Where Is Your Heart?
Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m.
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SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, November 12, 2023
Dear Friends in Christ –
We read from the First Testament, the 24th chapter of the Book of Joshua. Aaron has assembled the tribes of the nation of Israel. He offers them a choice. It has to do with loyalty, with commitment, with covenant. Serve other gods of the land or Yahweh.
In the days of the First Testament, loyalty didn’t come cloaked in the warmth of acceptance, trust and support that reflect what we hold to be the best in relationships in our modern culture, but rather it was based more on trepidation, deference requiring constant vigilance and in a hopeful dependence that characterized a person’s relationship with social superiors who were truly lord and master over their lives.
Aaron warns the people that they are not up to the task. But they cry, “We will serve the Lord!” And he says, “You are witnesses against yourselves!” In plain language, they agreed to be held accountable… by their own words!
So in this moment in the churn of war, and natural disasters, and suspicions rampant, we are to decide, to commit, to affirm our covenant with our God -- and with each other. We are to affirm where our heart is and where our loyalty lies – with Jesus and the way of true power, the power of love. This is what we must do and what we get to do.
With great joy in being your pastor,
Delonza "Flip" Simmons is the manager of the Shaw Community Center on Mary Street providing a safe environment and extra curricular activities for both youth and adults to stay active, focused and productive. He also has a God-driven non-profit basketball league. The Flip League is on a mission to display what positive engagement looks like among our community as well as positive engagement between our community and law enforcement.
Flip will join us on Sunday for a Minute for Mission about the Shaw Center.