[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] - Part rŕSermon for Epiphany 3A

[joeparrish]

Forwarded - Part 1 B:


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-------- Original message --------From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org> Date: 1/23/17  7:01 AM  (GMT-10:00) 
The reason Paul wrote the book of the Bible we call 1st Corinthians was because of this “love” problem.  The Corinthian Church was split into four cliques- four sides.  Three of these cliques were people who stuck 3= because of who baptized them.  The “Peter Group” was baptized by Peter.  What an honor to be baptized by someone who actually walked with Jesus.  The “Apollos Group” was baptized by Apollos- one of the greatest preachers of the early church.  What an honor to be baptized by someone who was so famous.  The “Paul Group” was baptized by our patron saint- the greatest missionary bishop the world has ever seen.  How wonderful to be baptized by such a devoted follower of Jesus!  Then there was the “Jesus Group”- not baptized by Jesus, but they considered themselves better followers of Jesus.  Why?  They spoke in tongues and thought they were better than everyone else.  Can you imagine inviting someone to the Corinthian Church?  They were not united by love- they were divided and arguing all the time- treating each other as enemies and not as Christian sisters and brothers.   Because of their backbiting and discord, we have some of the Bible’s best instruction in how God expects us to treat each other.  This is an easy sermon to preach at St. Paul’s, because we are really pretty good at getting along, not taking sides, and loving each other.  All we have to do is keep it this way.  Here’s how the Bible suggests we do this: PROBLEM: SOMETIMES WE WON’T AGREE WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT SOMETHING WE CONSIDER IMPORTANT.  Unity is not uniformity- we aren’t supposed to all be on the same page at the same time.  Further on in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (chapter 12), he reminds them that we are all different and meant to be so.  He says “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit.  There are different ways to serve the same LORD, and we can each do different things. Yet the same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do….Together you are the Body of Christ.”  So when we disagree, what should we do?1)      Respect each other.  2)      Discuss the area of disagreement.  If you can come to consensus- great!  If not, agree to disagree3)      Don’t be territorial (my way or the highway!).  Who made you God?  Who made me God?  Don’t try to force your way on someone else.  Talk about it and give the Holy Spirit time to work in the other person’s heart or in your heart.  (You could be wrong too, you know.)4)      Remain Christian friends and pray for each other. <Continued in Part 2>For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org . Blessed preaching,Judy BoliSt. Paul's Episcopal ChurchSaginaw, Michigan



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