THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD: THE ROCK STAR GOD**
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-4; LUKE 19:28-40
Big Idea: Rock stars use people to love themselves; Jesus gave himself out of love for people.
• Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 50:4-9a
• Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
• Reading from the Epistles: Philippians 2:5-11
• Reading from the Gospels: Luke 19:28-40
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love … does not boast, it is not proud.
INTRO
Have you ever been around someone that boasted and brought praise to themselves all the time?
Have you ever been around someone that made you feel small and insignificant, maybe even foolish and inferior, because you were always being compared to them and always felt “lesser than?”
Have you ever been around someone who had to be the center of attention – even at other’s expense?
Such is the nature of the “Rock Star” persona. These people need to stand out in the crowd, have their own “brand,” they set their own trends, and do their own promotion.
I like Palm Sunday because it reminds me that Jesus is no “Rock Star God.” You see, rock stars use people to love themselves; Jesus gave himself out of love for people.
Rock stars boast and exalt themselves; Jesus served.
• Boasters brags
• Boasters let you know you are “out” and don’t add up
• Boasters exalt self while pushing others down
• Boasters build self up while making others small
• Boasters compare and always win
• Boasters make you feel that their heights are unreachable to you
Boasting has crept into the church too. There is the celebrity cult in the church that looks way too much like a rock star faith. It elevates some while ignoring others. It marvels at personality while neglecting service. Always remember, there is no special work of grace available to an elite few and God is no respecter of persons.
The African pastor that Models Christ-Like Leadership
Ramez Attalah, general director at The Bible Society of Egypt, attended an international conference or Christian leaders in 1974. He was thrilled to be with top-notch leaders from around the globe—sharing and reading interesting papers on important subjects—but the most meaningful insight actually came to him on the flight home:
It was a long flight back to Canada, and I had many papers to go through. I had taken a lot of business cards from all sorts of “important” global Christian leaders that I had met. We all know we collect these cards, put them in our pockets, and often forget about them. As I looked through my cards from the conference, I noticed one that was not very well printed, and I looked at it carefully. I still get emotional when I remember this story. It broke me.
At the confrence we had small groups every night. About ten of us met in our dormitory rooms to pray and share together. The first night we introduced ourselves: president of a seminary, pastor of a church with 2,000 people, and so on. Everybody was showing how great they were. I said I led the InterVarsity movement in the province of Quebec. It was actually a very small ministry, but it sounded good. One African man who was with us said, "I’m a pastor in Kenya." During the week we all listened to each other. I didn’t pay much attention to the pastor from Kenya; I wanted to get close to the “important people.” But I was moved by the Kenyan pastor’s stories of how God had touched him as a school teacher during the African revival and changed his life. I thought he was a deep man. I pictured him working in a humble little village in Africa.
But when I picked up that business card on the plane back to Canada I discovered that it said "Festo Olang, Archbishop of Kenya." Olang was a man who could pull rank on anybody in our group. He was a bigwig. But we didn’t know it, and he didn’t tell us. He did not use his position to secure his identity. He was a simple pastor who loved Jesus. I am still moved to the core when I remember this incident. I said to myself on the plane, that’s the kind of leader I want to be. That’s leadership, Jesus-style.
(Source: Ramez Attalah, "Lausanne: A Personal Narrative")
“The Master’s Vessel”
The Master was searching for a vessel to use.
On the shelf there were many, which one would he choose?
Take me cried the gold one, I’m shiny and bright.
I’m of great value and I do things just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine the rest,
And for you, Master, gold would be the best.
The Master passed on with no word at all.
He looked at a silver urn, narrow and tall.
I’ll serve you dear Master, I’ll pour out your wine,
And I’ll be at your table whenever you dine,
My lines are so graceful, my carvings so true,
And my silver so pure, I will always compliment you.
Unheeding, the Master passed on to the brass,
It was wide mouthed and shallow, and polished like glass.
Here, Here cried the vessel, I know I will do.
Place me on your table for all men to view.
Look at me cried the goblet of crystal so clear.
My transparency shows my contents so clear.
Though fragile I am, I will serve you with pride.
And I’m sure I’ll be happy in your home to abide.
The Master came next to a vessel of wood.
Polished and carved, It solidly stood.
You may use me dear the wooden bowl said,
I’d prefer you used me for fruit and for bread!
Then the Master looked down and saw a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken, it helplessly lay,
No hope had the vessel that the Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill and to use.
Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it all mine.
I need not the vessel with pride of itself.
Nor the one that is narrow to sit on the shelf.
Nor the one that is big mouthed, and shallow and loud.
Nor one who displays his contents so proud.
Nor the one who thinks he can do all things just right.
But this plain earthy vessel filled with my power and might.
Then He lifted the vessel of clay,
Mended and cleansed it and filled it that day.
Spoke to it kindly, “There’s work you must do.
Just pour out to others as I pour into you.”
Author Unknown
On Palm Sunday 2009, I explained to you about the two parades that took place in Jerusalem within days of each other. The first was when Pontius Pilate made his way (each year) from Caesarea Maritima to Jerusalem for Passover. He did not go to Jerusalem to observe Passover, mind you, but to show the force of Rome and put down the riots or revolts that this time of year always bred. He only left the plush life of Caesarea Maritima because he had to. Pilate arrived like a rock star! He arrived with great pomp and circumstance. He rode a white war horse, displayed a massive army, was escorted by golden Roman war eagles on golden poles, and used vivid colors. The crowd greeted him at the western gate and cheered his arrival. If anyone attempted to approach Pilate they would be met with a severe beating at best and death at the hands of a roman soldier at worst. Pilate was not here by choice – it was the bane of his existence. He had no respect or tolerance for the Jewish leaders or the mob. He despised Jerusalem and all the turmoil it brought.
The second parade … Jesus. This King’s arrival was on a beast of burden via the eastern gate. He was welcomed by peasants with borrowed cloaks and palm branches to pave his way.
Jesus was no rock star. Jesus was approachable. Jesus was open. Jesus would stop and talk to people – even minister to them. He played with children, and laughed at parties. Jesus came to earth and Jerusalem by choice; he loved the people … he even stopped to weep over the city on his way in.
Pilate was a man of war and power. But of Jesus it was aid, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out …” (Matthew 12:20).
Pilate would have no rivals. Jesus would have no one rejected.
Pilate came to control and kill. Jesus came to die and deliver.
Jesus shed his glory and took the form of a mere human so he could nurture intimacy with you. In this final week of his life he would: wash dirty feet, eat with his friends, teach his friends, pray with his friends … and die for his friends.
He wants you to be His friend! He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
WRAP-UP
“The Recycled Orchestra”
In December of last year (2012) NPR told the story of a poor community in Paraguay has formed an amazing orchestra that plays instruments created from recycled trash. The young musicians in a slum that’s built on a landfill. More than 1500 tons of trash gets dumped into the landfill every day. About 1,000 residents make their living by picking through the trash with long hooks called ganchos (hence the garbage pickers are called gancheros).
Favio Chavez, a young professional and musician, and Luis Szaran, a music conductor, have infused the landfill with warmth, dignity, and beauty. When Chavez saw the desperate poverty and dire health conditions at the landfill, he opened a tiny music school. He asked one of the trash-pickers, Nicolas Gomez, to make some instruments from recycled materials.
Eventually the students learned to play a small orchestra of miraculously redeemed instruments: a cello made out of an oil can and old cooking tools, a flute made from tin cans, a drum set that uses X-rays as the skins, bottle caps that serve as the keys for a saxophone, a double bass constructed out of chemical cans, and a violin made from a battered aluminum salad bowl and strings tuned with forks.
The "Recycled Orchestra" plays classical music, Paraguayan folk tunes, and even a few rock pieces.
Chavez claims that this amazing story has taught him at least one profound lesson: "People realize that we shouldn’t throw away trash carelessly. Well, we shouldn’t throw away people either."
You know the rest of the story that follows Palm Sunday. You know that Pilate throws away people carelessly. And you also know that Jesus redeems them, recycles them … gives them new purpose.
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Every year, on Palm Sunday, we bring a simple cross to the front of our sanctuary don’t we? It’s not fancy but it serves a very important purpose doesn’t it? It is an opportunity for you to identify with Christ in a manner that can set the tone for the remainder of Holy Week. This year is no different. The cross has been put in place and the index cards are here. While we sing we will take the opportunity to write our names on the index cards and tack them to the cross.
In doing so, we are coming to God in Christ:
• The One who loves us.
• The One who understands that we lift people up by getting beneath them.
• The One who suffered for our sins; redeems us from its penalty and grip.
• The One who is approachable and opened the way to heaven for us.
After you have tacked your name to the cross, I want you to linger up front here. Everyone stay in the aisles and common areas and meditate for a moment. When we have all tacked our names to the cross we will read our “Congregational Covenant of Love” together as our dismissal.
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** Much of the material for this sermon is derived from two specific books. 1) Darin Hufford’s “The Misunderstood God” and Henry Drummond’s “The Greatest Thing in the World.”
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
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"Congregational Covenant of Love"
Heavenly Father, you have taught us that you are love and your Spirit has poured your love into our hearts.
Because you are patient and kind
We will be patient and bear with one another (Ephesians 4:2)
Because you do not envy
We will seek to make peace and build up one another (Rom. 14:19)
Because you are not boastful or proud
We will give preference and honor to one another (Maritimaans 2:3)
Because you are not rude and self-seeking
We will accept and encourage one another (Rom. 15:13-17)
Because you are not easily angered and keep no record of wrongs
We will forgive others just as we have been forgiven by you (Col. 3:13)
Because you do not delight in evil but do rejoice in truth
We will be loving yet truthful with one another (Ephesians:4:25)
Because you always protect, trust and hope
We will look after the interests of one another (Rom. 12:10) and carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
Because you always persevere and and never fail
We will be devoted to one another in brotherly love (Rom. 12:10)
We thank you for showing us how to love.
We will reflect that love in our care for each other. Amen.(1 Cor. 12:25)
