Bible Verses for Sunday Service September 25, 2022
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Announcements:
Steve announced a deacons’ meeting at the home of Phil Witschi. The Witschis live at 1230 Grubstake Circle in the Heights. When we meet will review the financial report and to discuss several things, one of them being the upcoming visit of our missionary speakers.
On Saturday this week, the church will have a workday to get the storage building going as the materials finally arrived. Anyone willing to help, please talk to Steve.
We will hosting a special missionary speaker on October 16, 2022. Dr. Alvin Low, director of Acts International. He will be with us to speak during the Sunday School hour, the morning service and a service right after lunch. He will speak on world missions. Please do all you can to be there and hear him speak at each service.
Here are some quotes from a famous missionary, William Carey, who was a missionary to India, 1761-1834: “Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God. I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”
Sermon:
Continuing in Acts, Pastor spoke to us on “A Picture of Paul.” Pastor wanted us to focus on the picture painted in Acts 26, the defense Paul makes in front of King Agrippa, and the regional governor Festus. Pastor found it notable that in that address, Paul wishes that his audience is like him, but without the chains. Considering that Paul has spent last two years captive, what is it about him that Paul wishes on others?
Pastor first started the answer to this question by drawing out attention to Paul’s attitude. A review of the word Paul uses to describe himself shows its meaning in the Greek is “blessed.” This seems absurd. Paul was first arrested two years ago in Acts 21 at the temple. In chains since then, how can he consider himself blessed?
It is Paul’s patience that Pastor first draw our attention to. He has put up with a lot in the last two years, plots of the Jews to kill him, and a crooked governor who alternates in wanting to hear him to collect a bribe, and wanting to return him to the Jews. And, in all of this in chains. Pastor asked us to consider whether we access the Kingdom of God to patient in similar circumstances? We should keep Mark Twain’s adage of “nothing is as annoying as a good example” in mind. Through the power of god, if we can evidence such patience, maybe we will annoy people in asking us how we do it, and then have a chance to share our faith.
Besides Paul’s patience, Pastor asked us to consider Paul’s strength to stand through such adversity. And, this strength was not only exhibited here in Chapter 26. Earlier, in Acts 14 Paul had been stoned after Jews came to the city Paul was in to rile up the local in habitants. Paul as dragged from the city and left for dead. Did he die? Well we know that he got up from the stoning and went back into that same city. Moreover in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28, Paul relates a long list of circumstances that would knock a man down, yet from each one Paul got back up again to continue. He never lost sight of his goal, to go to Rome to preach the Gospel.
In closing Pastor asked us to think about this very unusual attitude of Paul’s. Such an attitude is very attractive to others. People want to know how to they can do as well in adversity. We can let the Lord shine through and let others know we are letting the Lord have all the credit. We will have a winsome attitude that will intrigue others.
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