One our best churchy words is “faithful,” but want does it mean? This week we will look to Isaiah 1:1, 10-20, Hebrews 11:1-16, and Luke 12:35-38 for some clues to the correct answer. Our message will be titled “Being Truly Faithful.”
See you Sunday.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jim
Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
1 The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom!Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord;I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts;I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
12 When you come to appear before me,[a] who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more;13 bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me.New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.14 Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates;they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.15 When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you;even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes;cease to do evil,17 learn to do good;seek justice, rescue the oppressed,defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, let us argue it out, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow;though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Hebrews 11:1-16
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[b]
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[c] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[d] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
The Faith of Abraham
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.[e] 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Luke 12:35-38
Watchful Slaves
35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
9am Service:
10:30am Service:
