This weekend we wrapped up Act 2 (Making Room) of our series in 1 Corinthians, A GLORIOUS MESS.
But before we did anything that looked like “business as usual” we needed to pray for and over the horrendous tragedy of the slaughter of the children and teachers in Newtown, Connecticut.
A rarely mentioned part of the Christmas narrative is what’s known as the “slaughter of the innocents.” Another person controlled by evil, Herod, orders the slaughter of all children age two and under in Bethlehem. Matthew sees this as echoing throughout time living out of the Scripture…
Matt. 2:17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:
18 “A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,
WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,
RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;
AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,
BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”
So we began by lifting our hands toward this community and speaking the prayers that the Spirit might lead us to and “weeping with those who weep.”
Sometimes worship happens in the face of darkness; it is sometimes an act of defiance against what temporarily appears to be a triumph of darkness. So worship we did and it was sweet.
Sara Patrick cast a vision for our Christmas Eve for kids. It’s going to be awesome in there so bring the kids, the neighbor kids and volunteer to help out!
Paul finishes a subject he began in in chapter 8. Sometimes doing life with God feels like a balancing act. He lays this out at the end of chapter 10 laying out his “deeper reasons” that requires us to think a little more rigorously. A lot of it has to do with our propensity toward idolatry. Paul absolutely refuses to simply give a list of rules… he keeps pressing us toward actual “Love God, love Neighbor” life!
COMING UP NEXT, CHRISTMAS EVE! Next weekend we’ll have our regular run of weekend services that are focused on those of us familiar with the story. Then everything changes for our 4 HUGE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Dec 23 at 7:00 p.m. Dec 24 at 2:00, 4:00 and 6:00
All have full kids ministry!
Click here for more info!
