Sermon: May 15, 2011

Abundant Life

Acts 2:42-47 read in Unison and John 10:1-10

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ May 15, 2011

Graduates Recognition

INTRODUCTION SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:42-47 read in Unison
Ultimately, it is God who saves and expands the community, but not without our cooperation. God worked in and through people willing to teach and be taught, to care for one another and together with God create a loving and growing community of faith.

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day 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, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

John 10:1-10
In the previous chapters of John’s Gospel, people have been asking who Jesus is. Jesus answers their questions by using a simile or image that he is the gate of the sheepfold. He has also described himself as the good shepherd, the vine, the truth, the way and life. But this time his listeners do not understand and so he speaks as plainly as he can. Not only does he say who he is but why he has come.

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

SERMON
So why has Jesus come? His whole purpose is to give life and not just any life, but abundant life. So that begs the question, “What is abundant life?” The Greek word that is translated as “abundant” is perissos and it fits well the translation as it means “more than necessary” or “exceeding expectations.” We might think of an abundant life as one that has it all: wealth, health and power. Professor Lose points out “that ( ) we regularly make all kinds of sacrifices in the hope to earn or achieve or purchase this (abundant) life, and each time we fail it kills us just a little.” I think it kills that part of us that wants it all. That might be a good thing but it is never easy. But in our baptism we have died to the way of the world to be born anew in Christ Jesus.

Two experiences raised my awareness this past week about our desire for abundance. One was an offer by a company that promised free merchandise for non-profit organizations. By reading furthered, I discovered there is a membership fee and then there are shipping and handling costs. I was reminded that even for churches there is “no such thing as a free lunch.” Last Sunday, Rob and I attend the final performance of “God’s Favorite.” This Neil Simon play is based on the Biblical story of Job. Our community theater gave the audience an abundant experience. The main character, Joe Benjamin, who by our cultural definition has it all, that desirable abundant life and then he loses it all. But what he never loses is his faith in God. Both he and the audience come to see what real abundance is. Life, abundant life, is imbued with a faith in God that makes every moment precious and wonderful.

Our graduates are each heading out hoping to find a good life, an abundant life. It is why celebrate this transition with them. We want them to have the best of everything: to be successful; healthy, wealthy and wise; and let’s be honest – rich and therefore happy. But all that can and sometimes does disappear in the blink of an eye. What they really need is fiath that can guide them when they seem to have it all as well as sustain them when they seem to lose everything they value. Jesus is the sheep gate to good pasture, but also to the sheepfold which offers protection and comfort during times of fear and loss.

In Jesus we are given an abundant life that defies the cultural values of wealth, health and power. In Christ Jesus we are given an abundant life formed in God’s mercy. Like was sung in our anthem today, this abundant life releases the song we are afraid to sing, lifts our burdens, breaks the chains that bind us, provides a place of loving welcome, eases the worry of waiting, feeds the hungry, and opens the closed heart to joy. This is true abundant life that no amount of wealth, health or power will fulfill and no amount of loss can destroy. This is the gift Jesus brings, we have just to receive it to have it all. Amen.


RESOURCES:
Mitzi J. Smith, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011
See: http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/4053.htm

David Lose, Marbury E. Anderson Biblical Preaching Chair of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN. See: http://www.workingpreacher.org/dear_wp.aspx?article_id=475
Reference to Ann Weems’ poem “We Pray This Day” from Kneeling in Jerusalem, Westminster John Knox Press, 1992. The Anthem sung today was composed by Judy Brett with words from this poem.