Readings of the Day:
Sermon:
Several weeks ago, when Tom Joyner was among you, he asked what it would be like
for Greensboro if St. Paul's was to disappear. If we would be missed.
First of all, don't worry, we aren't going anywhere. But what Tom said does raise an important point. We do need to ask what our role is in the community and the world.
Our reading from 1 Kings this morning actually gives a sense of what our role is. In this reading, Solomon is dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem.
Now the Temple's main purpose would have been for the Israelites to perform their own rites and worship for God. In other words, like most temples in lands at this time, the Temple was meant specifically for the Israelites own way of worship.
But in this passage, we learn that the temple to our Lord has a much larger purpose. It is not just so that the God of Israel will be worshiped by just Israel. It is not a tool to limit God. It gives us the opportunity to shine our light to all other people. It allows those who are foreigners in the land of Israel, those who do not yet know God, to come to know Him. To know the gift of His saving help.
It shows that God is not just the God of Israel. He's not just our God. He's the God of everyone everywhere.
And that is the mission we are still called to carry out today. To be that shining light, that Temple, that city on a hill to all others in this community and the world. To be that light to direct all others to God.
For the Israelites, the temple showed God was the God of all through His answering the prayers of all that came through the Temple doors, just as Solomon asked. The light of God was revealed because foreigners experienced God as well.
The way we can do the same thing today, to allow all in Greensboro and the world to experience God through our presence is by sharing the love that He has for us.
Because God chose to come down and dwelled among us. To be one of us as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And He loved us so much, He was willing to die on the cross to save us from our sins and raise us to new life in Him.
And our task, in being the light of God in the world, is to show that same love and compassion for all of those around us. Even those who may despise and reject us, as Jesus was. Because if everyone can see that we love them with the love of Christ, if we can show them that the same sort of compassion as Jesus, who was willing to lay down His life for us all, then they will come to know the power that God is working in us and in the world, just as the foreigner in Solomon's time knew God through the answering of their prayers.
First of all, don't worry, we aren't going anywhere. But what Tom said does raise an important point. We do need to ask what our role is in the community and the world.
Our reading from 1 Kings this morning actually gives a sense of what our role is. In this reading, Solomon is dedicating the Temple in Jerusalem.
Now the Temple's main purpose would have been for the Israelites to perform their own rites and worship for God. In other words, like most temples in lands at this time, the Temple was meant specifically for the Israelites own way of worship.
But in this passage, we learn that the temple to our Lord has a much larger purpose. It is not just so that the God of Israel will be worshiped by just Israel. It is not a tool to limit God. It gives us the opportunity to shine our light to all other people. It allows those who are foreigners in the land of Israel, those who do not yet know God, to come to know Him. To know the gift of His saving help.
It shows that God is not just the God of Israel. He's not just our God. He's the God of everyone everywhere.
And that is the mission we are still called to carry out today. To be that shining light, that Temple, that city on a hill to all others in this community and the world. To be that light to direct all others to God.
For the Israelites, the temple showed God was the God of all through His answering the prayers of all that came through the Temple doors, just as Solomon asked. The light of God was revealed because foreigners experienced God as well.
The way we can do the same thing today, to allow all in Greensboro and the world to experience God through our presence is by sharing the love that He has for us.
Because God chose to come down and dwelled among us. To be one of us as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And He loved us so much, He was willing to die on the cross to save us from our sins and raise us to new life in Him.
And our task, in being the light of God in the world, is to show that same love and compassion for all of those around us. Even those who may despise and reject us, as Jesus was. Because if everyone can see that we love them with the love of Christ, if we can show them that the same sort of compassion as Jesus, who was willing to lay down His life for us all, then they will come to know the power that God is working in us and in the world, just as the foreigner in Solomon's time knew God through the answering of their prayers.
If we all go out and show this love to others, then we will truly be a part of Greensboro that makes a difference to the community. We can be a part that, if we left tomorrow, would truly be missed. Because we would be doing something the world cannot. We would be revealing the amazing and life giving power of God's love.
So go out, and do the work God has given us to do. And love one another, and all those around you, with the same love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has shown us.