Faith Notes for August 17, 2021

First Presbyterian Church of Big Spring

New News:

Back to school! Usually the beginning of school signifies the beginning of fall and new liturgical times at church. So back to school and back to church. Come for the fellowship. Come for the learning in Sunday School. Come for worship. And soon, come to hear the choir.

This Sunday we’ll follow the complimentary lectionary readings for the thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost. That will include Psalm 34:15-22; Joshua 24:1 & 2, 14-18; John 6:56-69; Ephesians 6:10-20. 

Psalm 34 continues into its final verses this week. The first third of this Davidic Psalm testifies about the goodness of God in one particular life. The second third, urges listeners to pay attention to the Psalmist’s wisdom. The third section talks about God’s steadfast relationship with those who are righteous. What does it mean to be righteous? In the Psalm it means having reverence for God and serving God. It takes both the reverential state of mind as well as the active embodiment of faith with one’s life. 

Last week we heard in Proverbs, the call of Wisdom and the call of Folly and we were asked to choose. This week Joshua puts forward a choice to God’s people standing on the brink of their inheritance of the promised land. They should put away the worship of other gods and serve the one God, Yahweh, only. The people all affirm in unison that they will only serve God, but if we extend the reading to verse 22 we hear Joshua pushing back. He says they are incapable of serving Yahweh alone. The people make the affirmation a second time and Joshua tells them that they are thus witnesses against themselves, having made a promise that they cannot keep. The rest of the Old Testament is testimony to the success and failure of this affirmation.

This is the final week in the bread of life discourse in John 6 and Jesus lays out a moment of crisis for listeners just as Joshua has for his listeners and just as Plan 34 does for its listeners. In the Exodus, God was the beacon of the pillar of fire and demonstrated God’s steadfast presence in many signs and wonders including the manna provided by God for sustaining life. In John’s gospel, Jesus has brought light into darkness. Jesus has shown God’s steadfast presence through many signs and wonders including feeding the masses. Now Jesus is offering Himself, His own body and blood, for anyone who wishes to have the close relationship with God called eternal life. Yet, Jesus recognizes that even His own disciples are hesitant. “Does this offend you?” It’s a moment of crisis and judgment.

This is also the final week in Ephesians and the author is urging his listeners to make the choice to serve God and gird themselves for a struggle against the spiritual forces that oppose God. The discussion of armor, shoes, and belt refers to “clothing” one’s self in Christ, taking on the life of Christ, embodying faith rather than merely affirming it verbally. Serving God in Christ is a struggle in which we are urged to remain vigilant and strong.

Meetings and Gatherings  Calendar: 

Women’s Bible Study - August 18 at 10:00 am in the church library 
History class - August 18 at noon in the church theater room. 
Lectionary Bible Study - August 18 at 5:00 pm in the church library. 
Lunch Bunch - every Thursday at  11:30 am in the fellowship hall. 
Session Meeting - August 26 at 6:00 pm in the library.
Choir Practice - August 22 at 6:30 pm in the sanctuary.

See you in church!

Allen