Scripture: Romans 2:1 So every single one of you who judge others is without any excuse. You condemn yourself when you judge another person because the one who is judging is doing the same things. Thought for the Day: Is it ok to judge people who are judging people? That’s a hard call, for though Jesus (and Paul) was clear about not judging others, it feels as if
Reformation Sunday Scripture: Romans 1:17 God’s righteousness is being revealed in the gospel, from faithfulness for faith, as it is written, The righteous person will live by faith. Thought for the Day: As you will learn in worship today, this is Reformation Sunday. Among Protestant Churches, we remember and honor the faithfulness of those who often risked their lives in the reforming of the church. The 500th Anniversary
Scripture: Romans 1:16 I’m not ashamed of the gospel: it is God’s own power for salvation to all who have faith in God, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Thought for the Day: I don’t know if I have ever been ashamed of the Gospel, but I can say with certainty that I have been ashamed a number of times in regard to how the
Scripture: Roman 1:7 To those in Rome who are dearly loved by God and called to be God’s people. Thought for the Day: As part of Paul’s greeting to the Christians in Rome, he speaks of those loved by God and called by God. Those two aspects of the Christian faith are too often separated or even severed. Many people like to worship and give thanks for a
Scripture: Romans 1:1 From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for God’s good news. Thought for the Day: As I shared in my class last night, this single verse of scripture summarizes Paul and his vision of God’s calling upon his life…and maybe on all followers of Jesus as well. As we discussed, some translate slave as servant or even
Scripture: 1st John 2:17 And the world and its cravings are passing away, but the person who does the will of God remains forever. Thought for the Day: Continuing from yesterday, I want us to look at the very next verse from 1st John. In these words, it appears as if the writer is contrasting finite and eternal. The world and our worldly yearnings are passing away, but
Scripture: 1st John 2:16 Everything that is in the world—the craving for whatever the body feels, the craving for whatever the eyes see and the arrogant pride in one’s possessions—is not of the Father but is of the world. Thought for the Day: I am reminded of the words from Mildred Lisette Norman (aka – Peace Pilgrim) who said, Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its
Scripture: 2nd Corinthian 4:16-18 So we aren’t depressed. But even if our bodies are breaking down on the outside, the person that we are on the inside is being renewed every day. Our temporary minor problems are producing an eternal stockpile of glory for us that is beyond all comparison. We don’t focus on the things that can be seen but on the things that can’t be seen.
Proverbs 28:25 Greedy people stir up conflict, but those who trust the LORD become prosperous. Prayer… Though I wish to be generous, I know generosity cannot exist without a deep and abiding trust in you, O King of Glory. Without trust, I will always reach for greed and selfishness. We as human beings were created to survive, and it is our DNA that pushes us to trust no
PRAYER… With humility and a little anxiousness, we make a request of you, O Lord. We desire to be generous. Not to gain recognition among our peers; not to get a good tax break next April; not to dissuade some unresolved guilt. We desire to be generous because Jesus, your illustration of the true human life, was generous with everything. In faith, we look to him not simply