Saint James UCC of Hamburg, NY

Luke 5:1-11; John 10:1-10

Preached by Pastor Alva Looze
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"He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." I just love this scripture. When my grandsons were younger they belonged to 4-H and raised sheep in the village of Hamburg. Each year they would get 2 lambs, clean out their tool shed and raises them to auction off at the fair. My daughter would get so attached to them, if they would get out during the night, you would see her in her shortly pajamas, and her big rubber boots calling their names. They would turn about and come bouncing down the road because they knew her voice.

In the mid-east at the time of Jesus, sheep did indeed know the voice of their shepherds. And if it was another voice of a shepherd they did not know they would not follow him. The one who takes care of them and the one who truly would lay down his life for them?

Sheep in Jesus' time were raised primarily for their wool and remained in the flock all their lives. Their relationship with their shepherd was a close relationship. They knew the shepherd would lead them to still waters and green pastures that are so familiar to us in the 23rd Psalm. The sheep also knew the shepherd would protect them from the hazards out in the pastures.

We are the sheep, Jesus is the shepherd, and we need to be in community together. Can you remember being in a group around a campfire and watching the coals glowing red and hot or the logs bright with flames? If we took the single main coal or that main log, placed it to one side, it soon turn dull gray and its fire becomes cold while the rest of the campfire continues to burn. So it is with us.

If we separate from the Christian community, take us from where the Bible is proclaimed, where the bread is broken, wine is supped, and prayers are said the light of our faith grows dull and our souls are not fed

We cannot be good Christians or effective Christians, fully alive Christians that have life and life abundantly if we do not listen to the voice of the shepherd who calls us by name. We need to be with the sheepfold to share with our brothers and sisters. To receive the blessings of God, to minister to one another the love of Christ, and feel that love in return.

For the early Christians, struggling to discern the voice of the Shepherd amidst competing religious and political authorities, this image of Christ as the good shepherd was powerful as powerful as it is today. It is Christ as the good shepherd, rather than the crucified Christ or Christ triumphant that is among the earliest images of Jesus painted on the walls of the catacombs. Moving from one metaphor to another, John also characterizes Jesus as the gate to the sheepfold. It is through Christ that his followers come to know safety and security, nourishment and rest in God.

The early church had its focus, and the results were tremendous. From the first community, came the entire church, a church that survived the stoning of Stephen, the persecution of Paul and the destruction of Jerusalem. The church survived and prospered, because the people within it committed themselves to one another and to God who brought them together. The church grew and spread like a fire in dry grass because those who believed sought God's presence, and prayed for his will not just one day a week but also each and every day.

But the way of life presented in Acts was not sustained as time passed. The unanticipated delay in Christ's return, coupled with growing number in the Jerusalem church, lead to the community's improvements. There resources could not support all those in need and in later years Paul had to appeal to the churches outside Palestine for help. Yet the experience of Christian generosity and good will for all continues to inspire us to critique privatized good and individualized salvation to this day. What possibilities for abundant life does the vision give to your church?

Such a community cannot help be noticed by others. Then, as today, the church's witness is not limited to the words it speaks or the deed it accomplishes. Sometimes, the most powerful witness is seen in the testimony of its life together. Words of gospel and acts of service may go unnoticed when folks see a community torn apart by factions or acting uncharitably toward its own members. In Acts 2, the Christian community enjoyed the "goodwill" of those outside the church. "Goodwill" is a translation of the Greek word charis, whose other chief meaning is "grace". When people look at the church with grace, it's easier to make grace known. The words from Acts reminds the church in all times that whatever strategies or efforts or plans may come, growth is a gift of God's grace, nurture, and feeding.

Jesus also said, " I am the gate for the sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. God has prepared a fold for us. He has made a safe haven for us, and appointed us a wonderful, awesome shepherd. To enjoy that haven, we need to listen to the voice of our shepherd and all of us together follow him. When we follow him he will lead us by the still waters, and to the green pastures, and he will keep us safe as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, his rod and his staff will comfort us.

As we do this, as we pray and break bread together, Christ our Lord will do the rest. He will make sure our souls are restored; he will set a table before us in the presence of our enemies and will ensure that we will dwell in His house forever.

1 Peter does not hedge on the reality of suffering. Even in the face of this possibility, we have the example of Christ to guide us and the community of Christ to sustain us in our need. At the heart of John 10:1-10 is the closeness of the relationship between shepherd and sheep, between Christ and the church. This relationship enables following. This relationship promises abundant life. Also, the close-knit relationship of the Christian community in Acts enables it to follow the community's disciplines and to share its resources for the abundance of all.

The Christian community fines its life transformed through God's shepherding. There is a promise of life abundant in this community. In what ways is your community a sign and a beacon of God's abundant love?

Our church is entering an exciting time and it feels to me to be like in Luke 5:1-ll that was read this morning. "They pulled the boats up on the beach, left everything, and followed Jesus. When we asked our "Casting Your Nets" people to step out of the box and be part of this exciting new venture, they came Don, Mark, Helen, Karen, Heidi, and John. Their love for the church, for the gathering, for the community, for one another is shinning through.

It's not that we want to change, we want to improve on the things we are doing. We want to try some new things, to get our young families involved, to do some interesting mission projects, to get to know one another better, to share laughter and fellowship. We want to learn how to be more comfortable inviting others to joint us. Yesterday during our soup sale people came up to me and said what a wonderful congregation this is working together not only inside but outside young, meddlers, and seniors. Dave & Maryann not only the landscaping but and now the time and Talent Auction.

Our TLC staff is going to take care of our children next Sunday so that our young families will feel comfortable. With the help of God who has given us so many wonderful resources, He is calling us to serve and show His love. I know God is shepherding our congregation through a wonderful, awesome future to be shared with others. Come join us next Sunday.