2326 – “Homework with the Johns”
Watch the full service on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
John 3:16-21 New International Version
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Friday’s Word
John Stoehr of Yale says that most evangelical preachers pay almost no attention to the Sermon on the Mount.
And many Christians don’t agree with the core of it.
Stoehr must be a smart guy. I’ve been saying the same thing for years.
I’ll talk about that next week. This week, I must talk about the concert at St. Matthew Saturday night.
Six o’clock. Dinner after.
Our concerts help support Friday’s Word and other aspects of our outreach.
They are important.
They are also free.
But we do pass that plate.
And we have a great time. (I promise.)
This concert is called Hymns and Sounds Like.
There are three hymns, but the other eight songs are the “sounds like”—pop songs that could be hymns with a couple of word changes.
Like, say, You’ve got a Friend. It has always reminded me of Jesus’ words on prayer.
And our great soloist, Shannon Davidson, will sing Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You. Dolly wrote it for someone who was very mad at her.
What about You Raise Me Up? I know—it’s a love song. But I think of Jesus every time.
Throw in a few great old hymns and we end up with a very spiritual and very uplifting evening.
I will sing, too. And tell a story. Four singers, all together.
These monthly concerts take a lot of work. I expect good attendance.
Don’t disappoint me.
Don’t make me have to call you or knock on your door. Just come and enjoy.
That’s Saturday, Aug. 19.
At 6:00.
Plan to stay and eat.
(Not live-streamed.)
Max’s Corner
Read Friday’s Word
It’s all about the concert.
That’s all we are pushing this week.
We have to bring the food.
I hope we have a lot of people from beyond the church. But we very much need our people from the church.
After this one, our monthly concerts will always be on the second Saturday.
And we will always need good support from our members. So, if you are able, just make Second Saturday Night a part of your monthly schedule.
Here’s something else important.
We will always have a joyful and uplifting time at these concerts. And they are very important to our church as both a fundraiser and as part of our evangelical outreach. They give people a touch-point for engaging with the church.
We—and we alone—can make sure that any guests that show up see a church comfortably filled.
Let’s give it our best.
And bring something for the dinner if you can.
If you can’t—don’t let that keep you home.
See you Saturday.
And Sunday. (Mary’s preaching.)
GOD BLESS—-MB
Mary’s Corner
Greetings St. Matthew,
I am still basking in the joy and comfort I felt at the end of the service yesterday. It is so very good to be loved by God and to share that love with all of you. Blake’s song was very meaningful to me as well, on top of his beautiful delivery of the music. We are blessed to hear great singing and great preaching. While reading my email this morning, I learned a few things about the ordination process. I wish I could tell you that what I learned was good news; instead, it is rather frustrating to me. My upcoming interview is a second interview with the District Committee on Ministry. These interviews are annual interviews and this one is to procure a recommendation for commissioning. If that happens, I will then have three more interviews (over the next 3 years) with the Board of Ordained Ministry. So close, and yet still so far. I am begging God for patience today. And for the power to trust the timing and the process. I am so very grateful that you allow me to fulfill my calling now. You and I are not waiting for permission or acknowledgement from anyone before living the gospel in our neighborhood. This gives me strength and the willingness to persevere.
To the women of St. Matthew (and any other women), please join us on September 21st at 11:30 am as we renew our bi-monthly women’s lunches. Please RSVP to Veta McCullough by call or text: 8179941619 or by email: vetamc@att.net or vetamc@outlook.com. We had a glorious time at these events in the past and I hope many of you can attend. Please also let Veta know if you have any requests for programming as she and Peggy Decker are going to work to create some meaningful and enjoyable activities for the meetings.
Finally, I will be preaching this weekend and I need your prayers this week as I prepare.
My love to you all, Mary