This is our pastor’s article for the Stone County Gazette. It should be published on December 26th. Why is December 25th the day we celebrate Jesus’ birth? If we are going to let the earliest history in the Christian Church be our guide, then the early Church chose December 25th to help teach that […]
Matthew 11:2-15
December 15, 2013 by
John the Baptizer’s disciples knew about depression and darkness. They had heard their teacher point them to Jesus, proclaiming Him as the long-awaited Messiah. When they complained to John that Jesus was drawing larger crowds, John told them, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). And when John confronted Herod and challenged him […]
Psalm 27: Wait for the Lord
December 12, 2013 by
King David was thinking about the future. And while the future couldn’t come soon enough for him, he still ended the 27th Psalm with these words: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD” (Psalm 27:14). Those words of waiting didn’t only challenge David. They also challenge us. After all, don’t […]
Exodus, Lesson 21: God Continues to Furnish His Tabernacle
December 9, 2013 by
The Table of Presence Moses is still on top of the mounting getting instruction from God. The people were still at the base of the mountain (perhaps, still seeing the blazing fire of God’s presence). Part of those instructions dealt with worship and the architecture of where the people of Israel will worship. In the […]
Exodus, Lesson 20: God Begins to Furnish His Tabernacle–The Ark of the Covenant
December 6, 2013 by
With the Covenant now formed between God and His people, God now begins to formalize how His people will come to Him and how they can be in His presence. Read Exodus 25:1-9 – What does God ask of His people? – What stipulation does God put on how they give? In Exodus […]
Midweek Advent Services to Begin
December 1, 2013 by
Our Midweek Advent services will be on December 4th, 11th, and 18th. We will have two services each Wednesday, with 7:00 PM as the primary time and an afternoon alternate time of 1:00 PM. The order of service for both services will be Evening Prayer.
Romans 13:11-14: The Time when Time was Fulfilled
December 1, 2013 by
Before the people who became of age in the 1960s got the name “Baby Boomers,” some called them the “Now Generation.” Back then, that generation was young–but it was more than that. They also wanted to change the world! The Who sang “My Generation” and Bob Dylan crooned, “The times they are a changing.” The […]
Luke 17:11-19: Thanksgiving with the One Leper
November 27, 2013 by
How do you receive your gifts? Sometimes, we receive gifts with disappointment. It’s not what we wanted. It’s not what we needed. It’s not the right gift. It’s not big enough or good enough. So, what’s it like when it comes to receiving the gifts of God? Our Gospel reading for today shows us […]
Matthew 25:1-13: The Parable of the Ten Virgins
November 25, 2013 by
When Jesus tells a parable, pay attention! For if you don’t, you’ll miss the meaning in the details of everyday-life events that Jesus uses. So, in today’s parable from Matthew 25, who represents whom and what represents what? Well, let’s start with the easiest person to identify: The Bridegroom. He’s Jesus. That’s obvious if you […]
Understanding Isaiah 66:24
November 23, 2013 by
In adult instruction (catechesis) for those being brought into the Church, we cover many teachings of Scripture. Sometimes, we have classes dealing with people’s specific questions. One such class dealt without how to understand the last verse in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. That verse reads: “And they will go out and look on […]
