October 30, 2005

Twelve Ordinary Men

The Guileless One

John 6:1-7

Opening Words: They were not saints. They were not scholars. They were not even religious sages. Among them there were fishermen. There was a hated tax collector and a political zealot. Let me say this clearly. They were common men with an uncommon calling. They were hopelessly human and that is exactly why they speak to us! Today, you are going to hear sermon number seven in a ten part sermon series I have called Twelve Ordinary Men.

Guileless is defined as naïve or trusting. This is the best possible description for this morning’s disciple, Nathaniel. There is not a great deal known about him. Matthew, Mark and Luke call him by his other name, Bartholomew. Only the gospel of John calls him Nathaniel in two separate stories. The first is at his calling in the first chapter. The second is at the period of time between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension in the twenty-first chapter. Today we look at the first story. Let me call this sermon The Guileless One. This is my question for you today, where do you place your trust?

Introduction

There is an old story of a father who took his young son out and stood him on the railing of the back porch. He then went down, stood on the lawn, and encouraged the little fellow to jump into his arms. "I'll catch you," the father said confidently. After a lot of coaxing, the little boy finally made the leap. When he did, the father stepped back and let the child fall to the ground. He then picked his son up, dusted him off, and dried his tears.  "Let that be a lesson," he said sternly. "Don't ever trust anyone." That story seems to be a theme for our world today. Jerome Blattner once said, “A person who trusts no one can't be trusted.” So this is my question for you today. Where do you place your trust?

This is my question for you today, where do you place your trust? Do you trust your spouse? Do you trust your spouse with a credit card? Do you trust your teenage children with the family car? Do you trust that aged person in your life to live alone or take their own medicines? Do you trust that person to provide adequate childcare for your youngster? Can you trust your friends with a secret? Do your trust your local government or school board? Do you trust your state government? Do your trust the federal government? Do you trust your furnace as the cold weather begins? Do you trust your doctor? Do you trust the United Methodist denomination? Do you trust your church? Do you trust your minister? Do you trust Jesus?

Body

Trust is at the very heart of this morning’s scripture lesson. With all of his faults Nathaniel was a trusting person. We find him today with his good friend Philip. According to verse 43, Jesus, himself, invites Philip to follow him. Philip accepts the invitation and naturally turns to his good friend Nathaniel. He invites him to follow the Master. Godet describes the scene as, “one lighted torch serves to light another.” This is really not that uncommon. Research tells us that 85% of all new converts are introduced to Jesus by someone that they trust (for example: a friend or a family member). Those same studies tell us that our most effective time of personal evangelism is within the first two years of accepting Jesus. So it is with Philip and Nathaniel. Philip experiences Jesus and wants to share that experience with someone close to him. Tradition tells that Nathaniel got so excited about Jesus that after the resurrection he took the name of Jesus as far as India, Persia and Armenia. But none of that would have been possible if Nathaniel would not have trusted his good friend, Philip.

In this morning’s scripture lesson we are told that Nathaniel trusted three things that made his conversion complete. They are the same three things that we must trust. If we are going to reach our full potential as a church or if you are going to reach your full potential as a disciple, then you must trust these three things. What are the three things that Nathaniel trusted? What are the three things in which we must trust? The first thing is scripture. The second thing is a friend. The third thing is Jesus. The first two I will hit briefly. The third one I will develop. So if you are ready to trust these three things say, “Amen!” Where do you place your trust?

Scripture

Use your sanctified imagination with me. Philip runs us to Nathaniel and tells him that he has found the long awaited Messiah. Now look at the scripture. Philip doesn’t just come to Nathaniel and say, “I have found the Messiah!” Verse 45 says, “Philip found Nathaniel and said, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophet also wrote about – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Philip knew his friend Nathaniel and he used a source that Nathaniel trusted. Philip used scripture to convince Nathaniel that Jesus was the Messiah because he knew Nathaniel trusted scripture. How many of you trust Larry King? How many of you trust Jerry Springer? How many of you trust scripture?

We live in incredible times Biblically speaking. Let me say two things. First, Biblical illiteracy is at an all time high in America. It is easier for us to quote Oprah than it is the word of God. Second, the little scripture we do know is selected carefully. It is like going to a garage sale. You accept things that you like and discard those things that you don’t like. The Bible is the inspired word of God and we must trust it. It is the inspired word of God. Those words give us examples for life so we don’t keep making the same mistakes generation after generation. I believe one of the reason we have so many people struggling in life is that we don’t know Bible. We learn from our own painful experiences what is right and wrong and fail to learn the divine truth that is contained in the Bible. How many problems could you have eliminated in your life, if you just would have followed the Biblical model? Nathaniel trusted the scriptures. Do you trust the scriptures? If you think you need a little help in this area say, “Amen!”

Use your sanctified imagination one more time. Philip runs us to Nathaniel and tells him about Jesus. The only reason this scene is significant is because Nathaniel trusted Philip. He respected Philip. If Nathaniel would not have trusted Philip then those words would have been empty. Do you listen to the words of your doctor or the homeless man who has just asked you for a dollar? Nathaniel trusted Philip. Do you trust your friends?

Let me clarify that statement. I am not talking about your next-door neighbor or your co-worker. I am talking about all the people within the life of this church. I am not talking about the people that have been part of this church with you for decades. I am talking about all the people.

In the spring of 1994 I was interviewed to become the pastor of this congregation. The committee said we need new members. We are an aging dieing congregation. We will do whatever it takes. Since that evening we have seen our church move forward. We have seen new people come. It has been a tremendous ride for us and it is not over yet. You can tell anyone this and quote me. In the next three years we are going to become the largest church in this district. More new people are going to come! You will not be able to learn all their names so will you be able to trust these new friends? Will you be able to trust them with a new idea for ministry? Will you be able to trust them with a key? Will you be able to trust them in the kitchen or with a new recipe? Will you be able to trust them with our children? Will you be able to trust them with a treasurer’s report? They will know how much we have or don’t have. We do not do secret funds in this church. This church will never reach her full potential until we learn to trust one another. Nathaniel trusted his friends. Do you trust your friends? If you thinks you may need a little help trusting your new friends, then say, Amen!”

Jesus

Using your sanctified imagination go to the next scene. Philip tells Nathaniel about Jesus. However, Nathaniel wants to experience Jesus for himself! Verse 47 says that Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching. Verse 48 says that they had a discussion. Verse 49 says, “The Nathaniel declared, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.’” In other words, Nathaniel said, “Jesus, I trust you.” Do you trust Jesus? There is no more fundamental question in the life of the church. Do you trust Jesus? Do we trust Jesus?

I will never forget the Easter after my mother died. It was the first Easter that both of my parents were dead. I had preached the resurrection of Jesus for nearly twenty years but it was on that Easter that the words rang out. There is a world of difference between preaching the resurrection and being a witness of the resurrection. If it weren’t for the resurrection of Jesus then I would never see my parents again. If it wasn’t for the resurrection of Jesus then all of our dead are just that – dead! It is only because of the resurrection that we have hope. We have no choice. We must trust Jesus!

Annually, on November the first the church universal observes All-Saints Day. It was originally established during the seventh century by the Roman Pantheon as a reaction to the pagan holiday of Halloween. It is a time to remember all the saints, both known and unknown. It is our custom to remember those that we have lost in the last twelve months. This year we remember seven, six we knew well. Let me read you their names. Ember Doerr, Blanch Goodhart, Elaine Ellway, Florence Hird, Ruth Richards, Peg Smith, Donald Stone and Helen Wayne. 

 

An anonymous Christian writer once wrote these words.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him, He is ever faithful,

Trust Him, for his will is best,

Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

Conclusion

Where do you place your trust? Are you like Nathaniel? Do you trust scripture? Do you trust your friends? Do you trust Jesus? And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”