READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l Being an inclusive family is what God wants for His church here at Wesley – to be a “house of prayer for all nations” (v7).
As His disciples in Christ Jesus, what would God have us do – in obedience to His Great Commission? As Sovereign LORD, He has declared that He will gather more than His chosen people Israel. (v8) The Good News is preached when people feel welcomed in the house of the LORD wherever this may be – even a sleazy joint like Harry’s café in Honolulu. It was there that Pastor Tony Campolo, in his book, ‘The Kingdom of God Is a Party’ told of how he held an impromptu birthday celebration for Agnes to celebrate her 39th birthday in the company of fellow prostitutes, aware that she had never had a birthday party before. Not only was Agnes dumbstruck, so was sceptical-of-preachers Harry the café owner who blurted out, “I’d join a church like that!” – a church that welcomes people who felt ashamed and excluded.
God’s Compassionate Promises
God promises good to those who are willing to seek Him – including people like eunuchs who, thinking their productive significance have been cut off, feel dried up and excluded from any meaningful future. (v3) God promises ‘eunuchs’ – who keep His holy Sabbath, choose what pleases Him, and hold fast to His covenant, “a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; an everlasting name that will endure forever.” (v4-5)
‘Foreigners’, likewise, who “bind themselves to the Lord” are committed to maintaining justice. They do what is right, relate peacefully with others, and keep the Sabbath principle – giving everyone, including their servants, time to rest from work and find refreshment for their souls. Neither Jewish nor Christian, they understand that work is not meant to be continuous or oppressive. Although their ways may seem alien or strange, they do not bring harm to themselves or others, and should never have to say, “I am excluded from being part of God’s family.” Such foreigners and eunuchs should be made to feel welcome and included in God’s family – for God has promised them “joy in His house of prayer, and accepts on His altar their burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (v6-7)
Clearly, the God of the Bible is not only holy, He is impartial. Let no stranger or alien who is committed to Him say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from His people.” In the day of Isaiah, these two groups of people, however, felt excluded by the Jewish temple because
- they worship ‘strange’ or foreign gods, not the one Jewish God (Deuteronomy 31:16,32:12)
- they were ‘strange’ women who worked as prostitutes (Proverbs 2:16)
- they were estranged from their own friends and family (Job 19:15, Psalm 69:8)
God, however, instructed His people in Isaiah 56 to welcome these persons – for His house of prayer is not exclusive to His chosen nation Israel, but open to people of all nations who repent and seek to connect with Him through prayer, who seek to do His will; even to offer to Him sacrifices of worship.
Our Compassionate Response
To be an inclusive family of God at Wesley is to ensure that no one feels excluded from God’s people in His church. Not posturing herself as a country club for the rich and successful, but as an inclusive welcoming family especially for those who feel marginalised by the majority in society.
- To those who are neither Singaporean nor a member of the Christian church
- To all who feel excluded, alienated, dried up, unproductive, without family, or future
- To singles who feel excluded or out of place in a “family” church for many different reasons – including single parents, mothers with toddlers, visual/hearing impaired, with special needs, recovering alcoholics, drug addicts, sex workers, ex-offenders
In Christ who loves us all, let us warmly welcome and include anyone who seeks the LORD but feels excluded, into God’s family of compassionate believers.
(Sermon notes by Marjorie Tan)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- “Let no foreigner (‘one who is strange’) say …” (verse 3a)
- Can you think of someone who is “bound to the LORD” (verse 1) in the sense of being a person who is good, fair and kind (verse 1-2), but who feels estranged or unwelcomed in Church?
- Why do you think this person feels ‘excluded’ (verse 3) from God and God’s church family?
- What are some suggestions on how Wesley MC can help this person feel a little more ‘included’ and welcomed?
- What practical thing can you personally (or your small group collectively) do to make this person feel welcome?
- Take time to pray by name for God’s inclusive love to embrace and encourage such persons.
- Can you think of someone who is “bound to the LORD” (verse 1) in the sense of being a person who is good, fair and kind (verse 1-2), but who feels estranged or unwelcomed in Church?
- “Let no eunuch complain …” (verse 3b)
- Can you think of someone who feels unproductive and with no meaningful future to look forward to?
- Why do you think this person feels ‘excluded’ (verse 3) from God and God’s church family?
- What are some suggestions on how Wesley MC can help this person feel a little more ‘included’ and welcomed?
- What practical thing can you personally (or your small group collectively) do to make this person feel welcome?
- Take time to pray by name for God’s inclusive love to embrace and encourage such persons.
- Can you think of someone who feels unproductive and with no meaningful future to look forward to?
- Have you personally ever had an experience of feeling excluded or unwelcomed by a church? If so, share what made you feel unwelcome.
- Did you stay in the church family, or look for another church? If you stayed, what helped you to stay?
- What can you personally (or your small group collectively) do to make the church family a little more welcoming to someone?
