Dribs and Drabs from the Graduating Sermons
The following are the excerpts from three graduating students’ sermons, despite the fact that they are just a small portion of the whole sermon and therefore seem inevitably scattered, it is our hope that our readers who could not be present at our morning chapel can also share dribs and drabs of their graduating sermons. It is a bit incidental that these three sermons reveal from different dimensions that these ministers-to-be are conscious of their own identity.
Topic: Grace Weighs Heavier than Sin (Luke 7:36-50)
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The Pharisees enjoyed an honored identity in their days. Since they had such a strong sense of hierarchy, it was not easy for them to invite guests home. When the Pharisee Simon invited Jesus to his house for dinner, it was an indication that Jesus had a well-respected status. On the same occasion, a local infamous sinful woman in the town was also present at the Pharisee’s house. Try to imagine Jesus and the woman being together in the same house, what kind of picture it would be like? Now as the scene is re-enacted, shall we listen intently to what is being said and observe what is happening in this house? What message is being communicated?
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How does Jesus point out Simon’s blind spot? Ironically, the appearance of the woman becomes an invitation. Simon regards himself as the one to host the feast, and yet Jesus invites Simon to “see” himself as he looks at the woman.
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Simon is challenged to see himself first and then he can then see Jesus who is in front of him. He needs to note two things: (1) both he and the woman are sinners in the eyes of Jesus. He is in the presence of Jesus who is not just a prophet but the Lord who has the power to forgive sins. Simon needs to understand that before Jesus no one has a higher status. Today he has pointed out that this woman is a sinner, but he must face the fact that he too is a sinner, because he cannot expect his slightly better moral character can wipe away his identity as a sinner. (2) He needs to understand we cannot first experience love before our sins are forgiven. Instead, we must first experience forgiveness so that we can love. This is analogous to the parable of someone owing a debt, which tells us that it is not how much we owe that is that issue. Rather, the more we owe, the more impressed and grateful we will feel when the lender writes off our debt while another who is very conscious of owing less will probably be unable to feel any gratitude at all.
Dear brothers and sisters, I do not mean to tell you that you have always to bear in mind that “I am a sinner,” but I am only reminding each of you that what is most important is that you always remember these words: “I am a sinner who has received God’s abundant grace.” The situation is just like that of a small child who has done something wrong. We can of course analyze the drawback of the incident with him. But what allows the child to grow up in a healthy way and what he can never forget is that even if he has committed a mistake, his parents continue to accept him, embrace him anew and will never abandon him. I have seen people who have experienced this grace; in fact I am one of them. What about you?
I will soon graduate from the Seminary and become a minister, standing from the pulpit, preaching the Bible’s truth and speaking to those in bondage of sin. I will proclaim “the Lord’s love is immense,” and will anxiously shed tears for their sins. But I must always honestly examine myself to see myself as one who is also constantly tempted by sin. I am keenly aware that I also need to resolve my weaknesses and turn from my sins with Jesus’ help so that God can set me free from them.
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Topic: To Know One’s Own Limitations (Gal 1:10)
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There is a strong tone of self-defense in verse 10 of the first chapter of Galatians. In this brief confessional statement in which Paul expresses his will, we come to a three-dimensional understanding of Paul. We can see that he is particularly aware of his personal limitations. Yet we also observe that his self-knowledge is quite balanced, since he explicitly admits what he is not, but he has no problem declaring his true identity. Similarly, this self-knowledge is what we, as seminary students, ministers-to-be, incumbent preachers and ministers, staff in theological seminaries and even all who are ministering to God, have to think about seriously and also know explicitly.
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In response to his adversaries who have questioned his identity, Paul in Galatians 1:1 is quick to declare that his apostleship comes not from man but from Jesus Christ and God the Father. In verse 10, he makes it clear that he does nothing to win the approval of men but that he never forgets that his true identity is that of a servant of Christ. Here the word translated “servant” means “slave” in Greek. It is important to point out that the “slave” metaphor in this verse and throughout the book of Galatians has a special meaning. As Dr. Sam Tsang has presented an in-depth study expounding its meaning, I will not repeat what he has said here. To sum it up simply in my words, to be slaves means: being totally dependent, having lost one’s own sovereignty and allowing one’s self to be subordinate totally to someone. Paul implies that he is in humble obedience and in total submission to Christ. Paul is well aware of the honor of being an apostle since it means he has the authority granted from above. More importantly, he never forgets that this honored identity is inseparable from his total submission to Christ. That means he always remembers that he is a slave of Christ whom he must always serve and submit himself.
During our ministry, this kind of self-knowledge we see in Paul is of utmost importance. We too need always to be aware that it is our identity as servants of Christ which supplies us with the strength to fight against the temptation to be overly impressed with the voices that cheer us on with shouts of “bravo.” It is Christ who escorts us through the days of bitter winter and through the currents of adversity. It is He who often needs to remind us to sharpen our ministry’s focus. From the beginning to the end of his ministry, Paul stands as our example as he always remembers his responsibility to his master. He sums this up clearly in 2 Corinthians 4:5 where he says frankly, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
…Self-knowledge means that we continually struggle both to know and to see oneself. In order for us to see ourselves clearly, there needs to be light and God Himself is the source of true light! Often He illuminates us through His word, yet we need to allow enough time and room for His word to penetrate our hearts so that we can see our own darkness in the dead alleys of our hearts. Given time and thought, His word can help us discover a new outlet opened to us by Christ.
Topic: Where Does Faith Come from? (Jo 5:13-15)
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The background for these verses from Joshua 5 is an unprecedented war in which Joshua is leading a multitude of Israelites who have no training for warfare. Neither are they carrying any advanced weapons to fight against the formidable citizens of Jericho. However, God makes it clear that what Joshua needs most at that time is neither external equipment nor superior conditions, but instead a deep faith in God. From verses 9 to 12 in chapter 5, we can see how God builds up Joshua’s faith through three things.
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Verse 14: “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua falls facedown to the ground in reverence and asks, “What message does my Lord have for His servant?”
Joshua asks, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” The messenger replied, “Neither. But as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” This answer causes Joshua to fall facedown to the ground and to ask, “What message does my Lord have for His servant?” This attitude of submission serves as a good reminder of how we can allow ourselves to be taught by our elders. For example, when we see our grandparents, we will remember that our identity is their grandchildren. Before our parents, we are children; before our teachers, we are students; before our pastor, we are church members; before a church member, we are ministers. Joshua knows well that he is the commander of the Israelites but upon seeing the messenger sent by God, he immediately submits and thoroughly humbles himself. He calls himself a servant, expressing his willingness to take order from God’s messenger. We are intrigued by Joshua’s balanced temperament: he has courage, patience, strong faith, yet he is capable of submission. We see in him the other side of a great man as he teaches us that in order to “attempt great things for God,” we sometimes have to learn to let go!
Verse 15: “The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ Joshua did not hesitate to obey his Lord.”
This commander reveals himself just when Joshua is coming close to the city of Jericho. This is a dangerous zone, yet it is in such a place that God chooses to reveal Himself. The presence of God transforms even the enemy’s domain into a holy place. The commander orders Joshua to take off his sandals to acknowledge he is standing on a holy place. When Joshua takes off his sandals, he is acting out his submission to God and showing that he believes God will perform a miracle in an impossible place. When the messenger tells Joshua he is standing on holy ground, we are reminded of the time when Joshua’s teacher, Moses, once set foot on a holy place on Mount Sinai where he was given the order to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Today, as Joshua is about to complete that mission, he does not rely on himself. Instead, he puts his trust in the one who claims to be the commander of the army of the Lord, the one who stands ready to fight for the people of Israel.
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