Second Presbyterian Church

"Hesitating Christians:
Preaching From the Gospel of Luke"
November 14, 2004

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Sermons Homepage » Sermons for 2004 » Sermons for November 2004 » Sermons from the Series on Luke

#35 in the Series on Luke
The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.

• Philippians 3: 2-16
• Luke 9: 51-62

For openers, Jesus is now beginning his journey toward Jerusalem. The rest of the Gospel will be in that context until Jesus reaches the city and makes his triumphal entry. One gets a sense of the urgency of this journey by the fact that it is mentioned twice in the first part of our lesson. By going to Jerusalem Jesus was beginning to act out what he predicted: namely that he will be seized, persecuted, killed, then raised from the dead.

Jesus felt the urgency of needing to teach his disciples. They are still in the, "Lets gather an army and conquer," mode. So when the Samaritans would not provide hospitality, James and John wondered with Jesus about calling down fire from heaven upon those inhospitable Samaritans. Jesus rebuked them. He had to be firm and clear with the disciples that the Kingdom of God was not going to come into existence in a show of power. And the disciples would not quite understand this until after Jesus was raised from the dead.

In addition, the crowds were still following Jesus. He was very popular with the average, common folk. They saw him as a great prophet (although, tragically, not as the Messiah) and some wanted to be his disciples.

"Jesus, I'll follow you where ever you go," said one.

"Oh really? Even birds have nests and foxes have dens. The Son of Man has no place to call home. Are you SURE you want to follow me? Do you REALIZE where I am going?" ("NO.")

Jesus called another person to follow him. "Please, sir, let me go and bury my father."

"Let the dead bury the dead. Go and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom of God." Jesus needed to make it clear. Not even the most honorable customs, such as family obligations, are not to get in the way of one's loyalty to Christ and the Kingdom of God. Either Jesus was first in this disciple's life or he just wasn't a disciple.

Another would be disciple said something similar to the second. "Let me first go back and say goodbye to my family."

Response, "A man who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit to be my disciple."

People have had such fun with the last image. It is such a clear image, even though fewer and fewer people know what it is like to plow a straight row. Those of you who are farmers know. When you plow a row, you look straight ahead; stay focused, if you want a straight furrow. If you look back too often, the furrow becomes crooked, because you have taken your eye off your point of reference.

If you are not a farmer, but you have a boat, you have an idea of what Jesus is talking about. If you wish to make a straight wake with your boat, you set your sights on a point of reference on the shore and keep the bow of the boat heading for it. If you look back too often to see how you are doing, you will note that your wake begins to get crooked. You have taken your eye off the goal, the point of reference.

So what? To put it simply, Jesus is beginning to explain what it means to take up your cross and follow him. To be a disciple is a costly undertaking. It will cost you all that you have.

• Are you willing to give up your home, your security?
• Are you willing to put even the most sacred traditions under your loyalty to Jesus Christ?
• Are you willing to turn your life around (repent) and not look back at what you have turned away from?
• Are you willing to follow Jesus - all the way to Jerusalem and through the cross?

Paul said it quite plainly in Philippians. He, as a Jew could brag; he was a Pharisee, circumcised, educated, obedient to the letter of the law. In every way Paul was flawless in his so-called righteousness under the law.

Yet, he gladly gave it up for Jesus Christ. All these great honors and accolades were mere garbage in comparison to the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

How are we doing? Do we have our hands on the plow in the first place? Are we looking toward Christ who was at this point looking toward and traveling toward Jerusalem? Do we find ourselves hesitating?

Frankly, I believe that it is hard enough to be a disciple and to put Jesus Christ first in our lives - above everything else. In fact we cannot do it just on our own steam. We need the constant help of our Lord who is willing, able and faithful to give us all the strength we need to stay faithful in our journey of discipleship. And even when we do blow it, God is there to help pick us up, shake off the dust and to keep moving on.

Yet, it may be even more difficult to stay the course as a congregation. Although I believe it is impossible to stay the course as an individual without the support of the congregation.

Today is Stewardship Sunday. It is time to express with our pledges what joy we feel from being redeemed by Christ and to express our faith in the church by providing the means to have it operate.

Since I have been here as pastor, we have been publishing annual reports. Some people may think that an annual report is just a waste of time and paper. I challenge you to look at last years' annual report and look at it through the lenses of faith. Look at all the many, many things that have been done in the name of Jesus Christ here at Second. You can see the accomplishments of the program staff. You can read about the accomplishments of every committee. You can read about the many acts of ministry done by our education department, our Presbyterian Women and Presbyterian Men.

In 1851 the Lord Jesus Christ called Second Presbyterian Church into existence. Why? Christ called us to further His Gospel, to proclaim the Kingdom of God in Petersburg, to be the Body of Christ amongst the residents here and beyond.

And if God has called us into existence, then He has also called us and given us talents and gifts to accomplish His mission. Some of the gifts are our wealth, so that staff may be paid, programs funded, missions accomplished -both local and abroad. I want you to offer your pledge today the amount you believe that Christ would have you cheerfully give!

God has given us other gifts and talents. Some of you are gifted with the gift of prayer. Some of you are gifted with the gift of ministry to the sick and shut-ins. Some of you are gifted with the gift of music and singing. Some of you are gifted with the gift of teaching and education so that we all - young and old - grow in the spirit of God.

Perhaps we are tempted to Hesitate, to look back, because we are growing older and smaller (for now). If I understand the scripture correctly, I prayerfully urge that we not grow anxious at this time. The Lord is with us. Christ is who called us to himself and called us into his body is faithful. We can trust that.

We can look and enjoy our past, our rich tradition of ministry over the years. But we need not take our hands off the plow, hesitate, doubt. Jesus' face was set for Jerusalem. Let us put all else behind us and follow him, regardless where it leads us. Amen.

The Rev. Daniel E. Hale, D. Min.