I Corinthians 5:9-13
The culture does not need from the Church anger and judgment nor accommodation and compromise. The Church’s best posture is to joyfully teach and model God’s original design and intent while loving, accepting and forgiving ourselves and one another when we fall short.
I. Isn’t this much ado about nothing?
II. Why is the Church so focused on these issues?
III. Can’t we agree to disagree?
IV. Why are some Christians so angry and bigoted?
The goal of our instruction is love, from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.
I Timothy 1:5
1. Extravagant love for all people.
2. Inside the Church we must be clear about Christian identity.
How do we become more distinctive? We do it by quietly building good marriages, families, churches and friendships. We don’t need better words, we need better demonstrations of God’s best design!
Pastoral (Practical) Concerns
Week 6
November 4, 2018 • Gregg Parris
The Body in Art and Media
October 28, 2018 • Gregg Parris
I Corinthians 6:12-20 I. Arts and Media in Perspective. It is time we acknowledge that all of us, in the Body of Christ, have problems with such things as pornography, body image, self-loathing, eating disorders and all the rest. II. Called to the arts and media. “Christ the Victor” Christ over Rio De Janeiro. Sand artist Joe Castillo Paul said, Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.
Bodily Incarnation/Bodily Resurrection
October 21, 2018 • Gregg Parris
Revelation 19:6-9; 21:1-4 I. The human body has physical and spiritual meaning. Three Biblical truths repeated: 1. Your heart is deceitful. 2. Your mind needs renewing. 3. Your body is trustworthy. Current phrases and practices: 1. The Heart must always be followed. 2. Your mind is always clear. 3. Your body us untrustworthy. II. The human body and the two genders. III. The human body will be resurrected.
Celibacy and Singleness
October 14, 2018 • Gregg Parris
Mark 12:18-27 Marriage is designed to reflect the fact that God is a covenant keeping God. Marriage on earth, as we know it, will come to an end. A call to singleness and celibacy is a temporal anticipation of the resurrected life. I. Singleness is a gift of God. II. Singleness has advantages. III. Singleness is hard. IV. Singleness is not permanent.