250817 AOC Sunday Report
Anglican Orthodox Churchsm
Worldwide Communion
Eighth Sunday after Trinity
August 17, 2025 - Sunday Report
Ninth Sunday after Trinity Propers:
The propers are special prayers and readings from the Bible. There is a Collect for the Day; that is a single thought prayer, most written either before the re-founding of the Church of England in the 1540’s or written by Bishop Thomas Cranmer, the first Archbishop of Canterbury after the re-founding.
The Collect for the Day is to be read on Sunday and during Morning and Evening Prayer until the next Sunday. The Epistle is normally a reading from one of the various Epistles, or letters, in the New Testament. The Gospel is a reading from one of the Holy Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Collect is said by the minister as a prayer, the Epistle can be read by either a designated reader (as we do in our church) or by one of the ministers and the Holy Gospel, which during the service in our church is read by an ordained minister.
The 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 200-201.
The Collect for Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle for Ninth Sunday after Trinity. I Corinthians x. 1.
BRETHREN, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he stand-eth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The Gospel for Ninth Sunday after Trinity. St. Luke xv. 11.
JESUS said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
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:
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that
walketh in his ways.
Psalm 128:1
A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just
weight is his delight.
Proverbs 11:1
The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the scepter of the rulers. He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger is persecuted, and none hindereth. Isaiah 14:5-6
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that
loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
St. Matthew 10:39
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of
that bread, and drink of that cup.
I Corinthians 11:28
Forgetfulness of God is at the bottom of all sin, as
the remembrance of our Creator is the happy and hopeful beginning of a holy
life.
The Rev. Matthew Henry
I find a deep mine of comfort in this thought, that
Jesus is perfect Man no less than perfect God. He in whom I am told by
Scripture to trust is not only a great High Priest, but a feeling High Priest.
He is not only a powerful Saviour, but a sympathizing Saviour. He is not only
the Son of God, mighty to save, but the Son of man, able to feel.
The Most Rev. J. C. Ryle
The Church of England has passed through the looking
glass. It has moved into an unpredictable, unstable situation. The doctrines of
faith are no longer ring-fenced as many people thought. Anything can, in
principle, be changed by lobbying and political manoevering. It has been done
and it will be done again. The Church of England is now in crisis because it
has now been destablised. It has set itself over the Word of God instead of
under it. It is no longer, [as] Article XX ... puts it, ‘a witness and a keeper
of Holy Writ’, but it has now assumed the role of judge and arbiter of its
doctrines. This is a position it ought not to occupy, nor can it occupy,
without drawing down upon itself the judgement of God.
The Rev. David Samuel
Every [wicked person] lays out matters in his own mind
how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for
himself ... They hear indeed that there are but few saved, and that the greater
part of men that have died heretofore are gone into hell; but each one imagines
that he lays out matters better for his own escape than others have done.
Jonathan Edwards
“It is true of the spiritual hearing as well. When we get quiet and
away from the madding crowd, we may much more clearly perceive the Holy Spirit
whisper a remembrance of the Word in our ears. Knowing His Word very well will
be a light to our path and a lamp to our feet.”
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 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
Sunday Morning Prayer: Prayer and Meekness 8-10-25
AOC Blog link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/meekness.html
You tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiQUl0AbnHM
Sunday Evening Prayer 8-10-25
AOC Blog Link:https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/eve-ning-prayer.html
You Tube Link: https://youtu.be/9bKtjAN7hj8?si=m5NZA0ytUKVe3PUG
Monday Evening Meditation 250811 8th Sunday after Trinity
You Tube Link: https://youtu.be/CoL6qigAYvY?si=wgZxsBfVrDEvphdm
Tuesday Morning Meditations with Bishop Ogles:
AOC Blog Link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-choice.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyzGHM6PKc
Tuesday Evening
Devotions 250812: The Burning Bush
AOC Blog: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/burning-bush.html
8-13-25- Wednesday Morning Meditations: Adam and the Bride of Christ
AOC BLOG LINK: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/bride-of-adam-bride-of-christ.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMikzSN3i-g
Thursday Evening Meditation 250814 - Memories of Home: Going Home
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JfQMzZVoqY
Friday Morning Meditation: Cleansing the Temple
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYFCccLdrA
Friday Evening Meditations: Wandering Stars
AOC Blog Link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/wandering-stars.html?spref=fb
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_9cC3gV5WA
Saturday Morning Daily Meditations and Daily Readings 250816
AOC Blog Link: https://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2025/08/lifted-up.html
You Tube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN7r8DzRIvc
8-16-25 Saturday Mornings with Ruth: Part 3:
You tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO3YunH2QvU
Sermon Summary for 9th Sunday after Trinity - MP,
SCRIPTURE: First Lesson: Wisdom of Solomon. 11:21-12:1
Gospel
Lesson: John 8:1-11
Collect of the Day
Let us Pray: Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Who is this woman? She is every one of us who read this devotion. She was caught red-handed in the act of committing adultery. Her sin is not subject to question or defense; she is therefore silent before Christ. We, too, have been caught red-handed in our sins. We have no words of extenuation or justification. WE ARE GUILTY! Beyond the obvious sin of adultery, when were you guilty of such a sin?
Most of us will agree that adultery is the act of engaging in sex with a party to whom we are not married. But there is also an even deeper spiritual dimension that we may have not considered: As members of the Church (the Bride of Christ), we commit spiritual adultery anytime we engage in idolatry. When we turn from our espoused Bridegroom to other gods of money, sex, power, and pride, we have committed that adultery which makes us unfaithful to our Bridegroom – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note the last verse of the preceding chapter: “And every man went unto his own house.” Every man went unto his own house, because they had houses into which to go! But the Lord of Glory had no such luxury. “Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.” What a dear Friend and Savior is our Lord! We are oblivious to our great failures of righteousness. We enjoy our homes in comfort, but the One who came to die for us has not even a place to lay His precious Head. He resorts, as He often does, to the Mount to pray and to rest. The best place to pray is always a place apart from the noise and commotion of the public square – a place of solitude! High above the madding crowd!
“And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.” Jesus is never failing in satisfying His every spiritual responsibility. Even God will go early, at its very opening, to the Temple. All the people came unto Him and He sat down and taught them (as One having authority). The Pharisees come early as well, but not to satisfy a spiritual obligation, but to seek the death of a helpless woman, and to trap Jesus and entangle Him that they might destroy Him.
“And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst.” These ruthless religious leaders prove hereby that religion may take an entirely different course from that which is right. These brigands did not bring the man! Why not? Does it not take two to tango? They were too politically correct for the time. Men were privileged with political power and social prominence over women ere Christ came. So these devils bring only the woman. They care not a whit for her feelings – her shame, her terror. There only object is to place Christ in a compromising position in determining her fate. Hear what the Law sayeth: “And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Lev 20:10) They roughly cast this humiliated and terrified woman before Christ in the public square! It is quite more than coincidental that the men who meant this woman the greatest harm brought her to the One who was able to grant her the most good. Without these wicked Pharisees, this woman may never have come to Christ!
“They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” Perhaps they had not read ALL the Law of Moses, especially Lev 20:10? Being bloodthirsty beyond measure, these men would have loved to take up sharp-cornered stones and repeatedly cast them at the woman until she was dead. I observed such evil happen while living in Iran after the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Why did these Pharisees bring this woman? You do not need my explanation for the Holy bible clearly tells us in the next verse: “This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.” If Christ had violated the law of Rome by condemning the woman to stoning, He would have been guilty of violating Caesar’s law. On the contrary, had He frankly forgiven her and spared her the sentence of the Law of Moses, He would have been guilty of violating the Law of Moses as expressed in Leviticus 20:10. This, the Pharisees considered, their Catch 22!
“But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.” I have observed this act of ‘writing on the ground a number of times in Iran. There is a cultural tendency among the Persians (and the wider Middle East) to avoid telling you something to your face that may displease, or embarrass, you. They say that they do not want to “disturb the water of your face.” So if you ask a question whose answer may be embarrassing or displeasing to either you or the listener, they will often kneel down and diddle in the sand as if distracted. The Holy sensitivity of Christ was surely embarrassed at the situation – not only for Himself and the gathering, but also for the woman. He wrote with the Finger of God for the fourth time mentioned in Scripture. The first two times was in the graving of the Law on tables of stone, the third was in the court of Belshazzar, the Babylonian king who drank from the Holy vessels of the Temple. The Hand of God appeared and wrote upon the wall. Now the Finger of God writes upon the shifting sands. What He wrote is not revealed to us, however, we do have some suggestive reasons provided by Scripture: “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” (Jeremiah 17:13) These Pharisees had not only forsaken the Lord, but were attempting to destroy him by cunning and craftiness. Perhaps, though we do not know with certainty, this was what Christ had written!
Please bear in mind that the terrified woman is in the midst. She dares not even look up at Christ. Her face is burning with shame, and her heart is racing in terror. But she only listens to the dialogue unable to say a word in her defense. She hears the cruel Pharisees calling for her stoning, but she also hears the very limited responses of Christ. Perhaps she gains a glance of His kindly features when He stoops to her level and writes upon the ground?
“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself,” The wicked must be full of fear whenever Christ arises. He will not forever write upon the earth. The day will come when He shall take upon Himself the vesture of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and grasp the Sword of His Word in Power and Thunder. The woman is in much better stead of perspective to have Christ come to her level than are the Pharisees when He stands to theirs. “and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” What a kind and loving Advocate this woman has found in Christ. He may be our Advocate as well if we shall come before Him in repentance and love. These are the first words the woman has heard Jesus utter. “Surely these Pharisees,” she thinks, “must be worthy and without sin for all the show they make of righteousness?” “Anyone of them must be worthy to cast the first stone. Why would Christ, if He is my helper, ask them such a thing?” But Christ sees something the woman does not see. He sees into the dark and ugly chambers of the hearts of these men. He knows their sins and guilt.
“And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.” Christ does nothing in vain. He wrote twice upon the ground for a real cause. This is the fifth recorded time of the Finger of God writing. When God writes, it is no small issue. What did He write THIS time? We are not told. Perhaps it was the name of one or all of the Pharisees, and beside those names, there may have been a woman’s name written with whom they had, themselves, committed adultery. Whatever it was, it had a grave and sobering impact on them!
“And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.” The wicked men left without a benedictory word! They began leaving by the eldest to the younger. Why? Perhaps the older a man is, the more opportunity to sin he has. Now, Jesus is left alone with the woman. The day will come, dear friend, when you, too, will be left alone to face your Lord. Neither will your Accuser be present for we are told in Revelations 20:10-11 that Satan and his followers will first be cast in the Lake of Fire, and then the White Throne Judgment. So your prosecuting attorney will not be present at that judgment, but your defense attorney (Christ) will be so present! This woman does not know what to think. She has only come to love this Voice she has heard – the same which Mary Magdalene heard through her profuse tears at the Garden Tomb!
For the first time, this Voice speaks to her! What a lovely Voice it is: “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” Only God has the authority to condemn. Those guilty men who brought the woman and the charges are gone having been found at least as guilty as the woman. The term ‘woman’ as used here by Christ was a term of respect, and should be today! “What has happened, Woman? Has NO man condemned thee?” It is doubtful that the woman understands the tremendous events that have transpired in her salvation, but she knows the One who granted it! That is ENOUGH! The guilty men left still guilty, but only the woman remains for the great forgiveness of Christ.
Perhaps lifting her tear-filled eyes for the first time to behold this Great Presence before her (for she knew who He was), she responded timidly, “No man, Lord.” The next words of Jesus thunder across the eons of time and Eternity having the authenticity of a Heavenly Decree. They pierced the hidden chambers of the heart of the woman and gave more comfort and hope than any she had heard before: “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” It will be a great privilege for her now to be forgiven, and also to avoid falling into the same pit of sin that was most nearly her ruin. She will “go and sin no more” with a forgiven heart. Can you say as much? Have you faced Christ with your filthy rags and burden of sin and heard His loving Voice of forgiveness? See to it, friend!
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,
AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN.
† Jerry Ogles
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:
I found it right strange that an Christian magazine reported that some pundit has discovered that ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence media source, has declared that "God is real." This revelation gave little comfort - and should deeply trouble us all.
In the Gospel of John, Pontius Pilate inquires of Jesus, albeit rhetorically, "What is truth?" It's a philosopher's bette noir and not a question the average person deals with on a daily basis, but that may soon change. How do we determine what is true and what is not? Christians have always believed the Bible to be true in all of its parts, without error and totally reliable as a source of information. The theological term for this is inerrancy.
The Roman Church holds with the doctrine of inerrancy, that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and is to be believed without question of authority or divine inspiration. Unfortunately, many Protestants no longer hold with this ancient teaching of the Christian Church, and regard the Bible as "containing the word of God" but not without error and certainly not infallible. The Roman Catholic as well as the Eastern Churches declare that the teachings of the Church i.e., the Magisterium, which includes the early Church Fathers, to be likewise inerrant and infallible. Protestants, historically, have accepted only the Holy Scriptures as the source of truth, and do not equate church Tradition to be of equal value.
So, apart from the mental machinations of the philosophers, how do we know that what we know is true? Humans have always relied on the first source of truth - human experience. The vast compendium of human knowledge could never be contained in a book - or even a database. It is simply too broad and ever expanding, as the human mind grows and expands, and the knowledge gained from experience is retained. That hasn't stopped us from trying.
Problem is, human experience is limited by our perception of reality and has been since the Fall. Not only is our experience limited, it is essentially flawed as a result of the Fall and cannot be corrected. There are things we cannot see, things we cannot hear, things which the most percipient cannot record. We are intelligent enough to have invented machines to aid us in our perception, but they are also limited - never flawless - by virtue of the fact that we humans have created them.
What is deeply troubling is that now, with our absolute infatuation with artificial intelligence, we have attributed to the CREATURE that which exceeds the ability of the CREATOR, namely, inerrancy and infallibility. How can we possibly know that the information generated for us by AI is true and trustworthy? We are acting as though this new source of all knowledge and wisdom comes to us from some extraneous source and may without doubt remain absolutely TRUE. We are blind to the fact that AI has itself been created by humans and is by definition subject to error. We are rightly encouraged to fear AI, but for the wrong reasons.
It is now possible to create new music that approaches perfection within the genre desired - the perfect sonata or country western song. It is possible to produce a sermon written by AI with all the essential elements of sound homiletics: interesting beginning, sound biblical content, good closing, proper Biblical quotations, even humour. But is that AI generated piece of literature a true message from God, given under the guidance of the Holy Ghost with real regenerative power? I would have to answer, NO!
Trouble is, we have attributed to AI those qualities which belong only to God Himself, inerrancy and infallibility. We have no trouble calling into question human knowledge and human experience. Even the great god of Science has been called into question and politicized to the degree that the medical profession - once held sacrosanct by society - is now subject to great scrutiny. But AI has been made exempt from such criticism and has been presented as some sort of unstoppable force capable of taking over the world if we are not careful. Anyone who questions the capabilities of AI is accused of being "unscientific" or simply ignorant of its ultimate power, "the machine's machine" as it were.
When the first atomic bomb was released, it was feared that it could set off a world-wide nuclear reaction that would devastate the world. Slowly, scientists came to understand more about fission and fusion and we "tamed the atom." But the initial fear that was generated changed society and the way humans looked at the world. AI is a human invention, not an entity unto itself. We may say, anthropomorphically, that it has a mind of its own, but that is a human perception in itself.
God and God alone possesses inerrancy and infallibility. No human creation, no human institution, no human individual shares these attributes. Society has such pride in its knowledge and accomplishments. There was time not long ago when we thought Tang and Velcro were great inventions. Can the world be any better, now that we have computers and MTV? The pride of man has been so ingrained in modern society that we imagine we can build a machine that can create and recreate, that is superior to all that has gone before, and ultimately lead us to absolute truth. AI has informed us that it believes that God exists and we should therefore not only accept that as truth but accept the fact that it has informed us of that truth.
The last society that though those thoughts and behaved accordingly may be found in Genesis chapter 11 - and the consequences for that society were dire - just as they were for Pontius Pilate.
+CEM
Jack Arnold
Bishop of the Diocese of the West – AOC USA
Education and Training Anglican Orthodox Church Worldwide
Church of
the Faithful Centurion
Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Today’s sermon tied the Epistle and Gospel together talked, as is oft the case, of the need for action, not simply diction, the general content is in forewords above.
Consider the words from the Collect, wherein we ask God to give us … the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do anything that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will …
This is kind of a follow-on to last week’s Collect. We are asking God to give us direction that we might know right from wrong and follow the right way. If we listen to our hearts and minds, like the aviator, mariner or adventurer without a compass, we will soon be hopelessly lost. With the compass God gives us, we can find the One True Way, much like the compass always points North.
The Collect acknowledges without God’s intervention through the Holy Spirit in our lives we cannot do anything good or right. This has been true since the Garden of Eden; there the Fall shows our own very natures prevent us from doing what is right. The solution to this problem is simple, we must turn back towards God and let the Holy Ghost into our hearts so we can do what is right. However, we must ask Him to enter into our hearts, souls and minds. He will not come in uninvited.
Paul reminds us we have a common spiritual past, regardless of our actual lineage. Spiritually, we are descended from the Jews of the Exodus. Their God is our God; God directed their actions. He was a Trinity then as He is today. We struggle with the exact same sins and temptations as they did. As the saying goes if you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it. The same is true with our spiritual history. If we do not learn from our spiritual forebears then we will find ourselves repeating their same mistakes. The Holy Ghost can help us learn from their mistakes but only if we let him into our hearts.
In light of this thought, we need to recognize that those who have gone before provide numerous examples, both good and bad. We should aspire to follow the good examples of those who have gone before and not follow the bad examples that they have left behind. People too often point out the bad examples of our ancestors and not the good examples. In order to become better human beings we need to learn from both examples, good and bad. We will never grow spiritually if we only learn from one set of examples and not the other. We need to learn from both in order to become better human beings and followers of Christ.
In this letter Paul addresses the bad and suggests we should see what their ill behavior gained them before we set our course and not after. This matches with our earlier discussion about recognizing both good and bad examples and learning from both kinds. He points out their examples both good and bad are for our learning and we can benefit from them if we take the time to study them. We will always be learning for the rest of our lives, no matter what profession we belong to, there will always be some form of continuing education.
Paul is telling us we are in a way trying to embrace the Japanese concept of kai-zen or continuous development. Just as pilots need to keep learning to become better and more proficient pilots, good Christians need to always be learning to become better and kinder human beings.
We should not strive to emulate the murmurings of the people, though we may feel that way sometimes, as we can learn from their bad examples. We must see their bad examples and do not emulate those; on the other side, we must see the good examples, and strive to emulate them.
Speaking of lessons, when Saint Luke recounts the story of the prodigal son we oft think ourselves as that prodigal one returning to God so late in life. Yet there is far more to be learned than the titular son.
The older son has resentment to the younger son for coming back after having wasted his money and is not willing to forgive him. However, the Father is more than willing to forgive. We can learn from the older son’s example and when those who have wronged us and are contrite ask for forgiveness, the message from this parable is clear in that despite our own personal feelings, we must forgive them..
This story, like that of the workers in the vineyard has a number of meanings. Like the father in the story, God wants us to be His faithful child, but rejoices when we return to Him. He is a loving and patient Father, but will not accept our sinful behavior. Yet, if we repent of that behavior, He will always welcome us back with open arms. We should always do our best to recognize when we have erred and strayed from our ways like lost sheep. Like the prodigal son, we should be grateful to live long enough to return to Him.
The moral of the younger son’s story is that God is always waiting for us, and if we are not too late, we can always return to Him. If you find yourself needing to return, it is preferable to make that decision today rather than tomorrow as tomorrow may not come. He will always accept us with opening arms, but we must make sure it is not too late. Don’t wait until you die! If you feel you have erred and strayed, repent now! Do not put off until tomorrow your repentance. If you are led by the Holy Spirit to repent, please do it today, you may not live to see tomorrow.
Do not let the sun go down on your sins and wrath, you may not live to see another day! There is another lesson to be learned, this time from the oldest son. Let us not repeat his mistake and be joyful when our brothers and sisters come home to our family. Let us put aside the anger and jealousy and replace those hurtful emotions with the emotions of pure love and joy! This can be a particular hard lesson to learn but it is one that must be learned all the same. Let us join in the celebration and not begrudge the fatted calf. We should not be jealous or angry when our long-lost brethren return to the flock of Christ! We should be merry and joyful they have returned to us! Do not let your pride become anger and cloud your emotions like it does so many of us. But, rather see a sinner coming back into His flock and rejoice in he is no longer headed towards The Pit!
Action counts. For by their actions ye shall know them.
Heaven is at the end of an uphill trail. The easy downhill trail does not lead to the summit.
The time is now, not tomorrow. The time has come, indeed. How will you ACT?
It is by our actions we are known.
Be of God - Live of God - Act of God
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Rev Bryan Dabney of Saint John’s AOC Vicksburg, Mississippi
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.
Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sermon
To begin with, God questioned the prophet on whether he should even answer those men on account of their deceitfulness. He then described their idolatry as being a stumblingblock. That word is derived from the Hebrew word mikshowl and can denote an offense, an incitement to go astray, or a cause of failing or falling. God’s message here is that the sin of idolatry makes plain the worshiper’s state of being with God. Ergo, he cannot realize the love of God, or enjoy his benefits as he has chosen to worship and serve that which is false. For in that error, the idolater has fallen away from the true faith. And yet here they came to enquire of the LORD concerning a particular matter. We call that being two- faced” down here in the South, as it refers to someone who tells you one thing but will do another. A “two-faced” person cannot be trusted. Our Lord said, No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (St. Matthew 6:24). For the duplicitous, it is a matter of who can do them the most good at that moment. It might be termed “religious opportunism” as the person so moved is simply looking for “a better deal” or arrangement.
These “opportunists” had come to the prophet Ezekiel thinking he would not know their hearts. In the ordinary scope of things, the prophet would not have possessed such knowledge. But the LORD gave him that insight as part of his message to those men wherein he stated plainly, Every man... that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. (vv.4-5)
Those that worship idols and then come to God’s prophets for his counsel will be counseled, according to the multitude of his idols. Matthew Henry noted that, “the counsel... given them [was] for the preventing of this fearful doom.” God was doing them a favor by advising them to come clean and remove their idols from their heart. He called on them to, Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away... from all your abominations (v.6). And this applied to not only the house of Israel, but to the stranger that sojourneth among them (v.7).
As with every warning, there was a consequence— a judgment that God would carry out if his will was not obeyed— which the prophet proclaimed: And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD (v.8). God will be against any person who will not be obedient to his word and commandment, and will also make him an example in word as well as remove him from among those who are his own. God’s omniscience permits him to know the secret things of men’s hearts. Even as those men thought that they might deceive the prophet, they could not deceive him who is above deception.
But what if they had gone to a false prophet instead of Ezekiel? God had an answer for that as well: And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him (vv.9-10). The judgment would have been the same regardless
In our world today we are faced with a sizable number of false prophets and false teachers. Some travel about like the snake oil salesmen of old, while others peddle their nefarious doctrines from leadership positions in schools and seminaries. Sad to say, their followers know more about their false teachings than what’s in the Bible.
The false prophets of Ezekiel’s day were notorious for telling the people what they wanted to hear and their modern-day counterparts are no different. And God’s message to those in the Old Testament— that they would become signs and proverbs as well as being cut off from among the people— should serve as a warning to us that he will do the same with the false teachers and ministers of our day. St. Peter tells us that there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you... (II St. Peter 2:1-3)
And the apostle also reminded the faithful that false teachers would bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them. Think for a moment about the various the false teachers in today’s world. Consider those who say if God does not give you what you asked for, then you really do not have enough faith in God. Or, maybe you should step up your contributions? Or buy their new book? Folks, God does not charge a membership fee to be a Christian neither does he command a fee for any healing he extends to a believer. Did St. Paul charge for his ministry? Did St. Peter or the other apostles do so as well? Absolutely not! They gave what they had freely. It is one thing to ask for offerings or donations; but to scoop up bucket-loads of money from those who are the least able to contribute, and then lie to them about their condition is twisted and evil. St. Peter reminded the faithful concerning such persons that The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished... (II St. Peter 2:9)
In every case, the discerning Christian ought to judge what he or she is hearing based upon the Word of God and not the word of man. If anyone comes to your fellowship with a message that conflicts with the expressed words of Scripture, reject that person and their false teachings. Our Lord expects us to keep our selves from the camp of the world, the flesh and the devil. We are expected to limit our fellowship to those who truly believe and accept the Lord Jesus Christ and follow his commandments.
And this we know that God will one day deal with all who have twisted his word for their gain at the expense of his sheep. We would do well to remember his words to the Apostle Peter who admonished the faithful to avoid the smooth and soothing words of those who would make merchandise of you for their gain in this life but who will forfeit eternal life in God’s coming kingdom.
As regenerated souls in Christ, we understand that God’s word written contains all that is necessary for living the Christian life. My question is, “Why re-invent the wheel when you don’t have to?” Our heavenly Father offers every person the opportunity to know of him and what he desires from each of us. The Bible tells us about those things that God regards as good and acceptable as well as those things which he regards as sinful and abominable. All that is required of us is that we read and heed his prescriptions for life. For only by using the Bible as the rule and guide of our faith and practice can we truly discern the difference between God’s truth and the falsehoods of the evil one
Let us pray,
Father we pray that thou wouldst fill us with thy most blessed Spirit, so that in all things we will seek to properly discern the truths of Scripture and avoid the snares of the world, the flesh and the Devil; and this we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 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
Ninth Sunday after Trinity Sermon
Psalms 91: First lesson: Genesis 28:10-22; Second lesson: 2 Corinthians 9
Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
How to give charitably
How do we share our physical/financial blessings with those less fortunate than us? There are some rather important lessons found in these last couple of verses of Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth. He is giving advice on how to share your blessings, but with a couple of caveats to watch for abuse.
1. Firstly, one is to share (sow) with abundance, not with a level of stinginess. We are to give as we are able and as we are led by the Holy Spirit. And this is to be done cheerfully.
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2. Works of charity are to be done with care and design. Make sure that what you are giving to an organization or person is not being used for nefarious means. This is so important due to the fallen nature of mankind. We should make sure that the gifts, donations, help is going to what is necessary for sustenance, health, or shelter. Unfortunately, many charitable acts are sidetracked or misused due to the persistent flaw of human behavior. There are times that one must seek advice from other believers when one engages in charitable work. Now understanding that concept does not negate giving. And again, you are to give as you are able.
We must show the reality of our living our lives to the gospel, by works of charity. This will be for the credit of our profession of faith in Christ and to the praise and glory of God. Let us endeavour to copy the example of Christ, being unwearied in doing good, and deeming it more blessed to give than to receive.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
3. The last five verses of this selection from Paul’s
letter to the Corinthians puts a great emphasis on our inability to out-give
God. He provides us with the means and the blessings, He gives to us a
great deal of bounty and increase in our fruits of righteousness; which
conversely make us grateful and causes us to profess thanksgiving to God.
10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
4. Probably one of the most important concepts from this Pauline passage is the idea that one cannot out give God. There is a pagan idea that has infiltrated the life of the Church that gives the impression that you must out-give God in order to be blessed of God. That is a material and spiritual impossibility. No one can out give God.
He is the creator, He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, He created all that we see and experience in this physical realm. It is all His. He just asks that we worship Him by giving of ourselves “a reasonable sacrifice”, that indicates we know He is our Lord and Redeemer.
13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
From the pages of Matthew Henry, the bible commentator we read:
Blessed be God for the unspeakable gift of his grace, whereby he enables and inclines some of his people to bestow upon others, and others to be grateful for it; and blessed be his glorious name to all eternity, for Jesus Christ, that inestimable gift of his love, through whom this and every other good thing, pertaining to life and godliness, are freely given unto us, beyond all expression, measure, or bounds.
This final verse sums up the whole message that Paul was trying to convey to the Corinthians and by measure us in the future:
15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Let us pray:
O Almighty God, look mercifully upon the world which though hast redeemed by the blood of thy dear Son, and incline the hearts of many to dedicate themselves to the sacred Ministry of thy Church; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hear us and help us, O God of our salvation, and answer us graciously in these our suits and petitions,
for Jesus Christ’s sake, to whom, with thee and thy Holy Spirit, be rendered of us and of thy whole church, all glory and praise, power and dominion, both now and evermore. Amen.
Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, go in peace, in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen
+Roy Morales-Kuhn
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:
Kamil – recovery of successful surgery – Chemotherapy begins
Sherrie – recovery from Surgery
Paul Meier – throat cancer
Gayle Gettinger – ICU – heart attack
Richard Bailey – Brain Cancer
Pastor Glen Shoals – Skin Cancer
Steve
Williams – recovery Hip Replacement
Dakota Reynolds- hit by truck –
multiple injuries
Finley Cartwright – bypass surgery – recovering at home
Walter Hallberg III – went to be with the Lord 7/1-please pray for wife Mary and Family - mourning
Jeff Maraman - at the fire academy in Arkansas.
Lydia Collins - rectal cancer.
Marilee – Mastectomy Update – second surgery successful – chemo begun
James Cavanah – health issues, new medication tolerance – starting to work - keep praying
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
South Korea – pray to defeat the communists trying to take over; protection for the South Korean people.
Keep Praying for the following:
Shamu-health issues, Mike, Dotty, Jan Jessup-neuro dementia, Josh Morley-seizures,
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, Alicia-caregiver, Lydia, Sophie, Colin and Lori Beall –
cancer, Toni – cancer, Donna - cancer, Malou –
cancer, Roseanne, Bobby, Missy,
Archie, Eloise, Janice,
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