Lord, Teach Us to Pray

July 28, 2013                                                
Luke 11:1-13 

Pr. James A. Harnish tells of the man who came home one day to find that his wife had hung a plaque on the wall which read, Prayer changes things. Within 24 hours the plaque had been removed. She asked, what’s wrong? Don't you like prayer? He said, Sure, I like prayer. I don't like change.

Prayer:

“A study in Great Britain was published last year that studied 1000 children ages 6-12 & 1000 adults who were that age 40 years ago. The study discovered that 92% of those adults said they knew the Lord’s Prayer as a child, while only 55% of today’s children knew it.

I suspect if this study were done in the US it would yield similar results.

I also suspect while many of us may have learned the Lord’s Prayer, and are disappointed that our children and young people have not… we must admit that as adults we… generally speaking… have not demonstrated prayer in large degree to them, nor have we taught that prayer is an active part of our faith life.

Often prayer has been a sort-of last minute solution when we find ourselves troubled because of short-sighted decisions that haven’t worked out the way we liked...

Prayer as a sort-of bargaining practice…Lord if you fix this I will do..

While we may have some basic framework & vocabulary about prayer, we have fallen short in teaching prayer to others. We as Lutherans, and other faith traditions as well, often are reluctant to demonstrate prayer with others especially those who don’t know, and especially in public. Prayer… we’ve decided is personal & private. In fact… many of us have looked at our faith in general in this same manner… personal & private. This is not what Jesus called us to do… but it is what we’ve done nonetheless.

However, Prayer… outside of reading prepared prayers… we find it difficult to do. Furthermore… many congregations and church people have left praying to the professional… pastors…. And other church workers… they are the experts… they are the trained ones. You may have noticed that I will often push this off to others to pray. And I will many times encourage you to pray at meetings & other activities.

So… with all of this in mind… I want to take this opportunity today to teach & encourage you and to give you some examples of a more fulfilling prayer life.

First, The Lord’s Prayer is a great example.

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer of which it is one of the most ancient of prayers and when we pray this prayer we are joining millions of others who have spoken this prayer over the past 2000+ years of history. For us as Christian Jesus shows us how to pray this prayer.

o   Jesus tells us to keep God’s name holy and to seek his kingdom.

o   To pray for daily sustenance… for God to provide our daily need

o   Jesus also shows us that God desires a relationship based on trust & forgiveness… and to help us when we are tempted to make misjudgments.

o   And finally the Lord’s Prayer is a meaningful way to join God in kingdom life.  

Secondly, Faithful Prayer is Honest.

The parable Jesus speaks invites us to imagine that… like a man confident of his neighbors hospitality, in that we can ask for whatever we need. Jesus says… ask and you will receive. Knock and the door will be open. Prayer is not necessarily about receiving, nor about particular words, or phrasing… it’s about sharing what’s on your heart. Prayer is nothing more than a conversation with God using your words, your phrasing, how you talk. Prayer is who you are in the face of struggle, jubilation, and thankfulness of life. Not about what you can get… but what you can let go of…

Thirdly, Faithful Prayer is Based on Trust.

I suppose this will be the most difficult part of prayer for you… to Trust! Trust requires that I let go… I give up something… it means to become vulnerable… and this is challenging for most of us… to let go of control. The Apostle Paul suggests… God desires to give us every good gift. So we pray God provides. Yet… often we seemingly get unanswered prayer…. God doesn’t seem to make things better when we pray… why should I trust God?

But… what if trusting prayer wasn’t about outcomes?

o   What if trusting prayer wasn’t about getting answers?

o   What if trusting prayer was about letting go of…

o   About getting things off our chests…

o   About letting go of ourselves?

o   Releasing… and verbalizing… and demonstrating a dependence on God?

Maybe Prayer is what Scholar NT Wright says about the Lord’s Prayer, “What might it mean to pray this kingdom prayer? It means, for a start, that we look up into the face of our father in heaven, and commit ourselves to hallowing of his name, and that we look immediately out upon the world that He made and see it as He see’s it.”

Rather than prayer paralyzing us because we don’t have the right posture, or words, or eloquence… maybe prayer is nothing more than a conversation that allows us to see God as he see’s us. With this in mind… perhaps rather than seeing answers to our prayers it’s more important that be about sharing and God listening. I believe if we really thought deep enough… in the end God does answer our prayer.

Practicing Prayer

How might we practice prayer within the faith community that demonstrates & passes on to younger generations the practice of prayer?

I have some ideas…

1.)To Practice & Demonstrate Prayer at Home

By including and encouraging your children in the learning of prayer. Your demonstration and practice will encourage and empower your children far more than any pastor or the church can. By your teaching and demonstration that faith and prayer and church are a priority in your lives will help your children see the importance and priority for their lives. The church and pastors are here to help reinforce the practice and to encourage them in their journey. But it begins in the home… it is why Luther created the Small Catechism.

2.)A way to demonstrate Prayer is to do it together.

For example: When we pray the Lord’s Prayer at worship… how about holding hands with the persons next to you as we recite the prayer. This helps us by demonstrating prayer as something we do together and in public. It demonstrates we are united in faith… and committed to our faith and to each other.

3.)To be Authentic in Prayer. 

This speaks to honesty & trust. For Example: During the Prayers of the People, rather than reading prayers that come from a book… what would you think about if…. at that time the pastor asked you for your joys & concerns?

It might go like this….

Pastor: What are your Joys & Concerns

People: you would share those things…

People: We need to pray for Joe who is battling cancer.

People: Jill just lost her Job.

People: A Joy… our daughter just blessed us with our

             first granddaughter.

People: Joy that Jason finally graduated High School.

                                    Pastor: Would pray for the community, the

                                                congregation, the world, those struggling etc.

                                                All ending with Lord in your Mercy,

                                                    Hear our Prayer

Where ever I’ve suggested this it has over time become a most meaningful times and cherished times in worship.

Okay… there you have it… some ways to practice & demonstrate a prayer life and a way to help pass on that prayer life to younger generations.

So let the practicing begin.

See You Out on the Road

"One Needful Thing"

July 21,201                                    

Luke 10:38-42

There is a story floating around about former President George Bush a few years ago. He was supposedly visiting a nursing home, where he took the hand of an elderly man walking the halls and asked kindly, "Sir, do you know who I am?" The man replied, "No, but if you ask the nurses they can tell you."

This reminds me of when my Grand Parents were alive they always called me Denny… I really didn’t like that name. But when others would call me that I would reiterate that my name was “DENNIS.” However, my mother and my grandparents would still call me “Denny” even though they knew I didn’t like it. So… I let them… but they were the only ones that I would let use that name.

Prayer

We live in a very needy world… I need this… I need that… I need… I need…

Martha needed Mary

Mary needed Jesus

Martha needed Jesus to tell off Mary

Mary needed to be at Jesus’ feet… Martha needs help and Mary won’t budge from Jesus’ feet.

This story is a microcosm of human nature at its worst and at its best… and is just as relevant today for us as it was in Jesus’ day because we have the same confrontations with our siblings and why I believe this story impacts many of us today.

The first impact is that we are a Distracted & Worried People.

How many of you are feeling distracted and worried about life? Many of us would like to be like Mary… at least in appearance she seems to be a carefree soul. She’s just sitting at Jesus’ feet taking it all in. Taking life as it comes without a care in the world.

Martha… and some of us thinks Mary is a slacker. She is just sitting there in front of Jesus… seemingly not caring what Martha is or is not doing. I think many of us are Martha like and take responsibility for what we do. Martha is trying to be hospitable in preparing a meal for Jesus & his friends and Mary is just sitting there not lifting a finger to help. After-all… someone has to take responsibility and Martha obliges.

My baby brother seemed to fit in the Mary category and me being the oldest a Martha. It seemed he got all the good stuff and I got stuck doing all the work. It seemed I got the brunt of all the criticism and he got all the accolades. I don’t like the Mary’s in my life…

You see… Martha seems to be the one with the issue… she is worried and distracted. In Vs 40 the translated word “Worried” gives the sense that Martha is being pulled in different directions, and she’s worried if she will accomplish all of her duties of being hospitable to Jesus. And Mary doesn’t seem to care… does anyone know that feeling?

How many of you are feeling like this right now?

Being pulled in all sorts of directions?

Worried if you’ll be able to pull it all together?

Martha’s worry & distraction leaves little room for the more important aspects of hospitality… that being Graciousness… In fact… she breaks the rules according to theologian Elisabeth Johnson when… “she tries to embarrass her sister in front of her guest, and by asking her guest to intervene in a family dispute… she even goes so far to accuse Jesus of not caring about her… Vs 40… Lord, doesn’t this bother you… ie don’t you care?”

Jesus is often seen as rebuking Martha by saying “Martha, Martha… you worry about many things… there is need for only one thing.” I don’t see this as a rebuke… rather I believe it’s an invitation to receive the gracious presence of Jesus. It’s an opportunity to listen to the voice of God. It’s an opportunity to take a break and be present with the Lord. Does this not speak to us as well.

The second impact is That One Thing.

What is that one thing you need? We live in a culture of hectic business and we are pulled in a lot of different directions and we are tempted to measure our self worth by how much we accomplish. What’s the saying… “The one who dies with the most toys… wins” That’s why many of us identify with Martha… we worry about stuff that in the end has little value.

Luke 12… Jesus says, “Can worry add a single day to your life?”

Yes… there’s need for Martha’s in the world. Martha’s are a good thing…There are things that need to be done. Service is a good thing in our faith communities… in fact it is vital in making the faith community a welcoming & well functioning community. Yet… if all our activity leaves us with little or no time to be in the presence of God… what have we gained?

So I believe Mary is on to something we need to pay attention too.

There needs to be balance in our physical & spiritual lives.

So… what is that one thing you need?

In our story today with Mary & Martha Jesus tells us Mary chose what was best, and it seems to pit sister against sister. The New Living Translation I believe says it best… “There is only one thing worth being concerned about… and Mary has discovered it.”

It’s Mary’s One Needful Thing!!

What is your One Needful Thing?

Closing: A story from Stephanie Frey, in a Christian Century article, “Living with Martha,” she says…

“In Eugene H. Peterson’s The Message, Jesus says: “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it — it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”

Perhaps Peterson’s words “main course” for “better part” (NRSV) can help this well-worn story be heard in fresh ways. A woman in the parish I serve commented that she never likes hearing this text preached because she always comes away with the sense that it’s never possible to get things right. If, like Martha, she works hard, she will be labeled “overfunctioning.” If, like Mary, she sits and listens too long, nothing gets done. Giuseppe Belli’s 19th-century book “Martha and Magdalene” ends with Martha snapping back at Jesus when he tells her that Mary’s choice is more important: “So says you, but I know better. Listen, if I sat around on my salvation the way she does, who’d keep this house together?” (Divine Inspiration: The Life of Jesus in World Poetry).

Thinking of God’s word as the “main course” in the feast of life, however, doesn’t give that immediate sense that listening is better than doing. Rather, it places these activities in balance. Whereas the corporate world reminds us to keep the “main thing the main thing,” Christians are urged to remember that the main course is just that, the main course. Jesus is the host, not Martha or Mary or any one of us, and he spreads the word like a banquet to nourish and strengthen us. The word has within it commands both to sit and listen, and to go and do. We “sit on our salvation,” as the book has it, but then scatter into the world and work of daily life.
—Stephanie Frey, “Living with Martha,” Christian Century, July 13, 2004.

So… my friends… What’s Your One Needful Thing?

See You Out on the Road

“Which is My Neighbor?”

July 14,2013   

Luke 10:25-37

This is the first time that I’ve preached on this bible story… “The Good Samaritan”. 

The first reason is that in my nearly 10 years as a pastor I’ve rarely used the lectionary. Primarily, because I’ve been in my contemporary congregations and use sermon series rather than the lectionary. 

Another reason is because I’ve found the lectionary seems to retell all of the same stories year after year and I find it difficult to find was to retell the story.

Another reason is that I find the lectionary often is disjointed and starts and stops in the middle of some stories leaving me scratching my head as to why they did that.

Lastly… I find younger generations like reflecting and going deeper through a series of messages rather than a single message. However… this year I’ve preached the most on the lectionary than I’ve preached on since becoming a past almost 10 years ago. And… it’s been good to do this.

Prayer

I was sitting at Taco Bell just over on Coolidge last Tuesday having dinner before Cana’s council meeting and observed 8 teenagers of varying ethnic backgrounds bantering back and forth in seemingly dizzying fashion of which I couldn’t understand a word they were saying. Then all of a sudden they all broke out singing a song that came on the P.A. system in unison. It was a song I hadn’t heard before… but they sure knew it and word for word. The song ended and they all laughed out loud and continued the bantering. I found it a wonderful site.

The next day when arriving at church a woman was walking her dog and was in front of Cana. I found the dogs markings different from what I’ve seen in the past and wondered what kind of dog it was. I had a suspicion, but wasn’t sure. So I asked her. I said hi… your dog has some different markings than I’ve seen before… what kind of dog do you have? She hesitated for a moment… I’m not sure it was because I was a stranger or the type of dog… then she told me it was a pit bull. I introduced myself and began a conversation about her dog as I petted it. I asked if she lived in the neighborhood and she said yes… we just moved in 4 houses down from the church. After some further conversation she continued her walk and I said welcome to the neighborhood and perhaps we will see each other again… nice to meet you and have a great walk.  

I received a call from a guy whose voice sounded familiar… he called seeking some help. I was sure I had heard this voice before… but he assured me he had never called before. However… this time this call seemed different and after hearing his story about needing some gas so he could go to a job interview I decided to help him. He wanted me to come to where he was living and I suggested a McDonalds or someplace like that. He baulked because he had at the moment no way of getting to a place like that. I said, “I don’t know you and if you want my help I will meet you at a public place.” He agreed and we met at a Wendy’s.

After some conversation about his job opportunity he shared that he had just been released from prison 3 months ago and was thrilled to have this opportunity to get a job and that he didn’t want to mess this up. I asked him why he was in prison… he hesitantly said in a low voice armed robbery and aggravated assault… my heart skipped a beat… yet I didn’t feel threatened or in danger… here was a guy trying to better himself and change his life and was asking if I could help.

Interesting stories… Right!!!

These stories raise an interesting and uncomfortable question.

Which of these is our neighbor?

Our bible story today is one of the most recognizable and well know biblical stories… virtually everyone knows or has heard this story or variations of it… and everyone knows what the story is about and what it means.

However… there are two parts of this story I find interesting… first… the lawyer… doesn’t know when to shut up.

He asks, “What do I have to do to have eternal life.”

Jesus answers him… “Love the Lord your God & Love your neighbor as yourself.”

He gets his answer… but he doesn’t stop there… he doesn’t shut up… he’s not satisfied… he continues.

He wants to know who is neighbors are.

You kind-of want to yell out to him to SHUT UP!!! Don’t you know Jesus is going to put you in your place!

He wants to know who is neighbor is… and he thinks he has a pretty good idea who his neighbors are.

Then Jesus tells him the Good Samaritan story…. Which leads to the second interesting part of this story when Jesus turns his question of “WHO,” into the concluding question of “WHICH” of these is the real neighbor?

Which is the question for us as well.

Certainly many of our congregations have been formed & nurtured by a shared faith, a shared ethnicity, and a shared experience and there’s nothing wrong with this. But we live in a different world in many ways where we are more diverse than ever before. We no longer see the large barrios and neighborhoods of ethic division that we once had in this country. There are no longer just German, Swedish, Danish, Italian etc… neighborhoods. So… I believe this story is an invitation for us to be a community of faith that is bound together with others not of our own kind, but by our shared common need, our shared sense of community, and our shared sense of living life together.

Jesus is asking us in these stories I shared earlier… Which if These is My Neighbor?

I believe God calls us to be neighbors to all.

God created all people in his image.

John 3:16… God loved all people so much he sent is son Jesus to make that love known…

And Jesus died on the cross demonstrating that love for all people.

My friends… this story ultimately is a story of radical Grace & Love that the Samaritan showed upon the person who was hurt… and we are invited to demonstrate this same radical Grace & Love with our neighbors… which by the way is, ALL of those we encounter. 

See You Out on the Road