Sermon - August 12, 2007 - Pastor Wesley Howell
"Do Not Be Afraid, Little Flock"

"Do not be afraid, little flock," our Gospel lesson begins, "for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." When you realize the responsibility attached to such a gift, you might be tempted to say, "No, thanks just same, but I think I’ll pass."

Jane’s been showing EVERYONE who comes into the office pictures of her first grandson. What is it we often say…”Ah…how beautiful… a gift from heaven…” But think about it. If parents stopped to count the cost of taking a child home (fortunately, they never do)--the cost of baby food and diapers, sleepless nights and worrisome days, braces for the teeth, clothes and school supplies and college tuition, and repairs to the fenders of the family car, and that’s only the financial bit….there’s the emotional cost: heartaches and disappointments, it would not be surprising for a young parent to say to the hospital, "No, thanks just the same, I think I will pass on the gift. Here…KEEP IT!” But the little bundle from heaven will also bring amazing joy. Enrich, deepen, color your life in ways you could never imagine. And it’s not just babies. Friends, members of the congregation, people coming into your life…a gift being laid at your feet.

What are the responsibilities that come with being given the kingdom of heaven? It’s not little…: stop thinking about only yourself…that you’re the center of the universe and the world revolves around you…give up materialistic ways, share your wealth, and be constantly on the watch for Jesus to pop into your life.

Add to these the other things we know about being a faithful Christian, like loving one's enemies, turning your cheek, serving others, perhaps even giving your life for the sake of another; it makes the kingdom a burdensome gift to receive. "Do not be afraid, little flock," Jesus says. That sounds like the contradiction of the century. It might be precisely the gift that should terrify the believer.

Yet, in the face of the tremendous responsibilities that come with the gift of the kingdom of heaven and whatever fear we might attach to it, there is a word of encouragement and a word of hope for the recipient.

The word of encouragement is in the fact that the kingdom of heaven is not the burden of any single individual. We are to join with others doing the faithful work that God calls us to. In the text, Jesus speaks to a group of disciples. The "flock" is not a single sheep. The writer Luke speaks to a church of first-century disciples who are a growing flock of believers. We know that we too are individual members of a large flock of faithful disciples who seek to live as citizens of the kingdom of heaven. The work we do is never ours alone to accomplish.

With the word of encouragement, there is also a message of hope in this word from Jesus. Yes, there’s a lot to be done; disciples need to be faithful, diligent, and watchful. Yet, no matter the responsibility associated with accepting God's kingdom when it is given, there is something more--a lot more. It’s the unbelievable love of God and every joy that comes with it. It’s the Father's good pleasure to give not just burdens - for that would be unkind in the extreme - but the blessings of the kingdom of heaven.

This is like the joy that comes from living in the sunlight of God's love. Just count the blessings that come with the kingdom of heaven. Joy comes from knowing that your sins are forgiven. Take the bold step to admit you’re wrong once in a while. That maybe you hurt someone…hurt God. And a relationship can be mended and then “Get on with it.” Your mess ups don’t need to be dragged through life like an ever-increasing load of garbage that can’t be dumped.
It comes from the knowledge that, despite what you might think of yourself or what others might think about you, you are deeply loved by the one who created you.

And joy comes from knowing that the value of your life is not to be measured by your bank account, not how beautiful you are, not by your standing in the community, not by your fear, nor by your willingness to serve, not even by the amount of good you have done in the kingdom, but simply by this: that God loves you so much he sent His Son. To do everything He could to bring us back - to connect us again.

These earthly blessings are merely the beginning. Somehow, in a way we cannot comprehend, God has it planned for us to spend, not a few days of dedicated service and toil on the face of the earth, but an unending procession of days in that place set aside for the children of God. The hymn writer put it best: "When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun."

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The responsibilities are there to be faithful, watchful, and diligent. A responsibility to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength…and your neighbor as yourself. Have no fear, for it is God's good pleasure to give you a love so great and a realm so sweet that it will take you an eternity to understand it and an eternity to say thank you.
Do we have a clue, really, what’s been laid at our feet? But letting it lay there and admiring it won’t cut it. You have to pick it up.