A Bigger Mind
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
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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