Lent 4 What’s It All About, Alpha?

March 2, 2008

Christ the King

Kenner, LA

As written and preached by Rev. Ron Unger

Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Whoever wrote “Cinderella” stole it right from the Bible, from the first book of Samuel. With some changes. It’s not two ugly sisters, but seven big brothers. And it wasn’t an envoy from the prince who came to the house, but Samuel, the prophet of God. And he didn’t come with a glass slipper, but a ram’s horn filled with oil.

We heard the account in today’s First Lesson, how Samuel was sent by God to the home of Jesse in Bethlehem. It was approximately 1000 BC, but none of them knew that then. And no one knew which of Jesse’s sons God had chosen to be king of Israel. So Jesse presented each of them in succession, one after another, till Samuel had met all seven of them. But, God let him know, none of them was God’s choice. So Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all your sons? Is there anyone I might have missed?” “Well, there is one more, the youngest, David; but we left him out in the field to tend the sheep,” “Bring him here,” Samuel said.

And sure enough, when Samuel saw him he knew he was the one God had selected to be king. So he poured the oil he had bought over young David’s head, anointing him (literally) as king of Israel.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Except there was one slight problem. You see, Israel already had a king, named Saul. And that was going to present major complications. It would be years later, after a lot of headaches and nearly being killed, that David could finally assume his full role of king.

Isn’t that just like God, to keep people waiting that way? He told Abraham and Sarah that they would have descendents. But it was 25 years before Isaac was born to them.

God told Moses that he was going to bring his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. But their exodus lasted 40 years and Moses, like all of them but two, never made it there. To say there were lots of complications on the way would be an understatement.

We see similar complications in the earthly ministry of Jesus himself. Son of God, born king of the Jews. But the Jews already had a king named Herod, who didn’t take kindly to the competition. And he came as Savior among folks who aren’t so sure we really need saving; and as Lord for people like us who don’t particularly want a Lord, because we prefer following our own directions. So it was perhaps inevitable that Herod and then all humankind would team up against him. Jesus’ path to kingship at the Father’s right hand would take him down the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, to Golgotha and to a tomb. A very difficult and complicated journey indeed.

We’re on complicated and usually difficult journeys of our own, aren’t we. It’s no Cinderella story. And like Abraham and Moses and David and even our Lord himself, ours is also a journey of faith, isn’t it. In last week’s Old Testament reading we heard the Israelites murmur, “Is the Lord with us or not?” (Exodus 17:7). We’ve all said that from time to time. Or, like David, we’ve known times of phenomenal sorrow and joy and cried out to God. In times of grief we’ve said, with the words of David, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” And in times of confident faith we’ve said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

But we’ve been perplexed as well, sometimes wondering what we really believe or if God hears our prayers, or what it is God has in mind for us. We’re all on a journey of faith which takes us down through valleys and up to mountain peaks. Some portions of that journey we make alone, and other parts of it we make in the company of others.

I want to make sure you know about an opportunity to make part of your faith journey with others, on a path which will take you to one of those rare peaks. I’m inviting you to Alpha.

You see, like David, we’ve been anointed also. We were anointed, most of us, years ago at our baptism. That’s when we were brought into Christ’s kingdom. But it takes a long time to fully discover, if we ever truly do, what that means. Again, our journeys usually follow very complicated routes, with lots of twists and turns.

Alpha helps it all make more sense, puts the pieces together in a very helpful way So we can attend the “Come and See” dinner this Tuesday asking, if you’ll please pardon me, “What’s it all about, Alpha?”

It’s very low-key. We’re all guests. We’re served a delicious dinner, watch a fascinating and I believe a rather entertaining video on a certain aspect of the Christian faith, and then, over dessert, talk with others at our table about what we’ve just seen. Or just sit there silently, if we want. And then decide if we want to come back the next week.

It’s an experience to which we can invite guests, most of whom will be gratified to be included in something so special. We already have over 60 people who have signed up, but there’s still time for more. And if you can’t join us this Tuesday night, come the following Tuesday. Dinner’s at 6:30 each week.

Here’s another opportunity to re-think, from an adult perspective, some of the ingredients of the Christian faith, and to do so in a very conversational, non-threatening way. Issues such as “Who is Jesus?” “Why Did Jesus Die?” “How Can I be Sure of My Faith?” “Why & How Do I Pray?” “How Does God Guide Me?” “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” and more.

And we promise to be done by 8:45 each night.

It’s just another step on our journey of faith, a step we can make together with others whose journeys have brought them to this time and place as well. And, as almost everyone who’s participated in an Alpha Course tells us, it will be a real high peak in your journey. Well, if you wonder, just “Come and See.”

Again, most of us, like David, have been anointed. We were anointed in baptism for service, even if it takes years for us to discover just what form that’s going to take. And also like David, we need constant encouragement from God and from each other along the way. God knows that, so he provides it.

This is going to be a very special Lenten journey for those who participate, as we follow our Lord in spirit up to Jerusalem where he will turn the world upside down, and our lives too.