From Pastor Sarah – Mission:
Possible
Last week I preached about the encounters we can have with the
living spirit of God when we take time to listen to people’s concerns. I told about Professor Lucy who, through
teaching film to students craving to find artistic expression and mentoring,
was also able to share her faith.
Rarely will someone ask you about Jesus. Far more often, they will tell you that they
long for a different kind of life; they will share a joy, a desire, a
heartbreak: they’ll ask for prayers for healing. In every human encounter, there is the
possibility for the Holy Spirit’s presence to create healing and peace. Rather than see mission as something that only
happens at church or through church programs, we find renewed grace when we see
our whole lives as part of God’s mission.
Someone sent me this article about an official at the Pentagon who started to integrate his faith with his work. If I'd read it before the sermon, I would have used it as an example.
Listen to the sermon here.
This week I will preach on a vision that Peter had where God
told him to eat animals that were considered unclean. When Peter protested, God retorted: “Never
consider unclean what God has made pure.” Peter was wondering what the meaning of the
vision could be when it became clear.
Some people who weren’t Jewish wanted Peter to come and teach them. This apparently blew Peter’s mind. That God would work through people who weren’t
Jewish was astounding and it directly contradicted plenty of passages in
Scripture that said otherwise. But, not
one to argue too much with God, Peter went to the family and found indeed that
the Holy Spirit was with them. His mind
was changed. His mission was clear.
Questions:
1)
Have you ever met someone who fit in a category
you’d been taught to dislike only to find yourself surprised by the encounter?
2)
Do you think God can work through everybody?
3)
Has God ever made your mission crystal clear?
Be at Peace,
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