Sermon Text: Gospel of Matthew 18:20; 25:40; 28:18-20
Sermon Title: "Let the Church Be Where Jesus Is"
By Rev. Joon-Sik Park

Jesus says, "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be" (John 6:26a). This saying means that to serve him is to be where he is and works now, that is where he continues to save and heal his people. In order to serve Jesus, we have to become his instruments where he wants us.

I trust that our church has a burning desire to serve Christ. Then, we have to be where Christ is, following and serving him. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus indicates where we would be able to meet him.

First, Jesus is where we gather together for worship and prayer: ^"For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." When the church gathers in Jesus’ name, Christ himself is present.

Worship is the focal point and heart of our life together as a congregation. Worship is our communal response to the grace of God–a response of praise, confession, prayer, and listening to the word of God.

When we gather we remember that God has drawn us together through the saving acts of Jesus Christ. In response we bring our own and others’ lives before God in praise and thanksgiving. As we come together we are expectant, anticipating that God in Christ Jesus will be with us, and that the Holy Spirit will move among us.

To be Christian is to be bound together in community, and to pray is to say "our Father," even in the privacy of our own room. God will answer the united concern of praying people. Wherever two or three come together earnestly desiring to know the will of God, he himself will be right there with them, guiding and revealing His will to them.

Where there is worship of the believing community, there Christ is.

Second, Jesus is found where we are ministering to the poor, needy and oppressed: "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." At the last judgment, what counts is whether one has acted with loving care for the needy.

The righteous are unaware that in ministering to the needy they have been ministering to the King. There is a deeper dimension to our acts of human compassion. When we respond to human need, or fail to respond, we are in fact responding, or failing to respond, to Christ. Jesus is present, when we respond on the basis of the needs of "the least of these."

Although the NT clearly teaches that deeds of kindness in and of themselves do not secure salvation, it also teaches that when faith is real it must necessarily express itself in a life of concern for others.

Jesus has taught that self-giving care for others is the second greatest commandment of God next to that of loving God with all our heart, soul and mind: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (22:39). He himself has lived out his teaching in his earthly life and ministry.

There are vital relationships between faith and stewardship, money, work and giving. Stewardship is not about meeting the church budget, but about the lifestyle that puts God first in our life, and gives ourselves and resources away in responsible ways.

The literal worship of wealth is destroying us and our world. Many say they are repelled by materialism yet admit to being caught up in it. Rising affluence brings with it detachment, separation, and indifference to the poor.

While each day 35,000 children five years and younger die of starvation, malnutrition, and related diseases, the average believer is giving only three and a half percent of their income back to God. Our checkbook is a faith document. It tells us where our treasure is, and thus where our heart is."

We should have a heart that is focused on giving and sharing rather than getting, increasing, and holding. Our true freedom comes from absolute dependence on God. We should choose simplicity as a way of life. We should live in such a way that the poor are not embarrassed before us, and that others don’t want what we have.

This year our church should seriously ask this question to itself, "Given our substantial resourcefulness and the state of the world, what are we called to do now?

Where caring love is, there Christ is.

Third, the risen Christ is present with his church throughout its mission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

To the worshiping and serving community the world mission is entrusted. It is called to go forth to tell the world in speech and actions the good news of God’s amazing grace in and through Jesus. Whatever we do cannot be a substitute for the name of Jesus. Our ministry should not be separated from the name of Jesus.

The risen Lord wills that the church be an inclusive community of all nations. The invitation to discipleship is open to all people of all nations. Discipling nations means bringing those who are outside the family of God into the community of faith. For that we have to go, to teach them to obey everything Jesus has commanded us, and to baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ last words are a promise of his continuing presence during the church’s mission. David Livingstone was a missionary to Africa. After the sixteen years of ministry, he had caught an endemic fever twenty seven times, and his one arm had become almost useless bitten by a lion. He came back to Scotland on sabbatical leave, and was invited to speak at the University of Glasgow. He asked the students, "Do you know how I was able to overcome all the sufferings, troubles, and loneliness while in Africa?" Then, he said, "It was only because of the promise of Jesus that surely he would be with us always, to the very end of the age."

Where the church is in mission, there Christ is.

The presence of a worshiping congregation is to be found where the poor and needy are. It should flow out into the community and into all nations through its loving deeds and words. Christ is with us when we are faithful in worship, service and in mission. Let us be where Christ is!