Luke 15:1-7.
This coming Sunday, September 3, 2023, I will be preaching a sermon which will speak to holy communion.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
Luke 15:1-7.
This coming Sunday, September 3, 2023, I will be preaching a sermon which will speak to holy communion.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
On August 27th the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, the sermon title will be Fangio’s Fear. The scripture is Mark 13:32-37.
The title of the sermon for August 27 is “Fangio’s Fear.” The scripture is Mark 13:32-37. The theme of the sermon is “watchfulness.”
I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Sunday.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
Ephesians 1:3-14.
This coming Sunday, I will be preaching a sermon entitled, “The Dash….” It is based on a poem entitled, “The Dash Between the Dates.”
Because of copyright restrictions, I cannot publish the contents of the poem; but I will be able to quote parts of it in the sermon.
It is about what the dash between the dates on a tombstone represent in a person’s life.
I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Sunday.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
Matthew 26:36-46.
The sermon this Sunday is about the trend in our society to go it alone, as it illustrated by the recently coined phrase, “carcooning.” It is the trend to attempt to escape everything by eating, thinking, getting entertainment, etc., in one’s car—all alone. It is also based on a book published some years ago entitled, “Bowling Alone.”
Christianity is not best practiced in isolation, but with interaction with others, especially with others who are in need.
Also, I look forward to being in Bible Study this coming Wednesday night!
Finally, for the Laity Club on the last Monday in August, I will be presenting a PowerPoint program on the ancient city of Ephesus, especially as it relates to Paul’s ministry.
I missed being with you this past Sunday and I look forward to being with you this coming Sunday.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
Genesis 32: 22-32.
This coming Sunday our guest preacher will be Rev. Rob Dunbar.
Also, since it is the first Sunday of the month, we will celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Blessings,
Pastor Michael
I want to take this opportunity to highlight two very important areas of the church. The first I have mentioned before. I realize that Covid-19 disrupted attendance at worship and caused a severe decline in Sunday School for many churches. Both are important for the life of any church and for one’s own spiritual development. But, I want to emphasize Sunday School for a moment. When I was growing up, we went to Sunday School every Sunday; but, we only stayed for worship every other Sunday. Since it was a long time ago, and I was small, I don’t remember the reason. However, I do remember the Sunday my parents made the decision to worship every Sunday. And, we did from then on: rain or snow. In fact, we were among only 8 others who made it to Sunday School and worship on the Sunday it snowed almost a foot! The reason I remember their decision to worship every Sunday is that it interrupted my television viewing on Sunday once we got home from Sunday School. At that time, there was a show on that featured “Tom Terrific.” He was my on-air hero! And, there was no way to record his show. I learned to live without him.
I benefited from both worship and Sunday School, but it was at Sunday School that I not only learned Bible; it was also the place I got to talk with friends and honored teachers. This did a lot to form my spiritual life in realistic practice. It also brought me into a group of like-minded Christians. It became a support group unlike any other I might have had. I sincerely hope you will consider either attending the Sunday School class we presently have—or attempt to form a group that will meet on Sunday mornings. I can not begin to list the blessings available to you! It is one of my favorite times of the week!
The other area I want to address is Bible Study. I have never really thought studying a book was Bible Study. I have noted across the years the groups studying the Bible actually to use a book about the Bible; or to use a book that has a biblically-related theme. I believe that Bible Study ought to study the text, the history, and the interpretation of the Bible itself. Unfortunately, many leaders of Bible Study do not have in their “tool kit” the original languages in which the Bible was written (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek). However, there are a number of good commentaries at our disposal that are written by responsible and well-educated scholars that do not take a simple, surface examination of the text. The Bible is just like other kinds of literature in that its writers used literary techniques to convey its inspired message. For example, the Old Testament prophets used symbols and illustrations that were not to be taken literally, but were employed to make a complicated message understandable by the people they were addressing.
The Bible was written over a period of about 1,100 years. Although inspired by God, it was received from God and transposed by people who had to adapt it for an audience that varied over the huge timespan from the very first words in Genesis to the mystical message of John of Patmos. At the Bible Study held at Lock’s, there have been a number of members of Kedron. We have had wonderful fellowship—and have enjoyed snacks made or purchased by some of the people attending. That brief time of fellowship is as valuable as the PowerPoint message I construct each week. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this brief moment of inspiration and fellowship.
Pastor Michael