“Disciples Up!” 

Acts 1:1-14 

Ok, I admit it, it was a crazy idea, but when I was in college, in the  summer before the start of my sophomore year, I asked the swimming coach if I could give competitive swimming a try. I was very at home in the water. I was a strong swimmer, and worked for the coach as a lifeguard and swim instructor; I thought that I had all of the qualifications to swim competitively. The swim coach, with whom I had a good relationship, was quite skeptical when I made the request to join the team, but I wanted a taste of college varsity athletics and he let me.   

I wasn't quite prepared for the world I was about to enter.  Carrie and I met that first day at swim practice, and let's just say that I was less than impressive. Carrie will be happy to regale you with tales of how painfully awkward and un-swimmer-like I was in those first days. But slowly, I got to the point where I could actually finish a whole practice. I continued to work hard, under the gentle tutelage of my future wife. Alas, through that whole season, I never won or even placed in a race that had more than three people in it.  

One of the events I swam was the 200 yd. Breast stroke (4 laps of the pool, most of which is spent under the water).  Traditional wisdom encourages this approach: “For the first two laps, go out strong and pay attention to your technique. Third lap, pick up the pace and intensity. Fourth lap, bring it on home in a sprint.”  My race psychology was a little different.  For the first two laps, I would start out strong and pay attention to my technique.  Third lap, I would begin to pray.  Fourth lap, I would try and make a deal with God that I would be a good person for the rest of my life if I could just hang on until the end. Mark Spitz I was not. 

My times did drop though, and I set the goal for myself that I wanted to letter, which meant that I had to score at least one point during the Regional Championships at the end of the season.  It was three days of competition, and I would swim three races.  When the time came, I was excited.  I got more and more pumped up.  My first race was the 200 breast, and in my heat, there were 2 other swimmers, one of whom was in pretty much the same situation as I.  We had done battle before during the season, and we both wanted to beat each other real bad.  I got so psyched up for that race.  I thought I really might have a chance to win just that heat, to be the first one to touch that wall.  I wanted to win just once.  Well, they called the race.  I walked up to the pool. Wet my goggles. The starter called out, "Swimmers up!"  As I stepped onto the starting block, there was a brief moment (this happened to me in every race) where I looked down the calm water of the pool to the other end and all of the doubt and fear and the realization of the pain that I was about to put myself through came rushing into my head and I asked myself "Is there any possible way I can get out of this?"  Well, there wasn't.  It was too late. God, get ready to make a deal. The anticipation grew.  The starter called out his next command, "Swimmers take your marks!"  I bent down grabbed the starting block and waited for the gun… 

Would you be disappointed or upset if I left you hanging, up there on that starting block, for a few moments? This morning we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ as Luke tells it.  

Actually, it was last Thursday. The Ascension doesn't receive a lot of play in our tradition, but it is an important event in God's plan. Did you notice where it is? Acts chapter 1. This is Part 2 of Luke's 2 volume work, part one being the gospel of Luke. Part one is focused on Jesus, and part 2, the book of Acts focuses on the ones Jesus calls to continue the ministry that he started. Acts is the story of the early church.  

This morning we read chapter one. Like I heard at the beginning of that fateful race in the pool, “Swimmers up!” God in our story calls to the disciples as they are prepared for their fateful race in Jerusalem, to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 

Disciples Up! 

What an auspicious beginning they have. In part one of Luke's work, they lived with Jesus, ministered with him. He heals. He feeds. He casts out people's demons. He confronts the powers that be and forgives the powerless. He overturns tables of injustice, and spends intimate final moments around the table with the ones he loves. All the while he is trying to teach them about the kingdom. He is trying to show them that it is not coming in the ways they suspect. The kingdom comes not with armies and administrations, but with acts of compassion and justice. He tries to show them that he came not to claim power, but to shed it. In the ultimate lesson, he showed them God's kingdom of steadfast love and mercy with his own death and resurrection. The disciples saw it all. Thereafter he appears to them and explains to them everything. In our story, they make their way to the mountaintop outside of Jerusalem, and after all of Jesus' efforts, they ask, “So Jesus, is now when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 

Is now the time when you will be the messiah we want you to be? When you will make everything better according to our view? 

Is now the time you are going to wipe out the Romans and reestablish the nation of Israel? 

When are you going to do it Jesus? Is it now? 

After all that time, after all that effort, after all of that teaching. They still don't understand. 

Still, Jesus doesn't seem to be fazed. “I'm going now,” he says, “You will receive the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses. 

My turn on earth is over. Your turn is just beginning.” 

Then Jesus is lifted up and a cloud takes him out of sight. 

There are the disciples, up on the hilltop, gazing up into heaven…waiting. 

Peter looks over John. Phillip looks over at Thomas. James son of Alpheaus looks over at Simon the Zealot, and they all stand there looking up at the clouds, motionless. 

Little did they understand that Jesus had just said to them, “Disciples up!” 

I wonder how long the disciples would have stayed there staring up into the clouds if the two snazzy dressed men hadn't shown up. If the disciples were Presbyterians, they probably would have formed a committee and commissioned a three year study which would then be submitted to each disciple's family for approval. Thank God, the men in white show up, “Yo! What on earth are you doing staring into the sky? Did you hear what he said to you? He's coming back, don't worry. In the meantime, skedaddle! God has plans for you. Now it's your turn to take your place on the starting block.” 

Jesus has left it to the disciples to be his hands and feet, to be his proclaimers, to carry on his ministry like he did, to live their lives to the glory of God…and not be afraid. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  

Disciples up! 

As you read on in the story, there will be plenty of reasons to be afraid. But the disciples, bumbling, confused, always a step behind where they should be in the gospels, are suddenly transformed into trailblazers. The Spirit leads them. They are still bound for unexpected places, but they minister and proclaim the gospel with courage and joy and peace. That rag-tag group of followers would change the world.  

What about Today? 

Today we celebrate Heritage Sunday, we recall the past, sing some old hymns. But I hope that you are not thinking that this is about nostalgia. This backward glance reminds us that God has been with us throughout our history. We celebrate our heritage not because we want to retreat into the past, but because the faith of our mothers and fathers has prepared us for this moment, our moment. We celebrate, and then build upon what they have done. Today, like our mothers and fathers in faith did when it was their turn, we get up on the starting block of ministry in 2007. God has a fresh new beginning for you and me.  

Individually, we are invited to new beginnings. Grace is all about new beginnings. What is God calling you to do with your time? Your talent? Your treasure? God has a unique plan for you. You may be feeling tired. You may be wondering what this summer, this year, has in store for you. You may be doubting, or struggling, or your energy may be flagging. You may think that you are too old for God to use, and that you have done your thing, and now it is time for others to take over. Uh-uh. God has a ministry for you. It may not be the same as it was in the past, but God is saying to you, Disciple up! 

If you are younger, your mind and heart full of plans and hopes, dreams and visions, of your future, remember that you too, are ministers of the gospel. Whatever your future holds, Jesus wants you to share good news with others: to make a difference. Disciple up! 

Perhaps in a relationship, or in a job situation, or in a particular area in your life, you have been struggling, and you are looking for grace, forgiveness, wisdom, or peace, can you hear the invitation to begin anew? Disciples up! 

And yes, this call is issued to us as a church as well. For us, it is a new beginning. This morning we are invited reflect on this new beginning, and on what God is calling us to do in the days, months, and years ahead. What do we need to do? How do we need to step up, and prepare for the fresh ministry that God is inviting us too? Our desire to renovate this facility is rooted in our responding to God's call for a fresh start, God's call for reaching out in new ways and to all people. It is a new day, a new race.  

Friends, our faith is going places! 

Followers in Logan on May 20, 2007, can we hear the call? Disciples up! 

If I thought that I could get out of here this morning without telling you what happened on that starting block years ago, I would.  But the better I get to know all of you, the more certain I am that I wouldn't get away with that.  I wish I could tell you that a miracle happened when that gun went off, and I swam that race in record time and went home with the trophy. If I were a screen play writer, I would write it that way, like Rocky raising his arms in triumph on top of the steps in Philly. 

But Carrie was there and she would tell you the truth.  I was so excited, I was so pumped up for the race that I false started. I leaned too far forward and couldn't stop myself, so I dove in and was disqualified before the gun ever went off.  I didn't even swim a stroke.  Though I did score a single point in a later race and received a varsity letter, it was a big disappointment.  

That happens sometimes. We get up on the starting block and God has a plan for us. For some reason or other we false start. We plop into the water and don't swim a stroke. But the rules of the race are different in faith. In faith, though we false start all the time, we are not DQ'd. God gives us a hand out of the pool, gently puts an arm around our shoulders with an understanding glance, and then nudges us back up onto the block. Disciple up! It's a long race, but a blessed one.  

God promises the Spirit to empower and lead us forward.  

We have been called with a holy calling.  

There are many, many faithful Christians, but there is no one like you. Unique talents and resources. God has a specific calling for you, are you ready to climb up on the block?  

There are other faithful churches in this community, but there is none other like this one. God has marked off those in need, those who are seeking grace and love in this community who can only be touched by us. Are we ready to get on the block and make a difference? 

The choir sang so beautifully “Shall we gather at the river.” It speaks of hope, realized at some point in the future in heaven.  

Yes, we will gather at the river, but as the soldier says in the movie Gladiator, not yet. Today we gather at the starting block. Disciples up!

 
 

May 20, 2007

Rev. Paul Heins

First Presbyterian Church

Logan, Utah