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James 2:14-17; John 13:34-35

Pastor Jenny Lee, Ph.D.

 “What Would Jesus Do?”

 Today is “Laity Sunday.” Laity Sunday “is observed on the third Sunday in October, this day calls for the church to celebrate the ministry of Christians of all ages in the home, workplace, congregation, community, and world” (the Book of Worship). The United Methodist Church, especially for North America’s Methodism, was begun by lay ministers. John Wesley, Founder of Methodism, sent lay ministers to America. Lay ministers, often called “circuit riders,” were sent to preach wherever people gathered. I know some of your grandparents or ancestors might have been circuit riders. Without lay ministers, today’s Methodists couldn’t exist. Therefore, the United Methodist Church respects lay ministers and clergy equally. At the Annual Conference and General Conference, the laity and clergy members have an equal vote regarding the decision-making related to United Methodist Polices and Doctrines. We do appreciate all people’s ministry. We build the church together and work on God’s mission together. Mainly, I appreciate our church leadership for your wonderful ministry. What a wonderful day to celebrate the UMM and UMW ministries today, and recognize lay servants in our parish!

I want to share a story.  There was a pastor, Henry Maxwell.  One day, a man came to pastor Henry, asking for help while preparing for his Sunday sermon. The man was laid-off from his company and lost his home. After the pastor listened to the man’s helpless situation he brushed him away and closed the door. On Sunday, at the end of the sermon, the same man appeared in the church. He walked up to “the open space in front of the pulpit” and faced the people. No one stopped him. He quietly confronted the congregation. He said, “I am not complaining, but just stating facts.” He addressed his situation, and that of many workers like him. As soon as he finished his address to the congregation, he collapsed and died a few days later. That following Sunday, Pastor Henry, deeply moved by the events of the past week, presented a challenge to his congregation: “Do not do anything without first asking, “What would Jesus do?”  This question, “What would Jesus do?” challenged many people, and then their lives transformed totally. It is a classic Christian story written by Charles Monroe Sheldon. The full title is In His Step: What Would Jesus Do?

We are sometimes challenged to follow Jesus, being a disciple of Jesus Christ, even though our mission statement is “Making disciples of Jesus Christ in all generations [nations].” Have you ever thought about what the disciples of Jesus look like? I know, if I say, “the disciples of Jesus Christ,” you may imagine the disciples of Jesus in the book of the Gospel. You may think of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ in the Bible. But, I mean, “us.” We are disciples of Jesus Christ, aren’t we? Let us figure out what being disciples of Jesus means. As you may know, disciple means a dedicated follower of Jesus. If you are the faithful followers of Jesus Christ, you are the disciples of Jesus. The book of the Gospel John 13:34-35 says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” So, if you love one another, you are the disciples of Jesus. Even though you don’t say, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ,” everyone may know you are the disciples of Jesus Christ by your loving of one another.

Like the story, somehow, it is easy to say “love.” However, loving in the act is that it may not be easy. Today, as we confess in the Call to Worship, “love is not just a feeling. It’s an action. It’s demonstrable. It’s noticeable” (They Will Know Us by Our Love, p.5). There is a saying. There are two things that people cannot hide; a cough and love. Do you agree with that? Everyone has no comment, for a “cough” cannot be hidden.  But, you may wonder why we cannot hide “love.” Some of you may understand we mean by that. If you love someone or something, you always smile, are joyful, and usually forgive others. Moreover, a person becomes more beautiful, generous, and positive when they fall in love than they were before. Do you agree?

I want to tell you my story. My mother was baptized by an American missionary in a tent church. She was 10. She learned about writing and reading English as well as Korean from Sunday school. She couldn’t receive an official education because she was a girl. When I was in the same situation where my grandfather didn’t allow me to go to a high school because I was a girl, my mother decided to move out of my grandfather’s house. I had to live independently from teenagers. I saw my mother’s suffering as a daughter-in-law, a wife, and a mother. I thought that was why my mother suffered even though she believed in God. I had a negative mindset regarding Christians. However, I met a Christian friend in high school. She often invited me to her house and fed me. Sometimes she shared her school supplies with me. She sometimes brought me to her church, and sang songs playing the piano. I think that it was Christian songs. However, she never asked or pushed me to come to church until we graduated from school. My most challenging times as a teenager could be warm because of her love. Much later, after I graduated from a seminary, I invited her and her husband to our church when I planted a new church. Her husband told me, “I wondered who you were. Since we were dating, my wife asked me to pray for you. Finally, I met you. Wow, you became a minister. Our prayers worked. My wife cried a lot the whole night because we were so grateful when we heard you became a minister and planted a new church.” My friend said, “I prayed for you for seventeen years. Finally, God answered my prayers. Thanks be to God.”

Love cannot be hidden. Even though the person you love cannot recognize your love now, God knows about you and your love. Love cannot hide from God and others. Our prayers sometimes take longer than we expect, but God never forgets your prayers. God becomes real to us by love.

Today’s scripture says, “if brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food; and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? If it has no works, it is dead” (James 2:15-17). Love in your actions for others. Love with your hands and feet. Your loose coins can feed hundreds of people in poverty. Your clothes and blankets stacked in your closets or storage can help hundreds of people in need. Every moment you face challenges, think “what Jesus would do?” God will guide you to the way of being his disciples. Thanks be to God. Amen!

 

Posted in Sermons