The people

TOGETHER A sermon from St Kentigern’s

St Kentigern’s Church
people together following Jesus
of God to think about and discuss stkentigern.org.uk
Scottish Charity SC001324

I magine, for a moment, being in Jesus’ position. You

describe to your heavenly Father what you wish your
followers, thousands of years on, to be like. Bold and
courageous? Having strong faith? Able to do great things for
Jesus says this will be a noticeable, even remarkable thing.
The fact that we are together at all will be obvious. Whilst it
will demand a constant effort to be closer together, people
will notice that there is something different about the
have only one leader, and our team leader is Jesus.
It will also cost us the effort of being friendly. It takes
effort to say hello to the strangers sitting next to you, or get
their phone number, to invite them round to your home for
God? All of these may be important. However, Jesus prays followers of Jesus. Christ’s intention is that as they look on a cup of tea or even arrange to meet them for tea in church
that his followers will be united with one other. the togetherness of God’s people, others will see something before the service. Wouldn’t it be great, though, if in our
A television advert for insurance showed a somewhat old- of God’s solidarity or fellowship with the world in Christ. As area we were known as a church where you’ll get not just a
fashioned man who is happy so long as he has his slippers, his they look on the love we share for each other (a decision to warm welcome, but made to feel as though you really do
TV and a little garden; his fiancee, however, wants to paint seek someone’s best, not merely some feeling), people may belong?
the town red every weekend! At the end of the advert he see something of God’s love for them. This unity has a Unity like this will cost us our grudges. We shall need to
says, “We want to be together.” The look on her face says it missional focus. forgive others for the wrongs they’ve done us in the past-
all- and it is radically different! Do we really want to be Jesus says his followers have been given glory. The glory, then leave those things in the past. We’ll need to be brave
together in church, or does the thought make us grimace, though, is about service, connected with helping one another. enough to ask other people to forgive the mistakes we’ve
too? As Christians we Part of Jesus’ greatness made. A team cannot hark back to old feuds, certainly not
also need to ask: lay in his being a servant when there is so much to be done as we look ahead.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will as well as a king and we
Bible

What does Jesus Unity sounds like hard work, and it is. However it also
want? believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, are called to the topsy- brings huge rewards. It will mean we are attempting to live
I suggest to you Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in turvy glory of serving one according to the pattern Jesus prayed- and is there any
that the pattern for us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. another. That is real better aspiration? We will be attempting to put the will of
togetherness isn’t I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be glory; though not often God, as we see it in scripture, into practice. That in itself
found in books about one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought regarded as such in this should be reward enough. We may also discover a richness
ideal churches, but is to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and upside down world. in our fellowship which we did not realise was there. That is
found instead in the have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:20-23 This, then, is Jesus’ something from which we may all benefit, a community
very life of God. God prayer for his followers- where everyone contributes and we all enjoy what others
is Father, Son and How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring including us. We are bring.
Holy Spirit: three good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who given here a glimpse into What is more, it may speak to others of the love of God.
distinct divine persons proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” the heart of Christ and The members of any congregation preach as much as any
bound as intimately as Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for his will for his people. He minister. People beyond the church listen to what Christians’
it is possible to be, in joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their wants us to be together. lives say lives more than they listen to a preacher’s sermon.
love. So Jesus can say, own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, Being together, When people not only hear about this togetherness, but
truly, that the Father for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed though, doesn’t mean come and see it for themselves, there is the possibility they
is “in” him, as he is Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:7-9 that we’re all the same. shall glimpse something of Christ’s intention for his people
“in the Father”. It may The Crown Jewels are lived out, made real in our real lives and relationships. This
be similar to, though astonishing partly because unity is not exclusive but instead welcomes any who wish to
profoundly deeper than the song: “I got you under my skin; I every gem is different, and together they make a stunning join. It values diversity and encourages involvement aware
got you deep in the heart of me.” display. In church, then, we are not all trying to think or act that when people are together in Christ, the Father is
What we call the Trinity, which is the unity of the Father, in identical ways. Instead, we catch the sense that, whilst pleased.
Son and Holy Spirit, is a pattern for our togetherness. In fact, different and unique, we’re all part of the same team. The Could each of us make our fellowship more like a football
what we think of God will be reflected in the ways we act as biggest gift each of us can give the church, then, is ourselves. stadium, where supporters on the same team put their differ-
a community of God’s people. If we understand God to be a Yet for it to be a gift we need to give it, not keep it wrapped ences aside to focus on the goals? Like the watchmen in
God of love and togetherness, it is likely that these will be up lying in a cupboard in your home! Isaiah’s time, are we able to shout for joy together? We have
hallmarks of our church. Indeed, believing that God has, in Unity of this type will cost all of us. It will cost us the good reason to do that, because our God does reign, God has
some way, these attributes leaves us with no choice but to pettiness of our building our own little kingdoms and come to be together with us and invites us to continue on a
be together. attempting to be number one in our little area. A team can journey together to tell the world just how true that is.