Scripture readings: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Ps. 50:1-6; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9 Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday by Martin Manuel from Mark 9:2-9 Eyewitnesses of Jesus' Glory Introduction Poets, composers, authors and preachers---all have captivated us with the phrase, “Touch the face of God.” But has anyone touched God’s face? Has anyone seen God? The answer is yes and no. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had direct, two-way communication with their Creator, Adonai Elohim. Later, so did their sons, Cain and Abel. El Shaddai appeared to Abraham as one of three men---the other two were angels. Jacob wrestled with a man, and afterward said he had met God face to face. In each case, God appeared as a man to these people. Adonai... Read the article
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This first issue of GCI Equipper in 2018 looks forward to a year of transitions in GCI---below are links to the articles and sermons. From Greg: Celebrating Jesus' headship Looking forward, in faith, to the various transitions coming in 2018, Greg Williams reassures us that Jesus is head of his church, GCI included. On Leadership: Confidentiality Rick Shallenberger addresses the vital topic of maintaining confidentiality. Kid's Korner: Start with a thankful heart Lance McKinnon encourages us to minister out of a heart of thankfulness. RCL sermons for February 2018 Here are the Revised Common Lectionary-synced sermons for February: - Sermon for February 4 - Sermon for February 11 - Sermon for February 18 - Sermon... Read the article
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By Pastor Lance McKinnon [caption id="attachment_340" align="alignright" width="168"] Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)[/caption] Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name. (Psalm 100:4, NRSV) This Psalm serves us well when considering the New Year with our children. The best start is with a thankful heart. In fact, it’s the best start we can have each new day. It’s amazing how a little thankfulness for my children helps me see how they really are an amazing blessing and gift beyond measure. That’s how thankfulness works. We are thankful only for that which we willingly receive. When God... Read the article
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Scripture readings: Isa.40:21-31; Ps. 147:1-11, 20c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 Sermon by Ted Johnston from 1 Cor. 9:1-27 (drawing on commentary from Warren Wiersbe in The Bible Expository Commentary and Bruce Winter in The New Bible Commentary) Exercising Our Freedom in Christ, part 2 Introduction Today is the fifth Sunday after the Epiphany---the annual celebration of the revealing (epiphany) of Christ to the world. Last Sunday, we began to explore what the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians concerning how Christians reveal our Lord as they rightly exercise the freedom that is theirs in Christ. We saw in 1 Corinthians 8 that this means balancing knowledge with love. Now in chapter 9, Paul tells us that it also... Read the article
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