Pentecost 1 - Confirmation Sunday -
May 18, 2008
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20
One of
Utah's own has made it to the final two in Fox's hit TV show, "American
Idol." Has anyone else here been cheering on 17 year old, David
Archuletta, every week like Kirk and I have been? Throughout the weeks
of the show, the judges, entertainment tv and magazines and our local
news stations have talked on and on about his voice that is smooth as
butter, his humility and his smart song choices.
But lately the focus has been on something -- or rather, someone else. David's father. It seems as if his father has gotten a bit out of hand in his stage-dad roll and has been banned from being backstage at all anymore. He can't help David choose songs. He can't give input about changes in arrangements. Now, late in the competition, David's father has to stand back and allow David to move forward on his own. This isn't easy for any parent. But, sometimes it's necessary and even a good thing. David's performance this past week proved that. He continued to shine, his voice hitting every note precisely and beautifully.
The Gospel for today finds Jesus in exactly the same spot as David Archuletta's father has been recently. Don't get me wrong. I am not calling Jesus an overbearing stage-dad. And he certainly wasn't banned from being with his disciples. But, in his journey as the Savior of the world, he knows it is time to stand back. He knows it is time for him to ascend to be with his Father in heaven. He knows it is time that his disciples move forward on their own.
So, with great faithfulness, he commissions them. He sends out these disciples whom he has grown to love. With great hope, he gives them a command. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." With great love, he gives them a promise. "Remember I am with you always, to the end of the age." And then he lets them go. He lets them go to do the work he had taught them to do. He lets them go to live out their faith in the world. He lets them go knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide them forever.
Today, we as a church are at a point of letting go as we witness Riley, Jen, Austin and Megan say their own "yes" to the promises God made to them at their baptisms when they were children. These four young people have attended two years of classes with Joel. They have studied Luther's Small Catechism, learning the 10 Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostle's Creed to name just a few things. They have studied the Trinity, the Sacraments and stories from the Bible. They have been asked to wonder how all of this pertains to their own lives. Finally, they have written their own statements of faith and professed them to you today.
Jen, Megan, Riley and Austin, as you get confirmed today, you are entering a new phase in your life in the church. Today is not a graduation. It's not good-bye church. You've learned a lot, but God is not nearly done teaching you all that God wants you to know. Today, with great faithfulness, God is commissioning you. Today, with great hope, God is giving you a command. You'll hear it in the Rite of Confirmation in just a few minutes, but hear it now, too.
God is asking you to live among God's faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's Supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Today, with great love, God is giving you a promise. That promise is that God will never leave you and that through the Holy Spirit, God will be with you always -- whatever you do, wherever you go. As a congregation, we are part of God's presence in your life. I speak for all of us when I say that we are excited to see you continue to grow in your knowledge and live out your faith in the world.
I began this sermon by talking about how David Archuletta's dad was banned from backstage, causing David to have to step out on his own more than ever. That doesn't mean he's out of the picture altogether, though. His support of his son still shines through from his seat in the audience. He is still very much present and he just might witness his son take the title of the next American Idol.
In similar fashion, even though you are entering a new phase in your Christian life, even though you won't have to go to Confirmation classes anymore, God's presence is still with you. Guiding you, watching over you. This congregation is still with you. Working alongside you, praying for you. Not so you can become the next American Idol. It's deeper than that. It's more than that. God's presence is with you to help you become the person God has created you to be. God bless you all this day and always as you are let go to do what God has commanded you to do in the world. Amen.
But lately the focus has been on something -- or rather, someone else. David's father. It seems as if his father has gotten a bit out of hand in his stage-dad roll and has been banned from being backstage at all anymore. He can't help David choose songs. He can't give input about changes in arrangements. Now, late in the competition, David's father has to stand back and allow David to move forward on his own. This isn't easy for any parent. But, sometimes it's necessary and even a good thing. David's performance this past week proved that. He continued to shine, his voice hitting every note precisely and beautifully.
The Gospel for today finds Jesus in exactly the same spot as David Archuletta's father has been recently. Don't get me wrong. I am not calling Jesus an overbearing stage-dad. And he certainly wasn't banned from being with his disciples. But, in his journey as the Savior of the world, he knows it is time to stand back. He knows it is time for him to ascend to be with his Father in heaven. He knows it is time that his disciples move forward on their own.
So, with great faithfulness, he commissions them. He sends out these disciples whom he has grown to love. With great hope, he gives them a command. "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you." With great love, he gives them a promise. "Remember I am with you always, to the end of the age." And then he lets them go. He lets them go to do the work he had taught them to do. He lets them go to live out their faith in the world. He lets them go knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide them forever.
Today, we as a church are at a point of letting go as we witness Riley, Jen, Austin and Megan say their own "yes" to the promises God made to them at their baptisms when they were children. These four young people have attended two years of classes with Joel. They have studied Luther's Small Catechism, learning the 10 Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Apostle's Creed to name just a few things. They have studied the Trinity, the Sacraments and stories from the Bible. They have been asked to wonder how all of this pertains to their own lives. Finally, they have written their own statements of faith and professed them to you today.
Jen, Megan, Riley and Austin, as you get confirmed today, you are entering a new phase in your life in the church. Today is not a graduation. It's not good-bye church. You've learned a lot, but God is not nearly done teaching you all that God wants you to know. Today, with great faithfulness, God is commissioning you. Today, with great hope, God is giving you a command. You'll hear it in the Rite of Confirmation in just a few minutes, but hear it now, too.
God is asking you to live among God's faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord's Supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Today, with great love, God is giving you a promise. That promise is that God will never leave you and that through the Holy Spirit, God will be with you always -- whatever you do, wherever you go. As a congregation, we are part of God's presence in your life. I speak for all of us when I say that we are excited to see you continue to grow in your knowledge and live out your faith in the world.
I began this sermon by talking about how David Archuletta's dad was banned from backstage, causing David to have to step out on his own more than ever. That doesn't mean he's out of the picture altogether, though. His support of his son still shines through from his seat in the audience. He is still very much present and he just might witness his son take the title of the next American Idol.
In similar fashion, even though you are entering a new phase in your Christian life, even though you won't have to go to Confirmation classes anymore, God's presence is still with you. Guiding you, watching over you. This congregation is still with you. Working alongside you, praying for you. Not so you can become the next American Idol. It's deeper than that. It's more than that. God's presence is with you to help you become the person God has created you to be. God bless you all this day and always as you are let go to do what God has commanded you to do in the world. Amen.