Sermon: "The Way It Really Is" - Calvin Thomsen

Prayer: Darold Retzer

Pastoral Welcome: Jacqueline Lynch

Baptism: Antonio M. Davari; Sarah D. Davari - Doug Mace

Children’s Feature: Rob Mohr

Meditation:

“Different‚ “even antagonistic” points of view can help you create a larger, more complex analysis of what may otherwise appear as a simple, narrow problem, and identify richer, more creative, comprehensive, and effective solutions” – Kenneth Cloak and Joan Goldsmith,  Resolving Conflicts at Work

Scripture Reading: John 8:31, 32, TNIV - Douglas Deming

Note: Baptisms and child dedications are listed in the extras section of the DVD

INTRODUCTION TO THE SERMON

The ancient Persians had some interesting ways of dealing with the couriers who brought battlefield messages to the king.  The couriers had some compelling reasons to hope for a Persian victory on the battlefield.   With news of victory in his pouch he could be assured that he would be treated like a hero.  Food, drink, and beautiful women would all be presented to him as a reward.  However, if he brought news of defeat he would be summarily slain.

It’s tough being the bearer of bad news.  Shakespeare once said, “The nature of bad news infects the teller.”  We don’t like to hear it.  And we often develop negative feelings for people who tell us things we don’t want to hear.

But sometimes it’s the painful truths that are most transformative.  Paradoxically, it’s often bad news that has the greatest potential to become good news.  Instead of lulling us to sleep with bland reassurance, it confronts us with opportunities for growth and transformation.  Even the good news that we call the gospel isn’t just pleasant tidings of reassurance.  It first confronts us with the painful news that we and not complete in ourselves.  We are captive to sin and alienated from the life giver.  

It’s the bad news that paves the way for the good news—the news of the salvation God offers us as a solution.  If we only listen to what we want to hear, we may miss the bad news that is the best news of all.

Calvin Thomsen
Associate Pastor
Family Ministries

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