Last week, colleagues and I were brainstorming as we planned for clergy continuing education event.

Someone said, "Lexa, what do you need to learn?"

I quickly said, "Computers. Power point. Mail merge. That stuff."

And I guess I wasn’t alone.

It seems there is lots of fear of being left behind as a techno - peasant going around. The energy built. And I admit, we got a little silly.

Someone asked how this all related to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

And I thought of those bracelets. The WWJD ones. (What Would Jesus Do?)

And in the midst of the blogging and podcasting, I threw out,

What would Jesus IM?

WWJIM

[instant message]

The woman next to me picked it up and answered...

Jesus would I M

Those seven "I AM" statements made by Jesus, about himself, are all in the Gospel of John.

Showing and telling people who he was was the work of Jesus.

His mission was to make God’s love perfectly known in this world.

Indeed, the first "I AM" statement is made in the Old Testament when Moses is being called by God to go lead the Israelites who are enslaved under the Pharaoh.

Moses asks, "When the people want to know which God sent me to them, what shall I say?"

At this time, the people believed in many gods.

Is this the god of war or the god of the earth, or the sky or the sea?

God answers from the burning bush, "Tell them I AM sent you."

I AM?

What kind of a name is that?

I AM. I exist.

I AM with you.

I AM God and people cannot use my name like magic, so this

is enough to know...just...

I AM.

Then God fleshes this out.

I AM the God of your ancestors...of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

... of Sarah, Rebecca and Rachael.

Then God fleshes this out.

I AM the God who heard the cries of the my people in slavery and I AM moved to deliver them from the hand of Pharaoh and to bring them to the land of milk and honey.

Then God fleshes this out by sending the only begotten, beloved son– Jesus- so that all who believe in him may be saved and have eternal life.

Jesus shows us who God is in his teaching...the teaching that is full of authority because it is authentic and true. Jesus has no intent to change one iota...one dot..of the law but he does not get hopeless entangled in every jot and tittle and iota of the law. Jesus lives the law....

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength.

And love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus shows us who God is in his healing miracles...and the first to know this are the very demons he casts out. "Have you come to destroy us, Holy One of Israel?"

How sad that we are so slow to see the healing love of Jesus in our lives. God knits us together in fellowship and community. Giving us to each other...to bear one another burdens, to share one another joys and sorrows.

Jesus shows us who God is in his death...and in his resurrection.

Christ lives and shows us that death is not the final end of our lives...

Now, here’s the bottom line.

We share the work of Jesus.

We too are to show others who God is.

St. Francis said, Preach the Gospel always. Use words if necessary.

We show others the Good News of life in Christ by our actions–

reaching out in kindness, with compassion and love.

But all of us will come to that time when we will have to speak about our faith. Someone will ask, "Why do you spend so much time at your church?" or "Why do you go to that bible study every Monday night?"

And you can say that you are strengthened by the fellowship of others who believe like you do. The beginning answers are about our activities here...worship, outreach and the way we care about each other... all these activities and actions witness to the love we know in Christ Jesus.

If you cannot say anything more, issue the invitation, "Come and See."

But you can say more.

By asking questions.

Ask about their experiences.

You will hear hard stories.

You will hear loss and hunger.

You will hear anger.

Then, quietly ask about the god they can’t believe in...

the god they can’t worship...the god they can’t serve...

Here’s what you will find.

The god they describe is not the God you know and worship and serve.

Tell them, "That’s not the God I know."

Then do the work.

You don’t need a PhD in theology.

Think of what Jesus did...and let this stories give you ways to say who God is.

Jesus welcomed children into his lap.

He talked to the woman at the well...taking her seriously.

He called seemingly unfit men–fishermen and tax collectors– and made them fit.

He washed feet. Serving like a slave.

He ate with the outcasts–tax collectors and sinners.

He opened his arms upon the cross so that everyone could come within

the reach of his saving embrace.

Do the work.

You don’t need a PhD in theology.

Speak about how God works in your life.

You are nourished by scripture and Holy Communion.

You are sustained. Blessed. Healed. Touched.

You experience an abundant life which has nothing to do with things...and credit card debt. You have a quality of life measured by the people in your life. Relationships of love and trust and mutual respect.

Do the work.

Tell the person you will keep him or her in your prayers.

If you can, hand them a book that meant something to you.

Invite them to worship with us.

"Come and See."

The I AM begins in God.

The I AM is sustained in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

And we echo that I AM as we learn to say,

we– each man, woman and child among us...

I AM God’s servant.

I AM an evangelist.

Let us Pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. AMEN.