Pastor Cal Lord's Recent Sermons
Setting Out The Placemats
Ezra 2:1-9 January 20, 2008
I will never forget a scene in a Steve Martin movie entitled, “The Jerk” where we see Martin come
running out of his house jumping up and down holding a book in his hands. He is so excited as he
yells “The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here. And here I am. I finally made it.
My name is in the book!” I confess that ever since I first saw that, I realized that I like to see my
name in the phone book too. There is something about seeing our name listed that is cool. On the
other hand reading through a list of names where we don’t know anyone is boring.
For the last two weeks we have been engaged by the story of Ezra and the way God managed to
get Cyrus and the Babylonians to set the stage for the Jews to return to Jerusalem. But when we
get to the second chapter of the book we stumble onto a listing of the various families and their
descendants. I have to tell you that most people would just as soon skip over the names than read
through them. I know none of my ancestors are going to be listed there. At first glance the names
don’t seem to have any relevance. That may be because we are not looking at it in the right way.
You have to remember that everything in the Bible has a purpose, even if we don’t understand it.
God is trying to tell us something. It may seem like a mystery at first, but over time, you can often
uncover something that sheds light on what is happening either in the story or in our lives. That is
the transcendent nature of God’s Word.
For example right here in Ezra, we need to remember that the Jews were getting ready to take a
long trip. They were preparing to head back to Jerusalem.
If you have ever been on an airplane or a cruise ship, you know that the crew has a passenger list.
They check it to make sure everyone who is supposed to be on board is actually on board.
Well that is what this list is. The verse we just read tells us that. 70 years before, God had allowed
Nebuchadnezzar to carry His chosen people into exile from Jerusalem and Judah. Now it was time
for a remnant of them to return.
Again we are reminded that even though we go about our daily lives, God has plan and it often
includes us. Two weeks ago we read how God uses people, willingly or unwilling to accomplish
his plan. He used a non believer, Cyrus to make the decree to send the people home. He raised up
Zerubbabel and Jeshua to lead them.
Last week noted how God provided the resources to make it happen by calling the Bbylonins to
give gifts that would restore the fortunes of Israel. When the dust settled, everything had been
replaced that had been pillaged from the original temple.
Today we take it a step further with these lists of names. When you begin to look a little closer at
the list, you are struck with the fact that it includes many people from various backgrounds with
numerous gifts and skills.
Not everyone is going back. But God chooses the people who have the rights gifts to make his plan
work. Every single person on this list can do something or can bring something to the table that
will allow God to accomplish his will, which is to rebuild the temple. If you think you have heard
this before, it is because it is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments.
This IS THE WAY God works. I don’t want to scare you, but if you are here today, sitting in this
sanctuary, it isn’t just because you woke up this morning and decided, I think I’ll go to First
Baptist Church. It is because you heard the voice of God in your ear and you responded. You see
God called you here because you have a gift, an ability, something to share that will bring him
glory in the ministry of this church.
In 1984 I was serving the Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown Rhode Island. We were
closing in on the end of the year. I wanted to have a Sunday School picnic but didn’t know where
we could do it. Just about that time a new young family began coming to church. The dad was a
likeable fellow and he and I became friendly. One day we were talking about my idea for a picnic
and he suggested clearing out an area behind the church and setting up some picnic tables. He had
all the equipment, a lawn mower, a hedge trimmer, weed wacker. One Saturday in May he and his
kids came down and we cleared a good sized area that allowed us to finalize our plans. By Fall the
family had moved away. But God had brought them to us at the perfect time.
This happens time and again in churches. When Charlie and Bernice Rogoff left us to go to Florida
I wondered how we would ever replace them. We didn’t and we couldn’t, but a short time later a
couple named Betty and Harry Eisan showed up on our doorstep. A number of years later I cried
when Harry told me they were moving back to Massachusetts. Boy would we miss them. But God
doesn’t leave a vacuum. Another young couple had started coming to church right about then. Bob
and Helen Walker were looking for a new church home and they found it here. Many of you have
heard Fred and Gwyn Green’s story. They drove by one day when they were thinking about
finding a church her. On the first Sunday they sat in the pews, there was a call for two more
bowlers in our bowling league. It was exactly THE TYPE OF THING THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR. Fred liked sports. They wanted an activity they could do together. It was sponsored by the
church. Add to that the fact that we had a softball team and right away they knew that this was the
place for them. And like the couples I have already mentioned, they gave us far more than we gave
them.
Getting back to the list we can make a quick observation about the type of people God uses. There
are subtle differences but clearly there is a sense of different roles to be played. Just like with us
today they fit into one of these categories.
The first kind of people God chooses are the leaders. The leaders are the names listed in the first
sentence of verse 2. It includes Zerubbabel, Jeshua and others. In order to accomplish anything,
you need people who are willing to accept responsibility.
I like the story told bout how one Sunday morning, a fellow named Larry told his wife he wasn’t
going to church. "First," he said, "I’m tired. Second, the people there don’t like me. And third, the
sermons are boring."
But Larry’s wife said she wouldn’t take no for an answer. "Larry," she said, "you have to go.
First, we always worship on Sunday. Second, it doesn’t matter whether they like us or not. And
third, you are the pastor, you have to go!"
Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart, is it? These men certainly had a daunting task before them.
They had to get over 42,000 people to follow them. But it wasn’t like they were just getting them
to follow them down the street. They were leading them from a place that had been their home for
as long as they could remember. Many of them probably grew up there. They had raised kids
there. They had built lives there. They were comfortable there.
Think about how enthusiastic you would be if someone came along and announced that you were
chosen to go back to your homeland in England, or Poland, or the Czech Republic, especially if
your family had been here for the last 70 years.
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua never faltered. They were up for the task. They inspired confidence
and the people responded accordingly.
Which brings us to the second group of people. These were the laborers, or the followers: These
are those called out who responded to God’s voice. Leaders are important but without followers,
they are nothing. I’ve heard it said that a person who thinks he’s leading with nobody following is
really just taking a walk.
The people listed from the second sentence of verse 2 through verse 35 make up this group. Now
before I go any further I have to make this distinction. We all tend to think of ourselves as leaders
but the truth is many of us would rather follow someone else we trust and support. That’s good.
I was in this restaurant once and I noticed just about everyone was a manager, assistant manager
or manager trainee. If it wasn’t for the one waitress I don’t think anyone would have been served.
What they needed there were more waitresses and less managers.
The fact is, God has not called everyone to be a leader in accomplishing His work. As a matter of
fact, the vast majority of people He calls are not called to leadership positions. Out of over 42,000
people, God only called 11 people to be their leaders. He called the rest of them to follow their
leadership. Notice how the laymen are grouped here in verses 3-35. The ones through verse 20 are
grouped according to their family names. But the ones from verse 21 through 35 are grouped
according to the town they were from. Why is that?
He calls people from all different backgrounds, and of all different means and abilities. The truth is
that there is strength in diversity. Paul uses the illustration of the body when he talks about the
church. He makes the case the case that it is precisely because we are different that we can do so
much more.
A few years ago I had a series of pictures taken of me putting up the addition at the back of the
church. I was there laying the foundation, framing the walls, putting up the sheetrock, laying the
carpet on the stairs, painting and even roofing the structure. The truth is that it was all a front. If
you had 100 Cal Lord’s this church would be pretty pathetic. But the fact that we have a Karen
Barber and Doris Adams working with flowers, Sue Vanase and Patricia Ohlund doing
landscaping, Mark Rogers, Pete Adams and Randy Sargent doing some carpentry, Ray Deptulski
doing lighting, Cynthia Strouse, Lori Lord and Gwyn Green coordinating music, Rosie Main, and
Sandra Lucien and a bunch of excited teachers in the Sunday School, Bob Walker, Harry Calkins
and some friendly greeters at the door makes this a better church. Everyone has a gift and when
we use them, God’s plan can come to fruition. That is why I said it is no accident you are here
this morning.
I just want to touch on two other types of people mentioned in the list this morning. The first is the
ministers. I’m not talking about clergy. I am talking about those who have a heart for God. These
were the people who knew God. They were born with a gift and they shared it. If you have a
loving heart and compassion for people, this is you and this gift is used I and outside the church.
The last group is what one might call “the leftovers.” As you look at verses 59 through 67, one
thing strikes you. What a hodgepodge of characters. Israelites who couldn’t prove their lineage.
Priests who couldn’t prove their lineage. Male and female servants and farm animals. A
hodgepodge of hangers-on that most people wouldn’t have anything to do with. But not God. To
Him, they were all equally important for the work He was going to do. He called them all. From
Zerubbabel and Jeshua to the lowest maid-servant, God called them all. Aren’t you thankful that
God calls us all?
The good news is that God calls each of us to different tasks, but He calls each of us. He calls us
to use our gifts, talents and abilities in ministry. If you can swing a hammer, swing one in ministry.
If you can cook a meal, cook one in ministry. If you can clean a toilet, clean one in ministry. If
you can drive a car, drive one in ministry. HE called you and me here to do a job. So what do you
say. Let’s all look at ourselves, our gifts and talents and see where we can fit in.
One thing is sure, If could rebuild the temple of Israel with the ragtag remnant in our passage
today, he can certainly do something special with us.
Amen
Ezra 2:1-9 January 20, 2008
I will never forget a scene in a Steve Martin movie entitled, “The Jerk” where we see Martin come
running out of his house jumping up and down holding a book in his hands. He is so excited as he
yells “The new phone book is here, the new phone book is here. And here I am. I finally made it.
My name is in the book!” I confess that ever since I first saw that, I realized that I like to see my
name in the phone book too. There is something about seeing our name listed that is cool. On the
other hand reading through a list of names where we don’t know anyone is boring.
For the last two weeks we have been engaged by the story of Ezra and the way God managed to
get Cyrus and the Babylonians to set the stage for the Jews to return to Jerusalem. But when we
get to the second chapter of the book we stumble onto a listing of the various families and their
descendants. I have to tell you that most people would just as soon skip over the names than read
through them. I know none of my ancestors are going to be listed there. At first glance the names
don’t seem to have any relevance. That may be because we are not looking at it in the right way.
You have to remember that everything in the Bible has a purpose, even if we don’t understand it.
God is trying to tell us something. It may seem like a mystery at first, but over time, you can often
uncover something that sheds light on what is happening either in the story or in our lives. That is
the transcendent nature of God’s Word.
For example right here in Ezra, we need to remember that the Jews were getting ready to take a
long trip. They were preparing to head back to Jerusalem.
If you have ever been on an airplane or a cruise ship, you know that the crew has a passenger list.
They check it to make sure everyone who is supposed to be on board is actually on board.
Well that is what this list is. The verse we just read tells us that. 70 years before, God had allowed
Nebuchadnezzar to carry His chosen people into exile from Jerusalem and Judah. Now it was time
for a remnant of them to return.
Again we are reminded that even though we go about our daily lives, God has plan and it often
includes us. Two weeks ago we read how God uses people, willingly or unwilling to accomplish
his plan. He used a non believer, Cyrus to make the decree to send the people home. He raised up
Zerubbabel and Jeshua to lead them.
Last week noted how God provided the resources to make it happen by calling the Bbylonins to
give gifts that would restore the fortunes of Israel. When the dust settled, everything had been
replaced that had been pillaged from the original temple.
Today we take it a step further with these lists of names. When you begin to look a little closer at
the list, you are struck with the fact that it includes many people from various backgrounds with
numerous gifts and skills.
Not everyone is going back. But God chooses the people who have the rights gifts to make his plan
work. Every single person on this list can do something or can bring something to the table that
will allow God to accomplish his will, which is to rebuild the temple. If you think you have heard
this before, it is because it is a recurring theme in both the Old and New Testaments.
This IS THE WAY God works. I don’t want to scare you, but if you are here today, sitting in this
sanctuary, it isn’t just because you woke up this morning and decided, I think I’ll go to First
Baptist Church. It is because you heard the voice of God in your ear and you responded. You see
God called you here because you have a gift, an ability, something to share that will bring him
glory in the ministry of this church.
In 1984 I was serving the Cross Mills Baptist Church in Charlestown Rhode Island. We were
closing in on the end of the year. I wanted to have a Sunday School picnic but didn’t know where
we could do it. Just about that time a new young family began coming to church. The dad was a
likeable fellow and he and I became friendly. One day we were talking about my idea for a picnic
and he suggested clearing out an area behind the church and setting up some picnic tables. He had
all the equipment, a lawn mower, a hedge trimmer, weed wacker. One Saturday in May he and his
kids came down and we cleared a good sized area that allowed us to finalize our plans. By Fall the
family had moved away. But God had brought them to us at the perfect time.
This happens time and again in churches. When Charlie and Bernice Rogoff left us to go to Florida
I wondered how we would ever replace them. We didn’t and we couldn’t, but a short time later a
couple named Betty and Harry Eisan showed up on our doorstep. A number of years later I cried
when Harry told me they were moving back to Massachusetts. Boy would we miss them. But God
doesn’t leave a vacuum. Another young couple had started coming to church right about then. Bob
and Helen Walker were looking for a new church home and they found it here. Many of you have
heard Fred and Gwyn Green’s story. They drove by one day when they were thinking about
finding a church her. On the first Sunday they sat in the pews, there was a call for two more
bowlers in our bowling league. It was exactly THE TYPE OF THING THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR. Fred liked sports. They wanted an activity they could do together. It was sponsored by the
church. Add to that the fact that we had a softball team and right away they knew that this was the
place for them. And like the couples I have already mentioned, they gave us far more than we gave
them.
Getting back to the list we can make a quick observation about the type of people God uses. There
are subtle differences but clearly there is a sense of different roles to be played. Just like with us
today they fit into one of these categories.
The first kind of people God chooses are the leaders. The leaders are the names listed in the first
sentence of verse 2. It includes Zerubbabel, Jeshua and others. In order to accomplish anything,
you need people who are willing to accept responsibility.
I like the story told bout how one Sunday morning, a fellow named Larry told his wife he wasn’t
going to church. "First," he said, "I’m tired. Second, the people there don’t like me. And third, the
sermons are boring."
But Larry’s wife said she wouldn’t take no for an answer. "Larry," she said, "you have to go.
First, we always worship on Sunday. Second, it doesn’t matter whether they like us or not. And
third, you are the pastor, you have to go!"
Leadership isn’t for the faint of heart, is it? These men certainly had a daunting task before them.
They had to get over 42,000 people to follow them. But it wasn’t like they were just getting them
to follow them down the street. They were leading them from a place that had been their home for
as long as they could remember. Many of them probably grew up there. They had raised kids
there. They had built lives there. They were comfortable there.
Think about how enthusiastic you would be if someone came along and announced that you were
chosen to go back to your homeland in England, or Poland, or the Czech Republic, especially if
your family had been here for the last 70 years.
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua never faltered. They were up for the task. They inspired confidence
and the people responded accordingly.
Which brings us to the second group of people. These were the laborers, or the followers: These
are those called out who responded to God’s voice. Leaders are important but without followers,
they are nothing. I’ve heard it said that a person who thinks he’s leading with nobody following is
really just taking a walk.
The people listed from the second sentence of verse 2 through verse 35 make up this group. Now
before I go any further I have to make this distinction. We all tend to think of ourselves as leaders
but the truth is many of us would rather follow someone else we trust and support. That’s good.
I was in this restaurant once and I noticed just about everyone was a manager, assistant manager
or manager trainee. If it wasn’t for the one waitress I don’t think anyone would have been served.
What they needed there were more waitresses and less managers.
The fact is, God has not called everyone to be a leader in accomplishing His work. As a matter of
fact, the vast majority of people He calls are not called to leadership positions. Out of over 42,000
people, God only called 11 people to be their leaders. He called the rest of them to follow their
leadership. Notice how the laymen are grouped here in verses 3-35. The ones through verse 20 are
grouped according to their family names. But the ones from verse 21 through 35 are grouped
according to the town they were from. Why is that?
He calls people from all different backgrounds, and of all different means and abilities. The truth is
that there is strength in diversity. Paul uses the illustration of the body when he talks about the
church. He makes the case the case that it is precisely because we are different that we can do so
much more.
A few years ago I had a series of pictures taken of me putting up the addition at the back of the
church. I was there laying the foundation, framing the walls, putting up the sheetrock, laying the
carpet on the stairs, painting and even roofing the structure. The truth is that it was all a front. If
you had 100 Cal Lord’s this church would be pretty pathetic. But the fact that we have a Karen
Barber and Doris Adams working with flowers, Sue Vanase and Patricia Ohlund doing
landscaping, Mark Rogers, Pete Adams and Randy Sargent doing some carpentry, Ray Deptulski
doing lighting, Cynthia Strouse, Lori Lord and Gwyn Green coordinating music, Rosie Main, and
Sandra Lucien and a bunch of excited teachers in the Sunday School, Bob Walker, Harry Calkins
and some friendly greeters at the door makes this a better church. Everyone has a gift and when
we use them, God’s plan can come to fruition. That is why I said it is no accident you are here
this morning.
I just want to touch on two other types of people mentioned in the list this morning. The first is the
ministers. I’m not talking about clergy. I am talking about those who have a heart for God. These
were the people who knew God. They were born with a gift and they shared it. If you have a
loving heart and compassion for people, this is you and this gift is used I and outside the church.
The last group is what one might call “the leftovers.” As you look at verses 59 through 67, one
thing strikes you. What a hodgepodge of characters. Israelites who couldn’t prove their lineage.
Priests who couldn’t prove their lineage. Male and female servants and farm animals. A
hodgepodge of hangers-on that most people wouldn’t have anything to do with. But not God. To
Him, they were all equally important for the work He was going to do. He called them all. From
Zerubbabel and Jeshua to the lowest maid-servant, God called them all. Aren’t you thankful that
God calls us all?
The good news is that God calls each of us to different tasks, but He calls each of us. He calls us
to use our gifts, talents and abilities in ministry. If you can swing a hammer, swing one in ministry.
If you can cook a meal, cook one in ministry. If you can clean a toilet, clean one in ministry. If
you can drive a car, drive one in ministry. HE called you and me here to do a job. So what do you
say. Let’s all look at ourselves, our gifts and talents and see where we can fit in.
One thing is sure, If could rebuild the temple of Israel with the ragtag remnant in our passage
today, he can certainly do something special with us.
Amen
| Welcome to the First Baptist Church of Norwich 239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut Phone: 860-889-0369 |
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