This morning our thinking is centred on St Paul’s assertion that “(God) will…strengthen you to the end”. (1 Corinthians 1.8) and includes a worked example showing how the early Christians were strengthened by the followers of John the Baptist. We ourselves can find strength from God as we live our faith in Resurrection.

We start by looking at the story of how God strengthened the early Church as it grew into the resurrection life.

From a reading of the Gospels, one area of uncertainty was how the faith community arising from the ministry of John the Baptist was going to fit in to the overall Christian story.

Things could have been completely different. The Baptist community could have followed a life of their own. There is historical evidence for this in the book of The Acts of the Apostles.

In chapter 18, we are told that a travelling evangelist named Apollos arrived at the Church in Ephesus. He had a great message of faith in God based on the Baptism ministry of John the Baptist; we are told that he had to be taken on one side and brought up to speed with the Resurrection of Christ and Baptism of the Spirit.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, provide a rather mixed history of how the Christian understanding of the role of John the Baptist shifted back and forth in those early days. We can see that great care was taken to respect those people who had chosen to live changed lives following their baptism by John. Much supportive discussion takes place between the Baptist and Jesus. Both speak highly of each other as they interact with the religious and secular leaders of the day. The Gospel writers carefully position John the Baptist in an important supportive role, and equally carefully position Jesus as respecting the importance of John.

By the time that St John was writing his gospel the unity of the two groups was no longer in doubt. He could afford to go one step further; John the Baptist speaks words that clearly show his supportive role to the coming Messiah. From now on there is unity as between the two faith movements. At this point the worked example of God strengthening the Christian community is complete.

Today, Baptism as practiced by John, and as performed on Jesus, is the primary response for a person coming to faith: a Baptism of Water and of the Spirit.

The Apostle Paul himself was baptised in Damascus immediately following his famous conversion. By the time he was writing his letter to the Corinthians, Paul was an established Apostle across the Churches of the Eastern Mediterranean.

He was writing to people like you and me…..

People who go to Church in Sheringham; people who are sanctified in Christ; people who are called to be saints; people who call on the name of Jesus as Lord. People who cause others to see the benefits of living true to the teaching of Christ. People who have a great hope in life, as you have, living faithfully to God in the fellowship of Jesus Christ.

How fantastic that the Sheringham fellowship of Christians in the 21st Century has all the same attributes as did the fellowship at Corinth in the 1st Century. We are a living history; we can trace our lineage right back to those earliest believers. Another worked example of how God strengthens us.

What a fantastic history. Today, you and I continue to add to that history. History is made by going forward. Our continuing Christian living will guarantee that Sheringham people in the future will be inspired to live in the Christian hope. Future generations of believers will make their mark in Sheringham, just as people did all those years ago in Corinth.

The way that the early Christians took care to incorporate the life concerns of other faith movements, such as that of John the Baptist is a lesson in how God works to strengthen us. We can value the viewpoint of others; respect their life concerns; we can rethink our own beliefs to show that we are open to fellowship with people who, like us, are trying to make the best of life with all its uncertainties and pitfalls.

So let’s keep up the good work. Encourage family members to see the benefit of living in the faith of Christ; keep on inspiring those in your circle of friends with the thought that there is something more to life; and make sure the people in your road continue to wonder what it is that you are on.

For as you continue in faith, the promise from St Paul is that God will strengthen you to the end. As God strengthens you, he will inspire the people around you.

The Revd Malcolm France