Sermon: The Things You Cannot See (John 3: 1-12)

The Things You Cannot See
Psalm 121; John 3: 1-12 (The Message)
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
March 8, 2020
The Second Sunday in Lent

On any given day, you and I encounter a youth or a young adult who gives us great hope for the church and humanity alike.

Alyssa is a young lady in her teens. When she walks into a room, she shines a radiance that is undeniable. Alyssa has a unique was of seeing the seeing the world. She has been blind since her birth.

There was a time that Alyssa was angry about being blind. Like many girls, she became interested in make-up and wanted to look her best. She really wanted to look in the mirror and see what she looked like. But she could not.

Alyssa said: The Lord spoke to me and told me that I am beautiful on the inside and that I do not have to worry about what I look like on the outside. God is the only one who can tell me what I look like. The mirror can’t.

If I could see, I don’t think my faith would be as strong. Because for a blind person you have to rely on the Lord. It’s like your faith becomes more real because you’re used to not seeing things. You are used to believing in someone you cannot see.

For example, my mom. I cannot see her, but I know she is there. For me I think it is easier to understand that though I cannot see God, he is really there. I think it has a lot to do with walking by faith and not by sight.

I have this desire to help people, but I feel like being blind sort of limits me as to what I can do. But the reality is that God has given me a gift of singing for him and leading worship. And I feel like that’s my way of helping people. And I am grateful.

When Alyssa thinks about the bigger picture of life and faith, her words are profound:

I have so much joy and so much anticipation that the first face I am ever going to see is Jesus. And that means the world to me.

Alyssa’s words truly give me goosebumps. And yet one little sentence she says shines a radiant light into our text today from John’s Gospel: “Faith becomes more real because of the things you cannot see.”

Nicodemus was curious to see Jesus face to face in the middle of the night. Nicodemus set himself apart from his Pharisaic colleagues. He was drawn to talk with the one who did things only God could do. Nicodemus had a hard time understanding everything Jesus was saying. And to be honest – I have a hard time understanding it all too.

Jesus replied to Nicodemus along the same lines as Alyssa but in a much more direct manner, “If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you do not believe me – what use is there in telling you of things you cannot see? (John 3: 18, The Message).

Jesus was revealing that Nicodemus’s ability to walk by sight was an obstacle to his faith becoming more real. Nicodemus’ need to rationalize the life of faith was limiting his ability to behold the things of God.

The Spirit of God is something we cannot see or touch and yet time and again, the Spirit shapes us from within. The Spirit empowers us to see God and God’s coming kingdom in new and unexpected ways. Encountering the things of God completely reorients our lives.

Being reoriented by the Spirit is like being baptized. The water used in baptism is not magic. It is a visible sign of God’s invisible grace. The water trickles down the face of a child or adult as the God’s Spirit is mysteriously at work within us.
The Spirit delivers us from the entrapment of sin and frees us into new life with Jesus Christ.

Like a newborn baby taking its first breaths outside the womb, we breathe in God’s grace and behold God’s possibilities that lie before us. Our spiritual eyes open to see the world through God’s abundant provision, love, and forgiveness in our lives.

Being reoriented by the Spirit is like God calling Abram and Sarai to leave everything familiar and comfortable behind them in order to follow God into the unknown. There will be some bushwhacking through the wilderness, but in the end, it is all worth it to see God’s Promised Land. The journey is an unsettling endeavor but what a spiritual adventure if God is the One leading the way forward.

Being reoriented by the Spirit is like seeing extraordinary moments unfold and noticing that only God could be at work in the midst of it all. The mysterious presence of God’s Spirit deepens our confession that our help truly comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and earth.

Being reoriented by the Spirit does not make any rational sense apart from wholly trusting God and being dependent upon the Lord for every step we take.

As you and I stand in this particular season of life, what is limiting us from walking by faith and not by sight? What is keeping you and me from closing our eyes, trusting God, and allowing God to lead us by the things we cannot see?

The Church Universal today finds itself in some unique territory. The landscape of faith has been shifting in our Postmodern culture.

Our Small Group Lenten Study notes that the Church Universal is experiences many changes: “The pace of change is exponential. Distrust for organizations is on the rise. We are part of the global [world], therefore we experience more ups and downs than ever before. Spiritual sensitivity and hunger are on the rise while weekly worship attendance is declining. Increasing numbers of Americans do not identify with a faith community. The place of church and clergy are less central to the life of communities”[2].

In her book, “The Great Emergence,” Phyllis Tickle states that shifts in the church are not new. In fact, Phyllis notes that every 500 years there is a major shift in the life of the Church and we just may be in a new shift now.

The way we respond to these changes as people of faith matters. As we work together to reflect upon the landscape of faith in our church and community in this season, there will be things we do not understand. There will be grief for the way life used to seem more predictable and secure.

But Jesus’ words challenge us to trust the movement of the Spirit among us because God just may be doing a new thing. Therefore, we cannot solely rely on what we have known like Nicodemus in order to understand what God is doing today.

Jesus calls us to let go and explore God’s possibilities in the life of faith. But in order to do that we must grow in our ability to walk by faith and not by sight. That means taking a risk to hold God’s hand, to keep in step with the Spirit, and to be willing to allow the things of God to guide our next steps. We cannot allow fear and uncertainty to determine the path ahead.

In fact, it is the things we cannot see that make this gift of faith more real for us as individuals and as a community of faith. The more this gift of faith is realized, the more God is at work through us to transform the world.

May it be so for us as we step into the second week in Lent.

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

Sources Referenced:
[1] Deidox Films "Teenager Shows What It Means to Live by Faith"
[2] Mark Tidsworth, “Making the Shift Field Guide” (Chapin: Pinnacle Leadership Press, 2016), p. 43.

Sermon: Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5: 38-48, The Message)

Love Your Enemies
Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18; Matthew 5: 38-48 (The Message)
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
February 23, 2020

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord.

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

You shall not render an unjust judgement; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. - Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18

38-42 “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” - Matthew 5: 38-48 (The Message)

Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount may not have been so great to some of his hearers. Jesus’ words pushed the envelope as he raised the stakes of living in right relationships. Following Jesus meant following high moral and ethical standards and that required some self-reflection and personal examination.

But Jesus’ sermon was not to condemn the crowds or the disciples. Jesus’ sermon was to reorient his followers to the foundational truth of God’s kingdom – the Law of Love.

The last two comparisons Jesus made in our text today don’t just meddle – they reach beyond human logic.

In Jesus’ day everyone knew the Law of the Old Testament made room for the law of retaliation; an eye for eye and tooth for tooth [1]. My commentary states its purpose in the ancient judicial system was to “curb the tendency to unlimited private revenge” [2].

And yet Jesus preached if we are living for and in the kingdom of God then the Law of Love commands us to renounce our right to get even for the sake of living generously.

Who else lives generously? It may not be anyone else that we know, but God does.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus presses the limitless love for one’s neighbor with the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10: 25-37). You see, Jesus reinterpreted the Samaritan, Israel’s perceived enemy, as their neighbor – a fellow child of God. And according to Matthew’s Gospel this is how Jesus gets his point across; you are to love your enemies and let your enemies bring out the best in you, not the worst (Matthew 5: 44, The Message).

Who else gives his best to both the nice and the nasty? It may not be anyone else that we know, but God does.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if we actually lived according to the Law of Love?

When Derek Black made the decision to go to college, he kept his private life to himself. Derek had been home schooled by his parents, Don and Chloe Black. His godfather was David Duke, former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan. Derek was raised with a white nationalist worldview; meaning “America would be better off as a whites-only country and that all minorities should eventually leave” [3].

As a teenager Derek had his own radio talk show called Stormfront which promoted the white nationalist agenda. At the age of eleven, he even created a Stormfront website for children. By the age of nineteen, Derek had been a leading voice of numerous white nationalist conventions across the country. He had his eyes set on a political future to further, in his words, “the survival and continued dominance of the great white race” [4]. Derek’s public arguments were not emotional, but rather stated what he believed were facts of racial science, immigration, and a declining white middle class” [5].

But first – college. Derek wanted to live on a small college campus with a diverse student body to see a different part of life. Therefore, he chose to attend the most liberal college in his home state.

For a while Derek lived under the radar as he hosted his daily radio show from the privacy of his college apartment. “He knew if his views were discovered at college he would be vilified and ostracized on campus” [6].

Derek struck a few unlikely student friendships from classes. There was Rose who he began dating and she happened to be Jewish. There was Juan, a native of Peru. Moshe as a transfer student from Tulane. And there was Matthew, who had converted to Judaism. Their friendships were genuine, but these diverse relationships began to create some friction within Derek’s worldview.

Mathew hosted a weekly Sabbath meal every Friday night. It was a “rotating group of six or seven Christians, atheists, whites, and Hispanics” [7]. Soon after Derek’s secret was made public on campus, Matthew invited Derek to join them for the Sabbath dinner.

A few students backed out. But not Juan, Moshe, and Matthew. It is amazing that these young men did not denounce Derek as their enemy. They did not feel threatened by Derek or cut him off. They simply lived generously, loved their neighbor as themselves, and gave their best.

One dinner soon became a weekly gathering where the three young men began to have genuine conversations about their different backgrounds and beliefs. And those Friday night Sabbath meals were the beginning of Derek’s radical inner transformation.

Not only did Derek begin learning how to love his perceived enemies, he was ultimately moved to renounce racial hatred. But it cost Derek everything, including his parents forsaking him.

When Jesus says, “Love your enemies and let them bring out the best in you,” he is pointing us to a hidden truth: Giving our time, energy, and authentic selves to another who is completely different from us is the most Jesus thing we can do.

It is in that space that we have the opportunity to really see and hear one another as fellow human beings whom God created. That is what it means to love. And loving like Jesus loves is the kingdom key to breaking down walls of hate and hostility. But as long as an enemy remains impersonal then fear promises to breed hate and hostility.

Let me be clear – hate and hostility have no place in the kingdom of God.

I want you to close your eyes. When I say the word “enemy” what image comes to your mind?

What would it look like to for you to share space, to love your enemy, and to let them bring out the best in you? What would it look like for you to live generously and graciously as God already lives towards you? This is absolute foolishness to the world, but it is the wisdom of the cross.

The truth of the matter is that you and I have long been enemies of God because of the human condition of sin. As enemies of God, our Maker did not give us what we deserve. Jesus took what we deserve.

As Jesus fulfilled God’s plans for salvation the Romans – Israel’s oppressor and perceived enemy – flogged Jesus, mocked him, spat on him, and nailed him to a cross. It was public humiliation. And according to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus did not retaliate or try to get even. Jesus renounced his divine authority and completely humbled himself. Jesus did not hate his enemies. He loved them without condition and with the fullness of God’s grace.

Jesus died for you and me and the one we have loved the least. On the third day God raised Jesus to new life to prove that God’s love is greater than hatred; to prove God’s forgiveness is beyond human logic; and to prove God’s kingdom is built on the Law of Love, a divine foundation that will never be undermined by the kingdom of this world.

Living out this gift of faith and being a disciple of Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. And yet we do not follow Jesus alone. The Spirit gives us the mind of Christ and teaches us all that Christ commanded (Philippians 2: 1-3; John 14:26).

God gave his best so that we might have hope to give our best. You and I are not called to judge the hearts and minds of humanity, but rather leave judgment to God alone. We are called to love like Jesus loves. We are called to turn our backs on evil and work for the good.

May we love our enemies for in doing so we are truly living out our God-created identity.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
[2]New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, “The Gospels and Narrative Literature: Volume VII” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 123.
[3] Eli Saslow, “Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist” (New York: Doubleday, 2018), p. 7.
[4] Eli Saslow, p. 8.
[5] Eli Saslow, p. 7.
[6] Eli Saslow, p. 29.
[7] Eli Saslow, p. 74.
New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Volume VII: “The Gospels and Narrative Literature” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), pp. 123-126.

Sermon: When Jesus Meddles (Psalm 119: 1-8; Mathew 5: 21-37)

When Jesus Meddles
Psalm 119: 1-8; Matthew 5: 21-37
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
February 16, 2020

Happy are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord.
Happy are those who keep his decrees,
who seek him with their whole heart,
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways.
You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
O that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous ordinances.
I will observe your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me. - Psalm 119: 1-8

‘You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not murder”; and “whoever murders shall be liable to judgement.” But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, “You fool”, you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.
Concerning Divorce

‘It was also said, “Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.” But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Concerning Oaths

‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one'. - Matthew 5: 21-37

The text today from Matthew’s Gospel is from Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount, which spans from Matthew Chapters 5-7. The great crowds and the disciples gathered to hear Jesus preach. The meditations from Jesus’ heart and the words from his mouth were reinterpreting the Law, the Ten Commandments which God gave to Moses (Exodus 19-24), and the Torah, which is the first five books of the Bible attributed to Moses.

Jesus revealed the kingdom of God holds our faith to high moral and ethical standards. Just before our text began this morning, Jesus said, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Sobering words, aren’t they?

Jesus pushed the envelope as he preached about how we relate to one another. Within his comparisons of anger, adultery, divorce, swearing oaths it seems like Jesus is meddling, doesn’t it?

I once had a colleague that would say, “Do you ever get something in your craw?” He meant when you experience something that aggravates you and you don’t know what to do about it.

Well sometimes what Jesus says gets in our craw. But our Savior and Teacher of the faith was striving to use that friction to restore us to God’s goodness regarding right relationships.

Have you ever considered angry words stealing the life of another?
Is being reconciled to another a requirement to worship God?
Are wandering eyes in violation of marriage vows?
Is seeking divorce because of a spouse’s minor faults unfaithful?
Is the virtue of honesty greater that taking an oath?

If we take courage to allow the gravity of Jesus’ words to weigh upon our hearts and minds, then we will likely answer these questions with “Yes.” However, the gravity of Jesus’ words urges our faith to dig deeper. When Jesus meddles he is stirring our spirits to become reoriented to the Law of God’s Love.

The Law of God’s Love calls us to righteousness – or right relationships. God’s love is rooted in the Greatest Commandment: to love God with all our heart and mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22: 37-40). Our neighbor is both the one we know and the one we don’t know.

The first letter of John tells us, “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4: 8-12).

Friends, Jesus is the One who "calls us to righteousness" [1]. Jesus is the One who calls us to live into higher moral and ethical standards than any worldly influence does.

Therefore, the love that Jesus preaches of seeks to reconcile. Love seeks the image of God in the other. Love seeks another way forward when it is wounded and betrayed. Love seeks to live truthfully.

We are blessed when we seek the Law of God’s Love with our whole heart, as the Psalmist say (Psalm 119:2).

Some of you have heard me talk about Brene’ Brown before. She is a researcher on human behavior. She shares what her research has revealed about what it means to live with our whole heart.

People who live with a whole heart have three things in common: courage, compassion, and connection.

They have courage – which the original definition in Latin means to tell the story of who you are with your whole heart. These are the people who had the courage to be imperfect.

They have compassion to be kind to themselves first and then kind to others because the truth is we cannot practice compassion with others if we don’t treat ourselves kindly.

And the last is they have connection. And this is the hard part – connection is a result of authenticity. These people were willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they are – which you have to absolutely do that for connection.

We are not perfect people. We do not always live up to God’s ways and God’s will. You and I know this all too well. And Jesus knew this too.

But Jesus did not come to condemn the world; God sent his Son so that the world might be saved through him (John 3:17). When Jesus calls us to right relationships he is calling us to let go of who we have been – letting go of our behaviors that do not honor God. We are to have the courage to let them go in order to be who God created us to be.

So when we find ourselves in complicated situations that test the authenticity of our faith, may we let Jesus’ words create some friction in us and remind us who God created us to be.

We are created and named as God’s beloved child.
We are created by God’s perfect love that will never let us go.
We are created to reflect God’s truth, God’s goodness, and God’s righteousness.
We are created to be connected to God and one another. We are created to be an instrument of grace and an agent of God’s love in the world.
And if we bear the scars of humanity’s brokenness, then God is at work to create us to be wounded healers that shine the light of God’s grace into the darkness.

Is Jesus getting in your craw? Is Jesus meddling in the ways you relate to others? Then Jesus just might be grabbing your attention to guard and reorient your heart to the only thing that brings life: God’s love.

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

Sermon Preparation Influenced by the Following Resources:

[1] Eric Barretto, "Commentary on Matthew 5: 21-37," Working Preacher
[2] The New Interpreter's Bible Commentary: Volume VII - Jesus and the Goosples - Matthew, Mark (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), pp. 117-122.
[3] Dan Herrinton, S.J. "Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Matthew" (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1991), pp. 85-92.

Sermon: Why Do you Follow? (Micah 6:8; Matthew 4: 12-25)

Why Do You Follow?
Micah 6:8; Matthew 4: 12-25
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
February 2, 2020

The Son of God was following God’s purposes. How do we know God’s purposes? They are rooted in Scripture and revealed in God’s timing.

According to the prophet Isaiah, the Maker of heaven and earth was at work to reveal a new light for the people who sat in darkness (Isaiah 9: 1-2). This light of God’s love, justice, and humility would be seen in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Isaiah, God’s light would first be revealed in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1).

Therefore, Jesus set out to Galilee to lead God’s people into the light of God’s kingdom. And as Jesus began to proclaim God’s kingdom had drawn near in his presence, he expected the people to follow with a response of repenting – to have one’s past sins and mind changed by God’s purposes (Matthew 4:17).

It is in this framework that Jesus’ ministry begins. Let’s hear more in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 4: 18-25.

As [Jesus] walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And [Jesus] said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Matthew tells us that Jesus Christ had quite the following. When Jesus called the first disciples to follow him, they left their nets immediately. The text does not say why Peter, Andrew, James, and John followed.

I wonder if these brothers had heard about Jesus when he came to Galilee and they were curious to meet him. I wonder if these brothers believed Jesus could use their skill sets to catch people for God. I wonder if they had a childhood dream of following a renown Rabbi, as was the pinnacle of the Jewish tradition, but they never made the cut. I wonder if they had a hunger for a life with deeper meaning and purpose.

Needless to say, Jesus’ pull was so strong that the first followers immediately left everything behind to go. And they went with a growing assurance that through the gift of faith God can do far more than they could hope, ask for, or imagine.

Matthew's Gospel tell us that the disciples saw firsthand just how the kingdom of God changed people’s lives in the first century. Jesus’ teaching, preaching, and healing resonated with countless people from a span of over one hundred miles. Word of mouth travels fast.

A recent Gallup research statistic shares that great leaders have a rare combination of five key components. These leaders (1) motivate others, (2) assert themselves to overcome obstacles, (3) build strong, trusting relationships, (4) hold themselves and others accountable, and (5) make informed, unbiased decisions for the benefit of others. As we read through the gospel accounts of Jesus’ ministry, he has that rare combination of qualities as only the Son of God could.

All of this makes me wonder what is it about Jesus that moves us to follow him today?

Greg Faile is a 38-year-old Lancaster native who has wrestled with drug addiction for 20 years. Throughout his life he was looking for acceptance in the wrong places. He got hooked on drugs in college. When he and his wife married and began to have children, addiction nearly destroyed it all.

For years Greg was in and out of rehab, but nothing could satisfy the hunger for the next fix. However, a shift happened the night his wife called the police and Greg was taken to jail. Greg’s wife Taylor realized she could not fix her husband. And Greg’s eyes were opened to see he was hurting his family and himself. Taylor talked with a friend at Ground 40, a faith-based ministry for men seeking freedom from addiction. It is an environment practicing accountability with an emphasis on biblical discipleship and community. Greg agreed to go and talk with the guys at the addiction ministry.

After being a part of the Ground 40 community for a few weeks, Greg thought about throwing in the towel. But then another shift happened within him. Greg prayed to God for the first time. He said, “I told God that I couldn’t do it any longer and I asked him to come into my life. It was like all of that weight just lifted off of me.” That is why Greg follows Jesus Christ – Greg knows he cannot break the chains alone. As Greg follows Jesus his whole life is being changed by God’s purposes.

Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. In a recent interview the 24 year-old was candid about the importance of faith in his life and career. Patrick said:

“My mom and dad raised me in the church. Coming up through the church I built a great relationship with God and I try to keep that as I have gotten older. Faith is huge for me, as far as staying on the right track and living life knowing that I can be free and God will always accept me.”

Regarding the intersection of faith and his career, Patrick said, “The team provides Bible study to help us keep up and not lose track with our faith. We have chapel every Saturday night before the game and that is huge for me. Chapel gives me the message and helps me keep up with God and every opportunity God has given me. Before every game I walk the field and I do prayer at the goal post. I thank God for being on a stage where I can glorify him. And I pray that whatever happens, win or lose – success or failure - that I glorify him and that I do everything the right way, the way God wants me to.” Patrick Mahomes follows Jesus in order to glorify God.

Some follow Jesus because the love of God completely changed their lives and gave them a sense of belonging and hope. Some follow Jesus because they resonate with Jesus’ teachings. Some follow Jesus simply because they know Jesus as Savior and they want to know him more through prayer, worship, Bible study and serving others.

Friends, we need to encourage one another as to why we follow Jesus. We need to encourage one another as to why the gift of faith is so meaningful. It is significant that following Jesus changes our lives according to God’s purposes. But Jesus also calls us to follow him and join God in changing the world. And Jesus will teach us how to use our strengths and failures for God’s purposes, that God may be glorified.

Scripture tells us that the Lord requires us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:16). And Jesus Christ shows us the way to live more fully into God’s intentions.

Why do you follow Jesus? What is it about Jesus Christ that motivates you to do life with him?

Every day Jesus gives us a new opportunity to come and follow him. How will you and I follow Jesus today?

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

Sermon: Living with Grit and Grace

Living with Grit and Grace
Psalm 27: 1-14
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
January 26, 2020

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.

Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord! - Psalm 27: 1-14

It amazes me how alive God’s Word is. Holy Spirit has a unique way of meeting us where we are in the Scriptures. When we engage the biblical text and wonder what it might be saying to us on any given day, God’s Spirit opens a door for us to come and take a walk with God like a close friend.

Our psalm today immediately took me back to a particular season of ministry.

I was working with a group of eighth grade youth during confirmation. It was a five-month commitment for them to reflect on the baptismal vows that their parents and congregation took on their behalf. Together we studied what we believe about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Sacraments, the church, prayer, and putting our faith into action.

Near the end of confirmation, the youth write a statement of personal belief. The youth share their statements with the elders on session before they claim the gift of faith as their own in worship. And one statement continues to stand out in my mind:

I believe that there is one God, existing in three people, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe I should pray with God to give thanks and pray for others. I trust in him with my life. I have been baptized in his name and I belong to him, and with that I am proud. As I grow in knowledge, I am led to do the good things that God intends for me.

Deep words from a youth. And yet there is one sentence that gives me pause: I trust in him with my life.

The psalmist conveys the same poignant statement in our text today. He trusts God with his life. The psalmist has been weighed down with life’s difficulties. Anxiety and uncertainty have interrupted his life with inner chaos. People are talking and their words are bringing hurt like daggers. And yet the psalmist remains confident in God’s amazing grace.

Rev. MaryAnn McKibben Dana is a colleague in ministry. She is also a writer for Feasting on the Word commentary. She shares this insight on today’s text:

In the midst of confident assurances, the psalmist’s confident language is hard won. The psalmist has experienced real hardship and trusts God in spite of or perhaps because of those difficulties. This psalm strikes an authentic balance between God’s goodness and the gritty reality of our lives [1].

Have you ever met someone and said, “I want faith like that?” How do we find confidence like that youth? How do we find confidence like the psalmist? How do we find that authentic balance between God’s goodness and the gritty reality of life?

For many us the journey of faith begins with looking for God’s presence.

Maybe as a child your parent or grandparent brought you to church with the desire to pass on a legacy of faith. Your family member felt the Spirit’s nudge to plant the seeds of faith in you with the hope that they would take root and ground you in God’s love, goodness, and direction.

Sometimes it is the child or youth who asks “Please take me to church.” That child saw their friends and neighbors going to worship and they want to go too and see what it is all about. What makes them want to keep walking through that front door?. If it is food I want some. If it is love then I need some.

Maybe as an adult you discovered something is missing in your life and nothing seems to fill the void. Most of us long to have a life with meaning, purpose, and authentic relationships, therefore seeking God’s face in the sanctuary seems like a good start.

Communal worship is important, but it is not the only way we encounter God.

No matter how we begin seeking the light of God’s face, the gift of faith desires to take us on a journey. We are invited to walk and talk with God about the great joys and the deepest challenges of life. The Maker of heaven and earth created you and me to live in relationship with God and one another.

The God who calls you by name and claims you as God’s beloved child desires nothing more than for you to trust the Lord with your life. These days trust is hard won. Trust is not easily given. But God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways. God alone is trustworthy. And just like Paul, I am confident of this - the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

The life of faith is not easy. Having faith in God does not make our problems go away. But living without faith is that much harder. I remember the day years ago when I told God I did not need him anymore. I got this. And do you know what I got? I got nothing. Nothing but a dead end.

So take courage by living with grit and grace.

Take courage and seek Gods’ face (Psalm 27:8). Any solid relationship requires good communication, respect, and face time. Make it a priority to spend some quality time with God. Talk with God on that long drive. Take a walk with God as your spiritual companion. Sit next to an empty chair like you are talking with an old friend.

And then give God the gritty parts of your life. Name what you are afraid of. Tell God about the challenges that are overwhelming your heart and mind. Give it to God and then watch God guide you to take the next right step. God may not take away that problem, but God will certainly show you how to walk through the fire and not get burned. The more we trust God the more we will know that the gritty reality of life will never be more powerful than the Lord of our light and salvation!

Take courage by having a teachable spirit (Psalm 27:11). The Bible tells us that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that everyone who belongs to God maybe proficient, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3: 16-17).

Get in God’s Word and let Christ our Teacher lead the way. God’s Word will always lead you and I on a level path. And that path is the same one our spiritual ancestors walked. Scripture tells us the story of God’s faithfulness throughout all humanity.

Take courage from the support of others. Everyone needs a tribe – a place where you find belonging, connection, and share the real grit of life. As your pastor, my hope is that all who walk through our doors may know THIS community of faith as your tribe. The Holy Spirit gathers us together to encourage one another and build up each other as the body of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

The church is not to be a stained glass masquerade, where we show up and our face says everything is ok. Here we share what is not right and where we are struggling. Here we ask one another for prayer and we share in whom we have hope.

But the Holy Spirit also sends us out into this beautiful yet broken world to help others find ways to live with grit and grace.

That means when the body of Christ is scattered, we come alongside that neighbor in real physical need and in real and tangible ways we embody the good news that God has not forsaken them.

We also come alongside our neighbors who need nothing but who are spiritually hungry. I am learning through some here that we are to come alongside our neighbors and ask what they are looking for. They may not find a connection to this church, but we can certainly be a support to help them look for God’s presence and find an authentic faith community.

God’s grace takes the grit of our lives and works through it to refine our faith and trust in God alone. Our choir embodied this good news earlier this morning with that beautiful anthem, Amazing Grace – Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come / Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

However gritty your life might be, may grace lead you home.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), p. 274.

Sermon: Where Is Jesus Staying? (Psalm 40: 4-5, 9-10; John 1: 29-42)

Where Is Jesus Staying?
Psalm 40: 4-5, 9-10; John 1: 29-42
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
January 19, 2020

Happy are those who make
the Lord their trust,
who do not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after false gods.
You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us;
none can compare with you.
Were I to proclaim and tell of them,
they would be more than can be counted.

I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
I have not hidden your saving help within my heart,
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation. - Psalm 40: 4-5, 9-10

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’

They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’

They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter). - John 1: 29-42

Whenever a friend calls me to say that she or he will be in my neck of the woods on a specific date, usually the first question out of my mouth is, “Where are you staying?” I want to make sure that I can connect with my friend face to face. And if nothing pressing is on the family calendar, then Doug and I want to open our guest room so we can spend time together and catch up.

You do this too, don’t you? We long for that relational connection, don’t we?

John the Baptist had been preparing the people of God to notice when Jesus the Christ came into their neck of the woods. John was also preparing his disciples. Together they were baptizing with the water of repentance so that all of Israel might recognize the Messiah, God’s Anointed One. Not only would the Messiah bring salvation and deliverance, but God’s only Son would restore and renew the relational connection between God and humanity.

Can you imagine Jesus Christ coming into your neck of the woods and walking right past you? John the Baptist told the two disciples who were standing beside him, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36). Look! Jesus is in the neighborhood!

John’s disciples were captivated, nonetheless. This rabbi would be teaching about the kingdom of God which shines light into the darkness, brings hope into our despair, and promises to fill our lives with God’s grace (John 1:4, 5, 16). Therefore, John’s disciples followed Jesus. And it intrigues me that the first question the disciples ask Jesus was, “Teacher, where are you staying?” (John 1:38).

A disciple had to know where their rabbi was staying. According to ancient Jewish tradition, a disciple would live in the presence of the rabbi day in and day out. Studying under a rabbi meant that a disciple would become daily acquainted with all the rabbi’s ways of praying, thinking, and living.

And so, to ask where Jesus was staying was a critical question in a disciple’s formation.

You see these new disciples of Jesus had the opportunity to follow him and learn just what Jesus was doing in the neighborhood. And then they went to tell others.

This weekend we are remembering The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King was quite prophetic in preparing the way for delivering our black sisters and brothers from racial injustice. King’s work to end racism still marches on today. It is King who said from a Birmingham jail cell, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

If we were to ask King where Jesus is staying, he would say that wherever love struggles beside the oppressed to break down the walls of hostility, bigotry, and racial injustice then that is where Jesus is staying.

King also knew that Jesus is present in our own backyards to confront our complacency with the way things are in the world. King once preached, “Everywhere and at all times, the love ethic of Jesus is a radiant light revealing the ugliness of our stale conformity… Christ gives us an imperative to live differently” [1].

Do you know what is the biggest obstacle to the coming of God’s kingdom? It is not unbelief. It is complacency. It is indifference.

Therefore, Jesus Christ is also on the move to open our eyes to see that faith calls us to step out of our comfort zones. Jesus calls us to follow his example and participate in God’s work of love conquering hate and light overcoming darkness. Jesus wants our faith to be rooted in relational connection.

This past week I have started asking a few individuals where they see God at work in Lancaster County. One person immediately connected God’s work with the grants our county has received to develop a treatment program for those struggling with opioid addiction. Her insight pointed out that Jesus lived among women and men who were marginalized for not having their lives together. And today Jesus is staying close to those with addictions to bring hope and freedom.

A community leader in the non-profit sector connected God’s work among the youth in Lancaster county. As a person of faith, this leader has seen Lancaster residents and volunteers become more compassionate for the youth who are not afforded opportunities for a bright future. Community volunteer work and prayer are shining God’s light into the darkness and turning despair into hope.

The Holy Spirit is nudging us to talk to our neighbors and ask, “Where is Jesus staying in Van Wyck and in Lancaster County?” Where is the light of God’s love shining into the darkness? Where is God's hope empowering people to rise from despair? Where is the good news of Jesus Christ opening the eyes of the spiritually blind? Where is the voice of justice for those who are oppressed? What news article have you read recently where you said, "Only God could make that happen!"

It is important for us to reflect on this because knowing where God is at work will be a part of our year long process of discernment and visioning and also a part of our all-church small group study. It is also important for us to reflect on this because the places where God is at work in our community are the places that Jesus Christ invites us to come and see. What will Jesus want to reveal to us?

You and I have the opportunity to come and see what is breaking God’s heart. You and I have the opportunity to learn more from Jesus’s teachings about light, hope, grace, compassion, and new life. You and I have the opportunity to join Christ’s ministry of transforming the world, creating a beloved community, and then telling others about what God is doing.

I would be remiss if I did not connect the Psalmist’s words from our text today. The Psalmist saw God at work and inspires us: “I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation. I have not restrained my lips. I have not hidden your saving help in my heart. I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation” (Psalm 40: 9-10).

If you and I desire to be disciples of Jesus Christ, then we need to know where Jesus is hanging out in the community. It is critical in our formation as disciples of Jesus Christ. We need the insight of our neighbors and community leaders so that we might see God’s work through their eyes and hear their stories. If it takes a village to raise a child, then it also takes a village to see the Kingdom of God revealed. It takes a village to build the kingdom with God.

This week I will be meeting with some of our local clergy to ponder this very question. Therefore, this week I challenge you to ask two others in the community, “Where is Jesus staying? What is God doing in our community and in our backyard?”

You may be surprised to discover where God might be at work.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “A Gift of Love: Sermons from Strength to Love and Other Preachings” (Boston: Beacon Press, 2012), p. 13

Sermon: The Voice of Purpose and Direction

The Voice of Purpose and Direction
Psalm 29; Matthew 3: 13-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
January 12, 2020

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendor.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl,
and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king for ever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace! - Psalm 29

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’

But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ - Matthew 3: 13-17

I keep the picture on my desk so that I will remember. The year was 2006. Doug and I are standing with our daughters at the front of the church sanctuary with our pastor, Dr. Tom Kort. All five of us had big smiles.

Doug and I were new members of the Presbyterian Church – two years in. It was Baptism day for our oldest daughter Devon, who was just five years old. She had been asking questions about baptism and said, “I want Jesus in my heart.” We were so excited for this new beginning in her young life.

We met with the pastor and presiding elder before the worship service to go over the details of the Sacrament. Devon looked at me and asked ever so shyly, “Will Dr. Kort hold me in his arms and carry me down the aisle like he does with the babies?” It was a precious question. She had been paying attention to the baptisms of babies. That image of the pastor holding the baby during the Sacrament and then walking the child down the church aisle for all to behold had captivated her.

Our pastor smiled and said, “Well Devon, you are a little bit bigger than the babies that I baptize. But I will hold your hand and I will walk beside you down the aisle to introduce you as the newest baptized member of God’s family.”

Dr. Kort’s voice was rather reassuring that he would guide this beloved child of God with purpose and direction.

The Gospel according to Matthew lifts up the day of Jesus’ baptism so that we will remember. John the Baptist was chosen by God to prepare the way of the coming of the Lord. John was baptizing with the water of repentance for the reason that Jesus Christ might be revealed to Israel (John 1:30).

But on this fateful day as John’s cousin Jesus approached, John was shaking in his camel hair vest. John was not worthy enough to carry Jesus’ sandals. Who was he to baptize the lamb of God, the One who takes away the sin of the world? (Matthew 3:11; John 1:29). John felt he and Jesus should switch places because Jesus is the One who baptizes with Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11).

And yet is was Jesus’ voice that assured John of God’s purposes and direction. John was to baptize Jesus to fulfill all righteousness in accord with God’s will (Matthew 3:15).

You see God delighted in his only Son, his chosen servant to bring God’s plan of salvation. In baptism God put his Spirit upon Jesus to establish justice in all the earth (Isaiah 42:4). Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God gave the people of God a new covenant to restore us to right relationships, to open the eyes of the blind by God’s amazing grace, to set the prisoners free for those who sit in darkness, to bring forth new things proclaiming God’s glory (Isaiah 42: 6-9).

As Jesus rose up from the waters of Baptism, he was anointed for ministry with God’s purpose and direction. The Maker of heaven and earth proclaimed his excitement for this new beginning with the words, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). What a precious moment that creates a new identity for every follower of Jesus Christ.

Baptism connects us as a chosen family; not only in the local church but more so in the church universal. By water and Holy Spirit, we are claimed in God’s love that will never let us go. We die to sin and rise up as a new creation in Jesus Christ. We are adopted into God’s great family of faith. We are called to continue Christ’s ministry of love, reconciliation, justice, and peace. And yet our common calling is not solely about belonging and believing. It is about being transformed by the grace of God. It is about being the hands and feet of Christ to join God in transforming the world.

Today we will reaffirm our baptisms as a congregation to remember it is the Lord’s voice that gives our lives purpose and direction.

You may remember when I was called to be your next pastor in August of 2015. The Sunday I was to be installed I invited this church to remember our baptisms to mark a new beginning in ministry. As you know it is not just the minister who does ministry, but it is all of us working together.

Today we are recommitting ourselves to give ourselves fully to follow Jesus. This act of faith is to mark our preparation for a year of discerning the Lord’s purposes and direction for our church.

The Spirit is inviting each of us to give ourselves fully to prayer, to discern God’s mission, and to plan godly goals. We will be praying for God to open our eyes and notice what God is doing in our community. We will be praying for God to reveal what God’s mission is in the surrounding community and what our church’s unique role is within it. We will also be prayerfully planning godly goals to reach towards – that includes discerning together how God is calling us to use our beautiful acreage for God’s purposes.

We will begin this process of discernment in February as a whole church. First, we will gather for an enrichment weekend on a Saturday and Sunday in February. Secondly, we will engage in a 10 week- all church study and discussion in small groups as Lent begins at the end of February. Third, we will harvest the ideas shared in the small groups to map out God’s purposes, direction and mission. The session and I will continue to communicate the process and dates as we finalize them. We will be working with my colleague in ministry, The Rev. Dr. David Brown. His voice will reassure us of God’s purposes and direction in this year of discernment and visioning.

It will take all of us to discern the voice of God, the ministry of Jesus Christ, and the nudges of the Spirit for our chosen family. This is an exciting time of ministry and yet I know that a year of intentional discernment may make us a bit nervous too. And that is ok.

I would be remiss if I did not say that this church is no stranger to the visioning process. Van Wyck Presbyterian has long been a forward thinking church who has done the work of vision and discernment. It is a strength of this congregation.

May we listen for God’s reassuring voice hovering over the baptismal waters. The Lord goes ahead of us to give blessings and strength to his people.

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

Sermon: Word of Intention (John 1: 1-18)

Word of Intention
John 1: 1-18
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
January 5, 2020
Epiphany Sunday


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” ’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. - John 1: 1-18

It has been said, “A day without intention is a day wasted.” Without intention, our actions have no gainful impact. You and I know all too well that our intentions and actions so easily become misaligned. As a new year begins, many of us feel the need to make a few small repairs to our hearts and minds.

God’s greatest desire is that our intentions and actions will be aligned with his. The Gospel of John proclaims God’s divine intentions and actions. In the beginning “the Word,” the personal wisdom and power of God, held the intent to enter our human experience. God’s intentions were to reveal that God is not distant, but chose to know humanity’s “joy, pain, suffering, and loss” [1]. The eternal nature of God became flesh to show all creation and humanity the Lord’s unconditional and unparalleled love.

The Gospel of John tells us that the Word is the person and work of Jesus Christ. My commentary says, “Light and life are the two ways the Word expresses itself in the world” [2]. In Jesus Christ, God’s intentions act to shine light into the darkness and to bring life from nothingness and even death.

When our lives are touched by Jesus Christ, then we receive God’s power and purpose. From his fullness we receive grace upon grace.

Today we celebrate Epiphany. The twelfth day of Christmas draws near on Monday January 6, therefore, we affirm our faith in God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the star guided the magi to discover the Christ Child.

But the Gospel of John wants us to focus upon another layer of the story. The light and love of God’s intentions in Jesus Christ are at work to speak a new revelation of truth into our lives.

The mysterious and creative light and love of God go ahead of us to make all things new. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution, Epiphany offers a spiritual practice of prayerful reflection in this new year with a star word (a word of intention). This spiritual practice has been occurring in the Presbyterian Church for about 30 years.

Star words work like this: Every person in worship will have the opportunity to receive a paper star. Each star has a different word written on it. You do not get to pick the word that you prefer, rather the star word chooses you. The word on your star may be God’s way of revealing a new truth about the light and love of Christ. The spiritual reflection of a star word holds the hope of realigning our intentions and actions with God’s.

The word of intention that chose me last year was “Respect.” I have to be honest – the word disappointed me. I felt that I was already respectful to others; what could I learn from that word, “respect”?

Using Scripture as my guide, I considered how I respect my parents, my spouse and those in authority. As many of us shared insights into the meanings of one another’s star words, three people told me that they interpreted the word “respect” as “respecting myself.” And your insight and interpretation did something to me.

If we are to love God with all our being and love our neighbor as ourselves, then yes- that means I must love and respect myself too. Self-resect made me really consider how I perceive my self-worth. Therefore, I began to set some personal boundaries of self-respect and also set expectations of how I want to be respected. My word of intention has been both humbling and empowering.

A disciple among us shared her star word revelation: My word was “judgement”. As I thought about that word and the different ways that we use judgment in our lives, I reflected on what kind of judgment is used in everyday situations. My prayer has been for better judgment in my decisions. I have also been thinking about judgment in regard to other people and other situations. How have I judged others? It has made me look more closely at how I view the world. To be able to look into someone’s eyes and look beyond what is on the surface has been a revelation for me.

Another disciple shared her star word reflection: My word was "encourage" and I thought it was too easy. I enjoy encouraging people, but this year I've gained a whole new appreciation for the word. What has really stayed on my mind has been the kind of encouragement my church family has given me during a difficult year. A year of disappointment, sadness, and health issues have been offset by sweet words, hugs, delightful visits to our home, and much, much love. But our church family is like that! Encouraging others is just something we do naturally!

When we engage a word of intention as a spiritual discipline, we are inviting God’s Spirit to reflect the character of Jesus Christ through you and me in a new and life-giving way.

This morning we will come forward to the Lord’s Table to receive the bread of life and the cup of salvation. The gifts of God symbolize the life and love that Jesus Christ gives to us from manger to grave and in his saving death and resurrection.

These gifts are given to light the way forward with the fullness of God’s grace. The bread and the cup strengthen and nurture our faith as we begin a new leg of this spiritual journey together as Christ’s disciples.

As we taste the goodness of God, let God’s word of intention choose you. There is a new revelation of truth that Christ desires to speak into our lives.

Just imagine how the Word of God’s wisdom and power might dwell in us and empower us to be more Christ-like!

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary: Volume VIII, Luke, John (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 445.
[2] New Interpreter’s Bible: Volume VIII, p. 445.