GIVE ME JESUS
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Messiah Celebration Of Ministry Sunday
June 25, 2017
Pastor Nathan J. Thompson
40 years ago in June of 1977 I began my ministry as an ordained pastor in Maynard, MN—I served the Maynard and Wang Lutheran Churches. Five years later in 1982 I was called to Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN. Then 7 ½ years after that I was called to Shepherd of the Hills in Shoreview where I served as Senior Pastor for 21 years.
Then on November 1, 2010 I began serving as pastor here at Messiah—first as your Interim Pastor and then as your regular called pastor. It is amazing for me to think that I have now been at Messiah for nearly 7 years—where has the time gone?
The common thread that has been the same on my first Sundays in each of these churches (and which will be the same today as I wrap up my ministry at Messiah) is I have focused my message on the following text from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.
The Apostle Paul wrote these words: “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes it grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will be rewarded according to their labor.”
What had happened in this church at Corinth was that the people began talking about how they were followers of the Apostle Paul. Either that or how they were following some competing preachers/teachers—some of whom taught a false (unbelieving) message of Jesus.
It is kind of like people today who may have idolized certain preachers like Billy Graham; Rick Warren; Joel Osteen. Some today have also idolized their local church pastor—they follow every word (he/she) says. There are also people today who idolize those on the other side challenging Christianity—they are followers of certain anti-Christian philosophers/writers.
The Apostle Paul rather wanted to make it clear that the preacher; evangelist; book author; popular guru; influential talk show celebrity—it is not at all about them. Paul’s mission/purpose (along with his associate Apollos) was to simply plant the seeds of Jesus’ Gospel; tend and nurture those seeds; then to trust God to bring about the growth.
Perhaps you have noticed as you have planted seeds in a garden (in your farm fields) that it doesn’t do any good to pull on the stems; shout at the flowers (corn stalks); try to coax the plants to grow. No all you can do is to cultivate the soil; pull the weeds; put on some fertilizer; sprinkle with water. You cannot in anyway control growth.
This exact same thing is also true when it comes to you as people growing in faith; in the growth and development of a congregation of people. All you can do is preach and teach God’s word; provide some nourishing food; water and care for these seeds. Only God gives the growth.
Only God can take a sinful person like you and me; can show us our sins/failings; can motivate us to turn around and repent. In the same way only God can forgive us; renew and transform us; send us forth as his disciples and witnesses. Only God can give the gift of faith; life; growth.
You may remember how we prayed together on my first Sunday here that the Holy Spirit would work mightily here at Messiah; that many will come to know Jesus in a more real and personal way. God's miraculous power was truly evident as you joined in giving generously; serving generously; loving generously—in trusting God to do amazing and miraculous things right here.
Certainly a testimony of how God fulfills his promises of causing the seeds of faith and new life to grow has been seen (is being seen) here at Messiah these past years. It is truly amazing all that the Holy Spirit has been doing and accomplishing here.
Yet the most important is the personal faith testimonies; the growth in faith that so many of you have shared and experienced. The Holy Spirit has done (and is doing) amazing things in so many hearts and lives.
A Bible passage I talked about often and printed at the top of each of my annual reports is Ephesians 3:20-21: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Wow! God is truly faithful!
There is an old African spiritual“Give Me Jesus” which proclaims these words:
“Oh when I am alone, Oh when I am alone, give me Jesus. You may have all the rest, give me Jesus. Oh when I come to die, when I come to die, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, give me Jesus, you may have all the rest, give me Jesus. And when I want to sing, and when I want to sing, give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You may have all the rest, give me Jesus.”
It is important to remember that the mission; purpose; message of the church is to give people Jesus—to plant the seeds of his Gospel; his truth; his love. Our mission is to clearly preach the message of Jesus which calls each individual to repent; to turn away from sin; to receive Christ’s forgiveness; to be washed clean by his love; to live each day in Jesus’ grace and new life. Jesus is our only hope; he is the only answer in this world today.
Something I told you when I came (and told my previous congregations) is that if you didn't clearly hear the message of Jesus preached (proclaimed) by me each week; if Jesus was not lifted up in everything we sing; say; do—please tell me about it. Jesus (and Jesus alone) is and has always been the center of my purpose and calling as a servant of Christ.
The church is the primary place; it should always give people Jesus. Yes I know there are many other important issues in our world today—yet if the church does not give people Jesus; if the church does not plant the seeds of Jesus’ life-transforming love who will? (Recent article—alive churches today talk lots about Jesus' presence; power; Holy Spirit life.)
It is only in the church (in one's personal faith and witness) that we can give people Jesus. Truth is our world is desperately starving today for Jesus' love; for his true life. It is only as an individual comes to know Jesus; as they grow in his Word; as they learn to trust him by faith; only then will they have the strength; wisdom; hope to live in this complex world.
The Apostle Paul says some other very important words in 1 Corinthians 3: “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes it grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will be rewarded according to their labor.”
A few years ago our whole congregation at Messiah participated in a message series and study titled, “The Purpose Driven Life.”—Gary Peterson bought 100 books in memory of Ione. The author, Rick Warren, makes the point in the very first sentence in the very first chapter, “It’s not about you.” The purpose of life; of God’s mission in this world is not about you.
That is also true concerning the ministry of Messiah—it's not about me; our staff members; our church leaders; our denomination—it is about Jesus and Jesus alone. It is not about certain influential people; about pastors; about bishops; about theologians; about certain individual's biases and opinions. It is about Jesus and Jesus alone.
One major reason why the church of Jesus Christ is declining today is because the focus among many has shifted to many divisive social and political issues. The focus has shifted to certain individuals putting their own political biases (their own divisive judgments and interpretations of Scripture) in front of Jesus. It is not about you; not about politics; not about who is right; not about self-righteousness—it is about Jesus.
One other reason why churches are often declining is because the focus is more on the church (on the denomination; church practice; liturgy; theological arrogance; claiming that those who don't agree with us are wrong; condemning people not like us) than on Jesus.
I have always said in my churches—our mission has absolutely nothing to do with making Lutherans; certain kind of Lutherans; arguing that good theology and understanding somehow saves us—it does not. Messiah's (and every church's) mission is to help people become Christians; to give people Jesus; to use our history/theology as a guide; not a faith.
My challenge for you at Messiah as I retire is to keep the mission of this church focused completely on Jesus. Resist the temptation to stray to people’s whining and to trying to make everyone happy. Resist going backwards to old worn out worship and traditions.
Keep planting the seeds of Jesus; keep lifting up his words of truth (both law and Gospel); then trust God to bring forth the growth. It is his promise.
Thank you to each one of you at Messiah for the privilege Kim and I have had to be able to serve as your pastor. You have blessed us and our lives more than you will ever know.
As I transition on please remember these words from Ephesians 3:20: “(God) is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us.” May you as a congregation continue to trust this amazing promise.
And if you want to remember anything about me and the years we spent together may it be this— “He gave us Jesus.”