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February 1, 2015

The 5 Mission Practices

Preacher: Rev. Jack Meehan Series: Being SJLC: Joining Jesus on His Mission Category: Biblical Scripture: Mark 1:21–1:28

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
January 31-February 1, 2015
Mark 1:21-28

“Being SJLC 2015: The 5 Mission Practices”

It’s Super Bowl Sunday – Patriots vs. Seahawks in Phoenix. We’ve had the Deflate Gate controversy, and the FAA’s announcement that this game will be a “no drone zone.” So the catch phrase this year is: “Leave your drone at home.” The battle between these two opposing teams points us to another battle that we see in today’s Gospel lesson. In our worship services, we follow what is called the 3-Year Lectionary Series for Scripture lessons. This pattern for the reading of Scripture in worship is shared by many Christians throughout the world. Year A follows Matthew’s Gospel, Year B follows Mark’s Gospel, and Year C follows Luke’s Gospel, with a sprinkling of John’s Gospel in each of those three years. This year, we are making our way through Mark’s Gospel, which many scholars believe was actually the apostle Peter’s account of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection, and was recorded by the young disciple, John Mark, which bears his name (Mark 14:51-52; Acts 12:12; 1 Peter 5:13). The Gospel of Mark is sometimes called the “Gospel of action” because the word “immediately” (εύθύς) occurs over forty times, including the first verse of today’s Gospel lesson: “And they went to Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching” (Mark 1:21). We hear it again in a verse which follows: “And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit” (Mark 1:23). Mark’s – or Peter’s – point here is that Jesus the Savior is loose in the world, and things are happening! As the good news of God’s kingdom that centers on Jesus encounters forces that are opposed to the coming of that kingdom, there is a show-down taking place. That’s what we see happening in the Gospel lesson for today as we enter into week #4 of our Epiphany focus, Serving Jesus – Living in Community. Today we focus on chapters 11-16 in the book, Joining Jesus on His Mission, which outline what are called “The 5 Mission Practices.” That becomes the theme for today’s message. May the Lord’s rich and abundant blessing rest upon the preaching, the hearing, and the living of his Word for Jesus’ sake.

I hope that you are “reading, marking, learning and inwardly digesting” the wisdom in this little book, Joining Jesus on His Mission. The author, Pastor Greg Finke, reminds us that our missional mindset focuses on two questions: “What is Jesus up to?” and “How is he inviting me to join him?” (p. 97, Joining Jesus on His Mission). At the end of the day, it’s really all about Jesus – seeing what he is doing in my life and in the lives of those around me, and following where he is leading as he is at work in our lives. Jesus is the fulfillment of what Moses said in today’s Old Testament lesson (Deuteronomy 18:15-20): “The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you… it is to him you shall listen… And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” We confess that Jesus, who is true God and true man, is our Prophet, Priest and King. As Prophet, he is the One who fulfills all that is written about him in God’s Word, the Law and the Prophets (Luke 24:27). As Priest, he is the One who has offered his very life as the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for our sins l (Hebrews 9:11-14). As King, he is the One who rules over all things in heaven and on earth (Colossians 1:15-20). Time and again, we see in Mark’s Gospel that the ones who know who Jesus really is – his true identity – are not God’s chosen people, but Gentile foreigners (Mark 15:39) and the demons (Mark 1:24; 5:7). We see this demonic recognition in today’s Gospel as the man with an unclean spirit cries out: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). Even the demons know the truth about God (James 2:19), but they are not saved because they refuse to submit to God. Jesus is the only power over demonic forces, and that is clear in this Gospel lesson. They must obey him, and this is that authoritative teaching that so astounds the people. This exorcism or casting out of evil forces continues in holy Baptism to this day with the question that is asked: “Do you renounce all the forces of evil, the devil, and all his empty promises?” That question is asked in dead seriousness and it is no mere child’s play. For if there is a Holy Spirit, there is also an unholy spirit. If you think this is only a relic from the past and a holdover from the dark ages, you are sadly mistaken. The power of evil is real and it takes many forms. But it has one source, and our “adversary, the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). There is only One who can help. The authority and the power to save, rescue and deliver from sin, death and the devil comes only through Jesus!

As we join Jesus on his mission, we may find people who are held captive to things that enslave them – things that could actually destroy them. We may discover that we ourselves are dealing with forces in our lives that are bent on our destruction. It’s like the Prayer of the Day puts it:

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot
stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through
all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bottom line: we need help, and so we say with the psalmist: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 124:8). If we’re serious about following Jesus and joining him on his mission, it begins with this truth. Our reading from the book, Joining Jesus on His Mission, this past week (chapters 11-16) focused on five mission practices that serve to strengthen us in following Jesus and opening our eyes to see the opportunities he gives to join him on his mission. These things are not part of a church program – not another thing to do. Rather, they are part of a daily lifestyle. These things “are not what we do when we go to church. The 5 Practices are what we do when we go out to be the Church” (p. 99, Joining Jesus on His Mission). They are: 1) seeking the kingdom; 2) hearing from Jesus; 3) talking with people; 4) doing good; and 5) ministering through prayer. Briefly, seeking the kingdom is coming to the understanding that we don’t have to force or manufacture opportunities for the kingdom of God. They will come to us! “The practice of seeking the kingdom is simply forming the habit of watching for what God is showing us every day in the midst of our daily routines” (p. 105, Ibid). Hearing from Jesus is spending time with Jesus as he speaks to us in his Word, the Scriptures. It is that important, and it moves us from mere information to transformation. “Jesus wants us to move beyond hearing and studying his words to putting them into practice” (p. 109, Ibid). Talking with people is “less about talking than it is about listening” (p. 113, Ibid). Talking with and listening to people is no guarantee that something spiritual is going to happen. “But not talking with people guarantees that it won’t happen” (p. 114, Ibid). “Jesus can do more with two people who are talking with each other than he can with two people who are successfully ignoring each other” (p. 117, Ibid). Doing good begins “with us looking for the good we can do” (p. 119, Ibid). It’s as simple as that. “The good God has prepared for us to do often seems small but will always be significant… perhaps not to the human eye but to the redemptive plan of Jesus” (pp. 120-121, Ibid). Ministering through prayer is something that may really move us outside our comfort zone, but remember: “prayer is not so much about getting our words right as it is about inviting our King in. How can we help a person in prayer today?” (pp. 130-131). Praying with someone may not always be appropriate; it will depend on the situation. But being ready to pray with and for that person is what we’re about.

Seeking the kingdom, hearing from Jesus, talking with people, doing good and ministering through prayer – these are tools in our toolbox. Jesus, who holds all authority and power so that even demonic forces must submit to him, invites us to join him on his mission. A brief missional video closes out this sermon – let’s watch it (This is Discipling - This is Church). Amen.