5th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon – 302

22nd December 2019 Off By Derek
  • 5th Sunday after Trinity
  • 6.30 pm CW
  • 21st July 2019

Prayer to Start

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ.  AMEN

INTRODUCTION

Fifty years ago yesterday – two astronauts landed safely and walked on the Moon.

I remember the day because I purposely stayed up most of the night to watch it in black and white.

Fantastic achievement – making it there – making it back – the three men of Apollo 11 were heralded as heroes by the people all over the world –

They became famous overnight – meeting presidents – kings and Queens – became almost like royalty themselves –

But as Paul reminds us in our reading from Corinthians – such fame in this world is not what a follower of Jesus Christ can expect –

Point 1        Rivalry in the Corinthian Church

There was rivalry within the Corinthian Church – and different teachers and preachers were claiming that their abilities and skills made them superior to others – almost like Kings –

The Corinthian Church seemed to think that their new status in Christ coupled with the wisdom that they think they have in the world’s eyes gives them the right to pass judgement on people – including Paul Himself –

But Paul challenges this way of thinking – for when judgement comes it will bring to light a lot of other things as well as his and their own shortcomings

With Apollos as an example –Paul reminds the Church that they should not get so ‘puffed up’ and boastful about the gifts God has given them –

“My friend, who makes you so important? What do you possess that was not given to you? And if you received it as a gift, why take credit for yourself?”

Paul becomes almost sarcastic towards them – ‘I wishing they were on the Throne – and then he can share it with them’.

He reminds them – that the real situation for a Christian is very different –

In verse 9 Paul refers to Christians being ‘the last act in the show’ – here he refers to a ‘Triumphal Procession’ – that the Roman Army carry out after winning a battle and announcing its victory to the people. Its a public display of Glory, power and victory.

He paints a picture of a Roman General returning to the city carrying the booty they have captured – and at the back comes the bedraggled and weary band of prisoners.

He says that Christians are not the victors and leaders at the front – but the prisoners – the human captives pulled along in chains at the back – who are often killed in the arena.

This is a stark and shocking picture of the Christian Ministry of his time – and he uses it to shake them out of their complacency –

In verses 12 to 13 Paul emphasizes what it means to be a messenger of the Gospel – by bringing in the message of the cross –

As Christians when we are insulted or spoken back to or threatened with violence – because of our Gospel message – we do not hurl insults back at others but offer blessings – when people speak lies about us – we speak gently and kindly in return –

This is because we believe in God’s wisdom revealed in the tortured and broken body of Jesus Christ –

Paul uses the phrase ‘we are treated as the scum of the earth – as the dregs of humanity’- echoing the events of a few years before when Jesus was dragged out of the city to die on the cross –

The plight of the Christian disciple and Apostle is not an easy one to be attracted to and for this reason Paul is urging His Church not to prejudge anyone – but to give them every chance to join the Church.

Point 2        The Christian Approach to others  

I am sure we have all been to jumble sales or car boot sales at some time or other – looking at peoples sale items and cast offs – that they no longer need.

Many people don’t give them a second glance – but some do – and these discarded items – can be to them a real treasure – a unique find – which they would be only too glad to pay money for –

What might appear useless or not requiring a second look for one person – can be anything but to another –

A lesson that is equally true when think about the people might meet – its all too easily to write someone off – by the way they look or dress or speak – and so not give them a second glance –

But God has other ideas – He never considers that anyone is useless or unwanted – for God these words don’t exist – God is always able to use people in the most unexpected and surprising ways –

In our reading Paul trying to encourage the Christian Church at Corinth to be more open minded when it comes to spreading the Gospel message –

We all have blind spots –  but when it comes to helping others and us grow in faith – and mature as Christians

He wants us all to give everybody a fair hearing – listen to their experiences and stories – try to stretch their horizons and ours –

Sometimes we can all be slow to learn or change – particularly when it comes to new suggestions or insights – we needed to be guided by the Holy Spirit –

God speaks to us through all kinds of people – and in all kinds of ways – as he tries to stretch and grow us as Christians –

Everyone who God brings before us – deserves a second chance – in God’s eyes no one shall be discarded or branded useless –we all have a place and a purpose in God’s Kingdom –

So as messengers and followers of Jesus – we should always be ready to welcome – just as Jesus did –

Point 3         Joseph and The Pharaoh’s dream

The message then is to trust in God’s wisdom – and not our own.

This is also the theme of our OT reading from Genesis – when Joseph was asked asked by the Pharaoh to explain his dream – Joseph rightly told him that it would be God who would interpret his dream and not him –

The dream was a warning to the Pharaoh to plan ahead for the seven lean years that would follow the seven years of bumper harvests in Egypt –  

The good years would leave no trace in the land because of the famine that follows – for it would be very severe –

Joseph’s confidence in God would be rewarded as the Pharaoh would then put him in charge of ensuring that sufficient produce is saved during the bumper years for the people to survive the lean years – giving him a rank second only to the King.

 Conclusion

With Joseph God came first – receiving Glory from one of God’s gifts – was far from his mind.

With Paul – his message to the Corinthians reminds us that we should all be fools for Christ – not boastful of the gifts God has given us – but to use them effectively no matter how we are treated to bring others into His Kingdom

God speaks to us through all kinds of people – and in all kinds of ways – and no one should be turned away – everyone should have the opportunity to know the love of Jesus Christ –

50 years ago yesterday – when those men walked on the moon – it was hailed as a moment when the world looked in wonder at what had happened – one small step for man – a giant leap for mankind  

Today – let’s encourage others to make that one small step towards God – which for them could represent a giant leap towards salvation –

Closing prayer               

AMEN

Video of Sermon 302 on You Tube