10.6.13 - Extended Family Reading: 2nd Timothy 1:1-14 –This particular book/letter from Paul to Timothy places great value on preserving and passing along the heritage Timothy has received. This was uppermost in Paul’s mind as he wrote to Timothy because churches were already beginning to turn away from what they had been taught. And as Paul urges Timothy to remain true to his calling and fulfill his ministry, there is also the hint that Timothy is experiencing his own challenges as he serves Christ. One of the several themes we can find in this passage is the “faith of previous generations and the faith of the generations to come”. That is the path that I chose for our time together this morning. Following Paul’s opening salutation; words of thanksgiving introduce the themes of continuity and succession. There is the mention of Paul’s “ancestors,” Timothy’s “sincere faith” with roots in his grandmother and mother, Lois and Eunice; and Timothy’s need to “rekindle” God’s gift, As Paul offers these thoughts to Timothy, they all encourage Timothy to reflect on and come to some understanding of his identity and his obligation to the gospel by considering those who have gone before him. As Paul makes reference to Timothy’s mother and grandmother; we have that example within our own church as we have four generations of one family who regularly participate in the worship life and ministry of this congregation. I found that also to be true when I served the Winfield church. When I left Winfield, there were two families of which you might see three generations of each family on a Sunday morning. The pattern offered by those families, scattered throughout our many churches give us a visual for this family reference that Paul has made. But sometimes the “visual” of how interconnected we are as the church is not always available. One example is in your worship bulletin this morning. Through God’s providence, we have been allowed a look back at the shared history of Elk Hills Presbyterian Church this morning. Having gone on a treasure hunt in the pastor’s study about four weeks ago I found a small gold mine of church history. Mostly in the form of lose photos and old albums. But I got very excited, when I found a book; and not just any book. Someone had carefully saved the worship bulletins from a portion of the year 1953, and bound them in a small hardback book to preserve them. Finding that book set the wheels in motion for the service we share today; because as you can see from the notes in your own bulletin, the World Communion Sunday service from 1953 was in this little book. Today as we receive the elements we share in an act that joins us together with those God has used to build the church community we have come to know and love as Elk Hills Presbyterian Church. The 29 charter members that held the first worship service would have shared in many worship and communion services over the years. They were the grandmothers and mothers, they were the grandfathers and fathers; who instilled the love of God, church and family in the succeeding generations of those who would follow Christ. But today, along with our connection to our own history, and those who have entered through these doors and served this church over the years, we celebrate our connection to the greater church community, and the church universal. As we come together this Lord’s Day as Christians, West Virginians and as Americans, we are not alone in celebrating our faith and hope in our resurrected Savior. Around this world, in different time zones, and in some form; Christians in Nigeria, Uganda, Ukraine, Moldova, Iran, Iraq, and even North Korea will also gather at the table honoring our Savior’s command “Do this in remembrance of me”. And if you pause to think about it; none of this would be possible except for the persecution of the church, and the scattering of the disciples that began following the stoning of Stephen. Reflecting on our shared sense of community, we can go all the way back to the 12 disciples and the paths they individually traveled in carrying the message of the gospel to other parts of their known world. One of the disciples we do not hear much about is Bartholomew; he preached the gospel to India. Matthew is recorded as having gone to Ethiopia and Egypt, Thomas preached in the areas of the Medes and the Persians – current day areas of Iran and Iraq. The church is about the many, over the years, who have done their part and fulfilled God’s call on their lives. Returning to our passage this morning, Christian faith and ministry, in this particular letter are pulled together in the context of family and community, played out over time. Paul is giving us the history that helps us to understand that Timothy is anything but the new kid on the block going about the area offering previously unheard of teachings. Paul’s words are absolute that the roots of Timothy’s faith make him a reliable and proven witness for Christ. But Timothy’s job, as Paul forces him to look ahead, involves more than taking care of, or preserving what Timothy has been given. His charge has now become that he is to continue w/what he knows and to spread the news of the resurrection and life in Christ. That is the charge we all have. Verse 14 reminds us that the Holy Spirit lives in each of us, and these words also offer to us the thought that our Christian identity is who we are. If we obey the call of God on our lives, it is not just another hat we wear or how we act on Sunday. We are not a Christian simply when we feel like it. When we accept Christ as our Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells us, Christ becomes a part of who we are – we become a Christian. When we take that step, we become part of a rich heritage of faith, grace, service and mercy. On this World Communion Sunday, we celebrate that we have a family connection that goes beyond last name, local church affiliation or denominational ties. As we share the elements this morning, we celebrate that we are a small part of the history of a people who have claimed their identity in Christ.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:16:41 +0000
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