CORINTH

-Sermon Notes-

March 30, 2025

 

 “Rich Little or Carol King?”

 Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

     When I think of impressions, I think of Rich Little who was famous for imitating famous people back in the 70s and 80s.  Are we called to be imitators?  The Apostle Paul encouraged people to imitate Jesus and even himself.  Of course, imitating Jesus and Paul are good things to do, but along with imitating, we are called to follow Jesus.  Following someone requires ongoing relationship, as opposed to merely imitating someone.

     The Joshua passage highlights the Israelites who have been doing some following for a very long time.  From their initial escape they followed Moses through the Red Sea toward a glorious new beginning. But years of following Moses had included highs and lows, lots of complaining and hardship, praising and cursing.  Yet through the years they continued to follow the one God had appointed to lead them-Moses.  Why follow God’s appointed one? Because they were heading to their Promise Land, a place that would make their following worthwhile.   Their journey has been both exhausting and frustrating, but it was in the journey they experienced change, redemption and transformation.

     In 2 Corinthians we find Paul addressing people who are in need of transformation as they deal with difficulties in their relationships with each other and Paul while also dealing with some persecution and false teaching. These people were also on a journey, called to follow Jesus through the instruction of Paul.  Paul reminds them that in following and maintaining relationship with Jesus (being “in Christ”) they will be “made new” (v. 17 “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation…the old is gone the new has come!”)

     In the parable of the prodigal son, we find the rebellious son on a journey as he travels away from his home and father only to return disgraced.  His brother journeys through bitterness and anger toward his brother, while the father in the story journeys (actually, runs) to greet his once lost son who seeks forgiveness.  This parable from Jesus was delivered in response to the Pharisees and scribes who condemned Jesus for welcoming relationship with those they deemed unworthy sinners.

     The name of this message is “Rich Little or Carole King?”  Carole King wrote a beautiful song in 1972 which included the lyrics “Where you lead, I will follow, anywhere-that you want me to.”  Are we called to be imitators (Rich Little) or Carol King, ready to follow Jesus where he wishes to lead us? It is within the relationship in following Jesus we find transformation, renewal, and the ability to love and forgive our neighbor.  In our sacrament of communion this morning, we again have opportunity to invite Jesus into the center of our lives in the sharing of the bread and cup.  May our experience together inspire us to follow Jesus as we continue our journey through the season of lent.