Sermon from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 for April 15

So…

If you are alive, say “amen”!

Some of you people are dead it seems. Just saying!

Because if you are alive in Christ, as last Sunday’s sermon and teaching suggested, you should know it, and be doing all kinds of things an alive person in Christ does!

You do know what alive people do, right? I mean, alive in Christ. They are out in the world, loving each other, and going and making disciples. You are doing that, right?

I mean you are doing that at home, and at work, and with family and friends. And then with your leftover energy at church.

You got that. The places God’s people are living out their empower by resurrection life is not primary in church; it is primarily at home, at work, at play, with family and friends, inviting everyone you meet to become alive through a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

I had this really bizarre idea once. I wanted to list all the places where everyone who is a regular participant in our worship services worked, played, the groups they were in, whether it be a brass quintet or Kiwanis or Little League or a hiking club and then draw a web of all the places where we as the followers of Christ have a place at the table – a place where we could offer upt this alive life to others.

And then I wanted to see if we could figure out if there were places where we should be, where someone from our church family should be present so they could spread resurrection power, like the Rotary Club or the Minisink Swimmers or whatever. And then if no one was there we would pray and find someone and send them!

And then, and this would be the hardest part of all, we would figure out how to gage whether our “alive’ presence was making a difference, and if not, what we needed to do to expand our abilities, gifts, training, commitment so that we as God’s people in all these places could do Jesus proud!

Years ago, Brian got onto one of the basketball teams at the old Otisville School. Each year, a few new kids would be added to each team, and the kids would learn to play by being with some older players.

It’s not a model we use a lot, but it can be remarkably successful, as to an age locked program.

Anyway, he gets on a team with some older boys who have played together for a few years and though they aren’t tall or big, they are doing really well, and so as they go along, even with these new boys, they are winning games.

Now the deal was that every kid on the team got playing time. You can’t develop talent and skills if you don’t play. So even though the team was winning, they were really good about making sure that even little dorks with glasses and no skills like Brian got on the court and played.

And they made it to the semi-final game against a much bigger stronger team, and they played their hearts out – and won! It was amazing. But right after the game, coaches Dave and John Bendlin came to Sue and I really upset and very apologetic.

In the heat of the game they had looked to see if they had played everyone – but they had missed Brian. They were very upset, more I think than Sue or I, because remember Brian was small and unskilled and this was a big game.

So they said that they were going to make it right and in the championship game, against an even bigger and better team than the one that night, Brian was going to play the whole first half.

They were going to do what was right. They were going make a difference. They were going to lose spectacularly.

You and I are filled with the spirit and told to go and make a difference, make disciples in fact, using the skills and talents, “gifts” God has given us, to build his kingdom, even if that means not winning the championship, because we in life and death belong to God.

I have always and forever admired their insane commitment to doing the right thing. And they paid for it - by winning that championship game.

We are all delightfully, wonderfully, and fearfully made. God has filled us with his spirit, and Paul reminds us, God has gifted us to do his work in this world.

Some of us called to speak foreign languages, and others of us explain them. Some are called to preach or to teach or to administer, others to offer wisdom, some of us are full of faith, and some have the power to bring healing to others in times of fear and stress and pain a river of water to a parched desert, others sense God’s presence and can remind us to listen and to watch. Some are gifted to encourage others, others to get up in front and say, “Let’s do this”, some are called to help in the background.

But what none of us are called to is sit and do nothing. We are to love each other as hard as that may be sometimes, and we are to go and make and baptize and teach and to use our gifts to God’s glory.

And if you are not doing that, you are not really yet fully alive.

Not sure about your spiritual gifts? Time to start asking others what they see in you!

Not out there making a difference? Then it is time to look around, grab a new friend and get to work.

The kingdom of God is alive. Are you?

Amen.