Sermon: "What Do You Want Me to Do for You?"

What Do You Want Me to Do for You?
Psalm 37: 3-7; Mark 10: 46-52
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
October 28, 2018

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices. - Psalm 37: 3-7

They came to Jericho. As [Jesus] and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Jesus stood still and said, ‘Call him here.’ And they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take heart; get up, he is calling you.’

So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man said to him, ‘My teacher, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. - Mark 10: 46-52

The mark of a good teacher is one who creates a trusting space to ask questions. And the asking is always reciprocal. The teacher asks questions of the students to encourage their curiosity and understanding, as well as challenge their thinking. And the students ask questions of the teacher to gain clarity and insight.

Jesus was such a teacher. He asked more questions than he gave answers for.

And in the tenth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus asks a particular question in two back to back settings; first to James and John and then to Bartimaeus. Jesus’ question implies he is curious to know the desires of the heart for all three. But more so, Jesus is curious to hear that desire named out loud.

Jesus asked the brothers of Zebedee, “What do you want me to do for you?” when they had asked a favor of Jesus (Mark 10:26). The brothers said they wanted to sit in Jesus’ glory at his right and left hand (Mark 10:37). The brothers want the power that Jesus has. And yet the Teacher knows they do not fully understand.

Jesus had just foretold for the third time about his coming death and resurrection (Mark 10: 33-34). Jesus could see that “deer in the head lights” look in his disciples eyes. He reminds his disciples God’s kingdom is contrary to Rome’s kingdom; the world knows powerful rulers lord their power over the people but this is not so among you (Mark 10: 42-43).

And yet Jesus ultimately uses the cross to instruct the disciples the core concept of his servant leadership. To be last and not first…to serve and not be served because Jesus will give his life as a ransom for many. For Jesus the work of the cross is to lay down God’s power in self-giving, unconditional, sacrificial love for all humanity (Mark 10: 44-45).

The disciples needed to hear Jesus ask Bartimaeus the same question, “What do you want me to do for you?”

The future is at stake. At the end of Mark’s Gospel, the disciples would be sent with Jesus’ Easter power to proclaim the good news to the whole creation and work with the Lord (Mark 16: 15, 20).

The disciples needed to be embraced by a teaching moment with Bartimaeus because the Christian life as a disciple of Jesus is never about having power over another. The Christian life is not about telling others what they need to feel or do in order to experience God’s saving grace. The Christian life is about sharing Jesus’ power with others.

Jesus and the disciples come to Jericho and the crowd is mesmerized by Jesus’ teaching. The crowd followed Jesus and the disciples oh so closely to learn more about the One who teaches in God’s authority.

As Jesus walked the streets of Jericho a man named Bartimaeus could hear all the chatter. We don’t know how or when he first heard of Jesus. But Bartimaeus’ actions that day imply that he had an understanding of how powerful Jesus was.

Mark does not reveal what had caused Bartimaeus’ blindness or how long he had struggled with it. But it certainly brought isolation, exclusion, and powerlessness to Bart’s life.

The beat on the street was that Jesus reached out to those with a similar story. Jesus healed those who wrestled their demons (Mark 1: 21-28; 5: 1-20); he chose to touch and cleanse lepers (Mark1: 40-42) ; he empowered women to share their stories of pain and exclusion in light of God’s powerful healing and grace (Mark 5:32-34) ; he healed the sick and welcomed children (Mark 1: 29-34; 6:53-56; 9: 25-27; 10:14); he cured the deaf and the blind (Mark 7: 31-37; 8:22-26).

And Bart was desperate to be healed too. He knew that Jesus was the One who could do it.

So just as Jesus and the disciples were about to head back to Jerusalem, Bart cold not let this moment pass. He shouted to grab Jesus‘ attention.

This is where that teaching moment begins. The crowd tried to silence Bart. They tried to exert a level of power over him. Those in the crowd standing near Bartimaeus said to him – keep quiet. Not now. And as the crowd tried to shut out Bartimaeus, he shouted out all the more loudly.

Jesus stood still and spoke to the men and women who were standing as a barrier between Bart and Jesus. And Jesus said, “Call him here” (Mark 10:49).

And the disciples saw something take place that would change them forever. The ones who tried to silence Bart did not push back against Jesus but had a change of heart.

Those in the crowd followed Jesus’ instruction and looked at Bartimaeus saying to him, “Take courage. Rise up. He is calling you” (Mark 10:49). Those individuals in the crowd shared Jesus’ power with Bartimaeus; they helped him rise up; they helped him get to Jesus.

And it is there that James and John and the disciples heard Jesus ask Bart the same question, “What do you want me to do for you?” The Greek renders a more faithful reading, “What do you desire that I do for you?”

I can’t help but wonder as Bartimaeus heard that question if Psalm 37:4-5 filled his mind, “Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lod; trust in him and he will act.”

I love Bartimaeus’ answer. He wanted to receive Jesus’ power to see again but to see in a new way – to experience God’s mercy, amazing grace, and blessed assurance that Jesus was his Lord too.

And after being touched by Jesus’ merciful power Bartimaeus followed Jesus on the way (Mark 10:52). Bartimaeus became a disciple too.

And I know as the circle of Jesus’ students grew, their view of God’s kingdom grew too.

Have you ever felt silenced? If so, who or what silenced you? Who listened to your pain and the desires of your heart? Who helped you take courage and rise up in Jesus’ merciful love, healing, and rise up a little closer to your God-given potential?

Holy Spirit is on the move as the Advocate to teach us to be like our Teacher and Savior. Jesus came to proclaim the good news of God (Mark 1:14).

But the good news Jesus brought came through loving God and loving neighbor. The good news Jesus brought was walking beside those who had been silenced. God hears all our pleas and prayers, but God is particularly close to the powerless and the marginalized. The good news Jesus brought shared God’s power to redeem humanity physically, emotionally and spiritually and to join God in changing the world.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we too are sent to proclaim the good news too….. But if the good news that we proclaim does not include loving God and loving neighbor then we are not proclaiming Jesus.

We are to proclaim the good news by sharing Jesus’ power of mercy and grace with others. To share Jesus’ power is not about being theologically right or determining who is inside or outside of the circle of God’s grace. Sharing Jesus’ power is to lay down ours power for the sake of living in in relationship with God and one another like Jesus did.

It is to listen for our sisters and brothers who are shouting out because society is silencing their voices. The history of humankind has long silenced whole groups of people, and lest we forget – the Church – has a long history even through the present day of silencing voices too.

The Spirit is on the move to lead us to confess our spiritual blindness and to empower us to spiritually see in a new way. And so life becomes a classroom of faith to encounter new insights from the Teacher and to learn from one another.

We are collecting Dimes for Hunger this month so that we may share God’s abundance with our sisters and brothers who live near the poverty line here in Lancaster County and even all the way to Guatemala and Honduras. This ministry has been asking the question, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and many reply they want to know God will always provide daily bread and fill the gap that they cannot.

We will be baking cookies these next few weeks for the Kairos ministry to take a dozen homemade cookies to 1,500 of our brothers serving time in the Kershaw prison. That ministry has been asking the question, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and many have replied they want to know the truest gift of God’s forgiveness – that we are more than the worst thing we have ever done. And those cookies convey a prayerful action of unconditional love and mercy that is tangible.

We are praying for American Leprosy Missions this week as one of our own travels with the team to Napal to learn from and serve our sisters and brothers who struggle today with leprosy. And this ministry asks, “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” and one man said, “People look down on me because of this sickness.” He wants to be healed, to experience belonging, and to find the hope of making a difference in his community.

Our Jewish sisters and brothers in Pittsburgh are shouting out because violent hatred has once again tried to silence them. How will you and I respond?

In our daily living – at school, at work, in the community and wider world- when we walk beside our sisters and brothers who are hurting, who have been silenced, and we listen to their stories – even when God takes us out of our comfort zone - that my friends is holy work.

When we listen and help others to rise up in Jesus’ power to reach their desire and God-given potential, when we work together to right the wrongs, when we see each other through eyes of mercy, and when we serve humbly then that is doing what the Lord requires of us….to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Who is God calling you and me to listen to? Who might God place in your path and mine this week that has been silenced? Will we listen?

May we remember the blessed assurance of belonging to Jesus is God’s desire for all.
In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, Amen.

The Face of Faith Sermon Series: The Ears

The Face of Faith: A Sermon Series on James
Ears
James 5: 7-20
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
October 21, 2018

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘Yes’ be yes and your ‘No’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. - James 5: 7-20


For weeks we have been sitting in the words of James. James is a letter of wisdom. The author puts pen to paper to persuade Christians to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ because faith is both a gift and a responsibility.

For James, the greatest marker of a Christian’s identity is that we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. So, he goes to great lengths teaching about the Law of Love. James raises his prophetic voice to encourage us and also to challenge us to look deeply within the image of faith we project to God and one another.

James is not only concerned about one’s personal image of faith, but also the faith which is projected by the community of believers. This includes our moral attitudes and social ethics, our intentionality to see one another as sisters and brothers of God’s greater family, and our commitment to seek the wellbeing of all.

The Lord God is calling us to strengthen our hearts and take a long view into the face of faith.

James has been tapping us to take the time to look into the mirror of God’s truth – God’s mirror not only reflects our short comings but it is also reflects the hope of God’s great potential to transform our lives day by day.

God’s Word opens our eyes to see the world, our neighbors and our very selves in a new way when we look through the merciful eyes of Jesus Christ.

God’s Spirit empowers us to choose our words more wisely when we remember the gift of speech is to bless God and to build up one another.

Jesus’s teachings equip us to take the twists and turns of life and get out of the ruts of earthly wisdom by seeking the mind of Christ.

And just as we begin to put James’ teachings into practice he has one more word of wisdom – one more virtue to shape the face of our faith into the likeness of Christ. And it has to do with our ears.

James spills a lot of ink on two words in our text today: patience and prayer. We cannot do either without the ability to listen.

James knows listening is a great virtue, for he said at the very beginning: “You must understand this, my beloved – let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). Listening requires a posture of simply being present.

The ability to be present and listen is the cornerstone of Jesus’ ministry.

Jesus listened with an open heart to discern and obey God’s will and purposes.
Jesus listened to those he disagreed with and who grumbled when he reinterpreted the Law of God’s love.
Jesus listened to the disciples’ questions and their surprise to his teachings.
Jesus listened to his friends when they wept.
Jesus listened for God’s healing to turn despair into praise.
Jesus listened to those who were suffering, those who were powerless, those who society cast aside.

In order for our faith to carry on Jesus’ ministry to see and talk and think like Jesus, we must deepen our commitment to listen like Jesus.

His name is James. And no matter who asks him, “How are you doing?”, his reply is always the same, “I am blessed today.” Glenda and Henry Manus have known James for eight years. Glenda has given me permission to share this story. Glenda and Henry know God has brought James into their lives, and they into James’ life for a reason.

James would sell hand-made wooden bowls next to Henry’s weekend tackle business at the beach. As James sold his bowls, he would share his faith with his patrons. This made such a meaningful impression on Henry and Glenda. Henry invited James to work with him and as these three began to know one another, the Manus’ had the privilege of listening to James’ story.

James lives in the North Carolina coastal area of Crusoe Island. His family once owned land and when James’ father received his inheritance he squandered it. James quit school in the 8th grade to support his family. Through the years, James worked hard as a shrimper, a carpenter, and took odd jobs to make ends meet.

James struggled with alcoholism like his dad; it is hard to break the addictive cycle alone. And yet when James was in his 40’s he gave his life to Christ and he was forever changed. James gave up drinking - cold turkey. Whenever the church doors were open, James was there. And James is not shy sharing what God has been doing in his life. James has never had much to give but he is always generous to help others as God has helped him.

Despite years of personal struggles and teetering on the edge of poverty, James built a small house (16 feet by 12 feet) on his son’s property. Some might call it a shack, but James is proud to call it his home. Now in his early 70’s James is grateful that God has always provided what he needs.

When Hurricane Florence came through the Carolinas at a slow grits-making pace, James went to bed uncertain what the next day would bring. He was surprised to stand up in two feet of water. When he walked outside the water came up to his chin. James had a small handcrafted boat that he used to get help and relocate to an emergency shelter. After the flood waters receded, James and his neighbors returned to find they had lost everything.

Piles of debris, ruined furniture, and mattresses line the street to be picked up. In the front yard of James’ home, a damaged washing machine sits askew with a heap of ruined things on top. And yet a Carolina license plate is clearly visible in the mix saying, “Jesus is Lord.” Those words are James’ life motto.

The hurricane has certainly put James and many others in the Carolinas through the wringer. But there is no hardship that can ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 35, 37-39).

After the hurricane Glenda and Henry called James to check on his wellbeing and to consider how to help. James told Glenda, "The Lord will take care of me." She replied, "James, sometimes the Lord takes care of you by using other people." His answer, "I never thought about that.”

The Lord is listening to his children praying – children, women, and men who are praying for the strength to endure suffering that has no answers and suffering that we inflict upon one another. The Lord is listening to his children praying to thrive in God’s abundance and not just survive on the world’s scarcity. The Lord is listening to his children praying for some sure and certain sign that God is always with us.

And Christ prays for us – our Lord is patiently praying for us to listen for God’s guidance and direction to accomplish his purposes. God taps and tugs on our heartstrings and we just cannot ignore it. Our Lord is patiently praying for us to take notice of our sisters and brothers like James - the poor in spirit, the meek; those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who are merciful and pure in heart (Matthew 5: 3-8).

When we listen to the ones whom Jesus listens to, well, that is where God’s kingdom is already breaking in. And that is where the work of faith needs to be taking place.

It is in these spaces that God is at work to give us a different perspective. We are moved to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Therefore, God is at work to ground our faith in “a social ethic that is based on solidarity and peace rather than competition and violence.”

It is important to listen to the stories of our brothers and sisters who are hurting. We learn where they see God at work in their lives and we learn where God is inviting us to join the Lord in this holy work of reconciling the world. The Holy Spirit nudges us along to be authentic, to be present, to comfort, and to meet another’s real needs in just and merciful ways. Our faith is to grow and mature so that it strengthens and raises up others in God’s resurrection power!

The hope is that as we strive to live into God’s kingdom vision that we may see Christ in each other’s face. Loving our neighbor is the MOST we can do because the patience and prayer of right relationships is powerful and effective.

We know this to be true because it is the wisdom of the cross. May the cross always remind us what the face of our faith should reflect to God and to one another. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter's Bible Commentary: Volume X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 673.

The Face of Faith Sermon Series: The Mind (4/5)

The Face of Faith: A Sermon Series on James
The Mind
James 3:13 – 4:10
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
October 7, 2018


Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.

But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’? But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. - James 3:13 - 4:10


Last weekend I had the great privilege of leading a women’s retreat in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Friday evening that we gathered together I was so nervous because I knew only two of the women there – my mother who I invited to come with me, and my dear friend from seminary whose husband is the pastor of the Fairbanks congregation. But God is good and so are overnight retreats with a diverse group of women. You get to know each other rather quickly sharing meals, laughter, small group discussions, sleeping quarters and bathrooms!

My greatest hopes for the retreat were for God’s presence to be made known, for the each of us to grow stronger faith muscles together, and for the women’s shared spiritual wisdom among to build up one another.

I took the wisdom I have learned from our Van Wyck women among us; I asked the women of Fairbanks to participate in Secret Sisters. Each woman’s name was placed on a piece of paper and drawn from a basket. Over the course of the weekend, each woman was to write two notes of encouragement to their secret sister…a strength admired about her or a prayer to lift her up. By mid-morning on Saturday and Sunday, each woman was blessed with a word of spiritual insight and strength.

I was fascinated to learn about the woman whose name I drew. She has an unassuming and gentle smile. She is a lover of adventure. She is a pilot and a motorcyclist. And she feels strongest when she does not depend upon anyone but God alone.

This woman discovered I was her secret sister and before we parted ways she shared some intriguing wisdom with me. Her sending words seemed to be out of the blue, but in that moment, she wanted me to go with a part of her lived experience. She looked into my eyes and said when she was learning how to drive a motorcycle two truths had been life-saving to her.

First and foremost, as you drive a motorcycle along the twists and turns of the road, it matters where you focus your mind’s eye. If you look out into the wild blue yonder or at that tree as you take the turn, that is where the motorcycle will go. In order to keep the motorcycle in the line of the road your mind must be intentionally focused on the path ahead of you. Distractions that break your focus can be costly.

Second, when you are on the bike and when (not if) you get stuck in a rut – do not keep spinning your wheels. Just stop. Be still. And then allow the power of the motorcycle to drive you up and out of the rut.

I received those words and just said, “That is proverbial and prophetic.”

This morning we are receiving another prophetic word from James. In the twists and turns of life it also matters what the mind’s eye of faith focuses upon. So James is moving us to look at our minds in the face of faith. And James lifts up two very different sources of wisdom: godly wisdom and earthly wisdom.

Like a wise sage, James begins with godly wisdom: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done in gentleness and born of wisdom” (James 3:13). James encourages us to keep our minds focused on God’s Word.

James knows what it means to stay intentionally focused on God’s path that leads to life: “For the ones who find wisdom and gain understanding are blessed; her income is better than silver and her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, nothing can compare to her” (Proverbs 2: 13-15).

Godly wisdom is practical wisdom gained through the course of our lived experience as the book of Proverbs entails. Attaining godly wisdom begins with the gentle force of God’s inspiration and it leads us by the empowerment of God’s direction.

James says the wisdom from above is holy, unfailing, and trustworthy. It is peaceable because it always moves in the direction towards God’s wholeness. God says, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:20) therefore as disciples we are to discern God’s path and follow it in obedience. God’s wisdom is gentle because it is equitable and available to all. It is willing to yield in perfect obedience to God’s purposes. It is merciful because it loyal to God’s steadfast love and marked by love for neighbor.

Remember for James the greatest marker of our Christian identity is the Law of Love.

On the other hand, earthly wisdom persuades us to rely on human insight. When we are wise in our own eyes, our face of faith turns inwards towards envy and selfish ambition and turns away from God. Earthly wisdom disquiets the soul with disorder, conflict, and disputes. It leads us off God’s path and into the ravine of unrest and untruth.

At the fast pace of life today, it matters what our minds are focused on. If we get caught up in the conflicts and disputes of the day and our minds are not focused on the Law of Love, then we will do nothing less than my secret sister’s proverbial motorcycle wisdom – our faith will spin out into the foolishness of the world. A divided focus can be costly in the twists and turns of life.

James is leading us to confess that our minds get stuck in the ruts of earthly wisdom. He says, “Draw near to God and he will be near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).

James recognizes how tempted we are to divide our loyalty between God and the world. A divided focus is costly and leads us where God does not want us to go. A divided focus leads us to partiality and hypocrisy.

Therefore, “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not - to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1 :27-29).

Holding these Scriptures in one hand and the news in the other, I cannot help but wonder if God is saying how foolish we are to lean into earthly wisdom.

Teresa of Avila lived in Spain in the 16th century. She was a Carmelite nun, an author of faith, and a preacher. She once said, “Fix your eyes on the crucified Lord and everything will become small for you.”

Fix your mind’s eye on God’s wisdom and the path of faith will come into focus. Fix your mind on the humility and sacrificial love of Christ you will find life-saving truth. “God is the source of our life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Today is World Communion Sunday we unite with sisters and brothers around the world as we approach the Lord’s Table. The bread of life and the cup of salvation reveal the mind of Christ for us:

“Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave (less than and despised), being born as one of us, and he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

God desires the face of our faith to have the mind of Christ. We are to have the same love and compassion for others as Christ did for us. That means we are to “do nothing for selfish ambition, or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than ourselves. Let us not look to our own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

If you find your faith is in a rut of earthly wisdom today, know you are in the right place.

Be still. Draw near to God and the Lord will draw near to you.

Let us share our need for God’s gift of grace. Let us ask God to break our hearts for what breaks the Lord’s heart.

And may the power of God’s Spirit lift us up in godly wisdom to go and continue Christ’s ministry of humility, compassion, justice, and peace.

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

The Face of Faith Sermon Series: Mouth (3/5)

The Face of Faith: A Sermon Series on James
Mouth
James 3: 1-12
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
September 16, 2018

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.

For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. - James 3: 1-12


It really could have happened to anybody.

It was Thursday evening and the sanctuary was nearly full. Everyone gathered to remember the Last Supper that Jesus had with the disciples before his arrest and death on the cross.

The lights were dimmed and the choir sang that slow and solemn hymn, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?....Oh-oh-oh-oh sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble….” The song made everyone sit with bated breath, just listening for the Spirit’s presence.

Suddenly, a woman’s high heeled shoe flew off of her foot and went flying over head through the sanctuary. In that split second, her mouth opened and yelled, “SHOOT!” except that was not the word that fired off. Hearing that word fly out of her mouth in that sanctuary caused the woman to tremble.

The pastor was singing baritone in the choir and could not quite restrain himself from laughing. Some silently wondered, “What just happened!” A mother gave her child “the look” when he giggled.

This gives a whole new meaning to James’ words, “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (James 3: 10). We never really know on any given day what might fly out of our mouths, do we?

James holds up the mirror of God’s truth today. He invites you and me to look at our mouths within the face of our faith.

The mirror of God’s Word encourages us to mature in our Christian character. Maturity comes through the wisdom of reflecting upon our lived experiences; the good, the bad, and the ugly in our successes and failures.

The best thing we can ever do is learn from our mistakes and help others to do the same. James implies that our spiritual growth allows for us to keep the whole body in check by honing the Holy Spirit’s gift of self-control. Spiritual maturity also acknowledges when our sense of restraint breaks down.

Therefore, the mirror of God’s Word challenges us too. When we look into God’s mirror of truth it reflects the shadows of human sin in the light of God’s mercy. James’ words today are moving us to confess the sin of our speech: All of us make mistakes…but no one can tame the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison…With it we bless the Lord and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God (James 3:2a, 8-10).

As we become adults we are to put an end to childish ways. There was a time we all have said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But that is not really true, is it? The truth is we wield words like weapons that create deep wounds in others. Our words dishonor God and dishonor the gift of faith.

Jesus taught that our words matter to God. He said, “What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles a person” (Matthew 15:11; Mark 7: 14-15). The heart in the Jewish culture is the gut; the center of human will. And the words we choose to say come from the heart.

If our hearts are far from God and if we are not daily keeping in step with the Spirit then we easily talk the talk and do not walk the walk. This is what disgraces the face of faith we project to God and to others.

We bless the Lord while we curse those who are made in the image of God (James 3:9). Our rash words become sword thrusts and our harsh words stir anger for death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 12:18; 15:1; 18:20). And if we honor God with our lips but our hearts are not Spirit-filled and if mouths do not embody the gospel we proclaim, then our worship and faith are worthless (Isaiah 29:13; James 1:26).

The greatest temptation in our society today is to say words behind a computer screen or a cell phone that we normally would not say face to face.

Our words are like fire that fuels the embers of dissension in an already polarized world.
We dehumanize those we disagree with. We have lost the finesse of civility and decorum.
We fail to revere the image of God in the face of the other – the poor, the immigrant, the refugee, the prisoner, the disabled, the Republican, the Democrat.

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters this ought not to be so (James 3:10).

And yet the confessional nature of James’ words today asks us to look in the mirror and ask:
How has my mouth, my tongue, my words stained my face of faith and the larger body of Christ?
How am I complicit in fanning the flames of dissension?
When have I dehumanized those I disagree with?
Do my words embody the gospel I proclaim?

The past few weeks I am again deeply reminded that our human divisions are leveled when a national tragedy or national disaster strike. When the day that no one imagined arrives, we go out of our way to reach across the road, the sidewalk, and the aisle to help the other – the neighbor we do not know and to speak words of love. Every time we do this, we act with a renewed spiritual reality - we need each other.

We need one another in the midst of all our differences to rebuild a sense of meaning and purpose in life. This is a God-given insight and it is intrinsic to who we are and whose we are.

The world and all of creation was brought into being through the power of God’s spoken Word (Genesis 1:3). God breathed life into humanity, making all of humankind in the image of God (Genesis 2:7). God gave humanity the gift and responsibility of naming all creatures of the earth (Genesis 2:19). Therefore, speech is a gift from God to bless all God has created.

We are called to speak and teach the language of God’s steadfast love. But we can only speak and teach the language of love if we are committed to be students of God’s Word. We teach by living into Jesus’ example. We speak and teach by walking the walk and using words when necessary. James says as teachers we are held to a higher example. But truthfully – as disciples of Jesus Christ we are held to a higher example just the same.

All of us make mistakes, but we must look into the mirror of God’s Word daily to see ourselves in light of the Law of Love.

I put my foot in my mouth daily, so Psalm 141:3 is an important verse to keep in my back pocket: “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” As we grow in God’s wisdom, the Spirit will be at work in us to restrain our tongue.

The Apostle Paul says our face of faith is most authentic when we remember Christ teaches us to put away our old self and to be renewed in the spirit of our minds. You and I are children of God, created in God’s image of righteousness, and connected as members of one another (Ephesians 4: 22-25).

We are God’s co-creators of right relationships. Our mouths are to use the gift of speech to speak with words that build up, as there is need, so that our words may give grace to those who hear. We are to be kind to one another, compassionate, and forgiving. We are to be imitators of God, as his beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us. (Ephesians 4:29, 31-32, 5:1).

God sends us back out into the world this morning with a new word in our hearts and on our tongues: love. God’s self-giving love is the bridle that keeps our individual bodies and the communal body of Christ in check. God’s love leads us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). God’s love shapes our mouths with wisdom to speak words of healing (Proverbs 12:18).

God’s love leads us to be patient, kind, and rejoice in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:4, 6). God’s love leads us to bear God’s truth with our actions and especially with our words when the society says, “It’s a dog-eat-dog-world”. God’s love leads us to believe God’s truth will rise up to reveal the best of humanity in times of turmoil. God’s love leads us to hope for and endure in God’s truth against all odds (1 Corinthians 13:7).

You and I are members of the body of Christ. We each have an individual and a communal responsibility to remember the purpose of our speech is to glorify God and to build up one another. Our speech is to be infused with this rich vocabulary of faith. The power of our words reaches well beyond the church walls and into our homes, our schools, our work, and our civic life.

In a polarized world it is time for the Church to reclaim God’s influential voice of mutual respect, humility, and Christlike love. The transformation God desires does not point fingers at other Christians. The transformation God desires begins with me (please say these 7 words with me).

May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to God.

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

Sermon Influenced by the Following:
New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Volume (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), pp. 655-656.

The Face of Faith Sermon Series: Eyes (2/5)

The Face of Faith: A Sermon Series on James
Eyes
James 2: 1-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
September 9, 2018


James holds up the mirror of God’s Word again and invites us to look into the face of faith. Today we are focusing on the eyes in James 2: 1-17. Listen for God’s Word to you this morning.

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?

For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Have a seat here, please’, while to the one who is poor you say, ‘Stand there’, or, ‘Sit at my feet’, have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

For the one who said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’, also said, ‘You shall not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.

For judgement will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgement.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. - James 2: 1-17

You have heard it said, “The eyes are the window to the soul.” Anatomically, the pupils are the centering windows to the human eyes.

The word “pupil” comes from Latin, meaning “little-doll.” The name references the” tiny image one sees of oneself reflected in the eye of another.”

Scientifically, our pupils truly do reveal something about our inner thoughts when we look at another.

The pupil regulates the amount of light coming into the eye. Just as light and darkness cause the pupils to either contract or dilate respectively, the levels of our emotional interest do the same. All of this is involuntary; our eyes are always working on a subconscious level.

“Psychologists consider pupil dilation to be an honest cue to social interest.” If we fake our interest while engaging someone, then our pupils get smaller. Our eyes switch gears to a visual sensitivity mode causing our pupils to dilate when we get excited, when we need to detect something around us, or when we go into a fight or flight response. To really see someone and or something, we need our pupils to be wide open [1].

To spiritually see the gift and responsibility of faith, we need our teachability to be wide open.

James holds up the mirror of God’s truth for the community of faith to look into. His words are both encouraging and challenging.

James says if we are to truly recognize the face of faith which God projects to us then we need our spiritual eyes to switch gears. He encourages us to adjust our spiritual sight. The pupils of our eyes must move from being narrowed by a human point of view and become opened wide to a God point of view.

James also makes a prophetic challenge: we as Christians who profess our faith in Jesus Christ are not fully living into the ministry of Jesus Christ that God’s Word proclaims. These are hard words to say and equally challenging to hear.

The ministry of Jesus Christ proclaims that God is with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus Christ became poor, vulnerable, and helpless – a little babe lying in a manger - for our sakes so that by his poverty and humility we might know God’s spiritual abundance today and into eternity (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Jesus’ God-given mission was to usher in God’s upside-down kingdom; lifting up the lowly and feeding the hungry while bringing down oppressive authority by scattering the proud (Luke 1:50, 52-53).

Jesus’ self-giving love proclaims, “Good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight of the blind, and freedom to the oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus’ mercy announces, “Let the one who is without sin throw the first stone” (John 8:7).

Jesus mandates that we love one another as Christ has already loved us, for by doing this everyone will know that we are his disciples (John 13: 34-35).

The ministry of Jesus Christ embraces all of this because God shows no partiality (Romans 2:11). God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Not some of us, but all of us.

When we read God’s Word asking Holy Spirit to shine God’s light something incredible happens - God’s Word actually reads us. This is why God’s Word is a mirror.

If we really allow our hearts to be honest with God and ourselves then God’s Word will show us the contradictions in our faith. I call these contradictions 'growing edges;' these are the area of our faith which need to grow and mature.

James says the faith we enact is not the gospel we proclaim.

When we pass judgment making others feel less than human then we dishonor the image of God in one another (James 2: 5-6a).

When we pick up the stone of vengeance then the measure of judgment we give is the measure we will get (Leviticus 19:18b; Matthew 7:2; James 2:10).

When we refuse to forgive we fail to remember God has already forgiven the inexcusable in you and in me (Leviticus 19:18b; John 8: 10-11; James 2:11).

The truth is that all have fallen short of the glory of God.

While God alone is the one who executes judgment, our God says mercy triumphs over judgment (Psalm 75:7; James 2:13). God’s mercy and steadfast love shine brightly in the darkness through the cross.

The Law of Love in the whole of Scripture points to God’s kingdom vision which is already here and not fully here yet. God's kingdom has already come in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And yet we are still waiting for it to be fully revealed.

The vision of God’s upside-down kingdom is what we are to focus the eyes of our faith on. We are called as the body of Christ to continue Jesus’ ministry of faith, hope, love, justice, and peace.

James’ letter is not about pointing the finger at what other Christians do and say. James’ letter is about seeing the log in our own eye.

Bringing about the change, the transformation, that God desires to see in the world and all humanity begins with one word: “me.”

Say it with me: The change God desires begins with me.

We cannot put the gift of our faith into action unless we behold the Law of Love. If our convictions and conduct of faith embody anything less than loving our neighbor as self, then we miss the mark. This is why James says faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

Faith without the works of God’s merciful love is dead – it is powerless, inoperative, bankrupt.

In our Call to Worship this morning we said: Open the eyes of our hearts Lord. Open the eyes of our hearts – we want to see you!

We want to see God’s eyes of unconditional love.
We want to see the eyes of Christ’s mercy.
We want to see the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

The gift of faith gives you and me a deep longing to see God.

God’s truth is always on the move to open our spiritual eyes. God wants us to see the face of Christ in God’s Word and in the world.

I want for you to imagine the face of Jesus Christ and his unwavering faithfulness to God. Christ wants nothing more than for you and me to look for his faith in everyone we meet.

To see through the eyes of God’s love is to be on a mission to re-family all who have been marginalized by the world’s standards. To re-family means that we are to look into the eyes of the poor in spirit, the condemned, and those who are struggling to lift their voice. Look into their eyes and if you dare get close enough look for that mini-reflection of yourself shining in their pupils.

To re-family is to see our shared humanity and to work as agents of God’s love to restore unity in God’s family among our sisters and brothers. This is to see the bigger picture of God’s love for all humanity.

To see through the eyes of Christ’s mercy is to look at the cross and remember that because God said you and I deserved a second chance then we are to forgive as we have already been forgiven.

To see through the eyes of Holy Spirit’s wisdom is to deepen our commitment to join God in this holy work of reconciling the world.

This morning after the Word is proclaimed, and after the prayers are said, and after the songs are sung God will once again send us back out into this beautiful yet broken world.

This week there will someone who crosses your path and mine whom society has judged by the world’s standards. And he or she might see you or me and expect us to look down on them just like the rest of world.

When she or he looks into your face or mine, they deserve to be held in the light of God’s love. The light of world is Jesus Christ. The light shines dignity, mercy, and self-giving love. The light abides in you and in me.

May you and I take James’ words of encouragement and challenge to heart.

I pray God will nudge us when our spiritual vision is narrow and soften our hearts to look for our shared humanity- even the best of humanity - in our sisters and brothers.

I pray Jesus will open our pupils of faith to teachable moments of mercy.

And I pray Holy Spirit will deepen our commitment to see the work of faith that Christ has called us to do.

In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] David Ladden, PhD., “Your Eyes Really Are the Window to Your Soul,” Psychology Today, December 31, 2015.

The Face of Faith Sermon Series: The Mirror (1/5)

The Face of Faith: A Sermon Series on James
The Mirror
James 1: 17-27
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
September 2, 2018


James is a letter of wisdom. The author puts pen to paper to persuade Christians to grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ. Just as I shared in last week’s sermon, faith is both a gift and a responsibility.

For James, the greatest marker of a Christian’s identity is that we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves[1]. So, he goes to great lengths teaching about the Law of Love. James raises his prophetic voice to encourage us and also to challenge us to look deeply within the image of faith we project to God and one another.

James is not only concerned about one’s personal image of faith, but also the faith which is projected by the community of believers. This includes our moral attitudes and behaviors, our intentionality to see one another as sisters and brothers of God’s greater family, and our commitment to seek the wellbeing of all.

Listen for God’s Word in James 1: 17-27.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James uses a rich metaphor to gaze into the face of faith: the mirror.

Legend holds the first person to look in the mirror, so to speak, was the young Greek hunter Narcissus. He was born from the Greek river God and a nymph. Narcissus was known for being devastatingly handsome. When he looked at his reflection at the water’s edge, Narcissus fell in love with his face and never left his reflection [2]. His name gives us the word narcissist; one who is engrossed in self-admiration.

During the first century, mirrors were more than reflected water. They were made of polished metal – commonly bronze or copper. The progress of the Roman empire began to make glass mirrors with a metal layer finish [3].

Mirrors like we have today were not crafted until the 16th century. Both ancient mirrors of the 1st century gave quite a distorted image; you literally looked into a mirror dimly as the Apostle Paul says (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Therefore, in order to get a more accurate reflection of one’s image, you had to look into the mirror from several different angles.

James holds up a metaphorical mirror for the community of faith to look into. So, let’s join him in looking at the face of faith together – yours and mine.

Gaze into the mirror. Whose image do you see?

One angle reflects the projection we generate for others to see.

This reflection is not our true selves. James says when our commitment of faith only goes skin deep then we are mere hearers of the word and not doers (James 1:23). We are merely playing a part and living behind a “stained-glass masquerade”.

Some of you have heard of the Christian worship group, Casting Crowns. They sing about this; listen to these lyrics:

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be?
Would your arms be open?
Or would you walk away?
Would the love of Jesus
Be enough to make you stay?

CHORUS:
Are we happy plastic people
Under shiny plastic steeples
With walls around our weakness
And smiles to hide our pain?
But if the invitation’s open
To every heart that has been broken
Maybe then we close the curtain
On our stained glass masquerade.[4]

When faith is only skin-deep, one of two things is happening in life. We either mask our inadequacies or we mask our fear of vulnerability.

We mask our inadequacies – our fear of not being enough. So we project that we have our lives all together, when really on the inside everything is falling apart. We hear God’s word, but we cannot do it. That inner voice deceives us to believe that if our faith was stronger then we would be a better Christian and life itself would be better too.

We mask our fear of vulnerability. So we project that we are in control. We hear God’s word, but we cannot do it. We resist being honest with God and ourselves and it just leads us to pride. Instead of fully relying on God, we rely on ourselves and the self-made "ideals we espouse.” We project a faith of “self-deception” [5].

Marrianne Williamson says, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure (through God’s grace at work in us). It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us” [6].

And yet to get a more accurate image of faith, James needs us to look at another angle – look deeper into the mirror. Although the reflection is distorted, look past the inadequacies, fears, and the self-made projection.

And by all means look past that awful chin or nose hair you missed while tweezing or the Mount Rushmore pimple about to pop!

Look into the mirror for the projection God wants you and me to see. God renders a deep truth about our nativity; something honest and authentic about our true selves. Look into the mirror and see the true face of faith; we are beloved children of God.

Marianne Williamson says, “We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; It's in everyone” [7].

We are more than we can ever imagine because of God’s great faithfulness. In fulfillment of God’s own purposes, God gave us birth by the word of truth. “We belong— body and soul, in life and in death - not to ourselves but to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ” [8].

You see, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh – the word of truth, is the truest reflection of our humanity.

The person and ministry of Jesus Christ reflects nothing less than love for humankind and creation; joy that praises God’s grace; peace found in God’s wisdom; patience in trusting God’s presence; kindness in serving others; generosity in extending mercy; faithfulness in submitting to God; gentleness in being empowered by God’s strength; and self-control in using godly actions and words to build up [9].

The word of truth is the true mirror that corrects all human distortions. God’s Word rectifies our spiritual sight so that we might see ourselves and the world as God sees.

The Christian life is dying to our old selves and claiming the new life of Jesus Christ. James implies the Apostle Pauls’ words, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit [and the word of truth] then let us also be guided by the Spirit [and the word of truth] (Galatians 5:24-25).

The mirror challenges us to reflect God's Law of Love. On any given day, at any given time - you and I might be the only reflection of Jesus Christ that someone else sees.

What a privilege! And what a scary thought! Sometimes we reflect Jesus Christ in beautiful ways. And sometimes we get it all wrong. Sometimes I get it all wrong.

But when we take a good look in God’s mirror we see our truest image of humanity is to strip away all the layers that oppose God’s righteousness.

Just imagine the liberation of peeling away conceit, competition, and envy. Imagine the Spirit stripping away fear and anger, pride and self-interest. What might your and my face of faith look like without the mark of complacency?

Would the love of Jesus be enough to make you stay and look into the mirror to behold the person and the community God desires us to be? This week look into the mirror of God’s truth and just imagine.

It all rests on this – when you and I look into the mirror of God’s truth, we are looking for all that sustains you and me from the inside.

When everything else falls away, the reflection that will never fade is the power of God’s love.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22: 37-40; Mark 12: 30-31; Luke 10:27
[2] “A Brief History of Mirrors,” Bite Size History, November 17, 2017
[3] “A Brief History of Mirrors,” Ibid.
[4] Lyrics from “Stained Glass Masquerade” on Lifesong album. Unofficial video
[5] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary: Volume X (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), pp. 640-641.
[6] Marianne Williamson, “A Return to Love” (New York: Harper Collins, 1992)
[7] Williamson, Ibid.
[8] The Book of Confessions, Part 1 of Presbyterian Church (USA) Constitution, The Heidelberg Confession Question and Answer 1.
[9] Galatians 5: 22-23.....Love (James 2:8); Joy (James 1:2-4; 5:13); Peace (James 3:17-18); Patience (James 5:7-8, 10); Kindness (James 2:26); Generosity (James 1:17); Faithfulness (James 1:27; 4:7-8; 5:19-20); Gentleness (James 3: 13,17); Self-Control (James 1:19; 3: 3-5).

Sermon: "Does This Offend You?"

“Does This Offend You?”
John 6: 56-69
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 26, 2018

Jesus makes people nervous.

Just look through the gospel accounts. The Rabbi who is our Teacher of God’s mysterious ways did not bring everyone a peaceful, easy feeling.

The rich young ruler asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus told the young man to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and then follow him. The young man was so shocked by Jesus’ answer that he walked away grieving [1].

A man named Legion lived among the tombs in the Gentile country of Gergesa. Legion (the Gerasene Demoniac) was marginalized because the people did not understand his torment. When the compassionate actions of Jesus brought healing and wholeness to the man, the townspeople were afraid of Jesus’ power to change things. They begged Jesus to leave their neighborhood [2].

The Pharisees had the responsibility of interpreting God’s Law (first five books of the Bible) and empowering the people of God to live into a holy way of life. They took great offense to Jesus’ street ministry. The Pharisees could not comprehend the notion of mixing the holy and unholy. They sneered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” [3]

The crowd gathered around Jesus as he taught in the streets. Jesus professed God, his Father, had sent him, and if the people truly claimed to be God-loving decedents of Abraham then they would accept Jesus’ teachings. The crowd grumbled and then Jesus had a mic drop moment. Asserting his divine authority Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” The anger was palpable, and the crowd picked up stones to throw at Jesus [4].

The day after Jesus fed five thousand with five bread loaves and two fish, the crowd followed him. They had never experienced such a miracle of abundance. They had their fill and wanted more. Jesus told the crowd, “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you…I am the bread of life” (John 6:27, 35). This is where we enter the biblical text today:

Listen to how Jesus’ words were received in John 6: 56-69:

[Jesus said] Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.

Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’

He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?’

But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, ‘Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.’

For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.’

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’ Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’


Not only did the crowd dispute Jesus’ words, but the disciples questioned Jesus’ teaching. “This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?”

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them” (John 6:56). That statement was the most extreme the disciples had yet heard their Rabbi utter. And they had heard a lot after walking in the dust of the Rabbi for three years.

A disciple would eat, sleep, dream, and breathe in every word of the Rabbi. A commentary from my study says:

Studying their rabbi’s view of Scripture and wrestling with the texts to comprehend God’s way for the conduct of their life was the main priority of a disciple…As part of this how-should-we-live interactive process, the disciples would debate various rabbinic interpretations of the texts pertaining to a real-life issue. This might involve weeks of dialogue and debate, for the rabbis were in no hurry to resolve these issues and questions.

However, when the rabbi ultimately did declare his authoritative interpretation on an issue, all further debate ceased. His declared interpretation was now known and therefore binding on his disciples’ lives for the rest of their days. As such, the rabbi was the matrix, the filter, the grid, through which every life issue flowed, as well as the lens through which every life issue was viewed [5].

Jesus makes an authoritative claim that now binds his followers for the rest of their days. Jesus is not telling his followers to literally eat his flesh and drink his blood like a cannibal, vampire, or zombie. To eat the bread of life and to drink the blood of the new covenant bring God’s spirit-filled power and abundant life (John 6: 56, 58, 63). Jesus is pointing to the truth of God’s plan of salvation.

Jesus sees and hears the disciples struggling to interpret his words into their daily living. And in typical rabbinic fashion Jesus asks his disciples, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:61).

In other words, does my teaching cause you to stumble in your belief or trust me less?

To eat the bread of life and drink the cup of salvation were beyond the disciples’ comprehension. Jesus’ words anticipate the fulfillment of biblical prophecy for God’s plan of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Scripture holds Jesus’ mandate to break the bread and drink the cup – to “do this in remembrance of me” [6]. It is to remember the costly grace for God to forgive human sin and yet celebrate the new life which God promises today through eternity.

And yet for some today, the violence of Jesus’ death makes it incredibly hard to find comfort in that old rugged cross. Some ask, couldn’t God have saved us another way?

In our text today, John’s Gospel moves us to place our primary focus on our relationship with God in Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit. The cross, bread, and cup are symbols for God’s abiding presence and steadfast love reshaping us by God’s intentions and purposes.

These symbols are a gift and a responsibility. The cross, bread, and cup are gifts revealing God’s willingness to go beyond all human comprehension to wipe away the offense of our sin; our greatest stumbling block to follow God (John 3: 17).

These symbols are visible signs of God’s invisible grace. We all need to experience God’s amazing grace with our senses. We see, touch, and taste the signs of God’s faithfulness when we see the solidarity of human unfaithfulness on the cross and we give thanks to God.

But these symbols also proclaim that we as disciples of Jesus Christ have a responsibility to wholly live into the teachings of our Teacher, Lord, and Savior.

Jesus’s words are binding to our discipleship for the rest of our days. Jesus said our greatest calling is to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves [7]. And yes, this teaching is difficult; who can really hear it?

It is hard to love God when we are tempted to give other aspects of life greater priority.
It is hard to love our neighbor as ourselves when they do not fit into our personal ideals or judgments.
It is hard to love ourselves because we are our own worst critics.
And it is hard to really hear and live into our greatest calling without the Spirit’s help. Apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:5).

And so, we look at the cross and take the bread and cup. And every time we approach this table we trust this is where God’s holy presence dares to touch our unholy and broken lives. Our faith is nourished and strengthened by the gifts of God for the people of God.

We taste God’s grace and mercy and it is so good.
We learn that we are more than our limitations and mistakes.
We lean into a deeper trust that we are being made new.
We grow a little more as disciples in trusting God with our very lives.
We are bound to a love that will never let us go.
We gather around the table of God’s hospitality and we are always amazed at God’s unwavering abundance.

But disciples are not meant to solely receive the gift. We are to boldly live into Jesus’s teachings at all costs. The gifts of God for the people of God remind us of the work that Jesus has called us to do to glorify his name.

Richard Stearns says in his book, The Hole in Our Gospel, “If Jesus loved the world so much to die for it, maybe we should too.”

If God’s love for humanity took on flesh, then God’s love and Jesus’ teachings must take on tangible expressions in every aspect of our lives.

The Rule of Love touches our personal devotion, the community of faith to which we belong, school, our young adult years, our work ethics, our public discourse and even our politics. It all goes back to the integrity of relationships we have with God and one another.

Jesus said the world will know that we are his disciples by our love (John 13:35). But if the Rule of Love offends us, then it is time for yet another lesson with our Rabbi and Savior.

None of us will live into the mind of Christ perfectly. But we are called to follow Jesus and we are called to his commandment to love one another.

I close with this prayer:

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is even beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church's mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about.
We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted,
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation
in realizing that. This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well. It may be incomplete,
but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference
between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.

Sources Referenced:
[1] Mark 10: 17-22; Matthew 19: 16-30; Luke 18: 18-30
[2] Mark 5: 1-20; Matthew 8: 28-34; Luke 8: 26-39
[3] Luke 15:2; 5:30; 7:39; 19:7
[4] John 8: 39-59
[5] Doug Greenwold, “Being a First Century Disciple,” March 2007
[6] Matthew 26: 26-29; Mark 14: 22-25; Luke 22: 14-23; 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
[7] Matthew 22: 36-40; Mark 12: 29-31
[8] prayer written by Bishop Ken Untener in 1979 (often misattributed to Oscar Romero)