Quinquagesima, or the Sunday before Lent, February 7th, 2015
Personally, I have been in the "preaching business" going on a good while. I have been doing this for going on thirty years now, if you go back to my seminary years. I love to preach, quite frankly, which is amazing considering that I am a quiet, reserved person otherwise. But I love to preach about Our Lord is the bottom line. I love to tell people about God and the love that He has for all people. I love to inspire people in my own way to have a personal relationship with Our Blessed Saviour. I preach with the intent of leading others closer to God. And like many preachers throughout the world . . . and throughout the ages, quite frankly, . . . I use Holy Scripture as the "foundation" of my sermons. I preach using the Word of God, first and foremost. Sadly, not all preachers I have heard preach use God's Word in their sermons. Many I have heard were wonderful preachers. Many I have heard gave marvelous presentations. Many preachers I have heard over the years, they were indeed a joy to listen to. But every once in a while, it's time for the preacher to quit "beating around the bush." You see, I speak about God in every one of my sermons. And with the help of God, I think I do a fairly decent job through His guidance and inspiration. But now is the time to have a "Let me be clear" moment as some politicians like to use that term when they speak.
Let me be clear:
Jesus Christ is indeed my Lord and my Saviour. Jesus is indeed the "Light of the World." There is no salvation outside of Jesus. He is the One sent from the Father to save us from our sins. God offers each one of us salvation and this was afforded to each one of us by Our Blessed Saviour dying on the Cross for our sins. He took the burden of our sins upon His own shoulders because He knew we could not bear the weight. And He took our place on that Cross. He hung in our place on that hill at Calvary. It was you and I that should have been hanging there. But Our Blessed Saviour took our place and hung there and died there for us. He was truly the Lamb of God, the innocent Lamb Who was slain for our sins. I believe in the same Lord and Saviour who said: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me." (St. John 14:6) I believe in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. I believe that Our Lord founded the Church to do His work here on earth. And I believe as Our Lord promised that the Holy Ghost was sent to the Church and helps to inspire the Church. I pray that I always stay close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus because it is there that the love of God can be found. It is there that salvation is freely given and offered. And it is there that the love of mankind God has for us is to be found.
There, I hope I was clear. As Christians, we are called to tell the world about God. I firmly believe that we tell the world not only verbally but also we tell the world about God through our actions. And although we are not perfect in conveying that truth: whether that be through our words or through out actions. We are still obligated to tells others about God. Let each one of us be clear in our faith. Let each one of us be firm and committed. Let each one of stay close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let each one of us show no fear in letting the world know that Jesus Christ is indeed our Lord and Saviour. Let each one of us know that Our Lord is indeed the Way . . . the Truth . .. . and the Life.
Two opportunities to come worship God with us on Sunday, February 7th, 2016:
St Margaret Church meets every Sunday at 9:30 AM. We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, on the Northwest side of Indianapolis, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road.
Holy Spirit Church meets every Sunday at 1:00 PM. We worship at the beautiful, historic First Presbyterian Church in Greenfield, Indiana, which is located at 116 W. South Street, at the corner of South and Pennsylvania Streets near downtown Greenfield.
Join us as we gather together as God's family to: hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life. Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.
