“Something Bigger than Just Me”                 2014

1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, 11-14            Romans 15:1-7,15

 

1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, 11-14

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

For 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. For 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. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

 

Romans 15:1-7,15

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God

 

The church, the Christian fellowship in Corinth was in trouble.

            The Apostle Paul had been with them for nearly two years

                        teaching and establishing the church in Corinth.

Then when Paul had gone on to spread the Good News elsewhere,

            somehow they got off track with divisions and conflicts

                        distracting them from the true mission of the Church.

 

It is helpful to know the context of Paul’s letter,

                that ancient Corinth was an important seaport

                        and a busy crossroads along two important trade routes.

It was a large and bustling,  prosperous city of rich diversity

                        that welcomed people from all over the ancient world…

            … which was also reflected in the church at Corinth.

 

Normally, when Paul began his ministry in a new community or city,

            he started by preaching primarily among the Jewish people,

                            and then later would expand and spread his preaching

                                    to convert pagans and gentiles into believers.

 

The church that Paul established in Corinth included

            Jews and gentiles, wealthy and poor, slaves and free, à

                  of many nationalities, cultures & religious traditions…

… a wide variety of converts trying to be Christians together.

 

In Paul’s letter to the Christians of Corinth

            he teaches a Christian perspective

                        for dealing with various divisive issues and topics

                                    so they don’t distract the church from its  mission.

 

For example, one of the early struggles of the Christian Church

     was over Jewish traditions, rituals and food restrictions.

                        Those of a Jewish background expected their traditions

                                    to continue as always, as written Scripture …

            … for Jesus was a Jew, the Messiah, and faithful to the Law.

 

For others,  mostly converts from the pagan and gentile world,

            those Jewish traditions of rituals and food restrictions

                        were irrelevant, & went against their Christian freedom

                                    of salvation by grace alone, faith in Jesus alone.

 

As the early Christians struggled with this divisive issue

            Paul urged for mutual forbearance and gracious respect.

So he wrote in Romans 15, vs. 1-2

            We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.

                       

Don’t let that side issue  take precedence, or allow division &

            conflict to distract you from your true mission as a church.

                             Keep your focus on Jesus Christ, the Gospel message,

                                    for that is what unifies you and what matters most.

 

    In the Corinthian passage we read, Paul is addressing

            a similar conflict over issues concerning spiritual gifts.                                      

As a group, the church in Corinth was abundantly blessed

            with a vast array of spiritual gifts, skills and abilities,

                        and as a faith community, they had it all going for them;

            but their self-focused misunderstanding about God’s gifts

              was leading to conflict and misuse of those spiritual gifts.

 

The problem was, those with the more visible and prominent gifts

            assumed and pushed for a hierarchy of spiritual gifts,

                        as they saw themselves as superior to the others…

… which led to destructive resentments, bitterness, jealousies,

            conflicts and battles that were tearing the church apart

                 as they were more focused on their own agendas and desires

                        than on building up the church to carry out its mission.

 

The Apostle Paul was very direct in his letter and explained that

            they were missing the point of spiritual gifts.   vs. 1,4,7, 11-12

    Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. For 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.

 

The first thing to know

            about spiritual gifts is that they are gifts …

                                    … and in the Greek, the word that Paul uses here

                                                comes from the word we translate as “grace”.

The point is, that the spiritual gifts we receive

            are all a freely-given expression of God’s great love for us,

 … so our gifts are not something that any of us have achieved.

 

We all have talents, skills and abilities,

            and though through them we can serve and glorify God,

                                    but according to Paul, spiritual gifts

                                        are something more that runs much deeper.

 

For Paul, a spiritual gift is our capacity to serve usefully,

            a specific task or function appointed by God to accomplish

                        to build up the church for its mission out in the world.

 

Spiritual gifts in this Corinthian passage,

            are given to help build-up the church for its mission

                        through which God freely provides

                                    for the mutual benefit of the whole church body,

                so that the church

                        can faithfully and effectively fulfill its mission.

 

For example, I was complimenting someone recently

            for how effectively their ministry is making a difference,

                        and reaching people’s lives with the grace of God,

                and I pointed out that that I have never seen her

                        so contented, so full of joy, satisfaction and energy.

 

When I asked her about continuing to serve, she said with a smile,

            “I couldn’t give this up now.

                        There’ no way or chance I’d let you take this away”… …

                                            … and there’s no chance or way that I ever would!

 

She is relaxed,  hopeful and feeling no guilt-pressure to serve,

            because she is using her spiritual gifts just as God intends.

She is a blessing to those around her, and she is being blessed.

 

*     I believe that God graciously created a need for her to fill,

             that perfectly matches the spiritual gifts she needs to use.

 

That’s what it looks like, when as God intends,

            members of the church are exercising their spiritual gifts.

                        It becomes a blending    greater than the sum of the parts

                                    as we are brought into harmony to the glory of God,

                                          by all serving to accomplish our shared mission.

 

Paul’s point concerning spiritual gifts is that

            God choses and gives what is appropriate and fits best…

 

… which means that everyone’s gifts are all special

            equally important for the life and mission of the Church,

                   and each given  according to God purpose, design and love.

 

Our spiritual gifts are God’s grace beyond salvation,

            and the way we all fit into the church’s combined ministries,

                        as through our participation, we are making a difference

                                    according to the call and purpose of the Lord.

 

As Paul explains it,

            everybody has been given exactly the right spiritual gifts,

                        and they are all necessary in accord with God’s purpose,

                                         which connects all   as the blessed children of God,

                                                and calls for mutual respect and appreciation.

 

It is like individual jigsaw puzzle pieces that are fit together

            and combine to show a picture of God’s love and purpose…

                 … and how frustrating   if a puzzle is missing a few pieces.

 

I went to seminary after having a career in the corporate world,

            and I had a lot to learn about what it means to participate,

                 to live faithfully in the life of a Christian community …

… and part of that learning came about

            by playing a game together, we called, “Ultimate Frisbee”.

 

To play, we divided into two teams of about 10 players each,

            and the idea was to throw the Frisbee to another teammate,

                        who then threw it on downfield to another teammate;

and so we tried to work it down the field and past the goal line

      without dropping it or allowing the other team to take it away.

 

As it turns out, Frisbee isn’t a game easily played alone.

            It’s just not much fun and quite difficult

                        to throw a Frisbee downfield to yourself   and catch it.

So too it’s also quite difficult and not very satisfying or fun

            to do Christianity or use our spiritual gifts on our own.

 

You need to connect with teammates to play Ultimate Frisbee,

            and it required cooperation and teamwork to score a goal.

 

Also, by playing that game together

            it helped us get acquainted and build new friendships…

… just as working together in the fellowship of shared ministry

            is the best way to use and exercise our spiritual gifts,

                        which builds up our fellowship and sense of community.

 

And like the church, which Paul describes as the body of Christ,

            the Ultimate Frisbee field became a very special place;

                        where strangers become enthusiastic & valued teammates,

            and where we could actually be our true and imperfect selves,

                        living out our strength and unique giftedness,

                                    as well as our failings, weaknesses and faults.

 

In playing Ultimate Frisbee,

            it’s less about having great athletic skill and prowess,

                        and more about just being present and willing to play.

 

            Often the slowest and least athletic team member,

                        who happened to be in the right strategic spot

                            would make a crucial catch and throw the scoring pass.

 

All the players were necessary, needed to be present & involved,

            and the Church that Jesus established is exactly like that!

 

The ways we understand and exercise our spiritual gifts

            are tremendously important

                        to the spiritual health and effectiveness of our church,

            for it is through

                        the faithful and appropriate application of our gifts

                                    that our faith stays alive and grows deeper,

                                                as together we accomplish our true mission.

 

Paul’s point is that we are all parts of Christ’s body,

            for we have all been gathered to serve together, where à

                 all are beloved and needed parts of the one body of Christ…

… as Paul explains it, vs. 12, 14

            For 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. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

 

The body unity that Paul was describing was not intended

            to obliterate our individuality, diversity or uniqueness,

                        but each is called as part of the one body of Christ,

                                    to love and serve together for the common good…

 

… for like parts of the one body, we belong & cooperate together…

*           … gifted   to help distribute God’s love, grace & blessings.

 

When issues and agendas that divide us become more important

            than Jesus Christ who calls & unites us, ministry is damaged,

                        by distractions from the mission given to us by Christ.

 

That is the same issue being raised in Romans 15, vs. 1-2

            We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.

 

Paul is urging that we accommodate differences among believers,

            for our purpose is to build up and not tear down.

 

The critical question is simple and challenging:

            are we using our gifts and blessings from God   to build upà

               our fellow Christians, the church, the one body of Christ?,

    and when someone has been with us, are they feeling judged,

             or have they felt the joy and gracious love of God?         

 

As Paul writes,  vs. 5-7

            May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

 

Paul is defining the Christian life and growing toward maturity

    not as having been a Christian & church member for lots of years

            not based upon having a thorough knowledge of Scripture,

                 not even our spiritual gifts or all the church work we do.

Jesus gave the standard in John, “love one another I have loved you.”

 

The late Francis Schaeffer told this story about when Hitler     

       demanded that all religious groups unite under his authority.

 

Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused.     

            Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not, faced harsh persecution. In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp.

            When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups and there was much tension. Finally they decided that the situation had to be healed.

            Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ’s commands. Then they came together.  Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, “What did you do then?”

            “We were just one,” he replied. As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred.

            When love prevails among believers, especially in times of strong disagreement, the church is able to accomplish its mission, as the world sees the power of God’s grace in action.

 

Consider the potential effect of the church of Jesus Christ;

            ministry that could be accomplished by this body of Christ,

               if each member fully loved and used their spiritual gifts.

 

The world doesn’t yet know what such a church could achieve,

            a church whose members

                        fully dedicated their lives and gifts to serving God,

                                    to showing love to others, as the Lord has loved us.