2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Sermon Reflection

"Indescribable Gift"

Discovery: In many ways, v. 15 should be the introduction of this section: "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" This indescribable gift is Jesus and a proper response to this gift would be that of gratitude. Good things come from a place of deep gratitude. Generosity, humility, kindness, servanthood, faithfulness, and love are just a few examples.

In our section today, Paul continues his teaching on generosity. He states in v. 6: "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." The main point of this sermon is this: We harvest in proportion to our planting.

Application: So what are you planting? We can get frustrated and confused when we don't see the harvest in our lives. The harvest can be things such as a deeper relationship with God, evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, or even seeing our friends and family come into a relationship with Jesus. The reason why we don't see the harvest in our lives is due to the fact that we are not regularly in the practice of planting.

In my own devotional life, I really appreciated getting out of my routine and heading off to our mission trip a few weeks ago. It served as a great "reboot" for me to get back into the practice of journalling. I don't know what it is about journalling but I realize that I don't properly reflect on my life unless I am putting the pen to the page. Journalling to me is just one way that I am "planting" seeds in my life that will ultimately lead to a harvest of righteousness and holiness.

In my witness, I also need to carve out some extra time in my daily busyness to allow for encounters and conversations. If I am in a rush to get in my car and leave the house or if I only have a certain amount of time to pick up the kids from preschool, this prevents me the extra space in my life to stop to have conversations with my neighbors or parents of my kids' classmates. But when I do leave some room in each of my daily transitions to stop and talk with people, I see this as a great opportunity to plant seeds in my relationship with people that in turn will lead to harvest of transformation and salvation.

Our harvesting is proportional to our planting. Let us be faithful in planting those seeds today.

Prayer: Lord, help me be faithful in planting seeds in my relationship with You and with other people. Help me overcome my fear, laziness, and apathy as I do this. Thank you for the indescribable gift of Jesus in my life and help me have a heart of gratitude as I seek to follow You.

2 Corinthians 8:16-24 Sermon Reflection

"Heroically Anonymous"

Discovery: My favorite Red Sox player in recent years has been Hideki Okajima (even though he is currently in the minor leagues). When he first came over in 2007, he was cool as ice and incredibly reliable coming out of the bullpen. In many ways, he overshadowed the much hyped Daisuke Matsuzaka. When asked by reporters how he felt about being overshadowed by Dice-K, Okajima replied through a translator, "I am happy being a hero in the dark."

Being heroic doesn't always happen when the spotlight is on you. In fact, there are countless numbers of parents, teachers, spouses, service people, and ministry leaders who serve anonymously yet heroically.

In our passage today, we see Paul talking about the important task of transporting the generous financial gift that the Corinthian church has taken up for the home church back in Jerusalem. Paul desire is to be "above board" and transparent in the administration of these gifts. He states in v. 21 :"We are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men."

Paul does this by selecting Titus as well as two unnamed individuals who will help transport this gift back to Jerusalem. They are simply referred to by Paul as "the brother" in v. 18 and "our brother" in v. 22. Both come with an incredible track record of service and faithfulness to the Jesus and the church. Paul chooses them based on their character and integrity and not just because of giftedness or charisma. Though they are nameless in this passage, their value is far from useless.

In v. 23, Paul states that these two individuals are the "representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ." These are words of high praise coming form someone like the apostle Paul.

Application: The church is full of nameless servants similar to these two unnamed brothers. They may not always be in the spotlight as they serve and love others but they are clearly doing the Lord's work. The challenge for us is not to simple appreciate and admire these "heros in the dark" but rather it is to emulate them.

People who serve behind the scenes set an incredible example for all of us (especially those who are more upfront). They remind us that we are serving God and not ourselves or others. Upfront leaders need to understand that we walk a very thin tight-rope. In our service to God, whether it be preaching, teaching, leading, or counseling, it is very easy to give God the glory and receive a little bit for ourselves as well. Theses "heros in the dark" remind us that that service is about giving God the full glory and not trying to deflect some for ourselves.

People who serve behind the scenes also set an incredible example of humility and sincerity. Service to God is not about boosting our ego or self-esteem but it is about sacrificially laying our lives down so that others can hear and experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Those in upfront ministry need to remember the humility and sincerity of these "heros in the dark" and to be reminded that it is only God's affirmation that matters at all.

I shared on Sunday about our kitchen team at the Navajo mission trip. I have never seen a more hard working and dedicated group of people. Every morning when I rolled into the kitchen, they were already hard at work getting breakfast ready for everyone. Mind you breakfast started at around 7am so they must have been up hours beforehand. No matter what time of day I walked through the kitchen during that whole week, the kitchen staff was quietly, patiently, and wonderfully cleaning, prepping, preparing, and organizing our various meals and snacks. Even well into the night, they were there slicing fruits for the team to eat. They simply did not stop in serving us.

Even though the kitchen team did not have a direct role with the children's VBS, youth program, or adult ministry during the week, they made it possible for the rest of us to do our jobs well. Moreover, they set an example for me as to how to approach the mission trip. There were times that I was tired and wanted to check out but whenever I saw the hard work of the kitchen team, I was reminded to not give up and pull my weight on this mission trip. They were truly an inspiration to me on this trip.

Heros inspire. Heros lead others. Heros don't always have to be on the front-line or in the spotlight. In fact some of the greatest are never seen by others. They remain nameless to us but not to God.

I ended my sermon by talking about the movie Apollo 13. My good friend Jim from college loves this movie because the true heros are the engineers. :) As many who have seen this movie can attest, it was the amazing people at the Command Center in Houston that made the rescue of Apollo 13 possible. They took what could have been a potential tragedy and major blemish on the Space Program and they turned into one of its most greatest moments and shining examples of its strength and resolve.

This is what it really means to be a hero in the dark. I pray that we would aspire to follow their example.

Prayer: Lord, search my heart and teach me through the many examples and models you have given me of people who labor tirelessly for you without an recognition. I repent of the ways that I want the credit that I feel is due to me and instead I want to learn to walk the way of the cross for You and You alone.

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 Sermon Reflection

"Excelling in the Grace of Giving"

Discovery: I just got back from our Navajo Mission Trip on Sat. Night. It was an incredible experience. The only way to fully understand is to "come and see" as Mother Teresa would say. In yesterday's sermon passage, Paul starts off by pointing to the great example that is set by the Macedonian church. In vv.1-5, we see the model of what it means to be a godly church with a deep and mature faith. What is most impressive is not just what the Macedonian church did but how they went about it.

v. 2: "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity." Circumstances did not dictate their generosity and joy.

v. 3: "I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own." They gave in a truly sacrificial way.

v. 4: "they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints." They took the initiative in giving.

v. 5: "And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will." They had the correct priorities. They gave to God first and then to others. It wasn't an either/or situation for them. Generosity had no limits for them.

As I was saying on Sunday, this is the kind of church that I want to be a part of!

Application: This is Paul's challenge to the Corinthian church and to us as well: Excel in the grace of giving. We need to be careful in seeing this passage as a challenge rather than a comparison. If we read this with certain cultural lens, we can interpret this as a guilt trip or a manipulative comparison. It is important to shed any cultural bias and read this as Paul intended. He believes that the Corinthian church is able to grow in this way and thus he challenges them to step up to the plate.

The key verse in understanding this challenge is found in v. 7: "But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (NIV)

Paul affirms the areas in which the Corinthian church has in fact excelled: faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love. But the one area of growth is in the "grace of giving." The root word here in this phrase is not "giving" but rather it is "grace." In the NASB translation, this phrase is translated as "gracious work." At the end of v. 6 of the NIV, this same exact word is found and it is translated as "this act of grace." This word refers to the practical and tangible expressions of God's grace that the church is called to live out. God's grace is more than a spiritual principle, theological statement, or philosophical idea. It is a real, practical, and ultimately radical application of our faith in God.

At its heart, "excelling in grace" requires sacrifice. It is a call to give up control over one's life, finances, creature comforts, lifestyles, and expectations. It is about remembering what God has done for us and then passing on that same generosity, forgiveness, and sacrifice to others.

The Corinthian church does many things well, but it lacks in this area. Paul thus challenges the church to grow and mature by learning to excel in this "grace of giving," of practicing "gracious work," and performing "acts of grace." It is about giving to others in practical and tangible ways that same grace that God has given us.

John Wesley said this about how we should live out God's grace:

"Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can."

I couldn't agree more.

Prayer: Thank you for reminding me this past week on the Navajo Mission trip that You are clearly at work in this world. Thank you for the challenge and inspiration in my own life to continue to lay my life down for You and for the sake of the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Sermon Reflection

"No Regrets In Loving One Another"

Discovery: The notion of having "no regrets" is a very good and honorable mantra and motto. It causes us to take risks, step out of our comfort zones, and not dwell on things of the past. In a biblical context, this idea of a "regret-free" life is clearly found within the context of relationships. There should be no regret in regards to our relationship with God (Luke 9:62: "Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'") nor should there be any regrets in loving others.

Paul, in speaking about his relationship with the Corinthian church, shares openly about the struggles and challenges that he faces in ministry. Paul readily admits that sorrow and difficulties are a reality of life for any believer. However, in v. 10 Paul makes the distinction between godly sorrow and earthy sorrow: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow bring death."

The obvious difference is that godly sorrow has God's fingerprints all over it. Paul states in v. 9 "...For you became sorrowful as God intended..." In the NASB translation, it says, "...made sorrowful according to the will of God." God will often allow sorrow to come our way because He desires to accomplish something through it.

Application: No one likes sorrow. Most of us try everything to avoid it at all costs. The subtle lie of the Enemy is this: "Don't allow yourself to get hurt or disappointed by anyone. Protect yourself because no one else will."

This is extremely effective and we see the results of this all around us. People avoid getting involved in church, ministry, friendships, and community because it is always safer to keep these things at an arms distance. Sorrow and disappoint are inevitable in any of these endeavors and we can avoid it by simply standing on the sidelines.

But Paul tells us in this passage that we will miss out on the joys of relationships and community if we live like this. Paul points to his relationship with Titus and the great encouragement that he gained from him. Paul points to the even greater joy and encouragement that he received when Titus told him about the prayers and concerns of the Corinthian church for him. Though discouragement, regret, remorse, challenges and difficulties are real in ministry and relationships, Paul points to the encouragement, friendships, support that he receives from his the Corinthian church and Titus as far better.

Dear friends, don't let your fears, doubts, worries, and concerns rob you of the joy that is found in faithfully pouring out your heart in service, ministry, and community.

Prayer: Lord, let me live with no regrets in loving You and loving others this week. Especially as I prepare for our Navajo mission trip next week, empower me to give my whole heart to the people that I will be meeting with no constraints.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Sermon Reflection

"Being a Temple of the Living God"

Discovery: The main point of this section can be found in v. 14: "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers..." Because this phrase is an imperative statement, it can also be translated as "Stop yoking yourselves..." This has obviously been a problem for the Corinthian church because they are constantly conforming to the society around them instead of conforming themselves into the likeness of Christ.

Most traditional and contemporary teachings regarding v. 14 deal with marriage and relationships. The principle is that we should not be "yoked" to someone who is not a believer or spiritually compatible. Yet the implications of this verse and the principles found in it extends far beyond just these things.

In vv. 14-16, we see a series of 5 questions that tap into a number of different aspects of our lives.

"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?"

"Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

"What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?"

"What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

"What agreement is there between God and idols?"

These highlighted words and the contrasting words associated with them shows us that there are many things that are cannot be yoked to the things of God. The contrast is stark and absolute. Paul's charge is to stop yoking ourselves with things that are not of God.

Application: Paul's corrective challenge can be found in v. 16: "For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

There are three key things that makes us a temple of the living God:

1. "I will live with them" God desires to live in the midst of His people. Just like the wandering Israelites had the tabernacle of God in the midst of their camp during the 40 years of wandering, so too does God want to live in the midst of (not around, near, or adjacent to) His people.

2. "and walk among them" God walks to walk in and through freely in our lives. Our youth pastor Pat gave a great analogy about this. When we have people over to our house, we usually clean the public space where people hangout and mingle. But there is always that drawer or closet (or in our case a whole room) in which we stuff all of our junk. We are okay with people walking around and looking at the parts of the house that we deem acceptable but we would never want someone to look in that messy drawer, closet, or room. God wants to walk freely in and through all aspects of our lives.

3. "I will be their God and they will be my people." This is a reoccurring promise to God's people. It is repeated over and over because we tend to forget that we are God's prized possession. God is the author and initiator of this covenant relationship and He reminds us over and over that His plans for us and good and trustworthy.

Friends... stop yoking yourself to bad things and let us start living as temples to the living God.

Prayer: Help me turn away from the things that don't lead me to You. Help me instead to allow you to inspect all aspects of my life and strive to live for You.

Exodus 17:1-7 Sermon Reflection

"Jesus the Rock"

Discovery: I had the privilege of guest speaking this morning at Tri-Valley Bible Church in Pleasanton this morning. This was a follow up sermon from Exodus 16 that I spoke on previously when I was there. The two long standing issues of spiritual amnesia and a spirit of entitlement are dealt with once again in this section. Israel has already forgotten about God's provision of water as seen in Exodus 15 as well as the provision of food in Exodus 16. Their spiritual amnesia is demonstrated by their attitude of "What have you done for me lately?" Worse yet, the Israelites accuse God and Moses of wanting to kill them, their children, and their livestock (v. 3) out here in the desert through thirst. The danger of this spirit of entitlement is not just that it is selfish, immature, and silly but that it removes God from His rightful place and puts us on the throne of our lives. Rather than serving God, the expectation is that He should serve us.

Application: The real issue for the people of Israel during this wilderness wandering has to do with the condition of their hearts. They simply cannot and will not trust God. Their focus is on what is seen rather than what is unseen and they hold onto their past experiences rather than trusting God as they move forward in faith. And yet, the main point of this passage is that God is using the wilderness to refine and refocus their faith. The Exodus is not just about rescuing Israel from Egypt but it is also about removing Egypt from Israel's heart.

Clement of Rome says this about the spiritual purpose of the wilderness: "After this [Red Sea crossing], Moses, by the command of God, whose providence is over all, led out the people of the Hebrews into the wilderness; and, leaving the shortest road which leads from Egypt to Judea, he led the people through long windings of the wilderness, that, by the discipline of forty years, the novelty of a changed manner of life might root out the evils which clung to them by a long continued familiarity with the customs of the Egyptians."

The Apostle Paul states it as such in Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Ultimately God reveals Himself to His people as He always does. Rather than wrath and punishment for their doubt, sin, and accusations, God provides for them the water that they desire. We see God's character here in our passage: His mercy (withholding wrath) and His grace (provision of water through the rock). The Apostle Paul would comment on this passage later in 1 Corinthians 10:1-3: "For I do not want you to ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." We see the mercy and grace of God in the provision of water through this rock in Exodus 17. Paul reminds us that Jesus is that rock which demonstrates God's mercy and grace.

Prayer: Lord, help me avoid the pitfalls of my former ways and remind me of my new identity and calling in You. Thank you for Your mercies that are new every morning and a grace that words cannot express.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Sermon Reflection

"Reconciliation: Our Christian Motivation"

Discovery: Paul speaks about reconciliation in our passage today. v. 18 states, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." Reconciliation implies a change in relation. We reconcile our checkbooks so that the amounts are correct, nations reconcile their differences which leads to a cease-fire, etc. Reconciliation is about us correcting something that is wrong. But Paul's use of reconciliation is the reversal of the "normal" usage. God is the one who reconciles with us and not the other way around. He is the one who gave His Son and He is the one who didn't count our sins against us. God is the chief character in this act of reconciliation. We are merely the beneficiaries. Paul makes it clear that God's heart is about reconciliation.

Moreover, the church is called to be reconcilers as well. The later part of v. 19 and the beginning of v. 20 states, "...He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors of Christ..." Notice how its states that "He has committed to us." It does not say that "we committed to this." When you are committed to a mental institution, you don't willingly sign up for that. Someone else does it for you. Reconciliation is both the heart of God but also the primary mission of His followers. It is not optional.

Application: The church is too often defined by what we are not instead of what we are. We draw lines in that sand that determine whether you are on the right side of the wrong side. We take good and godly things such as theology, convictions, and beliefs and use them are tools to divide and judge rather than to witness and convert. When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we see what reconciliation is all about. Reconciliation is about stepping over and erasing those lines that people draw. Time and time again, we see Jesus stepping across these religious and cultural lines (Samaritan woman, Syrophoenician woman, etc.) in order to bring the Good News of God's salvation. In the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus teaching His followers to live in such a way that runs counter to the desires of our hearts as well as the culture of this world.

Reconciliation needs to permeate all of my life. First off in my interpersonal relationships, I need to be quick in forgiving versus stubbornly fighting. When it comes to ministry, I need to focus on those outside the church walls as well as those who are already comfortably within them. In addition to my "job" as a pastor of this congregation, I need to live out my "calling" as an ambassador and committed reconciler.

On a personal note, I recently been looking over some of my old journals when I was in high school. I am quite embarrassed by the things that wrote down. My natural tendency is to distance myself from that young man and to think that I have somehow "grown up." Reading those old journals instead reminds of the work of reconciliation that God has been doing in my life. I can clearly attest to the fact that it has always been about God doing the work.

Prayer: Oh Lord, where do I start... Remind me how much you love me and allow that love to forcibly flow over into the lives of my loved ones, community, and stranger alike. Help me lead our church in maturity. Help us be defined as people who live out your heart of reconciliation with one another and the community around us.