E PLURIBUS UNUM
Matthew 12:46-50
(The fourth in a sermon series from Matthew 12 called “Words We Live By”)*
Sermon Objective: To show the diversity of Christ’s Church & every person’s place within it.
Supporting Scripture & documents: John 17:22-23; The Apostle’s Creed
PREFACE
We are finishing a sermon series from Matthew 12 called “Words We Live By.” Many creeds, pledges, and mottoes have shaped our country, as well as it’s individual citizens. In many instances the words convey uplifting and presumably timeless messages. They play an important role in creating a national identity -- in shaping a national consciousness. They operate behind the scenes as a moral compass and a driving force.
Previous sermons and words we have looked at are:
1. The statement on the Statue of Liberty: “GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE. . . ” We saw that the Church embodies those words in our spirit of mercy and compassion just as Jesus suggested in Matthew 12:7, “I desire mercy not sacrifice.”
2. Our currency - namely, “In God We Trust” from Matthew 12:21 where we saw it is still the desire of God that “In his name the nations will put their hope.”
3. The “Trophlite” (a.k.a the marriage vows) which showed us the power of words and how our words indicate the condition of the heart. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You are familiar with other “Words We Live By.” They are found everywhere! This shows that they have woven themselves into our lives. Some that have proven influential in your lives, but which we will not be able to look at are:
• I do solemnly swear that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully discharge all my duties incumbent on me as a judge, according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeable to the Constitution and laws of the United States. (Oath of the Supreme Court Justices)
• To dispense truth is to defend freedom (Ashtabula {OH} Star-Beacon)
All of these are “Words We Live By” which can illuminate the “WORDS we live by” -- namely Jesus Christ’s.
SERMON
The Great Seal of the United States is used on currency, commemorative coins, and the presidential seal. It contains many Latin words but the most well known (and the most important) are the words “E Pluribus Unum.” This is sometimes called the “Federation Motto” because it was first used in explaining the joining of the original thirteen colonies. It means “One from many” or “One composed of many.”
The concept of “E Pluribus Unum” has seen many attempts at explanation. In the eighteenth century a magazine used the image of a salad and the image of a bouquet of flowers to explain the terms intent. These, along with the idea of a “stew pot,” have been good attempts and probably come close to the Latin’s intent.
That’s what America is isn’t it? From the original thirteen colonies to the present we are composed of many peoples with many distinct characteristics that have chosen to unite together thus blending all our characteristics into one larger composition which is, by its nature, unique and distinct from any one element alone.
“E Pluribus Unum” -- “One Composed of Many.”
This understanding of America is indeed fundamental to our national consciousness. One need only visit a mall or a college campus or a church and see the diversity that makes us strong … that makes us America.
“E Pluribus Unum” -- “One Composed of Many.”
Not only does “E Pluribus Unum” describe America. But it could also be words that Jesus would use to describe His church. Listen:
TEXT
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.
47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
THE PEOPLE OF GOD
“E Pluribus Unum” -- “One Composed of Many.”
THAT’S A NICE TO WAY DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE OF GOD. MUCH LIKE A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS WE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER; WITHOUT LOSING OUR OWN UNIQUENESS AND IDENTITY, WE MAKE SOMETHING EVEN MORE SPECTACULAR. BY CASTING OUR LOT TOGETHER WE CREATE AN ENTITY WITH GREATER POTENTIAL AND A WONDERFUL AROMA.
1. A COMMON EXPERIENCE.
“E Pluribus Unum” suggests that the People of God have a common experience.
The genius of God’s plan lies not only in the defeat of sin through the work of Christ but also in the creation of the Church. It is through this organism that God’s ministers to contemporary society and brings restoration to humankind.
And what a wonderful idea it is! Who would have thought of establishing such a community? God shows His love and the transformation He brings by placing people together who otherwise might never interact. Different races, different ideologies, different social stratas, different interests, different professions.
At a surface level people could look at the Church and say we violate the maxim that says: “Birds of a feather flock together.” But at a deeper level the maxim still holds true -- it’s just that our common bond is not something as incidental or superficial as ethnicity, interests, or ideologies; it is in an experience with Jesus Christ which transcends race, creed, and color.
This “united diversity” is one of the hallmarks of redemption that is celebrated in heaven. Revelation 5:9 says: And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
At this very moment there are 35,000 plus believers from our tradition (Church of the Nazarene) gathering in Orlando, Florida, from across the globe. It is the General Assembly of the Church. We are, they are, right about now receiving communion together as a testimony of their unity and love.
Over in one corner of the Orlando Convention center there are a series of small booths with antennas sticking out of them, those are the translator’s booths. There are about 15 or so of those booths and they, too, are a testimony that we are not united by anything other than our common experience in Jesus Christ. We’d never meet each other otherwise … but our love for Jesus and experience of saving grace gathers us together!
2. A COMMON FAITH.
“E Pluribus Unum” suggests that the People of God have a common ideal … a common faith.
This faith transcends politics, priorities, and preferences. IT GETS RIGHT TO THE HEART OF HUMAN EXISTENCE -- IT IS NESTLED IN AN UNDERSTANDING OF GOD. Specifically that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, the King of Kings, and the rightful determiner of your personal and our collective destiny.
There are so many differences in the body. They are to be celebrated and maximized for the benefit of God’s Kingdom. But there is an ideal … a faith …which we all gather around.
Just as a country has symbols, creeds, and mottoes, which the nation can rally its citizens around, the Church does too. They were developed centuries ago. One such creed is in your hymnal and on the screen behind us. It is called The Apostles’ Creed.
The word creed comes from the Latin word credo, which means I believe.
The Apostles’ Creed is a statement written by the early Christian church which declares what we believe … our common faith. It would do us well to say it together -- it will remind us of our common ideal.
3. A COMMON LOYALTY.
“E Pluribus Unum” suggests that the People of God have a common loyalty.
We have identified with Jesus Christ. Therefore we have identified with His suffering and His service. WE WILL FOLLOW HIM -- REGARDLESS OF THE COST AND REGARDLESS OF THE CALL.
If we are indeed Christians, our loyalty transcends comfort, personal preferences, and peer pressure. That is what the Gospel of Matthew is about -- it is about DISCIPLESHIP. It is about being a follower of Jesus Christ and allowing Him to define the terms.
WRAP-UP
“E Pluribus Unum” -- “One Composed of Many.”
To define the church in any way other than “a group of many becoming one and finding their identity in Jesus Christ” would be a misnomer. We might be a social club, a nice place to visit, or many other things, but the one central and essential component that makes us “One Composed of Many” is the resurrected Christ.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22-23)
I notice from our text that Jesus has no problem identifying those who are truly His. There are others who pretend, but Jesus very clearly lets the community know who He is really associated with.
Do you qualify? Are you truly one of God’s children? If so … we have reason to celebrate with the host in heaven we read about from Rev. 5. And we have reason to rejoice that Jesus points at us and says: “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Becoming a child of God is as easy of A-B-C.
A Acknowledge your need for Jesus
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Rom. 3:23)
B Believe that He can save you
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12)
C Confess your sin and receive His forgiveness
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Rom. 10:9-10)
* The idea and secular data for this series comes from Brian Burrell’s Book, Words We Live By (1997, The Free Press).
This Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
++++++++++++++++
The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into Hades.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the Church universal;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven;
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Children’s Sermon:
We Are One!*
Theme: In unity we show God’s love to the world.
Object Lesson: A jigsaw puzzle.
Scripture: I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22-23)
Do you enjoy working jigsaw puzzles? Jigsaw puzzles can be a lot of fun. (Open the box to reveal the pieces of the puzzle.) Wow! Look at all the pieces of this puzzle. The pieces of this puzzle are in many different sizes, shapes, colors. If you look at one piece of this puzzle, you don’t get very much of the picture, do you? No, the pieces are not very important by themselves, but when they are all joined together and become one, they show the total picture.
This jigsaw puzzle can teach us an important lesson about the church. The church is made up of many individual members. Like the pieces of this puzzle, the members of a church come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Jesus himself prayed that the church would be one so that the world would see God’s love in us. You and I are part of the picture. Jesus wants us to love one another, help one another, and serve one another. When we do that, we become one, just as Jesus prayed we would be, and when we are one, the world can see God’s love in us.
Unfortunately, just as it is sometimes difficult to put all of the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle together, the individual members of the church sometimes have a hard time being one with each other. We may hear people in the church saying things like "I don’t like the songs we sing" or "The preacher preaches too long." When we say things like that and concentrate on our own likes and dislikes, we are no longer being one. We are like the individual pieces of the puzzle. The world cannot see God’s love in us. They don’t get the whole picture.
If you ever find yourself thinking about yourself, rather than being united with others in the church, remember that Jesus prayed that we would be one. When we are one, bound together by Christ’s love, the world will see God’s love through us.
Let’s pray:
Dear Father, help us to be one so that the world may see your love in us. Amen.
* This sermon comes from: http://www.sermons4kids.com
This Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
