07-11-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
July 11, 2023
Last night, I woke up in a bit of a panic. For more than a minute, I thought it was Saturday night. For a minister, that means Sunday is tomorrow. And of course, I didn’t have a sermon. It’s the minister's version of the kid having a dream that he walks into a final in a class he’s never attended. I had that dream once or twice earlier in life. Though once I got my head on straight and realized that it was Monday night and I still had a number of days before I’d be expected to preach, there was a question that came to my mind. Do I have a sermon I can preach? The answer is Yes. I have an emergency sermon, and though I should probably revisit it as it isn’t very good, there is one available (a sort of break glass in case of emergency kind of sermon). But I was really asking the question of whether I had a witness to offer to others—a true message of Good News? I’m not suggesting it needs to be polished, but I believe every follower of Jesus should have something to say (or maybe you express yourself in music, dance, visual arts, etc.). The current culture is looking for something authentic—something shared from a person's experience. I would encourage you to ponder what your witness might be.

Out of the mercy and kindness I have experienced, O God, I strive to find a good word I can offer in gratitude. Amen.