Three Calls & Letter to Trinity (part one)

Three Calls (& two paradoxes)

1 Corinthians 12.12-31a

First Call: Body Life (1 C 12.12-20)

Second Call: Member Care (1 C 12.21-26)

Third Call: Participation (1 C 12.27-31a)

Dear Trinity,

Gifted richly by the Spirit who is more generous than we are deserving.

You are known for warm hospitality--you are the household of God.

    God's abiding place.

    His abiding people.

You have a history that is marked by outpouring.

    There is glory in your story!

You have, through the years, recognized and received the leadership God has arranged for you.

You have also "earnestly desired" the gifts of God's Spirit.

    Word gifts.

    Mercy gifts.

    and Leadership gifts.

        All have been in operation all around this hallowed ground an din you the hallowed people of God.

God has not changed.

    Times have.

    People have.

    Culture has.

    Our city has.

    Our needs have.

But, God is God and will be God.

His word to Corinth and to those who have come before us remains.

God says,

I have arranged the members of this body. You have been church shopping or decided to start coming around here, but it is I who have arranged you--each of you--different, unique, strong, weak, from many places and backgrounds and callings and gifts to be my body here and now.

You all have different gifts, but my vision for you does not include the categories of "performer" or "audience". The Church isn't professional staff or interns or clergy, nor is it consumers of religious goods. 

No.

You are God-arranged members of my living and breathing body in San Pedro.

And, I have called leaders here to Trinity, but they are not higher. They are not celebrity. They are not to use power in the way other leaders do. 

    They are here to serve.

    To equip.

    To care.

    To wash.

    To speak.

    To set the table and feed.

Not to speak what they think up, but what I have given them to speak.

This next season looks full of temptation.

    The temptation to isolate.

    To withdraw.

    To passively let someone else do what you have been called to do.

It doesn't take a professional to love.

A celebrity isn't going to call their neighbor.

You have the gifts needed for this next season.

And though God is the arranger, your availability is key.

And though God is the composer, your consent is key.

Now is not the time to shrink back, but to step out.

    To earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit for the sake of body life and member care,

        and for mission and service in to this city.

God has arranged.

God has composed.

    You.

    And me.

    Us.

Amen.