A Dividing Peace

Hebrews 11:29-12:2
Luke 12:49-56

After Jesus turns his face to Jerusalem, he begins walking a road he knows will lead to a final confrontation with Roman and Jewish leaders,

He was intent on taking his message and healing and person straight to the center of power

He knew that God was doing something new and that this was his road.

It would not be easy. It would not end well.

But it is what he had to do.

Faith is described in Hebrews 12 as a race that we run following Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith.

Have you ever set out on a race that you realized half way in, or a quarter way in, or maybe just after the starting blocks, that you’re not prepared for?

One time during Junior High track, I decided I would run the 400, I’m not sure if this was before or after I decided I would eat a peanut butter sandwich.  But following on the peanut butter sandwich, the four hundred was a lot more difficult. I made it half way and walked off the track.

All Saints Day

Isaiah 25:6-9

Revelation 21:1-6a

John 11:32-44

I remember learning the word “saint” from my Sunday school teacher, Mrs. Rocky.

Mrs. Rocky taught Sunday school for the younger elementary kids

at Park Forest Baptist Church in State College, Pennsylvania.

She loved Jesus and she loved children.

And I remember the day she taught us the word, “saint.”

She asked us what the word meant, and we were first and second graders,

So we said: “a football team!”

And to our surprise, she said, “my book here says that you would say that!”

And we were amazed that her book could predict we would give that answer.

Unity and Gift-sharing

Ephesians 4:1-16

The theme of unity has come up a number of times in conversations I’ve had recently.

And it’s certainly an appropriate theme given the fact that we are remembering this summer the fiftieth anniversary of this church being the United Church of Acworth, merging the First Baptist Church of South Acworth and the Acworth Congregational Church.

50 years ago there was a uniting.

But I mentioned a few weeks ago that I think it might be more accurate to say that we are a uniting church of Acworth rather than a united church.

Oneness is something that we work at and maintain through our life together by tending to relationships and having conversations about our differences of opinions with respect and patience.