Three’s Company!

Psalm 8; John 16:12-15; Romans 5:1-5

June 6, 2004

 

TWO’S USUALLY COMPANY

There is an old rule of thumb which goes:  “Two’s company, three’s a crowd!”   That’s usually true. Anytime you get three people together,  two will pair off and leave third one all alone.  But all ‘rules of thumb’ have their exceptions--and this one is no exception.  One of the exceptions is hit TV series “Three’s Company.”   But that’s not where we’re going today.  The subject today is the other exception.  Two’s company, three’s a crowd, every day except today . . . Today,  three’s company.

 

Now, you may be wondering why three is company today.  There are three reasons.  Actually, there’s only one reason, but it has three parts.          I know that sounds confusing, but it’s church talk, and much  church talk is confusing!   In the Church, we call this one reason with three parts The Trinity, and today is Trinity Sunday.  Today is the day we lift up this ‘three-in-one’ mystery.  This mystery weaves its way in and through all of Scripture.  But no where in the Bible will you find the word ‘Trinity.’  If the word ‘Trinity’ is not in the Bible,  then how did it happen?

 

HOW THE TRINITY CAME TO BE

Our Jewish ancestors in the faith knew that there was only one God.  That’s the way it was, and it stayed that way for many years . . . until one day on Jordan River .  God said to Jesus, “You are my son.”            All that time there had been only one God.  Could it now be that there were two???  No!  Not at all!  This event did not usher in polytheism; Israel did not have two Gods.   Instead, now they had a visible manifestation of the One God.   What [or Who] had once been invisible had now become visible.  Jesus said it himself > “I and my father are one.’  And that’s the way it was for several more years . . . until the day when Jesus’ followers got together.  They were all in the same place, the Bible tells us, to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon them.   And all of those people could hear the story of Jesus in their own languages.  It might seem like each nationality now had its own personal god to take home.  Not true!  This event did not pile other gods on top of God the Father and Jesus the Son.  The Spirit that came that day was the very same Spirit that filled Jesus at his baptism.   Now every one could claim God as their own--not just the Jews.  We call that particular Pentecost--the birth of the Church.   As time went on, early Christians tried to find words for this mystery--best one was TRINITY.  GOD > Father, Son, Holy Spirit  working together in total unity to provide what we need

 

Unlike our own problematic threesomes, the threesome we call the Trinity never experiences problems.  Since we find this threesome in and through the Bible, the Bible is a perfect illustration of how great this company of “three” can be. 

                        The Bible can prop you up when you need a boost, like God does

                        And it can save your life, like Jesus does 

                        It can nurture you, like the Holy Spirit does

                       

BIBLE CAN PROP YOU UP

The Bible can prop you up when you need a boost.  Just look at this Bible on the lectern!  The new pulpit Bible is a little hard to see laying flat, so someone propped it up with another Bible.  This smaller Bible is like the stories in any Bible that can prop us up when we need a lift.   Have you ever felt you were too small and insignificant to make a difference?  Read the story of David and Goliath!

Have you ever felt that your contribution could not make a difference?  Read story of the little boy with five loaves and two fish that fed 5,000 people!  Have you ever thought you didn’t matter enough for God to ever notice you?  Read the Beatitudes or the Psalms!  The Bible can prop you up when you need a boost!

           

BIBLE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

In addition to propping you up when you need a boost, the  Bible can save your life.  About 100 years ago there was man named Robert McClure--The Reverend Doctor Robert McClure to be exact.  He was  Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church of Blairsville, PA 1891-1946.  Active in the politics of his day, he was well known for his Prohibitionist opinions.  In fact, he was president of the Indiana County Anti-Saloon League.  On Dec 22, 1913 he was walking home from doctor's appointment, his Bible was tucked securely under his arm, when he encountered man with hat pulled low.  Greeted him, but there was little response.  Just then heard a shrill whistle and instantly a shot rang out.  Dr. McClure was knocked down by the impact of the bullet.  Fortunately, he was not injured, and jumped up to pursue his assailant down an alley.  Unfortunately, assassin was lost in the darkness.  When he returned home, discovered bullet had lodged in Bible.   His Bible literally saved his life.  Not many of us will ever have that experience [I hope!].  In the Bible are the words of life!  The Bible can save your life!

 

BIBLE CAN NURTURE YOU

The Bible can give us what we need to live, too.  Look at this Bible!      Remember last winter when the squirrels invaded this room off the chancel?  They built nests and actually gave birth to young squirrels in their nest.  Among the materials used for the nest was . . . the pages from this Bible!

What else can we find in the Bible that gives us what we need to live?  How ‘bout the Ten Commandments God gave Moses?  Or “The Great Commandment” Jesus gave his disciples?

“Love God with all your heart and soul and mind.  And love your neighbor as yourself.”           I realize this is easier to say than it is to do, but what better material can we have to surround our living?  None that comes to my mind!   The Bible can give us what we need to live!

 

CONCLUSION

Two’s company, three’s a crowd--but not today!  These three make great company!

The Bible--It picks you up; saves your life; gives you what you need to live!

The Trinity--Our God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit