Proclaiming the Gospel on the Journey

A continuation of the Sermon Series based on Martin Luther's Sermons on 1 Peter LW Vol. 30

March 14, 2010 Luke 15 and Proclaim the Gospel Wherever You Go

There’s a story about a young Hebrew student who comes to the Rabbi and says, “Rabbi, I have gone through the whole Torah.” The Rabbi responds to his student by saying, “Ah yes, dear one, but has the Torah gone through you?” In other words, I know this book, I know these stories. . . yes, but have these stories gone through to my heart and soul? Are they simply book knowledge or have Have they formed me, changed me, inspired me, and called me?
Our gospel lesson for today is one of those stories that we have all heard probably hundreds of times. That means it has the potential to become old and stale to us. But as we consider this morning what it means to “Proclaim the good news on the Journey” this parable that Jesus tells his biggest critics is very helpful. Recall all that we’ve talked about so far in Lent, how we are holy because Christ is holy, how we love because Christ loves us, and that we are the holy priesthood of believers. Remember that Martin Luther in his commentary on 1 Peter said that as part of our call to be the Holy Priesthood which comes through our baptism that we are called into service, that no one is higher in status or lower in call than another- including those called to “religious” vocations. And that God has planted us each in a certain garden and it is there that we are meant to sprout and grow. (Bloom where you are planted, as they say!) He went on to teach that each of us who are members of this holy priesthood has three jobs to do as part of the office of priest: first, is to proclaim the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ; second, is to pray for the community of believers; and third, is to live a sacrificial life. This morning we focus on the first job we are called to do- to share the gospel. It is our good fortune that we have been granted the perfect story to help us think about it.
The parable of the Prodigal Son:
*Two sons- one requests his inheritance and leaves for a distant country.
*He squanders all that he has been given; a famine strikes and leaves him destitute and alone.
*He ends up slopping the pigs—which is a total curse to a Jewish person.
*He decides to go back home, but only as a hired hand.
*His father waits for him and when he sees him he runs to him and calls for the servants to prepare a party!
* My son who was lost is now found!
This story is the heart and soul of the gospel message: that our heavenly Father loves us, waits for us, forgives us and welcomes us with open arms no matter what we’ve done to betray, hurt, or disobey him. This is a message that I know I need to hear on a daily basis, how about you? I think there are lots of folks out there that we come in contact with who could really benefit from hearing this amazing story of God’s love.
Proclaiming the gospel wherever we go is our call to discipleship! It is nothing less than telling the story of the good news- that God loves and forgives us and calls us home when we stray! Think of how this is good news, the best news you could ever receive. . . who is it in your life that you come in contact with who needs to hear this extraordinary news? Can you think of anyone specifically? How might you tell this story that you are so familiar with? You’ve heard it many times. Have you ever told it? Has this story become a part of you? Has this story gone through you?
One of my professors talked recently about conversion. We know that conversion is about changing direction, turning around, even a “coming to” Christ. He offered to the class a different interpretation on the reason the Mormons send young men, two by two, into strange neighborhoods, far from home. He said that perhaps the point of it is not to proselytize the people whose doors they knock on for a entire year. That kind of evangelism doesn’t actually work very well. Not many people are converted to the faith on their doorstep. But, he suggested, perhaps the idea of this door to door visiting is more about getting the young men to tell the story. That telling the story of the faith over and over again is what lodges it solidly in our hearts. Telling it repeatedly is what makes the story become part of us, just like memorizing a poem or a song. Something happens deep within us when we try to articulate that faith to others rather than just hoping they will “see” something special about us. It pushes us out of our comfort zone, it exposes us, it leaves us vulnerable and yet it draws us deeper into the story of God’s grace when we have to speak about it for ourselves.
We live in a world that needs to hear this good news. I know of people right now who need to hear that they are forgiven; that they are loved; that they are welcomed back into God’s waiting arms and that God is throwing a big party for them upon their return! It is up to each of us to allow this story of Christ’s incredible love to sweep us away, to go through us, so that we can share it with everyone we meet. We are called to proclaim this life giving word in the streets, at PTO meetings, in the break room, over the fence, at the gym, and everywhere else we find ourselves!
I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the change in yourself as you begin to spread the gospel wherever you go! Amen.