First CT scan of the maintenance mode...
Monday was the first of a series of CT scans over the next year. The oncologist gave a call to say no cancer detected!!! My wound is continuing to heal so life is not yet back to normal but more normal than it has been for a year. We are so thankful for God's provision and power and patience with us. We are going to attempt a video sermon to share with our congregation lessons learned over the last year. I am still amazed at what we have covered over the year in the Bible. On Sunday mornings we will have went from James through Jude and will finish with Malachi. On Sunday nights we have went from Galatians through 2 Thessalonians. Are we covering the Scriptures? I can say that we are trying to with God's help.
This week will probably be the last sermon in the book of Jude. The half-brother of Jesus who considers himself humbly as a servant of that same Jesus addresses the church which is called, and dearly loved, and kept by God with a warning against those who have crept in the church with false teachings. Jude points out that they are ungodly and their destiny is judgment and we are to defend the gospel against such variances.
This Sunday we will conclude with probably what Jude wanted to write about all along. The last 6 verses of this book reads as if it could have been the end of the Scripture all together. He goes back to the instruction that all Christians need to hear. All Christians need to keep themselves in the love of God by reading and studying the Word of God; praying in the Spirit (a deep conversation beyond grace at the table); a life lived looking for the return of Christ; and reaching out to others with the Gospel message to see some saved from doubts and from despair.
Then Jude ends with some beautiful phrases about God. "To Him who can keep you from stumbling and falling" and "present you blameless" and "only God" and "our Savior" and "our Lord." There is victory in Christ and stability in Christ and sacrifice in Christ that we don't deserve but is given to us. Do we cherish those gifts so much that we can't but live a life that shows how much we love "the only God, our Savior, our Lord?"
I read a quote on the study of Jude this week that was an attempt to summarize the whole book, it is this, "Everyone is welcome in the church but the church is not where everything goes." Grace and mercy abound in the church and that is what makes it so inviting but along with it must be justice and truth that makes it genuine and authentic and lasting. More development needed before this Sunday's sermon is complete.
Adam
This week will probably be the last sermon in the book of Jude. The half-brother of Jesus who considers himself humbly as a servant of that same Jesus addresses the church which is called, and dearly loved, and kept by God with a warning against those who have crept in the church with false teachings. Jude points out that they are ungodly and their destiny is judgment and we are to defend the gospel against such variances.
This Sunday we will conclude with probably what Jude wanted to write about all along. The last 6 verses of this book reads as if it could have been the end of the Scripture all together. He goes back to the instruction that all Christians need to hear. All Christians need to keep themselves in the love of God by reading and studying the Word of God; praying in the Spirit (a deep conversation beyond grace at the table); a life lived looking for the return of Christ; and reaching out to others with the Gospel message to see some saved from doubts and from despair.
Then Jude ends with some beautiful phrases about God. "To Him who can keep you from stumbling and falling" and "present you blameless" and "only God" and "our Savior" and "our Lord." There is victory in Christ and stability in Christ and sacrifice in Christ that we don't deserve but is given to us. Do we cherish those gifts so much that we can't but live a life that shows how much we love "the only God, our Savior, our Lord?"
I read a quote on the study of Jude this week that was an attempt to summarize the whole book, it is this, "Everyone is welcome in the church but the church is not where everything goes." Grace and mercy abound in the church and that is what makes it so inviting but along with it must be justice and truth that makes it genuine and authentic and lasting. More development needed before this Sunday's sermon is complete.
Adam
Comments
Post a Comment