SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, November 8, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ –

A few years ago I was talking with Colin Kerr who at the time was our DCE, though now he’s the pastor of a new church plant up the road. We were finishing up a meeting. I asked him something and he looked straight at me and replied “word” and turned and left.

I thought, he must think that was sufficient. Then I thought it must be something positive, a concurrence, an ascent. I wasn’t sure so I did what every responsible seeker of truth should do in such a circumstance – I went to the Urban Dictionary. There it was: WORD. The definition? Well said, in agreement. I’ve used the word – "Word" a couple of times since with my daughters just to see their eyes roll.

I’ve heard and I’ve always felt it to be true that the church has to be attentive to styles and language and music to be understood, to be effective. It's not that we pander to every new wave, but we respect that different folks respond in different ways to language and music. The history of the church bears witness. So how we worship, what we study and say and sing has an effect, a consequence. If we are to be the conduits of God’s love and justice, if we are to reach those who don’t yet know Jesus, we have to recognize that what we do and what we don’t is noticed. what we say and how we say it matters.

There has been a lot stated the last few weeks as truth. But is it? Or is it truthy? As I write this, the presidential election is still not decided. But more than this, our nation’s character is laid bare. It is as important as ever in our lifetimes to be discerning, to be brave, to be bold in service to God’s truth, God’s word.

See you Sunday! (wash your hands!)