Kpcow Sermons

The Apostle Paul writes a letter to a Corinthian church that is on fire – with quarrelling stemming from factionalism, jealousy, and competition. Although he spends most of his time writing in regard to the issues, Paul begins his letter to them with hope and thanksgiving. He is not lying nor are they empty words. Paul fixates not on the problems of the church but on Jesus – the hope. For Paul, it begins and ends in hope, in Jesus. When we look at a hopeless world, perhaps we too can look to Jesus as the hope. Welcome to Advent.

If life is a flock of sheep, God promises to seek out, rescue, gather, free, and feed the sheep when it is scattered. God will help the weak while destroying the fat and strong sheep. Yet the destruction that God promises is not as violent as we would imagine. The way God will overwhelm the world with a banquet, a feast of justice. Eating the food God gives will detox the way of the world from within the “fat and strong sheep.” All will be fed.

Christians live the way they do because they know the meaning of what God has done for them. It is easy for Christians to forget, compare their lives to the way of the world, and thereby feel unhappy. If life is a party, the Apostle Paul reminds believers that they are a pregnant woman at the party. How the pregnant person chooses to act is up to the individual, but considerations must be made. The Apostle encourages Christians to continually gather, encourage, and offer accountability to one another so they remember they are not alone. Partying like the rest of the world might not be viable, but Christians do not forget that there is something so much more precious on the way.

Serving God is a choice. The alternative is to not serve God. The commitment must be made after deep consideration. God is impossible to please. Choosing to serve God is an exercise in futility and failure. Yet this is the only choice for a thankful heart that is aware of God’s love and faithfulness. Although we might not be able to have dedicated commitment to God, we are blessed that God has dedicated commitment to us.

It is a struggle to do what you know is right. Christians continually try to live in obedience to Jesus’ teaching even though we might fail. Believers however, must be ever-mindful of why they try to “do the right thing.” Jesus makes it clear that doing it for the praise of people as opposed to doing it for the love of God is hypocrisy. Christian life tries to serve not out of pride but out of humility. Serving others is an exercise in humility. Prayer is what internalizes humility.

Moses wants to know God’s ways clearly. God however does not provide this information. Instead, Moses is shown God’s glory – the presence of the God, who will be gracious to whom God will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom God will show mercy. The knowledge of God’s ever-presence shifts us away from the need to know exactly what to do since the God who has chosen to be gracious and merciful to us is with us. This frees us to live faithfully as best we know how. God fully gives Godself to us but reveals Godself to us only in amounts we are able to handle at the time.

Diet might arguably be the most important factor in working out. What you eat and drink before, during, and after your exercise makes a difference. Prayer is the Christian’s stable exercise meal and supplement. Exercise is not easy, it is a struggle. No pain, no gain. In the same way, life is filled with struggle and prayer transforms them into peace and joy.

We love seeing results. They motivate us to try even harder. The world teaches that if you try hard, you might get something – it does not guarantee. Jesus guarantees that we are his. Belonging to him motivates us by giving us confidence.

Fixing our mentality is the first step to the active spiritual lifestyle. There are many mentalities to choose from but Christians choose the mind of Christ. We are not Jesus but we can try to live with his mentality – one of self-giving. As we work out, God is working in us.

God’s grace is tough to stomach when we feel things are “unfair.” We cry unfair when we compare “mine” with “theirs.” God’s wage is generous for each individual. God uses each individual as God sees fit. Life is about God’s plan, not my plan. Sometimes a small act of faith can have eternal significance.

God leads us through the wilderness and guards us from the dangers that chase us. Yet there are times when we think God is not present and all we see is the impasse of a sea before us and a threatening army behind us. The Father invites us to stretch out our hands so that we can participate in the work God is already doing in our lives, in our midst. Although we might think we are in charge, God works all things out for God’s good plan.

Jesus teaches his followers to live by the way of reconciliation. Jesus does not allow us to ever give up on others – even those who wrong us. He lives out the example in the way that Jesus treats Gentiles and tax collectors as he eats with them. Living in such a way demonstrates the presence of Jesus in our midst. Through his presence, the church is granted the power of “the key” – to lock or to unlock. What our community does with that key is up to us. A key can lock and “keep out” or it can unlock and “invite in.” Would that God give our community the wisdom to know what to do and when.

Christian life is not a mind game. Christian life is to be lived out. The Apostle Paul makes sure that Christians do not forget. Believers must choose to live by the teachings of the world or the teachings of Jesus. The reason people would choose Jesus’ way of love is because they know first-hand the experience of his love from the vantage point of a stranger and an enemy of God. Living Jesus’ way opens up the opportunity for other “strangers” and “enemies” of God to experience Jesus’ love as opposed to blocking it.

The story of Shiphrah and Puah help us to battle against the question, “What difference can I make?” While neither had any “real” effect on the outcome of the Hebrew babies’ lives, they demonstrate faithfulness in their own life. God cherishes this and rewards them. In the midst of their faithfulness, God intertwines their story with the story of another: Moses. Even when it seems we are not effecting any change, God is. Our faithfulness is how we may participate in God’s plan.

Jesus helps us to better understand the kingdom of heaven through a series of parables in which he likens it to objects we understand. Like a mustard seed, the kingdom is grand. Like yeast, the kingdom is infectious. Like treasure, the kingdom is hidden. Like a merchant, the kingdom is in pursuit/cherishes you. Like a net, the kingdom is diverse. The treasure, that is, the kingdom of heaven, is ours. Jesus challenges us to dust it off and repackage it to recapture its beauty to us and others.

Conventional belief says Jesus sends us out to partner with him by sowing seed. Jesus makes it clear that it is he that sows. We are simply the good seed. The act of sowing is his realm. The harvest is too. God is the one who determines what will be harvested and what will be burned. With all that on God's plate, that leaves us to simply grow up in faith and demonstrate to the world what we are – this is what we were meant to do. This is what we were meant to enjoy!