Sermon for Aug 24th, 2008
Faith Lutheran Church – Aug 24, 2008
14th Sunday after Pentecost – Lectionary 21 – Year A
Primary Text: Romans 12: 1-8
This summer I worked for the Wartburg Youth Leadership School. It consisted of two ten day sessions with 8-16 High School Youth. In each session the focus was on spiritual gifts and leadership. In our discussions we all realized that we all had different spiritual gifts. Some had the ability to speak in front of others. Some had wonderful writing skills. Others could sing, others make everyone laugh, play music, bring a group into deep discussion. The gifts were never ending. With all these people and all these different gifts, they were all leaders. They all put into motion a project that they would complete when they reached home. Each project was different utilizing the gifts that each had discerned, but every youth was the leader of their project. The Romans text for today is a text that was used by the staff during our training. We remember that each person has different skills and abilities, but they are all part of Christ’s body.
We, who are many, are one body in Christ. This is the center of this text. We are all different, we have different thoughts and concerns, skills and gifts. But, in Christ, who brings us together, we are one. The example of one body, many members, is strong. Without all the members of the body, the body would not be the same, it may survive, it may die, but whatever happens it would be different. A body without eyes can walk, but not see where it wants to go. A body without legs may see its path, but cannot reach it. Our community here is the same; we come from many different towns, driving as much as a half hour or more, from different jobs, backgrounds, and ways of life. However, we are one church. If any of us left, the church would probably not die, but it would be different. Through Christ we have been bound together. Christ bound the youth together during the sessions. Christ binds us together, closer and closer, every time that we gather. Those who are bound may still be a part of this worshiping community, or may have left to other areas of the country, but Christ binding love has no ends.
This is what Paul is speaking of when discerning the will of God, that we, despite our differences, would become one body in Christ. Often the temptation is when looking at the first two verses we think that it is entirely an individual, personal thing. We think that Paul is telling us to create different personal growth plans. We understand Paul to say that by personal, individual growth we may discover the will of God. If we were to continue reading and include verses 3-8, and even 9-21 that will be read next week, we see that Paul tells us the will of God. We should be one in the Body of Christ, and one with another. This is not to mean that we should put to the side our own personal growth, but that we should remember that our growth is within this body of Christ, and our growth may be helped by others also undergoing growth. In order to grow we need to understand our gifts, and have the church utilize those gifts. When someone is called to prophecy let them prophecy, when called to give, let them give, when called to teach, let them teach, when called to be compassionate, let them be compassionate in cheerfulness. We do a disservice to the church and community when we do not allow the gifts of this community to be used.
What happens when we have conflict with our Church? We may have small squabbles, we may have major tiffs, and some may arise even with Paul’s warning. When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. When we disregard others gifts, and attempt to do everything ourselves. Crawling may move the body, but walking works much better. When this conflict arises, we need to remember that we are all parts of Christ’s body, if we turn to another and only see their sin, we do not see our own sin and in fact increase it. But, if we turn to another and see Christ’s forgiveness, we can in turn remember that through Christ’s death and resurrection Christ has forgiven us and brought us into the body. It is through knowing and trusting in Christ’s forgiveness that we should use our gifts. By doing this we will be, as according to Romans, “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” When we use our gifts in the body of Christ, it is this that Paul speaks of as a living sacrifice and our spiritual worship.
We are chosen by God when we become a part of this body of Christ. Baptism is not of our doing, but is God’s work in us, calling and binding us to Christ and one another. But what does it mean to be chosen? Henri Nouwen speaks of this in his book, Life of the Beloved. “In this world, to be chosen simply means to be set apart in contrast to others. … Whole magazines are dedicated to “heroes” of sport, film, music, acting, and other ways of excelling. They are the “chosen ones” and their devotees, whether readers, listeners, or viewers, try to extract some vicarious pleasure from knowing them or being close to them. To be chosen as the Beloved of God is something radically different. Instead of excluding others, it includes others. Instead of rejecting others as less valuable, it accepts others in their own uniqueness. It is not a competitive, but a compassionate choice.”
When Jesus speaks of Peter as the rock that he will build his church, we remember that we also are a part of Christ’s church. We are rocks within that church. Some are the rocks that sit upon the dirt, holding the rest of the church up, others sit on the roof, watching for rain and trouble. Some are those who sit in the middle of the wall, holding it together. The saying “a house divided cannot stand” is apt here. Without one of the rocks, the church would crumble and fall. However, Christ is the mortar that holds us, Christ’s love cannot and will not crack. Christ builds and adds us to the church. We are not the ones who decide who are members of the church of Christ that is, Christ’s body, it is God who decides in God’s wondrous love.
14th Sunday after Pentecost – Lectionary 21 – Year A
Primary Text: Romans 12: 1-8
This summer I worked for the Wartburg Youth Leadership School. It consisted of two ten day sessions with 8-16 High School Youth. In each session the focus was on spiritual gifts and leadership. In our discussions we all realized that we all had different spiritual gifts. Some had the ability to speak in front of others. Some had wonderful writing skills. Others could sing, others make everyone laugh, play music, bring a group into deep discussion. The gifts were never ending. With all these people and all these different gifts, they were all leaders. They all put into motion a project that they would complete when they reached home. Each project was different utilizing the gifts that each had discerned, but every youth was the leader of their project. The Romans text for today is a text that was used by the staff during our training. We remember that each person has different skills and abilities, but they are all part of Christ’s body.
We, who are many, are one body in Christ. This is the center of this text. We are all different, we have different thoughts and concerns, skills and gifts. But, in Christ, who brings us together, we are one. The example of one body, many members, is strong. Without all the members of the body, the body would not be the same, it may survive, it may die, but whatever happens it would be different. A body without eyes can walk, but not see where it wants to go. A body without legs may see its path, but cannot reach it. Our community here is the same; we come from many different towns, driving as much as a half hour or more, from different jobs, backgrounds, and ways of life. However, we are one church. If any of us left, the church would probably not die, but it would be different. Through Christ we have been bound together. Christ bound the youth together during the sessions. Christ binds us together, closer and closer, every time that we gather. Those who are bound may still be a part of this worshiping community, or may have left to other areas of the country, but Christ binding love has no ends.
This is what Paul is speaking of when discerning the will of God, that we, despite our differences, would become one body in Christ. Often the temptation is when looking at the first two verses we think that it is entirely an individual, personal thing. We think that Paul is telling us to create different personal growth plans. We understand Paul to say that by personal, individual growth we may discover the will of God. If we were to continue reading and include verses 3-8, and even 9-21 that will be read next week, we see that Paul tells us the will of God. We should be one in the Body of Christ, and one with another. This is not to mean that we should put to the side our own personal growth, but that we should remember that our growth is within this body of Christ, and our growth may be helped by others also undergoing growth. In order to grow we need to understand our gifts, and have the church utilize those gifts. When someone is called to prophecy let them prophecy, when called to give, let them give, when called to teach, let them teach, when called to be compassionate, let them be compassionate in cheerfulness. We do a disservice to the church and community when we do not allow the gifts of this community to be used.
What happens when we have conflict with our Church? We may have small squabbles, we may have major tiffs, and some may arise even with Paul’s warning. When we think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. When we disregard others gifts, and attempt to do everything ourselves. Crawling may move the body, but walking works much better. When this conflict arises, we need to remember that we are all parts of Christ’s body, if we turn to another and only see their sin, we do not see our own sin and in fact increase it. But, if we turn to another and see Christ’s forgiveness, we can in turn remember that through Christ’s death and resurrection Christ has forgiven us and brought us into the body. It is through knowing and trusting in Christ’s forgiveness that we should use our gifts. By doing this we will be, as according to Romans, “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” When we use our gifts in the body of Christ, it is this that Paul speaks of as a living sacrifice and our spiritual worship.
We are chosen by God when we become a part of this body of Christ. Baptism is not of our doing, but is God’s work in us, calling and binding us to Christ and one another. But what does it mean to be chosen? Henri Nouwen speaks of this in his book, Life of the Beloved. “In this world, to be chosen simply means to be set apart in contrast to others. … Whole magazines are dedicated to “heroes” of sport, film, music, acting, and other ways of excelling. They are the “chosen ones” and their devotees, whether readers, listeners, or viewers, try to extract some vicarious pleasure from knowing them or being close to them. To be chosen as the Beloved of God is something radically different. Instead of excluding others, it includes others. Instead of rejecting others as less valuable, it accepts others in their own uniqueness. It is not a competitive, but a compassionate choice.”
When Jesus speaks of Peter as the rock that he will build his church, we remember that we also are a part of Christ’s church. We are rocks within that church. Some are the rocks that sit upon the dirt, holding the rest of the church up, others sit on the roof, watching for rain and trouble. Some are those who sit in the middle of the wall, holding it together. The saying “a house divided cannot stand” is apt here. Without one of the rocks, the church would crumble and fall. However, Christ is the mortar that holds us, Christ’s love cannot and will not crack. Christ builds and adds us to the church. We are not the ones who decide who are members of the church of Christ that is, Christ’s body, it is God who decides in God’s wondrous love.
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