2015 05 10 – With a Friend Like This . . . from John Knox Kirk on Vimeo.
A sermon preached at John Knox Kirk of Kansas City, Missouri, on May 10, 2015.
Acts 10:44-48
and John 15:9-17
Editorial note: I’m working on correcting spacing issues. Thank you for your patience in the meantime.
In 2015, when you “follow” people on Twitter
and you “friend” people on Facebook—
–what does that mean for followers of Jesus Christ
to be told, by way of today’s text in John,
that we are NOT servants of Jesus–but FRIENDS…?
I don’t think I’ve ever preached on this text before.
I couldn’t believe that—I’ve preached a lot of sermons
and this is a portion of a key text
in a prominent gospel…
…and I’ve never preached on it?
As one commentator has said:
“Perhaps it is avoided because its promise
is too magnificent and, therefore, too demanding.”
Some texts are like that.
Legendary preacher Fred Craddock recalls a time many years ago
when “a cancelled flight,
a motel near the airport,
a search for a church within walking distance,
since the next morning was Sunday,
a housekeeper at the motel pointing in the direction of one
six blocks away,
an arrival at a cinder block building in which
a few tired souls had already begun singing gospel songs…”
…brought Craddock to a sermon by a nervous preacher
he was preaching on these words in the Epistle of James (2:23)—
Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says,
“Abraham believed God,
and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,”
and he was called the friend of God.
…The opening words of the sermon were:
“Abraham was a friend of God.
I’m sure glad I am NOT a friend of God”
And the sermon was an explanation of why he was relieved
NOT to be a friend of God.
He recalled the story of Abraham, pilgrim and wanderer,
who, after years of homelessness—died…
…and was buried in a land not his own.
“Abraham was a friend of God,” the preacher said.
“I’m glad I’m NOT.”
He then spoke of OTHERS who had been called friends of God—
–faithful, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword.
He concluded with a story of Teresa of Avila,
remembered as a friend of God.
The preacher recalled her begging in public to raise funds
for an orphanage.
After a series of setbacks—flood, storm, and fire
repeatedly destroying the orphanage—
–Teresa in her evening prayers said to God:
“So this is how you treat your friends;
no wonder you have so few.”
Fred Craddock recalls that sermon closed with the counsel:
“If you find yourself being drawn into the inner circle
of the friends of God, blessed are you.
But pray for the strength to bear the burden of it.”[1] [Read more…]
