REFLECTIONS ON INSTALLATION SUNDAY: God Is Our Champion, We Are God’s Leaders

^“But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin;
but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand,…”

—1 Samuel 17:45,46a

God was active in our lives on Sunday afternoon, April 3, here at First Christian in Trenton.

Danny Stewart, Mid-America Regional Minister, preached his sermon, based upon 1 Samuel 17:1-52 – a unique perspective and a fresh look at a familiar story: the tale of young David defeating the Philistine giant, Goliath. He titled his message, “Who Is the Champion?” He took us from a traditional understanding that God's chosen king-in-waiting, David, was the "hero" to a different viewpoint: that David was a leader but not the hero. "God called forth a leader to show them that their champion is already present with them and has never left them alone," Stewart proclaimed. "Their champion is God."

Referring to me, the man on the "hot seat" that Sunday afternoon waiting to be installed, he went on: "We are here to celebrate that God has appointed a leader to face his own particular Goliath in our midst and to show the community of faith that who you are and what you have inside you is more than enough..." to face the challenges of our present age of transition, uncertainty and danger.

Having so many "witnesses" to this event, including ministers from Trenton and Bethany, Plattsburgh and Carrollton, and also our honored guests, the Mayor of Trenton, Cathie Smith, the CEO of Wright Memorial Hospital, Karen Cole and the new President of the Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Carman, caused me to see myself as others appear to see me, as a leader who is called to draw people into partnerships, building unity through new alliances among different aspects of the community. Too often, churches are pushed to the side as lacking relevance to the work of renewal and transition that is taking place in a community. On that Sunday, the vision God showed us is of a united community of business, civic and spiritual leaders developing a common vision and plans for the good of all. The congregation of First Christian Church has much to offer to that conversation, in years of experience and in the quality of their faithfulness.

I look forward to continuing this conversation with you at the church or in other places where we share ministry together!

Paul