"Suffering and Communion"

10-4-20Sermon Notes“Suffering and Communion”
Several years ago, I went to a large training even in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was one of the most joyful, energetic gatherings I had ever been to (that wasn’t a youth or children’s even). Everywhere you looked, people were engaged in conversations in pairs or small groups. The coffee shop was bustling with activity. When we had worship together, it was dynamic and heart-felt. What I saw going on around me (and participating in myself) was something that the New Testament referred to as koinonia… a word that means “communion” or “fellowship. Here is what Adam Hamilton says about koinonia in his book, Creed: “ It [koinonia] involves getting to know others, building relationships with them, and actively caring for and encouraging them. This was the purpose of the church – to foster, build, and serve as a community of people devoted to one another in brotherly and sisterly love, bound togwether by a common faith, and working together to live out their faith in the world. We not only are Christ’s assembly; we are his family.” (pp. 113-114)
Koinonia was happening at this big event! What was this event? It was a training for Celebrate Recovery. In case you are not familiar with it, Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered twelve-step program that is designed to help anyone who is struggling with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. I believe the close fellowship that was taking place at the Celebrate Recovery event was so powerful because it was the fellowship of the suffering. It was communion among those who had shared common pain. Suffering produces a kind of fellowship that nothing else does.
This coming Sunday we will start a new series that comes straight out of the book of suffering – Job. Maybe more than any other character in the Bible, Job reminds us of a painful truth: to live is to suffer. This Sunday is World Communion Sunday. We will talk about the communion of suffering, as we turn to the first chapter of the Book of Job. Remember the story?
There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. 2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another’s houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” This is what Job always did.
6 One day the heavenly being came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” 8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
13 One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. (Job 1: 1-22 NRSV)
Join us this Sunday for in-person worship with distancing and masks at 9:00 am for Celebration, or at 11:00 am for Traditions. If you don’t feel comfortable with in-person worship yet, please join us for online worship via Facebook Live, YouTube, or Sermon.net. Pastor Andy will be back with us, having been given the “green light” to do so by the Health Department. Since it is World Communion Sunday, we will celebrate Holy Communion – but at this time we are still only doing “Drive-Thru Communion,” which will take place from 5:00-7:00 pm at the Portico.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam