Worldwide Communion
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
AOC Convention Report
October 1-2, 2025
Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Propers:
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The Collect for Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen...
The First Lesson for Fifteenth Wednesday Morning after Trinity. 2 Samuel 24:1,10-25
1And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah….. 10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly. 11 For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, 12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee. 13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me. 14 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man. 15 So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men. 16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite. 17 And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house. 18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded. 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.
The Second Lesson for Fifteenth Wednesday Morning after Trinity. 2 Corinthians 11:16.
16 I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. 17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. 32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
Morning Prayer Service – 25/10/01- Rev. Francisco Nieves
Pflugerville, Texas
“The
Marks of a True Minister”
2 Corinthians 11:16–33
Oh Lord, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of all our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. And all of God’s people said: Amen!
INTRODUCTION:
Beloved, I want to begin by asking you a question this morning? How do we measure success in ministry? If we are honest with ourselves, we often feel the pull to measure our calling by visible success: the size of our congregation, the reach of our platform, the fruitfulness of our efforts. In a culture that celebrates influence and image, even ministers are tempted to build a resume that impresses people more than it reflects Christ.
But in 2 Corinthians 11, the Apostle Paul does something very counter-cultural. Pressured to defend his apostleship, he doesn’t list his accomplishments—he lists his afflictions. He doesn’t boast in his victories—he boasts in his weaknesses. He doesn't elevate his strength—he exposes his scars. Paul deliberately "boasts like a fool" to turn the Corinthians’ worldly assumptions upside down.
But why would he do this? Well, he does it because he wants to show the Corinthians—and us by extension—what true Christian leadership looks like. He confronts a church infatuated with flashy rhetoric and visible power, and instead, points them to the quiet, painful path of faithfulness. Faithfulness that perseveres in weakness and suffering.
So here is what my main point for us this morning, if you remember nothing else, remember this:
We must boast in our weakness and suffering because true gospel ministry is not measured by external success, but by faithfulness in weakness and suffering.
Three points for us to consider as we walk through this passage:
I. True Ministers Will be Tempted to Boast Like the World (vv.16-21), however…
II. True Ministers are Proven through their Suffering (vv. 22-27)
III. True Ministers Boast Only in their Weakness (vv. 28-33)
I. True Ministers Will Be Tempted to Boast Like the World (vv.16-21)
As Paul defends his apostleship in this portion of his letter, we hear him speaking with what sounds like sarcasm. But his irony is not aimless—it is deliberate, even pastoral. He writes in verse 16:
"I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little." (v. 16)
At first glance, it seems like Paul is mocking himself. He adopts the voice of a fool—not to exalt himself, but to expose the foolishness of boasting according to the world’s standards. He is not promoting himself; he is pulling back the curtain on the kind of boasting that the Corinthian church had come to admire.
You see, the believers in Corinth had become enamored with what Paul calls the “super-apostles” (see v. 5)—leaders who spoke with polished rhetoric, exuded personal confidence, and carried themselves with worldly power and prestige. They were everything the culture admired: bold, captivating, and successful.
And the church was drawn in.
It’s not hard to understand why. In both the Corinthian and modern context, style is often mistaken for substance. Eloquence is mistaken for authority. Charisma is mistaken for calling. And when those confusions settle in, even faithful ministers may begin to feel the pressure to perform—to boast like the world.
Paul sees this danger and stoops—not to join in—but to overturn their assumptions. Look at verse 18:
"Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also." (v. 18)
It’s as if Paul is saying, “Very well. Let’s play your game—but see where it leads.” And with biting sarcasm, he exposes their fascination with these dominating personalities:
"For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye
yourselves are wise.
For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man
take of you,
if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face." (vv. 19–20)
These men weren’t building up the church—they were abusing it. But because they looked the part, they were welcomed without question. Paul’s irony is sharp—but his heart is tender. He is pleading with the church: stop judging ministry by the world’s standards.
And in doing so, he gives a word of warning to every faithful servant of Christ: You will be tempted to boast like the world.
Illustration:
To see how dangerous and subtle this temptation is, turn with me to a sobering moment in the life of King David.
This is the same David who faced Goliath with only a sling and the name of the Lord. The same David who once wrote:
"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7)
But in 2 Samuel 24, we find a different David—a king who begins to place confidence, not in God, but in his own resources.
David commands Joab to number the people—to take a census of all the fighting men of Israel. And Joab, no stranger to worldly ambition himself, actually pushes back. He senses that something is wrong. This wasn’t a census for stewardship or planning—it was about boasting. David wanted to know how powerful his kingdom had become.
And what was the result?
"And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the Lord, I have sinned greatly in that I have done." (2 Samuel 24:10)
David learns the hard way: boasting in the flesh—trusting in what we can count, measure, and control—does not honor God. It offends Him. The Lord sends judgment, and David repents in deep sorrow.
What David did with his soldiers, the Corinthians were doing with their leaders. David counted his men. The Corinthians were counting credentials. In both cases, the heart was the same: to find value and security in human strength and worldly success.
And Paul says, in effect, “I will not go down that road. If I must boast, I will boast as a fool—to show you just how foolish it really is.”
Application
Beloved, this temptation still lives on today. In our culture of platforms and personalities, the pressure to appear successful can be intense. The temptation is real: to polish our image, to promote our accomplishments, to build a ministry that looks impressive rather than faithful.
But Paul reminds us: True gospel ministry is not built on charisma, credentials, or comfort—it is built on the cross of Christ.
If you’re a pastor, a missionary, a leader, or a faithful servant in any ministry—you will feel the pull to perform. You will be tempted to make your work about visibility rather than obedience, appearance rather than integrity. But resist it.
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6)
Don’t build a
name—bear the name of Christ. Don’t promote yourself—proclaim the gospel.
It is perfectly fine if no one remembers you—so long as they remember Christ
through you.
Let the world count followers and applause. You keep your eyes on Christ.
Because if true ministers must resist the temptation to boast like the world, then what should mark their ministry? Paul tells us in the next section—it is not success, but suffering, that proves a servant of Christ.
II. True Ministers Are Proven Through Suffering (vv. 22–27)
In this section, Paul gives us a glimpse into what authentic gospel ministry truly looks like. He begins by listing his credentials—but not the kind we might expect. He does not boast in popularity, success, or ease. Instead, he boasts in his sufferings.
"Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.”—2 Corinthians 11:22-23 (KJV)
Paul could match his critics’ pedigree foot for foot, but rather than focus on that, he points to his sufferings. He goes on to say,
"Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”—2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (KJV)
If I were writing a résumé for ministry, none of these would be selling points. But Paul’s point is profound: these very sufferings prove the reality of his ministry.
He is not trying to impress the Corinthians with ease or applause; he is trying to realign their hearts. For they had begun to believe that success meant strength and comfort. Paul says, “No, true ministry looks like sacrifice and suffering.”
One thing that stands out in this passage is the repeated use of the word “in”:In labours, in prisons, in deaths, in journeyings, in perils, in weariness, in hunger, in fasting, in cold and nakedness. This is not a list of occasional troubles, but a portrait of a life steeped in hardship. Paul is saying suffering is woven into the very fabric of his calling. He is not only a man who has suffered—he is a man who continues to suffer for Christ’s sake.
Illustration
Consider Richard Wurmbrand, a Romanian pastor under communist rule. When pressured to pledge loyalty to the regime, he stood firm: “We must serve Christ alone.” For this, he was imprisoned for fourteen years, much of it in solitary confinement—beaten, starved, tortured, and kept in darkness.
Yet, Richard later said he never felt closer to Jesus than in those prison cells. His suffering was not a detour from ministry; it was the very evidence that he walked in Christ’s footsteps. Later on, he started a ministry called The Voice of the Martyr, where he ministered the persecuted church.
Like Paul, Richard did not build his ministry on comfort or applause. His scars, both physical and spiritual, were the credentials of his calling.
Application
Beloved, suffering is not the exception to ministry—it is the expectation. The cost of ministry is not a distraction from God’s work; it is the confirmation of genuine faithfulness.
This does not mean we seek suffering or glorify pain. But it means we stop fleeing from it. Christ did not call us to comfort; He called us to follow Him on a road marked by rejection, hardship, and the cross.
Are you feeling weary today? Wounded? Unseen? Laboring in hard places with little to show? Take heart: God sees your scars. They are not marks of failure but of faithfulness. Your weakness does not disqualify you—it qualifies you to display the power of Christ.
Do not despise the cost. Embrace it. True ministers are not made by platforms or applause—they are proven through suffering.
And if suffering proves the authenticity of gospel ministry, what then do we do with that suffering? Paul’s answer is unmistakable: we glory in it.
III. True Ministers Boast Only in Their Weakness (vv. 28–33)
After listing his long catalogue of sufferings, Paul comes to an unexpected ending. Instead of finishing with a triumphant story of victory or miraculous rescue, he closes with what might be one of the most embarrassing moments in his life:
“In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands.” —2 Corinthians 11:32–33 (KJV)
This is how Paul concludes his “boasting”—not with glory, but with a quiet escape. Not with applause, but with a basket. To a first-century audience, this might have sounded like a pathetic end. Here is a man, a great apostle, reduced to being lowered down the city wall like a thief or a frightened child.
In the Roman world, a true leader was expected to be bold and fearless. Heroes confronted their enemies openly and with courage. But Paul’s choice to end here reveals something deeper. He is making a profound point about weakness and dependence on God.
He is not ashamed. Instead, he is declaring that even in what might appear to be failure or weakness—his escape—it was not by his own power or wisdom that he was saved. It was by God’s grace and sustaining strength. His weakness was not a mark of shame but a stage for God’s power.
Illustration
Years ago, during a military training exercise, a group of soldiers had to hike miles through harsh terrain with full gear. One young recruit, smaller than the others, began to lag behind. He was exhausted, struggling under the weight of his pack. Eventually, he collapsed from fatigue.
Instead of rebuking him, one of the older soldiers came alongside him, took the heavy pack off the young man’s back, threw it on top of his own, and said, “Keep walking—I’ve got it now.”
That recruit made it to the end—not because he was strong, but because someone stronger carried what he couldn’t.
That’s what Paul is saying. “I made it through—not because I was strong, but because Christ carried me when I couldn’t go any further.” True ministry isn’t marked by how much we can carry, but by how much we let Christ carry through us.
Application
Beloved, ministry is often filled with “basket moments.” Times when you feel weak, vulnerable, or afraid. Times when you don’t feel like a strong leader but someone barely holding on. And that is exactly when God’s power can shine most brightly through you.
True ministers boast not in their own strength or success, but in their dependence on Christ. We glory not in our victories but in our need for His sustaining grace.
Your story may not be spectacular, and your gifts may seem small. But if your weakness points others to the power of Christ, you are walking faithfully in the ministry to which God has called you.
Remember Paul’s words: God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. Let us, therefore, boast in our weaknesses that Christ’s power might rest upon us.
CONCLUSION:
Beloved, we’ve seen this morning that true gospel ministry is not marked by outward success, cultural relevance, or personal strength—but by faithfulness in weakness and suffering.
We are tempted to boast like the world. We are proven through our suffering. And we are called to boast only in our weakness.
But this calling is not abstract—it is rooted in the very life and ministry of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He did not come with worldly credentials. He had no beauty that we should desire Him. He didn’t dominate with eloquence or overwhelm with displays of power. He humbled Himself. He was despised and rejected by men—a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.
And yet—through His weakness, He accomplished our salvation.
When the world saw defeat on the cross, God was displaying His greatest power. Christ’s wounds became our healing. His rejection became our acceptance. His death became our life.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
So, if you’re feeling weak this morning, if you’re tired, overlooked, or carrying wounds in ministry—take heart. You're not failing. You're following Jesus.
The One who emptied Himself for you. The One who took the lowest place. The One who hung on a cross—not because He lacked power, but because that is where His power was most perfectly displayed.
And now, risen and glorified, He calls you to follow
Him—not in the way of worldly greatness, but in the way of the cross. So let us
go forward, not boasting in our gifts or achievements, but in this:
That we know Christ, and we are found in Him. That His grace is sufficient.
That His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Because at the end of the day, ministry is not about making much of ourselves—it’s about making much of Jesus. May our lives, our words, our wounds, and even our weakness all point to the One who died, who rose again, and who reigns in power—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, in the church and in every minister of the word, forever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson for Fifteenth
Thursday Morning after
Trinity
1
Kings 2:1-4, 10-12.
1Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: 4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel……10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
The Second Lesson for Fifteenth Thursday Morning after Trinity. 2 Corinthians 12:1-13.
1It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.
Morning Prayer Service – 25/10/02 - Rev. Francisco Nieves - Pflugerville, Texas
INTRODUCTION
Good morning, Beloved, please pray with me.
Oh Lord, let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of all our hearts, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. And all of God’s people said: Amen!
Beloved, there are seasons in the life of the church when we are reminded—deeply and personally—that our time on this earth is not forever. These moments come most sharply when we lose leaders who have shaped and strengthened our spiritual family. Since our last synod, we have said goodbye to two such pillars: Bishop Hap Arnold and Reverend Stephen Cooper.
Though I did not have the privilege of knowing them personally, I observed their faithful witness from a distance—through newsletters, through social media, and through the ripple effect of their ministries. Their lives bore fruit that reached beyond their immediate circles. And now, they rest from their labors, rejoicing in the presence of the Lord.
And since these beloved shepherds have gone to be with the Lord, we may find ourselves wrestling with uncertainty. How do we carry forward the legacy they’ve left behind? What lies ahead for our church? Who will rise to take up the mantle of leadership and faithfulness?
Friends, this is not a new concern. In fact, it's a question that God's people have wrestled with for generations. In our passage today from 1 Kings 2, we encounter a pivotal moment in Israel’s history. King David, Israel’s greatest king, is on his deathbed. His time of leading has come to an end, and he gives final instructions to his son Solomon. Then, David dies. And Solomon—young, inexperienced, and untested—is established as king.
It is a time of deep grief—but also a time of transition, and a test of our faith.
And so, the main point that I want us to consider this morning is this:
Because God is faithful to His covenant promises, we must trust that He will carry us forward.
Three points for us this morning: The Legacy, The Charge, and The Covenant.
I. The Legacy (vv. 1-2)
In verses 1-2, we see that King David, the great king, is on his death bed, and he is talking to his son Solomon:
"Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man" (1 Kings 2:1–2, KJV).
These are the words of a father who knows his time is short. With the clarity that often comes at the end of life, David speaks not as a warrior or a king, but as a father handing down a legacy—urging his son to be strong, to rise to the challenge, to live faithfully under God’s covenant.
And what a legacy David left behind.
David—the shepherd boy who stood toe-to-toe with a giant, armed with nothing more than a sling and a trust that God would deliver him. David—the psalmist, whose words still give voice to our worship, our fears, our repentance, and our praise. David—the king who, under God’s kingship, unified the tribes of Israel and brought peace to the land.
Yes, David, a man after God’s own heart.
But he was also a sinner. A man who took a census out of pride. A man who committed adultery and murder. A man who stumbled badly. And yet—a man who repented deeply.
And that is perhaps the most important part of David’s legacy: not that he was perfect, but that he was repentant. He knew how to fall before a holy God and cry out for mercy—and he knew that mercy would meet him because God was faithful to His covenant promises.
So, when David turns to Solomon and says, “Be strong… shew thyself a man,” he’s not just saying, “Be like me.” He’s saying, “Be faithful to God like I’ve tried to be. Live under God’s hand, in God’s strength, according to God’s Word.”
Application:
Friends, we’re in a moment like Solomon’s. We’re looking back at the legacy of men who have gone before us—men who led well, who loved the church, who gave their lives to the gospel.
And even if some of us didn’t know them personally, their impact reached us. Through their preaching, their leadership, their faithfulness—they left a legacy. And now, they’ve gone to be with the Lord. And we are left with the same call: Be strong. Shew thyself a man.
So let me ask you this:
· Are we willing to carry the legacy they’ve left behind?
· Are we prepared to pick up the work of the gospel they gave their lives to?
· Are we ready to raise up the next generation of faithful servants?
You may feel the way Solomon must have felt at that moment—unqualified, unsure, too weak for the task.
But notice what Solomon does with that feeling. When God asks him, “What shall I give thee?” in the very next chapter (1 King 3:5)—he doesn’t ask for strength, success, or stature. He asks for wisdom. He prays for help. He says in essence, “God, I can’t do this without You.”
Maybe that’s where some of us need to start today.
You see, the question is not whether the legacy is worth continuing, the question is, will we rely on God as we continue it? Will we rely on Him, even when we feel weak and are suffering. Will we heed His voice when He tells us: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
But friends, a legacy isn’t just something to admire—it’s something to carry forward. And so, David gives Solomon not just a memory, but a charge.
II. The Charge (vv. 3-4)
As David nears the end of his life, he doesn’t just pass down a legacy—he gives Solomon a spiritual charge—a call to covenant faithfulness.
David tells Solomon in verse 3:
“And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself” (1 Kings 2:3, KJV).
This is David’s most urgent instruction: “Solomon, if you’re going to lead—if you’re going to serve God’s people—you must first serve God. You must walk in His ways. Keep His Word. Obey His covenant.”
David knew, after all his years and all his failures, he knew that there is no greater way to lead than by following the Lord.
But then we come to verse 4, and David says something incredible:
“That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel” (1 Kings 2:4, KJV).
Friends, do you hear what David is saying?
Yes—Solomon must be faithful. He must obey. He must walk in the covenant. But ultimately, it is God who sustains the covenant. Solomon is called to work—but it is God who fulfills His Word.
David is pointing back to that precious promise in 2 Samuel 7, when God made a covenant with him, saying, “I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Even now, as David prepares to die, he clings to that promise.
Illustration and Application
Friends, I don’t know how much gardening or farming experience you’ve had, but I imagine most of us have done some kind of planting—whether it’s tending a backyard garden, caring for flowers, or simply helping in the yard.
You know how it goes: you prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water regularly, and pull the weeds. It’s slow, often difficult work. But no matter how hard you labor, you cannot make the seed grow. Only God can do that. Only He can bring life from the soil. Only He gives the increase.
And yet, your work matters. The gardener’s labor is still essential—it’s the very means God uses to bring about the fruit or the flower or the harvest.
That’s a picture of ministry, isn’t it?
As servants of Christ, we’re called to plant and to water. To preach, to teach, to lead, to serve, we are called to love. We labor faithfully—but only God gives the growth. Only God can sustain the work. Only He can cause spiritual fruit to flourish in hearts, families, and churches.
That’s exactly what David is getting at in this passage. He charges Solomon to keep the ways of the Lord—to walk faithfully, to obey the covenant. But immediately after, he reminds him that it is God who will continue to be faithful to His covenant promises. Yes, Solomon must be faithful—but the future doesn’t rest on Solomon. It rests on the covenant-keeping God.
And as Solomon receives this charge, we see something even greater unfold—not just a call to faithfulness, but the quiet, steady fulfillment of God’s covenant promises.
III. The Covenant (vv.10-12)
The final verses in this passage are quiet but deeply significant. After all the tension of David’s final words, we come to this:
10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 12 Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.
So David dies. Solomon takes the throne. The kingdom continues.
At first glance, it might just seem like a normal royal succession. But behind these verses stand God’s covenant faithfulness. David’s reign ends, but God’s promise does not.
You see, in 2 Samuel 7, God made a covenant with David—saying that one of his sons would sit on his throne forever. This wasn’t just about Solomon. Solomon’s reign was temporary. He would sin, stumble, and eventually die like his father.
But God had promised something greater. A throne that would never end. A King who would rule in perfect righteousness. A Son who would never fail.
And that King is Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the true and greater Son of David—the One whom Solomon could only foreshadow. Where Solomon offered sacrifices for sin, Jesus became the sacrifice for sin. Where Solomon’s wisdom was limited, Jesus is the very wisdom of God. And where every earthly king has died and remained in the grave, Jesus rose again, and now reigns forever at the right hand of the Father.
So yes, Solomon was established on the throne—but he was only a shadow of the One to come. The covenant doesn’t just continue in Solomon. It culminates in Jesus Christ.
Application
Friends, this is where our hope rests—not in the strength of human leaders, not in the wisdom of kings, but in the unshakable reign of Jesus Christ.
Yes, David died. Solomon died. Every earthly shepherd we've known—no matter how faithful—will one day be laid to rest. But Jesus lives. And Jesus reigns. His kingdom is eternal.
This is the good news of the gospel: That our King has conquered sin and death. That He reigns not only over Israel, but over all nations. That He is not just seated on a throne in Jerusalem, but at the right hand of God, interceding for us even now.
So as we reflect on the legacy of leaders we’ve lost—men like Bishop Hap Arnold and Rev. Stephen Cooper—we do grieve. But we do not grieve without hope.
Because the work they gave their lives to? It’s not finished. It’s not lost. It’s not in vain.
It continues in Christ. And Christ will bring it to completion.
Take heart, church. Our future is not uncertain. The throne is not empty. The Son of David reigns. The gospel advances. And the covenant continues—forever.
CONCLUSION
Friends, as we reflect on David’s charge to Solomon, on the legacy left behind, and on the unshakable covenant that continues through Christ, we come face to face with a profound truth:
The kingdom of God is not built on human strength or perfect leaders. It is built on Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the King who reigns forever. He is the One who perfectly kept the covenant—who lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to bring us new life.
If you have been carrying the weight of uncertainty, fear, or doubt about the future—know this: Christ is on the throne. His promises are sure. His grace is sufficient. His kingdom will never fail
Today, He invites you to be part of this covenant people—not by your own strength, but by His grace. The covenant continues. And through faith in Jesus Christ, you can share in the unending reign of the King.Let us pray together as we commit ourselves to Him. Amen!
Silver Jubilee Gift from Bishop Charles Morley to Bishop Jerry Ogles celebrating 25 years Service to the Lord below:
A UNIFORM OF DISTINCTION
The distinctive garb of soldiers has set them apart from other men and so it is with the Lord's army as well. The ecclesiastical dress of Anglican bishops has identified them in that office of the Church of God for centuries. Each Communion of the Church Catholic has designated a certain attire and symbols of office unique to the Office of a Bishop. Since the time of Archbishop Cranmer, the first Archbishop of the Reformed Catholic Church of England in the sixteenth century, the garb proscribed of bishops of the Church, regardless of rank, has been the same.
Since the time of the Protestant Reformation in England and throughout the British Isles, Anglican bishops have worn attire very different from their Roman counterparts. Along with the other ordained ministers, Anglican bishops stood apart from the Medieval vestiture of past centuries, and so became living witnesses to the Reformed Faith of their Church. There are those in the Church today who claim that vestments have no intrinsic meaning, therefore clergy can dress as they please. Yet it would seem that those same people have chosen to abandon the historic vestiture of their Church in order to promote a change in the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Church in a distinctively political direction.
What, then, is the unique uniform of an Anglican prelate? There are several items which have great inherent meaning and contribute to our understanding to the distinctive nature of our episcopate.
The Chimere
The chimere is akin to a riding cloak that would have protected the garments worn underneath from the soil of the road. A bishop was supposed to be an itinerant shepherd, regularly "beating the bounds" of his diocese, as much “a horse” as on foot around his cathedral - if he was lucky enough to have one. The bishop was to be an under-shepherd to The Great Shepherd, a senior presbyter to all the clergy and laity in his charge - a shepherd, NOT A PRINCE.
Black was the dress of the watch until recent years when scarlet became associated with the academic doctorate and since nearly all Anglican bishops were awarded doctorates upon their ordination, red became permissible for certain "high" occasions and for archbishops when performing episcopal functions. It was said Archbishop Cranmer owned a chimere in dark green but wore it rarely and only when riding outside the Canterbury bounds. In recent times, the traditional (and correct) black chimere has been replaced by the scarlet as it is more photogenic and more closely resembles the vestiture of Roman prelates.
The Rochet
The rochet is the workman's dress of the bishop. It is said that all ranks of the Anglican ministry wear the same vestment, the “seamless white garment of the saints” which is the surplice. And so it is for bishops, save that the sleeve of the rochet are gathered at the sleeve's cuff. This was supposed to protect the long billowy sleeves of the surplice from ink stains of the prolific bishop, busily writing his missives, pastoral letters, and works of theology with constancy. Always accompanied by the rochet, it became the hallmark of the Anglican episcopate for hundreds of years, not worn by prelates of any other denomination when performing episcopal functions. It was even worn by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, during his now infamous visit with the Bishop of Rome.
In recent times, it has been replaced by a newly contrived garment called the “cassock alb,” an invention of the American clerical haberdasher, Charles Almy of New York. Notwithstanding, the very distinctive white rochet and black chimere remain the correct dress for any Anglican bishop of any jurisdiction and is the preferred dress of bishops of the Evangelical, Protestant, and Reformed tradition. This has been so since the time of the first Protestant Reformed Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, spiritual father of the Articles of Religion and historic Book of Common Prayer.
The Ring
The western episcopate has always been associated with medieval heraldry. Signet rings were worn by notables (including bishops) partly in recognition of their office, and to verify the authority of documents - often written by scribes or secretaries - to assure their authorship. Rings often revealed heraldic symbols - which made them hard to forge or replicate without authority or - in the case of the clergy - were marked by certain precious stones. Since purple was considered the “royal” color, bishops rings often sported large amethyst stones which were scarce and of great price.
The New Testament makes only one mention of rings - the one given by the recalcitrant son in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal son. Therefore, the bishops who wear this seal of authority of office should remember this gift, of the loving father to his unworthy son, as a sign of forgiveness and acceptance into the family. Protestant prelates would do well to remember that bishops are servants, not royalty, and their authority is subject not to any earthly monarch but to the Lord of Lords. One may be appointed by man's authority but it is Almighty God who ordains.
The Crozier or Shepherd's Crook
Protestant bishops have retained the crozier or shepherd's staff as a sign of episcopal office, and it is an accepted appointment in the Church Catholic. It is often misunderstood, as its use is not intended for the sheep but as a defense against wolves which trouble the sheep. The crook at the top of the staff is designed not for the necks of fragile lambs or tender ewes but to grab and strangle the wolf. It was often the only weapon carried by poor shepherds, as a sword or knife would bring them into dangerously close contact with the wolf, who could be driven off more effectively using the long staff. It was also a sign by which the sheep could identify the shepherd at a distance, even if they were out of earshot but close to harm.
It must be remembered that the oath taken by every Reformed Protestant bishop is “to banish and drive away from the Church all erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to God's Word...” and that the principal functions of a bishop are not to rule or prevail over others but to teach, instruct, and exhort, and to exercise only such discipline of the sheep as given by the authority of God's Word and the authority of the Church. A bishop is called to be a shepherd, not a wolf, merciful so as not to forget mercy; “that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you may receive that never-fading crown of glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (BCP p.558)
Prayer said immediately before the Benediction in
the Form of Ordaining or Consecrating a Bishop
“Most merciful Father, send down we beseech thee, upon this thy servant thy heavenly blessing; and so endue him with thy Holy Spirit, that he, preaching thy Word, may not only be earnest to reprove, beseech, and rebuke, with all patience and doctrine; but also may be, to such as believe, a wholesome example in word, in conversation, in love, in faith, in chastity, and in purity; that, faithfully fulfilling his course, at the latter day he may receive the crown of righteousness, laid up by the Lord Jesus, the righteous Judge, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.”
Propers for the Ordering of Priests
Collect
ALMIGHTY God, giver of all good things, who by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers Orders of Ministers in thy Church; Mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the Office of Priesthood; and so replenish them with the truth of thy Doctrine, and adorn them with innocency of life, that, both by word and good example, they may faithfully serve thee in this Office, to the glory of thy Name, and the edification of thy Church; through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
The Epistle. Ephesians iv. 7.
UNTO every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith,
When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.
The Gospel. St. Matthew ix. 36.
WHEN Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop – Metropolitan AOC
Worldwide
25/10/02 – Holy Communion – Ordination of Priests, Sermon
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and My Redeemer. Amen
Dear Friends, today we are engaged in a great World War of such proportions as to exceed our gravest human estimates. This was the War declared in Eden at the Fall of our primitive father, Adam. It is a war of great spiritual dimension.
Napoleon Bonaparte has said, “Men such as myself have conquered empires with the sword and few will remember our exploits across the centuries to come; but Jesus Christ conquered empires with the sword of His Word, and thousands to this day will lay down their lives for Him.”
The enemy of the souls of man is arrayed in great multitudes across the landscape of every human endeavor. Not only do they fly their banners openly but also serve as traitors in our midst whispering words of ruin to our sons and daughters. His whispers are heard, not only in the halls of academia, but also from the pulpits of many of our churches, and in the very corridors of political power.
We cannot afford to lose heart in the face of battle, nor can we be intimidated by his larger numbers and arsenals of destruction. The major weapon of his employment is the LIE, for he is the father of lies.
The greater numbers of our neighbors are unaware of the enemy that stands at the gate of their souls to possess them. At birth, we all are afflicted with that deadly and debilitating disease called sin. It is a blood disease, and can only be cured by the immaculate and sinless blood of Christ. Once we are made aware of the depravity of spirit that afflicts our fellow man, how can we remain aloof to those so pitifully suffering from the most deadly of all maladies?
In the Gospel text for Ordination of priests, we find these words of strong counsel of Christ, “When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” The one element that constrains our compassion on others is that of love. Love is sacrificial, and it also is able to feel the like pain of the sufferer whom it beholds. Jesus, being human, understood and felt our pain while we were yet in bondage to sin. His love compelled action, and so should that love compel us to take action, as ministers, to the propagation of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. WE must never leave our charges without a shepherd.
As we behold the enemy drawn up against us, we may be inclined to cower in fear; however, our trust in the God of Battles should inspire courage and valliant action in the hearts of His people.
You will remember how the armies of Israel cowered before the Philistine armies arrayed in the Valley of Elah against them in 1 Samuel 17. The youthful lad, David was sent to bring nourishment to his brothers in the field, but he found the soldiers doubtful of victory and full of fear. The Philistines sent forth their greatest soldier, the giant, Goliath, to do battle with the best Israel had to offer. And who was that? It turned out to be the smallest man among the armies of Israel – the boy David.
David agreed to fight the giant in spite of every attempt of King Saul to dissuade him. He went forth courageously without armament, except a sling and five smooth stones, to face a heavily armed giant. David sent his stone flying toward Goliath and the Lord guided its impact directly to the forehead of the giant who fell dead. As all righteous must do, David gave the God of Israel the glory. The victory still belongs to God in our day as well, and we must never forget to make public acknowledgment of that fact.
Every minister of God must have the courage and faith of the boy, David. Trusting in His care and providence, we move against enemies of formidable appearance and repute. We need no human armaments of protection but only the “full armor of God” to protect as well as the Sword of the Lord’s Word as our weapon of offense.
Love compels His ministers to care for those who are helplessly entrapped in the bonds of sin and ignorance. How can we pass by the poor man who has been beaten and robbed by the devil and left to die on the road to eternity? We must go to where the hurting are to be found. We are to dress their wounds with the soothing Balm of the Gospel. We are to care for them at some cost and sacrifice of our time and resources. And we must care for them all the way as did the Good Samaritan.
“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:13-14
We have called two men of record to serve in the Office of Priest (or Elder) in our Church. What is the nature of the that call to the ministry? There are three main points that should be considered in the calling of a minister:
1) The prospective minister must be called by God.
2) The man must be totally convinced of His call to the ministry, and,
3) The church must recognize, by examination and knowledge of the man’s living, that he is called of God.
Remember this counsel: “It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” (Romans 10:25-26)
We are not above the same reproach and rejection that was faced by our Lord. We shall be accused of every libelous act. But the pure silver of the utensil will endure over time rather than the thin coat of silver that covers the less pure metal beneath. The character of the Christin will endure while that of the hypocrite will be exposed after many days.
Consider the Camp of the Saints mentioned in Revelations 20: “And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.” Revelations 20:9 Consider the fact that a camp is a small and impermanent post – it is not even a fort (which is designed for permanence). This camp illustrates the people of faith that remain at the time of the end. In spite of the overwhelming odds of the armies of the world gathered against that camp, God will rain fire out of heaven to destroy the enemy without. We are soldiers of the cross in this world war of the age. Take courage and stand strong lest a great falling away from the faith should take you in a moment of doubt exposing you to the darts and arrows of the enemy.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Please Pray for the Newly Ordained Priests in the AOC
Rev. Donald Fultz, Rev. Francisco Nieves
