Monday, May 18, 2015

Looking Ahead to May 24, 2015 -- Pentecost Sunday

The Scripture Readings for this week are:
  • Acts 2:1-4
  • Romans 8:18-39
The sermon title is How Can We Be the Church?

Early thoughts: We are called to be the church....but sometimes that is easier than others.  When things are hard, how can we be the Spirit-filled body that is the Church?  When things turn against us how can we have the confidence that the Spirit is leading us forward?

Simple.  Because God is with us.  Because no matter what happens God is with us.

That is why the first apostles were able to go out and build the church.

That is why the early church survived through persecution.

That is why the great Reformers were able to challenge the way the church was operating.

That is why a congregation can keep going after a building burns down.

Because God is with us.  Because there is nothing that can separate us from God.  Because the Spirit moves in us, in our prayers which come out as sighs too deep for words.

On Pentecost Day the Spirit lit a fire.  Every day since the fire has been burning, sometimes smoldering slowly, sometimes a blazing inferno.  In the heat of that fire the Kingdom is being born, shaped, brought to life.

It doesn't happen all at once.  But it is happening.  And throughout that process we know that God has been, is, and will be with us.

THAT is how we can be the church.  (How WILL we be the church may be a whole other discussion)
--Gord

1 comment:

  1. An offering of music. "I Am Yours" was written a couple of years ago for a Pentecost Confirmation. https://www.licensingonline.org/en-ca/sku/79804

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