ORDINARY PEOPLE TOUCHED BY GOD

Acts 4:7-13

Our scripture lesson for this morning is taken from the 4th chapter of Acts. It is one of several exciting stories recorded for us from the early days after the birth of the Christian Church. In the 2nd chapter we read of the birth of the church on the Day of Pentecost. In the 3rd chapter we read of Peter and John on their way to the Temple who respond to the lame man's request for money, saying: "I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ...stand and walk."

Now, here in the 4th chapter, Peter and John are arrested. We pick up the story in the 4th chapter, beginning with verse 7: (Read 4:7-13)

I want to focus this morning on the 13th verse by reading it again, this time from the Good News translation: "The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus."

Peter and John were fisherman -- ordinary, uneducated, fisherman -- whom Jesus had called, saying: "Follow me..." They responded to Christ's Call and for three years they had devoted their lives to Jesus. They went where he went, they listened to what he taught, they observed the deeds he did, and through him, their lives were touched by God. They were transformed, never to be the same again.

Now it was Peter and John -- ordinary folks touched by God -- who were healing the lame and teaching the crowds. "The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus." The Council members had thought that crucifying Jesus would be the end...but they were wrong! It was only the beginning and now there were a dozen and the numbers were rapidly multiplying. Why, only last week, three thousand were added to the church in oe day.

These Christians were not only increasing in number, they were also increasing in boldness. They were arrested but would not be silenced. They boldly stood up to the officials, insisting that they would continue to obey God rather than human officials.

What had happened to transform the lives of these ordinary folks from boredom to boldness? The answer is that their lives had been touched by God: First, by Jesus; and then by the power of the Holy Spirit. As we move further into the 4th chapter, we find the believers praying for the ability to speak God's word with boldness (vs. 29). In verse 31, we read: "When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness."

We find in this story from the early church an important equation for all Christians:

ORDINARY FOLKS + THE TOUCH OF GOD = PEOPLE OF POWER

Do you remember Myra Brooks Welch' poem, The Touch of the Master's Hand?

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile.

"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?"

"A dollar, a dollar"; then, "Two! Only two?

Two dollars, and who'll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three--" But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said: "What am I bid for the old violin?"

And he held it up with the bow.

"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?

Two thousand! And who'll make it three?

Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

"We do not quite understand

What changed its worth." Swift came the reply:

"The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pattage," a glass of wine;

A game--and he travels on.

He is "going" once, and "going" twice,

He's "going" and almost "gone."

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought

By the touch of the Master's hand.

If you and I wish to be transformed from Ordinary People to People of Power, then we, too, need "The Touch of the Master's Hand."

We are here today to install Steve Mason as pastor of this congregation but I want to suggest to you that becoming a congregation's pastor is not as simple as a call vote, signing a contract, and holding an installation service. Rather it grows out of mutual love and respect for each other. So, while we are today installing Steve as pastor of this congregation, he will grow into being your pastor over a period of years as you, the congregation, come to accept him, love him, and respect him as your pastor.

Now, I want to tell you that I like Steve, and Ginny, even though I've only recently learned to begin to know Steve. I find him to be a committed Christian who seeks to follow God's leading. I am excited for you, the congregation, for I believe that exciting things can happen as you work together to discover and carry out God's leading for this congregation.

But I also want to remind you this morning that Steve is an "ordinary" man. He is not a superman who will fly in and rescue your congregation. He is an "ordinary" man with unique gifts and strengths and weaknesses and feelings. Remember that. Remember that your pastor is human and made up of the same stuff that you are.

But I want you to remember something else. Steve's life has also been touched by God -- not once, not twice, but many times ... and Steve continues to be touched by God, empowering him to speak God's word boldly and allowing God to work through him to bring healing to people's broken lives.

As you begin this new relationship between pastor and congregation and seek to minister effectively in this community, I remind you of the partnership that is involved. You are, based on my observations and coming to know some of you, ordinary people. You have limitations but each of you also have some unique gifts to share in this partnership. You are in partnership with an ordinary human being whom you have called to be your pastor. Steve also brings to this relationship some human limitations but also some unique gifts for this ministry you share.

But there is yet another partner in this ministry at Yellow Creek. And that partner is God. God has been revealed to you as Creator and in the human form of Jesus, and continues to be revealed to you through the Holy Spirit. You need God in this relationship if this ministry is to be effective. Remember the formula from the early church - it still works today:

ORDINARY PEOPLE + THE TOUCH OF GOD = PEOPLE OF POWER.

Steve, as you minister among these good people at Yellow Creek, you can expect to be needed and called upon for help even as the lame man called upon Peter and John in front of the Temple. You may not always have exactly what they are asking for, whether that be gold and silver or easy answers to life's problems; but like Peter and John, you can offer what you have and who you are to them in the name of Jesus Christ.

Together, as pastor and people, you can pray for boldness to proclaim God's word, to be agents of God's healing reconciliation, and to live as God's people in this community. You may be ordinary people but as your lives are touched by God, you will be transformed into people of power.

If you will unleash this power and proclaim God's message with boldness,

if you will reach out and touch those whose lives are crippled and hurting

by sharing what you have in the name of Jesus Christ,

if you will stand up before the councils of this world for what you believe,

if you will choose to obey God rather than human authorities,

then one day, it may be said of the Yellow Creek congregation:

all were amazed to see how bold were the ordinary men and women who made up the Yellow Creek congregation. Then they realized that these folks had been touched by God, had learned from the teachings of Jesus, and were being transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

May it be so. Amen.

Installation Sermon for Steve Mason
By Herman Kauffman, District Pastor
Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren
May 6, 2001