October 27, 2024
Indianola Presbyterian Church, Columbus
“We are not in charge”
Sermon by Rev. Trip Porch
October 27,2024 Based on Romans 12:4-6 & Matthew 6:27-34
I’d like to begin the sermon today in a totally different place than I normally begin sermons: the protestant reformation, some 500 years ago. And I’d like to get us there in another totally different way than I
normally use in sermons… a long form video designed as part of a confirmation class curriculum.
Some of you may have watched the video in the newsletter this week, it comes from a curriculum for
confirmation called “Re:form.” The curriculum goes through questions of theology in order to prepare youth to confirm the vows made at their baptism.
The videos are silly but spot on theologically and the video we are about to watch is designed to introduce confirmands to the protestant reformation. To help teach them about the context in the church back then, and introduce them to the reformers: To Martin Luther, and John Calvin, and John Knox. To help us learn what they believed and why.
We are going to watch it not only because I think it does a great job teaching us about the reformation on reformation Sunday but because this video helps to summarize the core of their belief which in a way
offers a deeper message that I think resonates with the message of our scripture today. In particular, I want to invite you to pay attention to what John Calvin says, over and over and over again in the video…
Without further ado…
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Sovereignty of God.
John Calvin Reminds us again and again, that this is the most essential teaching we can learn. That it is not the church who is in charge, it is not people, it is not you or me… It is God.
In our scripture today Jesus says:
“Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t stress or work, and yet God clothes them beautifully. Won’t God do that and even more for you? Stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Theres a lot of worry, fear, and anxiety in the world right now, I know I am feeling it too.
Right beneath the surface there’s this fear, this worry that it feels like we are all collectively experiencing.
About the state of the world, about the state of this country, about the state of this election, like the weight of the world is on this moment. It feels like the weight of the world is on us, like somehow we have the ability to control the outcomes.
And I don’t want to discount the role we have to play, we do have agency in this world, we can make the world a better place, but at the end of the day it’s important to have perspective on the actual order of things.
That we are not in charge.
That the role of the savior of this world was already cast long ago, and we did not get that part. We all have roles to play, we all can do our small part but at the end of the day it is God who is sovereign, it is God who reigns, it God who provides.
This is what we remembered before when God’s people went through stressful times, when we faced
empire or tyrants, and this is what we are invited to remember now.
That regardless of the outcome of this election, regardless of the course of this world, regardless of where we will be one month from now, or years from now, we can hold on to hope that though we have our part to play it is never on us alone, and that ultimately, in the fullness time, our sovereign God of love will have the last word.
I know it’s hard to remember this. We get caught up in our need to control things, we get caught up in our own agency and feel like it’s our responsibility. It is a tale as old as time.
When we get to feeling this way, I think we should listen to Jesus. Stop worrying about tomorrow, live for today, live in this moment, consider the Lillies, they don’t worry, they don’t stress, they don’t work and toil away, and yet God provides for them, God dresses them beautifully, they don’t want or worry for anything.
Jesus reminds us that God orders this universe, not us. We are a part of this creation just as the birds of the air and flowers of the field. This ordering of the universe with God on top and creation below is God’s gift,
that the responsibility is not on you, but on God.
So, I have a very simple task for us in the coming weeks. A way for us to remember our place in this world daily.
Try to spend part of your day, every day, considering the Lillies.
Try to spend part of your day, every day, in nature. Because Nature reminds us again and again that we are not creator, we are creation.
That we are not fully in charge of the rhythms of this world…. We are not sovereign, God is.
In closing I’d like to leave you with a poem, that I hope you’ll hold with you whenever you find yourself stressed or worried in the coming weeks…
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night
at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down
where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light.
For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
May you rest in the grace of the world that you are just one small part of.
And may you find freedom in the arms of our creator who is still in charge, amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Come Christians Join to Sing” arr. Beth West
INTROIT “Though I May Speak” English Folk Melody
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it
*CALL TO WORSHIP
One: Come, let’s worship the great Maker of this magnificent Creation!
All: God gave us a complete home and treats all of its creatures fairly
One: Let’s hear it from Sky with Earth joining in,
All: And a huge round of applause from Sea!
One: Let Wilderness turn cartwheels, animals, come dance,
All: Put every tree of the forest in the choir—
One: An extravaganza for the God who is with us
All: And continues to set everything right on earth.
One: Let us worship this God who ordered the world
All: And is guiding us back to that holy plan.
*HYMN 275 “A Mighty Fortress” EIN’ FESTE BURG
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Mike Ayers
Loving Creator, we confess that we have forgotten our place in the harmony of your creation. We worry about our lives, grasp for control, and turn to material things for comfort. We have neglected your call to care for the earth and one another, seeking more for ourselves while others go without. In the silence, hear our confession…
Forgive us, O God. Restore in us a spirit of humility and trust, that we may live as both creatures in your world as well as caretakers of it, sharing your abundant provision and embracing your peace.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 694 “Great God of Every Blessing” vs. 1 AURELIA
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Like as the Hart” Healey Willan
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE
Romans 12:4-6 The Message: We’re all parts of the Body of Christ
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.
Matthew 6:27-34 CEB: Jesus’ teachings on worry and our basic needs
Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t wear themselves out with work, and they don’t spin cloth. But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn’t dressed like one of these. If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it’s alive today and tomorrow it’s thrown into the furnace, won’t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? Therefore, don’t worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Mary Rebekah Fortman
SERMON Rev. Trip Porch
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
HYMN on screen “All Creatures, Worship God Most High” LASST UNS ERFRUEN
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe that all things in heaven and on earth, and in all creatures, are preserved and governed by the providence of this wise, eternal and almighty God.
For David testifies and says… And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will.
By speaking thus, he wanted to show that what men regard as of least value is governed by God’s omnipotence. For he who is the truth says that the birds of the air are fed by him and the lilies of the field are clothed by him; he also says that the hairs of our head are numbered.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
OFFERTORY 768 “Somos el Cuerpo de Cristo” SOMOS EL CUERPO DE CHRISTO
Sophia Haws - leader
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Generous God, you provide for us in abundance, more than we could ever earn or deserve. In response to your loving care, we offer these gifts to you, as a sign of our trust and gratitude. Use them to care for all your creatures within this earth and to build your kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.
*HYMN 267 “Come Christians Join to Sing” MADRID
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & CHORAL BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Consider the Lilies” Roger Hoffman
arr. Summer Decker Nelson
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452