On the Sabbath. Does the Sabbath make any difference in how we live today? In Jesus' day, it would have begun on Friday at dusk and continued until dusk on Saturday. In our 24/7 society, when and what is Sabbath? For you? For me? Can it happen on Sunday? It can't for me, as I am employed in a vocation in which Sunday can be a heavy work day. Do you take Sabbath time? Does your Sabbath time interfere with your ability to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world? What kind of action suits the Sabbath best: doing good or doing evil; helping people or leaving them helpless?
Selected the 12 apostles after a night of prayer as Luke tells it. He called them to the mountain with him, into prayer (?), and then came down with them.
"Everyone was trying to touch him-so much energy surging from him, so many people healed!"
Weeping for Jesus was associated with compassion, with awareness of the needs of others. And weeping will be followed by joy.
Some similarities to the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. Has been called Sermon on the Plain.
"Love your enemies; let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grates your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and give it to them. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously...Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back?...love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind."
What affirmations for living as the text/message/sermon goes on. Be careful who you follow as a teacher.
2 Corinthians 12-13
Strength from weakness. "I don't want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you'd encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk...I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations."
God: "My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness." All we need to know.
Can we appreciate gifts from God, despite our real and perceived handicaps? And can we allow God to work through us anyway?
Limitations cut us down to size and then Christ can take over.
12:14-15--Do we who are compensated servants within the congregation serve with the willingness to empty our pockets, even mortgage our lives for those whom we serve? What risks do we take? How does it happen that the more I love you, the less I'm loved?
I hope you don't think we've been making our defense before you. God is the jury, God revealed in Christ, and we make our case before him.
Fear of every pastor: I do admit that I have fears that when I come you'll disappoint me and I'll disappoint you, and in frustration with each other everything will fall to pieces-quarrels, jealousy, flaring tempers, taking sides, angry words, vicious rumors, swelled heads, and general bedlam."
"Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it...we don't just put up with our limitations; we celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. We pray hard that it will all come together in your lives."
"The authority the Master gave me is for putting people together, not taking them apart."
What would a letter from Paul to the church at Warehouse 839 look like? What cautions would there be? What would be called out to us?
"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
EP: "The church at Corinth was a pastor's nightmare, but I really like the people he's addressing. Why do I like them so much? The new life in Christ was ablaze in them. They were up to their armpits in problems, but the problems didn't hold a candle to the mystery of Christ that was ablaze in them. They knew that their lives were being shaped for some grand and eternal purpose. In spite of hard words, Paul called them friends, and encouraged them to keep their spirits up. And he wished them the best. It demonstrates that even though we can have strong disagreements within the body of Christ, we can still be friends, still encourage one another, still hope for the best for each other." Amen.
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