When we listen to this text, those of us who have been in ministry
for any length of time can feel the tension behind it. The context is a longer
argument about Paul keeping his word. Above, he mentions his travel plans
and how they had to change. The Corinthians are apparently seeing Paul as
a little wishy-washy and wondering if his message is also. Paul responds with
a theological argument. The gospel is not based on the speech reliability
of every Christian or any particular Christian. He reminds them that three
men have preached the gospel to them, not just one. That gospel has always
been “yes,” not a mushy message of mediocre uncertainties.
Using either “yes” or “Amen” several
times, Paul artfully proclaims the gospel over against human frailty. He points
the Corinthian believers back to their own experience of Christ. They came
to a place of personal certainty about Jesus and salvation in the past, and
they should not abandon that over a few question marks in others. Along the
way, he brings in the Holy Spirit as the focal point of evaluating God’s
on-going reliability. God’s faithful presence in their lives through
the Holy Spirit guarantees the validity of their salvation. This is very much
in alignment with Paul’s gospel elsewhere. God’s character is
not in question and believers should rely on that. God is active in the lives
of believers. This is a major theme in Romans and Philippians. There is evidence
in the immediate experience of a Christian that can strengthen our faith.
Make no mistake, there is a homiletical bind built into this
text! At first glance it may not seem fair that Paul is making a theological
argument. Maybe he should just simply apologize. Certainly, in ministry, it
can be easy to claim to have been providentially hindered, when in fact we
simply failed to follow through on a commitment. We did the expedient thing.
We can get defensive and drag God kicking and screaming into our problem.
On the other hand, Paul has a great point. These believers were
not simply questioning Paul’s reliability. They literally were calling
the gospel into question. Since they raised the issue, Paul is obligated to
respond on this level. Yet it won’t be hard for many people to identify
with the Corinthian questions. As pastors, we might do well to give a little
attention to how deeply felt these questions are before we dive into the answers.
Some people simply have a hard time believing in God when they see others
falling short. Their position may not be theologically accurate, but should
we simply cast them aside? If we will let their pain pierce our hearts, we
can deliver the message with greater art and sensitivity to the Spirit. God
indeed has an answer. Paul has laid it out in a way we can proclaim. But more
people will really hear it if we let the sermon walk in the shoes of the offended
first. In proclaiming the gospel and the importance of experience, we can
also point to Christian experience through the ages, accountability, and the
Scriptures themselves. The Christian has many reasons to be confident, keeping
our eyes on the Lord when others seem to stray. Wesleyans call it the Quadrilateral:
Scripture, Tradition, Reason, and Experience. That’s faith hitting on
all cylinders!
(For the full manuscript of this sermon
go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
This might be a good sermon on which to seek input from your
congregation. Several weeks in advance, extend an invitation to people who
have a story about feeling let down by others. Talk with church leaders, small-group
leaders, and others to locate potential candidates. This can become a ministry
opportunity if you find some who are hurting. IF some have found victory over
the issue, there might be a story worth telling to the congregation. Watch
out for those who will tell you what you want to hear for five minutes of
sermon mention! But if the pain is genuine and the healing is real, consider
telling their story, if they are willing. Again, a narrative sermon using
a composite of several people might be an even better way to go.
For Eugene Lowry, the narrative flow goes something like this:
Oops! (The sting of the problem is felt), Ugh! (it’s worse than we thought),
Aha! (perhaps we missed something important which holds the key to our need),
Wee! (the gospel captures our hearts once again), Yeah! (we anticipate living
out this truth in the future).
This building and then releasing of tension can help people
come to grips with pain they have been reluctant to face. It can also help
reinforce part of this passage in particular.
Many people today need a serious software update on their experience of God! Our preaching can seek to foster an encounter with the Living God who does His best work in realtime! People can EXPERIENCE the gospel afresh and be renewed. This can be part of that evidence Paul points to for God’s faithfulness. I also believe it is important to tap into sanctified imagination. It’s not a land of make-believe; it’s a land where faith can grow. It’s a great place to find evidence for things hoped for! When, through preaching, we carefully take people to the place God wants them to go, they can find grace for the journey. To that we can say, “Yes” and “Amen”!
