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Today's scriptures are Luke 4: 14-21
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 23 2022
“Where's the Energy in the Church?” by Dr. David Cagle
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Previous Sunday Sermons can be found here on our sermons page.
A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR
January 20, 2022
“Where Is the Energy in the Church?”
Luke 4:14-21; Luke 4:21-30
“Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.’” (vs. 21)
Note:
The Year C lectionary scripture reading for this Sunday, January 23, is Luke 4:14-21. The lectionary scripture reading for next Sunday, January 30, is Luke 4:21-30. Did you notice that verse 21 (quoted above) is read on both Sundays? As Reformed Christians (Calvinists), we Presbyterians place a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God. We are saved from our own self-serving nature, and we are empowered to grow into the people God intends, not through our own determination or self-discipline. Our salvation and even our faith is a gift of God’s grace. We are able to fulfill the teachings of Jesus in Chapter 4 (and all of Luke’s Gospel), not because of our own determination or self-discipline, but because, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
I love and value all four of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But the Gospel of Luke holds a special place in my heart. In the story of Jesus according to Luke, there is a strong concern for the marginalized, women play a significant role in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus’ ministry is universal (not primarily focused on Israel alone), and the importance of prayer is prominent. But the foundation for all of Jesus’ ministry is upheld in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Much of this is seen in these two scripture readings.
I am going to do something different the next two Sundays. I will be combining the two readings and preaching two different sermons based on Luke 4:14-30. My sermon this Sunday will focus on our own individual salvation. Jesus comes to bring “good news to the poor (in spirit), to proclaim release to the captives (of sin), and recovery of sight to the blind (to their own biases and prejudices), to let the oppressed go free (from the weight of their guilt).” Next Sunday, I will focus on our corporate salvation (God’s redemption of our whole world). Jesus comes to bring “good news to the (economically) poor, to proclaim release to the (physically) captives and recovery of sight to the (visually) blind, to let oppressed (of society) go free.”
I have theologically conservative friends who tell me that salvation is only a matter of saving my individual soul. I have theologically liberal friends who focus exclusively on the corporate salvation of society (issues of economic justice, systemic racism, sexism, etc.) For me it is both. How can I love my neighbor as I love myself if I do not truly have a healthy love of myself? For me, the salvation of my individual soul means that I become a more loving person who is then empowered to love my neighbor, all my neighbors throughout God’s world. That is why I will be preaching the same scripture reading twice—Luke 4:14-30.
In Christ’s Service
David Cagle
Interim Pastor
Luke 4:14-21; Luke 4:21-30
“Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.’” (vs. 21)
Note:
- As Yogi Berra once said, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” The weather forecast for this weekend is once again predicting snow and/or an ice storm. The plan is the same if we have to cancel in-person worship. An email will be sent early Sunday morning, announcing the cancelation of in-person worship. We will also attempt to put a cancelation notice on our website and on Facebook, and we will put a notice on the sign in front of our building on Lawndale. But that does not mean that we will not have worship. We can worship online through YouTube. The staff and I are recording a blended service. If worship is canceled on Sunday, our recorded service will be available sometime around 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
The Year C lectionary scripture reading for this Sunday, January 23, is Luke 4:14-21. The lectionary scripture reading for next Sunday, January 30, is Luke 4:21-30. Did you notice that verse 21 (quoted above) is read on both Sundays? As Reformed Christians (Calvinists), we Presbyterians place a strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God. We are saved from our own self-serving nature, and we are empowered to grow into the people God intends, not through our own determination or self-discipline. Our salvation and even our faith is a gift of God’s grace. We are able to fulfill the teachings of Jesus in Chapter 4 (and all of Luke’s Gospel), not because of our own determination or self-discipline, but because, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
I love and value all four of the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. But the Gospel of Luke holds a special place in my heart. In the story of Jesus according to Luke, there is a strong concern for the marginalized, women play a significant role in Jesus’ ministry, Jesus’ ministry is universal (not primarily focused on Israel alone), and the importance of prayer is prominent. But the foundation for all of Jesus’ ministry is upheld in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Much of this is seen in these two scripture readings.
I am going to do something different the next two Sundays. I will be combining the two readings and preaching two different sermons based on Luke 4:14-30. My sermon this Sunday will focus on our own individual salvation. Jesus comes to bring “good news to the poor (in spirit), to proclaim release to the captives (of sin), and recovery of sight to the blind (to their own biases and prejudices), to let the oppressed go free (from the weight of their guilt).” Next Sunday, I will focus on our corporate salvation (God’s redemption of our whole world). Jesus comes to bring “good news to the (economically) poor, to proclaim release to the (physically) captives and recovery of sight to the (visually) blind, to let oppressed (of society) go free.”
I have theologically conservative friends who tell me that salvation is only a matter of saving my individual soul. I have theologically liberal friends who focus exclusively on the corporate salvation of society (issues of economic justice, systemic racism, sexism, etc.) For me it is both. How can I love my neighbor as I love myself if I do not truly have a healthy love of myself? For me, the salvation of my individual soul means that I become a more loving person who is then empowered to love my neighbor, all my neighbors throughout God’s world. That is why I will be preaching the same scripture reading twice—Luke 4:14-30.
In Christ’s Service
David Cagle
Interim Pastor
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Mike Sasser in his support for Greensboro Urban Ministries
Mike Sasser with Isaiah Mickens and Sentellis Cooper at the Thursday mentoring group at Guilford Park Presbyterian Church. "I get so much from being with these young men". Read More |
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2406 Fairfield Ave., Greensboro, NC (this is not our mailing address).
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