ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 24, 2020Scripture: John 1:16And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. Thought for the Day: Glory full of grace and truth – My theology, my understanding of God, has always been shaped by those words. And I need to remember sometimes that an occasional sermon preached
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 23, 2020Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love. Thought for the Day: I’m drawn to the language
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 22, 2020Scripture: Psalm 116:1-2I love the LORD because he hears my requests for mercy. I’ll call out to him as long as I live, because he listens closely to me. Thought for the Day: In my second or third year of ministry, I got a call from a man in the church whose wife had died about a year before I started serving the church. He
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 21, 2020Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:21We care about doing the right thing, not only in the Lord’s eyes but also in the eyes of other people. Thought for the Day: Do any of you remember receiving a lecture as a kid about telling the truth? Maybe it was because someone you knew told a fib, but more likely, you got caught in the middle of a lie.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 20, 2020Scripture: Genesis 39:22-23So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Thought for the Day: Joseph was tossed in prison after false allegations were brought
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 19, 2020Scripture: Psalm 33:13-21The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees every human being. From his dwelling place God observes all who live on earth. God is the one who made all their hearts, the one who knows everything they do. Kings aren’t saved by the strength of their armies; warriors aren’t rescued by how much power they have. A warhorse is a bad bet for
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 18, 2020Prayer for the Week:Give us peace –Provide us peace –Grant us peace –Supply us peace –We concede that our interest is in the what you share and not so much the how it is shared. O Generous God, the Spirit that is one with you, is the container and conveyer of your peace. Make within us a place of repose for a sacred indwelling of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 17, 2020Scripture: John 1:10The light was in the world, and the world came into being through the light, but the world didn’t recognize the light. Thought for the Day: The very thing that gave us life we do not seem to recognize. This light, as I will talk about in my sermon this morning, is the light of love – self-giving, self-sacrificing love. What experiences in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 16, 2020Scripture: Hebrews 13:15-16So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices. Thought for the Day: There have been those who suggested over the years that our only task is to praise God
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 15, 2020Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-3I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Thought for the Day: With humility, gentleness and patience, we are to