Sermon - Easter 7

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is an absolute master-class in being a follower of Christ. It has all the constituent parts for what is the mark of a successful ministry. To be honest – in this day and age we are unlikely to be so successful – however I think it is still worth a try.

In the reading we are following Paul in his second missionary journey to spread the Good News of Christ throughout the Mediterranean – He had been travelling from Jerusalem through Nazareth, north through Syria, Galatia, to Philippi and Thessalonica – a huge and hectic journey anti-clockwise around the med that would eventually take him to Corinth and back to Caesarea and Jerusalem.

Not a moment is to be lost – it seems that at the start of the early church, the work needed to be done quickly to keep the momentum going. The stories of Christ were throughout the region, and people had heard about the group of Apostles. They needed their tour dates so that they could get to see them live!

I can imagine the excitement – a driven leader in Paul, and a scared but willing band of followers in the Apostles. There is no doubt that their success means that we are meeting here this morning – thousands of miles away in a completely different part of the world – remembering not only the life of Christ, but the extraordinary lives of the heroes of the early church.

This week, I was taking stock of the Benefice, not in a pounds, shillings and pence way, but in a ‘signs and wonders’ way. I needed to have something to say about the direction of the churches here in this part of the world, and how we have changed in the last six months. I needed to look at successes and failures, hopes and aspirations, and pray that the future would bring us a sense of ‘doing the right thing’ in the communities around us – because we are called to be the heroes of the church today – and that task is by no means an easy one.

In our own way and in our own time, we are carrying the baton of faith – running the race, until we can pass the baton to the next runners as they continue the race.

So what are the signs of a successful ministry – what do we look for? The first sign, I believe can be described by one word – ‘Following’

Following

Paul, Silas and the others were travelling when a ‘slave girl’ who had a spirit which predicted the future was following them. The reading tells us that she kept shouting “These men are servants of the Most High”. When we are successful in any sort of ministry, it always attracts attention – there is nothing like being followed to set a stamp on ministry. I remember when Archbishop Rowan was followed regularly to services by a woman who shouted at him, I couldn’t help thinking how his ministry seemed to echo a sort of Biblical genuineness. Indeed at my Ordination, when she ran down the front in the packed Cathedral and called him the servant of the devil – I thought how successful Rowan had been – and knew he would be called to greater things soon. In all honesty – if your life attracts those who are either disturbed or in dark places, then it shows that somehow your life is radiating the light of Christ.

Simplicity

Baptism = “then immediately he and all his family were baptised” This is the main part of scripture which seems to suggest that infant baptism is ok. It certainly is for me. The suggestion, however unpopular is that when the jailer and his family heard the word of the Lord, they were then ALL baptised into the faith, without further ado.

Indeed, there was no fuss, preparation, party, questions about Godparents or sponsors; they were just baptised – plain and simple.

I was thinking how I could apply the same plain and simple logic to other sacraments of the church. Perhaps marriage could be conducted wherever I see a couple who are ready to make that commitment. Whether they are sat on a park bench, the back of a bus, or indeed at the back of the cinema – I could appear and (subject to their permission of course) declare that they are husband and wife! It would certainly cut away the huge expense, the months of worry and stress – who sits next to whom at the reception, and whose clothes will clash with someone dressed in equally garish attire.

Of course, within this heading of ‘simplicity’ there is also the understanding that the reading of the Bible will give you a clear understanding - which is regularly (always) against the ways of the world, and the received wisdom of people who have forgotten how to care, how to love, how to discern ‘good’ from ‘evil’ and even how to find God.

So, Paul and Silas found themselves in jail…and sometimes we might too if we have a ‘simple faith’ that is a beacon to others. Sometimes we are called to speak and act – even though the world tells us to ‘shut-up’. Surely we can embrace those opportunities and pray for more opportunities to take a stand for the sake of the Gospel and the suffering people of God.

Storytelling

The reading starts like this “Once when we were going to a place of prayer…”

My final thought on the mark of an Apostle is this – we are called to be storytellers for our faith – not to expound a Gospel of confusing theology, but a story of how God has worked in the lives of His people down the generations – and how he continues to work today.

What stories do you think we can tell? How do we know which ones are the right ones to tell? How do we know what will work?

And on this – the Sunday after ascension – when the confused disciples have witnessed the ascension of Jesus and are waiting the 10 days for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we can think of the best stores as these ones.

The ones that tell people of our actions as the eyes, ears, mouth and hands of Jesus, as we continue his ministry on earth with those in need.

If, when I pass on the baton to the next runner, the people can say that I was;

• A man of simple faith
• Followed by the disturbed
• And could ‘tell a good story’

Then both my life and ministry will have been a huge success – and I will have been blessed indeed.