Pastor Rich's sermon for Sunday, April 6, 2008

Basically Paul is telling the converts that it is “Out with the old; in with the new.” Out with the old; in with the new is not a new idea. It was a little over three months ago that most of us were making New Year’s resolutions. Is that what a resolution is, a desire to get rid of something in your life and replace it with something better. How is that going for you? Have you gotten rid of that old behavior, attitude, habit that you wanted to?

Spring time growing up was always a season of out with the old; in with the new. The beginning of spring meant spring cleaning. This meant down came all the winter drapes and curtains. Windows, walls, woodwork and blinds all had to be washed. You had to get out the winter dirt. You needed to bring in the fragrance of spring. You sorted out your winter clothes and packed away those clothes that would still fit you next winter and bagged the rest. The spring clothes were brought down from the attic.

Speaking of out with the old; in with the new this is certainly the situation the Methodist Church in Milltown is faced with as Rev. Scott is leaving and a new pastor will be arriving. This transition is an unsettling one for the members and for Bob. There will be new challenges and new possibilities.

While St. Paul’s is not faced with the challenge of a new pastor, at least I don’t think we are, we too have new challenges which are no less real, unsettling and daring.

What is our challenge?

Our challenge is to determine who we are. Are we an institution or a mission? What are we? What do we want to be?

The institutional church defines faithfulness as support for their church, and their focus is on programs, structures, budgets and institutional survival.

The mission the church sees themselves as “joining Jesus on the mission field.” They are constantly seeking innovation, trying new styles of worship and education and fellowship in an ongoing attempt to connect people to God.

One of the most daunting and difficult challenges we face in the church today is the transition from institution ... to mission movement. Some of you might remember the video that was shown at the congregational meeting. It stated the Biblical truth that Jesus calls us to give a cup of water to the least of these. The question the video asked is “What should the cup of water be for our community?”

The Psalmist having been saved from certain death raises the question

“How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?”

It seems an odd notion that the psalmist would think he serves a God who keeps a ledger and expects repayment.

What sort of “repayment” is the writer talking about? An accounting/balance sheet motif? Americans are no strangers to debt. The Outstanding Public Debt as of 06 Apr 2008 is $9,441,692,513,884.71. The estimated population of the United States is 303,758,203 so each citizen's share of this debt is $31,082.92.

If the Christian life is a matter of keeping and settling accounts, then how, indeed, do we repay “the LORD for all his goodness” to us?

Usually, in our culture, debts are paid on an installment plan of some kind with a high rate of interest thrown in. “How can I repay Bank of America or Chase or Wachovia for all their goodness to me?” The answer will be, “You will repay it with minimum monthly payments which, you will be able to pay off in the year 2027.” How will this repayment occur? It will occur through automatic withdrawal from your checking or savings account, or you’ll transfer funds online, or you’ll write us a check every month if you want to do it the old-fashioned way.

The psalmist is using a different model when he says “repay.” He’s using the gratitude model. “God, you’ve been really good to me. Of course we’re not keeping books here, but I still want to express my gratitude. It’s the only right thing to do.”

The psalmist answers his own question by rattling off a list of ritual and religious practices he’ll launch to “repay” or demonstrate his gratitude.

12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?

13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the LORD

How can I repay?

It might be a good exercise for us to be challenged to come up with a list, as did the writer here, of what we’re going to do this week that is a specific and direct response of gratitude to God who, when we cried,

“O LORD, I pray, save my life”
(v. 4),

God did precisely that.

What are you willing to get rid of to make room for God’s Holy Spirit in your life?