Pastor Chris Seay examines what it looks like to be a Christian Houstonianduring this season of hurricane recovery. Jerusalem is a holy city, but so is our city of Houston. God resides in Houston, Texas and loves the people of Houston. This week, we examine 5 lessons we can learn from the Astros World Series run. As we experienced last week, there are a lot of baseball metaphors.
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Isaiah 24:5-12
Isaiah 26:1-9
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here it's like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me.
-- Miranda Lambert
The sense of being lost, displaced, and homeless is pervasive in contemporary culture. The yearning to belong somewhere, to be in a safe place, is a deep and moving pursuit. Loss of place and yearning for place are dominant images.
-- Walter Brueggmann
As the soul is to the body, so are the Christians to their city.
-- The Letter to Diognetus
Christian values of love and charity had, from the beginning, been translated into norms of social service and community solidarity. To cities filled with the homeless and the impoverished, Christianity offered charity as well as hope. To cities filled with newcomers and strangers, Christianity offered an immediate basis for attachments.
To cities filled with orphans and widows, Christianity provided a new and expanded sense of family. To cities torn by violent ethnic strife, Christianity offered a new basis for social solidarity. And to cities faced with epidemics, fires, and earthquakes, Christianity offered effective nursing services.
-- Rodney Stark
Reflection
The Astros taught us 5 lessons this postseason: 1 Never Quit, 2 Humility is Irresistible, 3 Diversity is a Gift, 4 Have Fun (Even When It’s Hard), 5 Mourn Together. As we examine the differences in the countenance of the city in Isaiah 24 and 26, how can we implement these 5 lessons into our city of Houston? May we come together as neighbors and sing a new song. 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
Tis So Sweet
Solid Rock
How Deep The Father's Love For Us
Gravity Of Love
Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery