Sermons in Time .

If I only had One Sermon to Preach

Epistle: Romans 8:37,38

Time has a way of slipping up on you. Suddenly, it is the last sermon I will preach as an active member of the Annual Conference. Often, in years past, I have thought of the theme of this sermon today. The answer to the question, "What would you want to say if you only had one sermon to preach" is clear. It would be, "I am determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him Crucified." Today, there is no other word I would leave with you except the importance of Jesus Christ to all of us. Usually, the sermon begins with some issue or theme from life or from Scripture. Today, it comes from a very old imperative, "Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel." The "Good News" of the Gospel is in Jesus Christ.

What is that good news? 1. First, Jesus Christ is my friend. He is your friend. Martin Marty wrote a book on friendship some years ago, and suggested that we spend too much time on "Love" and not enough time on "Friendship." In the 15th chapter of John, Jesus calls his followers, "friends." He reminds them that slaves do not know what their master is doing, but you know, and the reason you know is because you are my friends. "You did not choose me, I have chosen you. Just yesterday a friend said, "I have a lot of friends. I suppose the reason is because I have chosen to have them as friends." That's right. We have friends because we have been a friend. If you were to ask me what Jesus means to me, I would start with this word. He is my friend. "A friend is one who knows all about you and loves you anyway." You and I find ourselves accepted and forgiven today, not because we have done so well, but because Jesus is your friend and mind, and accepts us just the way we are, and gives us room and encouragement to grow. Some of us have soul friends. These are special people with whom we can share what's going on in our soul. We can share our deepest and most intimate feelings and thoughts with them. As they listen and respond, there is a bond between us which is lasting and intimate. Such a closeness of attention gives us opportunity to share the pearls of the soul. The sharing is treasured by the friend, who will keep the treasure forever. 2. Which leads me to suggest another reason why Jesus is so important. In the first verse of the Eighth Chapter of Romans, Paul writes, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus our Lord." As we have said previously, these words are of great comfort to the soul. When we are "in harmony with Christ," we do not stand in condemnation. The passage says more than that, however. It is also reminding us that when we are in Christ Jesus, we not only know forgiveness and the absence of condemnation for our own lives. We are also able to look at others and not condemn them, no matter what the circumstances of life. In the meaning of membership there are these words: The Christian is always willing to face conflict with forgiveness, looking for a way to be constructive. A condemning spirit has an interesting lack of assurance. When one has a need to be critical of others, there apparently is something lacking within that is fed by the criticism. Those whose life is lived with calm assurance have little need to be condemning of others. We all live in a world where condemnation is rampant. Prisons are overrun with persons whose lives have run astray from the law. We have almost as many prisoners as high school graduates. Can it possibly be true that so many are so bad? Or is there another reason? Could it be possible that many who break the standards of society do not have the encouragement which gives that social impetus for success in living? Not only are we called to be those who do not condemn, we are also those who are called to reflect the Christ of Hope. Our world is not complete until all have hope in their heart, and the courage to fulfill it. 3. Here is a third word today about Jesus. In Romans the declaration of faith given by Saint Paul is that "Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." After giving the marvelous witness of what God has done in the Gift of Salvation, Paul revels in its power. Carefully he tells the story of how God worked through the ages to bring this gift to the world. Now that it is here, the task is complete begun in creation. That task was to make it possible for all of creation to be united. That union, we understand, was completed in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We live, as Christians, in communion with God in Christ Jesus. A very important part of this service today is an affirmation of that union. We come together on this Memorial Sunday to celebrate the closeness that is ours with God. We walk with God, we listen to God, we speak with God. We are assured that God is with us in every experience of life. Nothing can separate us from that presence. No matter where we go, or what life situation we find ourselves, the undergirding assurance is that God is with us. Even though we walk through the valley of shadows God is with us. There is an important corollary to this union. The corollary is this: When we know that presence within, we can go into any place in the world and not be afraid. Recently I read the delightful book, "The Education of Little Tree." Little Tree was a young Cherokee raised by his "grandpa" and "grandma." One of the moving moments in the book is when Little Tree is taken from the grandparent home and placed in an orphanage. When "the politicians" come to get him, he and grandma covenant together to watch the Dog Star each evening. Far from the home he loves, in the home for children, he looks out of the window, and knows that those two beloved grandparents are looking, with him, at the Dog Star. It helps make it through the night. He is not alone. Nor are we. In his last days before the ascension, Jesus told the disciples it was important for him to go away. The reason was profound. If Jesus has stayed, they would be more and more dependant upon him. If he left, they would go it on their own. Yet, Jesus had said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." How can this be? That which he had given to them would be with them always. The sharing done with each other is eternally valuable. Life is enriched forever when persons have been close and shared deeply. Yet, for each of us, the time for parting does come. We move on to that which calls us in the future. Even life and death are included in this reality. The richness of the Christian hope in Christ Jesus is not just in the physical presence of Christ. The richness is in the Spirit shared. Because that spirit is in each of our lives, we give gratitude for time together. We also give thanks for the time when we are called to part. There is sadness, but there is also gratitude for the richness of our being because we have walked together. We will watch the dog star together. We will remember with fondness. And we will hope that in God's tomorrows, there will be a gathering of all the richness of that from which we cannot be separated. Is it any wonder we name the name of Him who gave us this vision of life together? I am determined to keep that name central. I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Amen.

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