Re-Dedication: Our Message Matters (September 4, 2022)

Dennis R Wiles FBC Arlington September 4, 2022 2022 Re- . . . FALL 2022 Re-Dedicate September 4 – November 5, 2022 Re-Dedicate: Our Message Matters! 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 FBC Arlington 2022: Re- . . . Winter: Re-Flect Easter: Re-Deem Spring: Re-Concile Summer: Re-Create August: Re-Joice Fall: Re-Dedicate Missions: Re-Claim Advent: Re-Member From a seasonal perspective, Fall is an opportune time to encourage people to re-engage, re-establish rhythms, re-connect, and RE-Dedicate. From a theological perspective, 1 Corinthians offers an opportunity to frame some important conversations in the context of a 1st-century church facing the challenges imposed by its setting in the pluralistic reality of Corinth. -Dennis R. Wiles Our society is riddled with many messages that claim to be the truth. Our temptation as contemporary, western Christians is to succumb to a message of reductionism or accommodation. Why does it matter? The message of Christianity embodies a theology of creation, sin, and redemption. The gospel transforms the cross as a symbol of Roman terror and political domination into a symbol of God’s love and power. It shows that the power of God’s love is greater than human love of power. -David E. Garland, 1 Corinthians Cheap grace means the justification of the sin without the justification of the sinner, forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline . . . the world goes on in the same old way . . . grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship