October 16, 2011
Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 103:1-5 Common English Bible
2 Timothy 3:14-17 Common English Bible
Acts 2:42-47 The Message Bible
“Equipped For the Journey”
Good morning. . . how many of you have been on a trip to someplace new? I know I have. How did you prepare for the trip? When I prepare to go on a trip “into the unknown” I try to learn all I can about where I am going. I might use Google Search to find out about the area. I try to learn about all the attractions that can be found in that area that I might want to do while I am there. I might try to find out about the culture if I am going someplace out of the country. Then after I have learn what I want to learn I go to Map-Quest to plan out the route I will be taking. Sometimes I wish I had a GPS in order to find my way. . . at least that will tell me when I have taken the wrong route and then navigates me back to the right route. . .
When I think about it, faith is a lot like that. Faith is something that may take us into the unknown and we really need some guidance along the way. Faith is an ongoing journey that we must be intentional about. It just doesn’t happen on its own. . . it is something to be nurtured. . . something that at times is hard but if we follow the Map-Quest. . . God’s Map-Quest. . . of life, when we arrive at our final destination we end up at the right point of entry. . . the Cross of Calvary. . . and enter in too our eternal home with God.
We have embarked on a journey these past couple of weeks. . . A journey that will guide us as we journey to become a “Fruitful Congregation.” Our guides are the book “the Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations” by Robert Schnase and the Holy Spirit within us. . . The book as our Google Search, the Spirit as our GPS and God’s Word as our Map-Quest for this leg of our faith journey. On our first stop on the tour, We talked about Radical Hospitality and how it begins at home. . . within the church and spreads out from there. On the second stop, We talked about Passionate Worship and how we, as a church, need to fall back in love with our first love in order to worship with a passion. This week. . . we are going to the next stop. . . one of the most important stops on the trip. This stop is Intentional faith development. But before we get off and take a look around, call upon our GPS so that we can have a tour guide on this stop. . .
The Lord be with you
And Also with you
Let us pray. . .
Loving and Gracious God, we thank you that you are with us every day, every hour, every moment as we journey through life. Help us to hear your guidance through the Holy Spirit so that we may stay on the road you have set before us. We pray for our Guide to be here with us as we visit this stop on our journey. Speak Lord. . . the travelers are listening. . .
Being intentional. . . what do you think being intentional is? Is it something that is just there or does it take practice? Is it something that once we have attained it, we don’t need to worry about it anymore? In the Scripture from 2 Timothy this morning, Paul tells Timothy that he must continue with the things that he learned from childhood. Paul didn’t tell him that since he heard it. . . since he learned it. . . he was all set. No. . . he told Timothy to continue. And he even told Timothy about the tool he would need to accomplish it. . . God’s word. . . and it wasn’t just a word for Timothy. . . it is a word for you and for me. . . we are persons that belong to God just as Timothy was so wee too need to heed Paul’s instruction.
There is a story about the first church in Acts that reminds me of his instructions to the people that belong to God. It is found in Act 2 verses 42 thru 47. Listen to what the first church did. . . I am reading from the Message Bible this morning. . .
These first members of the church intentionally got together to share a meal. . . they intentionally followed the discipline of daily worship. . . they intentionally ate together and what happened? Their numbers grew each day. One of the reasons why people noticed them was because they were different and others wanted the joy they had. In order to have that joy. . . that thankfulness. . . they were intentionally drawing closer to God. Think about it for a moment. . . when you read God’s word. . . when you share your story with others. . . when you hear others stories. . . what does that do to you? Does that make you more thankful? Does that make your faith even stronger? I know it does for me. . . I love seeing God work. It gives me hope and faith for the future.
We are all on a journey. . . a journey of life and faith. We need to be equipped for that journey and help equip others. The only way to do that is to be intentional about growing our faith and helping others do the same. This is my question for you. . . or should I say mu challenge. How is it with your faith? Does it seem dry? Does it need watering? How is your garden of faith growing? Are you intentionally finding ways to nourish it. . . the fertilize3 and water it? What will you do. . . what are you willing to do in order to better equip yourself for the road of life? We are all on a journey into the unknown but with our GPS to guide us in god’s Map-Quest for our lives, we will surely reach that final destination. . . that eternal destination with God and our Risen Lord Jesus Christ.
AMEN!
October 16, 2011
Worship Theme: “Intentional Faith Development”
Acts 2:42-47 (The Message Bible)
2 Timothy 3:14-17 (Common English Bible)
Psalm 103:1-5 (Common English Bible) (Call to Worship)
Unison Prayer:
“Loving God, we thank you for this day. Thank you for
your Word that guides and sustains us. As we hear
your Word may we rejoice in your loving-kindness and
goodness;
may we draw ever closer to you.
We pray for eyes to see you in the world,
ears to hear your whisper on the wind, and a heart that
is
moldable in your hands. All this we pray in the
name above all names, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Prayer of dedication (GBOD 2011, prepared for 10/9/2011
service)
and sermon, “Equipped for the Journey”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 16, 2011
Nineteenth Sunday of Pentecost
&
Worship Theme: “The Practice of Passionate Worship”
Psalm 84:5-12
Psalm 84:1-4
Psalm 25:1-2a, 4-5 (Call to Worship)
Unison Prayer (GBOD 2011)
A
Prayer for World Communion Sunday
by Safiyah Fosua
Prayers of Dedication (GBOD 2005)
and sermon, “I Give You My Heart”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
October 2, 2011
Seventeenth Sunday of Pentecost
World Communion Sunday
&
Worship Theme: “The Practice of Radical Hospitality”
Romans 15:1-7 (NRSV Bible)
Romans 15:1-13 (NRSV Bible)
James 1:22-25 (Common English Bible)
Psalm 118:28-29 (Common English Bible)(Call to Worship)
Sermon: “That’s Radical Man!”
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
September 25, 2011
Sixteenth Sunday of Pentecost
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reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage.
See all 35,050+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
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