It is a wonderful pleasure and blessing to be here in this capacity this morning. 

It was from here in this font that the waters of baptism poured over me when I was a tiny infant.  

Through many church services when I was little, I heard the words of the liturgy and the music of the hymns as I sat on the floor coloring the children’s bulletin or playing “library” with the LBWs. 

I’ve come to this rail to commune with my church family, and supposedly at one time Anne and I felt enough at home here to do flips over the railing. 

As a youth, we gathered on these steps during sleepovers to do Compline right before “bedtime.” 

As a teenager, I sat in a pew with friends, passing notes and whispering along with the Words of Institution as though it were old news. 

After having moved from York, I am so glad to come back to this, my church home, so thankful to receive your prayers and support and to be sponsored here as a seminarian, and to be preaching here today.   Thank you for being a family of faith.

Have no fear. 

“Do not be afraid.”   These are the words that God uses to greet Abraham.  These are certainly not unfamiliar words in the Bible.  In fact, I understand that “do not be afraid” is the most frequent command in the Bible.  Of all of the commands we hear in the Bible, this is the most frequent.   

            God tells Isaac and Jacob, “do not be afraid,” when they fear the future.  Isaiah 43 reads, “Do not be afraid, I am with you.”  

The angel Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid when he appears to report her giving birth to Jesus. 

            And for those who witness the resurrected Christ, Jesus tells them, “do not be afraid.”

The statement to not be afraid is both a command and an assurance.  It is a demand to trust in God.  Nestled in God’s authoritative command is the assurance of God’s goodness, love, and trustworthiness. 

You see, leading up to the lesson that we read today in Genesis, God already made three promises to Abraham for land, descendents, and blessedness in chapter 12. 

            Time had passed by the time chapter 15 comes along.  By this point, Abraham is rather old to have children and Sarah simply knows she cannot.  In chapter 15 we hear for the first time Abraham respond to God’s promise.  And what does he express but concern for these once improbable but now impossible claims that God has made.  “How will this happen?” Abraham asks, “I’m not really seeing how this will work out.  Why should I trust you?” 

            And here we see how God’s command to have no fear is also an assurance.  God maintains his promise and reminds him of it.  Thankfully for Abraham God provides at least a few more details. 

And again here, we are privy to Abraham’s reaction.  We learn that Abraham’s response after questioning and consulting was that “he believed - or trusted - and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

Abraham’s fear is transformed into faith. 

Do not be afraid

The Hebrews text helps us see the difficulty and vulnerability of following the command to have no fear.  Abraham’s trust in God led to discomfort in the wilderness, wandering, and not knowing what exactly the end result would look like.  Abraham died without having received the promises.  As an icon for the life of faith, Abraham is a humbling example. 

Have no fear

Like Abraham, so also are we told to have no fear this morning in the Gospel of Luke.  When Jesus addresses the disciples, us, he speaks as both a command and an assurance. 

I’m reminded of the t-shirts that use to be quite popular – in fact I may have had one – from the brand “No fear”.  On every shirt was some sort of fearless saying and then there emblem with “no fear.”  These shirts expressed a sentiment that might be elaborated more as “I’m not afraid of you, I could take you,” or “I’ll ride my bike down that steep hill with no regard for my own safety.”   

This isn’t the sentiment God is suggesting when God says, “Fear not”.  No, God presents this statement to us an offering that, while fear might be understandable, it is God who is trustworthy.     

For us, a lack of fear means to trust in God.  It means to rely on God in Christ Jesus for all that we need, trusting God in a way that allows us to be generous and forthcoming.  It means not believing that we have the capacity to save others, but trusting that God does.    Having no fear looks like having faith that the Holy Spirit is working among us, giving us the words to speak, and strengthening us to serve and witness.  In this fallen world, trusting in God doesn’t mean leaving our car doors unlocked and cash on our seats.  But it does mean that we don’t need to fear the things of this world.  It means knowing a God of love, forgiveness, and grace who trusts us enough to give such a lofty command to forgo our fears.        

In Luke, God’s command, “have no fear” is followed by the statement of why – because it is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.  It is God’s design and delight to give you what is God’s, just as God gave Abraham more than he could have imagined.  In light of God’s good plans for us, we might seek to fulfill this command with joy.   

Like Abraham, may our concerns be transformed into trust in God.

May this congregation continue to live out and to teach our children this solemn command and assurance:

Have no fear little flock, have no fear, 

for the Father has chosen to give you the kingdom. 

Have no fear. 

Amen