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Fear Not

5/17/2020

Acts: 17: 22-28; 1 Peter:3: 13-18a; John 14: 18-21, 25-26
May 17, 2020 Zoom worship

What do you love and what do you fear in life? Paul was on a tour of Athens and looked around and saw all the idols and temples. In a way, the monuments showed what the people of Athens loved... and what they feared.
As I consider what I love and what I fear, I decided to look around my workspace to get some clues. Straight ahead is a picture of Julie in her wedding dress. Off to my right is an older picture yet of my mom holding me when I was about 1. Behind these is a family picture taken from our 40th anniversary party. Right behind that, me holding Christa on the first day we met the girls in Duluth.

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The First Martyr

5/10/2020

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Acts 7:55-60; John 14: 1-14
May 10, 2020 Zoom

When I introduce the job of deacon to newly elected deacons, I go to the Book of Acts and tell them the story of Stephen. But not the story Darlene read today. I don't really want them thinking they have taken on a job that will get them stoned to death. Today's passage from Acts is just the conclusion of the story of Stephen, the first Martyr.
Stephen is introduced in the previous chapter, in the very earliest days of the church. Jesus has ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit has come, the disciples have found a replacement for Judas so there are twelve again. And the church is meeting regularly. And part of their meetings included feeding the people. Property was held in common and goods were distributed by the twelve apostles. But some of the church members, the people from Greece, felt that the food distribution was not fair. They thought the native Hebrews were being favored. When this was brought to the attention of the Apostles, Luke records, ”And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, 'It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.”' So they asked the people to nominate seven well respected members to become table waiters/deacons. This is the part I teach so they don't get too puffed up over being a deacon. A deacon is a table waiter.

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Fear Not

The First Martyr

Pastor Gordy

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