Difference between revisions of "Sermon for October 27th, 2013"
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1 Now faith is the grounds of things which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen. 2 For by it our elders were well reported of. 3 Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by the which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh. 5 By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. 7 By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household, through the which Ark he condemned the world, and was made heir of the righteousness, which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to go out into a place, which he should afterward receive for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange country, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God. | 1 Now faith is the grounds of things which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen. 2 For by it our elders were well reported of. 3 Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by the which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh. 5 By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. 7 By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household, through the which Ark he condemned the world, and was made heir of the righteousness, which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to go out into a place, which he should afterward receive for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange country, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God. | ||
| − | ==The Faith of our | + | ==The Faith of our Forebears== |
Today we're going to talk a lot about our own heritage, our own religion, so I figured I'd start by talking a little about some of the other ones. And if you're on Bob Thompson's email list, you've probably heard this one before, so blame him, not me! This is entitled "Four Religious Truths." | Today we're going to talk a lot about our own heritage, our own religion, so I figured I'd start by talking a little about some of the other ones. And if you're on Bob Thompson's email list, you've probably heard this one before, so blame him, not me! This is entitled "Four Religious Truths." | ||
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#Roman Catholics do not recognize Protestants as part of the universal church. | #Roman Catholics do not recognize Protestants as part of the universal church. | ||
#Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store, the racetrack, or the dance hall. | #Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store, the racetrack, or the dance hall. | ||
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| + | Today is Reformation Sunday. Today we recognize and celebrate our Forebears in Faith. I'm not talking about Yogi Bear, Paddington Bear, Smokey the Bear, and Winnie the Pooh. Those are the wrong four bears. Our Forebears (f-o-r-e-bears) are simply those who came before us, those who paved the way. Our forebears in faith are those who taught us about God, who introduced us to Jesus Christ, and who shared with us the stories and scriptures contained in the Holy Bible. | ||
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| + | If you are sitting here today, and consider yourself a follower of Christ, chances are you have someone (or perhaps many someones) to thank for that. It could be your parents, your grandparents, a pastor, a teacher, or even just a friend who took the time to share his or her faith with you, or to bring you to church. Take a moment now to think about who that might be in your life, and give thanks to God for that person. We probably don't do this enough. And remember, the best way to show appreciation for those forebears of our faith...is to follow their example: To pass on that faith to someone else, to another generation, to a friend or an acquaintance. | ||
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| + | Likewise the fact that you are sitting in this particular church building on Murchison Drive is something we owe to Rev. Bill Burroughs and the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in the late 1950s, who had the vision and the faith to follow God in a new direction and into a new location. The fact that First Presbyterian Church exists at all in El Paso, we owe to the Rev. John Alexander Merrill and twelve Presbyterians who first formed this church 131 years ago, in 1882. If you're happy to be here today, as part of this faith family, give thanks to God for these forebears of our faith as well. | ||
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Abel. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. | Abel. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. | ||
Revision as of 17:42, 26 October 2013
Hebrews 11:1-10
1 Now faith is the grounds of things which are hoped for, and the evidence of things which are not seen. 2 For by it our elders were well reported of. 3 Through faith we understand that the world was ordained by the word of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by the which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh. 5 By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him. 7 By faith Noah being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household, through the which Ark he condemned the world, and was made heir of the righteousness, which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to go out into a place, which he should afterward receive for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange country, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
The Faith of our Forebears
Today we're going to talk a lot about our own heritage, our own religion, so I figured I'd start by talking a little about some of the other ones. And if you're on Bob Thompson's email list, you've probably heard this one before, so blame him, not me! This is entitled "Four Religious Truths."
- Muslims do not recognize the Jews as God's chosen people.
- Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
- Roman Catholics do not recognize Protestants as part of the universal church.
- Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store, the racetrack, or the dance hall.
Today is Reformation Sunday. Today we recognize and celebrate our Forebears in Faith. I'm not talking about Yogi Bear, Paddington Bear, Smokey the Bear, and Winnie the Pooh. Those are the wrong four bears. Our Forebears (f-o-r-e-bears) are simply those who came before us, those who paved the way. Our forebears in faith are those who taught us about God, who introduced us to Jesus Christ, and who shared with us the stories and scriptures contained in the Holy Bible.
If you are sitting here today, and consider yourself a follower of Christ, chances are you have someone (or perhaps many someones) to thank for that. It could be your parents, your grandparents, a pastor, a teacher, or even just a friend who took the time to share his or her faith with you, or to bring you to church. Take a moment now to think about who that might be in your life, and give thanks to God for that person. We probably don't do this enough. And remember, the best way to show appreciation for those forebears of our faith...is to follow their example: To pass on that faith to someone else, to another generation, to a friend or an acquaintance.
Likewise the fact that you are sitting in this particular church building on Murchison Drive is something we owe to Rev. Bill Burroughs and the congregation of First Presbyterian Church in the late 1950s, who had the vision and the faith to follow God in a new direction and into a new location. The fact that First Presbyterian Church exists at all in El Paso, we owe to the Rev. John Alexander Merrill and twelve Presbyterians who first formed this church 131 years ago, in 1882. If you're happy to be here today, as part of this faith family, give thanks to God for these forebears of our faith as well.
Abel. Enoch. Noah. Abraham. Isaac. Jacob.
