Body of the Church

1 Corinthians 12

Have you ever stubbed your toe? Such a small piece of our bodies, yet it can demand the attention of every other part when it's injured. This chapter in Corinthians helps us understand the importance of each member of the body in the church. Reading the scripture itself tells the message best and needs little help from me.

However, this sketch is my interpretation of the body of my little church, Living Hope Covenant Church. Each limb and digit using the Spirit of God to hold together and do ministry. I could say I made her a woman because the church is called the bride of Christ. But really I liked having the long hair to work with.  Her skin color, eyes and hair color, even the size and proportion of feet and hands, show that she is made up of a diverse group. She is most useful when every limb is in working order and no part is swollen beyond its proper proportioned size. It can be crippling when a hand decides to leave us, or a thumb wants control a foot. But we pull together and allow God to recreate a missing part or to crack us into alignment like a divine chiropractor. 

Hmmm, did I go too far? Well, I hope this helped you see this chapter in a more visual way. God Bless.

Give Me My Rights!

1 Corinthians 9

Many Christian Americans have decided that we are in a fight for our rights. Our freedom of religion, of speech, our right not to be offended, to be able to have our say, as often as we can, about how the rest of the world should behave. Paul on the other hand took a different tact. He gave up his rights to Jesus. He would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the gospel. Paul would be a slave to people. He would become weak to share with the weak, He never demanded his rights in order to preach. Paul walked up beside those he disagreed with to become like, or equal, with them, in order to relate the gospel. Not to become "holier than thou" as the saying goes. 

Think of all the hot spot, touchy subjects that separates people. Can we approach these areas with more love and less hostility? Can we make sure our own ideology is in line with how Jesus taught us and not what we might think should be fair? 

What if instead of fighting against the "secular world" we fought for them. Maybe the fight isn't a matter of us being treated as we think we deserve, but fighting to love, listen, and pray for broken people and the starving hearts we touch everyday. We don't like being pushed around. I get that. But if someone tries to steal a wallet instead of brandishing a gun, doesn't God want us to give them our ipad, too? I think so. I've seen posts on Facebook to "like" if we want prayer or the ten commandments back in public schools. I would rather have the Christians back in public school. Christians, not demanding they be allowed to talk their religion, but to be courageously living their Christianity. With as much love and sacrifice as God will allow them to make.

If there is a war to be fought maybe it is with our own selves as we strive to be more humble, more willing to sacrifice our pride, and to risk being vulnerable in  world that needs Jesus, not our opinions.

Idols, Angels and Demons

1 Corinthians 8

Have you ever met anyone so enthralled with angels, or so frightened of demons, that they take up attention from God himself? I have. This chapter in 1 Corinthians declares who our God is. Nothing, and no one, should be above His name in our lives. Paul speaks of stone idols and foreign gods, but anything that takes us from true loyalty or takes focus off of God  is an idol.

Angels are messengers, helpers, and warriors. I can see the attraction in placing our attention here. Who wouldn't want to see, or hear from an angel? Decorating with, communing to, or being obsessed with hearing stories of mysterious visitors are quit the rage these days. But be warned that they are NOT God. Make no mistake. .

Demons and the devil can play a sneakier role in our Christian walk. They can also become an obsession. No, I'm not talking about backward masking, or dungeons and dragon games. I am talking about giving Satan more credit than he is due. Finding, and fearing demons in every nook and cranny takes away our power in Christ. I used to get afraid just walking past a psychic reading place. Were demons lurking ready to pounce on me? But then I heard someone who knew of such things say, the demons are afraid of us!! We hold the power of Christ. They are so glad when we run in fear. What a trophy for them when we spend time fighting over what is demonic and what is just music, while we allow children to die without clean water, woman abused and beaten, and babies starve in their mother's arms.

"And yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things come.and whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, from whom all things came, and through whom we live." 

Back Story

1 Corinthians 7

Back story! Continuing in 1 Corinthians the back story is that the reason for Paul writing the letter is to answer questions that this church had sent to Paul. Paul believed that Christ's return was eminent. Each of the their queries were answered in the light of this. 

If you are single, stay single, Jesus is coming soon. Stay married, a slave, single, whatever station you find yourself in, changing now would make things harder in the coming age. However, Paul does say if freedom for a slave is available don't pass it up.  

Ambassadors for Christ

                                                     Ambassadors for Christ
As Christians we hold a high calling. Ambassadors for Christ. How serious do we take this commendation? Jesus calls us to minister to hearts and reach into lives that need His touch. Ones who have not heard, not understood, or failed to grasp their need for God. He has given us tools and each can be used at different times or all at once. These tools are prayer, our words, our love, and actions. But it's not us that creates this event. Our friend's heart is still in Jesus hands. He calls, He woos, it is Jesus that pours out love that cannot be matched.

This sermon was given by the superintendent of our Midwest Covenant Conference, last year. I just noticed that it was from 1 Corinthians but couldn't place where in Corinthians. So, I placed it here, in the middle of this series on Corinthians. I hope it inspires you for just the right moment.

   

1 Corinthians 6

                                               

                                                                   1 Corinthians 6
Why not let yourself be wronged or cheated?

Wow, what a concept. In America we're taught to fight for our rights. We can get angry when another Christian believes differently from us. I don't mean the core of the gospel. I mean those things beyond our salvation that trip us up and cause arguments on Facebook and blogs. There are people who print huge websites just to degrade another's ministry. What i they spent that same amount of time reaching out to those that need God? I can only imagine the revivals that could take place.

What about when someone has used and cheated you? Now you must forgive them? Yep. Paul asks us to care more about our brothers and sisters than whether we are right.

The second half of the chapter is Paul telling the Corinthians that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Your body owned by God. We need to protect the place where God dwells. In this part of the sketch I placed a young girl shielding herself from the things that would defile her body, the  place where God lives.