ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 17, 2021Scripture: John 6:63The Spirit is the one who gives life and the flesh doesn’t help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Thought for the Day: In tomorrow’s sermon, I will focus on how God speaks to us. For most people, it is not an audible voice. It is more like a tug, a feeling, a hunch, a nudge.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 16, 2021Scripture: Matthew 7:24Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. Thought for the Day: For Matthew, the words of Jesus are the words of God. I don’t know if Matthew would say they are word for word what God would say, but I believe Matthew would say they can be
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 15, 2021Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3Call to me and I will answer and reveal to you wondrous secrets that you haven’t known. Thought for the Day: How exactly does God call? There is a scene in the movie Dead Poets Society when a student, Charlie Dalton, answers a pretend phone call during a rather tense all school assembly at the private boys school. He says, “Welton Academy, hello.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 14, 2021Scripture: Psalm 34:34 (the Message)God met me more than halfway, and freed me from my anxious fears. Thought for the Day: I remember a cartoon strip depicting a mother holding a plunger in her hand, standing in ankle deep water, as she is gazing at an overflowing toilet. Her son sticks his head into the bathroom and says two words, “They’re here!” The memory of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 13, 2021Scripture: Galatians 5:14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Thought for the Day: The Apostle Paul echoed the words of Jesus, while also embodying Jesus’ definition of neighbor that extended well beyond the person next door. Paul was looked upon with suspicion because he showed the love of Jesus to the Gentiles, and to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 12, 2021Prayer for the Week: How often have you forgiven me, O Eternal God? How often have you shown me mercy? I pause to count, only to realize my capacity to tally such a number falls short. How often have you forgiven me? Strangely, it is always one more time than my current requirement. How often have you shown me mercy? Enough for today, with plenty
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 11, 2021Scripture: Matthew 12:31Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Thought for the Day: I don’t believe I’m alone in saying this verse of scripture is a bit confusing. Jesus said “every sin and blasphemy” would be forgiven, but then there is an exception to the rule. How can Jesus use
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 10, 2021Scripture: Daniel 9:3-5Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 9, 2021Scripture: 1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Thought for the Day: I am always a bit troubled by the word IF. I don’t believe the God I meet in Jesus to be much of If/Then kind of God. The word IF gives the impression of the proverbial
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGJuly 8, 2021Scripture: Matthew 18:21Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he