Lights, camera, Action
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We’re something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We’re the Messiah’s misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we’re mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don’t have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, “God bless you.” When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We’re treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture’s kitchen. And it’s not getting any better.
Hunger Games and Katniss Everdene and district 12:
The Plot: The capital is using the other districts as a show: an olympic games with death. They are taking people from their families their towns and gets them to fight. . to entertain. Their physical abilities are being taken to the limits, limited food water and shelter, trying to survive as others eat their popcorn, sit back and relax.
Paul in someway is saying God has placed the apostles the hunger games of this world. A world who hates the gospel a world that abhor anything that has to do with Christ, a world that wants to have it their way.
The problem is that it’s not just the world, but the people of God who treat the church, the pastors/apostles the same or worse than the world.
This idea of stress and troubles it did not start with us; there are countless people Who God used mightily for His purposes and they were in the Hunger games of the world:
Daniel in the Lions den
the prophets of the OT
John the baptist: Matt 11 in prison to die
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Paul was in the hunger games of life: as he writes 2 timothy he is in prison about to die.
Do your best to come to me soon.
Jesus was placed into the hunger games of this world; he came in flesh. . doing nothing but good. He was crucified, buried, for the sins of the world
Since we are in the hunger games of this life, we must make much of Christ while the lights and cameras are rolling.
Sentence (misfits-last of all). . .Spectacle. . . .Scum.....
Sentenced
Sentenced
Death. . least of all
Corinthians deals with a lot about division in the church, there is confusion about the Direction of what the church should be, who the leader is. . . Confusion!!!
Paul realizes the witness of the church is on the line and he doesn’t care who gets the credit. “some throw seed, some water, But God gets the increase.
The world sees this and says: look at these fools. they can’t get it together. . this Christ thing can’t be right.
with all of this. . the work of the Apostles is tough. preaching and teaching and training and developing.
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
What DWBC is doing?
Joplins work
Spectacle
Spectacle
foolishness to the world. Our message is foolishness to those perishing.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Memphis is an interesting place: it’s history, location.
politics, racism, blight, gentrification
whitehaven is interesting, so much so. . . most planting experts said and still say : it doesn’t make sense to go to whitehaven.
Who’s watching? Mystery cults and new philosophies?
Scum
Scum
weak, hunger and thirst, raggedy clothes,
misfits- performing on a stage where no one wants to buy a ticket.
can you imagine that? Can you imagine being an actor on a stage, performing for people who don’t like your message
Jesus Christ!!!