The good news of Christ
By Ron Thomas, Highway congregation, Sullivan IL
1 Pet 3.8-22
Sweep me into your circle of calm,
Your listening silence, far from the storm,
Beneath the whispering tree of life,
That gently sways in the Spirit’s breath,
And cools my flushed and fevered face,
While turning me toward your fullest grace.
Stop me from running with pagan feet,
Behind false hopes and devilish bait,
To rest and seek your blest retreat
From future worries and troubled fate —
What righteous reign to us come down,
That we by the Lord of heaven be owned!
Let my first thought be of you, dear God, and my last; thoughts of how to please you, to seek you, to serve you, to glorify you.
Let my first step be toward your presence, and my last in the footsteps of Christ; steps of holiness, wisdom, and joy.
Let my first breath be to thank you for love and reconciliation, O Lord, and my last to ask for the entrance into the eternal kingdom.
Let me not overlook, O Lord,
Those little deeds that few will do:
The works that warm, the follow-through,
The loving ear, the heartening word —
The power, O God, of the promise kept,
In fair and foul, the present friend,
With tears to shed and time to spend! —
To serve, O Servant, let me not forget.
By John Henson, Dibrill congregation, McMinnville TN
Text: Luke 16.19-31
Lord God, reign over me, control my heart, guide my steps, protect me from evil, be to me all my good.
Walk among us, be our God and make us your perfect people.
You are no man, you do not lie, nor change your mind. You bless and command us to bless as well. No curse can damage whom you have blessed. You have set us apart for your purpose. Help us to live and fulfill your designs for us.
Let us hear the model you have made for living in Christ and by hearing be ashamed of our sins. Let your pattern draw us to yourself.
Who can survive unless you have willed it? We seek obedience, Lord, we seek to please you, our desire is to do your bidding as our Sovereign.
Father, make your blessing increase in our midst, as in the multiplication of bread and fish, not for material gain, but for spiritual progress. Make your presence reach everyone as we share our joy.
Reassure us of your goodness, as we, in the family of faith, share our burdens with one another. Continue reading “Make your presence reach everyone”
By John Henson, Dibrill congregation, McMinnville TN
By Ron Thomas, Highway congregation, Sullivan IL
1. The message of the preacher, 2 Timothy 4.1-5
2. The purpose of his preaching, Colossians 1.24-29
3. The exemplar of the preacher, Acts 18.1-6
Heavenly Father, work in me to create a clean heart, pure thoughts, a sanctified life devoted to you.
Strengthen my will to make it conform to you, to help me choose always what is right and good, to be determined in the face of opposition.
Give me compassion toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Broaden my love so that it includes all people. Let our doors be as wide as your arms to welcome others into the your house.
Make me into the image of Christ, with his truth at hand, his love always reaching out, his mission ever within the heart.