Impart Our Lives

Title: Impart Our Lives
Date: 17 Oct 2021
Preacher: Dn Keng Wan Ling

Introduction:
Good morning, brothers and sisters.
It’s been about 21 months since COVID was discovered in Singapore. It’s now October 2021.
How many of you feel somewhat lonely, isolated, disembodied, languishing?
How many of you know of others who are feeling lonely, isolated, languishing?
These are difficult times; even those fortunate enough to have stable job and income, good health, a roof over your head, are not spared from stress, anxiety, tension and conflict.
Background:
The books of Thessalonians were also written for a church headed for very difficult times. Why? Paul had no choice but to leave the very young church. Thanks to Timothy, he got the happy news that they were doing fine amidst the persecution; but he KNEW it would continue to be tough. He repeatedly warned them, prayed for them and agonized over their situation.
Our passage today is where Paul describes his ministry in Thessalonica.
Why bother? Isn’t that like preaching to the choir, since THEY WERE THERE for all these.
Paul is NOT being boastful or defensive, he writes about these to remind them how to conduct themselves. “Remember when we did this, this and that? Yes, that’s what you should do!” Paul never talked about making disciples, but instead talked about imitating him. 1:6, he said - “you became imitators of us and of the Lord”, and elsewhere, “as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God. “ Paul says- imitate me!! Be Like Paul!
So what is it that the Thessalonians should do? Paul says they should:
a) Being bold in speech (v1-2)
b) Having great integrity (v3-7a)
c) Sharing not only the gospel but also our lifes (v7b-8)
Although the 3 points are connected, for this sermon, I am going to focus on v8.
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well (v8).
•Because we loved you so much= literally, “because you had become dear (beloved) to us”. It was a result of telling them about Christ that had built the relationship and deep affection for the Thessalonian believers.
•To share with you = this word means "the giving of something by which the giver retains a part and the receiver has a part so that they both share in the matter." (cf. Rom. 1:11-12). So- Paul gave them part of himself!
•To share our lives= the original in greek is Psyche- which has been translated as life, or even soul.
Hence the title: Impart Our Lives.
For today’s sermon, I have some reflections based on how Paul imparted his life to the Thessalonians and others, amidst very challenging situations. I have tried to apply these to what it means for us, for building community in a pandemic or endemic world.
Paul’s letters are more relevant to us than we think- he’s been characterized as “the grandfather of remote ministry”! I think he knows something about long-distance relationships! Please note that in this sermon, I’m talking primarily about Christian community.
 Spoiler alert- at the end, I’m going to challenge you to level up your role in community building (although you knew that already right? :D)
1) Christian Call & Privilege
First we need to remember that community is not an “optional extra” to our Christian life. It’s not a “plug-in”, an “add-on” or part of the “extension pack”. It’s is in the main programme, even if it’s the starter kit. God’s call to us is personal, but he calls us to life as a community and the Body of Christ. Paul for one, knew it well and wrote often about it.
However, because we live in a world that is “already but not-yet” (“realized eschatology”), doing community ranges from - not easy, to flat-out impossible. In good times, man’s inherent selfishness is the hindrance; in bad times, it’s persecution.
•Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his classic “Life Together”, reminds us that Christians belong, unfortunately, in the midst of our enemies, instead of in happy cloistered communities of our own. This book was written while he taught at an underground seminary in Nazi times. Eventually, he was arrested by the Gestapo for his opposition, and was eventually executed. In the 2 years between his arrest and his death, his “community” was his fellow prisoners.
•Being in the “midst of enemies” also describes the ministry of Paul, constantly on the run and being hunted down. In Thessalonica, his opponents hated him SO MUCH, that the mob ATTACKED the house that he and Silas were staying in .[1] Hated him SO MUCH, that even when they escaped to another town (Berea), they STILL went to look for them, until they had to be smuggled onto a ship to Athens.
•Jesus too was constantly fending off his nay-sayers, preaching in the midst of constant opposition, until His work ended –or should we say completed- at the Cross.
Because this world is NOT our native ground- nor our “forever home”, whenever we able to gather, it is an act of grace. I repeat- it is by God’s grace that a congregation is allowed to gather visibly in this world. It is a PRIVILEDGE and not the norm. Certainly our Christian brothers and sisters in the persecuted church know this.
•So on one hand- we are called to gather.
•On the other hand- the world doesn’t make it easy for us to do so, but God by His grace makes it possible.
I’m afraid this means that persecution, hardship and a pandemic are not reasons to put “community” on the back-burner. NOT a plug-in, remember?
Of course it’s hard!! Christian life is hard! We follow a crucified Lord. Hardship is a feature, not a bug. But- don’t give up on community… just cos it’s not convenient or efficient anymore.
2) Connected Through Christ
Last week, Pastor Siow Hwee talked about labours of love, and urged us to step forward to show that love in very concrete ways.
BUT… what if… you have no time, no energy, your job is very demanding, your own health isn’t great, your family needs a lot of your attention? And anyway COVD-time, you’re not allowed to meet right?). The good (and bad) news is: It’s Not (Just) About You!
For Christians, the community comes because of our connection in Christ.
The Christian community (‘Koinonia’) isn’t like human or secular community, built on proximity, common interests and human personalities. It is different because the community is built on Christ. This means that:
-A Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ [2]
-the goal of Christian community is to meet carrying the message of salvation
-it is for this goal, that God permits the meeting, grants us community.
The bad news is: God’s idea of Christian community might not be aligned to ours. It’s not about an extraordinary social experience that you can’t find elsewhere. If we have our own ideal and try to realise it, we will be disappointed and disillusioned. Christian community is:
•about agape love (brotherly service), instead of eros (human desires)
•where the Word of God rules, and there is only light, no darkness
•the work and the fruits of the spirit.
So it’s not about the action itself (e.g. checking in to say hello, inviting out for a meal), but the heart and intention behind it. Let’s not mistake the marks of worldly fellowship for godly community.
The bad news, of course, this “godly community” is aspirational- Bonhoeffer says, Christian Community is the gift that we cannot claim (fully). So if Christian communities that aren’t exactly shining with God’s Word and the Spirit, its’ not unexpected. I’m not sure that makes me feel better 
The good news: Christian community isn’t some you have to work hard to realise. It’s created by God in Christ, and we participate in it.
-Therefore, we are not resentful and grudging when others seem to be doing less, or less enthusiastic than us. Instead we have an attitude of gratefulness.
-Therefore, Christian community can still happen when we are apart. For example, apart from writing letters, Paul built community by constantly praying FOR and praying WITH the people from the churches he had to leave behind. Whenever we pray “OUR Father in heaven, we are joining with the people of God in community, in prayer”. Corporate prayer builds community- whether we are physically praying together or not. So- get on the grid! Cos we’re part of a (different kind of) mesh, and the wi-fi never falters!
Recap! Remember – I’m going to challenge you to level up your role in community building. So far we have talked about how 1) It’s a privilege and call, 2) Godly community is through Christ. Recap questions- What’s your idea of community (what)? Where are you in your community-building (who)? The next is how?
3) Drawing On the Go
Where did Paul get the drive to keep preaching and building (godly) community? We know that it was God’s love that compelled him and drove him.
We know about Paul’s spiritual life from his writings, we know that:
a)He prized praying with and for his people- his letters are littered with long, passionate prayers. 1 Thessalonians has 3- one each at the start, end and middle.
b)He prized God’s word as being powerful, and studied it at length- again in the letters, we see the results of his encounters with God’s word.
However, unlike Jesus, we were not explicitly told that he withdrew to be by himself, to pray in solitude, or meditate on God’s word. It seems that, as far as spiritual practices go, his favoured spiritual disciplines were service and community. Paul really was a working man!
Methinks Paul might not have been into the “self-care” movement, which uses ideas such as “me time” and “putting myself first”. The danger of that is that it becomes about self-prioritisation, and our own needs and desires are placed first. We DO need to rest, but the idea behind is good stewardship of ourselves, as the temple of God. Yes, we are promised rest and renewal, but we find it in Jesus Christ- in God’s word, prayer, Christian community- not necessarily on spiritual retreats and staycations.
Let me pause here, lest I sound too judgemental.
I know things are tough. A rollercoaster. We are tired, drained- didn’t we start this sermon by saying we are lonely, isolated, languishing? I’m tired too, and there are days when self-preservation is top of my mind, or just making through the week’s deadlines one day at a time. Our tiredness is legitimate, and what I’m saying here doesn’t diminish that- I believe God sees and hears our efforts.
Yet I share this because I believe God is gently reminding us the way out is NOT by shutting down, shutting ourselves in, as tempting as that is. By reminding us that community –with fellow believers, I’m not even talking yet about evangelising and outreach- is not an optional extra, even though it’s not easy to live that out.
And I believe that if our heart is in the right place, God will show us a way, even in what seems like limiting circumstances, to build the Body of Christ in a concrete way, not in some abstract idea or philosophy.

4) Level Up
That brings me to- May I challenge you to level up on your community-building? You don’t have to be extroverted, in a leadership position or organise big events (cannot anyway what- COVID!). Do it in your own way.
There’s a continuum.
•Paul was “expert”. He disciples new believers -in between getting chased, stoned, shipwrecked, beaten etc- and keeps in touch with the ones he’d left behind through letters. Preacher Hock Seng spoke a few weeks ago about the incredible team-work taking place in Paul’s ministry.
•Dietrich Bonhoeffer? Also expert! He could build a community in prison comprised of his fellow prisoners- those who cried in pain throughout the night; and even some of the prison guards.
•At “beginner” level- anyone can pray for and pray with other believers. Anyone can drop a text, to someone you’ve not seen for ages, to ask how you are.
You might find you’re probably somewhere in between these 2 extremes.
In order to level up, we need models of true community.
•Look around you- see how others have tried to take care of you, learn from that, do it your own way.
•If you or someone you know is lonely and feeling isolated, please know that Christian community doesn’t come in one-size or one model only. Please do reach out; I find that praying to God to open the path into the right sorts of support.
•It’s also good to look at what others are doing, to see if their efforts can be adapted to our context. On screen is a list of examples from Dr. Calvin Chong is Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Singapore Bible College. These are all the things others are doing.

Conclusion
Although times are difficult, please don’t give up on community, on koinonia.
•If you’ve drifted away, please come back. If nobody’s seen or heard the ghost from you since we-can’t-recall-when, please come back. Your name is still on the church register, you may be watching our online services, but
•If you’re frustrated, angry, resentful, with community life, chill- go back to God, who has done the work, and allows us to participate in it.

[1] https://israelmyglory.org/article/the-thessalonian-church/
[2] Life Together, pg 23

Bilingual Service Video Link https://youtu.be/UyBTdOvzGog