Got something to say

							 Preached at St. Andrews 16/11/08                                      Got something to say? / 1




   Got something to say
                Readings: Isaiah 43:8-13; 1Corinthians 3:5-11; John 15:9-17

        Talking is a natural human activity, even if it seems more natural for some than
for others. But there are times when speaking is a scary thought. Jerry Seinfeld at the
start of one of his TV episodes pointed out just how frightening a prospect it can be.
“According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is
death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person,
if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
        Such fear only seems to be amplified when we think about speaking about our
faith. The old taboos about talking about sex and politics seem to be on the wane but it
is firmly in place about religion. We might be afraid of the way people will respond, we
may wonder if we have the right to say anything, we might feel completely unsure of
what we should say, and doubtful of the usefulness of what we would have to say
anyway. It is easy then to convince ourselves to keep quiet.
        The difficulty is our job description as Christians. You may remember that last
week we looked at 1Peter 2 and we discovered that our job description goes something
like this: we are God’s chosen representatives, to praise him for his salvation, and to live
lives that reflect that same hope, ready to share that hope as we have occasion. There
are at least two aspects of that job which involve us speaking; firstly praising God; and
sharing the reason for our hope. In other words we have got something to say, and we
need to be prepared to speak, it is what we have been chosen to do. We have been
headhunted out of darkness to shine the light.
        How are we to deal with this? There is no point in denying the problem because
as I have spoken with people about this idea it does make us uncomfortable, it does not
sit easily that we have got to say something. But I’ve got something to say about that as
well as showing that you have something to say.

WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING
       It is worth us remembering that what we have to say is certainly something. We
have a wonderful message of salvation, eternal life, forgiveness and God’s love. It is
about Jesus, a saviour who brings people out of darkness into God’s wonderful light,
brings them into God’s people, from judgement into mercy. Ain’t that something. I hope
that everyone here agrees that it is a wonderful message.
       Moreover it is a message that has saved us. Perhaps we need to remember how
we felt when we first fully grasped what God had done for us in Jesus, that is the best
motivator to speak that I know of. What do we do when we see a great documentary on
TV? The next day we will ask people did they see that amazing program about
Penguins in the Sahara. When I hear a great new CD I want to tell people about it. It
should be the same with this wonderful message. What we have to say is certainly
something.

THE CALL IS TO BE FAITHFUL, THE RESULT IS UP TO GOD.
       The very wonderful nature of our message may be part of the problem, after all
who are we to spread it. We may feel nervous that we are not equipped to speak and
not sure it will do much good. We need to remember who is really at work in bringing
people into the light. It is certainly not us.
       I have a confession to make at this point, I have never converted anyone.
Perhaps more shockingly, Billy Graham has never converted anyone. This is God’s
work.
 Preached at St. Andrews 16/11/08                                           Got something to say? / 2
        We see this in many places in Scripture. In Matthew 16 Jesus asks the disciples
who they say that he is. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not
revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.” Peter had only understood who
Jesus is because of God’s direct work in his life.
        We see it in 1Corinthians 3. Paul is speaking to people who want to associate
themselves with particular leaders in the church. Paul points out that both he and
Apollos are simply servants of God, Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered it but it is
God who made it grow. The result is in God’s hands.
        We see it in our own Christian life, ultimately we were not convinced by
arguments, but by the simple call of God on our lives, as the Holy Spirit works within us.
I am sure that we can look back and see how God has been at work in our life to bring
us to faith.
        Given that it is God’s work to bring forth a harvest from the planting of seed our
job is not to see a result but simply to be faithful in what we say. This is really liberating,
our job is not be eloquent or clever, witty or wise, simply to be faithful in what we say
and let God do the rest.
        Sometimes this will mean that it is rejected, but it is worth remembering that even
Jesus was rejected in some places. In an odd sort of way it is encouraging to know that.
But we may have the great privilege of being part of God’s way of bringing people into
the light.

WE ALL PLAY DIFFERENT PARTS
       The passage in 1Corinthians 3 is helpful in another way it reminds that we all
have different rolls to play. We are not all going to be like Paul or even Apollos but we
can play our part, we are all fellow workers in God’s salvation scheme.
       It may be that we are the one who plants, who first tells someone of God’s great
love shown in Jesus. We may be someone who waters, who encourages someone to
keep thinking, to keep questioning, who reminds someone of something they have
heard of before. All of this may help someone along the path to faith.
       Or to continue the agricultural metaphor our role may be to break up the ground
by showing Christian compassion and love which prepares the way for a gospel
conversation. As we looked at last week, hopefully people will be asking if we are living
hopefully. Faithful Christian living is a fundamental part of the process.
       Also fundamental is remembering that it is God who really does the work, that we
pray to the Lord of the harvest, this is spiritual work. We need to be praying that we
would know God’s love and that we will be able to share it in whatever way we can. All
the disciplines of the Christian life then are part of fulfilling this role, fruitfulness will come
from remaining in Christ, that is the way to bear fruit.
       All of us then can play our part in spreading the message, we all can do our bit.
Again this is backed up in our own experience. Very few people are brought to Christ by
someone marching up to them in the street and saying “You need Jesus” and being
converted on the spot. You might like to think of your own story of how you came to
know Jesus. Almost certainly there will have been many people involved, a family
member, a Sunday School teacher, a friend, perhaps even a minister or two.

WE ARE WITNESSES
       But you might think “Well, this is all very well Richard but what actually do I say,
what can I say?” In a sense I have given the answer as we have gone through as I have
encouraged you to think about your own story of how you became a Christian. Above
all we are called to be witnesses, that is to speak of things which we know, and that of
course is the easiest thing to speak about.
       When we try to speak about things we don’t understand it is obvious and we don’t
feel confident. I remember tutoring in Structures when at Uni and having to explain to
 Preached at St. Andrews 16/11/08                                       Got something to say? / 3
other students some engineering concepts about concrete that I simply couldn’t
understand, I don’t think I convinced anyone.
        Likewise we are not all called to give great theological answers, to be able to
explain prelapsarian predestination, to enter into great moral debates, but simply to give
an answer as to the hope we have. We should all be able to answer the question as to
why we are a Christian.
        This is at the heart of the Just Start Talking course being able to simply answer
that question. As I have asked you questions about your story could you simply answer
that question. It is something we need to be prepared for. What might such an answer
look like. Well let me tell you mine.
My story
       I am a Christian because Jesus was raised from the dead.
       I grew up in a Christian home going to Sunday School and learning of God’s love
and the Bible stories of Jesus and how he was our Saviour and Lord.
       But it was only in my late teens that I grasped these were not stories but they
were real events, Jesus really had been raised from the dead by God. That meant there
really was a God, and God who wanted me particularly to pay attention to Jesus. I
couldn’t ignore him, I had to listen to what he said, he really was Lord, my Ruler. As he
was part of history he was part of my story. But the resurrection also meant that he
could truly save, the talk of eternal life and a world renewed was real. Because Jesus
was raised from the dead I know that Jesus is my Lord and my saviour and I have hope.
       Do you think Jesus was raised from the dead?
Others’ Stories
        Now you might think well that is all very well for you Richard, you are a
professional Christian, used to speaking. Well here are other answers from members of
St. Andrew’s.
        Gina Cohen 8am
        I am a Christian because Jesus saved my life.
        Twenty three years ago I was in a pathetic state, suffering severe post natal
depression and my life was meaningless to me. I never really understood what being a
Christian was all about even though I was confirmed here at St. Andrew’s, but in the
midst of my darkness I knew I had to have my children baptised and I contacted our
church office. The rector came to see me about the children and it must have been
obvious that I also needed some intervention so he explained the life saving message of
the gospel to me.
        That night I went to sleep asking the Lord Jesus to take my life as it was no
longer any use to me. I literally woke up a transformed person. I have been walking
with Jesus ever since. Sometimes life is still a struggle. But I live fully, in the knowledge
that I am forgiven, saved, loved, provided for and listened to by my Lord and Creator.
        Does your life need saving too?
        Lee Thomson 9.30am
        I am a Christian because I know God loves me.
        I grew up with a Christian mother who taught me that Jesus loves me. Through
the years I came to learn not only did Jesus love me but He died for me so I could know
forgiveness. All I had to do was believe. Understanding that was just the beginning for
me.
        Through all of life’s difficulties, joys and triumphs, God has been with me, His love
giving me certainty, strength and a sure hope. That sure hope comes from knowing
Jesus rose from the dead.
        It is that sure hope that now gives me peace, contentment and a very real joy.
These are what I need now in my life and how I am sure God loves me.
        I can’t help wanting others to know that joy and peace, so I do want to ask you,
do you know God loves you?
 Preached at St. Andrews 16/11/08                                        Got something to say? / 4
        Catherine Whitehead 7pm
        Being a Christian is who I am, I don’t know a time in my life when I did not know
about God.
        I grew up in a Christian home, went to Sunday school, a Christian School,
Christian College at Uni and go to church. Although those places have supported me
and guided me they don’t make me a Christian.
        What makes me a Christian is that Jesus loves me. Jesus is the rock of my life
to which I stand on, firm ground. God knows all there is to know about me all the good
and bad and he still LOVES me.
        Jesus is God’s son, Jesus died and rose again, so I could be forgiven. Jesus has
DONE all the hard work for me. And I trust him. Jesus has DONE all the hard work for
you too, do you stand on firm ground and trust Jesus?
        Different Stories
        Isn’t it encouraging to read such things (it was even more encouraging to hear
them!) It is one of the great side benefits of thinking through how we would answer the
question, the way it can be used to encourage our fellow Christians. In fact I have had
perhaps deeper conversations with parishioners this week as we work through answers
to this question. And I know that people have been talking to others about their
answers.
        A few things are worth noticing. The answers don’t try to say everything, they
simply answer the question “Why are you a Christian?” Also the answers are not Bible
bashing they speak of someone’s own experience. They also invite the listener to
respond, they allow the conversation to continue not be pushing someone into a corner
but through a sharing of their lives.
        Finally all the stories are different depending on the individual, a witness to our
own story. Mine is kind of analytical and nerdy, which won’t appeal to everyone,
particularly more emotional people, but the other answers would. But to a nerdy kind of
person my answer may be more helpful. But each answer may help to sow the seed or
water a seed already sown.
        I would like to thank these ladies for the willingness and bravery to be part of this.
I hope it helps us all to see that not only have we got to say something, that we all have
got something to say. As we prepare to witness to our own story we are simply being
faithful to the task to which God has called us. As we are faithful in having something to
say let us pray that we will have the opportunity to say it, and that God would use it.

       Father God, we thank you for making us in your image and for sending Jesus to
be the Saviour of the world. We rejoice in your love for all people and pray that we
would share your delight in their salvation. Give us opportunity to connect with those
around us who do not know your love. Enable us to share the word of God with grace
and humility, that they might know the joy of sins forgiven and eternal life, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.