I Corinthians 13:3B: No One Can Say, Jesus Is Lord Except by the Holy Spirit

First Presbyterian Church Marianna, Florida Sunday, September 10, 2006 Sermon by Huw Christopher, Pastor

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4: 17-32 Sermon Title: “Living as the Followers of Jesus” Sermon Text: Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

When Harry Emerson Fosdick, was at the height of his influence as the pastor of the Riverside Church, New York City, he was making a tour of Palestine and other countries of the Near and Middle East. He was invited to give an address at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon, where the student body comprised citizens of many countries, and representatives from sixteen different religions. If you were faced by such a diverse audience what would you want to say? This is how Harry Emerson Fosdick began: "I do not ask anyone here to change his religion; but I do ask all of you to face up to this question: What is your religion doing to your character?" As we approach the anniversary of September 11 and all that that date has come to mean in the life of this nation, and indeed the whole world, the question that Harry Emerson Fosdick asked may be even more relevant in our world today than when he first asked it. As we see the continued conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Middle East largely over religion, as we witness the increasing civil war in Iraq between different religious sects, as unrest

1 continues between Roman Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, and as we all live under the threat of a holy war against what extremists of the Muslim faith would call infidel America we see the way in which religion is being used, especially by extremists in many religions to justify their destruction of peoples of other religions, or even of different sects and denominations within the same religion. Instead of making this world a safer and more harmonious one, in so many ways religion is the cause of so much of the conflict that we see across our world today. For many people instead of bringing comfort and assurance religion is causing them to live in a state of fear and uncertainty. We see only too clearly what their religion is doing to so many people’s characters as it is developing a character which reflects hatred and violence and destruction. What a contrast we see in the words of Paul that we heard as he writes to the Christians in Ephesus, as he calls on them and on us, to put away all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander and all malice and to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven us. The one thing that is clear from what he says is that being a Christian should be reflected in one’s character and in one’s actions. His letter is typical of most of his letters in that he is never concerned just to talk about what our faith means, or to explore the meaning of Christian doctrine. Almost every letter of Paul contains the practical application of the faith and guidance on how our own religion as Christians should influence our character, and especially our relationships with other people. Today as we share in our recognition of our Sunday School teachers and our Christian Education leaders Paul’s words remind us that the goal of all of our teaching of the Christian faith can never be that people simply learn facts and information about God and about Jesus Christ. The goal is always that as we learn more about the character of the God we worship, and God’s ways seen in Jesus

2 Christ, so God’s character might be seen more and more in our own character, and God’s ways in our own ways. As Christians we seek not to live as those who know about Jesus, but as those who lives reflect the fact that we are the followers of Jesus. Our anthem has reminded us that we live in this way claiming Christ as our Leader. Today we come also to this Table. As we take of this bread we remember the life of Christ given in love for us ultimately in death upon a cross. Here we hear his words, “This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” As we come and eat of this bread and drink of this cup so we are invited to remember and to celebrate all of the assurance that our religion brings to our lives. But as we eat and drink and are assured of God’s forgiving love for us we cannot forget the words of Paul when he says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” We share in this meal and we share in our worship and study together not just to be assured of God’s kindness and forgiveness towards us in Jesus Christ, but that we might find the inspiration, the courage and the strength to allow what we have come to know and believe about God in Jesus Christ to be seen in our character, and in the way in which people see how we live. Let us remember the example that God has given us in Christ our Leader as we stand and affirm our faith together using the words of affirmation printed in the bulletin. * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: from A Declaration of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States

We believe that Jesus was what we should be. He served God with complete trust and unwavering obedience. He loved all kinds of people and accepted their love. In constant dependence upon the Holy Spirit, Jesus allowed no temptation or threat to keep him from loving God with his whole being and his neighbor as himself. We recognize in Jesus what God created us to be. He exposes our failure to live as he lived. He demonstrates the new humanity God promises to give us through him.