SERMON: "A Valentine Community"

OPENING PRAYER:  GUIDE NOW OUR THINKING, O GOD, THAT YOUR WORD MAY FILL THE VOID IN OUR LIVES - BRING THE MESSAGE HOME TO OUR HEARTS. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

"A VALENTINE COMMUNITY"
I CORINTHIANS 3:1-9    

SINCE I'M REWORKING THIS SERMON NEAR VALENTINE’S DAY, LET ME SHARE WITH YOU A FEW ONE-LINERS ABOUT LOVE FOR YOUR REFLECTION:

“IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO BE TOLD THAT YOU LOVE ME -- PLEASE SUPPLY MORE DETAILS.” “IF YOU CAN’T SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE ME, TRY TO MAKE A ROUGH ESTIMATE.” “LOVE IS THE ONLY PAINT THAT WILL COVER THE FAULTS OF OTHERS.” “BY THE TIME YOU REALIZE WHAT LOVE CAN DO, THE DAMAGE HAS USUALLY ALREADY BEEN DONE.” “LOVE...IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF LIFE.” “I DON’T WANT EVERYONE TO LIKE ME; I SHOULD THINK LESS OF MYSELF IF SOME PEOPLE DID.” “SOME FOLKS BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT; OTHERS BELIEVE IN TAKING ANOTHER LOOK.” “LOVE IS A GROSS EXAGGERATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE PERSON AND EVERYBODY ELSE.”

HERE’S A LITTLE LONGER ONE: “A THREE YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WERE STUDYING A PLASTIC MODEL OF THE HUMAN HEART. THEY LOCATED ALL THE CHAMBERS AND ARTERIES. WHEN THEY WERE FINISHED THE LITTLE BOY ASKED INNOCENTLY OF HIS GRANDMOTHER, ‘WHERE’S THE LOVE, GRANDMA?’”

“WHERE’S THE LOVE?” HMMMM. “WHERE’S THE LOVE?” I CAN TELL YOU ONE OF THE PLACES IT SHOULD BE - IN THE CHURCH. IT SHOULD BE PRESENT AMONG THE PEOPLE CALLED CHRISTIANS. THE COMMUNITIES OF FAITH OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES - PLACES WHERE LOVE IS EXCHANGED - EXPERIENCED - SHARED - RECEIVED - GIVEN.

THERE'S A STORY TOLD ABOUT THREE PROTESTANT MINISTERS AND A PRIEST WHO PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER. THE PROTESTANT MINISTERS DECIDED TO VISIT THEIR FRIEND AT AN EARLY MORNING MASS ONE DAY. THE CHURCH WAS SO CROWDED THAT THEY HAD TO STAND BACK. THE PRIEST SAW THEM AND WHISPERED TO A NEARBY ACOLYTE, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!" THE YOUNG ACOLYTE GAVE THE PRIEST A SORT OF STUNNED LOOKED AND SAT DOWN.

AGAIN, THE PRIEST WHISPERED, "GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS." THERE WAS THE SAME STUNNED LOOK AND NO RESPONSE.

FINALLY, IN EXASPERATION HE SAID, "THIS IS THE LAST TIME I AM GOING TO TELL YOU. GET THREE CHAIRS FOR THE PROTESTANTS."

THE ACOLYTE WENT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANCEL AREA AND ANNOUNCED, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER BEEN DONE IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH, BUT LET'S ALL STAND AND GIVE THREE CHEERS FOR THE PROTESTANTS!"

CAN YOU PICTURE IT - A CHURCH FULL OF CATHOLICS STANDING AND CHEERING FOR PROTESTANTS? HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF A UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A NEIGHBORING BAPTIST CHURCH? OR, EVEN MORE UNREALISTIC, A LIBERAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH CHEERING FOR A SISTER CONSERVATIVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH AFTER THE LOSS OF SOME MEMBERS TO THE OTHER? THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OUGHT TO BE WHERE LOVE IS EXPRESSED - WE OUGHT TO BE VALENTINE COMMUNITIES WHERE CHEERING FOR ONE ANOTHER IS THE NORM RATHER THAN CRITICISM AND JEALOUSY.

ONE MONDAY A LITTLE BOY SAID TO A FRIEND, "YESTERDAY I WENT TO THE BAPTIST CHURCH. WHAT ABOMINATION DO YOU BELONG TO?"

I'M NOT SURE THE LITTLE GUY USED AN INACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THE IRRATIONAL SITUATION WE HAVE IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH - IT IS AN ABOMINATION - THIS THING WE CALL DENOMINATIONS. DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME, I'M FULLY AWARE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN OUR HISTORY THAT NEEDED RADICAL SURGERY TO CORRECT. PERIODICALLY, WE HAVE NEEDED RENEWAL IN THE CHURCH. THERE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A VARIETY OF WAYS OF UNDERSTANDING GOD - A VARIETY OF WAYS OF INTERPRETING THE BIBLE - A VARIETY OF WAYS TO BE RELIGIOUS - TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH - TO SENSE GOD’S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES. BUT THE DIVIDEDNESS THAT OUR DIFFERENCES HAVE CREATED IS AN ABOMINATION OF THE LIFE CHRIST CALLS US TO. DESPITE THE IMPORTANT EMPHASIS DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN LEADERS HAVE CALLED TO OUR ATTENTION OVER THE CENTURIES, OUR DECISIONS TO DEVELOP SEPARATE HOUSES OF WORSHIP - TO PLEDGE LOYALTIES TO CERTAIN CREEDS - OUR CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWERS OF THESE GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS OVER AND AGAINST OTHER GREAT CHRISTIAN MINDS IS AN ABOMINATION - IT IS MAKING GODS OUT OF OUR BELIEFS INSTEAD OF THE BELIEFS BEING AVENUES TO GOD. WE ARE NOT LUTHER'S OR CALVIN'S - WE ARE NOT WESLEY'S OR OTTERBEIN'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - AND CHRIST CALLS US TO COMMUNITY, NOT DISUNITY.

OUR PROBLEM IS CERTAINLY NOT A NEW ONE THOUGH - PAUL WAS ADDRESSING A SIMILAR SITUATION IN HIS LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS. IT SEEMS THE CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH WERE QUARRELING ABOUT WHO THEY BELONGED TO - THAT IS, THEY WERE ARGUING ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE ONE OF PAUL'S FOLLOWERS OR ONE OF CEPHAS', OR ONE OF APOLLOS', ETC. AND PAUL TRIED TO LIFT UP FOR THEM THE IDEA THAT THEY WERE CHRIST'S. SURE OTHERS HAD HELPED ALONG THE WAY - BUT THEIR LOYALTY NEEDED TO BE TO JESUS CHRIST.

PERIODICALLY IN MY MINISTRY I LIVED THROUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PASSAGE. YOUNG PEOPLE FROM MY YOUTH GROUPS IN PREVIOUS COMMUNITIES WHO HAD SETTLED IN THE AREA, WOULD STOP IN FOR A VISIT - SOME OF THEM PLAYED ON THE CHURCH'S SOFTBALL TEAM - AND EVERY TIME ONE OF THEM CALLED OR STOPPED BY I FOUND MYSELF HOPING THEY WOULD CHOOSE TO RENEW OLD RELATIONSHIPS AND GET INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH I WAS THEN SERVING. WE WOULD REMINISCE AND LAUGH AND THEN THEY WOULD MOVE ON AND GET INVOLVED ELSEWHERE.

THANKS TO SOME DEAR FRIENDS, ESPECIALLY MY WIFE DOROTHY, I BEGAN TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT THE CHURCH I WAS SERVING OR EVEN ME, BUT THE NECESSARY LIFE AND FAITH JOURNEY OF EACH OF THEM. THIS I CORINTHIAN PASSAGE WAS ANOTHER CLARION CALL TO REALITY - "THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT BILL CROY'S, THEY ARE JESUS CHRIST'S - THEY NEED TO GO AND SERVE WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED, THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR OWN MINISTRY, NOT YOURS." IT TOOK SOME TIME BUT THERE DID COME A DAY WHEN I COULD REJOICE IN THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN LIFE JOURNEYS - SOME INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH - SINGING IN CHOIRS, LEADING OTHER YOUTH GROUPS, COACHING, ASSUMING OFFICES IN THEIR NEW CHURCH HOMES - AND THAT DOES GIVE ME GREAT JOY. I REJOICE FOR THOSE WHO'VE CHOSEN NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH AS WELL AND APPRECIATE THEIR CONTINUED CONNECTION AND HONEST REFLECTION ABOUT HOW THEY UNDERSTAND THE WORLD.

MOST OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE PAST MINISTER - MAYBE ONE WHO WAS YOUR MINISTER WHEN YOU WERE A TEEN, OR ONE WHO WAS A COUNSELOR AT CAMP, OR ONE WHO TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF TITHING, OR ONE WHO MADE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO ATTEND SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR ONE WHOSE PREACHING WAS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL, OR ONE WHO MADE THE BIBLE COME ALIVE, OR ONE WHO CHALLENGED US IN A CERTAIN AREA OF OUR RELIGIOUS GROWTH, OR ONE WHO RELATED TO US IN A PERSONAL WAY. SOME OF US HAVE HAD A FAVORITE CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHER OR YF LEADER NURTURE US ALONG THE WAY AND WE FEEL A TREMENDOUS LOYALTY TO THEM.

THE IMPORTANT THING FOR US ALL TO HEAR IN THIS PASSAGE IS WE ARE ALL PLANTERS OR WATERERS, BUT IT IS GOD WHO GIVES THE GROWTH. (1) WE ARE NOT CROY'S OR ANY OTHER PASTOR'S OR CHURCH LEADER'S - WE ARE JESUS CHRIST'S. OF COURSE IT'S TEMPTING - IT’S NATURAL - TO REMEMBER WITH FONDNESS THOSE WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR US ALONG THE JOURNEY OF FAITH. BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO LIFT UP ONE PERSON'S TEACHINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO US AS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FOR EVERYONE AND FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS. THAT SORT OF STANCE LEADS TO DIVISIVENESS, QUARRELING, AND YES, EVEN AT TIMES, NEW DENOMINATIONS. (I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE ARE TIMES IN THE CURRENT DAY WHEN I WONDER IF IN FACT IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR ANOTHER TAKING A BREAK FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE REGARD THE SCRIPTURES SO DIFFERENTLY. IT'S NOT THAT I NO LONGER LOVE OTHERS OF THE FAITH WHO REGARD THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN I DO. RATHER, IT'S A WONDERING IF WE ARE TURNING MORE PEOPLE OFF BY OUR ARGUING AND POSTURING.)

A FEW YEARS AGO SNOOPY, THE LOVEABLE BEAGLE IN THE PEANUTS CARTOON STRIP, BROKE HIS LEFT LEG. HUNDREDS WROTE LETTERS TO SNOOPY OR SENT SYMPATHY CARDS. SNOOPY HIMSELF PHILOSOPHIZED ABOUT HIS PLIGHT ONE DAY WHILE PERCHED ON TOP OF HIS DOGHOUSE AND WHILE LOOKING AT THE HUGE WHITE CAST ON HIS LEG. "MY BODY BLAMES MY FOOT FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO GO PLACES. MY FOOT SAYS IT WAS MY HEAD'S FAULT, AND MY HEAD BLAMED MY EYES ... MY EYES SAY MY FEET ARE CLUMSY, AND MY RIGHT FOOT SAYS NOT TO BLAME HIM FOR WHAT MY LEFT FOOT DID..." SNOOPY LOOKS OUT AT HIS AUDIENCE THROUGH THE COMIC STRIP PAGE AND CONFESSES, "I DON'T SAY ANYTHING BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED."

SO IT OFTEN IS IN THE CHURCH - BLAMING THIS PART OF THE BODY OR THAT ONE: "IF THOSE FOLLOWERS OF X’S HAD" - "IF THOSE FRIENDS OF Y’S HAD." - “IF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM WOULD...” “IF THOSE TRUSTEES WOULD...” “IF THE STAFF WOULD ONLY ..."

PAUL TELLS THE PEOPLE OF CORINTH "THIS ARGUING ABOUT BEING PAUL'S, BEING APOLLOS', BEING PETER'S - IS PROOF THAT YOU ARE OF THE FLESH - YOU ARE ORDINARY PEOPLE. AND GOD WANTS YOU TO BE EXTRAORDINARY.  AND BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL OF THE FLESH, I AM BEING VERY CAREFUL WHAT I FEED YOU. LIKE A SMALL BABY, YOU CAN ONLY HANDLE MILK. SOLID FOOD IS TOO MUCH FOR THOSE WHO ARE JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO QUARREL, THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH. YOU ARE OF THE FLESH AND I MUST ONLY GIVE YOU WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE."

PAUL WAS TRYING TO TELL THE CORINTHIANS THAT THEIR QUARRELING, THEIR DIVISIONS, THEIR JEALOUSIES WERE PROOF POSITIVE THAT THEY WERE NOT SPIRITUAL PEOPLE. THIS IS A TREMENDOUSLY SIGNIFICANT REFLECTION BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT WE CAN TELL WHAT A PERSON'S RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY LOOKING AT THEIR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS AND OTHERS CAN TELL WHAT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS LIKE BY OBSERVING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS AS WELL. (2) IF WE ARE AT VARIANCE WITH OTHERS, IF WE ARE QUARRELSOME, IF WE ARE COMPETITIVE, IF WE ARE ARGUMENTATIVE, IF WE MAKE TROUBLE - IT MATTERS NOT HOW DILIGENT A CHURCH ATTENDER WE ARE, OR WHAT OFFICE WE HOLD, GOD IS NOT LIVING IN US. BUT IF WE ARE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER, IF OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHERS ARE MARKED BY LOVE AND UNITY THEN WE ARE ON THE WAY TO BEING A PERSON OF GOD. IF WE ARE DISTANT FROM OTHERS IT IS GOOD PROOF THAT WE ARE DISTANT FROM GOD; IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL ALSO LOVE OTHERS.

IN DR. JOE HARDING'S SERMON "THE HOUSE THAT STOOD THE STORM" HE TALKED ABOUT THE "HEAR AND CHEER" MENTALITY THAT RUNS RAMPANT IN SOME CHRISTIAN CIRCLES: "WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RUNNING AROUND HERE AND THERE SEEKING A BLESSING, TRYING TO BE FED BY THE LATEST SPEAKER WITHOUT EVER REALLY COMING TO TERMS WITH THE RADICAL CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL. THERE IS A LINE IN THE MUSICAL 'TRUTH OF TRUTHS' IN WHICH THE CROWD SINGS ON PALM SUNDAY, 'SAY, JESUS CHRIST, DID YOU SEE THAT I WAVED - SO TELL ME THAT I AM SAVED!' HEAR AND CHEER - FEEL GOOD - FORGET IT FOR A MONTH OR SO, COME BACK AT CHRISTMAS AND EASTER FOR A NODDING ACQUAINTANCE THROUGH A RESPECTABLE ORGANIZATION.

"THERE WAS A CARTOON THAT APPEARED IN A RECENT JOURNAL WHICH SHOWED A CHURCH CALLED THE 'LITE - L-I-T-E  - CHURCH'; IT HAD A SIGN OUT FRONT WHICH SAID: 'ALL YOU EVER WANTED IN A CHURCH AND A LITTLE LESS. 24% FEWER COMMITMENTS REQUIRED. HOME OF THE 7.5% TITHE. 45 MINUTE WORSHIP SERVICES. WE HAVE ONLY EIGHT COMMANDMENTS - YOUR CHOICE. WE USE JUST THREE SPIRITUAL LAWS AND HAVE ONLY AN EIGHT HUNDRED YEAR MILLENNIUM! EVERYTHING YOU WANTED IN A CHURCH AND LESS! HOME OF THE GREAT HEAR AND CHEER SPECTATORS.'" (3)

FRIENDS, JESUS CHRIST DOESN'T NEED ANYMORE "HEAR AND CHEER" CHRISTIANS - HE DOESN'T NEED PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE MINISTER OR THE CHURCH THAT IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM - HE DOESN’T NEED PEOPLE WHO FEEL LOYALTY TO BILLY GRAHAM OR BILL CROY OR.... HE NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNED ON TO HIM AND WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A PEOPLE TO BE IN MINISTRY WITH. IF THE CHURCH IS TO BE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD IT NEEDS PEOPLE WHO ARE FLAT OUT WILLING TO LOVE - TO LOVE OTHERS, TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND TO LOVE THEMSELVES. IT’S THE GREATEST WITNESS WE HAVE. PAUL SAYS IT'S THE MEASURE OF OUR SPIRITUALITY - CHRIST IS CALLING US TO BE A VALENTINE COMMUNITY - TO BE A COMMUNITY WHERE LOVE REIGNS SUPREME - HE'S CALLING US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER - IT’S WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS AND IS LOOKING FOR - A PLACE WHERE - A PEOPLE WHO - LOVE - WHO ACCEPT - AND WHEN THE WORLD SEES THAT HAPPENING - THEY SAY - “GOD IS AT WORK IN THAT PEOPLE”.

I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE A FEW YEARS AGO THAT DEFINES A LOVING CHURCH THIS WAY: “A LOVING CHURCH IS DEFINED BY THE QUALITY OF CARING, NOT THE AGE OF THE CHURCH. IS A “HOME” WHERE ONE’S FEARS, JOYS, YEARNINGS AND ASPIRATIONS CAN BE SHARED WITHOUT FEAR OF CONDEMNATION AND REJECTION. IS A PLACE TO FIND STRENGTH FOR DAILY BATTLES AND A PLACE TO FIND A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY FOR THAT STRUGGLE. IS A PLACE FOR FRIENDS WHO CAN BE TRUSTED, DEPENDED UPON, ENJOYED, AND WHO SHARE THE SAME GOALS. IS WHERE GOD’S LOVE IS EXPERIENCED IN A CONCRETE WAY THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. IS WHERE PEOPLE’S IMPERFECTIONS ARE ACCEPTED; WHERE THEY DISCOVER THEIR GREATEST POTENTIAL, WHERE THEY FEEL LOVED. IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE OPEN AND HONEST WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING JUDGED. IS WHERE MEMBERS GROW AS INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES ARE ACCEPTED, AND WHERE DISTINCTIONS OF PERSONAL RIGHTS, POSSESSIONS, THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS, AND ACTIONS ARE SUBMERGED IN COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD. IS UNCONDITIONAL IN ITS ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS -- AND PROVIDES A PLACE WHERE THERE IS OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRISTIAN SERVICE AND MINISTRY. IS WHERE PEOPLE LAUGH WITH OTHERS, NOT AT OTHERS; CRY WITH OTHERS, NOT BECAUSE OF OTHERS; FORGIVE OTHERS AND ARE FORGIVEN BY OTHERS; LOVE OTHERS AND ARE LOVED BY OTHERS.”  (4)

WHEN LOVE REIGNS IN A CHURCH, EVERYTHING BEGINS TO TAKE OFF. IT IS LIKE WHEN THE SUN SHINES IN A GARDEN -- EVERYTHING STARTS TO GROW!   WHEN THERE IS LOVE, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WILL BE PREPARED TO RISK MAKING MISTAKES, KNOWING THAT IT WILL NOT MATTER, AND THAT THEY WILL BE LOVED ALL THE SAME. LOVE LIKE THAT WILL BECOME INFECTIOUS. IT CANNOT BE HELD BACK BY CHURCH DOORS. IT WILL FLOW OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

“YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.” (MARK 12:30) THAT IS WORSHIP.

“YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (MARK 12:31) THAT IS EVANGELISM. AND IT IS BEST EMBODIED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH, WARTS AND ALL. (5)

WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE GOD TOUCH OUR LIVES SO THAT WE MIGHT MORE TRULY REFLECT THE VALENTINE COMMUNITY THIS WORLD NEEDS. THE CHALLENGE IS TO STAY THE COURSE AND KEEP ON GROWING IN FAITH - AS LOVERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND ONE ANOTHER.

LET US PRAY.

CLOSING PRAYER:  O, GOD OF LOVE AND MERCY - FORGIVE US FOR OUR PAST LOYALTIES THAT HAVE CAUSED DISSENSION IN YOUR CHURCH. HELP US TO BE FENCE-MENDERS - HELP US TO SEE ONE ANOTHER - THOSE WITHIN THE  FELLOWSHIP WE ARE PART OF AND THOSE IN OTHER CHURCHES AS FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND NOT ENEMIES OR RIVALS. HELP US TO SEE OUR SEPARATENESS AS A STRENGTHENING, AS THE INABILITY OF US ALL TO GET UNDER ONE ROOF, AS A SOURCE OF NEW INFORMATION RATHER THAN AS THE HOME OF THOSE WE DISAGREE WITH. HEAL US, O LORD, AND SHOW US WHERE OUR LOVE IS NEEDED. IN CHRIST'S NAME. AMEN.

1. William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: Letters to the Corinthians (London: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002), p. 36 (e-edition).
2. Ibid.,p. 35.
3. Dr. Joe Harding, "The House That Stood the Storm."
4. Lost
5. Michael Green, EVANGELISM THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH (Thomas  Nelson Inc., 1992).