Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
Argile Smith
Craig Kelly
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Borrowed Book" by Argile Smith
"The Tie" by Craig Kelly
What's Up This Week
We often hear around Christmas that, "It is better to give than to receive." However, in our world, there can be many more takers than givers the rest of the year. Yet, giving still has many benefits, especially in our relationship with God. He has given us everything, even our very breath, but it is so easy to begin to claim that gift as our own, not realizing that God gives to us so we can give to him. Argile Smith explains in "The Borrowed Book." While it is essential to give to God, it is also important to give to one another. In "The Tie," Craig Kelly tells the story of a man who, though he thought he had nothing to give, found that he still had a gift to give. In his act of giving, he gained a great reward.
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The Borrowed Book
By Argile Smith
What's Up This Week
"The Borrowed Book" by Argile Smith
"The Tie" by Craig Kelly
What's Up This Week
We often hear around Christmas that, "It is better to give than to receive." However, in our world, there can be many more takers than givers the rest of the year. Yet, giving still has many benefits, especially in our relationship with God. He has given us everything, even our very breath, but it is so easy to begin to claim that gift as our own, not realizing that God gives to us so we can give to him. Argile Smith explains in "The Borrowed Book." While it is essential to give to God, it is also important to give to one another. In "The Tie," Craig Kelly tells the story of a man who, though he thought he had nothing to give, found that he still had a gift to give. In his act of giving, he gained a great reward.
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The Borrowed Book
By Argile Smith
Frank Ramirez
As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet (Jeremiah 28:9)."
The prophet Jeremiah may have been a little skeptical when he spoke these words about a prophet who prophesies peace, for as he said earlier in the passage, the default setting for prophesy involves war, famine, and pestilence. Nevertheless, he suggests that if the words of the peace prophets come true then the Lord has truly sent them.
Ralph and Mary Smeltzer, husband and wife, were both prophets whose lives helped to bring about the peace they yearned for. Ralph was an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, a denomination that, with the Mennonites and Friends, is one of the three historic peace churches. The pair met in college and came to live in Southern California.
The prophet Jeremiah may have been a little skeptical when he spoke these words about a prophet who prophesies peace, for as he said earlier in the passage, the default setting for prophesy involves war, famine, and pestilence. Nevertheless, he suggests that if the words of the peace prophets come true then the Lord has truly sent them.
Ralph and Mary Smeltzer, husband and wife, were both prophets whose lives helped to bring about the peace they yearned for. Ralph was an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, a denomination that, with the Mennonites and Friends, is one of the three historic peace churches. The pair met in college and came to live in Southern California.
John E. Sumwalt
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous, and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward. (vv. 40-42)
Imagine for a moment that you live in the country on a one lane road. Your nearest neighbor is almost a mile away. Late one night you are wakened by a loud knocking on your door. You peer through the window, but you do not recognize the person who is knocking. The news of prisoners escaping from a penitentiary in the next state is very much on your mind. What do you do? Do you open the door? Do you call the police?
Imagine for a moment that you live in the country on a one lane road. Your nearest neighbor is almost a mile away. Late one night you are wakened by a loud knocking on your door. You peer through the window, but you do not recognize the person who is knocking. The news of prisoners escaping from a penitentiary in the next state is very much on your mind. What do you do? Do you open the door? Do you call the police?
Peter Andrew Smith
Keith Hewitt
Contents
“Welcoming” by Peter Andrew Smith
“Journey to Moriah” by Keith Hewitt
Welcoming
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 10:40-42
Timmy ran over to where Joan was sitting. “Mom, can I have some of those fruit slices?”
“Sure.” Joan dug into her bag and passed him a piece of apple. “Who is that boy you’re playing with?”
“I don’t know.” Timmy shrugged as he chewed. “I think his name is Samir.”
Joan looked at the little boy standing next to the swings waiting for Timmy. “Did you ask if he wanted something to eat as well?”
“I never thought to.” Timmy swallowed. “Can I have some more?”
“After you ask Samir if he wants some apple.” Joan paused. “If he does then he has to ask whoever brought him to the park if it’s okay.”
“Welcoming” by Peter Andrew Smith
“Journey to Moriah” by Keith Hewitt
Welcoming
by Peter Andrew Smith
Matthew 10:40-42
Timmy ran over to where Joan was sitting. “Mom, can I have some of those fruit slices?”
“Sure.” Joan dug into her bag and passed him a piece of apple. “Who is that boy you’re playing with?”
“I don’t know.” Timmy shrugged as he chewed. “I think his name is Samir.”
Joan looked at the little boy standing next to the swings waiting for Timmy. “Did you ask if he wanted something to eat as well?”
“I never thought to.” Timmy swallowed. “Can I have some more?”
“After you ask Samir if he wants some apple.” Joan paused. “If he does then he has to ask whoever brought him to the park if it’s okay.”
Sandra Herrmann
Contents
"To Any of These Little Ones" by Sandra Herrmann
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To Any of These Little Ones
by Sandra Herrmann
Matthew 10:40-42
Lee had been brought up on the farm where she had learned the value of hard work, getting up early to get a start on the day, and the necessity of taking care of one another, because bringing in the hay was hard, dusty, dirty work that dehydrated the field hands before they could notice. One of her jobs as a teenager had been to carry water to the men doing the harvesting. This required the ability to drive the farm truck, loaded with five-gallon bottles of water, a few buckets and cups for the men and boys to fill with water.
"To Any of These Little Ones" by Sandra Herrmann
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To Any of These Little Ones
by Sandra Herrmann
Matthew 10:40-42
Lee had been brought up on the farm where she had learned the value of hard work, getting up early to get a start on the day, and the necessity of taking care of one another, because bringing in the hay was hard, dusty, dirty work that dehydrated the field hands before they could notice. One of her jobs as a teenager had been to carry water to the men doing the harvesting. This required the ability to drive the farm truck, loaded with five-gallon bottles of water, a few buckets and cups for the men and boys to fill with water.
C. David Mckirachan
Peter Andrew Smith
Contents
"Standardized Testing" by C. David McKirachan
"Reward of Righteousness" by Peter Andrew Smith
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Standardized Testing
by C. David McKirachan
Genesis 22:1-14
I teach. I teach the Bible, spiritual development, Evangelism, prayer, history, pastoral calling, stewardship, worship leadership, confirmation, sex education, and leadership at my church. I teach critical thinking, argumentation, rhetoric, public speaking, debate, and collaborative problem solving at the university. I teach bonsai, sailing, and paying attention in various other environments. In short, I teach.
"Standardized Testing" by C. David McKirachan
"Reward of Righteousness" by Peter Andrew Smith
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Standardized Testing
by C. David McKirachan
Genesis 22:1-14
I teach. I teach the Bible, spiritual development, Evangelism, prayer, history, pastoral calling, stewardship, worship leadership, confirmation, sex education, and leadership at my church. I teach critical thinking, argumentation, rhetoric, public speaking, debate, and collaborative problem solving at the university. I teach bonsai, sailing, and paying attention in various other environments. In short, I teach.
John E. Sumwalt And Jo Perry-sumwalt
Contents
What's Up This Week
Stories to Live By: "Who Is In Favor of Child Sacrifice?" by John Sumwalt
Shining Moments: "A Cup of Coffee" by Thomas Kadel
Sermon Starters: "A Prophet's Reward" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What's Up This Week
Stories to Live By: "Who Is In Favor of Child Sacrifice?" by John Sumwalt
Shining Moments: "A Cup of Coffee" by Thomas Kadel
Sermon Starters: "A Prophet's Reward" by John Sumwalt
What's Up This Week
What is StoryShare?
StoryShare is a treasure house with hundreds of good stories to share, stories which relate authentic, life-changing experiences that demonstrate the Lord's power and presence. Many are intensely personal accounts that concern visions, healing, or answers to prayers, but all bear witness to the indescribable joy, comfort and peace that come from a personal encounter with the divine. Our "Good Stories" section includes short fiction, parables much like those Jesus told.
Can I share stories that I have?
Yes, you can. You have good stories to share too, probably more than you know: personal stories, and stories from others that you have used over the years. StoryShare is always looking for stories involving personal experiences of the presence of God. Have you or someone you know heard the voice of God or been healed as a direct answer to prayer? If you have a story that you can share send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here (storyshare@sermonsuite.com) and email your story to us.
