This Week's Sermon


“FIRE ON THE EARTH” (Luke 12:49-56)

A Sermon for the Commissioning of André LeBlanc

as a Mission Volunteer, August 15, 2010

By Dr. Fred Seay

First Presbyterian Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana

 

This is not about Global Warming, or the world coming to an end in 2012 as per the Maya Calendar. The reading from Luke is an episode from Jesus’ last trip to Jerusalem. He knows he is going to die, but that his death will actually be a glorious new beginning. He says, “I have come to bring fire on the earth.”  

Fire on the earth!”  We often think first about how our faith in Christ is deeply meaningful to us. Of course it is! But Jesus’ work goes beyond making us happy and secure about eternity. Jesus came to set the world on fire.

He was ready to see it set ablaze.  Fire makes me think of Pentecost- those tongues of flame, the Spirit of God in visible form poured out on all sorts of people-  kindling the fire of faith within them- And giving them all sorts of gifts to offer for God’s glory, and for service to the Lord Jesus.

Jesus also spoke about his baptism.  He did not mean a ceremony, a joyous and sweet moment shared with family and church.   Jesus was talking about his own death. It was a  terrible thing, an immersion into betrayal, suffering, and anguish unto death.  Romans 6:1ff says we are baptized into the death of Jesus, but also are bound inextricably to his resurrection. There can only be a spiritual fire kindled and fanned to blaze warmth and light across the world when we are truly and deeply tied into Jesus’ baptism by crucifixion, and resurrection.

Sometimes it’s hard work to come up with an example- but André LeBlanc, who has faithfully served as Youth Director since 2007, gives a living one today. He grew up in this church. He has worked with the youth.  He has gone on mission trips as close to home as Oak Grove in Cameron Parish and as far away as Cuba.  He has shepherded some of our children on Mo Ranch conferences. Now we are seeing him off to Miami.

For the next year or so, André will work with homeless people at a shelter.  Or, he might be serving with young children at an after school program. Or he may be doing some of both!

In a dramatic and highly visible way, André is going to be part of the “fire on the earth”:  baptized in Christ, sent out to serve.

Here is God, working to bring resolution to all the world’s problems!  We would expect everything now to tie in together, and be “HAPPY EVER AFTER”.  But Jesus goes on to talk about conflict, about even families disagreeing sharply about him.

   Everybody can see what’s happening. Everyone has to decide what they think of it all. That is not necessarily cheerful news to us. Like many other churches, we are anxious and eager to reach new people. According to the Lord we worship, not everyone is going to respond positively and joyfully to the gospel- no matter what we do, no matter what we try to change!

Jesus’ words are a reminder to us—and to you too, Andre.  We love what we define as “success stories”.  Problem is, over and over again, God reminds us that he wants us to be faithful in our choices and our commitment to him—and leave him the results.

Friends, remember that I am your pastor- but you are ALL ministers, ministers of the good news about Jesus. André is going to be involved in the work of telling and showing people God’s cross-shaped, boundary-bursting, life-transforming love for them. We are committed to support him, and to pray for him.

And whether it’s in concentrated form in a shelter or a program or collecting school supplies for far-away children or taking food to the Oak Park Food Pantry, whether in Miami or Calcasieu Parish, we are part of the fire that Jesus kindled on the earth. We are part of a fire that does not destroy, but purifies, and lights the way to God through the darkness.

It is already lit, and will never be put out!