June 25, 2006

Having Nothing and Possessing Everything

by Rev. Dr. Jim Carlson

2 Corinthians 6:1-10

Corinthian congregation started by Paul, Paul had continued relationship.

Detractors entered church, claimed Paul’s teachings were not legitimate.

Paul sent Timothy, then goes himself. Neither visit accomplishes anything.

Writes tearful letter. Meets Titus in Macedonia and gets a good report.

2 Cor. is partly Paul’s self defense and partly an appeal for a mission offering he was collecting.

Mind of Christ needed in order to understand Paul’s message. Holy Spirit must rule the mind even though sin rules the flesh.

Paul contrasts worldly point of view with mind of Christ. 5:16 – No longer seeing things from a human point of view. (slide)

Working together with God – spectrum of viewpoints.

Compiles list contrasting Mind of Christ as worldly viewpoint. (slide)

Contrast in viewpoints offers great insight into church’s own self-image.

Church Images (4 Slides)

Small churches are being disparaged by larger churches: (slides)

“Congregations whose membership has declined or plateaued have much in common with dinosaurs” – Bill Easum
“Clearly, God doesn’t care if these congregations survive” – Bill Easum
“The declining church is an addict” Tom Bandy

Human point of view. Mind of Christ sees small churches differently.
Ministry to older people seen as less profitable. Doesn’t have a future, not worth the long-term investment.

Speaks also to value of a human being.

Great pressure to judge even Christian faith using worldly criteria. We’ll be really depressed and down on ourselves if we internalize these judgments.

Not to be judged by capitalistic standards. Judged by standards of “Did you love your neighbor? Did you love God?”

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, the new has come.