Title Dot Like Grandma
Like Dot's grandmother
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
*The original text of the sermon on January 14, 2007
The Church of the Savior in Washington was founded in 1947 by Gordon Cosby. This church is evaluated as an influential church that moves the huge United States with about 150 members through a thorough admission process and advanced training. The ministry that the Savior Church pursues is to pursue a life that resembles the Lord through a spiritual life, to serve the local community through Jesus-centered social activities, and to change the world through a life devoted to the poor, the outcast, and the marginalized. will be This spirit was the driving force behind the creation of ‘The Potter’s House’, in which a cafe and a bookstore are operated simultaneously, carrying out housing supply ministries for low-income families, and operating ‘House of Christ’ and ‘House of Samaritans’.
Savior Church is changing the world by a small but highly dedicated and disciplined community of people focused on inner spirituality, outward ministry, and a loving and responsible community.
“A woodpecker was pecking hard at the tree. That day, just like any other day, the woodpecker was pecking at the tree, but suddenly a dry lightning struck and cut the tree in half. The other beasts, astonished at this, came to the woodpecker and asked, 'What strength do you have to split this large tree?' And the woodpecker answered, 'I just did the work entrusted to me diligently every day.'"
What does Grandma Dot mean?
Yes. Big and surprising things happen when you are sincere and truthful about your work. It doesn't matter who does what or who does it. It doesn't matter if the thing is small or big.
People's quarrels against Paul in today's Bible testify to that.
Those who attacked Paul pretended to be true apostles, accusing him of not being an apostle. Paul accuses him of being rude and illiterate, having no authority, or saying that he has never seen Jesus in person. They showed off their pride and achievements in the flesh, such as that they were Orthodox Jews, learned from an apostle who had followed Jesus, or received a letter of recommendation. They took Jesus Christ as a form or cause, and were, in fact, bragging about themselves and their background.
At that time, Paul said of himself, 'I'm nothing like what you say.' That's what the phrase 'I am like a pottery bowl' is. As you said, I am insignificant. that there is nothing insignificant. But Paul said again that, although earthen vessels are earthen vessels, they are earthen vessels containing treasures. What is that treasure? That's right. That is Jesus Christ. Because he has met Jesus. Paul was carrying the death of Jesus Christ in himself like a vessel of earth, and he was enjoying the life of Jesus Christ in him. Because he was such a Paul, he did his best to do what he had to do, no matter how small or big it was. For Paul, miracles happened every day.
Think about it.
Would a white church member be the finance minister? Do you want to be a mission president? So, in the eyes of handsome people, it was really unacceptable and insignificant. But his trivial work made Gondangol Church full of butchers and ordinary people. In the end, the yangban members who went to Hongmunsu-gol saw this Gondanggol church and ignored it as a ‘church church (the church that concubines and butekjeongs are often called Baekjang)’, but Gondanggol Church continued to grow. Three years later, Hongmunsugol Church's proposal to merge the churches was accepted and a new chapel was established in Tapgol (now Insa-dong). This is Seungdong Church.
When Seungdong Church first elected elders in 1911, Park Seong-chun defeated a nominee from a yangban background and was elected as the first elder, and later campaigned to appeal the policy of discrimination against butchers. He petitioned that the butchers could not use the gat and mangeon even though the status system was abolished, and that they could not be registered in the family register. His son, Seoyang Park, graduated from Severance Medical Center once and became the first surgeon in Korea. After the annexation of Korea and Japan, he moved his family to Bukgando and established Soongsin School, dedicated to youth education.
How could Park Seong-chun be able to live such a sincere and sincere life?
That's right. Because they knew Jesus. And through his sincere devotion and service, he came to experience Jesus more and more deeply. And the little things of that little person made big things happen. That's how God worked.
We tend to regard the basic duties of believers as obsolete or neglectful, such as Holy Week, Bible reading, prayer, tithing, evangelism, service, etc. In the meantime, we need to look at ourselves to see if we are becoming nominal believers who have nothing to do with the church. For many believers, worshiping once a week, and even listening to sermons, is becoming all it takes. no. You shouldn't do that. Like Grandmother Dot and Elder Park Seong-chun, we must do so.
1) In church life, make sure to keep Sunday holy and not be late, and come to church about 15 minutes before the start of worship and pray. Be sure to participate in the faith meetings held at the church once or twice a year. Let's find work in church service. For example, washing dishes after a communal meal, cleaning the church after worship, and sharing flower arrangements, meal preparation, and tea service that goddesses are dedicated to. Let's pray for the church and the clergy at least once a week. In the church, let's always say words of encouragement, comfort, praise, affirmation, and edification.
2) In family life, let's always have time to pray for our children, parents, and spouses. Talk to your child, be together, and share the household chores. Refrain from saying hurtful words between husband and wife, and let's talk like we always pray. Call your parents and tell your brothers and sisters to pray for the Lord's blessings.
3) In social life, treat your co-workers with a bright and kind attitude, and set an example of a believer by taking the lead in public affairs other than work at work. Let's spread the news of the church we attend and open the field of evangelism as soon as we have the opportunity. Let's think of our job as a calling that God has given us, work diligently and do our best, and treat ourselves fairly without seeking only our own interests.
4) In our relationship with God, let's always have time to pray in the morning or in the evening. It is also good to do yoga together. It is also good to take a walk for at least an hour a day for health, and to meditate or pray during the walk. Make sure to pray for the day before going to bed, listen to praise while driving, or pray with your heart. Let's read at least one chapter of the Bible every day.
When we live like this, we come to know Jesus more deeply and clearly. In such a person, the life of Jesus appears in his mortal body. Like Grandmother Dot and Elder Park Seong-chun, if we dedicate ourselves and serve with our best in small and trivial things, “We are not in trouble even if we are afflicted in various ways, we are not in trouble even if we are perplexed, we are not in despair when we are persecuted, but we are not abandoned when we are persecuted. Even if it is overthrown, it does not perish” (verses 8-9).
Paul says that although he is a vessel of earth, he is stronger than any other vessel of iron and cannot be broken. What makes earthenware so strong? Again and again Paul says: “We always carry in our body the death of Jesus. It is to make the life of Jesus manifest in our bodies... It is so that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal bodies (verses 10-11).
When the butcher Park Seong-chun met Jesus, the life of Jesus appeared to him. When you experience Jesus with your whole body, the life of Jesus is revealed to that person.
How do you meet Jesus? Like a woodpecker, like Grandmother Dot, it's time to devote ourselves to and serve in such a small task, in the task entrusted to us. The miracle of a big tree splitting occurs only when you consistently and faithfully live a life that allows you to meet God in your church, at home, at work, and in yourself.
What changes will happen to such people? The life of Jesus is revealed to me when I die. Those who have the life of Jesus will experience many afflictions, but do not fall into trouble; perplexity, but do not fall into despair, persecution, but It will not be forsaken, nor will it be overthrown, but it will not perish.”
That is why we must meet Jesus.