Pastor Chris Seay began a conversation that will unfold over the next three weeks; our plan for the coming months as we continue to commit our time, energy, and resources to faithfully love and serve those most impacted by this hurricane season. This week was a reminder of our "job description" as a people in Christ; our commitment to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. There are also a lot of baseball metaphors.
Text
Mark 12: 28-31
Deuteronomy 6: 6-9
John 13: 33-35
Psalm 131: 1
Proverbs 3: 27
“Everywhere things are troubling and uneasy, wars and rumors of war: perhaps not the final hour but certainly times most evil. I believe that the men of this age (and among them you Father, and myself) think too much about the state of nations and the situation of the world... We are not kings, we are not senators. Let us beware lest, while we torture ourselves in vain about the fate of Europe, we neglect either Verona or Oxford.”
--C.S. Lewis
“The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him… There is, indeed, one exception. If you do him a good turn, not to please God and obey the law of charity, but to show him what a fine forgiving chap you are, and to put him in your debt, and then sit down to wait for his ‘gratitude’, you will probably be disappointed.”
--C.S. Lewis
It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken.
--C.S. Lewis
"Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”
--C.S. Lewis
Reflection
We are asking all Ecclesians to be a blessing to your neighbors in this season. Our hope is that our family would be known by their hospitality and generosity. During the continued rebuild, we will be sharing stories of hope as well as new serving opportunities around the city at ecclesiahouston.org/myneighbor. Please visit the link and sign up to receive updates.
Worship Set
Be Still My Soul
Amazing Grace
Be Thou My Vision
A Mighty Refuge
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Lay It All Down