Daily Devotions - June 1, 2020 through June 15, 2020

Below please find the 'Daily Devotions' recorded from June 1, 2020, through June 15, 2020.

May they bless you in some small way, and as always...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,
Roy 

Romans 1:8-17 - Thursday Night Service - June 11, 2020

A look at the history of the Church in Rome and the beginning of Paul's letter to this church.  Paul wanted to visit the church in order to strengthen them and to be strengthened by them.

We, Pastors, need our congregations to strengthen us as much or perhaps more than the congregation needs to be strengthened by us.  This reassuring, guiding, and growing is a two-way street of blessing.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Romans 1:8-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Prayer of Thanksgiving
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world. 9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel[a] of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, 10 asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish 15 —hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

The Power of the Gospel
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, “The one who is righteous will live by faith.”[c]

Footnotes:
a) Romans 1:9 Gk my spirit in the gospel
b) Romans 1:13 Gk brothers
c) Romans 1:17 Or The one who is righteous through faith will live

Sunday, June 7, 2020 - Matthew 28:16-20 - Trinity Sunday Sermon

Sunday, June 7th, 2020, was "Trinity Sunday".  This year I chose to preach over the verses found in Matthew's Gospel and to focus upon the great Commission of the 'eleven'.

I consider what is meant by 'some doubted'...

Please take a listen, it's a short message.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,

Roy

Matthew 28:16-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Commissioning of the Disciples

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”[a]

Footnotes:

a) Matthew 28:20 Other ancient authorities add Amen

Thursday Night Sermon - June 4, 2020 - 2nd Corinthians 13:11-13

The night that I couldn't think of the word 'doctrine'... made me crazy that I just couldn't think of it.  Early dementia is something to be concerned about...

This sermon touched upon the concept (doctrine) of the Holy Trinity.  The area within which we most easily can venture into the region of heresy.  I honestly suspect that most modern Christians would have been considered heretics in the early centuries of the Church.

With that, I need to keep moving so here is the sermon for those who wish to listen.  Thank you for dropping by!

Be a blessing to someone today...

In His Grace,
Roy

2 Corinthians 13:11-13 (NRSV)
Final Greetings and Benediction
11 Finally, brothers and sisters,[a] farewell.[b] Put things in order, listen to my appeal,[c] agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of[d] the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Footnotes:
a) 2 Corinthians 13:11 Gk brothers
b) 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or rejoice
c) 2 Corinthians 13:11 Or encourage one another
d) 2 Corinthians 13:13 Or and the sharing in

Pentecost - May 31, 2020 - Acts 2:1-21

This past Sunday was, of course, Pentecost Sunday.  Here we are brought again and again to the story which is often called the 'beginning of the Church'.  It's the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit and it's a Sunday when we typically sport the trappings of 'red' either in our clothing or almost certainly adorning the Sanctuary.

It's a day that we all simply want to hear once again the old story about the 'tongues of fire' and the talking in 'tongues'.  We want to hear the old story and feel comforted in our worship.  So, this year... I chose to preach over the 'old story' and address this desire for comfort.  Then... I turned directions... because unfortunately... these are not comfortable times.

We need to come together, we need to stop dividing ourselves... we need to stop telling lies and misrepresenting each other.  There are anterior motives at work within the Church and the fact of the matter is the only motive that we should be promoting is the motive of God.  His motive is that we love Him and that we love one another.  Can't we just do that?

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Acts 2:1-21 NRSV
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
    and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
        and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
    and signs on the earth below,
        blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,
        before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Thursday Night Worship - May 28, 2020 - John 20:19-23 NRSV

Below please find the sermon from Thursday, May 28, 2020, this was a sermon over 'peace' or more accurately the 'wholeness' of God.

Please take a listen.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

John 20:19-23  New Revised Standard Version
Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Daily Devotions - May 16 to May 30, 2020

Below please find the videos from the 'Daily Devotions' (Mon-Sat) for the period from May 16th through May 30th.

I pray that these reflections might bless you or someone you know in some small way.

Thank you for stopping by!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy