Worship Preview 6.1.25

This Sunday: 10:30am –  7th Sunday of Easter – Resurrection Stories: With You…  Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures: Matthew 28:16-20 and Romans 15:1-13

We reach the end of our Easter season series. We have heard most of the Resurrection appearance stories from Scripture – and we have focused on our own stories of renewal, new birth, and transformation. This week we read the end of Matthew’s Gospel. Chapter 28 begins with the women at the tomb on the first day of the week – Matthew goes into detail about Mary Magdaline, who initially thinks Jesus is a gardener but recognizes him when he speaks her name. Then Matthew alone tells a story of the guards being bribed to say the body was stolen, instead of telling of an earthquake and their terror. We are not the first age to deal with spin, misinformation, and disinformation! Matthew then concludes with Jesus meeting the 11 remaining disciples in Galilee some time later, but it is not clear when.

Some are troubled by a cursory reading of the four Gospels that don’t easily match up – does Jesus appear in Galilee or Jerusalem? The answer is a solid Wesleyan “both / and.” The timelines of the various appearances are not always clear. Reading the gospels and Acts, Jesus’ appearances span about 40 days, with the beginning of Acts some 5 weeks after Easter, and Pentecost, which we will celebrate next week, coming 50 days after Easter. We noted earlier that Scripture itself tells us that it does not include all possible stories and we’ve highlighted at leasts a couple that are alluded to but not told. The authors of these books, and the members of the councils that set the Canon of Scripture, were not blind to these “rough edges.” Rather, for me, these remind us that the Bible is not about rote certainty, but faithful encounter. God, the Risen Christ, and the Holy Spirit are not contained by our understanding, rather God engages our questions, doubts, and hopes. As John Wesley said on his deathbed “best of all, God is with us.” That is Jesus’ assurance at the end of Matthew and the promise given at the beginning of the Gospel when the title we usually hear at Christmas, “Emmanuel” is given. God with us.

The question is how do we respond to that grace filled presence? This is what Paul is writing about in Romans, just as we have heard in recent weeks about “clothing ourselves in Christ” and focusing on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure…” In Romans, Paul is writing his greatest theology and deepest hope – that all Christians – from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds – might truly be and become one church. Which takes me back to Matthew’s Gospel. In Matthew 10, Jesus sends the “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” If we take that verse in isolation and decide it is God’s instruction for all time it would mean none of us without Jewish heritage should be included. But that is clearly not what Jesus is saying. At that moment in time, those particular disciples are given a specific focus – only the “lost sheep of Israel” and not Samaritans or Gentiles. Yet Jesus, famously or perhaps infamously, certainly goes to and includes those folks. And now, at the end of Matthew, at a different time and for different purposes, Jesus’ instruction to disciples is to go to all nations and make disciples. Like last week’s reading from John, we aren’t to ask “whatabout…” other’s call – we are to follow our own, letting the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit guide us on the narrow way of Christ for the glory of God. It’s not about easy certainty and checklists – it’s about blessed assurance, hope, faith and love. And we do not do that alone – but together, with others in the Body of Christ and with Jesus, who is with us! Thanks be to God.

So as we have proclaimed throughout this series -  whatever binds you, whatever locks you up, whatever keeps you from the life for which you were created…can be rolled away, opened, released… for we believe our stories can be rewritten each and every day! It is not easy or quick, but let this Easter be a vision of your life unlocked – your life as a Resurrection Story! Alleluia. Amen! We hope you will join us at 10:30am Sunday at 301 S. National.

Upcoming Events: 

Wednesday, June 4th Feeding Families in His Name:  This “to-go” meal is distributed under the portico at 301 S. National. This free meal is available to everyone without obligation. A reminder: Please do not block nearby driveways while waiting. Thank you. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/onlinegiving. 

Vacation Bible School – June 16th -20th 5:30-8pm at 1st Presbyterian (308 S. Crawford). Come on a “Road Trip” with us to learn more about God and each other! Register at www.firstumcfortscott/vbs or by calling 1st Presbyterian’s church office at (620) 224-2055.

Want to find out more? Check our website at www.firstumcfortscott.org and download our June Newsletter from the Newsletters tab. Or visit us at www.facebook.org/firstumcfortscott Blessings on your journey!