Date: May 13, 2012
Liturgical Sunday: Sixth Sunday of Easter
RCL Scripture: Psalm 98; Acts 10:44-48; 1 John 5:1-6; John 15:9-17
Sermon Title: Are we in or are we out?
Knox Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/120513_-_Knox.mp3|titles=Are we in or are we out?]
St. Mark’s Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/120513_-_St_Marks.mp3|titles=Are we in or are we out?]
This week’s sermons are two different takes on trying to come to grips with what it means or might mean to talk about being “in” or being “out.” We all want to be part of the in crowd but do we always know what that means? What criteria or criterion do we use to see who is in or out of our churches, our beliefs, our faith.
Let me know what you think as you are willing and able. This week I think you will see some interesting (significant?) differences between the two sermons.
Warmly,
PS Just a reminder that if you want to download this or any recent sermon and you can’t do it from this page, try this link http://tinyurl.com/455op7r
I can’t speak to the differences, but I can say “Thank you!” for reminding me again of how often our differences of style, taste, preference, format and any number of other ‘not very meaningfuls’ swamp the reality of our similarity. The commonality of grace being sufficient and Christ as our saviour. How often the lessons that Paul taught to the early church about cultural trappings not being a requirement for salvation are lost on us. And by us I mostly mean ME. I’ve said it before and I still think it’s true. I believe we will be both shocked and astonished at who is IN when we get to the final day. And perhaps even more shocked at who is OUT when Christ is the one making the decision on who has engaged in true religion.
Thanks again. It was a good one!