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"'This is what the SovereignLordsays: 'I myself will take a shootfrom the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.On the mountain heightsof Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruitand become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find...
Keep ReadingThis is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot from the very topof a cedar and plant it I will plant it I will plant it; it will produce branchesand bear fruit and become a noble cedar (Ezekiel 17:22-23). Most of Ezekiel 17 is a sobering parable about the righteous judgment and justice of God. But it ends with a beautiful messianic promise: in the mid...
Keep ReadingI (the Lord) will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches (Ezekiel 17:23b). Twenty birds were perched on a telephone wire. One of them was shot. How many birds remained on the wire? None. (Since the remaining nineteen were instantly up in the air.) ...
Keep ReadingEzekiel 17:22-24 We're not starting a new sermon series this week; instead, we're looking forward to a "family meeting" this coming Sunday. Alex and Jaime will host a "vision refresh"a chance to catch our breaths, remember who we are in Christ, and revisit what our King is calling us to be and to do as Chatham Community Church. The text for this coming Sunday is Ezekiel ...
Keep ReadingAct justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions were his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus There were no needy persons among them (Acts 4:32-34). What happened first? What...
Keep ReadingHe has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does theLordrequire of you?To act justlyand to love mercy and to walk humblywith your God (Micah 6:8). All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessionswas their own, but they shared everything they had.With great power the apostles continued to testifyto the resurrectionof the Lor...
Keep ReadingAct justly; love mercy; walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Selling their possession and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need There were no needy persons among them (Acts 2:45, 4:34). This week's two passages from Acts both follow immediately upon the apostles' proclamation of the resurrection. Our passage from Acts 2 comes right after Peter's sermon on Pentecost...
Keep Reading"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does theLordrequire of you? To act justlyand to love mercy and to walk humblywith your God" (Micah 6:8) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teachingand to fellowship, to the breaking of breadand to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.All the believers were to...
Keep ReadingAct justly; love mercy; walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37 As we enter this fourth and final week of our Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly series, we want to explore how the early church began to walk out the Jesus way. We'll use two passages from early in the Book of Acts, Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-37. Luke authored both our Gospel of Luke ...
Keep ReadingWhat does the LORD require of you? To act justly, love mercyand walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10). Are you catching echoes of the prodigal son story in the story of Zacchaeus? A son who has "un-son-ed" himself based on his attitudes and behavior a good shepherd/good Father who seeks the return a...
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