April 24, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Sermon Series:
“When in
doubt…read the instructions”
Don’t Argue,
Agree To Disagree
(What did Jesus instruct His
disciples then and now…?)
1
Corinthians 1:10-18
Mark
9:33-35; Matthew 18:18-20
Romans
12:15-17; Philippians 4:1-3;
2
Timothy 2:22-25; Titus 3:8-9
Psalm
148
“Can We Just Get
Along…”
Prayer
for God’s Word to be heard through me or in spite of me…
1 Corinthians 1:10-16Holman
Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Divisions at Corinth
10
Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be
united with the same understanding and the same conviction. 11 For it has been
reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that
there is rivalry among you. 12 What I am saying is this: Each of you says, “I’m
with Paul,” or “I’m with Apollos,” or “I’m with Cephas,” or “I’m with Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in Paul’s name? 14 I thank God[a][b] that I baptized none of you
except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say you were baptized in my
name. 16 I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I
don’t know if I baptized anyone else.
It is interesting being a parent. I
think many times Ray and I stand there and scratch our heads at the silliness
of some of their arguments. When we try to help them with a perfect solution,
it seems they don’t want to hear that. They are up for the fight and they are
going to win no matter who “gets thrown under the bus” in the thick of the war.
Example…arguing over who is going to make
the Chrystal Light ®…
There
are also times that we adults can act the same way. We think we are right and
will argue until we are blue in the face even if it means hurting others in the
wake of our “righteousness”.
We are all on a reading journey as we
read the instructions that Jesus gave the first disciples and what He intended
all to follow to do. We are gathering the knowledge that we need to be Christ
Ambassador’s in a world in need of a Savior. Now Jesus wants us to “go and do
likewise”…to take His example, His instructions and follow them. Some of the
instructions may not be words but actions that Jesus showed His disciples. Now
I hope you all brought your bibles this morning. If not there are some in the
pews. I want us each to look up the instructions…for ourselves…instead of me
reading them to you. Who knows, maybe after we are done it is something we will
continue to do… just sayin.
So…where have we been so far? The first
instruction was on Easter Sunday to a woman called Mary Magdalene…Go, tell. Just that simple…go tell others
I am alive… Go and tell…ministry is an action. The next were stay…wait…witness (stay where they were
and to wait for the Holy Spirit, then to witness to and for Him all over the
world). Another is touch…heal. We may
touch lives by our words or actions but either way we can bring healing to
others…and to ourselves. Now the one that seems against each other…“Beware…don’t worry”. We are to beware
but not worry as we are doing so…we are to “walk in the world” with our “eyes
wide open” but go into it anyway…
Now here’s a real hard one and we as
Christians…as Christ followers…as humanity can’t seem to get right. We live in a fallen, selfish, egotistical
world…there’s no way around that fact…right now anyway… Here we go… “Don’t Argue, Agree to Disagree.” Don’t shoot
the messenger it really is in God’s Word. This issue has been going on for a
long time…humanity thinking that they have all the right answers and if anyone
thinks differently they are wrong. Let alone if we actually have the nerve to
come up against someone else’s thinking…someone else’s way of life…someone else’s
“tradition”…look out!
In the letter that Paul wrote to the
Christ followers in Corinth, which we read part of this morning, they were
arguing over who was baptized by who…who had the best baptism…who was baptized
“right”. I can just imagine what Paul must have been thinking… I left Rome for this? I became a Christ
follower for this? Why are they arguing over something this trivial? They
should be out making disciples in Jesus’ name not arguing over whose name is
best to be baptized under. It is all in Christ’s Name…not the Methodist
name…not in the Baptist name…not in the Pentecostal name…not in the (name) that
we are baptized…
Even the disciples that Jesus walked
with and talked with argued. In Mark 9:33-35…they argued about who was the
greatest…Read…
33
Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, “What
were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, because on the way
they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting
down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he
must be last of all and servant of all.”
No
really who is the greatest…shouldn’t that be Jesus…the “Duh-Ciples” were
showing how much they understood Jesus…again…
OK so what happens when we agree or
disagree like we do so many times?
Let me take you some places where we hear about just that subject in the bible…This is not all the places…it is up to you
and me to look further into this difficult issue…
· Matthew
18:18-20Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 I assure you: Whatever you bind
on earth is already bound[a] in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is
already loosed[b] in heaven. 19 Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth
agree about any matter that you[c] pray for, it will be done for you[d] by My
Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I
am there among them.”
Speak from the Spirit…
· Romans
12:15-17Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
weep with those who weep. 16 Be in agreement with one another. Do not be proud;
instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone’s
eyes.
Speak from the Spirit…
· 2
Timothy 2:22-25Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
22 Flee from youthful passions, and
pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the
Lord from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing
that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be
gentle to everyone, able to teach,[a] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents
with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the
knowledge of the truth.
· Titus
3:8-9Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 This saying is trustworthy. I
want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might
be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable
for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes
about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
We are to work together not argue and
disagree…
· Philippians
4:1-3Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Practical Counsel
4 So then, my brothers, you are
dearly loved and longed for—my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the
Lord, dear friends. 2 I urge Euodia (yoo-OH-dih-uh) and I urge Syntyche
(SIN-tih-kee) to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner,[a] to
help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with
Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
Speak
from the Spirit…
Maybe…just maybe…if we stopped needing
to have our own way and agree to disagree…we could once again be the body of
Christ working together in harmony. Perhaps if we decided to leave our lives in
the hands of God and leave it there with Him, trusting in His goodness and love
we just might have a bigger view of what Jesus came to do and say and give
example of.
Go, tell…stay, wait, witness…touch,
heal… be on guard, don’t worry…don’t argue, agree to disagree…these seem pretty
simple things to do right? So what are we as the body of Christ…as the hands,
feet, voice and image of Christ in the world…doing? Why do we feel that our
traditions and our man made rules trump God and His Word? We need to understand
the instructions and follow them to the point of us truly being that image of
Christ. As I have said before…there are going to be times when we forget these
instructions. One way of remembering is reading God’s Word each day…read
devotionals that have God’s word embedded or you need to look up in the
beginning, “Our Daily Bread” and “Upper
Room” are just two that are wonderful for this and we even have copies for free
in the back for people to take and read…if we spend time daily with the
Author of the manual, Immanuel we will have more of a chance of following the
instructions for life.
May be if we begin to hear others and
respect what they have to say…to respect others… If we set aside ourselves and put on Christ…if we evict ego out of
our lives…it is over-rated anyway…maybe…just
maybe we can be the “Body of Christ”…working together like a well oiled machine
bringing about the Kingdom. But it is a choice…yours and mine. I don’t
know…what do you think? Can we truly be what our Risen Lord Jesus wanted us to
and be? I say yes with the help of the Holy Spirit which guides us in all
truth…the truth of our God and king. How will you spend your life? Having to
have your own way…thinking that you have it al right and everyone else is wrong?
Or in the freedom found in and through the blood of Jesus Christ to just say “ OK…I agree to disagree with you…maybe your
right…maybe I’m right…but the most important thing is this…what if were both
wrong?” OK…let this be our litmus test…our indicator…our guide as we
approach others…Is Jesus your Lord and Savior…do you follow Jesus? Are you “for
us or against us?” As we converse with one another…how about following the
“Holy Conferencing Principles” of John Wesley…you have a copy in your bulletin and now as you read these…you will
realize that this has to do with everyone not just Christ followers…read
through them… Perhaps maybe if we …fill
in the blank…
Amen.
