Active in Mission 2023 – Are We Listening? – Sermon – Evelin Wharram

Friends, God is Calling us…

The reason we are bringing this up is because, as Christians, we have a duty to listen to God, listen to one another, and then follow whatever it is that God calls us to do. Notice, I did not say, talk or push or coerce, I said listen. We need to stop trying to push our own agendas and start listening for what the world around us is crying out. There are many in our society in need and many more who are too afraid to ask for help. There are many, right here in our own community, who need assistance. And often we are so far removed and locked within our own agenda that we forget to ask the important question, a question that Christ asked nearly everywhere he went, and that question is; “What can I do to help?” And we need to ask that question, without the expectation that we will ever receive anything in return.

Are We Listening to God, to one another and to the world in need around us?

200 years ago – In the early 1800’s, Reverend Herrington travelled on horseback to serve his parish which extended from the Detroit River to the vicinity of St. Thomas. Many Baptist congregations in the Essex-Kent territory were organized with his assistance and counsel during his more than fifty years of ministry. – Our Church was one of them – Reverend Herrington, was listening.

The point of this?  God is still transforming lives and God still uses each one of us as a way to touch and to help transform society. So, to get us started, let’s look at a one very specific story of transformation. The story of St. Patrick – why St. Patrick you say? Well, no, it’s not St. Patrick’s Day, but since Pastors Dave and Marlee are in Ireland, Patrick’s is an absolutely inspiring story of a person who was listening. Here are some photos of St. Patrick’s Cathedral taken when Pastors Dave and Marlee visited there in January of this year.

 Let me tell you the story of Saint Patrick, an unexpected disciple.

As you may know, Saint Patrick is one of Christianity’s most well-known missionaries. Patrick was born in fourth century Roman Britain (c. 390-461) to a loving family of wealth. His parents were most likely successful merchants and administrators of the Roman Empire. On February 27, 380, Roman Emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica and declared the official religion in the empire to be the Catholic Church. Patrick was brought up in the Catholic faith.  He had a privileged childhood as the son of wealthy Roman leaders of Britain, but suffered great hardships for a number of years. Patrick brought Christianity to the Irish and changed the course of history.

At the beginning of the medieval ages, many in Europe clung to the pagan religions of the past. Ireland, the island to the west of Britain, was a land where Christianity was unknown. Celts in Ireland followed a belief called Druidism. They believed in many gods, and Druid priests had many practices that we would call barbaric. Druids sacrificed humans to keep their gods happy.

As a sixteen-year-old, Patrick’s easy life of comfort and prestige changed forever. Some reports state Patrick snuck out of his parents’ home and took part in an all-night pagan ritual. Patrick had been raised Catholic Christian, but as a young person, he strayed away from his faith and attended this pagan ritual. With dawn breaking, a small band of Irish pirates raided Britain and captured Patrick. He was taken to Ireland and sold into slavery, completely separated from his loving parents. Patrick later wrote, that he had left the faith of his family and for this he was being punished.

For six years, Patrick worked as a common slave in Ireland. At any instant, he could be killed, mutilated, or beaten by his owner. He was far from his home and far from any help his Christian friends could provide. Instead of becoming desperate and sad though, Patrick spent his time in prayer and reflection. Working as a shepherd for six years, he grew to love the Irish land and the people, and he yearned to one day teach them the way of Christ. He united his sufferings as a slave to the sufferings of his Savior, Jesus, and his love for his captors grew.

According to Patrick’s writings, he heard the Heavenly Father speak to him and tell him to escape from slavery and to walk to the coast. A boat would be waiting for him. As a slave, if he were recognized, he would have been put to death! But Patrick did as he was told, and there was a boat waiting for him. The captain agreed to take him back to Britain.

St. Patrick was listening…

Patrick’s parents were so excited to see him, but they were also disappointed to hear what he wanted to do. He wanted to become a priest and return to the people who enslaved him in Ireland. His parents wanted him to get married, become wealthy and important, and raise a family. If he returned to Ireland, wouldn’t he be killed by his former slave owner for escaping? How could he have a family if he became a priest?

Patience is a virtue Patrick practiced. He went to Gaul which is modern day France), studied to become a priest, and waited for his calling to go back to Ireland and spread Christianity. At the age of 49, after nearly 25 years of waiting, he finally received the order to go to Ireland as a bishop to evangelize. He returned to Ireland. He went to his former slave owner, and spoke about Christ. Amazingly, within Bishop Patrick’s lifetime, Ireland became a Christian country!  And, since then Irish missionaries have travelled throughout the world spreading the news of Jesus and his Church.

And like St. Patrick, we are all called…

Each one of us is called by God! Author Paul David Tripp writes: “Everyone who has been chosen to be a recipient of the redemptive work of Jesus has also been commissioned to be an instrument of that same redemptive work.” You see, God has chosen each one of us to be an active part of Jesus’ mission. Listen, whether you like it or not, we are all called. God may have not put you in a vocational pastoral position but God has put you on the front lines for mission. Paul David Tripp goes on to say that the work of evangelism, spiritual growth work of the church and the cause of worldwide missions was never designed by Jesus to be shouldered by a small collection of paid, religious professionals. He asks, “What if you started seeing that your life is ministry and ministry is your life? What if there was no real separation between life and ministry? What if we, I mean all of us, actually lived, worked, related, played and relaxed with a ministry mentality?”

What if we actually started seeing that our job is an actual mission from God?

Let’s look at Jesus’ invitation to Matthew in Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus invites Matthew first and foremost into a relationship with him. The relationship was not the by-product of them doing ministry together, the relationship was the assignment, just like Patrick spent his time in prayer and reflection while working as a common slave. The ministry is what comes from the spending time together with God. The Christian life is not about doing stuff for God but being with God.

It’s remarkable how Matthew got up immediately with no questions asked. Jesus’ invitation was a bit vague. He just said, “Follow me.”

Some real similarities to St. Patrick.

Here’s the thing…all Jesus asked of Matthew was to get up. It was all about movement! He had to get up from the table and move!

He had to make a conscious decision to make a move, a step of faith was required. For us, God is calling us to consciously take a step of faith and get into the game of being made for a mission, even if it may be a bit uncomfortable. That is where Pastors Dave and Marlee are going to take us over the next six weeks. As Pastor Dave started discussing last week, this is an important part of  ‘Doing Life Together’ – More on that soon. We are going to take a journey, which at the end we pray, will lead us to take the next step of faith, out of our comfort zones and into the world to make a difference, both in us and in the world.

We can start today though, by thinking about how we can be a part of what God is doing in the locations where He places us. Through the CBM / FBK Active in Mission Project we have this opportunity! We can consciously take a step of faith and get into this mission by supporting Pastors Dave and Marlee or the FBK Active in Mission team. [show link to support] Just go to activeinmission.ca and search for our FBK Team.

And if you are unable to financially support the Active in Mission team to end hunger locally and globally, there is an opportunity to pray for all the countries within which Canadian Baptist Ministries is working to make a difference through word and deed. [ show link to prayer guide]

You can find the link to the prayer guide on the cbmin.org website and there are also printed copies in the foyer.

Friends, God is calling us. He is calling us to Him and He is calling us to join Him, where He is already at work, making a difference in this broken and hurting world. Would you take the time to listen to Him and to answer Him with the words,

“Here am I, Lord, send me.”