Sermon Series ~ July/August 2008
“The Content Of Our Character: Living Into The Way Of Christ."
August 3, 2008

Today’s Focus: “Sacrificial Solidarity”
Luke 10:25-37

~ Outline ONLY ~

by Pastor Allen V. Harris

→ Sermon Series:
Began with: Lifelong Learning
Moved to: Value Vulnerability
Then to: Sustainable Stewardship
Today looking at: Sacrificial Solidarity

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

→ What We Are Up Against:
> more subtle foes, from within us!
>benign, beatific benevolence
(i.e. doing good without the risk)
> we have given ourselves over to the capitalist/consumerist gods of:
> comfort
> convenience
> isolationism

Metaphor: Sitting at a diner: it's a place in the community where you can be and be known, where there's always someone who'll listen to your hurts and dreams, and where you can offer an ear and a shoulder to someone else in need.

→ Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Many ways to look at the “Good Samaritan” story, but today notice how the Samaritan does not simply offer benign, beneficent benevolence, but literally puts himself in the place of the victim
> shared distress (vs. comfort)
> take on burdens (vs. convenience)
> cooperation (vs. isolationism)

→ Ministry of Presence (get off the donkey!)
> Gordon Cosby of Church of the Saviour, DC, lives this. Note my sermon from August 26, 2007: “Our Job, Here & Now” (1) ministering in the neighborhood of Adams Morgan
> Also Rev. Jim Dickerson, New Community Church, in the Shaw Howard neighborhood of Washington, DC
> A Confession: my humble attempts at moving beyond benign, beatific benevolence and into Sacrificial Solidarity: Promise made at City of God Conference 2007 and Linda’s Superette May 2008. (photo right)

→ The Power of Presence
> we must be very careful not to misuse the power of presence. Several guidelines will help:
1. Be IN the community as much as possible (Catholic Worker movement/ Dorothy Day epitomizes this. 75th Anniversary (2)) which more often than not means go, get out of our beautiful, sacred, but confining building
2. Which is another way to say we shouldn’t expect THEM to come HERE. Arrogance assumes we are in the right place all the time.
3. Listen to the people in need FIRST (vs. assuming what they need or want based on what I/We need or want)
4. Don’t feel that you have to say or do anything, in fact, that might get in the way. Simply BE.
> Ultimately, Sacrificial Solidarity means GIVING UP YOUR POWER. And this is the Good News of Jesus Christ, born a baby, who lived as a wandering poor preacher, who was crucified as if a criminal, and who was raised to new life for those who were not full of their own obsession with power!

Maybe we should see the Communion Table as a counter at the diner... Jesus' Diner!

→ Conclusion: Rather than benign, beatific, benevolence,
A Faithful Christian Lives Sacrificial Solidarity

There, I’ve said it. Amen


(1) http://www.franklincirclechurch.org/Sermon070826.htm
(2) Check them out at: http://www.catholicworker.org/

+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+

Your Reflections…

What was the last store you shopped at or restaurant you ate at in Ohio City/The Near West Side? When was that?


When was the last time you sat down with persons you were helping to serve in some way and asked them what they needed?




Do you feel you really listened to them, or were you looking for points to support your own conclusions?





When was the last time you visited someone in the hospital or a nursing home (not your relative)?


What would help you feel more comfortable visiting persons in need more often?




 

Rev. Allen V. Harris
Franklin Circle Christian Church
www.FranklinCircleChurch.org


 

Copyright 2008 -- The Rev. Allen V. Harris

Franklin Circle Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1688 Fulton Rd., Cleveland, OH 44113-3096