioritize their focus on their vertical relationship with Christ first and foremost, then God’s Spirit allowed for them to experience resurrection hope and reconciliation in their horizontal relationship with one another. It was not overnight; picking up the pieces took 11 years.

The good news of the Resurrection does not mean our stories of brokenness all have a happy ending.

It means that when we find ourselves in the lowest points of our lives that God is there with us. Despair and hopelessness are not the end of our stories. Those moments are actually places where God is hovering over the chaos and whispering that we are not forsaken or abandoned.

When the light shines into our darkness, that just may be a defining moment for you and me. It is in that kind of space where God is renewing our humanity. God causes us to rise to new life.

We rise because through Jesus Christ, God has triumphed over brokenness, sin, and death. Even when life happens and hits the fan, nothing in all the world can ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior (Romans 8:38).

The Easter story is a powerful one because God invites the voices of all who have seen the Risen Lord to share their story of God’s faithfulness and unfailing love.

The flowered cross speaks God’s narrative of grace into our lives and redefines our understanding of relationships.

As we focus on our vertical relationship with God, then we experience grace up close. God has claimed you and me as his own and calls us beloved. The Lord strengthens our fragile spirits to begin making us holy and whole; it is by his wounds we are healed.

And the Spirit moves us to engage our horizontal relationships in a new and profound way through the gift of community.

Theologian Shirley Guthrie says, “We listen to the stories of faith not so that we may believe that [the resurrection] really happened, but so that we may know Jesus Christ and knowing him, share with him this promise of new life.”[2]

What is your story? Where is God’s story of amazing grace shining into your story of despair and brokenness?

If there is no death, then there is no resurrection. When we are feeling like a zero, well, that is when God does his best work.

May each of us rise up in the defining moment of God’s resurrection hope.

May we tell our stories so that others may know the resurrection joy of the Lord is our strength.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Barbara Brown Taylor, “God in Pain” (Nashville:Abingdon Press, 1998).
[2] Shirley Guthrie, “Christian Doctrine” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994). P. 274.

The Lord's Prayer Sermon Series: The Kingdom, Power & Glory...Amen

“The Lord’s Prayer: Kingdom, Power, & Glory Forever, Amen”
A Lenten Sermon Series 6/6
1 Chronicles 29: 11-13; Matthew 6: 9-13
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
March 25, 2018
Palm Sunday


Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.
1 Chronicles 29: 11-13

Jesus said, Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one. - Mathew 6: 6-9

We just read Matthew’s account of the Lord’s Prayer as Jesus taught his disciples. And I wonder if you caught it.

We heard Jesus praise God for the gift of their relationship, petitions for seeking God’s will, provision, forgiveness, and being led into deeper obedience as we renounce evil and trust God’s complete deliverance from it.

So what about the closing of the prayer? For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen?

It’s not there. And it’s not in Luke’s Gospel account either.

The doxology or the final words of the Lord’s Prayer actually comes from King David in 1 Chronicles 29: 11-13. These words were added much later after Matthew’s Gospel was written. And Matthew’s Gospel was written about 80 or even 90 years after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Interpreting Jesus’ life and ministry through the Jewish tradition is so very important to Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Torah (first five books of the Bible) and the prophets. Jesus is the Son of God from the line of King David. Jesus is the new Moses leading God’s people into God’s kingdom and eternal promised land. And as we conclude our series on the Lord’s Prayer, it is worth noting that it is in keeping with the ancient Jewish tradition of prayer.

The basic form of Jewish prayer begins with the words of blessing, “Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe...” The body of the prayer moves into praise for who God is and also in petitions to request God to act. The prayer closes with a seal repeating the opening words of blessing.[1]

That seal binds the prayer as authentic testimony to God’s character and promises. The overall movement of the Jewish prayer and the Lord’s Prayer become a faith confession as an individual or the community lifts up their voices in gratitude and full assurance that God will fulfill these petitions because of who God is.

The Lord’s Prayer was integral to the life of the early church, therefore the doxology was added to seal the prayer with a resolute hope that God is on the move to fully reveal God’s kingdom, power, and glory. These very words trained the early church’s spiritual conviction of God’s faithfulness which transcends time. [2]

Theologian Karl Barth says:
“The kingdom has already come through Jesus Christ. And the kingdom is the final victory over sin. It is the reconciliation of the world to God which will bear a new aeon, a new heaven, and a new earth because they are surrounded by the peace of God… The coming kingdom is totally independent of our powers therefore, God’s kingdom, power, and glory are the object of prayer. God alone, who created the world, can and will complete it in this act of accomplishment, in this justification of himself and of his cross. It concerns the peace and the justice of the world which is brought to its perfection; and that can only be the result of God’s work.” [3]

Palm Sunday shapes our perspective of God’s power to completely dismantle the kingdom of this world and also to bring the kingdom of God to completion. God’s power revealed in Jesus Christ looks quite different than worldly power.

Worldly power has long been demonstrated as gaining honor and might at the expense of shaming others.

God’s power is revealed in the weakness of an infant born in a manger who grew in the humility of God’s wisdom.

Jesus Christ knew his God given purpose was to preach, teach, and heal in the name of God who reaches out to those who are poor in spirit, mourning, meek, those who hunger & thirst for right relationships, those who are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and the persecuted (Matthew 5: 1-11).

Today we celebrate the power of our coming King who rode into Jerusalem not on a mighty war horse but on a donkey.

Our King was not armed with military might but was armed in God’s self-giving love and compassion. Christ our King reveals a power that did not look down on people but looked into the eyes of his sisters and brothers.

The eyes of Christ empowered us to see our true humanity through his; we are created in God’s image to do nothing less than love God and neighbor.

And because sin disrupts our highest calling, Jesus Christ suffered the shame of the cross to free us and demonstrate God’s power of salvation. That kind of self-giving power is what God is harnessing to transform the world.

We cannot help but pray, proclaim, and affirm God’s glory; it is the divine quality of God’s Easter splendor that we will once again celebrate next Sunday. Glory is a visible sign of God’s goodness and mysterious presence. It bears the weight of God’s awesome steadfast love, mercy, and grace. And yet we only see glimpses of God’s glory since Moses’ time because we cannot possibly take it all in (Exodus 33: 17-19).

The truth of God’s glory is that God chooses to live in relationship with us and to shine his glory through you and me.

We see God’s glory pass by when we notice God’s presence in the trials of life. We see God’s glory shining brightly when the gift of faith moves us to carry our cross to follow Christ; to be good stewards of creation, to let the children come without hindrance, to care for the least, to welcome the stranger, to forgive, to ethically work for God’s peace and justice.

And yet on our best days, we catch a vision of God’s dream when the Spirit moves us to shine the light into the darkness.

Karl Barth likens the veil of God’s glory to a wooden table fully covered by a table cloth. We knock on the table and know it is there. And if we pull up the cloth up we will be able to truly see the table. And so we pray in bold assurance that when the complete comes in God’s good timing, the veil will be completely removed and we will behold the fullness of God’s glory.

Jesus teaches us to pray with a bold trust in God to fulfill our petitions. The Lord’s Prayer is training our spiritual eyes to be on the lookout for God’s kingdom, power, and glory to reign.

We let go and give it all to God saying, “Amen.”

In Hebrew and Greek “Amen” means “Let it be,’ or “Truly.” To say “Amen” is a holy action of trust in the certainty that God hears our prayers. And that certainty is greater than what we desire and what we have prayed for (Heidelberg Catechism question and answer 129).

It takes guts to pray the Lord’s Prayer. Karl Barth says, “To clasp our hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”

The Lord’s Prayer shapes our identity as God’s beloved community. It connects us to our spiritual ancestors who have also prayed as Jesus taught.

Just think about all the generations whom have prayed these very words of Jesus Christ over and over again. And now our youngest children are learning the prayer to join the refrain.

We are truly blessed by a tie that binds us in Christian love. That love which has been tried and is true strengthens our confidence that the One who began a good work among us will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

The Lord’s Prayer transcends chronological time as we follow Jesus to join God in this holy work of reconciling, recreating and renewing all of creation and humanity.

One day the work of Easter will be complete and all creation and humanity will abound in Hallelujah.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] Dan Juster, “Jewish Roots: Understanding Your Jewish Faith” (Shippensburg :Destiny Image Publishers, 2013).
[2] New Interpreter's Bible Commentary, "Matthew" (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 133.
[3] Karl Barth, “Prayer” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), pp. 35-36.

The Lord's Prayer Sermon Series: Lead Us Not Into Temptation

“The Lord’s Prayer: Lead Us Not into Temptation”
A Lenten Sermon Series 5/6
Matthew 6: 9-13
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
March 18, 2018

The season of Lent helps us to prepare for the ultimate claim of the Christian faith which we celebrate on Easter Sunday: Jesus’ death on the cross and his rising to new life changes the world and changes us. Jesus’ demonstration of God’s unconditional love is a climactic moment revealing God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The past five weeks we have sat at Jesus’ feet to learn the prayer he taught his disciples. The Lord’s Prayer teaches us the words to pray for God’s kingdom to come and invites us to join God in this holy work of changing the world. The Lord’s Prayer hinges upon right relationships with God and one another.

The Lord’s Prayer builds up in bold intensity with each petition. Jesus instructs us to pray by his lived example.

The baseline of any relationship is trust. Therefore, Jesus begins his prayer with a foundational relationship of great intimacy and trust with God as a divine parent Matthew 6:9).

Jesus gives up his will for God’s purposes in his life and requires us to do the same as a cost of discipleship (Mathew 6:10).

Jesus proclaims as we trust God to provide our daily bread then God also moves us to be generous to empower all of God’s children to flourish (Matthew 6:11).

Jesus requires our relationships to bear the weight of God’s mercy and grace by forgiving others as we have already been forgiven (Matthew 6:12, 14-15).

And today Jesus’ sixth petition reaches the most intense point, the climactic moment, of his prayer. Listen to Matthew’s account in chapter 6, verse 13: “And do not bring us to the time of trial but rescue us form the evil one.”

We hear Jesus’ petition, and some ask, “If God is loving and trustworthy, then why should we have to pray for God to NOT lead us into trials or temptations?” It’s a real question, isn’t it?

I want for you to remember that Jesus’ prayer comes through his lived experience.

As soon as Jesus was anointed for his ministry in baptism and claimed in God’s purposes for salvation, Matthew says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).

That word tempted also means tested. The devil or the advocate tempted Jesus to not rely upon God. God tested Jesus’ human obedience. And yet Jesus did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited (Philippians 2:6).

Jesus was tempted to be self-reliant, to put God to the test, and to trust his own pride to rule the kingdom of this world, thereby forsaking God and God’s purposes (Matthew 4: 4,7, 10).

Jesus was tested to be faithful to God. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and strengthened to fully obey God by affirming we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God; we do not test God but trust God’s presence and covenant love; we worship God alone.

Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses because he has been tempted as we are, yet without sin – he lived in perfect relationship with God and with humanity (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus’ ministry came to a close with temptation and testing too. As he knew his hour had come, he threw himself on the ground to pray three times in the Garden of Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup (of bitter suffering) pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want” (Matthew 26:39).

And as Jesus’ wrestled and prayed to be centered upon God’s will and not his own, his disciples were not filled with the same vigor; in their confusion and misunderstanding of what Jesus was doing, they fell asleep. And Jesus says, “Could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial” (Matthew 26:41).

The Christian faith does not remove temptation and testing from the journey of life; rather it is our spiritual compass to navigate through it. To follow God’s direction with this compass, we need to cultivate time for prayer and steeping our spirits in God’s Word.

Jesus teaches us to pray for our obedience to God to mature daily so that we may not fall into temptation to trust ourselves over and against God’s will and God’s purposes. Sin deceives us to think we do not need God.

However, when we do fall short of God’s glory because of the condition of human sin, we pray that Christ’s redemption will raise us up, reconcile what is broken, and free us. Christ frees us to live in the mercy of God’s forgiveness and to live into the wisdom that our true sense of humanity is found in Christ’s example.

Jesus teaches us to pray for testing to develop our faith daily in positive ways. God tested Israel in the wilderness to reveal their weakness would only be made strong by fully relying on God. God tests our faith too in the hope that we will do the right thing, especially when no one is looking.

I am deeply reminded of the Psalmist’s prayer about this: “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 138: 23-24).

Jesus also teaches us to pray for God’s deliverance to lead us into complete victory when his kingdom fully comes. “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, or the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

Scripture does not tell us where evil comes from.

But Scripture does say that God created all things and humanity good (Genesis 1:31). When humanity was tempted by the serpent to reach beyond the boundaries of God’s will in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world and tainted humanity’s thoughts and actions. Even as humanity was exiled from the Garden, God’s grace claimed us. And God’s grace will always have the ultimate claim upon all of creation and humanity overcoming evil once and for all at the end of time when the new heaven and new earth are created (Revelation 20:10; 21: 1-5).

Shirley Guthrie, Jr. was the Professor Emeritus of Theology at Columbia Theological Seminary. He says, “Evil, by definition, is what God does not will and does not do.”[1] There are two kinds of evil: natural evil and moral evil.

Natural evil is the destruction we see from natural disaster. This is part of the natural order of the world. It bears evidence of the brokenness in which we live – the groaning pains of creation – as it too waits to be set free from its bondage to decay (Romans 8:20).

Moral evil is what humanity does to each other when we deny being our brothers’ keeper (Genesis 4: 8-10). Guthrie says, “The evil we do to each other has three dimensions. It is always rebellion against God and the order of God’s good creation. It is always indifference or enmity toward our fellow human beings. And it is always the self-destructive contradiction of what we ourselves were created to be.” [2]

Moral evil is all too real when we think about the human violence that killed Jesus on the cross, the horrors of the Holocaust and even the mass shootings of today.

Let me be clear that humanity is not evil.

We are created in God’s image and we have all fallen short of God’s glory. Nevertheless, we indeed struggle to understand our capacity to inflict physical, emotional, and spiritual harm upon one another.

The Reformed tradition takes evil seriously. It is a threat against God’s kingdom and to our faith. It is a serious force of darkness that we cannot fully explain. It is an enigma that will not win.

Our tradition warns us to not consider the forces of evil to be equal to the power of God. Guthrie says, “Whenever Satan (the Adversary) or his demons appear in Scripture, it is always the story of God’s power over them and of their defeat and destruction. The devil and his demons are by definition those powers that God in Jesus Christ has already opposed and defeated (Matthew 12:28; Mark 3:22; Luke 10:18; John 12:31; Colossians 1:13).” [3]

Our tradition warns us about personifying Satan or the devil. When we hear the phrase, “The devil made me do it,” we may giggle about it, but in reality a personal concept of the devil can easily become a theological scapegoat denying our condition of human sin.

Evil is not just the utter violence we do to one another, an oppositional force to God and our faith, but also the power of greed, fear, prejudice, and hatred within you and me which threatens the integrity of our faith and the coming kingdom of God.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Jesus is saying:

Lead us into deeper obedience to die to sin and rise to new life in Christ.

Lord, turn our tests into triumphs that give you glory!

Deliver us from the agony of evil around us and even that we do to one another and bring us ever closer into your presence, O God.

Jesus’ prayer emboldens us to claim the victory of the cross.

And as we actively wait for God’s kingdom to fully come…not passively wait but ACTIVELY wait… we renounce evil and work together with God to risk shining the light of Christ into the darkness.

The darkness shall never overcome the light!

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sourced Referenced:
[1] Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr. “Christian Doctrine” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994), p. 176.
[2] Guthrie, p. 174.
[3] Guthrie, p. 180.

The Lord's Prayer Sermon Series: Forgive Us As We Forgive

“The Lord’s Prayer: Forgive Us as We Forgive”
A Lenten Sermon Series 4/6
Matthew 6: 9-12, 14-15
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
March 11, 2018

‘Pray then in this way:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors...

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. - Matthew 6: 9-12, 14-15

The season of Lent is a time to reflect and examine our commitment to follow Jesus Christ; to look at our spiritual steps in light of the costly grace of the cross and the Easter promise of new life.

Each week we have been breaking down The Lord’s Prayer. Matthew remembers the prayer Jesus taught opens our hearts to God’s vision of the kingdom that is already here and still yet to come. The key of the Lord’s Prayer is that it hinges upon authentic relationships with God and one another.

The example of Jesus’ life and ministry captures a relationship of great intimacy and trust with God as a divine parent. Jesus is bold to lay down his wants for God’s purposes in his life. Jesus proclaims if we trust God to give us our daily bread then God also moves us to be as generous as God. Authentic relationships that receive also give so that all of God’s children may flourish in God’s kingdom.

Today we look at what is essential for our relationships to thrive as we pray for God’s kingdom to come. Jesus prays, “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors” (verse 12).

Each time I think of that word, “forgive,” I pause because I am still learning how to do it. Forgiveness is a complicated thing, isn’t it? It is hard to live as a person of faith in a world that lives at odds with God’s mercy.

Human history says people should get what they deserve; that retributive mindset contradicts Christ’s teachings. Judgement that triumphs over mercy makes forgiveness quite a challenge.

Forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do in life, no matter how young or old we are. It is not magic. It is a mystery of grace.

Jesus’ prayer holds an important truth. God has already forgiven our sins on the cross. Sin includes our thoughts, actions, and even failure to act which offends God.

Just imagine every possible sin humanity has committed, is committing now, and could commit written on the chalk board. Our sins are not just individual, but they are also collective (corporate); they cause hurt to God and to other people. How many miles would that chalkboard extend?

And yet God does not give us what we deserve. God’s love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). God erased everything. God let it go and forgives us through Jesus’ Christ (Romans 5:18).

Does that mean that our actions no longer bear consequences? No. But it does mean that on our own we are incapable of making reparations to restore right relationships with God and one another.

John Calvin says, “Jesus calls sins ‘debts,’ because we owe penalty for them and we could in no way satisfy it unless we were released by this forgiveness. This pardon – this letting go – comes of God’s free mercy, by which he generously wipes out these debts, exacting no payment from us. [Christ alone made us right with God] by his own mercy [on the cross].”[1]

As we pray, “Forgive us our debts,” we remember God’s amazing grace – how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Jesus’ forgiveness is a gift of salvation and yet do we sin all the more so that grace may abound? By no means, the Apostle Paul would say (Romans 6:1).

We continue to confess our need to be forgiven for there was only one who lived in perfect relationship with God and with humanity; Jesus Christ.

We confess every week in worship that we need God’s help to live into Christ’s faithfulness. The human condition of sin taints everything we think, say, and do. Just as we pinned our prayers of confession to the cross this morning, we trust the good news that by grace we have been saved through faith, and this is not our own doing; it is the gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9).

Even as we pray with a growing trust to live into the reality of God’s forgiveness, the second part of Jesus’ petition says as we approach the throne of grace we have already forgiven our debtors (Matthew 6:13).

Did you catch that? As we petition God, we have already forgiven someone who has hurt us. Past tense. Now think about that! Is there someone in your life whom you have not ALREADY forgiven even as you ask God to forgive the terrible awful in you? What does this petition mean?

According to Matthew’s Gospel something is at stake for us to live into reality of God’s merciful kingdom.

Matthew’s Gospel is quite sobering about forgiveness. Jesus says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6: 14-15; 7:12).

Jesus is not saying that God’s forgiveness is conditional. And Jesus is not saying that our forgiveness of another is pinned down to a relative time of action; rather the past tense Jesus uses indicates the KIND of action.

Jesus is saying the way we treat one another should bear the weight of God’s grace and mercy. God has already paid the debt we owe because of sin. Therefore, we are to show the same mercy and release the debts others owe us. Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).

Not long after Jesus’ teaching on prayer he says, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get…In everything do to others as you would have them do to you” (Mathew 7:1-2, 12).

If the Lord’s Prayer is about the integrity of our relationships with God and one another, then we are to prayerfully prepare our minds for action to not live for ourselves. The heart of God’s forgiveness and saving grace on the cross is reconciliation that is self-giving.

The Apostle Paul says, “God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting our debts against us, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are now ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5: 18-20).

Our ongoing commitment to forgive others as God freely forgives us is imperative to our calling to be holy, or set apart for God’s purposes, as God is holy(1 Peter 1:15).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once preached, “It is of no use for us to confess our faith in Christ if we have not gone first and reconciled ourselves to our brothers and sisters…as a church that calls a nation to faith in Christ must itself be the burning fire of love in this nation, a driving force for reconciliation, the place in which all the fires of hatred are extinguished and prideful, hateful people are turned into people who love. Our Reformation churches have accomplished great things, and yet it seems to me that they have not yet succeeded in doing this greatest of all things.”[2]

Bonhoeffer preached these words 84 years ago and yet they still ring true today.

The prayer Jesus teaches invites us to be builders of God’s kingdom. The petition for forgiveness invites us to join Christ in this holy work of mending the estrangements between each other individually and corporately even as God has already been reconciling the world back to God through Jesus Christ.

As the Apostle Paul says, we are to “work out our own salvation with great reverence for it is God who is at work in us enabling us both to will and to work for God’s good pleasure (Philippians 2:12c-13).

Just imagine what might happen if we acknowledge the hurt we have caused our sisters and brothers by what we have done and also what we have left undone. For on any given day each of us is in need of mercy that we do not deserve.

Just imagine what the world might be like if everyone demonstrated their action to forgive another by pinning a prayer to the cross like we did this morning. Give it to God and let it go.

Even as reconciliation is the godly goal of forgiveness, the hope is that we learn from our mistakes and misgivings.

Our sins are ever before us on that cross. The cross leads us to the freedom of walking in God’s path of wisdom, justice, and self-giving love.

The blessing of God’s forgiveness restores to us the joy of the Lord’s salvation and sustains in us a willing spirit to follow Jesus (Psalm 51:3, 12).

In this fourth week of Lent, may we pray to be ambassadors for Christ to be a driving force of reconciliation.

May God’s Holy Spirit move among us so that we owe no one anything, except to love one another (Romans 13:8).

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] John Calvin, “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, Reissued in 2006), p. 910.
[2] Dietrich Bonhoeffer "A Testament of Freedom: The Essential Writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (New York: Harper One, 1990, 1995), p. 249.