Sermon: Empowered by Their Acts - Giving Hope

Empowered by Their Acts: Giving Hope
Acts 3: 1-10
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
May 26, 2019

The Christian movement in the first century was growing. The women, men, and children began to live differently by the standard of God’s grace. They leaned in to treating others with love and dignity. They focused on serving one another in compassion. They strove to forgive one another as Christ had already forgiven them on the cross.

God honored that kind of faithfulness by adding to their numbers (Acts 2:47). God gathered the apostles and early Christians for the purpose of inspiring others to live differently by making Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God known. The ministry of Jesus Christ and the reconciling mission of God Almighty was to begin in the people’s own backyard of Jerusalem and then reach out to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Our text today from Acts reveals the very first local mission opportunity. And Luke, the author of Acts, opens our eyes to see what living by the standard of grace looks like.

Listen to God’s Word to you in Acts 3: 1-10:

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o’clock in the afternoon. And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.

When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.

Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, ‘Look at us.’ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

But Peter said, ‘I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.’ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God, and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

It is no coincidence that this story is the first local mission for the apostles Peter and John. Why did Peter take such great interest in this man? Because he knew Jesus’ ministry did. Peter had personally seen Jesus take great interest in those whom society had discarded. Jesus Christ always drew near to those on the margins. His life from the cradle to the cross demonstrated God lives in solidarity with the poor, meek, and marginalized.

Jesus came alongside men, women, and children who were unstable physically, emotionally spiritually. While others passed by or looked away, Jesus met his brothers and sisters where they were. Jesus looked them in the eyes and listened to their stories. And Jesus empowered them to rise into the promise of new life. Therefore, through Jesus Christ “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Matthew 11:5).

Why did these particular ones matter so much to Jesus? The answer is that they have always mattered to God, and always will. As Moses gathered the people of God in community the people were commanded to love God and love neighbor by caring for those in need:

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be. Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, ‘Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land’ (Deuteronomy 15: 7-8, 10-11).

Open your hands because you and I are our sisters’ and brothers’ keeper. To do otherwise and mock the poor insults our Maker (Proverbs 17:5).

There is something amazing about the healing of the man who had been lame from birth. Peter saw the man’s need and brokenness. He did not open his hand with money to enable. Peter opened his hand with the hope of Jesus Christ to empower.

Peter took the man by the hand and raised him up in God’s strength. And then this man walked into the temple with Peter and John (Acts 3:7-8). The man was not only healed by the power of Jesus Christ, but he was freed to be who God created him to be; a beloved child of God. This man’s whole identity changed by being restored to the community.

This man was empowered by the act of receiving hope. Friends, to give hope by raising up another in the name of Jesus Christ requires personal connection. Within the space of personal connection, our faith is at work to honor the dignity of the other.

The core of honoring another’s dignity is to see another person’s intrinsic worth as a fellow child of God, regardless of the circumstances that surround them. Honoring another’s dignity marks the difference between serving a sister or brother in need with compassion versus having pity on her or him.

Pity carries another to the gate to beg. Compassion walks with another to empower him or her to stand on their own feet again.

Isaiah’s Table is a community of faith that serves grace, hope, and food for all. Formed in 2012, they are one of the Presbyterian Church’s 1001 new worshipping communities in Syracuse, New York. Isaiah’s Table gathers weekly to serve breakfast to community members, followed by worship. Their vision for ministry is to build congregational vitality, eradicate systemic poverty and dismantle racism.

Many who come to Isaiah’s Table battle addictions, struggle with poverty, and are in and out of prison. And yet this ministry of personal connection in the name of Jesus Christ is empowering women and men in need to live differently by receiving hope. Isaiah’s Table is also empowering the apostles of that faith community to gain a new perspective. One ministry leader said, “[Our neighbors in need] are not just statistics anymore or people that you can just walk away from.”

Curtis Jenkins is a bus driver for Lake Highland Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. He approaches his job from a missional standpoint. Curtis strives to empower the children on his school bus just as if they were his own children; he treats them as a family and impresses upon them the importance of community.

Curtis sees the dignity in each child and knows that each one is capable of doing a job on the bus. Each child has a responsibility to contribute towards building up unity. Curtis often says on the bus microphone: “We are going to care about each other and love everybody.” Scripture says, “Teach a child the way she or he should go and she or he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Curtis places a high value on the virtues of time, effort, love, care, and understanding. And he shows his love and understanding to the students by giving the children presents through the school year. He knows which ones are struggling as he learns their stories. Each gift is personally chosen with a particular child in mind. Curtis has given bikes on birthdays, books, t-shirts to inspire, and turkey at Thanksgiving.

But if you ask the students what Mr. Curtis has given them the gifts never come up.

Students said, “Mr. Curtis cares about us.” “He is really kind.” “He helps everyone in need.”

Curtis is empowering these children by giving them the hope that Jesus still gives, the hope that Peter gave to the man who was lame, and that you and I are called to give in our community.

Each of us here today has a mission as a community and as individuals to empower the least, the needy, the weak, and the vulnerable in our community by giving hope. Serving our sisters and brothers in need matters because it was the core of Jesus’ ministry. It was the core of Jesus’ ministry because it mattered to God and it always will.

May we open our hands to risk leaning into the ministry of personal connection. That is the Jesus way. And this is the way of practicing resurrection as Easter people to make Jesus known and reveal the kingdom of God a little more.

Practicing resurrection is to notice the need and brokenness in those around us. It is to be an authentic agent of God’s presence. And it is to bring the hope of Jesus Christ as the Spirit leads us.

May we be empowered by the apostles’ acts of giving hope this week.

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

Sermon: Empowered by their Acts: Living Differently

Empowered by Their Acts: Living Differently
Acts 2: 38-47
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
May 19, 2019

It was a new day and Peter, the rock of the apostles, was preaching to the 120 followers and apostles gathered together. He spoke passionately about the costly grace of the cross. He spoke with conviction that it was our sin that crucified our Lord. And yet when God raised up Jesus, our Lord and Messiah, from the dead, it changed everything. The weight of God’s grace cut the people to the heart. And they asked Peter, “What should we do?” (Acts 2:22-28, 36-37).

Peter’s instructions are where we enter today’s text in Acts 2: 38-47.

Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Peter proclaimed the most faithful way to respond to the grace of God in Jesus Christ is to embrace a radical change of the mind and the heart. That is what “repent” means. In our tradition we recognize that because of the human condition of sin we cannot create a radical change all by ourselves. The Holy Spirit reorients our minds to the grace of Jesus Christ and then moves us in the direction of the heart’s true destination.

The water of Baptism is a sign that God has delivered us from sin by the costly grace of the cross. We share in Christ’s dying and, in his being raised to new life. The Holy Spirit seals us with the promise that nothing will ever separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. And by the grace of God we begin to live differently. As God’s grace reorients our minds, the Holy Spirit moves us in the direction of the heart’s true destination… destination is community. Baptism initiates us into the greater family of faith.

The marks of that family of faith in the first century faith are the basics of growing as God’s people: the devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, worship, and prayer.

But this first picture of the early Christian community was not exclusively about sharing a common set of beliefs. My commentary says it was to display a profound regard for one another’s spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being as a community of friends [1].

The first century community was comprised of a diversity of backgrounds. As they communed together, they had the opportunity to really get to know one another, as they were growing in the gift of faith that connected them. A pastoral colleague shared a quote from Greg Lyons’ book, “The Next Christians,” says this about the acts of living into Christian community:

Despite what most people think, the “church” is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s always been, and always will be, a fellowship of people that goes far beyond the walls of any building, denomination, or meeting space. It’s a community of people who have found healthy patterns of human relating and new standards for how to treat one another, serve one another, and even forgive one another that run counter to the world [2].

This is poignant description of the early Christian community in our text today. And that new standard for patterns of relating to one another is the grace of Jesus Christ. The standard of grace empowers us to live differently with each other. God honors that kind of faithfulness to treat others with love and dignity, serving one another in compassion, and forgiving one another as we have already been forgiven.

In our text today God honored that kind of faithfulness by adding to the number of the first century community. Don’t get lost in the modern language of a small church membership growing leaps and bounds into a megachurch of three thousand. That is not Luke’s point. When the text says “God added,” the Greek verb actually means “gathered for a purpose.”

Those changed minds and hearts were gathered for the purpose of showing the world how awesome God is. That purpose was living the good news that we are more than the worst thing we have ever done. That purpose united the first century believers to saying “yes” to God’s invitation to join the Lord in transforming the world by God’s intentions.

And that purpose bound the believers in having the good will for all creation and humanity. We love with a good will for all because God first loved us (1 John 4:19).

The relevance of the first century community of faith is not lost on us. Here at Van Wyck Presbyterian, growing in relationship with God and one another is a priority. Holy Spirit has gathered us together as we have seen that God’s love still changes the world. Holy Spirit has reoriented our minds and hearts in some big or even small way.

And so, we gather like the first century believers to live differently in the world by practicing resurrection. Practicing resurrection is to live into the hope of new life.

The Lord was raised to new life on the first day of the week and so we gather on the Lord’s Day to say, “Thank you Jesus.” We bless the Lord and we trust our very lives to God’s saving grace, for nothing is impossible with God. Today we thank the apostles among us who lead our children, youth, and adults to grow in God’s Word through relationships. Thank you for inspiring us to live differently through Christ’s example.

We gather together to study, pray, and savior table hospitality. I am so grateful for the apostles among us who lead our ministries here. And I pray that the Lord will continue to nudge each of us to connect to the ministries here to grow in God’s grace.

As we gather to grow as followers of Jesus Christ, we are also united by God’s purposes to be sent out in the community and in the wider world. God has a purpose for each of us to practice resurrection.

Sometimes we do this in concerted efforts through Dimes for Hunger, Hope Food Pantry, Promise Neighborhood, and Back to School Bash. Your generosity of sharing your time, talents, and treasures in mission is so very moving. These ministries are joining God’s purposes to encourage others to live differently because hope shines upon the most vulnerable in our community.

But let me tell you something. This particular body of Christ has moved my faith in seeing how committed you are to the well-being of the community. Over the past four years I have seen many of you meeting the needs of your neighbors who are enduring hard times; those neighbors have been inspired by receiving the generosity of God’s grace. I am blessed knowing you are living differently by sharing the love of Christ in your everyday work.

To live differently by the gift of faith is to live into encouragement and accountability with God. This is the hallmark of why Christian community is so important. The gift of faith encourages us by the greatest commandment to love God and love neighbor as ourselves. But here is no accountability without community.

I pray that as we continue to walk the path of faith together that you leave here today with the assurance that you and I are gathered for a purpose – God’s purpose. Everything that we do or say has the potential to give glory to God. We cannot do God’s work all alone or in isolation; we need one another just as we need God’s grace.

May we be empowered today by the ACTS of the apostles to live differently. The grace of God is what unites us in the gift of faith. The grace of God encourages us to allow Holy Spirit to build us up so that we may be a blessing to others. And the grace of God is the standard of holding us accountable to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Wherever we go, I pray you and I will inspire someone else to live differently because of Jesus’ love.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, “Acts, Volume IX” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 54-57.
[2] Gabe Lyons, “The Next Christians: Seven Ways You Can Live the Gospel and Restore the World (Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2010). p. 161.

Sermon: Empowered by Their Acts: Devoted

Empowered by Their Acts: Devoted
Acts 1: 12-17, 21-26
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
May 12, 2019


Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred and twenty people) and said, ‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’

So one of the men who have accompanied us throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.’ So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. - Acts 1: 12-17, 21-26

Jesus had instructed the apostles to not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Holy Spirit’s arrival (Acts 1:4). They had watched Jesus ascend to heaven on the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12). And now walking back to Jerusalem there was a heaviness among the apostles. They felt Jesus’ real absence.

Memories of the recent past must have flooded their minds. The Mount of Olives was the place where Jesus began his triumphant entry into Jerusalem to claim his destiny of suffering and salvation (Luke 19:29, 37-38). It is where Jesus regularly went to be still in the presence of the Lord and pray (Luke 22:39). After their last supper together, the disciples had followed Jesus to the Mount of Olives. On that night the disciples saw Jesus wrestle with fulfilling God’s will by the costly grace of the cross. It was in that moment the disciples’ faithfulness was being tested as they slept there in grief and denial of what Jesus had predicted (Luke 22:40-46).

I imagine the eleven apostles struggled with the contradiction that while Judas Iscariot shared in their three-year ministry with Jesus, he was capable of betraying Jesus; and this was to fulfill the Scriptures (Luke 22:21; Psalm 41:9; Acts 1:16). Now they were grieving Judas’ death.

In the mix, Peter must have wrestled with his own denial of Jesus Christ; he too had turned against his Lord and friend not once but three times (Luke 22:34, 55-61). When the cock crowed Peter had wept bitterly (Luke 22:62). But Jesus’ words remained on Peter’s heart: “Simon Peter, I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

Now here they were back in the upper room of Jerusalem with Jesus’ mother and brothers (Acts 1:14). The weight of it all was palpable and there was an awkwardness among them. The question was how would the apostles go forward in the face of these obstacles? Could they really take Jesus’ marching orders to carry on Jesus’ work in world and make him known?

What the apostles are led to do next matters for the sake of the biblical story and for our stories today. Luke says the eleven apostles together with Jesus’ mother and brothers were constantly devoting themselves.

When we hear that word “devoted” we usually think of someone being a devoted parent, a devoted student, a devoted employee, a devoted friend. In this light it sounds like being devoted is simply being loyal. And there is some truth to that. But sometimes our English language falls short in capturing the essence of a word’s truth.

That word “devote” in the Greek means to give constant attention to; to stay fixed in one direction; to prevail in spite of difficulty.

In the first real challenge they found themselves in, the apostles constantly devoted themselves by giving attention to prayer. You see the apostles were in a process of becoming the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. That meant they needed to call to mind what made Jesus Christ’s life, ministry, and faithfulness to God authentic and powerful. If you look through the gospel accounts Jesus’ authenticity and power were rooted in prayer.

The Lord taught his disciples the way he prayed. To pray for God’s kingdom to come, to pray for God to supply our needs, to pray for forgiveness, and to pray for faithfulness in a world of trials and temptation had become foundational to these apostles (Luke 11:2-4). If the apostles were going to wait and live by the Spirit, they also needed to keep in step with the Holy Spirit. Devoting themselves to prayer guided their steps even as prayer guided Jesus’ steps of obedience to God.

The apostles were becoming resolute in staying fixed in one direction; the direction of unity. They were devoted to living in community as Jesus had called them to live in community with him. In this very uncertain time, solidarity was key in order to process their roller coaster of emotions. Solidarity created a space to imagine their next steps going forward into our risen Lord’s instructions.

The apostles began taking steps to discern God’s will to prevail in spite of difficulty. In order to take the baton and run with it, the apostles had to look at the work they had done with Jesus and the work they were called to do.

Therefore, Peter claimed his authority to be the rock in which the church would be built. He led his fellow apostles in a strategy to restore the group to Jesus’ vision of twelve apostles; this was symbolic for the twelve tribes of Israel and God’s faithfulness to the covenant of God’s people. With a complete number, each apostle would assume specific responsibilities to be the hands and feet of Jesus and make him known.

You and I are in our own processes of becoming apostles of Jesus Christ too. It matters why and how we are joining our risen Lord’s ongoing mission in the world.

Maybe you are new in the faith and you are here today because you are curious to know what a disciple of Jesus Christ actually means. Maybe you have been a cradle Christian and you are seeking a fresh Word as you walk another stretch on the path of faith. Somehow…someway Jesus Christ has touched your life and mine along the way and we want to know what the next right step is.

When I think about why I follow Jesus Christ I always think about a song I once heard as a new Christian from a band called Third Day:

I want the world to turn because of love and mercy to find each of us doing what we can to just believe. I want the world to know that You're the One, Who fills me up and gives me hope and brings about this change that's in me.

Each of you have your own story as to why you follow Jesus Christ. But the how you and I follow is just as important. The writer of Acts, Luke, wants you and I to be empowered by the apostle’s act of being devoted. That does not mean that you and I will devote ourselves to our Creator God, Redeemer Jesus Christ, and Sustainer Holy Spirit perfectly. There was only One who lived in perfect devotion and perfect faithfulness to God and that was Jesus Christ.

Instead Holy Spirit is empowering you and I in this process of devoting ourselves by the example of Jesus’ faithfulness and devotion. Being a devoted apostle is not just about being loyal to the idea of being a Christian. There is more to it than that. And we do it one day at a time in some specific ways.

I want to encourage you to take the time each and every day to devote your faith to prayer. Pray for God’s kingdom to unfold a little more today on earth as it is in heaven. Pray for God to supply your needs and to open your eyes to supply the needs of others. Pray for the courage to forgive just as the costly grace of the cross has already forgiven you. Pray for God to strengthen your faithfulness amidst the trials and temptation of life. Prayer is just talking with God. It gives us a relational framework to discern God’s will, gain spiritual wisdom, glean understanding, wrestle with tough stuff, and mature in our spiritual walk with God (Colossians 1:9, 4:3, 4:12).

I want to encourage you to devote your faith in the fixed direction of unity. Consider the ways your presence brings about unity in community. Make worship a priority in your spiritual life. The community of faith is where we ground ourselves in the truth of whom we belong to. We rejoice with those who rejoice, and we weep with those who weep. Our solidarity is a holy action of trusting God with our lives. The greatest act of being devoted to unity is joining hands across denominational lines in God’s mission. God smiles when we do this.

I want to encourage you to devote your faith to prevail in spite of life’s difficulties. You and I are not just learning the ropes of faith together, but we are “the sent ones” to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a hurting world. Each of us have different responsibilities Monday through Saturday. In the pews I see students, teachers, managers, financial experts, business owners, lawyers, nurses, retirees. But do you know that first and foremost you are a beloved child of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ?

Just imagine how God is calling you to put your faith in action to make Christ known where you work and play? Where is God calling you to extend the grace and compassion of Jesus Christ? Our actions of faith speak much louder than our words.

Becoming a devoted apostle is not about how we live on Sundays or how we live within the four walls of church. Devotion is more about the ways we are being led to put our faith into action in the world so that Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation will prevail in spite of all the obstacles that seem to threaten it.

And on the days when we feel like our faith has failed, we need the unity of Christian community to build us up in the assurance that nothing will ever thwart God’s purposes.

May you and I be empowered by acts of devoting ourselves to Jesus Christ this week.

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

Sermon: Empowered by their ACTS: Waiting

Empowered by Their Acts: Waiting
Acts 1: 1-11
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
May 5, 2019

The Gospel according to Luke, the beloved physician, took us on this past Lenten journey (February, March, and April) to see God moving in our lives with regards to Jesus’ teachings. It was Luke who took us inside the empty tomb of Easter to proclaim Christ’s message that brokenness, destruction, and death are not the end of our human story. Because he lives, we can face tomorrow – Amen?

And here we are on the third Sunday of Easter. I don’t know about you, but my soul has been stirring and asking, “What is next?” Where does our faith go from here?

Luke says that the disciples, the men and women who had been with Jesus those three years, were asking themselves the very same question. They were chosen by Jesus to proclaim the kingdom of God and to do mighty works in his name. And yet these followers were still trying to get their mind around Jesus death and resurrection.

After Easter they had been with the risen Lord for forty days. And Jesus was preparing to leave them again to ascend to heaven and sit at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, as we say in the Apostles’ Creed. The disciples were now being prepared to be “the sent ones” – that is what the word ‘apostle’ means. The apostles would be sent from Jerusalem to the ends of the world to continue Jesus’ work and making him known.

Listen to Luke’s words in the Acts of the Apostles – the first chapter, verses 1-11.

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

In the book of Acts, Luke tells the story of the very beginning of the Christian movement. In the same way Luke began his Gospel, so here he addresses the story to Theophilus, whose name means “Lover of God” (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1). Some scholars say that this name addresses people like you and me who are curious about who this Jesus is and are searching for God’s direction [1].

The apostles are all standing with Jesus and just beyond the crest of the present is a very uncertain future – at least to the human eye. I think Jesus knew the apostles were curious, anxious, and questioning. He meets them where they are and gives them their marching orders, their next steps.

The apostles are to trust God’s timing for the big picture of God’s will and NOT get stuck on the details of how God would accomplish his purposes, especially in regards to God honoring his covenant with Israel (Acts 1:7).

The apostles will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue Jesus’ work by joining God in changing the world (Acts 1:8).

And the apostles are to make Jesus known by starting in their immediate community of Jerusalem and then reaching out to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

But before the apostles could do any of this, Jesus said something very important. Jesus commanded the apostles to wait (Acts 1: 4). What did Jesus mean? Does waiting mean to sit on the dock of the bay wasting time?

What happens when you wait and do nothing? It seems like nothing happens.

Jesus is not talking about a passive waiting without effort. The word he uses in the Greek means to remain all around regardless of the obstacles. That kind of waiting takes the efforts of expectation, hope, and not giving up.

In fact, Jesus told the apostles to wait in this way for the blessing of the Holy Spirit because without the power of God’s Spirit they could do nothing through their human strength.

In the Gospel of John Jesus told his followers that after his death and resurrection they would be waiting for the Advocate, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth to come. “The Holy Spirit, whom God will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14: 17, 26-29).

The apostles are waiting for the future to unfold by the power of the Holy Spirit and there is one thing that makes it possible for them to do that. My commentary says, “Waiting for the dynamic future to unfold involves a measure of uncertainty and urgency. What makes waiting possible for the apostles to hope for tomorrow’s best is remembering God’s past faithfulness” [2].

The secret of waiting according to the lens of faith is holy memory; remembering God’s past faithfulness. Scripture not only tells us the incredible life changing story of God’s radical love for creation and humanity, but the Good Book is the keeper of God’s faithfulness among our spiritual ancestors; their story is our story.

Scripture is the living Word of God because it is still at work to rewrite your stories and mine. The beauty of gathering in Christian community is that we not only study, learn and remember the story of God’s faithfulness but we share our personal and communal encounters of God’s amazing grace in our lives.

To have that kind of holy memory reminds us that no matter what we are waiting for, we have hope that God is still at work to mend the brokenness in the world and in our hearts and raise us to new life – not just when we die but now.

Charles Spurgeon was a well-known preacher in the 19th century. He once preached, “The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercise patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes.”

What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for courage to face that challenge? Are you waiting for that relationship to heal and be restored? Are you still waiting for those chains to break? Are you waiting to discover where you belong? Are you waiting for the Lord to show up and show you the way? Are you waiting for the church to become more relevant in a quickly changing world?

Whatever you are waiting for, I want you to know that you are not alone. So don’t just wait and passively let your life go by. Faith gives us the framework to wait with expectation, hope, and perseverance. Waiting is the first step of being an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Do you know why? Because without the power of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. You and I cannot solely generate a sufficient version of hope apart from God.

And so in the meantime we question what this thing called faith is. We tap into that holy memory to remain confident in God’s ability; holy memory is the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19). We keep learning to trust God’s timing without getting stuck in the little details of exactly when and where God is going to work things out. And we endear the blessing of the Holy Spirit when she shows up in all her power and might. The Spirit of Truth will teach us everything.

My hope for our journey together through Acts is this: that we might be empowered by the marks of the first century Christian community; that you and I may be compelled to claim our identity as followers of Jesus Christ (because sometimes we get lacks in that); and that we may discern where God is leading us communally and individually.

May it be so…
In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary “Acts, Volume IX” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 26.
[2] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary “Acts, Volume IX” (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 33.

Easter Sermon: Living the Easter Story

Living into the Easter Story
Luke 24: 1-12
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
Easter Sunday
April 21, 2019

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. - Luke 24: 1-12

It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining. They were standing in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral. A father held his daughter’s hands and swung her in a circle of joyful bliss.

That moment, so full of love and life, took a passionate turn. Just one hour later thousands gathered with tears as fire engulfed the 850 year-old Cathedral. All who hold cherished memories of love and life, worship and renewal, art and history, in one of the world’s oldest cathedrals saw something deeply personal suffer and die.

The next day the Cathedral’s interior was dark like a tomb. Ashen debris from the fallen spire and roof covered the floor as smoke smoldered upward. And yet as the sun came up, a light shined upon the darkness of destruction and the darkness did not overcome it.

Through the exposed roof of the Cathedral the rising sun illuminated the large cross on the altar as a beacon of hope.

As the world mourns with Paris in grieving the loss of such holy and sacred space, Our Lady is still raising her voice from the center of Paris for all who have ears to hear. Her story of resiliency invites Christians and nonbelievers alike to behold the mystery and awe of God. Notre Dame’s tragedy is an Easter story: Because Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was raised to new life, death and destruction do not have the final word.

Our ladies in the biblical story of Luke had experienced the fullness of God’s love and life, worship and renewal through Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James the Lesser, and other women were within Jesus’ inner circle. These women not only provided for Jesus and the disciples out of their resources, but their lives had been completely changed by Jesus Christ (Luke 8:2-3).

Mary Magdalene saw her health fully restored by Jesus’ healing power. Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, was drawn to God’s coming kingdom over and against Herod’s. Mary, the mother of James the Lesser, saw God’s grace change her son’s life as they followed Jesus together. You know she was a proud mom!!!

And suddenly Good Friday came. The women’s very personal memories of God’s love and life with Jesus Christ seemed to be destroyed when their Lord and Savior suffered and died on the cross and was laid in the tomb.

And yet, on that first Easter morning at early dawn the sun began to shine into that tomb, for the stone had been rolled away. The women went inside and there, where death had laid for three days, light was now shining into the darkness. The empty tomb invited the women to behold the mystery and glory of God.

The angels brought a newfound hope; these women along with the disciples and all future generations would now be learning what the empty tomb means in the gift of faith. Our ladies from Holy Scripture continue to lift their voices to all who have ears to hear, for they were the first to proclaim the good news!

While the cross on the hill of Golgotha was meant to be a symbol of death, God raised up the cross, through Jesus Christ, as a symbol of God’s conquering love. God’s love will never forsake us for the Lord promises us resurrection, forgiveness, new life, and resiliency.

That is why we flower the cross every Easter Sunday in worship. It is an act of holy remembering. Our human nature needs something tangible in order to take the first steps of living into the hope of new life.

He was born Ramon Antonio Gerardo Esteves but the world knows him by his stage name, Martin Sheen. He has been married to Janet for over fifty years. Together they raised four children. He also has his demons as a recovering alcoholic. Martin once told his son Emilio, “Faith is deeply personal. If it’s not personal, it’s impersonal, and if it’s impersonal, who cares?” [1]

Catholicism has always been Martin’s anchor. Years ago while on a project in Paris, work came to a halt to observe a national holiday. When Martin woke up, he told himself, “Today is the day.” He walked three miles from the hotel to a church he had occasionally visited for Mass. His steps became a pilgrimage in the midst of a life transition.

Martin banged on the church doors with urgency and purpose. He waited and waited. As soon as he turned to walk back down the sidewalk, the large wooden door swung open and there was the Irish priest Martin had seen on occasional visits. He was holding a napkin in one hand and he was chewing. Clearly Martin had interrupted the Father’s lunch.

The priest said, “Yes, what is it?” He must have thought there was an emergency from the way Martin had been banging.

“Well, Father,” Martin said. “I’m sorry to bother you. But I haven’t been to confession in years and I’d like to come back to the church.” The priest’s eyes narrowed, and from his reaction, Martin knew he had come to the right place.

“Well, come back tomorrow morning at ten. And don’t be late.”

The next morning Martin walked into the church and he was the only one present. Martin entered the confession box and unburdened a heavy load from his soul. The priest listened patiently and offered some spiritual advice. Then the priest gave Martin a penance before absolution; “Say one Our Father” (say the Lord’s Prayer one time).

With shock Martin asked, “One Our Father?”

“Have you been gone so long that you can’t remember the Our Father?”

Martin said with a laugh, “No I remember it.”

Martin left the confessional booth and sat down in the pew to reflect:

“I had just confessed the whole truth about the past dozen years of my life and forgiveness was graciously granted without hesitation or judgment. God’s love was deeply personal. Gradually an overwhelming sense of freedom and familiarity consumed my whole being.

I had just taken the first step of a long, complex spiritual journey that would change my life. But I wasn’t focused on the future now, only on this transcendent moment. Sitting alone in that church I began to weep uncontrollably with tears of sheer joy.

I don’t know how long I sat sobbing in the pew, but eventually I needed to blow my nose. I felt around in my pockets for a handkerchief but came up empty. Then I saw a Kleenex on the floor. I will never forget how I felt to see that Kleenex. The simple gift of a tissue on the floor at my feet when I needed one filled me with a sense of gratitude. It seemed to assure me that from now on, all my needs would be met if I stayed on the course I had just begun.” [2]

When the brokenness of the world and within our hearts weigh heavy on our souls God’s Word tells us to remember this is not the end of our story. You and I are Easter people therefore, today we celebrate the truth: Jesus Christ endured the cross for our sakes so that we may not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).

On this Easter morning have courage to look into the world’s destruction and disappointment. Have courage to look into the hidden places of your own regrets, hurt and grief. And then listen for the still small voice of grace saying: “The Lord will not leave you here.”

Because Jesus Christ is risen, God’s steadfast love and faithfulness hold an eternal promise for you and me. We are promised the opportunity to live into the Easter story today and every day until we are called home and behold the glory of God face to face.

From the ashes of brokenness God promises to raise us up in the Lord’s strength. It is in these transcendent moments that we experience Jesus’ resurrection power. The cross and empty tomb embrace us in God’s love, forgiveness, and hope to face another day. Faith guides our steps towards resiliency.

The Easter story cannot be explained but simply proclaimed – “The One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also” (2 Corinthians 4:14).

He is risen. He is risen indeed!

Today is the day – the first day to experience the Easter story changing your life!

Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1]Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son” (New York: Atria, 2012), p. 392
[2]Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez, “Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son” (New York: Atria, 2012), pp. 295-296.

Lenten Sermon: God Moves to the Cross (6/6)

Lent: God Moves to the Cross (6/6)
Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29; Luke 19: 28-40
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
April 14, 2019
Palm Sunday

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever!

Let Israel say,
‘His steadfast love endures for ever.’
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.

I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvellous in our eyes.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
O Lord, we beseech you, give us success!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God,
and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
up to the horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God, I will extol you.

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever. - Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29


Jesus he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’

So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’ - Luke 19: 28-40

The one and only Jack Black was the voice for Po Ping, a bumbling giant panda in the movie, Kung Fu Panda. Po was obsessed with kung fu and he was the biggest fan of the Furious Five; famous animated kung fu students of the Red Panda Master Shifu.

Po became the unlikely one chosen to be the Dragon Warrior, a savior like figure who was capable of defeating all enemies with his kung fu might. The Dragon Warrior’s skills were a must when the evil kung fu warrior Tailung escaped prison and the Furious Five could not defeat Tailung.

Po’s training with Master Shifu was like a roller coaster but it culminated into one fantastic and life-defining moment; Po and Tailung faced off. As Tailung swung his southpaw, Po intercepted his opponent’s paw, ready to flex his power with the pinky death grip, also known as the Wuxi Hold. Once that pinky finger was up, there was no looking back; the world would never be the same.

Tailung was scared straight and said, “The Wuxi Hold! Surely Shifu didn’t teach you that!”

And Po, the Kung Fu Panda, replied, “Nope, I figured it out. SKA-DOOSH!”

And as soon as Po dropped his pinky, the world was shaken with ripples of a conquering life force. Tailung, the enemy, was swallowed up forever and the world was saved. It’s an awesome scene! But not as awesome as Easter!

Jesus Christ’s ministry had culminated into a defining moment for all humanity and creation. Today our awesome God claims his power and authority as Savior of the world. The fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy was being fulfilled.

The Lord himself gave a sign to see the woman who bore a son and named him Immanuel, God-with-us (Isaiah 7:14).

This child was born for us, this Son of God given to us; authority rests on his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore (Isaiah 9:6-7).

And now your king comes to you, triumphant and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey (Zechariah 9:9).

As the disciples set Jesus on the colt, they could feel God’s Spirit at work in all of this. They praised God joyfully for all the deeds of power they had seen in their Rabbi and Lord (Luke 19:37). The crowd waved palm branches and threw down their cloaks to proclaim the Lord, who had once delivered them from Egypt, was about to deliver them again through Jesus Christ the Messiah (Leviticus 23:40).

From the beginning Jesus was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and was set apart to teach, heal, and proclaim the kingdom of God in a hurting and broken world [1]. The disciples and the crowds were amazed by the new life Jesus created from humanity’s brokenness; something only God could do.

Now making his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, God was moving Jesus Christ towards the cross. Jesus’ obedience to be led to the cross revealed that God’s redemption draws near through the Son of Man (Luke 21:26). With the Lord’s redemption comes God’s blessing, peace, and glory that Luke’s story talks about; gifts of God that are unparalleled.

God blessed his chosen, our Messiah. God’s spirit was upon Jesus to faithfully bring forth justice to the nations. God called Jesus Christ in righteousness and gave him as a new covenant to the people. Scripture affirms God is moving Jesus Christ towards the cross to open the eyes that are blind and to bring out the prisoners who sit in darkness (Isaiah 42: 1-8).

God shines the light of Christ into the darkness of our human sin which holds us captive. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will never overcome the light of God’s love in Jesus Christ (John 1:5).

And yet even as we cheer the triumphant entry of our Savior today, we cannot deny that our sin put Jesus on the cross; it is a sobering thought. But in all this a spirit on high is poured out on us to bring righteousness; the effect of righteousness is peace (Isaiah 32:17).

We have peace knowing God’s love is mending the broken pieces of ourselves and our world. Peace is trusting that the work of the cross is making us more whole everyday through Jesus’ forgiveness and his ongoing ministry of reconciliation. Salvation in Jesus Christ leads the way to God’s peace.

Today we begin to walk towards the cross of Good Friday and the empty tomb of Easter because they are sure and certain signs of the glory of God.

The cross is where Jesus suffers for the sake of right relationships between God and humanity. Righteousness and glory only belong to God for sin and death no longer have the last word. The good news of Jesus Christ is for our sakes so that grace as it extends to more and more people may increase our thanksgiving to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Today as we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, God is moving you and I to the cross. Holy Week is a life changing seven days as we recall the story of Jesus’ costly grace.

German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed 74 years ago last week on April 9 at a concentration camp in Flossenburg, Germany. Bonhoeffer said:

“Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again. It is costly because it condemns sin; it is grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, grace is costly because it was costly to God, because it costs God the life of God’s Son – “you were bought at a price” – and because nothing can be cheap to us which is costly to God. This costly grace comes to us as a gracious call to follow Jesus [to the cross]; it comes as a forgiving word to the fearful spirit and the broken heart.” [2]

I pray that God’ Spirit would move our faith mightily this week as we retrace Jesus’ steps to the costly grace of the cross.

It is at the cross that we truly experience God’s blessing, peace, and glory of the new life promised on Easter.

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

Sources Referenced:

[1] Luke 4:14; 4:36; 5:17; 6:19; 8:46; 9:1; 10:13, 19
[2] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “Discipleship: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Works, Volume 4” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003), p. 45.

Lenten Sermon: God Moves Us to Empty Ourselves (5/6)

Lent: God Moves Us to Empty Ourselves (5/6)
John 12: 1-8; 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
April 7, 2019
Fifth Sunday in Lent


Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)

Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ - John 12: 1-8

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God’s word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence. - 2 Corinthians 2: 14-17

One of my favorite childhood memories is coming home from school on Friday afternoons. I would step off the school bus and run down the drive way. I walked through the front door and the house smelled like love. When my sister and I were in elementary school, Friday was the day my mom put the house back together. Mom would clean our rooms, vacuum, and dust the furniture with Pledge furniture polish – the lemon scented kind. My mom showed her adoration to our family through her acts of service. To this day, the scent of love is Pledge lemon scented furniture polish.

The Gospel of John takes us into the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. These three siblings were Jesus’ best friends. Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming to a close. And the siblings invited Jesus over for a special dinner. John’s Gospel stimulates our biblical imagination with all the senses. As soon as the first century reader and we walk into the door, we too are embraced by a home filled with the fragrant scent of love.

Martha is in the kitchen preparing dinner. She continues to extend her gift of hospitality to Jesus. Lazarus is reclined at table beside Jesus. Mary was ready to sit at Jesus’ feet again; just days before Jesus wept with Mary (John 11:32-35). You see these siblings were celebrating that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11: 38-44). Gratitude for the good news of Jesus’ resurrection power filled that house.

Suddenly Mary was moved to give her most prized possession to Jesus as an act of her devotion. She knelt down on the floor, emptied the costly perfumed oil, and anointed Jesus’ feet. And then she lovingly wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair. Another layer of devotional love filled the house.

The importance of Mary’s action was not lost on Jesus. In John’s Gospel Mary’s selfless act stands in stark contrast to Judas’ question of self-interest to say this: The gift of faith is not meant to for us to keep for ourselves.

As Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God’s wisdom and will, God moved Jesus Christ to empty himself on the cross for us and for the sake of fulfilling God’s promise of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Likewise, as we are moved and changed by Jesus Christ, God’s Spirit moves us to empty ourselves to glorify God and share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.

It was three months ago today that the Church Universal observed Epiphany, “the day we celebrate the manifestation of God’s saving purpose in Jesus Christ to all nations of the world.” Just as the star guided the magi to worship the Son of God, we each received a star in worship with the hopes that our star words would reveal something new and praiseworthy to us about the good news of Jesus Christ.

A few of our members have graciously given me permission to share their star word revelations from the past three months.

Camille received the star word “Teaching.” I see one of the spiritual gifts that God gave Camille is the gift of teaching. She has taught children’s Sunday School for a generation and has seen her students grow up into amazing young adults. After taking a well deserved break last year, she received her star word. When Camille revealed her word to me, I thought that God has a sense of humor.

An opportunity was presented for Camille to teach our youth Sunday School class for a few months and so she said yes to God. Camille taught our youth about Jesus’ life and ministry. Our youth have some really good questions, and Camille said she learned it is ok for her answer to be, “I don’t know.” Camille shared, “These students were great listeners and learners and I hope my ears were open to listen and learn from them too.”

Glenda received the star word “Encouragement.” I see God has used Glenda’s gift of writing Christian fiction to touch people’s lives in ways she had not expected. Glenda said she has received a lot of encouragement from her readers in past years. Therefore, her star word gave her an idea. Instead of replying to her readers’ comments with just a “thank you,” Glenda would ask questions about what part of the book the reader found meaningful.

Their online dialogue revealed real life issues that Glenda’s readers are facing that her books addressed . It also opened a door for Glenda to suggest they pray for each other. Glenda is praying for her readers while they are praying for her writing to touch others.

Laine received the star word “Witness.” I see God has given Laine the spiritual gift of sharing faith; she does this weekly in Sisters of the Heart Bible Study. But that word “Witness” initially gave Laine the image of standing on the street corner screaming at people about Jesus. The past three months the good news of being a witness for Jesus Christ has become a different kind of revelation for Laine. God’s Spirit is giving her the image of being present to personally see or perceive a thing; being a BEHOLDER, a spectator, or an eyewitness. So, she began spiritually watching.

Laine said, “I saw a billboard with the words of Micah 7:7, which states, “Watch and hope for the Lord.” God was reminding me to watch for Him & His handiwork everywhere, in everyday occasions. In daily Scripture readings I was reminded to “seek His face!” (Psalm 27: 8) and that God also sees me (Genesis 16:13). God is watching/witnessing my life… That’s a sobering thought! And I am reminded that watching is not a passive endeavor, but I must also be actively seeking to discern His presence. Daily quiet time, the study of His word, worship, fellowship with other believers, prayer...all are conduits by which He reveals Himself to me. I have personally seen Him in action...in the smile of my husband, in the tears of a friend, in the peace that comes over me when the world turns upside down. I am becoming a BEHOLDER. God is telling me, “Slow down, look for Me, & when you see Me, tell someone.”

God is at work in our lives in powerful ways, enabling us both to will and to work for the Lord’s good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). As the gift of faith fills our souls, God moves us to empty ourselves. The Spirit empties our hearts and minds of the things that do not serve God’s purposes. The Spirit is at work to fill us with the grace of Jesus Christ so that we might continue growing as the Lord’s disciples.

Jesus said, “The everyone will know we are his disciples by our love for one another” (John 13:35). Therefore, the hope is that we might watch for God, behold the Lord, and boldly share the fragrance of God’s love with one another.

The Apostle Paul says, “We are not peddlers of God’s word, but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence” (2 Corinthians 2:17). Therefore, God gives us the opportunity to be the aroma of Christ and fill not just our homes, not just our churches, but the whole world with the fragrance of God’s love.

Today we are standing in Christ’s presence as he begins to turn his face from his earthly ministry towards fulfilling God’s promises of new life through the cross.

How has Jesus Christ been at work in your life? Where has your faith encountered the fragrant scent of God’s welcome, hospitality, and self-giving love?

Savor the beauty of God’s precious gifts and then let them flow freely to encourage another.

May God’s Spirit move you and me to empty ourselves to share the love of Jesus Christ in humbling ways. Be moved to give glory to God.

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

Painting, "God Poured Out," by Mike Moyers