News From The Assembly

Moderator Excites Assembly Gathering on Ups and Downs of Road to Emmaus 
July 23, 2007 - Disciples News Service - Fort Worth, Texas

Bill Lee, pastor of Loudon Avenue Christian Church in Roanoke, Va. and outgoing moderator of the Church, preached during the July 23 worship service.

Bill Lee, the outgoing moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), delivered a rousing sermon during the evening worship at the General Assembly on July 23.

“If I had good sense, I would announce the benediction,” Lee quipped as he took to the pulpit following a stirring rendition of “I want Jesus to Walk With Me,” by Carolyn Bibbs, pastor of Saving Station Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn. Lee’s preaching, as it turned out, was just as powerful as the worship it followed.

Lee, pastor of Loudon Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Roanoke, Va., spoke of two human feelings that are on the opposite end of the emotional spectrum – despair and joy – as he relayed the story in Luke about the road to Emmaus. He began with a paraphrase by describing the anxiety of a football coach whose team was preparing to play in the Super Bowl.

Jim Caldwell, the assistant head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, confided to Lee on an airplane flight that he was nervous about the upcoming Super Bowl game. The coach appeared anxious, and somewhat down, said Lee. By contrast, after the Colts won the game, when Lee and Caldwell crossed paths again, the coach was jubilant, light-hearted and upbeat about his future.

Lee said he could relate his encounter with the coach to the story about the two distraught disciples on the road to Emmaus described in Luke 24:13-25, a scripture theme used for the Assembly.

 “Jesus was amazingly patient” as he “walked with them in sanctified silence,” preached Lee in a sermon entitled “The Return Trip.” He saw downcast faces, he saw dejection and rejection; he saw men who were downtrodden and hopeless. Sometimes Disciples of Christ must endure hard times, said Lee.

Watch a video clip of a portion of Bill Lee's sermon at the 2007 General Assembly!

“We have forgotten that there is a cross in the middle of our journey,” he said, sparking repeated ovations from approximately 6,000 Disciples in the arena at the Fort Worth Convention Center. “We sometimes forget, no cross, no crown.”

When the two disciples on the Emmaus road, however, discovered that they had been walking with Jesus, their hopelessness quickly turned to exuberance. Their outlook on life had completely changed. They had seen the risen Christ and went back to Jerusalem in high spirits.

“The came down shuffling but they went back high stepping’,” bellowed Lee. “They went to Emmaus with their heads hung down but returned to Jerusalem full of hope.” The implication for Disciples is that difficulties don’t last forever.

“Based on the hotel and air fare, it would be a shame if you left Fort Worth having not gotten something to take back from the Assembly,” Lee exhorted. “We are going to make sure that on the return trip you get something to take back with you.”

Ruth Fletcher, regional minister for Montana invited Disciples at the conclusion of the service to join in a prayer service. Prayer requests were collected in baskets, given at a microphone, and silently offered, whispered over a lighted candle or people were allowed to pray with a regional minister.

By: James Patterson, writer