Set Apart

Sermon given at Sydenstricker UMC 5/27/18

Click here for audio

^NIV Acts 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." ⁵ This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶ They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. ⁷ So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

In C.E. Montague's novel, Rough Justice, a memorable scene describes a little boy named Bron going to church for the first time with his governess. He watches with interest every part of the service. The preacher climbs into the high pulpit and Bron hears him tell some terrible news. It is about a brave and kind man who was nailed to a cross, terribly hurt, a long time ago, and who still feels a dreadful pain even now, because there was something not done that he wants them all to do.

Little Bron thinks that the preacher is telling the story because a lot of people are there and they will do something about it. Bron is sitting impatiently on the edge of the pew. He can hardly wait to see what the first move will be in righting this injustice. But he sits quietly and decides that after the service someone will do something about it. Little Bron begins to weep, but nobody else seems at all upset. The service is over. The people walk away as if they had not heard such terrible news, as if nothing remarkable had happened.

As Bron leaves the church, he is trembling. His governess looks at him and says, "Bron, don't take it to heart. Someone will think you are different."

Different - to be alive and sensitive in one's spirit.

Different - to show emotion.

Different - to listen to what is going on in God's house, really to hear, to respond.

Different - to take Jesus Christ seriously.

Ought not Christians be different? Ought not we be distinct, separate, not the same, out of the ordinary, unusual? Christ was distinct, separate, out of the ordinary, and he called his followers to be like him.

Today we come to celebrate 30 years of service of the Stephen Ministry program at Sydenstricker. 30 years ago a need was recognized that congregation members may need additional care from time to time. A Stephen Minister comes alongside a hurting person and meets with that person on a weekly basis to listen, care, encourage, pray, and provide emotional and spiritual support. Men are paired with men; women with women. Over the years, well over one-and-a-half million people across the country have benefited from the one-to-one, Christ-centered care of a Stephen Minister. Today there are a number of folks who give of their time to minister to the needs of the congregation. In addition to their Stephen Ministry duties, a number of them serve on the congregational care team and routinely visit homebound and hospital bound members of the congregation. As a Senior Pastor, I would not be able to serve you well without the dedicated willingness of Stephen Ministers to step up and serve.

Our scripture today reminds us that in the time shortly after Jesus ascension into heaven, the Apostles began to be overwhelmed with the needs of the community. I can identify and appreciate that understanding. They daily were struggling with providing for the widows of the community, the sick and those in prison, having been given the commission by Jesus to care for them, to visit with them and to make disciples of all people. Caring for a growing flock can be daunting at best. So they decided to set apart some for the task of serving. In our ministry orders in the United Methodist church, we have established deacons and missionaries to do some of this work. In each congregation there are people who show a willingness to serve who then share that responsibility with the Pastor and Staff by visiting the lonely, feeding the hungry and sharing time with those who are in need. Stephen Ministry was created as an organization to assist with caring for folks facing life struggles.

So the twelve gathered to figure out a way of dealing with the challenge before them. Widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Widows in that day were outcasts if there were no children to take care of them. They choose seven men to serve, among them Stephen who would go on to be the first martyr and who would experience the glory of God. Stephen, whose name is given to the program we celebrate today, was set apart.

What does it mean to be set apart? It begins with a call from God to do some unique and special thing that God desires of you. Maybe it is being called to minister to the children of the community, maybe the youth or maybe teach adult ministries. All of these things are special calls by God. Some of you may be called to mission work or even to be called to become part of our staff or maybe, some among you are feeling called to set apart ministry. Set apart ministries are places where you will receive training and be commissioned to serve. Some of you may even feel called to step up here with me one day. Set apart means that you answer a call to be in a different role than simply participating in the life of the church. Interestingly, the scripture tells us that because of this setting apart, the number of disciples and priests increased to a large number.

In honor of this weekend, I want to talk about another call and another example of being set apart. In my day, young men were subject to a special kind of call. Fortunately, for me that never happened but I chose to serve as many of my friends did. They used to call us young folks, junior lifers at the VA hospital, because we were full of big dreams and had not seen or registered the other side of serving. Today we honor the men and women who choose to serve, whether called or not, that went to places with names we cannot even pronounce. Some are there even now protecting, defending and serving. We have monuments to their names, places where their names are forever enshrined for all to see. This weekend is one of those weekends when we celebrate their set apart service. The caveat is this. To be enshrined on one of those monuments usually means that answered that call and never came home again to live long happy lives. They were willing to give it all so that you and I can celebrate this weekend, or July 4^th or any day of the week we want, how we want and where we want. That we can worship freely and yes, that we can voice our feelings freely. So let us not forget what these young men and women have given us. 

Today we celebrate being set apart. All of us are called by Christ to follow Him in this quest for loving one another. All of us are called to the ministry of sharing our faith life with one another so that everyone can be in relationship with a God who loves us unconditionally.

God says that we are known in the womb. Before we take our first breath, God has already offered a purpose for our lives. We are made in God’s image, the image of love and we are tasked with loving one another. Are you feeling set apart today? Are you feeling called to be led by God?