All for One and One for All
2 Corinthians 8:1-15
Before we look at Paul’s letter with its nice compliments for the Macedonians and the challenges given to the Corinthians, I invite you to sit back and enjoy a great story told by Bill Hybels. When Bill lived in Hawaii, he and some of his church buddies decided to enter as a six-person team in a local canoe race. They thought it would be a lot of fun. They found a canoe and went to a club to get lessons.
The coach gave each of them a paddle, sat astride the nose of their canoe and said they would start with an 1/8 of a mile sprint. The men felt really confident. The coach shouted “Ready? Set? Go!” and at once every member of that teams’ muscles began to bulge and stretch as they dipped their paddles into the water again and again. Since none of them knew when or how to switch from one side to the other, they paddled on one side until that arm felt tired.
When Bill switched sides one time, he scraped the bare back of the fellow in front of him, causing him to bleed. His teammate grunted when that happened but kept paddling. The determined men thrashed their way to the finish line in one minute, 42 seconds. They were surprisingly exhausted from their exertion.
As the canoe coasted along more slowly, the men caught their breath and apologized for the scrapes and wounds they had inflicted on one another. Then they took the small buckets the coach handed to them and began to bail water out of their canoe. After heading to the shore, the coach sat down with the soggy crew and began to teach them the basics of proper paddling, switching sides, water safety rules, and the key principles they needed to work together as a unified team. That same day they had some more practice runs and sooner than any of them expected, their strokes were as rhythmic as a metronome.
“Time to have one last run today on that try 1/8 of a mile,” said the coach. “But this time pretend you’re taking a leisurely stroll through the park. Just a nice smooth cadence, no attempts to break the sound barrier.” Then he called out “Ready? Set? Go!” That team’s canoe cut through the water like a hot knife through butter. The men controlled every stroke and switched sides without skipping a beat; they were one amazing precision machine. In no time at all the coach said, “O.K., stop paddling.” The men were surprised they arrived so quickly at the finish line. “Anybody tired?” asked the coach with a grin. The men boisterously said they felt fine. “Well,” replied the coach, “you just beat your last time by 24 seconds!” There was a lot of whooping and high-fiving after that.
On his way home Bill Hybels thought about how his morning on the lake paddling a canoe with a team had a lot in common with what’s needed in the life of every church. First a vision is needed, a sense of where you’re going and what will get you to that destination. And having a good coach makes a huge impact, but the crew itself is key. Lots can go poorly; there can be unexpected crises like the water that filled their canoe, and personal injuries can happen in close quarters during tense times. But there can also be a thrilling satisfaction when a team works together with unity and determination. It’s exciting to reach the goal and energizing to know you did it successfully as a team with others. Have you experienced something similar to what Bill’s talking about here? Have you known the work and the satisfaction of teamwork, perhaps as a part of a sports or work team or organizing an event? Chances are you’ve also been on some teams that have had struggles and setbacks and didn’t have the most successful outcomes.
Let’s delve into what was happening in the early churches the Apostle Paul was visiting and serving. He was on a missionary journey as a traveling evangelist and teacher, and at every stop on his itinerary churches were taking up a collection to help fund the efforts of the Jerusalem churches. They had launched several relief efforts to minister to the poor and needy throughout their crowded city, enthusiastically following Jesus’ own example and teachings. Their love of God motivated them to love their neighbors as themselves - so they set up sites for feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, coordination of placement for orphaned children and widows, plus places where the sick and disabled could be cared for. All of these compassionate and practical relief ministries required funding. It takes money to buy large quantities of food, medicines, clothing, and bedding. Jerusalem was the first major hub that established sites for Christian mission and relief work; the financial cost was well beyond what they could manage on their own, so the call went out to the extended network of Christian Churches. Each was asked to take offerings and send whatever financial help they could.
Paul was a traveling evangelist and teacher; he had seen and heard how the collections for the mission work in Jerusalem were going in the various churches he visited. He is now at the very well-to-do church in Corinth and he’s shocked at what he finds there. Being wise, and hoping to motivate them he gathers the congregation and tells them all about his recent visit to Macedonia. He described their humble church, and the poverty common to them all. But he then went on to talk about the joyful spirit among them in their worship and the strong bonds of care and concern. What he saved for last was the amount of money they had collected for the “Mother” church in Jerusalem. I think his audience had been listening politely until that moment, anticipating that the amount they could raise would be meager. So when Paul perhaps paused for effect – then named the very large sum – it impressed the rich folks. Heads turned as they expressed their shock to their neighbor – they couldn’t believe such an amount could be raised. Then no doubt came the whispering, people wanting to know what amount they had raised.
I’m certain the apostle Paul would have loved hearing Bill Hybels’ story. It would have aligned with and complemented the message he was sharing with the church in Corinth. Paul wanted the church to work together as one cooperative team. He knew two essential things would most contribute to their success: being united in their vision, but also committed to their goal. Paul was like the coach: he knew the reasons why the Corinthian Church didn’t make it anywhere close to their goal, but he also knew he could help them get there if they started doing things differently.
The first requirement, what it all hinges on, is participation. The people in that congregation had to decide whether or not they wanted to be in the race, signed up on the team, holding and using a paddle. They had already heard many months before about the relief needs in Jerusalem. The person sent to share the news would have given them many details and personal examples of not just lives changed but hearts as well, as people became Christians through the example and witness of their caregivers.
Paul knew that some in the Corinthian church were enthusiastic about the Jerusalem missions – they were giving and excited – but relatively few. To go with that analogy, let’s imagine them paddling in a top-of-the-line canoe with coordinated paddles, but practice times are sporadic, not regular. They prefer to row when the weather is nice, not rainy, not too cool, or very windy. But when they are in the water, their team uniforms look sharp and they keep their eyes on the goal. But most in the club, or church, don’t have that same level of allegiance; they leave the showing up and paddling in the race to be done by the small core group.
Do you think this scenario I’ve just described can happen in churches? It can and it does! But listen to what may have been taking place in the other church in Macedonia. I think their canoe was generic, their well-worn paddles secondhand. They didn’t even discuss having team uniforms; it never crossed their minds. They wore whatever they usually wore on a day off after a long week. When they came, they brought along their family and friends, with picnic coolers and lawn chairs to make a day of it. Some people even brought their dogs! People already knew each other well, so it was a happily noisy gathering on the banks of the river. Everyone held hands and prayed on the team, and so did the spectators before the race began. People knew everyone on the team that day, and they called their names as they clapped and cheered them on during the race.
Now this wasn’t a once-a-year event, they did this more or less every month all year long. There were a whole bunch of teams taking part in training and racing; the support for this was huge! It really unified everyone, as they all found ways to contribute toward this shared goal. Some seasons there were more successes than others, and they had had some really awful years now and again. But it didn’t diminish their joy; they stayed close, each kept contributing, they always prayed together and shared meals.
When I think about Paul’s message given to the church in Corinth, I don’t think his main goal was for them to raise a specific dollar amount for relief work in Jerusalem. What he most longed to see was them experiencing the joy of knowing and following Jesus in their everyday lives. That’s what made the poverty-stricken church in Macedonia so memorable. They were a congregation you looked forward to seeing and spending time with whenever possible. They didn’t have the largest or most impressive church meeting place, but it was a roof over their heads. They didn’t have all the money they wished they had, but each and every one there gave whatever they could. That was one of the reasons they were close-knit: it was one for all and all for one. And some in the church truly sacrificed; that is the case in every church. Together – with God’s help – the church remained right there, known for years to come in their community as a place where people genuinely loved God and loved their neighbors.
Members and friends of the Ballston Spa Church, this congregation has been through lean times in the past, and yet here we are today. People before us all took turns holding the paddles and rowing. They were disciplined and generous believers, who counted the cost of following Jesus and labored willingly. In their evenings, on their days off from work and on Sundays, they showed up at this church to be leaders and cook church dinners. There were Sunday School teachers and choir members. People have maintained our church’s buildings and been part of Bible studies and prayer meetings. This congregation has also taken generous collections year-round for mission and relief needs locally and around the world. In this place are those who have loved God and loved their neighbors well.
Now we are the guardians of the ministries of this beautiful church here in Ballston Spa. We have the same vision and goal as every other follower of Jesus Christ: we are called to share the Good News that Jesus is the Savior of the world. He wants to take up residence in every heart and change people from the inside out. The New Life Christ offers should be displayed today and every day through you, and through me.
Next week Lent begins, the six-week period of reflection, repentance, and renewal leading up to Holy Week and Easter. There will be several opportunities for you to grow closer to God. To re-align your time or your talents to serve Christ’s church. Put another way, there are paddles waiting for you to hold, picnic-like times of fellowship waiting, mission work that will bring joy, and much, much more. So, stay tuned in each week during Lent – don’t miss any part of what’s coming. There will be chances to learn and serve, to do new things in new ways and to enjoy traditional experiences as well. With that tantalizing vision before you… let me leave you with a reminder from the Apostle Paul. Joy abounds when everyone is active and giving whatever they can. There is excitement and action, giving and gratitude. That is the future can be ours; to find out more, tune in to next week’s worship service!
The coach gave each of them a paddle, sat astride the nose of their canoe and said they would start with an 1/8 of a mile sprint. The men felt really confident. The coach shouted “Ready? Set? Go!” and at once every member of that teams’ muscles began to bulge and stretch as they dipped their paddles into the water again and again. Since none of them knew when or how to switch from one side to the other, they paddled on one side until that arm felt tired.
When Bill switched sides one time, he scraped the bare back of the fellow in front of him, causing him to bleed. His teammate grunted when that happened but kept paddling. The determined men thrashed their way to the finish line in one minute, 42 seconds. They were surprisingly exhausted from their exertion.
As the canoe coasted along more slowly, the men caught their breath and apologized for the scrapes and wounds they had inflicted on one another. Then they took the small buckets the coach handed to them and began to bail water out of their canoe. After heading to the shore, the coach sat down with the soggy crew and began to teach them the basics of proper paddling, switching sides, water safety rules, and the key principles they needed to work together as a unified team. That same day they had some more practice runs and sooner than any of them expected, their strokes were as rhythmic as a metronome.
“Time to have one last run today on that try 1/8 of a mile,” said the coach. “But this time pretend you’re taking a leisurely stroll through the park. Just a nice smooth cadence, no attempts to break the sound barrier.” Then he called out “Ready? Set? Go!” That team’s canoe cut through the water like a hot knife through butter. The men controlled every stroke and switched sides without skipping a beat; they were one amazing precision machine. In no time at all the coach said, “O.K., stop paddling.” The men were surprised they arrived so quickly at the finish line. “Anybody tired?” asked the coach with a grin. The men boisterously said they felt fine. “Well,” replied the coach, “you just beat your last time by 24 seconds!” There was a lot of whooping and high-fiving after that.
On his way home Bill Hybels thought about how his morning on the lake paddling a canoe with a team had a lot in common with what’s needed in the life of every church. First a vision is needed, a sense of where you’re going and what will get you to that destination. And having a good coach makes a huge impact, but the crew itself is key. Lots can go poorly; there can be unexpected crises like the water that filled their canoe, and personal injuries can happen in close quarters during tense times. But there can also be a thrilling satisfaction when a team works together with unity and determination. It’s exciting to reach the goal and energizing to know you did it successfully as a team with others. Have you experienced something similar to what Bill’s talking about here? Have you known the work and the satisfaction of teamwork, perhaps as a part of a sports or work team or organizing an event? Chances are you’ve also been on some teams that have had struggles and setbacks and didn’t have the most successful outcomes.
Let’s delve into what was happening in the early churches the Apostle Paul was visiting and serving. He was on a missionary journey as a traveling evangelist and teacher, and at every stop on his itinerary churches were taking up a collection to help fund the efforts of the Jerusalem churches. They had launched several relief efforts to minister to the poor and needy throughout their crowded city, enthusiastically following Jesus’ own example and teachings. Their love of God motivated them to love their neighbors as themselves - so they set up sites for feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, coordination of placement for orphaned children and widows, plus places where the sick and disabled could be cared for. All of these compassionate and practical relief ministries required funding. It takes money to buy large quantities of food, medicines, clothing, and bedding. Jerusalem was the first major hub that established sites for Christian mission and relief work; the financial cost was well beyond what they could manage on their own, so the call went out to the extended network of Christian Churches. Each was asked to take offerings and send whatever financial help they could.
Paul was a traveling evangelist and teacher; he had seen and heard how the collections for the mission work in Jerusalem were going in the various churches he visited. He is now at the very well-to-do church in Corinth and he’s shocked at what he finds there. Being wise, and hoping to motivate them he gathers the congregation and tells them all about his recent visit to Macedonia. He described their humble church, and the poverty common to them all. But he then went on to talk about the joyful spirit among them in their worship and the strong bonds of care and concern. What he saved for last was the amount of money they had collected for the “Mother” church in Jerusalem. I think his audience had been listening politely until that moment, anticipating that the amount they could raise would be meager. So when Paul perhaps paused for effect – then named the very large sum – it impressed the rich folks. Heads turned as they expressed their shock to their neighbor – they couldn’t believe such an amount could be raised. Then no doubt came the whispering, people wanting to know what amount they had raised.
I’m certain the apostle Paul would have loved hearing Bill Hybels’ story. It would have aligned with and complemented the message he was sharing with the church in Corinth. Paul wanted the church to work together as one cooperative team. He knew two essential things would most contribute to their success: being united in their vision, but also committed to their goal. Paul was like the coach: he knew the reasons why the Corinthian Church didn’t make it anywhere close to their goal, but he also knew he could help them get there if they started doing things differently.
The first requirement, what it all hinges on, is participation. The people in that congregation had to decide whether or not they wanted to be in the race, signed up on the team, holding and using a paddle. They had already heard many months before about the relief needs in Jerusalem. The person sent to share the news would have given them many details and personal examples of not just lives changed but hearts as well, as people became Christians through the example and witness of their caregivers.
Paul knew that some in the Corinthian church were enthusiastic about the Jerusalem missions – they were giving and excited – but relatively few. To go with that analogy, let’s imagine them paddling in a top-of-the-line canoe with coordinated paddles, but practice times are sporadic, not regular. They prefer to row when the weather is nice, not rainy, not too cool, or very windy. But when they are in the water, their team uniforms look sharp and they keep their eyes on the goal. But most in the club, or church, don’t have that same level of allegiance; they leave the showing up and paddling in the race to be done by the small core group.
Do you think this scenario I’ve just described can happen in churches? It can and it does! But listen to what may have been taking place in the other church in Macedonia. I think their canoe was generic, their well-worn paddles secondhand. They didn’t even discuss having team uniforms; it never crossed their minds. They wore whatever they usually wore on a day off after a long week. When they came, they brought along their family and friends, with picnic coolers and lawn chairs to make a day of it. Some people even brought their dogs! People already knew each other well, so it was a happily noisy gathering on the banks of the river. Everyone held hands and prayed on the team, and so did the spectators before the race began. People knew everyone on the team that day, and they called their names as they clapped and cheered them on during the race.
Now this wasn’t a once-a-year event, they did this more or less every month all year long. There were a whole bunch of teams taking part in training and racing; the support for this was huge! It really unified everyone, as they all found ways to contribute toward this shared goal. Some seasons there were more successes than others, and they had had some really awful years now and again. But it didn’t diminish their joy; they stayed close, each kept contributing, they always prayed together and shared meals.
When I think about Paul’s message given to the church in Corinth, I don’t think his main goal was for them to raise a specific dollar amount for relief work in Jerusalem. What he most longed to see was them experiencing the joy of knowing and following Jesus in their everyday lives. That’s what made the poverty-stricken church in Macedonia so memorable. They were a congregation you looked forward to seeing and spending time with whenever possible. They didn’t have the largest or most impressive church meeting place, but it was a roof over their heads. They didn’t have all the money they wished they had, but each and every one there gave whatever they could. That was one of the reasons they were close-knit: it was one for all and all for one. And some in the church truly sacrificed; that is the case in every church. Together – with God’s help – the church remained right there, known for years to come in their community as a place where people genuinely loved God and loved their neighbors.
Members and friends of the Ballston Spa Church, this congregation has been through lean times in the past, and yet here we are today. People before us all took turns holding the paddles and rowing. They were disciplined and generous believers, who counted the cost of following Jesus and labored willingly. In their evenings, on their days off from work and on Sundays, they showed up at this church to be leaders and cook church dinners. There were Sunday School teachers and choir members. People have maintained our church’s buildings and been part of Bible studies and prayer meetings. This congregation has also taken generous collections year-round for mission and relief needs locally and around the world. In this place are those who have loved God and loved their neighbors well.
Now we are the guardians of the ministries of this beautiful church here in Ballston Spa. We have the same vision and goal as every other follower of Jesus Christ: we are called to share the Good News that Jesus is the Savior of the world. He wants to take up residence in every heart and change people from the inside out. The New Life Christ offers should be displayed today and every day through you, and through me.
Next week Lent begins, the six-week period of reflection, repentance, and renewal leading up to Holy Week and Easter. There will be several opportunities for you to grow closer to God. To re-align your time or your talents to serve Christ’s church. Put another way, there are paddles waiting for you to hold, picnic-like times of fellowship waiting, mission work that will bring joy, and much, much more. So, stay tuned in each week during Lent – don’t miss any part of what’s coming. There will be chances to learn and serve, to do new things in new ways and to enjoy traditional experiences as well. With that tantalizing vision before you… let me leave you with a reminder from the Apostle Paul. Joy abounds when everyone is active and giving whatever they can. There is excitement and action, giving and gratitude. That is the future can be ours; to find out more, tune in to next week’s worship service!