Sweetwater Recorder
By Ronald G. Currell
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church,
SweetwaterOnLine |
|
Glad
Tidings of the Kingdom of God
Sweetwater Recorder By Ronald G. Currell St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, |
During this early phase of His Ministry, Jesus had gathered the rest of His Disciples and had established a broader following. After Jesus had left the Mediterranean coast, they went through the cities of the hill country then down again to Capernaum, where Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner. There, a woman anointed His feet with tears and devotion. But she wasn’t the sort of person a respected religious person accepts. In the eyes of Simon and the Pharisees, she was a sinner. In essence, Jesus asked Simon who is the more grateful, one who is forgiven little or one who is forgiven much. Simon answered that one who was forgiven much. And Jesus pointed out that this woman loves much because she was forgiven much. She was glad because of it.J
esus continued. Afterward He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him.
Afterward He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him.
The message that Jesus taught, the Message that Jesus’ life portrayed was the glad tidings that said, "the Kingdom of God is breaking into human history. The Kingdom of God is here." His every act and His every sermon was to make the Kingdom of God a reality on earth. The very act of Salvation, then, was to make men and women die to the Kingdom of Darkness and to make them become born again into the Kingdom of God.
As we look around ourselves today, Jesus would have us see the Kingdom of God at work wherever we see His Salvation at work. In every age, in every time, and in every place where the Spirit of God empowers the preaching of the Cross and the Resurrection to bring forth fruit, then and there is the Kingdom of God working among us.
Let us, then, advance the spreading of the Kingdom of God in our time.
| Just as the people of Sweetwater need different Christian experiences, the various Christian Churches offer different expressions of the same faith. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church offers a quiet, respectful hour dedicated to God every Sunday Morning at 11:00 AM, preceded by a thought-provoking Bible Class at 9:45, where we discuss intriguing passages from the Scriptures. Drop by some time. See us on the Internet and experience our online chapel at www.ststephens.net. |
Please make plans to attend your Church-of-choice this coming Sunday.
SweetwaterOnLine |