Pulpit Preparation

Preparing our hearts, minds, and souls to hear and reflect upon the Word of God.

Prayer of focus

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Readings

John 10:1-10

1 Peter 2:19-25

Reflection

In 1896 Pastor Charles Sheldon wrote a novel revolving around 1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.” The title of the book was “In His Steps”. The essence of the novel has a community of faith trying to live a resurrected life in obedience to Jesus Christ by answering the following question when faced with decisions in their lives: “What would Jesus do?” The question is challenging in and of itself as it is really asking us “who is Jesus calling us to be in the world?”

Something to reflect upon regarding following in the steps of Jesus. The Greek in the text for “example” is hypogrammon. The root or origin of this word comes from hypographo, meaning “to draw lines for children learning to write”. I remember learning to write. The paper at first had two lines with a dashed lined in between. At first there were already dashed letters on the page between the lines and we began by tracing those letters. We would go from tracing those letters to having to do it free hand. I do not know if you learned to write that way or not. As students we practiced first tracing and then by freehand staying between the lines. Working to make the appropriate marks on the page as we had practiced. Each of our handwriting in class was different as our motor skills were different as well as our attention to detail. Still, we learned to write. Still to this day I write better with lines on the paper than I do if there are not lines on the paper.

By learning to write in this matter one develops a pattern or discipline in how they make their letter strokes. 

In living a life in the example of Christ what are the lines on the paper?

God bless you! See you online Sunday!

Pastor Tim