Thursday's Thought for Sunday's Service

“Now when John heard in prison about the things the Christ was doing, he sent word by his disciples to Jesus, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus responded, “Go, report to John what you hear and see. Those who were blind are able to see. Those who were crippled are walking. People with skin diseases are cleansed. Those who were deaf now hear. Those who were dead are raised up. The poor have good news proclaimed to them. Happy are those who don’t stumble and fall because of me.” When John’s disciples had gone, Jesus spoke to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A stalk blowing in the wind? What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in refined clothes? Look, those who wear refined clothes are in royal palaces. What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. He is the one of whom it is written: Look, I’m sending my messenger before you, who will prepare your way before you. “I assure you that no one who has ever been born is greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matthew 11:2–11, CEB)

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The need for rebirth, repentance, and redemption,
depends upon faith and trust in God’s direction.
Restoration teaches us to look, anticipate, expect,
and comes when venturing, joining to chat, contribute, connect.
Led by what is friendly, familial, and fraternal,
renewal is essential, expansive, eternal.

It is not just about living a better and happier existence.
In God’s world, these worthy goals are mere grains of sufficiency, subsistence.
Released from the jail cell constructed, cast around our heart,
we partner with, and partake in, as a strong, vital part,
an expectation of one greater than we could sufficiently conceive,
often mirrored thru prayer, containing this simple phrase, “I believe.”

Pastor Rich Wagner

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Sunday, December 15, 2019       Third Sunday of Advent
Old Testament Reading               Isaiah 35:1–10
New Testament Reading:            Matthew 11:2–11
Sermon:                                         “When All Go Out to See, One Worthier than We”