I'm going to start trying something new. On Monday's on going to provide a brief summary of my sermon for those who were unable to attend, or would like to read what I've been thinking and preaching about. This sermon was preached on May19th for Cowboy Sunday and Pentecost. Enjoy!
Cowboy Sunday, Pentecost, and the Journey from Discipleship to Apostleship
Good morning, everyone! What a fantastic day we have today—Cowboy Sunday, the Annual Meeting, and Pentecost Sunday all rolled into one! The only two services that top this are Christmas and Easter. It’s a big day indeed.
Sharing Our Horse-Riding Stories.
Many of us have ridden horses and have vivid memories of those experiences. Teaching someone to ride a horse is fascinating. Kids often take to it naturally—they have a strong core and seem fearless. Adults, on the other hand, usually have to overcome their fear of the horse, getting in the saddle, and staying there.
For beginners, especially little ones, we use training stirrups and lead the horse on a rope. Slowly, we remove the training aids, and they begin to hold the reins themselves, eventually taking off on their own. Do you remember your first time? Perhaps you remember the first time the horse broke into a trot, and you held on for dear life. But the key aspect of riding is that eventually, you have to take control—put your foot in the stirrup, grab the reins, and ride by yourself.
Once you overcome the initial adrenaline rush, riding a horse on your own is one of the most relaxing and exhilarating experiences. There is a unique relationship between horse and rider, built on trust and communication. The horse responds to your cues, and you learn to understand its signals. This mutual understanding goes back to your first lessons.
Connecting Horse Riding to Our Faith Journey This relationship mirrors what Jesus teaches about the Holy Spirit in today’s passage. On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples he would be leaving, but he promised to send the Spirit to guide them.
In John's Gospel, more emphasis is placed on the Holy Spirit than in any other Gospel. Jesus reassures the disciples about their future, encouraging them to take the reins and cowboy up, believing that the Spirit of God will guide them. This is an important insight for us: at some point, we must take the lead from Jesus and figure things out on our own. Jesus lived for 33 years and then was gone. But the ministry of the Gospel was just beginning. The disciples needed to transform from students (disciples) to teachers and leaders (apostles).
Discipleship and Apostleship There is a crucial distinction between being a disciple and an apostle. A disciple learns under a teacher’s guidance, while an apostle, once a student, now goes out to teach others. Discipleship is essential, but it eventually leads to apostleship. You can’t remain a student forever—at some point, you must go out and ride.
Apostles act on their empowerment from the master, adapting teachings to new contexts. At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus commissions the apostles to make disciples of all nations. He doesn’t give detailed instructions but tells them to go and trust the Holy Spirit to guide them.
Listening to the Holy Spirit So, where are you? Are you a disciple or an apostle? Both roles are necessary. Disciples sit at the master’s feet, and apostles go out into the world. Every apostle needs to periodically return to refresh and ground themselves in the master’s teachings.
Listening to the Holy Spirit is crucial but challenging. True discernment involves community, as the Spirit speaks best through groups of people. Our denominations believe in collective discernment. While an individual might initiate the conversation, the Holy Spirit moves through group dialogue.
For example, hiring a pastor involves a three-way covenant: the pastor, the church, and the presbytery. This process ensures collective discernment of the Holy Spirit's leading.
Conclusion Today, as we celebrate our 55th anniversary as a congregation, we reflect on our journey from disciples to apostles. This church started with a small group who decided to ride out and spread the teachings of Jesus. Over the years, countless people have stepped forward to lead us.
Are you ready to jump in the saddle and ride? Are you ready to transition from being a disciple to an apostle, listening to what God is saying to you and to us, and moving forward into the future? It's time to ride. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment