SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
TEXT: THEME: Caring for each other. INTRODUCTION “What difference does it make, having Christ in our world?” Jesus shows us how-to live-in relationship with God and with each other. The power of God gives us the ability to change, from the way that we have been living in order to be loving. With that, is the workings of the Holy Spirit. We see miracles, healing, profound teaching, acceptance, as part of Christ’s ministry. On our own, we are not able to perform miracles like how Jesus did, but God through the church can, through its members, together, aided by the Holy Spirit. Our culture has us thinking about only what we can do; how rich, strong, talented, and powerful we can be, but Christ shifts our thinking off of ourselves and onto the community of those who believe and live in relationship with God. Through the church, working together, God’s work in our world takes place. The Apostle Paul saw this as he became a church consultant helping churches move beyond their difficulties, and into life and ministry with God. The church is not just for Jews but includes Gentiles, that means it consists with everyone who believes. The church is rich in variety. Our individual faith is encouraged to join up with other believers in community and ministry to follow God. The Holy Spirit gives to us varieties of gifts for varieties of services to participate in God’s work in the world. God’s mission takes varieties of members. SCRIPTURE The church is a marvel, made up of Many members, Many Varieties of Services, Many Rich varieties of persons, assembled by the One; One God, One Spirit, One Christ. God assembles and arranges the many, for God’s purposes. So, when we show up at church it is like showing up at a farmers Market with all kinds of people, varieties, richness, talents and gifts. We are many rich varieties finding our solidarity in God’s assembly and arrangement of us to join God’s missional activity in our community. Conformity to mission, not to uniformity. This is different from other collections of people in the community. The church is informed by God and empowered by God’s Spirit to operate in ways different from the other groups. Kahu Wayne of Kaahumanu Church hosted a public Zoom meeting to inform our Maui Community about our Wailuku Mission Housing project. People from EAH, PBR, Mason Architecture, AMA Architecture, Hoku’Iwa and WUC were there as well as others concerned about housing, Wailuku and our community. The next day, Kahu Wayne and I were complimented of how our being there, set the tone of the meeting. Our church is the catalyst for forming these partnerships with the state, the County, our community, contractor and developers to build affordable rental units on the Mission Ground for our neighbors. The diverse nature of the church is varied, multi-talented and assembled for God’s purposes, Paul addresses how we should live and work together in this dynamic community of God. Coming from different cultures, experiences, faith back grounds, family traditions, life experiences, the community of God’s people need to practice good manners, patience, withhold condemnation and be open to learning something new. I must admit that working on this housing project, there are times that I am perturbed with people who are obstacles more than helpful. I tend to ignore those who sing the same tune but are not doing anything more constructive. And now I find myself shying away from those who want to attach themselves to our project, to have a ‘win’ in their lives. At times I feel a bit cynical, but I hold it to myself. I practice graciousness, and tolerance, I am kind and hold my tongue. And I am glad that I do, because I am often humbled by their generosity, their kindness, and when I listen to them, they share their heart and wisdom. My first impression often passes away when I live more like how God wants us to live, than how I want to live. This is what Paul is saying, be patient, appreciate each other, recognize their contribution, and even though not everybody is doing things all in the same way, have respect for each other, treat each other with courtesy and manners. Be accepting, make accommodations and be willing to do something differently to allow others to be included. The church is made up of varieties of Members to participate in God’s mission. APPLICATION Maybe the more difficult question to ask is “Looking at the varieties of members that God has arranged and appointed to our church, to what mission do we discern, God calling us to?” When we were participating in the New Creation Initiative in the late 90’s, one of the areas we looked at was how we were organized, or administered. Conference Staff were assisting in giving observations and I remember the comment made was that “Wailuku Union Church accomplishes God’s mission through valiant individual efforts from its members.” We have a small membership, we dream big, and we have exceptional, dedicated people who are able, through the gifting of the Holy Spirit are able to accomplish amazing things. That was true then and is true today. The Food Pantry, Soda Booth, the Organ, the Stained-Glass Windows, Ritter and Sanderson Hall Roofs, the 150th Anniversary Celebration, the Preschool, renovations of Dodge Hall, enduring through a pandemic, and the Wailuku Mission House project. Thank you for all of your valiant individual efforts. This is all done through the gifted abilities of our members, working together as a church to accomplish the work of God in Wailuku. CONCLUSION The church in Corinth was at a sea port, with an influx of new Ideas, fads, technologies, goods and services. The Church that is formed there was tremendously gifted, its members varied, cosmopolitan in nature. Their challenge was in being able to treat each other with love and respect. To have good manners amongst themselves and to serve rather than to be served. The members of the church are many and varied in order to contribute the its life and mission of God. How we live together is every bit as important as what we do. Other Lectionary Readings for today have to do with the Spirit of the Lord, being upon Jesus. This reminds us of the mission of Jesus to release, recover and set free. Our mission today is the same as then, to be a community of believers, with our varieties of members, gifted together by the Holy Spirit, to participate in God’s mission of release, recovery and setting free, all while living by God’s gracious love.
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