https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Special:RecentChanges Track the most recent changes to the wiki in this feed. en MediaWiki 1.46.0 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:37:39 GMT https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=First_Presbyterian_Church&diff=8085&oldid=8076 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=First_Presbyterian_Church&diff=8085&oldid=8076 <p></p> <table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw-interface=""> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <tr class="diff-title" lang="en"> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 21:40, 1 August 2026</td> </tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l1">Line 1:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 1:</td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==2026==</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==2026==</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for August 2nd, 2026]] 581st Sermon: Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes (Back to School Sunday)</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for August 2nd, 2026]] 581st Sermon: Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">(2187) </ins>(Back to School Sunday)</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 19th, 2026]] 580th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 20 (2143)</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 19th, 2026]] 580th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 20 (2143)</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 12th, 2026]] 579th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 7 (2580)</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 12th, 2026]] 579th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 7 (2580)</div></td></tr> </table> Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:40:50 GMT Iraneal https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Talk:First_Presbyterian_Church https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026&diff=8084&oldid=8077 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026&diff=8084&oldid=8077 <p></p> <table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw-interface=""> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <tr class="diff-title" lang="en"> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 21:40, 1 August 2026</td> </tr><tr><td colspan="4" class="diff-multi" lang="en">(6 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l3">Line 3:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 3:</td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes==</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes==</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">It was the first day of school, and the teacher was getting to know her students.  She pointed to one child and asked, "So what do your parents do for a living?"  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The student replied, "They're both magicians, and they have a brand new act this year--for the grand finale, they put someone in a box and saw them in half."  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"That's very interesting," said the teacher.  "And do you have any siblings?"</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"Yes Ma'am," said the student.  "Two half-brothers and one half-sister."</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*Spend </del>more time on <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">vss</del>. <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">1</del>-<del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">2 </del>(the <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">educational approach</del>)</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">For the next several Sundays, we are going "back to school" with our half-brothers and half-sisters at First Christian Church, through a joint sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount--which is the most fundamental and challenging collection of Jesus' teachings in the gospel of Matthew.  For three of those Sermons, we'll be worshiping together, and for the other three, Pastor Nick and I will be preaching to our respective congregations, but using the same texts and themes.  Each week, we'll also provide you with some extra scripture readings that are part of the Sermon on the Mount, but not included in the sermons, along with some discussion questions to guide you through those readings.  I think it will be a fun and challenging experience, and a great way to celebrate both of our churches' commitment to education and life-long learning.</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*Makarios</del>:  <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Blessed </del>but <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">really </del>"<del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">bigger</del>, <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">happier</del>"  </div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*</del>The <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">difficult teachings at </del>the <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">heart </del>of the Sermon on the Mount</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The Sermon on the Mount begins with Jesus' famous collection of sayings, traditionally called the Beatitudes (Blessed are the poor, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are the peacemakers...).  No doubt you've heard of those, and I'll get to them later in the sermon.  But since I've preached on the Beatitudes several times--including an entire series just a few years ago--this time I want to take a bit </ins>more time <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">to focus on what happens right before the Sermon on the Mount, and also </ins>on <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">the first two verses of our passage today, verses that usually get skipped over to get to the good part, the familiar part.  I think there's a lot in those two verses, especially for students, teachers, and life-long learners.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*Countercultural nature </del>of the <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">beatitudes </del>and the <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">rest </del>of the <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">sermon</del></div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*Prelude </del>(<del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Matt</del>. <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Chapter 4</del>): <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Temptation</del>, <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Calling </del>of first <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Disciples</del>, <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">teaching </del>and <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">healing</del></div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">I'll start, though, like any good teacher would:  By setting the stage. </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The first two chapters of Matthew describe the birth of Jesus and his childhood, and the third chapter relates the story of his Baptism.  Then in chapter four, Jesus spends 40 days and 40 nights alone in the wilderness.  This means that his summer break was even shorter than yours</ins>. <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"> Right after that, he calls his first four students, the disciples Peter, Andrew, James and John.  If you have read the gospels, you know that Peter, Andrew, James and John are not exactly in the gifted and talented program.  They are poor, uneducated fishermen, all a bit stubborn, and they often challenge the notion that there's no such thing as a stupid question.  But spoiler alert--if you skip to the end of the story-</ins>-<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">few people have ever changed the world and the course of human history as much as Saint Peter, Saint James, Saint John, and Saint Andrew </ins>(<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">who also happens to be </ins>the <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Patron Saint of Scotland</ins>)<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">.  In other words, they must have had a really, really, good education. And that's where we pick up the story in Matthew chapter five.  The first day of school.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">I say the "first" day of school, but the truth is that Jesus had been traveling around Galilee for some time, preaching, healing sick people, and amassing quite a following.  But here in Matthew chapter five is where Jesus first begins... to teach.  Verse 1</ins>:</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him."  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Twenty-six years ago, when I first stepped into a classroom as Mr. Locke, high school English teacher, (25 years old) I immediately amassed a captive audience of 180 devoted followers.  Of course they were spread out across seven periods, and when I say "captive audience" I mean that quite literally.  My freshman students were required by the state of Texas to be there. </ins> <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Some were genuinely excited about that, </ins>but <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">most probably were not.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">So I'm intrigued by the fact that on his very first day as a teacher, Jesus had a willing, completely voluntary, perhaps even enthusiastic audience described by Matthew as a "great crowd."  How does that happen?  Well, a few verses before today's scripture passage, we read that Jesus went throughout Galilee proclaiming good news, and that people "brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them."  That's not a bad recruitment strategy.  But it also reminds me of an old saying:  People won't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">To all the teachers, educators, parents, bosses--remember that compassion, trust, and relationships are the bedrock of any successful learning environment.  Before you share your knowledge, share your heart.  Before you get down to the brass tacks of teaching--take more time than you even think is necessary to observe your students, to get to know them, and to let them get to know you. This works in reverse, too--students, employees, and life-long learners: Remember that your teachers, mentors and professors are human beings, too.  Get to know them, give them the benefit of the doubt, encourage them and they will become better teachers to you. </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>"<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down</ins>, <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">his disciples came to him.</ins>"</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The Italian educator Loris Malaguzzi often said that "Environment is the third teacher."  </ins>The <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">first teacher is the parent, the second teacher is the classroom teacher, but the third teacher is the environment itself--whether that's a classroom or, in here </ins>the <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">case </ins>of the Sermon on the Mount<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">, the actual environment. </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Most formal education in first century Israel would have occurred in synagogues--physical buildings and indoor spaces not unlike our schools and churches.  These have natural limits--to classroom size, but also to class and social dynamics:  Who is allowed in, and who is not.  I suspect that Jesus going up the mountain served several purposes at once.  An open-air classroom allows anyone to come or go, without fear of judgment or exclusion.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">By physically going "up" the mountain, Jesus takes the crowd out of their usual frame of reference, and signals that this is something different, something literally "higher" and "set apart."  There's also the practical matter of acoustics.  If Jesus is higher up on the mountain side, and the crowd is gathered just a little below him, they can hear him better, and see him better.  And finally, what better, more visually striking and inspiring classroom for God's son to occupy than the one fashioned by his father, the creator of the universe?  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The takeaway here is that the learning environment matters, to Jesus clearly, as it should to us.  Not all teachers can teach outdoors using the full breadth of God's creation, but if you're a teacher here at First Pres...you can. And in any case, for all teachers and educators, be intentional about your space, your environment, not just practically, but also metaphorically, artistically, and spiritually.  Students, take note of those things, and learn from them just as you would from the words of your teacher's mouth.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him."</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">That last part is probably the most recognizable to us.  In some cultures, the teacher comes in and the students stand up; in other cultures, the teacher stands up and the students sit down; in Jewish culture, a rabbi sits down and the lesson begins.  In American high school culture, the bell rings and all the students make a mad dash for the door to avoid being tardy.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">But all this is ritual and routine--repeated cues that signal who is supposed to do what, and when.  Don't neglect these little rituals--they are an important part of the learning process.  The things we do with our bodies will in turn put our brains in the right frame of mind.  We do this in church every Sunday, too, when we stand up, sit down, flip to a page in the Bible, or pass the peace to our neighbor.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Verse 2 (finally!):  "Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:"</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">When I was doing my graduate coursework in education, we talked a lot about different learning styles--some people are visual learners, some are tactile learners, some are auditory learners.  Most people learn best through a mix of different approaches.  If you pay attention over the next several weeks, you'll see how Jesus uses taste, touch, smell, and images of familiar things to teach the people.  But here at the very beginning, he just... speaks.  Like how God spoke the universe into existence at the dawn of time.  In a world of screens and videos and flashing lights and noises, there is still something powerful, simple, and profound about the spoken word.  Speaking is also the beginning of conversation, which is (in my opinion) the very best pedagogy of all.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">And what does Jesus speak, on his first day of class, at the very beginning of his greatest recorded teaching?  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">He says something crazy, something unbelievable, something that to his audience, would have seemed demonstrably false.  Everyone knows that poor people don't rule kingdoms.  Everyone knows that mourning and grieving sucks--there's nothing blessed about it!  Everyone knows that meek people inherit nothing, let alone the whole earth!  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">This is what's known, in our church school's Reggio Emilia approach to learning, as a provocation.  Jesus got their attention really quick.  Is he off his rocker?  How are you going to defend that, Jesus?  Provocations are one </ins>of the <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">best tools in an educator's toolkit.  Try walking into a roomful of children one day </ins>and <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">just plopping an old-fashioned manual typewriter on </ins>the <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">table.  Sit down. Don't say anything.  See how long it takes their curiosity to get the better </ins>of <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">them.  Soon they'll be pushing buttons.  They might try to take it apart.  They'll probably ask you how you charge it or plug it in.  By </ins>the <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">time you're ready to talk about it, they will be pretty invested in their already-forming opinions, questions, and assumptions.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Jesus provokes his audience with ten claims that shouldn't possibly be true, and I'm guessing that more than a few members of his audience were thinking, "Wait a minute... I'm poor!  Or, I've been persecuted!  That's not my experience, Jesus. I'm not blessed.  But by connecting the negative experiences of his students to something positive--blessedness </ins>(<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">the Greek word here is μακάριος--literally "bigger," or "happier" are those who mourn, etc</ins>.) <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">he's also cleverly, subtly, holding out a tiny ray of hope to some pretty desperate people</ins>: <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"> Wait a minute... what if he's right?  What if there really is something here for someone like me?</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Ok, Jesus.  You have my attention now.  I'm listening.  I'm ready to learn.  Let the lesson begin.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">And so it will, over the next five weeks.  But today, as we stand on the threshold of a new school year--full of hope, promise, and probably not a little bit of anxiety--I would invite you to remember that we've been doing this "first day of class thing" for a long, long time.  The teachings of Jesus are difficult, counterintuitive, they ask a lot of us.  And that's what the very best education is and does.  </ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The word education comes from a Latin root--educare--that means to draw out, to lead out, or to bring out.  So education--real education--is not pouring or cramming knowledge into the head of a student, it's drawing out what's already in there.  What God put in there to begin with.  We believe that every student, every life-long learner is capable, competent, and curious</ins>, <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">created in the image </ins>of <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">God, full of dignity and worth.  God has given you everything you need, and he will be right there with you all along the way.</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Last story:  A student was getting ready for his </ins>first <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">day of school, and he was looking pretty worried.  As his father was driving him to school</ins>, <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">he said, "What's wrong, son?"  Nervously, the student asked his father, "Dad--How long do I have to go to school for?"</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">"Well, until you're 18, son."  The son nodded, and got very quiet.  When they finally arrived at the front gates of the school, the son said, "Dad, you will remember to come and get me when I'm 18, won't you?"</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div> </div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">People of First Church (see what I did there?) whether you are a student, a teacher, an educator, or a life-long learner, may your year be filled with learning and with laughter, with conversations and provocations, with growth and with grace.  And like the disciples and followers of Jesus, may you be blessed in complicated </ins>and <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">counterintuitive ways.</ins></div></td></tr> </table> Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:40:24 GMT Iraneal https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Talk:Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026&diff=8077&oldid=0 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026&diff=8077&oldid=0 <p>Created page with &quot;==Matthew 5:1-12 (New Testament p. 4)== 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled....&quot;</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>==Matthew 5:1-12 (New Testament p. 4)==<br /> 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.<br /> <br /> ==Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes==<br /> <br /> *Spend more time on vss. 1-2 (the educational approach)<br /> *Makarios: Blessed but really &quot;bigger, happier&quot; <br /> *The difficult teachings at the heart of the Sermon on the Mount<br /> *Countercultural nature of the beatitudes and the rest of the sermon<br /> *Prelude (Matt. Chapter 4): Temptation, Calling of first Disciples, teaching and healing</div> Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:34:15 GMT Iraneal https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Talk:Sermon_for_August_2nd,_2026 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=First_Presbyterian_Church&diff=8076&oldid=8074 https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=First_Presbyterian_Church&diff=8076&oldid=8074 <p></p> <table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw-interface=""> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <col class="diff-marker" /> <col class="diff-content" /> <tr class="diff-title" lang="en"> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td> <td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 16:23, 1 August 2026</td> </tr><tr><td colspan="4" class="diff-multi" lang="en">(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l1">Line 1:</td> <td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 1:</td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==2026==</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>==2026==</div></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">* [[Sermon for August 2nd, 2026]] 581st Sermon: Higher Education Part I: Beatitudes (Back to School Sunday)</ins></div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 19th, 2026]] 580th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 20 (2143)</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 19th, 2026]] 580th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 20 (2143)</div></td></tr> <tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 12th, 2026]] 579th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 7 (2580)</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* [[Sermon for July 12th, 2026]] 579th Sermon: Psummer of Psalms IX - Psalm 7 (2580)</div></td></tr> </table> Sat, 01 Aug 2026 23:23:02 GMT Iraneal https://wiki.mrlocke.net/index.php?title=Talk:First_Presbyterian_Church