THE DISCIPLE’S HOUSE

Matthew 7:21-29

June 8, 2008 – Rev. Jerry Duggins

 

It’s time to set the record straight. Jesus was not a humble man. It’s true, especially in Mark’s gospel, that when he healed someone, he didn’t want the news to be broadcast. It’s also true that he often spoke up for those who were marginalized in his society, that he occasionally endorsed humility, especially for the “self-proclaimed important.” It’s true that in the week preceding his crucifixion, he was as “the sheep, dumb before the slaughter,” saying not a word in his own defense. But in one regard at least, he was not humble.

 

He thought he knew the truth and that those who failed to do as he suggested were really quite foolish. Listen again to how Jesus ends this first large block of teaching from Matthew’s gospel. “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

 

Perhaps it’s just my own conceit, but when someone tells me to do something a certain way or I’ll look stupid, I tend to become contrary. I might be with the speaker through the whole speech, but this “my way or the highway” kind of comment always sends me looking for the fatal flaw.

 

And yet… the crowd seems to echo Jesus’ comment in their attitude. They regarded Jesus as one who taught with authority and not as the scribes. It was rather common in those days, as it is today, to appreciate both sides of an issue. In fact both in the secular Roman schools and in conversations among the religious leaders of the day, it was not uncommon for a person to take opposite sides of an issue on different days. It was more important to know how to argue a point than to get the point right. So when Jesus says near the beginning of this sermon, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” someone else might argue with Jesus by affirming that “only those who know what they want and go out and get it can take charge of the earth.” Appreciating opposing points of view was considered necessary for the educated person. And yet… the crowd is attracted by this man who seems to know what he’s talking about, seems to believe what he’s saying. Arrogant or not, the crowd believes he’s got some inside track on the truth. And they are not even disciples yet.

 

“Do these things that I tell you and you will be like the person who built her house on rock. Listen to me and you will be like the person built his house on a firm foundation.” If you could have only one portion of scripture, there are many who would choose these three chapters from Matthew that we call the “sermon on the mount.”

 

 

 

 

Just a sampling of its teachings:

 

Happiness is not the exclusive property of the rich, the comfortable, the strong, the ambitious, and those adept at the ways of the world.

 

God blesses the poor, the grief-stricken, the meek, the merciful, the pure and the peacemaker.

 

“You are salt for the earth.” You’re not here to serve your ends and enrich yourself at the expense of others, but to be a blessing and to serve others.

 

Settling for satisfying the letter of the law will gain you nothing. The law is intended to build character, not impose compliance.

 

Love your enemies.

Pray for the earth to become more like the kingdom of God.

 

Be satisfied with your daily bread, forgive others.

 

Don’t throw your piety in the face of others.

 

Don’t put your trust in money. It will distract you from hearing God’s call.

 

Don’t worry about clothes or food or anything because God knows your needs and loves you and provides.

 

Be careful what you think about others lest you be found guilty of even worse.

 

Treat others in the way that you would like to be treated yourself.

 

Do these things and you will truly live. Had the church been more faithful in living out this kingdom ethic, its history would be very different and the world would not be what it is today. This is not to say that the church hasn’t sometimes followed Jesus.  It has played its role in loosing the bonds of injustice from South Africa to Central America. It has loaned its wisdom to liberation movements for women and men, for black and white, for citizen and stranger. Its ethic gave power to fight Apartheid, to advocate for civil rights, to break down all manner of walls that divide.   But for such things to happen it takes disciples attending to and enacting the words of Jesus.

 

I say this for our new elders and as a reminder to those continuing in service and for all of us. There is nothing more important for the disciple of Christ than attending to his words and applying it in our lives. There is no other way to acknowledge Jesus as our Lord that has any meaning. There is no other way for the session to lead the church and remain faithful to its calling. Leadership is not about attending to everyone’s point of view, but in discerning the call of God through Christ to this congregation.

 

Lest you become too overwhelmed, this does not necessarily mean doing great and powerful things. Placing oneself under the “lordship of Jesus” is not about impressing others. Those who follow Jesus are not all about prophesying, casting out demons or performing deeds of power. Most of the doing involves taking care of relationships.

 

We need to take care that our relationship to Jesus is characterized by discipleship, that our lives are marked by service to Christ.  We need to take care that our relationship to God is marked by the understanding that God loves us and abides with us in joy and sorrow, sickness and health. We need to take care that our relationships with one another are marked by love and not jealousy or suspicion.

 

Glenn McDonald notes in his book,  The Disciplemaking Church,  that followers of Jesus help one another on the path of discipleship. He remarks that every Christian ought to be in relationships of learning and teaching. We need to mentor each other in the faith and we need to pass on to others what we have learned.  He describes this as having a “Barnabas” and a “Timothy” on our faith journey. Find someone from whom you can learn and someone whom you might help learn.

 

We need relationships that define a home for us, a community of believers who nurture us in faith, who comfort us in grief, who pray for us in struggles. McDonald calls this finding our Antioch. But we also need our Macedonias. Followers of Christ have a mission field, a place that stretches them beyond their comfort zone.

The disciple’s house is built in claiming Christ as Lord, in discovering the love of God and taking up service in God’s kingdom. It is built in those relationships where we teach and learn from one another. It is built in the comfort of a home of Christian community and when we get out of the comfort zone in living out our faith in the world.

 

In taking on the task of leadership in the church, we do not hear these words at the end of Jesus’ sermon as arrogant and pretentious. In taking on the task of leadership in the church, we adopt the posture of disciples and hear Jesus as one who speaks with authority, as one who knows how to build a house with a firm foundation. Listen to his words and seek to do them. You will be helped by following Christ in the context of this community of faith, teaching and learning from one another. You will be helped by finding rest in the comfort of this community and in seeking the challenge of living out faith in the world, getting out of the comfort zone.  But these things are true not just for the elected leaders of a congregation but for every disciple of Christ.    Amen.