Thursday's Thought for Sunday's Service

“Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God. The synagogue leader, incensed that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, responded, “There are six days during which work is permitted. Come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord replied, “Hypocrites! Don’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from its stall and lead it out to get a drink? Then isn’t it necessary that this woman, a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for eighteen long years, be set free from her bondage on the Sabbath day?” When he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, but all those in the crowd rejoiced at all the extraordinary things he was doing.” (Luke 13:10–17, CEB)

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Jesus exemplifies outreach exceeding usual constraints.  Faithful practice senses God: channeling, soothing; continually surprising; consistently supporting Christian service.

Sometimes it’s hard,
when the world I want,
and the world I receive,
don’t match-up.

It’s then that I feel like
going into a “box,”
where it’s safe,
where there are things
I can control,
where I can close the lid,
and shut out the world
around me.

There I am, all alone,
celebrating in no one
but myself.

I grow lonely.

God encourages me
to move out of my “space.”

"O Lord,
Please help me to step into the world once more,
and try to be a friend,
anyway."

Pastor Rich Wagner

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Sunday, August 25, 2019            Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

New Testament:           Hebrews 12:18-29
Gospel:                        Luke 13:18-29
 

Sermon Title:  "Hastening Healing while Handling Hypocrisy"