Dear Friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
There is an old saying that still rings true, “You only make one first impression.” First impressions set the tone for future interactions. A Procter and Gamble marketing campaign in the 1980’s embraced this theme as well, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” It takes just one quick glance, perhaps only a few seconds, for someone to evaluate you. In that short span, the other person forms an opinion about you based on your appearance, your body language, your demeanor, your mannerisms, and how you are dressed. You may not even have a chance to open your mouth and speak. Regrettably, that first impression can be nearly impossible to undo. With that in mind, whether in school and scouts or in sports, we were taught as children to practice the saying, “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.”
Jesus was aware of the importance of first impressions, even in his own home town of Nazareth where his friends and neighbors had known him for years. This occasion in the Synagogue, however, was different. He was a changed man from the one who had walked from the carpentry shop of Nazareth to find John the Baptist in the Bethany Beyond the Jordan. There he had been baptized in the River and anointed by the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit had then driven him out into the Wilderness where he was tested by Satan. Jesus was no longer the same man who walked the streets of Nazareth. He was filled with the power of the Spirit, and he was preparing to make a new first impression.
According to St. Luke, this would be the first recorded appearance of Jesus as a preacher in his gospel. It was his keynote address, inauguration ceremony and installation service all rolled into one. Surely the choice of reading was not accidental for Jesus. Oh, it’s true the worship assistant handed Jesus the scroll of Isaiah, but then Jesus found the place where it was written and he read the passage that represented the heart and soul of mission.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Surprisingly, if we include one more line of scripture in this reading, we would discover that the reaction of the crowd to Jesus was mixed, “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. But then the thoughts entered in, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
The challenge that Jesus faced on that Sabbath Day in his hometown of Nazareth, is the same challenge that you and I face every day. In the waters of baptism, the power of the Holy Spirit has descended on us, and we have been anointed to bring good news to others. Just has Jesus had done, you and I are called to make a good first impression for the faith. Unfortunately, much of the world feels they already know Christianity, even if they have never met Christ. They have made their judgment based on Christians they have encountered in the past. They follow the words of the influencers, without ever readings God’s word themselves. They have made up their mind, without allowing you even to speak. That is the challenge, So my friends, let me offer three convictions that I hope will color your choices and your energy in sharing the faith. Remember to Welcome, to Lead and Follow, and to Set Great Goals.
Churches in the heart of the city are changing faster than any time in their history. Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church is no different. Congregations were once a mighty fortress protecting a pure cultural and ethnic heritage. All you needed was a signboard, and the word Lutheran in the name, and people would gather. Those times are past. People today are filled questions and doubts, and they are seeking a place, not simply to affirm their identity and belong, but a place where they can be fed and accepted- even with their questions. This has brought diversity of life experience to our churches. We are no different. Curious visitors join us every Sunday for worship. We try to focus on the neighborhood that is around us, which is challenge. We are located on a one-way street, with no parking lot, and the other side of the street is a lake. This is not the realtors’ ideal of location, location, location. But surprisingly, curious visitors find their way here, and you must be prepared to put forth your best first impression. They are here searching, just as you were once on your own first visit. They are searching for Christ, and the peace that he offers. They are hungering to hear God’s word and to receive the gifts of his holy table. So make a good first impression and welcome them.
Second, remember that you are called both to lead and follow your neighbors and families to Christ. Now, you may be wondering why I say lead and follow. Simply said, you may know everything about Jesus and what he has done in your life, and what he is doing in the world, but it is all for nought, if there is no one who will listen to your witness. One of the great challenges for faithful Christians is to know the right timing. You have the greatest, good news to share, but a faithful life is a lot like ballroom dancing. Someone has to lead, and someone has to follow, but the dance is only enjoyable if both partners know the steps. Most of us pride ourselves on being self-starters, self-motivated, independent workers. Our supervisors and colleagues appreciate these traits, but we don’t always know when to follow? The best leaders and followers need some idea of where they are going together. You can’t rely solely on your own first impressions.
Mind you, following is risky business. As God’s faithful people, you need to be prepared to go to places that God needs you and not simply to the places where you want to go. I accepted the call repeatedly to cities and countries in Eastern and Central Europe where few airlines flew. Colleagues often joked whether I had done something wrong that I was never assigned any place west of the Iron Curtain, but I would never exchange those experiences for any more luxurious assignments in the well-travelled parts of Western Europe. The companions and colleagues I encountered along the way made all the difference.
In my role as a supervisor in Europe I met with churches preparing to call new pastors. I always shared with them my conviction, that the call process is different from the hiring process. The pastoral call is not simply between the congregation and the pastor. But it is between three partners. In our learning to follow and lead, we must ask the question: Is the new call pleasing to the Congregation? Is it pleasing to the Pastor? But ultimately, we must ask is it pleasing to the Holy Spirit? The same is true for our first impressions with our neighbors. Is our impression pleasing to the Holy Spirit?
Now let us, turn to the final challenge: As followers and leaders in Christ’s kingdom, how do we learn to set great goals for ourselves, for God’s kingdom and for Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church? How do we work together to make that good first impression? There are plenty of things we can do, and ways that we can keep ourselves busy. Some are old and some are new. But we should really ask, are they important to God’s mission? Over the past forty years of ministry, I have learned one important lesson. Never set your goals based solely on who you think you are or what you think you can accomplish. Instead, set your goals based on who you know God to be and on what God can accomplish in you and through you. As a community of faith, we have been called to lead, to comfort and to guide. And as God’s holy children, we can afford to dream great dreams. We can dare to do great things, not because we think we can, but because we know God can. God is the One who is “able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine.” That is where we are as a congregation on our journey of faith together. Like Jesus in Nazareth, we too must set great goals.
The American President Harry S. Truman once wrote, “I studied the lives of great men and famous women, and I found that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand, with everything they had of energy and enthusiasm and hard work.” He may be right, but I would dare say, that the great men and women that I have known began by “welcoming their neighbors, following and leading his people to Christ, and by setting great goals.”
My friends, as the members and friends of Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church you and I are being called to do this work, and the Holy Spirit is empowering us to be successful. And it all begins by making a good impression in this world. Amen.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
2020 W Lake of the Isles Pkwy
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 377-5095