Readings:
Exodus 19:2-8a
Psalm 100
Romans 5:1-8
Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23)
OT-Mosaic Covenant; not just with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob; but with the nation.
“If you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples…. You shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”
To be model for all nations, living according to the Law; 10 Commandments;
4-how we live out our relationship with God
6-how we live out our relationship with each other Found to be very difficult.
Paul writes to the Roman church about the NEW covenant that God established through Jesus Christ. Humankind falls short; we are put right again; reconciled; by the life and death of Jesus Christ.
This covenant is unilateral and unconditional. Nothing we do takes away God’s love for us. Nothing. Through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, we are a new community, God’s beloved family.
In the Gospel lesson, Jesus sent out the 12 disciples with a mission; to share the Good News. Later he sent 70 with that mission. At the Great Commission he sent us; you and me – with our mission.
So how do we understand our mission; our purpose; what God expects of us?
Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life:
Great Commandment: Love God-Worship-everywhere
Love neighbor-fellowship-pray for, care about, care for
(United Nations – Refugee Day-June 20 – ‘in the name of these refugees,
aid all refugees’ – Episcopal Migration Ministries)
Great Commission: Go to all nations-mission – our impact across national borders.
Baptize-ministry – share our experiences of God, using words if necessary
Teach-discipleship – Bible study, adult ed, special workshops (leadership summit)
Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Mission – summarize Jesus’ statements of our purpose as a faith family, and as individual Christians. Our mission is to balance these five activities, to be sure each of them is active and healthy.
Fathers Day – 1 Cor 16:13 – Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith.
I thank God for the gift of faith I see so clearly at work in this community. I pray that we keep our focus on the ways we have been taught: for sharing with others our experiences that the kingdom of God is near. Amen.
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