070206sermon

First Presbyterian Church

Rev. Michael J. Imperiale

Salt Lake City, Utah

July 2, 2006

TAKING THE PLUNGE

“Enlistment – Signing on the Dotted Line”

Introduction

Our God is an amazing God. Not only has he created each one of us with a unique personality; he has given us a life story to share along with urges and passions that make life itself amazing. But he has also redeemed each one of us to notice the various needs that people and the world around us have. By his Spirit, he gives each of us gifts to use to help make our families, our church and our communities blessed with God’s goodness and grace.

Yet too often we ignore or even run away from the purposes of God for our lives. Here’s a poem/prayer I read recently that captures what many Christians experience.

“Dear God, my talents are

SO FEW

and I am

SO WEAK

and there are

SO MANY

with

SO MUCH more to offer than me.

Lord God, I have

CONCLUDED

it is

BETTER for me

to do

NOTHING

about

ANYTHING

for fear I might do

SOMETHING wrong.”

Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout this sermon series on Taking the Plunge, getting involved in your church, Jesus has shown time and time again that you and I, each one of us is important to the health and well-being of our church. The church needs both Marys and Marthas, people who have different personalities that’s the P in plunge), different ways of doing things, different perspectives on life. Our church needs people with all kinds of life experiences (that’s the L). Each of us has a spiritual journey of how we came to faith in Jesus Christ and how we have experienced God’s grace and goodness in our lives. Our church needs people with lots of different passions, drives, energies (U is for urge) for making faith become real and tangible in our mission and ministry together. There are so many needs, yes. But God has gifted all of the members and friends of First Presbyterian Church to meet those needs with overflowing abundance (there’s the N and G).

This morning we conclude Taking the Plunge with E – enlistment, signing on the dotted line. What will it take for you step out in faith, participate, risk, get involved?

I. Jesus Walks on Water

Jesus came to save us from our sins, from death and destruction. On Sunday mornings we gather together to praise and worship the Lord for this loving kindness. But he also came to save us for life, for living in faith, for ministry and service.

After the dramatic feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples ahead of him across the Sea of Galilee while he dismissed the crowd. Finally Jesus was alone for a time of prayer and spiritual refreshment. Seeking solitude was an important priority for Jesus. He made room in his busy life to be alone with the Father. Spending time with the Lord in prayer and in the Word nurtures a vital relationship that equips us to meet life’s challenges. It is so important to develop the habit of spending time alone with God.

Jesus is now ready to join up with his disciples. During the fourth watch of the night (between 3 and 6 am), Jesus went to them walking on the water. Thinking he was a ghost or phantom, it says the disciples were terrified. But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage. It’s me. Remember ‘I am’ the way, the truth, the life. Don’t be afraid.”

It seems that Peter was the only one in the boat who reacted with faith. “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” And Jesus said, “Come.” Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

A study of octogenarians (80 year-olds) asked what they would do differently if they had it to do all over again. The number one answer: take more risks! Fifteen years ago, we could have bought a beach house in Avalon, NJ for $350,000. That same house would now sell for $2.5 million. Why didn’t we find a way to take that risk? All of us have several “if onlys” as we look back.

Giving your life to Christ, trusting in God’s ways, stepping out of the boat and walking to Jesus on the water are risky. And when Peter looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus grabbed him and they got back into the boat. The wind died down and all the disciples worshiped him saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I think the church is like the boat. Here we are sailing through life, safe in here this morning with lots of turmoil in the world around us. Then Jesus bids us come with him into the wind and waves. Like Peter, when we take our eyes off Jesus and give our attention to the storm, we start to sink and cry out to God for help. He brings us back into the boat, the wind dies down and we worship again.

Look at this process. We are here this morning to worship God, to hear his word, and to be encouraged in faith. We will leave here, step out of the boat back into the wind and waves. But Jesus is there ready to welcome, ready to save. When we are troubled he takes us by the hand, catches us and climbs back into the boat with us.

“Only Peter knew that when he sank, Jesus would be there,” writes pastor teacher John Ortberg. “This is the fundamental truth: If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. If you want to experience the power of God in your life, you’ve got to take a step of faith. It involves risky obedience.”

II. Stepping Out in Faith

There are many ways to apply this passage to our lives. But I would like to apply it to Taking the Plunge, getting involved in our church. In you program this morning you will find a list of the professional and volunteer staff members here at First Presbyterian Church. Over two dozen people are leading an area of Christian ministry in and through our church. Won’t you give one of them a call to see how, where and when you can step out of the boat and walk with the Lord? Call Bob Springman and ask how you can help encourage and grow the membership of our congregation. Call Dorothy Dart and ask how you can join in a local mission of reaching out and helping others. Call Chris Beane and ask how to start a discipleship group in your home or neighborhood. Call Alan Seim and ask how you can have a good influence on our Jr. and Sr. High kids. Call me or Sue Nageotte and ask where you may fit in with your life, faith and gifts for ministry.

Will you experience the thrill of walking on water? Yes you will. Stepping out in faith unleashes the power of God. Will you get in over your head? Yes, you will. But Jesus is there to save, to help, to rescue. And the boat, the church is there to climb back into.

So, take a moment right now and fill in the bottom of this page in your program. Make a commitment to the Lord, to yourself, and to this church’s ministry. Step out of the boat, walk to Christ Jesus, and keep your eyes on the Lord.

Amen.