The World is, in many ways, the same as it ever was and this Letter… basically IS Christianity… the Good News presented, explained, applied, defended, celebrated. AS it changed the Ancient World, it can change and IS changing the modern world.

Let's look at:

1. Life in a Hostile World and
2. How the Big Themes of Christianity Speak

What happens when believers in Jesus differ on what the rules are? Following the rules NEVER worked to make us right with God (all have sinned and fallen short of God's standard – the egg is smashed on the sidewalk) but NOW that believers in the same church ARE excepted because of Jesus Christ's obeying the rules… Are there NO rules? If so What ARE they? What if we disagree on the rules?

Let's jump in and see:

1. Words to Weak and Strong
2. Reasons for Action
3. Walking According to Love

All other regimes and administrations are invalid and of no effect – they're rivals… "BUT WAIT!" says Paul, "Not so fast". The Way of Jesus and the plan of the ages actually has a place for these authorities. This passage both explains that plan and shows believers how to live AS:

1. Children of Light
2. Living at Night
3. With One Eye on the Clock

Today, we want to look at the connective tissue that holds us in the Body…"Slaves Freed to Love". What does it mean to love other people in the Church – to love others as God loves US, without expectations of getting a return on our investment. Let's look at:

1. The Mechanics of True LOVE
2. An Excursus on Gracious Revenge
3. The Power to Love Truly

Here, the essential paradox of the NT Church (now a catholic or international church) is the paradox of "One but Many".

The Apostle sort of plays with these two apparently incongruous ideas and the image that illustrates the whole thing is that of a Body – ONE body with MANY parts or organs or limbs. So, what does that mean, practically speaking, to be so vitally connected to other people that we can be described as a body (same DNA) AND that we're both connected to one another and, at the same time, so different that one part seems to have no resemblance to another (as different as an eye and a toe!)? That's the question!

Let's look at: #1 Why We Need the Body Metaphor #2 How It All Works Out (a THREE-Part Answer)

Today, we transition INTO the practical section of the Letter, and I hope to show that distinctively Christian morals grow in the soil of MERCY. To focus on God's mercy, the theory, the doctrine or philosophy of God's Sovereign Grace WILL LEAD US into a new kind of practical living. To bypass reflecting on God's mercy and grace and go right to the ethics is impossible. You HAVE TO muse, to contemplate, to bathe in, soak in, to dream about, sing about, ruminate on, to relish and savor the way God applies grace and forgiveness and adoption to His children. The connection between Christian theory, ideas, doctrine, Christian thought AND Christian practice – that's the topic for today:

As we come round the corner into Gospel-morals, let's look at:

1. Musing on Mystery
2. Mercies to Morals
3. The Morals Mercy Makes

Sermon By: Rev. Dr Sansbury

Rev. Dr Sansbury is Prof. of Theology & Philosophy at Knox Theological Seminary in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Guest Preacher, Rev. Brad Schmidt, Lead Pastor at City Church, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.