• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Raleigh Mennonite Church

As a Christian community, called to peacemaking and reconciliation, we affirm that people of any race, ethnic identity, gender, who are gay or straight, of any ability, age, or economic status, are welcome to full participation in our congregation.

  • New Here?
  • About Us
    • Visiting? Start Here!
    • Shaping Documents
    • How Do I Get There?
    • What about kids?
    • Who Are Mennonites?
    • Staff
  • Get Connected
    • Worship
    • Sunday School
    • Fellowship Groups
  • Ministries
    • Community Ministries
    • National & International Ministries
    • RMCers Engaged in the Community
  • Resources
    • Podcasts – Sermons and other events
    • RMC Calendar
    • Balm in Gilead – our year of anti-racism learning
    • RMC Blog posts
    • Bulletins
    • Church Life Documents
    • Older Recordings
  • Give
  • Contact Us

Search Raleigh Mennonite Church

The Fleshiness of the Gospel – Aug. 15, 2021

August 16, 2021

Scripture: John 6:51-58

Our English translation of the text for today’s sermon doesn’t quite get at the graphicness of the passage. “If you do not ‘gnaw on the body of Christ and drink his blood, you have no life in you,” is a more accurate translation from the Greek. Whatever spiritualizing we want to bring to the story of being followers of Jesus, Jesus will not have any of that here in John, chapter 6.

Melissa spoke of Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish historian who became a land owner and a slaver in the Caribbean in 1502. Eventually he was ordained a priest and became convicted that enslaving the Amer-Indians was wrong, but it wasn’t until late in life that he confessed to the tragic error of his reasoning to continue to support the enslavement of people from Africa. He used his pen and his power to advocate for indigenous rights. He lived this life inside the “fleshiness” of God’s call.

Our bodies, just as they are, participate in the life-giving good news of Jesus. You don’t need to get rid of the fleshiness of this life, because your body becomes endowed with the life of God.

Raleigh Mennonite Church
Raleigh Mennonite Church
The Fleshiness of the Gospel - Aug. 15, 2021
00:00 / 15:29
Google Podcasts Pandora Spotify Stitcher iTunes
RSS Feed
Share
Link
Embed

Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 15:29 | Recorded on August 15, 2021

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Pandora | Spotify | Stitcher | iTunes

Related

Tagged With: Bartolomé de Las Casas, communion, Gospel of John, Melissa Florer-Bixler

About Stan Martin

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Footer

Mailing Address
& Meeting Location

121 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Phone: 919-831-2969

Get in touch with us!

COVID-19 Update

We are worshipping in person at our downtown Raleigh location at Church of the Good Shepherd. While masks are not required, we ask everyone to be considerate of others’ COVID-related boundaries. We are continuing to provide the service via Zoom for those who are not able to join us in person. Please contact us if you'd like the Zoom connection information.

Subscribe to Our Sermon Podcast

Stitcher | Apple | Google | Spotify
Join us for Holy Week! Join us for Holy Week!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Raleigh Mennonite Church · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design