Liturgy (submitted, don’t change)
Call to worship
Leader: God’s grace is sufficient for you.
People: The lord’s power is made perfect in my weakness.
Leader: Therefore, we are content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and
calamities for the sake of Christ.
People: For whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Leader: May you always stand firm in the Lord.
People: I will stand firm in the Lord our savior.
Prayer of confession
People: Lord we are weak, but we pretend to be strong. We lie to ourselves
about who is in charge, and in the process, we blame others for their suffering. We
become selfish in our attempts to be self-reliant. We horde up resources when we
should share. We use violence to protect what we claim to own. We choose a path
of self-defense, when you call us to lead a life of radical love and non-violence.
(silence)
Leader: Lord hear our prayers.
People: In truth, you alone God are in charge, and you own all. Help us to see
and embrace our weakness, so that we may cling to you evermore tightly.
Stand firm in the lord
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Scripture
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 but [God] said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made
perfect in weakness."
So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,
persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ;
for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Philippians 3:20 – 4:1
20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation
that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables
him to make all things subject to himself.
4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and
crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
Affirmation
Confession of 67, section 9.15
God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human
thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God
reveals divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant,
wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and
women. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that
the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose
of God’s love.
Stand firm in the lord
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Sermon
The phrase “stand firm” is a common enough phrase in English that there is not
much ambiguity as to what it means.
Stand firm = be strong
Stand firm = be unmovable
Stand firm = refuse to change
Stand firm = be stubborn
Stand firm in modern use
When one says the phrase “stand firm” images of a 300 pound football player
come to mind. You hope that the offensive line can “stand firm” and protect the
quarterback.
There are plenty of other examples in Sports, where “stand firm” might be the
phrase that a coach yells at his players.
Another modern image that comes to mind is a military context. The general
radios to his troops who are under attack, “Stand firm” hold your position.
The usage many of us might think of is a political context. When the public
opinion on an issue begins to shift, politicians with integrity, will commit to
“standing firm” on their previous position on an issue.
The final modern example, that comes to mind is self-defense.
An intruder comes into your home…
A bully is pushing you around…
A thief tries to steal your bag…
In these instances, one who prevails over the criminal, by using violence, will be
praised for “standing their ground” and protecting what is theirs’s even if they had
to use deadly force.
These are all examples of the World’s modern usage of the phrase “stand firm.”
Stand firm in the lord
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Greek
But I think that what we care about more is Biblical meaning.
sth,kw stay-ko
This Greek word shows up a 9 times in the New Testament, and it usage and
meaning are both very consistent.
There is a different word in Greek that means “stand your ground” in a meaning
more similar to what we, English speakers, might associate with “stand firm.”
I won’t bore you with the Greek details, but trust me when I say that “the Biblical
meaning of “stand firm” is very different from the “world’s” definition.
sth,kw stay-ko
Not Stubborn
There is a huge difference between being stubborn and “stay-ko” standing firm in
the lord.
To be stubborn is in service of one’s self.
To stand firm is in service of God.
Stubbornness is the opposite of “Stay-ko”
“Stay-ko” Means to stand true in one’s convictions.
Not Self defense
There is no hint of violence or force in the Biblical context.
sth,kw stay-ko
is a mental and spiritual strength, that is separate from a physical strength.
To stand firm in the Lord does not look like self defense
Not like strength nor power (as the world defines it)
We’ve explored a couple of things “stay-ko” is not, so what is it…
Stand firm in the lord
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Core Values
Standing firm in the Lord means an unwavering dedication to the things Jesus
taught and commanded.
A total commitment to core values like
Compassion
Hospitality
Generosity
Community
Service/serving others
Love
Worship
There are dozens of other Biblical values I could lift up here, but these are the
ones that define who we are a Decatur Presbyterian Church.
We have a 200 year commitment to Worshiping God.
A 200 year commitment to Loving our neighbors
A 200 year commitment to serving God, our community, & the world.
To stand firm in the Lord is to Worship, Love and serve in all circumstances.
Stand firm in the lord
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Weakness
Standing firm in the lord looks like weakness
Looks like humility
Looks like love
Standing firm in the lord is an unwavering commitment to the things God
commands
To the things Jesus taught
To the things Jesus died for
1 st scripture
Standing firm in the Lord looks like folly to the world.
The wisdom of God, looks like folly to the world.
I want to revisit The Corinthians passage we read.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9 but [God] said to me, "…, for power is made perfect in weakness."
So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of
Christ may dwell in me.
for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Yes, this scripture is confusing.
What it is saying is that God’s love is so radially different than what we are
used to.
God’s love looks like death on a cross.
God’s love looks like humility
God’s love looks like weakness.
When we stand firm in the Lord, we stand firm in THIS love.
Stand firm in the lord
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Gay parade spit
In 2015, when the supreme court ruled that same-sex marriages were allowed,
the LGBTQ community responded with celebrations and parades. A catholic
priest was walking down the street, and came upon the parade. The priest was
of course wearing a clerical collar, so his identity was not in question.
The priest was not there to protest, he was just walking by, but it seems that
some in the parade assumed he was there to object.
One of the people in that parade did like the idea of a priest at their celebration,
and spit upon the priest.
What is amazing about this story is how humbly the priest responded.
“Walking down Broadway and 22nd St just now, I ran into gay marriage parade.Two
men walked by and spat on me. Oh well… I deserve worse,” Morris
What blows me away about this story is this priest could have given into hate or
anger or revenge.
But instead this many acted like Jesus, and humbly admitted his sin, while
showing forgiveness to others.
CS lewis quote
Good and evil both increase at compound interest.
That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.
The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months
later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.
An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or
bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.
Cs Lewis
Stand firm in the lord
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Core values part 2
When the world says, going to church is uncool,
We say I’ll stand firm in the lord, and go to worship,
When the world says, hate this group and exclude that person,
We say, “I’ll stand firm in the Lord, and choose Love.
When the world says, put your self first,
We say, “I’ll stand firm in the Lord, and serve others
When the world says to put our nation above other nations,
We stand firm in the Lord, and embrace the global community.
When the world says, greed is good,
We stand firm in the lord and chose generosity.
When the world says go away, go back to where you came from,
We stand firm in the lord and chose Hospitality.
When the world says, pull yourself up by your boot straps,
We stand firm in the lord and show compassion.
