Those of you who are anglophiles may recognize the music to The Lord Has Spoken To My Lord—Psalm 110, though you probably know it with different words. William Blake wrote “And did those feet in ancient time” in 1804, as a part of the preface to his epic poem Milton. The poem is odd and fantastical, beginning with Jesus Christ…
2 Corinthians 11:1-15 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will…
At the beginning of 2 Corinthians 11, Paul expresses his zeal for the purity of the church by comparing her to Eve in the garden. Just as our first mother was deceived by the serpent, so the Corinthian believers are being deceived by false teachers. Many of this morning’s readings and hymns explore images of marital fidelity as metaphors for…
2 Corinthians 10:1-18 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who…
You’ve probably noticed, this being the month of June, that contemporary society has taken to aggressively promoting the sin of pride. Governments, mass media, and major corporations all line up to celebrate pride (only provided it is pride in one of the currently socially favored identities, ethnicities, or lifestyles). By contrast, Paul in 2 Corinthians gives us a portrait of…
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! —2 Corinthians 9:15 This morning, along with the rest of the Western church, we remember the events of the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. Known as Whitsunday in the English-speaking world, this celebration focuses on the giving of the Holy Spirit to the church. Red is used on the bulletin…
2 Corinthians 9:6-15 6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that…
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the…
Today, we observe Ascension Sunday, perhaps the most neglected of the “five evangelical feasts” which are celebrated in most Christian traditions (along with Christmas, Easter, Good Friday, and Pentecost). This day marks the commemoration of the events of Acts 1:6-11 when Jesus completed His earthly ministry by ascending into Heaven and sitting down at the right hand of the Father.…
2 Corinthians 8:16-24 16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the…