Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Look on Your Face

The look on your face often gives a hint to how you're feeling, which is related to what's on your mind. In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul says the believer is like a mirror, reflecting the glory of God in the face of Jesus. Obviously, a mirror reflects what is in it, so if the believer is going to reflect Jesus, Jesus must be the focus of the mind.

Focusing on Jesus in the midst of all life's challenges and distractions requires intention and practice. Having a time during the day to reset your gaze is important, and then learning to keep Jesus central throughout the day is the goal. When questions, fears, doubts, challenges arise---look to Jesus. Say a prayer. Invite Jesus to be with you. As you do this more consistently, others will notice the change in you. Whether they know it or not, they'll see Jesus reflected in your face (your life). They may even ask you what makes you different, and you'll have a chance to tell them what you're doing, and who's at the center of your life---not you, but Jesus.

P.S. Attending worship service regularly is critical as well. God uses these special gatherings to center you and plant His image more clearly in you. You'll be encouraged to know that you're not alone, and you'll see Jesus reflected in the faces of those who gather with you for the same purpose. We'd love to have you join us for worship at King of Kings this Sunday.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

The first Sunday in March, our worship moves to a new location and time. We will be meeting at the Girls, Inc facility at 201 S Tuttle Ave. near Fruitville Road at 10:00 AM. You are warmly invited to join us!

Check out the Sermon notes for this Sunday.
Fr Jon

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Sermon notes

The season of Lent is dedicated to examining our relationship with God in preparation for the celebration at Easter of the most significant event in history, the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ (Messiah). This Sunday's scriptures, particularly the gospel lesson from Luke, reveal the nature of the Kingdom, the coming of the reign of God in the world.

Jesus is at a point in his three year ministry where the opposition to him is crystalizing. His own people expected the Messiah's coming to be dramatic with a show of power that would quickly change conditions. Jesus uses three images to counter the view.

First, Jesus says the kingdom is like a mustard seed, which though small, grows into a tree (large bush really) where birds come to roost and find shelter. God begins to act in what seems to be small and insignificant ways, but the process will yield ongoing and permanent benefits. Perhaps the use of a bush to represent the kingdom was Jesus' way to emphasize the need to examine carefully how we assess what is important spiritually. What looks big, impressive, permanent, may be a deception.

Trees are a spiritual symbol. In an arid landscape, trees are a sign of life and a water source. Israel, God's people, are sometimes described as a tree or alternatively as a vineyard. In Psalm 1, a righteousness person is a tree planted by a river bank. The apostle Paul reminded Gentile believers that they were like grafts onto an existing vine. Trees can represent kingdoms that are eventually cut down, and those who are a part of it subject to destruction as well. Or individually, we are to be fruitful or become subject to pruning or removal.

The second image Jesus uses is yeast. A little yeast added to dough permeates it and transforms the bread as it bakes. Here Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God will do it's work often in mysterious ways, again what seems insignificant and small transforms all of life. As a spiritual symbol, yeast can be used to represent positive or negative influences. The season of Lent invites us to examine the influences in our life. Are you allowing God to influence and shape you, or are there infectious influences present which will eventually accumulate destructively in your life and destroy it?

The first two images emphasize that God's activity in the world cannot be thwarted or destroyed. However, the third image, a narrow door points to our need to actively enter into God's activity, to allow God's influence to touch and transform us personally, and to engage in God's work. Specifically, the narrow door refers to Jesus himself, the point of entry into a redeemed relationship with God which God has provided. In a pluralistic culture, the narrow door represents the offense of the gospel. Are there many paths to God, or has God given a path that requires a specific response? Jesus says that when the kingdom comes near, we must choose, and specifically, we must choose Jesus. Relationship with God is not automatic, and cannot be pursued at a distance. Jesus tells those who were listening to strive to enter in through the narrow door.

There you have it. God's activity in the world will not be thwarted. God's activity in the world is pervasive. Finally, God's activity in the world, with each personally, with you, demands a response. How are you responding to Jesus? Are you in?

Monday, January 25, 2010

Upcoming events

Put Saturday, February 13th, 6:00 pm on your calendar. We'll be having our Valentine's Share the Love Party. We're going to have pizza, put together kits for Haiti relief, and enjoy the rest of the evening playing table games. It's free and everyone's welcome. Please RSVP (941-380-5010 or smith160@verizon.net) if you're planning to come so we have plenty of food!

Plans are to move our worship service to 10 AM at the Girls, Inc facility on Tuttle Ave near Fruitville Rd beginning in March. Look for details in future blogs.

Fr Jon

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Welcome

If you visit King of Kings you'll find a small congregation with lots of love. Our services are a mix of contemporary music, Bible preaching, and sharing communion every Sunday. A fancier way to say it is that we are charismatic, evangelical, and liturgical. It's a mix of three worship styles together. You may have to visit to fully appreciate what this means. After the service, we share a light meal and good fellowship.

We need musicians with a heart for God and a passion for worship. We're looking for persons who could lead and/or participate in weekly home groups. If you'd be interested in participating in a Celebrate Recovery, we'll organize one. We're used to people who are experiencing life challenges, so come as you are and let God help you make changes.

If you'd like to know more about where we're coming from, check out the website, iccec.com. If you have questions, need prayer or assistance, please contact me.

God bless,

Fr Jon