January 2, Epiphany Sunday, Communion Sunday

Lesson: Jeremiah 31:31-34; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Sermon Title: Building A Life

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. Did you notice the cartoon in the January issue of the Good Tidings?

    1. A husband saying to wife about an obvious Christmas gift:

"It's a nice gift, but I have mixed feelings about a leather-bound collection of my New Year's resolutions from the last twenty years." (1)

      1. He is obviously unhappy.

      2. He probably has not done a great job in fulfilling his resolutions.

    1. The late Erma Bombeck had a different view of New Year's resolutions.

      1. I'm going to clean this dump just as soon as the kids grow up.

      2. I will go to no doctor whose office plants have died.

      3. I'm going to follow my husband's suggestion to put a little excitement into my life by living within our budget.

      4. I'm going to apply for a hardship scholarship to Weight Watchers.

      5. I will never loan my car to anyone I have given birth to.

      6. And just like last year...I am going to remember that my children need love the most when they deserve it the least.

    2. Of course you can subscribe to those sent out signed: Humorously yours, Glenn Michael Gordon, Editor-in-Chief, Readers Digest dot com

Dear Friend, (2)

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MAIN BODY:

  1. Why do we make so much fuss, and have so much trouble with New Year's resolutions,

    1. New Year's resolutions are about change.

      1. Change is confronting the necessary evaluation of life.

      2. Change is encounter the necessary evolution of life.

      3. We do not relate well to change.

    2. This is one reason why New Year's resolutions to do often succeed.

  2. The title of this sermon is Building a Better Life.

    1. Maybe this sermon is not for you.

      1. You are content with who you are.

      2. I mean, why suffer through the necessary requirements of change.

      3. In other words, "I'm ok. I don't know about you."

    2. There is a very old expression, You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

      1. This is not true, check it out.

      2. It is necessary to continue to train and retrain an animal.

      3. Otherwise you may have one that is very disrespectful of your home, furnishings, or even your personhood.

  3. The lessons for today ask, no demand of us, an evaluation of life and a confrontation with the necessity for change.

    1. Jeremiah promises his people a New Covenant.

      1. It will not be like the one written on tablets of stone.

      2. This one will be written on the heart.

      3. So when its done, its done, but when is it done?

    2. Paul encourages each of us to face the incompleteness of life by recognizing that the development of a new heart and a changed life is not a one time deal, it is a process.

      1. He writes in Romans 12:2 (NRSVA):

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God--what is good and acceptable and perfect.

      1. There are three vital words in this verse:

        1. Conformed

óõó÷çìáôßæù, suscheômatizoô (soos-khay-mat-id'-zo)

  1. It means to fashion alike, that is, conform to the same pattern (figuratively):--conform to, fashion self according to.

          1. To conform life to the image and teachings of Jesus.

          2. Are you there?

        1. Transformed

ìåôáìïñöüù, metamorphooô, (met-am-or-fo'-o)

  1. It means to to transform (literally or figuratively
    "metamorphose"):--change, transfigure, transform.

          1. To be transformed in character to be whole loving person.

          2. Are you there?

        1. The third is Renewing

Píáêáßíùóéò, anakainoôsis, (an-ak-ah'ee-no-sis)

  1. It means renovation:--renewing.

          1. Removal of all that is debilitating and non-productive.

          2. Are you there?

      1. If there is any doubt reflect on what Paul writes in Ephesians 4:22-24, NRSVA

22You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

A commentator on Ephesians 4:23 has written: (3)

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind--Their old mode of living was to be abandoned; a new one to be assumed. The mind is to be renovated; and not only its general complexion, but the very spirit of it; all its faculties and powers must be thoroughly, completely, and universally renewed. Plautus uses a similar expression describing deep distress, and answerable to our phrase innermost soul: (4)

Paupertas, pavor territat mentem animi.

"Poverty and dread alarm my innermost soul."

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    1. Paul points out that we have a foundation and building materials.

      1. The foundation is Jesus Christ.

      2. Paul's building materials are: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and straw.

        1. All he is attempting to do is to create and understanding that there are superior and inferior building materials.

        2. They all will be tested.

    2. To move from the esoteric to the practical Peter provides a list of building blocks that are to be used by the Christian.

    3. I refer to 2 Peter 1:3-11, help clarify the purpose for building and to establish what it is that we are to be building

3His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.

5For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.

8For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.

10Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

      1. The true building blocks of life include:

        1. Faith

        2. Goodness

        3. Knowledge

        4. Self-control

        5. Endurance

        6. Godliness

        7. Mutual affection

        8. Love

      2. Do you have them all?

      3. Are you there?

      4. Have you arrived?

      5. Of course not.

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CONCLUSION

  1. The acquiring of a new heart, a transformed mind, is not a one time thing, it is the work of a lifetime.

    1. There is a song titled: We Would Be Building

      Hymn lyric by Purd E. Deitz
      Tune: Finlandia

      We would be building; temples still undone
      O'er crumbling walls their crosses scarcely lift,
      Waiting till love can raise the broken stone,
      And hearts creative bridge the human rift.
      We would be building; Master, let thy plan
      Reveal the life that God would give to man.

      Teach us to build; upon the solid rock
      We set the dream that hardens into deed,
      Ribbed with the steel that time and change doth mock,
      The unfailing purpose of our noblest creed.
      Teach us to build; O Master, lend us sight
      To see the towers gleaming in the light.

      O keep us building, Master; may our hands
      Ne'er falter when the dream is in our hearts,
      When to our ears there come divine commands
      And all the pride of sinful will departs.
      We build with thee, O grant enduring worth
      Until the heavenly kingdom comes on earth.

    2. So, If you would like a reasonable, practical and doable New Year's resolution, I offer you these words from the Covenants of the Goodenough Community. (5)

I commit ...
to become the best version of myself
to make and keep agreements with great care
to be constant through conflict
to give myself fully to the process of transformation through the expression of love
to trust the good intentions of each of us
to relate with respect and acceptance
to enter fully into life's experiences
to awaken to my awareness of my unique role in the universe
to acknowledge the inner and interconnectedness of all creation.
So be it!

1. from The Joyful Noiseletter © Ed Sullivan, Used with permission.

2. Signed: Humorously yours, Glenn Michael Gordon, Editor-in-Chief, rd.com

3. Adam Clarkes Commentary on the New Testament Electronic STEP Files Copyright © 1999, Parsons Technology, Inc. Parsons Technology, Inc. Cedar Rapids, Iowa All rights reserved.

4. Epid., l. 519.

5. A Goodenough Story, a Goodenough Life: An Experiment in Community Formation and Self-Governance (Goodenough Community, 1993).

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