Author: Pastor Aleese Kenitzer

Throughout the summer, a handful of Shepherds, along with participants from Grace and Zion, have read two books as a part of Book Club: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis and Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. Through reading and conversation, we’ve challenged ourselves, and each other, to examine what we believe about life, death, resurrection, and the kingdom of God. 

But speaking for myself, examining what I believe about each of these topics hasn’t always been the easiest thing to do. I, like many of us, have grown up within the church for decades. And with that, I come with years of teaching and language that – to this point – has helped me express what I believe about God and about how God acts in the world. 

So, to reframe what I think I believe? What I’ve been taught since I was in Sunday School or confirmation? That…isn’t always easy. In fact, it takes courage. And yet, for myself,  I’ve discovered that by even considering another perspective, my faith hasn’t been questioned. Rather, my faith has been deepened as I move beyond the pat-answers given to me in Sunday School years and years ago, and as I develop my own, personal, understanding of God at work within me and within the world. 

For sure, to engage in this sort of faith development is risky. And yet, without it, our faith may become stagnant. Just as a child is intended to grow and mature – changing physically, emotionally, and socially – so are we to grow and mature spiritually. 

So, if you’re looking for a group to wrestle with various perspectives and questions of faith, I invite you to consider joining the Big Questions adult group as a part of Family Faith Nights. We’ll meet weekly, per the Family Faith calendar, from 6:00 – 7:30pm at Grace (meal time included). Through our group work, our hope will be to explore the truths that shape our questions and the beliefs we carry, while also leading each of us to a faith that is more solid and richly personal. 

If you want to learn more about this group, click here to get a fuller picture. Or, if you’re ready to sign up as a participant, sign up online or in the narthex.  Not able to make it every week? Not a problem. Come as you’re able. 

Whether this seems like a good opportunity for you or not, it is my hope that you – as individuals and as a congregation – continue to allow ourselves to dig deep in our faith. We could coast along, satisfied with our faith and our relationship with God where it is right now, at this time. But as we continue to grow, and as we continue to allow the Spirit to mold and shape us, we might find ourselves transformed – in our belief, and as people. 

For the past three weeks, we’ve heard Jesus tell parables of the kingdom: the parable of the sower, the parable of the wheat and the weeds, and a series of short parables including the mustard seed, yeast, field, pearl, and catch of fish. 

So why not stick to one parable of the kingdom and call it good? Can’t we get what we need to know about the kingdom from one story…rather than seven? 

Well, think of it this way: have you ever tried sharing an experience you had with another person, but find yourself without the words to fully capture everything that that experience was to you? I’ve been there. And, I’ve also been on the receiving end of that conversation as friends have tried – sometimes using numerous different examples – to communicate the depth of what they’ve come to experience/come to know. 

Sometimes, it’s difficult to concretely and succinctly describe something that is so big, so vast, and so incredible…something like the kingdom of God. 

Trust me, there are times I wish the Bible had more concrete descriptions. Just tell me what I need to know! But, without leaving room to engage with depictions of things like the kingdom of God, truth is, we’re actually limiting God from being God…and we’re limiting God’s Kingdom from being God’s Kingdom. 

So as we close our mini-series on the parables of the kingdom, challenge yourself to go back to these passages one more time and consider: what new perspective of the kaleidoscope of God’s Kingdom was revealed to you this year? And, what have these parables revealed to you about your participation in God’s Kingdom? 

We may be moving on from the parables of the kingdom in worship. But for the rest of our lives of faith, we will be forming words and images and ideas to point to the fullness of God’s Kingdom. So rather than create a concrete paragraph description, try this: live what God’s Kingdom is. Live into the invitation that Christ has offered to you. And then, testify to that. 

For the past two weeks in worship, we’ve heard two parables from Jesus describing God’s Kingdom. First, the parable of the sower, and second, the parable of the wheat and the weeds. 

As I was wrestling with these parables and preparing to preach, I have to admit: it was challenging to narrow down my thought process to one main point. I know it’s easier to grasp ahold of one point, rather than a multitude, especially when an idea is communicated verbally. But, when it comes to parables, the point is exactly the opposite. Parables are not meant to be distilled down to one message, nor to a simplistic allegory. Parables, according to C.H. Dodd (New Testament scholar and professor), are “a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application as to tease it into active thought.” (Parables of the Kingdom, 1935:16).

So if in the past two weeks you’ve found yourself walking away with more questions than answers – especially from our Gospel readings – well, the parables are doing what they should be doing then. Parables are not meant to give us concrete explanations, but are to call attention to the unsatisfactoriness of previous explanations and understandings that we may have held onto. 

So as we approach yet one more week of parables this coming Sunday, allow yourself to be teased into active thought. And, if there’s something that’s still sticking with you from the parables we’ve heard already, continue to mull it over. Because it just might be in that mulling that God has a specific word for you. 

A good farmer (and gardener) knows that for plants to grow, the soil needs to be cultivated. It needs to be worked. It needs to be turned over. 

But often, that process of turning over the soil isn’t a delicate one. Think of the last time you thrust a spade into the ground. The spade distrubs the soil, breaking it up. It’s for the plant’s benefit that the soil is loosened up and turned over. But the act of cultivation is actually quite an agreesive act. 

In our Gospel reading this past Sunday, we heard the parable of the sower in which seed falls in various environments. The sower (which, one might interpret as God) sows the seed of the kingdom liberally, without worrying about where it lands. If it lands on concrete, so be it. If it lands on fertile soil, so be it. God faithfully spreads the seed of God’s Word. 

But, God also faithfully nurtures and cultivates us to receive God’s Word. Which, at times, might feel a bit disruptive. Discomforting. Because turning over the “soil” of our lives, our world, our church, might shake things up a bit. It might loosen things up a bit. And, it might turn some things over. 

And yet, as God does this work, our lives, our world, and our church is now able to more fully receive the seed of God’s Word. 

So if it feels as though you’ve been “shaken up” or “turned over” or “loosened up” in your faith at some point, take heart. For God is not working for your demise. Quite the opposite. God is seeking to invite us into this work of cultivation so that the seed of God’s Word takes root, grows, flourishes, and bears fruit…for our sake, and for the sake of the world. 

As we remember, celebrate, and give thanks for the freedoms embraced by many in our country, we also pause as followers of Jesus to give thanks for the truth that through Jesus Christ, we have been freed from the bondage of our sin.

As Paul writes in Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” But, in the words of Superman, with that freedom comes great responsibility. Now, we are freed to live in service to our neighbor.

As you go about your day, challenge yourself to remember that you, too, have been freed from all that keeps you captive. And, challenge yourself to see those around you as your neighbor whom you have been freed to serve in Christ’s name.

Some of you may be familiar with one of the many Mission Impossible movies. These movies are a series of American action spy films that focus on a main character Ethan Hunt: an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). Each movie highlights a new feat for Ethan to overcome in order to save something or somebody. As Ethan hears each new assignment, he’s given the message, “your mission, Mr. Hunt, should you choose to accept is….” Following this precursor, then Ethan hears what he is to do, and what the dangers will be. 

In many ways, this invitation given to Ethan is a similar invitation given to us as disciples of Jesus. If we’re honest, the readings we heard in worship this past weekend were intense and didn’t mince any words about the potential costs, and dangers, of living as a disciple of Jesus. And yet, still, Jesus called his disciples – and calls us – to follow. 

But why should we accept this mission when there is potential for danger? When it may come at a cost? And when it may ask something of us? 

Perhaps we accept this mission for similar reasons that Ethan accepts his missions: because he is determined to protect those he cares about, because he is convinced there there is a better vision for the world without the threat of evil, and because he believes in his cause. In the same way, as followers of Jesus, we may accept our mission to join as disciples for the sake of others in the world – so that they might know the truth of Jesus. Or, we may accept our mission because we are convinced that, through Christ, there is a better vision for the world. Or, we may accept our mission because we firmly believe in the cause of Christ. 

We may accept Christ’s mission for any of these reasons. But even beyond these reasons, we accept Christ’s mission because in giving ourselves to Christ and to Christ’s mission we actually find life. 

It seems counterintuitive that life is found in what’s given up, or that life is found within what might be considered “dangerous.” But in love, Christ calls us to follow: trusting that our God values us more than many sparrows, and trusting that in in giving ourselves to Christ and each other, we will find life. 

So as you continue to walk as a disciple of Jesus, consider the mission put before you. After our readings from Sunday, it may seem like a mission impossible to pick up this mission. But in and through Christ, we are given newness of life…sending us forth to make possible what may seem impossible.