A Wounded Soldier’s Story
Let
me share with you a story about a wounded soldier who desperately needed
medical help. After being injured in battle, he was ordered to the nearest
military hospital. Upon arrival, he found two doors: one marked "For Minor
Wounds" and the other "For Serious Wounds." He chose the first
door, and after walking down a long hallway, he encountered two more doors:
"For Officers" and "For Enlisted Personnel." Again, he
chose the second door, only to find himself at another set of doors, labeled
"Army" and "Marines." He chose the second. Eventually, he
found himself back outside on the street. When he returned to his unit, his
buddies asked, "How did your trip to the hospital go?" The soldier
replied, "They didn't help me much, but man, are they organized!"[1]
Sardis
This
story reminds us that many of our churches are highly organized. We have
committees, teams, and we diligently fill out forms each year. Yet, as the
soldier observed, sometimes we fail to truly help people. In today’s scripture,
Jesus speaks to two churches: Sardis and Philadelphia. To the church in Sardis,
He says, "I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are
dead" (v. 1b). Outwardly, they had a good reputation—vital, progressive,
growing. But inwardly, they were dying. They had the appearance of godliness
without power, reputation without reality, and outward show without inward
integrity. We too can fall into this trap, going through the motions—singing
hymns, reciting creeds, praying—while our hearts are far from God.
What is the remedy for nominal Christianity? Jesus tells us, "Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die" (v. 2a). When we find ourselves in a dying or dead church, we may be tempted to leave, but Jesus calls us to stay and be part of the solution. He reminds us that there is still a godly remnant, saying, "Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes" (v. 4). There is hope, even for a church that seems to be dying. God can revive His church through a dynamic minority of committed Christians. May we be that faithful remnant!
Philadelphia
Now,
let’s move from Sardis to Philadelphia. Though these two churches were
neighbors, they were very different. Philadelphia wasn’t well-known. It was
small and weak, and its people faced fierce opposition and persecution. Strabo,
the ancient historian, called Philadelphia "a city full of
earthquakes." Many left for safer places, but Jesus had different
thoughts. He said, "I have set before you an open door that no one is able
to shut" (v. 8). Even though they had little power, now was the right
time—the door of salvation, the door of service, and the door of evangelism was
open wide.
Perhaps the congregation in Philadelphia may have been small. Perhaps they consisted of the lower classes, with little influence in the city. But they were faithful ones. They obeyed Jesus’ word and did not deny Him (v. 8). Inwardly, their bond as Christians was strong, and outwardly, they reached out to others. Jesus encouraged them, saying, "The world will know that you are the ones I love... I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown" (v. 9, 11). May we too be found faithful, holding fast to what we have been given!
Life
Together Community
From
today’s scripture, we learn what Christ thinks of the church and what the
church is meant to be. The church is an organic body, and each member is
indispensable. The church is a missional body, supporting and discipling one
another. The church is a "life together" community, made up of
committed followers of Jesus.
John Wesley understood this well. During his time, God used both Wesley and George Whitefield to revive His people in England. Whitefield was a more popular and effective preacher, yet today, we speak of the Wesleyan Revival, not the Whitefield Revival. Why? Because the fruit of Whitefield’s labor died with him, while Wesley’s fruit remains, grows, and multiplies. Whitefield himself once said, "My Brother Wesley acted wisely—the souls that were awakened under his ministry he joined in class (small group), and thus preserved the fruits of his labor. This I neglected, and my people are a rope of sand."[2]
In the Movie The Forge, there's a powerful scene where Isaiah, a newly born Christian, is asked to hold a sword, symbolizing his spiritual battle. As time passes, the sword grows heavier and heavier. But what's truly moving is that every member of the men's group steps in to help him hold the sword together. This reminds us that in our spiritual journey, we are not meant to stand alone. Just as they shared the weight of the sword, we too are called to support one another, bearing each other's burdens and lifting each other up in times of need. That’s why the church is given to us. That’s why I am so passionate about small groups. Sometimes people ask me, "What’s the difference between Bible study and small groups?" While both are important, Bible study is more geared toward intellectual learning, while small groups are meant to be a "life together" community within the church.
After I was appointed to Hodgdon and Houlton UMCs in 2014, I found myself struggling. My family and I didn’t seem to fit in, and I questioned my calling. I hit rock bottom and was ready to give up. But what sustained me during that time was my clergy small group. They listened to my story, they struggled with me, they prayed for me and with me, and they visited me. I still remember one particular day. After a very difficult church meeting, I thought it was over. Suddenly, one of the pastors from my small group dropped by and shared his signature dish with some encouraging words. I regained strength to love, strength to press on.
Yesterday, I attended Ron Grafflin’s funeral in Danforth. After the pastor’s message, there was a time for naming and witnessing. As I listened, I realized that Ron was not just a churchgoer; he was a committed member of the church body. He wasn’t a spectator; he was a participant. His Christian bond with other believers was strong and beautiful. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "He who looks upon his brother should know that he will be eternally united with him in Jesus Christ." Our Christian fellowship is eternal. The church is a "life together" community, in and through Jesus Christ. We need the church. The church needs us. Before we leave this room today, let us ask ourselves: "How can I build community? How can I strengthen our Christian bond?" May we answer these questions through our lives. Amen.
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