November 2, 2025
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TEXT: Luke 19:1-10
TOPIC: What the Church Believes: The Communion of Saints
SERMON SUMMARY:
I Believe in the Communion of Saints
"I believe in the communion of saints." We say these words regularly in the Apostles' Creed, but do we really grasp what they mean?
This All Saints Sunday, I found myself pondering this ancient phrase. The communion of saints is the fellowship and unity of all who are in Christ—past and present. It's a celebration of the oneness of God's family across time.
John's vision in Revelation gives us a breathtaking picture: a great multitude from every nation, tribe, and language standing before God's throne, clothed in white robes, worshiping together. No denominational divisions. Just the redeemed from all peoples, united in Christ. This is the reality we believe in and live toward.
Paul's prayer for the Ephesians captures what this should mean for us now—that we would understand the riches of our inheritance and live in the power of this hope with the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
Then there's Zacchaeus—a powerful image of someone entering this communion. Here's a chief tax collector, wealthy and despised, who had achieved worldly success by stepping over others. Yet when Jesus calls him by name, everything changes.
Zacchaeus's response shows us what entering the communion of saints looks like: joy, generosity, and restitution. He gives half his wealth to the poor and repays those he's wronged fourfold. He goes from choosing greed to choosing generosity, from isolation to family, from worldly riches to kingdom wealth.
We face two temptations with wealth: greed (acquiring more for ourselves) and fear of scarcity (never having enough). But the communion of saints reminds us we have an inheritance that will never pass away, and God is our provider.
As we renew our baptismal vows, let's consider: How does believing in the communion of saints affect your joy, your generosity, your need for restitution?
Ordained in the Anglican Church more than 20 years ago, The Very Reverend Rob Holman has led congregations in New York and Los Angeles with sound biblical preaching, prayerful discernment, and trained organizational management skills. Besides his role as Rector of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Montrose, CA, Fr. Rob is also Dean of the Greater Los Angeles Deanery in the ACNA’s Diocese of Western Anglicans. During his tenure in Los Angeles, he has run Kingdom Conferences for the Diocese and been a speaker at the Deanery’s annual Next Steps in Mission training day. Fr. Rob received his Master of Divinity at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA and is a graduate of the University of Virginia (BS Engineering '87 and MBA '91).
For over a century, the congregation of St. Luke’s has followed Jesus Christ through ancient forms of worship and spiritual growth presented in a contemporary style. St. Luke’s celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024. The original stone building, made of stones from the local mountains, still stands on Foothill Blvd in La Crescenta—though the Anglican congregation has moved to a new building just a few blocks away near downtown Montrose. Retaining its biblically faithful foundation and liturgically rich worship service through the move, this long-standing Los Angeles church also carries on a tradition of warm welcome for newcomers. St. Luke’s is part of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, Anglican Church in North America, and the Global Anglican Communion. We invite you to join us online or in person this Sunday!
