Called to Growth
Rev Indrea Alexander
Matthew 13:31-33 & 44-52
Christians are called to grow the kingdom of God. Where are we to do that?
Where we are. Mainly on planet Earth, and maybe a few astronauts get a chance to grow the kingdom of God in space. Some people go overseas to share God with people in other countries, but for most of us, our kingdom-building will be where we are in Aotearoa New Zealand.
In the 2018 census, about half the people in NZ said they had no religion. There are plenty of people across the country who don’t even know they are invited to be part of the realm of God. And not just as “subjects” of a king, but as loved and adopted sons and daughters of God. They need to hear that good news.
Most people in our country live in the North Island, but our primary responsibility for Kingdom building is in Christchurch Diocese.
There is a beautiful satellite image which captures North Canterbury across the Alps to the West Coast, Banks Peninsula down to South Canterbury, the area of Christchurch Anglican Diocese. There are hundreds of Anglican churches and congregations across this area, some are tiny like some of our rural neighbours, and some are larger. We are part of the Mid Canterbury Archdeaconry, which is served by three other Anglican parishes – Rakaia, Methven and Mayfield-Mt Somers, and the Anglican-Presbyterian cooperating venture at Hinds.
We have particular responsibility for building the Kingdom of God in Ashburton Hakatere. Here we carry out God’s work alongside Christians of many denominations, each with our own flavour, style of worship, passions and emphases.
So it’s within this global, national, regional and district mix that we stand as Ashburton Anglican Parish. We have the church of St Andrew in Tinwald, and the church of St Stephen in central Ashburton where we can worship and refuel for our life as Christians and kingdom-builders. And what does it mean for us to grow the kingdom of God in Ashburton? Basically we are each to live by God’s values and influence the world around us for good.
The best example of this is, of course, Jesus. John the Baptist astonished his hearers by telling them the longed for Kingdom of God was “at hand,” and he pointed to Jesus. Jesus told people the kingdom of God was present, and could be seen in his ministry. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus declared in the words of Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.” And what had he been anointed for? Transformative things that are hallmarks of the Kingdom of God. “...to bring good news to the poor… proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
And after his resurrection, Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his work and “Go and make disciples.” His friends and followers were to live close to God, live in God’s ways, and help others to do so. And when we have worshipped and refuelled for the week, that’s what we are to do too.
The Anglican Church internationally encourages us to Tell, Teach, Tend, Treasure and Transform – these are the “five marks of mission”.
We are to Tell of the kingdom of God; Teach inquirers and believers and share together in the life-long journey of spirituality and faith; Tend those in need by loving service; Treasure and safeguard all creation, as we exercise our God-given stewardship or kaitiakitanga of the planet and its surrounds; and we are to engage in Transformation by dismantling unjust structures and establishing peace and justice at every level of life.
Let’s enjoy a quick glimpse of a few of the things we have done outside our Sunday worship in the last four months.
In Holy Week we shared a Christian “Passover” meal in St Andrews hall at Tinwald. Like our Jewish forebears in the faith, we were re-Telling for those present stories of the ways and works of God, and Teaching inquirers and believers. We were also having a lovely time eating and strengthening our connections with each other.
The next day, Good Friday, we took our faith out into the streets, carrying a cross and distributing Easter leaflets from St Andrew’s to St Stephens in an act of public witness to our suffering and crucified Lord. Anyone passing St Stephens two days later at dawn on Easter day would have seen a dozen of us gathered outside, publically celebrating Jesus’ resurrection with worship as the sun rose, and a BBQ breakfast.
Since then we have celebrated St Stephen’s church building’s 60th. That was an opportunity to Tell and Teach people about aspects of our faith, talking about what was depicted in stained glass windows of Jesus, saints, resurrection and ascension. We didn’t have many complete newcomers, but on the Saturday people encountered an atmosphere of warmth, welcome and Rock ’n’ Roll. And on the Sunday we worshipped together, celebrated Doreen’s confirmation, and were uplifted by the Tongan congregation’s unaccompanied singing. That was all topped off by an amazing sit down lunch for well over 100 people. As well as Telling and Teaching that weekend, we did a fair amount of Tending of former parishioners, and during the month our 30 cakes in 30 days was a well-appreciated act of loving service to those who serve others in our community.
Good things happen here, but what next? How are we going to pave the way for intentional growth in our numbers, in our spiritual commitment, and in service to our local community? How are we going to better grow the kingdom of God? Vestry has been thinking about it for two months with the help of the Leading Your Church into Growth local programme.
We are now offering that chance to you, starting this Wednesday August 2 at 11am and Thursday August 3 at 7:30pm at St Stephen’s.
We hope that as many of you as possible will come and talk and learn together about how our church, our parish, can grow. Ideas will spring up during the course. Some will be useful immediately, some may be next year, some may not be possible until we have begun growing and have people with different skills and energy! And everything will need great dollops of prayer.
The Leading Your Church Into Growth programme will help us consider who do we have contact with- Seniors? Workers? Teens? Kids? Are they hearing and experiencing the Good News of the Kingdom of God? How can we show God’s love to them better? How are we going to Tell and Teach and Tend and Treasure and Transform during the rest of 2023 and in 2024 (which is only 154 days away).
How are we going to Tell, Teach, Tend, Treasure and Transform in 2023-2024:
So kids know they are loved? (pause) because some of them don’t know they’re loved.
So teens know they are loved (pause) because some of them are so lost they self harm.
So the 20s to 65s know they are loved (pause) because in the face of crazy busyness, without love, what’s the point?
So seniors know they are loved (pause) at a time of life when losses can begin to outnumber gains.
How are we going to tell Teach Tend Treasure and Transform in 2023 and 2024 so kids, teens, 20s-65s and seniors know they are loved by us and by God?
That is what you need to come and help discern through the courses starting this week. After that we will prayerfully, carefully and courageously develop a plan for each of our churches and for the parish, and get stuck in. Adding value to things we currently do so we grow as Jesus’ disciples and make new disciples of all ages.
And as I’ve said in todays Pew News, Matthew’s gospel gives some clues on what it is like when the Kingdom of God is bubbling up in a community.
Like a tiny mustard seed it can start small and grow large.
Like yeast it can have an amazing influence.
Like hidden treasure or a fine pearl, it will inspire some people so much they give up everything they know to pursue it.
And like a fishing net that catches up the good and the bad, the Kingdom of God can be a bit messy. Another compelling reason for plenty of prayer!
As we seek to be obedient to Jesus’ instruction to grow the kingdom and go and make disciples, we also have his wonderful assurance… “And remember I am with you always to the end of the age.”