God is not interested in embarrassing us so much as equipping us, empowering us, emboldening us, and employing us to do the work of ministry Jesus has called us to do.
God is not interested in embarrassing us so much as equipping us, empowering us, emboldening us, and employing us to do the work of ministry Jesus has called us to do.
If we know Jesus, and if we are following his Way, then we are doing the work of the Kingdom.
After our grandson’s “graduation” from preschool, I stayed in Richmond overnight for a couple of reasons. First, of course, the opportunity to spend a few extra hours with my awesome daughter, Naomi, her wonderful husband, Craig, and their two – how did I put it yesterday? – exuberant vessels of promise and light (aka David and …
Each year, usually around this time, the Presbytery of New Hope takes pause to recognize the unique contributions of senior adults in the life of local Presbyterian congregations.
If you are one of those people who leaves your spirituality on the back burner, and who believes there are dozens of more interesting or rewarding things to do on a Sunday that make church an increasingly unlikely choice, then I have to say, simply, “Come and see.”
It’s not any specific behavior, or adherence to a particular doctrine, or religious ritual, or repetition of the right magic phrase that grants us the honor of a relationship with God – No, it’s Jesus who makes redemption possible. This privilege is ours to accept, or to reject.
The question is not if we are communicating about Jesus, the question is what story is it that we are telling?
Jesus was as clear about this as he was about anything: “The world is going to be convinced of the truth about me – my life, my words, my invitation to know God – only to the extent that you all (y’all – the church) demonstrate authentic love – in effect modeling this love as a vibrant community, an invitation, a living testimony to grace” (John 13 – author paraphrase).
If you’re someone who has lost enthusiasm for church, or who subscribes to the false narrative that Presbyterians don’t have any enthusiasm for Jesus, or who isn’t exposed to great preaching very often, then you owe it to yourself – and your faith – to check out this message (it starts around time stamp 10:00 on the link).
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. – Numbers 6:24-26 For our family, Mother’s Day turns out to be one more excuse to get together and celebrate life. Of course, it helps …
