Do You Believe Jesus Can Do This?

Zephyr United Methodist Church

Early First United Methodist Church

October 30, 2005

Rev. Eddie Smart

Matthew 9:27-31 (NRSV)

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!" ²⁸When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." ²⁹Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." ³⁰And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, "See that no one knows of this." ³¹But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

You have heard the hymn. It is number 558 in our hymnal. We are the Church.

I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!

     All who follow Jesus, all around the world!

     Yes, we’re the church together!

Is that it? Is that all there is to being the church? People gathered together? People who follow Jesus? Is that it?

In the Book of Discipline, the church is described as the “most significant arena through which disciple-making occurs.” The song didn’t say anything about making disciples.

The Discipline goes on to say, “the church exists for the maintenance of worship, the edification of believers, and the redemption of the world.” It says the church “exists in and for the world.” For the world–to redeem the world? I thought it existed for us. I like that edification of believers part. But of course we’re here to worship!

We are told that we are here to “help people accept and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.” In addition to that we are to help them “live their lives in light of their relationship with God.”

Sounds a whole lot like making disciples. Matthew reminds us in chapter 28 that we are to “go and make disciples.” We are to help people believe and follow Jesus. To do that we first must be disciples. We must believe and follow Jesus.

Oswald Chambers in that devotional book I often quote writes about being missionaries with one purpose–to disciple men and women to Jesus. He goes on to talk about the challenge in making disciples. He says the challenge is not “the fact that people are difficult to bring to salvation.” The challenge is not that “backsliders are difficult to reclaim.” The challenge is not “a barrier of callous indifference.” While those things may be true, they are not the challenge.

The challenge is not related to “them.” The challenge is relate to those who would make disciples. The challenge is our own personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus asked, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” The challenge is within us. Do we believe that Jesus is able to do this? I would dare to say that just about everyone in this room believes that...with their head. Do we believe it with our hearts?

It’s kinda like that police officer who asked the manufacturer of his bullet proof vest if it would stop a 45 cal. bullet. “Of course it will,” said the manufacturer’s representative. “O.K.,” said the police officer, “put it on, go over there and I will shoot you in the chest.”

Jesus asked, “Do you believe I am able to do this?”

According to information I read the other day, did you know that there are 40 more people per year coming into Early than are leaving for the next five years. There are 5000 people in the Early zip code. Half or more do not live their lives in light of a relationship with God. How do we get their attention? How do we help them to believe and follow Jesus?

Since January we have had more than 100 individuals as guests in our services. That does not count children, grandchildren and out-of-town friends. Out of those 100 individuals there have been 21 to return three times or more. What do we do to make a difference in more of their lives?

Chambers would tell us the challenge is not related to them. He suggests that the challenge is in our relationship with Jesus Christ!

Between now and Thanksgiving, we will stop to examine our gratitude. Just how thankful are we? We will be asking ourselves, “Do we believe that Jesus is able to do this?” We will be looking at how much of the abundance God has shared with us are we returning to God.

You see the challenge is not whether there is enough time, talent, and money to go around. That is not the challenge. The challenge is how do I respond in light of my relationship with Jesus. Is Jesus able to take care of me?

Our finance this year have improved dramatically. Without a person to keep us focused on outreach, we have been a busy people. We have supported meals on wheels, Good Samaritan Ministries, Loaves and Fishes, UMCOR with hurricane relief, Aldersgate, scouting, operation Christmas child, the cancer society as well as local assistance to individuals.

I see the possibility of adding Angel Food Ministries and the Listening Post to our outreach. Through Angel Food ministries we can provide over $100 worth of food for $25 to all who place their orders. Through the Listening Post we become a listener for college or high school students.

The challenge is not whether there are people able to participate in such ministries. That is not the challenge. The challenge is related to our relationship with Jesus Christ. Do we believe that Jesus can do this?

During this year we have been able to advertize some in the local paper. We will have placed at least five ads during the year. We will have advertized our Lenten services, our Advent and Christmas service, placed an ad in the annual visitor’s guide. I plan for the day that we can send beautiful invitations to our Christmas Eve Candlelight services to the 5000 people of Early and eventually the 20,000 people of Brownwood. It want be cheap, but following Jesus never has been.

The challenge is not can we afford to evangelize. No, that is not the challenge. The challenge is related to our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Those who watched the video of Adam Hamilton a view weeks ago will remember the story of his father going to worship at a United Methodist church. He is Roman Catholic, but not attending worship anywhere. Adam longed for his father to become involved–a Catholic church would be wonderful. His dad told him he had visited a local United Methodist church. Adam asked, “Well, Dad how was it?” His dad answered, “It was all right.” Adam knew that his dad would not continue to go to a worship service that was just all right. People don’t want to go to a service that is just all right.

We will be striving in the coming year to offer worship services that are relevant. Services that are transformational. Services that motivate, nurture and convict. Services where people can grow spiritually. Services that are energy filled and far more than just all right.

The challenge is not the difficulty, planning, discipline and focus required to achieve such services. No, that is not the challenge. The challenge is related to our relationship with Jesus Christ.