12|15 If There is a Natural Body, There is Also a Spiritual Body

35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.  The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 15:35–49.Statement regarding the Beetgate Controversy associated with this sermon:Good evening, beloved members of Redeemer Church Tauranga, and friends across our community. Yesterday, during our sermon on 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, I spoke of silverbeet seeds transforming into vibrant plants—a powerful analogy for the Apostle Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of the body. It was a message meant to inspire, to uplift, and to draw us closer to the eternal truths of Scripture. However, it has come to my attention that a small matter has sprouted—pardon the pun—into a topic of discussion among some of you: my pronunciation of the word "silverbeet." Now, let me address this directly. In my sermon, I may have placed a touch more emphasis on "beet" than some linguistic scholars might deem customary, saying "silver-BEET" rather than the more widely accepted "SIL-ver-beet." This was not an intentional deviation from the norms of our shared language. Growing up, I heard my dear mother, a woman of wisdom and warmth, pronounce it in this way, and it took root in my heart and speech. Over the course of the sermon, I may have leaned into this pronunciation—perhaps twenty times, give or take. For any distraction this caused from the message of hope and resurrection, I take responsibility. To be clear, I am not here to uproot the linguistic traditions of our community. The correct pronunciation, with its lilting emphasis on "sil," is one I respect and will strive to honor in future sermons. But let us not allow this small seed of controversy to overshadow the harvest of truth we sought to sow together yesterday. In fact, let us see this moment as an opportunity—a chance to reflect on the beauty of our shared journey in faith. Just as a silverbeet seed, whether pronounced with a flourish on "sil" or "beet," grows into a nourishing plant, so too do our words, when rooted in love and Scripture, bear fruit in our lives. My mother’s pronunciation, though perhaps unconventional, was spoken with care, just as my sermon was delivered with a heart for God’s truth. This small matter reminds us that in our diversity—of accents, backgrounds, and even vegetable nomenclature—we are united in Christ, who transforms us all into something glorious, as Paul so eloquently teaches in 1 Corinthians 15. So, my friends, let us move forward together. Let us laugh gently at our human quirks, embrace the richness of our varied voices, and keep our eyes fixed on the eternal. Whether you say "SIL-ver-beet" or "silver-BEET," know that you are cherished in this community, and your faith is what truly matters. In closing, I thank you for your grace, your humor, and your commitment to our shared mission at Redeemer Church Tauranga. May we continue to grow together, like silverbeet plants—however you pronounce it—reaching toward the light of God’s love. God bless you all, and may He guide our words and our hearts.