Presented to Trinity UMC, August 14, 2022
Why are we here today? What is the church for?
In today's epistle reading, Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2, the listeners were called to remember the impossible deeds accomplished by heros of the past because of their great faith in God's promise, even Rahab the prostitute. Then in verse 39 they are reminded that the promise was not completely fulfilled for any other them: 11:39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 11:40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
I would like to back up to another scripture from this week's reading which was the foundation of our SS lesson this morning. Isaiah 5:1-7 Isaiah spoke this prophecy to the Kings of Judah, the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Here we also find a promise unfulfilled. Listen and see if you hear a prophetic message for our times.
Song of the vineyard
1 Let me sing for my loved one a love song for his vineyard. My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it, cleared away its stones, planted it with excellent vines, built a tower inside it, and dug out a wine vat in it. He expected it to grow good grapes— but it grew rotten grapes.
3 So now, you who live in Jerusalem, you people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard:
4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I haven't done for it? When I expected it to grow good grapes, why did it grow rotten grapes?
5 Now let me tell you what I'm doing to my vineyard. I'm removing its hedge, so it will be destroyed. I'm breaking down its walls, so it will be trampled.
6 I'll turn it into a ruin; it won't be pruned or hoed, and thorns and thistles will grow up. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.
7 The vineyard of the LORD of heavenly forces is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are the plantings in which God delighted. God expected justice, but there was bloodshed; righteousness, but there was a cry of distress!
We have many gardeners in our congregation. Whether you tend beautiful flower gardens and landscapes around your house, or grow vegetables, or just enjoy the fuits of other people's work, you all understand the imagery of loving preparing and tending a vineyard, a garden, a landscape. Today's imagery is both a lovesong and a judgement. God is the gardener and the church is his vineyard.
Why do you think the prophet gives this judgment in the form of a love-song?
In the beginning, God’s concern, care, and desire for the covenant people is displayed.
Israel saw itself as the vineyard; later, the church began to see itself as the new vineyard. And the vineyard is tagged for destruction in this text. It’s hard to find a positive spin to put on this.
What did God do for the vineyard and what did he expect from it? What does the prophet say God found instead of grapes? Why is that the case?
2 “He dug it, cleared away its stones, planted it with excellent vines, built a tower inside it, and dug out a wine vat in it. He expected it to grow good grapes— but it grew rotten grapes.”
Why is that the case? The prophet doesn't say, but we can speculate that the people of Israel were not living up to their end of the covenant. They were not keeping the faith.
In verse 3 we have the challenge: “my people judge between me and my vineyard.” We love our churches; we expend a lot of effort to maintain the buildings and to fill them with ministries and events, fellowship, and service. We spend a lot of time there. We love our church, and we should! God expects, and so should we, that church buildings should yield a certain “fruitfulness” when it comes to the Christian life.
Let us hear the last verse of this selection again:
7 “The vineyard of the LORD of heavenly forces is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are the plantings in which God delighted. God expected justice, but there was bloodshed; righteousness, but there was a cry of distress!”
This phophecy was very specifically for the Israelites of Isaiah's time. Within 50 years, Jerusalem would be under seige and would eventually be destroyed and the people taken into Babylon captivity.
Does this judgement and prophecy have anything to say to us today, at Trinity UMC?
Maybe Isaiah is asking us if we sometimes lose perspective when it comes to the church, God’s vineyard. The question for worship today might be, “What is the church for?” Supporting the church is not supposed to be an end in itself. Our church mission statement is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Not disciples of the church. Not for the transformation of the church. The church is the means, not the end of what we do. So, how can we make that our focus for worship today and every day?
We constantly struggle to find a balance between maintaining our physical property so that we have a means for ministry and doing that ministry. Maintenance takes up a big chunk of our time and resources. If we don't do it, how can we continue to offer ministry. On the other other hand, if we are not engaged in making disciples of Jesus Christ, how can we be a fruitful vineyard of the Lord?
What does this passage tell us about God? What does this passage tell us about the community of believers?
I hear that God is tender and loving and wants us to be fruitful; that he expects from us, the community of believers, justice and righteousness.
From our reading, from Hebrews, we hear God reminding us that he is has kept his promise through his son Jesus, the Christ. But we still have to do our part.
1 So then let's also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let's throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, 2 and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith's pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God's throne.
Sending Forth:
God of righteousness, the Holy Spirit continues to seek and empower believers that they might live fruitful lives of righteousness. Help us to be fertile ground where the Word of God will take deep root within our lives that others might experience a glimpse of your glory through us. May your church be outposts of healing and grace for those in need. Amen.
Hebrews 11:29-12:2
11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
11:32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets--
11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.
11:36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
11:37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--
11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
11:39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,
11:40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
12:2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
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