The year was 1933. Nazism and Fascism were threatening Europe.

The mood of the

world was anxiety. There was fear about economics, fear about politics and fear about the
future.
A Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called Shadyside Presbyterian Church
decided to respond to this fear. They chose to bring churches together in the service of Christian
unity. They knew at a deep level that there is one church in the world. They understood that
when churches work together that the power of that unity can overcome the fears of the world.
Our unity in Jesus Christ transcends any divisions that the world tries to cause.
They celebrated Communion on the first Sunday of October in that year. They
encouraged every other church in the world to do the same.
The church had a purpose. Their purpose revolved around how Jesus Christ brings us
together.
This idea of every church in the world celebrating Communion on one Sunday spread
very slowly. It really wasnt until about ten years later that people took hold of the power of this
idea of World Wide Communion Sunday. But the idea did take hold, today we just recognized
how we are united with people all around the world.
The world is changing, but our unity in Jesus Christ helps us make an impact in this
changing world.
The idea of World Wide Communion Sunday came from one church. It developed from
one group of disciples on a journey. On our own journey we are celebrating what that group of
disciples started.
Today is the last day of a six week sermon series called Disciples on a journey. Today
Im sharing a much shorter sermon as we want to give time to our Ministry in a Changing World
initiative. For the past six weeks weve looked at what it means to be on a journeyas
individuals and as a community. Weve explored important stories in the Bible about a journey
and then gone deeper to see what they say to us.
We looked at choice. Adam and Even didnt get to choose their journey, but God still
helped them. We looked at adventure. Abraham and Sarah went on the adventure of having a
baby when they were very old. We explored how God is an adventurous God who asks us to
take adventures on our journeys. We looked at trust. The Israelites found themselves in a jam
with the Red Sea on one side and 600 chariots of Pharaoh advancing on the other side. Instead
of turning on God they were called to trust. God can do things that we would never imagine.
We looked at how we need symbols of strength on our journey. When the Israelites crossed over
the Jordan into the Promised Land, they took 12 rocks from the Jordan river bed. The rocks were
set up as a shrine to let future generations know about the power of God. On our journey we
need these symbols of strength. Last week we learned how God called the Peter/Andrew,
James/John to fish for other people. The journey wasnt for themselves. We examined how our
congregation is called to make decisions based on the needs of people outside of our own faith
community.
These journey stories help us understand our own journey. Weve been on a journey as a
congregation. Ever since the leaders at Da Vinci Academy shared with us in June that they
werent going to rent to us, weve been looking for a facility. Now we are on week six of our
nine week journey to our new home on Davenport.
Today the journey theme is purpose. For our journey to have meaning we must know our
purpose. As individuals and as a community.
Jesus teaches us this message. I want to share a day in the life of Jesus.
Let me set the day up. Jesus was in the fishing village of Capernaum. We learned last
week that Capernaum was on the Sea of Galilee, which really was a lake. It wasnt a big lake. It
was about a third of the size of Lake Milaacs. It was the Sabbath, so Jesus went into the
synagogue at Capernaum to teach. People were astounded at the charisma that Jesus had as he
taught. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall and watched Jesus teach in the
synagogue. As Jesus was teaching a voice suddenly shouted out, What do you have to do with
us, Jesus of Nazareth. Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. Jesus commanded
the person to be silent. And the man was.
All the people were amazed. I would have been amazed! The people rightly wondered
what type of person Jesus was. Was he a god; was he superman; was he a magician. What kind
of man can cause this to happen?
Jesus left the synagogue and went over to Peters house. Peters mother-in-law was very
sick. She suffered from a high fever. Jesus healed the woman, just as he had healed the man in
the synagogue.
Then as the sun was setting people from all over the area around Capernaum brought
their sick family and friends to Jesus. And he healed them. We dont know how many people
came to Capernaum to receive healings from Jesus, but we can imagine that a lot of people came.
Jesus was like a rock star. People came from all over to be in his presence. A movement was
starting that had never happened before. Word was spreading like wildfire about Jesus.
What a day for Jesus. It started in a synagogue with him teaching people, and it ended
with hundreds maybe even thousands of people crowding around him to get healed.
The next morning Jesus went to a deserted place. Most people believe he went to a
deserted place outside of Capernaum to pray. He wanted to talk to is Abba, Father.
But back in Capernaum the crowds wanted to find Jesus. You can imagine why. What
Jesus had done was incredible. They wanted more of him. So the crowds went looking for
Jesus. They found him in a deserted place.
Lets pause. Think for a moment that you were Jesus. I realize that this isnt easy to do.
Imagine that you have this huge crowd coming to you. You let slip that you were going to go to
another place. The crowds begged you to stay.
They loved you, they wanted you to heal more of their family and friends, they were willing to
listen to your teaching. You probably could stay in Capernaum for the rest of your life and
create you own kingdom in this small fishing village. What would you do if you were Jesus.
Would you stay or would you go.
This is what Jesus said:
SLIDE
I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for
this purpose. Luke 4:43

Jesus did a lot of remarkable things in his life on earth. This was one of them. He left
this group of people who were willing to treat him like a rock start to go to another place.
Why would Jesus do this? Jesus had a focus. He had a purpose. Everything that he did
came out of his purpose. His purpose was to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.
He was not called to proclaim it just to Capernaum. He was called to proclaim it all over
Galilee, and then Samaria, eventually Jerusalem, and eventually the entire world. If Jesus had
stayed in Capernaum, you and I might not be gathered her today.
So let me ask you. Whats your purpose? If you had to boil down your purpose for your
life could you do it? What is it?
If we dont have a purpose we are going to be tossed to and fro by the people who are
around us. We wont have the strength or resolution to stay on our own journey. Without a cler
purpose we go back and forth; we dont go forward.
Communities have purposes. We have a Purpose Statement at Chain of Lakes. Say it
with me:
We are called to be an authentic, Christian community where strangers become friends,
Friends become disciples, disciples impact the world.

This purpose informs everything we do.
Just as Jesus was called to share his message in other villages, we are called to share our
message in other parts of the world.
In our new congregation we are doing everything we can to make an impact in our local
community. Everyone pray for dry weather this Thursday night. A lot of us from our new
congregation are going to sleep in a box on the Blaine High School tennis courts. We are lifting
up the issue of homelessness among teens. We are coordinating the Food Shelf at Blaine High
School called Tiger Take Out. This Thursday were starting to mentor at Lino Lakes Elementary
STEM school. WEre sharing small groups with the community. This past Monday we had
people from outside our congregation enjoy the writing group. Were helping out at Edgewood
Community Care Center.
We will always try to make an impact on the local community. This is our purpose.
And we will try to help the world.
On this World Communion Sunday lets remember followers of Jesus Christdisciples
in Vietnam who are celebrating Communion. On this World Communion Sunday lets
remembers followers of Jesus Christdisciples in Mexico who are celebrating Communion. On
this World Communion Sunday lets remember followers of Jesus Christdisciples in
Cameroon who are celebrating Communion.
Our purpose is like Jesuss purpose. We are called to proclaim the good news of the
kingdom of God to other cities also.
May we always proclaim the kingdom here, and wherever God calls us to proclaim the
Kingdom. This is our purpose.