PEP TALK

I Corinthians 1:1-10

Every thing I know about duct tape I learned from the Canadian TV program, “The Red Green Show.”  But I also learned a bit about the gift of encouragement.

One of my favorite segments was when the main character, Red, would muse about the challenges of being middle-aged as he tied fishing flies.  He always ended the piece with these words of encouragement, “Remember, I’m pulling for you.  We’re all in this together.”  Isn’t that comforting?

It’s took me a few years to figure out what Red’s closing line, “Keep your stick on the ice,” meant.  Thanks to Google, I found out it means, “Be ready for anything, and everything will work itself out.”  How encouraging!

Everyone needs encouragement; everyone needs a pep talk once in a while.

“Keep your stick on the ice.  I’m pulling for you; we’re all in this together.”

The Christians in Corinth certainly need a lot of encouragement.  Corinth had the reputation of being the most morally depraved, licentious city in the Roman Empire.  Being a disciple of Christ in that culture was no picnic.  

Paul was only in Corinth for a year and a half before the Jewish leaders of the city drove him out.  The new Christians Paul left behind were sincere in their faith.  They were trying their best, struggling to live new lives, learning to make different choices and giving up old habits.  They were trying to make a major change in their lives while figuring out what it means to be disciples of Christ.  I’m sure that it was frustrating and discouraging.

Change is never easy, but it is a constant in all our lives.  Each age and stage of our lives brings about changes that require us to adapt and learn how to navigate new terrain.

Being a disciple of Christ is about change.  As Christians, we are in the process of sanctification -- ongoing growth and transformation through which we grow deeper in love with God and our neighbors and our lives become more Christ-like.

Everyday, we’re to pick up our cross and live out our faith.  That may mean making the hard choices instead of taking the easy way out.  We butt heads with cultural norms and struggle with all the distractions that would rob us of the time we need for study, prayer and worship.  And hardest of all, I believe, is knowing how imperfect and unequipped we are for the task Christ puts before us.  Life beats us down, and we grow weary and discouraged.

Just like the Corinthian Christians.

So in the opening of his first letter to them, Paul gives them a pep talk.  He encourages them.  He reminds them everything they need can be found in Christ.  Through Jesus, they are sanctified children of God.  Christ is their master who puts the gifts and benefits of God’s grace at their disposal.  They don’t need a thing because God is working in them to complete the work Christ has begun.  God through Christ is never going to give up on them.

Need a pep talk?  Hear this good news:  everything we need is in Christ.

§       Through Christ who has saved us and cleansed us from sin, we are God’s beloved, the apple of God’s eye.

§       Christ is our Savior and Lord who opens the door’s of God’s treasury and lavishes us with love and meets our every need.

§       We may not feel capable, but Christ only asks for willingness and provides the rest.

§       God will never, ever give up on us and never leaves us alone to struggle through.

So, keep your stick on the ice.  Remember Jesus is pulling for you.  We’re all in this together with Christ.