WORSHIP RESOURCES
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
(Ordinary Time)
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
There Is One God
Additional Scriptures
Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111;
Mark 1:21-28; Doctrine and Covenants 162:1b
Preparation
Recruit five people for the Call to Worship. Provide the reading ahead of time so they can be familiar with it.
Prelude
Welcoming Hymn
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
CCS 11
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud”
CCS 4
Welcome, Joys, and Concerns
Call to Worship
Person 1: Stands and stays standing. You want power? I’ll give you power.
Person 2: Stands and stays standing. Hey! You can’t give power away like that! That person isn’t a leader. Everybody knows that! I’m in charge here!
Person 3: Grabs a person, who knows this will happen, and shows the congregation. Here! Here’s somebody who will work for you for next to nothing! I can get you anybody you need!
Person 4: Stands and stays standing. Got a lottery ticket here for sale! Worth 325 million dollars! Yours for a measly $200!
Person 5: Stands and stays standing. Sign here and you can become famous! I just need your credit card number and you’re set. Everybody will love you!
Presider: Sit down, all of you! Sit down! They all quietly sit down. Everybody, please close your eyes and quietly contemplate for a moment.
When faced with social pressure, how do you deal with it? Idols come in various guises: Power, status, money, types of food, the clothes you wear, even where you shop. As a follower of Jesus, how do you counteract these voices?
Give people time to engage in silent reflection.
Hymn
“El amor nunca pasará" Sing twice.
CCS 6
Consider singing along with the vocal recording of this song found on Community of Christ Sings Audio Recordings, available from Herald House.org.
OR “Many and Great”
CCS 3
Invocation
Response
Reflection and Sharing
One of the major components of discernment is listening as described in the Doctrine and Covenants Section 162:1b: “Listen to the Voice that echoes across the eons of time and yet speaks anew in this moment.” In order to listen we must take time out to be quiet. And in the quiet we are challenged to know or discern which interior voice is the Voice of the Divine; for there are many voices that go on inside of us. There is the voice of distraction that tells us we need to answer our cell phone whenever it rings or vibrates. There is the voice of distraction that encourages us to read an email the moment it arrives and answer it, or be on Facebook, or Twitter, or text message a friend.
We have an impulse that doesn’t want us to miss the next episode of a TV program. We are kind of an anxious people with our electronic devices all demanding our attention. And yet, the psalmist writes, “Be still and know that I am God.” In order to “be still,” we need to set those distractions to one side and sit in the quiet, calming ourselves from our gadget anxieties and sit with God. Oh, how difficult this is for so many.
The other voices that may be heard in our heads are the voices of self-doubt, poor self-esteem, anger, judgment, and cynicism. These voices may be heard because we haven’t internalized the fact that God loves us unconditionally and that God desires to commune with us daily, even hourly if we will give God the time.
Perhaps these voices would be softer if we practiced forgiveness, participated in reconciliation, increased our patience and tolerance of others and were not quick to judge. Each day we are given an opportunity to sit quietly with God and be in His presence, to speak and to listen, to share and be affirmed, to lift up concerns and be comforted. This is where the listening part of discernment begins.
—Bruce Crockett, adapted from
Discernment: The Practice of Listening
Think of a time when you heard the voices of self-doubt, poor self-esteem, anger, judgment, and injustice within you and your life. Take a few moments to think about that. Then turn to your neighbor and share what those voices were, how they affected you, and what you can and perhaps did about it. Your neighbor listens quietly, then shares their story. Affirm the hope within each other.
Ministry of Music OR Congregational Hymn
“With a Word, You Birthed Creation” CCS 17
OR “God the Sculptor of the Mountains” CCS 21
Prayer for Peace
Light the Peace Candle.
Peace Prayer
Spirit of Loving Community,
Thank you so much for the gift of community! Communities are powerful. Communities can band together in order to discern Your word and create beautiful change! Communities can also reject those on the fringes, those who are different than we are, those who hurt us. Jesus was rejected by the very community that studied Your word together. And yet, he found a group to accept him, and still included those who rejected him in his loving sacrifice. God, help us to follow Jesus’s example of peace.
Before peace is healing.
Before healing is forgiveness.
Before forgiveness is a conversation at the table.
May we form communities where folks from all walks of life with varied opinions and life experiences join together with the common goal of conversation that leads to healing that leads to peace. We are so hopeful that our tables—big and small, boring, and quirky, long-standing, and young—can be the tables that bring the world to peace.
We are not blind to the divisions and conflicts and abused power in our world. We see them, but as communities of faith, we refuse to accept them. God, empower us to take our tables to the rejected, to bring healing, and to bring peace.
In the name of Jesus, the most loving host, Amen
—Tiffany and Caleb Brian
Hymn of Reflection Sing twice.
“Listen in the Silence”
CCS 153
OR “Come, Holy Spirit, Come”
CCS 154
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
Sharing in the Spoken Word
Based on 1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Disciples’ Generous Response
Generosity and Justice Hymn
“Help Us Express Your Love”
CCS 621
OR “When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land”
CCS 293
Statement
What is justice? Amid many voices, does God care about justice? In A Way of Life: Understanding Our Christian Faith, Tony Chvala-Smith writes that to acknowledge the one God, we act toward injustice; this is what it means to be a prophetic people. We need to be both sanctuary and advocate.
“To be sanctuary means that we will become a people among whom the vulnerable, the exploited, and the oppressed can find safety and refuge. To be an advocate means we will learn to speak for the well-being of those who have no voice or no hope, to act on behalf of the world’s poor, and to work for the dignity of every person (page 83).”
How do we give generously to be both sanctuary and advocate? What can we do to hold fast to love and justice?
As we share our mission tithes either by placing money in the plates or through eTithing, use this time to thank God for the many gifts received in life. Our hearts grow aligned with God’s when we gratefully receive and faithfully respond by living Christ’s mission.
If your congregation is meeting online, remind participants they can give through CofChrist.org/give or through eTithing at eTithing.org (consider showing these URLs on screen).
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Closing Hymn
“God of the Ages”
CCS 7
OR “God of the Future”
CCS 360
Benediction
Postlude
SERMON AND CLASS HELPS
Year B—Letters
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
1 Corinthians 8:1–13
Exploring the Scripture
The Christians in Corinth disagreed bitterly. They faced socio-economic tensions within their group, accused one another of sexual misconduct, and disputed over the matters of the Lord’s Supper and prideful claims of spiritual giftedness. Paul preached and converted these predominately Gentile Christians. He understood them. They knew him well. Three years before this letter, Paul spent about 18 months in Corinth.
When this letter was written, around 54–55 CE, Corinth was known as the most magnificent, contemporary, and bustling city of its size in Greece. It was a multicultural city with lively commercial and religious activity, interesting people, new trends, and high employment. In such a city, the Christians struggled with ethical improprieties of their culture. They had fallen prey to the trappings of a boomtown. Like any major port city in the Roman Empire, decadence and sexual promiscuity ran out of control.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul writes he had received reports that made him aware of the continuing issues and scandals within the congregation. Today’s text discusses one problem. Superficially, the topic of meat sacrificed to idols seems mundane and useless in our frame of reference compared with the complex and divisive issues we face. However, this text provides suitable and normative guidance critical to life as disciples. It begins with a discussion (chapters 8–10) about the ethical tension between individual freedom and communal responsibility.
How does the Christian navigate agency, freedom of choice, and decisions that affect the common good? Paul promotes a particular responsibility. His idea of Christian freedom is not a right to do what one wishes. Instead, it is grounded in love for one another and the community. Paul argues in verse 1: “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” God’s love edifies us through and in Jesus Christ.
In verses 7–11, Paul cautions the reader to ask how decisions and actions affect others. He writes, “‘Food will not bring us closer to God.’ We are no worse off if we do eat, and no better off if we do” (v. 8). In verses 9–11 he cautions, “take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak....those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.” We have the liberty to choose but must consider how our actions and decisions affect others—particularly the most vulnerable.
Martin Luther stated this principle: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.” Today’s text is much deeper than a discussion of whether to eat sacrificed meat. It clarifies two of Community of Christ’s Enduring Principles:
- Responsible Choices: “God gives humans the ability to make choices about whom or what they will serve.”
- Blessings of Community: “True community upholds the worth of persons while providing a healthy alternative to self-centeredness, isolation, and conformity.”
—https://CofChrist.org/about-us/#
Fundamentally, it highlights Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a: “For in their welfare resides your welfare.” We are responsible for and to one another in our decisions and the actions we take.
Central Ideas
- “Knowledge puffs up…love builds up” (v. 1).
- “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all” (Martin Luther, “On the Freedom of a Christian”).
- As Christians, our freedom of choice and individual actions must always be considered for affecting others, particularly the most vulnerable.
Questions for the Speaker
- What current issues are there in your community where individual freedom collides with social responsibility?
- What cultural improprieties might influence your congregation?
- How do you define Christian freedom?
SACRED SPACE: A RESOURCE FOR SMALL-GROUP MINISTRY
Year B Letters
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
1 Corinthians 8:1–13 NRSVUE
Gathering
Welcome
The season after Epiphany includes the weeks between Epiphany and Transfiguration Sunday.
Prayer for Peace
Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.
Spirit of loving community, thank you so much for the gift of community! Communities are powerful. Communities can band together to discern your word and create beautiful change! Communities also can reject those on the fringes, those who are different than we are, those who hurt us. Jesus was rejected by the very community that studied your word together. Yet, he found a group to accept him and still included those who rejected him in his loving sacrifice. God, help us to follow Jesus’s example of peace.
Before peace is healing.
Before healing is forgiveness.
Before forgiveness is a conversation at the table.
May we form communities where folks from all walks of life with varied opinions and life experiences join with the common goal of conversation that leads to healing that leads to peace. We are so hopeful that our tables—big and small, boring and quirky, long-standing and young—can be the tables that bring the world to peace.
We are not blind to the divisions, conflicts, and abused power in our world. But as communities of faith, we refuse to accept them. God, empower us to take our tables to the rejected, to bring healing, and to bring peace. In the name of Jesus, the most loving Host. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Walking in the Light
During Epiphany and the season after Epiphany, our spiritual practice will be Walking in the Light. Take a few moments to quiet yourself. When you feel a sense of calm, begin by imagining you are walking on a path of light. As we pray, visualize the light surrounding you as you walk. As the prayer continues, offer the gift of light to those close to you, to friends and acquaintances, to those you dislike or with whom you are in conflict, and to your community at-large.
As you hear each sentence, offer the gift of light to those mentioned.
May my loved ones be embraced in God’s light (pause).
May my family walk in the light of Christ (pause).
May my friend receive the gift of love and light (pause).
May my acquaintances sense the presence of light through our interactions (pause).
May the one with whom I am in conflict be surrounded by the light of Christ (pause).
May my community be blessed by the eternal light of God’s love and grace (pause).
Amen.
At the conclusion of the prayer invite people to share the thoughts, emotions, or images they experienced through Walking in the Light.
Sharing Around the Table
1 Corinthians 8:1–13 NRSVUE
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. “Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against brothers and sisters, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
In Corinth, most meat available for consumption initially had been offered to various gods as a sacrifice. The wealthier, more sophisticated, and more educated segment of this church group was eating meat that originally had been offered to various gods, causing a disturbance within the church. Paul was asked if it was idolatry to eat meat sacrificed to a pagan idol.
Paul responds on a theological and communal level. He talks about those with knowledge, inferring those with a superior intellectual position or insight. He makes it clear that there are limitations to knowledge, as it can inflate individuals without serving the community, for “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Eating this meat is not idolatry, as we know that “no idol in the world really exists” and “there is no God but one.” In this situation, Paul equates knowledge with arrogance, showing that truer knowledge begins with an awareness of one’s ignorance. Knowledge should lead people to humility, not conceit. Truly fruitful knowledge leads to love.
Paul says there is no theological problem here, but this is not all about us; it is about the community, too. The meat issue has an ethical and communal aspect. Corinth has many new Gentile converts. In their past lives, they assumed the gods ate food offered to them, and the converts had difficulty uprooting this conviction in a few months with the Christian fellowship. These new members felt conflicted and defiled when they ate meat. It is a stumbling block for some Jesus followers. After considering the possible toxic impact of eating meat, the act no longer is morally neutral; it becomes a “sin against Christ.” With that, Paul concludes by stating his choice to not eat meat “so that I may not cause one of them to fall.”
Paul is putting into application the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. He wants us to remember that while we have freedom in Christ, it must be used with discretion and care for the sake of the vulnerable.
Questions
- Paul maintains that one’s behavior affects the faith of fellow believers. How have you seen this expressed?
- Paul asserts that freedom is more than the right to choose as one wishes. How so?
- What current individual freedoms in the community/congregation collide with social responsibility for the marginalized and oppressed?
Sending
Generosity Statement
Beloved Community of Christ, do not just speak and sing of Zion. Live, love, and share as Zion: those who strive to be visibly one in Christ, among whom there are no poor or oppressed.
—Doctrine and Covenants 165:6a
The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response.
The offering prayer for Epiphany is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response:
Revealing God, may we always be generous. You have gifted each of us with boundless grace and unending love. May our response to that love and grace be humble service to others, and may generosity be part of our nature. Amen.
Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn
Community of Christ Sings 242, “When We Are Living”
Closing Prayer
Optional Additions Depending on Group
- Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
- Thoughts for Children
Thoughts for Children
You will need:
- Various materials for the actions you decide to model
Say: Today, I am going to invite you to close your eyes. While your eyes are closed, I am going to do something. With your eyes still closed, I want you to guess what I am doing.
Actions (ask the kids to guess each action; then have them close their eyes again before you try another action):
- Fan yourself with a large hand fan (making sure some wind reaches the participants).
- Play a musical instrument of some kind.
- Water a plant with a squirt bottle (getting the participants a bit wet in the process).
- Make a phone call.
- Sweep or vacuum the floor (making sure to brush against participants.
- Other actions of your choice that can be guessed when participants’ eyes are closed.
Ask: How were you able to make guess what I was doing? (Affirm all answers.)
Ask: So you mean, you either heard, felt, or smelled the actions I was taking? My actions were felt by you?
Say: Today’s scripture offers an important reminder that our actions impact others. Therefore, it is really important that we make Responsible Choices that do not harm those around us. Some of our choices will have more impact than others, but all of our choices impact the world around us in some way.
Next time you are making a difficult choice, remember that what you choose will impact the rest of the world. Try to make the choice that is best for all of creation.