John 14:23-29

Jesus answered Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

After a two week hiatus I have been invited to return to the task of preaching. In order to earn back this honor and privilege I had to promise that I would never again talk about ripping the lips off of a fish, which was the primary illustration of my last sermon! So instead, we’re going to talk about stewardship. Although, I think some of you would rather talk about ripping the lips off of fish!

Today is commitment Sunday – a day when you are asked to establish (or reestablish) your commitment to the ministry of Christ’s church with your financial resources, time, abilities, and ideas.

I’ve had to be reminded on several occasions that the term “commitment” is intentional and important at Cross of Grace. Conversely, I grew up in, and served as pastor to, congregations who used the word “pledge.” A parishioner would write down their financial pledge on a pledge card and drop in in the offering plate. A pledge, by its very definition, is a non-binding declaration of an intention to contribute something of value.

Remember that next time you think about the Pledge of Allegiance. By calling it a “pledge” we are voicing our non-binding declaration of an intention to contribute something of value. Kind of cheapens it a bit, doesn’t it? The words we said every day when school started – the words our kids say every day still now – are a non-binding declaration of an intention to contribute something of value. That doesn’t sound right.

The financial commitment card we have asked you to fill out – as well as the time and talent sheets that we hope also ends up in our offering plate – they are more than a non-binding declaration of an intention to contribute something of value. A commitment is an obligation (which I realize has a negative connotation) but it’s true nonetheless. A commitment is a binding declaration of an intention to contribute something of value.

A pledge is what you say when you recite rote words before the American flag. A commitment is what you do when you enlist to serve your country.

A pledge is what you do when you show up in a congregation. A commitment is what you do when you look at the world God has blessed you with and say, “I have something of value to give in response to God’s love that I have felt in this place.”

So let’s make sure we’re all on the same page here. What we are asking for today – what we are celebrating today – is your binding declaration of your commitment to the mission and financial health of our church and the church throughout the world.

I doubt that I ever made a pledge when I was growing up in the church. But I know that I made a commitment. It was a commitment learned from my parents who decided that regular participation in worship and the life of the church would be part of my life from my earliest days. It was a commitment shaped in response to the people from St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bowling Green, Ohio and St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Archbold, Ohio – the people from every generation who took me under their wing, supported me unconditionally, and gave me a glimpse of what a congregation serving Christ was capable of. It was a commitment to dedicate my vocation to serving people and preaching the good news of grace through Jesus Christ.

Once you make a commitment to the church, your life is changed. You are no longer on the path of your own choosing. It’s a bit like falling in love – you cannot possibly know when it will happen, but when it does, everything changes. It’s permanent and it’s transformational. All of the sudden you are invested, you have a stake, you are bound together.

I am a product of a church that loved me unconditionally. That’s why I’ve committed my life to its service. I am a Christian. I am a Christ-follower. I am a sinner. I am a saint. And I am committed to spreading the truth that God is not a distant, detached being somewhere in outer space, but rather a loving God who lives among us and intends to transform the world around us so that all people may know the truth about the power of forgiveness, love, and grace.

If you’re not ready to fill out your commitment card or your time and talent form, then don’t fill it out. If you cannot imagine committing to the life and ministry and well-being of the church, don’t just turn in something to feel better about yourself or because it seems like everyone else is doing it. Take it seriously. Think deeply. What are the gifts that you have received as a part of Christ’s church? What do you have to share with others?

If you have received nothing, than you have nothing to give, and that’s my fault as much as anyone else’s. But I think that you are here today because you have received something. And if you've received something that means you have something to give back – something that someone else in our congregation or community will receive as a gift. This is precisely how the church will continue to thrive for another 2,000 years.

Jesus told his disciples, “Those who love me will keep my word…Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”

The dollar amount you indicate on your commitment card does not indicate whether you love Jesus or not. Signing up for the most ministries on the time and talent sheet doesn’t earn your salvation. To say otherwise would be outright manipulation. But the truth remains that God desires your love and commitment. Commit to Christ’s church what you can of your finances, time, and talent. And do it with seriousness, faith, and trust that God will work through this motley crew of saints and sinners to bring grace to a world so desperate for good news.

Amen.

John 10:11-18 (NRSV)

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

My wife and I are privileged to own two vehicles. One is our good car – the one we bought when our first child was born. It safely and comfortably transports the kids around town and is our only option for long road trips.

And then there’s the other car. We try not to ask it to do much more than get me the 11/2 miles to and from church every day. It leaks oil; it has barely an inch of exterior that isn't’ dented, cracked, or missing paint; it has more pieces than I care to admit joined together with plastic zip ties; and seven years ago I put a CD into the car stereo system and to this day it has refused to eject it.

Sometimes life kind of works out like that – you have at least two options, but you only deem one of the options as “good.”

If I say, “Coke or Pepsi,” you know which one you think is good. Same thing if I say, “Democrat or Republican” or “IU or Purdue.” Anyone who grew up with brothers or sisters has probably thought that only one of you was the “good” sibling (or at least felt like one was treated by your parents as the “good” sibling).

In today’s scripture Jesus announces that he is good. Of all the voices pleading for us to follow them, it is Jesus’ voice alone is “good.” As the good shepherd, Jesus promises he will stick around when trouble comes, unite divided groups, die to protect us from the forces of darkness, and guide us in a voice we would recognize.

I believe this is true. I believe that of all the voices vying for my attention, Jesus alone is the good shepherd. I believe that Jesus sticks around when trouble comes. I believe Jesus will united what is divided. I believe Jesus died to protect me from the forces of darkness.

Where I struggle, however, is with Jesus’ promise that the flock will know and follow Jesus’ voice.

How many of us can say with absolute certainty that we hear (and follow) Jesus’ will in our lives? How many of us are confident that when we encounter the next big decision – the next fork in the road – Jesus’ voice will guide us to make the correct decision?

I hope I’m not the only one struggles with this daily!

How do we, as people who desire to be led by Christ, know if we are following the good shepherd as opposed to simply following our own desires, demons, or indigestion?

Reading and wrestling with scripture is certainly one way to hear the voice of Jesus. Another is by worshiping with and committing yourself to a faith community. Also, you can spend time in prayer and meditation, as I know many of you do.

But what about the times when scripture fails to speak to us, when faith communities fail to love and accept us, or when we can’t bring ourselves to pray because we we’re not sure anyone or anything is actually listening? Is there another way to hear the voice of the good shepherd?

Yes!

Another way to hear the voice of the good shepherd is by following the sheep that are already going the right way (to be clear, that’s metaphorical sheep!).

Often I have encounters with people and am struck by the feeling that these are people I ought to follow because they’re on the right path; they are people I could learn from, and they just “get it.” These are people who manage to embody the voice of the good shepherd through their faith, selfless actions, and peaceful presence.

Here’s an example: You remember my car situation – how I have one good car and one bad car? Well, last Friday I learned that one of my brake pads had fallen off the bad car. The mechanic assured me brake pads are very important for a vehicle and told me to leave the car there, although he was unsure if he could get to it that day or the next. I was solo parenting that entire weekend – the good car safely and dependably transporting my wife to Nashville, Tennessee – and I needed my car to transport the kids to/from school and ball games.

I drove back to the church and was weighing my options when a colleague I had just met a couple days earlier arrived for our scheduled lunch meeting. I told him about my predicament. He responded with a gentle chuckle, shook his head and said, “Believe it or not, we just bought a new car this morning. Why don’t you take my van until your car gets repaired?” He then said, “People have been very generous to us and I’d like to help out by helping pay for the car repair.”

It was clear this was no power-play or pity party on his part; and I accepted his generous offer. Later I called my wife with an update on the car and said, “The car’s broke again and in the shop, but don’t worry, I’m borrowing a minivan from someone I just met.”

We ended up spending the afternoon accompanying one another on errands and having holy conversation – an experience made possible because of his selfless generosity and grace.

I tell you that story to testify that the voice of the good shepherd can be heard all around us, often in unexpected places and people. I heard the voice of the good shepherd in one family’s unexpected, abundant, and selfless generosity – generosity made possible because others had been generous to them. I found sheep who were already following the voice of the good shepherd, and I made an effort to follow close behind.

When you look around at the sea of humanity, it’s tempting to think that we’re all just a bunch of stupid sheep who can’t get our act together. However, there is something faithful about seeking out the sheep who are being guided in the right direction and following closely behind.

This is the gift Christians are called and blessed to be in the world: we are called and blessed to bear the presence of Jesus for all people.

I have been privileged to have been led by faithful sheep my whole life. Honestly, it’s the primary reason why I chose to stay in the church and it is why I still believe that there is a good shepherd to follow.

Even when the words of scripture fail to comfort us, when the actions of a community hurt us, when we doubt that prayer is worth the effort, may we be open to the idea that there are people whom God will put in our lives who can teach us, inspire us, and lead us along the path. Only then can we hope to guide others toward the voice of the good shepherd.

And all God’s sheep say, "Baaaaa!"

Commitment – John 14:23-29

"The Good Shepherd and the Good Sheep" – John 10:11-18