Making New Connections

Jan. 8^th, 2017             Making New Connections

Matthew 3: 13-17

            Last week around 6:15, I looked at Joanna and said, “It feels strange to be here, doesn’t it?” We were at my mom’s house, the place where I was raised, the place that had always been home to me. But it felt odd not being with you. Connect has become a community that I want to be a part of, and I missed you last week. And so as we watched the ball drop, signaling the beginning of a new year, I was quietly thanking God for you and for the great things that are going to happen this year. It’s good to be back.

            What’s not good, however, is the image I saw when looking into the mirror the other day. Mirrors are funny objects. They show us what we need to see, and sometimes they provide us with the necessary motivation to make significant changes in our lives. I joked around a few weeks ago that I was already at my post-Christmas weight (long before Christmas had arrived), and the mirror confirmed what the scales were trying to tell me. And so I determined that this year was going to be different than every other year. This is the year I’ll get back in shape and make healthy lifestyle changes that will transform my life. And I’m going to invite you to be a part of that. Next week we’re starting a new sermon series called, “Biggest Loser- Blairsville Style.” And we’re going to look at all the barriers that keep us from experiencing the fullness of life God has to offer. Along the way we’re inviting our parish churches to participate in a friendly weight-loss competition. Over the next several weeks, I’m inviting you to drop the pounds with me. We’ll anonymously record the collective pounds we’ve lost, and then at the end of our sermon series, we’ll declare the winner. But even more important than declaring a winner, we’re going to prove that it’s possible to live differently, to live victoriously and to grab ahold of the good life God has in store for us. And what better time to do that than at the start of a new year?

            I’m not much of a winter guy, but when the calendar turns to a new year, I can’t help but to grow a bit excited. I don’t know what it is about the calendar change, but a simple digit swap always brings about the fresh hope that this can be different kind of year. I start to rekindle old dreams and ponder the endless possibilities of what could be. And I know I’m not the only one. Roughly 50% of people make New Year’s resolutions, where they determine that something about their lives will be different this year. It might be a desire to lose weight or read more, to try out a new hobby or to spend less time in front of the computer. But regardless of the resolution, one thing is clear: the new year gives us a fresh start to be the people we’ve always wanted to be and were created to be. The only problem is that we’re not very good at it. Only 8% of people who make new year’s resolutions fulfill their commitment. Think about that for a second. Only 8 out of 100 people who say, “This year is going to be different” actually end up living differently! I have a feeling that’s why the other 50% of people don’t even try to make positive changes. They don’t want to part of the groups that doesn’t make it. And you know what? It’s happens with our spiritual lives as well. 

     We have visions and dreams of the type of people God has called us to be- Fully devoted followers of Jesus- and yet getting there seems to be such a grand challenge. But the good news is that we aren’t the only ones who have these dreams. God has this dream for us as well. More than anything, God wants to see us live into our full spiritual potential. The ancient theologian Irenaeus once said “The glory of God is man fully alive!” God takes glory, God experiences joy, when we are firing on all of our spiritual cylinders. Listen to these words from Jesus in the Gospel of John: “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” That’s the desire God has for each and every one of us. If God had a New Year’s Vision for you, it would be this: To live a full and abundant life! That’s God’s dream for you. But there are barriers, sometimes self-imposed barriers, that need to come crashing down if we want this to be true of us.

            One of the first things we need to do in order to become fully alive is to root our identities in Jesus. And the Scripture we read for today, the story of Jesus’ baptism, tells us at least three truths about who we are (and whose we are) that deserve daily reminders. This story is interesting because Jesus didn’t need to undergo baptism. In baptism, we proclaim a faith that washes away sin and cleanses us from the power of evil, a faith that cries out to God to make us new, none of which were necessary for Jesus. Yet by choosing to undergo baptism, Jesus identifies with our struggles and God responds with proclamations that we need to remember. Otherwise, we’ll begin to believe lies about our worth, our value and our significance.

            The first truth God wants you to remember is this: God loves you. It’s as simple as that, yet is there anything harder to believe? We’re so used to earning favor from others and proving our usefulness that to hear we are loved can be a strange idea. We never know for sure if we’re in someone’s good graces or in their doghouses, but with God, we never have to worry. He loves us. And he loves us before we ever do anything to earn that love. And this is so vitally important to our faith because God’s love doesn’t hinge on our usefulness or desire. There’s nothing we can do to compel God to love us, nor is there anything we can do that would cause God to stop loving us. He just does. But here’s something else: God’s love for us does not mean that our lives will be flawless. In fact, I have to wonder if maybe this is why God speaks this important word to Jesus. As soon as he is baptized, he is launched into a 40-day journey that was filled with trials and temptations. We are bound to experience ups and downs, and in the midst of those downs, we need to remember that we are loved.

            The second truth God wants you to remember, and is just as challenging as the first, is this: God is pleased with you. Did you hear that? God is pleased with you. Let’s take a look at this for a minute. What exactly had Jesus done up to that point that would’ve compelled God to proclaim, “I am well pleased.” Not a whole lot, at least, nothing that the Gospel writers care to tell us. And I think that’s the point. God is certainly pleased when we live in honorable and holy ways, and we should strive to do so, but God’s delight in us is not really about what we’ve done and left undone, but about who we are in God’s eyes. And here is who we are: We are God’s creation, God’s masterpiece, the object of his love. Listen to these words from Romans. God proves his love to us that while we WERE STILL SINNERS, he sent his son to die for us. This is a game-changer. I wonder how many of us keep God at arm’s length away because we’re just not convinced that he’ll like very much? He likes you, brothers and sisters.

The third truth we need to hear from this text today is this: God has and continues to give you power to face and overcome every trial and challenge. God has not left you to face your battles on your own. This is what makes the gift of the Holy Spirit such an important and necessary gift. Soon after his is baptized, Jesus will step foot into a 3 year journey that begins in a wilderness where he is tempted by the devil for 40 days and ends with an ugly death on a cross. And the strength Jesus needs to even START the journey, let alone finish it, comes in the from of God’s Spirit. I’ve heard a lot of people say, “I can’t handle this anymore,” or “I can’t go on.” And I’ve felt the same way. If finding the strength and willpower to continue had been solely up to me, I wouldn’t be here today. But it’s not, and never was. That same power, that same strength, that same gift that was given to Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit, is given to you. It is the Spirit of God who is our strength.

So, now that we’ve established and rooted our identity in Christ, and with these self-imposed barriers knocked down, it’s time to think about who God wants us to be in this new year. And it’s as simple as this: God invites us to make new connections. There are three connections we are called to make as individuals and churches. This is our vision for 2017. First, we must find ways to daily connect with God. Whether it’s through a commitment to worship, to read Scripture, or to pray, connecting with God must be a priority. From God we draw our joy, discover our passion and experience peace. Our hearts are home when we are home with God. What will you do this year to better connect with God? Secondly, we must find ways to strengthen our faith by connecting with others. Sometimes it’s hard to admit, but we need each other. Like a quarterback needs a wide receiver or a teacher needs students, we need each other to as we walk faithfully in an up and down world. Spiritual friendships are so important! We offer lots of opportunities, such as Bible studies and small groups, Connect Church Recovery and other special interest groups. What will you do this year to better connect with others? Finally, we must find ways to connect God’s love to a hurting world. This can be as informal as a conversation with someone who just needs to talk or a big vision of reaching a hurting demographic in our community. It might involve making meals for our shut-ins, volunteering through Family Promise, or something else that God places on your heart. What will you do this year to connect God’s love with a hurting world? How will you share with others the same love that you’ve received? This is our challenge for a new year. These are the connections we must make if we want to ignite a movement of fully devoted followers of Jesus and transform our community. And this is what vibrant spiritual life looks like. What new connections will you make this year? Let’s pray.