A Bigger Mind


This sermon can be listened to here
Gate Pa –  Trinity Sunday in Easter- Year C - 2019
Readings:
Psalm                          Psalm: 8                                                                     
First Reading:               Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31                                    
Second Reading:        Romans 5:1-5    
Gospel:                                    John 16:12-15
What I want to say:
Trinity Sunday is a time gain a bigger mind. I want to explore how our constructs and doctrines of God too often constrict us living lives based on God’s justice, compassion and generosity. Instead we are invited to hold them very lightly and allow them to lead us into the mystery of God
What I want to happen:
•          How does your understanding of God, three in one, shape who you are and your understanding of what your life is about?
•          How might joining the dance of love change any of that?

The Sermon

       1.     Introduction:

We watch "St. Patrick's Bad Analogies - Lutheran Satire"

After I had preached an awesome sermon some years ago on Trinity
parishioner asked did it matter if we understand Trinity?
answer at level is no
don’t need understand technical constructs of a theology of Trinity
-         although I find it helpful
but at another level the answer is
-         o my goodness me yes
because how we conceive of God
-         how we construct our understanding of God
affects how we see ourselves in relation to God
how we see others
and how we live our lives.

        2.     Substitutionary Atonement

as an example
when much younger introduced to 4 spiritual laws
presents one model, construct of the Trinity
God (Father) is distant moral judge
-         who has judged us as immoral and sinners
-         we separated from God by our sin
-         requires our punishment
Because is also love
God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Himself by sending His Son,
-         Jesus Christ,
-         to die on the cross in our place
-         to pay the penalty for our sins.
We must individually receive Jesus Christ as saviour and lord;
-         then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives.
Spirit role is to convict us of our sinful nature
-         and empower us to tell others of theirs
-         and invite them to individually receive Jesus Christ as saviour and lord
all that is based on one understanding of Trinity – God three in one
è how did that shape my understanding of who I am and what my life is about?
-         sinner
-         separate from God’s love
-         God is way over there
-         Jesus is bridge over the gap
-         brings with this need to be much more morally pure
-         whole level certainty about nature of God
-         if not careful lead us to think better than others
-         Israel Folau
while many find that understanding helpful
how the Trinity works
I find it constricting
-         constricting of how we read gospels
-         constricting of our ability to embrace mystery
-         constricting of how we live in God’s love
-         constricting in how I live towards others

       3.     Allahu akbar

Here is another way speak Trinity
go to a mosque you will hear in call prayer Allahu akbar
used greeting among Muslims from all around world
used by Arab speaking Christians
means – God is beyond great
we might say - God is source of all being
God is….
St John describes God as only love
Out of the very nature of this God
-          This God has been made known in person Jesus
as John says
-         Father is in Jesus
-         Jesus in Father
-         so that everything Jesus says and does made this God known
Ü in Jesus we see, touch and know very nature of God
we come to know God as God justice
-         compassion
-         hospitality
-         generosity
-         faithfulness
-         love
who is in death and rising defeats powers that seek to hold humanity in our sin
restores humanity as made in image God
renews creation
send Spirit remind us of all that Jesus said and did
-         through gospel
invites us into same deep relationship
-         drawn into love that exists at heart of God
è how did that shape my understanding of who I am and what my life is about?
God is not distant
God is within each one of us
-          John again says that Father and Son through Spirit will make their home in each of us
God is love
St. Augustine of Hippo described Trinity as Lover, Beloved and Love between
we are drawn through work Spirit into this relationship of deep love that exisits within Trinity
are invited to be shaped by that love
knowing we are beloved
invited to live in God’s
-         justice
-         compassion
-         hospitality
-         generosity
-         faithfulness
-         love
I find it freeing and inviting
-         a lot less certainty in all this
-         enabling me to embrace mystery
-         inviting me  to live in God’s love
-         freeing me to live more compassionately and generously towards others

       4.     Repentance

Our constructions of the Trinity do matter
in book talked about before by Dave Tomlinson
mention in pew sheet
“How to Be a Bad Christian… And a better human being”
describes repentance in Greek as literally meaning
gaining a bigger mind
think we need to repent of any idea, construct or doctrine of Trinity that confines us
-         offers too much certainty
-         not invite us into mystery that is God
-         allows us feel either unloved by God
-         or superior to others
Ü invited into God who is The Lover, The Beloved, The Love Between
so invite you take time to
-         How does your understanding of God, three in one, shape who you are and your understanding of what your life is about?
-         what might you need to repent of?
-         how might you be invited into a bigger mind about God?

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