Sermon Overview
Greetings and salutations, from Pastor Steve, called to serve you The Gathering Church in Kitchener and Beyond;
Graciousness,
Peace,
and Generosity be to you all through Christ's Holy Spirit in this time.
The New Testament Church survived and thrived true incredible challenges gross theological conflict and persecution from the outside world. The leaders of the church in that time we communicate to the church through letters when they couldn't be there face-to-face. Surprisingly it is not unlike the time we find ourselves in now. We would love to be face-to-face and yet we are still unable. Although we hope for a time soon but we can greet one another or we can Embrace shake hands look each other in the eyes and know that there is love there. We are still in a situation where distance and separation define our relationships. The New Testament church leaders wrote letters to the churches that they had founded the churches that they had helped form in order to encourage them in times of struggle and in times of challenge.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
1. What do the words grace, peace, and generosity mean to you at the beginning of the letters in the New Testament? What meaning do you think they were intended to convey to the readers of the letters in the churches?
2. Think of your own Christian life; the activities, learnings, and disciplines you engage in. Would you say that your attitude toward your life is bookended with graciousness, peace, and generosity? Can you remember experiences, teachings, or memories that have shaped your attitude toward your Christian life in ways that prevent grace and peace? Perhaps, it is time to bring these to Jesus Christ and ask Him to show you how He sees your Christian life.
3. Practical Challenge: Commit to carving out some time to be gracious to yourself this week. Choose the place and time and honour that commitment to yourself. Perhaps pray through these points.
a. Name the things that you are unhappy about, frustrated with, confused or uncertain about.
b. Praying and ask God to see you as He sees you with respect to those things named.
c. Write what you hear God say about yourself, about your concerns, worries, struggles, or doubts.
