January 18, 1998 - LESSON: Ephesians 1:1-2, NRSV

TITLE: Grace and Peace

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INTRODUCTION:

Helga told me of a saying that a 90 year old woman used was using to explain how she retained a sense of excitement in her life.

If you always do what you always have done, you'll always get what you have always got.

It is necessary to take risks.

MAIN BODY:

If you always do what you always have done, you'll always get what you always have got.

How would you like something better.

One way to get something better is to share.

Singing With the Saints, Bill and Gloria Gaither on TNN

One of the performers read a story.

I do not remember the name of the story or the author, but it went something like this. The names are factitious

Grace received an invitation to the Annual Sunday School Picnic.

She taught Sunday School and could not avoid the picnic.

The Annual Sunday School Picnic would be at Salisbury School, Saturday, 4:00 p.m. Potluck supper and activities for the whole family.

Grace worked first shift at the hospital.

There was no time to stop and buy food

She would have to bring something to eat from what she had at home.

When she got home she looked in the refrigerator

What was she going to bring.

She had a piece of bologna and two slices of rather stale bread.

There was enough mustard to get it on your knuckles as you scoop it out of the jar.

Grace wrapped her sandwich in brown paper and went to the picnic.

She was sitting by herself at a table when the Small family joined her.

The Small's were a large family with several baskets of food.

They begin to unpack what they had brought.

Fried Chicken

Potato Salad

Baked Beans

Fresh Baked Rolls

Olives and Pickles

Grace's mouth began to water as she saw

She looked at what they had brought and her own unappetizing bologna sandwich.

She wished she could share.

Mrs. Small looks over and said to Grace, "Let's share."

Grace resisted her suggestion.

Mrs. Small insisted, "We can share what we have."

Embarrassed, Grace tried to explain that all she had was a bologna sandwich.

"That's all right dear," replied Mrs. Small, "We'll share."

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It is sometimes difficult for us to share food with another.

Our reluctance comes from some level of apprehension.

We want to know who made the dish.

What's in it.

Remember the statement by the 90 something?

If you always do what you have always have done; you'll always get what you always have got.

Much of life is like a stale bologna sandwich.

There is something much, much better being offered to us.

But if you are willing to risk your dinner is much, much better than you ever dreamed.

Paul, in Ephesians 1, opens with a greeting that reminds the people in Ephesus the risk they have taken to become Christ's and the benefits that have come to them.

First, he identifies himself, and the people he is addressing

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,

To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

Then offers a heartfelt greeting and a desire for their spiritual welfare.

2 Grace to you and peace

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Grace and Peace are very important components for the Christian.

Grace describes the generosity of God

God's grace in us creates graciousness in word and deed and relationships

It is relief from all the negatives with which we have to deal.

Relief from external controls

Relief from the addiction of sin and its consequences.

It is the character of God that God helps us to acquire.

Peace defines the freedom that is being developed by the growth of grace.

It is release from all the negatives with which we have to deal.

Release from fear

Release from anxiety

Release from conflict

Release from inappropriate goals and ambitions

Release from harmful thinking

Release is achieved by letting go of the old and replacing it with the new.

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We can achieve relief and release through Jesus Christ.

Let Christ set your life's agenda

His teachings help us to think accurately and positively.

His example provides an object lesson in behavior

His relationships exemplify how we can develop satisfying associations

The process requires time to learn and apply.

Sometimes we throw our hands up in the air and say: "It's beyond me."

M. Scott Peck in the Road Less Traveled⁽¹⁾ illustrates from a personal experience a way in which he achieved his own relief and release.

He was taking a Spring walk one Sunday afternoon an happened on a neighbor who was repairing his lawnmower.

After greeting him he remarked, "Boy, I sure admire you. I've never been able to fix those kinds of things or do anything like that."

His neighbor, without a moment's hesitation, shot back, "That's because you don't take the time."

He resumed his walk, somewhat disquieted by the guru­like simplicity, spontaneity and definitiveness of his response.

You don't suppose he could be right, do you?" he asked himself.

Somehow it registered.

The next time the opportunity presented itself to make a minor repair he was able to remind himself to take time.

The parking brake was stuck on a patient's car, and she knew that there was something one could do under the dashboard to release it, but she didn't know what.

He laid down on the floor below the front seat of her car.

Then he took the time to make himself comfortable.

Once he was comfortable, he took time to look at the situation.

He looked for several minutes.

At first all he saw was a confusing jumble of wires and tubes and rods, whose meaning he did not know.

But, gradually, in no hurry, he was able to focus his sight on the brake apparatus and trace its course.

Then it became clear to him that there was a little latch preventing the brake from being released.

He slowly studied this latch until it became clear to him that if he pushed it upward with the tip of his finger it would move easily and would release the brake.

So he did this.

One single motion, one ounce of pressure from a fingertip, and the problem was solved.

He was a master mechanic.

Well he was not a master mechanic.

But he learned how to release a stuck emergency brake.

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All it took was time.

Time is something that we can use to our own best advantage to understand how we may enjoy a feast instead of a bologna sandwich.

CONCLUSION:

David in the most familiar of the Psalms writes of the Lord as our Shepherd.

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters;

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Here is a divine banquet spread with spiritual delicacies

Here is a great feast for mind and soul.

God knows what we are and what we have.

More often than not, as significant as it is, it is little more than a stale bologna sandwich.

God says "Let's share."

In the presence of God's great feast of grace and peace why should we hold on to our bologna sandwich?

If you always do what you always have done, you'll always get what you always have got.

1. Peck, M. Scott, The Road Less Traveled, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1978), pages 27-28

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