Good morning. My name is Sandi Asker and I'm one of the pastors here and I don't know about you but I've really been enjoying the World Cup. I also find on social media, there's a reel making its rounds that makes me laugh, and it's comparing women in childbirth with the professional athletic men who flop. Are you familiar with the flop? If you are not, I'm sorry. There's one dude who is not even touched and he literally flops like a fish. Without anyone around him.

Well, we're in a season of studying second Corinthians in the Bible. Paul has written a letter to his church and spend time reminding them about the good news regarding Jesus while defending his own position as a leader. He is comparing himself to other leaders and not feeling like others are giving him the benefit of the doubt. Comparison is an ugly game. It's hard to win, isn't it? Now, mommy's giving birth and soccer players maybe not the best example. But how about mommies and other mommies? Or soccer players for other soccer players who really is the best? In this World Cup. Comparison is a way that we can sometimes feel like we're under pressure. And the comparison game, perhaps at this stage of the summer, comparing to other summers or comparing yourselves to others. And how they are experiencing it. How can you find hope in the midst of the season? Well, we're going to see what second Corinthians chapter 11 has for us.

Starting in verse one, Paul writes, I hope you will put up with me a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me. I feel like maybe I could preach that almost every Sunday, up with a little bit of foolishness for me. Yes, put up with me. I am jealous for you, Paul says, with a godly jealousy. I promise you to one husband to Christ. And but I'm afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus, other than the Jesus we preach to you, or if you receive a different spirit, if you receive a different spirit from the spirit you received or a different gospel.

Paul continues to go on and talk about these other gospels, these other Jesuses. And other super apostles. The really great leaders, the successful ones. Comparing them to himself. He instead of a normal missionary who receives financial support, Paul self supported. Paul constantly mentions throughout Corinthians this comparison. And so, Paul says, you know, Paul compares the Jesus they have followed with a new one. And in this instance, it is a good thing to do. Please compare Corinth. The Jesus that I taught you with the Jesus that you are now hearing from these apostles. It's not the same Jesus.

Verse 12, Paul says, and I will keep on doing what I'm doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us and the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceit. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It's not surprising then. If his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 

Paul is passionate about this church. So much so that he is working hard to cut the ground under, or try to dissuade or prevent the super apostles from having success. Now, Paul in light of this comparison, decides to choose something that I think is a temptation for all of us when we go into the comparison game. We start to feel like we should boast about ourselves. Like actually, this is what I've done.

So, this is what Paul says, okay? You ready for this? He says, well, are they servants of Christ? And then he actually says, I am out of my mind to talk like this. This is when we, it is a good reminder that this is an actual letter. This is an actual letter that Paul wrote and so he gives you an insight into what he's thinking. Am I out of my mind right now? It's like we get a little insight into what he's thinking. Paul says, are they servants? Well, I'm even more of a servant. I've worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, have been flopped more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times, I've received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. Three times, I was beaten with rods. Once, I was pelted with stones. Three times, I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in an open sea. I've been constantly on the move. I've been in danger. From rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger my fellow Jews, in danger from the Gentiles. So, just so you know, Jews and Gentiles, that would mean any human being on the planet. In danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea, in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and often gone without sleep. I've known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food. I've been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the who is weak and I don't feel weak? Who is led into sin and I don't earn inwardly burn?

So, what does Paul do? He doesn't boast about how great he is. Although at the beginning, it kind of feels like that. There are certain things that are going to be done. But then he goes on to talk about essentially all of his failures. You've been beaten. Well, I've been beaten more than that. You've gone hungry? Yep, me too. Terrible life experiences.

If you think it's interesting that Paul lists all of these challenges, imagine you are receiving this letter two thousand years ago from your great and powerful church planting leader. Someone two thousand years ago lived in Roman culture. In Roman culture, if you were a leader trying to establish your authority, you would celebrate your achievements. You would have a resume. A bio, I have led this, I have given money to this, I have achieved this. I had success in this. I had success here. I had success here.

Instead, Paul lists all his hardships. Not only does Paul throw out all of his failures and we say, like, really? Back then, they would have heard the gods are displeased with you. Not just the world thinks you're silly but something in the spiritual realm is working against this guy.

Paul goes on to say in verse 32, in Damascus, the governor, under the king, had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket. From a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. Do you know how great of a leader I am? When it got really stressful, and I was in pursuit, do you know what I did? I ran away and I had people help me do it. I ran, I ran away, Paul, what are you doing? What are you doing? You're not doing yourself any favors.

So, I was reading a commentary by NT Wright who's one of the great Christian leaders right now. And he literally says, this is comic relief. Perhaps, at this point in the letter after 10 chapters, in second Corinthians, Corinthians are maybe getting a little tired of Paul and so Paul just like throws it all out there. And he knows that they're at this point starting to laugh like, okay, Paul, we get it. You're a loser. Okay, yes, we get it. It's a joke. Cultured, educated, successful leaders expect protection, not danger. They expect to be fed. Not go hungry. They expect at least a little bit of success. Not shipwrecks.

Paul eventually says in verse 30, if I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness. So, Paul chooses to brag about his weaknesses. This word boast literally means to glory in or rejoice. Shipwrecked again everyone. Paul tells them honestly. And probably has the scars to prove it.

Remember how at the beginning, Paul was telling them to avoid any teaching other than the one he had preached to them and that there were these other Jesuses. Have you ever heard this before? Like, which Jesus are you following? Or maybe even other gospels. Well, I was doing some research and there are lots out there. There's a lot of heresies. For instance, and so, as I was looking, I found these three and I felt like it was a good summary of some of the gospels that they probably were tempted to believe and we do as well.

So, the very first one, is the prosperity gospel. I actually read an excellent book by Kate Bowler called Blessed which is about the prosperity gospel in United States and it's excellent if you want more info about that, I can tell you but in essence, the prosperity gospel is the name and claim it gospel. This is if you pray enough, give enough, believe enough, you will get success. And if you don't have success, you haven't given enough, believed enough, or prayed enough. It's transactional. And Jesus becomes if you have enough money, you'll get what you want.

There is the me first gospel. Okay? It's all about me. And my needs. And my feelings and my comfort. Jesus becomes a therapist.

Last but not least, and we just celebrated the Fourth of July. So, I would be I think just feeling you if I as your pastor would not mention Christian nationalism. This is a false gospel. Nationalism is not civic engagement, okay? Nationalism is the belief that unity and ancestry, language, and culture is mandated. It leads to things like Nazi Germany. Christian nationalism in our country, in The United States, is that we believe that we were founded on Christian principles to be a Christian nation for Christians. And if you can't submit to that and enter into it, you either should be banned, you should change, or you should go back from where you came from. Does this ring true for anyone? Have you heard this? Jesus turns into a very blended, confusing thing where the cross and the flag get interwoven or we have versions of scripture being printed also with the declaration of independence in the beginning of the book. Our denomination has been doing some wonderful work, giving us resources. There's actually a website with a bunch of different books and things that you can access. There's also a paper being written to cut the ground from under it. So that we can understand that this is not the Jesus that was first preached to us.

Compare the message of any of these gospels. Prosperity, me first, or Christian Nationals. Compare that with Jesus who touched the lepers. Jesus who walked on water and encouraged others to come walk with him. Jesus who did not tell the children to go away but to come. Jesus who went across the borders. Jesus who is worthy, the lamb to be slain with all of the nations. Around the throne in the Book of Revelation. Jesus is the author and the perfecter of our faith and yet he ended up on the cross. Prosperity Gospel? Jesus chose vulnerability and death over the sword and armies. He was overcome with grief and anxiety to the point of shedding blood for us. And Jesus did not conquer the Romans. Or bring Israel to be the main kingdom, right? Instead, he established a kingdom for the whole world and he will want to once he will again come to establish his kingdom for eternity.

Like Paul, I'm jealous for you. To believe in the real Jesus. And the true gospel. Compare any other messages that you receive with Jesus of the scriptures. Be wary of anything that tells you to do, be, or believe a certain thing in order to receive a certain thing. Be wary if it focuses even on your faith. Because Jesus alone saves you. Jesus saves you. Not how much faith you have. Be wary of anything that becomes about you. Your comfort, your success. Be wary of anything that helps you feel superior because of who you are or where you live. Over other countries. Anything that focuses or establishes absolute truth apart from Jesus is not the true gospel or the true Jesus.

Paul says, if I must boast, I'm going to boast in my weakness. Paul doesn't just boast about himself and his own failures. Points to Jesus's failures in the light of the world. Good news is that Jesus was not strong. According to the world. Jesus needed to drink water. Jesus took a nap in a boat because he was tired. Jesus bled. Jesus stretched out his arms and allowed the darkness of the world and sin to crush him. When we compare Jesus to other things, there is no comparison. 

Our own vulnerability and weakness that Paul illustrates is what I think is key. When we are tempted to compare ourselves with others or we try to compare Jesus and the gospel. To whatever else is trying to get into our minds. Admitting that we need Jesus is weakness. It is vulnerability. And Paul, when he had his back up against the wall, he went to his weaknesses. So, Paul followed Jesus. I'm going to try to do the same thing.

Some of you know that we're supposed to be in China right now and you're sad to see me today. I made a huge, huge mistake. Not like, oh, okay, we can fix that, but like, we didn't go to China. Screw up after going to the airport with our ticket and our passports in hand. I am calling it, remember that one time we tried to go to China? The short story is we needed visas. And I didn't get them. And when we found out about it, the shame that I had and the thoughts that went through my mind instantly, prosperity gospel. Well, I must have done something wrong to deserve this. I didn't blah blah blah. Right? I'm tempted to go to Jesus as my therapist. Oh my gosh. Just please make me feel better because I feel crappy right now. I also could make it about China and stupid bureaucracy and why do we have to have fighting with China? Why can't China just be nice to The United States? Why do we even need a visa to travel to China? I could go any of those routes.

Instead, do you know what has helped? Just telling people the truth about my mistake. And about how terrible I felt and how shamed I felt. Brene Brown has done great studies on vulnerability. I could do a whole sermon based on Brene Brown's vulnerability. She says 99% of us are raised to think that vulnerability is a weakness that we should avoid at all costs. And I think in the Midwest, it's 110% of us. I don't know what it's like where you grew up or in your culture but I think in general, being honest about our failures particularly on a stage on Sunday morning. When you are one of the lead pastors, it's not necessarily like, oh, sign me up. Brene, however, in her years, like literally decades of studying this, has said, that vulnerability, meaning uncertainty or risk, is essential if we really want to connect with other people and I would also say if you want to connect with the creator of the universe.

To be weak is hard. But we live in a world right now that is the most in our country, obese, medicated, mentally unwell, and addicted. Oh my gosh, the statistics you all about how much we spend on our phones right now. Time, energy, whatever we're doing right now to try to numb our feelings, it's not working. So, let's try something else, shall we? Have you ever thought about being honest about your weaknesses? As a key to living this life.

Esau McCully was talking about vulnerability and he says, the cross doesn't just point us to the answer for salvation. Which it does. But for a way of living. How did our savior live? His life was to go to the cross. If you read the gospels, you can see that is the destination. Now, thank god that's not the end. Right? But the victory and what came after the cross is nothing if there wasn't the cross.

Appearing right, strong, and put together is tempting. I wish that Brian and I could just be on it. Got it all figured out. This church thing, we're nailing it. We don't have any problems. We never make mistakes. I never forget appointments. But that is just, and do you know what I think as I studied this? I actually don't think the world wants a prosperity gospel. I don't think they want the burden of having to pray and believe enough. It only leads to shame. It leads to uncertainty. It leads to giving and like being betrayed. Because at some point, something is going to happen and it's not going to make sense to knock off. Or the me first. Are you sick of self help? You sick of thinking about yourselves? I am sometimes. I get tired of it. I don't want to talk about myself anymore. What's going on with you? What's going on in the world? How could I serve someone else? And then Christian nationalism, I'm just going to stop right there because it makes me so angry, and the numbers of people that do not want to talk about Jesus or church anymore, because of specific Christian nationalism and specific stories that are on the news with the Bible in one hand and hatred in the other. Is wrecking the good news. Because people hear that as a gospel and it's not.

The gospel is that Jesus died for us. And Jesus was weak. Jesus died and he wants all of us to know, it is okay to say, I'm weak too. And I need a savior. We don't want those other gospels. Know what you want? I think, is you want someone to believe in. You want somebody to be there. When it all breaks loose. And that is what Jesus offers us. Jesus gives us a way to connect with the creator of the universe. And it came through suffering. Jesus humbled himself and apart from Christ in humiliation on the cross and weakness and death, the victory that is coming and the kingdom that will be established and the justice and the love and the no more tears that's coming. Is nothing if we don't get through the cross.

It is hard to live this world in comparison to others. It's hard when we hear those other gospels out there. But the next time that you are feeling challenged, what would it look like to choose authenticity? It's one of our values here at our church. What would it look like to choose vulnerability when you just feel like, wow, everybody else says it's so great. And I don't. What would it look like when you are faced with someone who's talking about another gospel? Even believing another gospel and you said, actually, I want to boast about Jesus. Did you know that he really was human? Jesus chose to be human. And that is why our god than the other Gods.

Admitting our weakness and vulnerability is difficult. Of the reasons why we call our church Community Covenant Church is because we want to be a community that is real and authentic. Sometimes getting to that point of vulnerability is saying that you need Jesus. Maybe for some of you, it's the first time, maybe it's the ninety ninth time for you. It's also as you're talking to your friends, being vulnerable with Jesus is okay. And the way we live our lives can point to them seeing that it really is okay. And that we live in a community that we strive to be authentic and vulnerable as we pursue Jesus.

I'm going to invite the worship team to come back up and let me pray for us.

Psalm 20 verse seven says, some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name the lord our god. Jesus, you lived and died for us. You chose weakness and vulnerability. Paul gives us an example of boasting, in our weakness in god. I don't know what that looks like. I don't know that I'll ever be able to boast that I made that huge mistake and that we didn't go to China. I don't know if it means we boast about the fact that we are still meeting in a school seven years into our church and we don't have a real building yet. Don't know if it's a boast in yet we're just barely making budget again. Lord, I don't know what it looks like to be vulnerable all of the time, but I know God that you are enough for us. And that god you chose to be vulnerable. To be weak in the world's eyes, and that you offer yourself to us. And Jesus if there are those here among us today. That have never said yes, Jesus, in that vulnerable way, God. Would they do so? Would we be able to come around them, would we support one another, Jesus? Help us as we continue to worship you. Reveal yourself in ways that we can experience you. Amen