Mike Turgeon “The family of God” June 10, 2012
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"
Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Mark 13:1-8
The family of God
Five months ago after Christmas, when my wife and I boarded a plane to Hawaii, I was in a pretty relaxed mood, so I let my attention drift to the pre-flight instructions the flight attendant was giving.
Most of the things that happen in the scenario she was describing were not pleasant thoughts. Oxygen masks, life preservers, emergency exits, inflatable boats. I know the flight attendant wasn’t trying to ruin my day because right after she told us about all the scary stuff she said to “sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.”
Birth pangs and labor pains.
It’s kind of what Jesus is saying this morning. Through his work as the Redeemer, the One who would buy back our salvation from sin, God was doing a new thing--enjoy! The new life that Jesus brought established the reign of God on earth and in that kingdom there is a role for each one of us. But Jesus is very clear, when something new is being born, there will be birth pangs and labor pains.
Now I am far from being an expert on the birth process, but I do know that great advances have been achieved over the years in supporting women through pregnancy and birth. Education, pre-natal nutrition and exercise, of course; but more specifically, the widely accepted LaMaze birthing method brought two things of immeasurable value to the process--staying focused on your breathing and companionship as ways to cope with labor pains.
Focus
Staying focused is what Jesus counsels his disciples at this little family meeting on the Mount of Olives.
This passage has a decidedly foreboding tone to it which was not untypical of the Gospel of Mark. For Mark’s little church, it looked like the world was coming to an end. Roman rule in Palestine was complete and brutal and had been going on for over a hundred years.
Certain Jewish elements rose up at various times in protest, defying the occupation, but it was about at the time of Mark that the Romans had taken all the defiance they would tolerate. In about 66 A.D., Rome destroyed the Jewish Temple, desecrating everything the Jews considered sacred and wiping out most of the Jewish population over the next four years.
Those fine and mammoth foundation stones we hear Peter, Andrew, James and John asking Jesus about are gone; today, only a remnant of the wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple courtyard still stands, the Wailing Wall.
The Romans were letting everyone know just who was in control. Yes, the fearful note that runs through Mark’s Gospel is not surprising.
Now, I gotta’ ask, has there ever been a good time in history? You study this stuff and you think, man, what has changed in 2000 years? When did the good times roll for everybody? A time without natural disasters, wars and violence, crushing poverty? Today if we add in nuclear weapons and climate change don’t we have a right to be scared?
Focus
The bad news is, of course, we have a right to be scared. The Good News is that Jesus is on the scene as our constant companion. Does choosing to follow Jesus make all our troubles go away? No, and it certainly didn’t for Mark’s church. The words of Jesus warn his friends once again that accepting him as Messiah will not be easy, but it will be worth it. In reality, most of the Jewish community were fed up with those claiming to be the Messiah.
“...beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He.’”
Cope and hope
The clear message this morning is ‘focus on me’ despite all the distractions that will come your way. My kingdom is a peaceable kingdom, but there will be violence nonetheless, and though the end is still to come, don’t be alarmed, in me you have hope of life eternal.
I don’t for a moment pretend that our situation as the church is in any way analogous to what Mark’s church was experiencing. But let me acknowledge that God is engaged in doing a new thing here. The irony is that is always the case. God creates and with God, all things are possible. The difference since Jesus came along is that we have constant companionship in Christ in what is known as the body of Christ, as in you and me, and all those who accept the forgiveness of sins through Jesus.
...wherever two or more are gathered...”
In three short weeks, a new pastor will take her place here among you.
The care and feeding of the new pastor
Rev. Laurie McHugh comes here with a well-earned reputation throughout our Conference as a vibrant musician and worship leader, and a respected colleague with a compassionate heart. I am grateful that the Bishop and the Cabinet saw fit to bring myself and now Laurie here, back to back. It is a positive step.
The next step is to consider whether there will be a next step. We must all face up to the warning Jesus issues here about staying focused. For many of us, we have memories of the church being the engine on the train of social change and relevance, but now it is hard to argue that the church finds itself sitting on the sidelines, more the caboose than the engine.
The reasons for this are numerous. However, the debate about those reasons is a distraction, a distraction that can lead the church astray.
There is but one useful and needful approach to any challenge the church faces, be it in the year 33 AD or 2013 AD, and that is to be able to answer clearly a three-part question:
Why do people need Jesus Christ?
Why do people need the church?
Why do people need Windsor Community UMC?
We have done good work these last 3 years, mostly a lot of work in clearing the rubble in our path. Some of that rubble was in the form of large boulders and some of it was small stones. Some of that rubble came out of left field, some of it was caused by our own digging up the path and not cleaning up after ourselves. Most of that rubble is now in our rear-view mirror. This is a preferred position from which to welcome a new pastor.
I encourage you to seek first to know who this Rev. Laurie McHugh is because those who have met her can only give impressions about who she is. The only thing I know for sure is that she is not Pastor Mike. Don’t pretend that she should be. Give her the grace of hospitality, you don’t have to do that, but it is a good idea if the church is intent on serving the mission.
Remember that she, like any newcomer, is a new actor coming onto the stage, a stage where all the other players have learned useful clues as to what their roles are. I believe she is a quick study, but don’t assume she gets it by August 1st or even by December 1st. And if you believe that her role is to fit in to how we do things around here, then this exercise known as WCUMC will have had a nice 159 year run that ended in 2012.
My sincere hope is that the focus of this congregation will be on nothing other than the question of Christ
Why do people need Jesus Christ?
Take a Jesus worldview.
When you study the Bible you learn that it is a series of crossroads. God lifts up God’s people, the people often rebel against God, the people must then endure God’s judgement. And in the Gospel of Mark, we stand squarely planted in the greatest crossroad for Jesus followers, since this is the beginning of the New Testament, the place where love takes over for legalism. Yes, chronologically you’ll find Matthew before Mark, but Mark was the first Gospel written after Paul’s letters.
Whenever people ask me ‘how do you read the bible?‘ I always say start with the Gospel of Mark. Better to start with Jesus, then everything falls into place. We have an advantage over those early followers. By starting with the conclusion of salvation history, we start clean with a Jesus worldview. With a Jesus perspective, we have the choice to look at life as if we were looking through a Jesus keyhole, if you will.
In Chapter 1 of Mark’s Gospel, only nine verses in, we meet Jesus standing in the Jordan River being baptized by his cousin. As soon as he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove. From that point on, Jesus is walking in God’s light through some unspeakably dark places. From that point on his message for us never wavers--do no be afraid. I am with you always to the ends of the earth.
This is why we do what we do as church. If we are not engaged continually in carrying Christ’s light to others, then we are distracted, we lose focus.
Whatever else you believe about Jesus, know this--he was firmly rooted in his present reality, and he came to transform that present, not by escaping it, but by walking through it, every painful step. He asks nothing less of us and we do not have to walk that journey alone.
With the destruction of the Temple, God’s covenant did not go away, rather the people turned to the Book in which God’s covenant was embodied. With Jesus on the scene, God’s covenant lives on in each of us who would call Jesus friend. Won’t you share his light?
Mike Turgeon “The family of God” June 10, 2012
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!" Then Jesus asked him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down."
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?"
Then Jesus began to say to them, "Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs. Mark 13:1-8
The family of God
Five months ago after Christmas, when my wife and I boarded a plane to Hawaii, I was in a pretty relaxed mood, so I let my attention drift to the pre-flight instructions the flight attendant was giving.
Most of the things that happen in the scenario she was describing were not pleasant thoughts. Oxygen masks, life preservers, emergency exits, inflatable boats. I know the flight attendant wasn’t trying to ruin my day because right after she told us about all the scary stuff she said to “sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.”
Birth pangs and labor pains.
It’s kind of what Jesus is saying this morning. Through his work as the Redeemer, the One who would buy back our salvation from sin, God was doing a new thing--enjoy! The new life that Jesus brought established the reign of God on earth and in that kingdom there is a role for each one of us. But Jesus is very clear, when something new is being born, there will be birth pangs and labor pains.
Now I am far from being an expert on the birth process, but I do know that great advances have been achieved over the years in supporting women through pregnancy and birth. Education, pre-natal nutrition and exercise, of course; but more specifically, the widely accepted LaMaze birthing method brought two things of immeasurable value to the process--staying focused on your breathing and companionship as ways to cope with labor pains.
Focus
Staying focused is what Jesus counsels his disciples at this little family meeting on the Mount of Olives.
This passage has a decidedly foreboding tone to it which was not untypical of the Gospel of Mark. For Mark’s little church, it looked like the world was coming to an end. Roman rule in Palestine was complete and brutal and had been going on for over a hundred years.
Certain Jewish elements rose up at various times in protest, defying the occupation, but it was about at the time of Mark that the Romans had taken all the defiance they would tolerate. In about 66 A.D., Rome destroyed the Jewish Temple, desecrating everything the Jews considered sacred and wiping out most of the Jewish population over the next four years.
Those fine and mammoth foundation stones we hear Peter, Andrew, James and John asking Jesus about are gone; today, only a remnant of the wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple courtyard still stands, the Wailing Wall.
The Romans were letting everyone know just who was in control. Yes, the fearful note that runs through Mark’s Gospel is not surprising.
Now, I gotta’ ask, has there ever been a good time in history? You study this stuff and you think, man, what has changed in 2000 years? When did the good times roll for everybody? A time without natural disasters, wars and violence, crushing poverty? Today if we add in nuclear weapons and climate change don’t we have a right to be scared?
Focus
The bad news is, of course, we have a right to be scared. The Good News is that Jesus is on the scene as our constant companion. Does choosing to follow Jesus make all our troubles go away? No, and it certainly didn’t for Mark’s church. The words of Jesus warn his friends once again that accepting him as Messiah will not be easy, but it will be worth it. In reality, most of the Jewish community were fed up with those claiming to be the Messiah.
“...beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am He.’”
Cope and hope
The clear message this morning is ‘focus on me’ despite all the distractions that will come your way. My kingdom is a peaceable kingdom, but there will be violence nonetheless, and though the end is still to come, don’t be alarmed, in me you have hope of life eternal.
I don’t for a moment pretend that our situation as the church is in any way analogous to what Mark’s church was experiencing. But let me acknowledge that God is engaged in doing a new thing here. The irony is that is always the case. God creates and with God, all things are possible. The difference since Jesus came along is that we have constant companionship in Christ in what is known as the body of Christ, as in you and me, and all those who accept the forgiveness of sins through Jesus.
...wherever two or more are gathered...”
In three short weeks, a new pastor will take her place here among you.
The care and feeding of the new pastor
Rev. Laurie McHugh comes here with a well-earned reputation throughout our Conference as a vibrant musician and worship leader, and a respected colleague with a compassionate heart. I am grateful that the Bishop and the Cabinet saw fit to bring myself and now Laurie here, back to back. It is a positive step.
The next step is to consider whether there will be a next step. We must all face up to the warning Jesus issues here about staying focused. For many of us, we have memories of the church being the engine on the train of social change and relevance, but now it is hard to argue that the church finds itself sitting on the sidelines, more the caboose than the engine.
The reasons for this are numerous. However, the debate about those reasons is a distraction, a distraction that can lead the church astray.
There is but one useful and needful approach to any challenge the church faces, be it in the year 33 AD or 2013 AD, and that is to be able to answer clearly a three-part question:
Why do people need Jesus Christ?
Why do people need the church?
Why do people need Windsor Community UMC?
We have done good work these last 3 years, mostly a lot of work in clearing the rubble in our path. Some of that rubble was in the form of large boulders and some of it was small stones. Some of that rubble came out of left field, some of it was caused by our own digging up the path and not cleaning up after ourselves. Most of that rubble is now in our rear-view mirror. This is a preferred position from which to welcome a new pastor.
I encourage you to seek first to know who this Rev. Laurie McHugh is because those who have met her can only give impressions about who she is. The only thing I know for sure is that she is not Pastor Mike. Don’t pretend that she should be. Give her the grace of hospitality, you don’t have to do that, but it is a good idea if the church is intent on serving the mission.
Remember that she, like any newcomer, is a new actor coming onto the stage, a stage where all the other players have learned useful clues as to what their roles are. I believe she is a quick study, but don’t assume she gets it by August 1st or even by December 1st. And if you believe that her role is to fit in to how we do things around here, then this exercise known as WCUMC will have had a nice 159 year run that ended in 2012.
My sincere hope is that the focus of this congregation will be on nothing other than the question of Christ
Why do people need Jesus Christ?
Take a Jesus worldview.
When you study the Bible you learn that it is a series of crossroads. God lifts up God’s people, the people often rebel against God, the people must then endure God’s judgement. And in the Gospel of Mark, we stand squarely planted in the greatest crossroad for Jesus followers, since this is the beginning of the New Testament, the place where love takes over for legalism. Yes, chronologically you’ll find Matthew before Mark, but Mark was the first Gospel written after Paul’s letters.
Whenever people ask me ‘how do you read the bible?‘ I always say start with the Gospel of Mark. Better to start with Jesus, then everything falls into place. We have an advantage over those early followers. By starting with the conclusion of salvation history, we start clean with a Jesus worldview. With a Jesus perspective, we have the choice to look at life as if we were looking through a Jesus keyhole, if you will.
In Chapter 1 of Mark’s Gospel, only nine verses in, we meet Jesus standing in the Jordan River being baptized by his cousin. As soon as he came up out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down on him like a dove. From that point on, Jesus is walking in God’s light through some unspeakably dark places. From that point on his message for us never wavers--do no be afraid. I am with you always to the ends of the earth.
This is why we do what we do as church. If we are not engaged continually in carrying Christ’s light to others, then we are distracted, we lose focus.
Whatever else you believe about Jesus, know this--he was firmly rooted in his present reality, and he came to transform that present, not by escaping it, but by walking through it, every painful step. He asks nothing less of us and we do not have to walk that journey alone.
With the destruction of the Temple, God’s covenant did not go away, rather the people turned to the Book in which God’s covenant was embodied. With Jesus on the scene, God’s covenant lives on in each of us who would call Jesus friend. Won’t you share his light?
