250504 AOC Sunday Report
Anglican Orthodox Churchsm
Worldwide Communion
Second Sunday after Easter
Sunday Report
May 4, 2025
Second Sunday
after Easter 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 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 on page 171-172
The Collect for Second Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of. his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle for Second Sunday after Easter. 1st St. Peter ii. v. 19.
THIS is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
The Gospel for the Second Sunday after Easter. St. John x. 11.
JESUS said, I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and know my sheep, and am known of mine, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.
On Point
Someone asked, where do the quotes come from? The answer is from the people who uttered them. But, how did you find them? Oh, that.
Some from Bishop Jerry, others from Rev. Geordie and many from Rev Bryan Dabney and a few from other places.
Rev. Geordie Menzies-Grierson – England (above)
Points to Ponder:
Deliver
me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me and
save me.
Psalm 71:2
Folly
is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh
uprightly.
Proverbs 15:21
Behold,
the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him:
behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
Isaiah 40:10
The
people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed
the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I
sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the
gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Ezekiel 22:29-30
The
LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the
wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds
are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:2-3
True Christians shall never perish. Are they not Christ's special property, the servant of His house, the members of His family, the children of His adoption? Then surely He will never let them be over-thrown, He will watch them as tenderly as we watch over our own flesh and blood, He will guard them as we guard our valuable and precious possessions, He will cherish them as we cherish that which is most dear to our hearts; He never would have laid down His life for their sakes if He had intended to give them up. J.C. Ryle: Tract: The Privileges of the True Christian
Every man
and woman has a calling in Christ. It may not be as an active missionary on the
foreign field, but it shall always be a missionary in the place where you are
placed whether as a doctor, a lawyer, a butcher, a teacher, or a carpenter.
Whatever our calling, we must reflect the nature of a virtuous and loving
heart.
The Most Rev. Jerry L. Ogles
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 has a You Tube Channel that is free to subscribe: all of his videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuW3bgXBJFomPB5mZ4Oigxg
Providence and Grace Series: The Good Samaritan
Click link: https://youtu.be/q0V2Dl0-41k
Devotions for Youth
The
Snail and the Sluggard
Click link: https://youtu.be/oPjzLKAkAJs
Names of Jesus Series: Christ our Fortress
Click link: https://youtu.be/WXVxTJv4ow8
ANCIENT OF EVERLASTING DAYS (#285),
a Hymn of Praise
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” (Daniel 7:9)
This ancient hymn connects the former Hebrew worship to our own modern liturgy. Like the Reformation Church, the ancient worship of the Jewish synagogue was based on a reading of Holy Scripture, communal prayers, and singing. It is unfortunate that the Jewish worshippers could not connect the God whom they worshipped to the Triune God of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The symbolic meaning is obvious to all who know the fulness of the Gospel which actually predates the New Testament in promise. The lyrics are attributed to Daniel ben Judah and translated by Thomas Oliver (1725-1799), a co-worker with John Wesley. The tune is, LEONI, by Meyer Leon in 1770. I have written of this hymn before, but not the same stanzas for there are twelve altogether. This hymn is still sung in morning services among many of the Jewish faith in their synagogues.
Click link to Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeoXkqCg1qY
ANCIENT OF EVERLASTING DAYS
1 The God
of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.
2 The
great I AM has sworn;
I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings upborne,
to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God's face;
I shall God's power adore,
and sing the wonders of God's grace
forevermore.
3 The
heavenly land I see,
with peace and plenty blest;
a land of sacred liberty,
and endless rest.
There milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow
with mercy crowned.
4 The God
who reigns on high
the great archangels sing,
and "Holy, holy, holy!" cry
"Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
and evermore shall be:
Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM,
we worship thee!"
1 The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above; Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of Love; Jehovah, great I AM! by earth and heaven confessed; I bow and bless the sacred name forever blest. Was Abraham saved? Can a man be saved apart from the atoning blood of our Lord Jesus Christ? No, he cannot; however, Abraham was saved for the faith he held in the promise of the coming Redeemer. All who believed that promise in ancient Israel were included in the covenant of grace, but most did not so believe. Christ now sits enthroned in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father. Little did the Judaic worshippers know that the great I Am who spoke to Moses from the Burning Bush was the pre-Incarnate Jesus Christ. The whole world today, whether they profess belief or not, acknowledge Him by their calendar year as well as by their vehemence at the very mention of His Holy Name.
2 The great I AM has sworn; I on this oath depend. I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to heaven ascend. I shall behold God's face; I shall God's power adore, and sing the wonders of God's grace forevermore. Our Lord had sworn before the worlds were made to stand up as the sacrificial Lamb of God for our atonement. The Lord bore Israel across the Red Sea and through the Wilderness for forty years on wings as of the eagle, and her bears the Church in the same way (Rev 12:14) As blind, old Fanny Crosby has often written in her 9,000 hymns, we shall see our Lord face-to-face. For Fanny, that would be the first sight she will have seen since infancy. She certainly wrote and sung of the wonders and glories of God’s grace.
3 The heavenly land I see, with peace and plenty blest; a land of sacred liberty, and endless rest. There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, and trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned. If your spiritual vision is keen by faith, you too may glimpse the Heavenly Land that lies just beyond Jordan Banks. Of course, it provides an abundance of all things beautiful and is governed by a peace that cannot be broken by the profession of arms. Because we have surrendered the old self-will and desires of the flesh, and received the Mind that was in Christ, we shall continue to have full fruits of the full Law of Liberty and peace. Yes, and there stands the Tree of Life, in the Paradise of God, that was removed from Eden at Adam’s Fall (Revelations 22:2).
4 The God who reigns on high the great archangels sing, and "Holy, holy, holy!" cry "Almighty King! Who was, and is, the same, and evermore shall be: Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM, we worship thee!" The Heavenly dignitaries and the Angel Hosts will sing of the Glory, Majesty, and Grace of our God as we are welcomed through the Gates of splendor. The great I AM is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He changeth not. God exists outside the space/time continuum for those are the Creation of God. He is the same I Am of eternity Past, the present time, and the future eternity. Though we see now through a glass darkly, we shall then see face-to-face. Amen!
In Christ Alone at Eastertide,
† Jerry Ogles
Presiding Bishop, Anglican Orthodox Communion. Worldwide, & Chancellor, Faith Theological Seminary
Charles Morley, Bishop of Alabama
Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
We are always happy to get the instruction and devotions that Bp Morley is giving to us. We hope you enjoy the following:
The Hope of Glory
Countless sermons have been given at Eastertide on the real meaning of the Resurrection. Preachers often stress the significance of the Empty Tomb. There are those who profess and call themselves Christians who not only doubt the bodily Resurrection but remove its significance by saying it's not necessary to believe in the bodily Resurrection in order to be a Christian, that Jesus and the disciples simply had a "resurrection experience" - whatever that is. Some even say that because His followers were so upset by His death, they concocted the accounts of His Resurrection in order to assuage their fears. For too many, Easter is a matter of bunnies and bonnets, or simply the "resurrection" of Nature in Springtime
Without the bodily Resurrection of Christ there is no Christianity. The Scriptures are plain on the matter yet so many Christians are not fully aware of the many consequences of the event - for them personally. It is essential to embrace by faith the fact that the Tomb is empty. That is a matter of history, the testimony of eyewitnesses, and the evidence of the very existence of the Church for nearly two thousand years. The apostle John, himself an eyewitness of the Empty Tomb and the Risen Christ, makes this plain in his First Epistle when he writes, "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, the Word of life."(1 John 1:1)
The Resurrection fulfilled the promise of the Father made to Adam and Eve after the Fall, and to all their sons and daughters, that He would send One whose heel would be bruised by the Serpent but who would crush the head of that same Serpent. By His Resurrection the Lord has conquered sin and death - our inheritance from our first parents - and restored the relationship of sons and daughters of the Living God that we once enjoyed. His Resurrection is the proof that the promises of God are all true and have come to pass according to His Divine Will. That is proof of His mercy and His everlasting love which He willed from the beginning of time. That should give us great comfort not simply in the remembrance of the Resurrection event but in the timelessness of the fulfillment of God's decrees. He accomplished that which He says he will do, beyond the reason, scope, or the desires of men.
Secondly, the Resurrection is God's promise of SALVATION. This is why He came into the world, and by His Rising He offers to all who believe freedom from the everlasting damnation of those who merit only death. The Hebrews believed in the mercy of Jehovah and celebrated it annually on the Day of Atonement with the ashes of the red heifer. But that commemoration had to be repeated year after year after year - and even today there is no Temple, no sacrifice of the red heifer, no sprinkling of the ashes and therefore no real assurance of forgiveness of sin, as Paul reminds us in Hebrews. But He is our Paschal Lamb who writes the guarantee of forgiveness of our sins in His own Blood - the "one oblation of Himself once offered, the full perfect and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world ..." says the Communion service of the historic Book of Common Prayer, using six adjectival nouns to express an essential truth. Imagine hearing of the depth of God's forgiveness FOR THE FIRST TIME! What joy there must have been when the disciples gradually lost their fear and ignorance, and by the power of the Holy Spirit began to understand the truth of the Gospel. How angry Satan must have been when confronted by the Risen Christ that he had lost - that he could never enjoy the love and mercy of God that the Risen Christ offered to mere men lost sheep and miserable offenders though they may be.
If all there was to Christ's Resurrection was a demonstration of the power of God, that would in itself be something to celebrate. Realizing that in the death, burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we have redemption from all our sins forever - well, that would also be cause for great celebration in itself. But the full depth of the Resurrection can only be had when we come to understand that WE SHARE in His Resurrection. Because He rose, WE SHALL RISE ALSO and live with Him forever in glory. No other religion in the world has such a Saviour, no other religion in the world offers union with the Creator, with angels and archangels for all eternity. We are no more victims of time, we are no longer citizens of a corrupting cosmos - we are one with the Divine. How do we know this? By His Spirit which dwelleth in us. We are now sons and daughters of the King of Kings, joint heirs with the Risen Lord, and by His Rising we NOW inherit the Kingdom prepared for us before the world began. Why did He rise that Easter morning? He rose for US. That's "the real meaning" of Easter.
"I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live. Yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
+CEM
Anglican?
How often do I hear the negative criticisms of our Anglican worship. "You people can't pray without that book!" "You say the same prayers over and over, week after week." "Your sit, stand, kneel calisthenics are distracting and unbiblical." "Your Elizabethan English puts off the young people." I could add so many more.
One dear soul announced one day that she had been attending Anglican services for years "but never heard the Gospel." I knew what she meant. She had been to a service at some other churches which ended in an altar call. Her two sons had left Anglicanism long ago and become "preachers" in some evangelical denomination that practiced open "non-liturgical" worship. They convinced her that Anglicanism was just "Catholic lite" and that because we continue to use the word "catholic" in the Creed that we were, in fact, closet Catholics.
I have been in the ministry for more than a few years and I have often encountered this particular form of religious prejudice. Nevertheless, it saddened me that one of our own flock who had been a churchman for many years would submit to her sons suggestions, and had allowed their misunderstanding of the history and theology of our Church to become her own. I understood her mindset in parroting her sons accusations regarding formal worship but I challenged her particular criticism that "she had never heard the Gospel" in an Anglican service.
Surely the dear lady had been present at a service of Holy Communion when the Comfortable Words are read aloud by the Minister for all to hear. "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will refresh you." There is the "invitation" given by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. No middle man, no "coming down," no altar made with hands - and ALL are invited and promised direct relief by the Saviour Himself.
What is the essence of this message, this Gospel.? Again, the answer is given for all to hear, that the Creator loves His creation so much viz. that He sent Jesus Christ His ONLY BEGOTTEN SON to bring us to Heaven.
And what are we required to do according to this Gospel? BELIEVE that Jesus Christ came FOR US, to enter into a relationship with Him whereby we acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Saviour.
Who is this Jesus called Christ? He alone is the one oblation once offered, the full, perfect, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. He is the Propitiation, the resolution, the reconciliation with the Father, by whom we are made perfect and acceptable to God.
There's the GOSPEL - in four short sentences - explained more clearly than many sermons I have heard attempting to explain the Great Mystery. It's been said aloud by churchmen for over four hundred years. I had to remind my dear lady that she had heard the truth of the Gospel many times before in Anglican churches and that ours was the denomination that first pronounced the Gospel in public worship to all who could hear the English language and understand that message once delivered to the saints. In fact, despite her family's criticisms she remained an Anglican all her life - and had a powerful answer to their complaint.
Those few short "Comfortable Words" have great power - the power of the Gospel to open hearts and minds. "They that have ears, let them hear...."
+++++++++++++++++++++
Thanks,
+Charles
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi -
Sunday Sermon
We are fortunate to have Bryan’s Sunday Sermon. If you want people
to come to The Truth, you have to speak the truth, espouse the truth
and live the truth. This is really a good piece and I commend it to your
careful reading.
Second Sunday after Easter Sunday Sermon
To assist us in this matter, let us consider a few things. When we began our service for The Order and Administration of the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, we opened with a collect or prayer which states: “Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.” This prayer sets before God our acknowledgement that we are sinners in his sight and our only hope for forgiveness and cleansing is via the finished work of his only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ. For if we are “in Christ Jesus” then we are right where we need to be. We will thus seek to be made right with our Lord and God via his word and commandment.
And following our opening collect, we have a recitation of the Decalogue or the Ten Commandments. These are the foundational principles of the Law of Moses. They are, for all intents and purposes, the fundamental rules for life for any orderly and godly society. Think about it. You cannot have a society of people peaceably living and working together if they won’t respect one another’s property and personal rights. So it follows that stealing from one another breeds mistrust and contempt as well as bitterness and hatred. Simply put, you can have either the Law of God, or law of the jungle which is Satanic in origin. There can be no coexistence between them and thus no lasting basis for community only anarchy and lawlessness.
The same is true for murdering others whether it is for gain, revenge or what have you. The Sixth Commandment prohibits killing without just cause. It was not a blanket prohibition on taking the life of another as it excludes killing in war, or in necessary self-defense, or the execution of criminals. At any rate, the Devil rejoices to see people killing each other wholesale as he hates mankind because we are made in the image of God himself whom he also hates. As God is the author of all life, so the Devil seeks to end all life. The numerous acts of slaughter across history are a testament writ large in the blood of millions as various tyrants and demagogues have altered the laws of their respective dominions to permit them to murder at will much as King Ahab arranged to have Naboth killed so he could take his vineyard (see I Kings 21:1-16). Or how about King Herod and the murder of the innocent male children in Bethlehem and its environs (see St. Matthew 2:16-17)? Yes, monarchies and authoritarian governments are indeed notorious for such behaviors, but then all other forms of government— even constitutional ones— can be subverted by Satan so that murder and mayhem can be committed on a grand scale. That is why one of our founding fathers warned us that in order to remain free, and by extension, alive, then eternal vigilance is required in defense of our rights and liberties.
The final point mentioned in St. John 10:10 which the Devil brings to us is destruction. This can encompass aspects of the previous two points— stealing and killing. Satan’s desired goals are the destruction of God’s creation, which includes mankind and even the reduction of God himself. That last item was mocked by God himself in Isaiah 14:12-17 wherein it is written, 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners.
And while evil has sought victory in this fight; nevertheless, our good and gracious God cannot be triumphed over by the Devil and his agents. And the reason? Because Satan is a subordinate being with regard to the Godhead in power and might. Still, the Devil is more than a match for us apart from our reliance upon our Lord. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, we can rely upon him to break Satan’s power. The Bible documents that our Lord did so first in the wilderness following his baptism; then throughout his earthly ministry, as well as through his death on the cross. He further endured three days in the pit of hell and the place of departed spirits and after which he arose triumphant bringing with him a host of saints and heralding the coming victory of the church over the world, the flesh and the Devil. Our Lord accomplished all those things in order that he might bring us into his coming kingdom wherein righteousness dwells. And until that day of triumph, it should be clear to every Christian that our adversary will continue his campaign against us using his mortal pawns to carry out his nefarious schemes. Even so, in spite of Satan’s efforts we ought not lose heart at his “temporary victories.” Our Lord expects us to soldier on in his name and leave the rest to the Godhead.
In sum, the Devil has sought to steal as many souls as he can. He has also sought to kill us all— both believer and unbeliever. And further, he has endeavored to wreck the creation and generally make a grand mess of things. But as we have seen in Scripture, he will not have any lasting impact on God’s plan and purpose for the future (See Revelation 21-22). For the time being, we will have to endure Satan’s slings and arrows by keeping our spiritual armor on and in good repair. Only by being thus equipped will we be enabled to continue on as soldiering saints. As one of the older prayer books used to read: “Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church Militant.” Keep that concept of being “militant” ever in your mind. Pray for courage and godly power to combat the forces of darkness with which you are faced as well as for your brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe. One day the Lord will return and when he does let us be found working for him and, in particular, by resisting the wiles and deceits of the evil one. And as you have been called, do all in the name of our risen Lord, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Let us pray,
O LORD our God, keep us we pray, throughout the course of our earthly life and
service to thee; and help us to avoid being lured from the paths of righteousness
by the lies and deceits of the father of the same; and these things we ask in
the name of our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed week,
Bryan+
Roy
Morales-Kuhn, Bishop and Pastor
Saint Paul's Anglican
Church
Diocese of the Midwest Anglican
Orthodox Church
Suffragan Bishop of the AOC
Sermon for Second Sunday after Easter
Holy Communion
The Epistle 1 Peter 2:19-25 The Gospel. John 10:11-16
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of. his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
hymns # 407,431,464
Sheep, do you know the Good Shepherd?
Why sheep? Why does God use sheep as an example of those created in His image? There are so many interesting examples and illustrations used in the Word to make reference to human behavior, and maybe the most embarrassing one is God comparing us to sheep.
Remember right after Jesus was arrested that night in the garden, the disciples ran away. Yes, Peter did follow Jesus into the area where he would later be tried, but before the first rooster crows, Peter will have denied Christ, three times as Christ predicted Peter would. Peter will also run away.
So now, after Jesus has come back from the dead, he will now gather his followers around and calm them, teach them and prepare them for the coming fury of Satan. And just as a good shepherd would do for his flock that had been scattered by wild animals or chaos, he brings them back together. His purpose is two-fold.
Jesus will reenforce all the information that they were exposed to during the three and a half years of Christ’s earthly ministry. This will be a cram course in theology and methodology in order to prepare his followers and those who come after for the long war against Satan.
Understand that Satan knows that he is defeated, but he will not go down without trying to take others with him. He will do his best for the next several millennium to destroy what Christ left behind here on earth.
Notice how Peter in this first letter, chapter 2:2, makes reference to at least three Old Testament passages. “Who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” {See Isaiah.53:9 }.
Then another O.T. reference in Isaiah. “...by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:22).” {See Isaiah.53:5} . And finally, the passage from Isaiah 53:6. “We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The whole 53rd chapter of Isaiah is the plan of salvation. We can read that and understand that we do not seek God, He seeks us. We run the other way or as verse six reads ‘turn to our own way’.
Why do we do this? Because as David wrote, we are born into sin. So, we must ask Jesus to cleanse us and make us clean. We must ask Jesus to save us from our sins, we must ask Jesus to come into our life and make us free. Only he can. His death on the Cross has made our salvation possible. Seek Jesus today if you doubt that you are saved. Ask him to come into your heart to heal you of this sin that caused him to go to the cross instead of you.
Let us now look at our Gospel reading. We see that Jesus is telling his to be wary of those leaders of the church who will not protect the church.
The illustration of the Good Shepherd and the Wolf is not a cautionary tale. It is the Truth of which Jesus tells, a time coming when those who have been charged with protecting the flock {church} will run. When there is any controversy, those who are supposed to protect will flee.
Let’s read this and see what Jesus is saying to the Jewish-Christians and later to the Gentile-Christians in our Gospel Readings of John Chapter 10 verses 11-19: 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
In this passage from the tenth chapter of St. John we learn that the man, the one who tries to enter the area where the sheep are safe, is a thief and a robber. One who wants to deny and take away that which Christ has given us, our salvation. This is all part of the fight that Satan is engaged in. Because this parable was spoken several weeks before Jesus went to Jerusalem for the last time, many did not understand what he meant by passages such as “ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” His followers can now understand what he meant. Look at the verses 17 and 18. “17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” Interesting note as we study this passage of John’s gospel, we even see a prophecy that pertains to non Hebrew believers. Notice what Jesus says in verse 16. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” Jesus is referring to non-Hebrew believers here, these sheep are outside of the Hebrew sheep pen and will listen and follow the Good Shepherd.
This is where the Great Commission comes into play. “Go ye therefore into the world making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost. 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the World.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
It is now clear what he meant, now that the disciples are talking to Jesus, after he came back from the dead. Over the forty days that Jesus lingers on earth after Easter there will be some four to five hundred witness to his being alive. This will be so convincing that these people will be willing to give up their own lives when they are confronted and forced to choose between Christ and other choices. The Hebrew authorities will try to force these early believers to abandon the faith they now have, they will be threatened with death, shame, being cast out of the synagogue and all manner of trouble. But they will not give up their belief in the Risen Savior. This willingness to give up their life rather than convert will actually cause the Church to grow over the early years of persecution. Many a pagan will come to the Lord after witnessing believers willingly giving up their lives for this risen savior.
Death in the pagan world was to be feared and all omens or signs that pointed to death were to be avoided. The dread of the unknown was heavy on the world of unbelievers and still is to this day. Many fear the unknown after death.
Even the Hebrew people wrote and spoke angrily about death. David wrote many a time about being dead and not remembered. He does not like the idea of death. So when these new believers came along and did not fear death, it will cause people to take notice. “Surely there must be something about these people that causes them to willingly go to their deaths.”
We must learn from those who have gone before us. We must read, digest, and use the Word of God, the Bible. We must follow Jesus, because He is the good shepherd, he will not lead us astray, he will not fail us. Let us follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23:1-7)
Let us pray:
O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death upon the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily unto sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord God almighty, whose blessed Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, did on the third day rise triumphant over death: Raise us, we beseech thee, from the death of sin unto the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he sitteth on thy right hand in glory, and this we beg for the sake of the same thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
Rev. David McMillan
AOC Minister at Large
Alabama
We are Fortunate today to have a sermon from Rev. David McMillian
The Third Sunday after EASTER
A Fish Fry with the LORD
Acts 9:1-19a or Jer 32:36-41 Ps 33 or 33:1-11v Rev 5:(1-5)6-14 John 21:1-14
Of all of the Easter appearances by Jesus this one in John 21 is not only well-known but treasured by many. It certainly is remarkable in its beauty---the sea/Lake of Tiberias. This made me again thankful for my sea experiences, one fishing off the pier in California with my grandfather on my father's side, and of course being at sea for a year with the Merchant Marine. Also, while in the Army in California, one of the SR Chaplains made us breakfast cooked on a grill after our run. He said He had a surprise for us after our run when he met us, and then we were so amazed when we got there, and saw the meal. It was the most delicious fish we ever had . We thank God for His beautiful creation!
John tells us this was the third Resurrection appearance by Jesus to the Disciples, here only seven. It was somewhat the earlier scene in Luke when He spoke to them after they had not been able to catch many fish. This experience has the same ending---Jesus gives them fish and bread too, as they were unable to get anything themselves.
What is the main thrust of this account from John 21? They do not recognize the Lord vs 4 that it was Him. Was it the distance? Peter recognized Him, after the fish were so many that they caught. vs 7. Some call this the restoration of Peter. I am not sure that is the main point however. I would say it is something else, although that is certainly there.
Perhaps it is the point that Jesus is manifested. He is the light, and His life and light are shown forth. That is the word in the original language.
1. God calls us wherever we are to do His will and joyfully do His work.
Separating God from our work is the mistake. In the middle of the fishing, which I do not believe was wrong either of them to do, Jesus cooks them breakfast. vs 3 "I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing." Where did the bread come from? Did Jesus bring it? Did He create it from nothing?
Do we separate God from our lives ? Is He only in Church? That is our mistake if we do that.
2. Peter and Jesus have a discussion. Jesus asks Peter about his work. vs 15 "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" --These refers to his fishing I believe.
MacClaren suggests this comment, "(the) threefold denial needed to be obliterated by the threefold confession; and that every black mark that had been scored deep on the page by that denial needed to be covered over with the gilding or bright colouring of the triple acknowledgment. And so, Peter thrice having said, ‘I know Him not!’ Jesus with a gracious violence forced him to say thrice (3 x), ‘Thou knowest that I love Thee.’ "
He is recommisioned to do the work of an Apostle by the Lord if we can see it in that light. It is a merciful discussion with pointed thoughts by our Lord.
Have we ever failed? Of course we fail to do things perfectly every day, and need forgiveness and love from God. It was quite a counseling session, and I imagine the other six heard it is as well as they ate the cooked fish and bread.
3. Lastly Jesus says, "Follow me." (John 21:19) This was after describing Peter's manner of death in how he would glorify God.
We too have this problem in our own concerns about the future. What are we to do or be? We are not to be as concerned about the what as the who. We know who we believe, and in Him is the path to life. Discerning it sometimes can be difficult. These decisions need patience, time and true discernment of what following Him should look like.
Conclusion- The account of the fish and the bread and the meal are so lovely there near the Sea. All of the elements of the story of Christ and His followers are there. His third Resurrection appearance to the disciples is something we too can learn from. We have only scratched the surface of this Gospel. Our questions will be answered as well in due time if we are following Him.
Rev. David McMillan
AOC
Worldwide Prayer List –
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:
Marilee –
Mastectomy April 30th – prayer for family and Marilee and treatment following
James Cavanah – health issues, new medication tolerance
Sophie – Sever bipolar issues, drug use and difficulty with parents, pray for her parents, Gary & Betsy
Church of the Redeemer – lay-readers assisting the service and congregation
Colin and daughter, Lori Beall – cancer
Toni- Breast Cancer- Surgery went well, keep praying for successful recovery treatment-praise god
Donna – Breast Cancer- Surgery Successful onto Radiation treatment and Chemotherapy
Malou – Cancer
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
Katie Pope –treatment for Stage 4 Pulmonary Carcinoma “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Genesis 18:14)
Mauri Turner – Stomach cancer
For the government and people of South Korea that God will protect
them
from the
forces of Communism.
The People of Manipur, India
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Mike, Jim, Dotty, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, Josh Morley-seziures,
Jennifer, AOC USA, AOC Missions, Zach, Jess, Luke, Jacquie, Harper-IBS , Jim Sevier- God’s
Peace, Linda –
multiple myeloma, Colin, Lowery, Robert, Donna-chemotherapy,
Eddie, Aleyda-heart and bp issues, Leslie, Daniel, Jim-TBI issues, Alicia-caregiver
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