Pentecost 6

Out of the Stands and Into the Game - 4

Isn’t that what goes on in the church today? It’s not unusual to have a small group of diligent Christian servants struggling “down on the field” while others in the congregation are acting like spectators, “sitting on the sidelines, eating hot dogs and popcorn.” God’s strategy for the accomplishment of His program is not like a sports event. It does not call for the job to be done only by the “professionals.” In the game of life, all believers have their own positions and spiritual gifts that they must exercise “for the profit of everyone.”

Friends, if you’ve been sitting in the stands, you’re badly needed down on the field! To be glorifying God with the way you live, the way that you serve in his church, the way you love people. Jesus said: “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” My friends, you are the ones who are to reflect God’s light into this world. The light of his forgiveness and love shines into your life. As part of his team, you are a reflector of that light with your witness, actions, and service. So get out of the stands and into the game of serving and thanking God with your good works!

Good works. In the Lutheran church, we sometimes shy away from talking too much about them. Because we know that our good works can’t possibly get us to heaven. We usually only talk about what good works can’t do. I mean, how many Lutheran sermons have you heard entitled: “The Power of Doing Good”? But the Bible speaks at length about good deeds! Spur one another on toward good deeds. Let your light shine by doing good deeds. Do not grow weary of doing good deeds. Offer good deeds to all people. Let all those who trust in God be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.

Good deeds. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, the same one that made it clear we have fallen short of being good enough to get to God, it says: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (12:21) Overcome evil with good. Do you need me to tell you about the power of evil in this world? Brokenness. Pain. Wars. Poverty. Hunger. Hatred. Greed. Broken families. Neglected elderly. Loneliness. Abuses of all kinds. And above all, spiritual emptiness. Do I need to tell you about all that, or have you seen enough of it on the evening news? And in the lives of the people you run into each day?

Do I have to show you what the power of evil has done in your own life? I doubt it, but our text does a pretty good job. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” Friends, think of the foolish things you have done. Reflect on how you have been carried away by temptations and lusts, driving through town or sitting at your computer or TV. Consider how you have held grudges, intentionally hurt others, and let your hatred get the best of you. Evil has had a powerful influence in your life and mine. One that would’ve kept us from a loving God! You all know about the power of evil.

But today’s message is about the other side of the story. The Power of Doing Good. And if we’re going to talk about the power of doing good, there is really only one place we can start. Of all the good deeds and charitable undertakings in all of history, nothing could compare to one deed that tops them all! In fact, there could be no good at all if this good work had not been completed. Friends, nothing is more powerful than the good that Jesus did for us! Jesus showed us the ultimate power of doing good by coming here and doing perfectly all the good that we failed at. And then, on the cross He did the ultimate good deed – giving his life as a payment for us, and defeating death for us in his resurrection! That is the power of doing good! Nothing is more powerful than the love, forgiveness, and peace with God He gave us! Nothing is more powerful than the resurrection, eternal life, and hope that it brings! (Read verses 4-7)

And the power of Jesus’ doing good doesn’t end there!. (Read verse 8) The good He did for us with his death and resurrection has given us power. It has empowered us to do good to thank Him. By getting out of the stands and into the game of serving. And so now, we can also experience the power of doing good! Let me share some stories with you of that power at work:

A woman shared this remarkable ministry story: “About seven years ago, I saw an ad in the newspaper for mentors for teen mothers. Since I was only 17 when my daughter was born, I thought this would be a way to give back to God and to thank Him for the wonderful people He had sent into my life. For the next two years I met with a group of teenage girls every week for fellowship and education. It was like having 25 teenage daughters all at once! I had no idea how attached I would become to them, how many desperate phone calls I would get in the middle of the night, and how helpless I would feel every time they made another mistake.
I helped them get shelter when their boyfriends beat them up. I bought them groceries when the paycheque just wouldn’t stretch. I babysat their kids while they looked for jobs. But mostly, I just believed in them. Because it was a government program, I could not openly share my faith. But it didn’t take long for the girls to start asking questions about what I believed, why I was different, how I managed to stay married to the same man for so many years, and so on. I had many opportunities to share my life and testimony with them.
When our two years were up, some of the girls asked if we could start a Bible study. Wow! We met one night a week at my home, and my husband babysat all the kids. Eventually some of the boyfriends started coming. I can’t say everyone came to faith in Jesus, but many of them did. It wasn’t easy, but it has been one of the most profound experiences of my life.”

What about Bob? Bob, in his 70s, volunteers in the nursery at his church. One Sunday morning, the parents of a little girl didn’t show up after the service. As Bob waited, the child asked if he would read to her the story of Winnie the Pooh. He did so, and she asked him to read it again. And again. Bob began getting worried that the parents hadn’t shown yet. During the fourth Pooh reading, the mother came and stood quietly behind them until they finished reading. Afterward, she apologized for being late and thanked him. She said, “I was watching, but I didn’t want to break it up. You are the only man who has read to her since my husband died two years ago.” One elderly gentleman reading Winnie the Pooh. Balm for a little girl’s soul.

Do you think that in a world as needy as ours, one person can’t make a difference? On the contrary, every day we have opportunities to team up with God and change the world with the love Jesus has given us! Every choice you make sends a message to those around you. All significant changes start slowly, at a single time and place, with a single action. Like Jesus’ action. When one of you reflect that action in your life with an action of love toward others, that will inspire others, who begin to reflect that from their lives! You can be that person!

Like Scott and Laurie. They had a heart for Somali refugee families coming from Africa. They adopted a family and gathered clothes, shoes, winter coats, kitchen supplies, bedding, furniture, and whatever they would need to adapt to city life. As people in their church noticed what they were doing, they got involved by giving a place for them to stay, buying appliances, teaching them English, and sharing Jesus with them! That ministry grew into an effort that has seen many refugee families not only find a new life, but also find faith in Jesus!

One couple took a simple action. They started gathering necessary supplies for a family. They didn’t know where it would lead. They knew they didn’t have room in their home to house a family. So they did what they could do. They gathered supplies. But that action spurred others on to good deeds! And those good deeds helped bring people to faith!

God’s servants need to be reminded that what they’re doing is not in vain. When you get out of the stands and into the game to volunteer in God’s kingdom, your service is highly valued! It is part of God’s plan that’s been going on throughout history. The role you are playing is not insignificant! God treasures every task you perform, every hour of service you give!

1 Cor.15:58 says: “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Nothing you do to thank the Lord will ever be in vain. It will accomplish a purpose. Just as there was power in his doing good, Christ has put power behind our doing good. As a pastor, there are plenty of days where I turn out the lights thinking that I have disappointed more people than I have encouraged. I need to be reminded that it wasn’t in vain.

So what about the person who serves his church by setting up chairs? Marching through freezing snow delivering flyers? Cleaning dirty tables? Managing fussy kids? Shoveling out the parking lot? Putting out the coffee each week? You all need to be reminded that God sees and values everything you do! All of heaven is cheering you on! You are in the game, making a difference! You matter. Your gifts matter. Powerful good comes from them. And you never know what it might do in someone’s spiritual journey. And in yours!

“I’m an old man now,” Keith wrote to his pastor, “but I have spent the last 45 years of my life serving the poor and sharing the love of Jesus with the brokenhearted and hurting people of the world. I have walked the streets of Calcutta, Cairo, Chicago, and many other cities, feeding the poor and bringing hope to those with no hope. I wouldn’t change what I have done for a million dollars! Tell the people it is worth every ounce of energy spent, every dollar given, every heartache experienced, to see people transformed by the power of the gospel.”

Good deeds come in all shapes and sizes. Reading a book to a child. Opening a door for someone. Helping teenage girls. Looking across the ocean to help with poverty and hunger. Witnessing your faith in Jesus… But in all cases, they require one thing: a willing volunteer expressing thanks to God. Will you be that volunteer?

Imagine what would happen in our world if hundreds, thousands, and even millions of people decided to devote a few hours each week to serving God with their good works and thankfulness! Imagine what would happen if ALL the members of our churches stopped seeing themselves as spectators sitting in the stands, and crawled over the benches, suited up, and got onto the field! Imagine a church where all of the members were involved in ministry, in serving God with the gifts He has given them! Imagine that Power of Doing Good!

The power of doing good has been made possible by the power of good news. The power that split rocks and tore the temple curtain when Jesus finished doing his good on the cross! The good news of forgiveness for all our failures, peace with God, and eternal life! That is the power of doing good! That is powerful good news! So friends, let’s get out of the stands and into the game of sharing it with others! Do something, somewhere – Now! To thank your Lord! I’m sure there’s a good deed out there with your name written all over it! Amen.

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