Acts 8.26-40; Ps 22.24-30; 1Jn 4.7-21; John 15.1-18
This morning, the scriptures are inviting us
to live and love fully. They are encouraging us to look beyond our own personal
preferences and focus on what can happen in the broad community, to bring Glory
to God, and to further the reign of Christ.
Sometimes, thanks be to God, those desires for communal growth and development
do align with our own personal desires - and we celebrate. But often, in our
society, we can become so individualised that our focus is only on what we want
for ourselves.
Think about the last time you met someone new: aside from basic demographic
questions, I'm willing to bet you delved quickly into discussions of personal
favourites. Favourite foods, favourite colours, hobbies, books, movies - you
name it. All those wonderful things that make us who we are as individuals.
With the community and kingdom focus, however, our questions might also include
a broader spectrum. How do you engage with your neighbours? What brings you
joy? What events and activities do you participate in to help build community?
How do you actively welcome newcomers?
And for those of us who are Christ followers: how do you love God and your
neighbour? In what ways have your actions demonstrated this love today?
So our shift from the personal to the communal also shifts from a statement to
a call to action. Because fully loving God is not something that we can do
entirely on our own, and it's not something that just is. Using our own faith
experience as a starting point, how we live the love of God takes intentional
engagement with the world, and purposeful ministry.
This is what's happening in our scriptures. I'm going to start with the
emphasis on Philip in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Now, at any
point, we realise that if there was a personal preference option, the good news
of God may not have grown in the direction it did, and the sharing of the
Gospel may not have borne fruit.
But: Philip responded to God's call. Listening to the nudging of the Spirit, and
disregarding his own personal safety, he went down this wilderness road, he
joined the foreigner’s entourage, he started a conversation about God, he
delayed a travelling high-level dignitary, he engaged in a powerful
conversation about God and faith and Jesus, he baptised the eunuch. This is
bold! This is inspired and inspiring! This is kingdom work! And then, after
being swept away by the Spirit, continued in foreign lands to share, by word
and example, the Good News of God in Christ.
For anyone else, we would say that
this was foolish, or unsafe. Walking alone on a wilderness road? Bad plan.
Getting into a strangers’ car or chariot? Ill-advised. But Philip knew this was
not a normal encounter; he knew that what he was doing was meant to happen.
Because he was in close enough relationship with God and Jesus through the
Spirit to realize how God was calling him into action, for the sake of the
Gospel.
This is what Philip was meant to be doing, for the love of God, at that time
and at that place. To celebrate the presence of God in unexpected ways and
unanticipated places with unknown people. To live fully in the opportunity that
presented itself with a desire to share the love of God, to live into the full
stature of being a Christ follower, to respond with nothing but a Godly focus
for the benefit of community, trusting that his ministry would encourage more
God-focused ministry from those he encountered.
It's fascinating how people can respond to such an example of loving,
God-focused ministry. They get excited. They want to learn more. They want to
engage more. They want to be part of a community that actively and proactively
encourages faith nurture. And the more that people learn about this kingdom
work, the more they want to be involved with it themselves - to move from a ME
focus to a GOD focus.
And - what's to stop this from happening?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
Like what Philip said to the eunuch: even though there were differences in his
looks, his language, his hometown, his customs, his food, his experiences. Even
though he was new to understanding what the scriptures meant, even if Philip
never saw him again. There was a spark of faith, a passion for the gospel, a
commitment to the ministry of loving God and neighbour.
And bless Philip for his strong faith to recognise this, and respond
accordingly.
"What is to prevent me from being baptised?" the man asked.
Nothing. Nothing at all.
And so a baptism happened. A life-changing, joy-inducing, Spirit-invoking
celebration of a commitment to love and serve God, in all things and at all
times. A desire to live the full life that is promised to us, as full and equal
members of the Body of Christ: a life of inclusion and intention, a life of
responding to God's love for us by loving one another, a life of bearing fruit
that is rooted and grounded in the truth of God's love.
So today, as we celebrate this unconditional and eternal love with precious
[name] and her family, I invite us to remember our own baptismal vows, which
we affirm and re-affirm at every opportunity, as we find new ways to keep our
focus on the kingdom of God. I invite us to truly celebrate that the love of
God is continually inviting us all into communion, into the mystery and delight
of being loved and of being loving. May we all delight in the blessing of the
love of God, so lavishly poured upon us all.
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