Robert Farrar Capon, Bed and Board, 53-54
“The Bible doesn’t say that men and women are unequal. Neither does the church. There are not second-class citizens in the New Jerusalem. It is husbands and wives that are unequal. It is precisely in marriage that they enter into a relationship of superior to inferior—of head to body. And the difference there is not one of worth, ability or intelligence, but of role. It is functional, not organic. It is based on the exigencies of the Dance, not on a judgment as to talent. In the ballet, in any intricate dance, one dancer leads, the other follows. Not because one is better (he may or may not be), but because that is his part. Our mistake, here as elsewhere, is to think that equality and diversity are unreconcilable. The common notion of equality is based on the image of the march. In a parade, really unequal beings are dressed alike, given guns of identical length, trained to hold them at the same angle, and ordered to keep step with a fixed beat. But it is not the parade that is true to life; it is the dance. There you have real equals assigned unequal roles in order that each may achieve their individual perfection in the whole. Nothing is less personal than a parade; nothing more so than a dance. It is the choice image of fulfillment through function, and it comes very close to the heart of the Trinity. Marriage is a hierarchical game played by co-equal persons. Keep that paradox and you move in the freedom of the Dance; alter it, and you grow weary with marching.” Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
Click on "Download File" to play the sermon. Right-click to save the file on your computer.
“A Bridge called Hope”
Hope is essential to a life well-lived Oxygen for the soul “Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how.'” (Victor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning) The center of gravity in Peter’s letter is hope Verse 13 a bridge verse “Therefore, prepare your minds for action: be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Peter 1:13) God’s grace is active; it will not “sit still” “Prepare your minds for action” Powerful metaphor [Gather up one’s robe in order to run] “This is how you are to eat [the Passover meal]: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.” (Exodus 12:11) Be vigilant—alert—ready “Roll up your sleeves” “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning….” (Luke 12:35) Fireman and EMTs in our church Note: Interior work precedes exterior work We need to gather our mental robes! The mind and the heart is the place of the most crucial Kingdom activity “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a) “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5) Note: Interior work will find exterior expression Ideas have consequences “As a man thinks, so is he” (Proverbs 3:27) How do we prepare our hearts for action? [A] Be self-controlled Be sober Lean and mean and focused [B] Be hope-full Hope is a strong word Carries the assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass Because it is based on what has already happened in the past: The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Hope pushes and pulls us toward heaven Gives meaning to all our moments here on earth [C] Fixyour eyes on Jesus Fixing our eyes on Jesus is the way to stay both sober and hopeful “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith….” (Hebrews 11:2) [D] Salvation is a community project Keep each other prepared….sober…..hopeful [1] Encourage each other [2] Pray together “They all joined together constantly in prayer…” (Acts 1:13) [3] Worship together |