Lectionary readings: Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18
What are you hoping for as lock-down eases, and the country springs from hibernation? Seeing friends and families face to face; visits to favourite places; holidays?
But what about the communities of God’s people wherever you may meet, what are we hoping for?Seeing friends face to face, certainly, but what else can this community become as life begins to resume more familiar patterns once more.
The reading from the book of Acts comes from the account of Peter and John’s visit to the Temple to pray. It starts as a straightforward account of some friends going to worship and ends with abundant life for one man, and an interrogation with the authorities for the two disciples. As it turns out, it becomes a good moment for Peter and John to speak about their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A faith which emboldens them to preach the Resurrection.
By what power or by what name?
But first, a quick recap of the story (or you could just read it in Acts 3 onwards!): The disciples were arrested for preaching the good news about Jesus, after they had healed a man. What the rulers, elders and scribes wish to know when they question Peter and John is ‘by what power or by what name did you do this?’ (Acts 4:7). It is a question I ask often when, unsolicited phone calls leave me baffled: which company do you represent? In other words, in whose name are you speaking? Most often, of course, those who phone me in this context cannot reply, they are just scammers.
But being able to identify to which group the disciples belong was really important. And today, being able to identify the source of our resurrection faith not only gives authority to speak, but it empowers us to speak. I was most moved at the funeral service of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, by the strong and clear thread in the choice of music, hymns and scripture readings which left us in no doubt of his firm faith. Without a word of eulogy or sermonising, the Duke managed to convey an important message to those who listened, rounded off so beautifully with a call to action for those of us still on the way!
There has been a debate in the media this week about the introduction of the so-call super-league in football. It is really all a question of power, who has the authority and control over the game of football? Well, some very wealthy people may own those clubs, but it seems they may not fully have grasped the importance and power of the grass-roots fans in the English game.
In church-life, we sometimes niggle over who has the power in our churches, Circuits, Districts and Connexion (or whatever system your church is organised by). But at the end of the day, we recognise that the human element of church really needs a form and a structure for the benefit of all, and usually, the wisdom of the years has built in sufficient checks and balances to the system to keep us all on track.
But most importantly of all, one of the encouragements to faith as we journey on, is the reminder of the precious name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit enabling us to live life to the full. Jesus demonstrated this by a clear desire to offer leadership as a faithful shepherd to the sheep. In this model, the leader sacrificially makes provision for the sheep, in finding good pasture, fresh water and safety. This model of leadership is the one Christians aspire to, especially when it is counter-cultural to much of what passes for leadership in society. So that by our words and deeds we too may bring a message of hope to those around us.
No other name
In the early church, we discover that various factions were emerging – some claiming to follow Paul., other Apollos (you can read about this in 1 Corinthians 3). So quite early on, those early leaders were counselling the faithful that there is salvation in no other name. in other words, no human agency, no denomination or theology, no one person has exclusive authorisation to act in the name of Christ. But in Christ, all may find salvation.
The Methodist Church has traditionally expressed this as
- All need to be saved
- All may be saved
- All may know that they are saved
- All may be saved to the uttermost
I regret that I cannot find the source for this quote but it is nevertheless a beautiful description:
There are no limitations on the work that God can do to reshape and recreate the divine image in the life of an individual. The potential of God’s Holy Spirit is without bounds. We believe that when individuals place their trust in Jesus Christ as the only way in which the barrier between a person and God can be torn down, God makes a home in their lives. God’s Spirit begins a work of transformation, re-creation and regeneration in the heart of that person, which need never end. The likeness of Jesus grows in a person’s life; the mind of Christ takes hold; and the love of Christ grows stronger and stronger until we begin to see, speak and serve with the heart of God himself. There are no limits to how God can change a person from the inside out. That’s what we mean when we say a person may be ‘saved to the uttermost’. Methodists have always been clear that no-one is beyond the reach of God’s love.
Quite early in the life of the Church, people met for Bible study, fellowship, communal meals and prayer; and engaged in evangelism, financial accountability, and outreach in the local community. The work was described as an outbreak of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It would set the pattern of what church should be like down through the centuries.
Cornerstone
But the foundation is Jesus – The stone that was rejected by the builders, it has become the cornerstone 4:11. Jesus is traditionally described as a carpenter, but the Greek word ‘tecton’ (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55) can also mean builder, mason, or even ‘contractor’.
Andrew Mayes describes in his book Another Christ: re-envisioning ministry, how at the time when Jesus lived in the sleepy little village of Nazareth, a huge development was taking place at Sepphoris just four miles away. It was one of Herod the Great’s building projects incorporating new roads, civic buildings, theatres and places of worship and up-market villas. And when you think about it, Jesus talks a lot in building metaphors:
- Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them will be like a wise man who built his house upon rock (Matthew 7:24)
- The landowner who planted a vineyard, incorporating a wine press and watch tower (Mark 11:27);
- the rich man building bigger barns (Luke 12:18);
- and the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:28ff).
Mayes goes on to describe the irony in the fact that the rock of Calvary is situated in a quarry. It is thought that this rock with a deep fracture would have been rejected as suitable for building material. And here it was that Jesus was put to death: the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. (Psalm 118:22)
See I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. The original text comes of course from the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 28:16) and the Psalms, but is well-used here in Acts and also by Paul and Peter (Romans 9:33 & 1 Peter2:4-6). This building metaphor has a resonance, particularly as we begin to face a new chapter in life. So, what has God been doing within our lives during lock-down? Where is the challenge to move onward and rebuild the ruins of broken lives in the community? What kind of living stones are we becoming?
Worship at home 