You've Got Mail

What are Epistles?  They're not the leaders of the early church -- Those were the Apostles!  The Epistles are a series of letters you find in the New Testament of your Bible.  These are letters written by the likes of Paul, Peter, James and John.  The letters originally were written for specific people about issues in specific places at specific times, but the church has come to see them as inspired ... as containing eternal truths for us all that are inspired by God!  So, you've got mail in your New Testament in-box that you need to read.  Here are a few of the inspired messages you will find when you open that mail:

In Paul's letter to the church in Galatia, we read about the Fruit of the Spirit -- the qualities that grow in our lives when we are living for God: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."  -Galatians 5:22-23 (TNIV).  Looking for someone who lives by the guidance of the Holy Spirit?  Look for someone whose life displays the Fruit of the Spirit! 

In the 13th Chapter of Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth, we find The Love Chapter -- a moving passage about the power of love.  We often read this passage at weddings, but it's really about how all of us are to treat each other.  Here's a video clip from one of my favorite movies: The Mission.  Robert De Niro plays an 18th Century slave-trader and mercenary who leaves his life of sin to become a Jesuit priest, ministering to the same native tribe he used to enslave.  In this clip, De Niro is reading the moving words of 1 Corinthians 13 as he learns, from his experiences with his native hosts, what it means to love others.

Another powerful epistle we studied today is Paul's letter to Philemon.  You can read the entire letter HERE.  (It's only 25 verses long!)  Paul met and befriended a run-away slave named Onesimus, who then became a Christian.  Paul sent Onesimus back to his owner (another Christian, named Philemon) with this letter -- urging Philemon to take back Onesimus, "no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother ... a brother in the Lord."  Philemon 1:15 (TNIV).  This letter's message of Christian brotherhood and freedom was used by abolitionists in the 18th and 19th Centuries as they argued for an end to the evil institution of slavery.  On a lighter note, here is a cute little video that tells the story of Philemon and Onesimous with singing puppets.  As one of our class members said this morning, it's so bad that it's good ;-)

 We had a full house in Sunday school this morning -- and a number of great nominations for Best Epistle Passage. 

Ben, our newest class member, nominated the entire Third Letter of John.  Why?  Because, by number of words, it is the shortest book in the Bible. To John, you are what you do.  Check out verse 11:  "Dear friends, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.  Anyone who does what is good is from God.  Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God."  - 3 John 1:11 (TNIV).

Jack chose Colossians 3:20 (TNIV): "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord."  His mother told him to pick that verse, and he did ;-)


Wes picked 1 Peter 1:24-25 (TNIV): "[T]he grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever."  When Peter writes these words, he is quoting from Isaiah 40.


Nick selected Paul's description in his letter to the Ephesians of the "full armor of God:"

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  -Ephesians 6:13-17 (TNIV).

Jake nominated 2 Corinthians 9:6 (TNIV): "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."   

Adrienne sent in her nomination by text -- Romans 12:2 (TNIV):  Do not conform to the patter of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

Paige also selected a verse from Romans -- Chapter 1, verse 18 (TNIV):  "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of human beings who suppress the truth by their wickedness."

Alex chose our winning passage of the week, 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (TNIV):  "Do not deceive yourselves.  If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become 'fools' so that you may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight."  Congrats to Alex, who wins the Wesley Award for Best Epistle Passage!  Congratulations also to Wes, our overall winner, with three Wesley Awards to his credit this school year!

This brings the Wesley Awards to an end for this school year.  We will start up again in the Fall.  In the meantime, we will be posting during the Summer as the Spirit moves us ... but not every Sunday. 

 I leave you (for now) with this benediction from Jude 1:24-25 (TNIV): "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."  Now, listen to this song, Breathe (Benediction) by the Newsboys.  It's a remake of the classic hymn, Breathe on Me Breath of God, and it includes the words of Jude's famous benediction!

Amen, and God Bless You ...