ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 29, 2019 Scripture: Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Thought for the Day: I have always read this passage one specific way, but a few days back, I was reading through Romans and my mind heard these words differently. We often think of God as the One doing the disapproving, but I wonder if the gift
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 28, 2019 Scripture: Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and become slaves to God, you have the consequence of a holy life, and the outcome is eternal life. Thought for the Day: Set free and enslaved…it’s a bit strange if you think about it. Yet this unique and somewhat odd combination produces a holy life that results in eternal
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 27, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 5:2 Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us. He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God. Thought for the Day: Is anyone else a little troubled by the description of an execution smelling sweet to God? Isn’t that what Paul is suggesting here? In Leviticus 1, we find
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 26, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 43:19 Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness. Thursday Prayer: Give me the courage to act, not with self interest, but with the interests of Jesus. Holy and Humble God, you demonstrated courage when you humbled yourself – when you took on the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 25, 2019 Scripture: Proverbs 11:25 Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Thought for the Day: Let’s be clear, I don’t believe this scripture is suggesting that if you give away $100, God will give you back $500 or $1,000. Sadly, there are those out there who will try to convince you they know the special formula. Of course, their
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 24, 2019 Scripture: Psalm 119:68 You are good and you do good. Teach me your statutes! Thought for the Day: This past weekend, I joined the men from the SW Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at the Lake Brownwood Retreat Center. It was a really good event, and Rev. Todd Adams was one of the keynote speakers. I knew Todd back when
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 23, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Everlasting and Ever-Loving God, you have designed and shaped your church to look like Jesus. You have provided us wonderful examples of faithfulness in the words and lives of apostles, prophets and the kindness of those who served you without fanfare. With Jesus as our cornerstone, our model and mentor, your church shall endure. Today, let us be shaped
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 22, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 1:22-23 God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way. Thought for the Day: As you gather for worship this morning – wherever you might be – look around at those who worship with you. It
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 21, 2019 Scripture: Ephesians 1:17-18 (the Message) But I do more than thank. I ask – ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory – to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS September 20, 2019 Scripture: 1st John 5:21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols! Thought for the Day: This is how the letter we call 1st John ends. It seems almost anticlimactic, a bit unsatisfying. Throughout the closing verses there appeared to be a big push in regard to who can sin and how prayer can or cannot help in certain situations. And then, the very last