Sermon - 8-14-22

22 min•0 پلے•0 پسندیدہ

Religion

تفصیل

I must be honest with you this morning. There are days when our scripture readings present us with words that cause clergy to cringe when, after reading, they have to say, “The gospel good news of our Lord.” Today is one of those days. Today, I truthfully say to you that I am finding the gospel of Jesus Christ increasingly countercultural in our present context. Following Jesus takes courage. Jesus addresses this in our gospel reading today as he talks about discipleship. It would be so easy to gloss over this reading and say Jesus really did not mean what he is saying here. It would be so easy to simply water down his words and sugar coat them. It would be so easy to use another reading, one that provides us with a sugar-coated Christianity; but that would also leave us with a sugar-coated cross. Quite frankly, eliminating what this passage is all about would mean eliminating an honest, lay it on the line call to discipleship. So, today we are going to wrestle with this gospel reading and tackle this call to discipleship, Jesus’ call for us to follow him. Listen again to what Jesus is saying: “I’ve come to start a fire on this earth – how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything right side up – how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be – Three against two, and two against three; Father against son, and son against father; Mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; Mother-in-law against bride, and bride against mother-in-law.” These words are challenging but, Jesus never shies away from challenge. Jesus’ words are strong, urgent words that name what is going on. He lays it on the line and his words are an honest call to live a life of discipleship. <

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