This week we return to the motif of light we picked up at Epiphany. Jesus comes into the world as a light to the nations. Over the last few weeks, we have looked at what this light can mean for us and considered what it means for us to continue to reflect that light to the world.
This week, we look at 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 as we consider growth. How does the light coming into the world help us to grow? And how do we in turn help others to grow?
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I think it is interesting as we hear this text to think about how similar at times the early church actually was to how things remain today. I hear Paul questioning the church at Corinth that he had been instrumental in starting, and I think that some things never change. The third verse in particular feels so convicting: “When jealousy and fighting exist between you, aren’t you unspiritual and living by human standards?” It is almost like Paul had a crystal ball that allowed him to look ahead to the present day church in general. As we consider what is going on in our world, in our nation, even in our local congregations, it is hard not to feel like Paul is speaking directly to us.
Wonderful Words of Life: Trust
This week we take a brief detour from our series on light to look at trust. The church where I serve has been doing a sermon series on life-giving words during this season. Each Sunday looks at a different life word that is important to our understanding of God and important to what it means to be Christian.
This Sunday, I was given Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 12:2 and asked to preach on trust. It is a timely topic in more ways than one. And I think at times, it is a word that we seem to have an especially difficult time with.
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Over the last few weeks, we have drawn inspiration from the hymn, Wonderful Words of Life. We have looked at several life-giving words that are a part of what it means for us to be followers of Christ, part of what it means for us to be Church. So far, we have explored love and mercy and grace. We have talked about how these words are not only words about what is expected of us, but also words about the nature of God. God loves us, shows us mercy, and extends to us grace. And we in turn extend each of those into the rest of the world.
This Sunday, I was given Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 12:2 and asked to preach on trust. It is a timely topic in more ways than one. And I think at times, it is a word that we seem to have an especially difficult time with.
* * *
Over the last few weeks, we have drawn inspiration from the hymn, Wonderful Words of Life. We have looked at several life-giving words that are a part of what it means for us to be followers of Christ, part of what it means for us to be Church. So far, we have explored love and mercy and grace. We have talked about how these words are not only words about what is expected of us, but also words about the nature of God. God loves us, shows us mercy, and extends to us grace. And we in turn extend each of those into the rest of the world.
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