The Body and the "Body"

Socially Isolated Dogs and Socially Isolated Owners

1 Corinthians 6:20

Preaching Themes: Character, Discipleship

In an article for the New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell writes that vicious dogs are often not inherently vicious, but are the product of their owners: “The dogs that bite people are, in many cases, socially isolated because their owners are socially isolated, and they are vicious because they have owners who want a vicious dog. The junkyard German shepherd—which looks as if it would rip your throat out—and the German shepherd guide dog are the same breed. But they are not the same dog, because they have owners with different intentions.”

Like these dogs, Christians have a master we should look to for how to act. Jesus is our master and we should reflect his character.

Nearly Half of Americans Cannot Go a Day without Their Smartphones

1 Corinthians 6:12

Preaching Themes: Addiction, Stewardship

Nomophobia is the fear of losing cell phone contact. The results of a study from June 2014 might indicate that nomophobia is an epidemic in America these days. The research commissioned by Bank of America found that nearly half of Americans surveyed are willing to admit that they could not go a day without their smartphone. The number of people who said their phone was “very important” was even bigger. Nearly 90 percent of the respondents chose that answer, which was about the same number of people who said that their car and deodorant were very important as well. The study also found that 88 percent of adults aged 18 to 24 said they thought their mobile phones were more important to them than the Internet, deodorant, and even their toothbrush.

Dr. Andrew L. Russell, the director of the program in Science and Technology Studies at Stevens Institute of Technology, said, “It’s a little depressing that these numbers are so high. But the way we live now, it doesn’t surprise me.”

—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell