Sermons & Meditations

Luke 16:19-31
Presented September 30th, 2007, by J.D. Kline
The 18th Sunday after Pentecost

Stewardship Theme: Celebrate Abundance—Nourish Life

A radio advertisement for a company selling copier machines speaks critically of other companies who feel the need to “reinvent” themselves. “We don’t talk about reinventing ourselves,” the advertisement claims. “We do it right the first time.”

I can’t speak for the business world, but when it comes to the spiritual life and to the realm of human relationships, I find the advertisement’s sentiment troubling. I recall, in the aftermath of Janice’s accident and death, sharing in one of my early sermons that I stood at a point of needing to reinvent my life. Such a need becomes most apparent, no doubt, in times of intense loss and grief, and yet, should you join me in affirming that the most vibrant life is marked by openness to new growth, then who among us does not need to embrace the process of reinventing our lives? And given that we are all fallible human beings, who can guarantee that we will always do it right the first time? Indeed, the arrogance that assumes we will always do it right the first time can get us into deep trouble in life.

The Christian life is all about new life, new birth, new hope, new direction, new mission, new purpose in life. It’s all about life being reinvented, life being so nourished and enriched that we are able to embrace new beginnings. This fall’s stewardship theme stands as one segment of a four year-emphasis on Celebrating Abundance. It is a theme that encourages us in a variety of ways to give thanks for the profuse blessings that come to us because of God’s abundant love, because of the grace of this God who ever invites and challenges us to grow in our faith. Deeply connected to a celebration of abundance is this fall’s sub-theme, Nourish Life. How is it that we nourish new life in us and among us? How do we assist one another in the task of living faithfully, living gratefully, living openly? How do we nourish our souls, individually and as a congregation?

(more…)

Ezekiel 36:22-28; Romans 8:1-11
Presented September 23rd, 2007, by J.D. Kline
The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

300th Anniversary Theme, Church of the Brethren:
Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit

The noted Jewish philosopher Abraham Heschel once made the assertion that “history is first of all what [humans do] with power.” Heschel’s words remind us that we live in a world enamored with power. Ours is a culture that values persons on the basis of how much power they grasp and display—how much they are able to impact life around them, how likely they are to get critical tasks accomplished, who they are able to impose their will upon, who they are lording over in this life. The culture in which we find ourselves conveys the message that genuine power is to be found in ever-rising Dow Jones Averages, in the purchase of the latest model luxury car or SUV, in the threat—and even use—of military weapons, in the grasping after the highest levels of authority. Wealth, influence, position, status, physical strength, appearance, intelligence, experience—these are the marks by which we measure power.

It’s not only the world around us that is enamored with power. Henri Nouwen, writing in his book In the Name of Jesus, laments that “power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.” And then Nouwen makes the telling observation that “the long painful history of the Church is the history of people ever and again tempted to choose power over love, control over the cross, being a leader over being led.”

(more…)

Luke 14:25–33
Presented September 9th, 2007, by J.D. Kline
The 15th Sunday after Pentecost

300th Anniversary Theme, Church of the Brethren: Surrendered to God, transformed in Christ, Empowered by the Spirit

Warren Groff, retired president of Bethany Seminary, some years ago wrote a book entitled Story Time: God’s Story and Ours. Taking common questions and expressions from everyday life, Warren explores the basis of our Christian faith. One chapter, labeled “Be good! Stay out of trouble!” considers that frequent parental admonition to be good. We’ve all been recipients of such counsel, have we not—and many of us have offered it to those we love and care about on multiple occasions. “Be good! Stay out of trouble!”

My Grandfather Kline had another phrase he occasionally used—Remember who you are. Different words, but a similar intent. Remember the values you have been taught; remember the faith you have embraced; remember the family relationships that have nurtured and sustained you, and live in such a way that your family will be proud of you. Remember who you are.

We stand on the verge of the 300th anniversary of the movement that led to the Church of the Brethren, a time for intentionally remembering who we are. The first Brethren were a small community of eight persons who, in the year 1708 after a significant period of prayerfully searching the New Testament, made the decision to be baptized by immersion in the Eder River in the small town of Schwarzenau in northern Germany. In those days it was a criminal act to reject the state church, yet those eight—and many who followed—became convinced that faithfulness to God centers upon a commitment to following the teachings and example of Jesus as nearly as possible. For the first Brethren, baptism represented the initial act of faithful living, surrendering themselves to the God who loves us with a love that will not let us go.

(more…)

Jeremiah 2:4–13; Luke 14:1, 7–14
Presented September 2nd, 2007, by J.D. Kline
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

I recently read a fascinating book entitled Three Cups of Tea, the story of a mountain climber named Greg Mortenson who, losing his way after a failed attempt to scale Pakistan’s K2 Mountain, wanders into an impoverished village. The title of the book is taken from the wise words of the village chief, who explained to Mortenson that in the remote villages of Pakistan and Afghanistan, “we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything—even die.”

Touched by the villagers’ compassionate care as he gradually regained health and strength, Mortenson felt as if he had indeed found family, and before he fully considers all the implications, he promises to return and build a school for the children of the village. Mortenson had been appalled to discover that, with no school building and only a part-time teacher, the children knelt on frosty ground, out in the open, for their lessons.

Three Cups of Tea tells the story of Greg Mortenson making good on his promise to a people who had experienced many unmet promises in the past. That promise became an all-consuming passion, both as Greg struggled to raise funds back here in America, and as he learned the ropes in rural Asia. Eventually the first school was built in the village of Korphe—and over time, more than 50 additional schools as well, each stipulating education for girls as well as boys.

(more…)