Thank God for God!
Saints Sinners Soldiers
January 13, 2019
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
Paul teaches that Christians, made rich in Christ in speech, knowledge, and gifts, need not fear missing out or being left out at the final judgment, but should faithfully use their gifts and trust God's sustaining faithfulness and mercy until Christ returns.
Summary
Using the contemporary problem of FOMO as a starting point, the sermon draws on Paul's opening to the Corinthians to show that God has already addressed believers' fundamental fears: lack and loss. Paul is thankful not for abstract grace but for tangible effects—richness in speech, knowledge, and gifts—and he urges Christians to see those gifts as obligations to serve until the revealing of Christ. The true antidote to anxiety about missing out or being excluded at the final judgment is God's faithfulness and mercy, which made us alive in Christ apart from our goodness; therefore we should live and serve in light of these truths.
Key Points
- FOMO: modern compulsion to stay connected, widespread among young adults, but there is help.
- Paul’s thanksgiving focuses on God because God has addressed believers’ core fears.
- God’s grace shows up in specific ways: richness in speech, knowledge, and spiritual gifts.
- The fear of missing out and the fear of being left out at Christ’s return are both groundless in Christ.
- Believers are not lacking in any gift and are called to faithful stewardship until Jesus’ revealing.
- Using gifts faithfully builds confidence for the final judgment and reflects obedience to the Father.
- God’s faithfulness, mercy, and grace—not our goodness—secure our standing and sustain us to the end.
- The appropriate response is to live and serve in light of these glorious truths.
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