Sermons

     The Faith Lutheran Church 2022 Talent Show is over, but as was promised, it will live on as an event many folks will never forget (even if they wish they could)! A great deal of time, effort, and yes, talent went into making it happen, for which we thank Sarah Kaufman, especially, the CLN Team, and all who planned, produced, and participated in it. Even though the entire congregation did not share a talent or attend, I think it was a unifying event, which is good since unity is vital to our congregation and in our community and world.

     The Apostle Paul makes that clear in his letter to the Corinthians, a church that was divided by many problems, including misuse of spiritual gifts. So, he addresses that topic in today’s first reading, which is our stewardship text; that’s why we are using it today although it is not in the lectionary for the 16th Sunday of Pentecost.

     He focuses on unity and diversity, which may seem like opposites. For example, in verse 4 he says, “There are varieties of gifts (diversity), but the same Spirit (unity)”. And in verse 5, “There are varieties of service (diversity), but the same Lord (unity).” No one is excluded; look at verse 7, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Whose good? The answer is, “the common good.”

     Commentator Doug Bratt points out that this applies to everyone. I’ll quote him: “Here is great, great gospel for a world that knows so much division: God gifts God’s adopted children with various manifestations of the Spirit for the good of not just Christians, but of all people. In a culture that encourages people to use our abilities to advance only ourselves or our causes, 1 Corinthians 12 summons God’s dearly beloved people to use the abilities with which God graces us for the welfare of not just people we consider to be nice and deserving (like us), but everyone.” (1)

     But, for that to be accomplished, unity within the Body of Christ is essential. Among the issues in the first century church in Corinth was fighting over who had received better gifts. Paul points out that the diversity in their gifts comes from God, particularly the Holy Spirit. Not only do they have a common source, but the intention is for them to be used for a common purpose, the good of all. As Paul’s makes clear, God gave the gifts, and each gift is important.

     I’ve always liked the body metaphor that Paul uses to explain this: imagine a body that is all eye or ear. That would be ridiculous, something that could not function. As it is, though, there are many parts, but one body.

     Look at our stewardship logo created by Sue Harman. She came to volunteer in the church office one day last summer, thinking she would just be answering the phones while Nancy was gone. But … I knew her gifts. So, I showed her the stewardship scripture, and ask if she might come up with a logo to fit it. In what seemed like just a minute or two she was showing me the “puzzle person” you’ve been seeing on bulletins, in the Weekly Beacon and on letters.

     It illustrates the one body, made up of many pieces which are varying colors and shapes. This is true of each one of us, we each are one person with varied gifts. It also illustrates the Body of Christ, one entity, with varied people who have varied gifts. Neither bragging nor negating one’s gifts (talents) is acceptable; everyone is equally necessary for the Body of Christ, the church, to flourish. To put it simply, we do it better together; both diversity and unity are essential.

     That is truer now than ever when large numbers of people identify themselves as being “nones”, meaning they currently have no religious affiliation; “formers”, meaning they once did have a religious affiliation, but that’s no longer true and “nevers”, who never did have a religious affiliations, and do not plan to do so. When the church (in the universal sense) is divided by politics, sexual ethics, social justice issues, theology, finances and worship-style, to name a few sources of conflict, the message conveyed damages the Body of Christ.

     We all see the damage done in our nation by divisiveness. Could the political commercials get much more vindictive? Given the lack of unity in our country, the need for it in the Body of Christ is even more crucial. The only body Christ has in the world is the church; it exists because of the gracious will of God to show the world what could or should be – unity in diversity.

     “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it,” Paul writes. That is why it is so important for us to use our gifts for the glory of God and be united, focused on conveying God’s grace in the world. We do it better together. The Stewardship Team has created a tool to assist us in being the Body of Christ in the world – a Time and Talent Survey. Completing it will help each of us consider what gifts (or talents) God has given us and how we can best use them for the common good, both within and beyond the church walls.

     It is not an understatement to say that Jesus’ ministry here at FLC would not exist if people did not share their time, talents and, of course, their money. All three are important. So, I encourage you to prayerfully consider how you will commit yourselves to giving in all three areas – time, talents and money. And remember our stewardship theme: One Spirit + One Body + Many Gifts = the Common Good. Let’s celebrate unity in diversity because we do it better together.  AMEN  

1. “Commentary on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11” by Doug Bratt, January 16, 2022, www.cepreaching.org