Castleton 29 April 2007
From death to life
- God utters life - creation, Elijah (1 Kings 17:17-24) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-37). Mark 5 - Little Girl get up - and Peter who witnessed Jesus - utters life in God’s name. (Brueggemann)
From new life to living life
and the community of saints and widows
Saints are those who did not flee from the scent of death, - they stay, they imagine life, they put imagination into action and restore life.
Widows are those who live every day with vulnerability, on the edge of death - central to them is Tabitha, - a disciple, dedicated to good works and acts of charity - one who gives life and lives life
It is an image of the church - disciples - dedicated to good works and charity - to the life giving, life changing work of the gospel - saints not afraid of death, widows who live on the edge
Living the life Christ would have us live
The task of the church is to continue the life-giving work of Jesus - the life Jesus would have us live - bringing life where there is death, love where there is hate, healing where there is brokenness (Loader)
- it is our mission, our purpose, our reason for being the church
- is that the life we lead?
- is that the main focus of the energy we put into church life?
Jesus came to give life - to call people to follow him as the sheep follow the shepherd - may our lives be witnesses to the gospel message that from death comes life, that the eternal life we are called to, is one in which hope conquers fear, in which there is a zest for life, in which we live the life that Christ would have us live.