Under Construction - Preachers

February 8 “Preachers Under Construction” Isaiah 40.21-25, *I Corinthians 9.16-23 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

 On this scout Sunday, we see that our cup overflows with scouts in Chester County. Scouts overflow at Bethel, we host about 14 scout troops and meetings. Our scouts appreciate our hospitality and we are certainly the beneficiaries of their good work, yard cleaning, help for our seniors, and just young folks and awesome leaders with creativity, joy and energy. We overflow with their politeness and industriousness, and other character traits, modeled by their outstanding leaders who are ever supportive and humble in their dealings with us. [slide #1 great job]

In a world where shortages and lack are ever looming, it is good to enjoy an abundance of something good. Scout Sunday is a day of thanksgiving for Bethel. What takes us over the top is the fact that the scouts have declared themselves a Christian organization in a world where religion is a reason for war and politicians are constantly resisting the idea of a supreme being that orders our steps and guides us to much good.

Scouts among us is just another reason to celebrate as we worship on this Sabbath. God is glorified when we declare that God is our God and as we cherish God’s word, and hold it in our hearts.

As apostle Paul affirms in this morning’s reading, it is good to declare God’s word, with our lips as well as our behavior which reflects our character. As a representative who usually attends scout courts of honor is fond of saying, ‘scouts make extraordinary leaders.’

Christian values bring peace in the threat of war, help when there is a need, and hope for discouraging times. At times, because of our human nature, even we Christians have days when we are fighting God, hiding instead of helping, or discouraging the hopeless. Even we need Divine Intervention in order to speak and act like children of God. We ask total healing of our lives, but want to give only partial obedience. Our eyes open wide seeking blessings, while our lips are sealed shut for giving thanks and praise to each other and to God.

As always our hope comes from God’s word that drives [ slide #2  let God drive ]us to our ultimate destination when we get into it. Last Sunday a member who is involved in a number of bible studies, mission efforts and has participated in scouting, mentioned to me the hope that the upcoming generation would get into the word, for without the word, we are at risk. Without the word we are vulnerable to defeat.

Staying in God’s word, takes us to a place of blessing. [slide #3 place of blessing]We may think that since we have our blessing, it is up to everybody else to get their blessing. This is only partly correct. We all have to do the best with what God has given us. Still, we are all in this world together. My blessing is a blessing to you. Your blessing is a blessing to me. My problem will eventually be a problem to you. Your problem will eventually be a problem for me.

When we see that every house on a block has been destroyed by a storm, [ slide #4 last house standing] we say how blessed they are that their house is still standing. There are blessings that come with being the only one standing. At the same time, if being the only one blessed while others are homeless, helpless, and hungry will make us vulnerable if not in this generation, surely in the next generation. The work we do is a way of planting seeds for the generations that come behind us.     [slide #5 seeds in hand]

Our lives are not a “me” thing but a “we” thing. [slide #6  group holding hands] Even the Lord’s Prayer reminds us of that when we hear “Our father,” “Give Us this day, our daily bread,” “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

For these reasons, we want to build good character and we want to build those who will speak out with their lips, spreading good news and words that inspire. [slide #7 Gotta tell somebody ] We want preachers who not only behave according to the word, but who have the courage to speak up when the spirit says speak up. [slide #8 speak up] We want to build up young people who will tie themselves up in the word like our traditional Jewish preachers have [slide #9 man with leather bindings ] and even do today [ slide #10 worshipping with black boxes on forehead ]. These tefilin or phylacteries are attached to a small black box with scriptures inside. They are a reminder to keep God’s word close to their hearts and minds. Future generations will need it.

If we keep God’s word close to our hearts and our minds, sooner or later, someone among us will start to bubble up from the inside. They will want to speak, even preach. There is something within them that drives them, urges them on like it did Paul. As he said to the church at Corinth, he wanted to speak to those of different nationalities, or religions, or those considered to be weak, and he wanted to do it “it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.” [slide #11 Verse 23 I do it all …]

All during the year, we take opportunities during worship to share how God has blessed us. People are blessed as they get to know one another on a deeper level. Many have been inspired by stories of faith shared during worship.  Many people dread public speaking, so when we first begin encouraging people to share their stories, very few came forward. But, thanks be to God, this year we are overflowing with those who are available to share a testimony during Lent. We have more than 13 people available. It is certain to be a rich and transforming time. God will surely show up and revive us. [slide #12 revive]

This year we are bursting at the seams with people who are full of God’s word, who are prepared to preach. Last month I met Mike Demarco who will preach on Maundy Thursday. Last week I met Eric, a retired preacher who exudes the word of life from every pore. You can feel the fire burning in his heart. For years, we have been blessed by God’s word as flames of fire came forth from the hearts as Mary Tyson and Ron Moore, and Father’s Day speakers, and Mother’s Day speakers stood at this pulpit. God has many preachers who are sent to us as gifts from God.

A pastor’s dream is to witness blessings that multiply like Jesus multiplied the fish and the loaves. Who can forget the rich words of 11 year old Abigail who stood here with a brilliant smile and blue hair as she witnessed to her faith and the love of her late grandfather, Charles Kehs and how he saved her from misery in her math class and gave her the blessed her with a love for learning?

I will never forget 16 year old Luke articulating his family’s work on a well so those without clean water would know what it is to drink freely. You heard him share a mission trip to help those in need with housing. No one invited him; he took the initiative. The Spirit of God led him and he spoke about it from this pulpit.

At age 17, Tyler brought Christian music to this pulpit and spoke of putting his own body on the line when his friends wanted to bring harm to someone just because they were different.

This year we end the Lenten season with Youth Sunday, which is Palm Sunday. All our confirmands will share, and 15 year old Dana McKinley and Tyler Collins will speak a word of Testimony. When a teenager approached me last week and asked if they could share a sermon on youth Sunday, there was only one answer, “yes.”

When the word of God is being multiplied and preachers are coming forth, we know that we have laid a fertile foundation. Obviously, God is at work among us constructing preachers that help God build the word in us.

We have a lot to celebrate. We have come this far by faith. Our foundation in the word is deep and solid. [ slide #13 solid foundation ] We have the most prepared and dedicated Sunday school with 11 classes from toddlers to seasoned seniors that any church could ever have. We have two services with Junior Church and we have a nursery and each has bible-based music and stories, and thanks to our Sunday school superintendent, Mary Tyson and Joann Bachrach, we have lessons for those who have not even learned to speak much less read yet.

It is our constant prayer that your family is participating in Sunday school,[slide #14 Sunday school] or bible study [slide #15 hands on bible] or daily devotional reading [slide #16 daily bread] [slide #17 Upper Room]. It is our constant prayer that you have participated in Rally Day in September. It is our constant prayer that every person in your home has a bible and reads it every day [slide #18 read the bible…]. Those who agree can say, “Amen.”

It is our constant hope and prayer that you sacrifice and serve in Junior Church – at least once or twice each year, for no great thing is maintained without sacrifice! Sharing is one thing, sacrificing is another. Constructing preachers requires sacrifice. Building a strong foundation in the word means that someone has made a sacrifice. [slide #19 sacrifice]

Are you the one being called to make the next sacrifice! It is very clear that the Spirit is moving us at Bethel. As the Spirit speaks to your heart today, may you hear and listen. [slide #20 God is calling] Amen.