Here we are, three weeks into a new year, and I'm tempted to take a poll and find out how we're doing with our New Year's resolutions, those great American dreams of self-improvement.  Two resolutions made most often are (1) to lose weight and (2) to get more exercise.  It's estimated fully one half of all Americans who make resolutions include those two.  It seems everyone wants to weigh less and be stronger.  That's good, since our American bodies seem to be getting bigger and weaker all the time.  The encouraging text I just read about strengthening our feeble arms and weak knees is definitely in order!

          Like everything we do in America, we go to extremes in physical conditioning.  There are those chosen few people who are getting stronger and stronger while most of the rest of us seem to be getting weaker and weaker.  Athletes or magazine models make us look too puny or too pudgy.  We're a nation of "In-Shapers" and "Out-of-Shapers."  The "In-Shapers," though a minority, are made to look the norm at every commercial opportunity.  And the rest of us poor "Out-of-Shapers" must certainly suffer from low self-esteem, don't you think?

          This also seems true among churches.  Mainline denominations are growing weak and losing members each year, while maverick community churches are springing up everywhere and gaining members.  If Epiphany wants to be serious about being a strong church, we need to consider how to "Strengthen the Body."  Strong and focused churches produce strong Christians.  Conversely, weak and aimless churches produce weak Christians.

          The whole chapter of 1 Corinthians 12 is devoted to the word picture of the Church being like a human body.  It has arms and legs, eyes and toes.  The eye and ear is important to the hand and arm which is important to the toes and foot.  Paul says even the weaker parts have a valued function.

          And no part, no matter how seemingly more important, can say to another part, "I don't need you."  The body works well when all its parts are healthy and work together.  Just ask anyone who has all parts working well, except, say a bad knee or broken toe or a migraine headache.  All parts are dependent on each other, and when one goes awry, the rest suffers as well.  St. Paul tells us in today's text, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;  if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

          The next words of our text, from Hebrews, just seemed to fit so well:  "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and your weak knees."  I really need to stop here and say this message is no way directed at anyone in my family, regardless of the fact that my dear Carol is facing knee surgery and that her arm strength is a frequent topic of discussion among the men in our family.  In fact, after spending too many hours last week moving things and then skiing Friday, my arms and knees feel worse than hers.

          But how does the body get stronger?  If it's true that strong and focused churches produce strong Christians, how can Epiphany get stronger and more focused and her members can grow stronger?  First of all, let's make one thing clear:  we are a healthy little church.  We're not at all sick or in pain.  God has blessed us mightily, small as we are.  Few other churches our size and age have so much going for it.

          Last Thursday we had a service of blessing for our "Epiphany House" at 550 Wolfensberger.  At the end, one of the members told of another mission congregation doing fairly well, but then they have a pastor, an assistant pastor and a youth worker.  He then publicly paid me a compliment saying Epiphany has more in worship, despite the fact that I'm the only worker.  I was caught off guard, and mumbled something, but now wished I'd said, "But I'm not the only one!  Epiphany is doing well because there are lots of people doing the work, not just one."  I believe everyone there knew this, but it would have been great if I'd thought to say it then.  It's a fact that we all have lots of great things to say, but we always think of them later.

          But any church growth or personal growth is all due to the Lord, not to us.  Yes, we're thankful for the fine efforts of many, but in the end success comes from God.  If we took the same people with the same gifts and mixed them up just a little differently, Epiphany could be a much colder or nastier or snootier church.  It's a gift from God that our church Body is as warm and strong it is.

          But we still have a long ways to go.  Now we're landowners, and that means responsibilities.  There will be some unexpected bumps in the road ahead.  In the coming days, our Church Council and Construction Committee will be spending much extra time and effort, so the rest of us need to encourage them and thank them and pray for them.  The Body must support itself by acknowledging the parts that work so hard.  The Body does not need pettiness, and I praise God we've had so little.  All we do must be done in love, always to build up, and never to tear down.

          Last week I spoke of CareGroups as an important way to "Walk Carefully."  Our daily strength comes from a genuine commitment to God and His Word, and also from fellowship and caring.  And we can't do that if we don't know each other!  The next time you're invited to a CareGroup, come!  Don't make excuses, and -- please -- don't ignore an invitation!  Call and acknowledge them.  Our members are opening their homes to us!  Clear your calendar and make the visit.  And I want you to know I intend to keep encouraging this until the message gets through.

          For the parts of the Body to be strengthened, we must first be Committed to Christ.  But we also must Acknowledge our fellow believers.  If anyone comes here and leaves feeling ignored or left out, we've messed up!  Christ wants us to love each other as He's loved us!  Commit to Jesus, but then Acknowledge each other in love.

          Strengthening the body also means Regularity in worship and prayer.  Like we eat food every day, so we need the nourishment of God's food -- His Word -- every day.  And surely we need regular worship each week.  A church suffers when its members are hit-and-miss in worship.  A true measure of one's faith is how we fully we commit to regular worship.

          Strengthening the Body means also Encouraging each other, building each other up with compliments and pats on the back.  A compliment costs nothing and yet can be priceless.  Encouraging each other can be done with a phone call or a card, or an E-mail.  It costs us so little and means so much.  Who have you complimented recently - in family or work?

          There you have it:  Strengthening the Body comes through C-A-R-E!  Commitment to Christ, Acknowledging each other, Regularity in worship, and Encouraging each other.  CARE strengthens the body.  Our Epiphany Body has a skeleton in place, and we're now need to flesh it out.  A skeleton is only a frame to hang things on, something with potential.  But add ligaments, muscles and tissues, then it has even more potential.  Add a circulatory system, and now there's life-giving blood.  Add the brain, and now the body is controlled, complete and ready for use.

          But I think most of all, our body needs a heart, the center of life, a soul, if you will.  Every other part in the body is dependent on the heart and the Church's heart is Christ.  As Paul said, "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:16)  Like a human body, the church can never neglect its heart, but protect it and draw from its strength.

          Lately I've been talking a lot about the church, as if that's the only important thing in life.  Not so!  Sermons are to educate and stimulate.  They deal with things of God that pertain to our lives, and I hope you find your congregation an important part.  In the coming Sundays, we'll always apply these messages to daily life, to home and hearth, life and love, but always using God's Word to bring us close to Him and each other.

          Young Aiden, baptized today, will need God's Word as he grows.  Thanks be to God he has a loving family!  I commend all you to be strengthened in the Lord, through regular worship and prayer - each one of you.  CARE for one another.

          There was once a bitter man named Mark Adams who was sick in soul, mind and body.  He was in the hospital, in wretched condition, not just because of a virus which he did have, but mostly because of his misdirected anger, his obvious self-contempt and whole lot of self-pity.  One day, when he was at his lowest, he said to his nurse, "Why don't you give me something to end it all?"  Much to his surprise, she said, "All right, I will."  She went to the nightstand and pulled out a Gideon's Bible and read, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)  When finished she said, "If you will believe those words, Mr. Adams, it will end it all for you."

          Have you ever felt like Mark Adams?  If so, let go and let God take over.  Let Him strengthen you in Word and Sacrament.  Commit to Christ, Acknowledge each other, be Regular in worship, and Encourage one other.  CARE for each other, because He cares for you!  Amen.

Copyright © 2001 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.