Their books are short. They have been labeled the “minor prophets.” And their messages are anything but minor. The prophets are sent to speak God’s Word, to be “loudspeakers” for God—not just in biblical times, but now!—confronting our sin and bringing us to repentance, in order to restore a right relationship with God. Luther doesn’t mince words about the importance of the prophets: “We Christians ought not to be such shameful, satiated, ungrateful know-it-alls, but rather read and use the prophets with earnestness and profit.” OK, then. Let’s get to it!
Alex Haley, author of Roots, once said, “If you ever see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had some help along the way.” The same is true about us. None of us are what we are today by going it alone. Family, friends, teachers, coaches, pastors, neighbors, coworkers have all accompanied us along this journey called life. The Christian faith was never meant to be something that we go it alone. That’s not a rule, that’s the gift of our God giving us one another to do life together.
Today, we will hear from those who went on the mission trip to Mexico in July. But the mission field is also all around us. Today we kick off “Eight Days of Service” in which we spread throughout the city to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our neighbors. We all get by with a little help from our friends.
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One can be alone, but not lonely. One can also be surrounded by many people, and feel deeply alone. It’s not about the number of people, it’s about the number of moments you share. And it doesn’t just happen. Doing life together is an intentional act to make the moments count. Small groups is one say in which we do life together.
As we conclude this series, we celebrate those young people in our church who are confirming their faith on this day. In doing so, we remember Alex Haley’s comment, “If you ever see a turtle on a fencepost, you know it had some help along the way.” For these confirmands, this journey has not been alone. Through Sunday School teachers, pastors, youth volunteers and parents, we have all walked with them through this journey where we can celebrate their faith
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Sunday School taught us the Bible stories we all grew up with, but not always the whole story. In this sermon series, we’ll reexamine familiar stories from the Bible; those Bible stories that you know so well. Or do you?
In this sermon Goliath never had a chance. David may not have been aware of all the advantages he had going into the battle, but God did. David’s faith was a stacked deck in his favor.
God’s will WILL be done. Neither Jew nor Greek—there are examples of intense racism in the Bible. But God loves all His creation, even those whom everyone think sun lovable.
Eating in an unworthy manner.
Not about rules. The 10 commandments are mounted in Government halls and memorized the world over. We all know about the “Thou shall nots,” but we’ll learn that the first laws given are more than they rule our relationship with God Above All Gods.
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