1^st Sunday in June (1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14 and Luke 21:1-4) 

Spiritual gifts are a sign of a redeemed life. They are a sign that the Holy Spirit is working within you, reshaping your life and lifestyle from the “old ways” to “new ways”. As God works in you to cleanse and refocus your life, God changes you so much that even your own family and friends tend to exclaim “You are a different person!” They may like the “New You”, or they may dislike the “New You”, and it may well be “both/and”, because your new way of living will influence your old relationships and make new friendships. Nothing will be the same again.

Team Meditation: Luke 21:1-4

Two copper coins isn’t much. In percentage giving, however, it represented far more than a tithe for this widow. It was “all she had”. As always, there are levels of meaning in the scripture.

First, we realize the enormous contrast between the affluent (man of who sit on church boards) who give less than 1% of their total income to the church, and the poor who always give more generously.

Second, we realize that the widow symbolizes the church. “Mystically representing the church, the widow thought it right to put into the sacred treasury the gift with which the wounds of the poor are healed and the hunger of wayfarers is satisfied” (St. Ambrose, Letters to Laymen 84).

Third, we realize that God does not require “percentage giving” at all, but requires everything we have and everything we are.

Worship Theme: 1 Corinthians 12-14

Spiritual gifts inventories are quite common today. Along with various kinds of personality typing and ongoing coaching, we can discern how God originally “wired us” for passion and talent. If we just knew our real spiritual gifts, and used them in personal and professional living, we would undoubtedly be happier people. But there is more to this scripture than just that. God calls us to do things that are contrary to our natures. God calls us to do thinks which may be right, but for which we may not be enthusiastic. Passion and calling a different things.

When we are called, we are often reluctant. Just remember Moses trying to get away from the Burning Bush! He complained he had no “gift” of eloquence and no “enthusiasm” to risk his life for an impossible cause of liberation. The Bible does not say that spiritual gifts are simply uncovered. It says that spiritual gifts are given. They are revealed. They are imparted to people who do not have them, and may not even want them. They are given so that you might fulfill your calling. The gift of teaching, for example, is given to fulfill the call to teach, whether or not you personally “want” to be a teacher. The greatest gift is love. Most of us don’t have it … or at least do not have it to the degree God intends … but it is the most important gift of all to fulfill the one calling everyone has. Love your neighbor as yourself.

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2^nd Sunday in June (Micah 6 and Luke 10:25-37) 

June in North America represents the immersion of people into “the self-indulgent life”. We work hard all year; and now we truly believe we “deserve a break”. Our worship attendance grows lax; our prayer and Bible reflection disciplines are set aside; our service commitments are postponed; our intentional conversations to mentor seekers and seek mentors are ignored. We enjoy ourselves. Therefore, the call to “the spiritual life” is an appropriate … and probably inconvenient … contrast to our daily routine. I make no apologies for generating a little well deserved guilt.

Team Meditation: Luke 10:25-37

Those two copper coins are back. Remember last week … the widow’s contribution of two coins in the treasury? Now the Good Samaritan leaves behind two coins to restore the victim to health. It’s the same symbolism. The same layers of meaning. Give it all. Don’t hold back. And give it even for people you don’t know, don’t like, or will never see again. This radical generosity … humility, understanding, and compassion … is the spiritual life. You may take a day off from the office; you never take a day off from mission.

Worship Design: Micah 6

What exactly does God want? The more we chafe at obligation, and the more we strain to run outside and enjoy ourselves, the more we demand particulars. We are like a child eager to go outside and play, but called back to do our chores by stern parent. We bargain. Exactly how much time must I spend? Exactly how much work must be accomplished? What is the minimum requirement that would satisfy God? Wise parents realize that this is not a matter of “union negotiations”. This is about family obligations and shared responsibilities. So they avoid contracting specific hours, and listing tasks, and frame their response in the language of covenant love. It is the same with Micah. He is not about to limit himself to enumerating how many goats need to be sacrificed or how much incense needs to be burned. He says it is about covenant love. God expects no less that a total commitment to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.  

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3^rd Sunday in June (1 Peter 2 and 5; Luke 13:31-55 and 18:9-14) 

When I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, the advice of Peter to the earliest church all seemed rather obvious. One could take for granted that not only Christians, but the rest of culture, would hold these behavior patterns as paradigms for lifestyle. Of course people would be kind, respectful, honorable, and so on. But now that I am older, I have become more cynical. It is not just that my point of view has changed, but that culture has changed. Today these words from Peter carry a challenge to Christians living in a pagan culture. Ask any employee in a mini-market or fast-food restaurant. Is it the habit of customers, employers, owners, and co-workers to behave this way? Certainly not. If you behave this way you will seem odd … and you will almost certainly be used or abused. Peter’s conviction, however, is that behaving in the way of Christ you can influence those around you for salvation. 

Team Meditation (Luke 13:31-55 and 18:9-14) 

Why was the tax collector forgiven, rather than the Pharisee? Both men were honest. The Pharisee was speaking accurately when he described how much better off he was than the tax collector, and indeed, he had probably behaved more uprightly than the tax collector. Both men were thankful, in their own way. The Pharisee was thankful about what he had already received … and the tax collector was thankful for what he hoped to receive even before he received it. What separates the two was humility. The Pharisee exalted himself; the tax collector abased himself. The former compared himself to others; the latter compared himself only to the standard of God’s expectation. The Pharisee (like many church members today) “was judged inferior to the a humble man and a sinner because in his self-exaltation he did not await the judgment of God but pronounced it himself. Never place yourself above anyone, not even great sinners. Humility often saves a sinner who has committed many terrible transgressions. (Basil the Great, “On Humility”, FC 9:481-482)

Worship Design (1 Peter 2 and 5)

Pagans have always considered Christians as “sheep”, and they mean it in the worst way. They are “sheep”, not that they have an Good Shepherd, but that they are dumb, passive, creatures who delude themselves that salvation is just ahead. Therefore, Christians have been used, abused, manipulated, and even slaughtered. Yet Peter uses a different image to describe Christian behavior. He says we are “a work in progress” … a great edifice that even now is being erected by God’s Spirit … that will stand the stress of time and endure forever. Christ is the cornerstone, tripping the unwary, but anchoring God’s work securely.

Christians look to the future. That is the reason why Peter advises Christians to be obedient, even to overbearing employers … and to be loyal, even to discreditable governments … and to be kind, even to people that don’t deserve it. The future is in God’s hands, and the guarantee that the future will be blessed is that you are a part of a chosen people. We can endure this world, for the sake of out future unity with Christ.

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4^th Sunday in June (Matthew 28:16-20 and Acts 18:24 – 19:41) 

Whenever we anticipate nationalistic celebrations (like Canada Day on July 1^st or Independence Day in the USA on July 4^th), we must remember first that the Gospel which claims our first and primary loyalty is essentially international. God did not command us to make one nation great, but to make all nations disciples. This “greater commission” goes beyond national self-interests or even national securities, because it calls us to labor in the best interests of all people, races, and cultures, and for the security of the world through the value of being Christ-like.

Team Meditation

Acts 19:26   ²⁶ And you see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable company of people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.

The moment a church becomes established, it unwittingly begins to worship “sacred cows”. Property is acquired, programs and curriculums developed, staff hired, and soon people value the accoutrements of religion more than religion itself. This is exactly what has happened in Ephesus through the worship of Artemis. “Notice how in every case idolatry arises from money,” says Chrysostom. “They did not fear that their religion was in danger, but that their skills might no longer have a market” (Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, 42). Ironically, many institutional churches today have become what the Temple of Artemis was in the past. We are more worried about the perpetuation of our salaries and benefits, or the profit from our programs and curriculums, or the preservation of our architecture and historic monuments, than unity with Christ. And if you try to refocus the church, a riot will follow.

Worship Design

All that matters is the Gospel … everything else is just tactics. I have repeated this statement in many contexts, in many churches, to help churches focus on what is their true commission and stop obsessing over what is not. The statement never fails to raise stress … and an occasional riot. There is so much that sidetracks us from God’s purpose to redeem the world, and from the church’s purpose to multiply disciples. We lift up lofty ideals, and celebrate other goals, some of which are indeed valuable, but if we are really honest we discover we use even these as excuses to sidetrack us from the one and only goal to align with God’s purpose. We like our comfort zones, and we will use even noble causes, not to achieve any particularly noble result, but simply to allow us the luxury to stay within our comfort zones. How many rock stars raise millions for charity … but still live in a mansion surrounded with toys? How many politicians lobby hard for good public policies … but still take long holidays, dine in the best restaurants, and luxuriate with large incomes? And how many Christian congregations preach wonderful words and send teams for social service … but still dedicate the lion’s share of the budget to protect their aesthetic tastes, maintain historic cathedrals, fellowship with their best friends, an resist changing their own liturgies? It still true … where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.