Worldwide Communion
Seventeenth Sunday
after Trinity
September 27, 2026
Sunday Report
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinty
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 propers are the same each year, except if a Red-Letter Feast, that is one with propers in the prayerbook, falls on a Sunday, then those propers are to be read instead, except in a White Season, where it is put off. Red Letter Feasts, so called because in the Altar Prayerbooks the titles are in red, are special days. Most of the Red-Letter Feasts are dedicated to early saint’s instrumental in the development of the church, others to special events. Some days are particularly special and the Collect for that day is to be used for an octave (eight days) or an entire season, like Advent or Lent. The Propers for today are found in the Book of Common Prayer page 213-214.
The Collect for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.
Epistle for Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. Ephesians iv. 1.
I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, for-bearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
The Gospel for Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity. St. Luke. vii. 11.
IT came to pass, as Jesus went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to these things. And he put forth a parable to those which were bid-den, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest seat; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
On Point: From Daily Readings – Continue in Prayer
"Men ought always to pray, and not to faint" Luke 18:1
A great many people get discouraged in praying, because the answer does not come at once. It should be settled in the mind, first — that God always hears the true prayer, and that He will always send an answer — though it may not always be the answer which we desire. He never despises nor disregards the cry of one of His children; but sometimes for wise reasons, He delays His answer. Perhaps it is not the right time. God's plans reach out widely — and He works slowly.
Look at Joseph in Egypt — a slave, and then a prisoner. No doubt he was praying every day for release; and he may have thought at times that the answer was long in coming. But when it came — he could see that one reason for delay was that all things might be gotten ready. It took years to prepare the answer — which came at last with such blessing.
Or the reason for God's delay may be to draw out our faith, and to increase our earnestness. The story of the Syrophenician woman illustrates this. At first Jesus "did not answer her a word;" but it was for her sake, that He kept her waiting. She received a far better answer at last, than she could have received at first. Suppose she had "given up" after her first apparent repulse, think what she would have missed.
No doubt thousands of prayers are never answered — because men give up at God's delay. Perhaps you have lost many a joy and blessing — because you lost heart and faith before the answer came. A little longer patient perseverance, would have brought you a great reward.
After spending thousands of dollars in drilling for oil, the owner became discouraged and sold out for a trifle. The new purchaser started the drill, and in six hours found a flowing oil well. We see what "giving up" cost the first owner. Many Christians lose heart — just when the answer is about to be granted.
Jerry Ogles, Presiding Bishop
Metropolitan AOC Worldwide
We are fortunate to get copies of Bishop Jerry’s you tube links, devotions on the Prayer of the Collect and sermon notes.
Bishop Jerry creates videos on various subjects, they last just under ten minutes and this week’s videos are listed below:
Bishop Ogles
Blog:
https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com
Bishop Ogles
You Tube Channel
that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
Bishop Ogles Midweek Devotional
Bishop’s Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2026/09/youtube-video-player_01673494027.html
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weLksOc_qPk
AND when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. “(Mark 15:39-41)
There was a curious mixture of souls that surrounded the cross of our Lord at the moment of His declaring “It is finished!” Primarily the assorted crowd was represented by those who hated Him most, and those who loved Him best. The women of tender heart remained at the cross throughout, and Mary Magdalene waited till His body was removed. She then followed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to see where His body was entombed. John, the beloved disciple, dared to remain at the very foot of the cross with the women. Love compels fidelity! This wonderful hymn is written by the blind Fanny Crosby – a lady, being blind, who wrote more than 9,000 hymns.
1 Jesus, keep me near the
cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing
stream,
Flows from Calv'ry's
mountain.
The only power that held John and the women near the cross was the power of love for their Lord. That love was not innate to the human soul, but was a reflection of the LOVE of Him who “first loved us.” That emotion that springs from the depths of Hell is HATE . Hate, too, held the scoffers and revilers there at the foot of the cross. It is so today. The Cross of Christ is loved and revered by His followers, but despised and hated by those who are rebellious to the Sovereignty of God. The blood flowed from the Body of Christ like the waters of a wadi following a hard rain in the desert wilderness. The crown of thorns caused a blinding flow of blood down his forehead, His body was lashed to the bone on His back from the beating He experienced from a ‘cat-o-nine tails.’ He was bleeding as well from the nail punctures on His hands and His feet . . . . and He suffered all thusly for you and me. We were the ones who deserved that death, but He conquered death and Hell in His crucifixion and resurrection. He redeemed us by His own blood that we might not suffer the death and humiliation that He experienced.
2 Near the cross, a
trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning
Star
Shed His beams around me.
[Refrain].
Christ suffered in the Wilderness of our Sin for us. It was a time of suffocating darkness, especially in the last four hundred years of silence from the words of the prophet Malachi. Though the last word of the Old Testament in Malachi is ‘CURSE,’ Malachi held out hope for the chosen of God in promising to us that in due time the “Sun of Righteousness would arise with Healing in His Wings.” (Malachi 4:2) Thus the coming of Christ brought beaming light upon a dark world, and the Water of Life to a parched soil. He is the Bright and Morning Star (Revelations 22:1) to lead us in the dark night of this world from sunset to sunrise, but then comes the Sun of Righteousness at last with its healing rays and bright heralding.
3 Near the cross! O lamb of
God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.
[Refrain].
The shadow of the cross fell as an omen across the manger at Bethlehem. The same wood substance into which He was laid as a baby would be the same upon which He would be crucified some thirty-three years hence. He was the Lamb of God symbolized by that first Pascal Lamb in Goshen whose blood forbade the entry of the Angel of Death into the homes of Israel that that were covered by its blood on that dreadful night in Goshen of Egypt. The shadow of the cross hangs above the heads of all who follow Christ for they too must bear their crosses alone. Like Christ, the Christian must die to self and live for others. But Christ is with us always, and right beside when our fears are the most profound.
4 Near the cross! I'll watch
and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden
strand,
Just beyond the river.
[Refrain]
Jordan Banks are stormy and infirm to the foot. As we approach those outer banks, we may be ill or old and weak, and our footing unsure. As we stand above the swirling waters, we feel our feeble feet falter and sink into the crumbling sands. But we are not focused on the here and now, but the sunny strand beyond the turbulent waters of Jordan. It is that Promised Land to which we are bound. We need not cry out as the ground becomes infirm beneath us for we know who holds the future, and we know who holds our hand. The strong and Almighty Hand of the Lord lifts us up, up, and away from the sinking sands of this world and bears us across the flood to Himself. It is not far. It is an open door. We are just going HOME to see our loved ones who have gone before. We shall cross over just as did the Children of Israel – on dry land.
Refrain
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall
find
Rest beyond the river.
Every committed Christian glories in the cross of Christ – not the instrument itself, but the sacrifice made upon it for our behalf. The cross of Christ was not a shining, gold structure, but a rough-hewn timber. It was ugly and unkempt. It was much like the uncomely goat-hair covering of the Tabernacle, but look at the beauty inside the Tabernacle which was Christ! Christ established His Church and Kingdom to be one of inner beauty and not of elaborate showing to the world. The world does not appreciate true beauty, but those who are IN Christ know of the grandeur of that home. We are ransomed at the high cost of the Father’s sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son. That makes you and I of considerable value in the eyes of God. When He beholds us, He beholds His Son on the cross, and His blood covering us in a mantle of righteousness – not OUR righteousness, but HIS!
Bishop Jerry Ogles
Roy Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican Church - Diocese of the Midwest Anglican Orthodox Church -Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Morning Prayer – Seventeenth Sunday after trinity
Psalm 25; First lesson: Jeremiah 13:15-21; Second lesson: Mark 10:35-45
LORD, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymns: # 375, 441, 520
What is required of a pastor?
We find an interesting occurrence in our second lesson today. The human desire for relevance coming into conflict with the duty of a pastor. If we take to heart the message we find in this tenth chapter of Mark’s gospel, we can very easily discern when wolves get in among the flock. In other words when those who are false teachers/leaders rise up in the midst of believers, we should have no problems identifying them. Any pastor or leader who deliberately misuses or leaves out important parts of the Word should be suspect. There are times that pastors must be held accountable for what they preach IF it isn’t the Gospel.
In these latter days, it will get more and more chaotic as Satan tries to lead the faithful astray. He already has his own, he doesn’t need to lead them, he needs to sow chaos amongst the believers, so beloved be aware of this and let us learn from the great lessons of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
1. When the brothers James and John asked Jesus for a special favor, he gently answers them that at least part of what they asked for will be fulfilled. In a sense, the duty of a believer to “take up their cross and follow Jesus” was what the Master was explaining to the brothers.
35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Jesus answers the brothers: 38But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
2. The seating arrangement that James and John were asking for was indicative of places of honor in that society. The brothers did not fully understand the Kingdom concept yet, that is why Jesus told them it was not his place to award those positions of honor. God the Father would place Jesus on His right side which would indicate the office of advocate/redeemer/savior in the culture. We see this depicted in the trial and death sentence of St. Stephen, the first martyr for the faith... “But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,”.
Notice that Stephen says the Jesus is on the right hand of God (the Father) standing. That is a position of authority and action. Jesus was advocating for Stephen as he was dying under a hail of stones. Wow, how much more of an illustration do we need to see the “kingdom” relationship of God the Father and God the Son?
A. The “cup” that Jesus refers to is the physical death on the Cross, the very cup he asked God the Father to spare him from. But he then says “...not my will by thy will be done...” in regards to the death that he would face the next day.
B. The baptism being the Holy Spirit, who came down from heaven at the Jordan baptism done by John the baptizer. This of course is a future reference to the Day of Pentecost and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the disciples at Jerusalem.
Now Jesus explains to the disciples about what it will mean to be a follower of Him. The ancient customs of the time, which are still prevalent today, will not be the standard of measurement as far as what a leader or in this case pastor will be. 42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
The true standard of measurement will be what Jesus explains:
43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all….45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
You will notice that to make clear what He is explaining, He uses two different words to outline what it means to be a leader of men in the Faith. “Minister and servant” are the two words He uses. A minister makes sure that all are helped, cared for, comforted (made comfortable) and in other words made to feel safe. The servant is even more involved, they care for physical needs such as food and shelter. And in this time, it also included washing the road dust off the feet of the weary traveler and making them comfortable for the evening. These tasks were some of the lowliest of all task to be performed by the least in society. And how does Jesus finish up the passage? “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister...(and then the most important reason for Jesus earthly stay) and to give his life a ransom for many. What say you...men of God. Do you minister to your flock? Do you serve your flock as a servant? Do you reach out to comfort those in need?
These attributes that Jesus illustrated in this passage will give a believer the ‘litmus test’ of what a true pastor is; if he is always about himself, if he is always seeking gain, if he is always seeking fame, this behavior is a red flag to believers. Then your pastor is not of the image of Christ. Sad to say, that over the years when false preachers and leaders had shown up, if these attributes had been applied, there may have been much trouble averted. Look at the life and times of Jim Jones, David Koresh, and ilk in modern times, much tragedy could have been avoided, if the folk had applied the scriptural definition to them. And in past eras if such attributes had been applied the founders of Adventism, LDS, Jehovah’s Witness, many more could have avoided the pitfalls of these heretical groups.
Beloved, the Word of God does not return void.
When God inspired the writers of the Bible to put down the record of history, prophecy, covenant, and the promise of salvation, He made sure that ALL of it was completely truthful. As faithful pastors it is our duty to make sure we are following the same precepts and doctrine... “the faith once delivered”... in all that we do and say.
Let us pray:
O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgement, and light riseth up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what thou wouldest have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in thy light we may see light, and in thy straight path may not stumble, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
IN Christ alone during Trinity
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We are always grateful to get these wonderful sermons from Rev. Bryan, they keep us on our toes!
Sermon Text for Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity:
In our epistle lesson (II St. Timothy 2:19-26), the apostle was given of the Holy Ghost to admonish us with these words: Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (v.19). If anyone would truly serve the Lord, they must first recognize the evils within themselves and confess those sins to God in the name of his only begotten Son. Only then can true repentance be had. Only then will their works be approved of God.
Now you will not find much support for the above in the modern versions of the Laodicean church as they tend to accept any good work as pleasing to God even if it was carried out by one who is of the unregenerate. And for this cause, they are all about showing their tolerance for other faiths instead of presenting the gospel of truth to those lost souls. Examine, if you will, Article XIII of our Articles of Religion which states in part that, “Works done before the grace of Christ, and the inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ; neither do they make men meet to receive grace...” For if our works are to be of any value to God then we must first be regenerated— born again in Christ Jesus. Only then will they be accepted of Godhead. And if we do not see ourselves as God sees us apart from godly grace—that is as being vile, filthy, bathed in sin and depravity, despicable, pernicious, an outlaw— then we will not see the pressing need to depart from iniquity. Thus it follows that the unregenerate in offering to God a momentary recognition of his presence via their occasional good deeds will be a useless gesture. For all the while their sins are piling up behind them as they have received no pardon for what they have done that might be reputed as “good”. They are very much like the student who believes that one or two good grades will make up for the many substandard grades he or she may have made during a semester. Yes, they may have scored high here and there, but their real average is something else entirely due to their lack of consistent performance.
True and faithful Christians realize that the unregenerate cannot please God with the best of their works (see Isaiah 64:6-7). God has provided only one way for mankind to achieve a state of justification in his eyes, and it has nothing to do with any work that mortals might do apart from Christ. But it has everything to do with their acceptance of the atoning sacrifice of our Lord. His blood covers our sins. His blood makes it possible for us to be accepted into the beloved. His blood makes any works we would do in his service count for us and not against us. If anyone will accept the free gift which God through Jesus Christ offers them, they will be received as children of God and coheirs with Christ in God’s kingdom. And in that light consider the words of God to the prophet Jeremiah: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and eve.r (Jeremiah 7:3-7). The LORD then detailed the sins of the people saying: Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom he know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 7:8-11).
When you think about it, look at how similar the modernist cults of Christianity are to what has been described in Jeremiah 7. Nevertheless, those folks will claim to know Christ all the while failing to adhere to the truth of Scripture, and have perverted the means of grace via their acceptance of— if not participation in— a host of sins that have been clearly set forth in his word written. Such persons will be in for a rude awakening come Judgment Day. Jesus said, Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (St. Matthew 7:21). And further, we find in St. John 3:16-21 his warning, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
And remember, that for our deeds to be wrought in God such will require us to first be regenerated in Christ. No matter how you slice it, that is the truth. You cannot pick and choose one Bible truth over another. The devil desires for mankind to live in opposition to the expressed will of God, and then to come before him in hypocrisy knowing full well that he will not accept their feeble offerings if they are not born-again in Christ Jesus. I can only shake my head in disappointment over the modern Laodicean Church’s fruitless efforts to offer God anything it likes while at the same time denying him everything he commands.
Some may ask, “Is there any hope for the unregenerate?” Of course there is as long as they are in this life and truly repent. St. Paul finished our epistle lesson with these words, And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (vv. 24-26).
It is my prayer that as God gives you the opening to witness to the unregenerate, that they will indeed seek to be made right with God in Christ. May it please our good and gracious God today to assist you in this important work.
Let us pray,
Father assist us as we carry the message of our risen
Lord to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; that by our witness
they would seek to be made right with you through Christ our Lord; and this we
ask in his most precious nameHave a blessed week!
Bryan+
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large - Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
Matthew 21: 23-32 "Authority"
Open to the Great Mystery for an Opening Prayer.
From: Discernment: Reading the Signs of Daily Life
"Please, Lord, join me on the road, enter into my closed room, and take my foolishness away. Open my mind and heart to the great mystery of your active presence in my life, and give me the courage to help others discover your presence in their lives. Amen." (This prayer seems at the heart of all that follows here and opens up the issues with our denials and saying no to God). Henri Nouwen
The meditation today is about authority and where we go with that in our own lives. It is said a message should have one purpose and that the other points should follow from that.
In this Gospel for today Jesus' authority is being challenged by the chief priests and the elders. "By what authority do you do these things?" (Matthew 21:23) The chapter begins with a familiar event as Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon the borrowed colt. We call it Palm Sunday. We read of this also in Luke 7:29-30,"29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
Here is a pointed illustration of authority:
"It is said that Billie Burke (of the 1920's famous for playing Glinda, the good witch of the north in the "Wizard of Oz"), the Hollywood actress, was enjoying a transatlantic ocean voyage when she noticed a man at the next table was suffering from a bad cold. "Uncomfortable?" she asked sympathetically. The man nodded. "I'll tell you what to do for it," she offered. "Go back to your stateroom and drink a lot of orange juice. Take five aspirin tablets. Cover yourself with all the blankets you can find. Sweat the cold out. I know what I'm talking about. I'm Billie Burke of Hollywood." The man smiled warmly and said, "Thanks. I'm Dr. Mayo of the Mayo Clinic!" from sermonindex.net/illustrations/authority
Sometimes we get caught being the authority when we should have been taking in wisdom from others for sure.
1. Background of this about authority--- Jesus throws out the money changers in temple next to show that they were dis-respecting the House of God. Matthew 21:12, He does that to show that He is Lord and King.
In our text for today Jesus is asked about His authority and He replies with a question. Where was the baptism of John from? Heaven or from men? Here they are caught for to say from heaven would recognize John as a prophet and teacher. But to say from men would be to ignore the fact that the people considered him a prophet. So they take the middle ground. Perhaps it is the easy way, "We know not" is their answer.
An example of authority is seen in the oaths given to the new King.
In England when Charles was crowned as King he agreed to the below: "The King kneels at the Chair of Estate. The Archbishop says: Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England?"
2. What is the point of this encounter for us? Charles Erdman in his The Gospel of Matthew
summarizes well here, "..if they had accepted the message of John, they would be prepared to accept Jesus. It is true if we are afraid to accept the logical conclusions of our doubts and denials, we never can hope to discover truth."
This seems to be the heart of this Gospel passage for our benefit. Our doubts and denials need to be heard. They need to be dug into and looked at, but in the end we are in the same place as the authorities of the Jewish people if we leave it there. They rejected the counsel of God and did not get baptized by John.
Where is our authority? What matters and what guides us to truth in our lives?
As someone who has made this journey and continue on the journey, I make a suggestion. Jesus is our Lord and Saviour and what He has said gives us a lot of hope for this life, and the life to come! But we all must make our own choices and go through our own struggles and questions.
Good mentors and people have been helpful to me through this process. We all need that. The Church is the place to start for help. Usually these are people we know and respect that can guide us through decisions and help us with our problems. They have been invaluable. The Saints of God are people just like us. I have had some good mentors. One was in California at St. John's Chapel (a conservative 28 Book Church I attended while in the Army). Both Episcopal priests were helpful, but Fr. Patience had the right name. One time he said after I was talking to him and taking, a pointed position, he said, " David---just let me give you a hug." We laughed. That hug said it all.
The Hymn we sing, " I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" tells us all about it:" And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too" Later, the hymn continues with: "And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast: and there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too"
"An office manager was complaining in their staff meeting that he wasn't getting any respect. The next day, he attached a small sign to his office door: I'm The Boss! Later that day, he returned from lunch to find that somebody had put a note over his sign. It read, "Your wife called. She wants her sign back." hotsermons.com/sermon-illustrations
3. The end of the Gospel passage is the summary of all that went before really:
"…31Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Matthew 21:31-32.
We too can believe him. It starts with what we prayed in the beginning.
"Please, Lord, join me on the road, enter into my closed room, and take my foolishness away. Open my mind and heart to the great mystery of your active presence in my life, and give me the courage to help others discover your presence in their lives. Amen."
David D. Mc Millan,
Pastor, & Chaplain (Major) US Army, ret.
Rector of St. Peter’s AOC located in the AOC National Office
We are grateful to have this sermon today from Rev. Don Fultz from
St. Peter’s AOC, Statesville NC
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Luke 13:10-17: “Healing on the Sabath”
It’s a Sabbath day and Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues showing us his respect for worship and tradition. In the congregation is a disabled lady, bent over and unable to stand up straight. St Luke in verse 11 says she had a “spirit of infirmity of eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up hersel.” Matthew Henry in his comments on this verse said “she had an infirmity which an evil spirit, by divine permission, had brought upon her and having been so long in this condition, was incurable.” In verse 16 Jesus refers to her having been bound by Satan.
The woman doesn’t ask for healing but when Jesus saw her, He had compassion on her. So in verse 12, “…He called her to him, and said unto her, woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.” Then in verse 13, “He laid his hands on her she was made straight…” He completely healed her both physically and spiritually and freed her from this disability. Though it was an evil spirit that she was under the power of, Christ has a power superior to that of Satan, and is stronger than he. Though she could in no wise lift up herself, Christ could lift her up, and enable her to lift up herself. She that had been crooked was immediately made straight, and the scripture was fulfilled (Ps 146:8) “…The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down….” (MH commentary) She was cured by God’s grace. It’s a remarkable miracle. Her reaction is completely an appropriate one “…she glorified God.” She had new found freedom and a new life. Her gratitude reflects the joy she feels. Wouldn’t everyone react to this with joy?
Apparently not… The ruler of the synagogue is furious! He sees Jesus as having broken the non-work requirements of the Sabbath.
Even though he is really angry at Jesus, he directs his comments with indignation to the congregation. He tells them in verse 14: “There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.” But what does Jesus think?
Jesus doesn’t mince His words. In verse 15, He says: “The Lord then answered him, and said, thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering. 16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day.’
Jesus calls out the synagogue’s leader’s hypocrisy, pointing out that it is a common practice for Jews to care for their animals on the Sabbath—why should they object to healing a suffering woman. Jesus refers to the woman as a “daughter of Abraham,” a term of honor indicating she was a faithful believer in a right relationship with God, not someone under judgement for hidden sin. It also emphasized her rightful place among God’s chosen people. She deserved freedom from her suffering.
The reaction of the people in the congregation couldn’t be more different to the synagogue ruler. They see what Jesus does and hear what He says… and they rejoice. Along with the healed woman, they glorify God. But all of his adversaries were a shamed.
The fact is that Jesus hadn’t broken any commandments about the Sabbath; only perhaps some of the man-made rules invented by the Pharisees. Quite the opposite! Far from being inappropriate on the Sabbath, this was exactly the kind of thing the Sabbath was for.
When the 10 Commandments were given, the Sabbath (Deut 5:12-15) was to remind the people that they used to be slaves but had been set free. What better thing to do on a Sabbath than for Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, to free a woman “whom Satan bound.” (V16)
The Sabbath also was a picture of God’s perfect rest after creation (Exodus 20:8-11), joining Him in anticipation of a restored world of rest. Again, how appropriate on the Sabbath to heal this woman and bring rest and relief from her pain.
The kingdom Jesus will bring is one of Sabbath rest. Satan entered the perfect rest in Genesis 3 and ruined it all, putting us all in bondage to sin, sickness and death. To a degree, all of us had been bound by Satan, albeit usually less visually obvious than the woman in this story had been. Jesus’ kingdom will utterly overthrow Satan’s slavery and free God’s people to enjoy His perfect rest. But evidently, not everyone will be there to enjoy it. Some treat their animals with greater respect and dignity than suffering people.
Jesus comes to the Jewish people at the most Jewish of places on the most Jewish of days and performs an appropriate act of powerful compassion, all of which is met with anger from the Jewish leaders.
The Gospels record several other occasions when Jesus performed a healing on the Sabbath day. In most of those instances, the healing was followed by a confrontation with the religious leaders (Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-11, Luke 14:1-6; and John 5:1-11).
Jesus knew the Pharisees rules regarding the Sabbath, so why did He choose to heal on that day? It is important to note that Jesus was not violating the law of God when He healed on the Sabbath. He was surely acting against the Pharisees interpretation of the law. But the Holy One of God, who came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17) did not violate the law. The basic reason Jesus healed on the Sabbath was that people needed his help. Need knows no calendar. Jesus also healed on the Sabbath to reveal the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ religion.
In three passages, including todays, where Jesus’s healing led to a confrontation, Jesus references how the Jews “worked” on the Sabbath by taking care of their animals, and that work was sanctioned by the Pharisees. If the religious rules allow for helping animals on the Sabbath, then it should definitely allow for helping people.
When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He was also challenging the religious leaders with the question of doing good or evil on the Sabbath. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day or to do evil, to save life or to kill? (Mark 3:4) The leaders remained silent and refused to answer. His healing of the man with a withered hand gave them the answer! (Mark 3:5) Doing good and saving life is lawful, even on the Sabbath. Using the Sabbath rule to do evil or to kill is an ungodly perversion of the law.
Let’s take a look at the law in question. The Torah is the law proper. But the Pharisees also added their traditions to the law God had given them. The religious leaders’ traditions that they combined with the biblical law became as important to them as God’s actual word. Jesus stood against such additions to the law, rebuking the teachers of the law “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7).
There were 39 different types of work or activities that were restricted on the Sabbath including writing, erasing, and tearing, conducting business activities, shopping, cooking, baking, or kindling a fire, gardening, doing laundry. And this is just a partial list! It was simply man-made traditions that defined healing as “work.” So when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He was challenging the Pharisees’ beliefs as being from man and not from God.
Another reason Jesus healed on the Sabbath was to remind people of why God instituted the Sabbath day of rest. The Sabbath was meant to benefit people as much as to glorify God. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)
In closing, Jesus is also the Lord of the Sabbath in that the Sabbath pointed to the rest Jesus provides. He did all the work necessary for our salvation. (Hebrews 4). He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17) “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 10:4) We rest spiritually in Him. He has secured our eternal blessing. Just as Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The Rev. Don Fultz
I have received updates from a few and those will be the first added to the list. Please send all prayer requests and updates to aocworldwide@gmail.com for future reports. If you would like to be removed from list just respond with remove in the subject line.
Prayer Needed: Keep Praying Please
AOC Church of the Redeemer who still needs a Pastor
Bishop John – gall bladder removed – pray for complete recovery
Brenda – fracture knee cap and shoulder, long recovery – at home and recovering well
Sandy Carpenter – Congestive Heart Failure – weak limbs – husband, Darryl and their family
Michele Gee- stage 3 cervical cancer
Darryl and Jennifer Baughn - assisting Darryl’s mother who is suffering with end of life issues
Arnold and Martha Robbins – Senior Health issues
Rhett Carter – has succumbed to his injuries – comfort for widow and parents, John & Karen
Donny Clark – hospitalized for stroke – Anne – overseeing his care
Kathy – Kathy is beginning to heal please keep praying for this healing and severe anxiety related
Baby Baelin – Praise God, Baby Baelin has gone home – tube removed and doing well!
Donny – hospitalized due to multiple strokes and inability to speak, pray for David and Anne, family who are helping him in recovery
Ben Hancock – treatment for colon cancer
Rev. Geordie: needs prayer for medical issues
Debbie Grimes: colon cancer – surgery
Bobby Effinger – recovery from heart surgery and ongoing heart issues
Joseph Broddie – recurring throat cancer
David Williams – serious cardiac issues – pray for David and wife Sherie for coping with changes
Colby Landry – cancer. Please pray for his wife, Leah and their family at this time of trial.
Persecuted Christians – subject to persecution and imprisonment for their faith.
Bobby Bryan – suffering with cancer and cardiac issues.
For an increase in the true faith in Jesus Christ here and across the globe.
USA – Leaders, citizens, military, first responders – President Trump & all Cabinet Members Safety
Ophelia – crippling arthritis pain
Dave – COPD – new diagnosis of Diabetes type 2 – Gastritis episode
Mary Lou – Praise the Lord, she is moved in and unpacking – keep praying for strength
Extended Issues need continued prayer;
Laurie with long Covid Symptoms – Extreme exhaustion, heart palpitations, breathing problems and unstable blood pressures are constant worries causing depression to settle in.
Malcom Allred – Cancer Treatment
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Harper-IBS,
Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –MM, Alicia-caregiver, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer,
Malou –
cancer, Janice, Bobby, Myra Cox, Faye Miller, Diane, Alice, Yves Mera, Lucile, Ryan, Steven, Rency, Jack & Karen, Brannon, Joyce, Camella –
starting radiation treatment for 3 weeks, Charlie, Dennis, Beverly and Howard, Betty, Deborah
Points to Ponder:
If the dead arose continually to declare to us all that takes place there, even this phenomenon would in time also be disregarded; for the tempter could, with the greatest ease, adapt his wicked teaching to such a state of affairs... For even now, when nothing of that kind takes place, the forms of the departed often have appeared in dreams, and have deceived and ruined many. Much more if such a state of things, namely, that many returned from the dead, existed, that subtle spirit would involve many in his wiles, and introduce great deception into our life. Therefore God has closed the portals, and does not permit any of those who have departed to return to tell us the things that take place there; so that the tempter cannot take advantage of such a state of things... But God, foreseeing all these things, has prevented such... He has taught us to regard the Holy Scriptures as more worthy of trust than everything else. For He has made certain things more clear to us than they would have been made by the resurrection of the dead; He has instructed the whole world; He has driven away error, and brought in the truth; He has, by the instrumentality of fishermen and men of no reputation, procured all these benefits, and afforded to us on all sides sufficient proofs of His own providence. Therefore let us not imagine that our affairs are bounded by the present life; but let us be assured that there will be a scrutiny, and a recompense or a retribution for all that has happened here. This fact is so clear and plain to all...For if... men do not act as wisely as they ought, with regard to the resurrection, still all agree with respect to the judgment, and future punishment and trial... that there is a recompense hereafter for all the things that have happened here.
St. John Chrysostom
There is a church outside of which
there is no salvation— a church to which a man must belong, or be lost
eternally. I lay this down without hesitation or reserve. I say it as strongly
and as confidently as the strongest advocate of the Church of Rome. But what is
this church? Where is this church? What are the marks by which this church may
be known? This is the grand question. The one true church is well described in
the [Book of Common Prayer of 1662] as “the mystical body of Christ, which is
the blessed company of all faithful people.” It is composed of all believers in
the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God’s elect, of all converted men and
women— all true Christians. In whatsoever we can discern the election of God
the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work
of God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ’s true church.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle – Knots Untied, pp. 224-225
So honesty, sobriety, and such
things may be very good among men. But all these things put together, without
faith, do not please God. Virtues without faith are whitewashed sins.
The Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon
Jesus is also the Lord of the Sabbath in that the Sabbath
pointed to the rest Jesus provides. He did
all the work necessary for our salvation. (Hebrews 4). He fulfilled the Law and
the Prophets (Matthew 5:17) “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 10:4) We rest spiritually in Him. He has
secured our eternal blessing. Just as Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and
I will give you rest.”
The Rev. Don Fultz – 17th Sunday after Trinity
31Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go
into the kingdom of God before you. 32For
John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but
the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it,
repented not afterward, that ye might believe him." Matthew 21:31-32. We
too can believe him.
The Rev. David McMillan – 17th Sunday after Trinity
It is my prayer
that as God gives you the opening to witness to the unregenerate, that they
will indeed seek to be made right with God in Christ. May it please our good
and gracious God today to assist you in this important work.
The Rev. Bryan Dabney, 17th Sunday after Trinity
Beloved, the Word of God does not return void. When
God inspired the writers of the Bible to put down the record of history,
prophecy, covenant, and the promise of salvation, He made sure that ALL of it
was completely truthful. As faithful pastors it is our duty to make sure
we are following the same precepts and doctrine... “the faith once
delivered”... in all that we do and say.
Bishop Roy Morales-Kuhn – 17th Sunday after Trinity
Every committed
Christian glories in the cross of Christ – not the instrument itself, but the
sacrifice made upon it for our behalf. The cross of Christ was not a shining,
gold structure, but a rough-hewn timber. It was ugly and unkempt. It was much
like the uncomely goat-hair covering of the Tabernacle, but look at the beauty
inside the Tabernacle which was Christ! Christ established His Church and
Kingdom to be one of inner beauty and not of elaborate showing to the world.
The world does not appreciate true beauty, but those who are IN Christ know of
the grandeur of that home. We are ransomed at the high cost of the Father’s
sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son. That makes you and I of considerable value
in the eyes of God. When He beholds us, He beholds His Son on the cross, and
His blood covering us in a mantle of righteousness – not OUR righteousness, but
HIS!
Bishop Jerry Ogles – Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross
