Cold Call Conversion

Readings for Sunday July 3, 2016

Click the image to listen to the sermon

The Rev. Arianne R. Weeks

The sermon was preached extemporaneously, but here are some notes - 

Cold-calling – have any of you ever done it?  College – Telemarketing – Cambridge – orientation – 3 calls – headsets off, walked out the door. Sounds like Jesus is asking these 70 followers – notice it’s a lot more than just the 12 – to go out – door to door – as some denominations do – and do some in person cold-calling for Christ.

And yet – is it? I’d like to look at the differences between what Jesus says – and what you and I would generally call – proselytizing – be it on the phone or door to door.

1) First – he says – Go on YOUR way.  There is not a prescribed direction each one of us are to go.  No one but you – can have the interactions with others that are part of your journey.  There is quite a bit of faith Jesus has in us then isn’t there.  Not telling us a specific path – but to choose the path that is meant for us.  Now in plenty of other places in the gospels Jesus does give us some ways to help us figure out our way – the way – is the way of truth, it aligns with our values it aligns with the values of God – the way of life and light.  It is the way of loving neighbor as yourself.  And it’s a narrow way – like a camel going through the eye of a needle.  It is not the way of the world – it is the way of the God.

Jesus doesn’t tell us specifically who or where to go – Jesus trusts that we can find our way.

2) Jesus says – I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.  Jesus doesn’t say – armor up, protect yourself, grab your weapons and prepare for battle.  Jesus says – take nothing – no purse, bag or sandals.   Let go of what we typically use to cover and protect ourselves.  Jesus is asking his followers to be vulnerable – open.  Which of course is risky.  But that’s part of the way – the way of forgiveness, risky.  The way of love, risky.  Depending on God and one another (or neighbors) – it’s all risky.  Which is why that’s not the way of wolves.

Wolves fend for themselves.  Lambs – on the other hand – are dependent on one person aren’t they?   Their shepherd.  Jesus is telling us when we go on our way – when we chose our path – risk vulnerability.  Opening ourselves – and putting all our trust – our dependence – on God alone.

3) And finally – there is the focus on accepting, as opposed to performing. Which again, is the more vulnerable position to be in.  When you come to a house – pray for peace – anticipate an environment that will be open and welcoming.  Have that mindset – that expectation from the beginning.  And if – if – you are welcomed into conversation – then accept what is given to you.  In the form of food and drink – but also in what is shared with you.  Listen – do not think about what you will say in response.  Hospitality is more than just the food and drink to be offered to a guest.  Hospitality it is an attitude Jesus models – an attitude that trusts – I have more to receive in this interaction than to give – because everyone I meet is a teacher.


That is very, very different then a cold-call – where you are scripted and tied to an outcome.  An outcome that is usually tied to the monetary value of a bottom line.  The path we choose to share the good news of God’s forgiveness – worth and love – is certainly never scripted.  And I imagine it is why those 70 followers returned filled with joy.  Because maybe at the outset they thought Jesus was sending them out to convert – God was actually sending them forth to be transformed.  Because that is really the only way true conversation happens.  When people see someone who radiates the love of God – the acceptance of God – the hospitality of God – then they too, want to know that deep and everlasting joy.