United by the Spirit (Acts 2)

Good morning.  I know it’s hard to listen to a sermon in two languages, and we have a lot going on today, so we’ll keep this sermon short.  However, we do this because it is a wonderful way to celebrate our common ministry. Bixby Knolls Christian Church is one of the most diverse small congregations in the country, and the only Disciples congregation where Khmer is spoken.  We are a Pentecost church!

I start today with an example from Buddhism:  Buddhists are guided by what are called the Three Jewels.  The Three Jewels are the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.

Thich Nhat Hanh explains it this way:  The Buddha is “the teacher who shows us the way in life – it can be Jesus, Muhammad, or whoever you consider to be your guiding light.”

The Dharma is “the teachings and the way to understanding and love.”  For Christians like us, that is primarily found in scripture.  In fact, literally translated, dharma and torah both mean “teaching” or “law.”

The Sangha is “our spiritual community of friends who support us on our path.”  For Christians, this would be the church.

The first verse of today’s scripture says: “when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.”  They were together, with their community of support; their Sangha.

If we had read all the way to the end of Acts chapter 2, we’d find this verse:  “Day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being made whole.”  This was a community, a Sangha, that people wanted to be part of.

We are part of a community of faith known as Bixby Knolls Christian Church.  Bixby Knolls Christian Church is part of a larger body called the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  And the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is part of an even larger body which is the church that all Christians are a part of, spanning time and space.

The Disciples of Christ has a list of twelve “principles of identity.”  Three of those principles of identity have to do with the church, and how different parts of the church relate to one another.

One of these principles states: “We structure our community around the biblical idea of covenant, emphasizing not obedience to human authority but accountability to one another because of our shared obedience to Christ.”

Unlike many other denominations, Disciples congregations are self-governing.  And yet, we voluntarily join together with other Disciples congregations into regions and a general church. 

The basis for this “joining-together” is covenant. 

A covenant is like a contract.  However, a contract is enforced by law, but a covenant is enforced by love.

There is no law that keeps us together; and yet, it is our common commitment and our love for Christ and one another that unites us.

Because of our commitment to covenant, we are able to do things (like own a summer camp) that a single congregation like ours could not do on its own.

Also, we present a united witness to the world around us.

A second Principle of Identity says this:  “we give thanks that each congregation is truly the church, affirming that God’s church and God’s mission stretch from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth.”

The church exists wherever followers of Jesus are gathered together.  The congregation is the church.  The region is the church.  The gathering of youth at Loch Leven is the church.  We are the church.

In the Disciples of Christ, the different manifestations of the church – the congregation, the region, and the general church – are all held together by covenant.

On the day of Pentecost, the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon all the Disciples. At baptism, we acknowledge the Spirit’s presence in each and every Christian, and the gifts of leadership each Christian has.

Our third Principle of Identity for today states:  “We affirm the priesthood of all believers, rejoicing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit – which include the gift of leadership – that God has given for the common good.”

The Spirit gives gifts to all. We recognize this in the way we celebrate communion.  Unlike other parts of the body of Christ, we Disciples have lay elders, and not the ordained pastor, lead the prayers at the Lord’s Table.

On the day of Pentecost, ALL of Jesus’s followers were “filled with the Holy Spirit.”  The Spirit gave EACH of them gifts that enabled them to share the gospel.

Each of us is also gifted by the Holy Spirit.  Through our actions, our words, and our lives, each of us demonstrates the love of God, and is able to invite and welcome others at the Lord’s Table.

I end by sharing with you, once again, our identity statement:  “We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.  As part of the body of Christ, we welcome ALL to the Lord’s Table, as God has welcomed us.”