January 24, 2010

One Body

Psalm 19 sung as a Psalter #166 “The Heavens Above Declare God’s Praise” and 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ January 24, 2010

INTRODUCTION


1 Corinthians 12:12-31
As we discussed last week, Paul challenges us to remember that the gifts of the Spirit should be used for the common good. The image Paul uses in this passage is commonplace in other ancient writers, who used the images of the body as a metaphor for a community. The ancient writers use it to describe the way a city should function. Like Paul, they stress the importance of each body part, but only when people keep in their place. That is, they believed the city does better if the various parts function as they are expected. In other words, don't try to change your social location. However, Paul uses the image differently, to stress the diversity and interdependence of the members. In a striking departure from the ancient political theory, Paul writes that the less honorable members ought to be treated with greater respect in the Body of Christ. What is evident is that the Gospel has social implications. If we think that the Gospel simply baptizes the status quo, we haven't yet read Jesus or Paul very deeply.

12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.


SERMON
Today we are once again ordaining and installing officers and we will be installing Trustees during our annual meeting. The act of ordination is a sacred charge of the church to choose leaders who will serve in particular ministries. Life in the body of Christ is never about power but about service. Paul also faced the challenges of one group “Lording” over another group of people. They saw they positions, ideas and service as more important than others. Such behavior is the death knell of the church. No one can be Lord but Jesus.

Our sense of identity, who we are as Christians and who we are as a community of faith, lies not in the role we play, nor the status, nor the reward our role brings, but in the sense of oneness with the life of Christ which is the life of God. We are not asked as individuals to be saviours of the world, although many suffer from this misconception and the burn out it produces. We are asked to be members of a body, of Christ, and to play our part - not more, not less. Each part is vital for the health of the whole body of Christ.

My father was a double amputee late in life. He was healthier without those legs but he still missed them. God has designed the church to need all it’s parts working like the human body to use more effective in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some of us are visionaries and others very task oriented. The visionary is no better or worse than the task worker. Both are needed to make a difference in this world. What are your gifts for ministry? With whom do you work well? These two questions are the basis for most service in the church, because God has designed us to work together to his greater glory. He has given you strengths that will support another’s work and where you are weak there is someone in the body of Christ who is strong. There is a beautifully communion hymn called “One Bread, One Body” by John Foley


The refrain is:
One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.


The church uses images of body, bread, community and family to talk about the wonder of belonging to Jesus Christ and the challenges of having to share Jesus with the world. In every church there is someone who sings off key, or another who talks too quickly, or a child who disrupts the worship service. But that same singer is there to make sure a mission program is sustained, that fast talker has a deep and abiding prayer life and the child races to greet the loneliest member with a big smile and a hug. Church is about nurturing our gifts of the Spirit and growing in faith so all will know Jesus is Lord. It is never easy, but together it is what God has called us to be. Amen.

Sermon January 17, 2010

Gifted by Spirit for the Common Good

Scripture Psalm 36:5-10 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ January 17, 2010

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 36: 5-10 In the middle of the psalmist lament about wicked people, comes this song of praise for God’s love which is the only sure defense against evil in this world or even in our selves.


5Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

6Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

7How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

9For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

10 O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!


I Corinthians 12: 1-11
William Loader has an interesting take on this passage. He suggests that the Corinthians passion for spiritual gifts might be no different than their previous passion for worship of idols. Paul suggests that this occurs wherever the gift or experience becomes more important than the giver and the achievement more important than love. Ask yourself, “What gifts has God given me and how am I using them to express the love of Christ in my life?”


Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.



SERMON
Vincent is being confirmed today. Confirmation is very different than just joining a church for a person who has already confirmed their faith. It is about making an informed decision to join the church of Jesus Christ, not just becoming a member of a particular church such as Unity. Vincent and I focused our study on three areas: Bible, Devotional Life, and Mission. He has worked hard. Even writing his own statement of faith:



It is hard to write what I believe. I have been told that people can believe what ever they want to.
I believe in the Holy Ghost.
I have learned that God touches people.
I believe people have an afterlife, because they believe in God
I love to have fun with kids.
I like to be an acolyte and liturgist for church.
I promise to be a disciple of Jesus all my life.


Many of you know Vincent has a wily sense of humor. One day as I was taking him home after confirmation, he said that because of his racing midget cars he knew how to drive. He was quiet for moment and then get got this big grin on his face and said, “Of course, I only know how to turn left!” Confirmation is a lot like driving a midget car. Confirmation does give you an idea about what the essentials of faith are, but a disciple of Christ never stops learning and growing in his faith in Jesus Christ. I think the Corinthians might have been a step farther along than Vincent is in their own journey of faith. Like teenagers who have been given their driver’s permit, they understood the essentials and they had experienced of the power of the Holy Spirit, but there were still years’ worth of experience to build, before they would be ready to judge one another. In fact most mature Christians realize that our first and only requirement is to love one another. Leave the judging to God. Experience teaches the student driver that attention to the road needs to be foremost in their mind. I am pretty sure Jimmie Johnson is not texting while he is racing his Nascar. The Corinthians wanted to drive and text. They wanted to do what was fun and exciting such a speaking in tongues or healing and claim authority over others. Such manifestations of the Holy Spirit became more important to them than a disciplined effort of prayer, study and service. Paul reminds them that even these exciting gifts are given to them for the edification/instruction of the whole body of Christ the church. “… Each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (verse 7). Vincent has a gift for reading and speaking and this gift he has for years used to enrich our whole church. What are your gifts and how are you using them for the whole body?

The earthquake in Haiti challenges us all to consider ways to use the gifts the Holy Spirit has imparted to us for the greater good. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette used her gift of writing hymns to create a hymn, which we will be singing later at the joys and concerns. I have created a display on the Mission bulletin board for you to prayerfully consider ways to help, if you have not already. You can give through the church by marking your check or envelope for Haiti relief. Already thousands of workers are in Haiti from hundreds of agencies using their gifts to make a difference. From dog teams sniffing out the living to strategic planners to organize this massive response, each is using their God given gifts to help others. The national church’s theme for the response is Give. Act. Pray. This is not a hierarchy of things to do. Prayer leads us to give and act. Giving and acting leads us to prayer. When there is a tragedy we sometimes ask, did God make this happen? But my faith says no, that the planet we live on is no more perfect than we are. So when disaster strikes the response team from the Holy Spirit is already there. Hovering over the injured and dying, guiding rescue teams, and around the world stirring people with compassion. The wonder is that this team of the Holy Spirit is in action everywhere. One of the team members is sitting right next to you, eager to help you in your journey of faith and open to your help in lifting up the rubble of their lives and lending a helping hand. You might be good a sniffing out problems but you need a partner to help you see the possible solutions. It is why we encourage everyone to participate in a small group. Historically when someone was confirmed, that was the last time the church saw them till they came by for the graduation gift or on C & E (Christmas and Easter). I have faith that will not be true of Vincent. I pray that he will indeed be a disciple of Jesus all his life. I pray that is true for all of you. May one day the people of Haiti sing with the psalmist:
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40: 1-3)

May it be so! Amen.