This Sunday, October 23, is the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost.
This week’s sermon is I Will Bow Down In Prayer.
This week’s readings are:
Message: Serving the World as Christ
1)
Christianity has made the world a better place.
a) This is not said with rose colored glasses – there have been and are problems in the Christian Church.
b) Nor is this said out of bias – there are truly significant contributions!
i)
The idea of personhood and valuing all people.
(1)
Not done perfectly.
(2)
Nevertheless, part of Christian teaching.
ii)
Art
(1)
Renaissance Painting and Sculpture
(2)
Reformation Music
(3)
Architecture
iii)
Science
(1)
Belief in an ordered world that can be studied
and known
(2)
Medicine – Hospitals named for saints.
iv)
Philanthropy
2)
Mission Statement
a) Gathering People to Christ
b) Building Believers in Christ
c) Serving the World as Christ
3)
Serving the World as Christ
a) “Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22
b) “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16
c) “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:14-17
4)
Serve the World
a) The Incarnation
i)
God in human flesh
ii)
Truly human and truly divine
b) Mercy
i)
Feeding the Hungry
(1)
Sandwich People
(2)
Financial Support to others
c) Justice
5)
As Christ
a) What was Jesus’ purpose?
i)
Save sinners.
b) Proclaim the Gospel.
c) “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven has come.”
6)
To serve the world as Christ is to see the whole
person
a) Body
b) Soul
c) Created, Redeemed, Made into God’s Temple
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