ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 28, 2019 Scripture: John 1:16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Thought for the Day: What is grace upon grace? According to William Barclay, the wonderful scholar from the last century, this phrase is referring to how grace comes to us as we need it. Grace is not one-dimensional, with only one means of expressing itself. Grace is multifaceted, with an
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 27, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:21-24 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 26, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:8-9 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Thought for the Day: Have you ever been minding your own business, doing what you were expected to do, and the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 25, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:4-7 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 24, 2019 Scripture: Luke 2:1-3 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Thought for the Day: I have referenced this so many times, but I think it deserves repeating. The Gospel Writer
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 23, 2019 Prayer for the Week: Holy God, you have no beginning, no starting place, no birth, yet you chose to enter this world through a nativity, through a woman’s womb. The fullness of your love took on flesh and bone and blood. The completeness of your mercy became one of us to reveal a vision of a life no longer ruled by guilt and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 22, 2019 Scripture: Isaiah 60:1 Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the LORD’s glory has shone upon you. Thought for the Day: This is the opening verse of today’s text at Cypress Creek Christian Church, the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The reader (listener in the day of the Prophet) was to arise and shine. Notice that it doesn’t say, “Arise! Bask!” It doesn’t say, “Arise!
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 21, 2019 Guest Writer: Rev. John Frey A Walk in the Kingdom By John Frey Scripture: Isaiah 2:5 Come, house of Jacob, let us walk by the light of the Lord. I believe the main story of the Bible is the establishment, struggles, and longing for the final completion of God’s kingdom here on earth. From the beginning, God called humanity to live
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 20, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:78-79 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Thought for the Day: These words are an echo of the ancient Prophet, Isaiah (42:6-7). Both the Prophet Isaiah and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 19, 2019 Scripture: Luke 1:76-77 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. Thought for the Day: I love it when a person in scripture receives the company mission and runs with it. These are a