Fundamentalist

There’s a lesson in golf, when you’re not hitting the ball well, to check the fundamentals. You can do this while you’re playing. A famous player Ben Hogan said there’s only 5 - grip, stance, waggle & swing plane, start downswing, swing path. When things seem confusing or are not working it’s good to « go back to basics ».

This week, I can’t remember why, I was reminded of 1 Corinthians 15, what the Gospel is. I found there’s more there than the basic message, if you want a passage to explain to someone what you believe, and you can’t remember the Apostles Creed, or anything I’ve told you, go to 1 Corinthians 15 !

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Come forward for Communion if you need prayer this morning.

The Pearl of Great Price

And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” He answered and said to them, “Because  it has been given to you to know the  mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not  perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears  are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have  closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I  should  heal them.’ But  blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you  that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Matthew 13:10-17

A couple of weeks back, I was up in the middle of the night as I usually am, thinking about the parable of the pearl of great price.  I thought back in my life to a lot of things of real value that have happened. Places, people, events, things purchased, unique experiences. Some have cost a lot of money but not all. The best of those experiences are Impossible to put a value on. I’m very thankful for them.

The pearl of great price comes right after my favourite parable;

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and  sells all that he has and  buys that field. 

Matthew 13:44

In the story which contains so much meaning for me personally, the man appears to be going about ordinary life and accidentally he finds a treasure which he then impulsively decides to sell everything he has to buy. Then he hides it again !

A few people who become Christians weren’t even looking for Jesus but suddenly to their surprise, by the grace of God, they find him !

But the parable of the pearl of great price is different, I would say more common in it’s meaning to a lot of people. 

Pearls are only mentioned in the New Testament and not very often;

1. Don’t cast your pearls before swine

2. In women’s adornment

3. The pearly gates most famously 

And the pearl of great price.

Many people are searching for something of perfection, an experience often, in all kinds of places. In healthy things like sport, in work, in relationships, in religion.

But also in bad things because they make them feel good. Let’s face it, this world can be a very tough place with a lot of disappointment and sadness.

A pearl is hidden in an oyster which I suppose can be likened to a believer who has Jesus in their heart.

If the oyster opens up, then the person at the Market can see the Great Pearl Jesus and they will give up everything they have to get him.

A true convert trades in the all other things to get the pearl of great price.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found  one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

Basically many people are seeking a pearl of great price, not even knowing it. Jesus is the ultimate pearl of great price. 

Jesus is of priceless value but it will cost you everything you have to get him ! You are at the market and you see the pearl and you know it’s worth more than the merchant even knows. What will you do ?