February 20, 2008
Passage:Matthew 11:1-15
“‘Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.

 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’  Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.  And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.  This is the one about whom it is written,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
   who will prepare your way before you.”
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. Let anyone with ears listen! “

“Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

That was the question John the Baptist had while he is sitting in prison.  Here is John, facing execution and he is starting to have doubts about his cousin.  He has questions and he wants answers.

A friend who is also a pastor was planning on preaching this sermon in a missional way.  When people enter the doors of a church, they are asking this very question that John asked of Jesus so long ago.  “Are you the One?”

For three years, I was involved in a church plant.  The church never really got off the ground, but I did learn a lot of things during that time.  One is that the church has a lot of work to do.  Many of the people I met, many whom I would consider friends, had stopped going to church for various reasons.  For them, the answer to John the Baptist’s question was flat out “no.”

The people we meet in our daily life continue to ask this question.  Are we the community of faith we profess to be?  Do we represent Christ? 

How do we answer that question?  Jesus answers it by saying that the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the dead have come back to life and the poor have good news brough to them.  The answer is that the proof is in the pudding.  Are we sharing the Good News of Christ?  Are we healing the sick, bringing hope to the poor?  If so, then are actions are a sign that we are following the One who is to come.

Ghandi once said,   “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

There are many who are seeking.  When they encounter us as a professed follower of Christ, will they see us as followers of the One: caring for sick, tending to the poor, or will they echo Ghandi’s sentiments?

God in Christ, we know you are the One who is to come.  There are no others.  Give us the stregnth and courage to live a life in your footsteps.Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Just a quick update of events taking place at local PTCA churches, as well as other events happening in the community:

February 19, 2008
Passage:John 3:1-17
 ”Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. “

I always feel sorry for Nicodemus.  He gets a bad rap from many theologians because of the time he came to see Jesus (night) and his position in society (a Pharisee).  In many cases, he is set up to represent all those that oppose Jesus, a villian that can be set up and done away with.  Nevermind that he might have had a good reason to come at night instead of the daytime, that had nothing to do with upholding his position.

But for me, Nicodemus is a seeker.  He wants to know more.  He sees this man that has done signs and wonders and wants to know what is behind all this.  Not in a skeptical sense, but as a student finds a teacher.  When Jesus admonishes him, could it be that he is saying, pushing Nicodemus to dig deeper, not to simply focus on what he has learned, but to be led by the Spirit?

Nicodemus questions, Jesus challenges.  In our time, when relgious followers seem more interested in answers than in questions, this is act between the two men is rather welcoming. 

Faith is not about having all the answers.  Faith includes questions.  Faith is not about God giving us easy answers, but pushing us to figure this out, to be led by the Spirit.  Faith is about having the freedom to ask questions and also the freedom of God to challenge us and get us out of our comfort zones into new land.

 God isn’t afraid of questions.  We might be surprised by God’s answers.

God, we thank you that you love questions.  We thank you for Nicodemus, who was hungry for the truth.  Give us a questioning spirit, willing to ask questions and ready for your challenges to us. Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourner’s Magazine, has a new book on faith and politics called, The Great Awakening. Wallis will be in Minneapolis talking about the book at the following locations:

Feb. 20, 2008:Minneapolis MN
The Great Awakening
University of Minnesota (4 p.m.)

Feb. 20, 2008:Minneapolis MN
The Great Awakening
First Universalist Church (7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 21, 2008: St. Paul MN
Westminster Town Hall Forum
Macalester College (12 p.m.)

Feb. 21, 2008: Wayzata MN
The Great Awakening
Wayzata Community Church (7 p.m.)

For more information go to: http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=get_connected.events

February 18, 2008
Passage:Matthew 10:24-33
 ‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven. In the days following the September 11 attacks, one hymn that kept being used again and again was “A Mighty Fortress is our God,” written by Martin Luther.  Based on the Psalm 46, this hymn gave comfort to people in an uncertain time.  Sometimes I do wonder if this hymn is also an act of defiance against the evils of this world.  Look at verse 4:

And tho this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph thru us.
The prince of darkness grim –
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure –
One little word shall fell him.That word above all earthly pow’rs –
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Thru Him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still –
His kingdom is forever.It’s as if Luther was saying, “Go on, do your worst.  Take my house, take my family and friends, take my own life!  But you won’t win, God’s truth will win in the end!”In today’s text, Jesus tells his disciples to not be afraid.  Boldly proclaim the gospel and don’t worry about what they will do to you.  But that’s hard to do at times.  We do worry. We fret.  We wonder if would be better to just keep quiet and not be so bold about being Christ’s followers.  But Jesus reminds us that God, our Parent, treats us just like, well, just like a Parent would treat their children, with care.  God will always be with us during the hard times.  He knows the number of hairs on our heads, which is a nice way of saying, God intimately knows us and loves us.Jesus would soon face the cross for boldy proclaiming God’s love.  He lost his friends.  He lost his life.  And yet in the end, evil didn’t have the last word.  “God’s truth abideth still, God’s kingdom is forever.”We may never face a cross as Jesus did, but we will face tough choices in following Christ that will result in loss of friends and sometimes the loss of our very lives.  But we can take heart that we are not alone and that evil will never have the last word.  “God’s kingdom is forever.” Indeed.

God who is our Fortress.  Remind us that you are with us as we face challenges and trials.  Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

February 17, 2008
Passage:Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and for evermore.

This is one of my favorite Psalms. When I was younger and couldn’t sleep, my mother would tell me to read Psalm 121:4; “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” It provided some comfort, though I did wonder why Mom couldn’t just come into my room and comfort me like a Mom is supposed to do.

The Psalm reminds us that even in hard times, God is with us, always there as we make our way through life. In the good times and bad, God is present and we don’t need to fear because of that.

Of course, we do fear. We wonder when we read that God will keep watch over Israel if God was asleep during the Holocaust as millions of Jews were sacrificed to the Nazi regime. But God is not a superhero that comes in to save us just in the nick of time. Instead, God is standing by our side, more like a grandmother who comforts us when things go bad.

The night before he was felled by an assasin’s bullet, Rev. Martin Luther King delivered on his most famous sermons, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” His last words were prophetic:

Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
And so I’m happy, tonight.I’m not worried about anything.I’m not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!

This speech shows us the faith King placed in God. He placed his faith in a God that would bring a future where equality was no longer a goal, but a reality. He knew that no matter the outcome of his life, God would be with him.

“In life and death, we belong to God,” says the Brief Statement of Faith. The Psalmist and King reminds us that God is Immanuel, God With Us, Always. All the Time. May it be so.

Immanuel, we praise you that you are with us through the good and the bad. Give us the courage to strive for justice. Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

February 16, 2008
Passage:Matthew 10:16-23

‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

We are called to share in Christ’s ministry; that’s the fun part. But because we are called to share Christ’s ministry, we are also going to share in Christ’s sufferings. Christ was questioned by the authorities for crossing the social and cultural boundaries of his day and so will we.

In 1934, a group of German pastors and theologians came together to publicly oppose the new Nazi government and the “German Christians” who approved and followed Nazi policies. The result was a document called the Barmen Declaration. The declaration (which is part of the Book of Confessions) was a daring stand against the anti-Semetic government and its intention to have the state over the church. Pastors such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer signed on to the statement and made a public stand to oppose the injustice of the Nazi regime. Many, like Bonhoeffer, paid for this with their very lives.

Of course, many of us will not face such an extreme situation. However, we might face the loss of friends or position for daring to follow Christ.

“When Christ calls a man, ” said Bonhoeffer, ” He bids him come and die.” More than likely, we won’t physicially die, but we will die to our own wants and needs, our desires for fame. But take heart: Christ has suffered before us and is with us as we face down evil and injustice. We are never alone when we follow Christ.

Lord of all, you call us to new life, but you also call us to die to ourselves. Give us courage to stand for justice. Amen.

You can read the Barmen Declaration at the United Church of Christ website. Also, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has written an article on the various confessions of the PC(USA), including the Barmen Declaration.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

February 15, 2008
Passage:Matthew 10:1-15

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, proclaim the good news, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for labourers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.  As you enter the house, greet it.  If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.  If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.  Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgement than for that town. <!– 16 –>

Evangelism or social action: which one is more important?  That has been an argument many of us have heard over the years when talking about mission in the church.  Some think that social action is what matters and ignore telling others about Christ.  Some believe evangelism is far more important than feeding people.  In our passage today, Jesus seems to be saying both are important- in fact, they are inseprable. 

Jesus tells his disciples as they are getting ready to go two-by-two that they are to proclaim God’s kingdom is near and they are “to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons.”  When we go to feed a hungry family, or build a house with Habitat for Humanity, we are doing Christ’s work; being Christ to others.  We are bodly proclaiming that God’s kingdom is near, a kingdom where the poor and sick are cared for and not forgotten.  Many churches in our Presbytery are heeding the call of pronouncing the Kingdom of God in word and in deed: Christ Presbyterian in Edina works on HIV/AIDS issues, volunteers with Feed My Starving Children and Urban Homeworks; St. Luke’s Presbyterian in Wayzata provides gracious hospitality to a Liberian family and ministers to the Native American community on the Pine Ridge Reservation;  North Como Presbyterian in Roseville raises money for clean drinking water in parts of the world where the clean water is taken for granted; Kwanzaa Presbyterian in Minneapolis raises money and awareness of HIV/AIDS in the African American community and also helps survivors of domestic abuse get their lives back together; and First Presbyterian in Howard Lake collected food for the local foodshelf.   In every case, these acts are not simply doing good, but in Christ, they are proclaiming a new reality, a new way of doing things. 

Telling people about the good news of Jesus is important.  In our relationships with others, we can and should share how our relationships with Christ have changed our lives.  But we must also show them and that means doing what Jesus did: healing the sick, helping the poor and befriending the outcast. 

So let’s spread the word: God’s kingdom is near!

God of justice, you call us as you called your first disciples oh so long ago, to care for the sick, the poor and the outsider.  Help us as we go about our lives to remember what matters to you: to do justice, love mercy and humbly walk with you.  Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

February 14, 2008
Passage:Matthew 9:27-38

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’

In the Last Battle, the final book of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, there is point in the novel where the main characters were thrown into a stable. The children realize at some point, that this stable was no longer a stable but a beautiful meadow. They started to revel in the wonder they saw. In the midst of all this were a group of elves who were huddled in a corner. They didn’t see the meadow, all they saw was a dank stable. One of the children gave the elves a boquet of flowers which they pushed away-they only saw a clump of hay. It is explained later that the elves have stopped believing in Aslan, the great Lion of Narnia and because of their lack of faith could not see the meadow. The story ends with the elves thinking they are in a stable, never seeing the beuaty that was within their reach.

In today’s text we see Jesus healing yet again. He gives sight to two blind men and gives speech to a man that was possessed by a demon. The crowds were amazed at these works of wonders, but the Pharisees were not. “By the ruler of demons, he casts out demons,” they say. Thomas Long notes that in the mind of the Pharisees, a religious leader was one that kept the law, stayed away from that which is impure, like dead people, menstrating women and lepers. And because Jesus chose to come in contact with these people, his “miracles” had to be from Satan not from God.

Jesus is not what some religious leaders wanted. They wanted a God that follow the rules. Jesus wanted to heal the people.

Sometimes its easy to make our faith into a bunch of rules: do this, don’t do that. But Jesus is calling us to care for the people, our neighbors, our friends, the world. Faith, in the end, is about placing hope in the impossible, not about rules and regulations.

The Pharisees were like those elves that had stopped believing that things could be different. They knew what a holy person was supposed to be like and closed their minds to seeing God do things in a different way. God is about relationships, not simply following rules.

God, our Friend, help us to see the world in your eyes. Help us to see those in need of healing. Help to see you where you are working in the world, even in those places we may least expect. Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

February 13, 2008
Passage:Matthew 9:18-26

“While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.”

I am amazed by the faith of the leader of the synagogue and the woman who touched Jesus’ cloak. The leader of the synagogue had just lost his daughter. She was as dead as one can be, there was no hope whatsoever. And yet he comes to Jesus and believes that Jesus will revive his little girl. The woman with the “issue of blood” as it is called in some texts, thought that if she only touched his clothing, not touch him, but his garments, she would be healed. She did that and was healed of her illness. And the little girl came back to life.

Faith is a powerful thing and sometimes we tend to ignore the power it has, because we tend to ignore God. The mourners in the house laughed at Jesus pronouncement that the little girl was only sleeping, they ignored the power of God in their lives. This little girl was a dead as dead can be. There was no way, no way she could live again. What a preposterous thought.

But the father of that little girl believed. So did the woman. It’s interesting that in many cases, people were healed by Jesus because of their great faith. They had placed their trust in Jesus.

What would happen if we really placed our trust in God and not bank accounts or large memberships? What would happen if we had faith even if the world tells us it is silly to believe in the impossible?

The late gospel and soul singer Sam Cooke sung a song called “Touch the Hem of His Garment,” which puts this story of the woman and Jesus into song. It speaks of this woman’s great faith in Jesus and reminds us of what can happen if we actually believe Jesus can make a difference. ” if I could just touch the hem of his garment
I know I’ll be made whole soon.” What faith in God!

Here is the Sam Cooke song, “Touch the Hem of His Garment.”

God of the Impossible, forgive for our lack of faith in You. Help us to believe that even if we have the faith of a mustard seed, mighty things can be done in your name.Amen.

Dennis Sanders is the IT/Communications Specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area. He is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).