Date: 23 Oct 2002
Time: 14:28:40
Someone over on the gospel page suggested tying the great command to this text by way of showing what love isn't/does not do, i.e. love is not decietful(v.3) or flattering(v.5)or demanding(v.7) and so on.
That made me think of the list of Love's characteristics in 1 Cor. 13. I see many corralaries between what Paul says they did in Thessalonica and how he percieves Love should act. Of course he made the list so you'd expect him to score high, but it is nice to see an example, here, of the principle set forth in 1 Cor. 13. Might be fun to pursue as a sermon. The question would have to be asked,"So, how am I doing?" like those 18 wheelers you pass which ask on the back, "How's my driving? Call....." Who should folks call if our walk doesn't match our talk? Hmm... tom in TN(USA)
Date: 24 Oct 2002
Time: 08:03:35
I will be looking at our motivation for evangelism from this text. My church has a hard time with evangelism I think becuase they see it as pushy, salesman type stuff. But 2:8 makes it clear that it is our love for people that we share God and our selves with others.
What I struggle with is how do I show this kind of evangelism to the congregation? any suggestions?
Date: 24 Oct 2002
Time: 09:00:31
I am preaching on this and wanting to answer the question - HOW do we love God and finding the answer here: We live in a way which brings honor to God We live by God's values We love others We speak of our love for God to others Which, of course, is evangelism. I struggle with an introverted church that doesn't want to get too close. Or is that all churches? I just returned from spending time with my daughter who is nursing her baby. And the lessons are so clear there - you have to stay close, what you eat can affect your baby, and there is an element of sacrifice. Anyway, beginning to think about this passage - and know that evangelism is right in the middle of it all. Marg
Date: 24 Oct 2002
Time: 12:59:25
I am going from the perspective of 2:8, a model of the Christian life. Paul models it for us, but is also bonded with those who have suffered with him persecution for the sake of the Gospel.
I believe that everyone has a story. I'm talking about something that has happened in your life that has changed you in some shape, form or fashion. Some experience that if you shared it, someone might say, "you know what you're talking about. You've been there and you've done that." And whatever that thing is, it might be something that happened to you, or to someone close to you, but that thing has changed you forever. You're not the same as you once were.
It is even more meaningful, if you go through a traumatic event with someone or a group of people. There becomes a bond between you and those other people. Why does this happen? I think because you are able to identify with those who you went through that traumatic event with. And your perspective changes. The way that you think and act change because your priorities change. Arguments that you may have had in the past, just don't seem to matter much anymore.
This happens in combat with soldiers, the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, staff and patients in emergency rooms, and many other events qualify.
You remember that the letter to the Philippians was a very joyous letter. Yet we find out only now what really happened in Philippi, they were (v.2) "shamefully mistreated". But it was joyous because they went through a hard time together. They were bonded together through the suffering for Christ and the gospel of God. Paul is reminding them of the suffering that they went through together. And he is glad to say that they went through it together because they are now bonded closely together. And that proves his love of God and love of them. In other words, he has been there and done that. But not only that, they were with him during their persecution in Philippi and so they can identify with each other. They bonded in this trauma and pulled together.
Paul is glad that they were seen as worthy to be persecuted for the gospel of Jesus Christ as we see in v.4 "but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts." He is saying that, not only is it ok to be persecuted for the faith, but it proves that we are worthy to be entrusted with such a valuable asset as the gospel. But we weren't put here to please man, we weren't put here to be a people pleaser. We were put here to please God. And we have done it, and been proven worthy of the gospel by the persecution because of the gospel.
In addition to that, Paul tells us not to listen to him because of his status in the early church organization, but rather listen to him because he had been there with them when they were persecuted. He had been there and done that. He is telling them that there is no hierarchy here, rather we are siblings, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
There is a certain amount of authority that we give to people who have been through trauma. When I did my hospital chaplaincy program, I heard some of the saddest stories I have ever heard. And I new most of them to be true. So many people have these hard luck stories. I don't know why some horrible things happen to some people and not to others. I just don't know. If you have had a boring, uneventful life, count yourself as blessed of God. ‘Cause being tested in the fire of trauma is no fun, and many times it hurts, and leaves ugly scars.
Still working... t from ga
Date: 25 Oct 2002
Time: 10:59:23
t from GA: A class I had in seminary had as a term paper assignment to interview someone about their life and faith or lack of. He commented, after reading the papers, how every year he gives this assignment and is astounded at the amount of pain there is in the world. Can you imagine reading 150 papers of peoples' lives and hurts and joys? It's so often the hurts that form our faith journey.
Sally in GA