Good morning friends,
I'd like to remind you of our Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday evening at 6:30. The service will be simple and will lead us into the season of Lent. I hope to see you there. We'll have a couple of additional activities during Lent also: a book study of The Shack at the Boulevard on Wednesdays from 8-9:30pm (starting not this Wednesday, but the following) and a new members series for which we're still figuring out the details. If you've been worshiping at Laurelton and want to think about becoming an "official" member, this series will be a great opportunity to talk about faith and consider where God is calling you. Let me know if you're interested and we'll get the details nailed down.
Today's reading moves into personal and practical parts of discipleship. Paul urges the Corinthian church to prepare for his arrival by working on the collection for the poor saints in Jerusalem. This collection was an important part of his work with all the gentile churches. It seems like it was a symbol both for Paul and for the Jewish Christian leaders in Jerusalem of the unity of the church. He also writes about his own plans for visiting them in the future. Notice that he leaves things pretty open as he is trying to go where the Spirit leads, not simply following a travel itinerary. This section reminds us of how interconnected the Christian movement was. I pray we keep in mind that we are all working together and would seek to follow Christ's calling today.
God bless,
Sam
1 Corinthians 16:1-12
Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 3And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
5I will visit you after passing through Macedonia—for I intend to pass through Macedonia— 6and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I go. 7I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am; 11therefore let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.
Showing posts with label collection for the saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collection for the saints. Show all posts
Monday, March 7, 2011
Saturday, March 20, 2010
training new believers
Good morning all,
Our reading for today reflects on what had happened in the church since Stephen's death. That death had been the beginning of a persecution that scattered many of the believers. When they scattered, the disciples took the good news of Jesus with them and the faith spread. Here we learn that in Antioch some of the believers started preaching to Hellenists as well as to Jews. The term "Hellenist" is a difficult one to pin down. Often it was used to mean a Jew who was shaped by Greek language and views. Here, since it is used in distinction to Jews it seems to also mean gentile. In any case new people were coming to the Lord.
Barnabas was sent to investigate this new thing and was excited, so he brought his new friend Saul to help in the education of these new Christians. Luke notes that Antioch was where the term "Christian" first came into use. Antioch also becomes one of the most important cities for theological training as the church matures. In this passage we also hear that Christians decided to take up collections for the church in Judea, a subject we hear about often in Paul's letters. God takes advantage of all kinds of different situations to offer good news and hope to new people. Where is God leading you this coming week?
God bless,
Sam
Acts 11:19-30
19Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.
22News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
27At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Our reading for today reflects on what had happened in the church since Stephen's death. That death had been the beginning of a persecution that scattered many of the believers. When they scattered, the disciples took the good news of Jesus with them and the faith spread. Here we learn that in Antioch some of the believers started preaching to Hellenists as well as to Jews. The term "Hellenist" is a difficult one to pin down. Often it was used to mean a Jew who was shaped by Greek language and views. Here, since it is used in distinction to Jews it seems to also mean gentile. In any case new people were coming to the Lord.
Barnabas was sent to investigate this new thing and was excited, so he brought his new friend Saul to help in the education of these new Christians. Luke notes that Antioch was where the term "Christian" first came into use. Antioch also becomes one of the most important cities for theological training as the church matures. In this passage we also hear that Christians decided to take up collections for the church in Judea, a subject we hear about often in Paul's letters. God takes advantage of all kinds of different situations to offer good news and hope to new people. Where is God leading you this coming week?
God bless,
Sam
Acts 11:19-30
19Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.
22News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; 24for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
27At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. 29The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; 30this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
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