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For the week of September 15:
James 5:13-18
Scripture Intro
This morning we’re beginning a new sermon series on stewardship. Usually we hear at least a little bit about stewardship every fall, but Pastor Nate is doing something different with it this year. Listen to this first scripture reading from the series and see if you can guess where we’re headed.
This is James chapter 5, verses 13 through 18.
Scripture Reading
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.
Elijah was a human like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth yielded its harvest.
For the week of September 8:
Ephesians 6:10-20
Scripture Intro
For our scripture reading this morning, we’re returning to the apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, which some of you might remember from Pastor Nate’s first summer here. Last week we heard about some of the values Jesus taught his disciples–like offering grace to people who wrong us–and Pastor Nate encouraged us to judge the values championed by different political parties by how they compare to Jesus’ values. This week, we’re going to brave a look at the ‘culture war’ we hear so much about every election cycle and see what Paul’s words have to say about it.
This is Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 through 20.
Scripture Reading
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power; put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.