Introduction
Last weekend we put our new chore reward system into place: TV Tickets for chores. We discussed the importance of being a helper in our family. We talked about the importance of noticing and taking initiative. We shared that it’s their screen time that keeps them from noticing and doing, so that’s why they’re now tied together, not because there is any inherent connection between sitcoms, Minecraft, and chores.
In general, we spent a long time talking through the big picture why. Then I asked if they had any questions; we spent the next 30 minutes going through very specific scenarios, potential loopholes, and a lot of things I was pretty sure we’d already thoroughly discussed in the initial part of the conversation. “What if I tear my ticket in half? Can I now watch 10 minutes?” “What if I’m watching TV and he comes in and happens to glance at it. Does that mean he owes a ticket?” “What if I forget and watch TV without a ticket?” “What if I decide I’m not going to watch TV ever again? Does that mean I still need to do chores?” The big picture was lost to worries about the specifics.
I know I’ve responded similarly in the past, and I would guess it’s a familiar response for you, too. Which is good, because it helps us better understand chapter 7 in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. He’s trying to present the main idea, they just want to make sure they’re getting each of their individual circumstances right. And a very thorough list that continues to be cited today is the result. But what should we make of it? How are we to understand and apply what Paul writes?
Join us this Sunday as we wrestle through it together.
Laura Holland and the teaching team.
Text:
A Confession from John 15 (the message)
Reader: Jesus declared he is the Real Vine and his Father is the Farmer, that every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. That if we live in him -make our home in him just as He does in us, the harvest is sure to be abundant.
Everyone: Jesus we make our home in you and you make yours in us. Make this Church good soil for the Vine to take root and the branches to bear fruit.
Reader: Jesus told us the tree will be judged by the fruit.
Everyone: Give us hands to tend the soil, hearts to endure the pruning and ears to hear the song that gives us hope.
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.
