• Second
Sunday after Epiphany
with John 1:43-51 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
www.FirstChurchBville.com @FirstUMCBville @kerrfunk
with John 1:43-51 and 1 Corinthians 6:12-20
www.FirstChurchBville.com @FirstUMCBville @kerrfunk
A
video of this sermon can be found here:
•
Christmas is over and we waste no time jumping into beginning of ministry of
Jesus. Already called some of JtB’s disciples, Andrew and Simon, now Philip and
Nathanael, and Jesus says some odd things (no deceit? Angels ascending and
descending?), and Nathanael makes an astounding confession (you are the Son of
God, the King of Israel). And we learn about Jesus, but more about that later. Let’s
skip back to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
•
“Everything is permissible, but not
everything is beneficial.” Paul is dealing with a church that is maturing,
and people that are maturing ask questions and test limits, seeking definition.
Yes, freedom in Christ, No, not a burden, and Yes, there are things you can and
can’t do.
You need to use judgment, discernment,
discipline.
You cannot think only of yourself.
You cannot think only of yourself.
No
man is an island. We are one.
You represent me, I represent you, we are part of the same body, we represent GOD, we are not alone, we are not our own.
You represent me, I represent you, we are part of the same body, we represent GOD, we are not alone, we are not our own.
A part of
the body cannot be unconcerned about other parts of the body.
•
Vaccinations. Some folks are anti-vaxxers. But in a society, part of the reason
to get vaccinated is to protect those who are susceptible, and to eradicate the
disease in society. You make a small personal sacrifice for the greater good.
•
In at least four places in his letters, Paul writes about taking a collection
for the church in Jerusalem. Lifting up the body.
One
of the ways we are part of the body is through our offerings. We tend to our
local body, of course, and we tend to our regional and global body as well,
through apportionment givings and through special offerings like today’s Human
Relations offering.
Remember
the hurricane damage done in the Caribbean and Florida this past year? We’re
there, through our offerings.
But
the need of the body is too great! We can’t do it!
Eat an elephant one bite at a time, and many hands make light work.
Eat an elephant one bite at a time, and many hands make light work.
•
You are not your own, I am not my own, we are a part of the body
which
carries with it, by the way, God’s redemption of the body. Including us.
•
Jesus to Nathanael: Here is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit. Huh?
ISRAEL was formerly known as Jacob. What’d Jacob do? Deceived father Isaac for birthright and blessing. There was guile and deceit in the original Israel.
ISRAEL was formerly known as Jacob. What’d Jacob do? Deceived father Isaac for birthright and blessing. There was guile and deceit in the original Israel.
Here
at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry we have a new beginning, a redemption of
Israel.
Another
thing Jacob was known for? Jacob’s ladder: angels ascending and descending, signifying
to him that God was there, with him.
God
is here now. God is doing new thing. God is with us.
•
I want to be part of that, Jesus making new, redeeming.
I AM part of that, by the grace of God, the gift of God.
I AM part of that, by the grace of God, the gift of God.
•
By the way: know what the name Nathanael means? Gift of God.
•
Hymn 451 Be Thou My Vision
1 Corinthians
6:12-20 (NIV)
12 “I have the right
to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the
right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 You
say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them
both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the
Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God
raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do
you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then
take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do
you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in
body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” [Gen 2:24] 17 But
whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
18 Flee from sexual
immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but
whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do
you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in
you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you
were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ò
John 1:43-51
(NRSV)
43 The next day
Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow
me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew
and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We
have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus
son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When
Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an
Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked
him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig
tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi,
you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus
answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree?
You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to
him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of
God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” ò
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