THE CHURCH GATHERED AND SCATTERED – Part 2

The Puritans had the right idea. They did not apply the word “service” to the gathering of worship. For them the service began at the church door when the church meeting was over. There they crossed the threshold of life to go back into the world, and there the service began as an outgrowth of the renewal that had come as they worshipped together. Worship loses its essential Christian nature when it becomes an end in itself and does not send its worshipers out into the world to engage in Christian service -- to deal with the problems of the poor and the oppressed -- and Christian witness -- to make disciples of all nations.

The Jesus who invites us to worship is the same Jesus who proclaimed in His first sermon, as recorded in Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

-- Adapted from “Encountering Jesus” by Zan W. Holmes, Jr.

#5680

THE WORLD IS MY PARISH

SPECIAL NOTE: Today, March 29, 2023 marks the 24^th anniversary of this SOUND BITES Ministry. It was begun in memory of our son, Dustin, who had died from a brain tumor on this date the previous year (1998). Since the beginning of SOUND BITES 5569 quotes, including today’s, have been sent out to our e-mail subscribers or Facebook followers or Blog readers around the world.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, once said, “I look upon all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, [it is my] duty to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it.” (From Wesley’s journal entry on 11 June 1739)
 
As we continue through Lent, let today’s SOUND BITES quote speak to you, and then let it overflow to others everywhere. If you live outside of the United States, we would love to hear from you. Simply send an e-mail to SOUNDBITESMinistry@gmail.com with where you live and, if you would care to add, how God is using SOUND BITES to minister to you or through you to others. You are welcome to comment below as well. – DW

 

THE WORLD IS MY PARISH

 “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”  (Mark 16:15 NIV)

I remember when television first came out. Many Christians shunned it, believing it was run by the prince of the power of the air. The evil one certainly had his influence in the medium (and still does), but why not use television as a means to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ? Why not use radio? Why not use print? Why not use the Internet? Why not use any means at hand to take the message of the gospel and spread it throughout the whole world? The farther the better. The faster the better. The sooner the better. Until Jesus returns!

What Jesus was saying, in essence, to His disciples was this: “While I was on earth, I was localized. I could only touch individual men and women in My travels and speak to a few local audiences. But believe Me, after I am gone and the Holy Spirit comes to fill and empower My sons and daughters, then My ministry will be as far spread as Christians are.”

So wherever there is a Christian, there is Christ. Wherever there is a believer, there is ministry. 

-- Adapted from David Jeremiah

#5569

TOUCHING AND SAVING LIVES

“‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”  (Romans 10:13-15 NIV)

All other businesses we do for living, and for leaving good and great footprints, are good! In fact, we must not let our gifts and talents be idle, but in all our endeavors we must not forget that there is one more noble business than any, and that is touching and saving lives for the Kingdom of God, in truth and in spirit, and proclaiming the coming of Jesus Christ with all due diligence, understanding, humility, courage and fortitude! 

-- Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

#5097

AN UNLIMITED BROADCASTING SYSTEM

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”  (Psalm 19:1-4a NIV)

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.

-- George Washington Carver 



#4324

Psalm 19:1