Text: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
It is suggested that you should not take a position of leadership in church unless you are prepared to be honest, pure, and loving in your lifestyle. Leadership is a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. God holds teachers of His truth doubly responsible because those who lead are in a position where they can either draw people toward Christ or drive them away from Him. This is illustrated in the life of the famous author Mark Twain.
Church leaders were largely to blame for his becoming hostile to the Bible and the Christian faith. As he grew up, he knew elders and deacons who owned slaves and abused them. He heard men using foul language and saw them practice dishonesty during the week after speaking piously in church on Sunday. He listened to ministers use the Bible to justify slavery. Although he saw genuine love for the Lord Jesus in some people, including his mother and his wife, he was so disturbed by the bad teaching and poor example of church leaders that he became bitter toward the things of God.
Indeed, it is a privilege to serve as an elder, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, service guild member or a pastor. But it is also an awesome responsibility.
It is therefore important to make sure we attract people to the Savior rather than by our words and actions drive them away.
Source Unknown.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
This past Sunday I went to the ordination of my friend Bob Scott. I met Bob at the seminary in Fort Wayne as I was beginning my third year and he was beginning his first. As I participated in his ordination Sunday I thought too of my own ordination already now two years ago.
Bob worked at GM for 30 years before retiring and also has written or edited three books on the Civil War. He is quite gifted and talented in that regard. When he was thinking of retirement he also had planned to spend more time in his retirement writing. Little did he know that the Lord had plans of his own … and too, would have him writing … just not about the Civil War.
Finding the savior is not our work but Gods. He finds us even though we at times don’t know we are lost. Jesus found Philip and called him to “Follow me.” To this Philip responded in faith and called to Nathanael, “We have found him!” and “Come and see.”
God calls us to faith and then to action. He called Bob Scott to faith in Christ and then made a way for Bob to serve Christ. He did that with me too. Not always, does God call us to ministry or even to service as church workers, though that is a blessed call. He calls us all first to faith, he opens heaven to us through Baptism. And with you who are his in Christ he is well pleased. It is then that he uses us as his people to serve others. For some, it is in service here at Peace and Lord knows we have many places to serve. For others he calls us to be a witness to our friends and neighbors just as Philip was to Nathanael calling him to “come and see!”
I've had the joy of doing both. Where and when will the Lord call you?
Jesus calls you to follow him!
At times it is when you least expect it. Take Samuel in our Old Testament reading today:
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
I felt the Lord’s calling me to service for the last 25 years but it took quite a while for me discern his call, and to hear just how he wished to use me and where.
This past year we lost some blessed servants who heard God’s call and served. But every time we lose someone who dies in Christ or is called to move we see the Lord work in the hearts of others to serve. In the last few years we've had need of a few Elders. Both Jim Rich and Bob Poe answered the call. Jim took some time to prayerfully consider becoming an Elder and as he told me, “Pastor, I didn't want to accept the position unless I was willing to meet the obligations of the position and God kept pursuing me.”
Bob is not new to service here either serving in many capacities over the last 20 years. He had been asked to consider being an Elder but after the Doxology conference the Bob and I attended and the need to support the pastor with service as an elder Bob, told me on the way home, “Pastor, I’m ready to serve on the Board of Elders.”
Finally, after being a member here for over 25 years, Jay Squanda heard and answered the Lord’s call to serve here at Peace as President of our Congregation. Jay too has been very active in service as an elder, Vice President, Secretary and even bought the chicken and cooked for the Chicken BBQ that we have all enjoyed in June the last few years. Jay told me, “Well, maybe the Lord needs me to serve at this time in this way.”
There are so many stories like this to tell. Ladies guild, Altar guild, Sunday school, worship committee … the list goes on and on. As we were doing our Men’s Breakfast Bible Study last Sunday many volunteers came to take the decorations down. Judy Harroon asked me if we could bring the boxes out so they wouldn't disturb our study. I told the men when I came back in, “Guys, we couldn't get anything done in the church if it wasn't for the women!” For that we can all be truly thankful.
But even though Jesus calls … all of us at times only hear the sinful call of our own selfish desires. Whether it is our own sinfulness, 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” or the work of the devil to put the game just at the same time that the Lord needs you at church.
No kidding, One pastor told Bob Scott last Sunday, “Bob, I hope you appreciate me giving up the second half of the football game with my beloved Packers!” And, I believe that he was only partially kidding.
Service is hard. It requires sacrifice. Jesus knows you and he knows me. Truth be told we all would take the easy way out … at first.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” or it might be interpreted: ‘Behold a son of Israel, who is in no way a son of Jacob.’
In some ways we might be in Christ but not of Christ, following the way of deceit and missing the opportunity to serve, missing the mark which is sin.
Jesus calls you to follow him!
You might ask, “How do you know me?” as Nathanael did. Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Christ sees you and me. He knows what we've done. He knows all our sins because they became his sins too. He took the sins you've committed and he has taken the ones that you have yet to commit to the cross. There he crucified your sins and mine. And no matter our guilt he has taken that away too.
Ill.
A story is told of an elderly widow, restricted in her activities, who was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day she placed this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: "Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent--the service is free." The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, "What hymn would you like to hear?" Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them.
Source Unknown.
Jesus calls us to follow him! How will you respond?
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
It is indeed, a privilege to serve God and man here at Peace but God can use you in so many ways. It is a privilege and a responsibility. May you always be blessed, as you hear and serve wherever the Lord our God calls, because:
Jesus calls you to follow him!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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