Date: 15 Jan 2001
Time: 17:02:56
My congregation has heard this passage so many times. I'm thinking of a way to present it in the most positive manner possible, and with a method that'll motivate them. I'm considering giving them tokens that they can present to others in their life, whose spiritual gifts they admire. Each congregation member would get two tokens: one to present to someone and the second for the honoree to forward to someone whose gifts they admire. I could start it off by modeling it with a person in the congregation whose gifts I admire. Just a preliminary thought. MTSOfan
Date: 16 Jan 2001
Time: 16:18:26
I'm calling my sermon "membership" and going to work with what it means to be a member of the body of Christ. So many of us are members of other organizations- country clubs, interest groups, PTA, etc. that we have lessened the act of joining the church to be a simply social act. Send in your dues occassionally and that's that. But this passage gives us the deeper double entendre of membership meaning a member of a human body- becoming a member means becoming an arm, ear, foot of the body of Christ. Such members are not easily severed, "traded out" or neglected. Such members can't disconnect themselves from the rest of the body Mon-Sat and then return on Sunday for a reconnection. No, to be members of the organization called church means to be a member of a body, a much deeper and abiding commitment than our other worldly memberships. A place to begin- Dawn in TX
Date: 16 Jan 2001
Time: 22:27:33
Do you think Paul meant v. 27 literally or figuratively? I've been pondering that. MTSOfan
Date: 16 Jan 2001
Time: 23:10:58
Hi John, I think in this passage it is an awesome opportunity to lift up our diversity. How boring it would be if we were not diverse and to celebrate world diversity is just plain exciting. Perhaps we could compare the different parts of the body to differnt world origins and our collective unity as Christians. Evangelism and world mission begins in the home church!
We are not called to be the same, but rather different. What do you think? Dale at MTSO, Deleware, OH
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 10:28:19
1. I've been wondering what I ought to do for my all age address and MTSO fan has given me scope for imagination with the token thing. Thanks. . .
2. Also, I thought I might share what happened when I preached the 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 last week. I have never had such a reaction to a sermon before. After the service, about 10 or more people surrounded me at the door of the church wanting to talk about the gifts of the Spirit. Many were inspired, challenged and moved. I preached with trepidation as shared my own journey in the life of the Spirit. In my sermon, I anchored the life in the Spirit in the confession of Christ as Lord, as flowing out of the trinitarian nature of God, and the aim of which is the common good of all. Throughout, I was careful not to focus on the gifts but the giver. The folk who gathered around after the service were particularly interested in the distinction between a talent as a gift of God as opposed to a gift of the Spirit. I will aim to explore their concerns which many raised. I have to say that I am thankful to God for his moving in our congregation last week.
3. So far, these are my musings on this week's epistle reading: TITLE: Unity in Diversity
THEME: The church is a motley crew of people baptised by one Spirit into the body of Christ (vs. 12-13).
INTRODUCTION:
Unity does not mean uniformity. Explore these different sayings: Different strokes for different folks. It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round.
Point out that Paul's use of the body metaphor arises out of the contemporary Stoic moralist usage (see C. K. Barrett in his commentary for a detailed explanation).
(In exploring the metaphor of the body we conclude):
a) Every member is indispensable to the whole (vs. 14-26).
b) Gifts are given by God's appointment (vs. 27-31)
It may be useful to flesh out the relationship between our baptism and the work of the Holy Spirit. . .
Enough of my ramblings. Thanks for all contributions so far and I look forward to quite a few more. A Canadian in Scotland.
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 11:22:56
MTSOfan: In answer to your question about verse 27, let me pass on to you the apt comment of CK Barrett on the matter: "The genitive (Xpistou) is not of identity but of possession and authority; not, the body which is christ, of which Christ consists, but, the body that belongs to Christ, and over which he rules (. . .), separate from the body even though continuous with it" (p. 292, v. 27, in Black's NT Comment. on 1 Corinthians, by C. K.Barrett). I hope this is helpful to you. From a Canadian in Scotland.
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 17:20:24
That does help quite a bit, "A Canadian". Thank you. MTSOfan
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 18:21:57
The problem with the Corinthians was their belief that some gifts and some people were better christians then others. "I have a greater part and gift then you do." I think Paul was saying that everybody(part) counts!
I like the story about the janitor at NASA who was asked what she did at her job. She replied, "I help put people into space." Every person in the body of Christ has an important contribution no matter how small or inferior it may seem.
RB in NC
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 20:10:32
This just came to me from the Holy Spirit aren't we all supposed to be seed planters-Apostle's carry an extraordinary message-Prophets Teaching, All Christians, not just pastor, evangelists...we are to ever strive for the greater gifts...Sur we all aren't Apostle's Prophet's teachers, healers, etc...But that doe not mean we can't strive to better gifts....we all worl together with our gifts for the Good of the The Body-The Church-Jesus Christ
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 20:59:01
First time contributor here...
I'm entitling my sermon "Heads, shoulders, knees and toes!" Remembering the song of my childhood, this seems to go along with Paul's description of the Body of Christ...
Call to Worship Leader: From our heads come dreams and vision, People: Our shoulders carry the wight of the world some days. Leader: We are drawn to a meditation place where we find ourselves alone and on our knees. People: We come to this place so that on our tip-toes we might be stretched and turned in a new direction. ALL: UNITED AS ONE, WE WORSHIP TOGETHER.
Thanks for the imput... I am enjoying the discussions...
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 21:00:34
"Heads, shoulders, knees and toes!" Rick Pittenger, pulpitt@att.net Faith UMC Fargo, ND
Sorry about that..
Date: 17 Jan 2001
Time: 21:13:58
I like the story about the janitor at NASA who was asked what she did at her job. She replied, "I help put people into space." RB in NC
Good one RB in NC!
;?) I'm RP in ND...
Date: 18 Jan 2001
Time: 14:22:58
"Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" makes a good children's message, if you do that (you can get the whole congregation singing). Since it's so physical, even little kids can relate to it.
revo
I think I'm going to decide against this one. I preached its predecessor last week and it would be too tempting to "hound" them.
Date: 19 Jan 2001
Time: 02:31:33
This text begins with God's design for unity. Gos is the author and He determines how it all fits together. In our Baptism we are all united to Christ, the head of the Body, and each one has gifts to enhance the function of the Body. The Corinthian congregation had the same struggles we do. Some were feeling superior to others saying, "I have no need of you." Others were feeling inferior, sensing that they had nothing to contribute to the Body. The beauty of God's design is that the Body needs the gifts of each person in order to carry on the mission. Like the Corinthians we neglect the head and either think we have nothing to offer or we don't need the rest of the Body, especially the head. We can get along fine on our own. Turning away from the Body, either way, brings the response from the head, "I have no need of you." But the Good News is that just as the Corinthians were included, we are also included in the Body through faith in the death and resurrection of the Head, Jesus Christ. Baptized in Christ, He has a need for us. We are connected to Him and to one another. We need Christ and we need one another so that we can be whole. Does anyone have a good story to illustrate this text? TS from Missouri
Date: 19 Jan 2001
Time: 09:25:27
TS from Missouri from a Canadian in Scotland - Here are a couple of illustrations that I am using in my sermon. They may or may not be helpful to you. . .
1. The Springfield, Oregon, Public Schools Newsletter published the following parable: "Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organised a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all th enaimals took all the subjects. The duck was excellent in swimmingl; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable, so nobody worried about that - except the duck. The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming. The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed 'charlie horses' from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running. The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his own way to get there. . ." (p. 312, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Chuck Swindoll).
2. "A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on either end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and alwasy delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the matser's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, prefect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of waht it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you.' 'Why,' asked the bearer, 'what are you ashamed of?" 'I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,' the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, 'As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.' Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologised to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, 'Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day whle we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.'"
Date: 19 Jan 2001
Time: 22:06:17
To a Canadian in Scotland: Thank you. The story of the cracked pot will be a big help. TS in Missouri
Date: 20 Jan 2001
Time: 00:51:43
I've read somewhere about Redwood Trees that despite their huge size, their roots are actually very shallow in the ground. Usually trees with shallow roots would easily topple over in windstorms etc. but Redwoods actually ahve an intricate system of roots intertwining and because of their roots intertwining it actually makes them stronger and able to withstand more and not topple over, and grow as large as they do; This seems to me to be an example of what can be done when we work together combining our gifts into one body -- with Christ nourishing our roots and helping us to stay strong; that togehter we make the body of Christ. I wish I could remember where I read t his a bout Redwoods,anyone ever heard this before? LCA in NC
Date: 20 Jan 2001
Time: 18:21:21
So who's the big toe in your church?
Without our big toes, we would have no balance. Who provides the balance in your church?
Yet our big toes are the ones most likely to get stubbed when the rest of the body is rushing around, hither and yon, not paying close enough attention to this "less honorable" part.
I suspect there are other body parts one could use to help folks reflect on the body.
Heather
Date: 21 Jan 2001
Time: 03:44:55
LCA in NC I liked your story and typed in "Redwwod Roots" in my search engine and came up with the folloing..."Holding hands" underground. The roots of a coast redwood are very shallow, growing only four to six feet deep, but spread out from the tree as far as 125 feet. This isn't much support for a tall, heavy tree -- floodwaters can erode top layers of soil, exposing the roots and weakening a tree's support system. Heavy rains and strong winds can bring even the biggest giant crashing to the ground.
But the roots of individual redwoods frequently grow intertwined with those of their neighbors. By "holding hands" underground, the roots form a network that allows the trees to withstand even great storms.
Shallow roots are sensitive to smothering silt. The redwood's roots are shallow so that they can collect the large amounts of moisture the tree requires. When sediment accumulates atop its roots, a redwood responds by growing a new root system upward, into the silt. One toppled coast redwood was found to have developed seven successive root systems, each grown in response to the periodic flods and heavy sedimentation that caused an 11-foot rise in ground level during the tree's 1200-year lifetime.
http://www.sempervirens.org/RedwoodPrimer.html
Thanks again,
Pulpitt in ND
Date: 21 Jan 2001
Time: 03:46:59
Sorry for the double "hit"...
what can I say, I'm a rookie...
pulpitt in ND
Date: 21 Jan 2001
Time: 04:37:19
pulpitt in ND.
Thanks for the Redwood info...I htink it will come in handy
Gord in Saskatoon