Hold Fast to The Word

This will be our third worship service in the renovated sanctuary!  We hope you have had an opportunity to come and experience worship in this space.  Everything needs renovation at some point.  Sanctuaries, homes, and especially our hearts.  We are continuing our series Hold Fast.  When we hold on to the best things, our lives are able to thrive.  Yet there is always potential for things to go off course. In physics and in life things move from order to disorder.  We sense this in our lives, especially in our spirits and hearts.  We do have to look very far to see people moving deeper into chaos, confusion, and catastrophe.  What can keep us on track?  In the sermon, Hold Fast to the Word, we find an anchor for our souls!  Our scripture lesson is Romans 15:1-13 and the Apostle Paul is confronting the challenge of community.  The early Christians came from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they struggled to accept their differences.  Instead of accepting one another, they were moving deeper in the chaos and confusion rather than finding a common ground.  Paul uses illustration and inspiration of the Holy Spirit to point these believers toward holding fast to the Word of God so that they could find endurance and encouragement.  Today you may be experiencing forces that are pushing you toward despair, distress, and distraction but we pray that as you read Romans 15:1-13 you will be filled with the endurance and encouragement of the Living Word through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Romans 15:1-13: We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ⁸ For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed ⁹ and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” ¹⁰ Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” ¹¹ And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” ¹² And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (NIV)