ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 1, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:2Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Thought for the Day: Paul was always harsh on the whole circumcision thing which seems a bit odd since he was circumcised. Paul appears to be a slippery slope kind of person, fearful that if someone takes that one step in the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 30, 2020Scripture: Galatians 5:1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Thought for the Day: In reading this passage recently, I was struck by the word “again,” a word I had not really noticed before. You can read the passage without the word “again,” and it makes sense. Yet the assumption, or at least
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 29, 2020Prayer for the Week: Provide me a glimpse of the simple things, O Gracious and Compassionate Spirit. Remind me of what kindness looks like – not some: “what do I get out of it” type of kindness that really is not kindness. Remind me what understanding looks like – not some: “I will seek to understand as long as it does not conflict with my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 28, 2020Scripture: Matthew 12:1-2At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” Thought for the Day: Jewish law required that landowners not harvest the edges of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 27, 2020Scripture: Matthew 11:28-30“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Thought for the Day: Have you ever had someone
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 26, 2020Scripture: Matthew 11:16-19[Jesus said,] “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 25, 2020Scripture: Matthew 11:8-9What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. Thought for the Day: Jesus was talking about John the Baptist, but he takes an opportunity to take a little dig
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 24, 2020Scripture: Matthew 11:1Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities. Thought for the Day: The 10th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel describes Jesus preparing his disciples to go on a mission. A lot went into the preparation, but unlike Mark’s Gospel (chapter 6), Matthew never actually tells us about the mission.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 23, 2020Scripture: Matthew 10:38-39Those who don’t pick up their crosses and follow me aren’t worthy of me. Those who find their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives because of me will find them. Thought for the Day: These two verses were included in Sunday’s sermon text, but I did not really reference them much. It was a rather meaty section of scripture,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 22, 2020Prayer for the Week: Merciful God, in a world that can appear complicated and chaotic, we seek your help in finding a place to put our faith to work. We do not wish to feel incapacitated and stuck as we notice the immense difficulties staring back at us. It would be much easier to ignore and walk away, and there are plenty of people choosing