John 14:1-14

Getting lost is not what it used to be. I remember one time I was supposed to meet someone. It was a preacher who served a small rural church. I thought I knew where the church was so I went to the intersection of the two highways where I remember the 200 year old church being. When I got there, there was no church. So I had to turn around and drive all the way home to try to call my friend and tell him that his church was gone!

Now a days things are different. You can Google or MapQuest the location that you are headed to. It will give you turn by turn directions to get there. You can even see a street level photo of each intersection so that you know what to look for. And beyond that you can use a GPS which will tell you exactly when to turn and will get you back on the right back track when you make a wrong turn.

You know back in the day you didn't have Garmin and Tom Tom. You had the corner gas station. You would stop and ask for directions. Sometimes these directions were easy to follow and sometimes they were not. You might hear things like, "You can't get there from here, you have to go someplace else first." Or, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." But sometimes someone would say, "Follow me and let me show you where it is." And then you knew that you would not get lost along the way.

You see Jesus' disciple were lost. The conversation we read this morning from John took place the day before Jesus' death on the cross. The disciples did not yet understand that God's turn by turn directions would lead then through the cross and they had no idea there was such a place as Easter and the resurrection. So Jesus told them, "I am going ahead of you to get things ready for you." The disciples had gone ahead of Jesus to Jerusalem to prepare the Upper Room for the Passover supper. Was Jesus going somewhere to get them ready for another event?

So Thomas, the concrete thinker of the group, said "We don't have a map to where you are going. We have looked for it on Google Earth and that location is not listed." Have you ever felt like Thomas? Like you don't know where your life is going. You can't see how God will get you through where you are to where you are headed.

So Jesus tells Thomas and the disciples, "I am the way the truth and the life." Jesus is the way. How will they get through Good Friday and make it to Easter? Jesus is the way. How will we get through the trials of this life? Jesus is the way.

But how is Jesus the way?

First of all Jesus is like a Map. Jesus shows us the direction to go. His whole life is road map for us to follow. Jesus is our MapQuest. His life and teachings give us turn by turn direction in life.

Jesus humbled himself. First by coming to earth he left his throne above to become one of us. He humbled himself in service to least and the lowest. He exemplified this when he washed his disciples' feet taking on the role of the lowest servant.

But Jesus also loved. He loved his disciple to the end even when they betrayed him and abandoned him. He loved his enemies even when they were crucifying him. On the cross he prayed "Father forgive them." Jesus life and teachings show us God's way of Love.

Jesus is our map but he is also our guide. He doesn't just give us a map through his life and teachings, he also goes with us to show us the way. He us not just our MapQuest he is our GPS. He knows where we are and he is there with us to make sure we stay on course and to get us back if we take a wrong turn.

Jesus told his disciples "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Jesus was headed through death to the other side of the cross. But he would rise again so that he could take them to Easter as well. And he would send his Holy Spirit to be their guide after the ascension. And he will come again in glory to take us all to him.

Jesus is our guide in life. He promised to be with us until the end of the age. He is ready to show us the way to go. We don't know how to get where God is leading but Jesus does. He knows all the hazards in the road ahead. He is the way.

Jesus is our MapQuest and he is out GPS, but he is also the road. You know sometimes in life you have to go places where there is no road. Well, Jesus is the road. Jesus created a way where there was none. The road from sin to salvation did not exist on any of the earth's maps. There was no way to get from death to life, so Jesus forged a new road. His death on the cross made a way for us to go from sin and death to righteousness and life.

The Contemporary Christian group Point of Grace has a song called "Great Divide." It refers to the great divide of sin that separated us from God. The chorus of the song says - "There's a bridge to cross the great divide" It is talking about the way the Jesus made to cross from death to life. As they were practicing the song one of the singers got the words mixed up and sang "There's a cross to bridge the great divide." These words were so profound that they became a permanent part of the song.

Jesus is the way! His cross bridges the great divide between us and God. He has forged a path from death to life through his death and resurrection. We like Thomas may not know the way to the Father but Jesus is the way.

Let Jesus be your way. Let his life and teachings be the map and turn by turn direction for your life - your MapQuest. Let his holy presence be your guide in this world - your GPS. Let his death and resurrection be your way to the father.

Jesus disciples were lost. Jesus said "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." Trust Jesus to tell you the way, to lead you on the way and to be the way.

You might lose your way but I don't know where you are going. That's Ok just trust Jesus. He has already been there and back. He knows all the hazards on the road of life. He knows the way; after all He IS the way!

1 Peter 2:2-10

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness and into the marvelous light"(2:9) These are strange words to us: "A royal priesthood, a holy nation." We Protestants for the most part have rejected the title "priest" for our preachers. We associate it with privilege. So we use words like minister, pastor, or preacher for our religious leaders.

"A holy nation, a chosen race, God's holy people?" That sound like he is talking about Israel. Doesn't the Bible say that the Jews are God's chosen people? Once upon a time there was a rabbi who had a burning question. This question led him to hours of meditation on the Torah looking for an answer. Finally it drove him to go ask God himself. So one day this rabbi visits heaven to ask God his question. When he gets there he receives an audience with God. God said, "I have been waiting for you what is your question." The rabbi timidly asked, "Lord, is it true that we are the chosen people?" God responded, "Yes, I chose you to be my holy people. But is there more." "Yes," responded the Rabbi, "What I really want to know is.." Then there was a long pause, "Would you mind choosing someone else for a change."

But when Peter writes "you are a chosen nation," he is not writing to Old Testament Jews he is writing to believers in Jesus some of whom were Gentiles. Peter, and the Holy Spirit, is telling us that we are a chosen race. We are a holy nation. You and I and all other Christians are a royal priesthood. We have been chosen to be God's holy people. We are living stones chosen to be built into the hose of God!

What does it mean to be chosen. Many have thought it means privilege. They have thought, "Humm, God has chosen us over the other peoples of the world aren't we special." "It is one thing to be the teachers pet, but we are God's pet." "We are better than those unchosen people." "We are God's. We are royalty and should be treated as such."

But if you look at history, the reality of being chosen is something quite different. There is plenty of evidence of this in the Bible. Just look at the Psalms or the story of Job. God's chosen people often suffered.

It was no different for the early Christians or for some Christians today. Consider the Apostles: They were chosen by Jesus, God's only begotten Son. Did they live a life of privilege. No, they were persecuted and beaten from the day they accepted Christ. Many of them died violent deaths. Some were even crucified. Consider Elijah Shimbura: He was born to a Muslim family in Kenya in the late 20th century. Elijah made friends with a Christian Missionary and he finally asked this missionary the secret to his peace and happiness. The missionary told him about Jesus and Elijah responded to God's call upon his heart and gave his life to Christ. When his family found out that he had become a Christian they beat him so badly that he bears the scars of that beating to this day. Being chosen does not mean privilege, it means suffering.

Some people are offended by the notion of God choosing some one or some people. If God chooses some people does that mean others are not chosen? If you look at the Old Testament you have to conclude "Yes." Out of all the people of the world God chose Abraham and Sarah and their descendants. What about the people who are not chosen, does God want to save them? That is the whole idea of choosing a people. God chose Sarah and Abraham as a way of reaching the whole world.

That brings us to a very important question: What are we chosen for? We were chosen for responsibility. Why did God call Abraham and Sarah? So that they could be a blessing to the nations. In other words God wanted to used them as an instrument of blessing the nations. The people of Israel were to be living examples of Gods love and grace. Sometimes that required suffering and hardship. In the same way Peter says you were chosen "in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness and into the marvelous light"(2:9)

We were chosen not for privilege but for service. God saved us though Christ and led us to Christ through the Holy Spirit so that we can work. Maybe you came to church today to be comforted. I am sorry but there is work to be done here. Our purpose here is to proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us. If you are not doing that then you are not fulfilling your calling and purpose as a Christian. And sometimes in order to see the marvelous acts of God we are called to proclaim we have to suffer hardship and persecution.

The words of that Rabbi make a lot more sense now. "Would you mind choosing someone else for a change." We have been given a great responsibility. We have been shown great mercy by God and now we are called to live that mercy for others.

We say, "Lord, help those people with AIDS." "Lord, help those people who are lost in sin." "Lord, help those people who are on drugs." "Lord, help those people who are in poverty. "Lord, help those people who are lonely."

And God says, "What more do you want me to do? I have given you my word. Go speak it to the lost. I have given you my Spirit. Trust it to guide you in addressing the ills of your society. I have given you my Son. Go share him with those who are lonely. I have chosen you to bear these things; so go already!

And what do we say when we realize the magnitude of our responsibility? "Would you mind choosing someone else for a change." But just imagine what would happen if everyone here were to totally submit to God and to being God's chosen people. How many do we have here today? Imagine if each person here and each of those listening on the webcast or receiving a written sermon were to truly strive to touch one person with the love of God each day. How many people would that be? If we each gave just a tenth of our time and money to God imagine the missionary efforts this little church could produce by God's grace?

I want to challenge you to be God's holy people a royal priesthood bearing witness to the mighty deeds of God. Submit yourselves totally to God. Seek God's will by reading the Bible and praying every day. Don't tell me you don't know where to start. There are Upper Rooms in the lobby for free. They will give you a scripture passage and a thought and a prayer focus for each day. In you bulletin are some suggestions for daily Bible readings and a list of people to pray for. And don't say you can't understand the Bible because we offer Sunday School and Bible Study. Come to that. Look for opportunities to share God's love and grace with at least one person each day. God has chosen you not for privilege but for service; now serve.

John 14:1-3

Each of you was given a ticket. Hold it up and look at it. It looks ordinary. But imagine for a moment that it is not. It is not merely a ticket to a play, or to a concert or a movie. It is not even a ticket to something as important as the Clemson-Carolina game. It's a ticket to an event that is able to change people's lives for the better. This event is a celebration that has the power to lift people up. This ticket enables one to witness something that gives people wholeness and healing. This event enables people to harness their creative abilities to the greatest of their potential.

You have a ticket giving you entrance to this event, but let's imagine that others don't. They don't have a place set aside for them to witness this event, to receive the enlightenment, to experience the healing. So they stand about broken, lonely, distraught.

Let's also say that by happenstance you have not just one ticket but a bunch of tickets. What would you do with them? You are only capable of using one. Would you save them for your family and closest friends? Would you sell them to the highest bidder? Or would you give them away to anyone who would take them.

Just imagine.

The title of the sermon today is "A Place in the Son." You know having a place is important whether in a sports arena, or in society, or in life. It gives one a sense of belonging. When a young adult leaves home to make their own way in the world they feel they are giving up their place at home for a new place. But then someone says, "There will always be a place for you at our table." Suddenly the future is not so scary. A place is secure. I have a place; a place to be cared for and loves. That's why homelessness is so devastating. The physical effects are bad enough. But the emotional effect is a feeling of not belonging anywhere. Of not having a place.

In most churches everyone has their place. In seminary a professor asked us to draw the inside of our church and show where people sit. People had their places, just as people have their places in most churches. That can be good and bad. If people get selfish about it and make visitors feel uncomfortable for having sat in their place, its bad. But if, having a place, gives people a sense of belonging, then it is good.

People have their places for a lot of reasons. Some choose their place for matters of convenience. Some sit were they do to be near a friend or relative. I heard a story about a young man who sat where he did because his uncle had sat there. His uncle had been a Lay Leader. When the uncle was dying of cancer he asked his nephew to take his place. So the young man began by taking his place in the same pew every Sunday. Sometimes people sit where they do because someone who inspired them or whose faith impressed them had sat there. But they all have a place and having a place is important.

But I am not talking about just any place today - I'm talking about a place in the Son! Having a place is important and Jesus knew that. When Jesus was about to be taken from his disciples by evil forces, he told them, "I go to prepare" what, "a place for you." They would have a place; no, a mansion in glory. In the years after Jesus' resurrection when the Church was being persecuted, they remembered these words. The promise that they had a place in the Son kept them going. It transformed them from a fringe sect of Judaism into the Church of Jesus Christ looking for his return in glory.

By God's grace we have a place in the Son. We say, "When two or more gather in Jesus' name, he is in the midst of them." Jesus is here and we have a place in his presence and that changes us. We sit here and hear God's Word and are lifted up and enlightened. We sing God's praises and we realize new gifts and unlock hidden potentials. We are healed and made whole by lifting up our prayers to God. Because we have a place in the Son we are transformed from ordinary people into daughters and sons of God Almighty.

You have a place in the Son. You have a ticket to witness the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ. Actually you don't need a ticket to come to church. Admission if free. It's on the house. You only need to accept the invitation to come into God's house and worship in Christ's presence. Jesus already paid the price of your admission when he went to the cross. That is why the tickets we handed out are red, because the price of admission is Jesus' blood. That ticket merely symbolizes the promise that there is always a place for you. But look at all the empty places and consider all the empty places in your churches each Sunday. The places where no one is sitting. And the places were people once sat who have taken their place in glory. Would each of those saints like someone else to take their place here on earth. And there are so many hurting people who need a place in the Son.

I don't believe that we renovated this sanctuary just for our own comfort. Many involved in seeing this project forward worked the way they did because they wanted to make a place for people to come and know Jesus. I know I saw this as an opportunity to make our worship space even more inviting so that people could come and get to know the Grace church family. People in our world need the kind of love and support that this church gives. Each of these pews and seats is a ticket to sit in the presence of the Son as His people worship him. But there are still some empty places.

I have over 600 tickets here. You can take as many as you want. What will you do with your tickets? Don't try selling them. They aren't like tickets to the Carolina-Clemson game. You can get those for a few hundred dollars. These tickets are priceless. They represent the free gift of Jesus' holy presence dwelling in our midst.

Give someone a place in the Son today - supply them with a ticket into the presence of the Son. On your way out take some tickets. And give them away and tell people it is a ticket to church. If they look at you strange just tell them it is to remind them there is always a place for them with Jesus at church. Some people will just stick it in their pocket and think you're strange. But someone might accept the invitation and take a place worshipping the Son in church on Sunday morning. And won't they be blest to witness this celebration of God's love and grace.

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1 Peter 2:2-10

I like blueprints. They're useful and handy. I have been spending more and more time with blue prints as part of the building committee. Blueprints are important. They are a plan for how something is supposed to fit together. They make it possible for more than one person to build on something and not have their work conflict. They allow one to plan ahead.

I'm no architect or engineer, but I do a little woodworking. And before I start cutting wood I sit down and draw what I want to build. This helps me to anticipate problems ahead of time and to know what materials I will need. I have tried just jumping in and sawing and hammering with disastrous results. Having a blueprint, a drawing, helps me to be able to build something that is both beautiful and useful.

Our lesson in 1 Peter is a blueprint for the church. Not of the church building of course like the drawing in our lobby. It is a blueprint for the spiritual structure of the church. It shows us how we are to be built into the Church and how the Church should operate. The problem is that too often we have our own ideas about the structure of the church and how it should be built. The end result of using our own plans instead of God's blueprints is disastrous.

This is how the Methodist Church got started. The leaders of the Anglican Church in England in John and Charles Wesley's day were working with a worldly blueprint of the church. They thought that the church was structurally sound when actually it was in a spiritual shambles. The church of John's day thought the Gospel should stay in the church. But John took it into the fields and streets and factories and schools saying "The World is my Parish." Then he applied it to the social and economic injustices of his day. The early Methodist fought slavery and poverty. And they often found themselves working besides other Christians who were working from God's blueprint too.

The first thing we learn from God's blueprint in 1 Peter is that Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. He is a living stone that was rejected by people but precious to God and has been chosen as the cornerstone. In other words Jesus is central to the church. The cornerstone in a building is laid first; it is primary to the rest of the structure. And so Jesus is primary to the church. All of the rest of the building, its walls and structures refer back to him for their placement.

You don't set a cornerstone and then start building walls without attaching them to the cornerstone. In the same way the walls of the church, spiritually speaking, have to be connected to Christ. If you start laying bricks without reference to Christ the wall will not meet up with him and the structure of the house will be unsound. In other words we don't go about doing things in the church without looking to Christ as the source and purpose of those actions.

Too often we try to be the church without reference to Christ. We listen to what the world has to say or what we think and get our bearings from that. I don't think we intend to exclude Christ from our considerations we simply loose sight of him. That is why we need to constantly re-fix our bearings on Christ. Make him the cornerstone of our lives as individuals and the cornerstone of all we do as a church. Jesus should be the reason for all that we do as Christians and as a congregation.

This is the opposite of what the world says. To them personal gain or fulfillment of desires should be the cornerstone of our lives. They argue that orienting our lives by some guy who lived in Galilee 2,000 years ago is ridiculous. But take a look at their lives. Often times they are like fallen houses; lost in selfishness, greed and desire. Not that Christians don't fall off the wall from time to time but at least we have a reference point to get back in place.

So if Jesus is the living cornerstone, then we are to be living stones in the building. But what kind of building. Peter calls it a "spiritual house" or a "holy priesthood." The image is that of a temple. We are to be a spiritual structure that is dedicated to serving God. Peter also says that we are a royal priesthood, a chosen race. It is the purpose of our lives to serve God. Our lives and our life as a congregation should be a holy space for serving and praising God.

The problem is that too often we use the world's models to structure the church. Some people think of the church as being like a country club. A country club is a place for people to socialize. In that model of the church the structures for outreach and worship get neglected. The church's life becomes one big fellowship hall. But worse yet, as with many country clubs walls are built to keep people out. Not that fellowship is bad. It is important to the life of the church, but there is more to the church than fellowship.

Some people think of the church as a school. There is a lot of merit to this model. We are commanded to teach people to be disciples for Christ. But there is the danger that people will think thy can graduate or in other words arrive. They will grow to a certain point and then stop. Growing as a Christian is a life long endeavor and should never stop. You can't graduate from church.

Some people think of the church as a social agency. There is a lot of merit here too. We are commanded to help those in need. But without community and nurture and worship we become spiritually bankrupt and what then do we have to offer a world hungry for the love of God?

Some think of the church as just a sanctuary. To them it is a place to escape the darkness of the world outside. And times of sanctuary are important but that is not all the church is. The end result of this model is a church that just hides from the world's problems instead of trying to address them.

This is why the image of a holy nation is so important. In Christ we are a community. But we are also a relief agency, a continuing education center, a sanctuary, etc. This plan of God's for the church is a blueprint that is different from the world's blueprints. Because it's so different, it's difficult to explain. Maybe that is why Peter used so many images to describe it.

But the emphasis of all of this talk of cornerstones and holy nations and royal priesthoods is this: We need to allow ourselves to be built into it. That is what that business of "spiritual milk" is all about. Just as milk feeds a baby and gives it what it needs God's grace and the Holy Spirit give us what we need. We simply need to submit to God and allow him to help us grow into what God calls us to be. We must submit to the master builder and let him put us in place. We should stop tying to be the master builder and let God tell us where to put the next stone.

This is a personal as well as a congregational and denominational thing. Yes, we have to work at building the church. We need to lead people to Christ. We need to seek new ways to address the needs of people around us. But we have to first submit to God to let him build us into place. The board doesn't tell the carpenter where to cut it, and the brick doesn't tell the mason where to place the mortar. So we shouldn't try to supersede God's plans. God wrote the blueprint for the church. He should be the one to show us our place in it.

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