Geared Up for Life: A Life Worthy

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 Foothills UMC

“Geared Up for Life: A Life Worthy”

Rev. Andrew Davis

August 1, 2021

Ephesians 4: 1-16

 

         How many of you like getting gifts?  I know I do and once again, I appreciate all the wonderful gifts of food, gift cards, and the gift of being able to serve here at Foothills UMC.  Even though we are facing another challenging time by putting our masks back on and seeing an uptick in cases of COVID-19, we still live a life worthy of God’s calling and a time to be gentle, humble, and patient as hard as that can be right now and in light of taking a slight step backward.  Our series right now couldn’t be more fitting given the difficulties of this world, which is where our text really comes to light this morning.  

         In our series, “Geared Up for Life,” which is working through the letter to the Ephesians, we come to the halfway point of Ephesians where Paul is talking about how to live a life worthy by using and living into the gifts we have from God by bringing all of our gifts together to create the whole body of Christ.  It’s a message we need to hear especially right now, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on, as we see some restrictions returning, or broken relationships over differences when it comes to mask wearing or vaccinations.  We’ve seen friendships break apart, families divided, and I know I’ve had to shake the dust off my feet and say peace be with you to some who were once friends over this past year, which is heartbreaking because we should all strive to be one body, to live in unity that Paul is getting at, to live a life worthy of our calling.   I love the words in verses 3 from The Message where it says

And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

4-6 You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.  

All of us are traveling the same road together as we follow Jesus, as we strive for setting our hope in Christ, allow Christ to break down walls of division by being our peace, and being rooted and grounded in love, even when we face stops and starts, or differences that feel irreconcilable.  Instead, we should take the gifts that God gives us to put them together for the common good, for being one in Christ, regardless of what we personally believe, or where we stand politically, theologically, or socially, or how we feel about COVID protocols, as the body of Christ is much bigger than any single one of us.  We all share a life worthy of our calling together in Christ and can come together around Christ, even when there is a lot still out there that divides us or tests our patience.  

Patience is one of those things in living this life worthy that can be challenging, as I admit I’m not the most patient of people, although had to learn it, especially more so this last year.  Likewise, I think of the Olympic athletes when watching the summer Olympic Games happening right now.  I am always in awe of the athletes and the level of training and preparation they took, as they use their God-given gifts, which took a lot of patience to succeed.  It takes a great deal of patience in anything we do, and Paul encourages us to use our gifts humbly, gently, and with patience.[i]When it comes to patience, Rev. Dr. Derek Weber writes that

the purpose of patience—and all the other dimensions mentioned in these verses—is not to help us with our blood pressure problems. That is a by-product, and a positive one, ask any cardiologist. And in our culture, that “what’s in it for me” question is always in the forefront. But Paul doesn’t present this formula as a way to deal with your inner demons. Patience, as with any gift of the Spirit, is to build up the body. We exercise our patience when we live and interact with others. Inherent in this description is the understanding that dealing with people is not an easy thing to do! So, Paul is preparing us by making sure we are equipped to handle community. We need patience; but we need a patient love that enables us to bear with one another. We need that outward focus to make this work.  Patience, for a Christian, is relational.[ii]

 

         As we are discovering, rediscovering, and using our gifts and living a life worthy of all the gifts that God gives us.  At the same time, I encourage us to listen to where Christ may call you, to find what you’re passionate about, or in another illustration I often like to use from Rev. Michael Slaughter in his book, The Passionate Church, find your burning bush, then throw some kerosine on it and watch it flare up, as those flames are that of the Holy Spirit calling you to a life worthy of your gifts and your calling.[iii]  

When you think about your calling and perhaps ways to serve here at Foothills or beyond, do you have a passion for young people’s ministries?  I’m sure Katie would love to have more volunteers.  Perhaps you would like to learn how to use the sound and video system, which Ed and Nick are looking for more volunteers.  We have a number of disciples here who work with the homeless in our community through Job’s Shelter of the Sierras or Upper Room Dining Hall, or even in our music ministry, Paul can always have more singers in the choir and bell choir when they return in the Fall.  And depending on where we are at with COVID in the Fall, I would love to see us create a children’s/youth music ministry and opportunities to make spaces for new people to engage with us, whether online or in-person, here in our building, or out in the community.  Whichever way you live a life worthy of the gifts God gives to you, remember that “we take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love” (Ephesians 4: 14-16, The Message).  By living a life worthy of the gifts and graces that God gives to us and by doing them with humility, gentleness, and patience,

The [overall] goal of patience is unity. Our faith is unity, argues Paul: One Lord, one faith, one baptism . . . Our Christian living, then, is not a way to measure up, but a way to build community. We are patient with one another, not simply to tolerate others, but to love them. 

 

The paradox here is that it is love that begets patience. And we learn to love those difficult to love by practicing patience. So, if love is indeed a good, I guess it is true that good things come to those who wait . . . with patience.[iv]

 

         As we are seeing, we are nowhere near out of the woods with COVID and all the protocols, and I know we are all tired of starts and stops, being able to take our masks off, then have the carpet yanked out from underneath us.  I’ve said it before and will keep saying it that we are living a constant lesson in patience, about how we still come together amidst disagreement and division.  Yet, we continue listening to Christ.  And so in a little while, Christ invites us to come to the table, the table that He invites us to because we are all worthy of his love, and the gift of grace that he offers each of us.  The table is where we are nourished and fed with this love and grace.  On occasion, we will also get to share some of our own callings.  Steve and Darlene Savage have been living a life worthy of their calling as part of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials and I invite Steve to share some of his and Darlene’s experience from the trials and after worship, anyone who would like to know more are invited to a Q&A in the He-Brews corner for a little while…

 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, let the Church say, Amen!! 

[i] Derek Weber, “Preaching Notes” in Geared Up for Life Worship Series (Nashville: Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church, 2021) Accessed 31 July 2021, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/geared-up-for-life/tenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/tenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

 

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Mike Slaughter, The Passionate Church (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016)

[iv] Derek Weber

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