{"id":1198,"date":"2020-02-09T13:53:53","date_gmt":"2020-02-09T21:53:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1198"},"modified":"2020-02-09T13:55:48","modified_gmt":"2020-02-09T21:55:48","slug":"the-word-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/09\/the-word-works\/","title":{"rendered":"The Word Works!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1198-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-5-02-09-20.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-5-02-09-20.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-5-02-09-20.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">February 9, 2020<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I Corinthians 2:1-5<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word Works!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit&#8217;s power, so that your faith might not rest on men&#8217;s wisdom, but on God&#8217;s power.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">One of the things that I learned \u201cthe hard way\u201d is that if you want to get a job done right you need to use the right tool.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That truth applies no matter whether you are working on a car or whether you are working on a lakehouse.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let me share with you a real-life example.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>A number of years ago I wanted to start replacing the siding on the lakehouse we inherited from my Mom and Dad.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I figured I\u2019d start with the two sides of the house where there was a deck to stand on.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It took a little bit of convincing but I finally got my brother Mike (who is an expert woodworker) to agree that If I purchased all the materials and if I got all the old siding off the house and if I got all the new siding stained, he would install the new siding.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After he finally agreed I asked him, \u201cHow do I get the old siding off?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He said that it was actually quite simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You take a crow bar and get it into the seam between the 4\u2019 by 8\u2019 pieces of siding.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once you have the crow bar underneath the edge, you just grab hold of the siding and pull it off!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Easy peasy!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then I tried to actually do it!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When I went up to the lake the following summer I did as I was told.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I got the crow bar underneath the edge of the siding, I grabbed hold of the edge and I pulled!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Nothing!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I re-positioned myself and pulled as hard as I could.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Still nothing!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I tried using the crow bar to get underneath the head of the nail and pull it out.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That didn\u2019t work.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I tried using a wood chisel to expose the nail head enough to pull it out with a hammer.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It worked\u2014 but it was painstakingly slow!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I knew that I would never be done by the time Mike got up there the following weekend.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Finally, I went down to the lumberyard in town and explained to the elderly man behind the counter what I was trying to do.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He looked at me and said, \u201cWhat you need, son, is a crow\u2019s foot. (aka a \u2018cat\u2019s paw\u2019\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I said, \u201cO-kay, what is a crow\u2019s foot?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He said, \u201cFollow me.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He took me to the aisle where there were all kinds of crow bars and hammers displayed on a wall.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He reached up and took down what looked like a miniature modified crow bar and said, \u201cThis is a crow\u2019s foot.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It was about 10 to 12 inches long with a claw on the end of the handle as well as a claw on the end of the curved part.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The L-shaped curve also had a flat side to it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He told me to position the claw by the head of the nail and then use a hammer to drive it underneath the head of the nail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then you just push down on the handle and out comes the nail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I took my crow\u2019s foot back to the lakehouse, did exactly what he said and guess what?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It worked!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I finally had the right tool for the job I needed to get done!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When you want to get a job done right you need to use the right tool.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Just as that truth applies in a variety of situations in the world around us, so also that truth applies when it comes to the \u201cwork\u201d of the church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But what \u201ctool\u201d do we need in order to get the \u201cwork\u201d of the church done correctly?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our text for today reminds us that there is only <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one <\/b>correct \u201ctool\u201d\u2014 the holy inspired Word of our God!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For that reason let\u2019s study our text under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Word Works!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We want to see two things this morning.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First let\u2019s see that Paul was absolutely confident of this truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then let\u2019s see that we need to be just as confident of this truth today.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As we mentioned last week, the ancient city of Corinth was a very large, a very important and a very cosmopolitan city.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, the ancient city of Corinth was a magnate for philosophers and for professional orators.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Intellectual arguments and sophisticated rhetoric were highly valued.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Corinthian Christians were undoubtedly very well acquainted with the eloquence and the intellectual abilities of more than one \u201cprofessional preacher.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then there was Paul.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As someone who had receive an excellent education (See Acts 22:3), as someone who was an inspired apostle of the crucified and risen Christ, Paul could undoubtedly \u201chold his own\u201d with the best orators in Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But that was not Paul\u2019s goal\u2014 nor was it his standard operating procedure.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Paul says in the opening portion of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cWhen I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Even though Paul was capable of using <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201celoquent\u201d<\/i> words, even though Paul was capable of speaking with <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuperior wisdom\u201d<\/i> (humanly speaking), he consciously chose not to do so!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why? <span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Because Paul had just that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">one <\/b>goal!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul did not go to Corinth to debate philosophy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul did not go to Corinth to teach the people what they could do to improve themselves.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No, my friends, Paul went to Corinth to proclaim <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe testimony about God\u201d<\/i>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul went to Corinth to proclaim God\u2019s Word in its fullness\u2014 both Law and Gospel!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul went to Corinth to proclaim <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJesus Christ and him crucified\u201d<\/i>!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why did this highly educated man speak to the Corinthians <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cin weakness and fear, and with much trembling\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because Paul knew, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul knew that on his own he had nothing to offer to the Corinthians.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul knew that there was no amount of intellectual prowess or slick talk or creative presentations that he could use to help the Corinthians to be ready for eternity!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul knew that when he shared God\u2019s Word with the Corinthians he had to step back, get out of the way and focus on the power of God the Holy Spirit as He worked through the power of God\u2019s Word!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And it worked!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For eighteen months Paul trusted in the power of God\u2019s Word to work in the hearts of the people of Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For eighteen months Paul saw how God\u2019s Word led the Corinthians to recognize their sins, to repent of their sins and to trust in <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJesus Christ and him crucified\u201d<\/i> (Pointing to the cross) for the complete forgiveness of their sins!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word works!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The apostle Paul was absolutely confident of that truth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We need to be just as confident of that truth today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In many ways the area in which you and I live, the area in which our congregation exists is very much like the ancient city of Corinth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Intellectual knowledge and technological abilities are highly valued and well-compensated.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Differing and sometimes even contrasting philosophies are almost always given equal merit\u2014 unless, of course, they are based on Scripture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even we sometimes think that if only we would change our style of worship, if only we would change some of the things we believe, teach and confess, if only we would change (<u>you fill in the blank<\/u>) <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">then <\/b>our congregation would grow!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we fall into the trap of focusing on ourselves, what we do and how we do it, we could easily find ourselves no different from so many churches which emphasize social concerns, political causes and helping people to \u201cfeel good\u201d about themselves no matter what they believe or how they are living their life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As I was preparing this sermon I ran across a warning that quickly got my attention.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is a warning about proclaiming \u201ca God without wrath bringing men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of Christ without a cross.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not only do I need to take that warning to heart every time I stand here in God\u2019s pulpit, but each and every one of us need to take that warning to heart as we speak to others about God, about His Kingdom and about their eternity.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word is the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only <\/b>tool that works, my friends!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whether that Word comes to us through God\u2019s holy Sacraments or whether that Word is being read or preached or heard <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">only <\/b>the Word has the ability to produce a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdemonstration of the Spirit\u2019s power.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Each and every one of you is living proof of that truth!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word works!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How can we make sure that we are putting that truth into practice\u2014 not only in our own personal life, but also here in our congregational life?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We follow the example that Paul gives to us here in our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We make sure that every time we gather together here in God\u2019s house the focus is clearly on <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cJesus Christ and him crucified\u201d<\/i> (Pointing to the cross)\u2014 not on ourselves, not on the preacher, not on the attitude of \u201cWhat is the church going to do for me?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Does this mean that we do not need to be concerned about striving for excellence whether it is in our worship, the hymns that we sing, the sermons that are preached or the Bible studies that we offer?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Of course not!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That would not only be na\u00efve, but it would also be unscriptural.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What it does mean, my friends, is that like the apostle Paul we remain fully convinced that the Word works\u2014 because the power of God the Holy Spirit works through the Word!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Word works!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why is that truth so very important to remember?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is important, my friends, because of what Paul says at the end of our text:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2026so that your faith might not rest on men\u2019s wisdom, but on God\u2019s power.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we were to base our faith on the ever-changing <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwisdom\u201d<\/i> of this world, our faith will fail us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we were to base our faith on the personality or on the preaching style of a particular pastor, our faith will fail us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we were to base our faith on what we \u201cfeel\u201d is right, our faith will fail us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But, if we base our faith on the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpower\u201d<\/i> of God as it comes to us through His holy Word, our fail will not fail us\u2014 because our God cannot fail us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When we base our faith on the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpower\u201d<\/i> of God as it comes to us through His holy Word, then no matter what storms we encounter as we journey though this world we have nothing to fear\u2014 because our faith is built on a rock-solid foundation!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 7:24ff)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u201cWhat you need, son, is a crow\u2019s foot!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That simple statement reminded me that if you want to get the job done right\u2014 you need to use the right tool!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As true as that is in the world around us it is even more true when it comes to the \u201cwork\u201d of the church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The \u201cwork\u201d of the church always has one goal, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That goal is beautifully summed up in Paul\u2019s statement: <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified\u2026so that your faith might not rest on men\u2019s wisdom, but on God\u2019s power.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Word works!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>May the good Lord not only help us to always remember that truth, but may the good Lord help us to always strive to put that truth into practice!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Epiphany-5-02-09-20.mp3\">Epiphany-5-02-09-20.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany February 9, 2020 I Corinthians 2:1-5 The Word Works! &nbsp; When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.&nbsp; For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.&nbsp; I [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1198\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}