church2go

What happens at death? What happens after that? These are questions that have been asked since the beginning of time. We are interested and let’s be realistic, we all expect to find out at some stage. Well, Paul has some answers. How does He know? When he wrote it he wasn’t dead! He says its part of the good news (v1) that he told the Corinthians about when he first visited. It is what they believed in, yet, there seems to be some disagreement. In fact, some were saying there would be no bodily resurrection. Paul uses all his debating and arguing skills to point out the truth.

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Ok Let’s look at the use of one specific gift. The Corinthians had some issues with this gift. I should probably say that they abused the gift more than used it.  We get the feeling from Paul’s writing that the worship times had turned into a free for all with no restraint. We also get the feeling that this gift was elevated to be above other gifts. We also get the feeling that people didn’t know what they were saying and obviously no interpretation was given.

The church was a mess. Remember what we said in the first few chapters of the book. The church in Corinth was the church to go to. Growing numerically, had influential members and leaders, had a bucket load of spiritual gifts but was basically corrupt. Rich people being treated special, poor people being treated bad, communion being abused, people participating in idol worship, hey the list goes on. Successful on the outside but ripping itself to pieces on the inside.

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1Co 12:1  My friends, you asked me about spiritual gifts.

Here it is, they asked about spiritual gifts. Part of the reasoning for my preaching through

 1 Corinthians is that some asked about spiritual gifts.

Here we are. You may or may not like my summation of this chapter and really that is all we have time for here. If you want to go more deeply into it, let me encourage you to chat with me or bring it up at bible study. This ch and ch 14 could take quite a few weeks of study to get to some conclusions. I have written a couple of studies on this in the past and there is great materials out there to look at this whole topic. But for now. It is a run through the chapters.

Paul   goes somewhere different to answer their question.

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This I find a tragic passage. Paul is blunt. He says he can not find anything worth praising in this issue. And the issue is how the Corinthian church treats the Lord’s supper or communion.

It is plain, from the beginning of the chapter, that he was willing and pleased to commend as far as he could. But such scandalous disorders, in so sacred an institution, as they were guilty of, called for a sharp reprehension.

1Co 11:17  Now I am not praising you in giving you the following instructions. When you gather, it is not for the better but for the worse.

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A number of years ago, my wife and I struggled with the behaviour and “quirkyness” of our eldest child, Jackson. With many trips to doctors and specialists the diagnosis eventually was that he was autistic or High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder. This blew us away, we didn’t know where to turn or what to do. Thankfully, over a period of time we developed some support systems and found the assistance we needed to begin to develop the tools to give Jackson the best chance to reach his full potential.

Sadly, not everyone has access to that support. Rural NSW is often cut off from many of the support systems that are available in the city but as we have found living in the country has many of its own benefits.

We discovered that there is professional assistance, we just had to drive. We found that the local preschool and school offer support, help and encouragement beyond what we thought possible. Alongside that is the support from our family, local church and local community.

To highlight each of these support systems, to alert people in rural areas of the needs of children with autism, and introduce people to what autism is Marianne and I have decided to put together a series of “Rural Autism Understanding” events based around my hobby of riding Human Powered Vehicles, a pedal trike. Over a number of events I will ride 1000 kilometers at different venues around the Central West region of NSW. While I ride, we will have people available to explain autism and share some of the resources that we have found.

While this is not primarily a fundraising venture, more of a series of awareness rides, people can sponsor the rides or donate money to Aspect (Autism Spectrum NSW). To donate please go to www.gofundraise.com.au/RevJAmstrong At this website you can follow our fundraising progress and find out further details of the coming events. Also advertising space will be made available on the trike.

Part of the reason for doing this is to thank those who have helped us. Health professionals, doctors and pediatricians, speech and occupational therapists as well as other parents who have experienced similar issues with their children. Furthering that has been preschool teachers, school teachers and administrations as well as the people who attend our local church and live in our town of Yeoval. They have expressed care and love to us as a family and been specifically encouraging to Jackson and his little brother Flynn.

Please support kids with autism however you can.

 Rev John Armstrong