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Paul gives the early church (and us) level ground upon which to base our faith, and these spiritual stones are frequently contrary to the way we “do” church. In fact, much of our Christian practice is contrary to scripture.
Over this five-week series based on Paul’s letter called “Galatians,” we’ll look at where we’ve gone wrong and what we can do to live a more authentic faith. Each week you will be challenged and invited to be a contrarian and stem the rising tide of cultural Christianity that erodes our faith and belief.”
Culture tells us, "Trust in yourself." Pull up those bootstraps and you'll be just fine. That's all well and fine with our economic prosperity, but Paul makes it clear that we can't earn God's favor through our works. The contrarian must simply trust in Jesus and his righteousness, not our own.
Karen away; Wynne subbing
Sanctuary Choir: “Jubilate Deo” Emily Crocker
God is impartial to us, regardless of our ethnicity and gender.
Sanctuary Choir: “If Any Man Be in Christ” arr. Benjamin Harlan
Mark & Mike: “Morning Has Broken”
Boys & congregation: “King of Majesty”
We know what freedom means in the political, democratic sense, but what about in the soul? We are called to freedom and its careful use. The fruit of the spirit give us a framework for the outward expression of freedom, and contrarian exercises freedom by--surprisingly--submission to God's authority and service to all.
Sanctuary Choir: “Walk Worthy” by Joseph M. Martin
Lonnie & Leah away; Sandra leading choir & congregation
There will come a day when we must account for how we've spent our lives. Cultural Christianity tells us it's all about getting our spiritual needs met by church, but the Bible informs the contrarian that we are to be about something other than ourselves. “So then, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.” (Gal 6.10)
Mark & band: “Remembrance”
Sanctuary Choir: “Spirit Sing”
July 11
Ps 137
"Living in Exile"
Sanctuary Choir: “Zion’s Walls”
“My City of Ruins”
July 18
Psalm 52
I like Homiletics' approach to this text, so I'll probably use their illustration of the medical device and focus on the "search my heart, O Lord."
Sanctuary Choir: “Psalm 139” Allen Pote
July 25
Hosea 1.2-10
(issues of unfaithfulness/faithfulness in Christian life)
Sanctuary Choir: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” arr. David Schwoebel
VBS Start
August 1
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
I like the title "Field Guide to Narcissism" but probably won't go the exact route of Homiletics on this one. I do like the approach at the end of their study, "Journey Out of Vanity" - so I may incorporate that. The probable direction is that church "isn't all about us" and rely on the premise that the growing, alive church must focus more on the needs of the people out there, rather than the needs of the people "in here."
Sanctuary Choir: “The Cross”
Boys & Congregation: “Go Light Your World”
August 8
Luke 12:49-56
Love the piece on twitterature. "Apocatwittic Sermon"
Sanctuary Choir: “Because I Have Been Given Much”
August 15
Hebrews 12.1-2.
This is a narrower reading of the NT lection, but it provides more focus than the broader reading. I like the illustration of gout and lethargy among Christians that is in Homiletics. Title TBA.
Sanctuary Choir & orchestra: “Find Us Faithful”
August 22
Hebrews 12:18-29
Jesus Junk - you'll find really great fodder in Homiletics here.
ADULT ENSEMBLE: “If With All Your Hearts”
Sanctuary Choir off
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