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Gospel centred sermons, based on the lectionary often in advance.

May 28, 2018

Focus readings: 1 Samuel 8:4-20 & 2 Cor 4:13-5:1

In the reading from I Corinthians today Paul urges us to be heavenly minded and urges us to endure because we have the hope that we share in the new life of Jesus, raised from the dead. He says 2 Corinthians 5:1 (NRSV) “we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Some Christians and some non believers argue that being heavenly minded is of no earthly use.

            I believe the opposite is true, being heavenly minded and the hope of the resurrection are very practical. John Flynn is a prime example of this. “ In a sermon he said 'men have tried to explain away the literalness of the resurrection, but it will not be so easily removed. The claim of Jesus to supreme authority over death is so intricately woven into the fibre of scripture (that) questionings have never beaten down the power of its constraining faith'.”

“In 1912” this heavenly minded man “proposed to the Presbyterian Church that a mantle of safety be cast across the Inland and set up the Australian Inland Mission. He brought together aviation, medicine and radio to establish the Flying Doctor Service.

An old man who was a friend of Flynn…told me in 1980 that in the waistcoat of Flynn's three-piece suit he always carried a screwdriver or two… Why is earthiness so important to John? He wants us to see, like he does, that 'the word became flesh'. In the weakness and the frailty of loving humanity the glory of God is revealed.

In Jesus we discover God's glory. He is with us in life and joy and gladness, in every celebration, in every sorrow. In believing you begin to glimpse the glory of God revealed in human flesh. Life will never be the same.” (Quotations from Scotch College in Victoria’s web site.)

Questions for thought or discussion.

What does the resurrection mean for you? How useful is it to be heavenly minded? Think about Jesus’ life and example. In what ways was it heavenly minded? In what ways was it of “earthly use”?

Artwork used by permission: 

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA