Deus Misereatur

Faithful: A Theology of Sex by Beth Felker Jones My rating: 4 of 5 stars This 112 page paperback is a short, sweet, mildly sassy little thing. Beth Felker Jones, professor of Theology at Wheaton College, has compiled a handy set of chapters in "Faithful: A Theology of Sex". It's an easy-to-read dossier that takes on sex, both our birth sex and procreative sex, and is mature, unencumbered, and comprehensible. The working premise of "Faithful" is that sex "has to do with who God really is and who we really are" (13); that sex "matters to God because bodies matter to God, because God created our bodies and has good plans for us as embodied people" (18). This means, according to Jones, that the "Christian faith is profoundly for the body and for the joys of the bodily life" (22). The author hammers out the implications of her thesis, walking the reader through celibate singleness, faithful marriedness, and the goodness of sexu...

[If it would help to hear this sermon, you can go here: " Baptism in the Name of Jesus "] Baptism in the Name of Jesus Matthew 28.16-20 (Exodus 5.15-23; Deuteronomy 18.6-8, 18-22) Lord Jesus, crucified for our transgressions and raised for our justification, who now has all authority in heaven and on earth: guide our hearts and minds and ears that we may hear you clearly, love you dearly, and follow more nearly. Amen. This time last year – the last Sunday of January 2017 – we concluded our series on Matthew, and we talked about this passage.  We heard about the Mountain , the Mandate ; the Mission ; and the Movement . Today, for a very important reason that will become clear later, we are returning to the mission our Lord gave to his disciples and looking at the biggest part of it: Baptism, and specifically baptism as Jesus commanded it. To do this we will look at Jesus direction in Matthew 28.19; then we will review how we show his dominance by submitting to hi...

(Ministries) : Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. (Psalm 147.5-6) : it is to you we bring our entreaties, pleas and thanks. We thank you, Lord God, for those who have stepped into the various roles and ministries of this congregation. We pray for WIC (Women in the Church) that you would lead them as they serve together and minister in multiple ways. Prosper their plans to make our building and congregation a more welcoming place for visitors and members alike. Be with the Needlework Guild , as they make blankets and items to spread comfort to others. May they bring warmth – both inside and outside – to those who receive them. For our Sunday School teachers who plan and prepare and present your story , thank you for the time they give; and may their work flourish and prosper. For Pamela and those who sing in our choir and A ‘Capella Ensemble ; their voices and verve encour...

With all of those who conquered the beast and its image, and with our brothers and sisters world over, we lift our hearts with the song of Moses and the Lamb: “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15.3b-4). O Lord God the Almighty, whose deeds are great and amazing: you have not only called to yourself men, women, girls and boys from every tribe, tongue, and town, but you have been faithful and called us into the fellowship of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1.9). We pray for all of your people on every continent, our own congregation, Greater Concord Missionary Baptist Church; Greater Fellowship Baptist; Greater Marshall Memorial Baptist and Greater Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church. Bring us all to happily submit ourselves to yo...