Dear Brothers and Sisters in ministry,
[caption id="attachment_5219" align="alignright" width="206"] Greg and Susan Williams[/caption]
I know we're all praying for those who have suffered loss and those still in harm's way in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey that has devastated parts of Texas and Louisiana. For a report on how our members in the affected areas fared and how you can help, click here.
Susan and I were richly blessed to spend time with many of you at We Are GCI, our Denominational Conference held last month in Orlando, Florida (click here for video highlights). During the conference we heard stories from around the world showing what it looks like to participate with Jesus in his ongoing ministry of reconciliation.... Read the article
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Scripture readings:
Ex.32:1-14 and Ps. 106:1-6, 19-23
(or Isa. 25:1-9 and Ps. 23)
Phil.4:1-9, Matt. 22:1-14
Sermon by Josh McDonald from Philippians 4:4-9
Practicing Aggressive Gratitude
In Phil. 4:4-9, Paul urges believers, rather than being anxious, to practice "prayer and supplication with thanksgiving." Today I want to elaborate on that thought, discussing what we might call "aggressive gratitude." Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? We're not used to putting these two ideas together. Aggressive gratitude takes the familiar emotion of aggression (fighting, conflict, anger) and couples it with gratitude, which Paul associates with giving, receiving and peace.
Paul's anxiety-producing circumstances
When Paul sent this letter... Read the article
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This article is from Josh McDonald, lead pastor of GCI's congregation in Indianapolis, IN. It is excerpted from a sermon Josh gave to his congregation in casting a vision for outreach to the community surrounding their church.
[caption id="attachment_5477" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Josh with his wife Heather, their children and Minnie Mouse[/caption]
I ended college with student teaching. Every day, I had 80 tenth-graders staring at me. They all pretty much knew I had no clue what I was doing. They were out of control, I was underprepared and my supervisor-teacher spent most classes with her head in her hands. Around Thanksgiving, my student teaching professor took me out for coffee and let me know in no uncertain terms that I... Read the article
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Scripture readings:
Ex. 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 and Ps. 19
(or Isa. 5:1-7 and Ps. 80:7-15)
Phil.3:4b-14, Matt. 21:33-46
Sermon by Ted Johnston from Philippians 3:12-16
(drawing on commentary by Warren Wiersbe in The Bible Expository Commentary and Francis Foulkes in The New Bible Commentary)
Running Strong with Jesus
Introduction
In Philippians 3, Paul rejoices in who Jesus is and who we are as believers in union with him. Paul rejoices that Jesus is at work, through the Spirit, redeeming our past (vv. 1-11) and securing our future (vv. 17-21). Then in vv. 12-16, Paul looks at our present, noting that Jesus, who has saved us, invites us to participate with him as he ministers through the Spirit. Paul uses a sports metaphor to compare... Read the article
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Scripture readings:
Ex. 17:1-7 and Ps. 78:1-4,12-16
(or Ezek.18:1-4, 25-32 and Ps. 25:1-9)
Phil. 2:1-13; Matt. 21:23-32
Sermon by Martin Manuel from Philippians 2:1-13
Sharing in Jesus' Incarnational Living
[caption id="attachment_5319" align="aligncenter" width="494"] (source)[/caption]
Each year, Time (magazine) names a Person of the Year. In 2014, Time gave that award not to an individual but to the group of people who fought the deadly Ebola virus in Africa. Time said they "risked and persisted, sacrificed and saved." Here's a video about them:
(on YouTube at https://youtu.be/7t9VRBaOjlY)
The sacrifices made by these Ebola fighters remind me of Jesus. I'm not suggesting they are equal to Jesus, but in them I see a... Read the article
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Due to GCI's Denominational Conference this month, this issue of "Equipper" has limited content. We'll return in September with a full issue. In the meantime, enjoy the conference and the rest of your summer!
Kid's Korner: RCL-synced lesson plans
Here is a resource you can use to prepare Children's Church or Sunday School lessons that are synced with the Revised Common Lectionary.
RCL sermons for September
Here are four sermons synced with the Revised Common Lectionary, covering the 13th through 16th Sundays after Pentecost (in “ordinary time” between Pentecost and Advent):
- Sermon for September 3
- Sermon for September 10
- Sermon for September 17
- Sermon for September 24
In case you missed them last month, here... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Ex.16:2-15 and Ps. 105:1-6, 37-45
(or Jonah 3:10-4:11 and Ps. 145:1-8) Phil. 1:21-30; Matt. 20:1-16
Sermon by Linda Rex from Mat. 20:1-16
GENEROSITY, FAIRNESS & GOD'S GRACE
Introduction
Last week, in the sermon from Matthew 18:21-35, we rejoiced in God's unlimited, unmeasurable forgiveness. Because of what Jesus has done in our place and on our behalf, there is no debt we owe to God. The debt has been cancelled! It's gone! Jesus, to whom all judgment has been given, left the judge's seat, came down, took our place and paid our debt in full.
That is the reality. Yet, sometimes we live as though it's not. Instead of partaking of the tree of life, we feed from the tree of good and evil---living as though we... Read the article
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[caption id="attachment_340" align="alignright" width="162"] Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives. (Proverbs 22:6)[/caption]
Does your congregation follow the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) in its worship planning and preaching? If so, you might be interested in syncing your children's church (or children's Sunday school) lessons with the RCL weekly Scripture readings. To help you do that, the Episcopal Church publishes RCL-synced lesson plans designed for young (non-reading) children, older children and adults. You'll find them at http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/lessons/.
These lesson plans follow the RCL with minor modifications. Adapting them for use in GCI would not be difficult. Note... Read the article
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Scripture Readings: Ex. 14:19-31 and Ps. 114 (or Gen. 50:15-21 and Ps.103:1-7, 8-13) Rom. 14:1-12; Matt. 18:21-35
Sermon by Martin Manuel from Matt. 18:21-35
Immeasurable, Unlimited Forgiveness
Introduction
Our readings today address God’s justice, judgment and mercy. In justice, God judges our sin and in mercy provides forgiveness. He then invites followers of Jesus, who have received this forgiveness, to participate with Christ in forgiving those who have offended us. Our Gospel reading addresses two points about that forgiveness: 1) its frequency and 2) the relationship between divine and human forgiving. By looking at both, we'll gain greater appreciation for God’s forgiveness and how we can apply it in our relationships.
... Read the article
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Scripture readings:
Ex. 12:1-14 and Ps. 149
(or Ezek. 33:7-11 and Ps. 119:33-40)
Rom. 13:8-14; Matt.18:15-20
Sermon by Ted Johnston from Matt. 18:10-20 and Rom. 13:8-10
EXHORTATION TO RADICAL GRACE
Introduction
In our readings today from Ex. 12, Ezek. 33, Rom. 13 and Matt. 18, we are confronted with the way of the Lord, which often is quite different and thus at odds with the way of the world. But a merciful God covers our sin (Ex. 12) and sends us teachers ("watchmen") who call us to a better way (Ezek. 33), which is the way of love (Rom. 13). That way is perfectly exemplified in the radical grace lived and taught by Jesus (Matt. 18).
In today's sermon we'll focus on Matthew 18:10-20, which follows Matthew 18:1 where Jesus'... Read the article
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