Introduction
When I was in college, I led learning trips into the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. The first year students, often coming straight from small towns and rather vanilla upbringings, found the streets of the city culture shock inducing. Our main objective during these trips was to expose the students to ministry that contextualizes itself to the community and people it serves. This often meant touring safe injection sites, food banks, and shelters. For many of the students I lead, it was very difficult for them to understand why the ministries in the area focused on meeting people where they were instead of trying to take them out of their situations immediately. One of my students asked me during a debrief, “If Jesus were here right now, do you really believe you would see him at the safe injection site?” I did not hesitate to reply “Yes, absolutely.” Two of the defining characteristics of Jesus’ ministry and the subsequent ministry of the apostles is humility and presence. This is what Paul is calling the church in Corinth to in 1 Corinthians 4.
Our passage this week talks about the posture that we must take as followers of Christ. It is one that invites us to acknowledge the privilege and power we have been given by the world, and to humble ourselves wholly to God for the service of others. In a time where Christians in the West are throwing themselves into positions of more power, creating bigger walls, and shutting more people out, we must ask ourselves how can we stay true to the word of God and meet people where they are?
Betty Wilton and the teaching team
Text:
Communal Confession for Vine and Branch
Rejoice, Grace Church this time culminates our Sabbath day, our gift of rest and renewal.
We rejoice in this time for worship and wonder.
God gives us Sabbath as freedom from and freedom for.
God is worthy of worship, our Creator, Healer, and Inspiration.
Hang on Grace Church, we were never promised an easy road.
Jesus bids each and all of us to take up our cross and follow Him.
We have the promises and person of Jesus with us every step of the way.
Because we have this we will endure, even though we struggle.
We have the testimony of those who have gone before us to encourage and enlighten us.
Because we have this we will follow their example and receive their encouragement.
We have been given each other to rejoice with, grieve with, grow with and work with.
Because we have this community and all these things we will not lose heart or be forever discouraged.
Grace be to you now and forever in the Name of our Lord Jesus
Lord’s Prayer
Christ, who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who’ve sinned against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever. Amen.
