The Rev. Rob Merola
In today’s Gospel, we meet a woman who’s heart overflows with gratefulness for all God has done for her, and who is not afraid to show very much she loves Jesus. It’s a beautiful picture of faith, calling us to be aware of how much God has done for us so that our hearts also overflow with gratitude, and inspiring us to be equally bold in show how much we love Jesus as well.
And so this morning, I’d like to talk about three things…
Anne : “Oh my goodness, aren’t you going to tell us? We’ve all been waiting very patiently, but I can’t take it anymore…how much came in last week??
Rob: Well…If you REALLY want to know…I’ll ask Richard Leach and John Martin to show us how much…We all know this project cost is $1.7 million. We needed to raise at the VERY LEAST $600,000 in pledges and a minimum of $100,000 in cash. BUT…we didn’t. We got more!
Anne: WELL, how much MORE?
Rob: Each brick is $100,000 so Richard and John, show us how much we raised!
Richard and John then stack 3 bricks on the altar to represent the cash received. They then place 5 more bricks on the altar in a building shape.
(We lead the congregation in counting each brick out loud)
$260,000 in cash. Wow! That exceeds all our hopes and dreams. I was hoping for $100,000 on the low end—I figured that was the bare minimum we need to proceed with our project without having to scale it back and do a smaller redesign that would have barely been worth doing. And in my wildest dreams I hoped we would raise $200,000. That was my high number, and I figured that would be a huge stretch for St. Matthew’s.
But I should have known that, with God’s grace and by His help, you would have hit that dream number and then some. And you did!
And then $841,000 in pledges in one day…I was hoping for $600,000-800,000, and figured we’d have to do some work to get the rest. But again, you met that amount and then some. To have received that amount in pledges in one day…that is incredible, friends. I am so proud of you. I believe God is proud of you as well.
Because from the very start, we’ve said this isn’t about money. It’s about spiritual growth. And I know that every dollar given and every dollar pledged represents a step of faith. It represents the desire of our hearts to walk more closely with God. It represents our profound commitment to do His work.
As I have reflected on that, I’ve boiled my thoughts down to three things that I believe we have learned. The first thing is about God, the second thing is about us, and the third thing is about our church.
First, what have learned about God in the Making Space to Share Campaign? We’ve learned that God provides.
It’s interesting that over the last six weeks the Gospels have been about Jesus’ ministry of caring and compassion, and His dedication to doing the work of God in making people healthy and whole in body, mind and spirit.
Over these weeks, we’ve looked again at one of St. Matthew’s fundamental commitments in continuing the work of Christ, caring enough about others to help them in whatever ways we can. We sum this up in our mission, which is to know and share God’s love. And we’ve said over and over again that our building flows out of that mission. We aren’t interested in the buildings themselves, but in the ministry they make possible, the ministry we couldn’t do without them.
But frankly—and you all know this—even though I knew God was calling us to build in the service of our mission, I was one of the last ones to really get on board with our new buildings. I was afraid. I knew how much work it was going to be. I knew the potential for conflict and hurt feelings. I knew the stress it would involve. And so I was afraid. What if we couldn’t do it? What if it proved too much?
Of course I should have known better. Because I believe you really were listening to God, and you helped me listen to God. And when we listened to God and stepped out in faith, God provided in an amazing way. I believe God is showing us once again that when we are faithful to him, we can trust him. Remember again the words of Horton the Who, “I said what I meant and I meant what I said, an elephant is faithful one hundred percent.”
I believe those are God’s words to us in this campaign. We talk at St. Matthew’s a lot about getting out of your comfort zone. Whether it is going on a mission trip, stepping out in service by doing something like helping with youth group, teaching Sunday school, or visiting the sick, praying with someone, simply talking to a friend or coworker, about getting or giving more than seems possible, we continually encourage one another to live boldly by faith and get out of our comfort zones. When we do so, God always says to us exactly what He has said over these last six weeks: “I said what I meant and I meant what I said, I am faithful one hundred percent. You can count on Me. You can trust Me.”
Well, that’s the first thing I’ve learned and I hope you’ve learned as well. The second thing is about us: It is so good to give!
We really do live in a culture that is far more concerned with getting that giving. That’s how people come to have more and more; people who already have more than they need keep on keeping more stuff for themselves than they give away. We are constantly bombard by messages telling us to indulge ourselves, that we have a right to this or that, that we absolutely need the latest and greatest and this and that, and so on. And all day everyday that is exactly what so many of the people around us give their lives to—obtaining more and more and more.
Of course, that is the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. It’s the exact opposite of how Jesus lived. Jesus taught, and lived, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Jesus was always giving His life away.
In the Making Space to Share campaign, we’ve encouraged one another to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and give in a way we never have before. We’ve asked you to make sacrifices in order to stretch your faith and give more deeply than you ever have before. And you did. Doesn’t it feel great? Doesn’t it feel great to be a part of something so important?
Personally, I am so glad we participated in last Sunday to the extent that we did. I was tempted not to. As I mentioned last week, this month we had a $3800 car repair and a $1600 tuition payment. There was no way we could afford to give $5,000 on top of that. I kept arguing with God, trying to work that amount down. “Won’t $500 do, God?”
But I am so glad that in the end, we listened to God and were faithful to Him in the full gift we felt Him asking of us. I am so proud of you as a church. And I am so pleased personally to have been a part of it. It feels so good to give, doesn’t it?
Finally, the third thing we’ve learned is about our church. Actually, I think we’ve known it all along. This last six weeks just confirmed it once again: We are a highly committed, deeply loving church family that is united in a deep bond that comes from being mission driven. While other churches struggle with division, we remain tight because we all share the firm belief that nothing is more important than our commitment to Jesus Christ, to knowing and sharing His love.
Last week, you showed that you don’t just talk the talk, but you walk the walk. You don’t just talk about faith, you do it!! You lay it on the line. You consistently, every time you're challenged, step up to bat and knock a home run out of the park. I would match this church against any group anywhere. Because you've shown where your heart is. "Where your treasure is your heart will be also."
We said over and over again that it is not the amount of our gifts that matters, it is the amount of sacrifice that it represents because God's looking at your heart. And over and over again we’ve seen hearts deeply, deeply committed to loving God and the world around us.
Friends, I just want to take a moment to honor you. You've said, "I'm going to put God first in my life".
Well, that’s the good news. Here’s the better news: Our work is still not done. We still have a ways to go, and still have opportunity to grow in our faith and trust and love for God and one another. Anne, what do you notice about our brick building up here?
Anne: Hey Rob! There’s not a roof! What are we going to do without a roof?
Rob: Yes, that’s right, no roof. We need to have 1 million to 1.2 million to really complete this project and get our mortgage payment to something we can easily afford. That means we still need at least $150,000 to $350,000 in additional pledges.
So if you are one of the folks out there who didn’t pledge last week, there is still a chance for you to do so. And it is very important that you do.
Perhaps you weren’t here, or maybe you forgot. Or perhaps today as you have heard how so many of our people have given not grudgingly, not out of guilt, not out of pressure, but with a grateful, joyful, eager heart, you’ve felt God nudging your heart. Maybe you’ve found yourself saying, “I don’t want to miss this!!! I want to get in on what God is doing and do my part.”
The good news is, it's not too late! Take a card, go home this week, pray about it, and come up with some realistic amount for yourself. Get in on it. Join the love train!
And so, what we are going to do to close this morning is pass around a plate full of rocks, remembering the words of Jesus that “upon this rock”—meaning faith in him—“I will build my church.” For those who have given, we want you take a rock as a symbol of your pledge. For those who may not have given, we ask you to also take a rock as a symbol of your commitment to give, to help us build Christ’s church and put the final bricks in place.
If that’s you, ask God with an open heart, a heart tender towards Him, “Lord, what would You have me do?” Listen for an answer, and then fill out a pledge card committing that amount.
I can say without doubt or hesitation that you’ll be glad you did. Amen.