The following was delivered as an Our Shepherd Lutheran School chapel message on September 12, 2007:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2: 9
Have you seen the movies Toy Story and Toy Story 2? Who hasn’t, right? Those are great stories with great characters like Buzz Lightyear and Woody the cowboy, and Stinky Pete the Prospector (don’t you love that name?) You know the part I really like is when Mrs. Potato Head gives Mr. Potato Head an extra pair of shoes and his angry eyes, “just in case.” Or when Mr. Potato Head scrambles up everything on his face and says, “Look, I’m Picasso.”
I also like the part when we learn that Woody is a Very Important Toy. He is Andy’s favorite toy, as a matter of fact. And do you remember how Woody knew he was Andy’s favorite? I’ll give you a clue: it had something to do with his boot. Do you remember? Andy had written his name on the bottom on Woody’s boot. Woody was very proud that Andy had done that. It showed he was special. It showed that he was important. It showed that he belonged to Andy.
That’s what makes it so sad in Toy Story 2 when Woody agrees to become part of the collection that’s going to Japan—remember the guy who comes in to fix Woody’s arm? Not only does he sew Woody’s arm back in place, but he also gives Woody a new coat of paint to make him look brand new. And that’s when the worst part happens. With a couple strokes of brown paint, he covers over Andy’s name. If someone looked at the bottom of Woody’s boot, they would never know he really belonged to Andy. Later on in the story, when Woody decides he wants to stay, he wipes off the brown paint so that he can see Andy’s name again, because seeing that name means that he’s special, that he was important, that he belonged to Andy.
Your theme for the school year [at Our Shepherd Lutheran] is two words: “His People.” In the verse from 1 Peter, it said, “You are a chosen people,” and, “a people belonging to God.” This was written by the same Peter that you learn about in the gospels. He was a disciple of Jesus. He knew what it was like to be a chosen person, because Jesus had chosen him personally! Jesus had come up to him and said, “Follow me.” And Peter did.
Now Peter is writing to other Christians, saying, you are a chosen people! You are people who belong to God! He’s not just writing to other Christians, but he’s writing to you, right now: You are chosen people! You belong to God! You are His people!
Have you ever been chosen to do something you really wanted to do? Have you ever been chosen for a team or a part in a play? Have you ever been chosen to be a friend by someone you hoped would like you? Every single one of us here today loves the idea of someone else taking a look at us, what we can do and who we are, and saying: "Yup, it’s you. You are the one that I want. You are just right for me." And you know what? That’s what God the Father and his Son, Jesus say to you. "You are the one that I want. You are the one that I love. You are the one that I treasure." Jesus proved it by coming down to us on earth, becoming a human being, taking our punishment and dying on the cross and then coming back to life and rising again on Easter. He did those things so that he could say, "I choose you. I forgive you. You belong to me."
And do you want to know for sure that God has chosen you? Do you want to know for sure that you belong to Him? Then remember Woody from Toy Story. Remember what made Woody feel so important. Remember what the proof was that he belonged to someone. Remember what was written on Woody’s boot. A name. Andy. That name meant that Woody belonged to someone and was loved.
If you want to know for sure that you belong to God, remember that Andy wrote his name on Woody; and then remember that God wrote his name on you. You know when? When you were baptized. When you were baptized in God’s name; in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it was like He wrote his name on you, and from that moment on, you belonged to Him. This is great news, because if you don’t belong to God, then you belong to someone else—his enemy, the devil. But God gave you his name. He adopted you! You are much, much more than God’s favorite toy: you are his own child now; a child that he loves. That doesn’t make you perfect; but it does make you perfectly forgiven. If you ever want to know for sure that you belong to God, just remember: he put His own name on you when you were baptized! You know, I wish that we could look at the bottom of our shoes and see the name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That might be helpful sometimes. Because that’s who I am—that’s who you are. Chosen people. People who belong to God. His People. People on whom God has written His name. And because of that, you’ve got a friend in Him. Amen.
Have you seen the movies Toy Story and Toy Story 2? Who hasn’t, right? Those are great stories with great characters like Buzz Lightyear and Woody the cowboy, and Stinky Pete the Prospector (don’t you love that name?) You know the part I really like is when Mrs. Potato Head gives Mr. Potato Head an extra pair of shoes and his angry eyes, “just in case.” Or when Mr. Potato Head scrambles up everything on his face and says, “Look, I’m Picasso.”
I also like the part when we learn that Woody is a Very Important Toy. He is Andy’s favorite toy, as a matter of fact. And do you remember how Woody knew he was Andy’s favorite? I’ll give you a clue: it had something to do with his boot. Do you remember? Andy had written his name on the bottom on Woody’s boot. Woody was very proud that Andy had done that. It showed he was special. It showed that he was important. It showed that he belonged to Andy.
That’s what makes it so sad in Toy Story 2 when Woody agrees to become part of the collection that’s going to Japan—remember the guy who comes in to fix Woody’s arm? Not only does he sew Woody’s arm back in place, but he also gives Woody a new coat of paint to make him look brand new. And that’s when the worst part happens. With a couple strokes of brown paint, he covers over Andy’s name. If someone looked at the bottom of Woody’s boot, they would never know he really belonged to Andy. Later on in the story, when Woody decides he wants to stay, he wipes off the brown paint so that he can see Andy’s name again, because seeing that name means that he’s special, that he was important, that he belonged to Andy.
Your theme for the school year [at Our Shepherd Lutheran] is two words: “His People.” In the verse from 1 Peter, it said, “You are a chosen people,” and, “a people belonging to God.” This was written by the same Peter that you learn about in the gospels. He was a disciple of Jesus. He knew what it was like to be a chosen person, because Jesus had chosen him personally! Jesus had come up to him and said, “Follow me.” And Peter did.
Now Peter is writing to other Christians, saying, you are a chosen people! You are people who belong to God! He’s not just writing to other Christians, but he’s writing to you, right now: You are chosen people! You belong to God! You are His people!
Have you ever been chosen to do something you really wanted to do? Have you ever been chosen for a team or a part in a play? Have you ever been chosen to be a friend by someone you hoped would like you? Every single one of us here today loves the idea of someone else taking a look at us, what we can do and who we are, and saying: "Yup, it’s you. You are the one that I want. You are just right for me." And you know what? That’s what God the Father and his Son, Jesus say to you. "You are the one that I want. You are the one that I love. You are the one that I treasure." Jesus proved it by coming down to us on earth, becoming a human being, taking our punishment and dying on the cross and then coming back to life and rising again on Easter. He did those things so that he could say, "I choose you. I forgive you. You belong to me."
And do you want to know for sure that God has chosen you? Do you want to know for sure that you belong to Him? Then remember Woody from Toy Story. Remember what made Woody feel so important. Remember what the proof was that he belonged to someone. Remember what was written on Woody’s boot. A name. Andy. That name meant that Woody belonged to someone and was loved.
If you want to know for sure that you belong to God, remember that Andy wrote his name on Woody; and then remember that God wrote his name on you. You know when? When you were baptized. When you were baptized in God’s name; in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it was like He wrote his name on you, and from that moment on, you belonged to Him. This is great news, because if you don’t belong to God, then you belong to someone else—his enemy, the devil. But God gave you his name. He adopted you! You are much, much more than God’s favorite toy: you are his own child now; a child that he loves. That doesn’t make you perfect; but it does make you perfectly forgiven. If you ever want to know for sure that you belong to God, just remember: he put His own name on you when you were baptized! You know, I wish that we could look at the bottom of our shoes and see the name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That might be helpful sometimes. Because that’s who I am—that’s who you are. Chosen people. People who belong to God. His People. People on whom God has written His name. And because of that, you’ve got a friend in Him. Amen.
4 comments:
Great chapel message! The kids really got the point. Andy and I enjoyed it too, especially because we got to sit together. Keep up the good work. OSLS children really look forward to your chapel presentations. Blessings, Dad
Thanks, Pops. It's all thanks to you.
This one brought tears to my eyes just now - someone, who I thought of as a close friend, told me "I don't think I have time to be your friend anymore, I'm too busy". I give thanks to HIM because I know God will always have time for me. Thank you Pastor for your, Sue & Andys friendship.
Thanks for your feedback--you're right--God has all the time in the world for his precious children. I'm glad you were encouraged by the Word. Your friendship and prayers are meaningful to us, as well.
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