series: why? part#3

I want to ask today why a local church would engage in ministries that seek to improve or change society as a whole or ministries that focus on people who lie beyond the congregation’s membership: people who have spiritual or physical needs, people who may live anywhere in the world, and people who may or may not profess Christian faith. In other words, why does the church give time and attention to people beyond its members? Rev. Dr. Larry Hayward preaches on the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Scripture lesson is 1 Corinthians 11:17-29, 33-34, and is read by the Rev. Whitney Fauntleroy.

We sing about "glory to God, and on earth peace, goodwill to men" - but in Matthew 10, Jesus claims he did NOT come to bring peace - but a sword, and division, and conflict. How can this be? Sometimes permanent peace requires temporary conflict. Being permanently at peace with God means being at war with sin, and incurring the hostility of all who oppose the things of God. That can come at the cost of money, security, career, glory, perhaps even our very lives. But Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him, because HE took up his cross for us - to bring peace to his people.

This is the third sermon in this series.