5 Lent 2005 FS

4 Easter 2008

April 1= 3, 2008

Rev Ken Wratten

Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a, 51-60 The stoning of St. Stephen

John 10:1-10 Jesus is the shepherd, and the gate to the sheepfold.

Jesus said in John 10:10; “I have come that they= may have life, and that they may have = it more abundantly.”

Some exciting things happened last week. Do any of you= watch ‘The Biggest Loser’? Last week I found out that Bob Harper, the male trainer on the show, is a Christian.&= nbsp; I’ve really enjoyed watching that show for the last few years, seeing people transform, take control of their lives, and get charged up to= live a more fulfilling life. I’ve always liked Bob better than Jillian. Th= ere was something about him that made me like him. He seemed different. Now I u= nderstand; he’s a Christian. Would Bob Harper say he lives an abundant life?

I heard from our Jr. Warden Julie that ‘American Idol’ had a very special program last week. It was about ‘Ameri= can Idol Giving Back’, but that wasn’t what made it special. It was= the closing song last Wednesday, and repeated on Thursday’s show, when all the stars, all the Idol singers, and all the audience sang on national television, the song by Chris Tomlin: Shout to the Lord. (5pm group knows it!) Now for me the whole show isn&#= 8217;t about making money to help the needy; it’s about being servants for Christ. Are these young singers living abundantly?

In today’s reading from Acts, Stephen was select= ed to be the first deacon of the church, and because of his strong commitment of faith, he angered the Jewish leaders, and was stoned to death. As we study = the lives of Stephen, Paul, Peter, and others, we see that their lives weren’t easy, or filled with luxury, but they were full, abundant lives. Would you consider you= r life an ‘abundant’ life?

These are great current examples of the fruits of Chri= stian life being made known. I believe it is important for you and me to make cle= ar that our faith guides the way we live our life. And the way others will kno= w is when they see us live the abundant life that Jesus offers in today’s gospel lesson.

Wealth, powe= r, status, and worldly pleasure have nothing to do with living the abundant li= fe. Here is what one person defined as Abundant Life:

love, joy, p= eace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, compassion, purity, humility, modesty, faith, character, wisdom, enthusiasm, dignity, optimism, confidence, honesty, and a relationship with God. In oth= er words, the abundant life is full of the things money can’t buy.<= /o:p>

<= /o:p>

Jesus offers= us two attributes of life:

Quantity: et= ernal life - forever

Quality: abu= ndant life – starting right now

Eternal life comes instantly, when we give Jesus our hearts, and bel= ieve in him.

Abundant life takes longer, because it comes from lear= ning Jesus’ voice; it comes from shaping our lives to follow his example; = it comes from being intentional about living in a state of Grace. <= /p>

Five elements= to an abundant life:

Element 1= : an abundant life is a yielded life.

Paul describes a choice every one of us has to make. (= Romans 6: 14)

…offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life.

We either yield ourselves to God, or give in to the wo= rld. We give up our personal will to do God’s will, or we let ourselves be pu= lled into a life based on the values of the world. Based on the things I see on = the nightly news, I don’t think the values of the world are high enough to give my life the value I want it to have. But by yielding to what God wants= , as we know it from what Jesus taught us, we know we’re doing what pleases God. That gives very high value to my life.

So we show compassion for the homeless, rather than pr= etend they are invisible; we fight for the health of the environment, rather than= put corporate profits first.

Element 2: Abundant life is a life of service= with Christ as our model.

(Romans 12:1,2)

&= #8230;by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, accept= able to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed= to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfec= t.

Our work of service isn’t to earn points with Go= d, or to impress other people. Our service is given up to God as a form of our worship. It is saying, ‘Lord, any talents or skills or resources I ha= ve are because you gave them to me. Lord, use me.’

Element 3: Abundant life is set apart.

We Christians are NOT like everybody else; we are set = apart for a special purpose; actually, two purposes.

In Romans 1:1, Paul says that he is ‘set apart for the gospel of God’; set= apart to share God’s Good News of unconditional love with every human being= who will listen.

We are also set apart from the world. I don’t understand what could motivate a person to abu= se a child, or a spouse; or cheat an elderly person out of their life savings; or beat someone up and put the video of it on the Internet, like it was a spor= t. You and I are set apart from the co= mplete absence of values that lead to those activities. We are set apart.

Element 4= : Abundant life is Spirit-filled.

(Ephesians 5:18b-21)

.= ..be filled with the Spirit, speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritu= al songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks = to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You and I are obviously physical beings, but we have a spiritual nature within us. Our spiritual nature will wither if we don̵= 7;t use it; like forgetting how to play a musical instrument, or to speak anoth= er language. We need prayer and song and fellowship to raise up our spiritual nature.

Element 5: Abundant life is a constantly matu= ring life

(Ephesians 3:17b-19)

.= ..so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being roo= ted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is= the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ whi= ch surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.<= o:p>

We have been created to keep growing in our knowledge = and depth of relationship with God. We should never be too busy, or too old to = seek learning more.

So; what doe= s an abundant life in Christ look like?
An abundant life is a yielded life
An abundant life is a life of service
An abundant life is a set apart life
An abundant life is a Spirit-filled life
An abundant life is a constantly maturing life

<= /o:p>

When we dedi= cate ourselves to this abundant life, our Good Shepherd leads us to develop qualities that are good for us, and he frees us from negative attitudes that rob us of the fulfilling life that God wants us to enjoy.

<= /o:p>

Listen to th= is email I got on Friday;

My visit to your church last night was so uplifting. It is obvious that you love and care about each and the Lo= rd and this love permeates and exudes from all of you. Truly!! Gratefully, Joanna

<= /o:p>

You ARE livi= ng this as a faith community. The question for you is; do you recognize this abunda= nt life around you? Do you seek it; do you claim it for yourself personally? <= o:p>

<= /o:p>

Jesus promises to lead you and me to this abundant lif= e: he is the gateway. Follow him; learn his voice; and claim the abundant life he wants for you. Amen.