We focus on the final half of the Psalm.  The Psalmist turns from a third person address to God to a 2nd person address.  Things are getting more personal.  In the midst of the chaos around him, King David speaks of God's presence right there with him.  God provides even amidst the darkness.

We need this message today as we are all surrounded by so much chaos and darkness.

Let us hear the message anew.

In this strange season of division, stress, anxiety, anticipation, dread, and wonder... we visit one of the most well known Psalms to find comfort.

It's okay to feel on edge.  It's okay to feel sad.  It's okay to feel the heaviness of our reality of COVID, election, racism, xenophobia, homophobia, unemployment, and death.  If you're not feeling the heaviness, then I wonder if you are paying attention.

In this time... let us turn to a simple truth and consider its meaning; the Lord is my shepherd.

Let us hear a much needed good word.

Romans 15.7-13 -- We come to the end of our focus passage in Romans.  We experience Paul's beautiful tapestry of Hebrew Scripture images that he uses to illuminate the work of Jesus Christ towards the goal of fulfilling God's promises from back at the beginning.  Remembering God's faithfulness and where our story is taking us helps us to remain grounded in our faith today where we currently live.

John Wesley lifts up the marks of the Christian life as faith, hope, and love.  This comes from Paul.  Understanding how they are woven together by Wesley gives us a similar image to what Paul offers the church and Rome and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, to us today.

Are we ready to find our footing in Jesus Christ?

Are we ready to be ONLY ONE?

Romans 15:1-6  --  In a culture and season where division is the trend, the church is needed to offer a different path.  The problem is the church is not exempt from struggling to stay on the path itself.  We can even got so far off the path that we actually think we are ON the path.  So how do we stay the course?  How do we stay on the path?  The apostle Paul offers insight for our future based on the past actions of God in Jesus Christ.  Let us hear this message again so that we may move with the Holy Spirit towards the Kingdom of God here, now, and forevemore.

Romans 14:13-23  --  Rights vs. Responsibilities: this is the dilemma we all face.  In a world and culture where our "rights" are so highly regarded, it's up to the church to show the world how responsibility is our calling.  When we consider all that we have to be grateful for--all the grace of God that has been extended to us--we can then live a life centered on grace.  This is our calling.

Are you ready?

Romans 14:1-12

Hear a good word from Paul to a church that is being divided due to difference rather than united due to common identity.

Matthew 18:21-39  --  We come to a story which challenges an entire framework of self-understanding as well as relationship to others.  The church needs this message as much as we ever have.

Will we accept the invitation to grace?

Romans 12.9-13.7  &  Matthew 16.21-28

Paul urges the church in Rome to come together in a way that is unique to the culture in which they live.  They are called to let love define their relationships with each other and with the wider world.  They are to be subversive in how they bring the Kingdom of God into their wider world.

Living this way will always come with a cost.  We will be forced to reckon with our ego, with our pride, with our greed, and with many other self-seeking parts of ourselves.

Jesus reminded the disciples long ago that, if we are going to follow him into this new way of life with God, we are to be courageously authentic no matter the cost.

Are we ready to follow his lead?