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First, and above all, I believe we must be firmly, deeply, passionately centered in Jesus Christ, in his life, death and resurrection. Writer Richard Kew said it this way, “In this curious time of design-it-yourself spirituality which mixes and matches elements of the Tao with Native American religious practices in a search for self-fulfillment, there is a stark magnificence to the theology of the cross.” From earliest Christianity, the call has been the same. We heard it in our Bible reading today, as Paul offered words of encouragement to the mighty but few Christians in Ephesus. From different backgrounds, their passionate faith in Christ drew them together, but would their little house churches survive? They were certainly losing members to arrest and execution by the Romans. So Paul writes, stand deep and confident in the love of Jesus Christ! Be strong and trust God who can do anything. Words of power for us, too!
Second, we must claim and proclaim our Methodist way of being Christian. As Methodists, we stand in the middle, a place of both-and, heart and head, service and prayer; a center where people agree to disagree, respecting one another’s opinions because we are all grounded in Christ. Even our music in our worship is both traditional and more contemporary. It is who we are. We are a thinking person’s church, a place to wrestle with issues. As Ms. Bass says, vital mainline churches are places of wisdom, not certainty, a center for genuine spiritual quest. Many of you – including our most recent attendees – have told me this is what you have found here at Good Sam, and why you stay.
I also believe that for us to be strong and vital, we must consider how to make church a priority in our lives. There is a tee shirt that says on the front, “I don’t go to church.” On the back, it says, “I am the church!” It matters when we are not here, even for a Sunday worship. To grow as disciples, it helps to spend even more time together, in prayer and study and connection. We learn from just being Christians with each other. To be all we can be as a church will also require the sharing of gifts and blessings by every one of us, especially those with wonderful leadership skills. I believe God has blessed us already with all we need to grow, if we all work together. Yes, I know, so much to do, so little time, but if the church is to be strong, it takes us all.
We also ought to invite others to church. Someone criticized her own church this way, “We don’t say, ‘Come into the body of Christ. Come into my church. Sit next to me.’” Is that true of us, too? If we don’t brag on Good Sam, who will? Even more, we ought to be a community that is open to all, because that is Jesus’ way. Brian McLaren writes: “In a world of religious in-groups and out-groups, Jesus created a ‘come on in’ group.” Our last hymn will sing it out, Yes, we have a story to tell, to everybody, everywhere!
Finally, I believe we must be present, alive, and serving in and with the community around us. God sees all the haves and have-nots, the hurting ones across the street, the children and youth who need a guiding hand. While we will no doubt continue to care for each other, let us not insulate ourselves from our changing world, or from those in pain, but carry out God’s grace and love beyond our walls, in ever new and significant ways