Example: Intersection / Proclamation

This text (in part) is read for Proper 4 (4:5-12), Year B (May-June) paired with
Mark 2:23-3:6 (picking grain on Sabbath) & Deut 5:12-15 (Sabbath rest commanded).

Perhaps there is a connection with the gospel text in that Jesus’ ministry didn’t seem holy or pious or godly to those who watched him either.

Though Paul is speaking about his own apostolic ministry in particular (and we should not forget that he is trying to convince the church at Corinth that his ministry is genuinely the embodiment of the gospel; the church needs to be reminded that the cross remains formative and normative for the church), it seems a legitimate extension to use this text to think of the ministry of the gospel that we all share (Paul himself makes such an extension in Phil 3:2-17)

This text will be read after Pentecost & Trinity, and appears at the beginning of the summer. Perhaps this is a good time to talk about ministry during the "normal," struggling, human times.

How do we measure faithful or successful ministry? Do we expect a list of successes: people convinced / converted, dangers avoided, respect & influence in society? Paul says that the gospel of the cross turns such expectations on their heads.

(Click here to view in sample paper)

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