January 22, 2012 “Stepping Out in Faith” –

Mark 1: 14-20

Earlier on in my ministry this morning’s passage troubled me.  I struggled with the immediacy of Peter, Andrew, James and John; what I perceived as their irresponsible behavior as they dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus.  I don’t think I was alone in my thinking.  Wouldn’t we wonder about someone who did as they did?  Wouldn’t we question their emotionally stability, their sense of responsibility and maturity?

I know when I think about my having been called by God into ministry it was far from an immediate response.  There was a long period of discernment.  When I talk with someone who is considering ministry I encourage them to pray about it and to think long and hard about their decision.  I don’t encourage following Peter, Andrew, James and John who just jumped in with both feet; just leave it all behind and go.

On the surface this seems to be what they did.  Digging deeper we discover that is not the case.  Charles Paige in his book, Jesus and the Land writes:

Jesus’ ministry officially began after the arrest of John the Baptist.  Up until this time

Jesus had been preparing his disciples for their ministry together.  After John was

arrested, Jesus came to the Sea of Galilee and told Peter, Andrew, James and John

that it was time to get started.

(Charles Paige, Jesus and the Land, Abingdon Press pg. 71)

Paige’s historical study reveals that Jesus had moved to Capernaum before this event.  He lived among the four; they had worshipped together and studied together.  They had committed to joining Jesus in his ministry and prepared their families.  John’s arrest triggered the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the four were committed to following.  They seized the opportunity and stepped out in faith.

This makes more sense, doesn’t it?  For while the moment for stepping out is proclaimed and the response is immediate there had been some pre-work if you will.  The foundation was laid so that the action could follow. This is much more in line with what I think God asks of us.  After the invitation to come and see, come and discover comes the invitation to act, to respond, to “step out” in faith and do something.

In calling us to step out God does not expect perfection or even success.  God simply asks for faithfulness and a willingness to step out trusting that God is at work in the process.  For Peter, Andrew, James and John and for us stepping out

is not the end of the story.  This is just the beginning of ‘the beginning’ (v.1).  Ahead,

for them and for us, there is much to learn, much stumbling, misunderstanding, and backsliding.  Becoming a faithful (or more faithful) Christian disciple takes both a moment and a lifetime.  (Elton W. Brown, Feasting on the Word, Year B, Vol.1, pg.284-86)

But we will never know this unless we continue to step out.

In preparing this morning’s sermon I did something that I don’t do often enough.  I spent time thinking about my calling; why I do what I do.  Amid the busyness and also the routine of my week it is easy for me to lose sight of what it means to be in ministry.  I am not complaining, merely stating a reality.  If I am not intentional my day can be consumed by the stuff that comes as part of the job; the day to day business that comes with the territory.  In the process I can lose sight of my call to serve God.  I think you know what I am saying.

As I started thinking about this I started thinking about all of you.  If I can easily lose sight of my call to serve God, you must as well.  After all being in ministry is what I do fulltime.  Your being in ministry is what you do in addition to everything else you must do; all the other tasks, commitments and responsibilities you have.  Amid all of the competing noise and voices that bombard you, you must listen for God’s voice.  Discipleship requires our being mindful of what God calls us to do and be about; our being faithful regardless of what else is happening.  This includes being attentive to those moments when we need to step out; to follow immediately because the time to act is now.

Being a faithful disciple involves comforting the afflicted.  It also involves afflicting the comfortable including God afflicting us when we become too comfortable.  Doing either involves stepping out; intentionally expanding our worldview so that we might better serve God as well as grow in our faith.  Grow in our understanding of how God is active in our lives and life together and calls us to not get so caught up in the routine and busyness of our lives that we miss an opportunity to respond.  Miss an opportunity to share the good news by offering healing, love, justice, mercy, compassion and hope.

As I reflect on those moments when I have dared to “step out in faith”:

·         by taking time to talk with the homeless and my fellow workers on a Midnight Run

·         going on a mission trip to Haiti or working at a Habitat site

·         participating in a prayer vigil be it during Holy Week or for peace

·         taking time to listen to someone who is exploring his or her faith

·         daring to admit to a colleague where I was struggling

·         praying in an emergency room with a scared family or at the bedside of someone who was dying

·         visiting in a nursing home and singing Christmas carols

·         participating in a vigil that protested war or some other injustice

·         writing a letter on behalf of Bread for the World to help the hungry

or any of the other countless opportunities any of us has to be present amid the mystery and wonder that happens as faith intersects with life.  I know that I have been blessed with a deeper understanding of just how much my life is enriched as I seek to faithfully serve God because such is the nature of a God who transforms.

We are here today because a faith foundation has been laid.  For some the foundation may be stronger than it is for others, but still there is some kind of foundation.  To varying degrees we know about Jesus.  We have heard the stories and have some sense of what it is all about.  We have on some level made a commitment to God and Christ.  Our friends and families know of this commitment.  They know our faith matters to us because despite everything else we do we find a way to set aside time for God.

With love and gratitude I invite you to do something more.  Amid your busyness and daily routine stay attentive because sometime this week the moment will happen.  The time will be fulfilled and you will be presented with an opportunity to offer someone healing, love, justice, mercy, compassion, hope.  In the immediacy of that moment you will be called upon to act, to expand your worldview and respond. 

In that moment, step out; step out in faith.  You and the world will be better for your having done so. I guarantee it.