Covenant: We're In This Together (2 Corinthians 8:1-15)

Good morning, Church! Welcome. I’m Danny Bradfield, I use he/him pronouns, and I’m the pastor of Bixby Knolls Christian Church. 

Whether you are here in person, or joining us online, it is good that you are here. Your presence is a blessing to me and to everyone else who is gathered with us in worship. Thank you for being here.

If you are joining us online - thank you for welcoming us into your space. Please leave a comment and say hi - that’s the only way we know you are here - and maybe tell us where you are located, especially if it’s outside of the Long Beach area. 

It is a joy that so many things are opening up here in California, and many of the restrictions we’ve been under have been lifted. Most of us in this sanctuary who can be vaccinated have been vaccinated, and a significant percentage of Californians have been vaccinated, which has made this possible. 

We will continue to practice good hygiene here at Bixby Knolls Christian Church. But you are free to sing; you are free to sit wherever you like; children are free to play and run around in the narthex during worship if they need to release some energy. I’ve missed seeing that activity through the windows as I preach.

Some days, I want to run back there myself and join them.

We didn’t have that option when I was a child. I did go to “children’s church” when I was little...but when I outgrew that, I sat in “big church” and listened to the sermon. I didn’t always understand it. And, not often, but sometimes, the preacher would start yelling, and I wasn’t sure why. And sometimes I would spend the sermon time counting all the rectangles formed by the beams in the ceiling of the sanctuary of my childhood church.

There were 46.

I didn’t always get bored. Sometimes I found the scriptures and the sermons fascinating. Sometimes the preacher told stories that I thought were funny. 

I still remember one story he told, about a young man attending chapel services at Harvard Divinity School. In the story, the preacher decided to preach on the seven letters in the name, Harvard. For “H,” the preacher preached on Honor. For “A,” something that started with an “A.” And so on.

And the preacher in the story spent, like, 15 or 20 minutes on each letter. Which, of course, would make for a very long sermon.

As the preaching dragged on, people began walking out. By the time the preacher finished, there was just one student worshiper left - and that young worshiper appeared to be in deep prayer. 

Impressed that his preaching could have such an effect - and wanting to know just what it was in his sermon that inspired this young worshiper - the preacher asked that one remaining student, “What is it that you were praying about?”

And the student replied, “I was just giving thanks to God that I didn’t enroll at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”

I remember that story, even though I was very young. I was paying attention.

But if my childhood preacher ever preached on the scripture we heard today, I don’t remember it, and I’m sure I would have found it boring. Even for much of my adult life, this scripture, and other similar ones, have been boring.

They would have put me to sleep… I’d fall asleep during the sermon, just like Eutychus.

Who’s Eutychus? Acts 20 tells the story of Eutychus; he was a young Macedonian who fell asleep while listening to the Apostle Paul. Eutychus didn’t have a space in the back to go run around, so he sat in the window at the back of the room, and fell asleep.

Unfortunately, that room was on the third floor, and when Eutychus fell asleep, he fell out of the window, landing in the street below. 

Miraculously, he was OK.

So that’s why we provide space for our young ones to run around. It’s dangerous to fall asleep during the sermon.

But let me tell you: as I studied today’s scripture, especially within the context of covenant, I began to see it in a new light. This is the third week of our five-week focus on covenant, and having the idea of covenant in the back of my mind as I read this scripture, I gained a new appreciation for it.

Today’s scripture is part of a letter Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, in which he talks about the Macedonians. He’s talking about how generous they were, these Macedonians, and how supportive of his mission and how supportive of the churches in Jerusalem they were, and how they gave generously to the fund Paul organized in support of less prosperous worshiping communities...and then Paul encourages the believers in Corinth to be like the Macedonians - generous in their giving and in their support of the congregations that need their support.

Maybe it’s not the most exciting part of the New Testament. Fundraising and stewardship moments aren’t usually the most exciting part of any gathering; but let me tell you a little bit of the background here. 

Paul was having some real difficulties with the leadership of the church in Jerusalem. There had been some fierce disagreements. In many of Paul’s letters, Paul defends himself against the accusations leveled against him by the leaders of this Jerusalem church.

But Paul never gives up on them. And because Paul knows that the church in Jerusalem was facing so many struggles, including financial struggles, Paul never stops urging the believers in other regions to give generously to support the Jerusalem church.

And the reason, I think, is that Paul understood that he and the leaders in Jerusalem were in covenant together. They were bound by love, and love is faithful. Love doesn’t give up on those who disappoint you, just as Jesus never gave up on his disciples despite the many times his disciples disappointed him. Love doesn’t stop flowing just because you have disagreements.

I remember seeing a comic once that showed an old couple - a man and a woman - sitting together on a bench outside. They had clearly just had an argument; her arms were folded across her chest, and they were both facing away from each other with frowns on their faces.

And it was raining; but the man had his one arm stretched back behind him, holding an umbrella over the woman, so she wouldn’t get wet. And if you look closely, you can kinda see her frown turning into a smile.

And I think that encapsulates what’s going on with Paul and the leaders in Jerusalem. They had had some very sharp disagreements. But they still recognized that they were bound together by a covenant of love, all centered on their common faith in Christ Jesus. The covenant was steadfast and faithful because the love on which it was based was steadfast and faithful. It could not be broken.

This gives new meaning and new significance to today’s scripture. Because this kind of commitment and faithfulness is rare. This recognition that we’re in this together is rare. People are far too willing to go their own way, do their own thing. People are far too willing to ask, first and foremost, “what’s in it for me?” People are far too willing to abandon ship when they can’t control every aspect of life on board that ship.

In this week’s covenant video (which I’ll post on our church's facebook page), Rev. Dr. Bill Lee - former moderator of our denomination - talks about conversations he had with his congregation about the support they give to the Disciples Mission Fund - the fund that supports the work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). One of his church members asked him, “Well, what’s the return on our investment?”

He admits he was startled by the question. He says he had never heard a church member ask about “return on investment” when discussing giving to the church. 

He talked about standing - the denomination gives ministers standing, which lets congregations know that the minister meets the requirements for ordained ministry… he talked about pension fund (how the congregation doesn’t have to worry about retirement support or disability support for their employees)... he talked about Week of Compassion, which is how we care for those in need, including congregations affected by disasters…He talked about so many things that we are able to do and be part of, because we are in covenant together.

To his list I would add things like summer camp. Global Ministries. Reconciliation ministry. And so much more.

And I would sum it up by saying: the return on investment is that we get to be part of a covenant of love that builds us up into something so much greater than any of us could build up on our own...

And I would add one more thing: covenant is worth celebrating!

At the beginning of 2021, I’ve been experimenting with a new prayer practice each month. At the start of June, I decided to focus on celebration as my prayer practice for the month. 

It’s a strange thing for me to choose. I’m not always very good at celebrating, and I’m starting to think that I don’t even always know how to celebrate. But I’m learning.

I’m learning that celebration - like covenant - is an act of resistance. One has to resist all the doom and gloom of the world in order to celebrate. 

I’m learning that we are in a season of celebration. We’re celebrating the end of many of the necessary restrictions that we’ve been living under these past 15 months.

And, this weekend, we’re celebrating freedom. Yesterday was Juneteenth, something I’ve preached on before. Now, Juneteenth has become a national holiday. Hopefully it continues to be a day on which we celebrate freedom and liberation, and a day on which we commit ourselves to continuing to work for freedom and liberation for all God’s people.

Anyway, I celebrate the covenant we are a part of. Just this week, I’ve experienced that covenant in action. On Friday I was in communication with people in our region who are helping to plan our upcoming one-day camp experience for middle high and high school youth that will be taking place here July 17. Just yesterday I gathered with hundreds of others in our region at a memorial service celebrating the life and ministry of Bob Bock, one of our region’s most influential and longest-serving ministers. This love and support shown from members of various congregations to other congregations is what covenant is all about.

And that’s why I encourage you to register for the upcoming Disciples Virtual Gathering on August 7. And that’s why I encourage you to attend the Regional Gathering when it happens in October. And that’s why I encourage you to watch the covenant videos I’m sharing on our church Facebook page.

Because when it comes to ministry, we really are all in this together.

Duty to Others (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

I was looking at my books the other day. I have quite a lot of books. Most pastors do. In fact, you can often tell where pastors have been by the trail of books they leave behind.

When I began my minister here at BKCC last year, that's the one thing I found already in the pastor's office: books. Most were on the bookshelves, but a few were on the floor, in a not-very-straight line that led out the door, down the hall, outside, and down the street. I'm telling you, if you want to know where one of your former pastors is today, all you've got to do is follow the trail of books. It will lead you right to them.

I have actually got rid of many of my predecessors' books, and even some of my own. Yes, I admit it, I've left my own trail. But there are so many that I just can't get rid of, books that I've read more than once, books that I think I might like to read again. Books about church history and theology. Biographies and writings of some truly great saints: Martin Luther, John Calvin, St. Francis, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., Oscar Romero; and also books by John Muir, Anne Lamott, Malcom X, and the Freedom Writers. (I heard in the news that someone back east was arrested for not returning to the library their copy of the Freedom Writers Diary--but don't worry, I have my own copy.)

I have books of sermons and books that tell you how to preach--some of them are even useful. Of course, I have bibles and commentaries. I have books on prayer, books on youth ministry, books on church transformation. I have books that I don't completely agree with but still find interesting, like The Secret. I have some of my favorite novels, like Brave New World, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, and Life of Pi. I have books on nature, an old Boy Scout Fieldbook, and even my old Boy Scout Handbook.

I have gained a lot of knowledge from all these books over the years. The knowledge I gained from many of them enabled me to be ordained into Christian ministry; and as an ordained minister, this knowledge has granted to me certain rights, like the right to officiate at weddings, for example. And I'm always trying to learn more, to further expand my knowledge, through reading books and attending classes and workshops. In fact, in order to maintain my standing in the region, I am required to learn more. That's because the regional church recognizes that increasing in knowledge is a good and useful thing.

The apostle Paul had a lot of knowledge. He was trained as a Pharisee, which means he had studied extensively the scriptures, and the regulations and customs of worship. And then, he received a direct revelation from Jesus, which added to his knowledge.

Much of this knowledge, Paul shared through his teachings and his ministry. He shared his knowledge through the letters he wrote, like the letter to the Corinthians. So how strange is it, that he says: "Knowldge puffs up"?

That would be like your algrebra teacher spending weeks and weeks trying to get you to memorize the quadratic formula, and when you finally get it down, he says to you: "you show off." It would be like your English teacher forcing you to memorize a passage of Shakespeare or Chaucer, but when you recite it perfectly, she says to you: "Great. But what good is that going to do you?"

That's what happens here: Paul had taught these people, these Corinthians, all about the faith. Paul imparted to them quite a bit of knowledge. The Corinthians, excited by what they have learned, say to Paul: "Hey! We have knowledge!" ... and Paul replies back to them: "Knowledge makes you arrogant."

Fortunately, Paul explains. "Knowledge by itself," he says, "is meaningless. It can even be dangerous. For knowledge to be good and useful, it must submit to love--love for God, and love for one's neighbor. For knowledge to be good and useful, it must be used to serve God, and to serve others."

Or, to put it another way, I think Paul is saying that no matter what knowledge we have--whether it comes from books or teaching or experience--and no matter what rights we have as a result of that knowledge, we must always consider what is good for all: what is good for our neighbors, what is good for our community, what is good for the world around us. Community takes precedence over individual rights! Do what builds others up! Even if you have knowledge--even if you have the right to do something--the way of Jesus calls upon you to give up that right if it's not in the service of God and neighbor.

I think of people who take it upon themselvbes to exercise their right to free speech. Yes, we have that right, a right that I cherish and taht I would strongly defend if ever it were threatened. But how often do you hear someone say something rude or offensive, something that is intentionally so, something that they say only to tear someone down or provoke a reaction? We hear it on the street, at work, at school; we hear it on talkradio. You tell someone, "hey, you shouldn't say that, it's not nice," and they respond, "I can do whatever I want; it's a free country." But just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should.

The law gives you the right to say what you want; but not all speech is useful for building up. Not all words are spoken in love. Followers of the way of jesus will give up that right--and I'm not talking about a law that takes away that right--but followers of the way of Jesus will voluntarily refrain from exercising that right if doing so is for the good of the community.

The situation the Corinthians were in was not so different. In ancient times, much of the food that was sold in the marketplace--and especially much of the meat--was food that had been dedicated to various idols, or which came from animals that had been sacrificed to various idols. To participate in an act that honored false gods was a big no-no for the earliest Christians.

However, the Corinthians knew that those false gods and idols didn't really exist, which of course meant that the foods' dedication to them was meaningless. With this knowledge, they felt that it was OK to eat the meat.

Paul says that, yes, it is OK, except: "What about the believer whose faith isn't as strong, whose knowledge and understanding isn't as great, and who sees you eating that meat? It might be enough to destroy their faith. So, even though it is OK to eat, it is better to refrain, for the sake of those who don't yet have that knowledge." Remember: think of others, not just yourself.

It just so happens that one of the first real-life lessons I remember receiving in this came at the very end of my fifth grade year, on my very first boy scout outing. We were driving along the Angeles Crest Highway, a caravan of several vehicles navigating the mountain roads on our way to Mt. Baden-Powell, a mountain that was named--for those of you who don't know--after the founder of scouting.

Anyway, after driving for awhile, the cars in which we were riding all pulled over to the side of the road. Wondering if we were at the trailhead, we got out of the cars.

Turns out that we were not there yet. We had pulled over becasue some rocks had fallen onto the road. They weren't big roacks--the largest was considerably smaller than a bowling ball--and we could have easily swerved around them. Instead, we stopped, and our leaders invited us to help clear the rocks off the road--which, of course, we did.

The strange thing is, I don't recall questioning why we were doing it. Nobody asked "why," nobody complained that it wasn't "our job" to do this, no one ever griped about road crews or "what do we pay our taxes for." We just figured that this was what scouts do--acts of service for the good of others, good deeds that we certainly didn't have have to do, but which we did anyway. And of course, in thinking that, we were right.

I went back to Mt. Baden-Powell last summer with several of my closest friends. We all met when we were in scouts, and all of us became Eagle Scouts. And just yesterday, I went on a hike with one of those friends in the Santa Monica mountains. The lessons we learned about duty to others has stuck with us. We don't often find rocks in the road; but we do usually end the day with a few extra pieces of trash in our packs that weren't there when the day began.

That's just what scouts do. And it's just what followers of the way of Jesus do as well. We don't boast in our knowledge, we don't abuse our rights or exercise them in ways that are not helpful to others. Instead, we seek out the common good, and we look for ways that we can benefit those around us, and the world God created.