May 27 , 2007
Based on Joshua 4:1-9

“We were here.”  That’s what the Inuksuk stands for.  There is great symbolism, not only in the actual figure of the Inuksuk, but in the words, “We were here.”  It gave courage for those who came behind to go forward.  They knew that they were not on the journey alone, for someone had gone before and marked the way.  How wonderful for those adventurous followers who had confidence in those who went before.

In Joshua, as we heard read from the Old Testament, God wanted to be sure that those who followed Joshua and the Israelites into the Promised Land, would know that someone had gone before them.  Someone had paved the way and marked it for those yet to come.  So God had each of the twelve tribes of Israel mark the land with an Inuksuk … a memorial, a landmark of those who were there and forged on even farther into the Promised Land.  Scripture says, “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’  tell them that …. these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”  “And they are there to this day.”  The original Memorial Day!

How do we know who has gone before us?  What is it we are supposed to do?  Wouldn’t it have been great if we had stones to remind us or if we had instructions written down?  Well, guess what?  Hear the words from Matthew 28:16-20.  “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark writes in chapter 16:15-16, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’”

Luke 24:44-48: “He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  You are witnesses to these things.’”

At the end of the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Peter three times to “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus was here!  He left his mark … his Inuksuk … his cross.  He left directions to feed the sheep, baptizing them and preaching to them.  So with all the technology we have in 2007, wouldn’t you think everyone would have heard the story of Jesus?  Wouldn’t you think churches would be overflowing?    The story didn’t end with the death or even the empty tomb.  The story goes on because immediately the disciples were given instructions to follow and they did!  Wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come and empower you … Pentecost  Acts 2:1-11 (page 1078), Peter gives a sermon and then “those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their numbers that day.” (2:41) Happy Birthday …the Day of Pentecost gives birth to the church.

But that isn’t the end of the story …
The best part of the story comes in Acts 2:42-47 (page 1079):

And then along comes a sinner of the greatest magnitude, one who leads the plan to get rid of all Christians, Saul.  But God has a plan for even one with a heart so very hard.  He transforms this killer into the greatest church planter, teacher, apostle ever … he’s even given a new name: Paul.  Once converted Paul stops at nothing to spread the gospel.  He is always on the run.  He is imprisoned.  He still journeys to new territory to tell the story.  Nothing stopped him until he was put to death.  And yet, his story continues through on to us.  Paul wrote letters to the churches he planted as a memorial for us.  Words of education; words of instruction; words of forgiveness and reconciliation, words of peace, love and truth … he was a witness into all the world, just as Jesus instructed.  He has left us letters as his memorial stones.  Paul can say “I was here.”  His letters are his Inuksuk.

So now what?  How will anyone know in 100 years that we were here?  We have built church buildings that can be our Inuksuk.  But are buildings the legacy that Jesus wanted us to leave?  So many churches that were built are half full to empty.  Buildings can topple down … as did the temple in Jerusalem.

The disciples met in homes.  Paul traveled from place to place utilizing the hospitality of Christians.  Even the circuit riders that began our Methodist tradition, didn’t have permanent homes and churches. 

It is all about the stories.  The written word.  It’s all about spreading the gospel.  That’s how people will know we were here.  Who have you shared the gospel with?  Whose heart has been changed because you shared the Word with them?  Who has been transformed because of Jesus Christ?

Changed hearts are memorials.  Baptisms are memorials.  Next generations with a heart for God our Inuksuk.  When I’ve asked who brought you to church, or who shared Jesus with you, many of you have said grandparents or parents, or neighbors.  Well, how are doing with your kids and grandkids and neighbors?

Look around this room today.  We’ve a story to tell.  We’ve been on a journey.  In the fall of 2001, I said at an Administrative Council Meeting at Weaver UMC that we were “A Church on the Move.”  Nothing has changed!  We are a church on the move.  If we aren’t moving, then we’re not growing and if we’re not growing we’re dying.  That is not the story we are going to tell.  New Hope is a Church on the Move.  We’ve come a long way and we still have far to go and grow.  So what is our Inuksuk?  Nothing has changed in 2000 years!  The cross and the scriptures are the solid rock that we continue to build the church on. 

We will never go wrong if we follow Jesus’ words:  “Go to all nations making disciples and baptizing them.  Let’s get on with our story and when new folks commit their lives to Jesus Christ, how wonderful it will be when we hear, “Transformed lives and changed hearts happened because New Hope was here!!”

This is our Penetcost Sunday!

Will you turn to page 456 in The Celebration Hymnal … the blue one … and we’ll close this message with all of us singing “Find Us Faithful.”   Let’s sing it through twice.  Please notice the scripture at the top:
From one of Paul’s letters: 1 Corinthians 4:2 “Those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”