Finding Faith ... in being 'refreshed and renewed'

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2017 I began a new venture as a synodically authorized minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. The ride over the past 2.5 years has been an amazing journey of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. Here is the first sermon that I ever preached at FLC. It took place on Nov. 5, 2017.

An image of the parable of "The Samaritan Woman at the Well."

“Refreshed and Renewed” … That’s the theme for today’s service … and for my sermon. … “Refreshed and Renewed,” which turns out is the new national theme for WELCA.

What an appropriate message for today for so many reasons!

“Refreshed and Renewed.” … If you think about it nearly all our messages from the pulpit could focus intently on that theme alone. ... Refreshed and Renewed. … Because after all that’s the central theme of our faith, isn’t it? Jesus died on the cross so that we can live in the hope of his resurrection. Because that is the wonderful thing about our faith, the story doesn’t stop right there on the cross. It doesn’t stop with Jesus’ death. ... Not in the least. …

Quite the contrary, it starts when Jesus rises from the dead and ultimately ascends into heaven, paying the way for our own ascension one day.

And so it seems so very appropriate that we celebrate being refreshed and renewed today, on All Saints Sunday. … As you will hear later, one of the reasons that we celebrate All Saints Day is that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. And in addition to being baptized into his death, by baptism we were buried with him into death. … But the great news -- the Good News, as a matter of fact -- is that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too, might have a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Refreshed and renewed, indeed!

So it seems that it is right and well to be celebrating being refreshed and renewed today.

Secondly, on a personal level, when I was informed that this was the theme for today’s message, it spoke to me at depths that are hard to explain. … Refreshed and renewed.

Could there be a more inspirational message to a seminarian on his road to ordination? ... A seminarian accepting an invitation from a congregation to enter into a wonderful and awe-filled and exciting journey together. … Refreshed and renewed. The both of us!

As we get to know each other, you will learn more about my story and what has led me to this pulpit this morning. As with all of you, I have my very own and intimate faith journey, and it was an unlikely one that brought me here today to be in front of you, to be walking alongside you in this new adventure in Christ. … And so when I heard that the theme was refreshed and renewed, God spoke to me in those words as I thought about today.

And he also spoke to me as I thought about how all of us are facing a new and unexpected chapter in our lives. You all have moved into a new chapter post-Pastor Ellingson, who served you faithfully for many years. And I am stepping into a new role here, and while I have received, and am still receiving professional training, as to how to act and think and teach like a pastor, today is still daunting. … The both of us, you all and me, were in fairly uncharted waters.

But to me that’s exactly why the theme “Refreshed and Renewed” is so exciting! … It tells me that no matter what we’re faced with, each day we awake refreshed and renewed in God’s spirit. Because that’s exactly what Christ’s resurrection means to each of us, and means to Faith Lutheran too. We awake and live in the spirit of Christ’s renewal each and every day. … And, I find comfort in that.

I especially found comfort in that message while preparing this sermon for this day, the first of our journey together. … I found it comforting because despite all of the emotions I have felt leading up to this day -- the pure joy, the tantalizing excitement, the nervousness of preaching for the first time in front of you as your interim, the anxiety over living up to your expectations … I mean what if I bomb, right? -- despite all of that, thanks to Christ, tomorrow is a new day. And I will awake refreshed and renewed. … And so will you! … And so will Faith Lutheran! … That is what living in faith is all about, and that should inspire us all.

Refreshed and renewed!

Studying this week’s Gospel, I was again struck at how appropriate this theme is for today. … The parable of the “The Samaritan Woman at the Well.” … We read it just a few minutes ago, and I’m sure many of you have heard this story time and again.

But, no lie. This is one of my favorite parables for many reasons. But most importantly for the revelatory message it contains for this Samaritan woman who happened to find herself at the local well and faced with Jesus Christ! … You know, just a regular person, going about doing a regular household chore for the day. … And then, boom, right there in the center of town, she runs into Jesus … the King of Kings, the Son of Man, The Way, The Truth and The Light. … Just hanging out there by himself at the town well!

I wonder to myself at times what we’d do today if that happened to us. What if you happened to be at your regular grocery store, and right there in the produce aisle, leaning on the display of apples, was Jesus? ... Or maybe, you were swinging by the post office, and Jesus just happened to be there resting, waiting for the disciples to return. … It’s no less crazy than thinking about this Samaritan woman finding Jesus at their town well.

Can you imagine her shock, her wonderment? … But better yet, can you imagine her awe at hearing Jesus’ message? … Let’s try and put ourselves in her shoes ...

First, as the parable tells us, this Samaritan woman runs across a Jewish man sitting by the local well. Not to get into a history lesson here, but let’s suffice it to say that the Jews and Samaritans at the time weren’t the friendliest of neighbors.

But the Samaritan woman’s shock doesn’t end there. First Jesus orders the woman to fetch him a drink of water, before he then begins to reveal personal details about her that no stranger should know. … Shock doesn’t seem to be a strong enough word to explain how she must have felt. ... I mean, here is this stranger, a Jewish man nonetheless, engaging her in conversation. … AND he knows that she not only has had five husbands, but the man she was currently with wasn’t even her husband!

And that’s not even all! … The shock doesn’t even end there. … The most shocking thing is yet to come! … And that most shocking thing is when Jesus informs her that she should ask him for a drink of this magic water that will quench her thirst forever. In his own words, he says, “The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” … And he doesn’t even have a bucket, as the Samarian woman has reminded him! …

Refreshed and renewed, indeed!

I think everyone one of us can see ourselves in that Samaritan woman. After all, she was a Samaritan. … What was the King of Jews doing talking to her, a “lowly” Samaritan woman? … And what was he doing offering her of all people -- a woman with five former husbands, and currently living with a man who wasn’t even her husband -- offering her eternal salvation … water that will quench her thirst forever! … Just imagine her shock!

But isn’t that all of our shock? Wouldn’t that be the same reaction we would all have if we encountered Jesus as the supermarket and he told us that right there he was offering us eternal salvation if we just took a drink of his water? … When we hear the Good News, how many of automatically think to ourselves, not me. He’s not offering salvation to me. … Afterall, I am a Samaritan. Or I’ve had five husbands? Or I’ve sinned in so many other ways. … Is Jesus really inviting me to drink of his water?

Don’t we all question why it is that Jesus is speaking to us? After all, if he only knew what we have done, our transgressions, our mistakes, our thoughts, our actions, would he actually be offering us that same water, that same eternal salvation? … Don’t we all find ourselves in that Samaritan woman standing at the well?

But that is exactly the point of Jesus’ message that day at the well. … Refreshed and renewed. … Each day, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we awake refreshed and renewed, forgiven of our past transgressions, absolved of our sins … born again in Christ’s life! ... Refreshed and renewed!

And that today is the Good News, my friends. Christ’s Good News! … We are refreshed and renewed … Amen!