Friday’s thoughts on the sermon for October 29th
The “Abundant Life” Jesus said he came to bring has some problems attached. In fact, I think it was “Abundant Life” that got him into trouble. It was not a Gospel of accumulation, it was a message of tenacity. It is not a Gospel of self-indulgence; it’s a Gospel of selfless giving.
Two points I will try to make as I try to define “Abundant Life” as Jesus came to bring it.
1. Abundant Life means we learn to move from good to great. It means we look at the accomplishments of other people rather than to get credit for our own. It means we discover what it means to be servant leaders rather than enjoying the power of leadership that comes from being in control. It means we strive to do something with our lives that most properly approaches the potential we have been given by God.
2. Abundant Life means we learn to move from great, past grief, through God. It means we learn how to face the worst day we’ve ever had and to know that we can face anything that might come along because we have a “personal relationship” with God. God is not a concept to be debated. God is not an idea that we have held. God is not our private saver in times of trouble. God is a real presence in times of trouble. God is the one thing that stands when all else has fallen. God is a listener when we need to talk, and God is a “good word” when we need direction. We don’t own God, but we can move and live and have our being in God. We don’t need to pray to God as if God could grant our wish, but when we pray to God many of our wishes have been granted as we begin to discover how to participate in the problems we face and move toward the solutions we need.
Perhaps the ‘Abundant Life” jesus came to give us is the most valuable gift we will ever receive. Abundant life makes life worth living and enables us to overcome life when it is overwhelming.
How is faith a resource for living?
How do you experience abundant life?
How is God personal to you?
If you have thoughts to share publically, please leave a comment with this post. For personal thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to your ideas.
Charles
