What Kind of Church Do You Want to Be? -- FPC sermon excerpt

United We Stand.

This is a familiar phrase to us, especially in these years after the terrorist attacks of 9-11. There is truth in these words, for our country and for our church. The opposite is also true: Divided We Fall.

United We Stand, Divided We Fall. What do these words mean for us today?

In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for unity, asking that we “may all be one” (John 17:21). It is one of the deepest desires of Jesus that we be united, and one of the greatest failures of the Christian Church is that we have allowed ourselves to become divided — split first into Catholics, Orthodox and Protestant Christians, and then into Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Baptists, and a variety of other denominations.

Baptists are particularly well known for their church splits. I’ve heard it said that Baptists have a unique church growth strategy — they multiply by division.

These divisions are out of line with the intentions of Jesus, since he prayed “that we may all be one.” But what does this unity look like? In this particular passage from John, the message is hard to understand — Jesus offers what you might say is “a prayer of pronouns.” He says, “I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one.” I, them, you, me, they — it’s a prayer of pronouns. I know that this can be confusing.

But let’s focus on one critical point: Jesus wants us to be one, as he and God the Father are one (v. 22). This is not a unity of nationality, age, race, culture, politics, skin color, or even musical preference. This is a unity of purpose — a unity of message, ministry and mission.

The amazing thing about this passage is that it suggests that Jesus wants to break down the distinctions that usually exist between what is divine and what is human. Jesus wants us to be connected with him and with God in a close and intimate relationship. He wants us to share the very same passions and sense of purpose that God and Jesus share. It pulls us closer to the Lord than almost any other passage of Scripture, inviting us into the very presence of God. Jesus says to God, “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one” (v. 22).

So, what kind of church do you want to be? Do you want to be united, or divided? Connected with God and Jesus, or separated from them? It’s your choice, and it’s a choice you have to make each and every day. One thing is clear, however — Jesus wants us to be united. He prays that we “may all be one,” and he wants us to be part of the message, ministry and mission that Jesus and his Father have brought into the world.

A Lifetime Winner! -- FPC sermon excerpt

The golden cork.

That’s what wine-drinkers are hoping to discover when they buy a bottle of Browns Brothers Pinot Grigio. This Australian winery has placed five golden corks in five bottles of wine. If you are lucky enough to find one, you’ll win a lifetime supply of wine!

But maybe you’re not a wine-lover. Maybe ice cream is your passion.

If so, you really should have submitted an application for the job of Chief Executive Officer at Ben & Jerry’s. This ice cream company announced a contest called “YO! I’m Your CEO.” Don’t you love that? “YO! … I’m your CEO.”

Ben & Jerry’s invited people to send in 100-word applications. First prize in the contest was the job of CEO. Second prize: A lifetime supply of ice cream. Not bad for a consolation prize.

Exactly what is it that you would like to win for life? Underwear? Toilet paper? Vitamins? Pantyhose? Advil? Diet Coke? Groceries? Vacation rentals? Mortgage payments? The answer can say a lot about what we treasure, what we place at the very center of our lives.

Ever since Willy Wonka put golden tickets in his chocolate bars, we’ve been dreaming of being lifetime winners. Problem is, lifetime offers are grounded in a lot of wishful thinking, and for them to do us any good they have to be grounded in someone — or something — that is truly trustworthy. After all, a lifetime offer is only as good as the person or company that stands behind the offer. If the company goes out of business, you lose your benefits. If Ben & Jerry’s suffers a meltdown, no more ice cream. If Browns Brothers has a bad grape harvest, no more Pinot Grigio.

All of which brings us to the widow of Zarephath, one of the great mothers of the Bible, and an appropriate character to think about on Mother’s Day. The prophet Elijah promises that her “jar of meal will not be emptied and [her] jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth” (1 Kings 17:14).

The widow of Zarephath becomes a lifetime winner. In a time of need, the Lord really does provide for her.

The Bag Lady Nightmare -- FPC sermon excerpt

Nearly half of women fear life as a bag lady.

I’m not kidding: 46 percent of women suffer from what is now called “bag lady syndrome.”

They might have good salaries, money in their purses, decent savings and investments — but still they are afraid that they will wind up broke, forgotten, and destitute.

Bag ladies.

According to The Washington Times (August 23, 2006), a recent survey of almost 2000 women reveals that 90 percent of them feel financially insecure. Forty-six percent are troubled by a “tremendous fear of becoming a bag lady,” and this anxiety actually increases as incomes rise. Among those with annual incomes of more than $100,000, 48 percent of women fear a life of destitution.

I’m talking about successful women such as Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, Shirley MacLaine and Katie Couric. “All admit to having a bag lady in their anxiety closet,” writes MSN money columnist Jay McDonald. They all suffer from the bag lady nightmare.

What’s going on here?

Women have complicated fears about money. “They fear failure, or making mistakes,” observes Judith Briles, a financial advisor. They fear they are expendable.” Because of this, women are twice as likely as men to set aside a secret stash of money. Two-thirds of the women surveyed said that the best thing about having money is the sense of security it brings.

Men might crave the power or status that comes with money. But women like the security. Is this true for you?

A woman named Lydia appears in Acts 16, and it is clear that she is a financially secure resident of the city of Philippi. She owns a business and a home. She is a “dealer in purple cloth” (16:14), having come from the well-known textile city of Thyatira. The color purple is significant because purple clothing is the mark of wealth and royalty in the Roman world — to be dressed in purple is to boast of influence and power. So Lydia has a close connection to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and there is very little chance that she will wind up broke, forgotten, and destitute.

Does Lydia fall victim to the bag lady nightmare? The Book of Acts doesn’t say. What Acts 16 does describe is how she responds to the preaching of the gospel. And based on her response, we can come to a critically important conclusion: She is motivated by faith, not by fear.