[This sermon ws inspired by Lonard Sweet’s "Sourdough Spirituality" and Rick Warren’s article on building a stronger church]
(Have bread baking in church kitchen before service as people are entering building sot hey can smell the aroma of fresh baked bread.)
Bring a sourdough starter into worship area.
Have one or two bags (per service) of different kinds of bread. -- buy seven or eight loaves of bread—making sure each is a different color, size, and flavor.
Invite children to front—invite them to tell about pets.
I have my pet this AM—I take very good care of this pet, feed it, give it fresh water, keep it safe from harm in its own special space, and of course clean its home often.
But my pet never needs to be walked, or taken to the vet—although if I leave on an extended trip I do need to find someone to come over and make sure it’s fed and watered. I have named his pet “Sponge." Sponge is an oozy, gooey, yeasty, sharp-smelling sourdough starter.
(Show starter)
Smell this gurgling, burbling cauldron of bacteria and fungi.
From this starter, I can creates a variety of delicious sourdough breads, rolls, pancakes and waffles. In fact, some of the loaves look like this. (Pick out of the bag one size and color loaf.) Others look like this. (Pick out another one and toss it into the congregation. Keep doing this until you’re out of bread.)
But keeping Sponge alive—sometimes for hundreds of years—has been the hallmark and heritage of this simple yet ingenious ingredient. Before people brought yeast home from the grocery store in those flat little dehydrated packets, the only way to keep yeast around for baking was to keep a live yeast population going all the time.
Sourdough yeast has bacteria in it that can survive for decades, even centuries. In fact theoretically these cultures could live forever. Sourdough starters are live cultures of naturally-occurring wild yeasts, lactobacteria and fungi. Literally millions of lactobacilli live in one little starter.
(Children return to their seats)
Carbon dioxide is what causes dough to rise. These bacteria produce the gasses that give baked goods their lightness. It feeds on carbohydrates (such as flour or sugar) and produces gas and alcohol (which the old sourdough miners called hooch) as byproducts.
Jesus’ parable of the leaven calls attention to that simple but life-sustaining element that was such a necessary part of the people’s everyday existence—leaven, yeast, a starter that added life and lift to their daily bread.
Look at this verse from the Bible about the life of Jesus:
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast used by a woman making bread. Even though she used a large amount of flour, the yeast permeated every part of the dough.” Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. Matthew 13:33-34 (NLT)
You see Jesus told the people a story that would help them understand what he was talking about.
In Jesus’ leaven parable, the most remarkable thing is how just a small quantity of leaven or yeast hidden or mixed well throughout a large amount of flour can transform it completely. What was dry, inert material—flour—becomes a living, transmigrating population of organisms that can be formed into an entirely different substance—bread.
Jesus’ parable of the leaven. From small inauspicious-looking beginnings, an insignificant lump of yeast, can generate tremendous transformation. These changes are not simply cosmetic; they are organic. Bread is something different than flour.
Is your life leavened? Is our church leavened? It’s that mixing-in process that’s crucial to the flour’s transformation, to the rise of a sourdough spirituality that occupies a lifetime of faith and action.
To bring about the perfect mixing needed to fully start a sourdough spirituality among the members of the body of Christ, Jesus left behind the Holy Spirit, that "leaven of heaven." The gift of the Spirit enables the kingdom of God to be there, here and still not yet—all at the same time.
Here’s Jesus’ promise to us:
“But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.” John 14:26 (NLT)
But how do you make a favorable environment, one that invites the Holy Spirit in and welcomes all the activity that follows in the Holy Spirit’s wake?
Our church needs to know these things about a sourdough spirituality. When the Bethany church family behaves in these ways, then our yeast will make a house of bread that will explode into the community and the world. I must give you one warning, however; if we have this kind of leaven in our fellowship, we will have to keep our doors locked to keep people out!
Here are 6 secrets to making Bethany church a house of bread. First of all,
1. The church family is committed to building each other up.
Can you imagine a small core of leaders in our church committed to building up everyone they came in contact with? What would that do to the morale of our church? What if just 5 people in our church began writing letters – one note a week – saying, “I appreciate you,” and they sent them to others in your congregation. What kind of impact would that have on the morale of your church?
I received one of those letters recently that was sent by a group of people in our church. It means a lot to receive letters like that on days I may be feeling discouraged.
Paul instructs us to make this “building up” of others our goal. He wants us to become like Barnabas, a man who was a leader with Paul in the early church.
Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church and prayed for them with fasting, turning them over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had come to trust. Acts 14:23 (NLT).
The name Barnabas means, “son of encouragement.” How would you like to die and have that written on your tombstone? “She was an encourager." "He was an encourager.” I can’t think of any finer thing to be said about a person.
Life is tough, and there are enough discouraging people in the world. We need a whole band - an army - of encouragers!
In the news last week was the story of the rescue of the 9 miners from the PA coal mine. A large part of their survival was their encouragement of one another. One of the miners said, “We decided we were all going to live together or die together.”
Your words of encourgament are like the leaven Jesus told about in his story. Those words are like yeast starter.
The daily care and feeding of starters is required.
There’s a reason why sourdough starters are called the “bonsai tree of the food world.” In actual sourdough starters you must add equal amounts of warm water and flour to the existing starter to keep it nourished and revitalized. This is called freshening or sweetening. Your words of encouragement are like yeast starter in the lives of others.
Manna arrived for the Hebrews on the run from slavery, fresh every morning.
So the people of Israel ate manna for forty years until they arrived in the land of Canaan, where there were crops to eat. Ex. 16:35 (NLT)
God’s supply is fresh every morning. You don’t need to hoard. You don’t need to hound. You only need to trust the freshness and share it with others.
There’s a riddle in the Talmud that goes like this:
‘If God intended man to live on bread, why didn’t he create a bread tree?’ And the answer, in effect, is that God could have created a tree that produced crusty loaves of bread, but he prefers to offer us a grain and invite us to buy a field and plant the seed. He prefers that we till the soil while he sends the rain. He prefers that we harvest the crop while he sends sunshine. He prefers that we grind the crop and knead it and bake it while he gives us air in our lungs and strength in our arms. Why? Because he would rather that we become partners with him in creation.—Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come: chapter 10: 273 in galleys
.
Are you committed to building one another up? It kept 9 coal miners trapped in PA alive for 77 hours. Think what it could do for our church family.
The second secret to making Bethany church a house of bread is
2. The church family recognizes the value of every person.
“Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.” Romans 14:15b (NIV)
Now some of our family may be obnoxious; they may be immature; they may be disagreeable, but Christ died for them. And don’t forget that! When you start to get upset with someone in your church, just remember: Christ died for that person. That shows how valuable and important he or she is to God. What right do I have to hurt people Christ died for? The answer is: I don’t have the right. Stay attuned to their importance to God.
Maybe that person whom you detest has not had the yeast or the sourdough starter activitated in their lives yet. Maybe you will be the person who can nourish and feed that starter and help him or her achieve their potential for the ministry of the church. Just as microbes can lie dormant in the earth for centuries, only to be opened up by digging in the backyard in what amounts to bacteria pits, so the God-given gifts can lie buried in an individual, to be opened up and rediscovered.
So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified. Romans 15:7 (NLT)
To possess a sourdough spirituality, I must recognize the value of every person.
The third secret of making my church a house of bread is:
3. The church family stays focused on what’s really important.
Don’t allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and is approved of men. Romans 14:16,17 (NIV)
Paul is saying that the essence of Christianity is not external but internal. By focusing on the things that are internal – eternally important – we can then put up with a lot of external quirks, faults and faux pas.
Back in 1917, as the Bolsheviks grabbed the reins of power through a revolution in Russia, the priests in the Orthodox Church were in a heated debate over how long the tassels should be on their robes. They ignored the Bolshevik revolution, and instead, split their church arguing over this trivial matter!
As part of my responsibility in the Virginia Annual Conference of the UMC, I serve as a consultant to congregations experiencing tension. Through that, I’ve learned that most churches don’t experience conflict over major issues. The tension often arises out of trivial, foolish little things. And Paul is making the plea: Don’t be sidetracked by minor issues.
To invigorate the sourdough starter, the church must stay focused on what is really important—our mission to make disciples for Jesus Christ.
The next secret to making this church a house of bread is:
4. The church family does not insist everyone agree.
Do you ever think, if you don’t say it to another person in our church, “Believe as I believe, think as I think, drink as I drink, do as I do. Be like me! Only then can I fellowship with you.”
Romans 14:22(NIV) - “So whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”
Paul says, on these disputable matters, keep them between you and the Lord.
Wesley in “The Catholic Spirit” said, “We may not think alike but we can agree to differ. All the children of God may unite despite small differences between them.”
Romans 12:18 offers a good balance, suggesting that while you need to look out for people who might be offended by a legitimate “stumbling block” issue, there are some legalists who will be upset no matter what you do. You’ll never be able to please them.
In that event, Paul says, “As far as it depends on you, if it is possible, live at peace with all men.”
God even admits there are some people you can’t get along with! In that case, it’s not so much your problem as it is theirs. Their nitpicking says more about them than you. What you need to do is allow the Holy Spirit to help you determine when you’re dealing with a legitimate stumbling block, and when you’re dealing with another believer who is simply unpleaseable.
But DON’T jump to the conclusion that it’s their problem. Take it to God in prayer and see what His Spirit has to say.
In sourdough starters some people remove the hootch (alcohol) that rises to the top. Others keep it in. Some add baking soda if the starter is too sour. Others like it more sour. Others add apple cider vinegar—which gives it a boost when it’s sick.
You’ll know by the smell of the starter, by the flavor of the finished product (the bread), whether or not our church’s starter needs some adjustment or not. That will happen in both individual and group prayer—you will begin to be aware of how you need to adjust your starter, your attitude toward someone.
To have a sourdough spirituality, I will not force my opinion on others. The church cannot insist everyone agree.
The next secret to making my church a house of bread is:
5. The church family accept one another.
In Romans 15:7, Paul says, “Accept one another just as Christ has accepted you in order to bring praise to God.”
How did Christ accept us? Unconditionally. Non-judgmentally. No one’s acceptance is based on performance!
The only way you can keep the staff of life going is to give it away. When you give your sourdough starter away, what you’re giving is a little bit of yourself.
In every place on planet Earth, the air is filled with indigenous, marauding microbes and spores waiting to ambush sugars. When that happens, there starts a bubbly cauldron of bacteria, a colony of microorganisms. Wherever you go, those microorganisms pounce on that sourdough starter, making it unique and original
How can you give yourself away? Paul goes on in verse 13, to say there are four marks of a unified church: joy, peace, hope and power.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Now, that’s the kind of church I want to be a part of, and I’m sure you do too! Those marks are like the leaven in the lump, the starter in the bread. They are marks of a sourdough spirituality.
The final secret to making your church a house of bread is:
6. The church family accepts change as the standard for its mission.
No church will ever be perfect, but it can be healthy. Bethany certainly is not a perfect church, but it can be healthy, just like your kids aren’t perfect, but they’re healthy.
How can you tell if this church is a house of bread—a church with a vibrant sourdough spirituality? A healthy church is a growing church.
Biblical faith is a Yeast Culture. It’s an expansive culture. You can’t contain it. You can’t predict it. It’s organic but it’s explosive. The hippies of the sixties almost had it right when they talked about flower power. But for the church the leaven of heaven is the true “Flour Power.”
Another thing to keep in mind, Sourdough yeast expands. Whatever container you choose to keep it in—plastic or glass or ceramic (never metal), make sure it’s big enough to expand.
Is our church big enough to expand?
To the extent that we practice these 6 secrets of making this church a house of bread, then to that extent we will have to increase the size of this container, this building to hold the people who will be attracted to the love of Christ through us here on this hill, in this place we call Bethany.
“To stand on the meeting of two eternities, the past and the future,” is the goal of life, said 19th century author Henry David Thoreau.
Sourdough starter is a good illustration of this, an AncientFuture faith. In order for things to stay the same, they have to change.
In order for the church to move into this new world, we must “hold fast to our confession” (Hebrews 4:14). But unless we’re willing to bake some fresh bread for the world in which we live, we can’t conserve the past.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NRSV) But for Jesus to be the same yesterday, today, and forever, he must become fresh every morning. Fresh baked bread.
Jesus was born in a town called Bethlehem, a town named for bread (Beth=house; lehem=bread), where the production of grain for consumption was a prevalent occupation.
Is your church a House of Bread? Is Bethany church an oven that’s baking fresh bread for the world?
The best definition of a manger I’ve ever heard is this. What is a manger? A feeding trough large enough to put the Bread of Life.
A world is out there starving to death, hungry for the bread of life. Will we be a House of Bread for a hungry world?
PRAYER: Will you pray in this way with me today? O God, may my church grow in joy and peace and hope and power.
Father, it is my prayer that Bethany family members will be so committed to building each other up that the world will take notice, that we will be seen as a house of bread. I pray that our ministries will be unified in love and that they will bring glory to You. Teach us to recognize the value of every individual. Teach us to keep our focus on what’s really important. Help us refrain from forcing our opinions on each other, particularly in areas that aren’t clearly stated in Your word. Help us to live by faith and help us, "like Christ," to be interested in doing what’s good for others and not just seek what’s best for us. Help us to be willing to do whatever it takes, to make the changes necessary in order to communicate to the world the unchanging good news of Jesus. Help us to have that sourdough spirituality so that we share the bread of life with the world even as we come to receive the bread of heaven today during this Communion time at the Lord’s Table. In Jesus’ name who taught us to say…
Our Father in heaven,
may your name be honored.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done here on earth,
just as it is in heaven.
Give us our food for today,
and forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
.Matthew 6:9-13 (NLT)
Here this invitation given to you to come to Communion today from
John 6:35,
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
We invite everyone of all ages and backgrounds to come to the Lord’s Supper today.
you can come forward
singly or in groups or family units
to take the bread and the cup
that are a memorial
of the loving sacrifice of Jesus for everyone here . . .
I encourage you to calm your spirit,
take your time,
approach these moments of worship
carefully and prayerfully,
and come forward whenever you’re ready.
And just in case you’re new to this ceremony,
let me give you a little quick guidance:
You will participate in this meal by breaking a piece of bread and dipping it in the cup and then eating,
you might return to your seat
or maybe to some corner or quiet spot or to the sides here to kneel,
and there spend some time remembering . . .
Remember Jesus’ loving sacrifice for you,
the body that was broken for you,
represented by the bread,
the blood that was spilled for you,
represented by the drink,
and then spend some time praying,
thanking him,
confessing any sin in your life,
and receiving again his loving, forgiving grace
as you eat the bread and drink the juice.
AND if for any reason you choose not to partake today, that’s perfectly okay;
if you’re not a Christ-follower,
or if you just prefer to abstain,
please feel free to remain seated,
and maybe pray for those who are celebrating today,
and if there’s anyone here who would seek
a listening ear or
someone to pray with you,
there will be prayer counselors at the front as well who, after they have celebrated,
will be standing at either end here,
making themselves available to talk to you
This is the Lord’s Table!
Invocation:
O most gracious God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we are gathered here to keep your feast,
to celebrate your love,
your faithfulness,
your sacrifice in which we have been offered security,
knowledge,
hope,
and faith
in your coming kingdom feast,
May our life’s activities continue to seek to manifest the vision for your creation that has been revealed to us in this celebration. Amen.
Words of Institution Bread:
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Let us pray:
O eternal, friendly God, your Son gave his life for humanity on the cross.
And left us this supper to his remembrance,
but also a proclamation of the vision you have for your creation.
Bless this bread for us this day,
so that is may be a sign of your Son’s body.
By the receiving of this bread, grant us a higher, namely a heavenly bread, Jesus Christ, who feeds our souls now and in eternal life. Amen.
Take, eat, taste, and celebrate God’s triumph.
Words of Institution Cup:
In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Let us pray:
Compassionate God,
you do not wish our death as sinners but that we turn around and live.
This cup presents before our eyes the outpouring of Christ’s precious blood, and the certainty of his resurrection.
Bless it so that we might taste and celebrate your saving future, which anticipates one day drinking the new wine in your kingdom. Amen
Take, drink, taste and celebrate God’s triumph.
Prayer of Thanksgiving:
Bountiful God,
you have nourished us with our Saviour Christ who has come to us in this holy banquet.
Unite us now in faith, mercy, and justice.
Inspire us to love the world as Christ does.
Encourage us with the hope of everlasting life.
All this we ask, holy God, through Jesus Christ your incarnate word, and your life-giving Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
