80th Anniversary and Renovations of Growth

Let me first say, Happy 80th Anniversary!!  On October 14th we celebrated our anniversary with worship and a pig roast.  Former Florida-Bahamas Synod bishop and St. Mark’s pastor, William Trexler, joined us as our special guest to preach.  It was an incredible event and I am so thankful to not only everyone who volunteered their time and energy to make the event a great success, but to all of you who made the trip to be with us as well.  It was joy to see old friends reunite, share stories and memories, and honor St. Mark’s history in this community. St. Mark’s has a rich history and we excitedly look to the future as we continue to grow, learn, and serve.  May we always be asking, “What is God up to in this place?”

In preparation for the 80th anniversary, I reviewed the history of leadership at St. Mark’s.  You can read a brief synopsis of our history on our website under the “history” tab. And as I reread our history, I noticed that under the tenure of each pastor we lift up not only the flourishing ministry and mission during their time, but also significant changes and additions to our physical building.  From the beginning, during the tenure of Pastor George Hart, our history notes purchasing our first property as well as constructing the original church building at our current location. During Pastor Nordsiek’s tenure history notes new plans for a Fellowship Hall and Education Building. During Pastor Biemiller’s tenure renovations were made to the education facility and faceted glass was added to the chapel.  During Pastor Trexler’s tenure a new nave was built. During Pastor Scholl’s tenure, the church expanded to include a new fellowship hall, music suite, kitchen, and offices.

This observation made me reflect on why building renovations are important to our history.  Why take the time to honor and record renovations and updates within our church’s history? Is it that building renovations and additions are the most tangible result of a pastor’s tenure?  Or, perhaps, building growth is a parallel to membership growth and mission outreach.

Perhaps a thriving congregation necessitates updates and renovations and, therefore honoring those physical changes honors our congregation’s vitality.  After all, it is the continual update, improvement, and modernization that allows St. Mark’s to have such an impact in the community. The Nordsiek building is home to 120 preschoolers and more than 30 staff.  The music suite and nave ensure safe venue for not only worship, but Bach Vespers, San Marco Chamber Music Society, Organ Concerts, guest musicians, clinicians, and other artists. General repairs and updates exemplify our commitment to being a warm and inviting, albeit temporary, home for Family Promise.  Additions and renovations like Hart Hall and the Fellowship Hall allow us to host groups and partners in ministry like Lutheran Social Services, yoga, community band, chess tournaments for kids, and more.

I am excited that 80 years later, renovations and updates continue still today.  Most recently the library and office (rooms used for hosting Family Promise) received a fresh coat of paint and new flooring.  Over the next six months the catalog and content of our library will be updated. As our new collection grows, I invite you to check out a book, offer a review, share with a friend, or start a book group.  The library is an incredible resource and we are working hard to restore its relevance. In the weeks to come, we will be replacing our Nave roof, which is our oldest roof. As we look to the future, plans are in being put in place for the installation of a fire protection system and grants are being written for updates the St. Mark’s Ark playground and kitchen.

I never imagined that my first year at St. Mark’s would involve so many conversations regarding facility maintenance, renovations and upgrades.  I am beyond excited that they are happening because these conversations are a testament to the Spirit’s movement here and now at St. Mark’s. God is always forming and reforming us.

It is an exciting time to be a part of this community of faith, and if you have ideas, interests, or a heart for handiwork, please contact me.

© Pastor Daniel Locke, originally printed Nov. 2018 in the St. Mark's JAX Messenger.

Noticed - Sermon on Mark 12:38-44 - 11.11.2018

Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.

Mark 12:38-44

38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,³⁹ and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!⁴⁰ They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."⁴¹ He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.⁴² A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.⁴³ Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.⁴⁴ For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.

At first glance it would seem as though today’s Gospel text has all of the makings for a good, classic, and what most folks would call, a “stewardship sermon”.  More specifically a sermon about, dare I say, money. Financial stewardship. After all, it is the season of pledge letters and budget planning.

And honestly, I lament that we wait until November, which is ironically budget season, for the church to talk about the stewardship of money.  It seems to me that if the conversation of financial stewardship was daily, weekly, even year-long, then a sermon on today’s text about stewardship and generous giving wouldn’t be so taboo.  We might not be so hesitant to talk about giving, if we talked about it more often.

Quick poll, how many of us have heard a sermon on stewardship around this time of year?   More specifically, how many of us have heard today’s story of the poor widow as a text used to encourage us to be generous, faithful givers?  Giving all we have back to God, even if it leaves us with nothing? 

Too often we reduce this poor widow and her miserable experience of life into a model of faithfulness by which we should tithe our money to the church.  Her experience is manipulated and set it as the benchmark of generosity. How often do we exploit her story of financial and social emptiness for the sake of our church budget and annual pledge campaigns?   Too often, perhaps.

Well today’s sermon my friends is not that.  This is not going to be a sermon that critiques the giving of the rich, haughty religious elites against the poor widow.  Furthermore, it is not my intention to abuse the widow and her story for the sake of convincing, convicting, or guilting anyone into a more faithful and generous way of living and giving. 

I don’t want to give a good ol’ classic stewardship sermon today.  And I should be clear, I believe that faithful, generous tithing is important.  More than important, it is part of our life in Christ. It is part of our fellowship within the Body of Christ and our membership in this community of faith.  I believe that God has first given all things to us, ourselves, our time, and our possessions. God has gifted us with every gift, financial and otherwise, and has called us to be stewards.  Managers of those gifts. None of it is truly ours. God’s has just called us to faithfully and generously manage it. 

And to be even more clear, this IS a generous and faithful community with regards to giving.  It’s no secret that St. Mark’s has experienced a time in which it felt poor.  Like the widow.  Poor, with not much to give.  And yet, this community of faith was faithful. Trusting. Giving...of yourselves and your time and your money. Investing in this community for the sake of our call to ministry and mission of the gospel in this place.  This is a generous and faithful congregation. It is also a generous congregation with regards to money. It is budget season, and the finance committee is hard at work. But the generous commitments of this body of Christ make the finance committee’s work so much easier.  And rather than scrape and squeeze, thanks be to God, we celebrate a time of growth with great excitement. We look to the future with assured hope, new vision, and opportunity. Because God provides.

But as for today’s text, as promised, I want us to notice something that perhaps is more often than not overlooked.  I think we’re so quick to juxtapose the giving of the richest with that of the poor widow against our own generosity, that we miss a bigger picture.   And feel free, pull out the bulletin, or I dare you, the Bible in front of you and look at today’s text. 

In the 12th chapter of Mark, Jesus is constant conversation with the Pharisees and Scribes on the Temple mount.  Their conversations have not always gone well, and they seek new ways of challenging Jesus. Jesus confronts them of the topic of taxes, convicts them with a parable.  He schools them on resurrection and finally, right in front of them ridicules them for their excessive egos.  

He critiques their pompous presence and their self-absorbed show of false religious piety.  Jesus tells the disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,to have the best seats in the synagogues. They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Then notice verse 41.  “Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money in the treasury.”  Jesus noticed the rich elites putting in large sums from their abundance. But then Jesus notices a poor widow, who comes forward and drops two small copper coins, the worth of a penny into the treasury.  

Now Bible scholars have concluded that within the Temple Treasury there were 13 coffers for the purpose of receiving offerings.  And I imagine the rich elites carrying their abundant offerings to the treasury and dropping their coins in one by one by one. Taking their time so all could here the excessive clanging of their generous gift.  And then the widow, who I suspect no one notices, approaches the treasury and lays in her last two coins. 

Offerings were given in the Temple treasury as part of their religious obligation.  Their offerings went to support the Temple, it’s leaders and workers. We might understand this as say that the offerings not only kept the lights on, and the leaders employed, but the offering was intended to support the mission and ministry of the Temple mount as well as those who members of faith who sought the Temple mount for spiritual needs.

So in comes a poor widow.  And she’s not poor just in the sense that she has no money, no earnings.  She is socially, physically, emotionally poor.  Because she is widowed, she has no status in society.  She is ostracized and on the margins.  She in vulnerable and cast out.  And as she approaches the treasury she offers her last two coins. Everything she had, Jesus says.  Every she had to live on.  As to say that offering those two coins may as well have sealed her fate.  She had nothing left to live on.

And if we walk closely with the text, we might notice that as Jesus pulls the disciples aside, he doesn’t lift her up as an example to the disciples or us.  Jesus never says, “be like this poor widow..” Jesus doesn’t commend her sacrifice or even her faith. Simply, he notices her.

Rather, we might notice, as Jesus does, that this woman who has nothing due to the societal and cultural systems in place...is giving all she has back into that very system.  

She invests her tithe into the Temple.  The very religious community that wouldn’t even give her the time of day.  She invests into the same community that views her as an outcast, oppresses her status, and removes her voice.  The community that will take and demand her offering, but fail to notice her as she fades to nothing. She places her offering into the very Temple system that Jesus vows to destroy.  She gives, out of faithfulness to God, to a broken system. 

Reading closely we might notice that this story isn’t so much about the generous and faithful stewardship of a poor, discarded widow, but rather this story might notice and call out atrocious, broken, and abusive stewardship of the community of faith that surrounds her. 

Jesus doesn’t elevate her as an example to the disciples.  I think Jesus laments and offers a stern warning to the disciples that systems of power have as great a responsibility, privilege really, to be good stewards of the resources invested in them.  To care for each and every person, especially those who have nothing left to give. 

Jesus does, what Jesus always does he notices those afflicted by unjust systems.  He notices those ostracized and abandoned by the very community called to support them.  Jesus notices this poor woman, and even more so I think Jesus knows that after giving all she had to live on, she was destined to die, lonely, unnoticed.  

Friends, I think the significance of today’s text is not about individual piety or individual stewardship.  I don’t think is about faithfully and generously giving everything you have left to live on. 

Rather, I think today’s text is a lesson and reminder about the stewardship of trust and commitment to the other.  About the stewardship of community. Confessing that the size of the offering is irrelevant because it isn’t ours in the first place.  Confessing that generosity has less to do with the amount given, and more to do with sharing in the abundance God has given us.

Today, we might be reminded that regardless of who pledges and tithes, and regardless of how much or how little, the call of this congregation is to be a communal steward of God’s resources.  

That together, as a community of faith, share all that God has entrusted to us, we might live in such a way that no one goes unnoticed and no one is in want.  That together, we might faithfully and generously steward each and every coin of our tithes and offerings.  That is our responsibility. It is our privilege. It is God’s gift to us.  Together as a stewarding community, we are called to do so much more than we can on our own.  Together we provide housing for families who may feel unnoticed by the systems of power. Together we are able to provide a place of education for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age, for kids like my son. The St. Mark’s Ark also provides employment to more than 30 siblings in Christ.  Our collective stewardship empowers LSS and their presence in the community, as they provide food pantries, refugee resettlement, an AIDS clinic, and much more.  

Faithful stewardship leads to partnerships with UCOM, OneBlood, seminaries, camps, campus ministry, and so many local organizations.  Faithful stewardship means joining God’s resources with the whole Christian church by supporting our synod and Church wide expression, as they extend the mission of the gospel in a way we cannot on our own.  As they work globally to combat aids and cure malaria.  As they support future church leaders in education and empower more that 250 missionaries across the globe.  As they provide disaster response, advocate for changes to corrupt and unjust policies, and all their work for peace, justice, and equity.  

The truth is friends, stewardship is so much greater than you or me pledging our tithes for next year.  We give because God first gave to us.  We give because together we can do so much more.  Together we can serve as a beacon of light and hope into our community, so much so that God willing, no one may go unnoticed. And the good news is that it’s not about how much or how little we each can give.  It’s not even about money. 

It’s about noticing that all we have is God’s. Ourselves, our time, our possessions.  Yes, even our money.  It is God’s.  And our ability to give is God’s gift to us.  God notices us. God notices you.  God notices each and every uniquely and beautifully created person.  And God desires us to live abundantly, sharing in God’s good, good creation.   

And as long as we remember that God is our original steward, that God is the provider of abundance, then there will always be more than enough to share.  Amen.

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Nov. 11, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL

Freedom - Sermon on John 8:31-36 - Reformation Sunday 2018

Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.

John 8:31-36

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."³³ They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, "You will be made free'?"³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.³⁵ The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.³⁶ So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

SERMON

So what is so special about this day?  Why is today a festival Sunday? Anybody know?  That’s right, it’s my one year anniversary at St. Mark’s!  That’s what you were all thinking right? One year ago today marked my first Sunday in this pulpit as your newly called pastor.  And while it may be worth noting or even celebrating my anniversary, today’s festival actually remembers and honors the 501st year of the protestant reformation. 

500 and One years ago, a good German monk posted 95 Theses on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.  Luther’s theses kicked up the dust of complacent theology, and sparked a reformation of the church with an outcome that he never imagined, nor intended.  

His 95 Theses were prompts for debate, meant to encourage theological discourse for the benefit of the whole Christian church.  And even more so, his theses were posted to challenge the Pope and the theology of the Catholic church in his day. 

He strongly believed in a more robust, freeing, and grace-filled interpretation of God revealed in scripture.   He was passionate about the Word of God and making it accessible to all people. He envisioned a Christian faith that sought input and perspective from every member of the body, and worked tirelessly to encourage and empower those not privileged by a seat of religious power to explore, discuss, interpret, debate, and celebrate God’s salvific grace.  

And to be fair and honest, while there is much to honor about Luther’s contribution to church history, we should also acknowledge that he was by no means perfect.

It was my first week here a year ago….it was the 500th anniversary of the reformation.  And I noticed, after walking the hall 100 times, that the there was a hallway dedicated to Luther.  Luther paintings and prints. 95 theses, and images of the reformation. There were books in the cabinet.  

And I remember commenting to someone, “So, what will we display next?”  They looked at me puzzled. “What do you mean?” I said, well it’s the 500th anniversary, and this hall is full of Luther-things, so I only assume it’s decorated for the occasion and I was just wondering what we’ll put up after the reformation.”  I remember them laughing at me then saying...No, this is Luther Hall and these pictures have been here for at least 20 years.”      

Even two weeks ago, former Pastor Bill Trexler walked into the hallway and said “Oh, good, Luther is still hanging here in the hallway!”  I have learned not to make assumptions. 

But the question I ask today is why?  Why celebrate the protest reformation?  Why Luther hall? Why Lutheranism? 

In one of Luther’s many works, he wrote: “The first thing I ask is that people should not make use of my name, and should not call themselves Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? The teaching is not mine. Nor was I crucified for anyone. St. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, would not tolerate Christians calling themselves Pauls or Peters, but only Christians. How did I, poor stinking bag of maggots that I am, come to the point where people call the children of Christ by my evil name?”

It seems to me that Luther, and the whole company of protestant reformers had absolutely no intention of being honored or venerated for their work. I suspect Luther, lying in his grave underneath All Saints’ church in Wittenberg would be rolling knowing that there is an entire denomination of Christians who identify as Lutherans.  Especially if he knew how fractured Lutheranism itself has become.  And of course, this is to say nothing of having his own hallway at church in Jacksonville, FL 

So why this reformation Sunday?  Why recognize and honor the reformers, whose only intentions was to elevate debate, challenge religious authority, and point to the freedom of God’s grace in Jesus Christ?  

Perhaps the biggest witness this day, is not the act of the reformers, fracturing a church through theological debate, but rather their passion, dedication, and commitment to the re-forming of Christ’s church.  Above all else, we ought to honor the reformation and its many reformers for stirring up complacent theology and equipping the Christian body for theological freedom by pointing to Christ.  For teaching us that Christ’s church was first formed by God, and as long as we belong to God, the body of Christ will always be forming and reforming in God’s grace.

And the best way for us to honor the reformers this day is not to lift them up or elevate their contributions, but rather honor their footprints, hear their message of reform, and trace their finger as they point to Christ.  Christ crucified. And thankfully, in the greatest transformation the Christian church has ever known, Christ conquering death and rising to new life.

In today’s gospel lesson, Jesus is in the Temple Mount and he’s in an on-going conversation with the Scribes, Pharisees.   Through this conversation he begins to win favor among some of the Jews who were listening. Finally he looks to them and says, “if you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 

He goes on to say, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”   Well, now wait a minute. It seems only a week ago that I stood here and read from the 10th chapter of Mark, where Jesus tells the disciples if any wish to be the greatest or to be first, then you must be a servant to all.  In fact, Jesus says, you ought to be a slave to all. 

A week ago I preached on Jesus calling us to be servants and slaves to one another..  Yet today Jesus reminds us that we are free and free indeed. So which is it? As Christians, are we free or are we slaves?  

Well, on this reformation Sunday, as we honor our heritage and tradition as Lutherans, it seems that perhaps the best Lutheran answer is Yes.  It’s both And. Yes we are free. Yes we are slaves. After all, Lutherans love paradox.

In fact, this is one of Luther’s biggest contributions to the Christian faith. Luther passionately believed and defended relentlessly that it is Christ alone who makes us free.  Christ alone.

By the grace of God in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we are free from the power of sin, death, and the devil.  We are freed by God. Freedom from the elements of the world that work to disrupt our relationship with God. 

Freed from the lure of a sinful world that thrives on division and destruction, wealth and power.  Freed from corruption of greed. Freed from self-centeredness, standards, judgment, and personal ambition.  We are made free to live life in the God’s creation as God intended.

Freed to live for the sake of the other.  Indebted to no one. Beholden to nothing. God and God alone freely bestows upon us by grace a faith that is rooted in love and service.  And it is through the freedom of God’s grace that we live to serve one another; just as Christ lived to serve.

Freedom from and Freedom for!  To be a Christian is to be totally free from all things and yet to be bound in service to all people.  This is how God formed creation out of nothing to live.  And thank God, that in spite of our faults, shortcomings, or wavering, God continues to form and reform us.  Always making us new. 

One need not look too far now-a-days to see a world in desperate need of transformation.  To see and hear a world that is yearning, groaning even to be re-formed. Groaning as divisions between siblings in Christ deepen and hatred swells.  Crying out as pipe bombs and mass shootings have become a typical news cycle.  Yearning as society dismisses, dismantles, or displaces an entire race, gender, ethnicity, or culture.  Groaning as we live in fear of the other, attacking and accusing rather than listening.   Crying as empathy and compassion are trampled upon by power, fear, and indifference. Yearning as our siblings in Christ risk persecution and judgment in order to just be themselves. As they so desperately long to be seen, heard, recognized, and honored as people of God. One need not look too far now-a-days to see a world in desperate need of transformation.

Luther once said, “The church needs a reformation, which is not the work of humankind…but it is the work of the whole world, indeed it is the work of God alone.”

I think it does us well this day, as we honor the life and work of the protestant reformers, to remember that God is always stirring up something new.  

Since the dawn of creation God has always been about the work of forming and reforming.  In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God continues God’s promise of reforming and transforming.  Again and again. making all things whole. Making all things new. 

And, friends, hear me when I say this, in the waters, God transforms us.  Frees us from sin death and the devil, and frees us for a life in God’s love and grace. God names us and claims us, seals us with the Spirit and marks us with the cross of Christ, freeing us to serve God and serve one another.  

Freedom to tear down the walls the divide.  Cross the borders, barriers, and aisles.  Reform division into unity and equity.

Freedom to raise up the lowly.  Give privilege and honor to the oppressed and voiceless.  Freedom to work for justice and equality.  Re-form oppressive systems of power..

Freedom to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of the other.  Advocate for the downtrodden, dismissed, and displaced.  Stand up to hatred, violence, and abuse.  

Freedom to challenge human-made standards and expectations. Freedom to challenge powerful systems and proclaim peace. 

Freedom to respect our neighbor, honor our unique gifts, differences, and traditions.  Freedom to worship regardless of race, sex, color, gender, ethnicity, or belief.  Freedom to grieve and mourn. Freedom to see and be seen.  To be heard.  To be know and honored as a child of God.

Freedom to NOT live in fear.   Freedom to confess our sins in the promise of forgiveness.  Freedom to love, love, and if God help and guide us to love some more.  

Freedom to admit defeat, share success, and work together for the sake of the world.  Freedom in Christ to always be made new.

Friends, the freedom God gives us through Christ isn’t meant to be stagnant, complacent, or content.  It is a freedom from but it is also a freedom for. Freedom that should burn within us a fire for justice, peace, and love.  Freedom that has the power to heal the world, offer hope, and restore faith. 

By the grace of God, may we, the church, and the world always be forming, re-forming, and transforming until such a time that all will not only be made new, but all will be made one.  

One in Christ, by God, through the Holy Spirit.   Amen. 

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Oct. 28, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL

Stumbling blocks - Sermon on Mark 9:38-50 - 09.30.2018

Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.

Mark 9:38-50

38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. 42 "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. , 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 49 "For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

The gospel of the Lord?   Holy smokes, Jesus. Did you hear what he just said?  "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.⁴⁴ 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. ,⁴⁶ 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell,⁴⁸ where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.

This does not sound like the blue-eyed, blonde hair Jesus we read about in children’s Bibles.  In fact, this seems to be a far departure from the soft-hearted, compassionate, and patient Jesus we love and prefer.  Something triggers within Jesus this very direct and emphatic teaching. Being drowned as sea by the weight of a millstone, cutting off your hand or foot, removing your eye...these, Jesus says, are the alternatives, the better alternatives, mind you to deceiving someone in faith.  

Jesus, hyperbolic as he may sound, emphasizes the personal risk in causing another to sin or stumble.  Leading a neighbor astray. Jesus instructs those who follow him that the stakes are incredibly high. And to be certain, it’s not so much the stakes of your own life, the call to pick up the cross and follow that comes at a great cost.  

No, it’s the call to teach, instruct, associate, and show others the way of faithful living that carries such stakes.  For if one were to cause a stumbling block, then it is better to drown, cut off a limb, or remove your eye. You’d think that there’s nothing worse than losing a hand, foot, or eye, but Jesus clearly says there is.  

The stakes are intense so that we may never lead anyone into sin.  That we may never lead a neighbor astray. That we may never bear a false witness.  That we may never hinder the fervor of the gospel. It’s hard to wrap my mind around Jesus saying that the consequences of causing another to stumble are far worse than self-maiming so that we never do it again.

And Such responsibility comes with incredibly high stakes.  These are difficult and challenging words from Jesus. There is no fluffing the edges in order to avoid conviction.   And honestly, these words should have us to shudder in a our seat at least a little bit. Can you imagine a world in which Jesus’ teaching was strictly followed?  

If we led a neighbor or stranger to sin or worse, stood in the way of the gospel message, then we would cut, remove, maim or drown ourselves?  The song goes, “They will know we are Christians by our love,” but in taking this teaching to heart I suspect “they would come to know we are Christians by our missing limbs.”

Powerful and intimidating teaching by Jesus.  And I suspect that very few of us wish to dive into these words with any form eagerness.  They are hard to hear, and the easiest thing to do is brush them off and move on to the next passage, the next Sunday, the next sermon.   

But if we dare, and we must, then we might be receptive to these convicting words and hear the necessity and relevance of Jesus’ teaching then and now.  For none of us with to lose and arm, a leg, and eye...and I’m sure none of us wish for death by drowning under the weight of a millstone. 

Today’s gospel lesson falls on the coattails of Jesus foretelling his impending rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection.  Jesus taught them about the fate of the son of man not once but twice so far and on both occasions they respond poorly. 

Most recently we heard the disciples arguing among themselves who is the greatest.  Rather than process, lament, or grieve the news of Jesus’ forthcoming death, the disciples are concerned about themselves.  Who is the greatest. Who will lead. Sure, they don’t fully understand their call as disciples and apostles, but they knew it was them who were called.  So who was the greatest. 

Jesus gives them a stern lesson that whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all. He then takes a child in his arms and says whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me.  Now I remind you that a child in those days was the lowest in society. They had no rights or privileges. No protection of the law or advocate. 

They were considered a drain on society and were a constant reminder of poverty, disease, and death.  Until they could provide for themselves or contribute to society, they were considered the ultimate of the lost, least, and last.  

For Jesus, the child was a representation to the disciples that their call as well as their desire to be the greatest was ultimately dependent upon their ability and willingness to care for the outcast. The oppressed. The poor. The lame. The ill. And the sinner.   Only then, in the name of Jesus, when you humble yourself to the lowest among you can you be considered in the company of the greatest.

So the disciples return to Jesus this morning eager to point a finger at someone who is acting in Jesus’ name.  Rather than approach the individual and affirm their ministry, the run to Jesus to say he’s not one of us and he’s acting in your name!  He must be stopped. 

But Jesus, who is still embracing that same child teaches them yet another lesson.  This time a bit harsher than the last. Rather be concerned about the ministry of someone else, Jesus implores the disciples to pay attention instead to their own behavior.  To look within and consider the ways in which they themselves might be hindering the ministry of the gospel to those around them. 

Jesus launches into one of the most harsh teachings in all of the gospel.  Four brutal statements to illustrate the severity of leading someone to sin.  The danger of being a hindrance to faith. The detriment of tempting another into the ensnarement of sin.  Jesus calls these actions, stumbling blocks. Stones that cause one to trip. In this case, trip them in their understanding and experience of faith.  Of God’s deep abiding grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Perhaps, just maybe, even against our own comfort, Jesus’ teaching speaks hard truths to the Christian faith still today.  Is it possible that we, and I mean the Christian church as a whole, have created, maintained, inserted, or even elevated stumbling blocks for those outside of the faith?  

Empowered barriers, borders, or speed bumps to impeded the good news of Christ from reaching that last, lost, and least.  The lowest, oppressed, scorned, and damaged. Or even those within the Christian faith, have we failed to support, empower, understand, welcome, and love in the name of Christ?  Excluding rather than including. Dismissing rather than inviting. Rejecting rather than supporting. Ignoring rather than embracing.

Please, hear me when I say that my intent is not to invoke Jesus’ teaching as a means of conviction upon St. Mark’s, Lutherans, or Christianity as whole.  Rather, I think Jesus’ teaching demands that we pause, if even for a moment of deep self-reflection. 

To reclaim the power of the gospel, remove the dead limbs and sinful impediments, and repave the way to everlasting life so that no one, and I mean no one may stumble when receiving the grace of God. 

Research confirms, and I suspect we can all agree that there is a deep concern that mainline Christianity as whole is on the decline.  That the need or desire for a life in a community of faith is waning. 

Certainly there are a multitude of reasons and factors, but so often I hear stories of people who have felt burned by the Christian church, or they feel that the good news we preach isn’t always shown through our actions.  These are the result of stumbling blocks. 

I think this week, the Christian community was forced to grapple with one of these stumbling blocks.  What is the response of the church in stories of assault. With rise and empowerment of movements like #metoo and #times up, more and more individuals are choosing to be vulnerable and tell their stories.  What is the role of the church? And to be fair, the Bible itself is not immune to such stories. Ironically enough we’ll explore one of them today in Sunday school. 

But as one of these stories played out on national television on Thursday, I wrestled with wondering what is the church’s response.  Is there a beacon of hope clearly guiding the way to a God who loves unconditionally, a way clear of bumps and hindrances? 

Ya know I think that faith and the love of Christ is an overwhelming relief to the burden one might carry, but when I also hear the relentless stories of priests abusing their own power over children...I fear that the church has lost its credibility and relevance.  Why would anyone be so vulnerable trust me with their story? Is the stumbling block too severe to traverse?

Now this is one, weighty example, but it is absolutely current. And it is these sorts of honest and difficult impediments to faith that Christ calls us to confront and overcome. To repair. To repent. To reconcile. 

And It seems to me that in today’s society and culture, Christianity can ill-afford any stumbling blocks.  Rather than compartmentalize our faith and distance the good news of Christ from all notions of a sinful world, I think Jesus would have us engage a sinful and broken world.  To jump right in, pull out the jack hammer, and shine a light on every crack and rock that might cause someone to misstep when seeking out faith. 

And Yes, yes it is a lofty responsibility.  The stakes, as Jesus points out are incredibly high. But brothers and sisters, the good news is that in breaking down the stumbling blocks and shining a light in the darkness, we have a proclamation far better than the world could ever dream of.  

We are called to serve witness to the greatest story of all.  God’s salvation and love poured out unconditionally upon all creation.  A story of immense grace and forgiveness. A story washed by mercy. 

And thus Christianity is the city on the hill, where a light shines in the darkness and the darkness of the world did not overcome it.  A place where the oppressed are set free, the poor are raised up, and the abused are heard. Where the blind see and the deaf hear. 

A refuge for all who have been scorned, dismayed, or rejected by a world that honors self-righteousness over humility, exclusion over invitation, rejection over acceptance.  God’s story empowers us to welcome the stranger, care for the least among us, give shelter to the homeless, and clothe the naked. 

And in today’s gospel lesson, Jesus advises the disciples and us to be speak with wisdom and truth, to act justly with grace and mercy, to be diligent and thoughtful, open and welcoming.  For now as much as ever, the Christian faith has a call to be a relevant and faithful presence in the world. Remove the impediments of faith, and proclaim Christ crucified until all of creation is reconciled into the one body of Christ.

And when the stumbling blocks are removed, when the light shines in the darkness and all are bid come and follow, the story of God’s love in Jesus Christ has the power to bring about peace in a war-torn world.  The power to build up unity in a divisive world. 

To tear down walls, bridge the isle, and end division.  

The power to breed compassion, soften hearts, and pour out love. 

The power to end hunger and poverty, the power to lift up lowly and cast down the mighty.  To establish not just equality but equity. The power to give voice to the oppressed and forgiveness to the oppressor.  

My dearest sisters and brothers, the gospel message that we proclaim...the same message that created us.  The very message the claimed us in the waters. The message the nourishes us and sustains us. The message that saves us is one of immense, unconditional love.  And it’s a message given to the whole world. It’s a message too good not to share. 

And today, with difficult and necessary words, Jesus reminds us that our call is not just to proclaim the gospel message, but to take every measure necessary to ensure that no one be precluded from hearing, tasting, or seeing for themselves. 

Amen. 

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Sept. 30, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL

I Am The Greatest! - Sermon on Mark 9:30-37 - 09.23.2018

Listen to the gospel lesson and sermon here.

Mark 9:30-37

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it;³¹ for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again."³² But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.³³ Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?"³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.³⁵ He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all."³⁶ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,³⁷ "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me."

In 1963 a young 21 year old comedian named Cassius Clay released a spoken word album called I am the greatest.  This is the legend of Cassius Clay, the most beautiful fighter in the world today. He talks a great deal and brags indeed-y of a muscular punch that’s incredibly speedy.  The fistic world was dull and weary. With a champ like Liston, things had to be dreary. 

Cassius Clay was months away from taking on Sonny Liston for the title of world heavyweight championship.    In February of 1964, Cassius Clay defeated Sonny Liston in a boxing match. He defied all the odds. He won the match.  Changed his name to Muhammed Ali, and let the world know, “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” 

In 1992, Ali’s wife, Lonnie, incorporporated his intellectual property and created G.O.A.T. Inc.  GOAT - Greatest of All Time. I doubt many people would argue, especially with Ali when he was live, whether or not he truly was the GOAT..the greatest of all time.   But perhaps one of the biggest blows Ali landed was to a society vulnerable to competition. Declaring himself as the greatest of all time fed a culture that valued being better than the other. 

And so, now-a-days, one of the most contentious and popular discussions, especially within sports is to determine who the GOAT is.  Who is the greatest of all time? The greatest team. The greatest football quarterback...is it Tom Brady? Joe Montana? John Elway?   The greatest tennis player - Federer or Nadal? Serena or Vanessa Williams? Or golfer...arnold palmer? Tiger Woods? Basketball - Lebron James? Kobe Bryant? Michael Jordan?

There a passionate fan base in today’s culture that works tirelessly to elevate individuals to the status of GOAT.  And on top of that, these passionate fans have set the bar for athletes. The new trophy or measure of ultimate success is to be considered the GOAT.  

But it’s not just sports.  This status of being the greatest permeates all walks of life.  No job, hobby, passion, or person is free from the pressure, measure, and judgement of greatness in another's’ eyes.. In fact, our culture thirsts and thrives on trying to be the greatest.  The best. The richest. The first, the fastest, and the favorite. And to be the greatest or best means that everyone else by comparison, is not.

Society measures us by success, status, and power.  We are rated by lists and rankings. Resumes and referrals.  We revere trophies, plaques, and awards. The world baits us into not just buying, but believing we need the newest, the shiniest, the biggest, the fastest, or the rarest thing.  

Our world lives in spite of the 9th and 10th commandment, encouraging us to live lives by comparison.  So that one day, with the biggest house, largest income, and shiniest stuff ..with the loudest voice, the most followers, and the highest title..we might just gaining the title of the greatest … the GOAT.  

In today’s gospel lesson, the disciples are sizing one another up.  Long before Ali became the GOAT, the disciples are in a verbal sparring match to determine who among them was the greatest.  It is unlikely that their arguments for being the best were rooted in financial wealth, personal possession, or even education.  

No, they were likely competing on the grounds of their own discipleship-ness.  Comparing and contrasting who among them was the best disciple. Who follows Jesus the best.  Who listens and understands the best. Who prays most faithfully. Who sacrificed the most to become a disciple.  Who among them was the greatest and therefore most equipped to succeed Jesus when the time comes. 

It’s moments like this that really give the disciples a bad wrap.  You see as they left Galilee for Capernaum, Jesus taught them that the Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands.  That human hands will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again." 

This is the second time now that Jesus has plainly told them that he is going to be rejected and he’ll suffer.  He’ll die and he’ll rise. And how do the disciples respond? “They did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.

Silence, just silence.  Jesus, their mentor, leader, rabbi, friend, and teacher...the one who bid them to come and follow on this unpredictable adventure instructs them that he is going to suffer, die and rise...and they have no response.  And it’s more than just silence. The text tells us that their silence is rooted in fear, and rather than acknowledge that they don’t understand, or feel embarrassed in front of their friends, they remain silent.

And so after this moment of awkward silence, they hit the road again.  This time off to Capernaum. And rather than concern themselves with the difficult truth that Jesus just told them about they argue within themselves about who is the greatest.   

The disciples were concerned about themselves.  Sparring over who is the greatest. It’s no wonder they get a bad wrap.   Their dearest friend just told them he was going to die, and rather that share mutual concern or grief, it’s like they’re racing to place sticky notes on the furniture and family heirlooms as fast as they can.

And as they arrive in Capernaum Jesus turns to them and asks, "What were you arguing about on the way?"³⁴ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.³⁵ So Jesus sat down, called the twelve over, and began to teach.

I think the implication here is that Jesus heard their conversation on the road.  Jesus knew what they were arguing about and he was going to use this opportunity to teach them.  So he sits down, calls them over and offers a table-turning lesson about first and last. About greatest of all and least of all.  And to illustrate his point takes a child into his arms and instructs that that in order to be the greatest, you must welcome a child such as this.

I suspect for most of us, there is nothing alarming or challenging about this instruction.  After all most of us love children. Welcome a child is a privilege and honor. It’s a joy and delight.  All week I was trying to think of a good illustration to offer you in light of this teaching. And for a moment I thought, I have a new child...I’ll just lift Bennet up in front of you all and say “Whoever welcomes this child in Jesus’ name welcomes Jesus and in turn welcomes the one who sent Jesus.  And while it seemed like a relevant idea, I was worried for Bennet’s life because I think there might be a grudge match as to who gets to welcome Bennet first.

So why a child?  What was the significance of Jesus embracing a child while teaching about first, last, greatest, and least.  In Jesus’ day a child was the lowest of the low on the social ladder. A child had no legal rights or privileges.  A child had no status, no power. They contributed nothing to society. Rather, they were a drain on resources. They couldn’t provide for themselves.  

And until a child grew old enough to provide for the family, they were truly the lowest.  Often even regarded below women. Children were often a reminder for poverty, and disease.  Nearly a third of all children died at birth, and of those who survived, nearly half of them would die before 16.  Children had the lowest place in society. They truly were the last the lost and the least.

So Jesus takes the child from the margins.  Embraces the child and teaches. And Jesus didn’t embrace the child because the child represented cute innocence and curiosity.  Jesus embraced the child because in order to do so he must bend down. Stoop low. Humble himself to cross all social boundaries and show affection for someone society otherwise discarded.  He was elevating the child above his own status, teaching that to be first and greatest is truly to humble yourself to the last in order to be a servant of all. 

For Jesus, being first, being the greatest, isn’t a badge of pride or success.  It’s not achievement. It’s not glamorous. For Jesus, greatness means being humble.  Putting the world before yourself. Crossing the margins and lifting up the ill and impure...the discarded outcast and lowest member of society.  

Greatness lies in the weak, vulnerable, and tender.  Greatness belongs to the hurt, the broken-hearted, and the lost.   It is in humility and solidarity with those who would never, ever think of themselves as great in the first place.  

And I think the hard truth from Jesus is that for the disciples or us to even be able to have a conversation about who is the greatest among us is a privilege.  A privilege that isn’t available to everyone. Sure, you may never be the GOAT by worldly standards, but that fact that you even have a chance to be defined by the world as great is a privilege.  

And I think Jesus is calling the disciples and us out on that privilege.  Jesus embraces and elevates a child as our witness to greatness. A child who doesn’t even have a voice in the conversation is our model of God’s greatness.

So what is the good news from Jesus in this teaching moment?  What good news is there for us today? Well the truth is, for most of us, it probably doesn’t immediately sound like good news. 

For most of us, we come from and live within the culture of competition and worldly greatness.  We work hard for what we have. We upgrade as we go. We notice the greatness of our neighbors and we make sure our neighbors notice us.   We’re always, intentionally or not, in pursuit of being the greatest. 

But the truth is my friends, while the world we live in thrives on rank and stature, the kingdom of God knows no standard by which one is greater than another.   

And as long as we compete and elevate a worldly expectation of greatness, we abuse our privilege and make victims out of the powerless.  The outcast remains outcast. The oppressed oppressed. Greatness in the eyes of the world comes only at the expense of those the world would never have us see. 

And I don’t think Jesus is telling us not to celebrate success or strive for the best.  After all, it is our God given gifts that allow us to succeed. But rather, I think Jesus is warning us that with worldly greatness comes much power and privilege.  We are called to use that power and privilege, our greatness not for ourselves, but for the sake of the world. Arguing over who is the greatest means nothing if we ignore the lowest in our midst.

The author of James put it this way this morning, “For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”

And I think the good news this morning is that Jesus has shown us a way...a way that is truly great..  A path by which we are all made great. A greatness that comes not in rank, power, or status...but rather a greatness that comes to us in a naming.  A claiming. And rather than being defined as great by our accomplishments, earnings, achievements, or possessions...it is our identity in Christ that bestows greatness upon us.  That makes us a servant of all.

For one day, all the things that we think define greatness will fall away.  Status will fade. Power will recede. We can’t always be first.

But in the kingdom of God, Jesus turns the world upside down.  Invites all to have a seat at the table. Jew greek, slave, free, child and king.  All kneel humbly at the power of the cross. All have a voice and a name. All have a place in the kingdom.  All are made one in the great love of Christ. Where the first shall be last and last shall be first. Where the greatest power is power over death and the greatest privilege is eternal life--life well beyond the world’s expectations.   

And perhaps, that good news, is the greatest of all time.

© Pastor Daniel Locke, preached Sept. 23, 2018 @ St. Mark's Lutheran Jacksonville, FL