Foolishness or Power? 1 Cor 1:10-18

1 Cor 1:10=19 The power of God.

v18 says “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Paul is dealing with Corinthians self congratulation. They do Power and Spectacular. Their services have Tongues, Prophecy, Hundreds of People, A Party! But its all getting a bit Competitive. Who’s being most
right. Pick your teacher. Its probably not just personalities but selective priorities or teachings. Is Paul more happy clappy? Is Apollos more intellectual? Is Peter more Catholic? Is Christ more Gnostic? Come! Join the
biggest and best. Its spiritual Consumerism. Ring any bells with our churches?
How much is church about what I get out of it?
We are brought up with choices. We educate our children to make wise choices. Decide what you want.
List your priorities and goals. Do the research. Look for the right product at the right price. Consider delivery charges, credit options, aftercare provision. Look at the reviews for product and company. Check on ebay. (Buy it from Amazon in the end of course!). It’s sensible. But it is a tyranny. It depends on being rich enough to have those choices. When people are excluded from this they are sometimes driven into the hands of the pay day loan companies, into debt, into despair because society says that being human means making these choices..
How much are we dictated to by what society says is wise?
Another way: Pilgrimage. Pilgrimage breaks with the tyranny of choices. Seize the blessing of the day. God has provided can I accept it? To this is to make yourself intentionally weak. To let go of control. To reject multiple choices. To trust in God. To be foolish. You could come to a sticky end. If I were brave enough I would have undertaken my Pilgrimage without booking anything maybe God will provide a safe place to camp in the middle of Glasgow? But I’m not. So I’ll miss the excitement. That’s my loss. Am I wise or foolish? Jesus walked where the Father told him to go and look what happened to him. it was foolish perhaps? Yet he was not foolhardy. He hid. He bound people to silence. He waited until the times were right in the Father’s plan.
Are we being wise or foolish in our planning?
Offensive gospel. “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” but only because they do not know that they are perishing. It seems foolish to leave the deck of the unsinkable Titanic for a half  swamped, overcrowded, tossing, miniscule lifeboat. Unless you’ve seen how the film ends. What is the “message of the cross?”
a) Grace, Jesus died for me in a cosmic act that defeated death itself for us all. Corinth got this.
b) Self-sacrifice, Jesus left us an instruction and an example. “Love one another as I have loved you” How much? “This much” says the cross. As for as I can reach. Now we have to love like that. Corinth didn’t get this.
Do we “get” this message of self-sacrifice?
Who are you sacrificing yourself for?
Is it Wisdom or Foolishness?
A new way of thinking is required and enabled by the cross.
A response and change is required and enabled by the cross.
Metanoia (Repentance)  is not just about turning away from the old ways its going forward, empowered, in the new. Self sacrifice not self preservation is the way of love, the way of power.
Are you wanting to walk in power? Then embrace God’s wisdom however foolish it seems.

How do broken people get to encounter Jesus ?

John 1:43-en.  Epiphany 2 2014

How do broken people get to encounter Jesus ?

Other Gospels show the disciples dropping their nets and following Jesus instantly. John describes a more gradual process. When two of John the Baptist's disciples grew curious, Jesus invited them to come and spend a day with him. Soon, they were ready to tell others what they had seen and heard. John the Baptist sees Jesus and says “Behold!” – but he was his cousin wasn't he and he’s been at the baptism. He’s had time to think about it.

So Andrew and John followed. Jesus sees them following …he says, “Come and See”

Andrew gets his brother and so Peter joins in too. Jesus goes to Andrew & Peter’s town where Jesus found Philip. Philip finds Nathaniel and Nathaniel meets Jesus.

There are connections – human relationships – a chain of them.

That is still the most common way that people get to encounter Jesus.

That web of relationships is what is designed to hold the world, society, and the kingdom together. And it can be what holds it together when things get broken.

This world can be a place of brokenness.

Broken bodies, relationships, minds, ethics, hopes and dreams. It's painful. But not inescapable. Not hopeless.

The Bible says that God is one who “forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” Psalm 103v3.

We believe that Jesus came and lived life here both to demonstrate and to achieve that.

We believe that Jesus is risen and alive today. And He still brings healing through this web of relationships – our relationships - His church. Because we have this web both within the fellowship of the church – but also our families, friends, neighbours, workmates, acquaintances and those we meet almost at random. When we meet with those in need then God is providing them with – a touching place. They may not be able yet to perceive God – but they can meet you.

People often get a bit broken. We're a bit broken ourselves. We'd love to pray with them for our broken world – Body, Mind, Spirit or Society. To provide A TOUCHING PLACE. “God makes with His friends a touching place....”  (see below) Our Healing Team have been asking “What common issues of brokenness affect our community and Church that we can offer prayer for healing for?” A specifically targeted opportunity for people to respond confidentially in prayer.

We must pray for the Spirit to guide us we can identify particular issues for which we can offer prayer and support. Then we can offer an evening for people to come, hear some teaching about God's love, his support and His power to heal in these very situations.

Philip couldn't answer Nathaniel's questions. Peter didn't know that Philip would be at home. Andrew didn't know that his brother would be interested. John was intending to follow John the Baptist that day. The Baptist knew that his job was to make the path straight for Jesus.

They made the network.

Jesus said “Come and see”. Not only “find out” but “have your eyes opened” and be made whole. God calls us to be a touching place. Let us pray....

John L. Bell & Graham Maule.

Copyright © 1989 WGRG, Iona Community.

CHRIST’S IS THE WORLD in which we move,

Christ’s are the folk we’re summoned to love,

Christ’s is the voice which calls us to care,

And Christ is the One who calls us here.

To the lost Christ shows His face;

To the unloved He gives His embrace:

To those who cry in pain or disgrace,

Christ makes with His friends

A touching place.

Feel for the people we most avoid,

Strange or bereaved or never employed;

Feel for the women, and feel for the men

Who fear that their living is all in vain.

Feel for the parents who’ve lost their child,

Feel for the women whom men have defiled,

Feel for the baby for whom there’s no breast,

And feel for the weary who find no rest.

Feel for the lives by life confused,

Riddled with doubt, in loving abused;

Feel for the lonely heart, conscious of sin,

Which longs to be pure but fears to begin.

(From “Love from Below” Wild Goose Publications 1989)

Your Holiness is Within You.

Your Holiness is within you.  1 Corinthians 1:1-9 19/1/14

Natural Church Development: It is natural for living things to grow and to reproduce.

There are “seasons” when things seem to rest, to regather strength even to die back – but new growth springs forth if life and health remain. What phase are we in in Allesley?

Corinth was blossoming. Paul wants to affirm them and celebrate them but also to equip them for the future. They are not to see the hard times that will contrast so much with their present first flush of revival as a defeat such that they will be wiped out. They are to understand about Sanctification and Faithfulness.

1. Sanctified & Called to be Holy v2

At first glance this is difficult.

Some children like to be dressed (boys?) - some like to do it “by my own self” however long ot takes.

Are we “sanctified” that is “made holy” by Jesus? That's what the gospel of grace says. “By his wounds we are healed” . We are made holy by Jesus. This is not just God turning a blind eye, saying that it does not matter, understanding that we are “only human” and that we have “done our best”. We are not “considered holy” despite appearances. As Christians we believe that God has acted in sacrificial love to make us Holy. e.g. Being cleansed, irradiated, disinfected, purged. This is not our outward state - it is a change in our nature, in our status. So why are we charged then to “be Holy”?

Is Paul's constant message in his letters to the saints that we should live as what we are. There is no excuse for Paul. We are not weak, corrupt, lost, sinners bravely making a doomed attempt to live like Jesus secure in the knowledge that our heavenly Father will swoop down when we fall to stand us up again and comfort us in our inevitable failure. He reminds us that we are called to “be Holy”., to live out the truth that is within us. We no longer need to sin. We simply choose to do so because its easier or more gratifying. We give up this fight too easily. Nothing will compensate for a lack of holiness – not success, not growth, not power, not comfort - in fact none of these things will last if we do not pursue holiness. Holiness is within you.

Churches that are alive are Holy. Without holiness churches die.

2. He will keep you firm to the end....God is faithful v8.

Does this sound like tough stuff? Look around and see who is not living a Holy life. Don't look out – look in. You know. I know. We all know. The Church in Corinth was riding the wave of spiritual excitement. They had tongues and interpretation, miracles and prophecy, growing numbers and people to fall out with. They thought a lot of themselves. If something is growing it must be healthy – yes? But look at those old trees which produce a bumper crop just before they fall in the winter storms, as if they knew what was coming. Paul does not want them to fail. He knows that hardship and persecution is coming, they need to be strengthened. They need to be prepared. In their halcyon days of spiritual summer they need to learn that God is with them also when things get tough. When it all seems to be going wrong “God will keep you firm to the end”. Do not be afraid of seasons of retrenchment. It does not all depend on our stamina. It is God who will sustain us until our end is achieved.

We are faithless all too often. We have out Holy days – but we have our relapses too. We have out times of faith – but we lose faith and confidence sometimes, don't we? But God does not. He is faithful. He does not give up on us. He will bring us – dragged kicking and screaming if necessary – into His holy presence. For we are “made Holy” and we are called to “be Holy”. And where God calls he also enables. He won't let go of you.

Your holiness is within you.