It has been said that if you were to line up everyone who had ever fallen asleep in a sermon head to toe next to each other, they would all be a lot more comfortable. So just make subtle signals. Robert Stephevenson wrote as recording something an extraordinary phenomena ‘I have been to church today, and I am not depressed’. It’s funny the stereotypes people construct, particularly of church people For example, people keep sending me postcards of churches when they go away.
Read Isaiah 40:28-31
The old testament prophets used some beautiful symbols to help God’s people understand exactly who they were, how God had called them out from the nations, and what their role in society was to be.
For me, one of the most beautiful pictures or symbols is that of the eagle. A beautiful creature, not all that common, gracious in flight. When you had seen one you would not easily forget it.
The people of Israel knew that they had been borne from Egyptian captivity, as it were, on the wings of eagles. In similar praise, that psalmist declares that his youth was renewed like that of the eagle. Isaiah promises similar power to those who hope in the Lord. (Quote verse if necessary)
An old friend of mine once said to another friend ‘It’s hard to soar
like a goose when you’re surrounded by eagles.’ Steve (his real name) got
a bit confused at times. He also missed an international flight once because
he thought 2000 hours was 10 PM, so this was a mistake that was made quite
easily.
‘It’s hard to soar like an eagle when your surrounded by geese’. This
made me think, do I want to Soar like an eagle, or flap like a goose
Who wants to soar like an eagle? (get a vote if necessary)
Pick a goose. Let this person be a goose (flap and run down church)
Geese do not exist alone ( get 5 more)
1. As each goose flaps its wings it creates an ‘uplift’ for the birds that follow. By flying in a ‘V’ formation that whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Geese are not a silly as they look. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
What is our common direction here? - proclaim the risen Christ
Do we have a sense of community here? - do our cell groups provide
up with a framework were community can develop. Christian community doesn't
develop through programmes or structure. Community begins when we have
a common goal.
2. When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those
headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give
our help to others.
I had a letter recently from a young man, ex congregation member who
said he was desperately searching for God, but at the same time, being
totally unprepared to accept any help or fellowship with members of the
body of Christ. If you are searching, don't just say, thank you for your
loving concern, accept Godly guidance. Use what God has given you.
3. When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, People are interdependent of each other's skills capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
Paul paints a picture of the church as a body, each part interdependent on each other. I believe that, as Christians, God gives us what we need to grow. Matthew 7 ‘ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you . . if we who are bad give good things to our children, how much more will our heavenly father give good gifts to those who love him.
That which we need to grow, is here already. God has given you gifts
and talents
Use them for his glory. In the body of Christ here, the sum of the
whole is greater than it's individual parts
4. The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values, and encourage the hear and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 - Because we know the lord is coming again, ‘therefore,
encourage one another with these words’
But you brothers are not in darkness We are children of the light.
. . .God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through
our lord Jesus Chris Therefore, build each other up’
Jesus wants to be our saviour and our Lord. Is this what you want for
others?
Geese honk because they're going somewhere warmer, they're on their
way. We honk because we too, are heading towards a better future and are
already to the road.
5. When a goose gets sick, wounded or shut down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult
times as well as when we are strong. My least favourite hymn ‘Trust and
Obey’ - nothing about being happy in Jesus. ‘For we know that
God works all things together for good for those who love him’ - not it's
all hunky dorey for Christians. Perseverance, holding on when things get
tough, growing through experience
Perhaps tonight we should pray for a ‘goose anointing’. That our Christian
life will be like that of geese. I want to soar like an eagle, but
I also want to learn from the goose
If anyone calls you a silly goose, take it as a compliment.
A Handout we gave people at the end of the service
LESSONS FROM GEESE
1. As each goose flaps its wings it creates an ‘uplift’ for the birds that follow. By flying in a ‘V’ formation that whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.