The summer messages I have tried to make light, simple and perhaps shorter. I think that fits summer. Today is no different. So much could be said about reconciliation in Christ Jesus, probably should be.
But this is a pointed sermon. Not toward a person but toward our shared experience of the fair this year. All of us will be there, either working, eating, or seeing who else is there. It will be our common experience.
Our Food Stand is not a missional event, nor is the money donated to mission. The money goes, profits, go to our trustee budget and to the UMW….both of which do good things. So, that leaves the people.
I came from a home that was always in conflict. It was not a great life. I went to college and roomed with a good that I had nothing in common with. We split the room in two, respected each other and as room-mates fared better than others that year.
The following year-sophomore year, I roomed with a friend. Same thing room split. It changed-we arranged the room so our desks could both face out the window. Beds were in a L shape so groups could sit on them. We got along great. I learned so much that year. I learned how to live with someone and more.
Learning to live and to love the other is what we are talking about today.
Gentiles and Jews were the other to each other! Gentiles just couldn’t –ever-be right enough, good enough, clean enough for Jews to accept. And Jews-well they were Jews and mothering else.
In the first paragraph listen to the descriptive words….
Without Christ
Aliens
strangers
no hope
no God
So remember!
Then along comes Christ.
Jews and Gentiles were reconciled. It wasn’t an easy thing for Christ. It took the cross.
This is good news-the good news of the cross. Jesus announced this good news to those close to God-the Jews, and to those far away from God-the Gentiles.
Listen to the words used now:
No longer strangers/aliens
Fellow citizens-you belong to God’s household
With Jesus things have changed. It is like living with a room mate that you like that you learn how to love and more than get along-You flourish with-you are of the same household.
Belleville is a community with some diversity. Perhaps not compared to New York city but there is diversity. Diversity is good, diversity adds strength. But it is not always easy.
That is a nice way of saying-You are gonna see all kinds this week! You will serve them, take their money-and will it end there.
The fair food stand needs to be in mission. We need to serve and take money but it can’t end there. We need to See All The People. See them as different and the same. Christ has already reconciled us. So reach out and see them, really great them, make relationship.
I know…
Small community, see these folks for decades, it’s great….
#SeeAllThePeople
Make relationship.
The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord.
Christ has already joined people. This isn’t our job, we don’t have to change anyone. We just are called to join in relationship with people. Talk to them, know how they are, greet them from the heart. Recognize them from yesterday, then say so.
We are not fixing our church. We are forming relationships with people.
Verse 22
Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.