Sermon 30 Sep 2018
Weakness and Wonder
We are sign posts to God not only by what we do but also by how we do it.
2 Cor 12:1-6 Paul boasts in his weakness
• Paul was a competent and confident follower of Jesus.
• And yet he clearly had areas of his life that were broken and imperfect.
Like us all, Paul lived in the midst of this tension.
• Paul was comfortable having people know who he was and where he was at.
1 Cor 2:1-4
• Paul didn’t oversell or undersell who he was.
• He was able to live amongst this group of people being authentic to who he was.
The opposite to weakness is not strength
• There is a strength, power and competence in weakness.
The opposite to weakness is hypocrisy
• A hypocrite is someone who ‘pretends’ to be someone else by wearing a mask
• They pretend to be someone they aren’t and subsequently hide their real self from the world.
A hypocrite repeals the world from Jesus.
Hypocrisy also creates:
1) Inner turmoil
• The difference between who you say you are and who you actually are is pain.
• We weren’t made to carry the burden of two identities, it will ultimately crush us.
2) A toxic culture
• Mistakes are hidden
• Failures are swept under the carpet
• Resultantly, progress and growth are stunted because there is no room to learn from mistakes.
Jesus restored Peter after he failed, and he went on to change the world.
• Jesus was gracious in the face of weakness.
We are also a community called to declare the wonder of God.
2 Pet 1:3
• We have been called by a glorious and excellent God
• To participate in the divine nature.
• We are to declare something of the nature of God to the world around us.
PS 19
• The heavens declare the glory of God.
• Creation is an excellent and extravagant masterpiece of God that reveals who he is
• In a similar way, we are to do the same thing.
1 Chron 29:1 & 2 Chron 1-7 The building of the temple.
The temple was built for God not for man.
• It was built in response to who God was.
• It was full of precious metals, stones and woods.
• Skilful men and women decorated the temple and made it a beautiful place.
• No corner was cut, not expense was spared to make the temple a structure that declared the wonder and glory of God.
2 Chron 9 1-8
When the Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his kingdom she came to investigate.
• She was overwhelmed with all that she saw.
• What she looked at caused her to look up. (verse 8)
God is glorified in us when we aim to do a good job in everything that we do.
• From bulletins to buildings, morning teas to ministries, Facebook posts to PowerPoints.
To do things well we need to do things simply
• We can’t do all things well.
• We need to focus on what God is calling us to do.
To do things well is inclusive
• Every person has a gift and we need to create space for people to use that gift by focusing on our areas of strength.
Small Group Study
What do you think Paul means when he says ‘I will boast in my weakness’ (2 Cor 12:5)
In 1 Cor 2:1-4 Paul is honest about who he is and where he’s at.
• What enables a church to create a culture of authenticity and honesty?
How can you contribute to a culture of authenticity?
What can we learn from how Solomon built the temple? (2 Chron 1-8)
• How does it shape our understanding of bringing glory to God?
What does it mean to participate in the divine nature (2 Pet 1:3)?
• What influence does this have on how we do things?
What are your areas of giftedness that can help bring glory to God at Taringa?