Jesus Being Pastoral

You can listen to this sermon here

Gate Pa – Easter 5B, 2024

Readings:

Psalm                          Psalm 22: 25-31                                                         
First Reading              Acts 8:26-40               
Second Reading         1 John 4:7-21 
Gospel                         John 15:1-8

What I want to say:

Easter is a time to have our minds blown by and for our imaginations to run wild with the possibilities of what the reign of God might look like.
  •     What does that mean for us as we commemorate ANZAC Day and offer a place for our city to commemorate the Battle of Pukehinahina Gate Pa. 
  • What does mean for us facing very uncertain future?

In face of that Jesus offers very pastoral words in John 15. _explore what they are about, and then ask - How do we experience these words in our context today?

Finish with some comments about the story from Acts and what that invites us into

What I want to happen:

People to take courage and to be imaginative

The Sermon

      1.    Introduction:

One of those I read and listen to – Matt Skinner – says
-        that Easter is a time to have our minds blown by ongoing story of resurrection
-        and for our imaginations to run wild with the possibilities of what the reign of God might look like.
    What Acts is all about 
Our reading this morning about Greek speaking deacon – Phillip
Ends up on road to Gaza
Meeting up with Ethiopian
®   (just note that this is a really important story for the Sudanese and Ethiopian church, just as Thomas is important for the Indian church)
  •     Ethiopian (very dark skinned)
  •      Jewish
  •     devout
  •     Very wealthy and powerful
  •     All likelihood – a slave
  •     Eunuch – not a real man
Asks – what is there to prevent me being baptised right here
Greek Jew Philip wanted to say
-        O so much
But his mind was blown
Imagination was running wild
Says – nothing
Missing verse 37
That would have blown so many minds when they heard this story.
In what ways does it blow our minds?

      2.    John

Also given image from John 15
I am the true vine and you are the branches
How do you normally read that whole thing
-        warning?
-        Judgement
-        Encouragement?
As I keep saying
-        Need to put this back into whole story
Jesus is with his disciples
-        Returned to Jerusalem
-        Thomas said – we will go with him and die with him
-        Since then pocking the bear
-        Jesus gathers them for this last meal
-        Washed their feet.
-        said – one will betray and one will deny
Imagine what it was like being in that room
Then he offers this last “I am” statement
I am the true vine
-        Holds all other I am statements
You are branches
-        Only time there is a “you are”
-        Present tense

      3.    Kiwifruit

One my joys over these last years having Trevor join me for services at Fraser Manor
Always talked about kiwi fruit vines
Hard times when had cut them all out because of PSA
Care grafting new vines onto old stumps
His joy and love in working with and looked after those vines
-        Care in making sure right amount dry matter on ground
-        Right number leaves per fruit
Careful pruning to ensure maximum harvest
-        pruned those branches with PSA
-        Those that were too close
-        Those that would not produce fruit
è Need to be taken away /burnt in case they put down roots and start to grow separate from main vine
That helps me into today’s image of vine and branches
And into reading from Acts
-        Philip has a lot of assumptions pruned in that story from Acts
-        Those assumptions were like PSA
This care and love is what is offered here by Jesus

      4.    Life-giving Image

In this dark moment of uncertainty, grief, and fear
Jesus words of comfort not judgment or warning
These are pastoral words about to enter the furnace
Remember that as you read them
Says – “Remain in me, and I will remain in you”
-        Shows how they have been lovingly grafted into the story of God’s ongoing love for, commitment to this world and all who live in it.
We too are uncertain situation
-        Me with retirement
-        You with what lies ahead
o   A lot of grief involved
o   A lot of insecurity
Says to us “I am the true vine and you are the branches”
-         “Remain in me, and I will remain in you “

       5.    I wonder

-        How do we experience these words at this moment?

-        What assumptions do we need to be pruned of?

-        How do they invite our imagination to run wild with possibilities?

®   Discussion

®   plenary

 

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