Acts 2:14 [1]a, 36-41 Luke 24:13-35 [2] 
[2]
Imagine with me for a few seconds: Last Saturday night, I was in Rochester, MN, at the Civic Center, to listen to a concert that included the Mozart Requiem. My wife Debbie was singing the soprano part in the quartet of that wonderful piece- the last thing Mozart composed, as he was dying in 1791...
Imagine that I struck up a conversation with the young couple seated next to me before the concert began, and over the course of the conversation, I learned they were both physicians, from the Mayo Clinic, and they learned I was a Lutheran pastor, serving you at Bethlehem in the Twin Cities, and that I am as excited about what I do as they are about what they do. We wound up exchanging calling cards, but before the conversation could go too much further, the music started and we never really spoke again...
Now I want you to imagine that it is Sunday, and Deb and I are walking the dogs in mid-afternoon, and my cell phone gives me the "text message" ring, and when I open it, I see that it is from the young doctor I had met the evening before, and he has sent me the message you have seen on the website or the monitors this week:
"It's been 2K years- the story is old. U claim that it is a story that transforms lives, but I know 2 many "Christians." It seems 2 me that ur God is irrelevant..."
How would you respond to such a message? What would you say to a friend or acquaintance who said that to you? Would you be ready to engage- not in a debate- that's almost never helpful, and I can't think of very many people at all who were ever "argued" into believing, but in caring conversation.
We're in Week 2 of our sermon series, "Letters to an Unknown God," a series designed to help us all reflect on conversation about faith with our unchurched friends and neighbors in light of the Easter story- the cross and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Last week, Ben got us off to a great start in a wonderful sermon addressing the issue of proof- proof of the resurrection. And rather than try and prove that the resurrection happened, he talked about experiencing the Risen Jesus in the love and care of the people around him- that even if we had empirical proof, it wouldn't make all that much difference unless people were sharing God's love in the Risen Christ with acts of service to the people around them...
This week the focus is on relevancy- let me phrase it in the way one of my favorite Political Science professors, Bob Kurlander did when discussing political principles so long ago: "So what? What difference does it make?" are the questions he would ask about virtually everything we discussed...
And we have to admit, they're fair questions! And I think to begin, we have to be perfectly honest about why they might pop up in the minds of people who aren't sure about the need to have a relationship with the living Jesus...
I mean, when we address this question of relevancy, let's look at some things that jump right out, when it comes to what matters in this first decade of the 21st century:
Mary, Ben and I (and the acolytes- an archaic term for attendant, by the way- we're off to a better start than I imagined...) are wearing good Roman street clothes from the 3rd century- we call them "albs..."
We are in a gorgeous room that is built in an architectural style- gothic- in our instance, "English Gothic," a style that reached its peak in the early 15th century...
And we are sitting in 17th century chairs we call "pews..."
And we're listening to, and are being accompanied in our singing by a splendid instrument, played brilliantly by our organist and director of music, Maria- that came into its own in the 18th century, our organ...
And, we are singing, for the most part, songs from the 19th and maybe 20th centuries (and sometimes older than that!) that we call "hymns..."
Now I hope you know that I love all of these things, but we have to admit that someone from outside could easily wonder what, if anything, these artifacts, living though they might be, have to do in having a relationship with an eternal God- one whose future stretches out in time as far as the past does. Relevant to them? A fair question...
And that haunting comment from the text message: "U claim that it is a story that transforms lives, but I know 2 many Christians..." How does our message matter- how is it relevant to and in the lives of the people around us if we're no different than they are- indeed, the perception is sometimes that we're not only no different, we're worse!
Last fall I shared with you the results of a study done by the Barna Institute and published in a book entitled Unchristian, by Dave Kinnamin and Gabe Lyons. It bears hearing about again: A survey of 16-29 year olds in the United States indicated that a vast majority of this age group has a negative impression of Christians- and this is true whether they attend church or not! 91% believe that Christians are "judgmental," and 89% believe that Christians are "anti-gay," and it doesn't matter that we are neither- this is applied to ALL those who bear the name of Christ...
Both of these disqualify us as being "relevant" to this age group... Maybe we would do better if people knew what we stand for, as opposed to what people think we're against...
My goodness, how did we ever get here? How did we- believers in and witnesses of and to the love of the creator of the Universe- given to us in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus- God become human- ever get to a place where relevance is even a question- not only for those outside, but also sometimes for those of us who have grown up with the faith (Ask your children! Ask yourself!)
We have the promise of the very presence of God in our lives, calling us to live the life that Jesus lived- one of love, one of caring for the needs of the people around us, one of deep connection with our fellow believers- a life of growth- of profound meaning, and we can turn it into a life of obligation, rules, formula and boredom...
Some of you could well be thinking, "I'm insulted- my faith is deeply relevant to me," and I am not questioning that. I'm talking about the perception that other people can have, and as we all well know, perception IS reality... And one of our calls is to change that perception, when necessary, so that these others can share in the wonderful good news of the presence of Jesus in their lives!
And so, here, at last, I would like to turn to our Gospel reading- the wonderful story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus that first Easter so long ago...
These disciples are most likely on their way home on the road to Emmaus, a seven mile walk from Jerusalem, and suddenly, there is a third person with them who wants to know what they're talking about. They go through the events of the previous week- how they thought Jesus was the messiah, and how suddenly and horribly, Jesus is arrested, tried and crucified...
And even though some of the women have come back with a strange story that Jesus is raised from the dead, they clearly don't believe it, or they wouldn't have left Jerusalem...
Jesus- whom they have not recognized, then explains to them what happened- and he's not especially patient with them: he calls then "foolish," and then continues to tell them the prophets had all declared it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer all these things and then enter his glory...
And then he walks through the Hebrew Scriptures with them and interprets for them what the prophets had proclaimed...
As night falls, the disciples reach home, and persuade their guest to spend the night with them. And when they sit down for dinner, Jesus takes the bread- blesses it and breaks it and offers it to them, and then- in the breaking of the bread, they recognize him- and he vanishes.
Pay close attention to what happens next: they say to each other- read this with me: "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us..."
And then- what do they do? They say to each other- "I know- let's wait until next Sunday, and then gather a group of people just like us, call it a church and talk about what just happened..."
No- they drop everything and head back to Jerusalem- they proclaim the Risen Jesus to the rest of the disciples, who are already celebrating, because they know that Jesus has appeared to Peter... This news is so wonderful that they cannot just sit and stay still- it MUST be shared!
Of course they worship- they give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus- and then the disciples DO WHAT JESUS DID- WHAT JESUS DOES- they go into the world, and they share him in word and deed- they heal the sick, feed the hungry and proclaim Jesus as Risen Lord...
And look what happens- in our first reading, we have Peter preaching on the Day of Pentecost- and the church grows from around 120 to over 3000- people of different backgrounds and languages- all wanting to know Jesus- all having Jesus come into their lives, and this group of believers changed the world! Not by being strong and powerful- with weapons and might- but by being the Body of Jesus- meeting the needs of the people they came into contact with- sharing love, hope, peace and meaning to a world crying out for them- for Jesus...
Brothers and sisters- I submit to you that our world needs the Good News of Jesus no less than it did in the first century. I submit to you that the Good News of Jesus is every bit as relevant today as it was then- but we have to re-earn the right to share it; we are called to reexamine the ways we share it- or should I say, the ways we share Jesus...
It starts with you- and with me. You all know that I like to tell stories, but today, I would like to ask you about your own story- what is it that makes your heart burn in the story of Jesus.
What is it that you are most passionate about, because that is what Jesus wants to use in seeing both you and the world you have been called to serve transformed.
Is it feeding people? Is it helping people in need find shelter- perhaps even building that shelter through Habitat for Humanity? Is it helping to visit and care for the sick or the imprisoned? Speaking out for the poor? Serving as an advocate for peace and justice? Is it teaching children or youth? Is it a ministry of prayer? What makes YOUR heart burn?
That's a question only you can answer. What we can do here at Bethlehem is help you find the tools you need to help you identify your passion and put it to work, and we promise to do that. We will coach you; we will help you find places to serve, and support you where you are serving- in your work, in your schools and in your homes...
As you grow- as you serve- as you learn to share the Good News of Jesus, the people around you who wonder about God- who question the difference God makes will know through your words and deeds that this is a God who is not irrelevant, but a God who loves all people- a God who wants to use the people who follow Jesus to change the world for the better, and who, in the process gives their lives great meaning and value.
And if you can think of a better way to spend your life, then I want you to stand up and tell me what it is. I will make no apology for challenging you to grow in your faith- to live it out every day- to know what it is that makes Jesus burn in your heart and then, invest your life- your time, your money, your knowledge to be used by the God who loves you- and who loves this world to death- and then to life...
I need to tell you that the text message I mentioned at the beginning was a composite of questions and comments I hear all the time. And my answer to the comment about relevancy would be an invitation- Philip's invitation to Nathanael in John's Gospel: "Come and see- come and experience this community of faith before you make your final conclusion..." But my answer matters less than what you might say- how would you respond?
Will you please bow your heads and pray with me?
Loving God, in the breaking of the bread- in the sharing of the scriptures- in the gift of Jesus, you have made yourself known to us. Cause your fire to burn in our hearts- gives us your urgency to reach out into a world which is crying out in pain and sorrow- a world which is crying out for you. Keep us from being the barriers which drive people away from your church- from you... And keep us ever open to new ways of reaching out to the people you love- the people you came to save. In Jesus' Name, Amen!