St. Paul’s Sermons 2005

The Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost - August 28, 2005

Lessons: Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

“Bottom Line”

Introduction:

This week- Northwest Airlines is in the news-

Billions of dollars in assets. Thousands of flights. But they’re going broke. It finally comes down to the bottom line-

The same thing is true in basketball- you can watch the whole game, but all that’s important is who has the highest number at the end. That’s the bottom line.

When you tell a joke, the whole thing has no impact- if you leave off the bottom line.

In our story today, Peter, the leader of the disciples scolds Jesus for talking about his upcoming death. A few verses before, Peter had finally gotten it right. He had finally proclaimed clearly to Jesus, (Mat 16:16) “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Jesus had then proclaimed Peter the Rock on which he would build his Church. Peter had no more than said this, and then Jesus began to teach about his death. Peter scolds him, and Jesus rebukes him, “Get behind me, Satan!” - i.e., ‘Don’t tempt me to not fulfill my Father’s will!’

Then Jesus says these shocking, “bottom line” words:

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

I) Words of Life and Death

That’s the bottom line when you are a Christian- to follow Jesus means to take up your cross.

He’s not talking about jewelry. He’s talking about an instrument of torture.

He’s talking about the kind of thing he would experience just a little while later: to pick up a big, heavy, railroad tie heavy, wooden tool that would be used to kill you. A tool that you would be nailed to by big iron nails and you would hang there in indescribable agony to until, many hours later, drowning in your own blood as it filled your lungs, you would die. It was the worst death the Romans knew how to impose.

-It was worse than being skinned alive; they did that.

-It was worse than being boiled in oil or roasted alive; they did that too.

The Romans were good at these things. This was real. That was a very different time. This sort of thing really happened. It’s not a comic book story. And a cross is not a piece of jewelry.

Now how does that phrase strike you:

II) Claimed to Death for Life

Being a Christian means that your life is claimed. That’s what Berea entered today. She entered that long line, of perhaps two billion who have gone on before her- who have picked up a cross to follow Jesus. This is a claim that claims her all. That little bit of water and the promise of God at the beginning of the service wasn’t a cute little celebration to be nice to babies. It wasn’t about a sweet, cute way to make babies or their parents feel special.

It was the beginning of a covenant that will cost her all, if she lives in it. It’s not an old fashioned cuddly rite. She simply joins a long procession of those who have been handed a cross, and were told that their life is no longer their own. They have been called to be disciples.

All the rules have changed now for her, and for all of you who were baptized. She no longer has a life to do what she wants to do. She has been claimed. She has been sentenced to death - to her old self; and sentenced to life, and eternity --with Jesus. Jesus makes the relationship very, very clear. Life and death clear:

25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

I’ve talked many times with believers who were just told they had a terminal disease and only had weeks to live. I’ve never seen a believer in that position fall apart. I’ve seen them get very quiet. I’ve seen them stand very still and tall. I’ve seen their gaze clear, and the meaning of their life become crystal clear. I remember talking with Helen Wegener and Agnes Hall; their lives had been lives of deep discipleship, and they had already given away their lives to their Lord and countless others they had cared for in so many ways. To know that life is over is to see it clearly. Death had no power over them. They had already lived a life of the cross. It’s quiet joy filled them.

Jesus says words like that to us again today:

25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

Does anybody need that clarified? Jesus says that if you live life for yourself, you’ll live eternity by yourself; if you live your life for him, you’ll be with him for eternity. Try to hang onto your life for yourself, and it will cost you everything when you die. Give your life away to Jesus and in serving him, and you will not only get your life back now, but a life with him for eternity. Should I explain it again? This is warning. This is promise. This is as clear as the Bible gets. It’s a free invitation, but it’s also a clear invitation as to what is involved, and what’s at stake.

You. Forever.

26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

This passage is not about scare tactics. It’s not some funny hellfire-brimstone passage that they can make fun of on TV. It’s as modern as the latest news, and it’s as timely as the messages on your cell phone– because it’s the bottom line about what your life is for. What are you going to do with your life? Are you going to live a life that is invested for God, led by Jesus himself, lived according to the best that God created to be?

III) The Futility of “Do-it-Yourself” Lives

Or are you going to try to run your life by yourself and somehow muddle through, making the best out of it you can? Are you going to live it for yourself, as if you, in all your wisdom can do a good job of it?

Back in the early ‘80's, when personal computers were brand new, Heathkit offered kits to build your own. They came with lots of wires, lots of pieces, some solder and an instruction booklet with hundreds of steps on how to put it together.

I knew two guys, both electrical engineers, who built them. They waded their way through those books, hooked up all the right wires, soldered the right stuff together, plugged the right stuff into the right holes, and several weeks later, each had their very own personal computer.

I wonder what would have happened if the same bright guys had the opportunity to buy that first computer kit- without the instruction manual. What if they just started sticking those hundreds of components together any place they thought it looked good? These were smart guys. How many of you think those computers would work?

All the parts were right- but if it’s not assembled correctly, it’s junk. Maybe they could have assembled a second attempt without the instructions- but not the first one.

So it is with life. Most people try to assemble their own lives, with no instruction, guessing as they go. There is no second chance. You get one chance. There is no rewind button on life. People who try to do life as a do-it-yourselfer end up with junk; because unlike the computer kit, we even start out with all the pieces broken. Jesus even needs to heal us, fix the brokenness before he can assemble us the right way. In fact we need to be fixed in every area, and sometimes over and over because we keep breaking ourselves.

So Jesus says, lay down your life to receive it back. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me. Follow me!

That’s where the joy is. That’s where the reckless abandon, investing your life, throwing it away as Jesus leads, and for the good of others- that’s what you were created to do. You were created to follow Jesus.

Our Gospel lesson for today is a radical, black and white teaching. In baptism, all who have been baptized into Christ have been claimed in that covenant. When you hear this word, you too have been claimed- you have no excuse. The Holy Spirit has taken this message and has brought it to rest in your heart. He’s knocking. How will you respond?

How much clearer can Jesus make the bottom line?

As we go to our time of prayer this morning, I invite you to consider these radical words of Jesus. I invite you to respond to them; the Holy Spirit is empowering you to respond. You can let go, and give up your life. Jesus promises to meet you there and begin that great adventure. Amen.

Pentecost 15 - August 28, 2005

Jeremiah 15:15-21

You understand, O LORD; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors.

You are long-suffering--do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.

[16] When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight,

for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty.

[17] I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them;

I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

[18] Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable?

Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?

[19] Therefore this is what the LORD says:

"If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.

Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

[20] I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you but will not overcome you,

for I am with you to rescue and save you," declares the LORD.

[21] "I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel."

Romans 12:9-21

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. [10] Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. [11] Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. [12] Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. [13] Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. [15] Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. [16] Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

[17] Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. [18] If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. [19] Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. [20] On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

[21] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 16:21-28

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

[22] Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"

[23] Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

[24] Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. [26] What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. [28] I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."