"Gary, I thought maybe you should know that there's someone passed out on the front steps of the church," he said as he sat down with his bag lunch at the table in the fellowship hall. We were gathering for our regular mid-week, lunch-time Bible study. Folks were gathering around the table with their various … Continue reading Pastor Note #35 — Ministry in the Tangle of a Complicated, Broken World
Tag: discipleship
Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
In this passage (Exodus 25:1-9), God calls on Moses to receive an offering from the people for the purpose of building and furnishing the tabernacle. He emphasizes that the offering is to be strictly voluntary -- "from everyone whose heart stirs him to give." (v. 2; HCSB) What follows then is a list of the … Continue reading Bible Note #12 — Exodus 25:1-9
Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
God routinely goes out of his way to incorporate human partnership in the accomplishing of his purposes in the world. The fact is so plain that it is regularly overlooked by most of us as we read Bible stories about God's dealing with human beings. Here in Exodus 3 in the story of God's calling … Continue reading Bible Note #11 — Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
A common feature of the pastoral life that I've lived for the past twenty-nine years has been that strangers to me will regularly come the church door and ask for me. These are typically people faced with some sort of difficult personal and/or financial problem. They come to me looking for help. Sometimes I've been … Continue reading Pastor Note #33 — Kindness and the Gospel in a Broken World
Prayer Note #32 — A Prayer for a Day of Fasting for Guidance
A Prayer for a Day of Fasting O Lord, you are my Lord. To you I say and an unconditional "Yes." To myself and the world and the devil, I say an unwavering "No." Grant me ears to hear you today. Grant me discernment beyond mere human wisdom. Grant me utter submission to your kingship … Continue reading Prayer Note #32 — A Prayer for a Day of Fasting for Guidance
Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
1 John 1:5-10 "Light" and "darkness" are paralleled by "truth" and "lying or deception" in this passage. The truth as a concept here is multi-layered It is in some places the truth about God. In other places it is truth about ourselves. Ironically, we ourselves are often both the deceived and the deceiver at the … Continue reading Bible Note #10 — 1 John 1:5-10 — Light & Darkness, Truth & Deception
Pastor Note #32 — “Forgive Me!”
Forgive Me! Forgiving is not one of the easier parts of the Christian faith. In fact, it’s something that I myself struggle with from time to time. I know, I know. You’re saying, “Not you! Surely not you! You are such a nice guy, such a nice, easy-tempered guy. I simply can’t believe … Continue reading Pastor Note #32 — “Forgive Me!”
Sermons #6 — Sex and Loving God: Sin and Grace, Forgiveness and Righteousness
Part 4 of my "Sex and Loving God" series, here I explore John 8:2-11 and the notion of a community of brokenness--a community of redemption. Earlier in the service, the congregation read Psalm 32 responsively, and that psalm served as a part of the biblical context for this sermon. "Sex and Loving God: Sin and … Continue reading Sermons #6 — Sex and Loving God: Sin and Grace, Forgiveness and Righteousness
Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship
Discipleship is the calling of every one who claims the name of Christ. Discipleship extend to every portion of our lives without exception. The third sermon in a four sermon series on sex and the Christian faith, I preached this on January 22, 2012 at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY. Prior to the beginning of … Continue reading Sermon #5 — Sex and Loving God: Sexual Discipleship
Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption
The sermon linked to this post is the second sermon in a series on human sexuality and God. This sermon was preached at North Presbyterian Church, Elmira, NY on Sunday, January 15, 2012. Earlier in the service, we read responsively Isaiah 61:1-4. Then on this recording of the sermon, I read from Romans 1:18-32. The … Continue reading Sermon #4 — Sex and Loving God: Brokenness and Redemption
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 