Sermon preached by Rev. Robert Undercuffler

Hanover Presbyterian Church

18^th Street and Baynard Boulevard

Wilmington, Delaware

August 20, 2006

(A disclaimer: This sermon was written to be spoken, which does not always translate into correct grammatical form for a document written to be read.)

"Plenty of Room"

John 14:1-7, 25-27

When I graduated from Seminary I was called as pastor of

Buckhorn Presbyterian Church

In the hills of eastern Kentucky.

While living there I discovered that the people have an interesting

    way to say "GOOD BYE."

                        They say, "Stay with Us." 

When you respond to that expression, visits can last a very long time! 

Once, I asked Audrey Combs what would happen if I replied ---

"Well, Audrey, it is late and travelling down Squabble Creek in the dark is tricky. 

And I would enjoy a hearty Kentucky breakfast -

-- So OK, Audrey.  I will take you up on your offer. 

I will spend the night.

Now keep in mind the complete picture ?

Ches and Audrey Combs lived in a very small home. 

          You might call it a cabin.

And they had 7 sons and two daughters,

          Plus there were another two boys who lived there

              (today we would call them foster children)

           Plus Audrey's sister lived there part-time

                  as did her ill mother.

"So Audrey, I asked, "what will you do if I take you up on your offer?"

She replied, "Why Bob - we have plenty of room ?

            "STAY WITH US."

YOU KNOW, FROM THEN ON I FELT EVEN MORE AT EASE WITH CHES AND AUDREY COMBS. 

        I discovered that there was always plenty of room

               in their home ?

         And in their hearts and lives FOR ME - and for others also. 

They were truly open-minded --- open-hearted people.

While you hold-on to that expression ---

Let me approach this message from a second direction.

In moments of deep distress -

 For example -- A loved-one is in the hospital

        Or a dear friend has died

The conversation of the pastor with the family turns

            to favorite Scriptures -

Scriptures that deepen trust and affirm hope.

The 23^rd Psalm is almost always requested.

And then, also, people ask ? please read the one ---

"In my father's house are many rooms" ---

                        or as it is translated in the King James version

"In my Father's house are many mansions."

In other words, they are asking "Please remind us from Scripture that God's love is expansive and inclusive?. 

            And that our loved one - and we who remain - are at home -

            and that we rest secure in God's marvelous love. 

Those sound like Audrey Combs' words,

STAY WITH US -

            THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM.

But this scripture teaches even more than "within God's love there is room for all" -

It teaches that Jesus is there before us -

  And selects a room

                         A special place

                                    And prepares it especially for us.

The concept of one who goes out ahead is common in scripture;

The Greek word is PRO-DROM-OS -

                        "One who goes before."

In the Roman armies the PRO-DROM-OS were the reconnaissance troops who went out in front of the main army -

-- And scouted the location of enemy troops

     -- And mapped the terrain.

        -- And marked the best roads and trails --

---To assure the safety and security

           and the most favorable positions for the army

           which followed.

The Greek harbor of Alexandria was difficult to enter, so pilot boats were sent out to guide ships into safe waters.

    Those pilot boats were called PRO-DROM-OS.

So Jesus is the PRO-DROM-OS - the one who goes out ahead and assures our safety.

And out ahead Jesus prepares a place for us.

What do you do when a dear friend or family members are coming to visit?  What preparations do you make?

Clean the house?

            Fresh sheets and towels?

                        Buy groceries?  Let's think -- What do they like to eat?

Is it grilled chicken or Barbequed Ribs?  Or crab cakes?

And Strawberry shortcake - they always rave about that.

            We will have it all!

And we will gather some flowers.  They enjoy roses  -

So we gather a bouquet. 

These are not simply general preparations,

            BUT SPECIFIC PREPARATIONS FOR

             THIS SPECIAL PERSON.

AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT JESUS

    IS DOING FOR US ---

            Making a place ready for us-

                        Remembering our particular needs -

                                    Making our special place -

And when all the preparations are complete -

            Jesus waits and watches -- 

                        Then, "WELCOME" he says.

And here is the surprising thing:

We don't even notice the clean house

   The fresh linens

      And the lovely roses --

Those are of no ultimate consequence -

We don't even notice the chicken and ribs - crab cakes and dessert.

BUT WHAT WE DO NOTICE

     IS THE QUALITY OF THE FRIENDSHIP --

         THE DEPTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP --

                           THE CARE --

                                    THE LISTENING --

                                                THE GENEROUS LOVE.

We notice that where Jesus is -

            There we are also

--the tie that binds us is that close.

Jesus offered this teaching about the SPACIOUS LOVE OF GOD EXPRESSED THROUGH A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF -

                        --TO PEOPLE WHO WERE AFRAID.

Afraid?  Why afraid????

Jesus was going away.

            Going where?

                        Going why?           To Die?

   Certainly not to die! 

            That would be the end of everything.

                                    And their fear intensified.

And Jesus said that one of his friends would betray him.

And that Peter - Peter of all people --

Peter was second in command.

Jesus himself called Peter ROCK.

   --Peter would deny Jesus time and time again.

            Everything was coming unglued -

                 Shaking and collapsing.

                       Certainly they were afraid.

Yet Jesus said to them -

Faced by the grim facts -

          "Let not your hearts be troubled -

                   "don't be scared to death?

                              "don't be immobilized by fear -

The gracious and spacious love of God has

       provided for you -

            "IN GOD'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS

                        --ONE OF THEM IS PREPARED

                         ESPECIALLY FOR YOU."

Back when I was pastor here at Hanover - In what seems to be a previous life -- I visited Marie - In a Nursing Home. It was an unforgettable visit.

                        Marie had been a member of Hanover for many years.

Four years earlier, when I first met her, she was completely deaf.

                        I had to write everything -

                                    And then she would reply. - Marie loved to talk,

                              So it was fairly easy to carry-on a conversation.

At that time she was maintaining her own apartment -

            She showed me fine needlework she was creating and she was

              very proud of it. 

Slowly Marie lost her eyesight.

                        Her health continued to fail.

                             So now I was visiting with her in this Nursing Home. 

She was tied into a wheel chair.

I could in no way communicate who I was - for she was now both blind and deaf.

I felt frustrated - and sad -

            And angry too.

Angry at the Nursing Home - For keeping her tied in the chair. 

       Angry at Myself - For not being with her more often  --

                  giving more care.

            Angry at God. - For allowing Marie to continue to                                                                         languish and slowly deteriorate.

I held her hand - and she perked-up.  And she talked - on and on.

            ---then eventually she stopped. 

I held her head in my hands

            And affirmed in her ear -

"Marie, Let not your heart be troubled - In our Father's House are many rooms - Jesus goes to prepare a place for you"

The man who was visiting his wife in the other bed said to me,

            "THERE'S NO USE TALKING TO MARIE. 

             SHE CAN'T HEAR A THING YOU SAY!"

Well, I was affirming those words for myself --

            For I have my fears

                        And those fears are intensified when I visit in

                        Nursing facilities.

I fear I too will be isolated -

            Other people talking for me -

               Making my decisions -

                  Life out of my control

                     Others thinking and saying, "Don't bother

                            with Bob - He can't hear a thing you say."

I have ­my fears?

            What are you afraid of?

·       Afraid a relationship is splintering - and nothing you say or do brings the pieces together?

·       Afraid your health is failing? Afraid what words may spill from your doctor's mouth.

·       Afraid you chose the wrong job - that you have missed God's call?

·       Afraid of an addiction that keeps a strangle-hold on you?

·       Afraid that your child - or is it your grandchild -

     is slipping from you and you wonder - "Is this the natural

     rebellion of youth - or is my child slipping over into

     drugs?"

·       Afraid - Afraid of what the future holds for you -

             what the future holds for this grand church.

STOP - LISTEN -

          LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED.

  JESUS SAYS, "IN GOD'S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS -

          JESUS GOES TO PREPARE A PLACE

     ESPECIALLY FOR YOU."

There is one final word I must add -

            God's love is so wide

                        So spacious

                                    So energetic on our behalf ?

            WELL THAT IS EXACTLY HOW WE ARE TO LOVE

         ONE ANOTHER?

                        TO LOVE THE WORLD --

                                    TO LOVE EVEN THOSE WE DON'T LIKE

VERY MUCH.

                        WITH OPENNESS --

                                    GENEROSITY --

                                                TENDERHEARTED --

                                                            FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER

                                                            EVEN AS GOD FORGIVES YOU.

And that brings us full circle to where we began -

Audrey Combs could say from her heart -

            "STAY WITH US" - THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM!"

Because I discovered slowly - and surely -

That she knew - and accepted - the gracious LOVE OF GOD.  AND SO SHE SIMPLY PASSED THAT LOVE ALONG -- TO OTHERS.

            AND WE ARE CALLED TO DO THAT TOO.