There are a few things that seem weird to me at this moment. One thing is that it is April. 2016 is flying by and I just want it to slow down. The second thing is that we are getting very close to The Story series coming to an end. In August when we started the series, 31 weeks felt like a really long time. Now, as we are trying to cover the second half of Acts, the writings of Paul, the other epistles, and Revelation, I think we need about 6 more weeks instead of 2 more! There is so much scripture for today and it reflects so many amazing Biblical teachings and understandings and misunderstandings. As I have read these pages and these letters Paul wrote to the church, I figured that we would talk about letters and the church. Clever, huh? I invite you to pray with me over the sermon titled ?Pauls? Missions.? Let us pray.

If you have worshiped with us 1 time before, and left your address, then you have probably received a letter from me. If you have given a financial gift to the church and we know about it, then you have probably received a card from me. If you have given us your birthday information, then over the past couple of months, you have probably received a sweet and simple birthday card from me. If you have helped in some capacity to make something successful, then you have probably received a thank you note from me. If you have celebrated an anniversary, you haven?t received a happy anniversary card from me? I can?t get them to print correctly, but know we are working on it ?You will soon! But I enjoy writing notes to people. I hope that sometimes they brighten someone?s day, other times people get a little laugh, or that people feel appreciated. I also realized through the death of my dad and Lamont and I getting married, that I enjoy receiving cards as well. And there have been many moments that the cards I have received from people in this congregation and in other congregations has giving me the affirmation I needed to keep moving forward through good and hard times. I have one on my counter in the kitchen right now and I am so grateful for that reminder.

As Paul journeyed from town to town and region to region, he would stay in the area and get to know the people, their situations, and learn more about the culture. And when he would leave to go to another place, he was leaving his friends and people who became like family for him. So when he was away from them, Paul wanted to still offer teaching, encouragement, and ways to believe in Jesus in the culture they were living in. And that is how we have the epistles, or letters, of Paul. These are his letters to the faith communities he helped to grow believers in and strengthen in their new faith. The other thing that is important about these letters is that they are not all the same. When you read through 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, Romans, etc., Paul is not writing the exact same thing to all of these faith communities. He tells each community something different, because each community is working through something different. In Romans, Paul is writing in a way that more mature believers can gain a deeper understanding of living out their lives as people who believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is as community where respect for Judaism and the Jewish people runs very deep, and humanity?s spiritual need and the various dimensions of salvation through Christ. While the faith communities in Corinth had a variety of issues that we troublesome between believers and nonbelievers. The first letter also helps with the concern to heal divisions among the Corinthians believers. As one author said, ?The Corinthians know the basic apostolic message and possess outstanding spiritual gifts, but they lack the humility and insight into the bearing of that wisdom on their own circumstances and decisions.? While the second letter to the Corinthians is Pauls? responses to criticisms or questions about what he had said in the past. There are a variety of arguments to help people understand Christ?s death and resurrection. In Galatia, Paul is writing to faith communities in extreme crisis. Many were in a place of wanting to abandon Christ and Paul writes to them to explain why that would be a bad idea. In addition, Paul argues with the people that Christ has given genuine liberty and freedom, and affirms that authentic Christian ministry depends on God?s calling and that the truth of the good news in Jesus is finally independent of human religious authorities. And in Thessalonica, Paul is encouraging the people to remain faithful in their participation in and witness to the gospel. At the same time, he reminds them how important it is to distinguish the Christians from their neighbors yet leave the doors open for continuing witness.

Just in these few summaries of these different letters, you can see how Paul had a different message for each faith community, yet everything came out of believing in the resurrection. For Paul, faith communities were called churches. But not in the context we think of as church. When you think of church, what are the descriptive words that come to mind? (people, building, place we go on Sunday, etc.) When Paul referred to the church he had something a little different in mind. In the translation from Greek to English, the meaning of church is lost in translation. ?As some of you might know, the Greek term translated church throughout the New Testament is ekklesia. What you may not know is that it was not a religious term. It was used to refer to soldiers called out to gather for military purposes. An ekklesiawas simply a gathering or an assembly of people called out for a specific purpose. Ekklesia never referred to a specific place, only a specific gathering?.assembly, gathering, community, congregation?(and this goes back to the Old Testament as well)?Each community of God?s people called its synagogue?the local gathering of God?s people?an ekklesia, understanding it to be a local, literal gathering of people who were also members of the broad, spiritual gathering known as Israel. In both secular and sacred literature, ekklesia always referred to a gathering of people united by a common identity and purpose (Deep and Wide by Andy Stanley, pg 59-60).?
The phrase ?common identity and purpose? of an ekklesiaor church struck me greatly as I thought about Paul?s journey, the letters he wrote to the faith communities or churches, and how we are to live out being the church today. And I began to wonder what a ?common identity and purpose? has been for Wintergarden and could be for the future. So I decided to write you a letter with the same type style that Paul would write to hisekklesia. This is the type of letter that would be read before the whole gathering when it was received.

Devon, to the church of Port Charlotte in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
I always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in my prayers, constantly remembering before our God your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I have heard that the church is not the same as before. Many have left, more are growing older, and others are very sick. I have heard there was internal conflict that caused fractions within the church and people left. Do not let petty divisions cause you pain any more. Have unity in a common identity and purpose. Live your lives according to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not live according to what is expected of you in this world, but live in a way that Jesus encouraged us to live. A life that is full of welcome, inclusion, affirmation, love, and faith. I have also heard there was an external event, a hurricane, that caused much trouble in the great town of Port Charlotte. Although this was over 10 years ago, its affect is still seen. It was prior to this time when the church seemed to be healthy and growing. Yet if you had your trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, you would have been able to weather the storm in a healthier and stronger fashion than you did. But you placed your trust in worldly things and other people, instead of putting your trust and faith in the God who raised Jesus from the dead and conquered death for all of us! Put your trust in God first, give out of the generous spirit that God has given you, not out of a spirit of the world.
Oh how I wish I could have come to be with you sooner! You must know that my coming to you was not in vain, but to remind you of the many gifts God has already given you and that there is hope for the faith community of Wintergarden. As I hear from those around you, I have heard there are many new faces that are gathering from the community and learning about the love of Jesus Christ through you. You continue to have a spirit of welcome, love, hospitality, and care. Those who gather with you, experience an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ because of who you are for the community. This is good and faithful work; it is also hard work. I encourage you to stay strong in the midst of adversity and failure, continue to love your neighbors as God first loves you. This is living life in the belief of the resurrection.

I appeal to you sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, to respect those who might look, believe, think, or act differently than you do. Be at peace among yourselves and share the same identity in Jesus Christ and the same purpose to share the good news of Jesus Christ and live out the resurrection. Seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks for all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit, but live your life according to the Spirit of God that is within you.

May the God of peace empower you to grow closer in your relationship with Jesus Christ, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Beloved, pray for me. Pray for one another. Pray for your ekklesia.

Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that his letter be read to all of them. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.Amen.