Ordered - Love like Jesus until it stretches you (1 Corinthians 16) - Byrd

Jordan Byrd

Ordered, 1 Corinthians 16

For a better part of this year, I’ve had some ongoing back pain. I kept thinking, that the pain will eventually go away. That, my body would eventually adjust and heal, and I’d feel normal again. But, that hasn’t happened. What I’ve discovered is that the pain is tied to a lack of using certain core muscles. What I’m learning is that when muscles aren’t stretched and used often, they contract and shorten. And when I try to engage them, (for seemingly simple movements: e.g. standing-up, rolling over in bed, reaching down for something on the ground), the muscles spasm, or other muscles kick-in to compensate, causing those muscles to strain – doing more than they’re meant to do. Overall, the pain seems to result from lack of stretching and lack of use. The pain is likely a result of sitting too long during the day. So, I’ve been slowly incorporating stretches and exercises into my daily rhythms, with the hope that I can use and stretch those muscles more. And hopefully, I’ll stop experiencing as much pain; and I can experience more of life.

How much do I have to love someone?

One of the questions we all constantly bump-into is: How much do I have to love someone? Throughout the apostle Paul’s letter of 1 Corinthians, love is highlighted from the beginning of the letter to the end. And the love that Paul references isn’t just a general affection toward others. Rather, this love looks like the self-giving, stretched-out arms of Jesus on the cross. This is the kind of love that Paul highlights throughout 1 Corinthians.

And here in 1 Corinthians 16, he mentions this love of Jesus three last times: 1 Corinthians 16:14 - “Do everything in love [like Jesus].” 1 Corinthians 16:22 - “If anyone does not love the Lord [like Jesus], let that person be cursed! And 1 Corinthians 16:24 - “My love (like the love of Jesus] to all of you in Christ Jesus.”

In a broken world, we can get use to avoiding people, and in turn, we don’t have as many encounters to have to love people. This leads to a seated approach to loving others. I’ll love my neighbor, as long as they come my way first. I’ll love my spouse, as long as they apologize for what they said or did first. I’ll love _____, as long they meet me where I already am first. I’ll love as long as I don’t have to get up, and stretch myself and feel some tension or uneasiness to love them.

This posture ends up atrophying our spiritual muscles. to where we become accustomed to: staying away from others, staying in our own tribe, and staying in a comfortable state. We eventually become accustomed to life in this state, where we settle for a lesser experience of the life that God has for us. We’ve been shaped to believe that selfishness is best. We’ve been shaped to believe that tribalism is best. We’ve been shaped to believe that arrogance is best.

But God’s word in 1 Corinthians reminds us that these postures are false. That these actually are lesser ways of living. And the pain we feel in pursuing a selfish, tribalistic, and arrogant life is an indicator, that we’ve not stretched ourselves to love like Jesus. And in doing so, we’re missing out on the abundant life that comes through living in and out of the love of Jesus.

First Corinthians 16 shows us good news that we encounter in Jesus. The good news that living in and out of the love of Jesus is the surest and most abundant way we can live life.

Stretch until you feel it; but stop if it causes pain.

One repeated phrase that I’ve heard physical therapy practitioners say is: stretch until you feel it; but stop if it causes pain. So often, we can confuse the feeling of stretching for the feeling of pain.

Is it possible that the tension we feel, when loving another person – is God trying to shape us further into the abundant life of Jesus? And we feel a tension in doing so, because we’ve become accustomed to sitting. We’ve become accustomed to not loving like Jesus. We’ve become accustomed to selfishness, tribalism, and arrogance. How much should you love like Jesus? 

Love like Jesus until it stretches you.

Paul’s concluding instructions in 1 Corinthian 16 point toward: Loving like Jesus until it stretches you. Love like Jesus until it stretches you.

Teaching my kids to be generous is probably one of the toughest tasks that comes with parenting. It’s tough, because, I don’t even always want to be generous. My things may be at a different scale, compared to my kids, but, the same struggle is there. With my kids, their struggle to be generous, can often come down to the fact that they only have so much of something. For example, the only get candy here and there. So, why would I want to share what is rare to me. For me, it’s not necessarily candy, but I only get so much down time, so when I get it, why would I want to share what is rare? Having generosity as a first thought is not easy for us.

But this is exactly what God’s word tells us through Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Paul instructs the Corinthian church to give an offering for the Lord’s people. Here, in 1 Corinthians 16, we’re not given the specific details. But in Romans 15:25-26 we encounter that this offering is for the poor followers of Jesus in Jerusalem, Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. (Romans 15:25-26)

The offering itself is not the specific point we should notice. The specific point we should notice is how they determined “what” to give. In verse 2 of 1 Corinthians, Paul instructs the Corinthian followers of Jesus to, “set aside a sum of money in keeping with [their] income….” and to do so, “On the first day of every week….” (1 Corinthians 16:2)

Paul is advocating for a weekly giving pattern. He is also advocating for a giving pattern above and beyond the needs of the local Corinthian church, as this collection was for the poor in Jerusalem (a whole region away from Corinth). Paul is also advocating for prioritizing generosity with one’s income. For followers of Jesus, generosity is primary, not secondary. Generosity is to be prioritized in your budget, not just whatever is leftover after other expenses. Note that Paul is not saying to just give everything you have. But to give a sum – a certain amount, in keeping – in proportion – to your income.

Love like Jesus with your money, until it stretches you.

In context of 1 Corinthians and 1 Corinthians 16 emphasis on love, Paul is calling the Corinthian followers of Jesus to: love like Jesus with their money, until it stretches them. Followers of Jesus become more like Jesus when we think beyond ourselves with our money. Followers of Jesus love like Jesus with our money, when we give until it stretches us. If we give from the seated position, we’ll give our leftovers. But, if we give as Paul is instructing, we’ll be stretched. We’ll be confronted with our worries, fears, and insecurities. We’ll be confronted with the temptation we face to give to ourself, before giving to others. But, if we allow God to stretch our use of money, we’ll find that we have to trust and rely on God to provide what we give away. We’ll have to trust God, because we’ll feel the tension of not having that extra cushion of money. Which can often serve as a false God, trusting that cushion to provide for us, more than we trust God to provide for us. If we allow God to stretch our use of money, we’ll find that we initiate love toward others, like Jesus.

How much are you to love like Jesus with your money? Love like Jesus with your money, until it stretches you.

This past week was the Democratic National Convention. The Republican National Convention was a few weeks ago. These two gatherings have possibly become the most start examples of tribalism in American culture. While these two parties will always emphasize certain principles over others, the overriding desire of the American public seems to always be a longing for the two parties to work together. We constantly hear about the ideal of “crossing the political aisle” in Congress. Or “bipartisan” bills or policies. More and more, these seem to be ideals, and not realities. But, the longing for unity is still there.

Another area where we’re tempted to not love like Jesus until it stretches us is in our interactions with people who are not like us: those poorer than us, those wealthier than us, those more conservative than us, those more liberal than us, those from a different culture. The followers of Jesus in Corinth were also called to love people not like them until it stretched them. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Paul has already encouraged the Corinthian church to love their impoverished, Jewish brothers and sisters. This wouldn’t be natural. It would not be natural for non-Jews (Corinthians), to be concerned with non-Corinthians (Jews in Jerusalem). But, because of their encounter with the love of Jesus, they are also called to extend that love to those not like them. To do so, would definitely be a stretch. It would them moving from the seated, stay in our own culture – position. To standing-up, and stretching themselves to care for people unlike themselves.

Further more, 1 Corinthians 16:6 also highlights another stretch that Paul asks the Corinthian church to make. Paul references that he is trying to physically come and visit the Corinthian church. And when he comes, he is hoping that they will be generous to, help him on his journey, wherever he goes. (1 Corinthians 16:6)

Paul is asking for the Corinthian church to be generous in support of his missionary journeys to other regions and cities that are not in Corinth. This is Paul asking them to be generous above and beyond: their offering for poor Jews and their generosity to their own needs as a church in Corinth. And again, to be generous to people not like them (people they may never meet or have any personal relationship with).

Love different people like Jesus did, until it stretches you.

Paul is calling the Corinthian followers of Jesus to: love different people, until it stretches them. Followers of Jesus become more like Jesus when we think beyond ourselves and about other people. Followers of Jesus love like Jesus, when we consider people different from us, until it stretches us. If we interact with other people from the seated position, we’ll maintain the tribalism. But, if we intentionally consider those not like us, as Paul is instructing, we’ll be stretched. We’ll be confronted with our worries, fears, and insecurities. We’ll be confronted with the temptation we face to just stick to people we know. We’ll be confronted with the temptation to believe other people aren’t worth investing in.

But, if we allow God to stretch us, We’ll have to trust God, because we’ll feel the tension of being with people who are different from us. And we’ll have to trust God to show us that something more beautiful can come from different people interacting together under him as their Lord. If we allow God to stretch our interactions with others, we’ll find that we initiate love toward others, like Jesus.

How much are you to love people different from you? Love different people like Jesus did, until it stretches you.

I really enjoyed watching the Summer Olympics this past month. Normally, I’m not very into the track and field events. But, I ended up watching a lot of it during this Olympics. I’m not sure if it’s because track athletes have to get so amped up to burst off the blocks and sprint for 100 or 200 or more meters; but, it seemed like a lot of the athletes are very arrogant. Like, predicting the outcome of the race, before it’s run. Or, holding up the number one sign, with their finger, before the final race has been run. The athletic ability of these athletes was amazing to watch, but the arrogance of their attitude, made it difficult for me to fully root for them. I am disagreeable with their attitude, but they are very good at what they can do.

Who is a disagreeable, arrogant person in your life right now? We all have them. Those people we disagree with, and can’t stand to be around. The Corinthian church had similar people in their life. Paul being one of them!!! Most of Paul’s letter is a list of corrections. It’s never easy to receive criticism. And Paul has been saying that many of the Corinthian church’s practices are flat wrong, deceptive, and fly in the face of the way of Jesus. The relationship of the Corinthian church and Paul is a battle of who is right. And both strongly believe they are correct.

The Corinthians are so confident in their beliefs that they have had no problem in splitting the church into tribes; no problem in flaunting their sexuality beyond the bounds of marriage faithfulness; no problem flaunting their freedom for selfish purposes; and no problem flaunting their wealth in the face of the poor. And Paul is very confident in his correction of their beliefs, that he wrote a letter to them, and wants to visit them. The tension in their relationship is not hard to gather.

We see this even further, when, in 1 Corinthians 16:10-11, Paul asks the Corinthians to treat, his apprentice, Timothy, well;  and to not make him fearful to come, to no show him contempt, because of his relationship to Paul; and to not make his visit to them unpeaceful.

We see a similar tension, in 1 Corinthians 16:12, where one of Paul’s co-workers, Apollos, is unable to visit the Corinthians. Apollos is referenced toward the beginning of Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 1:12), as one of the leaders whom some were following, over and against Paul, or other leaders – and causing division to the church in the process.

Lastly, there is third tension, more closely tied to their own church community in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 16:15-18, Paul praises the devotion and service of the Corinthian church members: Stephanas, Fortunatas, and Achaicus. It’s likely these three are the ones who delivered the Corintians questions to Paul; and likely those who will be carrying Paul’s response back to the Corinthian church. There is already tension between the Corinthian church and Paul; and now Paul’s praise of church members whom do not seem to embody the values of Corinthian culture: wisdom, prestige, wealth, and power will certainly not make the relational tension any easier. But, Paul’s praise of the: humble, servant-hearted, devoted work of these three church members is in step with the values Paul highlights all throughout the letter of 1 Corinthians; and in step with the values that Jesus embodied in his own life – which is the primary example whom Paul points toward for all involved in this relational spat.

Love disagreeable, arrogant people like Jesus did, until it stretches you.

In this close to Paul’s letter, he is calling the Corinthian followers of Jesus to: love disagreeable, arrogant people, like Jesus did, until it stretches them. Followers of Jesus love like Jesus, when we’re stretched to value the inherent worth of the person we disagree with. Followers of Jesus love like Jesus, when we’re stretched to consider if the other person has an perspective worth considering. Followers of Jesus become more like Jesus when we surrender both perspectives to the authority of Jesus. If we interact with other people from the seated position, we’ll maintain the division. But, if we intentionally consider those not like us, as Paul is instructing, we’ll be stretched. We’ll be confronted with our worries, fears, and insecurities. We’ll be confronted with the temptation we face to think we know it all. We’ll be confronted with the temptation to believe that other people don’t have value, if they don’t see things from our perspective. But, if we allow God to stretch us, We’ll have to trust God, because we’ll feel the tension of interacting with people who disagree with us. And we’ll have to trust God to show us that something more beautiful can come from disagreeing, arrogant people interacting together and being shaped to became agreeable, humble people under Jesus as our Lord. If we allow God to stretch our interactions with others, we’ll find that we initiate love toward others, like Jesus.

How much are you to love disagreeable, arrogant people? Love disagreeable, arrogant people like Jesus did, until it stretches you.

Starting next Sunday, we’re going to stark reminding ourselves of the Mission of God which God has been on, since creation began; and since creation has separated from God; and how God has been on this mission through various people throughout history; and how he invites us to participate in his mission. How God wants to have us ride the wave of his mission – to bring the whole world back into his abundant life, by following his Son, Jesus.

To ride that wave, and participate in God’s mission will involve being shaped further and further to be like Jesus, and love like Jesus. God’s mission will inevitably bring us into situations where we’re called to love like Jesus until it stretches us: in our finances; in reaching out to people, who are very much unlike us; and reaching out to people, who are arrogant and disagreeing and ignorant to the good news of abundant life available in following Jesus.

But before we get to that in the coming weeks, each and every week, God has placed us in proximity to people whom he’s called us to love like Jesus, until it stretches us. God has called you to love needy people around you,  until it stretches you. God has called you to love the people around you, who are not like you, until it stretches you. God has called you to love the people around you, who are disagreeable and arrogant and hard to get-along with, until it stretches you.

In 1 Corinthians 16:20, Paul encourages the Corinthian church to greet one another with a holy kiss. Best I can tell, this was simply a cultural greeting in the Corinthian culture, but adapted by the followers of Jesus  to demonstrate a welcoming and loving posture toward each other. Overall, this isn’t a habit that we have in our culture. But, we do have gestures that communicate a similar posture and attitude toward each other. Like, saying hello, or shaking one’s hand, or a fist-bump. The posture of initiating a greeting and recognition of the other: even if they are of a different class and status as you; even if they are of a different background and life-journey from you; even if they drive you nuts with their opinions and actions. Simply because they are your brother or sister in Christ; or because they have eternal, inherent value and worth in being created in the image of God.

Whom is God’s Spirit calling you to love like Jesus until it stretches you?

Who are those people in your life: either in the church, or elsewhere in your life that God’s Spirit is calling you to stand-up, and initiate the love of Jesus, until it stretches you?

Taste and see.

If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus, I invite you to dwell on the reality that this is God’s posture toward you, in Jesus – tThat no matter how ungodly, no matter how unspiritual, no matter how obstinate you’ve been toward Jesus, he is extending his love toward you, even until it stretched him to the point of death on the cross. I invite you to taste and see that the love and life of Jesus is the most abundant life you can experience; and Jesus will stretch himself to the point of death to help you follow him into the abundant life of God. Please reach out to me, or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern taking a step of faith toward tasting and seeing that abundant life in Jesus.

Jesus loved us until it stretched his life to the point of death on the cross. We too can experience the abundance of this love, as we love like Jesus, until it stretches us.

Love like Jesus until it stretches you.

Ordered - The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death (1 Corinthians 15:1-34) - Byrd

Jordan Byrd

Ordered - The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death (1 Corinthians 15:1-34)

In 1993, my grandpa Bill died suddenly, at the age of 56, due to a heart attack while driving, and also while colliding into car with a woman, who survived the accident, and two young boys who also died, because they weren’t in seat belts. While I did not get to experience a lot of my grandpa’s life I still hold onto some core memories of him. One of those memories is that he had dentures. And because of that, he chewed Freedent brand gum. Mostly, this memory of my grandpa is like a picture. It’s an experience frozen in time. This memory is a reminder of the joy I experienced with my grandpa, when he was alive. But, it’s also a memory of how little time I got to experience with him before he died.

This picture (of Freedent Gum) serves as a reference point for how we think about life. We can be tempted to think that life is about living as long as we can and experiencing as many things and pleasures as we can in this body, before death. The YOLO: You Only Live Once mentality. Extending biological life to experience as much of life as possible. Because in the end, it’s all about making the good and pleasurable memories made during a short time of life that we get.

Or, we can be tempted to think that life is about getting beyond this body. That your thoughts, feelings, or spirituality matter more than existence in the body as it is now. That an out of body experience matter more than life in the body. That your spirit matters more than what you do in your deteriorating body. Because, in the end, an existence beyond the body is what matters. To see life beyond the body.

The followers of Jesus in Corinth, whom the apostle Paul writes to – in 1 Corinthians, dealt with similar temptations. Some were allowing the philosophies of Corinthian culture to deceive them into believing that escape from the body led to greater spirituality, and abundance of life. That, their bodies were a hindrance to an abundant life beyond the body. That their mortal bodies were limited and needed cast off to experience abundant life in the spiritual realm.

And some were being deceived into believing that the resurrection of the body is just a fanciful belief. That, resurrection doesn’t happen: Dead bodies don’t just come back to life. Rather, at best, resurrection is just metaphorical. It’s a symbol of: Enlightenment. Or, mystical transformation. Or, becoming a better person in the here and now.

Paul counters these beliefs by reiterating the good news of Jesus. Paul re-frames the Corinthians’ worldview, by saying that Jesus’ raised body emphasizes that life is most abundantly lived when embodied. Jesus’ raised body shows that embodied, human life matters; and that Jesus’ raised body provides hope that abundant, embodied life is possible, even in the face of death.

Jesus’ resurrection corrected the false beliefs that life is better without the body; that life is better by just being more spiritual, alone; and that abundant life is only to be experienced by good memories in the body, before death ends it all. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life always matters, even after death.

While I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with my grandpa Bill before his death, with my grandpa having entrusted his life to Jesus, I have hope that his life will matter more than just the memories I have of him. I have hope that one day, I can experience my grandpa in resurrected, bodily form, like Jesus’ body – that God promises to those who belong to Jesus. Where my grandpa’s life won’t just be a frozen memory, but a continued bodily experience with him into eternity. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death.

You may have heard of the Bills’ stadium experience that is setup on Main St. in Williamsville. It’s a glimpse into what a game-day experience will be like at the new Bills’ stadium, once it’s built. People will go to this preview experience, because they know it’s a taste of a bigger reality to come. If there was no new stadium being built, then it would be very difficult to convince anyone to come through a preview experience of stadium that will never be built. But, it’s because the new stadium construction has already started, that people will go to get a taste of what the finished stadium will be like.

This analogy is similar to the point that Paul makes about the risen Jesus’ body in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “...if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)

If Jesus did not actually, bodily raise from the dead, then Paul, nor other followers of Jesus, nor the Corinthian church, as a community of Jesus followers in Corinth – or those of us, here today, in Clarence would find Jesus worth giving our life and devotion to even in the face of persecution, like Paul, and many others have done. Paul even makes the point that if following Jesus is just some form of spirituality to help someone cope through life and there’s no actual hope of bodily resurrection after death, then followers of Jesus are to be most pitied (15:19). Why bother, if resurrection isn’t a true reality beyond death? Why suffer, if there’s no redemption to suffering (1 Corinthians 15:30-32)? It’s like going to the Bill’s stadium experience preview, and no stadium even getting built. What’s the point in experiencing something, that will never be realized?! Paul’s point is that Jesus being bodily raised back to life by God is the lynchpin action of the faith of Jesus followers. The faith of Jesus’ followers is grounded on God overcoming death in the resurrected, bodily life of Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus is a concrete, tangible, flesh and blood example of embodied life mattering beyond death.

We have cucumbers planted in our backyard. ​​And the first cucumber that appeared was exciting, because it indicated that planting the initial seed, wasn’t a waste. Fruit came from it. And the first fruit is indication that more is to come.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul uses this imagery to describe the nature of Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is a preview of what will happen to those who surrender to Jesus, and belong to him (1 Corinthians 15:23). Paul connects this point to the overall narrative of the Scriptures,  pointing all the way back to Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve’s separation from God, led to their separation from the creator of life, leaving them on a progressive path toward death, “...death cam through a man” … “For as in Adam all die” (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22). As death was initiated into humanity by Adam, so now, so now, bodily resurrection is initiated into humanity by Jesus, “...the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man” … “...so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21, 22)

Where Adam's separation from God brought death to humanity, Jesus' unity with God brought resurrection life to humanity.

One point to stop and consider here: While Paul’s initial wording may appear to describe a universal resurrection of all people, – that all people will just end up with God after death – the wording of 15:23, clarifies this is not the case. Yes, Jesus’ resurrection opened the door for all of humanity to have access to be raised like Jesus, but only if we BELONG TO HIM (15:23). While bodily resurrection is available to all people, it is still dependent on each of us to entrust our lives to Jesus, to be included in the promise (1 Corinthians 15:23). This surrendered trust in Jesus also mimics the surrendered trust that Paul describes Jesus having in God – to raise him from death – (1 Corinthians 15:4): Christ… WAS RAISED. Jesus did not overcome death of his own, fleshly ability. But entrusted himself to God’s spiritual ability for God to bring new life to his dead body. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death.

What obscure superpower would you want?

And the first person answered: The ability to pass gas without being noticed. Meaning, you could eat chili and not worry about the after-effects on people (sound or smell). Meaning, you could eat chili and not worry about the aftereffects on people. Meaning, you get the satisfaction of going to the bathroom, without having to deal with the mess. Finally, the last person answered: The ability to eat whatever, and never have any consequences (like being allergic or weight gain). While these answers are: out there and funny, I think they highlight what most superpowers, or super hero powers have in common: They all connect back to an embodied life. The abilities may enhance or make embodied life easier in some ways. But they are always grounded to life in a body.

We see a similar dynamic in the way Paul speaks of the gospel, or good news, of Jesus – in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8: 15:3 – Jesus took on human life and died a human death. 15:4 – Jesus was bodily raised to life. 15:5 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to Cephas, or the disciple Peter, as he’s more commonly known by. 15:5 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to the 12 disciples of Jesus. 15:5 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to over 500 followers of Jesus. 15:7 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to James, Jesus’ biological brother from Mary and Joseph, who later becomes a leading figure in the early church. 15:7 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to all of the apostles. 15:8 – Jesus’ risen body appeared to Paul. But Paul admits, Jesus appeared to him in an abnormal way. In Acts 9, we encounter Paul’s conversion to following Jesus. Jesus had already ascended from earth at this time. And as Paul was going about persecuting followers of Jesus, on the road to Damascus, the voice of Jesus called out to him from heaven. Jesus still appears to Paul, even in a bodily way that we would expect to encounter any other person, through speaking and hearing. Paul also notes, that his encounter with Jesus, has made an impact on his bodily life before death.

The gospel of Jesus reveals that embodied life matters to God.

What we can gather from this presentation of the gospel of Jesus is that embodied life matters to God. Embodied life mattered for God to take human flesh on, when he was born. Embodied life mattered to overcome the greatest enemy of humanity: death. Embodied life mattered in how God raised Jesus back to life: God didn’t just give Jesus an disembodied existence in the spiritual realm. No. Jesus was given a renewed, glorified body. That death had no hold over. What we see is that the risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters. Embodied life matters before death. And it matters after death. Embodied life matters into eternity. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death.

Our world is just as much tempted, like the world of the Corinthians, to believe that the life that matters, is what we can experience in the short time we have before death catches us; or to believe that the life that matters, is a disembodied life, like some kind of spiritual catatonic state, that is unlike the bodily, creation-oriented, life God has already created us to live.

“Christian” teachings has become, possibly, the most susceptible to this temptation, with an overemphasis of the spiritual over the physical. That our hope is just an escape from this decaying realm to a pure spiritual realm, with little resemblance to the life God has given us. Likem, angels floating on clouds, or some similar image. While it is true that Scripture describes this world as passing away, it also describes Jesus’ resurrection making way for a new heaven and new earth coming down to replace what is decaying, Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4, NIV)

What stands out here, is that this is not a disembodied spiritual existence. It’s a renewed bodily existence in the presence of God, in the presence of life itself. And the descriptors are even bodily oriented. Followers of Jesus have been tempted between the pendulum of these two stances: Being so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good; or being so earthly minded that we’re no heavenly good. The vision we’re given in the resurrected life of Jesus, is that we’re to: Be earthly and heavenly minded in the body God has gifted to us. And, in the face of death, trust that God will also raise us to continue to be earthly and heavenly minded in the resurrected body that he gives us, when he makes all things right. Jesus perfectly highlights this tension in his life: being earthly and heavenly minded in the body of flesh that he brought into the life of God.

The hope we have through Jesus resurrection, is that embodied life matters now, and it still matters after death. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death.

Today, what kind of life are you tempted toward? Living it up before you die? Or yearning for a life beyond the body? My hope is that you find the resurrecting power of God – to raise Jesus to glorified, bodily life compelling. That, the embodied life of God, revealed in Jesus highlights that God thinks bodily, human life matters. That your bodily life matters to God. I hope you hear that God finds your life meaningful, even if you don’t see how it is. I hope you can see the hope available to you, through the resurrection of Jesus, that you can experience the same glorified, perfected, and embodied life that Jesus experienced in his resurrection from death.

Your bodily life matters to God.

You too can belong to Jesus, surrendering your life to him, being united to him, through faith, under the water of baptism. If you’d like to explore that step of faith, please find me, or reach out to another trusted follower of Jesus, whom you already know, to help you explore that step of faith — to step into the Jesus promise of resurrection hope for an embodied life that matters, even after death.

If you’ve already surrendered your life to Jesus, and belong to him, Would you simply affirm the truth, that embodied life, that bodily, human life matters, because God rose Jesus from death to an embodied life. Would you affirm the truth that bodily life matters, from the womb and through the tomb? Would you affirm the truth that a life with God, is not just about escaping this earthly realm for heaven, but that it’s about embodying the Spirit of Jesus in our everyday, bodily life, now, and in resurrection –  in the new heaven and new earth? Would you affirm the truth that the hope we have in Jesus, is a resurrected, embodied life into eternity?

If Jesus didn’t rise, our faith is pointless. But, if Jesus did rise, it’s the greatest hope we have in a world ensnared by the power of death. The risen Jesus highlights that embodied life matters, even after death.

Ordered: You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you (1 Cor. 14) - Byrd

Jordan Byrd

Ordered – You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you.

Read: 1 Corinthians 14

A week ago, I was looking at someone’s social media page. While looking, I got distracted with something else, so I put my phone in my pocket. When I checked my phone later, I noticed that I did the equivalent of this [random clacking sound on a keyboard]. I had somehow typed an unintelligible message of letters that also got posted to this person’s page. If anyone read that message, they might have wondered what I was trying to communicate.

When communication is unclear, It’s just sounds, words, and symbols to us. Sounds, words, and symbols that may have meaning, but aren’t known to us. When communication is unclear, we struggle to know what to do with it: we struggle to know how to respond. We might dismiss it. We might think the person communicating is crazy, and never seek further clarification.

For me, one of the funniest moments of parenting young children has been trying to communicate on their level. Recently, I was trying to talk to one of my kids about treating their siblings well, and during the conversation, I said something like, “How would you feel if you were mistreated by someone?” And I could see the internal wheels spinning – trying to make sense of what I said. And I asked, “Do you know what I’m talking about?” And the response was a question about what “mistreat” meant. From my perspective, I was communicating clearly. but from a kid’s limited vocabulary, what I said was not clear at all. It was just sounds coming out of my mouth. So, I had to break down the idea further, and use other words and examples to explain what “mistreat” means.

This scenario can easily describe where Jesus followers find themselves in relation to people who don’t yet believe in Jesus. Especially for those of us who’ve followed Jesus for a while now. Where, we assume people just know – people just know who Jesus is, they just don’t want to believe. And while it could be true, that some people have had Jesus clearly communicated to them, and just refuse to respond in belief for some reason. There are also a lot of people who are not necessarily anti-Jesus. They just simply have not fully grasped who he is, and what it means to follow him.

If we’ve followed Jesus for some time, we can easily forget that, at one time, we too were like this there was a time, where Jesus did not fully make sense to us too. But, somewhere along the line, someone, or multiple people, used other words, or examples, or sharing from their own life of following Jesus, that helped Jesus to be more clearly understood by us. And it’s understanding that communication, that enabled us to respond in belief that Jesus is God, and respond in following his way of life, and respond in ongoing worship of him as Lord – as THE authority over all things. You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you.

First Corinthians 14 presents a similar situation. As the apostle Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth, in chapter 14, he highlights that importance of clearly communicating the word of God revealed in Jesus. And, while this chapter is filled with many mysterious references for us today, we won’t nearly be able to address all of them as fully as we’d like with our time. But, my aim for our time together, is to help highlight an overarching point that Paul makes about God being understandably known through the word of Jesus and his Spirit. My goal is to emphasize how important it is for followers of Jesus to clearly communicate Jesus to those who have not yet believed.

What we encounter in Paul’s review of the Corinthians’ worship gathering, in chapter 14, is that their worship was being done in a way that excluded some people from hearing God’s word in an understandable manner. Some were declaring God’s word in languages not understood by all who were present. One of Paul's main points in this chapter, is that followers of Jesus are called to communicate God’s word to others in an understandable manner – in a manner so that all present can understand God’s word. And when done, God’s presence – the presence of Jesus’ Spirit – is accessible and understood to everyone present. Paul summarizes this reality in 14:25 where he says, “...they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” Paul instructs the Corinthian church that clear communication makes it possible to respond in worship to the God revealed in Jesus. You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you. The invited question we’re asked to ponder is: how are we helping others to clearly understand Jesus?

Throughout Paul’s letter of 1 Corinthians, he has been addressing divisions in the church. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been reflecting on Paul’s words to the Corinthian church regarding gifts of the Spirit. The gifts are important, but they’re ordered and directed by the love of Jesus – which Mitch helped us reflect through last week. Without love, the gifts are useless. They are like a loud, obnoxious noise, without love. And in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul highlights an actual situation where the gifts are utilized without love. Specifically, Paul zeros-in on the gifts of tongues and prophecy in the Corinthian’s worship.

The earliest example of a phenomenon of speaking in tongues, that is, supernaturally communicating in a different language, is what we find in Acts 2:1-11, When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

The context of this passage is God’s Spirit speaking through the first disciples of Jesus, so that non-Jews could hear God’s word in their native language, so that the God revealed in Jesus could be communicated more clearly to them, and comprehended more clearly by them.

In Acts 2, specifically, we encounter God initiating his disciple’s commission to makes disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). God’s Spirit making it possible to make disciples of the nations before ever going to the nations. But, we see this is not normative, as the disciples begin to spread across Israel, the Roman empire, and to the ends of the earth with the message of Jesus. There are a couple other times in Acts that non-Jewish believers speak in a foreign tongue (Acts 10:46 and Acts 19:6). Each of these instances were also in the context of Jesus being shared with unbelievers. So, a commonality of this phenomenon in Acts is that Jesus is made known in a familiar tongue to the converted unbeliever. In Acts, the this seems to uniquely happen at the spontaneous prompting of the Holy Spirit, and for the purpose of validating the message of Jesus to the convert. The writings of Paul in 1 Corinthians are the only other place in Christian Scripture, that we encounter this phenomenon of speaking in tongues by the Holy Spirit.

What stands out about the phenomenon of speaking in tongues in Christian Scripture is that it doesn’t appear often. And study of church history past the writings of the scriptures reveal even further, that speaking in tongues is not referenced much either. What seems to bear out from this is that the supernatural form of speaking in tongues was a form of jump-starting clear communication of the good news of Jesus to the nations. And once Jesus’ disciples began spreading the good news of Jesus across the nations, speaking in tongues became less needed. Or, God’s Spirit shifts from supernatural speaking abilities, to supernatural interpretation abilities.

If we pan out to see the broader work that God is doing throughout human history as a whole, the supernatural ability to speak and hear the good news of Jesus in a clear and understandable way in one’s native tongue — was part of God’s way of paving the way for all people of the world to know and understand him through the life and message of Jesus. We see that people of all backgrounds and languages come to worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to them by the gifting help of God’s spirit. They worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to them in a way they could understand. One such example of the good news of Jesus spreading to the nations is the existence of the church in Corinth. The church in Corinth is evidence that the message of Jesus had been spread and communicated beyond Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and now had started to go to the ends of the earth (as Jesus called his disciples to do in Acts 1:8).

I have neighbors who immigrated from another country. Recently, there was an instance of conversation, where we met an impasse at communicating. We were talking about a coming-of-age custom that they were celebrating for one of their kids, and there wasn’t a direct English translation for the custom. Even though there wasn’t a clear English translation, my neighbors still tried to explain the custom in other ways, so that I could understand. Without a translation, or further explanation, there was nothing further I could do with the initial conversation. It’s not that there wasn’t meaning behind what they were saying or describing. I just didn’t have the understanding of their native language or culture to fully understand what they were communicating at first. So, they had to find other ways to communicate it to me. This same reality is in the background of the church in Corinth.

The worship of Jesus followers flows-out of the instruction for worship in the Hebrew Scriptures and culture. My boys play with Legos all of the time. They have many Lego sets, but hardly any of them exist in their original construction. They have taken the foundational pieces from one set, and added pieces from other sets onto them, to create a whole new creation. This is kind of how Christian worship took shape. It was built upon the foundation of Hebrew Scriptures and customs, with Hebrew as the language of communication. But, once God reveals himself in Jesus, whom was born into a quasi-Hebrew/Roman culture, during the Roman empire, with remnants of Koine Greek as the common language of communication that time Jesus’ followers then incorporated the Greek language to speak about the life of God revealed in Jesus and that language shaped how they worshiped. So Christian worship is shaped from a hybrid Hebrew/Greek form of language. With this, there becomes a sense of what language best communicates the message and life of Jesus?

What happens when this message moves beyond a culture that is rooted in the Hebrew language? What happens when this message moves beyond a culture that is rooted in the common Greek spoken in Israel, during Jesus time? What happens when this message moves to an area with differing dialects? What happens when this message moves beyond a culture rooted in Koine Greek, like English in the United States, or Spanish in Mexico, or Somali in Somalia?

Philip Blosser, Charles Sullivan, Dale Coulter, and James Lik-ou-dis make the argument that this is what is happening in the background of 1 Corinthians 14, when we encounter the references to speaking in tongues. That the tongues of Corinth is reference to a foreign sacred language that only select people in the Corinthian church fully understood. There was essentially, insider-oriented, religious language happening being used in worship. So, in a worship gathering, some might read from the Hebrew scriptures, for example (what we think of as the Old Testament in our Bibles), or speak a word of encouragement or admonition in Hebrew; and only those who knew Hebrew would know what was being read or said. Everybody who didn’t know Hebrew, would be clueless to what was being read or said; and it was of not benefit for them to gain a better understanding of the God revealed in Jesus, because they had no idea what was being said or read. For those familiar with the Roman Catholic church, a more modern example of this might be like when mass use to only be spoken in Latin. English speakers in the United States were expected to be edified from a language they don’t normally speak and many didn’t understand.

With this insight about 1 Corinthians 14, it helps connect many of the connections that Paul gives throughout this chapter. It helps explain why there would be various languages (sacred languages and local dialects) spoken during a worship gathering. I think we see a glimpse of this by the wording Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 14:2, when he references uttering mysteries by the Spirit, when speaking in a foreign language. Paul describes the mysteries of God as what God made known in Jesus as Christ or Messiah. We see this connection in Paul’s writing in Colossian 1:27, God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. In 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul references that this mystery is what the Hebrew scripture writers longed to be revealed in the Messiah or Christ, This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. The Hebrew scriptures were the scriptures of the early Jesus followers. What we have as the New Testament was still being written. So, the Hebrew scriptures would have been highly valued as being more sacred for use during worship. The Hebrew scriptures were the treasure trove of the mysteries of God foretold in Jesus. Which is true. But, if someone cannot understand the language of Hebrew, they are of no use. They are just a bunch of noises strung together.

So, this perspective of 1 Corinthians 14 also helps explain why translators would be needed during a worship gathering like this. This perspective helps explain why Paul emphasizes speaking in a way that everyone understands what is being said, compared to just one or a few people understanding the truth of what is being said. This perspective helps explain why an unbeliever would find the gathering useless, since insider language was being used during worship.

This perspective also partly helps explain why the women referenced toward the end of the chapter are encouraged to seek further explanation about what is being said. All women might partly be referenced here, because they might have been generally less educated than men at that time. But this section also seems to be directed mainly toward wives, as Paul, elsewhere does not forbid women from speaking in worship by praying and prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5). There seems to be a more nuanced cultural dynamic going on here. And it seems to pertain to what was the customary protocol of respecting one’s husband in public. And during this time, asking clarification to something unknown, while in public, was considered disrespectful. A possibly parallel might be how, in our day, if a husband or wife disagree with what the other said in public, it’s more dignifying of the other spouse, to point out the disagreement in private, rather than shame your spouse in public. Ultimately, the point seems to be an encouragement to seek understanding about God and God’s word in a respectful manner.

We were watching the women’s gymnastics of the summer Olympics this week, and one of the vignette segments was on the top Brazilian female gymnast. So, her answers to questions were all in Portuguese. Eventually, one of my kids said, “What is she saying?!” For me, I could read the subtitles, but my kid, who doesn’t read yet, did not benefit from that translation. Instead my kid needed an even further explanation, to know what was being said.

In response to the segregated language in use during worship, Paul does not forbid the language from being used. As long as it is interpreted. As long as it can be made understandable to all who are present for worship. Paul is saying that a prophetic word in a foreign language is acceptable, as long as it can be communicated clearly to everyone who is present. Paul backs up his argument by highlighting that, clearly communicating about Jesus is what can lead to even an unbeliever coming to repentance of living apart from God, and establishing belief in Jesus (1 Corinthians 14:25). When God’s word is clearly communicated, it enables us to be more aware of God’s presence among us. When God’s word is clearly communicated, we’re able to more clearly see what our life lacks, and the abundant life that Jesus has for us. We’re able to take steps of faith toward further belief in Jesus. We’re able to more fully worship.

We’re able to worship today, because Jesus was clearly communicated to us over and over and over again. You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you. How are you helping others to experience the same?

How might this passage intersect with our lives today? We, like the Corinthian church, still deal with insider language being used in worship, or even in our day-to-day conversations with people about our faith in Jesus. The term “Christian-ese” has been mockingy used to describe this kind of insider language. And there’s a tension to hold here. Because the churchy, Jesus-y, holy language that we use is not useless. Because it has been useful to us, and our journey of coming to better understand the God revealed in Jesus. But, just because it was helpful for us, does not mean that it will be what is helpful for someone else.

We cannot assume that people will be gripped by Jesus, the way we were told about Jesus. We are faced with the same challenge as the Corinthian church to consider others, and serve their needs (needs that aren’t our own), We don’t necessarily need the message of Jesus explained any better. But new and unexplored ways of communicating about Jesus are what will likely be needed for others to understand the message of Jesus clearly. And, relying on God’s Spirit to supernaturally help us to do so.

We get a glimpse of this practice in the gospel of John, where the gospel opens by saying, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). The term “word” here, referenced an impersonal form knowledge in the Greek language and philosophy. This gospel is written to a Greek understanding audience. The gospel has the challenge of taking a Greek philosophical term and bending and stretching it to describe what has happened through the life of Jesus. So, the gospel writer says that this impersonal knowledge became flesh, became a person. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). To a Greek audience, this would be captivating. “You mean Jesus brings that knowledge into human existence?!” “It’s not just impersonal, but now a personal reality?!” The reality is, something new happened when Jesus came into the picture. And simply using the old categories would not clearly or fully communicate what Jesus has made possible in taking on human life. God’s Spirit helped the gospel writer communicate this in an understandable way.

So too, we are called to do this similar work in our day and age. We’re called to make Jesus understandable to the language and philosophical terminology of our age. Speaking of love, but including the self-sacrificial manner that Jesus loved. That kind of love is drastically different than what is celebrated and spoken of in our culture, even though it’s the same word. But the meaning is drastically earth-shatteringly different.

And while you may be thinking, I’m not skilled to talk and speak about Jesus how you just did. Ok. Maybe not. But, in your way of life, you can communicate the same reality. That you can communicate the self-sacrificial love of Jesus, by how you live that way. And you can say, in your own simple way, that you love that way, because Jesus loves that way.

Either way is clearly communicating Jesus. And we do so – trusting God’s Spirit to supernaturally help us to do so. You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you, in a way you needed to more fully understand. You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you. How are you helping others to experience the same?

Today, if you’re still don’t clearly understand the God revealed in Jesus, know that God wants you to know him. Know that God is always at work to make himself known to you. Know that God’s Spirit is constantly arranging opportunities for you to hear more about him in a way that you can understand. If you’re seeking God, don’t stop seeking. And please know that I’m open, or another trusted follower of Jesus, whom you know, is probably open to helping you get answers to what you don’t understand about the God revealed in Jesus. 

If you’ve already come to know the God revealed in Jesus, how might God be calling you to help those in your life, come to understand him more clearly? How might God be calling you to stretch your imagination of how to more clearly communicate Jesus to others? How might God be calling you to more faithfully live into the way of Jesus, and be prepared to give the courageous explanation, that Jesus is the reason for why you do what you do. How might God be calling you to trust his Spirit to help you clearly communicate Jesus to others?

You worship because Jesus was clearly communicated to you. How is God’s Spirit calling you to clearly communicate the God revealed in Jesus to those who don’t yet believe?

Ordered: Serve the need however God's gifted you (1 Cor. 12) - Byrd

Jordan Byrd

Ordered - Serve the need however God’s gifted you (1 Corinthians 12)

If you’ve ever had this cereal with marshmallows in it, you know the temptation is to pick and eat the marshmallows, and not the oat cereal. The taste and colors of the marshmallows can be more appealing than the more bland looking and tasting oat cereal. If we pull out just the marshmallows, we end up loosing most of the nutrients available in the box of cereal: the whole grains, vitamins, and protein. We’re tempted to see the marshmallows as the more important than the oat cereal. While the marshmallows could be eaten and enjoyed by themself, the oat cereal enhances the cereal nutritionally. The oat cereal and the marshmallows can be enjoyed separately, but each is enhanced when eaten together.

My wife Julia works Monday afternoons, and doesn’t usually get home until after our typical family dinner time. Julia is a way better cook than me. She can make almost anything from scratch. She knows how long to cook dishes. She knows how to prepare foods better than me. She knows the tips and tricks that good cooks and bakers know. Julia is gifted in cooking and baking, and I am not. So, it’s either going to be cereal for dinner, or, I wait until she gets home from work, so she can cook dinner. I am not gifted in cooking and baking, so I usually make our kids wait an hour longer than usual, so that Julia, the gifted cook and baker can make dinner, after she’s worked all afternoon.

I’m not gifted in leadership. I’m not gifted in administration. I’m not gifted in handling kids. I’m not gifted in speaking. I’m not gifted in singing. I’m not gifted in teaching. I’m not gifted in maintenance. We’re shaped to believe that certain tasks and needs can only be met by people – gifted to address those tasks and needs. Our world is filled with needs that go unserved because of this belief. Our world is filled with unmet needs, because we are tempted and deceived into believing that needs can only be met by gifted people – by people better, more natural at meeting those needs. We’re tempted and deceived to believe that we can’t meet a need, if we’re not gifted a certain way.

In 1 Corinthians 12, God’s word reveals a different perspective. God’s word reveals a different belief. In 1 Corinthians 12, we encounter that God can meet the needs around us through any person, regardless of how we’re gifted – regardless of how God’s gifted us. First Corinthians 12 shows that the need is more important than a person’s gifting. First Corinthians 12 shows that God can meet needs through any kind of contribution – through any kind of service. First Corinthians 12 highlights that: Needs are met by service; and service is enhanced by gifting.

First Corinthians 12 highlights that willingness to serve is more important than one’s gifting. We see this in the life of Jesus. Jesus was indeed enhanced in ability by his divine nature. But, he first lived out of a willingness to serve, before reaching for his enhanced abilities. We see this in Philippians 2:5-7, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of servant…..” (Philippians 2:5-7)

The good news of 1 Corinthians 12 is two fold: the first aspect of good news is that God doesn’t need us to be gifted a certain way for him to meet needs around us. God simply needs us to be willing to serve. The second aspect of good news is that God has uniquely gifted each of his followers to support and enhance our service to needs around us.

In 1 Corinthians 12, God’s word calls us to respond to this good news by serving the need however God’s gifted you. Serve the need however God’s gifted you.

Paul’s letter to the first-century church in Corinth is overall addressing an issue of disunity among the followers of Jesus in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 11, we reflected on disunity as a result of wealthy followers of Jesus excluding poor followers of Jesus when they gathered for workship and remembered the broken body and shed blood of Jesus during the Lord’s Supper (or what we more normally call, communion).

Here, in 1 Corinthians 12, we see a disunity among the Corinthian followers of Jesus, based on comparison of spiritual gifts given to the members of the church from God. There is a sense in which certain spiritual giftings – certain manifestations of God’s presence in the life of believers is viewed as better than others.

Overall, Paul is addressing a temptation the Corinthian believers have to believe that certain giftings are more important or better than others. To correct this false belief that certain manifestations of God’s presence – that certain spiritual giftings – are better than others by bringing the Corinthian followers of Jesus back to the source of the issue. Paul is calling them to remember what these manifestations of God’s Spirit are in the first place. They are gifts; and gifts from God. They are freely given by God. They are not earned by believers. They are not hand-picked by believers from a heavenly prize-box. They are gifted according to God’s: goodness, good will, and wisdom. And as gifts, they are not something that can be flaunted over another’s gifts. Because no believer had anything to do with the gift they received. There is nothing of a believer’s doing to rightly flex their gift as more important than another’s gift.

In 12:1-3, Paul re-grounds the Corinthian followers of Jesus in Jesus. Paul presents this contrast of what is of the Spirit of Jesus; and what is not of the Spirit of Jesus. And what Paul highlights by the Corinthians attitude about their spiritual gifts, is that they’re being tempted and deceived by a spirit other than Jesus. The evidence of this is their boasting about their unearned gifts – as this does not reflect a life surrendered to Jesus as Lord – surrendered to Jesus as the authority over all things, especially the gifts he gave to individuals believers. It’s hard to say, let alone, live with Jesus as your Lord, when you’re acting like a lord yourself toward others. “This boasting does not reflect the way of our Lord Jesus.”

In 12:4-11, Paul expands this thought to highlight the reason for follower of Jesus being given different gifts from God. We can see this in 12:6-7, that: The reason for the gifts is so that God’s work can be diversely expressed through his followers for the common good.

To this, Paul brings his thought back to the disunity of the Corinthian church. In 12:4-11, Paul highlights how the gifts are uniquely different, and how they’re dispersed among the people of God’s church, and how they’re designed to function together, and not superior to one another.

Paul highlights the diverse interdependence of the spiritual gifts. The gifts God gives are diverse. Not all are given the same gift. Rather, one is given wisdom, another knowledge, another faith, and many others. Based on other lists of spiritual gifts that Paul lists in other letters in the Bible, this is not necessarily an exhaustive list of gifts that God gives to believers. But, they give a sens of the diversity of God’s enhancing gifts. Not all thave the same gift, but each gift functions together as a conduit for God’s work to be made know in the world.

This past week, my kids created a playdough character with multiple eyes and ears. This visually illustrates Paul’s analogy in 12:17-20, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?” … “If they were all one part, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:17, 19)

If everyone was gifted similar, we would be absent of a lot of aspects of God’s Spiritual presence among us. We might have a lot of knowledge, but lack Spiritual wisdom to use that knowledge. Or, we might have a lot of prophetic truth, without Spiritual faith to live into it. The body of Christ, would look a lot like the playdough figure my kids made. Collectively, the gifts enhance God’s mission to redeem the world from death to abundant life – from separation from God’s presence,  to experience of God’s presence. And this experience happens, when God’s gifts are lived-out in community – in the life of the church. Together, there is an interdependence of believer’s giftings – to make God’s life, revealed in Jesus, known more fully to the world.

In 12:12-31, Paul uses the imagery of the body to illustrate the diverse interdependence of the spiritual gifts operation within the community of Jesus followers. The body is a singular unit of diverse parts operating in relation to each other. The body is a living illustration of diverse interdependence. Head moving left or right, so that he eyes can see further. Core muscles contracting to lean down and raise back up. According to my chiropractor, there are little to no muscles in fingers, so, the fingers are dependent on arm muscles. Each part has a distinct function, but each is internally connected to other functions. And as a whole, function as a human body.

I’ve been continuing to deal with some back pain over the past many months. As I’ve been learning how to stretch and build-up the muscles that are causing the pain, I’m noticing more and more, how interconnected the parts of my body are. The pain in my back is connected to core muscles on the front of my body. Pain in my back is connected to muscles on the side of my hip. Pain in my back is connected to hamstrings on my legs. Pain in my back is connected to a lot more than just one muscle. Rather, when one part is suffering, the others respond to the pain as well. Causing me to lean to one sid or the other. Causing my foot to bear more weight. Causing my arm to reach back for my back – to hold it. Causing my brain to focus on the pain. Etc. Etc. Etc. The interesting thing about this response to the pain in my back, is that while the pain may be in my back, my other body parts respond to the need for pain relief in their the way they can, EVEN IF THEY AREN’T MEETING ACTUAL PAINED AREA. my other body parts serve the need however they can. They serve the need however they’re gifted. They serve the need however they’re gifted.

Paul references this in 12:26, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Paul has distinguished that each follower of Jesus is gifted a unique spiritual gifting, and he also distinguished that, although uniquely gifted, the gifts support each other. But, what 12:26 highlights, is that: Spiritual gifts aren’t ordered from important to unimportant. Rther, spiritual gifts are ordered to address whatever need is present. Even, if that need isn’t directly addressed by a specific gift. The important reality is that each person’s willingness to serve the need, will result in the various giftings supporting each other to meet the need. The various giftings aren’t needed to address the need, but they enhance how the need is met.

If you cut your finger, the applied pressure from your other hand to the cut, is probably the most gifted and enhanced action that can stop the bleeding. But do the other parts of the body do nothing in that moment. No. They all respond as they’re able, regardless of having the most direct impact to the wound. The same is true with the body of Christ. Every need my be more directly served by one person’s gifting. But every person can still serve the need, and allow they’re gifting to lift-up other’s giftings in that moment of need. We can serve the need however God’s gifted us – directly or indirectly.

Earlier, I told you that on Mondays, I wait until my wife, Julia, gets home from work, so she can cook dinner. Actually, that’s not what I do. It is true that she is gifted in cooking and baking, more than me. But, even though she is more gifted at cooking and baking, doesn’t mean that I can’t serve the need of my kids hunger with the gifting I do have. My gifting may not be in cooking and baking, but, my willingness to serve the need is more important than how well I get it done. My kids may eat a basic dinner some Mondays, but they eat. But, on the nights when Julia does cook and bake, those meals are all the more betters because her gifting to cook and bake enhances the meal. God has gifted me with other abilities. And I try to use those to the benefit of our family as well. But, my gifting or Julia’s gifting isn’t more important than willingness to serve the need that arises. 

We initiate serving needs all the time, regardless if we’re gifted for them or not. We’ve been trying to figure out how to trim a tree that overshades our driveway. The best way to trim it would be to hire someone with lots of equipment. The need would be met, and in an enhanced and empowered way. But, when we don’t have the money for access to that enhanced method of tree trimming, we will sought to meet the need, with what we already have available. So, through some borrowed tools, and a lot of sore muscles, and anxiety about not falling off a ladder the tree is trimmed. Because the need was more important than the gifting. The gifting would definitely make it easier. But the willingness to address the need, with what we had, was what ultimately mattered. In the end, the tools of others enhanced our limited abilities to trim the tree. And that’s what the spiritual gifts would do. They aren’t needed to start serving the needs, but they are needed to support and collectively finish meeting the need.

What needs are you aware of right now? And what is your reaction to those needs? Is it a reaction of something like, I’m not gifted in leadership. I’m not gifted in administration. I’m not gifted in handling kids. I’m not gifted in speaking. I’m not gifted in singing. I’m not gifted in teaching. I’m not gifted in maintenance. While those gifts would definitely make addressing a need easier, and with less effort, it doesn’t mean that God can meet the need with just your willingness to serve as you’re able. That is more important. It’s more important,  because it’s the underlying motivation for how Jesus lived. It also doesn’t mean that God can’t incorporate the gift he’s given you to help meet the need as well.

Often our imaginations are narrow on how God could incorporate our administrative skills into children’s ministry. Or how God could incorporate our maintenance skills in leadership. Or how God could incorporate our limited knowledge in teaching. Or how God could incorporate our lack of mobility with discipling others to follow Jesus. The spiritual gifting you and I have, is a gift from God. It’s his to do with as he directs. We don’t control the gift we’re given, but we do control our willingness to serve however we’ve been gifted. Serve the need however God’s gifted you.

Be part of the work that God is doing to redeem and renew the world.

Today, if you’ve never surrendered you’re life to God, by placing faith in Jesus, I invite you to step that abundant life. The abundant life of God, who is already seeking to meet the needs of the world through the service of his people, and the supernatural giftings, he’s blessed us with. Be part of the work that God is doing to redeem and renew the world. Please reach out to me, or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help discern taking a step of faith toward life in Jesus, being united to the life of Jesus, through faith, under the water of baptism.

What need has God positioned you to serve right now?

If you’ve already surrendered your life to God through faith in Jesus, what needs has God positioned you near right now? What needs is God calling you to serve however you’ve been gifted?

Some practical places to consider this are: the areas of service still needed for the upcoming Kids Summer Extravaganza – An MC, Kids group leaders and helpers, and game guide. You might be believing, I’m not gifted to guide kids to abundant life in Jesus. And you may be right, that may not be your gifting. But, you are in a position to serve the need somehow, however you’ve been gifted by God. If this is you: will you trust that God can use your gifting or lack of gifting in a specific area to help guide kids to abundant life in Jesus during the Kids Summer Extravaganza, or Little Impact with the PreK-1st graders each Sunday, or Big Impact 1st-5th graders each Sunday, or youth group activities, or Mountainview Christian Camp staff, or help with an overwhelmed mom or dad each Sunday or during the week.

Another practical place to consider this is, in helping to clean the CCC building before the Kids Summer Extravaganza. You might be believing, I’m not gifted in cleaning. And you may be right, but, you are in a position to serve the need somehow, however you’ve been gifted. Will you trust that God can use your gifting or lack of gifting in a specific area to help care for, and steward the building God has entrusted to our care for worship and witness to our community?

Some other practical ways to consider this are in serving the need for: apprentices to be the next financial secretary of CCC, or next treasurer of CCC, or next Trustee, or next Elder, or maybe next staff person, or maybe next mission partner advocate.

What need has God positioned you to serve right now? And how is God calling you to serve the need however God’s gifted you? Serve the need however God’s gifted you.

Ordered: God's order for living and worship - Where is selfishness shaped into service? (1 Cor. 11:2-34)

Jordan Byrd

Ordered - Where is selfishness shaped into service? (1 Corinthians 11:2-34)

When I was younger, my mom’s side of the family would get together a week or so before Christmas. Adults would sit at the big, formal dinner table. And usually us kids would sit at a card table in another room. One food that usually made an appearance at this family get-together was my great aunt’s cookies. One year, at this get-together I really liked these cookies and wanted to have some extra after the get-together. And I didn’t want someone else to eat the rest of them. So, I took some and stashed them in my shoes. Where I figured no one would see them or take them. I stashed some cookies for me, so that others couldn’t have them. My family still reminds me of this incident, saying, “Do you want some extra cookies to put in your shoes for later.”

Our lives are filled with comparisons of the haves and have nots. A lot of the current political cycle is focusing on the haves and have nots. A lot of life is comparing what someone else has, that you don’t. A lof of our angst on a day-to-day basis is about having or not having enough for basic needs, or being able to do this or that. Our lives are also filled with temptations to do things that benefit ourself at the exclusion of others. Temptations for men to use force and dominance to maintain positions of authority. Temptations for women to dress however they want, even if it’s sensually tempting. Temptations for men to act like women and women to act like men. Temptations for any person to create their own sense of morality.

Our lives are filled with influences that shape us to believe that selfishness is the way to abundant life. That focusing on our self, at exclusion to others is what will give us access to life: What will give us the: authority, freedom, equality, a good life, etc. – that we desire. We’re shaped into selfishness. We’re shaped to exclude others. We’re shaped to Prioritize ourselves over others. In our world, today, Where are we shaped into service to others? Where are we shaped from selfishness into service to others? Where is selfishness shaped into service?

The good news of 1 Corinthians 11 is that we have been given access to where we can be shaped from selfishness into serve to others. The apostle Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth to highlight that Jesus, and his way of life models the abundant life we desire. Paul highlights that Jesus found abundant life as a blessing of being in relationship with his heavenly father. Jesus was given authority by his heavenly Father. Jesus was given freedom from anxiety and worry of fitting-in. Jesus was given equality with God and humanity. Jesus was given a good life from the one who is Life and created life. And because Jesus found himself cared for – in relationship with his heavenly Father, He was free from caring for himself to care for others. Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father shaped him away from selfishness, and into service to others.  Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father is what shaped him to give-up his life – in death – for those who were unlike him.

Where is selfishness shaped into service? In relationship with God. Being united to the life of Jesus. In focusing on Jesus; and following his example. Where is selfishness shaped into service? When we’re with Jesus. When we’re focused on his life and teachings. When we’re focused on his death and resurrection that make all wrong things right.

If you’ve ever been to some of the fancier steakhouses in our area, you know that you can’t just show up in shorts and a t-shirt. One place in particular, REQUIRES you to wear formal attire to eat there. While some might bristle at this standard – saying, “I should have the freedom to dress how I want. We Americans don’t like to be told what to do. We like being our own authority. And the people of firs-century Corinth were similar.

In 1 Corinthians 11, we encounter a situation where women were participating in the worship gathering of other Jesus followers with their head uncovered. The context of the passage indicates that women having their heads covered during worship (especially, when they were praying or prophesying) was the conventional standard. And some women were leaving their head uncovered – flaunting their freedom to do so.

Now there are a few concepts that need explained here. In first-century Corinth, the phrasing for an “uncovered or covered head” could be a reference to a couple different things.

One, it could be a reference to an actual head-covering, like a shall of some kind. A piece of cloth that would actually be worn over the hair of a woman. Two, it could also be a reference, not to a piece of cloth covering a woman’s head, but a woman’s hair pinned-up, instead of hanging down. In my opinion, the second option seems to make the most sense, in relation to the other language Paul uses in this section, especially when he references a woman cutting-off or shaving her head.

Beyond whether this was a cloth head covering, or a head covered with pinned-up hair, the way a woman styled her hair conveyed something more specific in first-century Corinth — than just a preference of hair-style. In first-century Corinth, women with their hair down in public could be an indicator of being a morally loose woman. Like, a temple prostitute, or any person who solicited men for sexual encounters.

Also in first-century Corinth, women wore their hair-up as a social indicator of embodying the female sex. It was a way of differentiating women from men.

A woman who wore her hair-up was also a way of indicating her relationship status. Similar to how women wear wedding rings in our culture.

Overall, women wearing their hair-up in public was a social standard in first-century Corinth. To not do so, was considered odd, inappropriate, disorderly, and confusing.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul addresses a scenario in the Corinthian church, where women were apparently claiming that they had the freedom or right to act as they wanted. That their faith in Jesus somehow freed them from the social norms of Corinth. That they could wear their hair down in worship. While women covering their head was a standard in first-century Corinth, that isn’t a social norm for us, in 21st-century America, today.

To see how this applies to us today, we have to look past the form – to the principle behind the form. Paul is ultimately calling the women of the Corinthian church to act in a way that isn’t shameful to the name of Jesus. For women to wear their hair down in worship in Corinth, could taint the witness of the church. It could convey to the watching world, that the church of Jesus is no different than the other temples in Corinth. “They have prostitutes, and apparently, the church of Jesus does too” – by the way women appear in worship with their hair down. It could convey to the watching world, that a woman’s faithfulness to her husband wasn’t important. “Look, she’s putting herself out there for other men, with her hair down.” This would cause disgrace to her husband and marriage. But again, this was the form for first-century Corinth.

What might the principle Paul is highlighting, look like in our 21st-century Americanized worship service? Dressing sensually with other believers? The rest of these could apply to women or men: Giving the appearance of attracting someone not your spouse; or, not wearing a wedding ring; or, spending a lot of time with someone of the opposite sex, not your husband. Or, loyalty-questioning comments about someone of the opposite sex (like: “she’s hot,” or “he’s so attractive”). The form is different, but the same principle is the same: not giving the appearance of inappropriateness, sensuality, or infidelity. Or, looking out for honor and faithfulness to one’s spouse. Looking out for faithful witness to the honor and faithfulness that Jesus calls us to in marriage and appropriateness in relationship to those we’re not married to.

Henry Ford brought the assembly-line process to the forefront of our society. In an assembly line, multiple people work simultaneously, but on different parts. On an assembly line, Who is most important? In a sense, every person is equally important. But, each person is also interdependent on the person before them and after them – to make their assembled part work together to fashion a car or computer or toy. Each person on the line is equal – there is equality in the beings running the line. But each person is functionally dependent, or subordinate – to the other people on the line. Without the others, the product doesn’t come together. Each person’s role is needed. Even though, someone’s role has to come before another.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 point toward this order that God has fashioned into his human creation. Paul points back to Genesis 1 and 2, to make this point. Adam and Eve were both created human. But without each, there is no male or female. Without each, there is no procreation. Each are equal in humanity, but each are different in their functionality. Adam and men contribute certain qualities different from women; and Eve and women contribute certain qualities different from men.

And back to 1 Corinthians 11, Paul is connecting that the most abundant life possible is to live into the way God created you: male or female (man or woman). To confuse this order is to miss the abundant life that God has for you. Paul is reminding these women to live into the abundant life that God has created them to embody. And to also live into the abundant life that God has for them in relationship with their husband. And to also live into the abundant life that God has for them in relationship with the other men in the body of Christ.

Essentially, Paul is highlighting that: Focus on ourselves is not what’s going to lead to the abundant life that we desire. Rather, focusing on how we can use the body, gender, and natural gifts and abilities that God has given us – to consider and honor and serve others – will lead to a community of people where everybody is interdependent on each other.

Where is selfishness shaped into service? And as we’ll reflect on,  we’re shaped to view life this way by focusing on Jesus, and his other-oriented way of life.

There is a restaurant where I grew up. And, it’s one of the nicer restaurants in that area. They served steaks. And they were known for their garlic bread. When I was a young kid, my parents always told me that “kids weren’t allowed to eat there.” I was always baffled by this. I was allowed to eat at any other restaurant. But not this one. And, really it’s just that the loudness and immaturity of kids would make the environment not as enjoyable for other people eating there. Even though I wasn’t allowed to eat in the restaurant, my parents and grandparents always brought home extra garlic bread, that I was able to try. The haves: My parents or grandparents –  took their experience at the restaurant, and shared it with me – the have not.

In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, Paul is advocating for the church in Corinth to embody the posture of service to the poor and excluded. This section is a glimpse of what communion, or the Lord’s Supper looked like in the first-century. It contained the bread and cup that we use each Sunday here. But, it took place within an actual meal.

While we’ve become accustomed to gathering for worship in a designated church building, this was not the case for the church in first-century Corinth. Following and worshiping Jesus was still an up-and-coming practice. It didn’t have the established order and practices that we’re accustomed to now, including access and means to have a separate building where they could gather and worship. What was more typical was that the church gathered in someone’s home. Likely a home large enough to accommodate a number of people at once. And the size of such a home likely belonged to a wealthier person in the church. When the church met for worship, it would also meet around a meal. And part of the meal was breaking bread and drinking wine, or grape juice of some kind –  in remembrance of Jesus’ broken body and shed blood on the cross.

The origin of communion, or the Lord’s supper that Jesus instituted, also took place during a meal: the Passover meal – which was a meal that Israelites ate in remembrance of God’s deliverance of them out of slavery in Egypt. As Christianity spread beyond Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth, the meal dynamic of communion faded into the background, but partaking of the bread and cup remained forefront, to remember Jesus and his way of life as the standard for living and worship.

A dynamic of first-century Corinthian culture that isn’t apparent to us, while reading this passage, is that wealthy people were known for hosting parties. And part of hosting parties was to invite those less well-off to eat. But, they would serve inferior food and drink to these guests somewhere else in the house. Meanwhile, the wealthy host would be eating select, expensive, fine food in the formal dining area of the house, along with other wealthy, elite guests they invited.

What ensued is what we encounter in 1 Corinthians 11. 11:18 – divisions. 11:21 – private dinners. 11:22 – to the point that the hosts are overfed and drunk, and the guests are hungry and sober to poor status.

Paul is not saying it’s unrealistic for their to be people of different status levels coming together to eat (11:19). For the bringing together of poor and wealthy is what the kingdom of God is all about. Forging into one community, those who were unlikely to come together, if it wasn’t for following Jesus.  Paul, in a sense, is commending this aspect. But he is correcting the divisive manner in which they are gathering for worship. When the wealthy focus on themselves and look past the need of the poor in their community, they are despising God’s church and humiliating their poor brothers and sisters in Christ. The wealthy followers of Jesus in Corinth were continuing to allow themselves to be shaped by the values of Corinth rather than the values of Jesus.

Where is the selfishness of these wealthy followers of Jesus shaped into service of their poor brothers and sisters in Christ? In the vary meal they gather to remember Jesus. In Jesus. In Jesus’ life and example. Paul points to the example Jesus set with his own life. Paul points to Jesus’ example of giving-up focus on himself for service to others. Paul points to Jesus’ example of giving-up his life on the cross to overcome death on our behalf. Paul points to Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father as what shaped Jesus away from the temptation to be selfish and fight being handed over to death, so that he could serve and give humanity a future beyond death in his resurrection. Jesus’ relationship with his heavenly Father shaped him away from selfishness and into service.

Paul points back to Jesus and the meal that remember his selfless, servant-hearted life. Reminding the church in Corinth, that this is the way of life Jesus is trying to shape you into. Not the division that your selfishness is shaping you into. That is leading you toward life for yourself, and destitution for others. Whereas, Jesus is trying to lead you to abundant life – and abundant life for others.

Communion is a moment to discern if you're being shaped into the way of Jesus with others.

When Paul directs these followers of Jesus to “examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup,” he is not talking about a private (you and God) moment. He has in mind a real discernment of how their selfishness, and lack of awareness and consideration of the poverty of their brothers and sisters in Christ is impacting the health of the church, the witness of the church, and the real withholding of resources that they could provide to their needy brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s only in Jesus selfless example that the Corinthian church was going to shaped from selfishness into service to others. in how they dressed or acted toward the opposite gender (11:2-16), or treated those poorer than themselves (11:17-34). The same is true for us today, as well. Following Jesus is where selfishness is shaped into service? Where is selfishness shaped into service? In following Jesus.

Today, we don’t deal with women’s hair being down as inappropriate. Nor, do we deal with wild, divisive meal during our worship gathering. But, are their ways that we’re still tempted to be like the first-century Corinthian followers of Jesus? Are we sensual in how we dress among the body of Christ? Are we shaming our spouse by how we dress or speak about them or speak about others? In the body of Christ, are relationships and marriages different from the rest of the world? In the body of Christ, are we presenting a different standard in our relationship to each other? A standard that looks obviously different from the rest of the world? In the body of Christ, are we giving-up our selfishness to focus on serving and lifting-up the skills and abilities of others?

Benevolence Fund

From time to time, people call or get-ahold of the ministers or elders, asking for financial help. Thankfully, some years ago, a group of people in this congregation made a commitment to regularly give a set amount toward a benevolence fund. As people gave to this fund, it has enabled the leadership of the church to financially assist many needy people over years. Sometimes, it’s people connected to the church, who are going through a rough situation. Sometimes, it’s people not connected to the church at all. But at the end of their rope, and just looking for some assistance to get them by. The benevolence fund is possible because people in this congregation have been shaped by the selfless-ness, sacrificial, and servant-hearted, and compassionate example of Jesus to all of us. Jesus shaped the initial group of people to band together to give of their means, to be shaped away from selfishness, to serve and bless others in need. The benevolence of this church is a result of giving, over and beyond general giving and giving to our mission partners. Benevolence isn’t a line-item in the church budget. It’s a result of intentional, selfless, service to others. Because Jesus was intentional and selfless in his service to us on the cross – to overcome death. Are you being shaped by Jesus?

Where is your selfishness being shaped into service? It can happen by following Jesus.

Today: What is shaping you away from God’s abundant life? What is shaping you away from service to others, and instead, shaping you toward anxiety and worry and focus on yourself? 1 Corinthians 11 invites you to consider how Jesus will shape you toward a more abundant life. Please find me or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern what your next step of faith in experiencing abundant life in Jesus might be. Ultimately, we hope you will unite your life to Jesus under the water of baptism, and allow him to shape you into his abundant life.

If you’ve already united your life to Jesus, Are you allowing the example and teachings of Jesus to shape you away from selfishness and into service to God and others? Are you approaching communion as a private moment? Or as a reminder to be less of you and serve and bless others in the body of Christ? How aware are you of the needs of those in the body of Christ?

How is God’s Spirit shaping you away from selfishness, and toward service to others?

 Lastly: How is God’s Spirit shaping you away from selfishness, and toward service and hospitality to others in the body of Christ? How is Jesus’ shaping you to serve and host others in the body of Christ, with the resources God’s blessed you with.

Grab a paper plate on a seat near you. Notice someone in this room today, whom you don’t know very well. Write their name down on the plate (or after the service, go introduce yourself and get to know their name, and ask it you can have them over for dinner, or go grab a dinner or coffee some time. Whoever God’s Spirit is impressing on your heart, don’t assume that person is too busy to be invited. We live in a lonely world.

Where is selfishness shaped into service? When we’re with Jesus. When we’re focused on his life and teachings. When we’re shaped to become like Jesus, and live into his abundant life of service in God’s kingdom.

Ordered: God's order for living and worship - You'll become what you worship (1 Cor. 10-11:1) - Byrd

Jordan Byrd

Ordered, 1 Corinthians 10-11:1

You probably know the phrase “you are what you eat.” Meaning, your health and well-being will take the shape of what you eat. Give it healthy food, and you’re body will take the shape of a healthy person. Give it unhealthy food, and you’re body will take the shape of an unhealthy person. What we eat is usually correlated to what we crave. Correlated to what we desire to eat. Our desires drive most of what we do.

We could adapt the phrase, “you are what you eat” – to “you are what you desire.” Or, as author James K.A. Smith says it, “You are what you love.”

“You are what you love.” Think about what drives what you do. What do you love? What do you set your heart on? What do you pursue because your heart is set on it? Because you love it. Those areas of life that you give time, effort, emotion, and resources toward them? It might be Bills’ games. It might have been (and maybe one of these days) be Sabres’ games. It might be your family: like your kids. It might be your vacations. It might be U.S. politics. It might be your recreational activities: pickleball, video games, movies, tv shows, hunting, sewing. It might be information and learning. It might be your career. It might be your house or property.

We all have loves that tempts us to make them the ultimate something. We all have those areas of life where we’re tempted to set our hearts on them as the ultimate things. We all have longings and desires that vie for our attention. Or another we we could put it: There are multiple things that vie for our worship.

The fourth century follower of Jesus, Augustine of Hippo, wrote in his biographical testimony, Confessions, that the issue of his life – and what he noticed in the lives around him – is that different loves vie for attention in our lives. And, the battling of these loves is what causes issues. Augustine described the brokenness of life as the consequence of “disordered love” or as the Bible calls it: sin. The issue according to Augustine, is that all loves – all desires and objects of our affection and attention – can’t be the ultimate thing. They – can – be good things, but not the ultimate thing.

A soft-drink tastes great on it’s own.But if a bunch of other drinks were added to it, the drink would be less enjoyable. It would be less enjoyable, because the taste of the soft-drink is hidden by all of the other flavors mixed into it. This is what it’s like we when try to worship Jesus, and a bunch of other desires and loves. When you try to worship multiple things, life gets messy and confusing. Worshiping multiple loves is another way of referencing idolatry in our world. 

John Calvin, one of the 16th century reformers of the Christian church – during the Protestant Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church –  is credited for saying, that Human hearts are “perpetual forges of idols.” Or, often, more simply put: “Human hearts are idol factories.”

Paul makes a similar point throughout 1 Corinthians 10. Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 10:6, to keep from setting your hearts on evil things.

And immediately, he ties that the evil things are idols. Throughout this section, Paul is recounting how the ancient Israelite people set their hearts on things other than the Lord God. And how their idolatry watered-down their worship. And lead to a weak life with God. And ultimately, it led to a number of Israelites’ destruction.

Idolatry will lead to a weakened experience of God.

What we encounter throughout 1 Corinthians 10 is that idolatry – setting our hearts on something other than God – other than the God revealed in the life of Jesus – will lead to a weakened, or lesser, experience of God. Idolatry is setting your heart on something other than God as the ultimate thing. Idolatry puts the Lord God, revealed in Jesus, in competition with other loves. Idolatry introduces other influences into your life. Idolatry weakens the experience of Jesus that you have, and that those around you have through your witness. When you worship multiple things, Jesus becomes unrecognizable in your life.

Jesus is able to withstand the weight of being the ultimate thing.

The good news of 1 Corinthians 10 is that Jesus is the best thing to worship. Jesus is the best thing to worship because his glory is able to withstand the weight of being the ultimate thing. Because he is the creator, redeemer, and restorer of creation. Because he is the Lord God. And when Jesus is the only thing you worship, and dedicate your time, attention, emotions, and resources toward, you’ll become more like Jesus.

And the step of faith that 1 Corinthians 10 calls you to step into is to consider the state of your worship: Is your worship concentrated on Jesus? Or is your worship mixed with other loves? 1 Corinthians 10 invites you to ask the question: Are you becoming like Jesus? Or something else? You’ll become what you worship.

Social media has changed the landscape of influence drastically. Before social media and smart-phones, a person had to have access to: a record label, publisher, or television network. But now, influence can be accessed at most of our fingertips. We live in a world where teenagers are making millions of dollars on YouTube or TikTok. And the temptation is that anyone can become just as successful. In recent years, different surveys have revealed that many kid’s dream job is no longer to be President or CEO of a company. Rather, YouTuber has shut-up the ranks of desirable careers. While making videos on social media is accessible to most people, those who have become known for it, are often a result of giving themselves to it: creating video after video, keeping up with the algorithm changes, coming-up with new ideas all the time, chasing the next subscriber, chasing the next like or comment. I dabbled in making short-sight-seeing videos over a year ago. And I quickly realized how demanding it was to constantly create content. And it easily became a consumer of my time, attention, and resources. I could see how giving time, attention, and resources was shaping me toward a certain end. And the end-result looked like chasing: likes, views, subscribers – to hit the next goal of platform building – to hit the threshold of possibly making money from a video – to keep heading-down that road, I was going to become an anxious, exhausted, absent person to the other people in my life. My desire to have videos noticed, was shaping me in a way I didn’t like. I was being shaped by what I gave time, presence, and attention to.

Throughout the first section of 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Paul looks to the example of the ancient Israelites as an example of what not to follow. In 10:1-4, Paul describes how the Lord God called the Israelites out of slavery (out of eventual death) in Egypt, and into abundant life in covenant with, and worship to God. Paul describes the stability and nourishment that came to their live by worshiping the Lord God: In 1 Corinthians 10:3, they ate and drank from God, their spiritual rock. Whom Paul says is the same God revealed in Jesus: the Christ.

But in verses 1 Corinthians 10:5-10, Paul recalls how the ancient Israelites allowed the temptation of other loves and desires to shape and influence them away from the Lord God. Verse 1 Corinthians 10:7; is a reference to Deuteronomy 32, where while Moses went up the mountain to receive God’s law (the ten commandments), the people allowed their desires to run rampant, and fashioned a golden calf to worship. While the people are waiting for God to reveal his law to them, they take up other forms of worship. Which, shapes and molds them into idolaters — literally creating an idol out of their own jewelry. And in the process, pushed themselves further away from God. They made it more difficult for themselves to experience God. They also made it more difficult for the nations surrounding them to see the glory of the one true Lord God in relationship with humanity. The Israelites idolatry polluted their worship. The Israelites’ idolatry polluted their ability to experience the blessings and promises that God had for them.

Paul also recounts similar times, from Numbers 16, 21, and 25, where some Israelites let their desires run wild into sexual immorality, or their defiant desire to return to a life of slavery in Egypt, or their grumbling desire for a new leader they believed would be better than God’s choice of Moses. All of these desires polluted their worship of God, and polluted their experience of God’s blessings. Their worship of sexual gratification, life in Egypt, and better leaders, shaped their path toward destruction, and being cut-off from God’s blessings.

In 1 Corinthians 10:6-7, Paul says, “Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters….” He doubles-down in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13, “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! Paul bridges the conversation to his audience of Jesus followers in Corinth by saying, “Don’t think your faith in Jesus – makes you exempt from these same temptations.” “Don’t think that your freedom in Jesus from the old Israelite covenant – makes you exempt from these same temptations.”

This temptation traces back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). Where they were tempted to worship themselves. Shaping them to become disconnected from the life of God altogether. Adam and Eve’s polluted worship shaped them to experience less of God’s blessing. They became what they worshiped: false gods. Making themselves as something ultimate that was unable to bear that weight; and eventually they died, and God was still the Lord God – the ultimate thing.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13, Paul is calling the Corinthian followers of Jesus to understand that worship matters. Worship is what enables us to experience more of God, or less of God.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul highlights that this is the great temptation: the temptation to give our worship – our time, attention, and resources to something other than God as the ultimate thing, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” 

Being a follower of Jesus does not give us freedom from temptation, But it does back us with God’s guiding power and wisdom to endure temptation.

Being a follower of Jesus does not give us freedom from this temptation, But it does back us with God’s guiding power and wisdom to endure past the temptation to worship other things.

When we’re tempted to pursue acts of worship outside of God’s loving boundaries: greed, selfishness, pride, vengeance, grumbling, complaining, ingratitude, sexual immorality, etc. It doesn’t have to be a forgone conclusion that we will give into those desires. It’s not a forgone conclusion that we have to be shaped by them. Being tempted toward them is unfortunately normal and realistic in a world separate from God, but it’s not sinful. What is sinful, is to give into them, and make something more important than God and his way of life. To do so, is to worship something other than God – to worship an idol. To this, in 10:14, Paul warns the Corinthian followers of Jesus to “flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14)

How do you like your marshmallow’s cooked: golden brown, or burnt black? If you like them golden brown, you know there is a delicate balance of how close to the flames you can have the marshmallow, before it’s consumed by flames. This imagery is helpful in understanding what Paul is communicating in 1 Corinthians 10:14-30.

A few weeks ago, Mitch helps us from on 1 Corinthians 8, where the topic of meet sacrificed to idols was first mentioned in this letter. Mitch referenced how meat sacrificed to an idol was a common occurrence in the pagan culture of Corinth. Part of the worship of that happened in these temples, involved meat sacrificed to the deities. The meat was used in the actual worship practices in the temples; and/or sold at regular marketplaces.

A helpful comparison would be kosher food for Jewish folk. Or Halal food for muslim folk. Meaning, there is a religious process involved in the utilization of such foods. Either way, the meat referenced in 1 Corinthians was used in the worship of a god other than Jesus.

Throughout this section of 1 Corinthians 10, Paul is laying out a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum is eating meat in the temple - that was sacrificed to these false gods. To do this, someone would have to literally be going inside the temple. And participate in the rituals of the temple.

Think of someone who would want a hotdog, and the only place to get one is a the Bison’s ballpark downtown. To get and eat the hotdog, you’d have to also participate in the process of getting a ticket, going to the concession stand, and hearing the sounds of the game, etc. So, that is one end of the spectrum that Paul is presenting.

On the other end of the spectrum is eating this same meat from a marketplace… (or that a non-Christian bought at a temple or marketplace and served in their home). At this point in the spectrum, Paul is saying, “Yes, it was used in worship to a god other than Jesus, but if you’re aware that the meat was offered to a false god, and you’re convinced that Jesus is the true Lord and that ‘the earth is the Lords, and everything in it” (1 Corinthians 10:26; Psalm 24:1) – including this meat – and you’re grateful to Jesus, and not a false god for it – then it’s perfectly fine to eat.

Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the difference?” The difference is in the worship. When the meat is eaten in the temple, it’s more difficult to not be shaped by the worship practices that accompany eating meat at that time. But, when the meat is eaten in other space, the follower of Jesus is still allowing their worship of Jesus to shape their eating of the meat: offering thanks to Jesus for it. And, using the opportunity to eat the meat with an unbeliever to point them to true worship of Jesus as Lord, as the ultimate thing.

Overall, Paul is saying that worship shapes us. You’ll become what you worship. The meat itself isn’t the issue. What someone does with the meat – is the issue. How someone worships with it – is the issue. And worshiping someone other than Jesus, invites evil forces to shape and mold us toward destruction. This is why Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 10:20, “...the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons.” That form of worship shapes people away from Jesus – away from the abundant life of God. If you participate in it, you’ll be influenced away from God – away from Jesus too. This is the point on the spectrum – of no return, where the marshmallow is going to be affected by the flame – where it’s going to be burnt. The point where you’ll for sure begin to be shaped by something other than Jesus.

But this is also why Paul can say in 1 Corinthians 10:25, “Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.’ Outside of the places where unbelievers worship, there is more nuance to still be able to be in the world, but not of it – to eat the meat sacrificed to idols, but not be influenced by it.

On this end of the spectrum, you can still interact with the world, without it shaping you out of a living like Jesus. The point on the spectrum where you can get the marshmallow close enough to the flame, where it can be with the flame, but not burnt. The point where you can still be in the world, but not of it. In the world, but not shaped away from living like Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 10:23-24, Paul reiterates what Mitch highlighted for us a few weeks ago, that your knowledge of false worship is good, but love of your brother or sister in Christ is better – if you’re being in the world, but not of it causes them to stumble in your presence. Forgo your right to eat the meat in that moment – for the sake of unity in the body of Christ. But beyond that, being with unbelievers – and helping them enter God’s kingdom is just as important. What’s important to notice here, is that both approaches to others (weak believers or unbelievers) requires being shaped by the love and mission of Jesus through our worship of Jesus. You’ll become what you worship.

1 Corinthians 10 prompts us to ask, “What am I worshiping?” What other loves or desires are polluting my worship of Jesus? Am I trying to worship Jesus and those things all at once? When I do so, I’m deceptively allowing sin and evil to pull me toward destruction. To pull me away from abundant life in Jesus. To shape me toward some other end, than the life of Jesus. I’ll start to become what I worship. You’ll become what you worship.

Taste and see what you’ll become when you worship Jesus.

Today, if you’ve never sought to worship Jesus alone – as the one true Lord and ultimate thing in your life – I invite you to move away from other objects of worship, and taste and see if Jesus holds up to the weight of being the ultimate thing in your life. I invite you to ask me, or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern your next step of faith in making Jesus your singular object of worship, surrendering to Jesus under the water of baptism, so that he can shape you to be like himself, so that you’ll be come what you worship, so that you’ll become like Jesus.

If you’ve already surrendered your life to Jesus, What tempts you away from worship of Jesus? Grab a piece of paper on a chair near you. Grab a pencil in a seatback near you. On left side of the paper, write, “Jesus.” One the right side of the paper, write, “idol.” Draw a line in the middle. On the right side of the paper, write or draw something – that represents something that temps you away from worship of Jesus. What is something, that, if you partake in it, would cause you to give up living for Jesus in some way? Maybe it’s brunch with your family, or kid’s sports, or Bills’ games, that pull you away from worshiping Jesus on Sunday mornings. Maybe it’s politics or following the 24/7 news cycle that pulls you away from reading and meditating on God’s word. Maybe it’s binge watching that show or movie, that pulls you away from being energized and alert enough to seek God in prayer each day. It’s not that these pursuits are evil, in and of themselves. But at a certain point, they do begin to shape you away from Jesus, to where it’s hard to recognize Jesus in your life and worship.

On the left side of the paper, write one step of commitment that you’re going to take, this week, to let go of lesser desires and loves, to pursue Jesus as the ultimate love? Maybe it’s marking your calendar, now – to plan to be here next Sunday. Get our your phone, or planner now, and mark it down. Make it an alert or set an alarm for Saturday night. Make it a priority now, so that you can be shaped by Jesus next Sunday. Maybe it’s setting an alarm for each morning, or at lunch, or before bed, to pray for at least five minutes, or for maybe at least five things. Maybe it’s choosing now, to not see that movie or tv show that you already know is not shaping you to be like Jesus. Make that decision now, and not when you’re tempted to go ahead with it later. Maybe it’s choosing now, to be celibate with your girlfriend or boyfriend. Making that decision now, and not when you’re tempted otherwise, later. In the end, these are all simple forms of faithful worship to Jesus. Allowing his way of life to shape us to become like him and experience his abundant life.

How is God’s Spirit calling you to order other desires and loves under him as the ultimate desire and love? How is God’s Spirit calling you to repent of worshiping other “gods” alongside trying to worship Jesus? You’ll become what you worship.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - What ignites your purpose? (1 Corinthians 9) - Jordan Byrd (Copy)

Jordan Byrd

Holy Wholly - Sanctified Unity, 1 Corinthians 9

Have your experienced the frustration of trying to light birthday candles with matches? Where you rush to light as many candles as you can with one match before it goes out. With a match, there is only so much fuel. And once it goes out, there is nothing left to keep the flame going. Whereas, if a lighter is used to light the candles, there is fuel to keep the flame going. A match has a limited purpose. Whereas, a lighter has a longer-lasting purpose. With a match, the reward is that a candle is lit. And if the candle goes out, that is the extent of the match’s purpose. Whereas, with a lighter, the reward can be that a candle is lit; but even if the candle goes out, the lighter can still keep a flame ignited for other candles, or a fire-pit, or fireplace, or sanitizing an instrument, or unfreezing something, or sealing a nylon rope, or light a torch, or use as an emergency signal, or many other purposes.  The point is that the match form of ignition is limited in it’s purpose. whereas, the lighter form of ignition is wide-ranging, and lasting in it’s purpose.

What ignites your purpose? What motivates what your life is about? What keeps you on that path, even if there isn’t an immediate reward?

What keeps you caring for, providing for, and going through the range of emotions in dealing with developing children in your home? Is it the legacy they will provide you? Is it the retirement care they will afford you? Is it to maintain the image of having a picture-perfect-idealized family for social appearances? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in caring for children?

What keeps you learning? Is it just because the law requires you to go to school? Is it just because you need a diploma? Is is just because you need a degree? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in learning?

What keeps you maintaining a home (whether you own or rent)? What keeps you maintaining that space? Is it just to have a dry, warm place to live? Is it just to have a place for your stuff? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in having a home?

What keeps you having a vocation? What keeps you active and working each day? Is it just to get money? Is it just to cover expenses? Is it just to make it to the next level of the company? Is it just to make it to the next income level? Is it just to provide for a few worry-free years of retirement. Is it just to provide for a good time this weekend? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in having a vocation that you take-up each day? 

What keeps you living? What keeps you eating, sleeping, and treating your body (regardless of age)? Is it just to not be in pain? Is it just to exist? Is is just to get the most days you can out of life before death? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in living another day?

What keeps you participating in Jesus’ church? What keeps you gathering for worship? What keeps you meditating on God’s word? What keeps you sacrificially giving of your time, talent, and resources? What keeps you serving those, who aren’t biological family? Is it just something to do? Is it just to be enlightened? Is it just because you have family or friends who participate? Is it just because it’s tradition or habit? It it just because it’s a historic legacy to maintain? Or, is there something else that ignites purpose in participating in Jesus’ church?

What ignites your purpose?

Many of the purposes just referenced, aren’t bad or evil. But, they're limited in scope. They’re limited in the range of their impact. A multi-generational family and multi-generational can be good things. But those are only rewards for a limited number of people. An education can be a good thing. But it’s reward is limited, if it only benefits yourself. A house and job can be good things. But their reward is limited, if it only benefits yourself. Participating in Jesus’ church is a good thing. But the reward of participating in it, is limited, if it only benefits yourself.

In a world separated from God's life revealed in Jesus, we often seek fulfillment in lesser purposes that can't truly satisfy. And pursuit of lesser forms of purpose leaves us frustrated and wanting. Like trying to light a bunch of candles with one, limited match. These lesser forms of purpose leave us wanting a purpose that’s greater and longer-lasting. A purpose that doesn’t flame-out. A purpose that can last through the ups-and-downs of life.  And the more we, and other people have pursued lesser forms of purpose as the greatest degree of purpose – falsely and distortedly convincing ourselves that maybe this, or this, or this purpose – will ignite a lasting purpose. But, it’s a viscous cycle, that turns-in on itself. Each flame of purpose burning-out, one after another.

In contrast, God’s word reveals good news that this is not the way to lasting and wide-ranging purpose. What we encounter in 1 Corinthians 9 is the apostle Paul’s testimony of discovering a lasting, impactful purpose as part of God’s mission. God’s mission to rightly order lesser forms of purpose under the Lordship of Jesus. God’s mission of all people redeemed to experience abundant life in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 9 is Paul’s testifying to the good news that he discovered in Jesus. That guiding all people to abundant life in Jesus is the most-lasting and impactful purpose he’s experienced. 1 Corinthians 9 shows us Paul’s experience of Jesus being what ignites his overall purpose in life, work, and existence – Paul’s experience of Jesus igniting an eternal purpose – a purpose that impacts all people – and not just himself, and his own well-being.

Jesus ignited Paul’s purpose. What ignites your purpose?

Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky are credited for saying, “Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb.” (Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky)

Author, Todd Bolsinger, expands this further by saying, “Disappoint people too much and they give up on you, stop following you and may even turn on you. Don’t disappoint them enough and you’ll never lead them anywhere.” (Todd Bolsinger)

As a parent, I’ve had to develop this skill. The skill of disappointing my kids at a rate they can absorb. Recently, there was a situation that my kids were looking forward to have happen. And the situation fell through. While not disappointing my kids can be a good purpose overall. In this situation, doing anything to “not disappoint them” was not going to be the greater purpose. Telling them the truth in a way they could handle for their age, is the greater purpose I had to lean into. Disappointment is a reality in a world where truth exists. If we distort truth, we’re going to be disappointed when negative consequences result. Similarly, if we live by according to truth, those who don’t want to accept truth, are going to be disappointed. This is similar to the situation that Paul finds himself in in 1 Corinthians 9.

Paul is addressing a church in Corinth whom was comprised of people from various backgrounds: Jewish expats, Grecians, Roman citizens, and other subcultures. Two of these cultures presented distinct perspectives and expectations for a leader, like Paul.

1 Corinthians 9:1-12; Deuteronomy 25:4

Jewish customs and culture provided precedent for a religious leader, like Paul — to receive financial support from the religious community for his work as a preacher of God’s word (see 1 Corinthians 9:1-12; Deuteronomy 25:4). Paul also ties this to Jesus’ own words in Luke 10:7, where Jesus sends out 72 disciples to proclaim, or preach the good news of God’s kingdom, and as these workers go, they are to eat and drink whatever they give you, “for the worker deserves his wages….” (Luke 10:7)

Similarly in Matt. 10:9-10, Jesus sends out 12 disciples to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, and he tells them, “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. (Matthew 10:9-10)

From Jewish priests receiving food from the process of offering sacrifices in the temple, to even an ox being fed from the grain that it is grinding-up for humans to make bread, and the original disciples of Jesus receiving support for themselves and their families – for their work in preaching the good news of Jesus – Paul being called to a similar role by Jesus is confident that he has precedent to also receive financial support for his work of preaching the word of God to the Corinthian church. And if he received such, he would not be going against the guidance of God’s word. This Jewish perspective and expectation, relied on a communal support and buy-in for the work of the leader.

The Grecian/Corinthian perspective and expectation for financial support for a leader, like Paul was different. Greek, Corinthian: philosophers, public orators, or thought leaders, similar to the role Paul had among Corinthian followers of Jesus, would often find financial backing by a private benefactor. A wealthy person or family may hire such a person to speak on their behalf, or give them insight and guidance. While this provided a direct benefit for the benefactor, it would limit the benefit that others could receive from this person’s guidance. Specifically, there would be a conflict of interest. A philosopher or orator would be tempted to say what needs to be said, to keep receiving their funding.

Think of a politician approaching re-election, and being tempted to say what needs to be said, just to get re-elected. Or think of the company that’s tempted to make decisions that benefit it’s investors, over the good of its customers.

Paul is caught between these two expectations, as a leader of the church in Corinth. Does he insist financial support from the church, knowing that the pooer followers of Jesus could dismiss his message, thinking he’s just bought off to say what the wealthy followers of Jesus want him to say – causing further division among the body of Christ (between the poor and wealthy)? Or, does Paul give-up his right to financial support from the church, so that the word of God can have no road-blocks from being heard and shaping to the life of both poor and wealthy followers of Jesus? Paul is faced with a decision to discern which purpose is greater: his financial provision – his well being, or the well being of all people, poor or wealthy, to have the opportunity to encounter the good news of Jesus, that leads to abundant life?

For Paul, Jesus is so much his Lord and source of life – that participation in his mission to redeem creation – sparks and fuels Paul’s drive and purpose, beyond any other force (greater than the pull and lure of financial benefit and comfort). Paul is so convinced of Jesus as Lord, and the change agent that the world needs for it’s brokenness, that Paul will do anything to help guide any person to the abundant life in Jesus, that he personally has experienced. God’s activity in Paul’s life has transformed Paul to find the God’s mission so compelling, that he will participate in it, without immediate benefit to himself. 1 Corinthians 9:16, “For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Jesus’ impact on Paul’s life is what continually ignites Paul’s passion and purpose – to help others encounter jesus, even if there’s no immediate reward or benefit to Paul. Even if people don’t respond to Paul’s preaching, the mission of God will keep his purpose ignited – to guide the next person to encounter Jesus. Jesus ignited Paul’s purpose. What ignites your purpose?

From the age of 7 through my high school years, I competed in men’s gymnastics. I receive a decent number of trophies, medals, and ribbons, throughout those years of competition. As great of an achievement as those trophies, medals, and ribbons were, do you know where they are now? In an old, boarded-up, water-heater closet in the back of the closet of my child-hood bedroom at my parents house in Ohio. Winning those trophies, medals, and ribbons was meaningful to me at the time. But, their meaning and value is limited. Those accomplishments and rewards lack the power to give me purpose and meaning in other areas of my life – for my day-to-day job; for my marriage; for my parenting; or for my participation in the body of Christ.

Toward the end of 1 Corinthians 9, Paul shifts to the imagery of athleticism and discipline. In 1 Corinthians 9:25 references a crown that a winning runner in an ancient Grecian athletics competition could receive. The original version of this crown was made of dry, wild celery. Later, it was made of pine. But, the imagery of a crown of greenery, that will eventually rot or dry-out – that is not long-lasting – paints the picture of Paul’s comparison. Paul’s comparison that a reward of this value could ignite purpose for athletes to train for hours upon hours, and endure all sorts of cost to themselves; and, if that little value could spur that kind of purpose and sacrifice, how much more would the greater value of God’s mission – could ignite purpose and sacrifice, to see the reward of people of all backgrounds experiencing abundant life in Jesus. The hope of this world experiencing a world made right by Jesus, is of greater value than any other reward can bring. The rewards of comfort and financial gain – for Paul, were limited, compared to the lasting reward of a world made right by Jesus. Participating in God’s mission is what ignited Paul’s purpose, even at sacrifice to his comfort and financial support from others. Paul was willing to do a side-job, tent-making, to enable him to still participate in God’s mission of all people finding abundant life in Jesus.

Jesus ignited Paul’s purpose. What ignites your purpose?

In a sense, the weight of this passage is harder on someone like me, or anyone else preaching and proclaiming God’s word. It prompts me to evaluate the purpose for which I preach.

Am I preaching a certain message, because it won’t ruffle feathers and not jeopardize people getting angry and not giving? Or am I preaching a certain message because I’m convinced of the truth of God’s word, no matter how disruptive it’s guidance may be? According to Paul, I should have the confidence of God’s word to support my preaching of God’s word, that, declaring the truth of God is worth compensation from the church body. Because, that is the realty of how we minister’s are supported through the faithful and generous and sacrificial giving of the church body, to whom we help guide to encounter abundant life in Jesus, through the preaching of God’s word. I’m grateful that this body is by and large, surrendered to God’s mission, and faithful and generous and sacrificial in it’s giving. That pattern, is in keeping step with the precedent set-forth in God’s word, and you should be commended for that service to God’s kingdom. So, I, as a preacher, have to ask my self, “does the mission of God ignite my purpose in making God’s word known?”

But 1 Corinthians 9 applies this principle to more than just the leaders of the church. This principle saturates into the life of the kingdom of God overall. Take parenting. Does Jesus ignite your purpose? Does Jesus ignite your purpose in parenting? Is participating in God’s original mandate in Genesis 1:28; Matthew 28:19-20 – to “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it” part of your purpose in having children, and how you plan for your family? Is participating in God’s redemption mandate in Matthew 28:19-20 – to “...make disciples of all nations [including your children here], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” When your kids are driving you nuts, and there isn’t the immediate reward of: peace and quiet or a clean house, does the hopeful reward of your children finding life in their creator and Lord, of greater purpose? Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in raising kids?

Does Jesus ignite your purpose in having a home? Is God’s mission the purpose you have in maintaining a home? Is your home a base-camp for making Jesus known to those around you? 

Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in having a home? Or, is your own benefit the purpose?

Does Jesus ignite your purpose in education? Is God’s mission the purpose you have in learning? Is your education a resource and platform to help all people encounter abundant life in Jesus? Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in learning? Or, is your own benefit the purpose?

Does Jesus ignite the purpose of your daily work (retired or not)? Is God’s mission the purpose for your work? Is your work for your benefit; or an outlet for helping all people encounter abundant life in Jesus? Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in working? Or, is your own benefit the purpose?

Does Jesus ignite the purpose of your existence? Is God’s mission the purpose for you living another day? Is God’s mission the purpose that drives your conversations, thoughts and prayers, interactions with family or medical personnel, or your finances? God’s mission is not limited in ways to participate in it. Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in existing? Or, is your own benefit the purpose?

Does Jesus ignite the purpose of your participation in Jesus’ church? Is God’s mission the purpose for why you’re here today? Is God’s mission the purpose for why you sing? Is God’s mission the purpose for why you meditate on God’s word? Is God’s mission the purpose for why you pray? Is God’s mission the purpose for why you give? Does the mission of God ignite your purpose in participating in Jesus’ church? Or, is your own benefit the purpose?

You may benefit directly from parenting, learning, working, having a home, living, and participating in Jesus’ church. But those benefits are short-sighted, compared to the potential impact that’s possible in God’s mission. Parenting, learning, working, having a home, living, and participating in Jesus’ church, may give us purpose for a while. But they’re not designed to give ultimate purpose. God’s word in 1 Corinthians 9 is asking us to consider that an ultimate purpose for our lives is found in participating in God’s mission – in guiding all people to experience abundant life in Jesus. This is a purpose who’s flame will will never go out, as long as we’re continually surrendered to Jesus as Lord.

Jesus ignited Paul’s purpose. What ignites your purpose?

Jesus ignited Paul’s purpose in a less-than-ideal Corinthian culture. What ignites your purpose?

Taste and see; and take a step of faith.

Today, if you’re struggling to find lasting purpose for your life, I invite you to taste and see that Jesus is where you can find that purpose. Taste and see that the mission of God can ignite a purpose that will never wane. Taste and see that participation in the mission of God is the most abundant life you can experience. I encourage you to reach out to me or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern taking a step of faith toward being united to the life of Jesus under the water, in baptism.

What step of faith is God’s Spirit calling you to take to make his mission your purpose?

If you’ve already united your life to Jesus, What step of faith is God’s Spirit calling you to take today? What step of faith is God’s Spirit convicting you about the purpose that you currently pursue for your parenting, learning, working, having a home, living, and participating in Jesus’ church? What step of faith is God’s Spirit calling you to take to make his mission your purpose? If you need ideas for what that step might be, I encourage you to reach out to me or another trusted follower of Jesus, to help you discern concrete ways to step into God’s mission in your daily life. Get coffee, lunch, or make a phone call this week, to get that conversation started.

What ignites your purpose?

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Trust that Jesus isn't limited by your situation (1 Corinthians 7:10-24) - Jordan Byrd

This is the leash that I use to walk my dog. This particular leash allows me the leash to be limited to a few feet out; or extend out, giving the dog more options of where to walk). When it comes to the topic of marriage and divorce, this leash offer a helpful image for how we, as humanity, have approached this topic. In marriages that are not unstable, our imaginations have been captivated with limited responses: divorce, avoidance of marriage, or dealing with with the instability on your own. 

Whereas, as we reflect on the word of God from 1 Corinthians 7, we encounter that Jesus’ imagination isn’t limited to divorce as the only option. Rather, through the Spirit of Jesus illuminating the Apostle Paul, in this writing to the church in Corinth, we encounter that Jesus' imagination for responding to an unstable marriage is far-reaching – father-reaching than the limited options our imaginations allow in such situations.

We live in a world where it’s common for marriages to only last so far. You either know of family and friends who have experienced divorce; or, you, yourself, have experienced divorce. And, you know the: sadness, grief, anger, frustration, confusion, guilt, loneliness, and the sorrowful relief – that accompanies it. As far back as Adam and Eve hiding from each other in the paradise of the Garden of Eden, until now – once humans separated from the perfection and wisdom of God, constant, healthy union in marriage – has been difficult. And that reality is still true in our day-and-age. Whether it’s the often-quoted statistic that an average of 50% of marriages end in divorce, with first-time marriages likely hitting a little lower than that average; and subsequent re-marriages likely hitting above that average. An internet search, will show that a second or third marriage, after divorce from a first marriage, gets statistically less and less likely to last. Beyond statistics, we anecdotally see this reality all around us: I’m still amazed at the amount of marriages that have ended in divorce, from classmates of mine, whom I had, while in Bible college.

Divorce has been one response to unstable marriages. So also has cohabitation, or avoidance of marriage been another response to the instability of marriage. Avoiding marriage, or cohabitation, which is living together in a pretend marriage situation, but without the backstop of commitment to keep it together – allowing one partner to walk out at any time, without much repercussion – compared to divorce, that, at least involves a legal and financial hurdle to end the relationship.

Another response to unstable marriages, has been to just put-up with: unfaithful, abusive, ungodly, or in-humane treatment. Feeling like you’re just stuck in your situation. Feeling like you don’t want to be a divorced person, but you also don’t want to continue as things are. Feeling like you’re alone.

Our imaginations have been captivated with limited responses to instability in marriage.

What we see from this brief survey, is that our imaginations have been captivated with limited responses to instability in marriage: divorce, avoidance of marriage, or dealing with with the instability on your own.

Good news that we encounter in God’s word in 1 Corinthians 7, is that Jesus' imagination for responding to unstable marriages is far-reaching – offering a more comprehensive and extensive perspective on how to respond to instability in marriage. Where we feel limited in how to respond to trouble in marriage, Jesus isn’t limited in how to meet you in the trouble. Jesus’ imagination for your situation is farther-reaching than; and more creative than you can figure out on your own. God’s word in 1 Corinthians 7, invites us to trust Jesus’ guidance in marital trouble. Trust Jesus’ grace amidst poor decisions we may have already made in, or out of marriage. Trust that we’re not alone to navigate marital trouble. Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation.

I know of someone who has their grass cut by a company. On one occasion, I encountered that his person didn’t like how the grass was getting cut. And the next time that person’s grass was getting cut, it was by someone else. It appears that this person was unhappy with the relationship with the lawn-mowing company, and just ended the relationship right away, no other procedure needed.

Marriage is a covenant, not a contract.

A marriage relationship is not a contractual relationship, like we have with a company. A marriage is ultimately (and from what we encounter throughout the Bible), a covenant, not a contract. A contract is an agreement that can be voided if one party doesn’t hold up their end of the agreement. A covenant is an agreement that is meant to endure past a falt in holding up one end of the agreement. A contract is a fixed scale of percentage participation: 50% for one party; and 50% for the other party. A covenant is a vacillating scale of percentage of participation. In ideal times, it’s 50/50. In sickness it might be 70/30. In financially hard times, it might be 20/80. On a rough day, it might be 55/45. The point is: a business contract is limited in commitment; A marriage covenant is designed for give and take, by both the husband and wife. Marriage is not something designed to be ended like firing your grass cutting service.

Paul has been correcting the Corinthian followers of Jesus to remain married in a culture, that was spiritualizing celibacy, or, being unmarried. Go back and watch or listen to last week’s message for more on that context. It’s here, that Paul reiterates that married followers of Jesus are to remain married, and not seek an end to their marriage, “A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)

Paul supports this instruction by saying that is comes from Jesus’ teaching himself, “To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord).... (1 Corinthians 7:10) 

If 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 were digitized, we could double-click on it and see an expanded explanation of Paul’s instruction. This instruction from Paul, here, is essentially sourced and footnoted for further reading in God’s word. First, this instruction points back to Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:31-32 (with a parallel saying in Luke 16:18), ““It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 5:31-32 [see also Luke 16:18])

And Matthew 19:3-8 (with a parallel incident in Mark 10:2-12), “Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:3-8 [see also Mark 10:2-12])

Jesus addresses the topic of divorce in each of these passages; and, in each of these passage, Jesus refers back to another footnoted, double-click passage from God’s word in Deuteronomy 24:1-4, “If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.” (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)

To unpack the overlap of these passages, let’s first begin with Deuteronomy 24:1-4. In this passage, God’s law revealed to the Jewish people, says that a person may divorce someone, “If” something “indecent” is found in the other person. This term, “indecent” is a generalized term, without precise nuance. It’d kind of like our use of “junk.” Is it actual broken stuff? Or is it stuff we just don’t like anymore, but is perfectly usable. We can get a sense of the term “indecent” by looking one chapter back, in Deuteronomy 23:12-14, “Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. 14 For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.” (Deuteronomy 23:12-14)

The term “indecent” pertains to something off-putting, like someone seeing someone go to the bathroom. What exactly “indecent” or “off-putting” meant, with this term was debated. And two schools of thought emerged. The Rabbinic school of Shammai understood the term “indecent” to refer sexually indecent actions (adultery, sex outside of marriage, or any other sexual perversion outside of marriage to someone of the opposite gender). Whereas, the Rabbinic school of Hillel understood the tem “indecent” to refer to anything “indecent,” not just sexually, but in any area of life. Like, if a spouse ruined a dish of food, then that indecency was warrant for divorce.

We can see this debate trickle down to what we encountered in Matthew 19, a moment ago, where the Pharisees ask Jesus, ““Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” They’re looking for Jesus to take a side; and Jesus does more than take a side, he clarifies exactly what kind of indecency makes divorce permissible: adultery – sexual activity with someone who’s not your spouse of the opposite gender. This context to the Pharisee’s question clarifies Jesus’ explanation in Matthew 19, where the Pharisees say, “Why then… did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replies, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The false belief is that divorce is the only option. The false belief was that divorce was “commanded.” That it was the only option. It wasn’t commanded, but, it was permitted, as recourse, for victims of marriage unfaithfulness – for victims of adultery. The false belief is that divorce is the only option, when something doesn’t go right in a marriage. The true belief, from Jesus, is that divorce is the last, permissible option among other options, but, it’s not the only option. Because of hard hearts, because of hearts separated from God, divorce became distorted and acceptable for any and every reason – creating a worldview where anything wrong in a marriage is a deal-breaker, and worthy of divorce; creating a worldview with limited imagination of how to navigate differences and mistakes (big or little) in marriage. That’s not a marriage covenant. That’s a marriage contract.

Jesus’ response to the Pharisees doubles-back to the original permission for divorce, which was adultery, and giving a roadblock to make it more difficult to end. The scenario given in Deuteronomy 24 is interesting. At first, the scenario follows the husband. The husband discovers the wife has been indecent (technically, sexually active outside of the marriage), and he decides to divorce her. But if he does divorce her, that ends the marriage. The process of issuing a certificate of divorce, helped divorce to not be a rash decision; because once it was issued, the marriage was understood to end, and it would free the wife to remarry, as marriage was a social form of security for a woman at that time too.

The scenario follows the wife from here. She remarries, and if that man also divorces her or he dies, the woman is not allowed to remarry her first husband, there are a couple reasons this could be: 1) In cases of serial adultery (if the woman was an adulterer in multiple marriages), prohibition of the woman remarrying the first husband, could be protective to the man, from a woman who is habitually unfaithful in marriage. 2) But another reason could be the dowry payments that were involved in Jewish marriages. The prohibition of the woman remarrying the first husband, could also be protection for her from being financially exploited by the man. Remarriage in this way, could also be a slimy way to “be married” correctly, but have multiple partners – so a form of sexually activity with multiple women, through the format of “marriage” and “divorce.” The protection of people from selfish and sinful behavior is the focus of keeping divorce to a minimum. In all, the protection of people from selfish and sinful behavior is the focus of keeping divorce to a minimum, and only permissible in cases of adultery. God is trying to make it harder for people to ruin the abundant life he wants people to experience in marriage and in sexual union.

As a follower of Jesus, responding to instability in marriage is not limited to divorce. But divorce is an option for situations of adultery. What this all boils down to from Deuteronomy, and later, Jesus’ re-clarification, is that As a follower of Jesus, responding to instability in marriage is not limited to divorce. But divorce is an option for situations of adultery.

When we look back to 1 Corinthians 7, this takeaway from Deuteronomy and Jesus’ teaching in the gospel, explains Paul’s instruction to husbands and wives to remain married, even through rough moments. If separation does happen through hard-heartedness (for any reason other than adultery), leave room for Jesus to bring about reconciliation. That’s why remain unmarried (celibate). If adultery wasn’t involved, the marriage wasn’t torn. Be faithful to the sexual, marriage covenant on your end. Leave room for God to heal the fractured marriage, as only he can. But, if the separation is because of sexual immorality on the part of your spouse, then you are permitted to divorce for that reason. But know that it’s not a must. It’s not the only option available. Reconciliation may also be possible. Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation.

Remain married. Remain unmarried (celibate). Or reconcile.

Note that the options are: Remain married, remain unmarried (celibate), or reconcile. These options may seem unimaginable from your limited perspective, but by the power of God, Jesus’ ways are not limited in your situation – if you’ll leave room to trust him with your situation.

Hybrid vehicles have become more normal on the road these days. Hybrid cars have both gasoline and eclectic engines. The driver can pick to run the gasoline engine over the electric or vice-versa. As sometimes, the gasoline engine isn’t ideal to use in certain situations. And sometimes the electric engine isn’t ideal to use in certain situations. And some models allow for both to work together at the same time. The relationship of the engines in a hybrid car depict a similar dynamic in a marriage between a Jesus follower and someone who doesn’t follow Jesus.

As the good news of Jesus carried past the God-fearing Jewish people, and into the non-Jewish population, and people who worshiped foreign gods and idols, like Greek and Roman cultures, it would not be surprising for a spouse in an existing marriage in those cultures, to turn to faith in Jesus. And as a result, a believer would not be married to an unbeliever in Jesus. It was a hybrid marriage.

Paul’s instructs these followers of Jesus to remain married to their unbelieving spouse, if their unbelieving spouse is willing to continue the marriage. The “out”, if you will, is on the unbelieving spouse, not the Jesus-following spouse. Paul gives a hybrid adaptation, of sorts, on what we just encountered about marriage and divorce from Deuteronomy and Jesus’ teachings. Paul is remaining faithful to Jesus perspective on marriage, that a marriage covenant stay in tact, no matter how it was begun, as long as sexual immorality isn’t tearing it. What we see is that the stability of the marriage commitment is still a God-given blessing – wherever it is established between a husband and wife. The difference, as we encounter in this passage, is that it’s continuance, is made empowered by God’s presence at work in the marriage. And with at least one spouse — connected to Jesus in the marriage, it provides Holy-Spirit empowerment to at least 50% of the marriage, with the Jesus-following spouse. That’s better than nothing. That’s not to condone a Jesus follower to purposely marry an unbeliever, as that would be unwise. But this situation and context is different – where this marriage likely began with two unbelievers, and one of them converted to following Jesus, after the marriage began.

Paul also points to the benefit for the children involved in such a marriage. That they are more likely to encounter and become captivated with Jesus, in such a situation, compared to if neither spouse was a follower of Jesus. It’s a better to have one witness, than have no witnesses in a family. Overall, Paul’s instruction is for the believing spouse to remain married; and trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation. Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation.

While we’ve already covered how sexual immorality is the limited exemption for divorce, Paul’s instructions to believers married to unbelievers also allows for the believing spouse to be freed of the marriage, if the unbeliever wants out of the marriage. What we essentially encounter here is divorce by abandonment. The temptation here, could be to see any form of abandonment as cause for the end of a marriage. But the key dynamic here is the spiritual state of the abandoning spouse.

This situation prompts us to wonder how it might apply to an abuse situation. No matter how it’s viewed, that’s a tricky situation. An abuse situation could involve an unbelieving spouse, who is behaving sinfully, because they are not surrendered to God’s ways. Or, it could even be from a self-proclaimed Jesus follower, who is behaving in ungodly ways toward their spouse. While none of these scenarios are ideal. The wisdom that Jesus gives us in such circumstances is what we encounter in Matthew 18:15-17, “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.“ (Matthew 18:15-17)

Jesus’ words instructs us to address the sinful, or abusive behavior. And if it’s not heeded or stopped, take it to other followers of Jesus to come alongside you. And if the behavior is still not stopped or repented of,it can be brought to the broader church community, to have more people in your corner. And if the behavior still doesn’t stop, then that person is treated as an unbeliever. Ultimately, no person can make a person change. But, someone being abused can remove themself from an abusive situation, if able. They are not obligated to be sinned against. That is not Jesus’ desire. In the case of a person in an abusive marriage, as best I can tell from the process Jesus gives in Matthew 18 – and what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7 – when a person will not respond to repentance, or change, from habitual abuse, then separation is sorrowfully permissible. Because, even in the case of a “so-called” believer, their behavior is like that of an unbeliever. But catch that this process of separation is not something you have to do alone. It’s actually wise to not do it alone; and allow caring brothers and sisters help you discern how to navigate such a sticky situation. In such a situation, know that you’re not alone. You have Jesus, God’s Spirit with you; and you have brothers and sisters in Christ alongside you to navigate the situation too. Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation. He’s always with you, and he’s got a family of people alongside you. You’re only option isn’t to feel stuck or alone in such a situation.

It’s true that the best time to invest for your future is right now. While the most ideal time to invest is as early as you can. But the next best time is as soon as you can. Investing where and how you can right now. In 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, Paul essentially uses the examples of first-century Jewish circumcision and Roman slavery as examples of people investing in Jesus where they find themself. While there is a lot of other directions we could go for these topics, the short of it is that Jewish followers of Jesus, living in a non-Jewish culture, like Corinth, would have desired to look like an uncircumcised Corinthian – to fit in. But Paul’s point is that circumcision or uncircumcision isn’t the most important thing. Being a child of God and a citizen of his Kingdom is what’s most important and life-giving. Similarly, enslaved followers of Jesus, living amidst unenslaved followers of Jesus, would have desired to be free – to be like their freed brothers and sisters. But Paul’s point is that slavery or freedom on earth is not of ultimate importance. It’s better to be free – to be sure; and that’s why Paul says to take your freedom, if you can get it. But, it’s not the most important thing to seek after. Seeing the fuller freedom from sin and death that comes as a child of God and a citizen of God’s kingdom, that’s what’s more life-giving.

It’s this perspective that allows Paul to instruct people to remain as they are, whether wishing your body fit in (circumcision), or wishing you were free (slavery), or wishing you weren’t married or could get out of marriage – that one change isn’t your only option. Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation. Rather, trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation. Jesus isn’t limited by your circumcision or lack of circumcision. Jesus isn’t limited by your slavery. And, Jesus isn’t limited by your unstable marriage: Divorce. Mistaken divorce. Adultery. Sexual immorality. Marriage to an unbeliever. Or abusive situation. Whatever your situation, Jesus isn’t limited in how he can be with you through it. Jesus isn’t limited in trying to bring transformation to it.

Entrust your life to Jesus, in faith, under the water of baptism.

Today, if you’re not a follower of Jesus, how is Jesus’ Spirit calling you to trust him with your life’s situation? How can you take a step of faith to trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation. How can you take a step of faith to entrust your life to Jesus, in faith, under the water of baptism – becoming united to the extensive life of God. Please find me or another leader here, or a trust follower of Jesus, whom you know, to help you discern taking that step of faith.

Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation.

If you’re already a follower of Jesus, what situation do you find yourself in, that Jesus’ Spirit is calling you to trust him? Is your marriage unstable? Trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation to help you be humble; or repent of selfish behavior; or stick it out – to remain married – to remain faithful. Have you already been divorced? Trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation to forgive you; to help you remain celibate; to reconcile, where reconciliation is possible. Are you divorced and remarried already? Trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation to forgive; to help you remain faithful in this marriage; to make this marriage an example to the world of God’s faithfulness to us. Are you married to an unbeliever? Trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation to be with you, when you feel alone; to be a faithful witness of Jesus to your spouse; to transform your spouse to believe also. Are you in an abusive situation? Trust that Jesus isn’t limited in your situation to be with you; to surround with with others; to help you navigate messy situation; to bring healing; to bring relief.

Trust that Jesus isn’t limited by your situation.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself (1 Corinthians 7:1-9) - Jordan Byrd

This is a level. For those not as inclined toward construction projects, a level is used to determine the horizontal straightness of something. A plumb-line is another tool used to determine the vertical straightness of something. Both tools help ensure something is vertically or horizontally aligned with the true standard of the level and gravitational pull of the earth.

Our house was built in the 1950s, so, it’s not super old, but also not super new. It’s structure has had time to settle and shift over time. Almost any project we’ve done in our house, we’ve quickly realized that something isn’t level or plumb. And one side of a wall, or one side of a floor or ceiling will be longer than the other. Making measurements and cuts frustrating and messy. Disaster and mess come with being unaligned from the true, original standard, to which the house was built.

This imagery captures the experience of our own lives, especially in relation to sexuality. In 2024, the standard for sex is determined according to a millions different standards. It’s become whatever someone wants it to be. Sexuality is solely a personal right. Sexuality is for someone you have feelings for. Sexuality is a benefit you have with a friend. Sexuality is a recreational activity, like watching a movie. Sexualty is just a physical activity, like eating. Sexuality is exclusive to a dating partner. Sexuality is with anyone, as long as it doesn’t “hurt” others. Sexuality is just for procreation. Sexuality is a reward. Sexuality is bargaining chip. Sexuality is where one can feel completed. And we could keep adding to this list. The standard for sexuality is all over the place. Is this the standard? Or is this the standard? Or, is maybe this the standard for sexuality?

Multiple standards for sexuality cause frustration and mess.

What we discover with so many standards is frustration and mess, like the mess and frustration I encounter when I find parts of my house not level and plumb. It leads to frustrating measurements, and messy progress in a project. So too, when we have so many standards for sexuality all out of alignment with each other, we experience frustration and messiness in how we: measure our own life; and how we measure relationship with others. 

In our world, we’re tempted to believe that we can access some degree of a fuller life, by being sexual however we see fit. But, what we encounter in 1 Corinthians 7:1-9, is that God’s word declares otherwise.

Alignment with Jesus is where we find fullness of life.

In 1 Corinthians 7:1-9, we encounter that alignment with Jesus is where we find fullness of life. It’s in alignment with Jesus that we discover the true standard for sexual activity. We encounter that alignment with Jesus is how we can experience God’s fullness of life in marriage. We encounter that alignment with Jesus is how we can also experience God’s fulness of life in celibacy. Yes, you heard that right, in sexual abstinence. Good news of God that we encounter in this passage, is that we don’t have to guess at the standard for a full life. And we don’t have to guess at the standard for sexuality. We have a true standard that’s been revealed to us in God’s word, in Jesus. The creator of all things has come to show us us what fullness of life looks like. In John 10:10b, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)

Jesus has come to show us what fullness of life also looks like in our sexuality. Jesus has come to show us what fullness of life looks like in marriage. And Jesus has come to show us what fullness of life looks like in celibacy, in sexual abstinence.

Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself.

Whether married or celibate, God’s word is inviting you to consider if you are fully aligned with Jesus, to live into His fullness of life. Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself. Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself.

In 2024 America, you have to almost go out of your way to not encounter something sexual or sensual: From tv shows, commercials, billboards, online adds, to fashion styles. Sexuality is on display almost everywhere. American culture is furthest from advocating sexual moderation or abstinence. Celibacy is not considered a virtue in our day and age. Which makes 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 an odd passage for us to make sense of.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians 5, the author, the Apostle Paul has already highlighted a spectrum of Corinthian culture that advocated for sexual freedom, with the man who was sleeping with his father’s wife. That is one extreme swing of the cultural pendulum – away from the standard of God. The other extreme swing of the pendulum is ultra conservative sexuality.

1 Corinthians 7 is the beginning of a section of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, regarding questions they had for him about how to follow Jesus in certain areas of life; and one of those areas is in terms of sexuality. Paul notes that one of the matters they wrote to him about is in regard to a Corinthian spiritual ideology. The quoted line in 7:1 captures this ideological belief: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” (1 Corinthians 7:1)

This belief was that it was better, that it was more spiritual to be celebate, even in marriage. This belief was shaping, married, Corinthian followers of Jesus to be celibate – to withhold sex in marriage, because it was considered more spiritual and Godly.

Like I said, American culture does not struggle with this exact temptation per se. If anything, we’re far more tempted to find it good to be sexual in all sorts of relationships and situations. But, if we pause for a moment, there are ways that we find ourselves tempted to a similar belief to this misaligned Corintian belief, even in marriage.

How about someone who is celibate from intimacy with their spouse to work long hours and acquire a wealthy lifestyle? Or, someone who is celibate from presence with their spouse to pursue fun and entertainment. Or, maybe the closest contemporary examples to someone intentionally being celibate in marriage are: A) Someone who is celibate from sexual activity with their spouse because they are pursuing sexual gratification from pornography or other independent sexual activity. Or, B) Someone who is celibate from sexual activity with their spouse as an escape, or protection from a previous hurt or poor self-esteem.

These examples may not be pursuing celibacy to be more spiritual or Godly, but they are pursuits of celibacy from sexual activity with one’s spouse, to experience something something beyond one’s current situation. Something transcendent to one’s current situation in life. Something believed to be a fuller experience of life: a lavish lifestyle; the high of fun and entertainment; the immediate pleasure; an escape or protection. Whatever shape, we still, today, are tempted toward celibacy – or abstinence – from sexual wholeness in marriage, in pursuit of other fulfillment.

Paul seeks to guide this false understanding of celibacy and marriage, In 1 Corinthians 7:2, by highlighting that celibacy in marriage IS NOT THE STANDARD for marriage. Regular sexual relations between a husband and wife is the standard. Rather, regular sexual relations between a husband and wife is the standard. When this isn’t happening, sexual immorality, or misalignment from God’s original true standard happens.

This may partially be why Paul references prostitution in 1 Corihians 6 (a chapter earlier). Meaning, you might be married to your spouse, but you’re not living like a married person. You’re claiming to be Godly by not having sex with your spouse, but, when sexual desire arises, you’re pursuing a prostitute to instead of your spouse. In your pursuit of what you “believe” to be good, you’re actually moving away from God’s way of life.

We’ve been trying to show our 3 year old daughter how to pedal bike. One way that I’ve tried to explain it, is that the initial push forward of the pedal by one foot will bring the other pedal up, for the other foot to push it forward. And the repeat of that process, will keep the cycle happening. The idea is that their is a mutual relationship between both feet, when pedaling a bicycle.

The Bible and the Apostle Paul’s writing is often critiqued as being overly patriarchal and sexually repressive. But notice that in 1 Corinthians 7:2-4, Paul goes out of his way to highlight the mutuality of a man and woman in the marriage relationship, even in relation to sex: “…each man should have sexual relations with his OWN wife, AND each woman with he OWN husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:2)

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to HIS wife, AND likewise the wife to HER husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:3

It’s in this mutual relationship that sexual relations are designed to take place. It’s in marriage that sex is designed to happen. Men, it’s with your wife – that sex is designed to happen. Women, it’s with your husband – that sex is designed to happen.

One of the toughest things to teach my kids, has been the concept of taking care of things that they have. This is especially hard in the next-day, delivery world that we live in. My kids are already shaped to believe that anything can be replaced in a day. And the challenge has been helping them to see that mistreating something that the family uses: like walls, tables, appliances – doesn’t just affect their life, but it affects our family unit’s life: the structure of our house; the table we have to eat on; the appliances we have for cooking and storing food.

This “unit” idea is what Paul highlights about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7:4, “The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.” (1 Corinthians 7:4)

Marriage is a unit, or uniting of two people into one. (1 Corinthians 6:16; Genesis 2:24)

It’s the two becoming one flesh idea that Paul has already referenced in 1 Corinthians 6:16, and draws from Genesis 2:24 (when Adam and Eve come together as one). In a marriage: husband, it’s not just about you; wife, it’s not just about you. It’s about both of you. And a marriage is the complete union of two people: intimacy, presence, and bodily union. Marriage isn’t just about intimacy without bodily union. Marriage isn’t just about bodily union without presence. Marriage isn’t just about bodily union without presence in other aspects of life. And marriage isn’t just about presence without bodily union. Marriage is the complete union of a husband and a wife. And this union is ultimately a picture of the union that a follower of Jesus shares with God.

In Orchard Park, we can see the skeleton of the new Bills’ stadium being constructed. The Bills’ are the most recent team to have a new stadium funded with public money. While this debate can go all over the place. The reality is that any team would love to have public money fund every stadium build, as that means less money spent by them. But the reality is that most sport’s stadium builds come down to concessions between the governing entities and the sport’s teams. Such as, the government will fund X amount, as long as the team covers, or finds private financing for the rest. A concession allows for some, but not all of the funding to be publicly financed.

In 1 Corinthians 7:5-6, Paul gives similar direction to the Corinthians asking about celibacy in marriage. Celibacy is not normal between a husband and wife. But the one concession for when it’s ok is for prayer: to seek deeper connection with God; to seek the way of God more fully; to align more fully with the way of God.

Marriage is ultimately about relationship with God: marriage as a picture of God to the world; or marriage as a picture of God to your spouse. And this plays itself out in two ways: Marriage as a picture of God to the world. Or, marriage as a picture of God to your spouse. For the first, this was referenced last week, where Paul uses the marriage relationship between the husband and wife, to depict the union that a follower of Jesus shares with God. We see this in Ephesians 5:31-32, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31-32)

The marriage relationship depicts the commitment that followers of Jesus have to God; and the commitment that Jesus has to God’s church as his bride. The marriage relationship is a picture of relationship with God to the world.

For the second, Marriage is also a picture of God to your spouse. We see this also in Ephesians 5:21-25, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…. (Ephesians 5:21-25)

And the husband and wife here, reflect the attitude of Jesus, that we encounter in Philippians 2:5-11, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Jesus, who shows us the clearest revelation of God’s character, humbled himself to consider the needs of others. So also, husbands and wives are to be like Jesus to each other, considering each other’s needs. In a broken world, things are not always ideal, especially marriage. There may be times for pauses in sexual intimacy, in order to consider the bodily or mental state of your spouse. But, Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 7, is that this is a temporary pause – to seek God, or seek God’s way of considering your spouse during a particular situation of life. Otherwise, the fuller picture of marriage is sexual union with each other. Fullness of life in marriage is in regular sexual relation between the husband and wife. Otherwise, husbands and wives are tempted to find fullness of life in outlets unaligned with the way of God revealed in Jesus. Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself. Align with Jesus in marriage.

I’ve always joked that an example of my lack of decorative skills is reflected in this example. If I took books and sat them on a bed, then it would just look like books on a bed. But, if my wife, Julia did the same thing, it would be creative, stylish, and and complimentary to the room. I don’t have the gift of decorating a room, but Julia does. For me to try to be creatively decorative, I would just be frustrated. Whereas, for Julia, creatively decorating is fulfilling. I can very easily be self-controlled in be celibate in the creative decorating. Whereas, that would be frustrating for her to give up.

In 1 Corinthians 7:7-9, Paul highlights a similar dynamic with sexuality. Last week, we reflected on how we are whole persons: inner and outer selves working in harmony. And Paul is highlighting that some people’s inner drive is different than others. Some people have an inner drive for sexual intimacy, and others don’t. Some people have the gift of celibacy, and others don’t.

You right away may be thinking, that’s me. I definitely don’t have the gift of celibacy, lol. And if that’s you, then marriage is the pathway to align your sexuality, with the fullness of life, that God has for how he designed your life to function. The marriage pathway is how God has gifted you to live. And God’s gifts are always good gifts: Matthew 7:9-11, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

James 1:16-18a, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth… (James 1:16-18a).

If God has gifted you to marriage, it’s a good gift.

Or, you may be thinking, that’s me. I definitely have control of my sexual urges. I don’t have a drive toward marriage. And if that’s you, then celibacy is the pathway to align your sexuality, with the fullness of life, that has has for how he designed your life to function. The celibate pathway is how God has gifted you to live. That may be for a season of your life. Or maybe for the duration of your life. If God has gifted you to celibacy, it’s a good gift.

The reality that Paul lays out here, is that sexual activity is not necessary to have a full life. Sexual attraction to someone of the opposite gender or marriage are not necessary to have a full life. Alignment with the God revealed in Jesus, though, is necessary to have a full life. Fullness of life comes primarily from God.

If you’re married, fullness of life in marriage comes from being aligned with God’s way of life revealed in the life of Jesus. Fullness of life comes in marriage when a husband and wife’s relationship extends the character of the kingdom of God into the world. Into the lives of each other. Into the lives of their children and grandchildren. Into the lives of those they bless and serve in their day-to-day activities together.

If you’re celibate, fulness of life in abstinence from sex comes from being aligned with God’s way of life revealed in the life of Jesus. Fulness of life comes in celibacy when a person commits themself to the kingdom of God, and invites others into it. As Sean Cronin will guide us to see in a couple weeks, Paul notes this benefit for a celibate person in 1 Corinthians 7:32, “An unmarried man [or woman] is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he [or she] can please the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:32)

Whereas, marriages ensure the future of human life in God's creation, through the birth of children, celibate servants of God ensure the future of spiritual life in God's kingdom, through new birth in Christ, through people becoming adopted sons and daughters of God, through Jesus. A celibate life is not a lesser life. In Jesus, a celibate life can be a full and purpose-fulled life.

Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself. 

When you’re misaligned with God, you end up frustrated and life gets messy.

We’re tempted to seek fulness of life in a standard, other than what God has revealed in Jesus. And when we do so, we end up misaligned with God. And when you’re misaligned with God, you end up frustrated and life gets messy. When you misalign with God, you get sexually frustrated in marriage, and sexuality gets messy. You feel unfulfilled, questioning if marriage is worth continuing. When you misalign with God, you get frustrated in finding purpose beyond your sexuality. Finding purpose get messy. You feel unfulfilled, questioning if celibacy is worth maintaining.

God is calling you to follow the way of Jesus – to encounter fullness of life. Its’ in alignment with Jesus that you’ll discover the true standard for sexual activity. It’s in alignment with Jesus that you can experience God’s fullness of life in marriage. It’s in alignment with Jesus that you can experience God’s fulness of life in celibacy. Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself.

Align your life to Jesus in faith, under the water of baptism.

Today, if you’ve never taken a step of faith to align yourself with Jesus, I invite you to consider taking that step today. Please find me, or Mitch, or an elder, or a trusted follower of Jesus, whom you know, and ask them to help you discern how to align your life to Jesus under the water of baptism – being united with him in death, and resurrection hope to new life. What is hindering you from taking that step of faith? 

What temptation are you facing to un-align your life from Jesus?

If you’ve already aligned your life with Jesus in baptism, what temptation are you facing to un-align your life from Jesus? What part of your marriage needs re-aligned with God’s way? What form of sexual intimacy, presence, or pleasure are you seeking apart from alignment with God’s place for sexual union in marriage? What is keeping you from aligning your sexual expression in the commitment of marriage? How is God’s Spirit calling you to find fulness of life in sexuality, marriage, or celibacy? What response is he prompting you to take toward aligning with his standard?

Align with Jesus no matter where you find yourself.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Experience your whole self in Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:12-20) - Jordan Byrd

This is a cream-filled donut. Without the cream in this donut, it would just have a giant air-pocket. It would be empty. But, similarly, without the dough surrounding the cream, the cream would be all over the place. The cream would have nothing to give it form. It would be messy.

This represents the experience of our own lives; and the lives of many people in the world today. Where we feel like we’re always trying to figure out who we are. Where we’re always trying to figure out what matters more – the outside (our physical bodies), or the inside (our inner, intangible life: our mind and feelings).

And people struggle with this confusion in different ways. This struggle exhibits itself in: Dealing with one’s body size. Dealing with one’s feelings. Dealing with one’s sexual attraction. Dealing with one’s gender. Dealing with one’s aging body. Dealing with one’s disease ridden body or mental makeup.

Making sense of myself in relation to my height (false sense of who I am as a whole). As I developed through puberty, it became obvious the closer I got to the end of high school, that I was not going to be a tall person. And, you can see, that hasn’t changed. I’m shorter than that average man.

I internally struggled with this reality in relation to women and dating. The stereotype of most couples is a taller man with a shorter women. And when I looked around, most girls that I knew, or who could be potential dating partners, were taller than me, or, possibly closer to my height. But, the difference still stuck out to me. I constantly had the stereotype of a taller man with a shorter women in my mind. And, I could tell quickly the pool of women shorter than me, was pretty shallow.

I constantly wrestled with this reality. My mind constantly reminded me of the “typical” height difference between men and women; and my body didn’t reflect that. Most people wouldn’t probably wouldn’t have thought about this. But, I did. And it was a struggle for me to make sense of my self. My whole self.

Our world is filled with people struggling to make sense of their whole self. And this disjointed understanding of our whole self, has prompted us to seek ways of making sense – of our both our inner and outer realities – make sense of our thought and feelings in relation to the flesh and blood and bodies we were born with, and naturally developed into.

The people of first-century Corinth wrestled with a similar reality. First-century Corinth had people who believed – that the physical body was temporary, and had no bearing on an eternal existence. So, this often resulted in a tendency to – use the body however one pleased. Because, what mattered more, was one’s inner self. Which was believed to matter past death. But on the flip side, first-century Corinth also had people who believed – that their will and desire trumped all. Which often resulted in using their bodies to gratify that will and desire – however they wanted. This treated the body as a utilitarian tool. It was a vehicle to achieve other ends: view themselves as over another with the eyes. Extortion of another with the tongue. Sexual release with the sexual parts of the body. These are all ways that, Paul, the early Christian church leader, addresses throughout the first six chapters of 1 Corinthians – that the first-century, Corinthian, followers of Jesus – were, or, were tempted to emulate.

While this was “normal” for Corinthian culture. And it’s the “normal” for our current culture. Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Corinth, and us today, that God’s word – that, God’s kingdom – declares another perspective of life. God’s word, in 1 Corinthians 6, declares that: we are more than just an outer shell body –  to use however we can contort or use it. That: we are more than just an inner conglomeration of thoughts and feelings. Rather, God’s word declares that we are a whole self. Created in the image of God. But, this whole experience of self, is broken because of our separation from God. Because of sin. Because we are separated from the wise being who knew the fullest experience we could have as humans – is to live a whole life: inner realities working with the outer. And outer realities working with the inner. And all of that connected to the power and life of God. And because of this separation from God and his original purpose for human life, we are left to make sense of our self – on our own. And what we commonly experience is: war within our self. Pitting the inner realities over the outer; or the outer realities over the inner. And often forcing one to unnaturally fit the other. We long for our inner and outer selves to be in harmony, often seeking ways other than God to achieve this.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 6, Paul frequently asks the question, “Don’t you know?….” Don’t you know that it’s only in Jesus, that your whole self can make sense. It’s only in Jesus that you can truly experience your whole self. Good news God’s word declares to us in 1 Corinthians 6, is the reality that you can: Experience your whole self in Jesus.

Earlier this week, we had a couple over for dinner. And they brought a dessert for us to share. When I was offered the dessert, I didn’t know what it was exactly, so, I asked, “What is it?” Guessing on my own, could have resulted in an awkward situation. The clearer path to know what the dessert was, was to go to the source. To go to the creator. In verses 12-13, Paul draws out this underlying point that God created you: body and spirit. It’s God who made you a personal soul. He knows what a whole experience of your life should look like. But, when we separate from the creator, when we separate from God, when we separate from the authority on human life, we assume authority; and assuming that authority can lead us down some distorted and unwise paths. Because we start guessing, and trying to figure out life on our own. Like, believing that any way of life is beneficial for us. Like, believing that certain ways of life won’t master us. But in the end, we make these choices based on our limited experience, our limited wisdom and perspective.

Paul is reminding us that we were created for God. We were created to live under his wise direction and perspective. Your body is meant for the Lord (verse 13). Your thoughts and feelings are for the Lord. Your whole self is for the Lord. You are an embodied being. All of you is for the Lord. And it’s when we separate the inner or outer aspects of our self to something – other than the Lord – that we separate from God, and live for ourself as Lord. Which, is trading the full authority on human life, for a lesser authority on human life.

Paul uses the sexual culture of Corinth – to highlight how “off the rails” our experience of human life can get, when we live apart from God. Paul may have a particular situation in mind when we addresses sexual immorality, as sexual activity outside of marriage (especially for men), was a normal, acceptable activity in Corinthian culture. But, Paul also uses “human sexuality” to communicate a broader point about human life; and the relationship of human life in connection to God.

As Bills fans, we would be appalled if a Bill’s fan used a Josh Allen jersey to get the autograph of Kansas City quarterback, Patrick Mahommes. Their is a betrayal of loyalty or allegiance happening. The union of the the fan to the Bills is being defiled with the signature of a quarterback from a rival team. This imagery is what Paul uses when talking about a follower of Jesus uniting themself with a prostitute. In verses 15-17, Paul draws out the transfer of allegiance that happens, when a follower of Jesus pursues sexual activity – beyond the shape of how God created a man and a woman to engage sexually in marriage. The sexual union of marriage between a man and woman is a flesh and blood model of the union that a follower of Jesus shares in relationship with God. Now, this union to God isn’t sexual in nature, but there is still a union of your embodied person to the embodied person of God, Paul describes this further in his letter to the church in Rome, Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-5 NIV)

Followers of Jesus become one with the life of God. And Marriage between a man and woman is a picture of the union that we share with God. (1 Corinthians 6:16; Genesis 2:24)

Which, is the “two becoming one flesh” dynamic, that Paul references in verse 1 Corinthians 1:16. And draws from Genesis 2:24 (when Adam and Eve come together as one). Paul similarly says this about the sexual union between a husband and wife in his letter to the church in Ephesus, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:31-33 NIV)

Sexual activity beyond marriage – tearing the union between husband and wife, is a distortion of the sexual nature of human life – that God created. It’s an elevation of personal desire or bodily gratification – over the intimacy that is mutually shared and given in the sexual union that God created between a husband and wife. Sexual union isn’t just a bodily action. And it’s not just something you feel. It’s a whole self experience. It’s a whole communication of self to another self – that is impossible any other way. And this intimacy is torn and distorted when the union is torn and shared. Our culture often cries that sexual activity is just a physical activity, like eating. So also did the Corinthian culture (1 Corinthians 6:13). But, it’s not just a physical activity. It’s also emotional and mental. Because sexual intimacy is meant to be a whole-self experience. But, when one partner breaks that intimacy – breaks that allegiance in marriage (or outside of marriage altogether), messy confusion accompanies that tear.

While this is true of relationship between a husband and wife, the marriage relationship is a microcosm of each person’s relationship with God. When we break intimacy or relationship with God, messy confusion accompanies that tear. Messy confusion about who we are. Messy confusion about how we live in our bodies. Messy confusion about how we embody our thoughts and feelings. Paul is telling the Corinthian followers of Jesus to not fall for a false version of life. Rather, experience (know) wholeness of life – in Jesus, in union with God, in faithful allegiance to the way of Jesus. Know is referenced 6 separate times in chapter 6 (3 in verses 12-20 alone: verses 15, 16, and 19 ). Experience your whole self in Jesus.

Recently, I’ve had an issue with the air conditioning in my car not working. And, I’m the kind of person who is hesitant to mess with the system of a car: mechanical or electronic. I’m afraid if I start messing with things, and pulling things out to look at them, that I won’t be able to get them back in the right place, afterward. Right now, my air conditioning doesn’t work. That brokenness has brought messiness to my life. It was super hot earlier this week!!! It was miserable in my car. That brokenness has also brought confusion. I don’t know how to fix the problem. I could choose to just ignore the issue, and make myself believe that life without air conditioning is all good. Or, I could turn to someone who knows more than me. I could turn to someone who isn’t confused by the brokenness. Someone who is able to wade through the messiness of making the repair. Someone who is able to right what is not right. This is an example of how we find our own lives: Confused and messy in trying to figure out who we are on our own. Confused and messy in how we live into our bodies. Confused and messy in how we we embody our thoughts and feelings. But Paul calls the Corinthians and us – to Turn to Jesus to get out of the confusion and messiness (1 Corinthians 6:14 and 20). In verses 14 and 20, Paul reminds the Corinthians that God is the only one who can redeem the confusion and messiness we encounter about our lives. Originally, God created the human life for the Lord. And in our brokenness, God sent his Son, Jesus – to take on human life; and experience the brokenness and confusion and mess that we all experience – even to the extent of the brokenness, confusion, and messiness of being unjustly put to death. But what we see in the life of Jesus, is that he didn’t give into the brokenness, confusion, and mess. Jesus didn’t allow his thoughts and feelings to override his body. And he didn’t allow the desires of his body to override his thoughts and feelings. Rather, he lived as a whole person. Specifically, as a whole person in union with his heavenly Father – with God, and in union with God, Jesus was restored from death. Restored from brokenness, confusion, and the messiness of life. Jesus exhausted sin and death with the cost of this body – to make way to receive a healed, restored, new body in resurrection. Paul references that Jesus paid this price, so that we all might experience a healed, restored, and new body in resurrection with him (verse 20). So that we can be raised by the power of God, just as Jesus was raised (verse 14).

The only way to experience our whole self, is in entrusting our life to Jesus. And allowing God to show us who we wholly are. Allowing God to show us how we live into our bodies. Allowing God to show us how we we embody our thoughts and feelings. Allowing God to show us who we are as a whole person. Experience your whole self in Jesus.

As I aged into adulthood, I had to come to grips with my height, and how I would allow that to impact how I found a wife. I by no means did this perfectly, but, I had to eventually surrender that area of my life to God – trusting that faithfulness to pursuing marriage, a wife, and sexual intimacy as God has revealed in his word – are what would be best. I had to trust that God is aware of my life: God is aware of the body he gave me. God is aware of the feeling and thoughts that bubbled-up inside my body, in relation to the couples I saw all around me. I had to trust that God knows what’s best for me –  what’s best for my whole life. And to jump ahead in the story, that’’s where Julia fits. God provided what seemed improbable. God unconfused and cleaned-up what was a confusing and messy process to me, of finding a wife.

But, I had to live toward that end. I could have given-in and tried to fix it my way. That could have also led down some more confusing and messy paths. But ultimately, I had to believe: Am I my master? Or is Jesus? Am I my own? Or, am I God’s?

And what Paul is pleading with the Corinthians in this chapter to understand, Is that they were created by God and for God. And God knows what’s best for them. God knows who you are fully: inside and out. And it all matters. And What seems broken and confusing and messy to you, God knows how to make whole. – if you’ll trust him to bing it about. And while that healing hasn’t fully come yet, God asks us to live toward that hope. And honor God with your body. Honor God with your whole life. And following the way and example of Jesus to do so. Experience your whole self in Jesus.

Experience your whole self by being united to Jesus.

Today, if you’re confused about who you are, if you’re not sure how to fully live into your body, if you’re not sure how to embody your thoughts and feelings, I invite you to consider how Jesus wants to give you clarity. I invite you to ask God, in faith, to help you experience your whole self in Jesus. I invite you to see the wholeness of life that Jesus had, and how God wants that same experience for the embodied life he created and gave to you. I invite you to find me, or Mitch, or Sean, or an elder, or another trusted follower of Jesus — to help you discern how to unite your life to Jesus under the water of baptism, and allowing him to heal, restore, and resurrect you to wholeness of life.

Know that you can experience your whole self in Jesus.

If you’ve already united your life to Jesus, I invite you to know – to remember that God knows all of you. God knows who you were created to be. God knows what is broken, distorted, confusion, and messy right now. God knows how to heal the confusion you feel between the inner and outer parts of your life. To know that God knows how to heal you, doesn’t mean that can’t involve medical or scientific help. But it does mean that you’re ultimate understanding of yourself, is how God sees you, and ever other path falls in line with that. I invite you to know – to remember that God knows who you will fully be in the resurrection, when God will put all things right. I invite you to know that you can experience your whole self in Jesus.

Experience your whole self in Jesus.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Live your true identity (1 Corinthians 6:1-11) - Jordan Byrd

This is my Enhanced Driver’s License. When we first moved to WNY. It was a new reality to have vehicle access to another country within minutes. I already was aware of some of the ways to get into Canada: birth certificate or passport. But, when I moved here, my passport was expired. I had to get a New York driver’s license anyway, after moving. Enhanced driver’s licenses were becoming a thing here around that time. Where you could cross the northern or southern U.S. border by car or boat with only that form of ID. So, I got that.

When we first moved to WNY, we lived in an apartment. But a couple years later, we bought and moved to our current house. So, when we moved, I wondered how my Enhanced license would work when crossing the border. Would I need to get a new card, with a new address? When I inquired about this, I was told to just write my new address on the back of the card. I was like, “Really?!” “That’s acceptable?!” All the technology used in this card. And my handwritten new address will suffice?! So, the next time I crossed into Canada, I was a little nervous that my ID would be accepted. I was a little nervous that I’d be asked to explain who I really am.

I had a similar situation, In 2002, when I was preparing to go to Honduras on a youth mission trip, when I was in high school. My brother and I were going on the trip. And we applied for our first passports. One of the pre-trip items that the mission’s agency asked our group to do, was make copies of our passports, In case we misplaced our originals along the way. And there could at least be a reference to our information. So, when we got our passports, my mom copied them. And my brother and I had to sign both version of the passport: The authentic version, and the copy. After we signed them, we realized that somehow, we both signed the right copied version. But, we signed each other’s real passport. So, we’re thinking, “Great!” “We’re going to have to go through the whole process to get a new passport.” “And would it be ready in time for the trip.” When we called about what to do to fix the problem, we were told “Just cross out the wrong signature, and put the new signature next to it.” And we were like “Really?! “No way that’s how this works!” And this was within a year of the 9/11 2001 attacks Where airport security was tightened in response. So, we’re thinking, “No way a passport with a crossed-out name, won’t look suspicious.” I remember feeling nervous at the customs counter, as they’re reviewing my passport. And just expecting them to ask me to explain my name and signature. And asking me to explain who I really am.

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul, the early church leader, writes to followers of Jesus there, who were struggling to answer, “who they were.” Throughout 1 Corinthians, the Corinthians culture is characterized by: Identity of appearance. Appearing powerful, prestigious, unique, standing out, more eloquent, smarter than others, better than others. And the appearance of these qualities, often looked past other qualities and behavior. It looked past the disunity that elevating one person over another caused. It looked past the exclusion that happened when power and prestige were pursued. It looked past the dignity of the human body when sexual relationships were gratified however people desired. And in this chapter, we encounter that Corinthian culture looked past injustice when disputes were judged with wealth, power, and eloquence.

While the Corinthian people pursued identity through power, prestige, gratification, wealth, and eloquence, it has left a wake of destruction in it’s path, Specifically in the community of Jesus followers: disunity, separation from God, and in 1 Corinthians 6, exploitation and poverty. 1 Corinthians 6 is a clash between the identity of Corinth, and the identity of Christ Jesus.

Throughout this section of Paul’s letter, he is asking the Corinthian follower of Jesus to answer the following question: who are you? What is your primary identity? Is it as a Corinthian? Or as a citizen of the kingdom of God? As a member of the body of Christ? Or as a member of Corinthian society?

For Paul, the answer to that question will direct how a person lives. For a person who identifies primarily as a Corinthian, than they will live like a Corinthian. They will push others aside to be powerful or important. Abuse others to gratify their desires. Exploit others to settle a dispute. But for A person who identifies primarily as a citizen of God’s kingdom, will live like a citizen of God’s kingdom. They will live like the model citizen of that kingdom. They will live like Jesus. They will give-up power and importance, to include others. They will consider others in their pursuit of pleasure. They will seek restoration in their disputes. Like Jesus does.

Good news that we can receive from this section of God’s word, is that God has a full and true life for you to live in Jesus. God has a fuller and truer identity for you to have as a citizen of God’s kingdom. Through Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 6, God’s word calls us to not live a lesser life outside Jesus. Rather, live your true identity in Jesus. Live your true identity. Live in the washed identity you’ve received in Jesus. Live in the purpose-filled identity you’ve received in God’s kingdom. Live in the undistorted identity you’ve received by God’s Spirit. Live your true identity. Live your true identity.

The 1992 McDonald's hot coffee case involved Stella Liebeck. While Liebeck initially sought $20,000 to cover medical expenses. McDonald's only offered $800. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury awarded Liebeck $200,000 in compensatory damages. Which was later reduced to $160,000 (to compensate for her fault in the spilled coffee). Initially the jury granted Liebeck $2.7 million in punitive damages. This was eventually reduced to $480,000. And Liebeck and McDonald's eventually came to an undisclosed agreement. In U.S. culture, this case has somewhat become a joke – about how rich a person could get from spilt hot coffee. But it does highlight how this case, and others, aimed at exacting a pound of flesh, rather just the righting of a wrong.

This captures a glimpse of the approach taken in Corinthian culture to settling a dispute. A dispute was settled by what could be exacted at another’s expense. And to play the game, eloquent, charismatic orators were utilized to argue one’s case. To do so, required wealth or status – to hire such people. And the form of settlement that was pursued, was exploitation. Eloquent orators were hired to – prop-up the status and privilege of wealthy litigants (lit-i-gants), or the wealth of high-status litigants, bribed judges for favorable outcomes. Overall, what resulted were wealthy, high-status people – taking peasant, poorer folk to court – to exploit them, and maintain their identity of status. And this is way of handling disputes, was happening between wealthy, high status, Corinthian followers of Jesus, and pooer, low-status, Corinthians followers of Jesus.

And Paul is asking the question: who are you? What is your primary identity? Are you primarily a Corinthian or a citizen of God’s kingdom? Their talk would imply that their primary identity is: a citizen of God’s kingdom. But their actions show that their primarily identity: is as Corinthians. Because they are treating a dispute with brother or sister in Christ – like a Corinthian would treat a dispute with someone.

Paul is asking them to evaluate their allegiance. Is it to the culture of Corinth? Or to the kingdom of God. Is their allegiance truly to Jesus, and his way of living? Or to Corinthian ways of living? Ultimately, Paul is distinguishing the harm and destruction that comes by the Corinthian way of living. Compared to the caring and healing way of living like Jesus.

To have the second, the Corinthian followers of Jesus – need to remember who the are. They need to remember that they’re no longer primarily Corinthians. As followers of Jesus, we are now primarily citizens of God’s kingdom. If that’s who they want to continue being, then they need to live their true identity. Live as a citizen of the kingdom of God.

Last week during the communion meditation, KC Cronin referenced an oft-said saying of mothers: Wait til your father gets home. That imagery is in the background of an odd statement that Paul makes within this section of 1 Corinthians 6. The statement in verses 2-3, where Paul says, “Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

The Lord’s people will judge the world?! This idea can be drawn together from a few places in the Bible:

Daniel 7:27, Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. (Daniel 7:27)

Matthew 19:28, Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28)

Revelation 2:26, To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…. (Revelation 2:26)

Revelation 3:21, To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne… (Revelation 3:21)

Revelation 20:4a, I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. (Revelation 20:4a)

Hebrews 2:5-11, It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet.” In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. (Hebrews 2:5-11)

Jesus, who took up human life, is given authority over everything, including angels. And the writer of Hebrews notes, that those who are of the family of God, share in this place of authority in the new creation.

In general, we could take this privileged status, as co-judges with Jesus (that comes with being a citizen of God’s kingdom, part of the family of God) – as an overall reference point to the ultimate of authority that Jesus has as Lord over all. Any authority or judgment that followers of Jesus have in God’s kingdom, or over angels, will be delegated. Which also means that the ultimate judgment of right and wrong –  on anything – is according to the judgment of the God revealed in Jesus.

In a sense, we have Paul giving a “wait til the Father gets home” statement. In that God will come and put wrong things right. So, don’t seek Corinthian justice, which uses injustice to achieve a distorted form of justice. Corinthian justice fights evil with evil. And, handling disputes in this manner, is just as distorted as: sexually immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, drunkenness, slander, or lying. And does not fit the way of God’s kingdom. What this underlines, is that Anything that’s not aligned with Jesus is a false way to live.  Rather, the true way to live, the true way to handle disputes, is to leave justice to Jesus. And the justice of Jesus, is the way of restoration and healing, not exploitation. Not a pound of flesh. Not what you can get out of someone, because you have the means to do so. The justice of Jesus is fuller and truer, because it doesn’t use injustice to others to bring it about. The justice of God’s kingdom fights evil with the goodness of God. The goodness of God that is revealed to us in the life of Jesus. Settle disputes according to the way of God’s kingdom. Live like Jesus with others. Don’t seek exploitation. Seek God’s healing.

Recently, Tom Brady, the seven-time Superbowl winning quarterback for the Patriots and Buccaneers, was the center of a Roast, that streamed on Netflix. During the event, comedian Nikki Glaser joked, “Five-time Super Bowl MVP, most career wins, most career touchdowns. You have seven rings. Well, eight, now that Gisele gave hers back….” While I don’t know the ins and outs of his personal life, and what led to his divorce from supermodel, Gisele Bündchen (boon-chn). I’m constantly amazed at people who are massively successful in one arena of life, but fail to be successful in other arenas of life.

In 1 Corinthians 6:5, Paul mocks the Corinthian followers of Jesus, by drawing from their fascination with the wisdom and eloquence – and essentially saying, “If you Corinthians are so wise, how do you need an outside judge to settle disputes?!” “If you’re so wise, you shouldn’t need to go to a Corinthian judge.” “But ironically, you’re need to go to a judge, indicts your lack of wisdom.” All of this supports what Paul has, at length – already been saying in 1 Corinthians 1-5 – that human wisdom, alone isn’t enough. The Corinthian people need God’s wisdom. The wisdom revealed in the life of the crucified Jesus. And they already have access this this wisdom, by being identified with Jesus in baptism – being washed, sanctified, and justified.

• Being washed of the messiness of Corintian life – to live into the cleanliness of Jesus’ way of life.

• Being sanctified, or set-apart to live the way of God’s kingdom.

• And justified, or shaped, to see the world and others rightly by the guidance of God’s Spirit.

Any image of the margin ruler on a Word Document

Justification is more than a legal declaration. It’s an actual righting of things. Like righting, or evening the margins of a Word document. You use to be this. You use to live this way. But, now you’re not, but, now you don’t have to, because of Jesus. Live your true identity.

I’m all for the Hallmark-style Christmas movie at Christmas-time. But one of my least favorite versions of those movies, is the “Royal Christmas” versions. The movies where a prince or princess is frustrated with their privileged life. And just wants to experience the common person’s experience of life and love. These royal characters try to live like something that they’re not. Something different from their royal identity.

Paul’s instructions to the Corinthian followers of Jesus in 1 Corinthians 6 is similar. He’s instructing the Corinthian church to stop living lesser than who they are in Christ Jesus. Paul challenges them to live into their true identity. Rather than settling for the false and lesser identity of Corinthian culture, that is disconnected from God. Paul challenges them to Live into your true identity as citizens of God’s kingdom through following Jesus. Live your true identity.

Consider the fuller and truer identity and way of life that following Jesus offers.

Today, God’s word in 1 Corinthians 6 invites you to consider the same question: Who are you? What is your true identity? What is your primary citizenship? What identity shapes the way you live? If you’re primary identity is in something other than Jesus, I invite you to Consider the fuller and truer identity and way of life that following Jesus offers. I invite you to taste and see, and consider surrendering your life to Jesus in faith – under the water of baptism – trusting Jesus to give you a fuller, truer, and righted way of living, than what you’re experiencing now. Please pull me, Mitch, Sean, an elder, or another trusted follower of Jesus aside – to help you discern this step of faith.

If you’ve already identified yourself as a citizen of God’s kingdom through faith in Jesus, I invite you to consider what lesser, false, distorted way of living you’re currently tempted to pursue? What’s God’s Spirit revealing about your actions? What primarily allegiance do your current ways of living convey? Does it reveal a primary identity as an American, or as a citizen of God’s kingdom? Does it reveal a primary identity: in political affiliation, or sexuality, or gender, or nationality, or something else, other than primarily as a follower of Jesus?

What do you need to confess?

I invite you to confess that to Jesus, and live your true identity in him. Confess it out loud to a trusted person (text, call, have coffee). Write it down and put it somewhere that you’ll see, to make this real. And not just an intellectual moment; but a life-changing moment to live differently.

How do you need to repent?

I invite you to repent. Submit your other identities below the primacy of identity as a citizen of God’s kingdom. What steps can you take, to help you live your true identity in Jesus? How can the teachings of Jesus, be your constitution? How can the example of Jesus, be your precedent? How can the life of Jesus be the form of identification that you show – in all that you do, in how you live? Live your true identity.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Come as You Are, But Don’t Leave as You Came. (1 Corinthians 5) - Mitchell Knight

In preparing for this morning, I was thinking about my life experiences. If you’re unaware, I was an atheist for most of my life, not really sure if God was real. I just didn’t see the way that He was interacting with the world that we lived in.

In the later parts of my undergraduate years, I started studying philosophy and world religions and was overwhelmed with the amount of evidence for Christianity.

My mind was bought in at that point. But, when I started attending Pillar of Fire Fellowship in Fredonia, a recovery church, my heart was bought in. Why? Because my father struggled with alcoholism, and I felt hopeless that that could change.

When I saw former addicts living completely transformed and resurrected lives, I knew in my heart that God was real and could take us out of death and into life through His grace. I had seen the greatest miracle there was; broken people living a new and upright life with God. That was only possible because of His grace.

What is your view of God’s grace this morning? Is it cheap grace? Does it just give you a license to do whatever you want? Or is it more powerful than that? Is it a grace that has the power to resurrect our lives from death to life?

There’s a common saying in Christian Churches nowadays “Come as you are.” I think we’re all on board with that, and I believe that God is too. But the full picture of that that I’ve gleaned throughout my life experiences and through God’s word is that a more biblical phrase is: “Come as you are, but don’t leave as you came.”

This morning, we will be in 1 Cor 5, and in Corinth, Paul was writing to a church that was struggling with buying into the belief of cheap grace, that it was just a license from God to do whatever we want with. I invite you now to turn there as we start to read this short chapter from verse 1 and see a much more powerful view of God’s grace in our lives.

5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister[c] but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

So to start, when Paul says that ‘it has been reported’ that there was sexual immorality in the church in Corinth, it literally means that he heard about it. Wherever he was, this deplorable situation was so bad that word spread to him as far away as he was! He even mentions that this kind of incest, a man sleeping with his stepmother most likely, wasn’t even tolerated in the Greco-Roman world.

And this Roman world was very lax on social behavior. There was all kind of nastiness that they were participating in, but even this was too much for them, and as we see, this behavior had invaded God’s household.

What’s worse for Paul, this congregation of Christians were celebrating the wickedness of this man. He says that they were proud of what he did!

Looking at the historical context of the Corinthian church, we know that they were buying into a lot of different false beliefs. One of these beliefs was that their bodies and what they did with them didn’t matter, and that in Christ, they could choose to do whatever they wanted. Nothing was off-limits!

Paul argues against this cheap grace that we see throughout the letter up until now. Yes, there is a forgiveness that happens at baptism, but it is also a calling out of the darkness of sin and into the light of righteousness. God’s grace should impact and transform every area of our life!

This idea isn’t just found in the letter to the Corinthians, for example, he mentions this at the start of his letter to the Philippian Church.

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Christ has begun a good work in us and is faithful to see it through to completion, but the word began is interesting. That means something that has started but is not done yet. The work of Christ in our lives is not yet finished. We are called to faithfully follow Him in self-denial until he makes all things new when He returns again.

What I hope you’re seeing here is that Christ doesn’t just forgive you of your past sins, he is also working right now to transform you into a righteous person that looks like Him! (SLIDE 13) Christ invites you to come as you are, but He won’t let you leave as you came (x2)!

In verses 6-8, Paul starts talking about leavened bread and yeast, and that can kind of be confusing to us today. What is Paul getting at here?

Well in the Passover celebration among the Israelites, they were called to purify their homes and temple of all leavened bread. This was bread with yeast. (SLIDE 14) Yeast in the OT was a common metaphor for sin.

Paul’s point is that this proud boastful and unrepentant sinning that we see in Corinth can work its way through the whole church and become intertwined with it. We can be drawn to it.

Imagine someone wearing a bright white dress shirt, but it has a big stain on it. As great as 99% of the shirt looks, you can’t really help but have your attention drawn only toward the stain. We notice it and are drawn to it.

Also, the world notices the stains and the blemishes of the church, and so how we are living sends a powerful message to them.

Paul’s warning is that the stain was making it’s way through the whole church and becoming the point of focus. The members of the Corinthian church were obviously being drawn to it because they were celebrating the sin of this man!

So, okay Paul, we get there are a lot of problems here, but what is the solution? Well, It’s easy for us to think that his solution is uncomfortable, but I think it’s only uncomfortable because of how we’ve been conditioned by the culture around us, and how we’ve come to misunderstand it. It’s this idea of excommunication or disfellowshipping.

First, let’s be clear on what he’s not saying here. He is NOT saying that we should stop engaging with the people around us. All people have an eternal value to God and are to be loved. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, and therefore, so should you and I!

Second, he is telling us that for those who are blatant, proud, unrepentant sinners, and claim to be a member of Christ’s body, people that are unwilling to change unhealthy behaviors, people that are proud of their wrongdoing, that we should separate ourselves from them at least for a time. This man was doing evil and had no remorse for it. More than that, he was proud of it. Keep in mind that that is the context of Paul’s instructions here.

Most people will check out at that point because it doesn’t match their view of who Jesus is, but Jesus calls us to a standard of living when we follow Him. Jesus wants to do everything possible to rescue us from darkness because He loves us! In Matthew 18, Jesus offers this teaching that Paul is referencing:

“15 “If your brother or sister[b] sins,[c] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

Look, the whole point of this process is to rescue those trapped in sin, it’s to restore them, not to punish them. It makes me think of my father again and his struggle with alcohol. Our family wanted nothing more than for him to get the treatment that he needed. We didn’t think the person was the problem, we thought the behavior was the problem.

First, my mother approached him. Then her and my sister and I approached him. When he refused to listen, we had to start telling others about it to get him to wake up. By living alongside him and enabling him, we were telling him that his behavior was okay.

And he eventually chose to go to rehab. Our love for others should surpass our discomfort. We should do and want to do whatever it takes to help someone be restored to a righteous and abundant life that God has for them.

First, when it comes to holding a brother or sister accountable for unrepentant sin, it’s to help rescue them from harmful behavior that’s killing them. The Bible says that when sin is fully grown it gives birth to death! It’s less about finding a way to kick them out of the church, and more about finding every possible way for them to stay. The problem is not the person, it is the sin. We want to rescue the person from their sin.

Some of my least favorite memories in life come from my time at clarence middle school. Even mentioning the name now I have a bit of a gag in my throat. One of the rules that we had to obey was showing up to class on time.

When leaving one class for another, if we knew we were going to be late, we could ask for a late slip from our teacher. The idea is that this would be a one-time exception to the rule of being on time for class. Bookmark that for a second.

In an amazing act of grace and mercy and kindness, Jesus forgives an adulterous woman. This story comes from John 8 where it says,

“2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

In expecting to receive condemnation and hatred, this woman was given love, mercy, and kindness. However, a lot of times when this story is talked about, we end it before verse 11.

Jesus’ tells the woman that He doesn’t condemn her, therefore, she should go and leave her life of sin. Earlier in John 5 after healing an invalid, Jesus tells him, don’t sin again or something worse may happen to you!

Clearly, God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness wash away our past mistakes, but it is also powerful enough to transform us out of a life of sin and into a life of righteousness. When I talked about the late slip earlier, I mentioned that it was meant to be a one-time exception to the rule of being on time for class.

We weren’t supposed to seek it out so we could keep being late to class. Instead, we were supposed to be grateful for the opportunity to show up to class and learn, even though we were late.

Even though we’re late, that we’re not who we’re supposed to be, that we’ve fallen, we are still given forgiveness and the opportunity to learn and grow at the feet of Jesus! God’s grace empowers us to come as we are, but not to leave as we came.

In applying what we learn from Paul here to our lives today, we should start with a question: (SLIDE 28) What is your view of God’s grace? Do you think that God’s grace is a license to do whatever you want? Like the Corinthians did? Or is your view of Grace that it is the living power of God actively transforming our lives?

If we want to hold that second view, then we have some action steps that we need to take. First, you’ll notice that throughout this message I’ve been careful to use the language: unrepentant sin. That’s what was being celebrated and promoted in Corinth.

We have to be careful not to abuse God’s grace and become a person who celebrates sin. And once again, the reason I’ve been careful to use the language unrepentant sin, is because I think we unnecessarily read our lives into this text and unique situation far too often.

In a war, there isn’t one single battle. Instead, there are many battles that make up a war.

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.

When Sean Jordan and I were at the Renew conference in Indiana the other week, we heard a speaker mention this verse when he was talking about living life by the Spirit of God. When he was younger in his faith, he would read this and think “Well I must not have the Holy Spirit.”

However, he said that it wasn’t until an older brother in the faith pointed out the language of verses like this to him that he felt confident in his walk with the Holy Spirit.

The word gratify that Paul uses literally means “to make peace with”. Even if you lose a battle or two, if you are still committed to fighting in the war, you are not in a state of unrepentance. If you aren’t okay with your sins, then you have not made peace with your flesh!

Whether it’s the struggle to trust in your own resources like money, a struggle with anger, pornography or other sexual sin, alcohol, anxiety, ungodly fears and worries, gossiping, slander, laziness.

No matter what, as long as you are committed to winning the war, even though you might lose a battle or two, you are not making peace with your flesh and are earnestly seeking the life of God.

Following Jesus is a life-long process of relying on God’s grace to come as we are, but not leave as we came. Keep fighting, and don’t give up.

Second, in our relationships with others, we also are called not to make peace with the ways of this world.

I want you to imagine that I’m going to a Bills game and I’m bringing my friend who is a die-hard Patriots fan. They have an understanding that the stands will be a sea of red-white-and blue Bills gear, even though he’s more than welcome to wear his Patriots gear.

I am welcoming to him and am still going to support him as my friend. But I will never ever ever cheer for the Patriots to make him feel better. I want him to change his mind and change fanbases!

A simple rule of life is that what is celebrated is repeated. When we celebrate the sins of others, they will never find life. It might be tempting to do that in a culture where celebration and acceptance are everything, but it’s not right.

If I really love someone, then I have to point them away from the behavior that is killing them, so that they can find life in Jesus. Even if that means that I might upset them.

Celebrating sin is the easy choice to make, but real self-sacrificial love is what we’re called to. The good news we should call others to is for them to come as they are, but not to leave as they came!

Come as you are, but don’t leave as you came. This is the picture of God’s grace that we see in scripture. And now I ask you: why not today? Just as you are, come to Jesus for healing through the waters of baptism, and be risen into a new life that is full and true.

If that’s a step you’ve already taken, then I invite you to trust in the true picture of God’s grace.

It can be tempting to think you’re stuck, but God is still working on you.

It can be tempting to give up the fight, but God empowers us through the war against sin.

It can be tempting to view grace as a one-time forgiveness. But forgiveness, yesterday, today, and forever has been bought by the precious blood of Christ. Rely on that grace and find transformation into a full an abundant life with Jesus.

Holy Wholly: Sanctified Unity - Let Go to Live Like Jesus (1 Corinthians 4) - Jordan Byrd

Who are the most successful leaders in history; and what were they filled with that made them successful? Would it be Douglas MacArthur’s military success during WWII? Would it be Steve Jobs innovative wisdom in creation of the iPhone/smartphone revolution? Would it be Ronald Reagan’s judgment in confronting the Soviet Union? Would it be Jerry Seinfeld’s creativity to entertain viewers of his sitcom - almost 30 years after it last aired? Would it be Elon Musk’s ability to accrue a current net worth of almost $200billion? Would it be Jeff Bezos’ ability to produce a distribution service to get things from around the world to your front door in a matter of days, with nothing more than a tap on your phone or computer?

In the lead-up to November, the U.S. society is making a similar evaluation with the office of President. Where we’re deciding what kind of leader we want to lead the country. Do we want a people-pleaser? Do we want a person who will progress society beyond the trappings of the past? Do we want a no-nonsense person, who doesn’t care what other people say? Do we want someone who will take immediate military action? Do we want someone who is open to the influence of the world? If we’re honest, we’re tempted to make a decision on the presidency, or any other leader based on certain qualities. Some of those qualities are: dominant, innovative, critical, captivating, prosperous, and efficient.

The people of first-century Corinth were not much different. From this letter of the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, we encounter a culture that valued being: dominant, innovative, critical, captivating, prosperous, and efficient. And we gather that the followers of Jesus were shaped to values these qualities too. But, God reveals through Paul’s writing to the church in Corinth, that these qualities are not the most important, that these qualities are not the most important for leadership, that these qualities are not what is most important for an abundant life. As much as the Corinthian Christians were tempted to believe that they were, as much as today, we’re tempted to believe that they are. Rather, Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 4, clarifies that the most important qualities are the qualities embodied in the life of Jesus of Nazareth – in the life of the Son of God. That the most important qualities of leadership are found in Jesus; that the most important qualities for an abundant life are found in Jesus. And, the aspirational qualities, beyond those of Jesus, are what keeps us from participating in and experiencing the life of God, the life of Jesus.

In chapter 1 of 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses the division happening among the members of the Corinthian church. And that – that division resulted from people giving allegiance to people, things, or ideas above the crucified Jesus. In chapter 2, Paul addresses how members of the church tore their allegiance by pursuing paths of wisdom and power celebrated by the Corinthian culture at that time. In chapter 3, Paul highlights the empty, life-less-ness that results from giving allegiance to paths, other than the way of Jesus. And how elevating ways other than Jesus’ ways, led to the division the church was experiencing. And part of that division were factions elevating the leaders, Paul and Apollos over each other.

In chapter 4, Paul continues to address the false truth of ways other than Jesus’ ways by pointing to his own experience of following Jesus, and striving to live like Jesus. He notes how his life has been shaped by Jesus, in 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, by how he has suffered like Jesus for the word of God, by how he blessed when cursed, like Jesus, by how he endured persecution for God’s way, like Jesus, and by how he answered slander with kindness, like Jesus. Jesus’ way is different. But it is a different that we long for. It’s life of freedom from other’s opinions. And full of God’s eternal perspective that we long for. It’s the abundant life that we long for. That only following in the way of Jesus that we can experience it.

In the first-century Corinthian world, and in our world today, we’re tempted and deceived into believing that lesser important things are THE most important things. But, the good news I hope you encounter from God’s word in 1 Corinthians 4, is that Jesus is the most important thing in the world. That the God revealed in Jesus is the best leader in the world. That the life of Jesus is the most abundant life available. The good news that we don’t need anything beyond Jesus.

And while Jesus is everything that we need for life, we’ve allowed our lives to be filled with lesser important things; and in the process, they’ve blocked us from participating in the abundant life of Jesus. A takeaway from 1 Corinthians 4 is that we have to let go of the lesser important things to live like Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

In early 2018, the hot topic around here was, which QB should the Bills draft. Josh Allen had risen as a possible top pick. But most people knew little about him, having played at the University of Wyoming. And Wyoming having had little notable success during Allen’s tenure there. With the position the Bills were in to draft a top-tier QB prospect, it seemed that Allen would be a gamble pick. He wasn’t from a notable college program. He wasn’t a Heisman finalist. He wasn’t in the college national championship conversation. He wasn’t even known for being super good, other than having a cannon of an arm. Allen had some athletic ability, but, what else?! When the Bills selected Allen at pick number 7 of the draft, it was a polarizing pick for sure. While it’s easy to have 20/20 hindsight on that pick now, we could say that Brandon Beane was faithfulness to the overall drafting process. Brandon Beane didn’t draft a QB with the tempting qualities: From a notable college. The household name guy. The pundit, applauded prospect. The guy with a heisman trophy. The guy with a college championship. The Bills’ process of drafting Josh Allen is an example of a differing kind of success. Success when it doesn’t appear to be successful in the broader world’s eyes.

In a similar fashion, Paul is saying something similar in 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. Paul is addressing how the Corinthian culture had shaped the Corinthian followers of Jesus to look for leaders that exuded dominant and captivating wisdom and power. Leaders who lord over others. Leaders who persuade with smooth talk. Leaders who could sway things to happen. Leaders who would insult their enemies. Leaders who would think of themselves better than others. Leaders who would think of themselves smarter than others. Leaders who would threaten violence if not followed. These are all the qualities that were considered most important. And these are the qualities that the Corinthians followers of Jesus were falsely trying to make Paul and Apollos fit as leaders. “Paul is better.” “No, Apollos is better.”

Yet, Paul corrects this by saying that neither he, nor Apollos led them in this way. He indicates in 1 Corinthians 4:1 – that they came to lead as servants of Christ. That they are mere stewards of God’s ultimate leadership.

Many people have a financial advisor or money manager, who helps invest funds that you give them. The advisor or manager is just a steward of your money. And ultimately is just executing what you give them authority to do.

Similarly, Paul is saying that he and Apollos only do what what God directs them to do. And nothing more. Paul’s emphasis on being a servant Christ and steward of God is that he and Apollos are not to be judged successful leaders according to Corinthian qualities, but successful leaders according to faithfulness to God’s qualities. And those qualities look like humble, surrendered service to the way of God revealed in Jesus. Faithfulness to the way of Jesus is the measure of successful leadership, not, the dominant and captivating wisdom and power of Corinth. Success that doesn’t appear successful in the broader world’s eyes.

Paul highlights this by emphasizing that he, nor the Corinthian believers, nor anybody else, is the judge of his success as a leader, is a judge of his way of life. In application, this can mean sticking to your guns, even if others think you’re crazy, or doing less than you should, or judge that you’re not being effective enough. It can also mean the reverse. Sticking to what you judge to be right, even if a leader doesn’t judge that to be the right way. But ultimately, Paul is saying, the correct judgment is not his judgment, or your judgment, or another person’s judgment. The correct judgment is what God deems correct, truthful, successful, and abundant. Paul and Apollos had to let go of Corinthian power and wisdom, had to let go of being the ultimate judge of their work to live like Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

According to popcorn.org, popcorn kernels contain water and starch. When heated, the water turns to steam, causing the starch to gel. Eventually, the pressure inside the kernel builds up, leading to its burst. This releases steam and inflates the starch, which creates the puffy popcorn shape we recognize. When this puffing of the starch happens, the popcorn kernel is no longer recognizable. It’s no longer recognizable, because the starch is now inflated, puffing it larger than the kernel alone would be. You also recognize while eating popcorn, that popped-popcorn kernels are misleading. They give the appearance of substance. But are mostly just inflated. They are puffed-up.

This is the imagery that Paul uses to describe the followers of Jesus who are elevating the power of wisdom of Corinth over the power and wisdom of Jesus. Those who elevate Corinthians qualities above Jesus, become puffed up. And it’s being puffed-up by worldly power and wisdom that leads to viewing Paul or Apollos or other leaders, as better than another. It’s being puffed-up and filled with these qualities as most important – that has led to the division in the body of Christ in Corinth.

And Paul indicates in 1 Corinthians 4:6, That the follower of Jesus need to let go of Corinthian power and wisdom to live like Jesus. For the church to reflect the life of Jesus as a community. They need to let go to live like Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

Have you ever got a piece of furniture, like for IKEA, that has to be put together; and you just open up the box and start putting things together, how you think they’re suppose to fit? All to realize that it doesn’t fit together well, or there are a lot of pieces left-over? In situations like that, it is tempting to let our own abilities and experience puff us up, all to realize that our pride, our arrogance, get’s in our way – get’s in our way to see the correct instructions or standard clearly.

This example of trying to put furniture together, illustrate what Paul references – in 4:6, when he warns the Corinthian follower of Jesus to “not go beyond what is written.” When we look to something other the word of God, revealed in Jesus, we end up with a mess. We end up with division. We end up with people hurt. We end up with sin. Living apart from God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. …  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-4, 14)

Jesus is the word of God revealed. Jesus is the essence of the written word of the Bible. Jesus is the God’s standard revealed. Jesus is God’s standard witnessed by John and later Paul, who wrote for generations later to also encounter the truth of God through the life of Jesus. Paul is telling the Corinthians church, that they have been filled with ways of living, beyond the word of God, beyond the standard of the life of Jesus. And in doing so, it’s caused division. Paul instructs them that to live like Jesus, they have to not be puffed-up with Corinthian power and wisdom. They have to let go of that to live like Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

While there are many evil beliefs that accompanied the Nazi reign of Germany, one of them was the belief in a superior race of people over another. Historically, this is referred to as Aryanism. A belief that a “pure” German race ought to control the world. That the ideal ideal: pale skin, blond hair and blue eyed people group was most important above all others. The deception in this belief is that those qualities are humanly elevated above others. And they are not derived purely by human ability. As much as transhuman endeavors have tried and come close. Ultimately, the qualities of the ideal German were a gift from God. And as a gift from God, to have value, but not to have ULTIMATE value. This belief is an example of the creation elevating something above the word and purpose of the creator.

In 1 Corinthians 4:7, Paul notes that the Corinthian followers of Jesus are doing something similar. That they are elevating a gift of God, or a God-given trait of God: intellect, charisma, eloquence, strength, etc. As something of ULTIMATE importance. That – those qualities are what make them special – what make them wise or powerful. But Paul points out, “Who made you different from anyone else?” Who gave you those qualities? “What do you have that you did not receive?” Did you give yourself those qualities? “...If you did receive [them], why do you boast as though you did not?” If you received them from God, why are you acting like those qualities make you special, or worth following, or successful? Ultimately, Paul is pointing out that we are nothing without God. All of life is a gift from God. But when we fill our lives with the wisdom and power of the world, we become blinded to the truth of reality, that life is a gift from God, that fullness of life is found only in his way of life. The life revealed in Jesus, to live into that life, as Paul is striving to live into the life of Jesus, the Corinthian church needs to let go of Corinthian power and wisdom, let go of lesser qualities to live into the fuller life of Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

In 1 Corinthians 4:14 and following, Paul explains that his writing is a warning. A warning of the deceptive nature of Corinthian power and wisdom. A warning that being puffed-up with those qualities, actually leads to a lesser life, it leads to an infantile life. Like, life under a baby-sitte, never learning how to live into the fullness of life of Jesus. The Corinthians have 10,000 guardians. But they do not have many fathers. Fathers, who can help guide them to live into the abundant life of Jesus. Someone to imitate how to follow Jesus. Someone to imitate how to let go of the worldly ways, and live like Jesus. Let go to live like Jesus.

Let go and be immersed into the life of Jesus (be baptized).

Today, if you’re still seeking abundant life in the ways of the world, I invite you to let go, and taste and see that Jesus’ way of life is what you’ve been seeking. If you’d like to learn more, please find me, or another church leader, or a trusted follow of Jesus, whom you already know; and we’d be glad to help you take your first step of faith, to let go to live like Jesus. By surrendering to Jesus under the water of baptism, letting go of your life to live by God’s word, just like Jesus does.

What is God calling you to surrender? Let go to live like Jesus.

If you’ve already surrendered your life to Jesus under the water of baptism, What is God calling you to surrender? What quality of the world are you tempted to make more important than anything else? How are you tempted to fill your life with the following qualities of worldly wisdom and power the most important thing, or for another leader to be filled with, the qualities of: dominance, innovation, critical judgements, captivating charisma, prosperity, and efficiency. How are you tempted to make these more important the the way the crucified Jesus? Let go of them to live like Jesus. Surrender them to live like Jesus. Humble yourself to the Lord God, revealed in Jesu, to live into his abundant life. Let go to live like Jesus.