First Lesson: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10 Responsive Reading: Psalm 48 Second Lesson: 2 Corinthians 12: 2-10 Gospel Lesson: Mark 6: 1-13 Grace and Peace from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn in 1963[1]. Jordan perhaps is the most gifted person on the planet ever to pick up a Basketball. As a freshman in college at North Carolina, he hit the game-winning jump shot to bring the Tarheels a National Championship. Jordan, when he becomes a professional, joins the Chicago Bulls. Jordan was an immediate sensation. Jordan was the NBA’s leading scorer in 1987 and would proceed to win ten consecutive scoring titles in seasons that he qualified[2]. Jordan’s last six full seasons with the Chicago Bulls led to world titles every year. Jordan’s success led to him being perhaps the most sought-after celebrity endorser on the planet. Jordan’s contract with Nike turned them from a small running shoe company to perhaps the most well-known shoe company in the world. In 1991, Gatorade had a series of commercials with the slogan “Be Like Mike[3].” These commercials had a group of school children singing how they dreamed of being just like Mike. Michael Jordan seems to be the type of person every school child should inspire to be: successful and wealthy beyond people’s wildest imaginations. Now I want to tell you the story of another Basketball player of whom you probably haven’t heard. Bryon Russell was a good basketball player. He played college ball at the little-known Long Beach State[4]. There was little interest in him playing in the NBA. Russell was gritty though. He ends up playing in the NBA for thirteen seasons despite never being any team’s best player. In 1994, Jordan went into a brief retirement, only to be told by Bryon Russell: “Why did you quit? You know I could guard you[5].” Russell’s semi-serious trash talk which wasn’t unheard of for a Basketball player set off Jordan as few people have ever been set off. In 1998, Jordan’s last game with the Bulls he hits a shot to win a World Championship over Bryon Russell. When Jordan got inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 , he continued attacking Bryon Russell’s foolish mouth and weak game in his speech[6]. Michael Jordan wanted to point out his great superiority over every Bryon Russell that had ever been put before him. Now I want to tell you Today about another similar situation that took place within the Corinthian Church. The Corinthian Church had a group of super-apostles[7]. These were the types of Christians who like Michael Jordan when they talked of all they did, the rest of the Corinthians couldn’t help but feel inferior. The super-apostles had begun taking control of the Corinthian Church; they would shame the other believer's faults at every opportunity. No different than Michael Jordan would do so to Bryon Russell. So as Paul writes the Corinthian Church, he speaks of his authority coming from elsewhere rather than his achievement. Paul saw things differently from the super-apostles. Paul saw his weakness as a sign of strength. Paul speaks of a great thorn in his flesh[8]. Paul speaks of praying that this thorn is removed. Paul eventually comes to terms with his limitation and realizes that his weakness was, in fact, a source of his authority: Paul declares: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong[9].” Once upon a time, there was a young man named Harry Day[10]. Harry was set to enroll at Stanford University. Harry’s dad suddenly died. Harry then inherits the family ranch in New Mexico. The family ranch was remote. It had no running water or electricity. It was nine miles from the nearest paved road. The family had to hunt jackrabbits to survive[11]. Harry eventually gets married to Ada Mae. They give birth to a baby girl named Sandra. As Sandra grows up, Ada Mae would read to her for one hour a day. Sandra has to be sent away for school in El Paso over two-hundred miles away as Harry hoped Sandra would have the education that he never could get. Sandra eventually enrolls at Stanford. Sandra gets accepted into law school. Sandra then hits the job market. At first, she only received job offers to be a legal secretary. Sandra’s first job is as an assistant county attorney; she only gets the job after agreeing to work for no money. Sandra eventually builds her own law practice in Arizona. Twenty-nine years after graduating law school, Sandra gets a phone call from President Ronald Reagan. The poor ranch girl from New Mexico now known as Sandra Day O Connor had just been named the first female justice of the United States Supreme Court. The story of Sandra Day O’Connor reminds how there is power in weakness. She seemingly had every disadvantage imaginable growing up: poor, lack of educational opportunities, wrong gender to enter the legal fields in the 1950’s, yet all these things lead her to the United States Supreme Court. Paul makes the case that his weakness, his “thorns in the flesh” are what gives him the authority to proclaim God’s grace in his own life. Paul’s reminder is the church doesn’t have its Micheal Jordans, true spiritual power comes to us only through Christ Alone. Once upon a time, there was a young woman who was growing through a rough time in her life[12]. The woman storms into her mother’s kitchen. She wanted to give up on life, every time one problem was solved another new one arose. Mom then walks over to the stove without saying a word[13]. She fills three pots with water. She then turns the stove over each of the three pots. Pretty soon the water turns to a boil. Mom takes out some carrots, eggs, and coffee. She puts the three items in each pot. The Mother after twenty minutes takes the carrots, eggs, and coffee out of their respective pots. Mom opens her mouth for the first time in twenty minutes to ask her daughter what she sees. The daughter is confused only to reply “carrots, eggs, and coffee[14].” Mom asks daughter to feel the carrots which she notices are soft as cooked carrots can be. Mom then pulls the shell off the hard-boiled egg while her daughter watches. Finally, Mom asks daughter to drink the coffee; the coffee was some of the best tasting coffee she ever had drunk. Daughter is confused at this point: “What does this mean Mother?” Mom replied “You see each of these items faced the same adversity in boiling water. " “The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water[15]”. The Apostle Paul realized it was his hardship, his adversity, his thorns are what made him into a preacher of the Gospel. Paul had seen the water change around him. Paul had seen resurrection come from death within his own life. Paul’s thorn was a reminder that the greatest examples of God’s grace come from the greatest of human weaknesses[16]. Let me close with what finally story told by Keith Wagner[17]. This story could take place in a church just like this one. Once upon a time, a man joined the church choir. The man couldn’t sing at all. The choir director worked with him, but it did no good. The man was so off-key that the other choir members couldn’t hit their notes[18]. The rest of the choir asked the choir director to do something. The choir director then decided to go to the pastor to hopefully address the issue. The pastor goes to the man’s house. The pastor explains how the man’s talents would be better used elsewhere other than the choir. The man responds “But I like singing; it gives me great joy[19].” The pastor gets frustrated “But you sing off-key, and the choir doesn’t sound that good.” The man shakes his head at the pastor. “You know you aren’t the world’s greatest preacher, but I listen every Sunday.” And because you are my pastor I listen even though it is rare when I get anything good from your sermons.” The pastor was speechless at such a response. The pastor then finally says “We’re lucky to have people like you singing in the choir[20].” The pastor then went home reflecting on the meaning of Paul’s words for us Today: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me[21].” Michael Jordan for the last thirty years has been considered one of the great role models within our nation. Jordan could jump and shoot a basketball in ways that nearly every kid at every tiny gym in our nation could only imagine. The Corinthian Church had a group of believers who seemed to be the same way. The Apostle Paul said the perfect Christian is not what we should aspire to be. We should instead seek to “Be like Bryon.” Cling to our handicaps like Sandra Day, The Coffee Mother, or the awful choir singer. Remember our strength comes not from our achievement, but rather an old beaten down wooden cross which ultimately brings eternal life. Amen [1] “Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. [2] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. [3] Michael Jordan.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. [4] “Bryon Russell.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 8.June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. [5] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop. 3.Dec.2009. Web. June.13.2018. [6] Abbott, Henry. “Bryon Russell, back in Michael Jordan's face.” ESPN: True Hoop. [7] Malcolm, Lois. “Commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10”. Working Preacher. Luther Seminary. 5.July.2015. Web. June.13.2018. [8] 2 Corinthians 12:7. [9] 2 Corinthians 12:10. [10] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. 2003. Web. June.13.2018. [11] “Sandra Day O’Connor”. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation. 12. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. [12] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Me diatations. 1. June.2018. Web. June.13.2018. [13] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations. [14] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations. [15] Stier, Pastor Leon. “Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee.” Email Mediatations. [16] Kegel, Rev.Dr.James. “Strength in Weakness.” Sermon Writer. 2006. Web. June.12.2018. [17] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. [18] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. [19] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. [20] Wagner, Keith. “The Weakest Link.” Sermon Writer. [21] 2 Corinthians 12:9. 7/25/2018 11:06:57 pm
Such a lively and active member of the society. Please continue your works, I hope you are able to prosper and inspire people and create impact to their lives. I am an active person, I love to be involve in organization and I am comfortable dealing with others. I realize that we can learn a lot from other people that we need to be connected with each other for their are things wee can only learn from them. I hope everyone will also realize the importance of that thank you. Comments are closed.
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