It's About Relationship

June 7, 2009
First Sunday after Pentecost
Trinity Sunday
Peace With Justice Sunday

It’s About Relationship
Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty: the whole earth is full of his glory.
– Isaiah 6:3

My sermon outline:

• Sermon on Trinity? Though the word is not in the Bible, there are passages that support it (as Great Commission, as Pauline blessing (2 Cor 13:14), not to mention Jesus’ baptism, etc.) Holy mystery, not without controversy in the first few centuries as the doctrine was formulated.

• Shield of Trinity (search for it on google image)

The Father is not The Son;
The Father is not The Holy Spirit;
The Father IS God.

The Son is not The Father;
The Son is not The Holy Spirit;
The Son IS God.

The Holy Spirit is not The Father;
The Holy Spirit is not The Father;
The Holy Spirit IS God.

• Trinity reveals something about nature of God, about nature of people. About Christianity, faith:

(Christianity, faith) It’s not about religion, it’s about relationship, stupid!

• One explanation of Trinity is God is love (1 John 4:8)… Love requires more than one, and God wanted to love, so God the Father begat the Son (begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father). & the love that flows like electricity between F and S is the Holy Spirit (proceeds from the F & the S)

• early 15th century, Russian painter Andrei Rublev painted the famous icon known as the Holy Trinity (google image Rublev trinity) in perichoresis, the figures seem to move. each one is in each one, and all are the same substance.

• Again, Relationship, not religion.

• Isaiah 6 heavenly throne room, Holy (3x) and almighty God, invites Isaiah into throne room (desires relationship) & cleanses, in order that relationship might happen.

• Romans 8 God gifts us with relationship, adopts us, invites us to the intimacy of Abba relationship & we are in debt to God. Minimum a debt of gratitude, ideally we live our lives in praise and thanksgiving and service to God.

• John 3 Jesus makes it clear that by no self merit may any earn the blessings of God’s kingdom – it’s a gift from God, and it’s a gift wherein God makes change of heart possible. One must experience inward change, be acted on from above, injected with Holy Spirit.

• Good news is grounded in God’s love

• Peace With Justice: folks motivated to serve God…

• Be like Isaiah, who responded “yes” even before knowing what was asked.

• Hymn: In the Breaking of the Bread


- Pastor Kerry

This Sunday: 62 in worship.
Holy Communion